the icon has been named: Saint Sozon of Cilicia

08May09

I had a birthday gift awaiting my inbox on the honeymoon a few weeks ago. A friend in Dothan, AL has a family member of the Catholic tribe, who reads Greek (much better than I), and is versed in deciphering icons. Here was his bit of translating work:

Fortunately, I was able to translate the the name in the upper right hand corner.
C=S W=O Z O N.

I was informed that the icon (see a previous post below) is none other than that of Saint Sozon of Cilicia, (died c. 304). Here is Sozon’s rather compelling (but crazy?) story of martyrdom…

Sozon of Cilicia M (RM)
Born in Cilicia; died c. 304. A young shepherd boy name Tarasius was baptized, despite the persecution that Christians were undergoing, and took the name Sozon. While he was sleeping in the field one day, he dreamed that Jesus told him to lay aside the weapons that he used to protect his sheep and–taking only his shepherd’s crook–prepare himself to die for his faith. Sozon knew exactly what to do. He walked to the town of Pompeiopolis, where there was a pagan temple with a golden idol. He broke off one of the idol’s golden hands with his crook and gave pieces of it to the poor of the town. He might have escaped punishment, except that some other Christians were arrested and unjustly accused of damaging the idol. Sozon could not allow them to suffer in his stead, so he confessed his crime.

With nails driven through the soles of his shoes, Sozon was forced to walk to the amphitheater. The magistrate wanted to release the courageous prisoner and asked him to play a tune on his pipe to the crowd. Sozon refused. He had, he said, once played to sheep. Now he would play only to God. He was then burned to death at the stake (Benedictines, Bentley).

Saint Sozon’s emblem in art is a pair of shoes with spikes through them (Roeder).

Saint Sozon’s feast day (9/7) is just 2 days after my spiritual birthday (9/5). I can feel the connection to my ancient brother from another mother.  St. Sozon’s story seems to level all the faux-radicalism that’s hyped up these days.

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our wedding playlist

08May09

Helen and I had a lot of fun putting together our wedding ceremony playlist.  We were going to go with live music, knowing a couple of stellar musicians, but alas, we were unable to get them music as early as we wanted to, so we pulled the plug on going live, and went with mp3’s.  Still, I think it turned out great, with much thanks to DJ Duer and DJ Will-the-Thrill.

Several of our friends knew almost all of the music we played at our ceremony.  And several other friends said they loved the music but wanted to know what it was.  So I’m posting our ceremony playlist here.  Note that I edited several songs in GarageBand (typically just simple looping or cutting and fading).

Prelude

• Veni Sancti Spiritu by Taize Community Choir (Songs of Taize) 3:46
• Holy Holy Holy by Sufjan Stevens (Songs for Christmas [5]) 3:33
• Ain Leuh (VPRO) by Gregor Samsa (Over Air) 5:09
• Untitled 3 by Sigur Ros ( ( ) ) 6:33
• Agaetis Byrjun by Sigur Ros (Agaetis Byrjun) 7:56
• Godan Daginn by Sigur Ros (Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust) 5:15
• The Dress Looks Nice on You by Sufjan Stevens (Seven Swans) 2:32 (edited in GarageBand)

Processional

• song: Olsen Olsen by Sigur Ros (Agaetis Byrjun) 2:49 (beginning of song, edited in GarageBand)

o Groom’s grandparent
o Bride’s grandparents

• song: Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois by Sufjan Stevens (Come On Feel the Illinois) 1:32 (edited in GarageBand)

o Groom’s parents
o Bride’s parents

• song: Reckoner by Radiohead (In Rainbows) 2:31 (edited in GarageBand)

o Groomsmen: Kirby Priest (Best Man), Kyle Priest, Brian Harrison, Paul Bannister, Sam Howell
o Groom, ministers

• song: Lake Yarina by Josh Garrels (Jacaranda) 2:37

o bridesmaids: Claire Howell (Matron of honor), Darby Priest, Jessica James, Emily Kochetkova, Nathalie Cordoba

• song: Floral Duet by Lamke 1:44 (edited in GarageBand)

o Bride and Father

Holy Communion Song

• Christ, We Do All Adore Thee (sung a capella by community)

Recessional

• song: Olsen Olsen by Sigur Ros (Agaetis Byrjun) 2:46 (end of song, edited in GarageBand)

Dismissal

• Window in the Skies by U2 (Window in the Skies) 4:01

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Tags: Gregor Samsa, Josh Garrels, Lamke, radiohead, Sigur Ros, Sufjan Stevens, Taize, u2, wedding, wedding ceremony, wedding music

a parable contest

05May09

I’ve posted a few of my parables here, and have recently thoroughly enjoyed reading 33 parables from my friend Pete Rollins which he entitled “The Orthodox Heretic and Other Impossible Tales.”  Pete and the folks at Paraclete Press, in hopes of reviving the art and craft of parable, are hosting a parable writing contest.  I love to see this, and got to pick Pete’s brains about the topic when he was in town back in February.

I was asked to spread the word, so here are the details.  I’m contributing a parable or two myself, and plan on opening the invite up to my students.  I hope you’ll submit something, too.  This is the invitation from Pete:

To mark the US release of my latest book, Paraclete is running a writing competition. The idea is to get you, yes you, to write a parable dealing with pretty much anything. It should ideally be between 100 and 1000 words in length. Oh, and you can enter as many times as you like.

First prize is a beautiful limited edition print entitled ‘New Life‘ by the artist Jared Robinson (Jared is currently collaborating with me to create work inspired by my writings). You will also receive $100 worth of Paraclete books of your choice and the adoration of your friends and family.

Second and third prize will receive $50 worth of Paraclete books, and our eternal gratitude for your enthusiastic participation!

My desire in running this competition is to help people rediscover the importance and power of parable. So, if you attend a writing circle, church community, youth group etc. you might want to take some time to explore the theme of parables (suggested reading below) and then encourage everyone to write one.

So what are you waiting for? Send your entries to Carol Showalter (cshowalter@paracletepress.com), no later than August 1, 2009.

The entries will be judged by myself and the winners announced on September 1, 2009 both here and at Paraclete Press.

Tips:
A parable can be loosely described as a short, fictional narrative that draws the reader into an insight concerning some aspect of faith and life. Parables often work best when they challenge commonly held attitudes and unmask the poverty of some widely held value. Parables are generally structured in a very simple and stark way, with a narrative that avoids any unnecessary detail that may detract from the central, evocative message.

Some books, apart from my own, that might help get you in the mood include,
The Song of the Bird, by Anthony DeMello
The Parables of Kierkegaard, edited by Thomas C. Oden

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the formation of a funell cloud

03May09

Helen and I were at lunch today celebrating with our graduating seniors and their families at Village Tavern at the Summit.  We caught wind of a funnel cloud that had supposedly come near the Galleria area and was moving eastward.  Knowing that we were in its path, I did what any normal person would do—I went to the door, whipped out my phone, and snapped a few pictures.  The few I got really didn’t do justice to the swirling activity, and the greenish hue that filled the sky.

If you can see the very bottom of what appears to be the formation of a funnel, the misty part was really active, and shortly after this pic, it quickly went up into the mass of the cloud.   Reports on the AM radio said that later on a funnel cloud was seen near the Greystone area, just down the road from where we were.  I think this picture (almost) captures what they were reporting. Less than thirty seconds after this pic, massive torrential rains hit, and we couldn’t see anything after that.  The storm cell moved on to the east.

I love to witness phenomena that I cannot control, that I must surrender to, or attempt to escape altogether.  It reminds me of encountering the divine.

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Tags: birmingham alabama, funnel cloud, storm, tornado, weather

name that icon…

30Mar09

Are there any ‘iconographists’ out there that could name the icon above?   I’m not at all versed in Eastern Orthodox icons, but I really dig this.  I found it at a rockin thrift store in Alabaster, AL (America’s Thrift = Glory!) still in a plastic covering, for like two bucks.   Judging from the face, I suspect it’s Jesus, but the short hair doesn’t seem right, and isn’t the royal garb uncharacteristic of common Jesus icons?  You’ve got the staff in one hand and the cross in the other, so there’s the pastoral/shepherd image, tipping me off that if it’s not the Christ, it was an early Eastern bishop or something.

There’s always the possibility that it could be a more recent piece of art, and not a traditional ancient EO icon.

I’m a little rusty on my Greek, so I can’t quite make out what the letters might stand for.  It says (very roughly) ” ‘o ap z”  (not sure about the squiggly zeta) on the right, and roughtly “co zo n” on the left.  So can anyone solve the riddle?

Either way, I appreciate the image of ‘pastor’ with a cross in one hand, and a staff in the other–the sign of peace and reconciliation, and the sign of guidance and care.  It’s beautiful art, and he’s found a nice place on my office wall.

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Tags: Christian iconography, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox icons, icon, iconography, thrift store