Gifts from the Middle East and the Orthodox Tradition Enriching Christian Worship

October 29, 2005 Workshop 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting in the University of the Incarnate Word Library

Read about and see pictures of the Middle Eastern Workshop. *pdf file 1, file 2

* please download the free Adobe Reader to view PDF files.

The Burning Bush, Jesus, and Mary from Mount Sinai, Egypt (from Women of Bible Lands Illustrations by M. A. Kirk)

Sunday, October 30, 3 p.m. Sacred Concert shared by SAVAE from “Ancient Echoes,” reconstructed music of the time of Jesus and the Second Temple period. They both perform and educate about the spiritualities of the family of Abraham revealed in music.

Often Western Christians have not experienced the beauty of Eastern Christianity, the types of music, the theology behind icons, the poetry of ancient texts, role models of faith, and the ancient roots coming from the Middle East.

Saturday, October 29

9 a.m. - "Iconography as Visible Religion," an illustrated lecture by Basil Aivaliotis, MSL, in the University of the Incarnate Word Library Auditorium. (When registering for the workshop, please let us know if you need transportation to St. Sophia.)

10 a.m. At St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 2504 N. St. Mary’s Street (Phone 735-5051) “An Introduction to Greek Orthodox Worship and Prayer” by Father Dan Suciu. Opportunity to learn of the music, art, architecture, and texts of prayer. www.goarch.org

Noon – Participants are encouraged to have lunch together at UIW making friends and continuing to discuss what they have learned. Again and again the Bible mentions shared meals which help build the community.

1 p.m. The Riches of Different Traditions (UIW Library Auditorium)

“An Introduction to Maronite Worship” from Lebanon by Father Fadi Helwanji, St. George Maronite Church. www.stgeorgesa.org/

“An Introduction to Coptic Worship and Prayer” from Egypt by Father Antonios K. Girgis, St. Anthony the Great Coptic Church. www.suscopts.org/coptic.html

“Examples of Chants and Music from the Antiochian Orthodox Church” by Deacon George Hashawati of Syria, St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Mission, www.antiochian.org/

“Symbols and Stories in Prayer” from Ethiopia by UIW graduate Woldegerima Sorensen assisted by Dr. Jim Sorensen. www.bethel.edu/~letnie/AfricanChristianity/EthiopiaHomepage.html

Melkite Church in Nazareth (from Women of Bible Lands Illustrations by M. A. Kirk)

“Perspectives on Orthodox Church in America Worship and Prayer” by Benjamin Tolleson, a UIW graduate who is a member of the Orthodox Church in America which combines the Russian, Bulgarian, and Rumanian Orthodox Churches in this country. www.oca.org

2:45 p.m. Refreshments

3:15 to 4 p.m. “Stories and Prayers from Biblical Women and Women Saints of the East” from Women of Bible Lands: A Pilgrimage to Compassion and Wisdom by Sister Martha Ann Kirk. Music by Covita Moroney who recently created Scriptures CD of prayerful music, www.covitam.org

Presentors

Basil Aivaliotis, MSL, was born and educated in Athens, Greece, and studied Economics at the University of Piraeus. He moved to the U.S.A. and earned a BBA, an MLIS in Library Science, and MBA degrees. He frequently lectures in San Antonio on aspects of Greek culture, religion, history, and life and has an extensive collection of slides of Orthodox art and architecture. He has contributed articles to the Encyclopedia of Library History (1993): The National Library of Greece, and Libraries in Modern Greece. He has lectured on Byzantine Iconography, worship, and chant. The lectures have been supported by audiovisual materials acquired by the presenter over a period of 27 years. He is fluent in both the written and spoken tradition of the Greek language spanning from Hellenistic times to present. He visits Greece every year, and is familiar with the cultural, economic, and political events of the country.

Rolla Elaydi, holds a BA in Sociology from BirZeit University, Ramallah, Palestine, and an MA in Education from UIW. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in International Education at the UIW. She has presented on the culture of her people in a number of states. She is assisting with the displays and hospitality for the conference.

Fr. Antonios K. Girgis is the priest for St. Antony Coptic Orthodox Church located in San Antonio, TX. On March 5, 1989, H.H. Pope Shenouda III ordained him priest. On March 2, 2005, Fr. Antonios was ordained hegomen by H.G. Bishop Youssef and H.G. Bishop Serapion. Fr. Antonios has been serving within the Diocese of the Southern United States since March 5, 1989.

Father Fadi Helwanji, M.L.M., was born in Lebanon and joined the Congregation of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries in 1989 and was ordained a priest in 1998. He holds both Master's and Bachelor's Degree in Theology. He headed a Middle School in Lebanon before coming to the U.S. for more study. He has had extensive ecumenical experience working with persons of many other religions and multicultural experience having traveled in Europe, Africa, America, and Asia. Currently, he serves as an associate pastor at Saint George Maronite Catholic Church in San Antonio and will complete his doctorate in International Education at the University of the Incarnate Word this year.

Sister Martha Ann Kirk holds a Th.D. in Theology and the Arts from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. She is a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of the Incarnate Word. She has frequently shared arts for prayer and worship nationally and internationally, such as in the Padare at the World Council of Churches 50 th Anniversary in Zimbabwe, on the worship team for the National Presbyterian Women’s Meeting in Purdue, and in the International Christian Dance Fellowship Conference in Jerusalem. She has authored books, articles, and videos published by Liturgical Press, Sheed and Ward, and Resource Publications. Her most recent book is Women of Bible Lands: A Pilgrimage to Compassion and Wisdom which looks at ancient texts including many used for prayer and worship in Middle Eastern and Orthodox Christian churches. Also the text considers many of the saints who inspired others.

Deacon George Nashawati, originally of Damascus, Syria, serves at St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Mission in San Antonio spreading the gospel and helping the church to grow. He has extensive knowledge of Byzantine music. Nahawati is a violinist with the San Antonio Symphony and holds a Master of Music degree. He has studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Ethiopian icon of the Queen of Sheba (from Women of Bible Lands by M.A. Kirk)

Woldegerima Sorensen of Ethiopia is a graduate of the University of the Incarnate Word now living in San Antonio. He will be assisted by Dr. Jim Sorensen who first met Wolde when he and his wife were Lutheran medical missionary in Ethiopia.

Father Dan Suciu was born and raised in Romania. Early in his life decided he wanted to serve the Church, and attended the Romanian Orhodox Theological School in Bucharest. After completing his theological studies, he was ordained to the deaconate in the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1982, and to the Holy Priesthood in 1983. He completed his graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary in the U.S., and served the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Canada, and the Greek Orthodox Church in the U.S. He is married to presbytera Delia, and they have two children, Christopher and Sylvia. Christopher is an accomplished tennis player, and Sylvia is attending Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Benjamin Tolleson, a UIW graduate who is a member of the Orthodox Church in America which combines the Russian, Bulgarian, and Rumanian Orthodox Churches in this country. He was a McNair scholar while at UIW and researched the Christian virtue of humility and modern psychology. He is now doing graduate studies at the University of North Texas in Denton.

Covita and Christopher Moroney, founders of SAVAE

SAVAE, the San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble began as they shared their research and reconstruction of ancient Christian music of the Americas at San Fernando Cathedral. Currently they are working on an album of music based on the life of Jesus, which will be released by World Library Publications. They have focused on the languages of Jesus and the musical styles of biblical times in the CD “Ancient Echoes.” Angela Mariani, Producer of the nationally syndicated radio program "Harmonia" said: "In 'Ancient Echoes' we find one of those rare instances in which scholarly research, abundant creativity, and a high level of musicianship have been combined to create an important work of historical interest, sheer musical beauty, and great spiritual depth." Efforts to recover the devotional music of the ancient Middle East have had several ground-breaking proponents such as A.Z. Idelsohn and Suzanne Haik-Ventoura. Now to these we add Christopher Moroney and SAVAE/San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble. With "Ancient Echoes" Moroney and SAVAE attempt to recreate music of the Judeo-Christian-Muslim Mediterranean world. The texts that SAVAE sings come from Christian scriptures, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Torah, the Peshitta, and the Qur'an — sung in ancient dialects of Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic. SAVAE also accompanies itself on reproductions of ancient instruments. Their music has both been inspiring and teaching congregations. To learn more, see www.savae.org.

Covita Scelsa Moroney will share from her new CD, Scriptures, music inspired by Jewish, Christian, and Islamic wisdom. Rich melodies sung in Aramaic (Jesus’ daily language), Hebrew, and Arabic are layered with Middle Eastern oud, percussion and chant to celebrate shared truths found in sacred scriptures. From prayerful reverence and sheer joy, to sensual delight and deep mystery, this evocative music is offered in the spirit of wholeness, healing, and peace.