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Dear Marshall,

For some reason, the Old Testament, I am told on good authority (Orthodox Jewish) considers dogs et al. "unclean" - I don't know why.

Anglican theologian Linzey says that there is no question but that animals are innocents and incapable of sin.

And he believes, as do I, that they go straight to heaven.

The Eastern Church especially believes that the entire Cosmos is renewed and saved and transfigured in Christ.

In my relationships with my pet-companions, I've come to the conclusion that they will always be at our side, in one form or another.

And I know I did hear my dead dog bark at me soon after his death.

Books have been written about that phenomenon as well.

What it means - I don't know.

Alex

Dear Alex,

And I must admit that the minute I return home from work the first ten minutes are spent in a delightful schmooze fest with my canine friend. My poor husband knows that there is no use even trying to talk to me before the pooch and I have exchanged heartfelt greetings!

Khrystyna, for whom the "Peanuts" admonition that "happiness is a warm puppy" is one of life's most beautiful truisms!

Dear Khrystyna,

Yes, our previous dog only had eyes for me alone!

But "Mookie" lies in wait for my wife to come home and then rushes like a "mad dog" toward her.

He is also known to sleep beside her when we're at the cottage sunbathing.

What a suck!

Alex

Oh Alex,

I'm laughing so hard! I know exactly what you mean. We had a beautiful black Chow at one time and I soon found out that he had "chosen" my husband from the get go. Oh, he'd condescendingly accept a few pats and scratches from me now and then (hugs from me were generally not permitted unless I had a treat in my hand) but it was absolutely humiliating to watch my husband wrap his arms around him and cuddle him while King Canine gave me the most smug look I have ever seen.

The ultimate humiliation was when we would be taking him to vet to update shots, etc. He insisted on riding on the front seat next to my husband while I rode in the back.

I became, to my shame, the talk of the neighbors. Nevertheless, I loved this dog as much as all the animals I have ever loved.

Sweet revenge has come with our current canine. He adores me lock, stock and barrel and my husband now knows the Biblical meaning of receiving "crumbs from the master's table."

:rolleyes:

Dear Khrystyna,

I have a book of poems and reflections on dogs and cats etc.

I can't read it without being moved to tears - and who doesn't need a good cry now and again - yes, even us macho men . . .

One poem said, in effect, "Lord, may my heaven be with all the dogs I've ever loved and fed."

Rudyard Kipling, in describing his relationship to his dogs, wrote: "Give a dog your heart, and watch him play with it, and toss it into the air, only to be dashed in pieces on the rocks of life's waves."

Another wrote, as if words from his dog who died, "Do not weep for me, for I am the sunlight in the morning, the dew that rests on the green grass, I am evening darkness that envelopes the night and I am to be found in the glimmer of the stars of the sky - do not weep for me."

But I do anyway . . .

I was impressed with how my little Poncie bravely faced impending death.

I picked him up in my arms one last time and he licked my hand and then leaned against my chest and I felt him expire.

I like to believe that the very real bark I heard in our home the day after was him coming to tell me that everything was all right, that he would not suffer any more, and that he would wait for me to come to him again so that we could play ball in carefree abandon in meadows far removed from this world.

I know he waits for me.

And I for him.

Let's both go get some Kleenex, shall we?

Alex

I have enjoyed this thread on animals, and I myself have a life-history of knowing and having pets as members of my household. I view them as both friends and faithful companions and tend to treat them with just as much respect and consideration as I would anyone. I firmly believe that they know and understand much of what we say and communicate and certainly have feelings, unique personalities and insights into what is happening around them.

I have a question for anyone who may know more about the subject: It has often been stated to me, by the "hyper-pious" (especially in traditionalist Orthodox circles) that, in the Orthodox tradition (including assumedly, our own Greek Catholic culture), dogs are particularly not allowed to enter the church proper. If a dog were to somehow get inside the temple, then the entire church must be "re-blessed" or "re-consecrated" with special prayers being recited to remedy these occasions. Cats are not considered by this philosophy to be in the same category as dogs and in fact, can even live in the church, since they are good protectors against mice and the like. (I could take exception to this as well, as merely giving the "ok" to cats for their utilitarian function.)

I have never agreed with or understood this prohibition and obsession with the presence of dogs in a church. While understandably, it would not generally be appropriate to have pets present regularly during public worship, for the comfortability level of the congregation and the smooth celebration of the divine services, I cannot comprehend the overwhelming obsession on the part of some "legalists" with the consequences of a dog entering the church and the necessary steps to take in the event that this should happen. Does anyone have any insight as to why some people are overly concerned with this?

In like manner, I've heard it said that if someone were to die in a church, then the temple would also need to be "re-blessed" and other prayers recited, to counteract whatever undesirable repercussions could occur.

To me, both alleged prohibitions seem nonsense and to have their root in plain superstition. They certainly seem to have no connection to Christian belief or the teachings of Our Lord or any saints that I am familiar with. What is so horrible about a person passing from this life inside a church building? Rather, it would seem to me as a blessed place from which to enter the next life. And, given much of what has been said (quite beautifully and correctly) in this thread, what would be so "un-Orthodox" about the possibility that a dog should find his or her way into God's house?

Alex's observation that (not his agreement with), "For some reason, the Old Testament, I am told on good authority (Orthodox Jewish) considers dogs et al. "unclean" - I don't know why." is very likely a part of the history of the Eastern Christian obsession with dogs in a church, but this still does not convince me of its necessity or helpfulness as part of our tradition now. Considerations such as this are the same arguments behind the origin of the still current prohibition of women entering the sanctuary (altar area), and the preoccupation of some people of what should happen if a female should happen into the "holy of holies" at any point in time, whether during a service or merely at some non-liturgical time. There was, as we know, a concern with ritual impurity (OT origins) and the fact that women might have a flow of blood during the menstrual cycle. It is interesting that in some jurisdictions, this latter law is relaxed, particularly to allow women to "clean" the church, including the sanctuary. However, I don't intend to enter here into a discussion of the appropriateness of allowing women to enter the altar for whatever reason. It's been discussed enough already and we all know the various historical practices throughout the centuries. My question here regards the two other concerns: what should happen if (a) a dog enters the church and (b) someone should die in a church.

I've never found any acceptable explanations of these rather widely taught traditions (small "t" of course) and would be grateful if anyone could shed further light on their origins. Again, I do not agree with these types of obsessions and don't understand their application to the Christian life.

By the way, I too have come into contact with members of an organization that rescues retired greyhounds from annihilation. These are wonderful and loving people who truly have hearts and care about the destiny of these beautiful animals. Each year, near the Feast of St. Francis, I am invited to a gathering of members of this organization, in order to bless the greyhounds and their adopted parents and pray for their welfare and good health. It is always a moving occasion and one that I enjoy greatly.

God bless you all,

Fr. Joe

Dear Reverend Father,

I am so inspired by your beautiful post! It just lights up my heart to know there are so many Christians who share an appreciation and concern for all of God's creatures.

I've been mulling over the Middle Eastern cultural bias against dogs. From an Orthodox Jewish viewpoint I wonder if the fact that the dogs and jackals of the ancient Near East, being carnivores and predators, were considered "unclean" by the fact that they fed on whatever carcasses might have been lying around. I'm sure there's probably more to the story and it's piqued my curiosity. Even if that were the case, though, in our day and age it seems outdated to condemn a dog for being what it was meant to be. Besides, in living a domesticated life as a companion to human beings there is no need for dogs to scavenge anymore.

I am also truly grateful for the blessings you bestow upon the greyhounds and their companions, and your blessing bestowed upon this forum!

Khrystyna

About four years ago, a priest was celebrating a daily Mass at our Roman Catholic church when a black and white dog nonchalantly walked in, came up and walked around the altar, and walked quietly out again without a sound.
Somewhere, in my papers - who knows where, unless I mistakenly tossed it out in my recent move? - I have a poem I had written about this. I don't know if I"ll find the poem, but I recall it all seemed rather natural, as if the dog was just curious, came around for a look, and walked down the aisle out of the church without disturbing a thing!
Communion of Saints

Yes but think of all the animals that protected the saints. St. John Bosco had a dog that kept watch after him. So how could that thing about dogs hold water. That is nonsence.

Rose

Dear Friends,

Well, I've seen a person fall down and die in Church - the Church wasn't blessed or anything like that as a result.

More and more of our priests are bringing newly baptized baby girls right into the sanctuary, as is done with boys - no problem.

Women direct some altar boys' guilds and I've seen them go into the Sanctuary - again the roof didn't fall down about our ears, nor did lightning flash . . .

It seems to me that the Eastern Church has a very positive relationship to animals that comes from its understanding of the Cosmos etc.

Many Eastern Churches and Cathedrals (e.g. St Sophia in Kyiv) depict animals in iconic form as part of the experiences of the new life in Christ.

Many Saints have kept cats and have meditated by following the rhythm of their purring - in Mongolia, the word for "praying with the beads" is the same as for "purring like a cat." I confirmed this with the Mongolian Ambassador who visited us some weeks ago!

Icons with Saints with lions at their feet are meant to depict cats - the iconographer obviously didn't know why a Saint would want to keep a cat or what it would be used for!

I personally believe that if a dog should walk into a sanctuary - that doesn't pollute anyone or anything.

If someone should die in Church, that shouldn't mean a special blessing either, except, of course, if there was some eivdence the person was mildly possessed . . .

Alex

Dear Rose,
Dogs are intelligent and wonderful, of course! But you know, don't you, that the dog you mentioned was ... well, according to what I have read of our friend Saint John Bosco, this was no ordinary dog because it tended to do its remarkable protecting and then disappear and later reappear - an angelic dog, if you will, not an earthly animal. How do I explain this? It was as if it were an apparition, yet it was seen by many people. The dog's name I think was Grigio, or something similar.
As for the prohibition against dogs, I will look that up one day. I would think it had been an ancient custom or attitude, no longer in force today.
I admit, however, that I've not read this thread entirely, so I may've missed something.
C of S

Dear C of S,

Perhaps it was all about the Church not wanting to be said to be "going to the dogs . . ."

Alex

One thinks of Blessed Julian of Norwich and her beloved cat!!

Dear Brian,

Yes - St Julian also listened to the purring of her cat during her meditation!

Alex

I once had a snail that appeared on the window sill of my cell at the same time and was given salad greens.

Charles Kingley had a wasp.

I forget which Celtic saint had a fly that would walk under the line of the service book he was reading.

Spasi Khristos -
Mark, monk and sinner.