The Dormition Church - The Virgin and Child Mosaic.
"...what first caught my attention was one of the most beautiful mosaics I have seen, high up in the apse. It was of the Blessed Mother and the Child Jesus who was holding the inscription, " I am the light of the world" (below).
[ In the semicircular apse, above the altar, shining mosaics represent Mary with the child Jesus.
The words "I am the Light of the World" are inscribed on the open book that Jesus is holding.
Just beneath is a quotation from the prophet Isaiah:
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14)]
Dear Sr. Jo,
Thank you.
Your Holy Land Journal is graphic in words
I see that you are unencumbered with camera.
Later, it may be useful for non-travelers to have illustrations, from the NET.
Yours... Donald
PS. First I will like to find a picture of the CHURCH ad CAENACULUM (below).
----- Forwarded Message -----From: Sr. Jo ... To: Donald ... Sent: Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 9:32 Subject: May 17th
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Friday May 17th... My "good angel", Emmanuella, leaves our convent at 5.30am, every Friday, to attend Mass at the CHAPEL of CALVARY in the HOLY SEPULCHRE. I decided to join her. No priest turned up at 6am but at 6.30 a pilgrim group arrived, along with 2 priests! We had a very prayerful Eucharist, even though it was all in Polish! I felt privileged to participate in this Eucharist in the place where Jesus gave up His life for all of us.
The PENTECOST CELEBRATIONS will take place in the CHURCH OF DORMITION and in the CENACLE and, as I haven't been to either of them, I decided to have a preview! I had no problem in going through the Old City to Zion Gate (30mins). Once outside this gate, I followed my map which turned out to be very misleading. I arrived at St. Peter of Gallicantu some way down the mount but still no sight of my objectives!
A kind gentleman directed me back up to Zion Gate and then another to the Cenacle which is about a "stone's throw" from there!! Perfect joy! I entered a very unassuming doorway, climbed up several stairs and entered the UPPER ROOM or THE CENACLE (15.60m. by 9.40m.)
My first impressions were the darkness and then the starkness of the bare walls and ceiling. There were no icons or decorations of any kind, apart from a small, stained glass, Jewish window. The shape of the room was interesting with columns and arches. Through the centuries, this shrine has been in the care of the Franciscans, then the Moslems and now the Jews. What a complicated history!!
Christians are allowed to visit it but not to have Worship Services in it, except on two days of the year, ie. Holy Thursday and Pentecost Sunday. This is where we venerate the memory of the LAST SUPPER and the INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST, the APPEARANCES OF OUR RISEN LORD to the APOSTLES and the DESCENT of the HOLY SPIRIT on the APOSTLES and OUR LADY. The latter event is commemorated in a smaller room up a flight of eight stairs. I found a slab to sit on, closed my eyes and reflected on these heart-warming events which we commemorate here.
From there, I walked round the corner to behold a total contrast, the very beautiful, magnificent BASILICA of DORMITION! In the upper church, what first caught my attention was one of the most beautiful mosaics I have seen, high up in the apse. It was of the Blessed Mother and the Child Jesus who was holding the inscription, " I am the light of the world".
The whole apse, the floor and the side chapels are all adorned with colourful mosaics and bronzes.
As I entered the crypt, I immediately saw the Altar of the Dormition
right in the centre before which lay, in the peaceful slumber of death, the statue of the Virgin Mary.
Again, there were many artistic mosaics, including one of Pentecost high up on the main apse. This basilica is in the care of the Benedictines (German) who have a monastery near by. The Franciscans also have a church nearby, called the CHURCH ad COENACULUM but it was locked so I couldn't visit it. I look forward to coming back for the Pentecost Ceremonies on Sunday.
In the evening, three of us walked to Notre Dame (10mins.) to see a new film, "The Stones
Cry Out" which is the story of the Palestinian Christians and was produced by Yasmine Perni, a young journalist. It was excellent but made me very sad, another reminder to pray for peace and justice for all!
Starting
today, 1 February 2013, pilgrims can once again celebrate mass at the church in
the Monastery of St. FrancisAd Coenaculum(familiarly known as the Little Cenacle), on
Mount Zion, a few steps from the site of the Last Supper.
Most of Seventh Week were the days of dense mist and fog, even on to Pentecost Sunday and on Monday. In the monastery enclosure, the sheep and lambs found their home veiled in the heavy mists. On Tuesday, Br. S. called me to see the flowers from the laundry windows. Brilliant sunshine came to announce, at from the late spring, apple flowers festooned the orchard walls. The Holy Spirit is unveiling nature mind and heart. A word from Fray Rafael blends with the heavens.
Apple blossoms herald the late spring
Fray Ma. Rafael (Saint)
Trappist Monk
TO Know How
to Wait.
545
How great you are, Lord! How much You love me! Little by little
I’m coming to realize the superficiality of everything.
When after Vespers I knelt at the foot of Your Tabernacle. I
saw that the day was over, and with it had gone the blue sky, the brilliant sunshine,
my sorrows and my joys. Everything had passed, nothing remained.
The Door of Humility leads into the Church of the Nativity (Basilica of the Nativitiy).
Bethlehem: The courtyard outside the Basilica of the Nativity and the Church of St Catherine
Dear Sr. Jo, There is never surprise and thrills on your journeys. Thank you for your Email about your return to Bethlehem. Let us see if the Internet shows more pictures from the leads to Links. The time is all too short for the glorious experience. D.G. Donald |
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Sr. Jo ... To: Donald ...Sent: Monday, 20 May 2013, 19:05 Subject: Bethlehem cont.
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Columns inside the Church of the Nativity (Basilica of the Nativity).
Tues. May 14th B E T H L E H E M
Again, I went to the Basilica of the Nativity. I had heard there would be a Mass there around 8.30am but I didn't know exactly where it would be. I saw a group of Srs. ( the ones with the helmets!) in St. Catherine's Church so I decided to wait and follow them. We heard a bell ring somewhere and up they got!
They led me - guess where - down the "going up stairs" into the Grotto of the Nativity! Our God of Surprises was at work again!
Bethlehem Inside the Grotto of the Nativity, an underground cave where Jesus was said to have been born.
About thirty of us fitted in nicely and they even brought in some benches and chairs. Three O.F.M.'s entered to concelebrate the Eucharist. It was a Sung Latin Mass with the Readings in Italian but we had the English translation.
I never dreampt for a moment that I would have the joyful privilege and blessing of participating in the Eucharist in this holy place! Praise the Lord!
Sr. Marie Paul had a fall this morning but she was still game to accompany me to the
"SHEPHERD'S FIELD" at 2pm. We had only taken a few steps outside the convent gates when a car stopped beside us and the lady driver started speaking to Marie Paul who knew her. When she heard where we were going, she said she was free and would be happy to drive us there! I could only praise and thank God, especially as we drove up and down several very steep hills. I knew there was no way that M. Paul and I could have made it walking! The lady, who had already decided to drive us back, joined us as we visited the excavations, the large cave and chapel- so simple and humble - and the round chapel, higher up, built by Canadians. As we thanked the lady, I told her she was our "good angel" and when I asked her her name, she replied,"ANGELA"!! Although time was limited, I was very grateful for the opportunity to re-visit this truly Franciscan Shrine, surrounded by colourful flowers and trees.
The church of the Shepherds Field, Bethlehem with the tour guide Zahi Shake
Wed., May 15th....
Exhibition of several nativity scenes
M. Paul took me to the Information Centre hoping to show me their Crib Display but the receptionist said, "Sorry, the Museum is closed today for cleaning"! They continued speaking and soon after, she was directing me upstairs.They let us in for a short time - long enough to admire the many, colourful cribs sent from all over the world. From there,we wound our way in and out through very narrow streets and stairs until we came to the local open market.There was an abundance of very healthy looking fruits and vegetables and the prices were very reasonable.
In the afternoon, Maria drove the animator and myself to the bus terminal (a very unusual one!) to catch the bus to Jerusalem. The journey took only 20mins but when we arrived, we sensed unrest! Sure enough, there was some kind of demonstration with throwing of grenades and stones by the youth. The police responded in the usual way and even used the water canon. We were happy to reach home safely as it wasn't far away. The police put up barriers immediately in these situations, so pilgrims are safe.
Thus ended my little pilgrimage to Bethlehem. Let us continue to pray for peace in this
Tuesday, 21 May 2013, Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
The Community Mass to morning was celebrating the Mass for monthly commemoration of the recently deceased. * Comm. of the Dead, (Lk. 8:23-33, 38-43).
The prayer of the Faithful.
1. For the repentance of past sins
- that, with the good thief, we may receive from Christ the promise of entry into the kingdom of heaven,
2. ....
A Reading about Holy
Viaticum,
from a Book by Fr. Jean Mouroux (Mystery of Time, NY 1964, p.317)
The Christian who is
about to die is in the time-for-hope, cradled in the hands of the Christ-God.
He insures our passage to the Father. And the most appropriate sign of this
passage into the hands of God is Viaticum, the last communion on the tongue of
the dying. Christ becomes the food for our journey, the remedy of life, the
source of immortality, the living bread from heaven which leads us to Paradise.
The Church takes the words of Jesus seriously: "He that eats my flesh and
drinks my blood has everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last
day" (In 6,55). To receive Viaticum is "to die in the Lord" in the
strictest sense of the word. It is to be led by the Way to the last cross road;
by the Truth, to the last deceitful temptation; by the Life to apparent annihilation.
Thus we see that at the final lonely
hour the Christian is surrounded by the Trinity and the family of God's children.
This is the wondrous meaning of the prayer Profiscere: "Depart from the
world, Christian soul, in the name of God the Father who created you; in the
name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for you; in the name
of the Holy Spirit who has been poured out on you." All the saints are
there to protect and receive their brother; the Virgin Mary is there so that
"he will no longer fear the terrors of death," but "go joyously
to his Father's house in heaven"; the angels are present "to conduct
him to paradise" and to push back "Satan and his devilish hordes"
into "the abyss of eternal night"; SI. Joseph, the Patriarchs, the
Martyrs and the other saints are there too. Because the King is there, the
whole celestial army is there. The priest gives Viaticum and commends the soul
to God. Through the invisible presence of these people, death in Christ and the
Church proves to be a deeply sacred act filled with joy, sorrow, and peace. It is the last act of holy abandon by man's free will.
Truly, "Blessed
are the dead, who die in the Lord" (Ap 14- 13).
From: William ... To: Donald ... Sent: Friday, 10 May 2013, 19:28 Subject: Re: Monks of Our Lady of Tibhirine
Dear Father Donald,
...
It is such a delight to see the daffodils surmounting the scene of the Atlas memorial seat. On Monday I will be ordering the Seven Red Roses (always allowing a week for Erica's to order in the blooms, delivery on 20th), and my card for the commemoration is ready to hand to you! I was intending to email the images of the card when I returned, but my heart quickens at the sight of your photos from the memorial garden! Please see attachments ('front' and 'inside'). I hope you may approve of the text I have chosen, rather thoughtful, and challenging, from a tractate by St Augustine on St John's Gospel (Tractate LXXXIV. Chapter XV.13, which captured me during the Office of Readings for Wednesday in Holy Week). ....
William
PS.
Your quotation from Wordsworth's poem has me smiling happily - and into my mind, following your lovely welcome, the poem by Shelley so aptly entitled
"The Invitation"... "Away, away, from men and towns, To the wild wood and the downs — To the silent wilderness Where the soul need not repress Its music lest it should not find An echo in another's mind
for Atlas monks 7 red roses
IN LOVING
COMMEMORATION
OF THE MARTYRS OF
OUR LADY OF ATLAS
The Fullness
of Love
In so far as the martyrs shed their
blood for their brothers, what they showed was such as they received from the
Lord’s table.
St. Augustine
Dearly
beloved, that fullness of love with which we must love one another, the Lord
defined when he said, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends”.
Doubtless
this is what one reads in the Proverbs of Solomon: “If you sit down to eat at a
ruler’s table, observe carefully what is before you; and know that you must
prepare a similar meal.” For what is the ruler’s table, if not where there is
taken the body and blood of him who laid down his life for us? And what is ‘to
sit at’, if not to approach humbly? What is ‘to observe carefully what is
before you’, if not to ponder so great a favour? What does it mean ‘know that
you must prepare a similar meal,’ if not that as Christ laid down his life for
us, so we too ought to lay down our lives for our brethren.
In
the words of the apostle Peter: ‘Christ suffered for us, leaving an example,
that we should follow in his steps.’ This is ‘to prepare a similar meal’. This
the blessed martyrs did with burning love. If our celebration of their memory
is not an empty one, and if we approach the Lord’s table in the banquet in
which they too ate and had their fill, then as they prepared such a meal, so
should we also.
So in fact at this table we
do not commemorate them in the same way as we commemorate others who rest in
peace, in order to pray for them also. We commemorate them rather so that they
may pray for us, that we may follow closely in their footsteps; for they have
reached the fullness of that love than which the Lord said there could be none
greater. What they showed to their brothers was such as they equally received
from the Lord’s table.
(St. Augustine - Tractate LXXXIV.
Chapter XV. 13.)
"As Pentecost happened here, this place is admired as the first Church in the world. Currently it is administered by the Jerusalem Archbishop of Syriac ..." -
Had been blessed to be here on 2008 April. This place has witnessed some of the most important events of early Christianity- including Jesus' last supper, Jesus' appearance to disciples after his resurrection- 2 times, Pentecost, selection of St.Mathias, the place where St.Peter went after angel released him from jail, St.Mary got baptized etc. As Pentecost happened here, this place is admired as the first Church in the world. Currently it is administered by the Jerusalem Archbishop of Syriac Orthodox Church. Still so many miracles happen in this hard- to-find monastery in the old city.
"the disciples after the Ascension of Jesus; the election of Saint Matthias as apostle; the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost" - wikipedia.org
Photo of Last Supper Room On Mount Zion in Jerusalem
Saint Mark's Syrian Orthodox Church
The Syrian Orthodox Church of St. Mark is located in northeast corner of the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem—on Ararat Street.
This church is said to have been built on the site of the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, to which Peter went after having been released from prison by an angel (Acts 12:12). Syrian Orthodox Christians also believe that this was the site of the Upper Room of the Last Supper, the site of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and the place where Mary, the mother of Jesus, was baptized!
It is also the church where an icon of the Virgin Mary and Child is reverently displayed. This icon is said to have been painted by Luke, the physician/evangelist, and that it is the first icon ever to have been produced.
To view a 10 minute video featuring the Archbishop and the Church Click Here.
by Jimmy AkinSaturday, May 18, 2013 6:34 PM Comments (6)
Where did the feast of Pentecost come from? What happened on it? And what does it mean for us today? Here are 8 things to know and share . . .
The original day of Pentecost saw dramatic events that are important to the life of the Church.
But where did the feast of Pentecost come from?
How can we understand what happened on it?
And what does it mean for us today?
Here are 8 things to know and share about it . . .
1. What does the name "Pentecost" mean?
It comes from the Greek word for "fiftieth" (pentecoste). The reason is that Pentecost is the fiftieth day (Greek, pentecoste hemera) after Easter Sunday (on the Christian calendar).
This name came into use in the late Old Testament period and was inherited by the authors of the New Testament.
2. What else is this feast known as?
In the Old Testament, it is referred to by several names:
The feast of weeks
The feast of harvest
The day of first-fruits
Today in Jewish circles it is known as Shavu`ot (Hebrew, "weeks").
It goes by various names in different languages.
In England (and English), it has also been known as "Whitsunday" (white Sunday). This name is presumably derived from the white baptismal garments of those recently baptized.
3. What kind of feast was Pentecost in the Old Testament?
It was a harvest festival, signifying the end of the grain harvest. Deuteronomy 16 states:
You shall count seven weeks; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you first put the sickle to the standing grain.
Then you shall keep the feast of weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God [Dt. 16:9-11a].
4. What does Pentecost represent in the New Testament?
It represents the fulfillment of Christ's promise from the end of Luke's Gospel:
“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high” [Lk. 24:46-49].
This "clothing with power" comes with the bestowal of the Holy Spirit upon the Church.
5. How is the Holy Spirit symbolized in the events of the day of Pentecost?
Acts 2 records:
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This contains two notable symbols of the Holy Spirit and his activity: the elements of wind and fire.
Wind is a basic symbol of the Holy Spirit, as the Greek word for "Spirit" (Pneuma) also means "wind" and "breath."
Although the term used for "wind" in this passage is pnoe (a term related to pneuma), the reader is meant to understand the connection between the mighty wind and the Holy Spirit.
Concerning the symbol of fire, the Catechism notes:
While water signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit's actions.
The prayer of the prophet Elijah, who "arose like fire" and whose "word burned like a torch," brought down fire from heaven on the sacrifice on Mount Carmel.
This event was a "figure" of the fire of the Holy Spirit, who transforms what he touches. John the Baptist, who goes "before [the Lord] in the spirit and power of Elijah," proclaims Christ as the one who "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Jesus will say of the Spirit: "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!"
In the form of tongues "as of fire," the Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on the morning of Pentecost and fills them with himself. The spiritual tradition has retained this symbolism of fire as one of the most expressive images of the Holy Spirit's actions. "Do not quench the Spirit" [CCC 696].
6. Is there a connection between the "tongues" of fire and the speaking in other "tongues" in this passage?
Yes. In both cases, the Greek word for "tongues" is the same (glossai), and the reader is meant to understand the connection.
The word "tongue" is used to signify both an individual flame and an individual language.
The "tongues as of fire" (i.e., individual flames) are distributed to and rest on the disciples, thus empowering them to miraculously speak in "other tongues" (i.e., languages).
This is a result of the action of the Holy Spirit, signified by fire.
7. Who is the Holy Spirit?
Here is a video I made on that subject . . .
8. What does the feast of Pentecost mean to us?
As one of the most important solemnities on the Church's calendar, it has a rich depth of meaning, but here is how Pope Benedict summarized it in 2012:
This Solemnity makes us remember and relive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the other disciples gathered in prayer with the Virgin Mary in the Upper Room (cf. Acts 2:1-11). Jesus, risen and ascended into Heaven, sent his Spirit to the Church so that every Christian might participate in his own divine life and become his valid witness in the world. The Holy Spirit, breaking into history, defeats aridity, opens hearts to hope, stimulates and fosters in us an interior maturity in our relationship with God and with our neighbour.
