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Hello, peace be with you all!
I would like to thank all the people for their responses to my questions since I have recently entered this forum, I have learned much so far. I will now know a little better the practices that take place during the divine liturgy ;-).

I do not mean to be a bother to anyone, but I am merely curious and I love the liturgy of the east. In that spirit, I would like to ask some questions of different topics, if nobody minds.

Firstly, when I have gone about my studies of eastern iconography (very beautiful), I noticed an icon of mary with three hands (or arms). I would like to know what the significance is of this extra appendage (sorry for sounding too rationalistic).

Secondly, what is the significance of the candelabra (or menorah?) at the altar in the sanctuary? At the parish I frequent, there is a cross behind this candelabra (of significance as well?).

Thirdly, what is the purpose of saying "the doors, the doors, in wisdom let us attend" or "wisdom"? Is it an acclamation?

I thank you all for any response and I would also like to continue this thread as a type of "Q & A", if that is alright.

-Thank you all, peace,
Justin

Hey Catholic,

The others in this forum can answer the rest of your questions better than I. However, I have the Icon of the three hands I can tell you a short story behind it. The Icon is believe to be painted by St. Luke. I am not sure who it was (someone will tell you) but they lost there hand and prayed in front of the Icon. To make a long story short there hand grew back and the person painted the 3rd hand to the Icon.

Icons are rich in meaning and I am not qualified to explain them but many in the forum can.

God Bless!

Dear Justin,

I'll give you my two cents' worth . . .

The Icon you are referring to is the miraculous Icon of the Three Hands or, in Greek, "Triherousa" of St John of Damascus.

He wrote in defence of icons and, to get him to stop, the Emperor had his right hand cut off and hung over a door in a gibbet as a warning to other iconophiles.

Finally, St John asked for his hand back and this request was granted.

He then stood in prayer before his cell icon of the Mother of God and his right hand miraculously reattached itself to his arm.

In thanksgiving, he placed a silver representation of his hand on his cell icon and this is why it is called "Of the Three Hands."

This icon is the patronal Icon of Orthodox Serbia and there is a a beautiful liturgical Akathist in its honour that I have in Russian.

People with pain in the hands or arms pray to this Icon as I have for my wife and as Angela of Glasgow has for her daughter, Tina.

The menorah of seven candles represents the plenitude of the Grace of God as present in the seven sacraments and it is derived from Judaism. The Cross in front of it signifies the New Covenant Who is Jesus Christ.

"The doors, the doors" was simply a request by the Priest in former times for the Deacon to shut the doors of the Church so that no unbaptized person comes into the Church for the praying of the Creed and the start of the Eucharistic Canon. Today, this can signify for us that we enter into the rooms of our hearts and shut the doors therein where we pray to the Father in secret.

"Wisdom" is a call to be attentive with our minds in our hearts to the Word of God and the action of the Holy Spirit during the Liturgy at special and specific moments.

Like Solomon, we should pray to the Holy Spirit at those times to give us the gift of true Wisdom which is Jesus Christ.

When the Priest uses his censer, we can stretch out our hands and pray: Your Good Spirit will lead me in the land of uprightness.

Thank you, friend, for this opportunity for me to strengthen myself in faith and, after writing this, to want to praise and worship God right now!!

Alex

Alex, that is a wonderful explanation, rich and full of tradition. Thank you for that inspired description. Michael

Dear Celticson,

Thank you for your kindness and may God bless you, Anam-Chara!

You must be of Celtic backround, are you? The Celtic Church is a great interest with me and I love the wonderful Celtic practices and the lives of the saints.

St Columba, pray,

Alex

Dear Justin,

Just to add to what Alex has already written. When the divine Liturgy was first being said in church buildings, the catechumens would be present for the first part of the Liturgy (what the Latin Church calls the "Liturgy of the Word."

They were supposed to have left the church before the Great Entrance but this was sometimes confusing (the deacon would proclaim: "All catechumens, depart. Catechumens, depart. All catechumens, depart. Let no catechumen remain.") Therefore, the deacon would tell the deaconess/doorkeeper (she was known by both names) to close the doors, and then to search the faces of those who remain to ensure that only the faithful remained.

Edward, deacon and sinner

Alex,

I am indeed of celtic ancestry. This year has included the fact that the eastern church predated the Roman church in the islands by many years, something I now find quite natural as I explore celtic spirtuality. I will keep you informed as my western past meets the east. God Bless Alex and may St. Brendan protect us!

Slainte,
Michael

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Alex,

I'm puzzled - I always thought that the Triherousa icon was the result of a Saracen pirate attaking an icon of the Mother of God on Mt Athos. The story I know is that the hand of the pirate disappeared from his arm and appeared on the icon - this converted the pirate, and after much prayer, it was restored to him.

I was always under the impression that St John of Damascus wrote his works under Arab rule, and that's why he was able to write iconophile works during a time when the Empire was under iconoclast emperors - he lived outside the Empire!

I'm confused!

Yours,

Edward

Dear Celticson,

As you know, there is the devotion to the 7 Holy Coptic monks buried in Ireland. There is so much that St John Cassian brought with him from the Coptic world into Europe and that Celtic Christianity assimilated!

There is a website with a translated Celtic Breviary, Liturgy and Celi-De Calendar you might be interested in having a look at: CelticChristianity.org.

They also used a form of the Jesus Prayer and said, as you know, the entire Psalter each and every day in groups of fifties, but following the 12 Psalm breakdown of the book.

Nigel Tranter, the Scottish author, wrote a series of excellent Celtic Church novels, "Druid Sacrifice" "Columba" and others that really gives one a feel for Celtic Christianity and Celtic monasticism.

I believe that just as "the Irish saved civilization" so too the Celtic Church and traditions will help revitalize Christianity in the West!

Alex

Dear Patriarch Edward,

Thank you, once again, for your kindness in sending me a touch relic of St Edward the Martyr!
I remember you before it daily!

The icon you mention is actually the miraculous Athonite icon of Portaitissa which was struck in the face twice by a pirate whose hand quickly shrivelled up.

This pirate became an Orthodox monk and did penance for his blasphemous act for the rest of his life.

When asked what his name was, he said, "My name is 'Barbarian' for only a real barbarian could have done what I did."

He died in the odour of sanctity, miracles occurred and Mt. Athos locally canonized him as "St. Barbarus" and he is now in the general Orthodox Calendar as well.

St John Damascus was going through territory of the Emperor whose ire he raised with his writings when he was arrested and his hand was cut off.

You are right, of course, that he lived outside the jurisdiction of the Emperor so he could freely write against his iconoclastic policies.

The Emperor wanted to win the Muslims over as allies and so thought he could better do so by following an iconoclastic course of action in his empire.

But there is no doubt that the Triherousa is the icon of St John Damascus and bears a representation of his severed hand. Both the Icon and St John are considered patrons of hand pain, and I have this in the Old Believer Calendar of Bielaya Krinitsa as well.

Alex

Oh Alex,

Perhaps we should market a line of mouse pads featuring the icon as a no-fail specific against carpal tunnel syndrome!

(I'm sure there is shelf space right next to the St. Joseph Home Sale Kits.)

Whaddaya think???

Very Seriously

Sharon

Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com

Dear Mother Sharon,

It is SO GOOD to have you back and to have the privilege to converse with you in cyberspace!!

I once had a very "understanding employer" (NOT) who had me working day and night.

My hands were getting stiff and a doctor recommended me to a specialist to check for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Early tests proved positive. But I saw what they did to you to correct the condition and, no thanks!

I prayed to the Icon of the Three Hands, kept it with me at work and everywhere I went.

Two weeks later, when I went back for a pre-surgery examination, there was no carpal condition whatever.

The doctor was even angry that I had wasted his time . . .

I was so happy that I danced all the way home (and handed in my resignation the next day).

I thanked our Lady of the Three Hands and said, "Thank you, Most Holy Mother, Our Blessed Lady of wasted time . . ."

This also taught me to never dismiss the power of prayer "out of hand" so to speak . . .

I am for putting icons everywhere. I have an icon corner on my work desk as I write this.

The more the merrier!

Alex

Slave of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Mother of God

[ 01-23-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]

Dear Justin;

Others have answered your liturgical questions.

I am familiar with the same answer that Alex gave above regarding the icon of the three hands. I just don't like it. I prefer to search for biblical answers to iconographic questions. Otherwise icons begin to take on a magical aura that just doesn't sit right with me. Additionally, the icon seems to be a theological mistake.

Therefore, I propose that the meaning of "The Icon of the Three Hands" can be found in Psalm 98:

"Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory..."

In this sense, the extra right hand is of the Lord (Yahweh), God the Father, the source of the Godhead, including the Son, and of the New Eve, the font of our salvation.

Thus this icon represents the fulfillment of God's plan, the restitution of the created with the uncreated.

My theory anyway,

Fr. Dcn. John

Dear Fr. Deacon John,

Sorry you don't like the explanation!

But it is a factual and an historical one!

St John simply hung an image of his healed hand over the icon, as is done on thousands of similar icons all over the Orthodox world today.

I find that to be an expression of great intimacy and union with our Lord and the Mother of God who perform miracles for us all the time.

Certainly, your scriptural references are entirely appropriate and applicable.

But you shouldn't "not like" the other explanation.

Alex

There is no theology behind the three-handed icon. It was a misunderstanding that became a tradition.


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The Three Handed Mother of God (Troeruchitsa):

The “Three Handed” Mother of God is a famous Mt. Athos icon still kept at the Serbian Monastery of Khilandari on that “Holy Mountain.”

It is said that in the 8th Century the noted anti-iconoclast John of Damascus was in the service of the Caliph of that city. The iconoclast Byzantine Emperor Leo attempted to alienate John's employer with forged letters in John's handwriting which urged Leo to attack the Caliph. These forgeries were accepted by the Caliph, who had John's hand struck off as punishment. John took his severed hand to an icon of the Mother of God and prayed to be healed so that he might continue to write against the iconoclasts. The Mother of God heard his prayer and promised to heal him if he would compose hymns to her and to Christ.

In gratitude for his healing, John had a commemorative silver hand affixed to the lower part of the image. Later, painters, copying this image, often misunderstood the added hand and made it a third hand of the mother of God.

[Taken from: ]http://www.aristotle.net/~sirwinston/russianfourparts.html] [aristotle.net]

[ 01-25-2002: Message edited by: J Thur ]