Psalm 34
O taste and see that the Lord is good!
(Psalm 34:8)
This verse will be familiar to everyone who has been to a Presanctified Liturgy during Lent, where it is the communion hymn. But Psalm 34 is used throughout the year as a prayer in preparation for communion and as a hymn after communion (in the Russian tradition). Verse 8 summarizes everything about receiving communion, but in the Greek there is a little wordplay as well. “O taste and see that the Lord is chrestos.” Chrestos means good, but it is pronounced the same way was Christos, meaning the anointed one, the Messiah, Christ. So a Greek-speaker involuntarily hears good/Christ in the same word, “O taste and see that Lord is good, that the Lord is Christ.” The hymn is as much a proclamation of faith as it is a response of spiritual experience.
Verses 19 and 17 are also frequently used as alleluia verses for Saturdays, the martyrs and saints:
Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Orthodox and Roman Catholic Seminarians Singing Together to the Mother of God
I went last night to an historic benefit concert in New York City, Magnificat. Students of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Seminary came together to sing a program of hymns to the Mother of God from the traditions of East and West. First each choir sang separately, and then they joined forces to sing together. The concert (believed to be the first of its kind) has been in preparation for the last year and was held at Saint Jean Baptiste Church (RC) on 76th St. The beautiful church (built in 1910) was filled for this memorable occasion. As Father Chad said in his sermon, here was the church East and West, breathing with two lungs to praise the Mother of God.
Day 2: Recruiting 300 Stewards for the Orthodox Church in America
The Stewards of the Orthodox Church in America give voluntarily to support the ministries of our Church.
The Archives are one of the more hidden ministries, but they are essential to preserve the historical legacy for future generations. December 12-13 Archivist Alexis Liberovsky will host a blue-ribbon panel of historians, librarians and archival experts from across North America to develop a long-term plan for housing and caring for this precious collection.
To take the extra step and find out more about becoming a Steward of the OCA, click here.
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My message for the start of the Stewardship Campaign in case you missed it.
This Monday of Thanksgiving Week is the first day of a three-week campaign to enlist 300 Stewards for the Orthodox Church in America. We’ll end on St Herman’s Day, December 13th.
This is an experiment that has been in preparation for some time, and we’ve quietly been recruiting since last February.
Metropolitan Tikhon joined.
The bishops of the Holy Synod joined.
The men and women of the Metropolitan Council joined.
The Chancery officers and staff joined.
And now we’re asking you to join.
Not everyone will want to or be able to. Some will have mixed feelings. There are lots of other vital parish, diocesan, inter-Orthodox, charitable and humanitarian causes that need your support.
But if you believe that the Orthodox Church in America is much more than just a collection of parishes and dioceses.
If you believe that we share a common vision of what the Orthodox Church can be to serve the people of North America.
If you believe that the mission and ministries of the OCA can make a difference in people’s lives.Then I hope you will consider taking the step to add your name to the band of Stewards who feel the same way.