worship
To Consecrate or Not to Consecrate
by lefever on February 21, 2011
On Consecration~
St. James Cathedral of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem is one of the oldest Christian churches in Jerusalem. I had been there three times, twice with permission from Bishop Sevon to photograph.
St. James is not open to tourists during the day. The Church is open only for masses; morning, afternoon, special occasion: it is consecrated.
Bishop Sevon held my hand and griped my arm in front of the St. James alter, giving me a lesson on consecration through the story of James. The Virgin Mary was the vehicle to explain why James was not the blood brother of Jesus the Messiah, but only a “brother” in terms of association, like in a fraternity, or an order, or a nationality, as the Jews welcome one another in such a way once it is determined upon meeting that you are Jewish – like Christians too – brotherhood in the embodiment, but not … [continue reading]
