79th Dukhrono of Saint Ignatius Elias III concluded

12 February 2011, Manjinikkara: Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I
celebrated Holy Qurbono (Tri Mass) at Dayro Cathedral on Feb 12, Saturday
morning at 5.30. Metropolitans Mor Ivanios Kuriakose and Mor Osthatheos Ishaq
were the co celebrants.

Later at 8.30 AM, Patriarchal Delegate, Mor Philoxenos Mathias Nayis
(Patriarchal Assistant Metropolitan of St. Aphrem Theological Seminary, Ma'arrat
Saidnaya, Damascus) celebrated Holy Qurbono at Dayaro Cathedral. Metropolitans
Mor Theophilose George Saliba (Metropolitan of Tur Lebanon & Secretary to the
Holy Synod) and Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh (Archbishop of Beirut & Benevolent
institutions in Lebanon), were the co celebrants.

For more detail and photos
http://www.socmnet.org/News2011Feb11.htm

Gem of Christian History at Risk in Turkey
Expropriation of Monastery Land Seen as Effort to Squash Syriacs

By Paul de Maeyer ROME, FEB. 18, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Not even the Mongols of the
14th century, when they killed 40 monks and some 400 faithful, succeeded in
making one of the most ancient Christian convents in the world disappear, but
perhaps Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo»an of Turkey, can.

This appears to be the case of the Syro-Orthodox monastery of Mor Gabriel or
"Dayro d-Mor Gabriel," called "Deyrulumur" in Turkish. It is located in the
region of Turabdin in the southeast of Anatolia. The convent bears the name of
Mor Gabriel (634-668), bishop of Turabdin, known for his witness of holiness and
miracles.

The foundation of the monastery, which is situated southeast of the city of
Midyat, in the province of Mardin, near the border with Syria, dates back to the
year 397 A.D. and was the initiative of two monks, Mor Samuel and Mor Simon, who
died in 409 and 433, respectively. The complex, which boasts elements built with
the help of Byzantine emperors such as Arcadius (395-408) and Theodosius II
(408-450), today houses a small community of three monks and 14 sisters.

Continue reading @
http://www.socmnet.org/News2011Feb17.htm

An Assurance of God's Love

Dear Ones,

I want to be more capable and more demonstrative of the love I have for you, but
it seems that I have been too busy, too distracted, too distant, too limited to
tell you over and over again (as many times as you need to hear it): You are
LOVED.

Please be assured, or reassured, that you are loved; that God loves you and that
I love you.

God loves you completely and absolutely and He is never too busy, too
distracted, too distant, too limited.

He loves you as He sees you - the way He created you: whole and perfect; unique
and human; complete and yet becoming.

He loves you beyond and above any love we are humanly capable of giving. I can
assure of this because I have known His love and I have seen the power of its
benevolent force in tragedy, pain, suffering and death. I bear witness to that
love in the created world around us and in the creativity of humanity.

And I, and unworthy recipient of this great love, have been given a gift beyond
expectation - I can share this same love with you; with anyone; with everyone;
with all of creation. I say "unworthy" because I cannot claim to have done any
deed worthy of so great a love as the Lord has bestowed upon me. I have failed
at some of the simplest of requests made of me and my life - yet God still loves
me in fullness, or rather, beyond fullness as there seems to be an endless
amount to share with you.

So, if I have known you or only know your name; or if we have been comrades in
this life in the travails of human pain or heroic moments of human triumph; or
if we have only met through the electronic media afforded us in this time;
whether you are near or on the other side of the planet - I say without doubt,
You are LOVED!

Please, just breath that Truth in with your next few breaths - the very spirit
of life is full of love. It can be seen in all created things. It can be heard
in every sound. It can be felt in the fullness of your chest as you breath...

God created you for this time and this place. The entire universe has made space
for your existence. God loves you so much that He demonstrates His love by
giving free will in your uniqueness, in your time, in your space. He, who is
everywhere and at all times, has given you this gift of love.

If you have fallen from the wondrous purpose of your life, love will restore
you. If you have been injured by the bantering of wills, love will heal you. If
you have fallen prey to devilish deceptions or misguided manipulations, love
will give you clarity and show you how to get untangled from the destructive
forces of the evil one.

This inner healing and restoration and clarity does not come directly from some
outward and superficial miracle. It is through the love of God that you share
that these miracles will begin to appear in your life, in your family and among
your loved ones. As you give love to others, you will become another witness to
the abundance of all good things - not because you manipulated the universe by
giving love and getting what you think you want - but because God is good.

The goodness of God is abundantly surrounding us continually. It is not what is
happening to you, but how you are dealing with it - with love or without love.
Love makes all the difference. Breath it in with every breath. Seek to
participate in it rather than separate yourself from it. God loves YOU!

Perhaps you think cannot bring yourself to love because you have been hurt or
maybe even worse than that has happened to you at the hands of trusted ones who
were not deserving of trust and did not show love towards you. Then you will
need to start by loving God with all your heart. Open your heart first to God
above, let Him fill you with the healing light of love. Do not be concerned
about others - their time will come. Once you have known God's love as I have
(and as one who has known hurtful and selfish untrustworthy people I can say
this truthfully), there will be more than enough love for everyone else -
because God already loves you abundantly and He will continue to love you.
Sometimes I'll admit, I am afraid of being rejected. Probably you are, too. It
is risky to love, to heal, to be with God. I have grown to understand that those
that reject a spiritual and healthy love incur the greater loss.

I wish I could give you a hug, letting you know that one human can love another
without selfishness, without intrigue, without an agenda. I can't though,
because my arms are too short. But God, who as an infant was held by loving arms
that nurtured and protected Him, knows how important it is for us to be held in
loving arms.

And, my dear ones, God always has room for you to be held. And He will hold you
until the sobbing ebbs; until the empty spaces are filled; until the pain and
suffering no longer torment you. He will send His angels to guard you under
their wings if you will dwell with Him in His love.

God loves YOU! and, in my weak human existence filled with the wondrous love of
God, I love you, too.



pray for me, a servant

Fr John Brian
Nineveh Fast 2011

Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Parish
621 N Sherman Avenue, Suite B3, Madison, Wisconsin
Sundays 9:30 am ~ 608.242.4244
Mission: http://maruroopa.blogspot.com/
Spiritual Reflections: http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/
A Little Spiritual Help: http://littlespiritualhelp.blogspot.com/
The Cross of the East: http://easterncross.blogspot.com/
Moving Pictures: http://spiritfilm.blogspot.com/
Art & Photography: http://paprock.blogspot.com/
Light Along the Way: http://mypathlight.blogspot.com/
o HEALING LIFE o DEEPENING FAITH
o ENRICHING PRACTICE o REFRESHING SPIRIT

Ready for the Time of New Life

It has been a long hard winter for many and Fr John Brian talks about the
transition from the time of Nativity and Epiphany to the time of fasting. He
uses contemporary stories of perseverance to help and aid all those longing for
the time of new life.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the
Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, February 13, 2011 by Fr.
John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison,
Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the
power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
Listen on-line here:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/ready-for-time-of-new-life.html

Last Week:
Presenting Inner Light to the World
One of the Church's important feasts is the Presentation of Christ in the Temple
which happens 40 days after His Nativity. Fr John Brian uses the Epistle reading
from Ephesians (Chapter 3) to bring into focus the purpose and hope of our
enlightening by having Christ brought into our temple. The stories of Simeon and
Hannah at the temple point to a very important consideration for our inner
illumination. This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from
the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, February 6, 2011 -
Listen on-line here:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/presenting-inner-light-to-world.html


Previously:
How to Know the Next Holy One
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-know-next-holy-one.html

What Must I Do?
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-must-i-do.html

WHAT DO YOU WANT?
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/01/where-do-you-live.html

Enlighten our minds - Epiphany Prayer
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/01/enlighten-our-minds-epiphany-prayer.html

A Question About Confession
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/12/question-about-confession.html


Top FIVE sermons with some Honorable Mentions (through May 2009)
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
[check out our mission pictures]
o HEALING LIFE o DEEPENING FAITH
o ENRICHING PRACTICE o REFRESHING SPIRIT
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Pastoral Books by Fr John Brian, includes transcribed text of sermons.
FULLY ALIVE - Read the introduction and see the table of contents:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/12/fully-alive-introduction.html

SERMON OF THE WEEK - February 27, 2011
by: Rev. Dr. V Kurian Thomas, Valiyaparambil

Next Sunday is called "Aneedae Sunday." The Church solemnly commemorates the
faithful departed.

From the beginning, Christians have prayed for the dead and have taken works of
penance on behalf of their departed ones. The practice is still being continued.
We pray for the faithful departed, those who have been baptized, for complete
purification of the stains of sin before they come into full union with God in
Heaven. This Sunday the Church honors the memory of the departed and offer
prayers for them so that the purified souls will be assured of God's grace in
Heaven.

Continue reading @
http://www.socmnet.org/Resource_Sermon_Of_The_Week_2011_February27.htm

Message of Great Lent from Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of
Universal Syrian Orthodox Church

Life in Christ
«Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of
Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you
that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for
the faith of the gospel»
(Philippians 1: 27).

We extend our apostolic benediction, benevolent prayers and greetings to our
brethren, His Beatitude Mor Baselius Thomas I, Catholicos of India, and their
Eminences the Metropolitans; our spiritual children the reverend vicars,
priests, monks, nuns, deacons and deaconesses, and our blessed Syrian Orthodox
people all over the world. May the divine providence embrace them through the
intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and St. Peter, chief of the
apostles, and the rest of the Martyrs and Saints. Amen.

Continue reading
http://www.socmnet.org/Resource_Apostolicbull_Great_Lent_2011.htm

Definition of Fasting
Written by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
http://www.socmnet.org/Resource_Articles_Definition_of_Fasting_HHZakkaI.htm

On Living and Dying

Inspired by the appointed readings and the Sunday of the Departed, Fr John Brian
reflects about living and dying, using some of his experience as a hospital
chaplain. He talks about how this relates to the coming fast.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the
Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, February 27, 2011 by Fr.
John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison,
Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the
power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
Listen on-line here:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-living-and-dying.html

Last Week:
Importance of Servant Clergy
Inspired by the appointed readings and the memory of the beloved and
departed Metropolitan Thomas Mar Makarios, Fr John Brian talks about the
importance of clergy and of being a servant of Christ, our Lord and Master. He
touches on how this relates to the coming fast and the priesthood of all members
of the church. He concludes with a story in memory of the bishop of his
childhood. This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the
Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - Listen
on-line here:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/importance-of-servant-clergy.html


Previously:
Ready for the Time of New Life
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/ready-for-time-of-new-life.html

Presenting Inner Light to the World
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/presenting-inner-light-to-world.html

How to Know the Next Holy One
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-know-next-holy-one.html

What Must I Do?
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-must-i-do.html


A Question About Confession
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/12/question-about-confession.html

An Assurance of God's Love
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/assurance-of-gods-love.html



Top FIVE sermons with some Honorable Mentions (November 2005 through May 2009)
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
o HEALING LIFE o DEEPENING FAITH
o ENRICHING PRACTICE o REFRESHING SPIRIT
[check out our mission pictures]
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Pastoral Book by Fr John Brian, includes transcribed text of sermons.
FULLY ALIVE - Read the introduction and see the table of contents:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/12/fully-alive-introduction.html

Mor Polycarpose Geevarghese Enters Eternal Rest

06 March 2011: 21:30 Hrs, Iritty, Kannur: Mor Polycarpose Geevarghese - Senior
Metropolitan of Evangelistic Association of the East ( EAE ) and St. Antony's
Mission ( Honnavar Mission ) passed away at Amala Hospital. Iritty, Kannur at
9:00 PM today.

Funeral ceremony of Mor Polycarpose will be held on Wednesday 2.00 PM at St.
Antony's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox  Cathedral, Jeppu, Mangalore. His Beatitude
Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I will lead the funeral ceremonies. All
metropolitans of Syriac Orthodox Church in India will attend. Mor Chrisostomose
Markose  & Mor Anthonios Yakoob  are present there in the cathedral now. Lots of
Priests, Nuns & faithful are flowing to Cathedral to have a last glimpse of
their beloved father.

For more details and updates
http://www.socmnet.org/News2011Mar12.htm

Mor Polycarpose Geevarghese Metropolitan laid to rest.

http://www.socmnet.org/News2011Mar12.htm

We pray that His Grace may sit at the right hand of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ and continue the intercession prayers for us.

Journey of Lent - Temptations of the Fast

This week, Fr John Brian directs our attention to being spiritually ready for
the Lenten fast. This sermon refers to Cana Sunday and the Service of
Reconciliation and Forgiveness appointed for the beginning of the Lenten Fast.
The Lenten Journey is a journey to the cross, but at this time it appears small
and precious like the small gold crosses worn around the necks of the faithful.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the
Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, March 6, 2011 by Fr. John
Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission
Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the
power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
Listen on-line here:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/03/journey-of-lent-temptations-of-fast.html

Last Week:
On Living and Dying
Inspired by the appointed readings and the Sunday of the Departed, Fr John Brian
reflects about living and dying, using some of his experience as a hospital
chaplain. He talks about how this relates to the coming fast. This sermon lesson
uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary
and was given on Sunday, February 27, 2011 - Listen on-line here:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-living-and-dying.html

Previously:
Importance of Servant Clergy
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/importance-of-servant-clergy.html

Ready for the Time of New Life
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/ready-for-time-of-new-life.html

Presenting Inner Light to the World
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/presenting-inner-light-to-world.html

How to Know the Next Holy One
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-know-next-holy-one.html

What Must I Do?
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-must-i-do.html


A Question About Confession
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/12/question-about-confession.html

An Assurance of God's Love
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/assurance-of-gods-love.html



Top FIVE sermons with some Honorable Mentions (November 2005 through May 2009)
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
o HEALING LIFE o DEEPENING FAITH
o ENRICHING PRACTICE o REFRESHING SPIRIT
[check out our mission pictures]
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
Pastoral Book by Fr John Brian, includes transcribed text of sermons.
FULLY ALIVE - Read the introduction and see the table of contents:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/12/fully-alive-introduction.html

Journey of Lent - Ready for the End of the World

This week, Fr John Brian acknowledges the tremendous tragedy of Japan's
earthquake and speaks to those who are anxious about the signals of the "end
times." He also speaks to the problems of dark and troubled times and likens
them to the flower bulb that spend winter in the dark, yet breaks through the
dirt to reach toward the light.

The Lenten Journey is a journey to the cross, but this week we may have lost
sight of it under the rubble of the concerns of this world. Fr John Brian asks
if you can tell if you are ready for the end. Are you? How can you tell?

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the
Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, March 13, 2011 by Fr. John
Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison,
Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the
power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
Listen on-line here:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/03/journey-of-lent-ready-for-end-of-world.ht\
ml


Last Week:
Journey of Lent - Temptations of the Fast
This week, Fr John Brian directs our attention to being spiritually ready for
the Lenten fast. This sermon refers to Cana Sunday and the Service of
Reconciliation and Forgiveness appointed for the beginning of the Lenten Fast.
The Lenten Journey is a journey to the cross, but at this time it appears small
and precious like the small gold crosses worn around the necks of the faithful.
This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara
Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, March 6, 2011 - Listen on-line here:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/03/journey-of-lent-temptations-of-fast.html


Previously:
On Living and Dying
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-living-and-dying.html

Importance of Servant Clergy
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/importance-of-servant-clergy.html

Ready for the Time of New Life
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/ready-for-time-of-new-life.html

Presenting Inner Light to the World
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/presenting-inner-light-to-world.html

How to Know the Next Holy One
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-know-next-holy-one.html

Recent Writings:
A Question About Confession
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/12/question-about-confession.html

An Assurance of God's Love
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/assurance-of-gods-love.html



Top FIVE sermons with some Honorable Mentions (November 2005 through May 2009)
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
o HEALING LIFE o DEEPENING FAITH
o ENRICHING PRACTICE o REFRESHING SPIRIT
[check out our mission pictures]
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
Pastoral Book by Fr John Brian, includes transcribed texts of sermons.
FULLY ALIVE - Read the introduction and see the table of contents:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/12/fully-alive-introduction.html

A blast rocks St Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church Lebanon's Zahle's industrial
district.

Continue read @
http://www.socmnet.org/News2011Mar27.htm

Glory in Our Tribulations - Continuing the Journey of Lent

This week in our Lenten Journey, Fr John Brian speaks to the spiritual
teaching in St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans Chapter 5 where he writes, "and we
glory in our tribulations..." Fr John Brian defines "our tribulations" and
discusses the spiritual fruit available. The Gospel lesson of the Paralytic
(Mark 2) can be seen through this spirit as well.

The Lenten Journey is a journey to the cross, but this week we see the cross at
the top of the hill we have already become weary to climb. Fr John Brian reminds
us of the rewards and the importance of the effort.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the
Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, March 13, 2011 by Fr. John
Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison,
Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the
power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
Listen on-line here:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/03/glory-in-our-tribulations.html

Last Week:
Journey of Lent - Ready for the End of the World
This week, Fr John Brian acknowledges the tremendous tragedy of Japan's
earthquake and speaks to those who are anxious about the signals of the "end
times." He also speaks to the problems of dark and troubled times and likens
them to the flower bulb that spend winter in the dark, yet breaks through the
dirt to reach toward the light. The Lenten Journey is a journey to the cross,
but this week we may have lost sight of it under the rubble of the concerns of
this world. Fr John Brian asks if you can tell if you are ready for the end. Are
you? How can you tell? This sermon lesson uses the readings
and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on
Sunday, March 13, 2011 - Listen on-line here:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/03/journey-of-lent-ready-for-end-of-world.ht\
ml


Previously:
Journey of Lent - Temptations of the Fast
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/03/journey-of-lent-temptations-of-fast.html

On Living and Dying
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-living-and-dying.html

Importance of Servant Clergy
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/importance-of-servant-clergy.html

Ready for the Time of New Life
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/ready-for-time-of-new-life.html

Presenting Inner Light to the World
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/presenting-inner-light-to-world.html


Recent Writings:
A Question About Confession
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/12/question-about-confession.html

An Assurance of God's Love
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2011/02/assurance-of-gods-love.html



Top FIVE sermons with some Honorable Mentions (November 2005 through May 2009)
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

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Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Parish
621 N. Sherman Avenue, Suite B3
Madison, Wisconsin - Sundays 9:30am
608.242.4244 ~ transfiguration@...
www.maruroopa.blogspot.com
o HEALING LIFE o DEEPENING FAITH
o ENRICHING PRACTICE o REFRESHING SPIRIT
[check out our mission pictures]
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Pastoral Book by Fr John Brian, includes transcribed texts of sermons.
FULLY ALIVE - Read the introduction and see the table of contents:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/12/fully-alive-introduction.html

Join Syrian Christians in prayer for the situation in Syria on 23 June 2011.

16 June 2011, Ma'arat Sayyidnaya, Damascus: The Council of Bishops of the
Christian Churches of Damascus, Syria, met on Thursday 16 June 2011 at the
Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East to discuss the current
sad situation which is sweeping over Syria—the country of civilizations and the
cradle of heavenly religions. The Council of Bishops condemned the foreign
interference in Syria, and asked the Syrian citizens to be united. They asked
Almighty God to enlighten the minds of the people, feed love in their hearts,
and spread security and peace all over the country. The Bishops continued their
statement by saying:

Today and more than ever before, we refer to prayer and fasting for the sake of
the safety of Syria, the country of tolerance and coexistence. Our hope is that
Syria will overcome this crisis to find itself in a better shape which may
protect it from any danger that might threaten its existence, or divide it, or
lead its citizens to seek refuge into other countries. Every drop of blood that
is shed from any Syrian citizen, it is shed from the entire Syrian body. St.
Paul refers to the body of Christ our Saviour when saying: "If one part of the
body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it" [1 Cor. 12:26a].

At a time when our beloved country Syria is living in vigorous days, the Holy
Church is living the time of "Pentecost", which is the time of the coming of the
Holy Spirit on the Apostles, and the time of the foundation of the Church and
launching the process of evangelization all over the universe in a spirit of
love, peace, tolerance and acceptance of other. These spiritual and ethical
values are an integral part of human principles. The event of Pentecost is not a
historical moment of the past, rather it is a renewed occurence. From it we
acquire our strength and faith, and in it we live, move, and exist.

Therefore, we call on all Christians in Syria and all other Syrian citizens who
wish to join us, for a "day of fasting" on Thursday 23 June 2011, where we will
gather at 6:30 pm on that day at the Holy Cross Church in Kassa`a area,
Damascus, to pray for peace which is a human, religious, and national
responsibility. By this we deserve the blessing of being peacemakers which Our
Lord Jesus Christ gave us in His saying: "Blessed are those who work for peace,
God will call them his children" (Matt. 5:9).

Source: Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate

Official website of Universal Syriac Orthodox has been hacked again by a group
called "Organization empire" which claims to support the religion of Islam.  The
web site was hacked 10 days ago also and was condemned by many including Muslim
organizations and prominent personalities of different communities.
http://www.syrian-orthodox.com/news.php

Last week His Holiness had called for abandoning all forms of violence,
supporting peace and security and stability, and adopting the language of
dialogue.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCM-FORUM/message/21042

The Syrian Orthodox Christians of St. Thomas
By Dr. D. Babu Paul (Bar Eto Briro)

This booklet has been compiled at the request of His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. J.
Kelanthara Archbishop of Verapoly on the eve of H.H Pope John Paul II to St.
Peter's Chapel, Mahatma Gandhi Road Cochin on February 7, 1986. Essentially it
is an adaptation of portions from his earlier books "Veni, Vidi, Vici" and the
"The Quest for Unity"

http://www.syrianchurch.org/books/SyriacChristianity_DrDBabuPaul.pdf

The booklet made to available on-line with the permission of Dr. D. Babu Paul
(Bar Eto Briro)

SOCM Moderators

What is the Oriental Orthodox position on the fate of the soul after death prior
to the last judgement? Roman Catholics believe - and it has been defined in one
the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church - that the soul goes immediately to a
particular judgement. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Each man
receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his
death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance
into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately, -- or
immediate and everlasting damnation". At the last judgement, the Catechism
states, after the resurrection of the dead, the Father "through his Son Jesus
Christ will pronounce the final word on all history. We shall know the ultimate
meaning of the whole work of creation and of the entire economy of salvation and
understand the marvelous ways by which his Providence led everything towards its
final end and the body will be restored to the soul."

In HIS Love
Chev. Thomas Daniel (Reji)

Syriac Christians to get first church in Istanbul
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey's Syriac Christian community has secured approval from officials for the
construction of its first church. The church, planned to be constructed in the
Yeşilköy neighborhood, is expected to host 17,000 Syriacs who live in Istanbul

After years of tussling and hairsplitting, Turkey's Syriac Christian community
has secured approval from both the prime minister and the president for the
construction of its first church in the Yeşilköy neighborhood on the European
side of Istanbul.


"Half of our community lives in and around Yeşilköy. We rent churches for Sunday
rites, but we can only start morning mass at 11:30, whereas we are supposed to
finish our Sunday rites before 10:30 in accordance with our tradition," Kenan
Altınışık, a prominent Syriac community leader, told the Hürriyet Daily News via
e-mail.


The church site will be allocated to the ancient community by the Istanbul
Metropolitan Municipality, while construction expenses will be paid for by the
Syriacs. An official from Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, who wanted to
remain anonymous, told Hürriyet Daily News that they are searching for a
suitable location for the new church.


The church architecture is planned to bear traces of the Syriac's
thousands-of-years-old culture, while the construction is set to begin as soon
as suitable lands are allotted.


Community representatives held a series of talks with Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan, President Abdullah Gül and EU Minister Egemen Bağış regarding
their problems concerning the new church, including the allocation of land for
its construction, Altınışık said.


"Afterward, we also met with the head of the Istanbul Metropolitan Construction
Affairs Committee upon a directive issued by the Istanbul metropolitan mayor,"
he said, adding they have no communication problems.


"We presented several files to the head of the construction affairs committee
and he offered a few places, but they were not suitable for us," said Altınışık,
a businessman and head of the Syriac community's Foundation for the Church of
Mother Mary, which is located in the Tarlabaşı neighborhood in central Istanbul.


The community holds the title deed to the Church of Mother Mary and the
metropolitan center that houses it, Altınışık said, adding that about 17,000
Syriacs live in Istanbul with scant numbers still living in the southeast as
well.


A metropolitan center acts as a higher institution for an orthodox church. Many
of Turkey's Syriacs migrated to Europe during the mid-1980s, when there was
political turmoil in the southeast.


Source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com

The Oriental Orthodox Concelebration of the Divine Liturgy (Holy Qurbono) (which
includes the Syriac Orthodox Church, Coptic Orthodox Church, Armenian Orthodox
Church & the Ethiopian Orthodox Church) hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church
will be held at 9:00am on November 19, 2011 at the Archangel Michael & St. Mena
Coptic Orthodox Church, 4095 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, New York 10308. All
faithful are invited to attend!

COMMON DECLARATION BY THE HEADS OF THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES.

THE MEETING OF THE HEADS OF THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES

Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
Cairo, Egypt
14 November 2011

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark,
H.H. Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, H.H.
Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian
Orthodox Church and H.H. Abuna Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church, give thanks to God for bringing us together here in Cairo, Egypt, on
Monday, 14 November 2011, to pray together and to reflect together on matters
and concerns pertaining to our Churches and the Oriental Orthodox Family in
general. We were accompanied by metropolitans, archbishops and bishops of our
Churches.

In fact, the Churches of the Oriental Orthodox Family are united in faith,
theology, doctrine, tradition and spirituality. This strong bond of unity has
sustained this Family and became a source of spiritual strength, missionary
outreach and social action in spite of tremendous challenges and crisis which
surrounded these Churches in the course of their long history. The unity of
faith of our Family is grounded on Apostolic Tradition and the teachings of the
first three Ecumenical Councils of Nicea (325), Constantinople (381) and Ephesus
(431). We developed our theological teachings and shaped our doctrinal positions
on the basis of the teachings of these Ecumenical Councils, and adopted a common
position in respect to heresies and heretics.

It is vitally important that we re-affirm and re-strengthen our unity, and
re-invigorate our Christian witness. In a world which is constantly threatened
by secularistic and materialistic ideologies and different sort of heresies
which may jeopardize the integrity, identity and unity of our faith, therefore,
re-organizing and re-revitalizing our intra-family collaboration is of decisive
importance. The Oriental Orthodox Family has a long and rich history. Its
relevance needs to be re-affirmed and its common witness to be re-activated in
those regions and countries where the faithful of our Churches have organized
their church and community life.

For H.H. Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I, H.H. Catholicos Aram I and H.H. Abuna
Paulos, participating in the 40th anniversary celebration of the enthronement of
H.H. Pope Shenouda III was indeed a source of spiritual joy and a unique
opportunity to express our brotherly love and unity. The pontificate of His
Holiness has been one of dedicated service to the sister Coptic Orthodox Church;
a committed service marked by so many achievements in different spheres of the
life and mission of the Church. We pray the Almighty God to strengthen H.H. Pope
Shenouda III to carry on his pontifical ministry with renewed commitment and
vision.

We appeal to our faithful to remain firm in their Christian faith and
participate fully in the witness of our Churches. May God lead our Churches in
faithfulness to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glory be to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

14 November 2011
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
Cairo, Egypt

Pope Shenouda III
Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I
Catholicos Aram I
Patriarch Abuna Paulos

Holy Father His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the Coptic Patriarch with the Cross
of St.Ignatius Nurono.

Cairo, 14 November 2011, His Holiness the Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I
Iwas of Syriac Orthodox Church decorating His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the
Coptic Patriarch with "the Cross of St.Ignatius Nurono" on the occasion of the
40th Anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III as the
117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Holy and Apostolic See of St.
Mark.

Holy Father participated in the enthronement function along with
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Church-Holy See of Cilicia and
His Holiness Abba Paulos Ethiopian Orthodox Church

To view the photos and watch the video, please visit
http://www.facebook.com/SOCMNet

Bible Scholar Brent Landau Asks "Who Were the Magi"?
Revelation of the Magi text gives wise men's view of the Christmas story

Source:
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-hist\
orical-jesus/bible-scholar-brent-landau-asks-%e2%80%9cwho-were-the-magi%e2%80%9d\
/

11/29/2011

A lost Syriac manuscript, the Revelation of the Magi, recently translated into
English by Bible scholar Brent Landau, may help answer that key question from
the Christmas story: "Who were the magi?"

Who were the magi, those gift-bearing wise men from the east who are so central
to the traditional telling of the Christmas story? Bible scholar Brent Landau
believes he has found at least one answer to this age-old question.

The Bible tells us very little about the magi. Their story appears but once, in
the Gospel of Matthew (2:1–12), where they are described as mysterious visitors
"from the east" who come to Jerusalem looking for the child whose star they
observed "at its rising." After meeting with King Herod, who feigns an intention
to worship the child but actually plans to destroy him, the magi follow the same
star to Bethlehem. There, upon seeing the baby Jesus and his mother Mary, the
magi kneel down and worship him, presenting him with their three famous
gifts—gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then, without reporting to Herod, they
depart for their homeland, never to be heard from again.

For early Christians, the seemingly pivotal yet unexplained background of the
mysterious magi provided abundant room to shape new narratives around the
question, "Who were the magi?" One of the most compelling, recently translated
into English by Brent Landau, professor of religious studies at the University
of Oklahoma, is the so-called Revelation of the Magi, an apocryphal account of
the traditional Christmas story that purports to have been written by the magi
themselves.

The account is preserved in an eighth-century C.E. Syriac manuscript held in the
Vatican Library, although Brent Landau believes the earliest versions of the
text may have been written as early as the mid-second century, less than a
hundred years after Matthew's gospel was composed. Written in the first person,
the Revelation of the Magi narrates the mystical origins of the magi, their
miraculous encounter with the luminous star and their equally miraculous journey
to Bethlehem to worship the child. The magi then return home and preach the
Christian faith to their brethren, ultimately being baptized by the apostle
Thomas.

According to Brent Landau, this dramatic account not only answers the question
"Who were the magi?" but also provides details about how many they were, where
they came from and their mysterious encounter with the star that led them to
Bethlehem. In the Revelation of the Magi, there are not just three magi, as
often depicted in early Christian art (actually, Matthew does not tell us how
many there were), nor are they Babylonian astrologers or Persian Zoroastrians,
as other early traditions held. Rather from Brent Landau's translation it is
clear the magi (defined in this text as those who "pray in silence") are a
group—numbering as few as 12 and as many as several score—of monk-like mystics
from a far-off, mythical land called Shir, possibly China. They are descendants
of Seth, the righteous third son of Adam, and the guardians of an age-old
prophecy that a star of indescribable brightness would someday appear "heralding
the birth of God in human form."

When the long-prophesied star finally appears, the star is not simply sighted at
its rising, as described in Matthew, but rather descends to earth, ultimately
transforming into a luminous "star-child" that instructs the magi to travel to
Bethlehem to witness its birth in human form. The star then guides the magi
along their journey, miraculously clearing their path of all obstacles and
providing them with unlimited stamina and provisions. Finally, inside a cave on
the outskirts of Bethlehem, the star reappears to the magi as a luminous human
child—the Christ child—and commissions them to become witnesses to Christ in the
lands of the east.

It's a fascinating story, but does it actually bring us any closer to
understanding who the actual magi of the Christmas story might have been?
Unfortunately, the answer is no, says Landau, although it may provide insight
into the beliefs of an otherwise unknown Christian sect of the second century
that identified with the mysterious magi.

"Sadly, I don't think this is actually written by the historical wise men," said
Landau in an interview with National Public Radio's Diane Rehm. "In terms of who
wrote it, we have no idea. [But] the description of the magi and [their
religious practices] is so remarkably detailed and I've often wondered whether
it's reflecting some actual community out there that practiced and kind of
envisioned themselves in the role of the magi."


Based on Strata, "Lost Syriac Text Gives Magi's View of the Christmas Story,"
Biblical Archaeology Review, November/December 2011.

INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION FOR THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH AND THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES REPORT.
Continue Reading @
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=220175774742524&set=a.160489414044494.375\
43.159423580817744&type=1

There are the BRICS countries who are at least introducing reason into what is
happening in the international community, Bouthaina Shaaban, Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad's Special Envoy told newspersons here on Friday in New Delhi,
India. Damascus is hoping this month-end's BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa) summit in Durban would be able to come out with an initiative
to ending the violence in Syria.

Commending the stand taken by the BRICS of seeking an end to violence in Syria,
Ms. Shaaban wanted the BRICS summit to make a very strong decision in the
forthcoming meeting and support a political solution in Syria. Mr. Assad' s
Special Envoy criticised the western countries for supporting the rebels, but
was more accusatory about the attitude of some Arab countries. We feel now that
Qatar and Turkey are the spearheads of war against our country. I can't go into
detail but I think Turkey wanted Muslim Brothers to take the political lead.

Ms. Shaaban ruled out abdication by Mr. Assad and said on the contrary, his
presence was necessary to save the country and wondered how they can get this
idea sitting in Paris or London that they can ask the President of a sovereign
country to step down in this manner.

"I think we have to be very clear. Those who started this war want the
destruction of Syria, what we and the BRICS countries want is
to save Syria and to save the Syrian people," she said. Ms. Shaaban is
travelling to all BRICS countries to explain Damascus' position and in this
context, she met External Affairs Minster Salman Khurshid and National Security
Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon. She felt the Indian response had been positive and
appreciated its stand of calling on both parties in the conflict to step back
from violence.

Now it is up to the Jacobite Syrian Church of India to meet the external affairs
minister and Prime Minister with an appeal to take a stand to end violence in
Syria, endorsing Russian policy in upcoming BRICS meeting, if Jacobite Church is
interested in ending violence in Syria.

Similarly,the Indian Government has taken a stand supporting Indian Tamils in
Sri Lanka, as Indian Tamil people, organizations and leaders were pressurizing
Indian federal Government.

From the desk of:-
 
Bibu Philip Matthew
Vayaliparambil Pynadath