peterfarrington
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Because the Roman Catholic Church is not Orthodox. It is a Christian community, but it is not Orthodox, it is heterodox. If there are no Orthodox Churches around then it is permissible to receive fellowship and friendship among Roman Catholics, a…
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The correct answer is taken from the Code of Canon Law, which together with the Catechism defines and describes the Roman Catholic faith. Canon 843.3 says... Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and a…
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Thanks for that Hos Erof. I wonder if there is also value in recording yourself reading the passage slowly (say 13 verses from St Mark's Gospel), and then reading each verse slowly with a pause, perhaps repeating this several times, and then conclu…
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Thanks for explaining the issue. I don't think the answer is the specifics of fasting but more to do with obedience to a particular rule of fasting. So it is true that the Armenian Church fast differently to the Coptic Church. But each person is i…
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Thank you kalsam, it is always interesting to hear about the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition. Aidan, most materials produced by the Coptic Orthodox Church in English seem to use the NKJV, so it is pretty much a defacto standard. The books of the Katam…
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It's really quite disgusting when bots come on here and ask for prayers when just advertising something either random or ungodly. Can we do anything to stop bots? We have had about 20,000 new members join in the last couple of months and I would gu…
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Dear kalsam, It would be very interesting to learn how the Ethiopian community memorises the texts you describe. What techniques are traditionally used? God bless you Father Peter
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And here is his description of how he learned St Mark... http://markompany.org.uk/alec mc.htm He says it took him two hours a day to learn three verses a day. At six o’clock in the morning, on 17 August 1976, I started to learn St Mark’s Gospel …
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Aidan, I googled and it was Alec McGowan. There is a 2 page interview here with him about it... http://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/18/theater/theater-the-gospel-according-to-alec-mccowen.html Here doesn't appear to be a believer. A deist of sorts. Bu…
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jydeacon, thanks for your comments and information. It can only be a good thing when spiritual things are memorised and become part of our mental and spiritual furniture. Memorising Mark: I started to memorise the first 13 verses last night, and by…
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It seems to me that we fast before communion because in one sense during the evening services of Saturday we have already entered into the Sunday liturgy. This is why we refrain from sexual activity on a Saturday evening as well. Those in the monast…
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TITL, my own handwriting would pass as that of a Dr! Lol! But I think that it is possible for anyone to write 2.5 verses with great care, in a consistent round hand. Such a volume should not be written like lecture notes, but as if we were writing …
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I don't mean so much learning calligraphy, that would take me years in itself, but rather writing carefully, slowly and neatly, perhaps on the best paper possible. There are 3,779 verses in the four Gospels. If a person took four years to carefully…
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We cannot inherit sin. But the examples we set our children and grandchildren influence them and bear upon them, for good and for ill. Many children who grow up in broken homes are damaged and go on to form broken relationships themselves. This is…
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It would be interesting to wonder if there was value in re-introducing the practice of hand copying Scripture as a means of carefully and slowly coming to value it and treasure it. It might be a wonderful thing if over many months and even years I s…
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TITL, do the people know the hymns by heart? What does it mean to 'know' a hymn? These are open questions not statements. Father Peter
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I am finding what I have written so far and will try to finish it over Christmas. I think it is an interesting and important subject. It goes far beyond the narrow issue itself. Father Peter
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Thanks for the info. I am not in favour of competitions from the point of view of them being engaged in for the wrong reasons, but I suppose that on balance I would prefer anything which encouraged youth to memorise Scripture so that as they grew o…
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That gives you a week to pray earnestly, casting all your cares upon Him, so that whatever the result you are content, at peace and thankful. I am sure that we will all continue to pray for you, and all others waiting for such emails and letters. …
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A Bible is a sacred and holy object. It is sanctified by prayer and devotion. Many people will never put another book on top of a Bible. The words contained in it transform it into a means of grace. It is an icon. The difference between a Bible (w…
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Ophadece, I wasn't picking up on anything critical. I just think that it is good to memorise our texts AND that our ancestors generally did not have books and therefore relied on memory and on attention. I do know that many of the priest's parts w…
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Dear ophadece, I am very interested in researching how our ancestors worshipped during the liturgy. As far as I can see from some preliminary reading (and I am sure others here know the exact details) the first printed service books were not cre…
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Zoxasi, I don't think you have followed my posts. I have consistently argued that there should be attention in the liturgy. I have never said that the laity should not attend to the deacons and priests contributions - indeed I have insisted that the…
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Zoxasi, what is the problem? Whenever I disagree with you you seem to take it as a personal insult. Why is it wrong for me to suggest that you speak to your own spiritual father? You do not agree with my opinion, so I am not sure what else to sug…
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I am not sure why you want a show of hands. If you are concerned about whether you should use it or not then do as I have suggested and speak to your own spiritual father and follow his advice. As my mother often said, 'If everyone was jumping off…
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Some folk I know used to have a smallholding (in the US) and had a herd of rare sheep. When they came to slaughter any of the lambs my friend was very serious and prayerful because he appreciated that he was taking the life of an animal. I believe …
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May the Lord have mercy on you. Trust in the Lord and ask that His will be done. Father Peter
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Cyril97, what are you praying for? What are you hoping to experience or achieve? Why are you praying? I am not saying this as a criticism of your practice, but to understand what you expect. God bless you Father Peter
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Minagir, this is a question not a criticism, but why is the liturgy recorded? When I was seeking after Orthodoxy someone gave me an audio CD of a Byzantine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom in English from the Cathedral in London. It was very moving an…
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Maybe I am a fanatic? I don't see how though. I have barely begun to live the Christian life as it should be and most of my efforts are diminished because of my laziness. But I do know that for 2000 years Orthodox Christians have worshipped fine …