Photos from Bishop Jonah's Consecration

Nov 4, 2008
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See many photos of the newly consecrated Bishop Jonah of Fort Worth at the following sites:

Our photos (taken by several Perdomos) at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8135007@N03/sets/72157608623682945/

From the Orthodox Church in America website www.oca.org at:

http://ocaphoto.oca.org/PhotoViewer.asp?EID=1620

From the Diocese of the South website at:

http://www.dosoca.org/slideshow.php?ssid=27

St. George's Orthodox Church
Rio Grande Valley of Tropical South Texas
www.stgeorgepantry.org
http://matushkaelizabeth.vox.com/

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Some Autumn Pics You Might Enjoy

Oct 20, 2008
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Some autumn afternoon light experiments in backlit photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8135007@N03/sets/72157608182373926/

Ana's 22nd Birthday Tea Party

Sep 28, 2008
2 comments

See photo set on Flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8135007@N03/sets/72157607538839928/

Pics 208

Goodbye, Dolly!

Jul 24, 2008
13 comments

Pics 276

Big tree down right behind the church hall... Thankfully, it fell the other way and didn't crush our hall or damage the church next to us! More photos to come.

It was a grueling day and a long, howling night, but finally, Hurricane Dolly has said goodbye to us. Our electricity just came back on a bit ago. Thank God, everyone we've talked to so far from our Parish and in our neighborhood are okay. We had many downed branches and trees and bushes, lots and lots of both vertical and horizontal water, but other than that, we're all fine. Thanks be to God for all things!

More photos in a Flickr set at: Hello Hurricane Dolly

Or: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8135007@N03/sets/72157606353428339/

Memory Eternal, Kevin (Zechariah)!

Jul 20, 2008
22 comments

Departed this life on Sunday, July 20th, 2008 - Feast Day of the Prophet Elijah - You will be greatly missed! To see the photos from his burial at Holy Archangels Greek Orthodox Monastery in Kendalia, Texas, see:

Orthodox Christian Burial - Photos of Kevin's burial service.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8135007@N03/sets/72157606355623640/

Holy Archangels Monastery Photos - Photos of the monastery grounds on previous visits.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=one_set72157603855309578

Kevin (Zechariah) Adams

See SoundSlide Photographic Tribute to Kevin (Zechariah) at: Memory Eternal, Kevin!

http://www.webng.com/mateliza/Memory%20Eternal,%20Kevin/

Please sign the family's Guest Book - See link on Right below!

Adams, Kevin Brent

View/Sign Guest Book

KEVIN BRENT ADAMS
Use Skinner Silva Funeral Home logo
EDINBURG - Kevin Brent Adams, age 52, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2008, at his residence in Edinburg. He was preceded in death by his father, John Camp Adams; and a brother, Randal Bruce Adams. He is survived by his wife, Tatyana Adams; two sons, Daniel and Nikolas Adams; a daughter, Sofia Adams; by his mother, June Adams; sister, Jerene Hilliard; mother-in-law, Antonina Esko; aunt, Mary Adams; nieces, Nancy and Elisa; and nephew, Jason; and other nieces and nephews. Divine Liturgy will be held at 8 a.m. with the funeral service to follow at 9:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at St. George's Orthodox Church, 704 W. Sam Houston with Fr. Antonio Perdomo officiating. Interment will follow at Holy Archangels Greek Orthodox Monastery in Kendalia, TX. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Skinner Silva Funeral Home of Pharr.

Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com

Published in The Monitor on 7/22/2008

The Gnomic Will Sighted in South Texas

Jul 12, 2008
4 comments

Pics 541

Gnomic

For the poetic form, see Gnomic Poetry.

In Ancient Greek, a general truth may be expressed in the present, future, or aorist tenses. This usage of these three tenses is called the gnomic (gnomic present, etc.).

A gnomic present states that something does happen or that something is true. A gnomic future, the rarest of the three usages, similarly states that certain events often occur, without being concerned with any specific impending event. A gnomic aorist (the most common of the three usages) likewise expresses the tendency for certain events to occur under given circumstances and is used to express general maxims (a rare English example of the gnomic expressed in a past tense is the phrase, "Curiosity killed the cat"). The gnomic aorist is thought to derive (as the English example does) from the summation of a common story (such as the moral of a fable).

The Gnomic Will

The notion of 'gnomic will' belongs to Eastern Orthodox ascetical theology, being developed particularly within the theology of St Maximus the Confessor. The term 'gnomic' derives from the Greek gnome, meaning 'inclination' or 'intention'. Within Orthodox theology, gnomic willing is contrasted with natural willing. Natural willing designates the free movement of a creature in accordance with the principle (logos) of its nature towards the fulfilment (telos, stasis) of its being. Gnomic willing, on the other hand, designates that form of willing in which a person engages in a process of deliberation culminating in a free choice.

Within the theology of St Maximus, which was upheld by the Sixth Ecumenical Council, Jesus Christ possessed no gnomic will. St Maximus developed this claim particularly in his Dialogue with Pyrrhus. According to St Maximus, the process of gnomic willing presupposes that a person does not know what they want, and so must deliberate and choose between a range of alternatives. However, Jesus Christ, as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity was omniscient. Therefore, St Maximus reasoned, Christ was never in a state of ignorance regarding what he wanted, and so never engaged in gnomic willing.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnomic

The Gnomic Will was illuded to by Abbot Jonah during his inspiring homily given at the final Divine Liturgy at the recent OCA Diocese of the South Assembly held in Dallas, Texas.

To see more photos, check out: The Gnomic Will Beware! He has been recently sighted a number of times darting about, bird in hand, in various spots within our South Texas garden...

Pics 551

St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Summer Camp

Jul 11, 2008
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Pics 586

Photo: The "Hermit Elder" - a Sage on "Little Mount Athos" - came out to talk to the young people after they boated

over to the holy island.

St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Summer Camp, a Pan-Orthodox Christian Summer Camp, held in June/July 2008 at the YMCA Camp in Possum Kingdom Lake in North Texas. Clergy Chaplains were Fr. John Anderson, of St. Seraphim's Orthodox Cathedral in Dallas, Texas and Fr. Antonio Perdomo, of St. George's Orthodox Church in Pharr, Texas. In addition to daily prayers and various liturgical services, there were many fun activities throughout the week. These included archery, sailing, riflry, canoeing, swimming, some very puzzling craft projects, blobbing, horseback riding and a ride out to what has been dubbed as, "Little Mount Athos Island" where a wise old sage, a hermit of the mountain, came out and spoke to the young people. The week was sprinkled with spiritual topic sessions. This year's topic was on relationships: between friends, family, courtship and marriage. Nightly campfire question and answer discussions also took place with the older youth, young adults and clergy. The week ended with a talent show and some truly - amazing - skits and musical presentations. Before everyone left, each camper received an "award" for that which they contributed to this year's camp experience. After the obligatory group photos, all were sad to leave. Until next year... enjoy the photos.

All of the photos we have from the St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Summer Camp can be viewed at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8135007@N03/sets/72157606112852751/ Have fun, folks!

P.S. Just a Musical Hint: I found that it's really nice watching the photos as a slide show while listening to Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" and then "The Rodeo Ballet", "Billy the Kid", "Appalachian Spring" et all...

Pics 731

Lots of DOS Assembly Photos Up!

Jul 9, 2008
2 comments

Lots & lots of pics to see from our recent visit to Dallas for the DOS Assembly.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8135007@N03/sets/72157606058289737/

Enjoy, folks! We sure treasured our time up that way!

St. George's Orthodox Church
Rio Grande Valley of Tropical South Texas
www.stgeorgepantry.org
http://matushkaelizabeth.vox.com/
http://matushkascorner.blogspot.com/

Photo: Beloved Backs

Jun 28, 2008
3 comments

Dos assembly banquet

Newly returned from our Diocese of the South Annual Assembly held in Dallas, Texas, I wanted to share our photos from the journey. However, they are currently being held hostage by certain daughters who are still lingering up in the Weatherford, Texas area, with the somewhat flimsy excuse of attending St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Summer Camp this coming week, begining Monday... So, you and I will all just have to wait for the 500+ photos they have on their various camera chips, and content yourself with a few I've "snaggled" from other more punctual internet sites. Above. one can see the backs of many dearly beloved people, including a number of special backs (see table to lower left). Our daughters and their friend Joanna are to the immediate left of these young gentlemen. We are seated several tables forward, just out of their sight...

Pascha Photos Up!

May 1, 2008
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Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!

Pascha 2008

After several days of work, I Finally got all of the Paschal (Orthodox Easter) photos from this past weekend (April 27th) up on our Flickr site. It shares shots from Holy Friday, Holy Saturday Morning, Paschal Midnight Services, Paschal Vespers on Sunday Afternoon, and the feast and children's egg hunt which followed. Yesterday, my dear sister-in-law Vilma Irene left to return to the Atlanta, GA area. We so enjoyed having her here for Holy Week and Pascha. My husband, Father Antonio, developed a sudden and rather severe case of pneumonia on Great and Holy Tuesday. By the Grace of God, MANY Prayers from Many Places, multiple antibiotics and nebulizer breathing treatments, he "rose from the bed" on Great and Holy Friday afternoon and was able to conduct all of the remaining Holy Week and Paschal Services. As if that were not enough, both of our older daughters had sinus infections and had to take antibiotics, were in the middle of final papers and had two choir concerts - one last Tuesday (University Choir) and one this Tuesday (Women's Choir joint concert with Men's Choir from the University). Whew....At least their "Tia" got to listen to two choir concerts! Meanwhile, Father is still having to rest, take his meds and take it easy - not an easy task for him - but is slowly recovering, thank God!!! Please share these nice pics with your friends and family! Rosa, our 12 year old, took almost all of them. Enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8135007@N03/

Or: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8135007@N03/sets/72157604797961091/

Pics 217

Christ Is Risen!

Pascha (Easter)

Enjoy ye all the feast of faith; receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. (Sermon of St John Chrysostom, read at Paschal Matins)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the center of the Christian faith. St Paul says that if Christ is not raised from the dead, then our preaching and faith are in vain (I Cor. 15:14). Indeed, without the resurrection there would be no Christian preaching or faith. The disciples of Christ would have remained the broken and hopeless band which the Gospel of John describes as being in hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. They went nowhere and preached nothing until they met the risen Christ, the doors being shut (John 20: 19). Then they touched the wounds of the nails and the spear; they ate and drank with Him. The resurrection became the basis of everything they said and did (Acts 2-4): ". . . for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have" (Luke 24:39).

The resurrection reveals Jesus of Nazareth as not only the expected Messiah of Israel, but as the King and Lord of a new Jerusalem: a new heaven and a new earth.

Then I asw a new heaven and a new earth. . . the holy city, new Jerusalem. And I heard a great voice from the throne saying "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. . . He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away (Rev. 21:1-4).

In His death and resurrection, Christ defeats the last enemy, death, and thereby fulfills the mandate of His Father to subject all things under His feet (I Cor. 15:24-26).

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing (Rev. 5: 12)

THE FEAST OF FEASTS

The Christian faith is celebrated in the liturgy of the Church. True celebration is always a living participation. It is not a mere attendance at services. It is communion in the power of the event being celebrated. It is God's free gift of joy given to spiritual men as a reward for their self-denial. It is the fulfillment of spiritual and physical effort and preparation. The resurrection of Christ, being the center of the Christian faith, is the basis of the Church's liturgical life and the true model for all celebration. This is the chosen and holy day, first of sabbaths, king and lord of days, the feast of feasts, holy day of holy days. On this day we bless Christ forevermore (Irmos 8, Paschal Canon).

PREPARATION

Twelve weeks of preparation precede the "feast of feasts." A long journey which includes five prelenten Sundays, six weeks of Great Lent and finally Holy Week is made. The journey moves from the self-willed exile of the prodigal son to the grace-filled entrance into the new Jerusalem, coming down as a bride beautifully adorned for her husband (Rev. 21:2) Repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and study are the means by which this long journey is made.

Focusing on the veneration of the Cross at its midpoint, the lenten voyage itself reveals that the joy of the resurrection is achieved only through the Cross. "Through the cross joy has come into all the world," we sing in one paschal hymn. And in the paschal troparion, we repeat again and again that Christ has trampled down death - by death! St Paul writes that the name of Jesus is exalted above every name because He first emptied Himself, taking on the lowly form of a servant and being obedient even to death on the Cross (Phil. 2:5-11). The road to the celebration of the resurrection is the self-emptying crucifixion of Lent. Pascha is the passover from death to life.

Yesterday I was buried with Thee, 0 Christ. Today I arise with Thee in Thy resurrection. Yesterday I was crucified with Thee: Glorify me with Thee, 0 Savior, in Thy kingdom (Ode 3, Paschal Canon).

THE PROCESSION

The divine services of the night of Pascha commence near midnight of Holy Saturday. At the Ninth Ode of the Canon of Nocturn, the priest, already vested in his brightest robes, removes the Holy Shroud from the tomb and carries it to the altar table, where it remains until the leave-taking of Pascha. The faithful stand in darkness. Then, one by one, they light their candles from the candle held by the priest and form a great procession out of the church. Choir, servers, priest and people, led by the bearers of the cross, banners, icons and Gospel book, circle the church. The bells are rung incessantly and the angelic hymn of the resurrection is chanted.

The procession comes to a stop before the principal doors of the church. Before the closed doors the priest and the people sing the troparion of Pascha, "Christ is risen from the dead. . .", many tImes. Even before entenng the church the priest and people exchange the paschal greeting: "Christ is nsen! Indeed He is risen!" This segment of the paschal services is extremely important. It preserves in the expenence of the Church the primitive accounts of the resurrection of Christ as recorded in the Gospels. The angel rolled away the stone from the tomb not to let a biologically revived but physically entrapped Christ walk out, but to reveal that "He is not here; for He has risen, as He said" (Matt. 28:6).

In the paschal canon we sing:

Thou didst arise, 0 Christ, and yet the tomb remained sealed, as at Thy birth the Virgin's womb remained unharmed; and Thou has opened for us the gates of paradise (Ode 6).

Finally, the procession of light and song in the darkness of night, and the thunderous proclamation that, indeed, Christ is risen, fulfill the words of the Evangelist John: "The light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5).

The doors are opened and the faithful re-enter. The church is bathed in light and adorned with flowers. It is the heavenly bride and the symbol of the empty tomb:

Bearing life and more fruitful than paradise Brighter than any royal chamber, Thy tomb, 0 Christ, is the fountain or our resurrection (Paschal Hours).

MATINS

Matins commences immediately. The risen Christ is glorified in the singing of the beautiful canon of St John of Damascus. The paschal greeting is repeatedly exchanged. Near the end of Matins the paschal verses are sung. They relate the entire narrative of the Lord's resurrection. They conclude with the words calling us to actualize among each other the forgiveness freely given to all by God:

This is the day of resurrection. Let us be illumined by the feast. Let us embrace each other. Let us call "brothers" even those who hate us, And forgive all by the resurrection. . .

The sermon of St John Chrysostom is then read by the celebrant. The sermon was originally composed as a baptismal instruction. It is retained by the Church in the paschal services because everything about the night of Pascha recalls the Sacrament of Baptism: the language and general terminology of the liturgical texts, the specific hymns, the vestment color, the use of candles and the great procession itself. Now the sermon invites us to a great reaffirmation of our baptism: to union with Christ in the receiving of Holy Communion.

If any man is devout and loves God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. . . the table is fully laden; feast you all sumptuously. . . the calf is fatted, let no one go hungry away. . .

THE DIVINE LITURGY

The sermon announces the imminent beginning of the Divine Liturgy. The altar table is fully laden with the divine food: the Body and Blood of the risen and glorified Christ. No one is to go away hungry. The service books are very specific in saying that only he who partakes of the Body and Blood of Christ eats the true Pascha. The Divine Liturgy, therefore, normally follows immediately after paschal Matins. Foods from which the faithful have been asked to abstain during the lenten journey are blessed and eaten only after the Divine Liturgy.

THE DAY WITHOUT EVENING

Pascha is the inauguration of a new age. It reveals the mystery of the eighth day. It is our taste, in this age, of the new and unending day of the Kingdom of God. Something of this new and unending day is conveyed to us in the length of the paschal services, in the repetition of the paschal order for all the services of Bright Week, and in the special paschal features retained in the services for the forty days until Ascension. Forty days are, as it were, treated as one day. Together they comprise the symbol of the new time in which the Church lives and toward which she ever draws the faithful, from one degree of glory to another.

0 Christ, great and most holy Pascha. 0 Wisdom, Word and Power of God, grant that we may more perfectly partake of Thee in the never-ending day of Thy kingdom (Ninth Ode, Paschal Canon).

The V. Rev. Paul Lazor New York, 1977

St. George's Orthodox Church
Rio Grande Valley of Tropical South Texas
www.stgeorgepantry.org

23 posts tagged “texas”

Photos from Bishop Jonah's Consecration

Some Autumn Pics You Might Enjoy

Ana's 22nd Birthday Tea Party

Goodbye, Dolly!

Memory Eternal, Kevin (Zechariah)!

The Gnomic Will Sighted in South Texas

Pics 541

Gnomic

The Gnomic Will

St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Summer Camp

Lots of DOS Assembly Photos Up!

Photo: Beloved Backs

Pascha Photos Up!

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23 posts tagged “texas”

Gnomic

The Gnomic Will

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