"Ruska" – During Autumn Foliage

In the city center.

In Finland, this time of the year is called "ruska". Ruska is an interesting word in the sense that it does not have an equivalent in the English language or any other language I'm aware of. Anyway, "ruska" means roughly the same thing as autumn foliage or fall foliage/fall colors.

According to the encyclopedia, autumn foliage is a phenomenon that affects the normally green leaves of many deciduous trees and shrubs by which they take on various shades of red, yellow, purple, and brown during a few weeks in the autumn season. This beautiful phenomenon is well-known in many countries, including Canada, the United States, Finland, Scandinavia, Northern and Western Europe, north of the Alps, Russia, and Eastern Asia including much of northern and eastern China, Japan, etc.

Yesterday, I took some pictures to show you Finnish ruska. I hung around in my hometown in Western Finland, especially in the parks and other green areas. So here you can see some photos from my town. It was a sunny day. The temperature was about 12 °C.

My latest news (just to inform my friends): Last Wednesday, I visited Vaasa again. At first, we had catechumenate session (church history and Bible teaching). After that, I attended the evening service (Russian: вечерня) in the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. Next Monday, I will start a new job at the local museum.

That's it in brief. Happy autumn to all! （＾—＾）

Teisuka

(Click the pictures to see them bigger.)

The view from my balcony.

Red leaves.

My favorite swimming place (the river).

"Ruska."

 

 Promenade.

Trees in autumn foliage.

The old water tower behind the trees.

The view from the promenade.

The school and the river.

The church named Lakeuden Risti. The bell tower is 65 meters high.

My "Pilgrimage" to Vaasa

Мое «паломничество» в Вааса...

Me and the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. Photo by Gilmore.
Я и Православная церковь Св. Николая Чудотворца.

On Wednesday, I visited Vaasa, my favorite city in Finland. It was a great and significant day for me. After a long time, I met a dear friend of mine. In the evening, I attended the church service in the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.

I have a period of "catechumenate" (оглашенные) now. It means a lot of teaching, reading, and visits to the church. I enjoy this period of my life! （＾ ＾） After the catechumenate time, I'll become a full member of the Orthodox Church.

Spiritually and theologically, I actually am an Orthodox Christian already, but not an official member yet. This has been a long journey, and it is still in progress. I feel like I'm on my way to find the place where I belong... Конечная цель путешествия... монастырь?

I put here some photos from my short trip. (Click the pictures to see them bigger.)

Blessings to all. （＾—＾）

Teisuka

✿⊱╮ ✿⊱╮ ✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱╮

 "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. ...my cup overflows." (Psalm 23)

 «Он покоит меня на злачных пажитях и водит меня к водам тихим, подкрепляет душу мою. ...чаша моя преисполнена.» (Псалом 22)

A view from the inside of the church. Photo by Teisuka.

Me praying in the church. (This picture is taken last summer
in the same church.) Photo by Gilmore.

The Orthodox book that I bought from Vaasa,
titled Father Amvrosy of Optina. My dear friend
Nika told me about this holy man some months
ago, and now I found this interesting book.

In the evening, when I returned home, the train was

almost empty. But my heart was full. Photo by Teisuka.

Gratitude to My Angel

Right now, I just feel happy. The sun is shining, it's a beautiful day, and my knee is recovering fast. Gratitude fills my heart. My dear friend has took care of me and prayed for me every day. "I'm praying for your speedy recovery", she said. Almost every day she asks, "How are you now? How is your knee today?" I thank God for sending me such an angel. And this is not the first time when she has "served in this role". Without her, I never would have found my faith again. On a day like this, it is easy to believe in God. I thank God for everything, for joy and sorrow.

Blessings to all my friends, and these flowers (image above) I want to give to my humble and shy angel. Flowers are white, because Your soul is pure. May God bless You forever! （＾—＾）

Teisuka

P.S. I'm a little embarrassed to write something so personal like this... (>_<;) But hey, this is my blog where I can share my thoughts and feelings, and this is how I feel right now. (^_^) To my mind, people does not express their gratitude enough. That's why I wanted to write these words at the right time. Finally, I add here one of my favorite song, 'She is everything' performed  by Spock's Beard. The lyrics are very beautiful – just a little fragment:

"She is everything

The sacred, the pure

The fix, the addiction

The vision, the cure"

An Accident Can Be a Blessing in Disguise

My crutches. Note a little Orthodox Icon print on the wall, 'Trinity'
by Andrei Rublev. Background you can see my living room.

Last Wednesday, I slightly injured. What happened? It was an assault. I was sitting on a terrace of the local pub, when some stranger (a huge fat junkie, a real lunatic!) suddenly attacked me. I managed to avoid the hits, but I fell and I hurt my knee very badly. A situation was over so quickly, I didn't even fully understand what happened. I was also drunk. The next day, I went to the doctor. A meniscus in my right knee is injured. Knee is very painful and bloated. I'm limping now, and I have to use crutches for one or two weeks.

This was a humiliating experience, and I think I learnt something about it. Anyway, I have a clear conscience because I didn't hit anyone. I never do that. A Finnish pubs can be a dangerous places sometimes... And this pub is not my place from now – not anymore. To be honest, I spent there too much time recently (it is a karaoke bar). After all, I can see "the God's hand" or Divine providence in this accident. It is time for me to turn my back on pubs. It's more safe to sing karaoke at home – and hey, I am not even good singer. (^_^)

Finally, I want to add here one heavenly beautiful and soothing Russian Orthodox song titled «Слава Богу за всё», English: "Thank God for everything." Performer is Choir of the Nuns of Saint Elisabeth Convent (Свято-Елисаветинский монастырь). This kind of music brings me comfort and peace of mind. Hope you like it too. There is one touching sentence in this song, «Слава Богу за скорбь и за радость», English: "Thank God for sorrow and joy." I agree with this attitude. We should accept everything that God gives us... Sometimes an accident can be a blessing in disguise. Blessings to all.

Teisuka

The Night When Heaven Touches Earth

On this foggy night

for the first time I light

the lantern on my balcony.

I feel: someone far away

is thinking of me

and praying for me.

Suddenly I get my soul back,

again I'm thinking of her

and praying for her.

I pray, "O God, bring us together one day."

And He says, "I've done it already tonight,

your prayer was the cloud in which you met."

A poem by Teisuka (August, 2013)

Explanation: Actually, the fog which was mention in the beginning is just a cloud close to Earth's surface. Symbolically, the fog refers to the afterlife (the hereafter) or the presence of God. It also means that heaven comes down, heaven touches Earth. Loosely related to this is Revelation 5:8, which says that there are "golden bowls [in Heaven] full of incense [holy smoke], which are the prayers of the saints".

The Bible also says, "we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us" (Hebrews 12:1). This verse talks about the spirits or deceased persons around us. They can pray for us, and we can pray for them. Besides, we pray for the living "in Spirit". Prayer knows no limits of time and space. God is eternal. To Him, everything is now. The human spirit is also immortal. Christ says, "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive" (Luke 20:38).

This is not a love poem, but a religious and spiritual poem. It tells about the relation which is pure and sacred, free from all worldly and vain attachment. In the kingdom of heaven, there are no distances, no matter of time or place. Two souls – we can call them spiritual siblings – can meet each other in "the cloud" which means the presence of God. In other words, prayer is a bridge which can connect two people not only to God but also to each other as the members of the universal Church.

Saint Veronica – Woman of Pity

 

Orthodox Icon depicting Saint Veronica. – Икона Святая Вероника.

Since I love the old legends and Orthodox icons, I want to share the following story with all of you.

According to an old Christian tradition, there lived a woman named Veronica in Jerusalem in the first century AD. The legend tells that she was the same woman whom Jesus healed of an issue of blood (bleeding). The Gospel of Matthew tells about this case:

"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment." (Matthew 9:20-22)

Later Veronica saw Jesus carrying his cross to Golgotha. She was moved with pity and gave him her veil or towel so that he might wipe his forehead. Jesus accepted the offer, held the cloth to his face, and then handed it back to her, the image of his face miraculously impressed upon it.

This piece of cloth became known as the Veil of Veronica. It was like a photograph of Jesus' face (compare to the Turin Shroud). That's why Saint Veronica is today the patron saint of photographers! （＾—＾） In addition to this, St. Veronica is the patron saint of washerwomen or laundry workers.

The name Veronica means "victory" or "she who brings victory". Folk etymology claims that name comes from the Latin words vera, meaning "true", and icon, meaning "image". Vera icon – true image! How appropriate name, if the old legend is true (and I believe it is). In any case, I find this story very touching and beautiful.

Saint Veronica (Russian: Святая Вероника) is honored in the Eastern Orthodox Church as well as in the Roman Catholic Church. Her feast day is July 12th. A plant called Veronica is named in honour of Saint Veronica by Leonard Fuchs in 1542. Veronica is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Plantaginaceae.

I've been looking for Saint Veronica icon, but I can not find it from my country (I asked from the monasteries and Christian stores). I hope to find it someday. In the meantime, I can admire these images I found from the web. They may not be "true images", but I love to watch them anyway. Without words, they preach to me of mercy and compassion. Our Heavenly Father, let us all be the men and women of pity. Amen.

Blessings from my "monk's cell",

Teisuka

A later addition: The Hymn of Saint Veronica

Troparion (Tone 8)

The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Mother,
For you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away,
But to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore your spirit, O Holy Mother Veronica, rejoices with the Angels!

Source: orthodoxwiki.org

Another Icon of Saint Veronica.

Saint Veronica on stained glass window.

A summary in the Russian language
(not exactly the same as the original text, but almost)

Святая Вероника и «подлинный образ»

Святая Вероника, с памятью которой связан Нерукотворный образ страждущего Спасителя, стала одной из популярнейших народных святых, несмотря на то, что некоторые церковные инстанции и критические исследователи высказывались против исторической достоверности Вероники и ее легенды.

Преданный и осужденный на мученическую смерть Иисус Христос шел на гору Голгофу, неся Свой крест на распятие. Шествие окружала толпа, сопровождавшая Спасителя на крестные страдания. Вероника слилась с людским морем и следовала за Христом. Икона святой Вероники Икона святой Вероники Изнеможденный, Иисус пал под тяжестью креста, и Вероника, сжалившись над Ним, подбежала к Нему, напоила Его водой и дала Ему свой плат, утереть пот с лица.

Вернувшись домой, Вероника обнаружила, что на ткани запечатлелся святой лик Спасителя. Этот плат святой Вероники со временем попал в Рим и стал здесь известным под именем Нерукотворного образа. Дополнительно к этому общему для христианства преданию, Православная церковь считает Веронику той кровоточивой женщиной, которая получила исцеление от прикосновения к краю одежд Христа (Мф.9:20-22).

В мистериях Средневековья Вероника также заняла прочное место и поныне является главной фигурой шестой остановки Крестного пути. Предполагают, что имя Вероники представляет собой искаженное от латинского vera icon («подлинный образ») — так называли «плат Вероники», отличая его от других образов Христа. Образ и деяния святой Вероники послужили тому, что ее почитают как покровительницу фотографов и фотографии. Поэтому этот день любители и профессионалы фотодела отмечают как день фотографа.

Память совершается в Православной церкви 12 июля (по юлианскому календарю). Немецкий ботаник Леонарт Фукс назвал в 1542 году в честь святой Вероники род растений Veronica (Вероника). Многие виды этого рода, например вероника длиннолистная, вероника дубровная и вероника лекарственная, хорошо известны.

Sunday Morning Coming Down

Time flies. I started my blog exactly one year ago, so it's the first anniversary. During the year, I have written a total of 44 articles, which means not even one update per week. The first article was titled Something about the Orthodox Church. You can see it here.

Now it's an early Sunday morning and it's raining here in Western Finland. The sun is rising at 4:17 AM. The mornings here are quiet and that's okay for me, because I love the silence (except if I'm singing karaoke or listening to heavy metal music, haha). But it's too early to do neither of them. To be honest, my home is usually silent as a monk's cell. (￣ー￣)

On this morning, I have nothing special to say. Instead, I want to share one song with all of you. It has played in my mind since yesterday. The song is Sunday Morning Coming Down sung by Johnny Cash. I love his country music, and this song is one of my favorite. Sometimes I can identify with this song very well... And this is how I'm feeling this morning.

So, please check out the video above. My good American friend Glenn has made this touching video. You can follow the lyrics on the screen.

Happy Sunday to all of my friends, and thank you for being here.

Blessings.

Teisuka

P.S. Todays is the feast day of Symeon the Fool for Christ by Orthodox Christians.

Orthodox Icon depicting Symeon the Fool

for Christ (Simeon the Holy Fool). He was
a Christian monk, hermit and saint who
lived in the sixth century AD in Syria.