THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !
Now that I have, by God's grace finished these 15 reflections on the Byzantine Rosary Mysteries, I just want to thank you all for your love and prayers. Exploring the richness of the Eastern Churches widens the soul's understanding of how much Light really does come from the East, and just how tragic our separation is. Others could have explained the 15 mysteries much better than I have, but none would have been more sincere! Hope they prove helpful. Merry Christmas, an
FIFTEENTH BYZANTINE ROSARY MYSTERY....The Glorification of the Mother Of God
The Coronation of Mary declares her to be Queen of Heaven, and so she is. The more mystically oriented East doesn't use the monarch image, but rather speaks of her glorification- a fact reflected in the Russian fondness for calling her, "God, after God." She now participates in the intimate life of the Trinity to such an extent that she might even be mistaken for God! Well, not really of course, but to such a sublime degree that there are no other words to describe her st
THE FOURTEENTH BYZANTINE ROSARY MYSTERY....The Dormition
The Dormition (the falling asleep of the Mother of God) is followed right away in Eastern minds by her Assumption, just as it is with us in the West. The beautiful stories of her calling the Disciples to her side, with Thomas arriving too late, are so familiar. The icon of the Dormition shows Mary in Blessed repose, and Jesus, next to her body, holding her soul which looks like a little girl. The battle is over and Jesus Himself is taking her home. We picture Mary in o
THE THIRTEENTH BYZANTINE ROSARY MYSTERY....The Descent Of The Holy Spirit
In our Western Church we like to wear red on Pentecost to honor the Holy Spirit. Red speaks of Divine Love and also (be aware!) speaks of the Fire of Purification He brings to souls who really want to know God. So, in the West, red, for the two kinds of fire. The East teaches exactly the same, but uses green for Pentecost, decorating the church and icon screen with green branches, and using ornate green vestments at Divine Liturgy, focusing on New Life and Growth brought
TWELFTH BYZANTINE ROSARY MYSTERY....The Ascension of Christ
You and I measure everything by time, from "What time is it?", to "When was that?" - and beyond these simple reliances to a vast array of time-related calculations. So, when we think of eternity, we are at a major disadvantage. The idea that Christ existed as a reality (The Word) from all eternity is not a measure of time, but of BEING. "Before Abraham was, I AM." Christ's Ascension is the return to His eternal abode, which of course he never really left.....but taking
ELEVENTH BYZANTINE ROSARY MYSTERY....The Resurrection of Christ
OrthodoX do not speak of purgatory and hell, but only of the place of the dead. Hell is where Jesus descended, as we profess in the Creed, and broke down the doors that held the dead there - taking them to Heaven. Some remained in the place of the dead for continued purification, but some others for an eternal death. In the West we use the word "hell" only for the latter. That means Orthodox do believe in purification, but state it in the ancient way - as the abode of
THE TENTH BYZANTINE ROSARY MYSTERY....The Mother Of God At The Foot Of The Cross
Here we have more on participation in God's plan of salvation....In her agony at the foot of the cross Mary participates in the redemptive suffering of Christ, making her an active participant in the salvation of the whole creation. You and I participate in the world's suffering and offer it up to God at every Mass. The Holy Apostle Paul adds to this and says we also suffer to fill out - to complete the sufferings of Christ. We have our part even though God has no need o
NINTH BYZANTINE ROSARY MYSTERY....The Wedding At Cana
So many themes come to mind with this mystery, making it a wonderful Text for meditation! The icon shows the bride and groom at the table of feasting, surrounded by family and friends. Jesus and some disciples are there as well as Mary, who is talking to him. "They have no wine." The very first thing I thought about on seeing this icon was the 12 year old Jesus saying to her, "Did you not know I must be about my Father's business?" I could just hear her telling him (when
EIGHTH BYZANTINE ROSARY MYSTERY.....The Finding Of The Child Jesus In The Temple
Looking at the icon of Jesus sitting and conversing with the Doctors of the Law, I could not stop thinking of the adult Jesus sitting with his Disciples and discussing the Law of Moses, but leading to teachings of the new and higher Law of Love, taught by the new Lawgiver Himself. My heart is God's desired temple, so it is there I can sit and listen to him, as the Doctors of the Law did in the temple, and as the Disciples did as well. My mind seeks answers, and it is in my
