New Metropolitan for Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church will be consecrated on Feb
01, Monday at Puthencuriz Very Rev. Ramban Geevarghese Thengumtharayil is the
Metropolitan Designate.

PUTHENCURIZ: H.H Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I gave approval to ordain Very Rev.
Ramban Geevarghese Thengumtharayil as the new metropolitan of Holy Jacobite
Syrian Orthodox Church, as per the recommendation of the Holy Episcopal Synod in
Malankara. Very Rev. Ramban works as the Church Managing Committee Member,
Director of Mor Gregorian Centre, Keekkozhur, Superior of St. Antony's Mount
Moriya Ashram, Ranni. Very Rev. Ramban is the vicar of St. Mary's JSO Cathedral,
Pathanamthitta.

Viswasa Samrakshakan Special Edition
http://www.malankarasyriacvoice.com/VS/thengumtharayil.rambachan.ordination.pdf

Radio Malankara and Malankara Vision will be telecasting the Bishop Ordination
of Very Rev. Ramban Geevarghese Thengumtharayil From Puthencuriz St. Athanasius
Cathedral on Monday 01 February 2010 at 08:00 AM (IST)

The live audio broadcasting can be heard in " Radio Malankara" at
http://www.radiomalankara.com

The live video broadcasting can be viewed in " Malankara Vision" at
http://www.malankaravision.com

Thank you for that wonderful information. I am doing a lot of study on the
Syriac church and its history. I did read in my study that at one time, when, I
dont know, that the Soc had considered adding the The Gospel of Thomas into the
canon of scripture. It may have been "talk", but I did read it. There are many
sayings that seem, good, and then there are some that are "strange".

Grace and peace
Larry

--- In SOR-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Michael Poe <exunoomnia@...> wrote:
>
>                           Dear family in our Lord,God
and Saviour Jesus Christ,the Gospel of Thomas has been falsely labeled as
gnostic for quite sometime but if one truely reads it,one will find it perfectly
Orthodox in every way.The majority of our Lord's quotes in the Gospel of Thomas
has exact parrelels in the canonical Gospels.An interesting clue about its
orgins is the quote where our Lord responds to a question asked by the disciples
when they ask him who to go to for leadership and guidiance after our Lord would
ascend into heaven after his crucifiction,death,and glorious resurection.Our
Lord told them to go to Jame's the just,who we know from the book of acts and
the writings of Eusubius was the first bishop of Jerusalem and the leader of the
first Orthodox Christian community before shifting to Antioch after St.James
martyrdom in Jerusalem where it is said he was thrown off the pinnacle of the
temple for his profession
>  of true Orthodox Christian faith in the profession of our Lord,God and
Saviour Jesus Christ's divinity.He was very revered by the first Christians of
Jerusalem and all the early churches and by all the apostles,disciples,and even
many pious Jews.He was called the camel kneed because of all the callousess he
had on his knees and elbows from all the prostrations he would make in the
temple.It is also said that he was a Nazarite and followed all the precepts and
dedications of being one.The gospel of Thomas is not at all gnostic in its
context.It is complestely different from all the other books that were found at
Nag Hammadi that were gnostic in their content.The location of Nag Hamadi where
they were found was the ancient remains of a Pachomian Coptic Orthodox monastery
and the texts were hidden by a monk.The reference to St.James is a very strong
indicator of its authenticity.The deep,profound teachings of our Lord found in
the Gospel of Thomas are very
>  mystical,spiritual and profound and are identical in content and meaning with
the gospel of St,John to a tremendous degree,and also to the synoptic gospels of
St.Matthew,Mark,and Luke.Modern biblical scholars are more and more of the
opinion and conclusion that the Gospel of Thomas may be the oldest gospel
written,and coming from the original true Orthodox Christian church of
Jerusalem,with James as its bishop,and the ancient church of Antioch when and
where St.Peter was the first bishop for 8 years before he went to Rome.Although
much emphasis has been attributed to St.Peter being the bishop of Jerusalem,He
was the first bishop of Antioch for 8 years before going to Rome,and he was
subservient to St.Jame's as James was the leader of the original Jerusalem
church.I encourage anyone who is interested to read the gospel of Thomas
themselves and come to their own conclusion than to listen to people who might
even be priests or hierarchs of the church who
>  in all probability have not read it for themselves.The reference to James
clearly indicates a Syrian-Aramaic orgin.All the Gospels,epistles,and revelation
were originally written in Aramaic,the language of our Lord and the apostles,and
comprise the true,original Holy Bible we know as the Holy Peshitta.In the name
of Moran Yashua Mshiho Bar Alaha,Michael.P.S. anyone intersested in the gospel
of Thomas should read it.It is very beautiful and is an authentic book of our
Lord's teaching that is deeply,purely Orthodox and beautifully mystical and
spiritual.There are many books of the Apocrypha that are still held as
illuminating and truth giving and were even held as canonical for a part of the
original church such as The Shepherd of Hermes,1st and 2cnd Jubilees,1st and 2nd
Macabees,First Book of Enoch,ect.The Ethiopian canon has retained alot of these
Apocryphal books into their Bible,which I find to be beautiful.They dont include
the gospel of Thomas,but I
>  really encourage interested people to read it for themselves and in it they
will find great beauty.
> --- On Mon, 12/28/09, larry.quintana <ddque2@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: larry.quintana <ddque2@...>
> Subject: [SORForum] Re: Gospel of Thomas
> To: SOR-Forum@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, December 28, 2009, 8:34 PM
>
>
>  
>
>
>
> Thank you Dr Thomas for your reply. Would it be advisable to read this book?
Or should we avoid its contents as Orthodox Christians?
>
> Thank you
> +
>
> --- In SOR-Forum@yahoogrou ps.com, "drthomas_joseph" <thomas_joseph@ ...>
wrote:
> >
> > The Gospel of Thomas is allegedly a Gnostic text, the complete version of
which (in Coptic) was discovered in 945, although separate portions of a Greek
version were discovered as early as 1897. It was never accepted as part of the
NT canon in any mainstream church including the Syriac Orthodox.
> >
> > Modern scholars do not consider that it was written by Apostle Thomas. In
the 4th cent. Cyril of Alexandria suggested that it was written by a Thomas who
was a disciple of Mani. Scholars date the text between AD 60 and 140. Being an
early witness to Christ outside the New Testament canon it has scholarly
significance. However, from the Orthodox viewpoint it has no canonical
authority.
> >
> > Rgds,
> > Thomas Joseph
> >
> >
> > --- In SOR-Forum@yahoogrou ps.com, "larry.quintana" <ddque2@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Greetings,
> > >
> > > I was wondering what the position of the church is on the use or reading
of the Gospel of Thomas? Does it hold any significant value in it content to the
christian community?
> > >
> > > God bless
> > >
> >
>

Grace to all,

What is the official teaching of the church concerning the Christological nature
of our Lord? Also, who has knowledge, please give a concise talk on the churchs
view of our Lords nature. So who all contribute, give your ideas based on the
teachings of the Syriac Fathers and the bible, preferably the translation of the
Peshetta text.

Grace to all

Last week the council of Europe debated the long awaited report by Mr. Hunault
from France on religious minorities in Turkey and Greece.

Since the treaty of Lausanne, both countries have considered their minorities as
foreigners and treated them as second class citizens. Yet these minorities have
often been in those countries for centuries or millennia. For instance the
journeys of St. Paul show that in the era of Jesus Jews were already present in
the present territory of Turkey and Christians were present there shortly
afterwards.

For the parliamentary assembly of the council of Europe the difference in
treatment on this basis is unacceptable and that was a clear message in the
report.

I was spokesman on behalf of the largest political group, the European Peoples
Party. In my speech I brought attention to the Assyrian (also known as Chaldean
and Syriac) people, who are not mentioned in the treaty of Lausanne, for St.
Gabriel Monastery and other monasteries whose grounds are being taken by the
state and Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus Christ, yet forbidden in
religious education.

To the fury of the Turkish delegation (also a founding Member of the Council of
Europe), the resolution was toughened on three points:

Turkey should stop claiming grounds from monasteries like Mor Gabriel. The
Syriac minority should have the rights of the treaty of Lausanne, most
importantly the right to teach in Aramaic
The Turkish and Greek government should react to all the recommendations in the
report by February 2011.

Turkish opposition against these proposals was tough. Already questions like a
full investigation into the Hrant Drink murder, the reopening of the Greek
Orthodox seminary, rights for the Ecumenical patriarch and other demands were on
the table.

Including these crucial demands for the Assyrian community and the obligation of
both governments to report back on these issues means that Turkey has got real
homework to do on the protection of minorities in its own country.

It is also a big step forwards for the recognition of the Assyrian community and
their rights, as this report was approved by MPs from 47 Member States,
including Turkey. It sends a strong signal to Turkey on the protection of its
own minorities, which I believe in the end is in the interest of Turkey and its
citizens.

Links:

Debate:
http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/Records/2010/E/1001271500E.htm

Resolution (read 16, 18 and 19):
http://assembly.coe.int/Mainf.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta10/ERES1704.htm

Homework for Turkey:
http://www.bianet.org/english/minorities/119727-turkeys-homework-on-minority-rig\
hts

By Pieter Omtzigt

Pieter Omtzigt is member of parliament for the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA)
party in the Netherlands.


Source: Assyrian International News Agency (http://www.aina.org/)

Wow, thank you for your reply. That is what I was looking for. I have heard so
many variations on this subject. I have to ask you a personal question. And, it
is not really personal and you can send me a confidential reply at
larry.quintana@.... My, Vicar gave me a contact by the name of Michael, I
think out of California, I am wondering if you might be him? His name is Fr
George. Thank you. If I have any other questions I sure hope that you can answer
them for me.

Grace and peace to you

--- In SOR-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Michael Poe <exunoomnia@...> wrote:
>
>                       Dear beloved brother in
Christ,Larry,our Lord is perfectly Divine and perfectly man united in
one,composite nature and hypostasis.He is from 2 natures,the human and the
Divine,but united into one composite nature,the one incarnate nature of the
logos,which is the proper Orthodox Christology as understood and given perfectly
as the true Orthodox teaching on the nature of our Lord,God and Saviour,Jesus
Christ,Mar Yashua Mshiho Bar Aloho,as given by St.Cyrill of
Alexandria.Miaphysite would be the proper term not monophosyte which the
Oriental Orthodox churches have been mistakenly and erroneously called by the
Byzantine-Eastern,chalcedonian Orthodox church,who have been mistakenly labeled
as Nestorian,or dyophosyte by the Oriental churches-non chalcedonian.The tragedy
that occured at the council of chalcedon in 451 was purely caused by
politics,semantics,and missunderstandings.Even Nestorias,who had been
>  anathamaised at the council of Ephesus,agreed with the tome of Leo which was
read at the council of chalcedon but which was not accepted by the
Syrian,Coptic,and other Oriental Fathers.Dioscorus of Alexandria nor Severus of
Antioch were guilty or believed in the monophysyte heresy which was taught by
Eutychus.Eutychus himself later recanted and Dioscorus forgave him and recieved
him back into the Alexandrian church.It is one of the greatest tragedies in
church history in regards to what happened at chalcedon because it created 2
rival hierarchies in the Orthodox church.The non chalcedonians,Oriental
Patriarchs and true Orthodox churches,and the chalcedonian-Byzantine,Eastern
Orthodox churches.A series of official dialouge between the Oriental and Eastern
Orthodox churches went on from the 1960s -1990s and the joint commision which
was represented by Bishops,priests and theologions from both churches signed
official documents stating that both churches
>  share the same christology and all other aspects of the one true Orthodox
church.Unfortuneately nothing has happened since then because of politics and
the only thing required would be a simple joint ceremony in which both sides
mutually lift the anathamas they made at and after chalcedon.Because we have
Patriarchs established in the ancient pentarchy,the original,ancient
Patriarchates of the early church from both churches,this entails allot of
politics when it is actually a very simple matter.The chalcedonian churches
after chalcedon established their own patriarchs in the ancient patriarchates
which created and creates this problem.This should not be a problem as all the
Chalcedonian churches follow the Byzantine rite of Constantinople while the
Oriental churches follow the ancient rite of their given and original Apostolic
see.The Copts follow the Alexandrian rite liturgically as do the Ethiopians.The
Syrian Orthodox follow the Syrian rite which is
>  in fact the daughter church of the original church of Jerusalem with
St.Jame's,our Lord's brother as its first bishop,which then shifted to Antioch
in Syria with St.Peter as its first bishop for 8 years before he went to
Rome.Edessa in Syria for the Armenian Church,and Kerala,under the Syrian
Patriarchate with their own Metropolitan for the see of St.Thomas.We also have
the Syrian church of the East,the east Syrian church falsely labeled as
Nestorian as even Nestorias wasnt guilty of the heresy attributed to him.We are
all one church and are all members of the one body of Christ and we must learn
that we are all one in the Orthodox faith and love oneanother as such.There are
obviously problems associated with the Roman Catholic church as they broke away
from the Orthodox church in 1054 mostly over politics caused by the heretical
teaching and belief that the bishop of Rome has power over all the other
churches which is against canon law as all the
>  patriarchs have equel authority although they were given a certain order with
Rome being looked at originally as the first among eqels because it was the
capital of the Western Roman empire while the second among eqels was
Constantinople because it was the capital of the Eastern Roman empire.Then
followed Alexandria,Antioch,and Jerusalem.I pray daily for the reunification of
the church as it exists in the spirit now and always have regardless of the
politics,egos and problems that have been caused by those in positions of
authority in various parts of the church.In Christ,Michael. 
>
> --- On Wed, 2/10/10, larry.quintana <ddque2@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: larry.quintana <ddque2@...>
> Subject: [SORForum] Monophysite or Miaphysite
> To: SOR-Forum@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 8:04 AM
>
>
>  
>
>
>
> Grace to all,
>
> What is the official teaching of the church concerning the Christological
nature of our Lord? Also, who has knowledge, please give a concise talk on the
churchs view of our Lords nature. So who all contribute, give your ideas based
on the teachings of the Syriac Fathers and the bible, preferably the translation
of the Peshetta text.
>
> Grace to all
>

Greetings to you all. This may seem like a bit of a strange question. But, you
must understand where I am comming from in this. I am from the
Protestant/Pentecostal background where we are brought up very legalistic in
nature, so this is why I post this question. I am a convert to Orthodoxy. I have
been to hybrid Orthodox churchs, to the OCA and now am resting in the SOC. Most
of my study has been on my own accord, although lately I have been aided by a
brother in the SOC in a state outside of my own. So, our learning has been via
internet emails and it is the foundations of the SOC.
I grew up as a Fundamentalist christian and very judgemental of all things. But
in my journey into Oriental Orthodoxy, I see a mystical and merciful Christ and
Father God. I dont condone wrong behaviors. But, what is the position of the SOC
concerning social behaviors such as smoking, strong drink ie beer, wine etc. I
understand mortal sin etc?
Please respond with what the Fathers and the SOC have said on these matters. I
am not looking for personal interpretations of scripture and beliefs, I desire
the position of our patristic fathers according to scripture and tradition.

Barekmore Slomo
Larry

The January 2010 edition of Shroro

Dear brethren,

The January 2010 edition of "Shroro - The Syriac Orthodox Christian
digest" http://www.socdigest.org is now online.

Your dedication to the faith has given birth to "Shroro", and your love and
interest has made the tremendous growth in this magazine leading to its
immediate success.

We ask that you pray for us, so that we may better serve our community's
interests in coming years.

Shroro Editorial Board
http://www.socdigest.org

Declaration issued on Iraq by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate

His Holiness, Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I, Iwas, patriarch of
Antioch and all the East and the supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox
Church, issued the following declaration on Iraq:

With extreme pain and sorrow we are watching the unfolding events in Iraq in
general and the persecutions, killings, kidnapping, ransacking holy places and
injustice done to the Christian population in Iraq in particular, as if Satan
has recruited those evil people to destroy the country and its people. For what
reason they target the Christians who are loyal to their land and are proud of
their beloved Iraqi culture, sacrificing everything even their life, for its
glory and dominion.

For full text of the declaration, please visit:
http://www.socmnet.org/News00.htm

Muslims Terrorizing Christian Girls in Iraq
By Frank Kitman on Mar 10th, 2010

I edited and translated a most heartbreaking testimony by Sister Hatune, of the
Syrian-Orthodox monastery in Warburg, Germany. She makes an amazing effort to
help and  protect the ruthlessly persecuted Christians in Iraq.

To watch the testimony of Sister Hatune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaaRA8WQ9yE&feature=player_embedded#

In recent years a horrifying number of kidnappings, rapes and mutilations of
Iraqi Christian girls has been perpetrated by Muslim gangs. Some 700,000
Christians are fleeing this terror, but often find themselves exposed to similar
dangers when they arrive in neighboring Muslim countries. With no rights and no
help from authorities, they are surely in the most desperate of situations.

Please take the time to contemplate why this is not being reported more often.

And visit Sister Hatune's foundation(http://www.sisterhatunefoundation.com/)for
more information about her great work.

Source:
http://frontpagemag.com

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Attached is the most recent and blessed letter from His Holiness, Patriarch
Ignatius Zakki I Iwas, to St. Helena's Mission, dated yesterday.

His Holiness has assigned St. Helena's Mission/Retreat Camp/Monastery to the
continuing stewardship of His Eminence, Eugene Kaplan Mor Clemis.

St. Helena's is now grafted into the jurisdiction of the Western Archdiocese of
the USA.

For this, let us all give profound thanks to the Lord!

When civil ownership by the Archdiocese has also been effected, St. Helena's
will grow -- through our own generation and many generations to come -- into a
spiritual beacon of light; a light set upon a mountain. A light to draw all to
Christ.

May God richly bless this new temple set upon sacred and consecrated ground; and
may it serve to continue the work left to us by our risen Savior -- to bring
more fully into the world the Kingdom of God.

Bull in pdf format
http://socmnet.org/Bull_HH/E93_10_St.Helena's_to_HE_Eugene_Kaplan.PDF
Bull in jpg format
http://socmnet.org/Bull_HH/E93_10_4-27-10_BULL_from_HH_re_ASSIGNMENT_of_ST_HELEN\
\
A_to_MOR_CLEMIS.jpg

Barehkmor!

In the risen Lord,

Rev. Fr. James Francis Gregory Colburn
St. Helenas Mission, Retreat Camp & Monastery
A Center for Prayer of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch
Publicly Funded State & IRS Recognized 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Charity
9650 Lost Valley Ranch Road
or: Post Office Box 772
Leona Valley, CA 93551-7614
Tel: (661) 270-0616 , 661) 270-0616
website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StHelenasMission/

Under the auspices of His Eminence Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, Archbishop of the
US Western Archdiocese, our zealous and enthusiastic faithful of San Bernardino
County began to gather the Syriac people in the area to establish a community
for the future church. And by their efforts on Sunday May 2nd , His Eminence
celebrated the first Divine Liturgy, entitling the church name of "Mor Elias the
Prophet" of San Bernardino County.

During the ceremony His Eminence gave thanks to God the Father who blessed the
faithful community of San Bernardino to start the parish and also thanked all
those who worked hard for their efforts in establishing the new church. His
Eminence appointed Rev. Fr. John Saif to serve this community.

Many faithful of other churches shared the joyful blessed occasion of this grand
opening of the new church: Rev. Fr. Mtanos Askar of St. Julian, High Desert,
participated in the Divine Liturgy with the choir of his church, as well as many
deacons and faithful of other churches.

The Western Archdiocesan Scout members participated in the spiritual occasion of
the newly established parish of St. Elias with joyful Syriac rhythms that
pleased the audience. God bless them and the Endeavor of their leaders.

Following the church ceremony, a light luncheon was held in celebration of this
event at the hall of St. George Antiochian Orthodox church. Everyone enjoyed
this blessed event and the celebration.

16 May 2010, Amsterdam, Netherlands: The Silver Jubilee celebration of
the founding of the Syrian Orthodox Church of "Mother of God" in Amsterdam,
Netherlands, was observed in a colorful and pious function held on Sunday, 16th
May 2010. The jubilee ceremonies were preceded by a Holy Mass celebrated by H.E.
Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydin, the Patriarchal Vicar for Netherlands. His Eminence
Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, the archbishop of Aleppo was the chief guest. H.E
Mor Severius Hazail Soumi from  Belgium was also present during the ceremonies.
Priests from home and abroad and many dignitaries of the Roman Catholic, Old
Catholic and Armenian, Coptic, Anglican and MPs such as Peter Omtzigt were also
present. Johan Meijer representing the Redemptorist Fathers and Mor Gregorios
Yohanna Ibrahim gave a speech on the church. The choir sang beautiful songs. The
ceremonies were followed by a dinner.

For more details and photos, please visit
http://www.socmnet.org/News00.htm

A most Exclusive interview with His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Patriarch of Universal Syriac Orthodox church by "Melthodhaye" the Patriarchal
Youth Organization.

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

The Patriarchal Youth Organization, www.melthodhaye.com , has recently published
the first and only EXCLUSIVE interview with His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius
Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch and Supreme head of the Syriac Orthodox Chruch of
Antioch and all the East!

In this unique interview H.H reflects upon his life and his journey from
childhood all the way to being ordained as Patriarch. H.H also speaks about his
role as Patriarch and how a normal day is lived as the shepherd of the Syriac
Orthodox Church.

"If I preach, first of all I preach (to) myself, then I preach (to) the people."

"The main thing for us, the clergy, is to fear God, to be in faith and to love
one another. To love God, love our Lord Jesus Christ, and love our neighbour.
And to serve our church, and to serve anyone that needs our service, in a
sacrifice way, not to be selfish. To deny ourself for the benefit of our church
and humanity."

'We are proud of Melthodhaye which, in a short time, they took their position in
the church as young people, the faithful, and holding (the) doctrine of our Lord
Jesus Christ. And trying to set themselves (as) a good example to our youth. I
want them and pray for them to continue working for the benefit of the church...
And I want all our youth to be like them and love the church, God, and their
neighbours."

If you would like to hear more then please log on to www.melthodhaye.com and
sign up!

Sincerely in Christ,
Melthodhaye Crew

View the interview (Sign in required)
http://www.melthodhaye.com/default.asp?itemID=435

We request all readers to be a member of Melthodhaye

Dear Michael,

Here is an article in the Biblical Archaelogical Review that supports a positive
view of the Gospel of Thomas.

Biblical Views: What's Up with the Gospel of Thomas?
April D. DeConick
http://www.bib-arch.org/bar/article.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=36&Issue=01&ArticleID=\
19&Page=0&UserID=0&

Regards,
Thomas Joseph

--- In SOR-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Michael Poe <exunoomnia@...> wrote:
>
> Dear family in our Lord,God and Saviour Jesus Christ,the Gospel of Thomas has
been falsely labeled as gnostic for quite sometime but if one truely reads
it,one will find it perfectly Orthodox in every way.The majority of our Lord's
quotes in the Gospel of Thomas has exact parrelels in the canonical Gospels.An
interesting clue about its orgins is the quote where our Lord responds to a
question asked by the disciples when they ask him who to go to for leadership
and guidiance after our Lord would ascend into heaven after his
crucifiction,death,and glorious resurection.Our Lord told them to go to Jame's
the just,who we know from the book of acts and the writings of Eusubius was the
first bishop of Jerusalem and the leader of the first Orthodox Christian
community before shifting to Antioch after St.James martyrdom in Jerusalem where
it is said he was thrown off the pinnacle of the temple for his profession
>  of true Orthodox Christian faith in the profession of our Lord,God and
Saviour Jesus Christ's divinity.He was very revered by the first Christians of
Jerusalem and all the early churches and by all the apostles,disciples,and even
many pious Jews.He was called the camel kneed because of all the callousess he
had on his knees and elbows from all the prostrations he would make in the
temple.It is also said that he was a Nazarite and followed all the precepts and
dedications of being one.The gospel of Thomas is not at all gnostic in its
context.It is complestely different from all the other books that were found at
Nag Hammadi that were gnostic in their content.The location of Nag Hamadi where
they were found was the ancient remains of a Pachomian Coptic Orthodox monastery
and the texts were hidden by a monk.The reference to St.James is a very strong
indicator of its authenticity.The deep,profound teachings of our Lord found in
the Gospel of Thomas are very
>  mystical,spiritual and profound and are identical in content and meaning with
the gospel of St,John to a tremendous degree,and also to the synoptic gospels of
St.Matthew,Mark,and Luke.Modern biblical scholars are more and more of the
opinion and conclusion that the Gospel of Thomas may be the oldest gospel
written,and coming from the original true Orthodox Christian church of
Jerusalem,with James as its bishop,and the ancient church of Antioch when and
where St.Peter was the first bishop for 8 years before he went to Rome.Although
much emphasis has been attributed to St.Peter being the bishop of Jerusalem,He
was the first bishop of Antioch for 8 years before going to Rome,and he was
subservient to St.Jame's as James was the leader of the original Jerusalem
church.I encourage anyone who is interested to read the gospel of Thomas
themselves and come to their own conclusion than to listen to people who might
even be priests or hierarchs of the church who
>  in all probability have not read it for themselves.The reference to James
clearly indicates a Syrian-Aramaic orgin.All the Gospels,epistles,and revelation
were originally written in Aramaic,the language of our Lord and the apostles,and
comprise the true,original Holy Bible we know as the Holy Peshitta.In the name
of Moran Yashua Mshiho Bar Alaha,Michael.P.S. anyone intersested in the gospel
of Thomas should read it.It is very beautiful and is an authentic book of our
Lord's teaching that is deeply,purely Orthodox and beautifully mystical and
spiritual.There are many books of the Apocrypha that are still held as
illuminating and truth giving and were even held as canonical for a part of the
original church such as The Shepherd of Hermes,1st and 2cnd Jubilees,1st and 2nd
Macabees,First Book of Enoch,ect.The Ethiopian canon has retained alot of these
Apocryphal books into their Bible,which I find to be beautiful.They dont include
the gospel of Thomas,but I
>  really encourage interested people to read it for themselves and in it they
will find great beauty.
> --- On Mon, 12/28/09, larry.quintana <ddque2@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: larry.quintana <ddque2@...>
> Subject: [SORForum] Re: Gospel of Thomas
> To: SOR-Forum@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, December 28, 2009, 8:34 PM
>
>
>  
>
>
>
> Thank you Dr Thomas for your reply. Would it be advisable to read this book?
Or should we avoid its contents as Orthodox Christians?
>
> Thank you
> +
>
> --- In SOR-Forum@yahoogrou ps.com, "drthomas_joseph" <thomas_joseph@ ...>
wrote:
> >
> > The Gospel of Thomas is allegedly a Gnostic text, the complete version of
which (in Coptic) was discovered in 945, although separate portions of a Greek
version were discovered as early as 1897. It was never accepted as part of the
NT canon in any mainstream church including the Syriac Orthodox.
> >
> > Modern scholars do not consider that it was written by Apostle Thomas. In
the 4th cent. Cyril of Alexandria suggested that it was written by a Thomas who
was a disciple of Mani. Scholars date the text between AD 60 and 140. Being an
early witness to Christ outside the New Testament canon it has scholarly
significance. However, from the Orthodox viewpoint it has no canonical
authority.
> >
> > Rgds,
> > Thomas Joseph
> >
> >
> > --- In SOR-Forum@yahoogrou ps.com, "larry.quintana" <ddque2@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Greetings,
> > >
> > > I was wondering what the position of the church is on the use or reading
of the Gospel of Thomas? Does it hold any significant value in it content to the
christian community?
> > >
> > > God bless
> > >
> >
>

Concelebrated Divine Liturgy of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the U.S.A

12 June 2010, Teaneck, New Jersey. The Annual Concelebrated Divine Liturgy of
the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the USA took place in St. Mark's Syriac
Orthodox Cathedral, Teaneck, New Jersey On June 12th, 2010. The Liturgy was
celebrated this year according to the ancient rites of the Ethiopian Orthodox
Tewahido Church, presided by H.E. Archbishop Abuna Zecharias, Primate of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Archdiocese of North- Eastern U.S.A.
Participating in the Divine Liturgy also were the following Hierarchs: His
Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the
Armenian Orthodox Church in America, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho of
the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America, His
Eminence Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim of the Syrian Orthodox Church for the
Eastern USA. Present also were the Ethiopian Orthodox Archbishop of Trinidad,
His Eminence Abuna Thaddaius and the retired Armenian Archbishop, His Eminence
Yeghishe Gizirian. His Eminence His Grace Bishop David of the Coptic Orthodox
Church was unable to participate due to his travel overseas. The Liturgy was
served by several priests and deacons from the sister Oriental Orthodox
Churches. A big crowd of parishioners from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church showed
up with their choir and their traditional drums.

For more details and photos:
http://www.socmnet.org/News_OO_concelebrated_Liturgy_12June10.htm

The Netherlands: ancient faith of the Middle East fathers
(Dp-News The Guardian)

Guardian Weekly reader Catherine Ann Lombard writes on a visit to Mor Ephrem,
the Syrian Orthodox Monastery at the far eastern border of the Netherlands and
meets 45 boys who are learning to read and chant in kthobonoyo, the liturgical
language that only about 300 people in the world speak today.

The morning is hot and sticky, but I have promised Dayrayto Shmuni to help in
the monastery kitchen and put on my long-sleeved T-shirt. How the nun manages
during the summer months in her long black habit and cowl is a miracle. After a
short bike ride through the wooded fields, I walk into the kitchen that is
bustling with women and the sounds of Aramaic.

I am on the far eastern border of the Netherlands, but I might as well be in
southeastern Turkey. The madrashto, or summer school, is in session at Mor
Ephrem, the Syrian Orthodox Monastery, and 45 hungry boys will be lining up
after the midday prayer for lunch. My husband works as a teacher for the church
and so I volunteered to help.

With only a few words in Aramaic, the ancient language that Jesus spoke, I spend
these mornings chopping vegetables and washing pots and pans. It is Wednesday,
which is a fasting day, so the menu is simple. Baked potatoes, lentil soup,
sesame-covered rolls, fish cakes, pickled vegetables, and melon. No meat, eggs,
milk products or sweets.

The boys are all Dutch, learning to read and chant in kthobonoyo, the liturgical
language that only about 300 people in the world speak today. Their parents are
immigrants, having fled the Turkish government and Kurds in the 1970s and 80s,
leaving their homes and farmlands in Tur Abdin. Others are from Iran and Syria,
and, recently, from Iraq. They are a complex diaspora community of 300,000
worldwide, only united by their Aramaic dialect and Christian faith. As man in
his 30s told me, "We have no land. We have no nation. We only have the church.
Without it, we are left with no identity."

One of the women is now humming a chant; the window is open and I can hear some
of the boys chanting as they sit outside. I am slicing melon and its juicy
sweetness makes my mouth water. We women will eat only after all the teachers,
priests, monks, boys and archbishop have finished their meal, which is eaten in
silence. I steal a piece of melon and hurry to finish my task before the chapel
bell rings, calling us to prayer.

Afterwards, I have to remind myself that I am in the Netherlands. What will
happen to all this as the newer generations become more European? How will this
refuge of ancient Christian life survive in our secular world?

Source: http://www.dp-news.com/pages/detail.aspx?l=2&articleId=42331

Rediscovering Forgotten Anaphoras
From Saint Mark's Convent, Jerusalem

by Father Dale A. Johnson

In the monastery of Saint Mark in Jerusalem, a Syriac Orthodox Convent
associated with the Last Supper of Christ and His Disciples, is a library of 
Syriac Manuscripts.

When I arrived in 1980 for the first of three visits I still was able to see
some remarkable records through the courtesy of His Eminence Jijawi, Syriac
Archbishop of Jerusalem.  In 1982 I returned with  equipment to microfilm
manuscripts which were subsequently delivered to the Arthur Voobus Syriac
Collection at the Lutheran School of Theology at the University of Chicago where
they have languished for 27 years.  As a poor student I was not able to afford
to make copies. A few years later Kent Brown from Brigham Young University
microfilmed many of the same materials. Recently these microfilms were digitized
and put online by BYU ( see http://cpart.byu.edu/files/brown).  I immediately
recognized the Syriac lectionary with the shelf number Ms Syr 98 (14). I had
specifically microfilmed the colophon. To see the complete lectionary once again
filled my soul with joy.

For further reading
http://www.socdigest.org/articles/01jun10.html

Another Syrian Orthodox Christian man was killed on July 5, in the latest of a
series of targeted acts of violence against Christians in Mosul, Iraq.

Behnam Sabti died when an explosive device planted in his car detonated.

Although Mosul is patrolled by US troops along with 18 Iraqi military
battalions, the city's Christian minority remains in danger because of a
campaign of intimidation.

Source & more details
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Another-Christian-killed-in-Mosul-18858.html

THE FINAL STATEMENT FOR THE SECOND ALEPPO SYRIAC COLLOQUIUM ON THE LIFE AND
WORKS OF BAR EBROYO

ALEPPO JULY 1st – 4th, 2010

A Colloquium commemorating the life and works of Barhebraeus, the famous Syrian
polymath and renowned Church father, was held in Aleppo, Syria, July 1st – 4th,
2010.

The participants who came from Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy,
Japan Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey and the United States as well as from
Lebanon and Syria enjoyed the papers presented at the Colloquium by scholars and
specialists in Syriac studies. These contributions, which included fourteen
papers that were delivered in seven sessions, discussed the writings of the
celebrated scholar and polymath Mor Gregorios Abul- Faraj Bar Ebroyo 1286+
(Barhebraeus) as a chronicler, grammarian, philosopher, physician, theologian,
ecumenist, mystic and as a major contributor to church liturgy and canon law.

Prior to the start of the Colloquium, the new conference facility that
had been prepared for the event at the Aleppo Syrian Orthodox
Archdiocese was consecrated under the name Bar Ebroyo Centre for Syriac Studies
with a special prayer by his Eminence Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim,
Metropolitan of Aleppo.

The proceedings also included an opening session in which a letter of
blessing from his Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of
Antioch and all the East, was read. The welcoming address and the first paper of
the Colloquium were delivered by Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, Metropolitan of
Aleppo and the host of the Colloquium.

The Colloquium programme included visits to a number of archaeological
and historical locations. These included a tomb structure in Sirreen,
East of Mabug, that contains an old Syriac inscription dating back to 74 AD, the
grave of Sulaiman Shah one of the forefathers of the founder of the Ottoman
empire, Qalaat Najm (Citadel) on the western bank of Euphrates river where Bar
Ebroyo was imprisoned by Hulagu when he tried to intercede on behalf of the city
of Aleppo, and the town of Mabug, the birth place of Theodora, the Syrian Queen,
and the seat of Mor Philoxenus of Mabug (+ 523).

In its final session, the Colloquium resolved the following:

1. The proceedings of the Colloquium will be published in English
by Gorgias Press and in Arabic by Dar Mardin Publishing House. The full texts of
the papers should be submitted to Gorgias Press by March 31, 2011. The editors
for the proceedings are: His Eminence Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, George
Kiraz, Hidemi Takahashi and Herman Teule.

2. It has been decided that the 3rd Aleppo Colloquium would be held
July 5th – 8th, 2012. Several themes were discussed including:
Severus of Antioch, Aleppo in the period 1400 – 1800, The Syrian
Orthodox Church following the time of Bar Ebroyo and before the Ottoman invasion
(early 14th century to early 16th century). The final theme will be set at a
later date by Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim.

3. The participants expressed their profound appreciation and
thanks to the host of the Colloquium, Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, for his
initiative to hold the Colloquium, for his tireless efforts, which ensured its
complete success, and for the generous hospitality. The participants also
expressed their deep thanks to the secretariat of the Colloquium, to the monks
and deacons and members of the different working groups of the Aleppo Syrian
Orthodox Archdiocese.

List of Scholars

1. Metropolitan Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim (Syria)

2. Pier Giorgio Borbone (Italy)

3. Deena Dinno and Khalid Dinno (Canada)

4. Margherita Farina (Italy)

5. Jan van Ginkel (Netherlands)

6. Hubert Kaufhold (Germany)

7. Fr. Elias Kesrouani (Lebanon)

8. George Kiraz (USA)

9. Hidemi Takahashi (Japan)

10. Sara TanoÄŸlu and Ishak TanoÄŸlu (Turkey)

11. Herman Teule (Belgium)

12. Fr. Baby Varghese (India)

13. Dorothea Wetecke (Germany)

* His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas consecrated the St. Thomas Syriac
Orthodox Cathedral, London

* His Holiness installed the Holy Relics of St. Thomas, brought from Mosul, at
the Cathedral

* Messages of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth, The Right Hon. Dr. Gordon Brown
and Most Rev. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury were read.

LONDON: His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas consecrated St. Thomas
Syriac Orthodox Cathedral on July 03, Saturday here. The Cathedral, situated at
7-11 Armstrong Road, Acton, London, W3 7JL, had been built in a mere six months
at the cost of around 1.8 million pounds. The Church is situated on the first
floor with a spacious community hall below it and offices and clergy living
accommodation upstairs. Metropolitans Their Eminences Mor Philoxenos Mathias
Nayis (Assistant to the Patriarch), Dr. Mor Coorilos Aphrem Karim Archbishop,
Eastern USA), Mor Athanasius Touma Dokkoma (Patriarchal Vicar, Great Britain)
assisted His Holiness.

His Holiness Patriarch Zakka was borne into the Cathedral on his throne, carried
on the shoulders of several deacons, whilst the congregation clapped, the women
ululated and the children threw flower petals. The proceedings opened with words
of welcome and the gratitude of the community (largely Syriac Orthodox from
Iraq) expressed in their warm statements about British hospitality and the
singing of the British National Anthem. Among messages received were one from
Her Majesty The Queen, The Right Hon. Dr. Gordon Brown and the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Most Rev. Rowan Williams. The Patriarch was accompanied by a large
retinue of Syriac Orthodox metropolitans and clergy and relics of St. Thomas had
been brought from Mosul for the new Cathedral. Among the ecumenical guests were
HE Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira (Ecumenical Patriarchate), HE Metropolitan
John of Western & Central Europe (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch), the
Archbishop of Westminster (Mgr. Vincent Nichols) and the Bishop of Gibraltar in
Europe (Right Rev'd Geoffrey Rowell). The Oriental Orthodox clergy, who joined
the Syriac Metropolitans in the sanctuary, included HE Archbishop Antonios of
the Ethiopian Orthodox Church) and from the Coptic Orthodox Church HE
Metropolitan Seraphim
(who read the Epistle in English), HG Bishop Missael of Birmingham, HG Bishop
Antony of Scotland, Ireland & NE England, HG Bishop Elia of Khartoum and HG
Bishop Angaelos (General Bishop for UK). A number of priests from the Coptic,
Ethiopian, Eritrean, Armenian and Malankara churches were also present.

View Photos
http://malankarasyriacvoice.com/Albums/ConsecrationofStThomasCathedralLondonJuly\
2010byHisHoliness/index.html

BBC Report in Arabic - Consecration & Inauguration of St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox
Cathedral, London, UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arabic/multimedia/2010/07/100704_sf_syriac_church_tc2.shtml

Turkish church defaced with Islamist graffiti
Mehmet Ali Bulun

Police have started an investigation after a suspected group of people defaced
the façade of the 1,700-year-old Mor Jacob Syriac Orthodox Church in Nusaybin,
in the southeastern province of Mardin, with pro-Islamic slogans. The offenders
allegedly defaced the stone walls of the church on Monday with various slogans,
such as "Clear off, bastards," "Clear off, Zionist dogs," "Heretics, lay off,"
and "Zionist powers, clear off," in Turkish and, "Allah u Muhammed," and
"Prophet Muhammad, fight the infidels and hypocrites," in Arabic. The police
will fingerprint the lid of a paint tin found on the ground at the site of the
graffiti and will also fingerprint the wire fence surrounding the church, which
is currently undergoing restoration.

Nusaybin Mayor Ayºe Gökkan and members of the town council also went to the
church upon hearing of the vandalism, denouncing the act.

Gökkan said the graffiti was an insult to all members of the Nusaybin
community, whether Syriac Orthodox, Kurdish, Arabic, or Yezidi.

According to Gökkan, the offense was not committed by one person but by a group
of people. Noting that renovators had placed a wired fence around the church for
construction purposes, Gökkan said it would have been impossible for one person
to climb and tear down the fence, enter the church grounds and deface the walls.

"If the police respect all cultures, they should quickly solve this case and
prosecute the offenders. The case is going to be followed closely by the
municipality. [The municipality] is not going to regard this as an ordinary
crime. Mor Jacob Church is an asset to people of all religions who belong to
this community, and the community is going to protect this asset," he said.

The church reportedly dates from 313 A.D. and is currently being restored by the
Mardin Directorate of Museums.

Mehmet Deniz, the directorate's resident art historian, Ural Züngör, a museum
restorer and member of Istanbul University's Department of Restoration faculty
and Süleyman Bayar, an archaeologist, went to the church to investigate the
incident.

The three collected paint samples and said the graffiti could be removed without
damaging the church's historical texture.

The church is expected to re-open its doors once the restoration project is
complete.

Source:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=syrian-orthodox-church-in-mardin-gets-s\
pray-painted-with-offensive-statements-2010-07-14

Messages delivered by His Holiness Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
during the consecration of St. Thomas Syriac Orthodox Cathedral, London.

In the Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, the one true God Amen.

Your Eminences our beloved Metropolitans, Very Rev. Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo and
Associates of the Barnabas Fund, the Reverend Clergy, distinguished guests and
our beloved spiritual children.

We may at first express our extreme happiness to be here with you all, at this
solemn occasion of the consecration of this new church. The honourable
government of this esteemed nation permitted us to build a church of our own
here. Depending on the grace and mercy of God, when you all committed yourselves
for this divine task of building a House of God, He heard your prayers and has
made it a great success. And today is the day of the fulfilment of your efforts.
Hence first of all, let us thank our Almighty Lord God for helping us to see our
dream fulfilled. We personally thank God, for enabling us to see the loving
faces of you all - our beloved spiritual children.

We all are now blessed through the consecration of this new house of our Lord.

It was the wish of the prophet and king David, to build a house for Yahweh. But
that was not realized during his time. And only his son, Solomon got the grace
to fulfil that mission. It is thus a providence of God, to be partakers in
building a House for Him. Now you have got this good fortune to see such a dream
fulfilled through your hands.

We would like to remind you that, as we consecrate this church, we ourselves
also should be consecrated and are to become the dwelling places of God. St.
Paul the Apostle says: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were
bought with a price. So glorify God in your body "(I Corinthians 6:19, 20). We
must mould ourselves and the paths of our lives, based on the pattern of our
Lord Jesus, looking for the will of God in everything. And not it be based on
the momentary and volatile luxuries and attractions of this world. As God is the
God of mercy, we, the children also should bear the image of that heavenly
Father and we also are to love others and be merciful with them. We should set
our primary goal to work for the eternal life and to achieve the eternal
treasures. May God remould our lives and let us go ahead with a new insight and
mission, renewing ourselves every day.

May the prayers of St. Thomas - the patron saint of this church be with us and
let us follow his dedication to our Lord Jesus. Our Syrian Orthodox Church ever
esteemed the relics of saints as treasures and as divine sources of blessings.
Dearly beloved, as you are aware, God enabled our humble self to find out the
Holy Relics of the blessed Apostle Saint Thomas, during the time we were serving
as the Metropolitan of Mosul in Iraq. This was an important finding and parts of
it were then installed at our different churches all over the world. St. Thomas
is the Patron Saint of this church and we were pleased to install a small part
of it in this church as well. Thus this church has now achieved a special status
and has become the house of that special treasure of blessings.

We thank the government of this esteemed country. The relationship of our church
with the British rulers dates back to more than a century, when the late
Patriarch Mor Ignatius Peter the Fourth, of blessed memory, visited Queen
Victoria in the year 1875 and established a warm relation with the British
Government. Also our relation with the Church of England, especially with the
Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Rowan William is a very cordial and pleasant
one. We pray God for blessing this nation with peace and prosperity.

We congratulate and pray for the all, who supported and contributed for the
construction of this church. We cannot but mention the name of the BARNABA FUND,
without the help of which, this project would not have been so successful. Very
Rev. Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo, the Director of Barnabas Fund and all the members of
the Barnaba Fund extend their invaluable help and support for our Syrian
Orthodox Church, not only here, but in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and
everywhere. We can never forget the various forms of help and support, being
rendered by the Barnaba Fund to our church. Very Rev. Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo is a
friend of us and of our church in General. Our gratefulness to him and to all
the officials and supporters of the Barnaba Fund, and to Ms. Caroline Kerslake,
its Director of Projects, are beyond words. We keep them all in our daily
prayers.
Our faithful here, in cooperation with His Eminence Mor Athanasius Touma
Dakkama, Metropolitan and our Patriarchal Vicar for the UK, worked day and
night, to fulfil the completion of this church. His able leadership and his
sincere efforts to build this beautiful church are praiseworthy. May God
strengthen him for the further growth of our church here. All our faithful from
the different countries, and dioceses extended their earnest support for this
noble task. May God Almighty bless them all, and reward them from His heavenly
treasure, by thirty, sixty and hundred folds.

Let us conclude. We have great pleasure in thanking all our beloved
Metropolitans, Clergy and our distinguished guests, for their valuable
participation in this consecration service and for gracing the occasion. We once
again thank you and congratulate you all, especially, His Eminence Mor
Athanasius Touma Metropolitan. The church managing committee and the other
bodies and all our faithful here, deserve laud appreciation for all their
dedication, support and care for all these arrangements. Also we thank you for
inviting us, and for the warm reception accorded to us along with the delegates
accompanied.

Now, as a token of our appreciation and thankfulness, we have great pleasure in
honouring Very Rev. Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo, the International Director of the
Barnaba Fund, with a pectoral cross and chain. We honour the distinguished
clergy of our church in this manner. Also the St. Ignatius Decoration of
Commander is being conferred upon Very Rev. Dr. Patrick. We ask Very Rev. Dr.
Patrick to come forward. By considering the sincere services and contributions
to the construction of this church, we are now happy to decorate also the
following honourable members of this parish with the Mor Aphrem's Decoration of
Commander. They may now come forward.

May God Bless you all.
Thank you

Communion Openly

There is a scriptural reading from John chapter 6 that is the sublime teaching
about Holy Communion. The Malankara-Syrian calendar also appoints a reading from
Hebrew (end of Chapter 4 and beginning Chapter 5) that speaks about Jesus Christ
as our high priest. Fr John Brian brings the mystical into the practical in this
sermon.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara
Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, July 18, 2010 by Fr. John Brian
Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"Thanks be to God for His incomparable gifts." 2 Corinthians 9:15

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
LISTEN ONLINE HERE:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/07/communion-openly.html


Previously
Psalm 20 - Disciple's Psalm
Speaking about disciples and apostles, Fr John Brian discusses the role of the
called and anointed in the divine, mystical and wondrous works in this world.
The lesson is a thread that can be seen in the Sunday liturgical readings from
Matthew, Acts, and Corinthians - all leading to an appreciation of Psalm 20.
This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara
Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, July 4, 2010 LISTEN ONLINE HERE:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/07/psalm-20-disciple-psalm.html


Before that:
Terminal Uniqueness and Miracle Needs
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/06/terminal-uniqueness-and-miracle-needs.htm\
l

Disciples' Joy
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/06/disciples-joy.html

SPIRIT COMPASS
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/06/holy-spirit-compass-text.html

Apostle Power and the Church
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/06/apostle-power-and-church.html


Top FIVE sermons with some Honorable Mentions
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2009/05/top-five-audio-sermons-of-fr-john-brian.h\
tml

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD all sermons: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml

For more articles and sermons, visit www.Frjohbrian.blogspot.com

+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Parish
621 N. Sherman Avenue, Suite B3
Madison, Wisconsin - Sundays 9:30am
608.242.4244 ~ transfiguration@...
www.maruroopa.blogspot.com
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SOME THOUGHTS ON PRAYER

Prayer is not form, it is function.
It is not posture, it is relation.
However, proper posture and proper form give prayer more profound function and
deeper relationship.
One cannot know this until one has made the effort.

We will put effort into how and when we pray only after an honest appraisal of
our distance from God and our lack communication with Him during the activities
of our day-to-day life. These problem in our relationship with God become
evident in times of sorrow and struggle.

"Lord, teach us to pray" is a request that reveals the Lord's prayer in the
scriptures. In Holy Qurbana (liturgy), the priest announces the congregation's
willingness to be taught the fullness of the Lord's prayer, by asking God:
- to open our mouths and our lips
- to cleanse our bodies and our souls
- purify our hearts and our minds
- so that we may invoke Thee and Pray to Thee, saying:
Our Father...

Why do you bow down before the altar?
1. that is what in the book instructions (rubrics) - obedience
2. that is what I need to do for proper worship and prayer - humilty
3. this is my proper position before God - honesty
4. I need to present myself before God for His mercy on us all - sacrifice


Humbly written and submitted by a servant for edification and spiritual
development.

Fr John Brian
Holy Transfiguration Mission
Madison, Wisconsin