www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Scripture and Patristic Writings Icon of the Trinity

Dear OrthodoxEast,

No, St Zossimas did not have to be a priest in order to bring the Holy Gifts to the great desert female ascetic.

The early Church even allowed Christians to take Holy Communion with them to their private homes and keep it in their special little home chapels -everyone had a separate room in which to pray at home, and this is still the rule for Copts, Ethiopians and others.

And these Christians would commune of the Holy Gifts THEMSELVES each morning before breakfast.

This practice was later forbidden under St John Chrysostom, who also introduced the liturgical Spoon.

But a shadow of this early practice survives in the tradition today for Orthodox Christians to take some of the Blessed Bread they receive following the Liturgy home with them to keep in a special place and partake of some of this each morning before breakfast and during morning prayers.

Traditionally, although it is Blessed Bread and not actual Holy Communion, the way to receive it is to have it on a separate table with a white cloth over it, and to recieve it with a white cloth under one's mouth - very much as if one were going to receive Holy Communion.

Alex

OrthodoxCatholic:

"Old Orthodox Rite"? Like the "Old Rite" headed by His Grace, Bishop Daniel of Erie (ROCOR), you mean? Or some schismatic or vagante group as seen from the historical Orthodox Church viewpoint?

OrthodoxEast

Alex (OrthodoxCatholic),

I **DO** know what antidoron is!

OrthodoxEast

This practice of blessing is part of MONASTIC culture between monastics. Take Athos - I call Fr Maximos to ask him for some soap. He replies 'Evlogite' - bless -and I reply 'o Kyrios' - the Lord (bless).

I have many Greek friends who follow the practice and receive the same reply. Old Rite Russian Orthodox follow the practice of the early Church in their approach to monastics as illustrated in the life of St Mary of Egypt. We should also remember that blessings may be given by parents to children and spiritual mothers to spiritual daughters and unordained elders to spiritual children. Clericalism creeping into Orthodoxy has corrupted people's views of the blessing. The Lord is the source of blessings. This is why - in the Old Rite books - we see, Glory... Now and ever... Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless. The priest pronounces the blessing in as much he is the icon of Christ and shares in the one priesthood which is that of Christ. A priestly blessing remains distinct from any other, but it is not the only blessing.

Spasi Khristos -
Mark, monk and sinner.

Dear OrthodoxEast,

Yes, Old Rite as in ROCOR's Bishop Daniel.

There are many other Old Believers not in communion with other Orthodox.

They can hardly be called "vagante" or other, and I believe the ROC has lifted the anathemas on them.

Or did you know that too?

I was only using the Antidoron issue by way of illustration, as opposed to information.

Sometimes it is good to give full explanations of things like that for others here who may not be as knowledgeable as we, you know.

Alex

True, Alex, and a good point. We "know-it-alls" have a bad habit of "talking down" to others, or so it may appear in writing, but when they meet us in person, they can see how perfectly humble we really are!

OrthodoxEast

PS How does one enable the message icons in this forum?

Please take care Orthodox East, you are close to causing deep offence!!!

Seriously... careless comments do not help!

Spasi Khristos -
Mark, monk and sinner

Gentlemen [ well Fr Mark and the 2 gentlemen ]

Thank you for considering the unknowlegeable like me

After all it is only by reading these posts that we can attain a degree of knowledge.

Let the education continue - in a kindly fashion please :p

Anhelyna - the stoopid uneducated Latin Scot !!

This is the way the forum should be Anhelyna - and this is the way I like it and enjoy it!!!

Spasi Khristos -
Mark, monk and sinner.

Bless me a sinner, Father Mark!

Yes, I agree!!

Angela/Anhelyna is a wonderful lady.

Too bad we are both "spoken for" otherwise we could have made future plans to meet her in Scotland and take her out on the town! (You can take the low road and I'll take the high road!)

Kissing your right hand (yours too, Angela!), I again implore your blessing (yours too, Angela!)

Alex

Dear OrthodoxEast,

Yes, I only use two types of "smileys."

The full smiley is "colon end-bracket," while the wing smiley is "semi-colon end-bracket."

Do let us know if the Metropolitan Yaroslaw Sereda is your colleague from the Diaconate programme! (semi-colon end-bracket or )

Alex

OK OK OK

What are you trying to do to me Alex ??

NO don't answer that I am blushing enough as it is.

I like my Ukrainian name BTW

Anhelyna

Dear Anhelyna,

It is just that a mature woman is a good woman!

And if she is spiritual - that's an added plus!



Alex

METROPOLITAN Yaroslav Sereda???

Yes, Alex, he is the Ukrainian colleague from my Diaconate Training Program. "Metropolitan"???

OrthodoxEast

Dear OrthodoxEast,

And just when you thought you could not be shocked any more, he is also married!

The Orthodox Church of Canada is an "independent" jurisdiction that is not recognized by world Orthodoxy, SCOBA or Fr. Mark

This group had, at one point I believe, tried to come into communion with the Kyivan Patriarchate in Ukraine, but this didn't work out . . .

Alex