An East Asian Orthodox Altar
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An East Asian Orthodox Altar
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An Instructional Mock-Up of Our Diocesan Altar |
By Bp. Joseph (Missionary Diocese of East and Southeast Asia in the Anglican Vicariate)
A Chinese Altar
The above picture is a sample altar for our East Asian Mission, containing some of the oldest witnesses to Christianity in Asia, including the Tang Dynasty Stele Cross (唐代景教十字), the Yangzhou Theotokos (明代扬州圣母像), the Sinai Pantocrator (锡安山耶稣像), and the ancient "horned altar" which the Chinese once used in the Zhou Dynasty (周朝) to propitiate the Lord of Heaven (天上皇帝). The altar lamps are also in the ancient style, burning oil like the ancient biblical menorah in the Hebrew temple. This oil reminds us of Christ’s mercy, which is the source of our salvation, and lampada oil from the sanctuary has always been used by Orthodox Christians for the anointing of the sick. The tabernacle for reserves of the Holy Gifts is a small shrine used traditionally in China to hold the the Ancient Ancestor Names (祖名碑), a black wooden tablet on which all the names of the family ancestors were written and kept in a place of respect. Now these tablets are written on the insides of the doors, so that the priest may commemorate the Faithful Dead during the Liturgy. When an Asian person sees this altar and hears the stories behind each part, they remember that God loves them and that He never forgot or forsook His beloved children in the the East.
The Ancient Hymn to the Holy Trinity Used During the Consecration of Our East Asian Altars (from approximately AD 750)
The highest heavens deeply revere and worship you,
All upon earth once again experience peace,
The true nature of humanity has found its resting place—
The merciful father of all, A-luo-he.
All who are good offer their most sincere reverence,
All who are wise sing praises,
All who know the truth draw close and look up to you,
They receive your merciful light and are saved from the devils.
It is difficult to find such infinite righteousness, truth, and steadfastness—
The merciful Father, bright Son, and purifying Spirit King.
You are the king of kings among all kings.
You will be recognized as lord of all on earth.
You live eternally in an infinite realm,
But your bright authority sees into all bordered states,
From the beginning none have seen you,
But from seeing the visible they know of the Invisible.
Only you are completely pure and moral,
Only you have authority and power without equal,
Only you are unchanged and eternal,
You, the source of all that is good, is without limit.
We now praise your merciful grace,
And are grateful for your wondrous news shining on this country;
Mi-shi-he the great divine Son honored by all,
You have saved countless millions from the realm of endless suffering.
The immortal merciful and joyous lamb king,
Did not avoid hardships but took on the suffering of all,
To forgive the accumulated sins of all people,
To protect our true nature by paying the price.
The Divine Son sits at the right of the Father,
His throne is far above all.
May the master pray on behalf of all,
And send a raft lest we drift in rivers of flame.
The master is my merciful Father,
The master is my divine lord,
The master is my king,
The master saves all.
The master’s wisdom and strength help all who are weak,
And all eyes look to you without drifting,
You rain dew on all that are parched,
And all the good roots which are watered will grow.
All honor the great holy Mi-shi-he,
I praise the merciful Father whose love is deep as the sea,
The great holy one and the Pure Wind,
Are alike in their sovereignty, holiness, and are beyond our understanding.
(Translation by the Chinese Christian Council, from the "Hymns of Universal Praise")
旡上諸天深敬歎，大地重念普安和，
人元真性蒙依止，三才慈父阿羅訶。
一切善眾至誠禮；一切慧性稱讚歌；
一切含真盡歸仰；蒙聖慈光救離魔。
難尋無及正真常，慈父明子淨風王，
於諸帝中為帝師，於諸世尊為法皇。
常居妙明無畔界，光威盡察有界疆，
自始無人嘗得見，復以色見不可相。
惟獨絕凝清淨德，惟獨神威無等力，
惟獨不轉儼然存，眾善根本復無極。
我今一切念慈恩，歎彼妙樂照此國；
彌施訶普尊大聖子，廣度苦界救無億。
常活命王慈喜羔，大普耽苦不辭勞，
願捨群生積重罪，善護真性得無繇。
聖子端在父右座，其座復超無量高，
大師願彼乞眾請，降栰使免火江漂。
大師是我等慈父，大師是我等聖主，
大師是我等法王，大師能為普救度。
大師慧力助諸羸，諸目瞻仰不蹔移；
復與枯燋降甘露，所有蒙潤善根滋。
大聖普尊彌施訶，我歎慈父海藏慈，
大聖謙及淨風性，清凝法耳不思議。
Collect for East Asian Missions
LET us pray for the extension of Christ's Kingdom throughout the whole world, and most especially, for the work of God in East Asia.
Priest: Declare His honors unto the unbelievers;
People: And His wonders unto all the people!
O GOD of all nations of the earth, remember the multitude of the people in East Asia, who though created in Thy image, are ignorant of Thy love; and, according to the propitiation of Thy Son Jesus Christ, grant that by the prayers and labors of Thy Holy Church they may be delivered from all superstition and unbelief, and brought to worship Thee; through Him whom Thou hast send to be our salvation, the Resurrection and the Life of all faithful people, the same Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.