www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News A question regarding Judaism/Islam

Hello again,
I have a question regarding our other brothers and sisters in monotheism, the H'ebrew and the Muslims. In particular, I would like to know if it is lawful for one to practice ancient Judaic prayer/tradition in light with Byzantine spirituality. Now, this is any practice, from wearing boxes with parts of the Torah on our heads to simply reciting the Shema at the beginning or our prayers (if it is lawful to pray the shema as such, does anyone know it in Hebrew/Aramaic? I would greatly appreaciate that)

Also, I would like to ask a slightly more personal question, if nobody minds. I would like to know "why is it that you are not Muslim or Jewish?" Seems like a dumb question, but I would simply like to know why Christianity is the "best choice" (crude words, I know) for you, despite modernisation's attempts against it and such. I ask this question also because I was so close to Islam at one point.
Abdur, you don't get to answer this one .
Also, I would like to apologize for my "Is Islam a heresy?" post from a while ago, it was foolish of me to make such a claim without thoroughly thinking.

Side note, I have recently purchased a copy of the beautiful passion Icon of our Mother of Perpetual Help (not crowned). Can anyone give some background on this glorious Icon?
Thank you all!
In Yeshuah El-Mashyy,
Justin

>>I would like to know "why is it that you are not Muslim or Jewish?"<<
---------------------------------------
Justin,

Jesus told His Apostles to preach the Gospel of Christ to all nations. We have received this gospel and have responded to it.

Jesus said to baptize all in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. That certainly is not Jewish or Muslim tradition.

Jesus said " I am the way and the truth. Noone comes to the Father, but through Me." We believe Him.

Joe Prokopchak
"O' Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned without number."

Dear Justin,

Shalom Aleichem!

Your question regarding the practice of Hebraic prayer is an interesting one.

On one level, most of the prayer tradition of our Church is already steeped in the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament.

This is why the icon of King David appears in all the major festal icons - to indicate that we use his Psalms in their celebration.

The Psalms and the Canticles are an integral part of our Church's daily Horologion, based on the Temple services. The "Our Father" is really a compendium of the Psalter itself.

We also continue to celebrate the three main Jewish Feasts of Passover (Pascha), Pentecost and that of Tabernacles or the Transfiguration.

Some Eastern Churches do use the Shema in their opening prayers. Priests of the Assyrian Church of the East are called "Rabbi." The Ethiopian Orthodox Church uses Arks of the Covenant for its worship, wears prayer shawls etc.

If you would like to enter into a deeper relationship between the already existing tie between our Church and Judaism, then you only need enter into a more intimate relationship with the prayer of the Church. And you could also look into the Ethiopian and Assyrian traditions.

In the Byzantine Book of Needs, there used to be a rite for the Baptism of Jews and Muslims. I have a copy at home. In both cases, the process of Christian "inculturation" if you will involved a slow expunging of the practice of Judaism and Islam from one's life.

In the 17th century, the Orthodox Church excommunicated a group of heretics called "Judaizers" that were trying to return the Church to Judaism proper.

I'm also wondering if the use of the sacred objects of Judaism would not prove offensive to pious Jews themselves? And if so, what are we witnessing to?

Again, I would recommend you looking into the Ethiopic tradition where Christians where prayer shawls and where ancient Jewish practices flourish, as they did in the Apostolic Church of Jerusalem.

For me, Christianity is the ONLY choice because it is the pinnacle of union between God and Man. For in Christ, God and Man are truly One in the Son of God Who wrapped His Divinity in our Humanity. I have read of Muslim philosophers who have affirmed that the best union between God and man would indeed be Incarnation.

Also, the Holy Trinity, revealed to us by Christ, is a wondrous revelation of the inner Life of God, that could not be attained by human mental processes, but is manifested to us through Divine Revelation. It is such a mystery that philosophers outside the Christian tradition have yet to accurately grasp it. Even the Koran's view of it is in error. Ironically, both the Koran and Christianity are agreed in rejecting the Koran's understanding of the Holy Trinity.

Of course, Moses and the Jewish Prophets saw the Word and the Spirit as emanations of God the Father, rather than as Persons.

Although to what extent they had a deeper insight into the Mystery of the Holy Trinity is brought into focus with the meeting of Abraham and the Three Angels.

It is written that the Lord Himself came down to earth and when Abraham lifted his eyes he saw three men. Some have said that it is clear that Abraham worshipped a multipersonal God.

Finally, there are so many prophecies concerning Christ in the Old Testament, in Isaiah and the Psalms. Only He fulfills the prophecies concerning the Suffering Servant, those in Psalm 22 and others.

The Icon of the Mother of God of Perpetual Help or of the Passion, as she is known in the East, is said to have been written by St Luke, although Mark would give you an argument on that!

It reflects a moment in the life of Christ and His Mother when the Archangels Michael and Gabriel appear to the boy, Jesus, showing Him the instruments of His future Passion, the Cross, the nails, the spear and the sponge on the reed.

Jesus is frightened and runs to His Mother. He runs so quickly that one of His shoes is depicted having fallen off in His hurry.

He grasps with both His hands that hand of His Mother, seeking solace in Her.

The Mother of God with Her sorrowful eyes looks at neither Her Son nor at us who look on her in her icon.

Instead, she meditates in her heart. She extends Her hand to Her Son and to us all.

Tassels hang from her mantle, representative of the Divine Grace with which She who is blessed among women and full of Grace is anointed as Mother of God Incarnate.

The stars on her shoulders and forehead indicate she is a Virgin Mother before, during and after giving birth to Christ our Saviour.

Alex

I'm responding to JP's post.

Only...and only...Orthodox Christianity adheres to --doctrinally and pragmatically --a doctrine of the forgiveness of sin that is not based on pride and egoism.

Do realize how fortunate you Christians are?

Every Muslim sect that practices a doctrine that closely corresponds to the Christian concept of grace is superior--pastorally, socially, and psychologically--to that of the more "orthodox" branches of Islam.

Salaam,

Abdur

[ 06-03-2002: Message edited by: traveler ]

And Syriac...

Dear Catholicos,

And Syriac

What particularly about the Syriac tradition recalls the Judaic heritage most lucidly for you, Big Guy?

Alex

[ 06-04-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]