The Orthodox and Music

"Orthodox worship involves the whole body and all its senses. One quote from an Orthodox website says, “Orthodox Church art and music has a very functional role in the liturgical life and helps even the bodily senses to feel the spiritual grandeur of the Lord’s mysteries.” In many Orthodox worship settings throughout the world, there are literally almost no spoken words. All words are chanted (sung). In fact, chanting styles have developed to try to guarantee that what is said is understood.

This is because in an Orthodox worship, the words that are being chanted are of supreme importance. There are different chanting styles, but they all have as a goal the making the words of the chant to be fully understandable. In fact, the words of an Orthodox worship have not varied in centuries, though sometimes certain words have been omitted. (Note: the translation of the words has obviously varied, but not the general words themselves.)

But, you need to understand that at its heart, the Orthodox see their music as connecting them to the music that is being sung by the angels and the elders at the foot of the throne of God (Rev. 4:8-11, Isa. 6:1-4, Eze. 3:12). Exodus 25 claims that the worship of Israel followed a heavenly pattern. The Book of Hebrews confirms that and further alludes to Christian worship also following that same heavenly pattern. “We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.”

Music is not an option for the Orthodox or frosting on the cake. It is something which ought to be a part of every believer’s life. Saint Ignatius of Antioch wrote, “You must every one of you join in a choir so that being harmonious and in concord and taking the keynote of God in unison, you may sing with one voice through Jesus Christ to the Father, so that He may hear you and through your good deeds recognize that you are parts of His Son.”

When we chant, we chant Truth. When we sing, we join with the angels in heaven and the elders before the throne and the multitude from every tribe, nation, people, and language. When we chant, we pray to God. When we sing, we express our oneness and our fellowship is with God the Father through Jesus Christ so that He may hear us. When we chant we join ourselves to the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets, to the New Testament apostles, to the historic saints and martyrs of the Church, to both the Church Triumphant and the Church Militant. When we sing we join our Earthly experience to the heavenly realities."

+ Fr. Ernesto Obregon, http://www.orthocuban.com/2012/10/the-orthodox-and-music/

Wisdom Fraction of St. Epiphanius

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYVTfDjnuQ0 

O our God, where are the lands of Wisdom? Where are the footprints of their ways? Who would pass over the seas to buy them with pure gold? Who can ascend above the clouds and bring them? The mortal man does not know Its way for most men forsake It. Wisdom is hidden, even from the angels. Those who possess Wisdom obtain grace and those who hate It love death. Wisdom is brighter than the sun and all the stars. Wisdom is the Light of the Father existing with Him from eternity. Wisdom has existed from eternity.

She renews everyone. She enters the souls of the righteous through all the ages. Wisdom is more precious than pearls and unequal to all honors. Wisdom has counsel, might, and knowledge. By Wisdom kings reigned, the great men are honored, and the princes of the earth govern. Wisdom loves those who love Her and protects those who keep Her. Those who seek Wisdom find grace.

Wisdom walks in the way of justice and moves in the path of truth. Wisdom grants richness to those who acknowledge Her and fills their treasures with joy.

God granted Wisdom to our father Jacob, and She then appeared and walked on earth as a Man. Wisdom has built Her house. She has hewn (carved) out her seven pillars. She has slaughtered Her meat. She has mixed Her wine. She has also furnished Her table. The house of Wisdom is the universal and apostolic Church, and Her seven pillars are life-giving sacraments of God.

Wisdom sent forth Her servants to say always throughout the ages, "You who are simple turn to me." As to those who lack understanding She says, "Come eat of My Body and drink of My Blood. Relinquish the ignorance from among you, so that you might live."

Wisdom is our Savior Jesus Christ who redeemed us with the sacrifice of His Body, bought us by His bloodshed, and chose us for His eternal kingdom. We ask You O our Master to grant us to find wisdom in You alone; to accept this sacrifice from our hands. Accept our fasting and prayers, so we may dare as sons to cry to You, our heavenly Father, "Our Father..."

http://tasbeha.org/hymn_library/view/2390

A Short Guide for Confession

A Short Guide for Confessions that you might like...

http://stsilouan.org/HOWTOPREPAREFORCONFESSION.pdf

+ + +
  

Can you hear the music and the dance in the Father's house?

How to prepare for Confession...The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Practical Steps to Implement Joint Commission

Practical steps to unity (because it is by being authentic and honest to our shared Orthodox Ethos that we can unite, serve each other and also preach the Gospel and offer all to God for the life of the world.)

What can be done?

...those engaged in the process of fostering the reunion of the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian churches recognized the need for practical guidelines in the following areas: (1) sacramental intercommunion, (2) liturgy, (3) spirituality, (4) administration, (5) catechesis, (6) theological education, (7) marriage and child-rearing, (8) publications, and (9) social and cultural undertakings.

To what extent have we accomplished this task? To what extent have we enabled out theological convergence to find expression on the practical level? My fear is that if our unity remains only on the level of theology, our rapprochement on the level of doctrinal formulae, it will be no unity at all. And there will always be the naysayers among us who, because they do not really know "the other," will continue to use theology as a means of perpetuating division.

Confession: The Path to Renewal of the Heart

Confession: The Path to Renewal of the Heart
by Archimandrite Irenei, Transcribed from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDXQz02KX9c

The life in Christ is a Mystery. I wish to speak today of the contours of this Mystery, which is at the very center of our existence as Christian people and which defines in a special way, our manner of life in the Church, for this is precisely with our precious Orthodox faith is, it is a life, it is something that is to be lived and lived specifically and wholly in Christ.

On Liturgical Churches And Worship

A recent post by Fr John Peck entitled "Evangelical Professor, Students On Liturgical Churches And Worship" which quotes several students and a Professor at the Moody Bible Institute speaking about their thoughts about Liturgical Worship and "Liturgical Churches."

Two Conversations on Death

Two Conversations on Death by Fr Alexander Schmemann

Posted on http://payingattentiontothesky.com/2012/02/10/two-conversations-on-death-alexander-schmemann/

Characteristics and Sources of Orthodox Theology

Characteristics and Sources of Orthodox Theology
by Protopresbyter Maxym Lysack

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This evening as we begin our talks together I wanted to talk to you about the Orthodox faith, and I wanted just to present an introduction to it.  Right at the very start I wanted to say that Orthodox theology does not begin with proofs for the existence of God.

"On Death & Bereavement" by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

Death & Bereavement

Parish, talks by Metropolitan Anthony

From www.masrchive.org

I

12.4.1984

I was asked, last time to interrupt the normal flow of our talks which should have led us to speak now on the Eucharist and to speak on preparation for death, or perhaps on death and the way in which we can think of it and meet it. I would like to add to this in the last talk something about the various rites which are connected in the Orthodox Church with death, what happens afterwards to the body of the person who has died. How do we treat this body which has been instrumental in all that the soul has acquired, all that was done, achieved, or in all those things in which a person has failed. To begin with, I would like to dispel, if I can, the habitual attitude which modern man has developed concerning death - a feeling of fear, of rejection, a feeling that death is the worst that can occur to a person and that at all cost survival must be achieved, even if survival has little to do with living, with a quality of life or with life altogether.

Desiring God

"A maiden, espoused to a wealthy man, may receive any number of gifts before the consummation: ornaments, clothing, or precious vessels. But she is not satisfied until the time of the marriage comes and she arrives at full communion. So also the soul, betrothed to the Heavenly Bridegroom, receives as pledge from the Spirit gifts of healing or of knowledge or of revelation. But it is not satisfied with these until it reaches the perfect communion, that is, of love unchangeable and unfailing. It frees from passion and agitation those who have desired it. So also, an infant might be decked out with pearls and costly clothing. When it is hungry, it thinks nothing of the things it wears, it cares only for the breast of its nurse—how it may receive milk. So also consider it to be with the spiritual gifts of God to whom be glory forever. Amen."

+St Macarius the Great