One of the many interesting things that I'm learning as I study Eastern Orthodox Christianity is how vastly different the view of the world is, and ultimately, how much sense it makes of everything that may appear mysterious and "strange" to our so called "enlightened" understanding of reality.
Secular Vs. Spiritual
The so-called "modern" western religious view of the world that I've seen expressed via popular books and magazines published from within the Evangelical community, and even in popular "New Age," Hindu and Buddhist books, is that there is a spiritual dimension to reality that is diametrically opposed to the material dimension. Thus people tend to speak of spirituality as either being a part of their life, or as being absent from their life altogether. In other words, in our society the secular and the sacred are viewed as opposites. Much time is spent by religious authors, communicators and philosophers in trying to blend spirituality into the secular world or to adopt spiritual attitudes to secular activities. A quick browse through the bookstore shelves will reveal material on various topics that promise to help "spiritualize" everything from investments to raising kids.
Tranformation and Redemption
The view of reality that has been traditionally passed-down from the early church (from before 1500 A.D.) emphasizes the transformational as well as the redemptive dimension of the Incarnation of Christ.
The Orthodox view of the incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ is that these events together resulted in the full restoration of mankind and all of creation to unity with God.
One simple example of this understanding can be seen in the Eastern Orthodox teaching on the baptism of Christ, where the descent of Christ into the water is not only for our example but also for the purification of the water. Therefore from that moment on water becomes a vehicle for our purification.
The concept, broadly speaking, is that Christ, being both a fully human man, and fully God brought the two worlds (secular and spiritual) together. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity then, the dichotomy is no longer between the secular and the spiritual, but between good and evil, or light and dark.
So, before the incarnation, worship was relegated to a period of time. After the incarnation it became a way of life - an attitude or intent of the heart.
The Word as Icons
Another example, perhaps more mysterious, is the Eastern Orthodox practice of venerating Icons. Where Icons are valued as "Windows to Heaven." Not divine images that are worshipped, but as visual "words" that represent the incarnation of the "word" of God.
For the Orthodox Christian then, when it is understood that God has physically entered time and space and transformed material things into vehicles for manifesting His grace, then things and events that are understood to be miraculous or supernatural can be expected......
The Myrrh-Streaming Icon of St. Anna
Last Monday evening (July 24th) I had the privilege of attending St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church in Louisville Kentucky, to participate in a devotional service of memorial (called an Akathist) to Saints Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Virgin Mary, and to venerate the miraculous myrrh-streaming Icon of St. Anna, the Mother of the Holy Virgin Mary.
Parishioners from St. Michael and many visitors from various parts of the country venerated the Icon and were anointed with oil.
Some Background on the Icon
On May 9, 2004 (Mother’s Day in the U.S.), Father Athanasy's icon of St. Anna, the Mother of the Holy Virgin Mary, held at the Russian Orthodox Church of Our Lady the Joy of All Who Sorrow in Philadelphia, began to stream myrrh. On that Sunday a parishioner told Fr. Athanasy that the icon seemed to be “perspiring.” Father noticed visible liquid streams and droplets. Accumulations of the liquid were on the cuff on St. Anna’s left hand and on the left side of her veil on the shoulder. There were droplets elsewhere on the icon as well. This fragrant, slightly oily liquid is commonly called “myrrh.” Starting around November that same year the oil began to stream from St. Anna’s eyes as though she were crying.
Many healings and miracles have been attributed to the Icon. In the picture above, framing the Icon, it can be seen that many trinkets and ornaments have been placed on or around it by those who have been healed of cancer and other life-threatening illnesses after being anointed with the fragrant "myrrh" from the Icon.
Being a recent convert to Orthodoxy, I was impressed by the dignity, solemnity and sincerity amongst those present. There was no commericalism or attempts at financial gain. A modest request for a voluntary offering to help offset the traveling expenses of the visiting clergy was humbly made, but the atmosphere was that of reverent worship and praise to a wonderful God who has revealed His love for mankind in yet another mysterious way.
Fr. Athanasy, humbly spoke about his long- term devotion to St. Anna that had developed when as a young child, while a Roman Catholic, he experienced healing after being anointed with blessed oil from the Orthodox Church of St. Anna, given to his mother by a neighbor.
He didn’t attempt to offer any interpretation or explanation for the miracles that have been attributed to this Icon since it began streaming myrrh a few years ago. He merely stated that he saw it as another example of God showing His love to humanity. He referred to St. Anna as the Grandmother of God and he made a humorous observation that it has often been his experience that often when we want something as a child it is often easier to get it from the grandmother!!!
In our so-called “scientific” age, it is easy to be skeptical of these kinds of things and to suspect that exploitation of the innocent or naïve is involved. But what I saw and heard affirms to me that God is once again mysteriously revealing Himself through the “window” of a beautiful Icon being escorted by a humble, obedient parish priest. It was a truly beautiful event.
As another observer at the event remarked - "I don't understand all this, but it reminds me and makes me aware that God is real."
1 comment:
I also had the blessed opportunity to venerate the Myrrh-Streaming Icon of St. Anna in Washington, DC.
Aside from the beautiful and solemn liturgical activity around the icon, I was more struck by what went on afterwards.
Long lines of people formed to venerate the icon and to place candles to be blessed on top of the icon. Later, the icon was moved to the parish hall where people continued to go up and venerate this miraculous icon.
There was some light refreshment and Fr. Anathasy gave a talk, but the thing that struck me most was the love and pure comfort that the parishoners and pilgrims at St. John the Baptist had around this miracle.
In our Life in Christ, there should be no dichotomy between the everyday and the miraculous.
I think the comfort that these Orthodox Christians had around this marvel showed their sense of security in the bosom of the Church.
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