Ancient Church

By James E. Nelson

We have a new priest at St. Thomas! Fr Sava, formerly one of our deacons, was ordained to the priesthood the last Sunday of March. This last week he has been doing services and leading us in worship and we have all been celebrating together this milestone in his and Mary’s life. (Mary is his wife.) We also have two new acolytes that have been serving a couple of months. Although they have not received the attention of that Fr Sava has received I am deeply pleased that they too have entered into service of God through service in worship and now serve in such close proximity to the Divine Mysteries. In honor of our clergy and all those who serve, I am posting a poem I wrote many years ago when Chris began serving as Acolyte (or Taper Bearer as they called it there) in an Orthodox Church we attended when he was young.

TAPER BEARER

The candle that you dimly hold

against the weight of streaming beams

of Sunday sunlight seems

unnecessary.

Leading the procession with that light

you seem so small.

What’s a taper bearer’s candle

in the shadow of the Gospel

high above a priestly head?

And why your light

before the Chalice

which extinguished light

at Calvary?

But why did God choose human whim

to do a work as great

as Restoration’s goal?

The Gospel is inspired

beyond our thoughts,

the Chalice is Divine.

Instead for us you stand

conspicuously small

and bear the Christ

that burns within

our soul.

Copyright 2006 James E. Nelson