We are from Nazareth

The persecutions have been happening for a long, long time. Now- it is getting worse. How can we Westerners even begin to understand- a 1,800 year old church being burnt to the ground? 

We are in Romania now- land of persecution under communism that still happens today. Perhaps I will write more when I feel I have something  constructive to say. For now, for all Christians, remember that the Muslims are becoming the majority in Europe. If we bother to attend church at all, we grumble when a priest preaches for longer than ten minutes. We married folks decide to have our first and only child after ten years or so of marriage. We cannot be bothered to turn off the video clips, smart phones and television news in order to help our family and friends with a crisis or harvest or building project. 

We are out for ourselves. Is it any wonder that the devout, prayerful, family-centered Muslims will overtake the Christians any day now? They really do not need to actively exterminate the Christians, but I suppose it speeds the process a bit. 

Holy Prophet Elijah

 An angel in the flesh and the cornerstone of the prophets, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ, Glorious Elijah sent grace from on high to Elisha, to dispel diseases and to cleanse lepers. Therefore, he pours forth healing on those who honor him.

from icons and echoes

off to Austria and Romania!

 I leave for Europe with the children tomorrow until the middle of August...who knows what I will be able to blog? I hope that I will be able to share our travels- focusing on the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the Eastern Catholics there... 

wordless Wednesday- no more pencils, no more books, no more teachers...

freshman year of high school- plus 5 college classes- officially finished!
(oops- just realized it is Tuesday!)

Ascension Thursday & The Little Oratory

Our icon corner is in our main room. Most of the icons were painted by people we know in Romania. The beautiful dyptych was created by my brother-in-law. It rests on the music cabinet of my grandmother's. I love the objects connected to prayer to also be connected to family and friends. I am developing this space. It is not in a quiet place, being that our house is small and it is the front room, but we do not have a computer, television or radio here. I would love to have one of those hanging vigil light...maybe by the end of the book club, I will have more to show.

Isn't this detail of Mary in the Ascension icon amazing? I love how all of the apostles are so upset, twisting their heads upwards, not looking forward, but the Theotokos is serene, wise and peaceful. It is interesting that the men do not have halos of light yet while the angels and Mary do. This icon was painted on glass in reverse. The method is the opposite from traditional icons on wood. The artist paints the details first and then the larger blocks of color. I watched the artist make this icon; it is very meaningful 

I'll be participating in Elisabeth Foss' 'Summer in the Little Oratory' if I am welcome; I still stand by the sentiments that I wrote here about the Introductory sections- but that was just the introduction and I am happy to be delving into the book with less sensitivity.