05-10-2011, 04:05 AM
Thanks Robert...I have been reading a bit tonight and came across this...which I was a bit shocked by. Can you or others explain this to me?
Chapter 24
On Holy Malka
(Leaven or Yeast)
?
1) What is Holy Malka, where does it come from, what are its benefits?
We will respond to this inquiry by stating three aspects of this ancient Sacrament: 1) Traditional; and, 2) Liturgical; and, 3) Theological.
The ancient Apostles, Thomas and Bartholomew, of the 12 and Addai and Mar Mari of the 70, who had discipled the eastern region, committed to the whole of the Church in the East the Holy Leaven, which is to be kept for perfecting the administration of the Sacrament of our Lord?s Body in the Holy Eucharist, till He comes again. This is in keeping with the Sacred Tradition of the Holy Church.
2) Where did the Holy Leaven (Malka) and its practice come from?
We have a pious Sacred Tradition, written by our forefathers, that at the time of the Last Supper, when He had celebrated with the 12 He gave the bread after giving thanks, giving to each of the disciples a single piece, except for the Beloved John, to whom He had given two pieces. They ate the same, while the Beloved John kept aside the other single remaining piece. When our Lord Jesus was crucified and His side was pierced by the spear of the Roman soldier, and ?forthwith came there out blood and water . .? John the Beloved was to have used the extra piece of the bread as a sponge, and sopped the gushing of blood and water, let it dry, and in the forthcoming days, crushed the piece into flour, instructing his fellow disciples to use this mixture, to fold into the making of the Eucharistic bread. And, to always keep a small portion aside in order to maintain in perpetuity the Sacred Action of the kneading into the bread dough a portion of The Lord?s Last Supper (with His Twelve).
2) What are the liturgical aspects of this Holy Sacrament?
The liturgy states to us in the following prayers, the liturgical aspects of this blessed Sacrament, when the priest prepares the Eucharist bread saying, over the dough mixture: ?. . . may this dough be Signed and Sanctified by this ancient and Holy Leaven, of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given and handed down unto us from our Holy Fathers Mar Addai, and Mar Mari and Mar Thomas the Apostles, who made disciples of this Eastern Region in the Name of the Father and of the Holy Spirit: Amen.?
3) How is the Holy Leaven (Malka) perpetuated, kept, or reserved?
There is a special liturgy in the Priest?s Prayer Book, in which instructions are clearly outlined for the continuation of the Holy Leaven in The Church. On the Day of the Passover (Passover Thursday) the clergy of the Parish ?bring pure fine flour that is of the finest wheat, 2/3rds and another 1/3 pounded and sifted salt, sprinkle upon the mixture a little pure reserved olive oil and three drops of water, mixing thoroughly together upon the mixing stone for the preparation The Host . . . then the sacristan and another priest, or more, and the deacons with them, place The Cross and Gospel, with the censer and the lights in the place of the preparation of The Host. . .? The ministers of the parish will continue in the Order of Prayers, until the time when the old leaven is used to sign the new mixture, saying, ? . . this flour is signed, hallowed, mingled, renewed, and made one with this Holy and Ancient Leaven of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was handed down to us from our spiritual fathers, Mar Mari, Mar Addai, and St Thomas, the blessed Apostles, who discipled this eastern region, that it may be taken from place to place, and from one land to another for the completion and mingling of the Living Host of the Life giving Mysteries as often as a reason of necessity calls, in The Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Amen? According the customary signing with the Holy Cross, The priest will begin to mix vigorously the old and new leaven together, etc. When this action is complete it is placed into the container which will hold this Sacred Mixture; and, then to take the Renewed Holy Leaven to the North niche in the Holy Altar, where it will be kept and removed as needed for the preparation of the Holy Mass.
4) What are the theological implications in the observance, and the practice, of The Holy Leaven?
First: It is that Sacred act which binds us together with our Lord Jesus (and His 12) in the first Eucharistic celebration after they had consumed The Last Supper in the Upper Room. This is the connecting link of a perpetual act between the time past (in the day of our Lord Jesus), to this very present day, and in the time to come; so, thus it makes our sacrificial service as The One unbroken continuation of the selfsame sacrifice of Jesus Christ (to Him be everlasting glory, praise and thanksgiving!!) Second: In the Holy Leaven there IS present our very Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It is for this very reason a light is kept burning in The Church as a viable Sign to witness the Presence of The Risen Lord Jesus Christ who is the Light of the World. Now, therefore, when a faithful soul will visit The Church, they are to enter with honor and respect, and in awe and silence; and, if female, with a covered head. Third: In union with and in active participation in The Holy Mass we encounter the ?. . .pardon and heal(ing) from the scars of sin and from the filth of wickedness, for the assistance of all the Community for the honor and the worship of the Glorious Trinity. . .? For it is written in the Order of the Renewal of the Holy Leaven the following prayer: ? . . . O, Lord, God of Hosts, (repeat), Holy and incomprehensible, Thou who didst appointed in Thy Holy Church spiritual stewards, the blessed Apostles, to feed Thy flocks in tranquil meadows of doctrine, saying to them, ?make disciples of every nation, and baptize, them in the Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit;? and when you have baptized them, give the Communion in the Life Giving Mysteries in Holy Church; and the Apostles gave this symbol delivering it to the priests and leaders of the flock of Christ, and on the strength of Authority, we too, Thy weak and miserable, and wretched servants, through the Grace of the Holy Spirit, are perfecting and renewing this Holy Leaven, that it may impart, holiness to the mingling of the Holy and Life giving Mysteries, and may pardon and heal from the scars of sins and from the filth of wickedness, for the assistance of all the community, and for the honor and worship Thy glorious Trinity, now and always, and forever and ever: Amen. Then once again the Order of Renewal records for us the following prayer intention: ?. . . in Thy Name O, Lord God, Compassionate Father, (repeat) and in the Name of Thy Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, The Merciful One, and in the Name of Thy Living Holy Spirit, we call upon Thee, and beseech Thee, to send The Power of Thy Grace, with the Gift of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, to bless the Leaven and sanctify it, that Thy Godhead may dwell IN it and Thy Lordship be honored in IT, so that the Life-giving Mysteries which upon The Throne of Thy Lordship are offered, may be filled with IT, and perfected by it for the pardon forgiveness of sins: Amen.
Chapter 24
On Holy Malka
(Leaven or Yeast)
?
1) What is Holy Malka, where does it come from, what are its benefits?
We will respond to this inquiry by stating three aspects of this ancient Sacrament: 1) Traditional; and, 2) Liturgical; and, 3) Theological.
The ancient Apostles, Thomas and Bartholomew, of the 12 and Addai and Mar Mari of the 70, who had discipled the eastern region, committed to the whole of the Church in the East the Holy Leaven, which is to be kept for perfecting the administration of the Sacrament of our Lord?s Body in the Holy Eucharist, till He comes again. This is in keeping with the Sacred Tradition of the Holy Church.
2) Where did the Holy Leaven (Malka) and its practice come from?
We have a pious Sacred Tradition, written by our forefathers, that at the time of the Last Supper, when He had celebrated with the 12 He gave the bread after giving thanks, giving to each of the disciples a single piece, except for the Beloved John, to whom He had given two pieces. They ate the same, while the Beloved John kept aside the other single remaining piece. When our Lord Jesus was crucified and His side was pierced by the spear of the Roman soldier, and ?forthwith came there out blood and water . .? John the Beloved was to have used the extra piece of the bread as a sponge, and sopped the gushing of blood and water, let it dry, and in the forthcoming days, crushed the piece into flour, instructing his fellow disciples to use this mixture, to fold into the making of the Eucharistic bread. And, to always keep a small portion aside in order to maintain in perpetuity the Sacred Action of the kneading into the bread dough a portion of The Lord?s Last Supper (with His Twelve).
2) What are the liturgical aspects of this Holy Sacrament?
The liturgy states to us in the following prayers, the liturgical aspects of this blessed Sacrament, when the priest prepares the Eucharist bread saying, over the dough mixture: ?. . . may this dough be Signed and Sanctified by this ancient and Holy Leaven, of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given and handed down unto us from our Holy Fathers Mar Addai, and Mar Mari and Mar Thomas the Apostles, who made disciples of this Eastern Region in the Name of the Father and of the Holy Spirit: Amen.?
3) How is the Holy Leaven (Malka) perpetuated, kept, or reserved?
There is a special liturgy in the Priest?s Prayer Book, in which instructions are clearly outlined for the continuation of the Holy Leaven in The Church. On the Day of the Passover (Passover Thursday) the clergy of the Parish ?bring pure fine flour that is of the finest wheat, 2/3rds and another 1/3 pounded and sifted salt, sprinkle upon the mixture a little pure reserved olive oil and three drops of water, mixing thoroughly together upon the mixing stone for the preparation The Host . . . then the sacristan and another priest, or more, and the deacons with them, place The Cross and Gospel, with the censer and the lights in the place of the preparation of The Host. . .? The ministers of the parish will continue in the Order of Prayers, until the time when the old leaven is used to sign the new mixture, saying, ? . . this flour is signed, hallowed, mingled, renewed, and made one with this Holy and Ancient Leaven of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was handed down to us from our spiritual fathers, Mar Mari, Mar Addai, and St Thomas, the blessed Apostles, who discipled this eastern region, that it may be taken from place to place, and from one land to another for the completion and mingling of the Living Host of the Life giving Mysteries as often as a reason of necessity calls, in The Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Amen? According the customary signing with the Holy Cross, The priest will begin to mix vigorously the old and new leaven together, etc. When this action is complete it is placed into the container which will hold this Sacred Mixture; and, then to take the Renewed Holy Leaven to the North niche in the Holy Altar, where it will be kept and removed as needed for the preparation of the Holy Mass.
4) What are the theological implications in the observance, and the practice, of The Holy Leaven?
First: It is that Sacred act which binds us together with our Lord Jesus (and His 12) in the first Eucharistic celebration after they had consumed The Last Supper in the Upper Room. This is the connecting link of a perpetual act between the time past (in the day of our Lord Jesus), to this very present day, and in the time to come; so, thus it makes our sacrificial service as The One unbroken continuation of the selfsame sacrifice of Jesus Christ (to Him be everlasting glory, praise and thanksgiving!!) Second: In the Holy Leaven there IS present our very Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It is for this very reason a light is kept burning in The Church as a viable Sign to witness the Presence of The Risen Lord Jesus Christ who is the Light of the World. Now, therefore, when a faithful soul will visit The Church, they are to enter with honor and respect, and in awe and silence; and, if female, with a covered head. Third: In union with and in active participation in The Holy Mass we encounter the ?. . .pardon and heal(ing) from the scars of sin and from the filth of wickedness, for the assistance of all the Community for the honor and the worship of the Glorious Trinity. . .? For it is written in the Order of the Renewal of the Holy Leaven the following prayer: ? . . . O, Lord, God of Hosts, (repeat), Holy and incomprehensible, Thou who didst appointed in Thy Holy Church spiritual stewards, the blessed Apostles, to feed Thy flocks in tranquil meadows of doctrine, saying to them, ?make disciples of every nation, and baptize, them in the Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit;? and when you have baptized them, give the Communion in the Life Giving Mysteries in Holy Church; and the Apostles gave this symbol delivering it to the priests and leaders of the flock of Christ, and on the strength of Authority, we too, Thy weak and miserable, and wretched servants, through the Grace of the Holy Spirit, are perfecting and renewing this Holy Leaven, that it may impart, holiness to the mingling of the Holy and Life giving Mysteries, and may pardon and heal from the scars of sins and from the filth of wickedness, for the assistance of all the community, and for the honor and worship Thy glorious Trinity, now and always, and forever and ever: Amen. Then once again the Order of Renewal records for us the following prayer intention: ?. . . in Thy Name O, Lord God, Compassionate Father, (repeat) and in the Name of Thy Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, The Merciful One, and in the Name of Thy Living Holy Spirit, we call upon Thee, and beseech Thee, to send The Power of Thy Grace, with the Gift of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, to bless the Leaven and sanctify it, that Thy Godhead may dwell IN it and Thy Lordship be honored in IT, so that the Life-giving Mysteries which upon The Throne of Thy Lordship are offered, may be filled with IT, and perfected by it for the pardon forgiveness of sins: Amen.