It's been quite a while since I posted anything, so I figured I'd better try and come up with something to write. Not much has changed here. I've been working on a side-by-side Georgian-English horologion (or at least Vigil book, as that's mostly all the information I have to draw from in the Georgian), and have finished the Liturgy portion, though I'll need to have some basic instructions translated into Georgian and have the Georgian half thoroughly proofed for typing errors. I've been spending a lot of time at the school computer compiling and typing it, but I think it's worth it. Perhaps when I'm done I can see if someone might be interested in printing it, for the the English-speaking Orthodox in Georgian and vice-versa.
Today is the first Sunday that I haven't been invited to a supra after Church, or at least, the first one in a very long time. When I do have spare time here (reasonably often, if I'm not working really late at school or something) I end up reading a lot, and am subsequently going through my stash of books here (reasonably large) pretty quickly. It's kind of nice to have the time to read those books I've been meaning to get around to--I'm sure everyone has them, but now I've finally got the time. Unfortunately, I'm going through them a little too quickly; but if need be I can ask for a few books I had to leave at home (due to wieght constraints in travel) that would take a bit longer for me to get through.
Tomorrow is the feast day of Heiromartyr Abibus, bishop of Nek'resi and one of the Assyrian fathers, and thus is a big feast in the nearby monastery there (I think this saint might be their patron, or perhaps that of the monastery church, but I'm not completely sure). We're going to Q'vareli, then walking (it's sounds like a full processional) to Nek'resi, about 2 or 2.5 miles away--but with the very end being up a very steep road. Nonetheless, I'm really looking forward to it. Mama Davit also grabbed me after Church today and had be try on a sticharion--apparently I am going to be chanting with the choir (as before) and serving in the altar at the necessary times. This could be interesting since I've only served in tha altar a few times, for small parts of services, and in the Greek tradition (which in the smaller aspects of some of its outward liturgical traditions can vary a good bit from those of the Slavic Churches). The Georgians can also be like the Russians in their strict adherence to certain of the physical liturgical traditions--not that this is bad, but it could certainly make it a bit more difficult for me. Meh; I'm sure I'll get the hang of it all reasonably quickly.
The time's going by very quickly; it's only a couple weeks, and I'll be heading off to start my tour of Georgia's monasteries (or as many as I can reasonably get to, I should say), which will be much (or all) of my break--depending on how long it ends up taking. I'd rather spend any remaining time I have in monasteries instead of simply being idle at home and going through all of my books--though I could perhaps look into a way of working on this horologion project at school during the break, if I come back much earlier than I expected. (A quick note to those who know me personally: I won't be on Skype or email (or blogging) much, if at all, during this period, because of the obvious restrictions of travel.)
Otherwise, I really don't know what else to say. It's getting colder and colder here, and without the normal, well-heated houses, schools, cars, and everything else we have in the West, I have a new appreciation for those who live in the cold--it's a perpetual, relentless condition you have to be able to put up with, to lesser or greater extent, to do just about anything. That being said, I don't want to worry you; I'm fine--just very bundled most of the time.
Since I can't think of much else, until next time.
Today is the first Sunday that I haven't been invited to a supra after Church, or at least, the first one in a very long time. When I do have spare time here (reasonably often, if I'm not working really late at school or something) I end up reading a lot, and am subsequently going through my stash of books here (reasonably large) pretty quickly. It's kind of nice to have the time to read those books I've been meaning to get around to--I'm sure everyone has them, but now I've finally got the time. Unfortunately, I'm going through them a little too quickly; but if need be I can ask for a few books I had to leave at home (due to wieght constraints in travel) that would take a bit longer for me to get through.
Tomorrow is the feast day of Heiromartyr Abibus, bishop of Nek'resi and one of the Assyrian fathers, and thus is a big feast in the nearby monastery there (I think this saint might be their patron, or perhaps that of the monastery church, but I'm not completely sure). We're going to Q'vareli, then walking (it's sounds like a full processional) to Nek'resi, about 2 or 2.5 miles away--but with the very end being up a very steep road. Nonetheless, I'm really looking forward to it. Mama Davit also grabbed me after Church today and had be try on a sticharion--apparently I am going to be chanting with the choir (as before) and serving in the altar at the necessary times. This could be interesting since I've only served in tha altar a few times, for small parts of services, and in the Greek tradition (which in the smaller aspects of some of its outward liturgical traditions can vary a good bit from those of the Slavic Churches). The Georgians can also be like the Russians in their strict adherence to certain of the physical liturgical traditions--not that this is bad, but it could certainly make it a bit more difficult for me. Meh; I'm sure I'll get the hang of it all reasonably quickly.
The time's going by very quickly; it's only a couple weeks, and I'll be heading off to start my tour of Georgia's monasteries (or as many as I can reasonably get to, I should say), which will be much (or all) of my break--depending on how long it ends up taking. I'd rather spend any remaining time I have in monasteries instead of simply being idle at home and going through all of my books--though I could perhaps look into a way of working on this horologion project at school during the break, if I come back much earlier than I expected. (A quick note to those who know me personally: I won't be on Skype or email (or blogging) much, if at all, during this period, because of the obvious restrictions of travel.)
Otherwise, I really don't know what else to say. It's getting colder and colder here, and without the normal, well-heated houses, schools, cars, and everything else we have in the West, I have a new appreciation for those who live in the cold--it's a perpetual, relentless condition you have to be able to put up with, to lesser or greater extent, to do just about anything. That being said, I don't want to worry you; I'm fine--just very bundled most of the time.
Since I can't think of much else, until next time.
In Christ,
Teopile/Theophilos Porter
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