THE TRINITY IN ARAMAIC H

THE TRINITY IN ARAMAIC
H.G. Hadrian Mar Elijah Bar Israël
Bishop of Cosmopolis

According to the Aramaic texts of the Gospel of John, "In the beginning was the "Miltho" and the "Miltho" was God and God was that "Miltho". Miltho, which is usually translated into English as "Word" has more than one meaning. Another meaning for Miltho is "substance". Jesus, borne of the Virgin Mary, was literally the Son and Substance of God! God Incarnated upon Earth in the most literal sense.

The Bible, maintained in it´s original language, Aramaic, is known as the Peshitta in Aramaic. Peshitta means "straight" as in the straight truth or the straight path or way. The fastest way to understanding the purpose of human life and God´s plan.

The Peshitta 22 times, refers to God the Father as "Life". Jesus speaks of the path of Life, and according to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus came to rescue man by through the "Knowledge of Life".

The word for Holy Spirit in Aramaic "Ruho Q´disho", which can also be translated as Divine Breath, the same "Spirit/breath" which Life Himself breathed upon the waters in the First Chapter of Genesis.

The Trinity, as it is understood by Syriac Christians, the Father and the Son and the Good and Holy Spirit, are together One God, omnipotent and Almighty, composed together of Life, Substance and Breath. Life alone cannot exist without substance and cannot persist without breath.

God is never far from us, no matter where in the world we are. In Aramaic "Aloho" is the word which means "God". Spoken slowly, "al-ooo-hooo" sounds very much like breating. The word "Ruho", the word for "Spirit", also means "breath", and so the physical breathing of the body in Aramaic thought has to do with the name of God being repeated again and again by Spirit, within the very mouth and lungs of every man, woman and child on this planet. Without God, we are nothing.

Yet it is easy for man to forget that the Spirit he breathes into himself is the same spirit breathed by every other man, both spiritually and physically in the flesh. Man forgets that through by God, he is connected to every other man by Life. He does not recall that his fate before the Great Judgement Seat of Christ is determined by how he treats others.

And so man frequently fails at his true purpose for being alive, which as Jesus said is to love one another and to love God.

The Love God expects of us is not a handout, it is respect for others. The Love God expects is not individual freedom, it is a narrow path by which we must carefully attend to the business of our family, our community and our Faith.

Never forget that for even the lowliest person, respect is more of a gift than charity. Look AT the homeless, even if you have nothing to offer. Pray for those who have offended you, even if you are not ready to forgive them. Pray to God a great thanksgiving for what you have, out of respect, even if you have nothing, for Life itself is a great gift, which is all to often squandered.

Do not forget that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have a real connection to our world, which is not severable, and which we are never apart from, even for a twinkling of an eye.

The cycle of the Church calendar closely follows the seasons of the physical world in which we live. In winter, the Feast of the Nativity and birth of Christ (Christmas) is the greatest time, when we can see the rebirth of our world and the ritual rebirth of Jesus Christ on the Altar during the Christmas Mass. This is the time also to build a temple in the soul, whereby you can receive Jesus into yourself, in all love and true Faith.

God bless you and keep you all in all happiness, Faith and good health, this day and unto ages of all ages. Amen.

THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY
By Rev. Fr. Malachi Eshu

According to the Bible, when God created the world, He created evening first, then morning; and the evening and the morning together were the first day. And so for Syriac Christians, the day begins at sundown. The Feast of the Nativity begins at the moment of sundown on Christmas Eve (December 24th), with the lighting of the ritual fire. The fire is the symbol of the fireplace, the place from which Life emanated according to the Peshitta. The centre of the universe itself. Christmas carols, usually in both English and Aramaic are sung in front of the fire, which is also a symbol of the shepherds and the wisemen who kept warm outside the grotto where Jesus was borne. This is the same ritual which has been carried out over the past 2000 years of Christian history and was practiced by the Nazoreans before us.

After the singing by the fire, the Acoyltes light candles from the fire, and take them into light the candles on the High Alter. Then the monks and nuns, spend the entire night, awake, singing the Christmas vigil, during which time, anyone wishing to witness it, can hear the Psalter, as well as the singing of the Gospels which describe the Annunciation, and the Birth of Jesus, and Mary´s family lineage.

In the morning, as the sun rises on the Feast of the Nativity, the priest or bishop, (whatever cleric leads the flock) comes and begins the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, according to the rite of Saint James of Jerusalem. In our Diocese, the Anaphora of Saint Dionysius the Aëropagite is used at the time of the Anaphora on Christmas day.

The people, for their part, come ready for communion, having confessed their sins to the priest, and having asked for forgiveness from their brothers, they spend the night preparing themselves spiritually to receive communion Christmas morning. The priest gives people communion around noon, and nobody, except those who are sick or have some medical need may eat before communion.

      Once everyone has had the opportunity to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, and reflect on God´s presence in their lives, the feasting begins. HALLELUIAH!

UNITY IN THE CHURCH

Members of the Bishops Conference held at Paalarivattom POC under sponsorship of KCBC; expressed their earnest view that the unity between all Christian Churches is very necessary and inevitable and it is the need of the hour. The Conference was attended by around 30 Bishops of various denominations. In the Conference, presided by Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil, of Syro Malabar Church, he said that the members of all Churches are the children of God and with that vision, all should work for the said unity. Mor Baselious Marthoma Didimos I of Malankara Orthodox Church; said in his inaugural address that all churches should advance with mutual understanding and co-operation. Mor Baselious Thomas I, Catholicos of the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church said in his Title Address of the Conference, that the Unity of Churches is possible only through the one-ness in Jesus Christ.  The Diocese of Cosmopolis stands on the side of unity, and begs her brothers across the globe to stand steadfast in all Faith and love for one another and for God´s plan of unity for Holy Church.

APOSTOLICA

The Diocese of Comsopolis Yahoo Group, Apostolica, has celebrated it´s 5th anniversary this past May.  With over 1800 messages so far, it is by far and away one of the most active Syriac Christian weblists on the internet.  The list includes links to over 50 rare Christian manuscripts, and other scriptural resources, including Aramaic fonts for both Mac & PC.  We congradulate everyone who has been instrumental in making Apostolica such an important resource for people across the globe.

SAINT BENJAMIN

  The parishioners of the Saint Nikolas Ashram would like to thank Saint Benjamin for interceding on their behalf, for their many prayers of safety and protection this year!  Saint Benjamin, please intercede in our behalf before the Great Judgement! Seat of Christ!
Amen.

BOARD MEETING

A meeting of the Board of Directors was held on December 19th 2005, and resolved to dissolve the Washington State Corporation under which the Diocese of Cosmopolis does business.  Letters Patent have been issued from the office of His Grace, Mor Eliyah, which ratify the decisions laid out by the Board, laid out in the original Letters Patent under which the Diocese was formed.

SCHEDULE FOR THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY

This year, the Saint Nikolas Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Washington has volunteered to host the Feast of the Nativity celebration for the Diocese of Cosmopolis.  Due to seating and food service rerquirements, we ask that anyone wishing to attend RSVP before   December 20th, to Subdeaconess Nikolena Gray at 360.533.6817.

Vespers of the Nativity, 6pm (24th)
Q´rbono Q´disho, 10am (25th)

For those living outside of Washington State, you may call   360.888.2039 and request contact information for the congregation   nearest you in order to obtain service times.

GOD´S PLAN : HEBREWS 1: 1-12
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact represen-tation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the sceptre of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."

ORTHODOX FAITH & PRACTICES
John C. Philip, Toronto Canada

Practices become traditions. Traditions evolve from the culture and they are useful only if they help to strengthen the faith. Christians originated in the Middle East had a certain culture. Christians in the Western countries had a different culture. Christians in India had developed some of their own traditions. So traditions differ and are not universal. I would call faith the substance and traditions the form. There is no use of keeping a form if the substance is lost.  Aren´t we giving too much importance to the form at the expense of the substance?

Some are under the mistaken notion that anyone who is a member of the church organization is an Orthodox Christian. Not so. First and foremost, an Orthodox Christian is someone who follows Christ, not a Pope, Patriarch, Bishop or a Pastor, and live by the traditions taught by our holy fathers. Orthodox form of worship is beautiful and we love that. But there are opportunities for improving it without sacrificing its character and beauty. Attending the service, no matter how beautiful, is not enough to be an Orthodox Christian.

Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life". To apply a theorem in mathematics, if A=B, then B =A, to the above statement, we know that the way the truth and the life is Jesus. Thus those who are in pursuit of truth are following Jesus. Jesus also taught unequivocally who is his brother, sister and mother. Those who do the will of his father in heaven is his brother, sister, and mother, not those who simply hear his words. Jesus through his life and teachings has revealed to us the will of his father.

I read with some interest that our priestly order is a continuation of the levitical order followed by Jewish religion.

This is a popular misconception entered somehow into our prayer books and it is against the bible. In the Hindu religion persons born in a Brahmin family are exclusively given the right to do priestly duties. So was it with Jews. Only a person born in the levite tribe could become a priest of that religion. Jesus was not a descendant of the levite tribe and therefore could not have become a priest in the levitical order. A right derived by birth cannot be transmitted by any other means. But Jesus was much greater than that. He was a priest of the order of Melchisadek as St.Paul´s says in his letter to the Hebrews. Our priests are appointed to carry out the work of the disciples of Christ, and killing animals for sacrifice is not their duty. Therefore, it is not a continuation of the same priesthood as in the Old Testament.

May God bless you and keep you and all of yours in all happiness, Faith and good health, now and always. AMEN.

When Viewing a News Article (as of Friday 11/11/2005) click on the link to either the Return to "Home Page" for today's current Daily/weekly News and Information or the: 2005 News Archive.

Our Daily/Weekly News and information gathering has enlarged. As a result, we will be posting, on the entry page, only those current News and Informational Items for the day/week. All other news and informational items for previous days in the month will be moved to our Archive Pages for that month and year, as shown above...

NOTICE to VISITORS ABOUT our Web Page Content

and OUR sending and receiving - E-MAIL Policies and Telephone calls

(A Sort of Rules of "Engagement" and "Disclaimer")

From Our Metropolitan Archbishop, Archabbot and Primate, +Joseph Thaddeus (Stanford), OSB, SSJt., Ph.D.

A Fool For Christ who believes

"Prejudice Makes Prisoners of the Hated and the Hater"

(Why the Photo Image as seen above? See Quotes for September-October-November 2005 from "Franklin")

At:

Apostle1.com, Apostle1.org and Apostle1.net

We are an educational, News-informational and research Web Site dedicated to providing such as befits those who seek things pertinent to the Orthodox Catholic Christian Faith and life.

Apostle1.com's NOTE: A few have sent inquiries as to why we post information and/or articles relating to what might be considered as political and sometimes from other Protestants . And the reply is much the same as it states on the entry page.... We Are:

A Non-Profit Religious Hosting Service

and

an Educational, News, Informational and Research Web Site dedicated to providing such as befits those who seek things pertinent to the Orthodox Catholic Christian Faith and life for various

Traditional Orthodox Jurisdictions

While the answer and question above is not sufficient for some to understand, we take the view (which we believe is ORTHODOX) that all things pertinent to life and living affects, and has an effect, upon not just our belief (Orthodox), but (for many) the way in which we act in accordance with our belief, our very faith.

Because this is a highly Protestant Country in which we live, having an effect upon the laws of the land, we should know something of what is on-going and where efforts by those denominations may affect and have a intrinsic effect on our very laws, for such does have an effect upon our daily lives as Orthodox Catholic Christians.

If one is not cognizant of the real events happening both locally and in the world, although many are removed from the world... one will not know what to expect or what to do, or how one can or cannot act which might betray one's faith and accrue the wrath of civil authorities as laws change. Yet, we are also reminded that these things must happen and it was for that which there exists many early Christian Martyrs and Saints.

While we can remove ourselves from the world, we still live in it. And for the faithful, theirs is a struggle for knowledge and understanding. All things are pertinent to the Orthodox Catholic Christian Faith which is the very foundation of Christianity. As such, we can not abandon them and leave them blind to events and happenings.

What we post as related to those things similar to various articles which might have a political theme or non-Orthodox Catholic Christian content, of sorts, does not mean or imply that we are supportive of, or against something articulated in an article, so much as it is NEWS and our faithful should be made aware, for such may be the very thing that will impact their day-to-day life.

Remember, not all Protestants, especially hard core cultic groups such as "Charismatic" - "Evangelical" and other people are not so generous in their viciousness toward anyone and anything that appears "Catholic" whether of the Roman or Orthodox jurisdictions, for they do not know or want to learn that which makes them "different" in their walk and talk as being far from the roots of Christianity.

Remember, it is the Roman jurisdiction which has more outwardly shown that it can be one of the most vicious toward those who are not Roman but are very much "Catholic" - for the sun and moon does not rise and set on the Vatican (Latin or Roman) jurisdiction as to who is or is not "Catholic" for the Roman jurisdiction split (schismed) from the roots of "Catholicism" which is founded in what is termed and called today as "Orthodoxy".

Any good article or piece of information will be considered so long as it is not defamatory or slanderous toward an individual when not based on TRUTH or FACT, or which is altered out of context from its original publishing by recognized sources.

+Joseph Thaddeus (Stanford), OSB, SSJt., Ph.D.

“I prefer a defeat accompanied by humility to a victory accompanied by pride.”

--An Elder

A Curse or a Blessing? Depending on to whom it may...

There are unscrupulous people on the internet these days. Some of them are not who they claim to be and in order to disrupt honest spiritual pursuits, they are known to send out e-mail under someone else's name or the name of another church or jurisdiction with attachments. Anyone can do this, if they want. Some of them exist in Toledo, Ohio... Some in Texas... Others in Michigan, California and many other places... Some are "haters of truth" who follow (whether they are willing to admit it) those who have sway over less educated or ignorant people... as their are also those who do not even know what they are doing because they seek glory to satisfy their own vanity and selfish pride to take over a church or jurisdiction of another, or to wreck havoc over those whom they hate without considering the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ.

If you should ever receive an e-mail with an attachment purporting to be from anyone at "apostle1.com" - "apostle1.org" or even "apostle1.net" - - - know that our policy is to not send out e-mail from any of our domain names with an attachment. Therefore, don't open it! If you receive any e-mail from apostle1.com, apostle1.org or apostle1.net and have never before communicated with us... even if you have communicated with us... verify, verify and again, verify.

Unless we know exactly from whom an e-mail comes... nothing is clicked on or opened, not even attachments! You would be surprised from whom 'hate' e-mail arrives and what attempts and extremes they go to make their e-mails "look" official when it is a lone person or persons who hate TRUTH and love lies, hate anything from being posted that involves TRUTH because they may be affected with exposure to the LIVING TRUTH of Jesus Christ's Love.

Also: Hang Up Telephone Calls constantly get to you?

We get them all the time. But one thing we do that many are unaware of... We keep an automatic telephone log and then we turn them over to the same group who monitors and interacts with the hackers, etc.

It no longer matters if the caller calls once in a day, every other day or every day or several times a week, once a week for several months... All get logged, even those who think they have escaped notice by using the actual I.D. Caller number of "000-000-0000" which is being used of late.

It is known that a telephone number showing up may actually be a telephone service provider phone number, yet... they too keep logs and information as to each individual cellular or local (their locale) phone usage...

In the not-to-distant future, we intend to post some of those telephone numbers which constantly show up as "harassing hang-up" callers. May be, you too have the same? If so, may be we can assist in interacting to go further in bringing them to justice...

Contact us by E-Mail... provide us with your telephone number (U.S. residents only)... so that we may telephone you and assess the information.

Keep Watch!

Those who do such unscrupulous things, HATE some of the news, quotes, and such as to inform the general public. Some of them pose as clergy, while a few are actually clergy from various "other" offshoot AMERICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH or other jurisdiction(s) of the same or similar name of which we are, in some instances, their former MOTHER CHURCH (as is the same named Toledo, Ohio based, an offshoot, who had once been a part of us and unknowingly to our unworthy selves, were once a part of the clergy but they did not obtain permission to leave the jurisdiction they were under, according to Canon, and thus obtained for themselves re-ordination and consecrations, several times... and then using a variety of church names, including our own after they were defrocked and excommunicated, having more than three (3) times being excommunicated by other legitimate apostles/bishops); having joined in and with "Independent" churches who have nothing to do with us or even true Orthodoxy.

They seek to go out of their way to character assassinate and disparage religious web sites who do not meet their own brand of standardization which is evidence of their being not "Orthodox" "Christian" or even "Catholic" no matter what their nomenclature corporate name may be. The Toldeo, Ohio based same name group under their so-called leader has been deposed, defrocked and excommunicated more than three different times by various bishops/apostles. He, and several others, have become just as bad as the modern day Ecumenists of the National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, the World Council of Bishops and more. Their ultimate aim and goal is destruction to those from whom they had either originated from or gone through to obtain the same named "church" they claim to hold to by the state's civil law in which they reside alone. They are not a "Schema-monk" or even a true "monk" for they were deposed and excommunicated for violations of the Holy Rule they claim to subscribe to, giving and openly providing false misleading and inaccurate information about other more honorable clergy. These 'wolves in sheep's clothing attract other nefarious and questionable persons whose aims are similar: for fame, image, power and glory.

Remember, anything that is a HALF TRUTH is not truth but a lie! Many there are that you may know who fit those descriptions... pray for them. Pray that God will send his Spirit of Truth upon them and lead them to Salvation through tears of Repentance, conversion of their cold and calculating hearts toward seeking forgiveness from God and those whom they attempt to harm.

Those who receive e-mail from us, know who we are and from where we send mail. There are also many who know that they can send e-mail under another group or person's e-mail address, which has been happening. If you receive e-mail that purports itself to be from us, verify first by hitting your "reply" button and ask, "I received this e-mail but would like verification if it is from you."

If you are of another jurisdiction, you too could find that your parishioners, clergy and faithful might become subject to the same as we have recently found.

Let this be a warning to visitors so as to be safeguarded against unscrupulous e-mails which contain viruses, worms and unsavory material from person(s) organizations or institutions that are more self-serving than uplifting and informatively news worthy.

For ourselves, we have, as in the past, so once again, acquired the assistance of those who are able and capable of tracing e-mails back to their source and taking appropriate action in North America.

We have learned that the organization we subscribe to, whose members come from various legal and law enforcement backgrounds amongst other areas of society, are committed to the faith even though they may hold different theologies. Yet, in their monitoring of electronic communications of various persons or people, they do not always make haste to bring perpetrators to justice until after enough evidence has been gained in order to build a solid case. We do not always know what information they have gained, but we do know the organization, whom we've been asked not to name, has had a 97% success rate in bringing to justice and obtaining a conviction against individuals, people, and sometimes even religious organizations of a persona that gives the appearance of both secular and religious bearing but who abuse and misuse technology. The organization views those who abuse and misuse the internet and other technologies as nothing more than a form of "domestic terrorism" - - - - and, it would seem to appear that the courts are in agreement!

Those kinds of people, organizations, etc. who misuse and abuse communication technologies are no different than those who attempt to use coercive measures, and in some instance, even blackmail for the same idea is involved... to cause havoc and wreckage, to destroy the spirit and activity of those who struggle in the faith out of pain of heart for the Orthodox Church which is TRUTH. The degree that some have been known to go to, as seen by other jurisdictions, is to take advantage of questionably mentally challenged or those who have a lack of education and understanding to get them to make statements, even outright lies, in writing, in order to destroy. Such persons or groups are spiritual terrorists for unholy and un-Orthodox causes, aims and goals.

Yes, our Metropolitan Archbishop, +Joseph Thaddeus, SSJt., Ph.D. strongly defends the Seals of the Confessional for such leads to true Repentance in thought, word and deed whereby the penitent is required to make amends, where possible, to seek forgiveness of those harmed by his actions whether real or imagined, and to give his forgiveness to those who have harmed him before taking the Holy Body and Blood in the Eucharist, Jesus the Christ. The reality of this understanding is bound up in and with the findings for which cause he, himself, had been character assassinated by his detractors who claim the courts prevented him from breaking the Seals of the Confessional which is not the truth at all.... Click here to see what another bishop's findings are...

The workings of Holy Spirit will not be daunted by those who attempt to cause disruption! It is for these and other reasons that you are urged to read what true repentance and forgiveness means for real "Christians".

"It would be better to have ten (10) true repentant X-felons who ask for and give true forgiveness than it would be to have one (1) non-x-felon or common person whose self-righteousness exceeds even the Pharisees, Sadducees, the gossip mongers, slanderers and un-repentant; for the repentant x-felon understands the true meaning of the Church's purpose as being the spiritual hospital." (siq) +Joseph Thaddeus, OSB, SSJt., Ph.D., Metropolitan Archbishop, Archabbot, Primate

Yes... "Prejudice Makes Prisoners of the Hated and the Hater..." (1992-Fr. Alan Stanford)

One can ask, "What part of 'Prejudice' and 'hate' do you not understand? Are you a complacent person? In light of the saying, examine yourself! You may be surprised if you are honest with yourself for your soul may convict you before Jesus Christ convicts you in the times to come!

"When tested by some trial you should try to find out not why or through whom it came, but only how to endure it gratefully, without distress or rancor."

St. Mark the Ascetic.

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit." Psalms 32:1-2

For further information about how spammers, hackers and those who are angry with you can or will attempt to do damage, we offer the following link as regards some of the computer - internet problems:

http://msn.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,116258,00.asp

(Click On The Above Icon/link for More Information)

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