Category: Reflections

To the Mother of God

This Icon is a variant of the Hodegetria (Directress) style icon. Here we see the Most Holy Theotokos and her Son, Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ Who stands beside her… His Hand poised, ready to bless us.

Four Beautiful Prayers to the Mother of God

O Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice, O Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast born the Saviour of our souls. Amen.

It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos. Ever-Blessed, and Most Pure and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without corruption thou gavest birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify Thee. Amen.

Beneath thy tender mercy we take refuge, O Theotokos. Reject not our prayer in our distress but deliver us from harm, O Only Pure and Blessed Lady. Amen

Most Glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ our God, receive our prayer and present it to thy Son and our God, that, for thy sake, He may save our souls. Amen.

Skylark Buns Tradition

Skylark buns are traditionally baked to celebrate the Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste.

Sebaste, an ancient Roman town, is now called Ayas in modern-day Turkey. The date of the Holy Forty Martyrs’ “heavenly birthday” falls on March 22/9 (320 AD) and always within Great Lent.

The Holy Forty Martyrs were soldiers in the Roman 12th Legion called Fulminata (the Lightning -Thundering Legion). As Christians, they refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, and were brought to trial before the commander. After enduring many sufferings, they attained the joyous reward reserved for those who give their lives for Christ. The unwavering fortitude of the Holy Forty Martyrs exemplifies great faith, and perseverance to the end.

The Holy Fathers of the Church refer to Great Lent as a fasting spring. During this period, the souls of the faithful are sown with seeds of divine grace, to yield a harvest of good deeds, throughout the year that follows. 

Buns shaped like birds (also known as skylarks) are traditionally baked to celebrate the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste’s feast day.  Skylark buns are also shared after church on the first Sunday closest to their feast day, which also occurs near the first day of spring.

The skylark buns remind us of the Forty Martyrs’ steadfastness… inspiring own our souls to soar heavenward like birds, upon the wings of divine love; looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our lives.  

To Make the Larks    

Take a piece of risen yeasted bread dough, about the size of a medium egg, and roll it out into a long ropey piece, about 5 inches long. 

Tie it loosely into a knot, with approximately equal length protruding from both ends. 

Put on a lightly greased cookie sheet (or use parchment paper). With a pair of scissors, cut a “beak” on one end of the knot, and on the other end of the knot, cut a “tail” into about 3 or 4 feathered strands. 

Push 2 peppercorns firmly into the head, as eyes.  

Do not put birds on cookie sheet too closely together, as they spread a bit as they bake. Cover, let rise again for about half an hour. 

Pop into a preheated 370* oven and bake about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. 

TIP: For tastier buns, use a bit of honey, a dash of cardamon, and lemon or orange zest in the dough. 

Some people prefer to use currants for the eyes, although these can turn gooey. 

Birds freeze very well if baking ahead of time. You may need to secure their eyes again, if they come loose in bag when thawing.

Gather Love

Such is friendship, that through it we love places and seasons; for as bright bodies emit rays to a distance, and as flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them, so friends impart favour even to places where they dwell. With friends even poverty is pleasant. Words cannot express the joy which a friend imparts; only they can know who have experienced. A friend is dearer than the light of heaven, for it would be better for us that the sun were exhausted than that we should be without friends. ~ St. John Chrysostom

A Lenten Prayer

During the weekdays of Great Lent, we say the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian (306-373 AD).

O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition and idle talking, give me not. (Prostration)

But, rather, a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience and love, bestow on me Thy servant. (Prostration)

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my failings and not condemn my brother, for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. (Prostration)

Then the prayer once more in full, with one prostration at the end.

If unable to physically do a prostration, “bend the knees of your heart” instead.

Scripture brought me to the Gate of Paradise, and the mind stood in wonder as it entered. ~ St. Ephraim the Syrian

Let books be your dining table, and you shall be full of delights. Let them be your mattress, and you shall sleep restful nights. ~ St. Ephraim the Syrian

The Runners

They were runners together in tandem
A perfect relay of mind and heart
Striving together towards a finish
Which each crosses separately
And we were the bystanders
Cheering them on.

They were upholding each other
Carrying each other toward the end
And we were the bystanders
Cheering them on
With bursting hearts.

© Anastasia Sharon Braun

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ~ Hebrews 12: 1-2

Bending the Knees of Our Heart

To fast in the soul means keeping silent more and praying more frequently by oneself saying “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” At first this prayer will be only in our minds, then, because of the mind’s prayerful effort, suddenly, we know not how, this prayer passes into our hearts. It is possible that at this moment we may even weep and in this way we are baptized anew in the unseen font of our tears. There are all kinds of tears: tears of exaltation, tears of joy, tears of sadness, but the most precious are tears of compunction and repentance. ~ Metropolitan Vitaly (Archbishop of Montreal and Canada)

Flower of Repentance

Our Self-Sown Wild-Garden’s Seating Area -2012

Happy Clean Monday – the first day of Great Lent!

The springtime of the Fast has dawned, the flower of repentance has begun to open. O brethren, let us cleanse ourselves from all impurity. And sing to the Giver of Light: Glory be to Thee, who alone lovest mankind. ~ Aposticha Vespers Cheesefare Week

What does Lent have to do with flowers?

The word ‘Lent’ comes from the Old English word ‘lechten’, which means ‘spring season’… and Lent is a Spiritual Spring; a time of hope, regeneration and new beginnings.

Through internal quietude, contemplation, and reviewing our heart’s desires, Lent helps us let God in again, to make our life lighter and brighter. It helps recharge our spiritual batteries.

May we cultivate buds of virtue – through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving… wending our way through the green pastures of the Holy Spirit.

The Lenten Spring has come! Flowers of repentance are opening!

Let us begin our Great Lenten journey together in spirit, singing praises to the Giver of Light!

Threshold

Today’s 28 Layer Blini Crepe Cake contained… almost zero calories?

Tomorrow’s appeasement-chickpeas are placidly soaking.

Bon Voyage! Wishing you a blessed and fruitful Great Lent!

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the season of repentance. Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, that having sailed across the great sea of the Fast, we may reach the third-day Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls. ~ Aposticha Sunday Night Forgiveness Vespers

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. ~ Romans 13: 11-14

Forgive Me

Floral wedding confetti on church entrance floor mosaic – St. Sophia, Canada

Today is Forgiveness Sunday. Tomorrow Great Lent begins.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ~ St. Matthew 5:7

A pebble tossed into a pond radiates countless ripples.

Forgiveness does this too. It releases waves of empathy and compassion, affecting everyone it touches, including ourselves.

Mercy is a powerful gift, restoring peace of mind, and helping us to move forward, sloughing off anger or resentment. Giving or receiving forgiveness bestows healing to our spiritual and physical health.

Great Lent begins tomorrow. Today, on Forgiveness Sunday, we greet each other by asking mutual forgiveness. (Whether in person if possible, or by a phone call or email) What a delightfully liberating way to start the Fast… with clean slates; in the spirit of mercy and Christian love. 

Forgive me. God Forgives!

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ~St. Matthew 6:14 – 15

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ~ Ephesians 4:32

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ~ Colossians 3:13

Sincere repentance is a gift of God such that, although we may not have committed any severe fall into sin or evil deed, we still see ourselves in our true light, see how weak we are, how much we sin in the mind, in our feelings, and especially in our imagination. Looking honestly at ourselves, we have nothing left to say except “Lord God have mercy on me, help me, and forgive, forgive, forgive me!” Then forgiveness will come into our souls like Pascha, and we are as it were born anew. And if the Lord should forgive, who will condemn us? ~ Metropolitan Vitaly, Paschal Encyclical, 2001

Sometimes we do not see any outlet, any escape from our sins, and they torment us: on account of them, the heart is oppressed with sorrow and weary. But Jesus looks upon us, and streams of tears flow from our eyes, and with the tears all the tissue of evil in our soul vanishes. We weep with joy that such mercy has suddenly and unexpectedly been sent to us. ~ St. John of Kronstadt

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