Fast of the Ninevites

We've arrived again at the Fast of Nineveh, the three-day fast commemorating the repentance of Nineveh and God's mercy on the Assyrian people. Many Orthodox - in Greece, Russia, and elsewhere - mark the approach of Lent with a fast-free week, but the Syrians, Armenians, Copts, Ethiopians, and Indians rigorously observe the Fast of Nineveh to prepare for the coming Great Fast.

Historically the Fast of the Ninevites originated in Mesopotamia, where it was kept strictly by the Assyrians and from whom it was passed to other parts of the Orthodox world. In the past the fast was six days long, but was later reduced to three. More on the fast can be found here.

"The Ninevites trembled at the voice of Jonah, the son of Mattai, and took refuge in penitence by watching, fasting and prayer; and by tears and groans the sentence of judgment pronounced by Jonah concerning the destruction of Nineveh was annulled. Blessed is the Compassionate One who turned them from evil to good!" (A prayer of the West Syrian Rite.)

Whether you're celebrating a week free from fasting or following the example of the Ninevites, God help you in your preparation for the approaching Pascha of His Son!

"The Holy Spirit as Feminine in Early Syriac Literature"

I finally found an online version of Sebastian Brock's article on the femininity of the Holy Spirit in Syriac, "The Holy Spirit as Feminine in Early Syriac Literature." Enjoy!

Fast of Nineveh

Today is the first day of the Fast of Nineveh. While the Roman Orthodox world (Arabs, Greeks, Russians, et cetera) celebrates this as a fast-free week the Copts, Ethiopians, Syrians, Eritreans, and Indians fast for three days in memory of God's mercy to the city of Nineveh and the preaching of St. Jonah there. The Fast originated amongst the Assyrians living around the site of ancient Nineveh and spread westwards from the Church of the East to the Syriac Orthodox Church and its sister churches in Africa. More here. God help you all whatever you are doing this week as we draw closer to the Great and Holy Fast!

"The Orthodox Christology of St. Severus of Antioch"

On this eve of God the Word's Nativity in the Flesh I thought I would post a link to an excellent article by Fr. Peter Farrington of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Great Britain on the Christology of St. Severus of Antioch, one of the Fathers of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

I had hoped the Russian Orthodox church near me would have midnight festal services so that I could take communion on the feast, but since it is not I will have the joy of worshipping at Portland's Coptic Orthodox church tonight instead. God grant you all a joyous feast!

Mosul Martyrdom

On 2 December a Syrian Orthodox Christian, Fadi Walid Gabriel, was murdered by fundamentalists in Mosul. After his abduction from his home he was taken to a nearby shop and killed execution-style. More here. May Fadi's memory be eternal!

New Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

I'm a bit behind the times, but on Monday the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in India enthroned its new first hierarch, Catholicos Basil Mar Thomas Paul I ("Baselios Mar Thoma Poulose I") of the East. The new catholicos leads the larger part of the Orthodox Church in India, which is in schism from its mother the Syriac Orthodox Church (which also maintains a large following in Kerala), but remains on good terms with its sister Oriental Orthodox Churches.