Yesterday was Ash Wednesday where we had almost as many people at the 3 services on Ash Wednesday as we had for the the one Pancake Supper for Shrove Tuesday the night before-- of course we did add in a Dixieland Band and that might have made a difference.
Today, by a freak of the calendar, is Valentine's Day-- which is not in Episcopal calendar-- actually it is St. Cyril and Methodius Day. While the Episcopal Church does not do Valentine's Day per.se. the Church of England does. From its Liturgy for Valentine Day:
The Church’s commemoration of Valentine has nothing to do with lovers! It originated with two
separate people, both called Valentine. Valentine of Terni was a 3rd century bishop who was martyred at
Rome in 273. Valentine of Rome was a priest who was also martyred for his faith in the mid 3rd century.
It is likely that these two stories became confused over time, with the two martyrdoms becoming in
effect one commemoration.
The present-day custom of sending cards and flowers declaring love may owe its existence to John
Donne who wrote a marriage song for Princess Elizabeth’s marriage to Frederick V, Elector Palatine on
St Valentine’s Day in 1632. Donne’s marriage song merged the religious commemoration of Valentine
with fertility symbolism.
separate people, both called Valentine. Valentine of Terni was a 3rd century bishop who was martyred at
Rome in 273. Valentine of Rome was a priest who was also martyred for his faith in the mid 3rd century.
It is likely that these two stories became confused over time, with the two martyrdoms becoming in
effect one commemoration.
The present-day custom of sending cards and flowers declaring love may owe its existence to John
Donne who wrote a marriage song for Princess Elizabeth’s marriage to Frederick V, Elector Palatine on
St Valentine’s Day in 1632. Donne’s marriage song merged the religious commemoration of Valentine
with fertility symbolism.
The Last stanza of Donne's Epithalamion reads:
Nature again restorèd is ;
For since these two are two no more,
There's but one phoenix still, as was before.
Rest now at last, and we—
As satyrs watch the sun's uprise—will stay
Waiting when your eyes opened let out day,
Only desired because your face we see.
Others near you shall whispering speak,
And wagers lay, at which side day will break,
And win by observing, then, whose hand it is
That opens first a curtain, hers or his :
This will be tried to-morrow after nine,
Till which hour, we thy day enlarge, O Valentine.
Today is the day we celebrate love but I also remember Cyril and Methodius who were brothers born in Thessolonika who were asked in 862 by the King of Moravia asked for missionaries to the Southern Slavs and the brothers out of Love of Christ agreed and were dispatched. They laid the groundwork for an alphabet that was developed into what was called in their honor the Cyrillic alphabet. They created a Slavonic translation of the Bible and Liturgies. Their missionary activities were complicated by the political machinations of German Bishops who opposed the effort and by the tension between the Greek and Roman churches. The churches squabbled and the hindered the work but the poeple were reached in spite of the churches political shennanigans.
Gods has this habit of redeeming all sorts of things that religious institituions do -- just imagine what God would be able to do if we didn't get int the way.
No comments:
Post a Comment