It is normally a wooden table, kept in the center of the Chancel area (Azhiaagam). It symbolizes Mt. Sinai from where the Ten commandments were given by God and also the wooden platform from where the priest Ezra read out from the Book of Law (Neh. 8: 4). It also Read more…
The fact of Jesus Christ being alive, after being crucified on the cross, would have been hard for anyone to accept. ‘St. Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin or doubting Thomas, was not present with the other disciples, when Jesus appeared to His disciples’. He was the only Read more…
A movable curtain, a veil is provided at the entrance of the Holy Sanctuary (Madhaha). It has an embroidered Cross (signifies Christ) at the centre and sometimes decorated with doves, wheat and wine stalks. The veil signifies the sky, that separates the heaven and the earth (Ex. 36: 16; 40: Read more…
The Holy Altar The Altar is the most important symbol and structure in the Holy Sanctuary of the Church Building. It is generally about 3.5 to 4 ft. high, 6 ft. long and 3.5 to 4 ft. wide (sizes vary in Churches). It is built of wood or concrete and Read more…
Significance of Church Edifice. The Church building is an edifice or structural building, specially consecrated and set apart for worship. God is omnipresent and He dwells everywhere, but Church building is a symbol of heavenly abode and presence of the Triune God’s. Christ refers to it as a Temple of Read more…
God is Omnipresent! God can hear our prayer from, wherever we pray. Is there a need to face any direction or have a posture, for prayer? Man is not merely a praying mind. The human senses influence the soul and are subject to influence, too. For example, we pray and Read more…
Can the Holy Sacraments be classified or numbered? Though the number of the Sacraments is not limited, the chief sacraments are seven. All sacraments are perfected through Holy Qurbana. Customarily in the Orthodox Church, we speak of Seven Main or chief Sacraments. The Church Fathers themselves disagreed as to the Read more…
St. John Chrysostom describes the Holy Sacraments as “the symbols of our salvation perceivable through faith”. Throughout the centuries there were various definitions of the Holy Sacraments emerged. St. Augustine’s definition became a classic one since the fifth century: A Sacrament (Holy Mystery) is a visible sign of an invisible Read more…
We are closing in, towards the Great Lent of this year 2021, just weeks after Epiphany and 18 days before the Great Lent. Thus, we are in between two Lents: the smallest, but strict & rigorous 3 days lent and biggest, but solemnest & 50 day lent, known as the Read more…