Bereavement of Adam

[Paul Younan]

Shlama Akhi Michael,

The earliest Aramaic fathers who used this term include Mar Aphrahat, Mar Isaac of Nineveh and Mar Ephrem.

An excellent web-based article by Alexander Golitzin, that cites several examples from Mar Aphrahat's work can be found here: http://www.marquette.edu/maqom/aimilianos Be sure to see the part towards the end, dealing with the relationship between Meshikha and Adam.

These are some great books:

1. Mary Hansbury, St. Isaac of Nineveh available at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/det...ce&s=books
   
2. S. Brock, Saint Ephrem: Hymns on Paradise (New York 1990), pp. 31-32. available at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/det...e&n=507846
   
3. S. Brock, The Luminous Eye available at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/det...e&n=507846
   
4. S. Brock, Syriac Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life available at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/det...ce&s=books

And if you want to do some library research, check out S. Griffith, "Monks, 'singles', and the 'Sons of the covenant': Reflections on Syriac Ascetic Terminology," Studia Anselmiana, 110 (1993).

[Craig]

Shlama Akhi Michael,

The Aramaic adjective Ikhidaya is derived from the root "Khad" (the numeral "One." Hebrew "Echad" and Arabic "Wahad.") This adjective is used idiomatically to mean:

1. Only
   
2. Undivided
   
3. Unique
   
4. Single

It is primarily used in the Aramaic NT as a title of Meshikha (i.e., 'the Only Begotten'). However, it does have a much wider usage. It is a term frequently employed by Aramaic patristic writers for the state that Adam enjoyed before the Fall: unique, undivided in heart, only-begotten, etc....

The use of this word plays well in the theme of this hymn. Creation is redeemed in Meshikha. Faith incorporates us into the New Adam, (Meshikha), and into the heavenly Paradise. The sacrifical act of God's Ihidaya recaptures for us the state of Ihidaya that Adam enjoyed before the fall.

I really have to differ with "Faith incorporates us into the New Adam" which sounds like becoming part of the Godhead, rather I would say it places us in good covental relationship with Him. We may be able to become <b><i>ikhidaya</i></b> (purposely uncapitalized) in the sense of being "undivided of heart," but the other idiomatic uses have flaws when applied since while Adam was "only", "unique," and "single," he was really incomplete before Eve was made from his rib at which time he ceased to be "only," "unique," and "single." The Son was/is unique and complete in His uniqueness.

Shlama, Craig

[Paul Younan]

Shlama Akhi Craig,

I didn't mean to become part of the Godhead. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s --> I think becoming incorporated in the Ikhidaya means to become intimately associated with Meshikha, as he taught us in the Gospel of Yukhanan:

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned."

And also Paul teaches us in his egartha to the Corinthians:

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

It is in this sense that I meant that "Faith incorporates us into the New Adam."

[Craig]

And also Paul teaches us in his egartha to the Corinthians:

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

It is in this sense that I meant that "Faith incorporates us into the New Adam."

I see, I was thrown off by never hearing it expressed anyway other than "Body of the Annointed One" before.

Shlama, Craig

[Paul Younan]

There are plenty of things about Aramaic that come off sounding pretty strange when you first encounter them. When you study them deeply, you immediately recognize the mastery and mystery of it all....roots of things that have have survived in a cloak of Western expression, barely recognizable - but still there, like Aramaic blood vessels pulsating underneath the Greek skin. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->