December | 2006 | presvlisa's Xanga Site

Month: December 2006

Is this the same child that goes to anyone who wants to hold her?

The boys have never really been into Santa and are fond of saying, “Santa is not real, but St. Nicholas is.”
We don’t tell them much about Santa one way or the other. But they have lots of questions about Santa and whether or not they believe etc…the questions usually start with, “If Santa is real , then…..”
Nicholas told Santa what he wants and he didn’t tell me so now Nicholas is testing the theory. The best I could do was tell him, “Santa doesn’t get presents, that the parents, don’t want their children to have. ” (like a very expensive gaming system).
I hadn’t planned on it, but we were right there, downtown, so we got in line to see Santa (it went fast). I wanted to put the baby in Santa’s lap to get that stereotypical, “baby in Santa’s lap” photo. I snapped a few pictures (I wasn’t going to pay for them) , the boys played along for the sake of the photo. Deep down though I think they want to believe but are just kind of wise about how the whole thing can be real. “How does he get down the chimney?” etc… Anyway I like getting credit for the presents I loving choose for them and I tell them that the stockings are filled by Santa. I remember very well that feeling on Christmas morning of seeing the stockings bulging and knowing Santa had been there and had eaten the baklava and kourambethis, that like any good Greek family we had left out for him along with a tall glass of milk (we are also Americans you know!). It is nice to be a child…it goes so quickly. They have a good foundation in the Church and understand what it means to be a follower of Christ so I am not worried about a little Christmas fun!

Look how Maria~Angelica is looking at Santa. LOL!

She’s STILL starring at HIM! LOL! Nicholas looks really bored and Jonah looks like he is entertaining the idea that HE might be real… This picture just cracks me up everytime I look at it!

Downtown at the train display put on by the electric company. We go every year and I remember going as a kid. The folks down there are so nice and they enjoyed it when the boys all wanted to sign the guest book.
~Very good message! Please take the time to read it.~
I saw a brief promotional trailer the other day of a new film entitled “Black Christmas.” According to what I saw, I would have to describe the genre as “slasher” or “horror.” There was a great deal of hysterical screaming, demonic faces, flashing knives and blood splattering about. I admit that things can indeed go terribly wrong on Christmas morning – someone just may burn the cookies or the cocoa, or not get the gift they were anticipating and thus start moping - but this all seems rather excessive. The film is scheduled for release on Christmas Day. Fun for the family just never stops! I immediately thought to myself, just imagine what would happen if the film was entitled ”Black Hannakuh” or “Black Ramadan.” It would then be either media-blitzed or bombed out of existence. The majority religion of the land is thus fair game for exploitation or desecration. Perhaps Christians shouldn’t protest so strongly about the use of the word “Christmas” remaining in the public domain. Then trash like this would be stuck with the vapid title of “Black Holidays” – and no one would bother with it. Anyways, it will be interesting to read the reviews and monitor the box-office receipts …
_____

A follow up paragraph on Monday’s mini-meditation about the “battle of the calendars” and the opposing rhythms between the secular and ecclesial celebration of Christmas and how this effects our own approaches. This is from an article by Fr. Andrew George entitled “Don’t Pre-Celebrate Christmas!” Fr. Andrew writes the following:

“Some 40 or 50 years ago here in America, people decorated their Christmas trees on Christmas Eve. Slowly, through the influence of merchants and media, we started to put up our decorations and trees earlier and earlier each year. As a result, not waiting for Theophany observances of January 5-7, which are specifically part of the 12-day cycle beginning on Christmas.

… On the day after Christmas we hear people say that Christmas is over, and the Christmas trees are put out on the curb. Since they have pre-decorated and pre-celebrated and feasted, in their minds “it’s over,” when really it should just be beginning.”
_____

For those “lovers of theology” who are out there somewhere, here is a densely-packed and profoundly theological reflection on the meaning of the Lord’s Incarnation and what it reveals to us about God. In other words a pre-festal banquet that will nourish and feed the soul! This passage comes from Fr. George Florovsky (+1979), arguably one of the greatest Orthodox theologians of the 20th c. He weaves together the themes of Incarnation, Love and Humility with great depth. In this one short paragraph, Fr. George says a great deal more than most of the books out there in the Christian section of our major bookstores. This is because he is writing from within the ecclesial experience of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

“In the Incarnation two very core elements of any spirituality are clearly evidenced – the love and humility of God. The idea that humility is rooted in God may appear astonishing. The humility of God cannot, of course, be considered in the same light as ascetical humility, or any human form of humility. However, the human forms of humility are derived from the very nature of God, just as the commandment to love is rooted in God’s love for mankind. God’s humility is precisely that being God he desires, he wills to be in communion with everything and everything is inferior to God. This has great theological significance, for it reveals the value of all created things, a value willed by God. There is even a parallel here with the saints who loved animals and flowers. And from this idea, an idea intrinsically derived from the Incarnation and kenosis (“self-emptying”) of God the Son, one can clearly see the real Divine origin in action of Christ’s teaching about “others.” In the very notion of a vertical spirituality a concern for otthers is presupposed. And while one is ascending to God,k his fellow man must be included in the dimensions of spirituality. Through the Incarnation both the love and the humility of God are made known. And man is to love God and fellow humankind because love is the very nature of God. And many is to experience humility, to become inflamed by humility precisely because humility belongs also to God and hence its value is derived from God. But to become filled inwardly with love and humility is not easy. It demands not a mere acknowledgment of the fact that God is love and humility is Divine. Rather, it demands the complete purification of our inner nature by God. And this is the struggle, the spiritual warfare that must be waged to enter and maintain the reality of love and humility.”

Fr. Steven C. Kostoff
Christ the Savior/Holy Spirit Orthodox Church
http://www.christthesavioroca.org
Today I was at school helping in Basil’s class. The third 3rd and 6th graders decorated gingerbread houses, together. The boys and I passed out our Christmas gifts to the teachers, baklava – made by the ladies of our Church. I enjoyed watching Basil’s, third grade class practice their latest poetry recitation. They are memorizing “Horatius at the Bridge”, in preparation for Roman Day. Tomorrow is the first grade’s class traditional formal Christmas lunch. Complete with candelabras, real china and good silverware, which in just a few hours I will be taking to school. Everything is ready to go. The children are all excited! All the children that have gone through first grade have really fond memories of the “formal” 1st grade Christmas lunch.
Basil and his classmates.

The third grade teacher opening up her class gift. The class bought her a beautiful tea cup from 1903 and a book of dramatic readings from the 1800s.

Basil and his teacher

Nicholas and his teacher

Basil practicing , with a little help from his sister.
~Thank you Tamara~
Taken from my message board from a thread about “Women in the church” .
“I know a few wonderful Orthodox women who started up some message board to help inquirer’s and other Orthodox women have a place to hash out thoughts on various topics. Personally, I’ve found that ministry to be one of the most influential in my own spiritual development.”
My response: Thank you, that is very nice. I LOVE this ministry, it is my pleasure and what I have gained from knowing all or you is far more precious then anything I have given. All the Glory be to God!
+++
We had our Christmas Program at Church yesterday and it went very, very well. Everyone had their parts memorized and there was some BEAUTIFUL singing! We were so thrilled that Basil’s 3rd grade teacher and Nicholas 1st grade teacher and another family, with a little boy in Basil’s class, came to the Divine Liturgy and Christmas program. They are such special people! I just think it is so unbelievably sweet and gracious to come up to our church to support our children. The boys feel so loved by these dear teachers. I hope they are blessed by worshipping with us. They seemed to really follow the service and they can follow along in Greek and English. Their college aged daughters know how to recite the Nicene Creed in Greek, so they enjoy when the Creed is recited in both languages. The teachers came two years ago when Basil was in 1st grade. Basil has grown up soooo much since then. He was so cute, mature and professional up there saying his lines. Jonah had a solo and Nicholas had a big part of scripture to recite. Following the Nativity Program we had our annual Christmas Party and lunch. The food was fasting food, because Orthodox Christians observe a 40 day fast from all animal products in preparation to for Christmas and Holy Communion. The Children all received a gift from Fr. on behalf of the Church. All the Children seemed very happy with their presents and were very grateful. My parents, Michael and Lena came over to visit after Church and it was very nice to have their company. Fr. had a lot of people to visit in the hospital and will be visiting people all week that can’t come to Church to receive Holy Communion.
Jonah singing his solo, “Oh Come all Ye Faithful”.

The children signing, “Oh Come all Ye Faithful”, as they entered the Church.

Basil as narrator

Maria~Angelica sitting with our friends from school and being fed Cheerios by my friend Connie and her dd Chloe.

Jonah reciting his scripture passage.

Elizabeth (Jonah’s godsister) and Nicholas reciting their scripture passage.

Jonah and Angelica (my Goddaughter) looking oh so angelic!

Fr. blessing the children.

Basil holding the antidoran (blessed bread).

Maria~Angelica looking like Rose Marie. Who remembers Rose Marie? She always had that black bow in her hair, on the “Dick Van Dyke Show”.

Our children receiving their Christmas present from the Church.


Lena (my sil) and the very talented Maria~Angelica.
There are more photos of the Christmas play in the ” photos”, in the upper left hand corner.

From’s Beth’s blog. Thank you Beth.

The cool thing about icons is that they tell the complete story of the gospel, the life of Jesus and the lives of the saints. They aren’t just pretty pictures. Every aspect of the icon means something–the colors, the background, what the focus of the icons are holding or doing, even such innocuous elements as how they are holding their hands or where their eyes are pointed hold meaning. They aren’t meant to be “artistic expression.” They are meant to help one focus on what is truly important–Heaven.

The Icon of the Lord’s Nativity

The focus of the icon is on the birth of our Lord from His most pure virgin mother Mary; A rough drawing of an icon of the Nativity of our Lord

She is shown larger than any of the other figures, reclining on a mat, and looking not at her new-born Son, but rather with love and compassion towards her spouse, St Joseph the Betrothed (7), seeing his affliction and bewilderment over this most strange and divine birth;. He is shown in the left bottom corner, conversing with Satan, disguised as an old shepherd. The posture of St Joseph is one of doubt and inner trouble, for he wondered if it might be possible that the conception and birth were not by some secret human union; how blessed he was to serve the Mother of God and her divine Son, in spite of these thoughts and temptations, and to protect her from the evil gossip of the people who could not yet possibly understand so great a mystery. Our Lord is shown in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, “for there was no room for them in the inn.” (cf. Luke 2) The back-drop for the manger is a dark cave (3), which immediately reminds us of the cave in which our Lord was buried 33 years later, wrapped in a shroud. In the cave are an ox and ass; the scene is included to show the fulfillment of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “the ox knows his Owner, and the ass his Master’s crib, but Israel does not know Me, and the people has not regarded Me” (Isaiah 1:3). (2) Above this central composition, in the very center of the icon is the wondrous star coming from heaven, which led the magi (6) to the place where our Savior lay; It reminds us of the heavenly orb we see on icons of the Theophany, or Pentecost, wherever divine intervention is indicated.

The holy angels (4) are seen both glorifying God and bringing the good tidings of the Lord’s birth to the shepherds (5). The fact that Jewish shepherds and heathen magi were among the first to worship our Lord shows us the universality of this great event, meant for the salvation of all mankind.

As we look at the icon as one united composition, we can only be filled with joy, not only because of the bright colors and the festive activity depicted thereon, but for the joyous news of our salvation so clearly proclaimed by it. In it, all creation is rejoicing at the birth of our Lord: the heavens (a star and angels); the earth (the mountains, plants and animals}; and especially mankind, represented most perfectly in the figure of the new Eve, the most pure Mother of God.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Thank you everyone for your prayers and concern for our family. My mom came up yesterday to lend us a hand. Thank you, Mom! Slowly, in our own way, each one of us is on the mend. Nicholas has still not bounced back 100% and my back is not right, yet. Now with the flu behind us I need to find a good Dr. for my back. I did get to work on my Christmas cards and hope to get all those out tomorrow. I mail about 150 a year. I did an exchange with my message board www.orthodoxchat.com friends and a few of my WS friends. If I missed anyone or any of my blog and WS friends would like to exchange Christmas Cards then please e-mail me or message me. Thanks!
Jonah and I got it too…the stomach flu that is.Today has been horrific…and it is not over yet. Everything I took for my back came up and has been just hellish. I pray Fr. doesn’t get this. Jonah is sleeping and seems better…mine just won’t end. Basil and Nicholas seem okay I am worried they may be sick in the night, like Jonah was last night, poor little dude. The baby is a little better but doesn’t want to sleep. She enjoys walking around while the boys are sleeping. Fr. has been a saint taking care of us all. It has not been pretty. Jonah did say some pretty cute things when we were in bed together being sick. I will have to share those when I feel a bit better. Thank you for your prayers.
*updated* Basil has it too… 4 down two to go…
Yesterday little Maria~Angelica woke up early and I was happy because I thought we would be getting to Church nice and early… however the poor little dear had thrown up and had a temperature. (It was bound to happen with all the places we’ve been and all the people we have seen.) She was so cute though, when I went to nurse her she wasn’t interested, she just rested her little head on my chest. Then she was sick a few more times and went back to sleep. She slept for two more hours and then woke up and nursed a lot. I didn’t feed her the whole day, except for nursing. We missed the Sunday School Fellowship and play practice but from what I heard a good time was had by all and they all enjoyed some delicious fasting food! My back went out yesterday afternoon and Fr. fed Maria~Angelica some oatmeal and yogurt and she was sick again before bed. She seemed better this morning but my back is still out. I am on prescription pain meds and muscle relaxers. I was hoping to get my Christmas cards out. The have been ready for awhile , I just have to address the envelopes. I may just do this by hand instead of on the computer. I can’t sit at the computer too long, I have shooting pain down my legs. I have to get back on my feet SOON! Say a prayer for me! This week we have , “The Nutcracker” and Christmas caroling along with our regularly scheduled events! I also have bought very few gifts. I still have to get the boys their presents and money is limited. I have a few ideas of what the boys like and what they are into. My boys are 9,7 and soon to be 6. If any readers of my blog have boys this age I would love to hear what you are buying for them. Thank you!
Whew! It’s been a full week! I had so much to get done this week and get the children to, that I have had trouble sleeping all week. Nicholas had a sleepover at Dean’s last night and Basil had a birthday party this morning. Now we have Church to look forward to in the morning and the SS Christmas fellowship and Christmas program rehearsal. This time of year there is so much to send into school and prepare for. Both Basil and Nicholas have 200 words each to memorize for the start of their spelling bees on Monday. We are planning the school festivities to celebrate Christmas. The 1st grade has a big formal Christmas feast complete with real china dishes, candelabras and silverware. It is a big 1st grade tradition and Basil remembers it fondly. So I will be polishing my silver and packing up my china to bring to the party. The third grade is getting ready to decorate gingerbread houses with the sixth grade and go Christmas caroling at a local nursing home. The kindergarten is going to have an ice cream sunday party and the 1st grade is going downtown to see, “The Nutcracker.” I am excited to be with the children at all these events.
Last night was the school program, “Carols and Lessons” and today was Basil and Nicholas’ first piano recital. They did such a great job. I am amazed at how much they have learned in such a short time. We are pleased to have a really good piano academy not far from our home. The teachers are wonderful and many of the boys’ classmates attend the academy. All the teachers are really well trained and good with the children.
In Maria~Angelica news…Her latest thing is saying, “Hi” to everyone that passes her in shops and restaurants. If she feels like striking up a conversations after the initial hi, it usually goes something like this, “Boo Ja booja booja boo.” But be certain she is saying something, we just aren’t quite sure what yet!
After the Christmas program, last night, we enjoyed dinner with my parents, Lena, Michael, Stephanie and Steve and their children. Their little girl, Julianna will start at the boy’s school on Monday! YAY! We are so excited! Jonah really enjoys the girl’s. Maria~Angelica and Phillip enjoy each other too! After piano today we took the boys to lunch to celebrate, thank you to my brother and father for treating us! Unfortunately Fr. had to go out of town for a funeral and missed the boy’s first piano recital. Some very dear friends from school recorded the boys for us. We are so grateful! We are so blessed to have such good friends and family.
Glory be to God!

Jonah’s Kindergarten class, Nicholas’ 1st grade class and Basil’s 3rd grade class. Can you spot the boys?

My brother, Michael, and Maria~Angelica, he is so cute with her. Yesterday she started scrunching up her eyes when the flash goes off.
Today is the feast day of the conception of the Mother of God. This is really worth reading!

The Conception by Righteous Anna of the Most Holy Mother of God

St. Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary, was the youngest daughter of the priest Nathan from Bethlehem, descended from the tribe of Levi. She married St. Joachim (September 9), who was a native of Galilee.

For a long time St. Anna was childless, but after twenty years, through the fervent prayer of both spouses, an angel of the Lord announced to them that they would be the parents of a daughter, Who would bring blessings to the whole human race.

The Orthodox Church does not accept the teaching that the Mother of God was exempted from the consequences of ancestral sin (death, corruption, sin, etc.) at the moment of her conception by virtue of the future merits of Her Son. Only Christ was born perfectly holy and sinless, as St. Ambrose of Milan teaches in Chapter Two of his Commentary on Luke.The Holy Virgin was like everyone else in Her mortality, and in being subject to temptation, although She committed no personal sins. She was not a deified creature removed from the rest of humanity. If this were the case, She would not have been truly human, and the nature that Christ took from Her would not have been truly human either. If Christ does not truly share our human nature, then the possibilty of our salvation is in doubt.

The Conception of the Virgin Mary by St. Anna took place at Jerusalem. The many icons depicting the Conception by St. Anna show the Most Holy Theotokos trampling the serpent underfoot.

“In the icon Sts. Joachim and Anna are usually depicted with hands folded in prayer; their eyes are also directed upward and they contemplate the Mother of God, Who stands in the air with outstretched hands; under Her feet is an orb encircled by a serpent (symbolizing the devil), which strives to conquer all the universe by its power.”

There are also icons in which St. Anna holds the Most Holy Virgin on her left arm as an infant. On St. Anna’s face is a look of reverence. A large ancient icon, painted on canvas, is located in the village of Minkovetsa in the Dubensk district of Volhynia diocese. From ancient times this Feast was especially venerated by pregnant women in Russia.The Conception by Righteous Anna of the Most Holy Mother of God.