Day 2 ~ Akathist of Thanksgiving ~ In the Advent Time

For an introduction to this thirteen part series, scroll back to the post of November 29. 

Kontakion 2

O Lord, how lovely it is to be your *guest. Breeze full of scents; mountains reaching to the skies; waters like boundless mirrors, reflecting the sun's golden rays and the *scudding clouds. All nature murmurs *mysteriously, breathing the depth of tenderness. Birds and beasts of the forest *bear the imprint of your love. Blessed are you, mother earth, in your fleeting loveliness, which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last for ever, in the land where, amid beauty that grows not old, the cry rings out: *Alleluia!

Ikos 2

You have brought me into life as into an enchanted paradise. We have seen the sky like a chalice of deepest blue, where in the azure heights *the birds are singing. We have listened to the soothing murmur of the forest and the melodious music of the streams. We have tasted fruit of fine flavor and the sweet-scented honey. *We can live very well on your earth. It is a pleasure to be your guest.

Glory to you for the *Feast Day of life

Glory to you for the perfume of lilies and roses

Glory to you for each different taste of berry and fruit

Glory to you for the sparkling silver of early morning dew

Glory to you for the joy of dawn's awakening

Glory to you for the new life each day brings

Glory to you, O God, from age to age. 

* "...to be your guest." As if God has personally invited us into his creation.

* "scudding clouds" - rushing clouds.

* "nature murmurs mysteriously" - for the Christian, God so close we may miss it.

* Nature bears the imprint of God's love. How then do we allow anything to go extinct?

* Alleluia! Sounds like a baby's babbling. We are speechless before God's wonders.

* "the birds are singing." But if we spray the insects into oblivion the birds will disappear.

* "we can live very well on your earth." Yes, but the 5 poorest counties in the United States;       are inhabited by the remnants of the continent's indigenous tribes — exploited and                 pushed to desperation. How does that happen in the country which claims to be the                 richest? 

*  "Feast Day of life." When I am awake I see that every day is a feast day.

Akathist of Thanksgiving ~ In the Advent Time

 

An Akathist is a standing prayer which comes to us as a gift of the Eastern Christian churches.  The most celebrated of the many Akathists is that in honor of the Mother of God. For some time I've been eager to share with us the Akathist of Thanksgiving: Glory to God For All Things. I see that between now and Christmas we can pray each of the thirteen parts which comprise the prayer. 

There are two parts to each section — the Kontakion and Ikos are short sermon like paragraphs, the Ikos followed by 8 poem like lines. Said to be the only word we know from the angel lexicon, Alleluia ends most of the Ikos prayers.  While I'll continue to post the Sunday Intercessions each Thursday, the Akathist parts will be posted 11/30, 12/5, 12/6, 12/7, 12/12, 12/13, 12/14, 12/19, 12/20/ 12/21, 12/22 and 12/13.  After each section I'll add a few thoughts (marked with an asterik *) which may help us to enter the prayer more deeply.

The Akathist of Thanksgiving was composed by Metropolitan Tryphon of Turkestan (+1934). The prayer was found in the papers of the Priest-Martyr Gregory Petroff who died in a concentration camp in 1942. Both priests understood suffering which makes the prayer's themes and insights all the more remarkable. Our day has its own suffering. May I suggest bringing that awareness to the prayer.

Kontakion 1

Everlasting King, your will for our salvation is full of power. Your right arm controls the whole course of human life. We give you thanks for all your mercies, seen and unseen. For eternal life, for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom which is to be. Grant mercy to us who sing your praise, both now and in the time to come. Glory to you, O God, from age to age.

Ikos 1

I was born a *weak, defenseless child, but your angel spread his wings over my cradle to defend me. From birth until now your love has illumined my path, and has wondrously guided me towards the light of eternity; from birth until now the generous gifts of your *providence have been marvelously showered  upon me. I give you thanks, with *all who have come to know you, who call upon your name.

Glory to you for *calling me into being

Glory to you showing me the beauty of the universe

Glory to you, spreading out before me heaven and earth

   *like the pages in a book of eternal wisdom

Glory to you for your eternity in this *fleeting world

Glory to you for your *mercies, seen and unseen

Glory to you through every *sigh of my sorrow

Glory to you for *every step of my life's journey

   for every moment of glory

Glory to you, O God from age to age.

* I am always God's child — not only when I am in my infancy.

* God's providence — God's open hands.

* "all who have come to know you" — the prayer is communal.

* "calling me into being" suggests God's naming me — it matters to God that I exist.

* "like the pages in a book" — nature is God's first book.

* "fleeting world" — beauty and joy are partial and last only a short time — might 

        God be beauty and joy which lasts forever?

*  God's mercies — God's kindness.

*  sighs and tears?

* "every step of life's journey" — some steps are setbacks, mistaken, 

        damage along the way.

Torah Scroll Survival

 

Torah Scrolls found in Jewish Synagogues contain the biblical Five Books of Moses. The scrolls in the photograph here are survivors of the Holocaust. On the night of November 9, 1938, Dr. Seligmann Barberger, a Chemistry Professor, rescued these scrolls from his synagogue in Bornplatz, Germany. That night is called Kristallnacht (the night of broken glass) — the first large scale organized physical attack on the Jewish community by the Nazis all across Germany. Hundreds of stores, homes and synagogues were attacked, looted, burned and destroyed. More than 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps that night. 

Dr. Barberger, aware of what was happening that night, left his apartment to save the Torah Scrolls. He then went into hiding for several weeks and began the arduous and secreted plan to leave Germany. Finally, having made their way to Italy, the family was able to sail to the United States in March of 1940. All of the family and friends left behind died as did many of Dr. Barberger's Jewish students. 

The family first settled in Washington Heights, then Upper Manhattan and finally to Patchogue, Long Island. Years later, Joseph, Dr. Bargerger's son, who was ten years old on Kristallnacht, said that the most important thing carried in their suitcases were the rescued Torah Scrolls. These were used in the small synagogue they belonged to here and are now seen in a Jewish Heritage Museum.

Joseph testifies that the scrolls were responsible for Dr. Barberger's being saved that night. We might all have some personal story of survival. I needn't  compare or contrast my story to any other — only recall and give thanks during these first days of  another liturgical year. 

But why don't we all survive our ordeal? No one can answer that. What matters is this: "What does my survival signify or mean for my life today? Why did I survive cancer, domestic violence, sex abuse, bankruptcy, near drowning, accident, depression, crippling addiction, some kind of rejection or exile?"  That's a life-question worth pondering. For some reason or other we often avoid "why" questions.