November 17, 2006
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Fr. was invited to the speak to the 4th and 5th grades at our children’s school – A Classical and Christian School, in the Reform tradition. He was asked to speak about the history of the Orthodox Church,. The 4th and 5th graders study the Middle Ages/Byzantium. Fr. had this timeline blown up and put onto foam board along with a map of the Byzantine Empire. I think the talk went very well and the children and parents appreciated it. Fr. always enjoys the children, they are very bright, interesting and Godly children. He spoke to the art class a few weeks ago, when the 4th and 5th graders were studying iconography. The art, history and Bible lessons are purposely designed to compliment each other and the periods of history the children are studying. Fr. brought in the icons of the 12 Great Feasts of the Church Year and because the children are familiar with the stories from the Holy Bible, they could easily identify the icons.
We had a wonderful discussion with the boys last night about Pentecost and the beginning of the Church. We were both amazed at how Basil could articulate the stories he knows from Holy Scripture and connect them with the Feasts of the Church. In his short little life he has participated, Liturgically, in the majority of these feast and celebrated them at home, as well. Glory be to God!
A Word About Church History
Scholars estimate there are over 2600 groups today who lay claim to being the Church, or at least the direct descendants of the Church described in the New Testament. Repeat: 2600!
But for the first thousand years of her history the Church was essentially one. Five historic Patriarchal centers–Jerusalem; Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople– formed a cohesive whole and were in full communion with each other. There were occasional heretical or schismatic groups going their own way, to be sure; but the Church was unified until the 11th century. Then, in events culminating in A.D.1054, the Roman Patriarch pulled away from the other four, pursuing his long-developing claim of universal headship of the Church.
Today, nearly a thousand years later, the other four Patriarchates remain intact, in full communion, maintaining that Orthodox apostolic faith of the inspired New Testament record. The Orthodox Church and her history is described herein, from Pentecost to the present day.
Click on various parts of the timeline for more information.
It is very nice that they do ask for Fr. to come in and speak. He has a lot to offer. The school , of course comes from the Western Christian traditon, but it is wonderful that they are also willing to teach about the early church and the Eastern Orthodox tradition. The early church belongs to all Christians! We are all part of the same shared history, we were one united Church for the first 1000 years of Christianity.
A few parents asked to come and a few teachers too. What was really special is a few weeks after he spoke in the art class, the art teacher is an amazing lady, btw., I was at school and I saw an icon of Christ in a little girl’s cubby. Fr. passed out a small icon in a frame that stands up, to all the children. We feel so blessed to be a part of such a special school. The children are just full of joy! My experiences in grade school and middle school were, much, much different.
Hi Lisa! RYC, yep.. A LOT to take in, but really there was so much more. Like how incredible Chris, my DH, did here without me at home. As, I was talking to him each day, the sound in his voice was just like we were dating again. He was so excitedto talk with me. He told me that he talked to Gracie about the dangers of smoking. He got thier hair cuts, the house was immaculate. (Reaffirmed he IS a better cleaner than myself). He organized my cabinets, cut out my FAVORITE PARTS OF THE SUNDAY PAPER!!!! Just reaffirmed that he really did miss the heck out of me….who can blame him….LOL!!!! But seriosuly, it was good for our marriage, and for him as a dad, and for my girls too! God also helped me find itmes in my luggage that I did not want to turn the light on for because Ling was sleeping, and I’d forget to cahrge my camera, so I’d ask God to help me find my charger, and I’d literally stick myt hand in my huge suitcase, and pull it right out. My paperwork was flawless. Thanks to my HIGHLY TYPE A personality DH. I did not get “taken”. Had the BEST massage IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. By a little Chinese gal, who fr an hour and half was only $30!! She masaged my orbitals, and my ears!!! (pressure points) Lisa let me tell you, if I could have taken this little lady home I would!!! I met AWESOME families, we were able to witnes to our guides, who were Buddhist, and hopefully was able to see Chris in us. Lisa, I can just go on and on……I am still reeling from it all. I hope I NEVER get over it. It was an INCREDIBLE experience. Sorry so long here.
ryc: thank you as always for your sweet comments. I chickened out on cutting the girls’ hair. I just got it trimmed and kept it long. It hurt enough just to see their wispy baby curls at the bottom get cut off.
Add one more to the RC part of that Church History timeline: The dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was pronounced ex cathedra in 1954. Remember it well. Now, as with the other two (the Immaculate Conception and Papal Infallibility), all Catholics are required to believe that the Mother of God was “assumed” into heaven — whether while she was still living or after she had died, seems to be debatable. Many Catholics assure me it was while she was still living, but I always thought I had learned she had died first. I know we believe the same thing, that her body was taken to heaven to be reunited with her soul, but at least among us, there is no debate about whether or not she had died first, and we don’t tell people they will go to hell if they don’t believe it.
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