Class 8 English Past Paper

2. The chosen one will be set apart by God. A true faithful will always get special consideration and protection from the Lord. He will use his devotions to accomplish His will. His ear will be always open towards His dear ones. 3. A devotion on the bed is very important. When we go to bed in t...

2. The chosen one will be set apart by God. A true faithful will always get special consideration and protection from the Lord. He will use his devotions to accomplish His will. His ear will be always open towards His dear ones. 3. A devotion on the bed is very important. When we go to bed in the night it is good to take some time to recall our day’s activities. This will help us to praise the Lord for the blessings received and to repent for the sins committed in the day. This will really nourish our spiritual life. 4. False love and flattering will not stand for ever. True love alone shall withstand for ever. Pretensions shall come out anytime. We can see true love in the Lord. He shall give rewards at the appropriate time. 5. Happiness shall come from God. Happiness obtained from worldly pleasures is not permanent. Real happiness comes from God. Joy given by our Lord is better than the joy from any other source of worldly comfort. 6. The Lord gives the light of His face to his devotees. In the Psalm 34:5 we read, ‘Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed’. Radiant face is the symbol of the grace of God. 7. Peaceful sleep is a blessing from God. The spiritual blessing given by God helps us to lead a peaceful life. Peaceful sleep is a gift of God. Let Us Pray Recite this Psalm together Resolution We shall read and meditate the Psalm 4 daily before going to bed. Let Us Think 1. What is the meaning of Suthoro? 2. How did king David find comfort in afflictions? 3. What are the characteristics of true devotees? 4. What is the result of false love? 5. Where can we get true love? Activities 1. Compare different translations of the Psalm 4. 2. Make it a habit to read Psalm 4 daily before going to bed. 3. Learn the Psalm 4 by heart. 4. Practice the spiritual lessons learned from Psalm 4 in daily life. 50  Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Psalm 4 Monday 2 Timothy 2:14-26 Ephesians 4:17-24 Tuesday Ephesians 4:25-32 Numbers 6:22-26 Wednesday Isaiah 9:1-10 Psalm 3 Thursday Psalm 2 Psalm 5 Friday Psalm 6 Psalm 7 Saturday Psalm 8 * 51  UNIT 3 LITURGICAL HYMNS Lesson 14 Kukilion for the Departed Clergy Learning Objectives: This lesson aims to study in detail the Kukilon for the departed clergy which will help to attend the worship sessions meaningfully. Verse to be Memorized: ‘Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your faithful shout for joy’ (Psalm 132:9). Teaching Aids: The Holy Bible, Qurbana kramam, the Book of Common Prayer. Introduction Kukilion is a cycle of prayers which consists of Psalms, Ekbo, Kolos and Bovootho. We learned the Kukilions for St. Mary, the Mother of God and Saints. The next Kukilion given in the Qurbana kramam is the Kukilion for the departed clergy. In this lesson we are going to study that Kukilion in detail. The Lesson The first hymn in the Kukilion for the departed clergy is the following (Chaarthum neethiye…) In righteousness Thy priests be clothed-Halleluiah Thy righteous ones in glorious garb. For David’s sake, Thy servant true-Halleluiah The face of Thine anointed heed. This hymn is based on Psalms 132:9-10. We read the passage in the Bible as follows: ‘Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your faithful shout for joy. For your servant David’s sake do not turn away the face of your anointed one’. Here the ‘anointed one’ is the priest. Ekbo Next hymn in the cycle is an Ekbo. The word Ekbo means ‘step’ because this is a step from Psalm to Kolo. The Ekbo in the Kukilion for the departed clergy is given below; (Suchiyodu shudhya…) May those feet that cleanly trod, Keeping pure Thy holy place, 52  Tread the courts of paradise And with angel’s e’er abide. Lord, let the feet of the priests which have touched the Holy places be allowed to enter the doors of paradise so that they live along with the holy angels for ever. Kolos The word Kolo means ‘hymn’. Three Kolos are given in the Holy Qurbana kramam so that we can choose one. (Deivam srishttichaadathe…) After God had Adam made, Rested He and looked on him, And beheld him beautiful- His Creator’s image there When the earth born moved and Passed through the trees of paradise, Angels wond’ring gazed, Seeing man exalted thus. Barekmor. God created Adam in His own image. God saw that His creation was beautiful. The human being began to walk through the paradise. Angels were astonished to see the high position attained by human beings who was made out of dust of the earth. When the priesthood passed on down Moses got it, Aaron too: Moses passed it on Skariah Passed Skariah it on to John John did pass it to our Lord, Christ ordained apostles twelve; They sent forth by Him Passed it on throughout the world. The second hymn is intended to bring out the continuity of priesthood. The New Testament priesthood is the fulfillment of Old Testament priesthood. At first Moses and Aaron obtained priesthood from God. Moses transferred it to Zechariah. Zechariah gave it to his son John the Baptist and John gave the priesthood to Jesus Christ. Christ gave it to His disciples and the disciples gave the priesthood to the whole humankind. Here we shall keep in mind that Christ is a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6). But in the hymn it is said that Christ ‘got’ the priesthood from John the Baptist, only to show the continuity of priesthood. (Nirmala madbaha…….) Blest be priests whose love for Christ Mark’d their sacred altar’s task; Watching angels haste to come, Leading them to courts of joy. Barekmor 53  Son of God, forget them not- Priests of thine who served thee right; Grant them pleasantness of face On Thy advent day sublime The priests had been serving at in the altar of Christ because of their love of Christ; So the angels of heaven shall hastily come to receive them to heaven. Son of God, when you come again, do remember the priests who have served you sincerely during their lifetime, and bless them with pleasantness of face. The first stanza is a statement and second is a petition. (moochanamaachaaryarkkekuka….) O Lord, absolve the clergy- Halleluiah Those priests and deacons faithful- They who served Thee In churches and in abbeys- here in their lifetime Whose very hands did offer- in the chancel Thy body and precious blood- for pardon of sins Thy body Lord absolve their debts Thy blood Lord-pardon all their faults May they proclaim beside Thee- “Praise to thee O Lord” O Lord, give absolution to the priests. Absolve the sins of the priests who have exalted and adored your body and blood in their hands for the absolution of the faithful. Also, pardon the sins of the deacons who have served you faithfully in churches and monasteries. Absolve their sins by your body and blood so that they shall sing “Praise to Thee, O Lord”. Bovootho (Petition) Two bovoothos are given as the concluding petition of the Kukilion for the departed clergy. 1. Bovootho of Mar Aprem (mudikal mudanjava niranirayaai…) Crowns are plated, closely placed, On the holy altar there; Crowns will thus be set on heads Of those priests who’ve served Thee well. Beautiful crowns are prepared and closely placed (arranged) on the altar of Christ. These shall be placed on the heads of priests who have done their duty well. The hymn mentions about the reward the righteous priests are to get at the time of judgment. 54 2. Bovootho of St. James (Aachaaryesha…) O Christ who art-of priests-the Lord of clergy chief, Pray pardon, Lord those priests Thy mysteries who served. O Christ, who is the Lord of priests and chief of clergy, give absolution to the priests who have served Your holy mysteries. Let Us Pray O Lord, let all the priests who have served You on the altar partake in Your kingdom when You come again. Amen. Resolution We will pray for the departed priests regularly. Activity 1. In between two Kolos, the priest says a sentence of praise. What is it? 2. Kolos end with a supplication, usually in Syriac. What is it? Find out the meaning of it. 3. What is the meaning of ‘barekmor’? 4. Identify the Sunday on which we pray for all the departed clergy. Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Psalm 132 Monday 2 Samuel 7:12-16 Psalm 89 Tuesday Exodus 28 Exodus 30 Wednesday John 1:19-34 Luke 3:7-22 Thursday Matthew 3:1-12 Matthew 3:13-17 Friday Mark 1:1-8 Mark 1:9-11 Saturday Psalm 84 - 55  Lesson 15 Office of the Prayer for the Departed Learning Objectives: To learn the Kukilion used in the office for the departed and hence to attend the Holy Qurbana and other services in a meaningful way. Verse to be Memorized: ‘As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear Him’ (Psalms 103:13). Teaching Aids: Holy Bible, Book of the Holy Qurbana, and the Book of Common Prayer. Introduction Prayer for the departed is an inalienable part of Orthodox worship. In the Holy Qurbana there are various occasions to remember our departed. Just before the commencement of the holy Qurbana, we sing the hymn ‘Lord, grant good remembrance to all the faithful dead…’ This is an occasion to remember the dead. Another occasion is the sixth Thubden. The prayers of the priest and the faithful after the sixth Thubden are also prayers for the departed. Office of the departed is another important occasion to pray for the departed. This office also is in the form of Kukilion and we shall study that in this lesson. The Lesson In the previous lesson we studied the Kukilion for the departed clergy. We know that Kukilion always starts with a verse from Psalm. In the Kukilion for the departed faithful, we sing Psalm 103:13-15. The hymn is as follows. ‘As doth a father his children love-Halleluiah So doth the Lord love those who fear His name. The days of man are but as grass-Halleluiah He springs up like the herbs that grow in fields.’ The Lord loves His children exactly like the love of a father towards his children. The days of human beings are like grass in the fields. He flourishes like a flower in the fields. The last line shows the mortality of humans. As the flower goes in a wind so is a human. Ekbo (saranathaale nin...) ‘They who served and died in hope Trusting in Thy mercy, Lord; May Thy living voice them raise From their graves to paradise’. 56  Lord, let your life giving voice raise those who served you, from the graves, so that they may enter Paradise. Here we are praying for only those who lived in hope and served God in their lifetime. On special occasions of remembering the departed, Promion-Sedro is read after ‘Stoumenkalos.’ ‘Sthoumenkalos ‘means ‘let us stand well’, and kurielaison means ‘Lord have mercy on me.’After ekbo, we sing hymns (‘Kolos’). Various kolos are given in the Qurbana kramam so that we choose one. Kolo (rakshakane nin…) Grant, O Savior, that the dead, who ate Thy flesh Who drank Thy blood, the chalice of salvation, May be raised up from their graves Yea, incorrupt, Clothed in glory full and bright, Lo they wait for thee. Barekmor Borne aloft in state upon clouds of glory Comes the prince who giveth life to the dead ones, Righteous ones the trumpet hear of His angels; They proceed in glorious stoles in His presence. O Savior, let the faithful who have eaten Your flesh and drank Your blood be risen from the graves. Let them be clothed in glory. They are waiting for You, Lord. The prince who gives life to the dead comes in glory in clouds. The righteous hears the sound of the trumpets of angels who accompany Him and proceeds to welcome Him in glorious attire. The incident which shall happen at the second coming of Christ is dramatically presented here. (uyirekunnoon…) Comes the Prince of life From His glorious throne above, Raising those who in their graves take rest From their graves they’ll rise With them our departed ones, Praising Him who- giveth life to all. Barekmor Praise be Jesus’ words In His gospel give’n to us Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood Them I will not leave Bound in hell-for them I died Giving all the everlasting life. The Lord who gives life to all comes down from heaven and gives life to all in the graves. Those who are in graves rise up from there and praise You who is the giver of life. The Lord says, ‘Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood will not be sent to hell. I descended to earth and died on the Cross so that they shall live for ever’. Lord, we praise you for your promise. 57  (naadhaa thavaka…..) Thine, O Lord are both the worlds Here and there Thy pow’r extends Keep the living by Thy cross By Thy grace absolve the dead. Barekmor Praise we Thee who giveth life To those lying in the tombs Praise the Father, Thee who sent Praise the Holy spirit too. O, Lord, Heaven and earth are yours. They are all under your reign. Lord! Protect the living by the cross, and absolve the dead by Your grace. We praise You who gives life to the dead, Your Father who had sent You and the Holy Spirit. Bovootho (Petition) A Kukilion usually ends with a bovootho. Two bovoothos are given in the Kukilion for the dead. We can use any one of them. May departed ones receive- Who confessed the Trinity What was promised to the thief Paradise with thee O, Lord. O Lord, You promised paradise to the thief when You were on the cross. Kindly grant the same promise to the departed ones who have confessed the Holy Trinity. The words of Jesus to the thief on the right are recalled here. Son of God who by Thy death Quick’neth mortal men, Give us life that from the dust We may cry aloud, Paise to thee , O lord. Son of God, You have made us immortal by Your death. Give us life from the dust so that we may cry aloud ‘praise to Thee O, Lord’. This petition is applicable to the dead as well as the living. Let Us Pray O Lord, bless all the departed to enjoy in Your kingdom along with Your saints. Amen. Resolution We have understood that it is our duty to pray for the departed ones. We shall do it with all devotions. Activity Now we have learnt the Kukilions for the Mother of God, saints, and the departed. 58 In the morning worship in church we use a common Kukilion where we remember the Mother of God, saints and the departed. Find it out and try to get at its meaning. Sing together, all the hymns studied in this lesson. Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Psalm 103 Monday Romans 6:1-14 1 Corinthians 15:1-19 Tuesday Romans 7:4-13 1 Corinthians 15:20-34 Wednesday Romans 8:8-13 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 Thursday 2 Corinthians 4:10-15 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Friday 2 Corinthians 5:1-15 Hebrews 2:1-18 Saturday John 6:47-59 * 59  UNIT 4 MY CHURCH Lesson 16 The Holy Church during the First Two Centuries Learning Objectives: To understand the general conditions which prevailed in the early Church and to identify the social factors behind it. Verse to be Memorized: ‘God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues’ (1 Corinthians 12:28). Teaching Aids: The Holy Bible, the Service book of Holy Qurbana, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Service book of Sacraments. Introduction A written constitution and a fixed system of governance help a country to stay united and develop. Similarly, several factors helped the growth of the early Church. Let us learn more about those factors in this lesson. The Lesson The council (synod) held in Jerusalem played an important role in the stabilization of the Church. Here we shall learn about the administrative system in the early Church, life in the Church, development of liturgical texts etc. Council (Synod) of Jerusalem With the advent of pagans into the Church a variety of problems cropped up. Is it necessary to circumcise the gentiles who join the Church? Should they lead a life according to Jewish religious customs? Such issues were there waiting to be addressed by the Church. Circumcision was a Jewish religions custom. In order to consider these problems, an Apostolic Council (Synod) was held in Jerusalem in A.D. 49 with St. James in the chair and it came to be known as the Synod or Council of Jerusalem (Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15). The synod convened in the presence of the disciples decided not to compel the pagans who became Christians to strictly follow the Jewish customs. Administrative System It was in the second century that a proper administrative system came into existence in the Church. The head of this administrative system was a bishop. 60 Presbyters (priests) and deacons were appointed to assist the bishop. There was also the order of deaconess Phoeba’ mentioned in Romans 16:1. It was St. Ignatius who first made a mention of the ‘Three-fold Ministry’ of Episcopa, Presbyter and deacon. Church Life The life in the Church was centered chiefly on worship and prayer. Church offered utmost importance to helping the poor, the sick and widows. A system of life based on Christian morality was instituted. Christians adopted an attitude that countered the pagan mode of worship and immorality. However, it respected the political authorities and the law. The Christian Church followed the synagogue mode of worship, but chose Sunday as the Sabbath, the day of Resurrection of our Lord. Church Literature There were two chief sources which give a detailed account of the Church as it existed in the first and second centuries, namely Apostolic Fathers and Apologists. Apostolic Fathers The disciples of the apostles or their contemporaries are called ‘Apostolic Fathers’. The books and treatises written by them during the period between A.D. 95 and 150 throw light into the history of the early Church. The First Epistle of St. Clement of Rome, the Epistle of Polycarp of Smyrna, Writings of Papias of Hierapolis, the Didache (‘Teachings of the Twelve Apostles), the Epistle of Barnabas, the seven letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch, the Epistle to Diognetus and the Shepherd of Hermas are considered as the writings of the Apostolic Fathers. The important themes dealt within the writings of Apostolic Fathers include teachings of Christian principles, regulations for worship, role of clergy, exhortation for Christians to remain courageous against persecutions, and how to resist the injustice of the Jews. Here is a quote from Didache:‘Your fasts should not be with the hypocrites, for they fast on Mondays and Thursdays. You should fast on Wednesdays and Fridays’ (Didache 8:1). Apologists The Apologists tried to respond to the criticism faced by the Church, counter the accusations against Christians and to teach true faith in place of faithlessness. They, who were scholars and philosophers, through their writings, explained the faith and the Christian way of life, pattern of worship, and the attitude of Christians towards pagans and rulers. Aristides of Athens, Quadratus of Athens, Tertullian of Carthage, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen of Alexandria, Athenagoras of Athens, Hippolytus of Rome, Cyprian of Carthage, Melito (Meletius) of Sardis, Tatian of Syria were the chief Apologists during the early Christian times. Let Us Pray O Lord, let Thy love and peace prevail in Thy Church. Eliminate rebellions, quarrels and arguments from it. Lord, enlighten the priests as well as the authorities to lead and rule the sheep which You saved with Thy sacred blood. Amen. 61  Resolution We will not go after alien faiths. We will stand firmly in the true faith of the Church. Let Us Think 1. What were the earlier Church records that give information about the history of the Church? 2. What was the role played by the Council of Jerusalem in the formation of the Church? 3. Name the Apostolic fathers. 4. What were the important issues dealt with by the Apologists? 5. What was the issue that was discussed and solved in the Synod of Jerusalem? 6. Explain the Three-fold Ministry. 7. How did the Christian life and worship differ from those of Jews? Activities 1. Collect more information about the administrative procedures of the Church from Romans 12:6-8 and Ephesians 4:11 and note down in the diary. 2. Compare the Christian life in the early Church and that exists in the present day Church. 3. Make a comparison between the Apostolic Fathers and the Apologists. 4. Write a note on the way in which the Apostles solved issues of faith and practice that cropped up in the early Church. Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Acts 15:6-21 Monday Matthew 18:19-20 Acts 10:17-23 Tuesday Matthew 16:18-20 1 Timothy 3:1-16 Wednesday Philippians 3:1-6 Romans 12:6-81 Thursday Ephesians 4:1-11 1 Corinthians 12 Friday Galatians 1 Galatians 2 Saturday Galatians 3 * 62  Lesson 17 The Holy Church up to Fifth Century Persecutions, Synods Learning Objectives: To learn how the early Church survived and developed in spite of persecutions, and also opposition from heterodox beliefs. Also to keep away from heretic movements and keep the true faith of the Church. Verse to be Memorized: ‘I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them’ (Romans 16:17). Teaching Aids: The Holy Bible, the Service Book of Holy Qurbana, and the Book of Common Prayer. Introduction Christianity spread to places outside Jerusalem, following the martyrdom of St. Stephen, when Christians fled to many places. The Church had to face persecutions and oppositions. We are going to learn about these in this lesson. The Lesson The Church had to face very hard and difficult situations during the first four centuries. Almost everywhere there were opposition and persecution. A few of the Universal Councils or Synods were organized during this period. Let us learn more about them. Persecutions The Christian Church had to face persecutions from the very beginning, which continued unabated till the beginning of the fourth century. The faithful were subjected to persecutions from Jews and Roman rulers. 1. The Jews: It was the Jews themselves who began to persecute the Christians initially. When they came to know that the Christian Church was different from their own religion, they started persecuting Christians. These persecutions caused the martyrdom of many Christians, including the apostles. 2. The Roman Rulers: The Roman rulers did not persecute the Christians during the early days. However, they began to persecute the faithful later and it turned to be the most severe persecution of Christians. The following were the reasons which provoked the Roman emperors: a) Suspicion that Christians were not obedient to the Roman gods and the emperor. 63  b) Reluctance of the Christians to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. c) Unwillingness of the Christians for military service. d) Misunderstandings about the worship followed by the Christians (that they were ‘cannibals.’ Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Maximinus, Valerian, and Diocletian were the emperors who persecuted the Christians the most. The Edict of Milan (February 313 AD) by emperor Constantine stopped the persecution of Christians. However, the persecution helped in strengthening the faith and unity of the Church. Oppositions to the Faith and the Divisions in the Church The Christian Church met with various oppositions to the faith from the very beginning. When Church gained independence in the Roman empire, there arose other kinds of opponents. As a consequence, many of the followers deviated from the path of true faith. The main challenges to the faith were the following: Gnosticism- Salvation is possible through acquiring knowledge. Montanism- The argument that Montanus was the Holy Spirit. Schism of those who allegedly betrayed the faith during the persecution. Manichaeism- Body and the activities of the body are completely evil. Monarchianism- God was unpersonal rather than Trinitarian. These false teachings caused divisions in the Church which were partly solved in the Universal Church Councils. Universal Synods (Councils) The schisms and divisions in the Church caused disturbances within and outside the Roman Empire. Therefore emperors and government authorities took the initiative and began to interfere in the affairs of the Church. Following this, Universal Councils were convened. The Oriental Orthodox Churches have accepted only the first three Universal Synods only. Synod of Nicea (AD 325): The Synod of Nicea, convened by the emperor Constantine in AD 325 was the first Universal Synod. Tradition says that 318 Church Fathers participated in it, discussed and rejected the heterodox teachings of Arius, a scholarly monk-priest. Heterodox Teachings of Arians: The arguments put forward by Arians were: a) The Son is not equal to the Father. b) The Son and the Holy Spirit are not absolutely God. c) The Son who was created is not eternal. d) There was a period when the Son was non-existent. 64  e) The Father is the only real God and hence the Son is neither complete God nor complete Human. The Council rejected the arguments of Arians and formulated the first two paragraphs of the proclamation of faith (Creed) and a few canons as well. Synod of Constantinople (AD 381): The purpose of the Synod of Constantinople, convened in AD 381, was to confirm the resolutions formulated in the Synod of Nicea and to reject the heretic teachings by Apollinarius, the bishop of Laodicea; and Macedonius, the bishop of Constantinople (Macedonianism). This Council, convened by the Emperor Theodosius had the participation of 150 Church fathers, and the resolutions were authenticated by 148 of them. The Synod elaborated the proclamation of faith formulated in the Synod of Nicea and confirmed it. A few canons laws were also passed in the Council. Apollinarianism: It was a argued by Apollinaris of Laodicea that Jesus Christ could not have had a human mind; rather, that Jesus had a human body and lower soul but a divine mind. It was also argued that Christ was a complete God. Macedonianism: According to this heresy, the Holy Spirit is not God and subordinate to the Father and the Son. Synod of Ephesus (AD 431): In this Synod, convened by the Roman Emperor Theodosius II in AD 431, 198 Church fathers participated. The purpose of the Synod was to reject the heretical teachings of Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople. The Council rejected the argument of Nestorius and categorically declared Virgin Mary as the ‘Theotokos’ (Mother of God). Nestorianism: This doctrine emphasized the distinction between the human and divine natures of Jesus Christ. It argued that Holy Virgin Mary shall not be addressed as Theotokos (Mother of God), but as ‘Mother of Christ’ only. Let Us Pray Morning Special prayer on the Qudosh Eetho Blessed are you, O Holy Church, the bride of the true Light; your Bridegroom is everlasting. O Church, who was saved by His Cross, sing praises to Him, for He sacrificed Himself for you and gave Himself as food and drink for the absolution of your people. Barekmor Resolution We will work for the upkeep and progress of the Church by protecting it from and heretical teachings which weaken it. 65  Let Us Think 1. What were the heretical teachings the earlier Church had to confront? 2. Which were the first three Universal Councils? What were the reasons for convening the universal Synods? What were the issues of discussion and resolutions in the universal Councils? 3. Explain the persecutions Christians suffered in the early Church? What were the reasons for the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperors? Name the emperors who persecuted Christians. Activities 1. Compare the persecutions suffered by the earlier Church with the problems which the Church faces at present (discuss with a Church historian and collect information). 2. In the context of the heretical teachings which plagued the early Church, evaluate the heretical teachings in modern times. 3. If you were living during the persecutions and heresies, how you would have responded to them? A famous statement by St. Polycarp “86 years have I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?” -St. Polycarp of Smyrna. Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Acts 1 Monday Acts 2 Acts 3 Tuesday Acts 4 Acts 5 Wednesday Acts 6 Acts 7 Thursday Acts 8 Acts 9 Friday Acts 10 Acts 11 Saturday Acts 12 * 66  Lesson 18 The Malankara Church up to Ninth Century (Christian Migrations to South India) Learning Objectives: To understand the history of the early Christian migrations to South India and how the migrants became part of Indian Christianity. Verse to be Memorized: ‘In the wilderness, where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, just as one carries a child, all the way that you traveled until you reached this place’ (Deuteronomy 1:31). Teaching Aids The Holy Bible, the Service Book of Holy Qurbana and the Book of Common Prayer. Introduction History tells us India had been subject to a number of foreign invasions, mostly by those who came as traders. The cultural influences of the invaders still exist among us. Along with it, there two important Persian migrations to South India. We are going to learn about these migrations and how the migrants integrated themselves with the St. Thomas Christians of India. The Lesson The main Christian migrations to South India occurred in AD fourth and ninth centuries. The first migration of AD 345 was under the leadership of Knai Thomman and the second of AD 825 was under the leadership of Sabore Easow (Sabrisho). The trade links which existed between Persia and India and the Christian faith and traditions which existed in both the countries were the factors that facilitated these immigrations. 1. First Persian Migration (AD 345): In fourth century, during the reign of Shapur II, the Christians in Persia had been subjected to severe persecutions. In order to escape from this, a group of Christians, under the leadership of Knai Thomman (Cana Thoma or Thomas of Cana) migrated to South India which was connected to Persia through trade. The group consisted of 400 people from 72 families which included one bishop called Mar Ouseph (Joseph), two priests, two deacons besides women and children. The migrants reached Kodungallur and accepted the patronage of the ruler Cheraman Perumal. Their interest in trade helped them in acquiring social and religious freedom. The local ruler granted them several civil rights which have been inscribed on the copper plates. They are called Knai Thomman Chepped. As they resided in the southern side of Kodungallur they are known as the Southists (Thekkumbhagakkar). The present day Knanaites claim to be the successors of these Southists. 67 2. Second Persian Immigration (AD 825): Led by the merchant called Sabrisho, a group of Christians with two bishops Mar Sabore and Mar Proth landed in Kollam in AD 825 and this is considered as the second Persian migration. It is said that the Kollam Era (Malayalam Era or kollavarsham) was started in commemoration of this migration. Out of the two bishops, Mar Sabore settled in Udaymperoor and Mar Proth settled in Kollam. However, the second migration comprised of less people than the first. The ‘Tarisappally Copper Plates’ document the rights given to the migrant Christians by the local ruler. The word ‘Tarisa’ is derived from the word ‘Threesai’ which means ‘true’. In AD 925, the bishops were canonized and churches were dedicated in their name. But, in later times, the Portuguese Roman Catholics disapproved of this canonization and renamed the churches ‘Kadisha’ churches (eg. Kadisha churches in Kollam and Kayamkulam). Importance of Persian Migrations Corroborated the tradition of Apostle St. Thomas in Malankara (the Persian Church also was established by St. Thomas). Enhanced the general social status of the Christians in India. Kollam Era was started. Broadened the influence of Christianity in India. Deepened the trade connections between Persia and India. Hymn Pre-Qurbana Kolo, Saurabhyam pole theekundil pett... You martyrs fell like-incense on the fire Your love’s sweet fragrance perfumed all the earth Pray to Christ that He-may shed His blessing Upon the faithful who honour your bones Halleluiah-w-Halleluiah May peace reign in the Church which honours you. Let Us Pray Another Morning Special prayer on the Qudosh Eetho Lord, may the Church and her children be protected by Your Cross. May the Holy Spirit, who indwelled in the prophets and the apostles and guided them to preach, come and indwell in the Church. Lord, grant remission of debts to the departed spiritual father, brethren, and all the departed children of the Church, and write their names in the Book of Life in Your Eternal Kingdom. Amen. Resolution Persecutions shall not deter us from following our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are migrants travelling to the Promised Land. 68 Let Us Think 1. Detail the importance of Persian migrations to South India. Describe the Second Persian immigration. 2. Note the significance of the start of ‘Kollam Era’. 3. What was the earlier status of the present-day Kadisha churches? 4. Which were the chief Christian migrations to Kerala? 5. What were the reasons and significance of the migration under Knai Thomman? 6. Explain how the name Thekkumbhagakkar originated. Activities 1. Note the position of Persia in the map of Asia and trace the route by which migrants reached South India. 2. Present a skit based on Persian migrations. 3. Visit the Kadisha churches and collect more information regarding their history. To be read carefully “The church stood firmly by the declaration of faith by St. Thomas ever since. The persecutions suffered in different periods did not weaken the Church, but it aided in enhancing the faith of the people”-H. H. Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews I. Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Acts 15 Monday Acts 16 Acts 17 Tuesday Acts 18 Acts 19 Wednesday Acts 20 Acts 21 Thursday Acts 22 Acts 23 Friday Acts 24 Acts 25, 26 Saturday Acts 27,28 * 69  Lesson 19 The Malankara Church up to Tenth Century (Copper Plates) Learning Objectives: To learn about the high social status enjoyed by the early Christians in Kerala. To understand that the integrity of Nazranis earned them good name and status in society. Verse to be Memorized: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away and the wolf snatches them and scatters them” (St. John 10:11, 12). Teaching Aids: The Holy Bible, the Service Book of Holy Qurbana, the Book of Common Prayer, and pictures of ‘Cheppeds’. Introduction We use paper for writing. However, certain important documents are inscribed on wood, stone or metal. The early Christians in Kerala received four copper plates on which were inscribed the special rights granted to them by the local kings. Let us learn about them. The Lesson The early Indian Christians received four copper plates, namely Knai Thomman plate, Tarisappalli plate 1 and 2, and Iravikorthan plate, from the then rulers. Knai Thomman Plate: This plate is believed to be issued to Knai Thomman who migrated from Persia, by Kochera Koran Perumal. The actual year of the plate is a matter of dispute among historians. However, the years AD 345, 774 and 882 are attributed to this plate. The original plate is missing, but an English translation (by the Portuguese) is kept in the British museum. By this plate, Mahadevar town (Kodungallur) and the church in it were bestowed to Knai Thomman and successors besides some titles. Relatives and religious followers of Knai Thomman were provided with some special rights and privileges by virtue of this plate. Tarisappalli Plates: These are two copper plates issued by the then ruler of Kollam Ayyanadikal Thiruvadikal. The first one was issued in AD 849 to the St. Thomas Christians in Kollam and the second one was issued in AD 883 to the Jewish Christians, it is believed. Some plates are missing at present; the rest are with the Malankara Orthodox Church and the Marthoma Church. The language of the inscriptions on the plates is Vattezhuth, a form of ancient Tamil script which was prevalent in 70 Tamizhakam from Sixth to Fourteenth centuries. These plates throw light on the social status of the Christians of the time. Christians granted several rights and privileges like the control over the lower castes, protection of land and churches, tax collection, military powers, and 72 feudal powers. Iravikorthan Copper Plate: This was issued to Iravikorthan by the king Veeraraghava and hence it is called as ‘Veeraraghava Pattayam’. The year of issue of the plates in ‘Vattezhuth’ script is not clear; the years AD 230, 680, 775 and 1320 have been suggested. At present, this plate is under the custody of Malankara Orthodox Church. According to this, Christians were entitled to enjoy esteemed social status on par high caste the Hindus. The plate granted many rights and powers to Iravikorthan like the leadership (Perumchetty) at ‘Manigramam’, trade rights, power to collect taxes, and authority over slaves. Importance of Copper Plates Indicate the status and esteemed position enjoyed by the Christians. Indicate the social status of Christians. Prove the loyalty of Christians. Throw light on the trade efficiency and integrity of Christians. Indicate that the kings considered Christians as loyal and as asset to the economy of the State. Hymn Pre-Qurbana Kolo, Thannathaan papam cheythen kezhunnen By my will I sin-and by it, repent I know the reason Satan has caught me Woe to me for I-have sinned against You Woe to me for I am not repentant Halleluiah-w-Halleluiah Woe to me when You judge; Lord have mercy. Let Us Pray Another Morning Special prayer on the Qudosh Eetho Praise to the Messiah, who indwelled in the Church and adorned her with high priests, priests, and deacons. Praise to the invisible Father, who bethrothed the Church to the Son, who saved her by the Cross, and to the Holy Spirit, who continously sanctifies her. Amen. Resolution We shall always try to maintain the integrity, unity and spiritual status that Nasrani Christians enjoyed in early times. 71 Let Us Think 1. Prepare a note on Iravikorthan plates. Who was Iravikorthan? 2. Identify the copper plates issued to the Christians in Kerala? Describe the importance of copper plates. 3. What are the evidences for Knai Thomman plate? What were the rights and privileges obtained through this plate? 4. What is ‘Vattezhuth’? 5. Give an account about Tarisappalli copper plates. Activities 1. Collect more information about other royal proclamations similar to copper plates. 2. Collect more information about copper plates. 3. Arrange a discussion in the class to compare the earlier status and the current status of Christians. 4. Attempt a translation of the plate-inscriptions into modern Malayalam. To be read carefully ‘Arunoottuvar, Anchuvarnnam and Manigramam are authorised to protect the land and the church. Anchuvarnnam and Manigramam are directed to act as instructed in the copper plate until the earth, son and the moon exist’- Second Tarisappalli Plate Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Romans 1 Monday Romans 2 Romans 3 Tuesday Romans 4 Romans 5 Wednesday Romans 6 Romans 7 Thursday Romans 8 Romans 9 Friday Romans 10 Romans 11 Saturday Romans 12 * 72  UNIT 5 THE HOLY QURBANA- A STUDY Lesson 20 Prototypes of the Holy Qurbana in the Old Testament Learning Objectives: To understand the Biblical basics of the service of the Holy Qurbana. To learn that the Holy Qurbana is completely based on the Holy Bible and the Holy Traditions. To receive the mercy of God by participating in the Holy Qurbana with devotion and to become conscious of the presence of God in this sacrament. Verse to be Memorized: ‘Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever’ (Hebrews 7:3). Teaching Aids: The Holy Bible, Qurbana kramam, and the Book of Common Prayer. Introduction The Holy Qurbana is the crown and perfection of all other sacraments and worship services. By participating in the Holy Qurbana regularly and by receiving the body and blood of the Lord, we are incorporated into the body of Christ. Do you remember the interpretations of the Holy Qurbana we learned in earlier classes? We need to know that Holy Qurbana is based on the Holy Bible. The hymns, prayers and responses of the congregation in the Holy Qurbana are based on the Holy Bible. For this, we need to understand the related Bible passages and establish connection between them. Once we understand it, our participation in the Holy Qurbana would become more meaningful; and we will be more interested in participating in it. Now, we are going to learn the biblical background of the Holy Qurbana. The Lesson The consecration of the bread and wine is one of the most important moments in the Holy Qurbana. Here we remember the blessing of bread and wine by our Lord during the Last Supper before giving it to his disciples. All the important events in the life of our Lord Jesus had been indicated in the Old Testament history of the Israel. The writers of New Testament point to them on various occasions (Matthew 1:21-22, Luke 24:25-27). It is true of the Last Supper also. The act of Jesus in blessing bread and wine by saying ‘this is my body’ and ‘this is my blood which is poured out for the new 73 covenant’ had already been foreshadowed through several events which happened in the Old Testament. The most important of them are stated briefly below: 1. Fruit of the Tree of Life: The fruit from the tree of life (Genesis 2:9-17) was the first symbol of the Holy Qurbana. Since human beings ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil against the will of God, the Almighty considered that they might also eat the fruit from the tree of life and live in sin forever, and hence the Lord drove Adam and Eve out from the garden (Genesis 3:22-24). After baptism, the baptized is given the Holy Qurbana. The hymn recited then is this: The fruit that Adam did not taste in paradise It is happily placed in your mouth today. 2. Offering of Abel: Human beings, who are created by God, are to offer the fruit of their toil to God as sacrifice. When the first brothers, Cain and Abel, made offerings to God, Abel offered the firstling of his flock as a perfect sacrifice (Genesis 4:4). It was a great gift in the context of his toil and wealth and it was a valuable offering. He had shown that he placed God higher than everything else; and God accepted his offering. 3. Offering made by Melchizedek: Melchizedek brought bread and wine when he welcomed Abraham, the ‘Father of the Faithful’ (Genesis 14:18-20). Melchizedek (meaning ‘my king is just’), was the priest of God and the king of Salem (salem means ‘peace’). There is no mention of his parents in the Holy Bible. The promise in Psalm 110, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’ (Psalm 110: 4) had been fulfilled in our Lord. It is discussed by Paul in the epistle to the Hebrews (7:1-10). 4. Lamb in a Thicket seen by Abraham: The most striking foreshadow of the sacrifice of our Lord was the sacrifice of Abraham when he offered his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-17). When God commanded Abraham to offer his only son as a sacrifice, he was all willing to do so. Seeing the faith and obedience of Abraham, God arranged a lamb in a thicket for Abraham to offer as sacrifice. Let us remember that Lord Jesus, offered himself as sacrifice, in our place and for our sake. 5. Manna given to Israelites in the Desert: The ‘Exodus’ of Israelites to the land of Canaan under the leadership of Moses after a prolonged period of slavery in Egypt, is a golden chapter in the annals of the history of Israel. Israelites, after crossing the Red sea, continued their journey for forty years through the desert confronting natural disasters and enemies. When they reached the desert of Sin, between Elim and Sinai, the people became desperate with hunger and God rained manna from heaven for them. When they found manna scattered on the ground, the people were surprised, and Moses said, ‘this is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.’ Though the command of the God was only to collect the manna needed for each day some of them collected more manna and it decayed by the next morning. They were supplied 74 with enough manna each day. Jesus, who came down from heaven, is the real ‘Manna’ (John 6:32-33). Jesus said that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood, would gain eternal life and he would resurrect them on the last day (John 6:53-54). 6. Hallowed Bread eaten by David: While fleeing from his enemies, David (before he became king) reached Nob and met Ahimelech, the priest. He was very tired and asked Ahimelech for food. Ahimelech answered that he had no common bread with him but only hallowed bread which was reserved for priests (1 Samuel 21:1-6). During the period when the Israelites worshipped in tabernacles, God had commanded them to bake twelve loaves of bread (one each for each of the twelve tribes) and set them in tow rows upon the sacred table (Leviticus 24:5-9). Jesus also referred Ahimelech giving the hallowed bread to David (Matthew 12:3-4). 7. Bread supplied to Elijah by Ravens: Elijah the Tishbite was a great prophet in Israel. When there was severe famine in the country, God arranged ravens to supply bread and meat to Elijah (1 Kings 17:2-6). The God who gave food to His people miraculously, gives us his flesh and blood through the Holy Qurbana. 8. Sacrifice at Mount Carmel: Jezebel, wife of King Ahab was highly influential in the administration. As Jezebel was a devotee of Baal, the worshippers of Yahweh were persecuted. Further, the authorities started murdering the prophets of Yahweh. There was drought in the country; and people believed that it was a punishment from Yahweh. Ahab and Jezebel declared that the pagan god ‘Baal’ was mightier than Yahweh. In order to prove the greatness of Yahweh before the people, Elijah arranged for a sacrifice on Mount Carmel. At the same time, the 450 prophets of Baal also offered sacrifice to Baal. God accepted the sacrifice of Elijah, and consumed it with fire. Yahweh saved the people from famine by providing enough rain (1 Kings 18:16-46). 9. Fire that purified the Tongue of Isaiah: It is said in the book of Isaiah that God intervened to purify the prophet. When Isaiah cried that he was a man with unclean lips, one of the seraphs flew towards him carrying a live coal taken with the hot tongs from the altar, and touched his lips with it. Thus his sins were effaced (Isaiah 6:1-7). Similarly, the Holy Qurbana is the fire that takes away our sins. Thus, it can be said that several pointers to the Holy Qurbana are seen in the Old Testament. Though none of them contained the complete reality of the Holy Qurbana, all of them served as indicators of it, in many ways. Hymn Post Communion Hymn, Agnimayanmar... Though the fiery ones fear to gaze-upon the Lord You have seen Him-in Bread and Wine-on the Altar If those clothed in lightning saw Him-they would be burned Yet shameful dust stands unveiled when they consume Him. 75  Let Us Pray Special Prayer on the Evening of the Holy Thursday Lord, who created Adam from dust, made water flow from rock, revealed the lamb on a tree, and was born from a Virgin, You took bread and wine in Your hands, blessed it, made it Your body and blood, and established it for the salvation of humankind. Lord, may they not be for our condemnation; we praise You for Your graces upon us. Amen. Resolution We learned about many instances in the Old Testament which point to the Holy Qurbana. We are now more convinced of the greatness of the Holy Qurbana. We shall participate in the Holy Qurbana with utmost devotion and consciousness of the presence of God. Let Us Think 1. Give an example to show that all the important events in the life of Jesus Christ had been foretold in Old Testament. 2. What element in the Garden of Eden point to the Holy Qurbana? 3. Why is the offering of Abel considered as a symbol of the Holy Qurbana? 4. What does the Bible say about Melchizedek? 5. What is the meaning of the word ‘Salem’? 6. Why is the sacrifice of Abraham regarded as a foreshadow of the sacrifice of Jesus Church? 7. What was the food God had given to Israelites in the desert? What was special about it? 8. What was background in which David was given the sacred bread? 9. Why is the bread supplied to Elijah by ravens regarded as symbol of the Holy Qurbana? 10. What are the pointers to and symbols of the Holy Qurbana in the Old Testament? Comment briefly on each of them. 11. Match the following: Idea Related person 1. Sacrifice on Mount Carmel King David 2. Hallowed Bread Abel 3. Hot Tong Isaac 4. The Eternal Priest Elijah 5. The Tree which Provided Lamb Melchizedek 6. The Lamb Offered to God as Sacrifice Isaiah 76 Activities 1. Make a study on the symbols of the Holy Qurbana with the aid of Holy Bible and other texts; and by interacting with learned people. Discuss the information collected, and note them down. 2. Participate in the Holy Qurbana regularly with devotion and by being aware of the presence of God. Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Hebrews 1 Monday Matthew 1 Hebrews 2 Tuesday Luke 24 Isaiah 6 Wednesday Genesis 2 2 Kings 17 Thursday Genesis 4 1 Samuel 21 Friday Genesis 14 1 Kings 18 Saturday Genesis 22 * 77  Lesson 21 The ‘Diptychs’ in the Holy Qurbana Learning Objectives: To understand the significance and meaning of the ‘Diptychs’ in the Holy Qurbana. To learn more about the persons, we remember and pray for, in the Diptychs. Verse to be Memorized: ‘Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith’ (Hebrews 13:7). Teaching Aids: The Holy Bible, the book of Holy Qurbana and the Book of Common Prayer. Introduction We learned about the symbols and foreshadows of the Holy Qurbana in the previous lesson. We also studied that the Holy Qurbana is based on the Holy Bible. Another characteristic of the Holy Qurbana is that, it contains intercessory prayers. We pray not only for ourselves, but also for all. We should, as Christians, pray for others also. Today, let us learn about the intercessory prayers (the Diptychs) in the Holy Qurbana. The Lesson Intercession has an important place in the Holy Qurbana. They are intended for the well-being of the living and for peace of the departed. Mainly, there are five occasions in the Holy Qurbana for this. Of these, the first two are silent prayers and the other three are public prayers said during Diptychs, during the reading of litanies and also during singing the Kukilion. The prayers called ‘Diptychs’ consist of altogether eighteen mediation prayers. During each Diptych, the priest says appropriate mediation prayers first in silence and after the Diptychs, in public. The portion read by the altar assistant is called Diptychs. In Syriac it is called ‘Tubden’ because each of these six prayers starts with ‘Tubden’ meaning ‘but again’. In the early Church, the six prayers were written on two plates which could have folded together called Diptychs and thus derived the term ‘Diptychs.’ Out of the six Diptychs, the first three prayers are for the living and the rest for the departed. Let us analyse each Diptych. 1. First Diptych: In this prayer, the rulers and leaders of the church are remembered. The heads of the Church like Mar Ignatius (Patriarch of Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch), Mar Baselios (Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan of Malankara Orthodox Church), Patriarch of Jerusalem Mar Gregorios are remembered. Then the bishop of the respective dioceses and all the spiritual fathers are remembered. If the 78 Holy Qurbana is celebrated by a bishop, he is also remembered by citing his name. It is advisable to remember all the Fathers who are related to the Church on this occasion. 2. Second Diptych: The faithful who are participating in the Holy Qurbana, those who have requested for remembrance in the Holy Qurbana, and those who are sick or suffering are remembered in the second Diptych. Those who are celebrating birthday and wedding anniversary also are remembered in this Diptych. Therefore birthday/ wedding anniversary prayers after the Holy Qurbana is unnecessary. All those who are in need and in poverty, those who are sufferings, the destitute, slaves, widows, and orphans and those who are helping the poor and the sick are being remembered by the priest in the open prayer. Thus, it becomes clear that the Holy Qurbana is offered for all. 3. Third Diptych: In the Diptych, prayers are offered for the protection of the Church in peace, and also for the rulers. In the early Church, as the Holy Qurbana was formulated in monasteries, the leaders of the monasteries are remembered. The faithful under the patronage of Christian rulers used to remember ‘the faithful and truly Christian rulers, who have established and confirmed in the true faith’. Prayer is offered for the rulers of the land also. As the unity and harmony of the Church is of paramount importance, the prayer is intended for ‘the whole Christian community, the clergy and the faithful people, that they may continue in virtue’. 4. Fourth Diptych: The departed souls are remembered from the fourth Diptych onwards. All the saints, both men and women, along with Virgin Mary are remembered in this. We remember the Prophets and the Apostles, the Preachers and the Evangelists, the Martyrs and the Confessors. Among them, we also remember St. John the Baptist, St. Stephen, St. Peter, St. Paul and our Father St. Thomas. The patron saint of the particular parish church also is remembered here. 5. Fifth Diptych: Our forefathers who laid the foundation for the faith of the Orthodox Church and protected the faith are remembered in the fifth Diptych. We also acknowledge our holy fathers who proclaimed the true faith in the first three Synods, who stood for the true faith in the Synod of Chalcedon, who led the Church thereafter by suffering persecutions, the ascetics and the Holy Fathers of the Church including the Malankara Orthodox Church (We shall learn about the holy fathers mentioned in the fifth Diptych in detail next year). 6. Sixth Diptych: In the sixth Diptych we remember all the faithful departed who kept the true faith and lived according to the commandments of God. Here we pray for the remission of their debts, forgiveness of their sins and their eternal life in heaven. We need to take care of three things, while participating in the Holy Qurbana. (1) We should be fully attentive during these prayers and should not consider the occasion 79 of Diptychs as the time for rest. (2) We should entrust with the altar, the names of those who need our prayers including our faithful departed, so that they would be remembered in all the Diptych prayers during the Holy Qurbana. (3) We also should pray, along with the priest and the altar assistants, for those who are in need of our prayers. Hymn Pre Qurbana Kolo, Vishwasathale vangipoyore... Make memory of the-faithful departed Let us not forget those who have left us Let us write their names-at the Lord’s altar That at all times the Lord will give them rest Halleluiah-w-Halleluiah May they worship You, their Resurrection Let Us Pray Special Prayer on the Feast of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Naziansus Lord, who established the companies of angels in heaven, bless and prepare the crown of the year, months, days, and hours according to our needs. May You establish peace on earth and unity in the Church, and grant us joyful months and blessed years. Amen. Resolution We shall pray for those who are being remembered in the Diptychs, during the Holy Qurbana. Let Us Think 1. What is the meaning of the word ‘Tubden’ (Diptychs)? 2. How many Intercessory prayers are there in the Diptychs? 3. Who are the Church Fathers remembered in the Diptychs? 7. Explain how the intercessory prayers have an important place in the Holy Qurbana. 8. Mention the occasions of intercessory prayers in the Holy Qurbana? Activities 1. Prepare a chart showing the names of Holy Fathers who are remembered in the Diptychs. See the model given below. 80  Serial No. Diptychs The remembered 1 First Diptychs The Church Leaders 2 3 4 5 6 2. Pray specially for the Church, for the sick and for the departed and the living Church Fathers. 3. Visit the sick and the suffering with elders and pray for them. Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Hebrews 3 Monday Hebrews 4 Hebrews 5 Tuesday Hebrews 6 Hebrews 7 Wednesday Hebrews 8 Hebrews 9 Thursday Hebrews 10 Hebrews 11 Friday Hebrews 12 Hebrews 13 Saturday James 1, 2 * 81  UNIT 6 ELEMENTS OF FAITH Lesson 22 The Holy Baptism Learning Objectives: To understand the procedures of the Service of Holy Baptism and their true meaning. To appreciate the importance of Holy Baptism. Verse to be Memorized: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). Teaching Aids: The Holy Bible, the Service Book of Holy Baptism, the Book of Common Prayer and the Service Book of the Holy Qurbana. Introduction Holy Baptism is the first sacrament we receive in the Church. We receive Holy Mooron (Holy Chrism) and the Holy Qurbana along with Baptism. Here, we are going to learn the details about the service of Holy Baptism. The Lesson Baptism is administered for leading a life rooted in Christ. Prayers of Baptism are said, and the baptizand is washed in the consecrated water, in the name of the Holy Trinity. The Baptizand is also anointed with the Holy Chrism. The sacrament is based on the command of our Lord (Matthew 28:19). Jesus said, “No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5). According to St. Paul, one who is baptized shares in the death of our Lord and is buried with him, and will be raised up from the dead with him (Romans 6:4). Following are the graces we receive in baptism: 1. Rebirth: The child who is born from the parents biologically, is born again by water and spirit through the womb of baptismal font, as the child of God. 2. Adoption: The one who is baptized is becomes the son/daughter of God by adoption. He/she has the freedom to say ‘Abba! Father!’ (Romans 8:15). 3. Spiritual Gift: The Mooron (Holy Chrism) administered after baptism transforms the baptizand to become the temple of the Holy Spirit. He/she ‘puts on’ the Holy Spirit. 82 4. Redemption from Sin: Anyone born into this world inherits the ‘Adamite Sin.’ Through baptism, he/she is redeemed from Satan and sin. “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 5. Eternal Life: The person who receives baptism acquires the graces of the Holy Spirit by being anointed with Holy Mooron, and partakes in the Body and blood of the Lord through the Holy Qurbana. He is enabled to enter eternal life promised by the Lord (John 6:56-58), being part of the Body of Christ, i.e. the Holy Church. The Service of Baptism Infants born to Christian parents, and adults who join the Church from other religions, are baptized in the Church. The procedure of the Service of Baptism is as follows: 1. Preparation for Baptism: The parents and the Godfather of the infant to be baptisized, needs to undertake fasting and prayer, and receive the Holy Qurbana after confession. If the person to be baptized is an adult, he should be prepared for Baptism by undertaking fasting and prayers and receive the Holy Qurbana after Baptism and Holy Confession. 2. Dedication: The infant who is a gift of the God is dedicated in the church, and this is a ritual which existed in the Jewish community. The idea of dedication is incorporated in the initial prayers of baptism service itself. 3. Christening: According to tradition, the baptizand is given a Christian name. 4. Exorcism: Prayers to redeem the baptized from the bondage of Satan and sin are incorporated in the Baptism service. 5. Proclamation of Faith: The faith in Jesus Christ is publicly declared by the person who is receiving baptism (in the case of adults) or the mediator (in the case of infants). After that, the congregation of the faithful repeats Nicean Creed (A Godfather/mother is necessary even in the case of adults). 6. Act of ‘sealing’: The baptizand in sealed three times on the forehead in the Name of the Holy Trinity; first without oil, second with the blessed oil, and third with the Holy Chrism. 7. Washing with the Consecrated Water: Water is poured into the baptismal font, and after prayers and the blessing of water, Holy Mooron is poured into it. Then the baptizand is washed or sprinkled with the consecrated water, which symbolizes the water of river Jordan, in which Jesus was baptized. 83 8. Anointing with Mooron: After getting washed in or sprinkled with the consecrated water the baptizand is sealed and anointed with the Holy Mooron. The whole body is anointed in the case of a child. 9. The Administration of the Holy Qurbana: In the Orthodox tradition, the baptisized person, (be it an adult or an infant, receives the Holy Qurbana immediately. The words of our Lord, “Abide in me as I abide in you” (John 15:4) could be recalled here. 10. Benediction and Dismissal: The service is concluded by giving advice about the grooming of the baptized person. The priest prescribes the duties of the Godfather/ mother as well. The baptized person becomes part of the Church, and the brother/ sister of Jesus Christ. Hymn Post Gospel Hymn, Feast of Denaha Behold,-John mixes the water for baptism And Christ,-is baptised in it, sanctifying it As He ascends-out of the water Heaven and earth-give honour to Him The sun and moon worship Him; the clouds give glory To Him-who sanctified the waters that the world Halleluiah-may be purified Let Us Pray Special Prayer on Feast of Denaho O Lord, through Your baptism, You gave us the sacrament of baptism that washes away all the filth of sin from us; by Your grace, purify us from our sins. May we not think, speak, or act in any way that is inappropriate to the baptism we have received. Barekmor. Resolution We understand that through Baptism we are born again in Christ and incorporated into the Body of Christ. We are clothed with the Holy Spirit and are accepted as the children of God by adoption. We recall the vows taken at Baptism. Let Us Think 1. What did our Lord tell Nicodemus regarding baptism? 2. What are the graces we receive in baptism? 3. How does one gain ‘eternal life’ through baptism? 4. What is real meaning of ‘being born again?’ 84 Activities 1. Learn the hymn that is sung at the time of dedication of the infant. 2. Find out the Bible passages that are mentioned during the Service of Baptism. 3. Prepare a report after participating in a Baptism Service. 4. Collect information like the name of the priest who conducted your baptism, name of your Godfather/mother, name of the church where it was conducted and the date of baptism. 5. Find out the prayers that are to be said at dawn and dusk on the feast of Epiphany from the book of common worship and try to learn them by heart. Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Jeremiah 1 Monday Matthew 28 Romans 6 Tuesday 1 Corinthians 3 Romans 8 Wednesday 2 Corinthians 5 John 6 Thursday John 15 Luke 3:7-22 Friday Matthew 3:13-17 Mark 1:9-11 Saturday John 1:29-34 * 85  Lesson 23 Baptism of Infants Learning Objectives: To understand and appreciate that the Baptism of infants is conducted as enjoined in the scriptures. To understand that Baptism is based on the Bible. To find out the early Church tradition of the Sacrament of Baptism. Verse to be Memorized: “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10: 14). Teaching Aids: A picture showing mothers with infants before Jesus, the picture of the baptism of an infant, and the Holy Bible. Introduction Have you ever attended the Service of baptism of infants? What was the age of the infant who was baptized? Do you have any Christian friends (belonging to Protestant Churches and other church groups) who is not baptisized? If so, what may be the reason for it? They consider it good to get baptisized after attaining adulthood. The objective of the present lesson is to understand that baptism of the infants is conducted in accordance with the scriptures. The Lesson 1. Baptism of Infants-Tradition of the Early Church: Baptism of infants has been a practice which existed in the Church from very early days. In the descriptions relating to the acceptance of Christ by adults, it is clearly stated that their ‘families’ also were baptized (Acts 16:15, 16:33, 1 Corinthians 1:16). It can be concluded that infants also were baptized, along with the other members of the family (had the infants been exempted, it would have been mentioned). Who could forbid children from accepting Jesus Christ who had said, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these the kingdom of God belongs”. Instances of the baptism of infants are also seen in the documents of the early Church, like ‘The Teaching of the Apostles’ (Third Century) and ‘Apostolic Traditions’ (Fourth Century). 2. Infants are Blessed to Receive Faith and Grace of the Holy Spirit: The presumption that infants are too young to receive faith is based on the misconception that ‘faith’ is a kind of logical awareness. But the Holy Bible defines faith as, ‘Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1). It is observed that infants are strong in things hoped for and more resolute in things unseen. For example, children regard their parents as most valuable in the world. Similarly, for a child of God, the Lord is the most precious thing. The blessing of God enables the child to have faith, as guaranteed by the Holy Bible, ‘For by grace you 86 have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God’ (Ephesians 2:8). 3. Proof for the Baptism of Infants in the Holy Bible: 1. Infants called as ‘saints’: Those who had received baptism are qualified as ‘saints’ in the New Testament. Since infants are also called similarly it can be considered that infants were also given baptism. ‘...but as it is, they are holy’ (1 Corinthians 7:14). 2. Promise of the Holy Spirit to Siblings: The baptized receives anointment of the Holy Spirit. St. Peter declared that, God calls children to attain Holy Spirit: ‘For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him’ (Acts 2:39). The power of God which can fill the infant with Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, acts in baptism too. It is the attainment of Holy Spirit, through baptism, and the awareness about the love of God, that enabled St. John to say that, ‘…I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.... I write to you, children, because you know the Father’ (1 John 2:12-14). Hymn Concluding Hymn, Feast of Denaho from Qurbana kramam) The person who willingly sins again After baptism is indeed foolish Such a person resembles a serpent Which sheds its skin yet the skin grows again Even though he has become like a child He has taken on again his former body Put off the old man full of corruption And put on the new in our Lord’s likeness Let Us Pray Lord, enable us to understand that baptism of infants is in accordance with the scriptures and help us not to deviate from true faith. Amen. Resolution We learned that the baptism of infants is done in accordance with the Holy Bible. We shall keep the true faith of the Church. Let Us Think 1. What are the two early Christian documents in which the baptism of infants is mentioned? 2. ‘…Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not…’ Locate the these words of Jesus in the New Testament. 3. Why is the baptism of infants regarded as baptism in faith? 87 Activities 1. Find out an instance in the Bible when baby is seen filled with the Holy Spirit while being in the mother’s womb. 2. Identify three occasions in the New Testament where baptized people are qualified as “saints.” 3. ‘…the babe leaped in my womb for joy’ (Luke 1:44). Who was the baby? What was the reason for joy? 4. Find out the basis for “baptism of infants” from the Holy Bible. 5. Read the Service Book of the Holy Baptism, and learn about the role of the mediator/God-father. Further Reading Day Morning Evening Sunday * Mark 10:1316 Monday Acts 16 1 Corinthians 1 Tuesday Hebrews 11 Matthew 19:3-15 Wednesday Luke 18:5-17 Matthew 18:2-31 Thursday 1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 7 Friday Acts 2 Luke 1:1-5 Saturday 1 John 2 * 88  Lesson 24 Communion with the Faithful Departed Learning Objectives: To understand that the departed also are alive in the abode of God. It is possible to have communion with them through prayer. Also, to seek the intercession of the departed saints. Verse to be Memorized: Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11: 25-26). Teaching Aids: Pictures of saints, picture of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ and of the ‘Rich Man and Lazarus’. Introduction We do pray at the burial places of our departed ones. It is also our practice to visit the tombs of the saints and seek in their intercessory prayers. Do you understood the significance of this? Let us study why we should pray for the departed and that they in turn pray for us, on the basis of the Holy Bible and the writings of the Church Fathers. The Lesson The word ‘departed’ actually means those who move from one place or one state of existence to another. So, it is better to say ‘departed’ instead of ‘dead’. Status of the Departed 1. The departed are alive and; active and continue in their faith in Christ. Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11: 25-26). 2. They are nearer Christ. St. Paul wrote, ‘I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better’ (Philippians 1:23). 3. The departed can try to please Christ. St. Paul also wrote, ‘So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him’ (2 Corinthians 5:9). 4. They worship continuously.‘For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them’ (Revelation 7:15). 5. They continue to enjoy the love of God. St. Paul wrote, ‘For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:38-39). 89