Holy Week

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rusmeister
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Holy Week

Post by rusmeister »

Hi guys!
I just wanted to offer a little something from my faith Tradition (which isn't 'mine' in the sense of personal ownership): One of the better things from one of the more admirable teachers, the (now deceased - 2003+) metropolitan Anthony Bloom, born to Russian parents in the Middle East, raised in France, and sent to England (initially) to serve the Russian emigre community there:

(I apologize for the formatting - I couldn't figure out how to improve it.)

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (essentially the diocese of Great Britain)
Palm Sunday Sermon
4 April 1993
----

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Today, in the day of Palms we stand in awe and amazement before what
is happening in a way in which the Jews of Jerusalem could not meet
Christ because they met Him imagining that He was the glorious king
who would now take over all power, conquer and reject the heathen, -
the Romans who were occupying their country, that He would
re-establish a kingdom, an earthly kingdom of Israel. We know that He
had not come for that, He had come to establish a Kingdom that will
have no end, a Kingdom of eternity, and the Kingdom that was not open
only to one nation but was open to all nations, and the Kingdom that
was to be founded on the life and on the death of Jesus Christ, the
Son of God become the Son of man.

And Holy Week is from one end to another a time of tragic confusion.
The Jews meet Christ at the gates of Jerusalem because they expect of
Him a triumphant military leader, and He comes to serve, to wash the
feet of His disciples, to give His life for the people but not to
conquer by force, by power. And the same people who meet Him shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!” in a few days will shout, “Crucify Him,
crucify Him!” because He has betrayed their expectations. They
expected an earthly victory and what they see is a defeated king. They
hate Him for the disappointment of all their hopes.

And this is not so alien to us in our days. How many are those people
who have turn away in hatred from Christ because He has disappointed
one hope or another. I remember a woman who had been a believer for
all her life and whose grandson died, a little boy, and she said to
me, “I don’t believe in God anymore. How could He take my grandson?”
And I said to her, “But you believed in God while thousands and
thousands and millions of people died.” And she looked at me and said,
“Yes, but what did that do to me? I didn’t care, they were not my
children.” This is something that happens to us in a small degree so
often that we waver in our faith and in our faithfulness to God when
something which we expect Him to do for us is not done, when He is not
an obedient servant, when we proclaim our will, He does not say,
“Amen,” and does not do it. So we are not so alien from those who met
Christ at the gates of Jerusalem and then turned away from Him.

But we are entering now in Holy Week. How can we face the events? I
think we must enter into Holy Week not as observers, not reading the
passages of the Gospel which are relevant, we must enter into Holy
Week as though we were participants of the events, indeed read of them
but then mix in the crowd that surrounds Christ and ask ourselves, Who
am I in this crowd? Am I one of those who said, ‘Hosanna to the Son of
David!’? And am I now on the fringe of saying, ‘Crucify him’? Am I one
of the disciples who were faithful until the moments of ultimate
danger came upon them?.. You remember that in the Garden of Gethsemane
three disciples had been singled out for Christ to support Him at the
hour of His supreme agony, and they did not, they were tired, they
were desponded and they fell asleep. Three times He came to them for
support, three times they were away from Him.

We do not meet Christ in the same circumstances but we meet so many
people who are in agony, not only dying physically, and that also
happens to our friends, our relatives, people around us, but are in
agony of terror one way or another. Are we there awake, alive,
attentive to them, ready to help them out, and if we can’t help, to be
with them, to stand by them or do we fall asleep, that is, contract
out, turn away, leave them in their agony, their fear, their misery?
And again I am not speaking of Judas because no-one of us is aware of
betraying Christ in such a way, but don’t we betray Christ when we
turn away from all His commandments? When He says, “I give you an
example for you to follow,” and we shake our heads and say, “No, I
will simply follow the devices of my own heart.” But think of Peter,
apparently the strongest, the one who spoke time and again in the name
of others. When it came to risking not his life, because no-one was
about to kill him, to be rejected simply, he denied Christ three
times.

What do we do when we are challenged in the same way, when we are in
danger of being mocked and ridiculed and put aside by our friends or
our acquaintances who shrug their shoulders and say, “A Christian? And
you believe in that? And you believe that Christ was God, and you
believe in His Gospel, and you are on His side?” How often? O, we
don’t say, “No, we are not,” but do we say, “Yes, it is my glory, and
if you want to crucify Him, if you want to reject Him, reject me too
because I choose to stand by Him, I am His disciple, even if I am to
be rejected, even if you don’t let me into your house anymore.”

And think of the crowd on Calvary. There were people who had been
instrumental in His condemnation, they mocked Him, they had won their
victory, so they thought at least. And then there were the soldiers,
the soldiers who crucified Him. They had crucified innumerable other
people, they were doing their job. It didn’t matter to them whom they
crucified. And yet Christ prayed for them, “Forgive them, Father, they
don’t know what they are doing.” We are not being crucified
physically, but do we say, “Forgive, Father, those who offend us, who
humiliate us, who reject us, those who kill our joy and darken our
life in us.” Do we do that? No, we don’t. So we must recognise
ourselves in them also.

And then there was a crowd of people who had poured out of the city to
see a man die, the fierce curiosity that pushes so many of us to be
curious when suffering, agony comes upon people. You will say, it
doesn’t happen? Ask yourself how you watch television and how eagerly,
hungrily you look at the horrors that befall Somalia, the Sudan,
Bosnia and every other country. Is it with a broken heart? Is it that
you can not endure the horror and turn in prayer to God and then give,
give, give generously all you can give for hunger and misery to be
alleviated? Is it? No, we are the same people who came out on Calvary
to see a man die. Curiosity, interest? Yes, alas.

And then there were those who had come with the hope that He will die
because if He died on the cross, then they were free from this
terrifying, horrible message He had brought that we must love one
another to the point of being ready to die for each other. That
message of the crucified, sacrificial love could be rejected once and
for all if He who preached it died, and it was proved that He was a
false prophet, a liar.

And then there were those who had come in the hope that He will come
down from the cross, and then they could be believers without any
risk, they would have joint the victorious party. Aren’t we like that
so often?

And then there is a point to which we hardly should dare turn our eyes
- the Mother of the Incarnate Son of God, the Mother of Jesus silent,
offering His death for the salvation of mankind, silent and dying with
Him hour after hour, and the disciple who knew in a youthful way how
to love his master, standing by in horror, seeing his Master die and
the Mother in agony. Are we like this when we read the Gospel, are we
like this when we see the agony of men around us?

Let us therefore enter in this Holy Week in order not to be observers
of what happened then, let us enter into it mixed with the crowd and
at every step ask ourselves, who am I in this crowd? Am I the Mother?
Am I the disciple? Am I one of the crucifiers? And so forth. And then
we will be able to meet the day of the Resurrection together with
those to whom it was life and resurrection indeed, when despair had
gone, new hope had come, God had conquered. Amen.

----
* All texts are copyright: Estate of Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
---
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh Library
www.metropolit-anthony.orc.ru/eng/
"Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one." Bill Hingest ("That Hideous Strength" by C.S. Lewis)

"These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G.K. Chesterton
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Post by Fist and Faith »

rus... I don't know what to say. After years of me saying you should tell us about your beliefs, instead of telling everybody else what's wrong with theirs... you did it!! :D Well done! Very good post. Sounds like he and Eric Liddell would have gotten along.


Although, I must say, I'm kinda disappointed to find out you're not the personal owner of the Orthodox Traditions.
:lol:
All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
-Paul Simon
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Post by rusmeister »

Fist and Faith wrote:rus... I don't know what to say. After years of me saying you should tell us about your beliefs, instead of telling everybody else what's wrong with theirs... you did it!! :D Well done! Very good post. Sounds like he and Eric Liddell would have gotten along.


Although, I must say, I'm kinda disappointed to find out you're not the personal owner of the Orthodox Traditions.
:lol:
:)

Well, yeah, it IS what we corporately share. I can truly say "This is what I believe" - and I did not invent it or come up with it on my own - I couldn't have - none of us can. That's a tremendous advantage of a corporate Tradition maintained for millenia over any individual.

I hope people see good things here - things that I have seen all along and am still learning about and trying to bring about in my life - but it IS truly difficult. Anyone who thinks being holy is easy has never really tried it.
GKC wrote: The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult, and left untried.
"Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one." Bill Hingest ("That Hideous Strength" by C.S. Lewis)

"These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G.K. Chesterton
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Post by Cybrweez »

Nice reminder rus, thanks. Happy Holy Week to you!
--Andy

"Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur."
Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound.

I believe in the One who says there is life after this.
Now tell me how much more open can my mind be?
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Post by rusmeister »

Duplicate
Last edited by rusmeister on Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one." Bill Hingest ("That Hideous Strength" by C.S. Lewis)

"These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G.K. Chesterton
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Great and Holy Saturday

Post by rusmeister »

Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann
Great and Holy Saturday
Great and Holy Saturday is the day on which Christ reposed in the tomb. The Church calls this day the Blessed Sabbath.

The great Moses mystically foreshadowed this day when he said:

God blessed the seventh day.

This is the blessed Sabbath.

This is the day of rest,

on which the only-begotten Son of God rested from all His works . . . .

(Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday)

By using this title the Church links Holy Saturday with the creative act of God. In the initial account of creation as found in the Book of Genesis, God made man in His own image and likeness. To be truly himself, man was to live in constant communion with the source and dynamic power of that image: God. Man fell from God. Now Christ, the Son of God through whom all things were created, has come to restore man to communion with God. He thereby completes creation. All things are again as they should be. His mission is consummated. On the Blessed Sabbath He rests from all His works.

THE TRANSITION

Holy Saturday is a neglected day in parish life. Few people attend the Services. Popular piety usually reduces Holy Week to one day — Holy Friday. This day is quickly replaced by another — Easter Sunday. Christ is dead and then suddenly alive. Great sorrow is suddenly replaced by great joy. In such a scheme Holy Saturday is lost.

In the understanding of the Church, sorrow is not replaced by joy; it is transformed into joy. This distinction indicates that it is precisely within death the Christ continues to effect triumph.

TRAMPLING DOWN DEATH BY DEATH

We sing that Christ is ". . . trampling down death by death" in the troparion of Easter. This phrase gives great meaning to Holy Saturday. Christ’s repose in the tomb is an "active" repose. He comes in search of His fallen friend, Adam, who represents all men. Not finding him on earth, He descends to the realm of death, known as Hades in the Old Testament. There He finds him and brings him life once again. This is the victory: the dead are given life. The tomb is no longer a forsaken, lifeless place. By His death Christ tramples down death.

THE ICON OF THE DESCENT INTO HADES

The traditional icon used by the Church on the feast of Easter is an icon of Holy Saturday: the descent of Christ into Hades. It is a painting of theology, for no one has ever seen this event. It depicts Christ, radiant in hues of white and blue, standing on the shattered gates of Hades. With arms outstretched He is joining hands with Adam and all the other Old Testament righteous whom He has found there. He leads them from the kingdom of death. By His death He tramples death.

Today Hades cries out groaning:

"I should not have accepted the Man born of Mary.

"He came and destroyed my power.

"He shattered the gates of brass.

"As God, He raised the souls I had held captive."

Glory to Thy cross and resurrection, O Lord!

(Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday)



THE VESPERAL LITURGY

The Vespers of Holy Saturday inaugurates the Paschal celebration, for the liturgical cycle of the day always begins in the evening. In the past, this service constituted the first part of the great Paschal vigil during which the catechumens were baptized in the "baptisterion" and led in procession back into the church for participation in their first Divine Liturgy, the Paschal Eucharist. Later, with the number of catechumens increasing, the first baptismal part of the Paschal celebration was disconnected from the liturgy of the Paschal night and formed our pre-paschal service: Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great which follows it. It still keeps all the marks of the early celebration of Pascha as baptismal feast and that of Baptism as Paschal sacrament (death and resurrection with Jesus Christ — Romans 6).

On "Lord I call" the Sunday Resurrectional stichira of tone 1 are sung, followed by the special stichiras of Holy Saturday, which stress the death of Christ as descent into Hades, the region of death, for its destruction. But the pivotal point of the service occurs after the Entrance, when fifteen lessons from the Old Testament are read, all centered on the promise of the Resurrection, all glorifying the ultimate Victory of God, prophesied in the victorious Song of Moses after the crossing of the Red Sea ("Let us sing to the Lord for gloriously has He been glorified"), the salvation of Jonah, and that of the three youths in the furnace.

Then the epistle is read, the same epistle that is still read at Baptism (Romans 6:3-11), in which Christ’s death and resurrection become the source of the death in us of the "old man," the resurrection of the new, whose life is in the Risen Lord. During the special verses sung after the epistle, "Arise O God and judge the earth," the dark Lenten vestments are put aside and the clergy vest in the bright white ones, so that when the celebrant appears with the Gospel the light of Resurrection is truly made visible to us, the "Rejoice" with which the Risen Christ greeted the women at the grave is experienced as being directed to us.

The Liturgy of St. Basil continues in this white and joyful light, revealing the Tomb of Christ as the Life-giving Tomb, introducing us into the ultimate reality of Christ’s Resurrection, communicating His life to us, the children of fallen Adam.

One can and must say that of all services of the Church that are inspiring, meaningful, revealing, this one — the Vespers and Liturgy of St. Basil the Great on the Great and Holy Saturday — is truly the liturgical climax of the Church. If one opens one’s heart and mind to it and accepts its meaning and its light, the very truth of Orthodoxy is given by it, the taste and the joy of that new life which shown forth from the grave.

Rev. Alexander Schmemann
"Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one." Bill Hingest ("That Hideous Strength" by C.S. Lewis)

"These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G.K. Chesterton
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Post by Fire Daughter »

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..." ~Luke 23:34

Blessed Good Friday...
For Myles--
When evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love


For Mom--
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.

Fly...fly high against the sky...
Thank you, thank you, thank God for you
The wind beneath my wings


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Post by Fist and Faith »

Even when I disagree with rus on aspects of his belief, and even though I don't see reason for any belief, I am... what... a fan of strong belief. The absolute surety that allowed Eric Liddell to say No to the Prince of Wales and the others. He had regrets, but no doubts. "You are with me. Who shall I fear?" is maybe the most stunningly powerful statement of all. That kind of feeling and the depth of theology I see in these posts are, I think intertwined.
All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
-Paul Simon
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Post by rusmeister »

Fist and Faith wrote:Even when I disagree with rus on aspects of his belief, and even though I don't see reason for any belief, I am... what... a fan of strong belief.
I'll settle for strong, intelligent belief... :)
"Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one." Bill Hingest ("That Hideous Strength" by C.S. Lewis)

"These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G.K. Chesterton
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Post by Fire Daughter »

Mr. President, Christianity is not demonstrated through a recitation of facts. You’re seeking evidence of faith, a wholehearted acceptance of God’s promise for a better world. “For we hold that man is justified by faith alone” is what St. Paul said. “Justified by faith alone.” Faith is the true... uh, I’m trying to... shibboleth. Faith is the true shibboleth"~West Wing ep. Shibboleth

When faith is absolute, there is no doubt. :) Mom, used to say, "My heart is full, because He resides within it. At my weakest, I am also at my strongest, because my faith in Him is absolute." :)
For Myles--
When evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love


For Mom--
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.

Fly...fly high against the sky...
Thank you, thank you, thank God for you
The wind beneath my wings


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Post by rusmeister »

I'd like to wish everyone a blessed Pascha, and the good news is that Christ is risen!!!
"Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one." Bill Hingest ("That Hideous Strength" by C.S. Lewis)

"These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G.K. Chesterton
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Post by Linna Heartbooger »

rusmeister wrote:I'll settle for strong, intelligent belief... :)
Got to be selective about your complements around here, huh? You guys... :roll: Personally, I'd FAR prefer "strong, faithful belief," myself...


WAAAY early for my time zone, but I'll reply: He is risen, indeed!

Hope you have a great Pascha, rus!

(Huhh, it just clicked in my head that "Pascha" sounds like "Pesach" or "paschal lamb"...)
"People without hope not only don't write novels, but what is more to the point, they don't read them.
They don't take long looks at anything, because they lack the courage.
The way to despair is to refuse to have any kind of experience, and the novel, of course, is a way to have experience."
-Flannery O'Connor

"In spite of much that militates against quietness there are people who still read books. They are the people who keep me going."
-Elisabeth Elliot, Preface, "A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael"
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Post by Linna Heartbooger »

Fire Daughter wrote:Mr. President, Christianity is not demonstrated through a recitation of facts. You’re seeking evidence of faith, a wholehearted acceptance of God’s promise for a better world. “For we hold that man is justified by faith alone” is what St. Paul said. “Justified by faith alone.” Faith is the true... uh, I’m trying to... shibboleth. Faith is the true shibboleth"~West Wing ep. Shibboleth
Niiice! I am especially biased in enjoying this quote on this thread, as the person saying it was Chinese and I will celebrate Easter in a Chinese church. :D (I love finding weird connections between things!)
Fire Daughter wrote:When faith is absolute, there is no doubt. :) Mom, used to say, "My heart is full, because He resides within it. At my weakest, I am also at my strongest, because my faith in Him is absolute." :)
I would see it a bit differently... I think that I personally doubt the most (at least about core issues - like "Is God good?") when I don't want to obey Him about something. I don't want to obey Him when I have fear. But - and I bet your mom was fond of this one - "Perfect love casts out fear."

Your mom walked alongside the broken and dying ...not to mention being a loving mother to a whole houseful of children, and seeing some brought back from the brink. I think those sorts of thing tend to do something to a person's soul. =)

That said, I am not ashamed of the faith I have now, as a young woman, though I hope to grow in steadfastness.
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Post by rusmeister »

The Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived therefor. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.
And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts. And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.
Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.
O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.
"Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one." Bill Hingest ("That Hideous Strength" by C.S. Lewis)

"These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G.K. Chesterton
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Post by Linna Heartbooger »

Fist and Faith wrote: Very good post. Sounds like he and Eric Liddell would have gotten along.
Btw, you'd said this and it caught my attention way back then.
I was wondering how you heard of that guy, and about your interest in him. (but forgot to ask you)

(and if "everyone's heard of him," well... I can just feel silly; there are lots of famous ppl I haven't heard of. Kinda spotty on the history.)

Was looking at his bio in Wikipedia just now and, from my POV, he sounds pretty cool. :D
"People without hope not only don't write novels, but what is more to the point, they don't read them.
They don't take long looks at anything, because they lack the courage.
The way to despair is to refuse to have any kind of experience, and the novel, of course, is a way to have experience."
-Flannery O'Connor

"In spite of much that militates against quietness there are people who still read books. They are the people who keep me going."
-Elisabeth Elliot, Preface, "A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael"
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Post by Fist and Faith »

He was one of the two main characters in one of the best movies ever: Chariots of Fire.
All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
-Paul Simon
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Post by rusmeister »

Fist and Faith wrote:He was one of the two main characters in one of the best movies ever: Chariots of Fire.
A movie that I would very much like to see, if anyone has a link to a free viewing... (I am still unable to pay for stuff online)
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"These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G.K. Chesterton
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Post by Fist and Faith »

WHAT?!? I didn't know you've never seen it. I'll send you the dvd, if dvd players there can play the same dvds.

Edit: It looks like you can watch it here:
www.novamov.com/video/4a8c10f18031f
There's only a few popups. They don't reopen after you close them.
(That was a link on www1.zmovie.tv/movies/view/chariots-of-fire )

Edit Edit: I think a loud ad popped up a few minutes into it. No idea if that happens throughout, but it was annoying enough once.

BTW, still haven't found AATE at that used store. But Borders is going out of business, and there's three copies of it at the local store. I'll get one for you when they go down to 30% off. Still at 10%, which is a useless "All Items Must Go!" sale.
All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
-Paul Simon
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rusmeister
The Gap Into Spam
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Location: Russia

Post by rusmeister »

Fist and Faith wrote:WHAT?!? I didn't know you've never seen it. I'll send you the dvd, if dvd players there can play the same dvds.

Edit: It looks like you can watch it here:
www.novamov.com/video/4a8c10f18031f
There's only a few popups. They don't reopen after you close them.
(That was a link on www1.zmovie.tv/movies/view/chariots-of-fire )

Edit Edit: I think a loud ad popped up a few minutes into it. No idea if that happens throughout, but it was annoying enough once.

BTW, still haven't found AATE at that used store. But Borders is going out of business, and there's three copies of it at the local store. I'll get one for you when they go down to 30% off. Still at 10%, which is a useless "All Items Must Go!" sale.
Thanks, Fist, but the link requires a valid credit card.
You see, I had paid off my tens of thousands in debt, and living here in Russia, I didn't use it much. So they cancelled it for "lack of activity". The very thing that used to make a person a good credit risk - a responsible person who pays off debts - is not what they want anymore. They make their money by forcing people to remain in debt and pay interest, and get rid of people who don't produce that income for them.

I appreciate the effort, though. :wry smile:
"Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one." Bill Hingest ("That Hideous Strength" by C.S. Lewis)

"These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G.K. Chesterton
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Fist and Faith
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Post by Fist and Faith »

Odd. It didn't require a credit card for me.

And you sure pick odd things to lecture about. Yeah, of course, that's how credit cards work. The interest is their salary. That's how they get paid for the service they provide. Fortunately, owning or using credit cards is not required.
All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
-Paul Simon
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