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Started reading
October 6, 2024
A heavy ornate cross hung just past my heart.
a pectoral cross
The deadline loomed. If I wasn’t married by the time I entered the priesthood, I’d be forced into a life of monasticism.
First ordination_ deacon
Marriage
Second ordination into the priesthood
There are also permanent deacons by choice.
A personal choice not to marry...celibate priests are Archimandrites / monks from where the bishops are selected by a bishop.
“The Greek nickname for Constantinos is Kosta. The American nickname is Gus. The Greek Kappa and Gamma don’t sound as different from one another as they do in English.
G-K in Greek do have quite distinct pronounciations.
her hair had darkened from its light brown. It was now a beautiful russet with natural money pieces
honey not money
like a fresh heap of incense in the censor.
Incorrect *censor* / Correct: censer
the Panayia, the Virgin Mary.
Panayia, the All-Holy One
H Parthena Maria= the Virgin Mary
It would have been equally suitable for me to marry a Russian, Bulgarian, Romanian, or hell, even a Southern Baptist... as long as she was willing to fulfill her role as
"even a Southern Baptist...as long as she was willing to fulfill her role".... No. the hypothetical Southern Baptist would have to convert to the Greek Orthodox Church before marriage.
She turned to Soula, who was slipping sock-footed down the hallway to catch a precocious six-month-old who didn’t want to take her nap. “Élla thó, Athena! Come back here,“ Soula yelled to her daughter as she crawled around the corner.
Ela tho = come here
Laymen Gus
Layman
There, I wore the long, black, close-fitting anderí
everywhere from classes to church services, even to the movies.
No. The rasson (over cassock) is worn everywhere.
From the altar, the chanter began intoning the wedding song.
A cantor would stand on the right side (as one sees from a pew) in front of the iconostasis (the screen of icons).
The altar itself is located behind the iconostasis with only a partial view from the pews.
The hymn of the Virgin Mary was my only request. It wasn’t frequently sung, and the melody was so haunting, my ears never seemed to stop craving it. That was my cue.
Which one?
alto of the chanter’s voice
more often referred to as "cantor" in the Greek Orthodox Church
This is your day, Gus. Your first Divine Liturgy, first communion… This is what you were born for, Father Constantinos.”
"your first Divine Liturgy, first Communion"...redundant statement.
The Divine Liturgy always includes the Communion (Eucharistic) part of the worship service.
In addressing him by baptismal name, it is "Constantineh" (transliteration)
People were watching me. Wondering about time as they passed. The non-Orthodox woman
INCORRECT: Decca would have had to convert / be baptized in the Greek Orthodox before marrying: a priest.
There are interdenominational couples in the Greek Orthodox Church
“O doulos tou Theou, Ioanna,”
H ('ee') doula tou _ for a female(the Servant of God) ...
rasson or an anderí and would identify me as clergy. Even the Orthodox are used to the collar now. The beards and long hair, though... that’s a different story.”
Anderi / rasson: two types of cassock: inner / outer
* Anderi- the inner cassock a deacon or priest wears under the vestments during church services.
*Rasson / colloquial: "ta rasa". is the everyday outer robe-cassock worn anywhere, i.e. 'street clothing' (more commonly seen in Greece).
In the USA they wear a similar suit to the Roman Catholic clergy.
However, the Greek Orthodox collar is similar to the Anglican - Episcopal Church clergy.
“I’d prefer short hair and clean shaven.”
In the USA, Greek Orthodox priests have short hair and a close cropped beard.
I loved the Theotokos, the Virgin Mary,
Theotokos, the God Bearer
H Parthena Maria = the Virgin Mary
