Month: April 2014

the Mother and the Angel,…again

The angel holds her staff of authority lightly at the empty tomb; like a feather pen, not a hammer, nor a policeman's club. And with the other hand he blesses the Mother, still red-eyed in grief, her heart frozen in loss. While we celebrate the great Easter Resurrection, Mary still...

innocence, Easter and joy

  In the biblical myth of Cain and Abel in Genesis, Adam and Eve have two children.  Cain is the first human born on the planet as the teaching-story unfolds.  In it, Abel is the first innocent and the first human death. The iconographer of this Easter icon places Abel...

crash helmets in Easter

On the left of Jesus as we look at the Easter Icon are (front to back) John the Baptist who is not only the forerunner of Jesus in life, but also in death and so takes a front-row-seat in the resurrection icon. Behind him are the two kings, Solomon (older)...

trampling down death

In the version of the Troparion which our churches sing are these words: Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs Bestowing life! One aspect of this Easter icon is the reality that what God did in the first century at...

A poem by John Donne

The Icon of the Harrowing of Hell.  One of two primary Easter Icons which will be featured in detail over Easter Season in the Daily Sip.   Batter by heart.  John Donne 572-1631) Anglican Priest, Poet and Mystic Batter my heart, three-person'd God; for you As yet but knock, breathe,...

gore, thump thump thump thump thump …. glory

Saint John's gospel is a source for many of our Holy Week readings.  How a story is told changes a story and John's gospel tells the story in a particular way. In John's Gospel, written as it was by a group of frightened and abused people, Jesus is all-knowing, all...

being together in the mystery

The altar carving gives us permission to be who we are this week.  As I sit and meditate on these faces in the empty nave, I love to let my eyes play one them - moving from one to another quickly.  It helps me to remember that there were differing...

showing up

On the Wednesday of Holy Week we down-shift for the ascent. There is a lot of terminology in scripture which is used to show determination.  "He set his face for Jerusalem" is one such reference.  The face in the first century was very important. Turn your face towards your desired...

moving closer

The context of the story of the bridesmaids waiting for the coming of the bridegroom is a provocative image for these first three days of Holy Week which is why the church uses them.  The setting is the bridal chamber.  There is an erotic tone to these days of intense...

Monday in Holy Week

This is the O Nymphios Icon used in the first three evening "matins" of the Orthodox church and my most beloved Icon.  It was written for me while on Mount Athos at Prodomou Monastery with a friend with whom I have often stayed and who loves me greatly and kindly....