Genevieve Takes Her First Step

Last Monday two Genevieve took her first step! She took two steps to Matthew and then a few minutes later took two steps towards Elizabeth. She hasn't done much walking since then and is still hesitant .

St. Tikhon's and St. Vladimir's Choir

On the 13th and 14th of this month St. Tikhon's mission choir joined forces with the mission choir for our sister school, St. Vladimir's in New York City. The occasion was the visitation of the Relics of St. Vladimir to the campus of St. Vladimir's Seminary. Read his life here.

Below are a few videos of the choirs. Pardon the crying babies and some of the videos are rather dark, but the singing is well done. The third video is sung antiphonally.

Nativity Fast and the Kids

This past Monday the 15th of November marked the beginning of the Nativity Fast for the Church. The forty days preceding Christmas are set aside for fasting, more intense prayer, and alms giving. All this is done in preparation for the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Orthodox Christians prepare for Christmas exactly opposite from most in our society. We fast and soberly prepare our hearts to receive Christ, and then after Christmas feast and celebrate for 12 days (hence the twelve days of Christmas).

The Nativity Season is an exciting time for the children in the Church. Prior to Christmas two days that are particularly important holy days are St. Nicholas' day and St. Herman's day. Saint Nicholas was a Greek speaking bishop from modern day turkey who lived in the 300's AD in the Roman Empire. It is customary on St. Nicholas' day to attend services at Church in the morning. After the service and the communal meal the children are given gold coins. Well, not real gold, just those cheap chocolate ones. Though gold coins might be a good gift given the uncertain economy and the eroding value of the dollar. The gold coins are a remembrance of St. Nicholas' reputation of generosity and his special care given to children during his life. If you want to read his story follow this link: Life of Saint Nicholas

Elias is enjoying school. Right now his class is learning a different letter of the alphabet. Everyday he comes home and wants to tell us what letter he learned. At school they make the letter of the day out of some object that starts with that letter. So for the letter "A" they make the animal crackers in the shape of an "A". We've been taping all of the letters next to his bed. Elias is also very much "into" his toy cars and his train set. He has become a very imaginative boy and likes to make little villages out of his blocks and drive the cars around. Every house he makes is someone's house that he knows. He makes a house for Grandma and Grandpa, for Mimi and Pop, his house, and his friends houses. 

Genevieve is sleep through night and is very close to walking. She just lacks the courage. But when it comes to climbing the stairs in our house, lack of courage is not wanting. She finds it funny to sneak up the stairs. When we notice how quiet it is and find her climbing the stairs she squeals and starts racing up the stairs. Some of you might have already seen this video. Genevieve has taken to drinking out of cups and thinks water is the coolest thing yet. Wait till she discovers juice! Genevieve Drinking Out of a Cup

The Crucible

After talking with Deacon Daniel, another seminarian, about what is the formidable aspect of the seminary experience at St. Tikhon's and thinking his conclusion over, I have to agree with him. It's the crucible.

Its not what you think might be the formative aspect, such as the academics. Yes, there are soul shaping moments from class discussions or some terribly relevant anetcdote shared by the professor (here I'm thinking of Father Alexander Atty's class on Spirituality). Nor is it the full liturgical cycle; though I might never again in my life get such an opportunity to participate in the corporate prayer services of the Church with such intensity. Already I have noticed the inner transformation done when standing in prayer for for hours twice a day, nearly everyday. The effect is cumulative. This amount of prayer compounds like a snow ball rolling down hill. No it is not merely the Divine Services, the shared life with fellow seminarians, or the presence of the monastery.

It is the overwhelming task of all the responsibilities set upon us at seminary. There really is not enough time in each week to get all our reading done, attend all our classes, write all our papers, attend all our services, meet with our spiritual director, fulfill our private prayer rule, complete our community service, spend time with our family, do chores around the house, and socialize with fellow seminarians. This vice of duties, blessings that they are, are a crucible. If anything I will learn humility by not being able to accomplish it all. The attempt to balance all these things and push ourselves beyond what we have done previously in our lives is, I think, what will be most transformational.

I could be wrong, but time will tell. My hope is the Lord.