St. Euphrosynos Taverna and Ouzeri 44 (5)

[~Anastasia~]

Ahhhh ...... well, the Church was beautiful. And our chanter was there, along with three others. Ours is really good, but one I was told was visiting from Patmos, and he was amazing too!

I didn't even follow along mostly, I just listened (the place has wonderful acoustics) and looked at the beautiful paintings. I don't really find it it be strictly Orthodox style though - much of the art was very western-looking.

And then on the way home, I got a call from my daughter. She went to pick up her new (to her) car tonight. Second car she's bought for herself, and she's 18. I'm proud of her, and she LOVED her new car. Well, while she was taking home the person who went with her to pick it up - there was a herd of deer in the road and she hit one.

Thank God she's fine, and the car doesn't sound that damaged. I do feel badly for her to have wrecked her new car within hours of getting it. And I still have to finish getting ready and drive 12 hours tomorrow myself. It's going to be a long night.

I'm glad I prayed so much for her to be ok! I can probably use prayers for myself traveling as well.

Eventful day ...

Thank God for the good, and that the bad wasn't worse.

 

[E.C.]

Four hours until promotion.

 

[Kristos]

You're not a chief already?

 

[ArmyMatt]

leaves of the Burning Bush came to STOTS today. amazing blessing. later tonight there will be a talk by Fr Justin, who is an archimandrite and the librarian at St Catherine's on Sinai

 

[E.C.]

You're not a chief already?

Oh God no! Though I drink the coffee equal or greater than a chief

Nope, just got promoted to Third Class and with my two years that's an extra $200 a month

 

[gzt]

Wait, so you're an NCO now? Congrats.

 

[gzt]

Assembling new music. Currently use only one Cherubic Hymn (the "Greek" one from I presume the Soroka book). I have three other ones selected and want a 5th. Two of the ones selected are a little more complicated (a Vladimirskaya and Simonovskaya), so they're more "aspirational" or "eventually, in the long term", one is more simple (a Sophronievskaya). I want a fifth relatively simple one, hopefully a traditional melody so that I have, for now, three to work through. When you have two, see, you end up with one you like and one you don't.

Of course, there are constraints: can't depend on having both a strong soprano and strong alto, can't depend on having a tenor, can't have a bottom-scraping bass. Kastorsky would be idea, but it needs both a strong soprano and strong alto. Bortniansky #5 is just bad.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Assembling new music. Currently use only one Cherubic Hymn (the "Greek" one from I presume the Soroka book). I have three other ones selected and want a 5th. Two of the ones selected are a little more complicated (a Vladimirskaya and Simonovskaya), so they're more "aspirational" or "eventually, in the long term", one is more simple (a Sophronievskaya). I want a fifth relatively simple one, hopefully a traditional melody so that I have, for now, three to work through. When you have two, see, you end up with one you like and one you don't.

Of course, there are constraints: can't depend on having both a strong soprano and strong alto, can't depend on having a tenor, can't have a bottom-scraping bass. Kastorsky would be idea, but it needs both a strong soprano and strong alto. Bortniansky #5 is just bad.

Oh, darn. I was just about to recommend Kastorsky - my favorite.

Have you considered the one set to the music of the Georgian Wedding Hymn? It's very simple and all but one or two of the women can sing the (alto) melody, with the others singing the soprano.

Mary

 

[gzt]

We might still do Kastorsky. It's good and everybody has heard it before. So some weeks the we might have a weak alto covering that spot. It'll be okay. Everything else seems to have some other issue, like requiring acrobat tenors or being fine but not a "third simple setting".

 

[~Anastasia~]

I actually got to sit down with a friend of mine, and my husband soon joined us, and talk theology and Christian life and spiritual growth and more theology last night. I guess that's why I love these forums, but it's been years I think since I've had a chance to get that kind of depth and interaction going in person. It used to be something I did on a regular basis. It is very solely missed. They were two different sorts of Protestant (one was raised Catholic) but I noted (as I often do with my husband) that my friend also has some very Orthodox ideas. In fact, in describing how he had been dealing with a delicate situation, he handled it as a skillful Father Confessor might have done, and I better understand now some things Father explained to me about being a confessor.

I feel like someone who has been trudging in a desert for years, relieved only by being tossed a canteen here and there, who suddenly found myself in an oasis.

Do Orthodox sit around and discuss things like this? Do I need to move near a seminary so I can sit down with students?

I need this again, and not sure if there's a way to make it happen. If the others were Orthodox, so very much the better!

 

[xenia]

Kylissa, you might enjoy this school:

Home - Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Institute for Orthodox Studies

I am studying with them and believe me, we spend a LOT of time discussing theology!

 

[~Anastasia~]

Kylissa, you might enjoy this school:

Home - Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Institute for Orthodox Studies

I am studying with them and believe me, we spend a LOT of time discussing theology!

Thanks for the information, Xenia.

I'll make a note of this in case I'm able to do it sometime. That does sound interesting. . I believe I will look into it when I am able to.

I guess I'm just very much wishing for a situation with people local to me interested in doing this face-to-face. There is a wonderful dynamic to being able to discuss in real time and not have to wait on a reply, as well as being able to pick up those communication clues in person. Though I probably express myself better in writing and there is something to being able to have time to consider how to reply.

More than anything,this is something I used to do a lot. I hope it's not a Protestant peculiarity. When is comes around to salvation, I had to be careful not to dismiss the substitutionary/sacrificial model my friend holds too much, but I did get to explain my view of salvation being broader, and my friend didn't disagree with my stance. Actually he said that he changed his position on something in the course of the discussion, but I don't know what it was.

I just really, thoroughly enjoyed it. I would so much love to have the chance to do it again on a regular basis.

I think I'm sorely missing our catechism classes, which did not follow that kind of format but I also enjoyed them.

Thanks again for that link. It's great to hear that there's a resource like that. I hope you continue to enjoy the classes!

 

[gzt]

Ugh. wifing unit #1 has a sore throat that has progressed to an earache as well with occasional sharp, stabbing pains. Fortunately, doctor is able to see her in like half an hour. I'm almost hoping it's strep instead of viral, since then there'd be a cure, and things are very uncomfortable.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Ugh. wifing unit #1 has a sore throat that has progressed to an earache as well with occasional sharp, stabbing pains. Fortunately, doctor is able to see her in like half an hour. I'm almost hoping it's strep instead of viral, since then there'd be a cure, and things are very uncomfortable.

Oh, so sorry to hear that. I hope she's feeling better.

I know you didn't ask my advice, but if you're at all open to it, and she isn't getting relief otherwise, we saw almost complete relief in nearly 100% of cases by using a quality garlic oil in the ear. Easiest way is to use a gel pill, pierce it with a needle, and squeeze the oil into the ear. It can be packed with a bit of clean cotton.

Forgive me if the advice is unwelcome, and I know it's unsolicited. But I hate to think of people in pain, and earaches can be miserable. Just offering what I have. I worked in the field for some years, and this is one of the almost 100% effective ones.

 

[gzt]

The ear pain was suggested to be referred pain from the throat, which seemed quite plausible, and the ear part went away when the throat pain dialed back down a bit. She's doing a bit better. These viral things burn out quickly. Still not a happy camper, though.

 

[~Anastasia~]

The ear pain was suggested to be referred pain from the throat, which seemed quite plausible, and the ear part went away when the throat pain dialed back down a bit. She's doing a bit better. These viral things burn out quickly. Still not a happy camper, though.

Ah, well I am glad she is feeling a bit better. Earaches themselves are just so miserable. I pray she is soon completely well.

 

[RobNJ]

Lets see.. Old trolls coming out of the woodwork, new trolls joining them. Two train wreck threads locked ,in under 24 hours....



YUP, it's an official fast!!

 

[~Anastasia~]

Lets see.. Old trolls coming out of the woodwork, new trolls joining them. Two train wreck threads locked ,in under 24 hours....



YUP, it's an official fast!!

So this is typical???

No wonder so many folks disappeared during Great Lent.

I'm still figuring out the spiritual focus of fasting periods.

 

[GoingByzantine]

I am trying to grab some Eastern Christian items off of the web while the prices are good, just bought myself a nice traditional 100 knot prayer rope. Can anyone think of some other items, outside of icons that might help supplement my prayer life.

 

[ArmyMatt]

So this is typical???

No wonder so many folks disappeared during Great Lent.

I'm still figuring out the spiritual focus of fasting periods.

it always brings our gunk to the surface (that's how you know it is working) cause the devil hates these times of the year.