Categories: other-churches
Date: 30 April 2006 11:13:43
Before the Wibmeet today, I drove back to Sin City to attend Holy Qurbana [Mass] with the congregation of St Zaia Cathedral: the Mass today was held at Randwick [a suburb in the eastern suburbs of Sydney] Town Hall, not at their Cathedral. St Zaia Cathedral is part of the Ancient Church of the East.
In attendance was Mar Bawai Soro, a Bishop in the Assyrian Church of the East in the United States whom I had met when visiting a friend (R) in San José [sorry if the reference gets you singing again Dolphy! ;-) ]. As you will see if you click the link, there are a number of issues concerning Mar Bawai and events in the Church of the East: I won't go into them here, but I will say that I went there today with the aim of expressing my support for him so you may know where I stand. I do ask, if you feel able, to pray for the situation and that justice may be done. It is a terrible thing at any time to see division and strife among God's people.
An absolutely wonderful service. The service was in Aramaic or Assyrian [I cannot tell the difference! ;-)], though having attended a few English Masses in the Church of the East rite I generally knew where we were up to, and, through prior conversations with Assyrian friends, knew such words such as 'Holy' and 'peace' which gave me indications also as to where we were [such as at the singing of the Sanctus]. The Church of the East's liturgy is truly a very different service to any I have attended and I can only suggest you try and find a local parish or cathedral and experience it yourself. My Mystery Worship report and another's report on a Holy Qurbana service may give you an idea.
Just before the service, to welcome the Bishop, various prayers were chanted [for long life and right rule I assume] and as he entered small children threw roses down before him. Just before the Liturgy began, R's uncle and auntie recognised me and called me over, and during the service a friend of R's came up and asked if I was Ian [I think I was the only Anglo in attendance, so I may've stood out!], so I met him also. After the service I met and talked to a fellow I had corresponded with via e-mail to determine the time and location of the service. And I also got to meet, again, Mar Bawai Soro. He remembered me which was nice and I passed on my best wishes and assurance of my prayers. I also had a photo taken with him, which was a privilege and which will no doubt make its way back to my friend in San José.
After a quick bite of some of the lovely food on offer, I made my way back down south for the Wibmeet: feeling very spiritually refreshed.