The Bride of Christ
"After, a great sign appeared in the sky. I saw a
woman who had the sun for a garment and the moon was under her feet and on her
head was a wreath (crown) with twelve stars. ... and the woman fled into the
desert, where she has a place made ready for her by God, so that they may feed
her there for one thousand two hundred and sixty days" (Rev. 12:1-17).
It is commonly accepted by the interpreters of the Apocalypse that this woman symbolises the Church of Christ. She is the Bride of the Bridegroom who is invited to the royal wedding (Rev. 22:17, Matth.22:1-4, Luke 14:15-24). She is one and unique! She wears a crown (wreath) of twelve stars which symbolise the twelve apostles of Christ.
The Bridegroom Christ comes in nuptial communion with
her at the Mystery (sacrament) of Holy Communion. It is a Passover wedding.
That is, it is a wedding of going and returning to Paradise. (Pascha means
Passover or passing).
Paradise is one and the Bride is one, the Church. The
Church of Christ is the arc of salvation, the one who saves her faithful from
the floods of sin.
Noah's Arc is a type of the Church of Christ. It is
the Church of the saved from the waters of cataclysm which symbolise sin which
leads to death.
This enviable title of the Church- Bride is claimed by
many "churches" and each one of them is self-projected to be the true
Bride of Christ. But only one of all these "brides" can be the Bride
of Christ.
Which though is the true Bride? Her correct place is
defined again by Noah's Arc; "and the arc settled on the twentieth and
seventh of the seventh month, over the Ararat mountains" (Gen. 8:4). The
Holy Scripture does not say "over the mountain" but "over the
Ararat mountains".1 And so there,
where Noah's Arc settled, there the Church of God settled. "Over the
Ararat Mountains".
Which are the mountains on which the only Church of
God sits? The mountains are two.
The first is Mount Sinai. It is the Mountain of the
Old Testament. The mountain from where Moses received from God the Law, and the
Church was introduced. Down, underneath (at the foot of) this mountain, the
Israeli people sacrificed the Paschal lamb, which was a type of the redemptive
sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is the mountain on which Moses saw the burning
but not consumed Bush, which symbolises the mystery of the Theotokos2 and ever- virgin
Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. (Ex. 3:2). Mount Sinai is a mountain of types and
symbols.
The second mountain is the Holy Mountain of Athos. It
is the mountain of the New Testament (the counterpart of the Old Testament). It
is the "Garden" of the Most-Holy3. On this mountain,
are fulfilled (accomplished, done, executed) those things which were patented
on mount Sinai. As on mount Sinai and on the Holy Mountain, the paschal Lamb is
sacrificed. On mount Sinai the Most Holy (Mary) is as (a prototype) the Burning
but never consumed Bush. On the Holy Mountain equivalently, she herself is the
predominant person as the Abbess of the entire Holy-Mountain Monastic
brotherhood.
The summit of the Holy Mountain is dedicated to the
Transfiguration of the Saviour. The Holy Mountain as another Taborian Mountain
is a mountain of Transfiguration and of transfigurations. It transfigures the
people into "the likeness" of God. On these two mountains the
presence of Christ and of the Most-Holy (Mary) is especially visible. Because
they are the "Ararat" Mountains on which the Church of Christ sits.
Both of these mountains are Theomitoric4 mountains!
It is not at all by chance that these two mountains
belong today to the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church of Christ "as a
city situated on a mountain" sits high so that she will be seen and
separated from all the other "brides". Sits high "on the
mountains of Ararat" so that she will be recognised by all those who seek
the refuge of her salvation. She is not a "bride" among
"brides" but is the unique Bride of the Revelation which with the
Spirit are saying to the Lord "come" (Rev. 22:17).
Let the other "brides" be silent. Let them
not claim a title which does not belong to them. Because the Bride sits
"on the Ararat Mountains". On the mountain of the Old Testament which
is a very dry mountain, and on the mountain of the New Testament which is a
mountain most shaded (With thick forests). As the prophet Abbakum 5 says: "God
will come from Theman6 and the Holy one
will come from a mountain with a very thick vegetation (Hab. 3:3). This verse
which mentions the Most-Holy (Mary) can also be attributed symbolically to the
Holy Mountain.
Gregorian Monk
Christodoulos
Cantor at the Holy Church
of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem- Palestine
For all those who read
this text can you please forward it to your friends for their benefit and in
their turn in the same way spreading the word of God to as many of our
Christian brothers. Thank You!!
Email: xm24757@gmail.com
Facebook: Christodoulos
Monk
Skype:
Christodoylos.monaxos
Those wishing to send
names for commemoration in the Divine Liturgy can send them by post to the
following address:
Fr Christodoulos
Greek Orthodox Convent
P.O Box 52
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