Christ is Risen!
(Hristos a Inviat!)
Adevarat, a inviat!
Thank you and glad you still remember...
it's been a hard Easter time... wanted to be in Atlanta but didn't make it; I tried to find few Romanian churches in Chicago, but they all are so far.. it takes me like one hour, with walking and changing two buses... or two buses and the blue line. It is not too easy.
But I made it to a church for the Palms Sunday and to a different one for the burial service and confession on Friday night, for the liturgy and communion this morning.
Not sure about tonight, midnight service... was still snowing slowly (few flurries) over these days... since like Thursday... it is around 30 in the day, but the wind chill makes it feel like 15-20 at times... So it will be very difficult to get to the church. Buses won't run between 1am and 4am.
If I can not make it tonight, will go for Agape tomorrow at 11. I am still happy there are very traditional Romanian churches, very familiar... even the Icons and the saints figures/ pictures are like I knew since I was a kid... very good feeling.
One more thing: if I won't make it to the Romanian church tonight, I will go to the Catholic one. Too bad none of you are here to join me. I wish I could go with you, Kurt. To pay it back to you this time... It is a big and beautiful catholic church, very gay also. You'd like it.
On Friday night at the church, the priest asked me if I don't want to join the choir and the young guys (probably he thought I am 10 years younger!). Not sure why every church I go somebody ask me either to be an altar boy, sing in the choir or just hand out staff and help in the church. I tried to be an altar boy few years ago. I did it for a while; before the priest asked me to put on the vestment (the clothes). That was the first and last service I worn the vestment.
I don't mind helping out. I did help out this Good Friday. People asked me to hold the Holly Tomb over the priest, in the burial procession. There is a walk 3 times around the church, with icons, prapures (very traditional Romanian icons dressed over a larger decorated cloth and hung by a tall pole; these are like 6 in general, with scenes from the most important gospels. they are hold by men in the burial procession to someone's funeral) candles, cross, the Holly Tomb. The Holly tomb is like a big icon-cloth with the icon of Jesus adormed in the tomb; this cloth is the central piece in the altar -on the altar table- in the Orthodox Church. Nobody gets to see it or touch it except when is bought out for Good Friday; Men are allowed in the altar, no women, but they get to go around, never pass by the front; only the priest is allowed to do that.
This was very fascinating for me since I was a child. I was going to the Metropolitan Cathedral in my home town, to see the cortège of priests, bishops, archbishops and the Metropolitan. I never got to see the Patriarch (less the Pope) although I lived 2 so far.
Maybe we all should take a trip one day either to Vatican, to see the Pope or to Romania, to see the Patriarch. In this case we could visit the most beautiful monasteries I am sure you all will enjoy. Just a thought.
I dressed up my apartment. I bought curtains, curtains rods (ah, I miss Storehouse so for the discounts I was getting and the clearance merchandise. I wish I would stock up on those...lol). I also bought fresh flowers and potted flowers. The fireplace is burning and I am waiting the resurrection. (well, the caribou's fire place! I am not home , but I will go soon and I'll start the fire!) I don't have any red eggs, but I bought some chocolate ones. They will do it ; they are good for me and I'm sure my boyfriends, tricks or dates will enjoy them more than hard-boiled eggs in the very traditional Romanian style! You know, I have to make everybody happy!
Yes, I did turn down my sweet guy last night. Didn't answer when he texted me like twice, neither I answered the phone. I wanted to stay calm and quiet. I went to bed early, because I was getting ready to have communion this morning.
Hope everybody on Earth will celebrate and enjoy Pascha. This is another year when Orthodox and Catholics are celebrating together, on the same date. This happens very seldom and I am personally very happy to live this. I wish they all will come back together one day. Too bad the Eastern Orthodox tradition is the oldest and the original, but the Western Catholics are rich and have more power (political also), I guess... Plus, who likes rules? And the Orthodox church has plenty or rigid but great rules.
To everyone out there who reads this, I wish I were together with all of you. I miss Cindy from Storehouse and the time we shared "Easter woopers" I couldn't find here in Chicago.
But the city is beautiful and life goes on.
It is the Resurrection night, let's all be merry and spread out the word: Christ is Risen!
Adevarat, a inviat!
Thank you and glad you still remember...
it's been a hard Easter time... wanted to be in Atlanta but didn't make it; I tried to find few Romanian churches in Chicago, but they all are so far.. it takes me like one hour, with walking and changing two buses... or two buses and the blue line. It is not too easy.
But I made it to a church for the Palms Sunday and to a different one for the burial service and confession on Friday night, for the liturgy and communion this morning.
Not sure about tonight, midnight service... was still snowing slowly (few flurries) over these days... since like Thursday... it is around 30 in the day, but the wind chill makes it feel like 15-20 at times... So it will be very difficult to get to the church. Buses won't run between 1am and 4am.
If I can not make it tonight, will go for Agape tomorrow at 11. I am still happy there are very traditional Romanian churches, very familiar... even the Icons and the saints figures/ pictures are like I knew since I was a kid... very good feeling.
One more thing: if I won't make it to the Romanian church tonight, I will go to the Catholic one. Too bad none of you are here to join me. I wish I could go with you, Kurt. To pay it back to you this time... It is a big and beautiful catholic church, very gay also. You'd like it.
On Friday night at the church, the priest asked me if I don't want to join the choir and the young guys (probably he thought I am 10 years younger!). Not sure why every church I go somebody ask me either to be an altar boy, sing in the choir or just hand out staff and help in the church. I tried to be an altar boy few years ago. I did it for a while; before the priest asked me to put on the vestment (the clothes). That was the first and last service I worn the vestment.
I don't mind helping out. I did help out this Good Friday. People asked me to hold the Holly Tomb over the priest, in the burial procession. There is a walk 3 times around the church, with icons, prapures (very traditional Romanian icons dressed over a larger decorated cloth and hung by a tall pole; these are like 6 in general, with scenes from the most important gospels. they are hold by men in the burial procession to someone's funeral) candles, cross, the Holly Tomb. The Holly tomb is like a big icon-cloth with the icon of Jesus adormed in the tomb; this cloth is the central piece in the altar -on the altar table- in the Orthodox Church. Nobody gets to see it or touch it except when is bought out for Good Friday; Men are allowed in the altar, no women, but they get to go around, never pass by the front; only the priest is allowed to do that.
This was very fascinating for me since I was a child. I was going to the Metropolitan Cathedral in my home town, to see the cortège of priests, bishops, archbishops and the Metropolitan. I never got to see the Patriarch (less the Pope) although I lived 2 so far.
Maybe we all should take a trip one day either to Vatican, to see the Pope or to Romania, to see the Patriarch. In this case we could visit the most beautiful monasteries I am sure you all will enjoy. Just a thought.
I dressed up my apartment. I bought curtains, curtains rods (ah, I miss Storehouse so for the discounts I was getting and the clearance merchandise. I wish I would stock up on those...lol). I also bought fresh flowers and potted flowers. The fireplace is burning and I am waiting the resurrection. (well, the caribou's fire place! I am not home , but I will go soon and I'll start the fire!) I don't have any red eggs, but I bought some chocolate ones. They will do it ; they are good for me and I'm sure my boyfriends, tricks or dates will enjoy them more than hard-boiled eggs in the very traditional Romanian style! You know, I have to make everybody happy!
Yes, I did turn down my sweet guy last night. Didn't answer when he texted me like twice, neither I answered the phone. I wanted to stay calm and quiet. I went to bed early, because I was getting ready to have communion this morning.
Hope everybody on Earth will celebrate and enjoy Pascha. This is another year when Orthodox and Catholics are celebrating together, on the same date. This happens very seldom and I am personally very happy to live this. I wish they all will come back together one day. Too bad the Eastern Orthodox tradition is the oldest and the original, but the Western Catholics are rich and have more power (political also), I guess... Plus, who likes rules? And the Orthodox church has plenty or rigid but great rules.
To everyone out there who reads this, I wish I were together with all of you. I miss Cindy from Storehouse and the time we shared "Easter woopers" I couldn't find here in Chicago.
But the city is beautiful and life goes on.
It is the Resurrection night, let's all be merry and spread out the word: Christ is Risen!
posted by Andy at 7:16 PM
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