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Of as one deacon candidate once put it to me: 'We have THREE liturgical colors... "Bright", "Dark", and "VERY BEST".'

Micklegarth is the old English (Anglo-Saxon) name for Constantinople. I think it is connected with one of the Byzantine Emperors named Michael who made a strong impression on the English.

The English actually formed the major portion of the mercenary soldiers in Constantinople by the 11th century. Although they had been arriving there in earlier centuries, it was the Norman invasion of England in 1066 and the imposition of Continental Christianity in England and of French Norman bishops and the destruction of the older Anglo-Saxon Church which caused thousands of the English, the nobility and the educated and the affluent, to emigrate from England, Many fled to Constantinople (where they were permitted to organise their own "Western Rite" churches) and many went to Russia, to Norway, etc.

Have a look at
"English Refugees in the Byzantine Armed Forces: The Varangian Guard and
Anglo-Saxon Ethnic Consciousness" by Nicholas C.J. Pappas

http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/articles/pappas1.htm


Fr Andrew Phillips has some pages about the English and old Micklegarth (Constantinople) in his "ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY AND THE OLD ENGLISH CHURCH" (start reading at about page 27)

http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/pdf/Orthodox_Christianity_and_the_Old_English_Church.pdf

The "Very Best" are often saved for Pascha!

Fr. Serge

Bless, Father,

I knew ... although I thought the name was associated with the Goths.

I was just curious to see how long before someone asked.

Many years,

Neil

http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/articles/pappas1.htm

This is an extract from the full text in the link above.

"A number of modern scholars believe that among the first military operations in which the Anglo-Saxons of the Varangian guard were involved was the Byzantine campaign in the Balkans against the Italo-Norman forces of Robert Guiscard. The Alexiad of Anna Comnena mentions their participation and elsewhere reports that these troops came from "Thule".[25] While this evidence has been open to dispute, revenge against the Normans may have been a factor in Anglo-Saxon service.[26]

Another hint of ethnic consciousness appears in the account of the Jarvardar saga, which tells the story of the emigration of a large body of Anglo-Saxons, in 350 ships, which arrived in Constantinople in time to save the city from a naval attack by "heathens". Following this engagement:

They stayed a while in Micklegarth [Constantinople], and set the realm of the Greek-king free from strife. King Kirjalax [Alexius] offered them to abide there and guard his body as was wont of the Varangians who went into his pay, but it seemed to earl Sigurd and the other chiefs that it was too small a career to grow old there in that fashion, that they had not a realm to rule over; and they begged the king to give them some towns or cities which they might own and their heirs after them...king Kirjalax told them that he knew of a land lying north in the sea, which had lain of old under the emperor of Micklegarth, but in later days the heathen had won it and abode in it. And when the Englishmen heard that, they took a title from king Kirjalax that the land should be their own and their heirs after them if they could get it won under them from the heathen men free from tax and toll. The king granted them this. After that the Englishmen fared away out of Micklegarth and north into the sea, but some chiefs stayed behind in Micklegarth, and went into service there. Earl Sigurd and his men came to this land and had many battles there and got the land won, but drove away all the folk that abode there before. After that they took that land into possession and gave it a name, and called it England. To the towns that were in the land and to those which they built they gave the names of the towns of England. They called them both London and York, and by the names of other great towns in England...This land lies six days' and six nights' sail across the sea to the east and northeast of Micklegarth; and there is the best land there; and that folk has abode there ever since.[27]

According to the recently discovered Chronicon universale anonymi Laudunensis, a group of English notables immigrated to Byzantium in 235 ships, reaching Constantinople in 1075. Some 4350 of the emigrants and their families remained in Constantinople in imperial service, while a majority of the refugees sailed to a place called Domapia, six days' journey from Byzantium, conquered it and renamed it Nova Anglia (New England).[28]"

I think I understand the reason why the Greek tradition would use "dark" and "light".

Can someone explain why the Russian Church uses White and Red (both falling in the "light" category, no?) and what each mean?

thanks

Herb

No offense intended, but "Muscovite" is a common term, and in my posts I am careful enough to distinguish between the "Muscovite" and "South-West Rus" traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church. I am fully aware that Muscovy is not the entirety of Russian Orthodox Church, but is important to it.

Actually, during the time between Peter I and the 1917 Revolution, Russia had two capitals simultaneously: Moscow and Saint Petersburgh. Imperial coronations, for example, always took place in Moscow and so did certain other functions.

Fr. Serge

Folks,

Please, let's stay on the subject of vesture and avoid meandering. There is no joy in closing otherwise interesting threads because they become so intertwined with tangential discussions that OPs and others interested in them throw up their hands and walk away.

Many years,

Neil

I've seen this assertion -- that Jerusalem and Mount Athos (and Patmos) use red for Pascha and Nativity -- debated time and again in various Eastern Christian forums. Does anyone have pictures?

I've not heard this about Jerusalem, Athos, and/or Patmos, but it's certainly true in Russia and there is no particular shortage of pictures to prove it, if anyone wants to be bothered.

Fr. Serge

Thank you!

Of course. The Russian Orthodox and OCA are quite good in posting liturgical eye-candy -- boosting the soul in the process.

Now, if only they'll be kinder to Catholics.