A variation on the “Fool for Christ” theme

WordPress informs me that someone found this blog using the search terms “malankara orthodox church crazy”.

Whether you’re yurodivyi or just the normal kind of crazy, welcome.

A feast and a fast

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into the Temple (Mayaltho) as well as the beginning of the three-day Fast of the Ninevites, which is also observed by some of the other Oriental Orthodox communions as well as the Church of the East.

Here is a short description of the fast taken from the article, “Fasting in the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Tradition“:

This fast lasts for three days beginning on the Monday, the third week before the beginning of the Great Lent. The origin of this fast was to commemorate a miraculous cessation of plague which broke out in the region of Beth-gammae. When struck with disaster, the faithful of the place gathered in the Church to pray and began to do great acts of penance and the plague ceased suddenly. To remember this great mercy of Lord, this fast came to be observed annually.  Since it is observed for three days, it is commonly known as Moonnunoimbu (Three Days Fast) in the Malankara Church. It is also known as the fast of Jonah since it commemorates the conversion of Nineveh through the preaching of prophet Jonah. It is time for the penitential practice for the whole Church and the Church does her penance and prayers like that of Jonah in the belly of the big fish and that of the Ninevites.

Traditionally, the fast is observed by refraining from food and drink for three consecutive days, from Sunday evening until Wednesday evening. Others fast from sunrise till sunset on those days. As is typical in Orthodox practice, an ideal rather than a minimum is proposed, and each person draws as close to that as possible, according to his/her own measure.

I wish you all could see this papier-mâché belly-of-a-whale structure I’ve constructed for myself to live in during this fast. The insides are smeared with fish innards to simulate Jonah’s experience. How’s that for runaway zeal?

I’ll try to post a few things relevant to the fast as time allows. Electricity and internet access will probably be luxuries in my temporary…uhm…residence.

Things American professors can never say #246

You have to get better at establishing eye contact. Your eyes are already…uhm…almond-shaped, and when you smile during your speech—which is quite a bit, good for you—, from where I’m sitting, they virtually disappear.

The professor was sitting in the back of the classroom, in case you’re wondering.

All things are better in koine!

I agree.

Hat tip: Darrell Pursiful a.k.a. “Dr. Platypus”

Flannery O’Connor on Crutches

When I contract my debilitating illness, I hope to have this kind of humor.

I have decided that I must be a pretty pathetic sight with these crutches. I was in Atlanta the other day in Davison’s. An old lady got on the elevator behind me and as soon as I turned around she fixed me with a moist gleaming eye and said in a loud voice, “Bless you, darling!” I felt exactly like the Misfit and I gave her a weakly lethal look, whereupon greatly encouraged, she grabbed my arm and whispered (very loud) in my ear. “Remember what they said to John at the gate, darling!” It was not my floor but I got off and I suppose the old lady was astounded at how quick I could get away on crutches. I have a one-legged friend and I asked her what they said to John at the gate. She said she reckoned they said, “The lame shall enter first.” This may be because the lame will be able to knock everybody else aside with their crutches.

Letter to “A.”, November 10, 1955