East of Byzantium

When Blessed Polycarp paid a visit to Rome in Anicetus’ time, though they had minor differences [on the day on which Easter should be celebrated], they at once made peace, having no desire to quarrel on this point.

Anicetus could not persuade Polycarp not [to break the Lentern fast on the same day as the Jewish Passover], since he had always done so with John the disciple of our Lord and the other Apostles with whom he had been familiar. Nor did Polycarp persuade Anicetus to keep [the Jewish Passover]: Anicetus said he must stick to [celebrating Easter on the Sunday, the day of the resurrection], the practice of the presbyters before him. Though the position was such, they remained in communion with each other, and in church Anicetus made way for Polycarp to celebrate the Eucharist [on the 14 Nisan] – out of respect, obviously.

They parted company in peace, and the whole Church was at peace, both those who kept the day and those who did not.

-Letter from Irenaeus to Pope Victor (2nd Century AD)

I would just like to post the above in response to my previous post on some Chinese Christians celebrating Jewish festivals. I doubt they have direct Apostolic sucession back to the Apostle John, but nevertheless eireine if they wish to do this. The Christians in China, in terms of practicing their faith, have far worse problems.

The early church of Galatia
The Essenes of the early centuries
Laocedia during the 4th century

Novgorod in the 15th century, and later in the 19th century
China today?

Meeting with a recently baptized friend yesterday, we were looking over a Chinese Bible when I came accross a word I wasn’t sure of. My friend could not translate the word directly but explained that it was the festival celebrating the parting of the Red Sea by Moses (K’riat Yam Suf), i.e. part of the Passover celebrations

She then went on to tell me excitedly how once a year, her friends (a group of Chinese Christians that she knows) celebrate this festival by going out into the suburbs of Beijing and crossing a river there that has a small dam. Hence they cross the river, water at either side, and recreate the flight of the Hebrews from Egypt

They then, on the other side, have a special meal of “manna” (specially made sweet foods) to remember the deliverance of the Israelites by the hand of God

I couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy about this. I must say that the girl was was revealed God’s grace and so came to the Christian faith through this group of people, so I surely cannot say anything bad about the fruits of their faith. She was drawn to them, and then God, through their kindness. All the glory to God for this.

And yet…

I have met many Christians in this city, from countries all over the world, who pray to “Father God”, who do not celebrate Pentecost, the Ascension (or sometimes even know what they are), and in short worship differently to me in almost every way, from practice to language used. Again I will say, for my own benefit, that I should be measuring the fruits. Does it matter that these people never seem to pray directly to Christ, or the Holy Spirit, and only ever ask the Father “in your Son Jesus Christ’s name” as long as they show love?

I don’t know, except that while a few Chinese people may enjoy celebrating as the Jews do, most certainly do not. They see no need for Chinese people to follow a foreign religion, with foreign customs, based on the history of a foreign people. Christ is for all, and the Christian religion is for all. Whatever name you call them, the Christian festivals are universal and for all, because the events they celebrate are eternal.

At the Passover God delivered the Jews, at Easter God saved all mankind. I know which event needs to be remembered more.

Apolgies for my lack of posts recently, which includes nothing for the Feast Day of St. Mitrophan and the other Chinese Martyrs. The main reason is that a few days before the day, this blog was blocked within the Chinese mainland, as it still is now. Accessing this webpage from within the Chinese mainland produces only the page above, unless accessed through a proxy server, as I am doing now (This one)

Lest I feel quietly pleased that the Communist government’s net police have deemed my blog worthy of censorship, it may be worth pointing out that all blogsome blogs are blocke, including the homepage of blogsome, and not just my own. More precisely, non-Chinese language blogs appear to be blocked, while the Chinese language ones are blocked on a case-by-case basis. This does mean that the Chinese blog I started, the Homecoming, is now blocked.

So where does this leave us (all three of you that might be reading)? Well, the Chinese language blog, though much more popular than this one must be moth-balled for now until the ban is lifted. A Chinese lectionary and menologia has little use outside the mainland. This blog should alos be discontinued for different reasons, but for now I will continue to post my thoughts to no one in particular.

Pray for me!