Sunday, November 27, 2011
We who mystically represent the Cherubim
When, during the Greek liturgy, the priests and deacons come out of the altar iconostasis bearing "the gifts" the bread and wine to be consecrated, and this is called "the great entrance" then the choirs chant a long slow solemn hymn which says "We who mystically represent the Cherubim, and offer to the live-giving Trinity the thrice holy hymn... let us relinquish all worldly concerns so that we may receive the king of all" (its hard for me to remember it exactly.. I used to know it in Greek) ... now let us compare this to a Protestant notion of church. Modern people are not interested in "mystically representing the Cherubim" ... modern people want an inspiring person who can be an engaging speaker (the sermon) and an effective social worker (pastoral counseling)... SO ... women can be great at that.. perhaps better than males... and why bother with candles and incense and what is the point of the eucharist because, after all, it makes crumbs, and is unsanitary if a lot of people drink out of the same cup. SO, why not just create your own church and write your own rules, and have your own method of governance and why worry whether it's valid or invalid or what the rest of the world thinks. There is one long avenue that runs the length of Brooklyn from North to South, Dekalb Avenue, and literally every block has anywhere from one to three store front churches and one of those has a billboard which says "founded by Bishop Sally" so, we already have female bishops... no problem
