Today (January 8th) we remember the first martyr, deacon St. Stephen.
The first Christians were all Jews with a traditional Hebrew heritage,
living in and close to Jerusalem. They heralded the great movement of
Christianity out of Judaism. But they did not really have a vision
beyond the Jews.
The first Christians were all Jews with a traditional Hebrew heritage,
living in and close to Jerusalem. They heralded the great movement of
Christianity out of Judaism. But they did not really have a vision
beyond the Jews.
Then from the
diaspora emerged such figures as St. Stephen. He was a Hellenist Jew.
Hellenists did not carry the burden of the Hebrew culture and tradition
like the Hebrews. Thus it was easier for St. Stephen to see the mission
of the Lord in a much wider perspective than the Hebrews could.
St.Stephen paved the way for the grand work of St. Paul the Apostle of
the Gentiles. St. Paul again was from Tarsus in the diaspora, taught by
the best of teachers Gamaliel. And St. Paul brought the Lord to the
whole world.
Thus we see that after the first phase of the Christian movement by the Hebrews, the next phase of bringing it out to the world was done by those from the diaspora. For the Indian Orthodox Church, this could serve as a great model to imitate. The last Century has been one of great awakening and revival in the Church. The faith has been nurtured, preserved and handed down by the great visionary warriors of the faith in Kerala, especially with the establishment of the Catholicate. Now it could be the turn of the ones in the diaspora to take the Lord's work in the world to the next level.
Very glad to see this already happening in the arena of Liturgical Translations. CP Chandy Sir, Vattakunnel Bava and others persevered to translate our Liturgical treasure from Syriac to Malayalam -- and now we see the Liturgical Resource Development of the SW American Diocese and similar initiatives from Nagpur Seminary taking it to the next level working on translations into English and Hindi among others.Some brilliant work coming out of the American Dioceses as well as Nagpur Seminary in the Sunday School and OVBS fields also bear testimony to the work being done by the Diaspora.
The next great revival in the Indian Orthodox Church could probably be heralded by the diaspora.May the torch bearers from the Jewish diaspora -- St. Stephen and St. Paul -- serve as our fortresses and powerful intercessors in this journey.
Thus we see that after the first phase of the Christian movement by the Hebrews, the next phase of bringing it out to the world was done by those from the diaspora. For the Indian Orthodox Church, this could serve as a great model to imitate. The last Century has been one of great awakening and revival in the Church. The faith has been nurtured, preserved and handed down by the great visionary warriors of the faith in Kerala, especially with the establishment of the Catholicate. Now it could be the turn of the ones in the diaspora to take the Lord's work in the world to the next level.
Very glad to see this already happening in the arena of Liturgical Translations. CP Chandy Sir, Vattakunnel Bava and others persevered to translate our Liturgical treasure from Syriac to Malayalam -- and now we see the Liturgical Resource Development of the SW American Diocese and similar initiatives from Nagpur Seminary taking it to the next level working on translations into English and Hindi among others.Some brilliant work coming out of the American Dioceses as well as Nagpur Seminary in the Sunday School and OVBS fields also bear testimony to the work being done by the Diaspora.
The next great revival in the Indian Orthodox Church could probably be heralded by the diaspora.May the torch bearers from the Jewish diaspora -- St. Stephen and St. Paul -- serve as our fortresses and powerful intercessors in this journey.
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