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To: Agrarian
Thanks for the ping, and please continue to notify me of items of interest like this.

He is, on every Orthodox iconostasis, on the left hand of Christ (the Theotokos is on his right.)

I noticed this. My family will return to St. Ignatius this Sunday; first time for my children. Please pray for us that the visit goes well and that my wife and I have patience with our 5 and 12 year old children. I'm concerned that the length of the service, the standing and the newness of it all may be too much for them.

4 posted on 06/24/2005 6:25:50 AM PDT by Martin Tell (Red States [should act like they] Rule)
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To: Martin Tell; FormerLib; Kolokotronis

I've put you on my Orthodox ping list, and will ping FormerLib and Kolokotronis, the other main keepers of the list. If you want off, just let me know.

Seeing the Theotokos and John the Baptist at either side of Christ on Orthodox iconostases, and reading the Orthodox interpretation of the Psalm that speaks of "the Queen" being at his right hand -- all of this brings to life just what Christ was talking about when he told the mother of James and John that those places had been prepared for others...

You will have our prayers, but don't worry about your children. The Orthodox Church tends to be very children friendly. We do expect our children to learn to be attentive over time, but we don't expect this to happen all at once! It happens pretty naturally over time.

I find that it helps to position oneself such that

a. the children can see what is going on, and

b. one can easeily slip out with them to give them a break if they get squirmy.

Children tend to find Orthodox worship, with its liturgical movement, incense, etc... fairly engaging.

Keep in mind also that in the early church, catechumens were only in church for the first part of the liturgy. When we were in our exploration and catechumen years, I considered that I had done just fine if I got my little kids through "The doors, the doors..." before needing to leave! I took a lot of walks outside in the sun with my youngest in particular while listening to the sounds of the liturgy coming through the open windows of the church...

Those were sweet days. Now, they're all teenagers, and have feet and wills of iron, and can make it through the rigors of Holy Week without breaking a sweat...


5 posted on 06/24/2005 2:40:26 PM PDT by Agrarian
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