www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Gift Idea

Hey all, I need help!

I am attending college, and well the campus catholic minister is leaving. He is a real cool and orthodox guy who really meant a lot to students here including me. Well, I am the only one who knows he is leaving right now, but he or other people on campus won't see this.

I am trying to get him a gift and since he would be able to get things from the Latin tradition quite easily or already has them, I was thinking about getting him something uniquely Eastern in origin.

He already has a lot of Icons from the "west" if that makes any sense. So besides Icon's is there anything else unique I can get him as a going away present.

Thank you for your suggestions,

Devo

Devo,

Perhaps you may want to consider a chotki for your friend. Tammy, a frequent poster on this site, makes and sells some absolutely beautiful (and reasonable!) chotkis, available at her website...

www.chotkis.com [chotkis.com]

If you are unfamiliar, a chotki is a set of prayer beads, usually employed by the Eastern Christian as an aid to reciting the Jesus Prayer. It has often times been compared to the rosary of the Western Church, although this comparison is, admittedly, a bit of a stretch.

Tammy has posted some general information about chotkis on her website that you may want to read.

If you're looking for a present for your friend that speaks of Eastern Christianity, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more appropriate gift!

a pilgrim

Devo,

Me again...

For the "piece de resistance" you may want to toss in a copy of "The Way of a Pilgrim," an old, classic work of literature in Eastern Christianity written by an allegedly-unknown author. The story traces the quest of the unnamed protagonist, as he attempts to follow St. Paul's directive to "pray without ceasing," by attempting to master the recitation of the Jesus Prayer within his heart, aided by a chotki that he inherited from his departed spiritual guide. It's available in paperback for not too much money, and you'd be able to write a personalized remembrance message for your friend inside!

Boy, it's so easy spending other people's money!

a pilgrim

Devo,

I'd second both of Pilgrim's suggestions and I'd be very surprised if the bookstore at Juniata doesn't have "The Way of a Pilgrim" in stock.

Many years,

Neil

Thanks,

I think that is what I will do. And the bookstore on campus though has nothing let alone something pretty religous. The campus is pretty secular, in town there are a few places that would probably have it.

I thank you guys again.

Devo

Devo,

It's been about a decade since I visited Juniata, but I'm surprised. Is the Moravian presence that absent now?

Many years,

Neil

Dear Friends,

This reminded me of when the Jesuit Director of the Martyrs' Shrine in Midland here received some chotki from our Studites.

He had no idea what to do with them - so I pulled the knots apart and wrapped them around his left wrist etc.

He just loves it!

I told him that the early Dominican Fathers wore their knotted cord rosaries around their wrists like that too (which is true).

A Three-Bar Cross would also be a great gift.

I once purchased an inexpensive pectoral three-bar Cross for our RC university chaplain who loved studying the various liturgical traditions of the Church.

Well, he put it right on himself and wore it always!

He said his priestly colleagues asked him when he was promoted to "Bishop!"

Alex

Juniata College is not connected with the Moravian Church, but rather with the Church of the Brethren.

Is there still a "Peace and Justice" center on campus, Devo? The person who chaired it, and for that matter was campus chaplain, was a pastor named Andy (tall, shaggy brown hair); his wife is named Terry, and is an excellent pianist. Are they still there?

J. Michael Thompson

Well, the Peace and Conflict studies programs is still there. And it makes up a huge portion of the campus along with Biology.

The chaplain is Dave Witkovsky from the Church of the Brethen. And believe me he doesn't have long brown hair.

At least in the past five years there has been no Eastern Church present in Huntingdon. I have heard through the grape thine that an Eastern Orthodox Church (can't be anymore specific) comes to town about once a month, but I have no idea where they meet at. I know that it just isn't on campus.

As for Andy and Terry, I don't believe they are still here. Sorry.

I am only a freshman so well, my knowledge is limited.