Father Justin's Blog

Holy and Great Wednesday

On Holy and Great Wednesday, the contrast is made between the repentant woman who anointed Christ with precious ointment, and Judas who departed that same night to betray Christ.

. . . δεινὸν ἡ ῥαθυμία! μεγάλη ἡ μετάνοια! ἥν μοι δώρησαι Σωτήρ, ὁ παθὼν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, καὶ σῶσον ἡμᾶς.

Fearful is heedlessness! Great is repentance! Which do Thou grant unto me, O Saviour, Who didst suffer for us, and do Thou save us.

Silver ripidia across the back of the Holy Table. In a few days, we will bring out the more festive ripidia.

Ὁ συνάναρχος καὶ συναΐδιος Υἱός, καὶ Λόγος τοῦ Πατρός, ἐπὶ πώλου ἀλόγου, ἦλθε σήμερον καθεζόμενος, ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν Ἱερουσαλήμ, ὃν τὰ Χερουβὶμ μετὰ δέους ἀτενίσαι οὐ δύνανται. Παῖδες ἀνευφήμησαν, μετὰ βαΐων καὶ κλάδων, τὸν αἶνον μυστικῶς ἀναμέλποντες. Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, τῷ ἐλθόντι σῶσαι ἐκ πλάνης, ἄπαν τὸ γένος ἡμῶν.

The co-beginningless and co-eternal Son and Word of the Father came today to the city of Jerusalem sitting upon the colt of an ass, even He upon Whom the Cherubim cannot gaze without fear. The children acclaim Him with palms and branches, mystically singing out the praise: Hosanna in the highest unto Him that cometh to save our whole race from error.

Bishop’s Throne

The beautiful Greek bishop’s throne in the Chapel of the Prophet Elisha.

Marble Inscription

There is a small marble plaque set into a frame over the door to the kelli of Father Daniel, at the basin of the Prophet Elijah. I photographed it in afternoon shade, but it was difficult to read. I returned in the evening and photographed it with raking light. Then the inscription became more legible.

Ὦ Κελλίον . . .
Σήμερον ἐμοῦ· Αὔριον ἑτέρου· Καὶ οὐδέποτέ τινος. Ἐκτίσθη δι᾿ ἔξοδον· Ἀρχιμανδρίτου Δανιήλ ΠαπαΪωάννου Μεσολογγίτου· καὶ Συμμοναστοῦ Σιναϊτου· + 1923, Μαΐου κγ.

O Kelli . . .
Today it is mine, tomorrow someone else’s, and never anyone’s. Created for exodus/departure/departure from life/decease. Archimandrite Daniel Papaioannou from Messolonghi, and Fellow-monk of Sinai. + 1923, May 23.

From the Sinai Monachologion we learn that Father Daniel was born in 1852 in Messolonghi, and given the name Dimitrios. His father was a priest named Ioannis, and his mother’s name was Magdalene. On March 9, 1874, he was ordained to the diaconate, and on December 7, 1877, to the priesthood, by Anthimos, Bishop of Naupaktos and Evrytania. On February 28, 1879, he visited Mount Athos. In 1890 he went to Jerusalem as a pilgrim to the Holy Land. On March 20, 1905, he came to live at Sinai. Here he passed away on February 24, 1923, having become an archimandrite and father confessor. The marble plaque was placed above the door to his kelli three months after his repose.

The Kelli of Father Daniel

The kelli of Father Daniel photographed in the morning sunlight.

Prophet Elijah’s Basin

The first light of day at the basin of the Prophet Elijah. The cypress tree that had stood there for centuries died a few years ago. Five new trees were planted inside a walled enclosure. Three of them are flourishing. The kelli of Father Daniel is to the left.

Icon of the Holy Mandylion

An icon of the Holy Mandylion over the central gates on the Sinai iconostasion. The icon was created in Moscow in the second half of the seventeenth century.

Almond Blossoms 4

The almond blossoms are all the more striking because they are in such contrast with the stark granite mountains that rise up on both sides of the monastery garden.

Almond Blossoms 3

We can still have cold weather after the almond trees have bloomed. The apricot and apple trees are more cautious, blooming several weeks later. The last to put out new leaves is the fig tree. Ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς συκῆς μάθετε τὴν παραβολήν· ὅταν ἤδη ὁ κλάδος αὐτῆς γένηται ἁπαλὸς καὶ τὰ φύλλα ἐκφύῃ γινώσκετε ὅτι ἐγγὺς τὸ θέρος. ‘Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh.’ (Matthew 24:32)