At any rate, the whole week last week was full of frustrations and doubts for me. It was obvious the enemy of our souls wanted to create strife in those same souls but Sunday morning did eventually roll around and find us all healthy and ready. Although, as we all walked out the front door in our neatly pressed white garments there was more than the usual sibling bantering and verbal battering. Even the 5 minute drive to where we hold services proved near fatal to a deer that lunged headlong in front of the (rental) van - an occasion never before witnessed by my husband who has been driving this road for nigh 20 years now.
We arrived at the church unscathed, however, and almost early by Orthodox standards of time (i.e. only a few minutes late). The first thing we did was take off everyone's shoes and line them up along the wall.
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To begin with, we gathered all the children in the back where Fr. Greg asked us Do you wish to enter into union with the Orthodox-Catholic Faith?
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Fr. Greg laid his hands on each one of us as he prayed for us O Lord God of Truth, look down upon Thy servants who seek to make haste unto They Holy Orthodox Church, and to take refuge under her shelter.
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We then got to renounce the various teachings we'd followed. We'd had an extensive conversation with Fr. Greg determining which set of questions would define those teachings for us considering our meandering path through much of Christianity. We settled on a set of teachings, the most important of which for us was the opportunity to renounce our recitation of the filioque clause in the Nicene Creed. Those three simple words - and the Son - have proven to be the core of just about every conflict we had within the church to that point. It was so good to renounce them, put them behind us, recite the creed as a family without them, and truly walk into our new church home one with the Orthodox faith and teaching.
We were now ready to enter the church with the saints awaiting us. Fr. Greg offered up the part of his vestments called the Epitrachelion
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Next came the fun part. Fr. Greg anointed each of us with the Holy Chrism announcing with each sign of the cross Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit to which the congregation responded each time Seal!
Each of us in turn was marked with the Holy Chrism on our Forehead - SEAL!
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After the oiling up, there was general sponging down on all the same spots for each one of us and that was the celebration of the Holy Sacrament of Chrismation. We paused here for a few photo opportunities. There were so many cameras lined up across the row in front of us that you can see none of us were looking at the same one at the same time.
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The kids were then able to take their Chrismated, barefoot selves and have a seat while Tad and I received the sacrament of Confession - a much-needed catharsis as we had much to put behind us and now much more to which we could look forward. With my hand on the Gospel and the icon of Christ before me, this sacrament took on new meaning and touched me deeply.
We celebrated after Divine Liturgy - during which we all received Eucharist for the first time in the Holy Orthodox church - with a picnic at our house. It was a wonderful time during which we were really able to feel a part of our new church family. Their love and generosity was apparent throughout our whole catechumenate and especially during this special celebration. Tracy brought us a flower. She had carefully picked over each one, counting blooms, until she found one with 9 blooms and a couple buds carefully tucked under the leaves.
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The parish photographer, Alex, and his wife presented us with a large, framed print of this picture
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Ginny and Joe gave us an icon to add to our slowly building collection. This one got hung immediately on the partition wall facing the dining room.
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Pani Chris had crosses for each of the children and then Fr. Greg presented us with an icon that came with a story. It seems about 5 years ago one of the parishioners traveled to a parish where he knew he would be able to buy some special icons that he thought the parish could then use to give as gifts as needed. He came home with 5 icons - 4 of which were common icons of Christ and were, indeed, given as gifts as a couple of years passed by. The fifth one, Fr. Greg said, was just a little odd - not bad, just different - and he wasn't sure to whom it could possibly be given as an appropriate gift. His conundrum was solved, however, when our family arrived at the church door and became catechumens. It quickly became apparent that this icon
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11 comments:
Congratulations. I love the photos. What a sweet thing to make a cake specifically for your family and what a great story about the icon. Welcome Home!
I agree, that icon is just right for your family! What a picture of Christ your famiy is to the world!
Great pictures. All of ours ended up a little too tight. Full church so not a lot of room to maneuver the camera. :)
http://picasaweb.google.com/jbirthisel/BaptismAndChrismation
The story of your family's chrismation is simply beautiful. Thank you for making me cry. I will keep all of you in my prayers (as my feet, too, disappear).
Many years!
Thank you for making me, too, cry.
So thrilled for all of you!
What a beautiful special day!
I am so glad you posted the pictures so that we feel are sharing with you.
God Bless you all!
Thank you very much, all of you!
Magda - I'd never read your blog before, but it was a treat! May God bless you and your little one!
Hey, Sweetie:
Fr. Greg laid his hands on each one of us as he prayed for us O Lord God of Truth, look down upon Thy servants who seek to make haste unto They Holy Orthodox Church, and to take refuge under her shelter. Those words, under her shelter...Finally I knew that I'm safe, moored on a rock and no more shifting around in the sands of the divided church.
I guess that's where we got Nathan's middle name -- Acts 27: 7-8.
Congratulations! May the Lord protect you and your family always!
Off topic: Join us in a swap I'm having over at my blog! www.orthodoxmom.blogspot.com!
This is one of the most beautiful accounts of a Chrismation I've ever read. Thank you for sharing your story. Welcome home, and may God grant you many years!
I also loved the story of the icon you received from Fr. Greg. It's another outstanding example of how what sometimes appears to be a coincidence is actually a miracle.
How exciting! We were chrismated just a little over a year ago. Many years to you and your family!
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