Saint Nino Orthodox Church - Stillwater, OK

Orthodox Church in Stillwater and Enid - Oklahoma

UPCOMING EVENTS

Aug
27
Sat
all-day at Enid
at Enid
Aug 27 all-day
Enid services are held at the small chapel at St. Matthew’s Episcopal located at 518 W. Randolph Ave. Enter the building through the north entrance; the chapel is immediately to your left. map link here: https://goo.gl/maps/pFkcTumTgqfFKc9g6
10:00 am Divine Liturgy with Fr. Matthew
Divine Liturgy with Fr. Matthew
Aug 27 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
 
Sep
24
Sat
all-day at Enid
at Enid
Sep 24 all-day
Enid services are held at the small chapel at St. Matthew’s Episcopal located at 518 W. Randolph Ave. Enter the building through the north entrance; the chapel is immediately to your left. map link here: https://goo.gl/maps/pFkcTumTgqfFKc9g6
9:30 am 3rd & 6th Hours / Confessions
3rd & 6th Hours / Confessions
Sep 24 @ 9:30 am – 10:00 am
 
10:00 am Divine Liturgy with Fr. Matthew
Divine Liturgy with Fr. Matthew
Sep 24 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
 
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St Ephrem of Syria – On Paradise

April 29, 2018 By stninoorthodox

A person who has acquired

good health in himself

and is aware in his mind

of what sickness is,

has gained something beneficial,

and he knows something profitable;

but the person who lies

in sickness;

and knows in his mind

what good health is like,

is vexed by his sickness

and tormented in his mind.

 

Had Adam conquered,

he would have acquired

glory upon his limbs,

and discernment of what suffering is,

so that he might be radiant in his limbs

and grow in discernment.

But the serpent reversed all this

and made him taste

abasement in reality,

and glory in recollection only,

so that he might feel shame at what he had found

and weep at what he had lost.

The tree was to him

like a gate;

its fruit was the veil

covering that hidden Tabernacle.

Adam snached the fruit,

casting aside the commandment.

When he beheld that Glory

within,

shining forth with its rays,

he fled outside;

he ran off and took refuge

amongst the modest fig trees.

In the midst of Paradise God had planted

the Tree of Knowledge

to separate off, above and below,

Sanctuary from Holy of Holies.

Adam made bold to touch,

and he was smitten like Uzziah:

the king became leprous;

Adam was stripped.

Being struck like Uzziah

he hastened to leave:

both kings fled and hid,

in shame at their bodies.

Even though all the trees

of Paradise

are clothed each in its own glory,

yet each veils itself at the Glory:

the Seraphs with their wings,

the trees with their branches,

all cover their faces so as not to behold

their Lord.

They all blushed at Adam

who was suddenly found naked;

the serpent had stolen his garments,

for which it was deprived of its feet.

God did not permit

Adam to enter

that innermost Tabernacle:

this was withheld,

so that he might first prove pleasing

in his service of that outer Tabernacle.

Like a priest

with fragrant incense,

Adam’s keeping of the commandment

was to be his censer;

then he might enter before the Hidden One

into that hidden Tabernacle.

The symbol of Paradise

was depicted by Moses

who made the two sanctuaries,

the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies;

into the outer one,

entrance was permitted

but into the inner,

only once a year.

So too with Paradise,

God closed off the inner part

but He opened up the outer,

wherein Adam might graze.

 

(Ephrem the Syrian, Treasure-house of Mysteries, pp. 48-50)

SOURCE:  Fr Ted’s Blog


​​Orthodox Church Stillwater OK​
 
​google.com/+StillwaterOrthodox
 

 

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Filed Under: Creation, Feast of Transfiguration, Interesting Things

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