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Dear Friends,

Just a couple of reflections on the Omophorion.

As we know, it is also, in some Byzantine circles, called a "scapular" or "Naplechnyk" since it is worn on the shoulders.

It signifies a public symbol meaning "readiness to serve" and was borrowed from the Roman civil service (as was the double-looped chain that Eastern priests wear to this day with their pectoral Crosses).

It also signifies the Divine Mantle of protection and authority to speak and act in the name of the Church, an abundance of Grace bestowed on the individual so consecrated to God's service.

The mantle of Protection of the Mother of God is precisely this garment that she extended and extends over her charges. We also prayerfully refer to Bishop-Saints, such as Nicholas of Myra, and ask him to place us under the protection of his episcopal mantle.

The Western devotion of the small scapular is ultimately an extension of this same garment and its underlying meaning.

Alex

Dear OrthodoxEast,

Be that as it may, but I do think His All-Holiness does play an important role in terms of inter-Church relations (leaving "ecumenism" aside for now).

He does remind us EC's about our responsibilities to live up to the standards of our Eastern Church heritage.

He does remind Rome that all talk and no real action won't result in positive conclusions (ie. Rome's not budging on things like the Filioque et al.).

Our bishop himself, when he ran afoul of Rome way back, went to visit His All-Holiness who received him with great respect and love.

He even invited him to join in communion with him.

But, ultimately, he told him that whatever he decides, he abides in his love.

He's O.K., that old Hierarch!

Alex

He invited him to have communion with him, Alex? Am I reading you correctly? Please don't tell me that you mean "Holy Communion," i.e., communio in sacris, in violation of the Holy Canons of the Orthodox Church! And you wonder why we Orthodox get upset with Patriarch Bartholomew when (often unfounded) rumors like this float about!

OrthodoxEast

Dear OrthodoxEast,

I meant "communion" in the sense of ecclesial communion - not the EP giving Holy Communion to a uniate traitor, bereft of the Grace of God!

Alex

Alex, I did not say or impute anyone is bereft of the Grace of God, Eastern Catholic, Protestant or whatever. That is not for me or the Orthodox Church to judge. But we know where the parameters of the Orthodox Church are, but not where they are not. You do know what I mean. The Orthodox Church knows only "communion," not "closed communion," "open communion," etc., etc. The way you worded your post it did appear to me that you *might* have meant *Holy Communion.* The Ecumenical Patriarch has already been roundly criticized in some Orthodox circles for this very thing, which I have yet to see substantiated. Have a good day.

OrthodoxEast

Dear OrthodoxEast,

As proof that I am a uniate heretic etc. I offer my sheer and utter enjoyment at seeing you squirm a bit . . .

Have a great day too, Big Guy!

Happy St John Maximovich of Shanghai Day!

Alex

Also to you, Alex, happy feast of St. John [Maximovitch] the Wonderworker and Fool-for-Christ, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco! S'prazdnikom!

OrthodoxEast

Dear OrthodoxEast,

What is fascinating is how St John was named for his ancestor, St John Maximovych of Siberia.

In addition, another candidate for glorification is Leonty Filipovich of Chile.

He is a direct descendant of St Athanasius Filipovich of Brest, killed by Catholics.

If it is any consolation, Uniates have a history of venerating Athanasius too!

Alex

IIRC the Slav Greek Catholics also call the "amice" by the same name.

Dear Tony,

I love such things and I'd become a priest, if I could, but am now too old, just to wear such vestments.

I like anything with tassels . . .

O.K., I need treatment! But I think you've already strongly suspected that before now . . .

Alex

Dear Alex,

Please tell us more about your fascination with tassels. How long have you had this fetish? :-)

OrthodoxEast

Dear OrthodoxEast,

Actually, I'm developing a fascination with why you can't seem to manage a proper smiley here!

Colon or semi-colon with closed bracket only, Big Guy!

But if you must know, my tassel-fetish comes from Psalm 133:

It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.

Tassels represented mystically the downflow of the Oil of God's Mercy and they were worn by both Jews and Christians as symbolic of this.

And since I've long lived on the fringes of societal norms . . .

Alex

Dear Alex:

Somebody I know with a doctoral tassel love, and is always eager, to tussle.

Are we angling for a post-doctoral tassel?


Amado
Who also likes to hassle.

Dear Alex,

You're right. I can't do the proper smileys here. I don't seem to be able to find the directions. Truth be told, I'm not all that 'puter literate. To make matters worse, I'm hopelessly dyslexic, a learning disability which was never diagnosed until I was an adult and teaching "at risk" kids myself!

Now about your tassel fetish.....C'mon, there must be more. I was trained (in a 3-credit hour graduate-level course) as a counselor: I'm willing to listen. :-)

Orthodox East

Daft question time coming up

if ( and ) are closed brackets

What are

1) [ and ]
and
2 { and }



Anhelyna