Great Lent #09 - 15/03/2011

The Syriac Orthodox Church is one of the most ancient Christian Churches tracing its roots to the Church of Antioch. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts of the Apostles 11:26). Apostle Peter is believed to have established a church in Antioch in AD 37, the remnants of which are still in Antakya (the modern name of Antioch), Turkey. After the martyrdom of Apostle Peter, he was succeeded by St. Euodius and St. Ignatius Noorono as shepherds of the flock in Antioch and in the writings of St. Ignatius we find the evolution of the ecclesiastical order of bishops—ordained successors of the Apostles in whom continued the spiritual authorities vested by our Lord in the Apostles. The bishophric of Antioch was recognized in the ecumenical Synod of Nicea (AD 325) as one of the Patriarchates of Christendom (along with that of Alexandria and Rome). It produced a line of succession beginning with Apostle Peter which continues to this day in the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Antioch was at the time of Christ the capital of the Roman province of Syria and an important center of commerce. As a city imbued in the hellenistic culture, Greek was the common language. But the majority of the people in the region, especially outside the cities spoke Syriac, the Edessene dialect of Aramaic, the language spoken by our Lord.

The disciples Addai, Mari, Aggai and Apostle Thomas, are believed to have spread the Gospel in the regions north east of Antioch, of Edessa (Urhoy) and Nisibis and further to upper northern Mesopotamian plains between Rivers Tigris and Euphrates. The Syriac Doctrine of Addai recounts how Christ send Addai, one of the Seventy Disciples, to King Abgar of Edessa. It is believed that Apostle Thomas went further east arriving in what is today India in AD 52. Many important and influential centers of Syriac speaking Christians emerged in the cities such as Edessa (Urhoy), Adiabene (Hadyab), and Nisibis (Nsibin). While Antioch was the seat of the bishophric, Edessa is often considered the cradle of Syriac Christianity.

The Church of Antioch played a significant role in the early history of Christianity. It played a prominent role in the first three Synods held at Nicea (325) , Constantinople (381), and Ephesus (431), shaping the formulation and early interpretation of Christian doctrines. In AD 451, the Council of Chalcedon and its Christological position resulted in a schism that divided the faithful under the Apostolic See of Antioch into two—one today known as the `idto suryoyto treeysath shubho (Syrian or Syriac Orthodox Church) and the other the Eastern Orthodox (or Rum Orthodox) Church of Antioch. The latter had the support of the Byzantinian Emperor Justinian who convened the Council of Chalcedon. The years that followed resulted in a struggle over the Apostolic See, with bishops of both persuasions assuming the position of Patriarch of Antioch. In 518, Patriarch St. Severus was exiled from Antioch. The seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch moved to different monasteries including Qartmin, Qenneshrin (Chalkis, near Aleppo), Malatya, and Amid (Diyarbakir), and finally settled in 1293 in Dayro d-Mor Hananyo (also known as Kurkmo Dayro in Syriac and Deir Zafaran in Arabic) in Mardin. It remained at this monastery until 1933 when the political circumstances forced its migration to Homs, Syria, and later to Damascus in 1959.

Great Lent #08 - 14/03/2011

After reading my Daily mails so many people reply me with so many questions! I believe most of the doubts occur just because of lack of knowledge! We don’t know what we are! What Church we represent? What is our true faith?

Syrian Orthodox church is mainly built on 2 main pillars.

1. The Holy Bible
2. The Tradition

Apart from The Holy Bible, our fore fathers had developed a tradition which we are supposed to follow now also. Once I send a mail asking some questions about the Tradition of Priest Vestments! Next week when I went to church, my friend who is also an altar boy asked me whether he can light the Holy Censor with fan, or is that a “Variation in Tradition”. Even though I enjoyed the joke, I felt it is high time for us to learn what we stand for! The basic stone is laid on the above two pillars. If we feel we don’t need those, then there is no Church. I am planning to write about Church History, Our Holy Fathers and various Traditions in our church in coming days!

The church is the body of true believers in Christ. Eetho, the syriac word for Church, means ‘to bring together’. The word Church itself has it etymological roots in Green word ecclesia, which means to call and separate. The roots of the word can also be traced to the Hebrew Quhal, which means assembly summoned. The Church is the heaven on earth.

Great Lent #07 - 13/03/2011

The Church celebrated Memory of St. Ephrem the Syrian yesterday. We remember St. Ephrem in our fifth Diptych. We sing his songs in our prayers. I can never be justified if I won’t write about St. Ephrem.


Ephrem the Syrian, the greatest classical writer of the Syrian church was born in A.D 306 in Nisibis (North West of Mosul, Mesopotamia). His father is said to have been a heathen priest worshipping an idol called abnil. But the child Ephrem refused to accompany his parents to the temple of Abnil for which he was severely punished. He was later brought up by St. James the Bishop of Nisibis. He accompanied St. James to the council of Nicea at the age of 22.


Lamy, a noted biographer describes Ephram as “From the time he began to lead a monastic life till his death, he ate nothing but barely bread and dried herbs and sometimes green herbs. He drank nothing but water; his flesh had dried up in his bones until he resembled baked clay. His clothing was a mass of patches of the colour of mud. He was a small stature; his face always grave that he never laughed; he was bald and wore no beard.”


After baptism in early manhood he was ordained deacon in AD 338. He probably lived as a monk apparently never entered priesthood. Though in the clergical hierarchy he was just a decon, he is remembered as a great doctor of the universal Church.


After the death of James, Bishop of Nisibis, Ephream left for Edessa and went to Urahai. It is told that he met a great ascetic “Yulian”. Ephrem learned various tough practices of ascetic life from him. Ephrem started a monastic life of extreme austerity during this time and started composing hymns. He taught his followers through his songs and revealed divine mysteries in his poetry. About the poet in Ephrem, Lamy wrote, “No other writer has ever possessed the power of bringing tears to the eyes while the reader is profoundly stirred….” Ephrem’s teachings are centered as practical Christian life – free-will, supernatural gift, spiritual combat, and devotion to Virgin Mary.


After the death of Contantine Nisibis was invaded by Sapor King of Persia. The prayers of Ephrem resulted in withdrawal of Sapors forces. St. Ephrem was called as “Violin of Holy Spirit” by St. Ivanios. In his last days he told his disciples “Don’t give me a great funeral, don’t deliver long speeches praising me. Don’t build monuments in my name. Don’t save my relics, as I am a sinner. ” He died on 9th June AD 373.

Great Lent #06 - 12/03/2011

Troubles in Life?

Previous days we learned about the basic things one should know about Lent / Confession and Sin. We go to church every Sunday, we do our prayers all 3 times, we take fasts / lents by church, we confess our sins. But when we are into troubles we are not like “Job”, We get irritated angry. But why this troubles in life? Yesterday I got a mail from my friend. It was really inspirational.

A great tennis star, was affected with cancer. So many fans wrote to him asking, WHY YOU? He replied them, 5,00,000 people love tennis. 50,000 plays it, 5,000 reach upto grand slam, Only 2 reach finals, and 1 gets the crown. When i was holding the crown i never asked GOD "WHY I".

There are so many people who are in trouble. We face so many problems in our daily life. Why do we suffer? Are they the trials given by God because we have committed sins? But Why God allows these trials and hardships?

I was just trying to find a solution from Holy Bible.

In Job 14:1 it is told "Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble".

Our life in this earth is full of troubles. By experience we come to know that Job's verses are true. Troubles concern us, not just because hardship itself is a burden, but also because affliction can lead to spiritual temptations. We may be tempted to feel that our trials justify committing sin. Once we face a trouble, or hardship we blame God for giving us the same. We will loose our faith, or we will begin to doubt His mercy. Bible states that also. Job's wife said, "Curse God and die" (Job 2:9).

According to experts, there are so many reasons not just one reason why people suffer.

1. Sometimes people suffer as a result of their sins

1 Chron. 10:13,14 :- King Saul lived a miserable life and eventually was slain because he had rebelled against God. Matthew 27:3-5 :- Judas killed himself because he had betrayed Jesus.

There can be so many instances which clarify these thoughts. Thieves get hurt, drunkards fall sick. But this is not the reason we get hardships.

2. Sometimes innocent people suffer as a result of other people's sins.

Incidents like when innocent bystander killed by a drunken driver or when a thief violently attacks his victims.

1 Peter 2:19-23 :-Jesus is an example of one who committed no sin at all, yet He was persecuted and killed by wicked men. So we may follow His example and suffer, not for our faults, but when we do good.

John 15:18-20 :- The treatment Jesus received should warn us of the treatment we can expect. The world hated Him and persecuted Him, and it will do the same to His servants.

2 Corinthians 11:23-26 - Paul's life shows that Jesus' followers truly often are persecuted.

2 Timothy 3:10-12 - All who live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution.

There are so many verses in Bible, which claims the above topic.

3. All people suffer as a result of Adam and Eve's sin.

The third reason often told, we suffer because we are children of Adam and Eve. In particular, it is because of Adam and Eve, we got death?

Gen. 3:16-19 - God originally placed Adam and Eve in a state of bliss with no problems of any kind. But He warned them of the consequences of sin. When they sinned anyway, He decreed they would endure pain, suffering, hardship, and eventual death.

This does not mean as some teach, that people today are born guilty of Adam's sin or will be eternally punished for it (Ezek. 18:20; 2 Cor. 5:10)

4. Some suffering is simply a temptation from Satan.

Job 1:1-2:10 - States that Job's suffering was a temptation from Satan. He hoped that, because he was suffering, Job would turn away from God.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

If we truly believe in God, he will be with us, he will hold us from all the suffering. And he will give us good results.

"It is good for me that I have been afflicted" (Psa. 119:71). Usually when we suffer we can only see the problems involved. Surely if we commit sin as a result, then the suffering is harmful. But if we remain faithful, there are favorable results that can occur.

1 Peter 1:6,7 - As gold is purified by passing through fire, so the genuineness of our faith is proved by trials.

In a summary we can tell

1. Suffering Gives Us Opportunity to Prove Our Commitment to God.
2. Suffering Causes Spiritual Growth.
3. Suffering Keeps Us Humble and Dependent on God.

Everyone can write what ever they feels. We are not Jesus Christ, nor Job, nor David. But we are his children. So he himself through Holy Bible conveys some messages to us.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
(Psalm 27:1)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
(Psalm 23:4-6)

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
(Psalm 27:10,14)

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
(Psalm 37:24)

Great Lent #05 - 11/03/2011

Sin

Yesterday we read about Confession. If we commit a Sin we should confess. But What is Sin? What does it mean to Sin? How does the Bible portray it?

The Greek word translated "sin" in the Bible is an interesting term. It, (hamartano), literally means, "to miss the mark."In shooting an arrow from a bow, if your arrow flies beyond the target or falls short of it, if it veers to the right of the target or to the left, you "miss the mark." If in our lives we go beyond the will of God, doing things God has said not to do; if we fall short of the will of God by not doing things commanded by God; if we veer away from God's will, doing things for which we have no authority; we "miss the mark" or SIN. As John states in 1 John 3:4, "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." Sin is lawlessness. God has revealed to us His law or will. The Bible is the final authority on sin and its consequences.

In the Old Testament Sin signifies simply what is unacceptable to God or even to humanity. However, in the New Testament anything wrongly related to God is Sin as St. Paul said in the Romans: “But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is Sin.”

How Can We Judge if Something is Sin? Many sins are spelled out plainly in the Bible. The Ten Commandments give us a clear picture of God's laws. They offer basic rules of behavior for spiritual and moral living. Many other verses in the Bible present direct examples of sin: Proverbs 6:16-19; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Apart from that What all can be classified as Sin? Mark 3:29 says, "But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.

Let us not “MISS the mark” atleast in these 50 days, Let us follow the Commandments! May God accept our Prayers and Fast!

Great Lent #04 - 10/03/2011

Confession

Once the Great Lent days start our Parish Priests’ keep on telling about the Holy Confession (Mal- Kumbasaram) before 40^th day of the Lent. Syriac Orthodox Church believers should confess atleast once in a year. But is that something which we should do only once in a year?

Our Holy Fathers teach us “If we feel we have committed a sin, we should confess it as early as possible to Priest and should not repeat it.” There are so many principles which flood in the new generation churches. Let us try to learn something about Sin and Confession.

Adam and Eve committed the first sin. Entire human’s immersed in it. We are born in Sin and we belive it is cleansed at the time of Holy Baptism (Ref: Holy Creed, Roman 5&7). God gave us free will so that we can differentiate evil and good.

Holy Baptism cleanses us from the Birth Sin and Confession is continuation of Baptism. We get back to our Lord through Confession. We sign an agreement through confession (John 20:2). Jesus sends his disciples to all over the world as representatives of Christ. We confess our sin to Priest, who is representative of Christ. (John 20:23, Mat 16:19, 18:18)

Great Lent #03 - 09/03/2011

Fasting / Lent

Our Forefathers often compares Human life as ‘Two Faced’ one. It is the conjunction of two aspects – ‘Eternal’ and ‘Physical/ Transient’. We are in middle of two faces. Just below Angels and above Animals.” Human beings have free will to fight against the evil. Whenever we go close to evil, we stand near to animals and if we control ourselves from the physical wishes we approach angels.

We live in a world where we tend to do more evil and less good! We are more attracted to the world than the eternal life. Lent / Fast always lead us to God and the eternal world. Jesus Christ himself showed us how to fast. If Christ fasted for 40 days then how much we should do to cleanse ourself from the bad deeds we do every day. Our Prayers often reminds about the importance of Lent. “Lent saved Daniel from Lions! Lent saved Peter from Jail!”

Lent in Canon

1. Apart from Holy Saturday (Sat after Good Friday) we should not observer fasting.
2. Should not observe Lent from Easter to Pentacost
3. Old People, Pregnant ladies, sick, Babies can be exempted from Lent with Prior permission of Priest.


Compulsory Lent in Canon

1. 25 Days before Christmas
2. Ninaveh Lent
3. Great Lent
4. Fast for the intercession of the Apostles (June 26-29)
5. Fast for the intercession of Virgin Mary (August 1-15)
6. Every WEDNESDAY (Jesus Christ birth in St. Mary)and FRIDAY (Crucifiction of Christ)