Kalamation

From the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos https://kalamation.substack.com/p/akathist-hymn-to-the-theotokos "To the Virgin Mary was sent, not any one of the angels, but the Archangel Gabriel; for upon this service it was that the highest angel should come as being the bearer of the highest of all tidings...For Gabriel is interpreted, 'the strength of God' " Saint Gregory the Great Thanks to Fr. Peter Hanna for permission to use his beautiful recording. The use of spheres or orbs in iconography is for angelic representation. This can be distilled from ancient writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite and Thomas Aquinas, with the latter more for each type of angel's sphere of influence. Fr. George Fakhoury translated [to Arabic] and modernized [to the new age] the New Testament, published in 1953. عام 1953، بيروت. المعروفة بالبوليسية نسبة إلى الأب البوليسي جورج فاخوري ونقل الترجمة إلى عصر جديد في ترجمات الإنجيل إلي العربية أسلوباً وتبوبياً وإخراجاً. A Mekite priest, he went missing in 1977. Last icon: Our Lady of Damascus, Pray for us.

The mantle of the Holy Virgin represents the preservation and protection in the Faith, an essential component of salvation. The Holy intercessor envelopes the baptized with prayer for their protection, preservation and Heavenly hope. Preservation is a component of salvation, as much as conversion. Notice how Jesus Himself links her with preservation: Luke 12:27-28 "...blessed are they that hear the word of God AND KEEP IT." Hereby He proclaims the principle of function (motherhood and faithfulness) before form (the Virgin). He is explaining why she was chosen to be His mother and is essentially saying "Hail, full of grace!" The story of the actual mantle of the Theotokos is told here: https://melkite.org/faith/beneath-your-protection The Holy Rosary in the western church epitomizes the intercessory prayer of the Virgin, however the prayer has its roots in the East: https://kalamation.com/prayers/akathist-hymn-to-the-theotokos/ What do eastern iconography and the Virgin of Guadalupe image have in common? Here again is the mantle. https://kalamation.com/2018/12/03/the-dual-nature-of-christ-and-what-it-means-to-us-guadalupe-revisited/ https://kalamation.substack.com/

An Arabic prayer for God's Mercy. In the tradition of the Church of Antioch founded by Sts. Paul and Barnabas, whose first bishop was the Apostle Peter. Where the faithful were first called Christians. From the Paraklesis, Supplicatory Canon to the Theotokos. There is a brief history of this tradition here: http://www.melkite.com/origins.html The first stone cross in the video is from the altar at the ancient Byzantine church on top of Mt. Nebo in Jordan. John Paul II prayed before this cross. The second cross is at the Orthodox convent of Our Lady in Saidnaya, Syria. http://www.saidnaya.com/ The frescoes of the praying saints (Dormition scene with Theotokos stolen) are from an obscure ancient Byzantine church in Maad, Lebanon, named after St. Charbel the former (martyr of the Church of Antioch, year 107). Originally a Greek temple with a dedication to the Master of the Universe, the church was eventually converted to Maronite and later had Crusader additions. There is a retreat center near this site here: http://www.beitelkahen.com/ https://kalamation.substack.com/

A voice from the unheard voices of the Christians of the Middle East who have been witnessing to faith in the Saviour since His incarnation in their midst. Chanted by Reader Nader Hajjar, Ottawa. Video by kalamation and Fr. Francois Beyrouti. Your life has value. Please pray. https://kalamation.substack.com/

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Another clip of Byzantine chant sung in Arabic with iconography and scenes from Lebanon and Syria. The music is from a recording of Catholic and Orthodox cantors. (Copyright www.melkite.com). Chanted by: Father Sleiman Hajjar and Reader Nader Hajjar. Byzantine Liturgy comes from the traditions of the Saints Chrysostom and Basil (4th Century), used by both the Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches. https://kalamation.substack.com/

Clip from Easter Byzantine chant sung in Arabic and Greek along with iconography. The music is from a recording of Catholic and Orthodox cantors. (Copyright www.melkite.com). Chanted by: Father Sleiman Hajjar with responses by Reader Nader Hajjar. Byzantine Liturgy comes from the traditions of the Saints Chrysostom and Basil (4th Century) and is used by both the Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches. My hope is the Father; My refuge, the Son; My protection, the Holy Spirit. Holy Trinity, glory to You. https://kalamation.substack.com/

An Arabic Prayer for Mary's Intercession. From the Kontakion, Paraklesis. Byzantine Worship. https://kalamation.substack.com/

In the Eastern Christian tradition, icons play an important part in the proclamation of the gospel. In homes and in churches they are often near a night candle which flickers and varies the illumination with the movement of air in the room. This video uses candle light to illuminate the icons and the words. It is an attempt to portray a sense of focused light surrounded by darkness, which can represent our Christian hopes surrounded by howling torments and doubts like the wind. The Revelation passage can signify the protection that the Church and kinship with the Theotokos gives the believer and is not necessarily apocalyptic. It could represent any day in the Christian life. Meet your relative in baptism https://kalamation.com/eastern-liturgical-feast-calender/

Another clip from Easter Byzantine chant sung in Arabic and Greek along with iconography. The music is from a recording of Catholic and Orthodox cantors. (Copyright www.melkite.com). The primary chanter here is Fr. Sleiman Hajjar. Byzantine Liturgy comes from the traditions of the Saints Chrysostom and Basil (4th Century) and is used by both the Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches. This work is in response to one of John Paul II's intentions. For the communion of Catholic and Orthodox Churches My hope is the Father; My refuge, the Son; My protection, the Holy Spirit. Holy Trinity, glory to You. https://kalamation.substack.com/

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Another clip from Easter Byzantine chant sung in Arabic and Greek. Chanted by: Father Sleiman Hajjar and Reader Nader Hajjar. My hope is the Father; My refuge, the Son; My protection, the Holy Spirit. Holy Trinity, glory to You https://kalamation.substack.com/

The communion of the faithful prayer by St. John Chrysostom according to Byzantine Daily Worship, Alleluia Press, 1969, is as follows: Receive me now, O Son of God, as a participant in Your mystical supper: for I will not betray Your mystery to your enemies, nor give You a kiss like Judas, but like the thief, I confess You: remember me, Lord, in Your kingdom. Images: Simon Ushakov's icon of the Mystical Supper Fresco fragment with scene of Judas's betrayal. From the Church of the Holy Virgin, or Red Church, Voulgareli, Arta, Greece. Video footage is from Lebanon, including the Basilica of St. Paul in Harissa. Mountain scene is over the Biqaa valley looking over to Mount Hermon (snow capped). The modern symbol of medicine, a snake hung on a stake, likely has its roots in the Bible in the Book of Numbers (Numbers 21:6). 'Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.' This is a prophecy of the crucifixion, where Christians look for spiritual and even physical healing. Note that in Jesus' betrayal and agony in the garden of Gethsemane at the Mount of Olives, He replaces the serpent with His Innocence on the stake. The serpent is the symbol of our tormentor who tried to get Him to pass up the cup of sacrifice in the garden. Here we have a fundamental tenet of Christianity: God helps us when we suffer. God can convert us when we suffer. Luke 10:17-18: The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. https://kalamation.substack.com/

Hipakoi of the Byzantine Easter Divine Liturgy sung in Arabic. Chanted by Reader Nader Hajjar. Video by kalamation and Fr. Francois Beyrouti. https://kalamation.substack.com/

The beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, sung in Arabic with iconography and scenes of the Holy Land. The music is from a recording of Catholic and Orthodox cantors. Chanted by: Reader Nader Hajjar. Byzantine Liturgy comes from the traditions of the Saints Chrysostom and Basil (4th Century), used by both the Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches. Epistle: Acts 1-8. For Pentecost weekend.. My hope is the Father; My refuge, the Son; My protection, the Holy Spirit. Holy Trinity, glory to You. https://kalamation.substack.com/

Why did Jesus, after asking the disciples to assemble and feed the multitudes, then ask them to leave while He dismissed the crowds Himself? A video to remind us to experience Jesus Himself in the meal of the Divine Liturgy. Sung in Arabic and Greek. Note the Psalm passage has different structure in various translations. This one and others are consistent with the voiceless and veiled Presence of Christ in the Liturgy, "a tent for the sun". A teaching of apostolic Christianity in any case. Please pray for the Middle East. For more information about the Hamatoura Monastery: http://www.hamatoura.com/ Altar is at the ancient Byzantine site of the multiplication of the loaves, in Tabgha, Galilee, Israel. https://kalamation.substack.com/