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Fraction On Wisdom

ChristrulesChristrules
edited December 1969 in Random Issues
Hey Guys,

I dont know if any of you are familiar with the Fraction on Wisdom...
my friend sent it to me a few days ago and its amazing

It is prayed by Fr. Antonious Tanious in NJ
i was wondering two things....
1. Where is the rest of this liturgy Prayed
2. When is the fraction on Wisdom said (what time of year)

Thanks in Advance :)
God Bless

Comments

  • minatasgeelminatasgeel
    [quote author=Christrules link=topic=8233.msg105181#msg105181 date=1249511448]
    Hey Guys,

    I dont know if any of you are familiar with the Fraction on Wisdom...
    my friend sent it to me a few days ago and its amazing

    It is prayed by Fr. Antonious Tanious in NJ
    i was wondering two things....
    1. Where is the rest of this liturgy Prayed
    2. When is the fraction on Wisdom said (what time of year)

    Thanks in Advance :)
    God Bless

    this is the whole liturgy:
    http://tasbeha.org/mp3/Divine_Liturgies/Father_Antonious_Tanios,_Liturgy_of_St._Basil.html

    the fraction, as i think of the original arabic of it, it's an annual one.
  • SilentOneSilentOne
    Here is the text:

    Syrian Fraction of Wisdom

    O our God, where are the lands of Wisdom?
    Where are the footprints of their ways?
    Who would pass over the seas to buy them with pure gold?
    Who can ascend above the clouds and bring them?
    The mortal man does not know it's way,
    for most men forsake it.
    Wisdom is hidden, even from the angels.
    Those who posess Wisdom obtain Grace,
    and those who hate it
    love death.
    Wisdom is brighter than the sun and all the stars,
    Wisdom is the Light of the Father existing with Him,
    from Eternity.
    Wisdom has existed from Eternity.

    Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy.

    She renews everyone,
    She enters the souls of the righteous through all the ages.
    Wisdom is more precious than pearls and unequal to all honors.
    Wisdom has counsel, might, and knowledge.
    But by Wisdom kings reigned.
    That great men are honored and princes of the earth govern.
    Wisdom loves those who love Her
    and protects those who keep Her.
    Those who seek Wisdom find Grace.
    Wisdom walks in the way of justice.
    And moves in the path of the truth.
    Wisdom grants richness to those who acknowledge Her
    and fill their treasures with joy.
    God granted to Wisdom to our father Jacob,
    and She then appeared as and walked on earth as a man.
    Wisdom has built Her house.
    She has known, She has carved her seven pillars,
    She has slaughtered Her meek, She has mixed Her Wine,
    She has also furnished Her Table.
    The house of Wisdom is the Universal and Apostolic Church,
    and Her seven Pillars are like living Sacraments of God.

    Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Lord have mercy.

    Wisdom sent forth Her servants to say always throughout the ages,
    "You who are simple turn to me",
    As to those who lack understanding She said,
    "Come eat of my Body and drink of My Blood,
    relinquish the ignorance from among you,
    so that you might live."

    Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Lord have mercy.

    Wisdom is Our Saviour Jesus Christ
    who redeemed us with the Sacrifice of His Body,
    bought us by His bloodshed
    and chose us for His Eternal Kingdom.
    We ask You O our Master to grant us
    Divine Wisdom in You alone.
    To accept this Sacrifice from our hands,
    accept our fasting and prayers,
    so we may dare as sons to cry to You
    Our Heavenly Father,
    "Our Father..."

    Question: If at the end we say Wisdom is our Saviour Jesus Christ, why do we refer to Wisdom in a feminine form throughout the fraction?
  • minatasgeelminatasgeel
    [quote author=SilentOne link=topic=8233.msg105188#msg105188 date=1249524808]
    Question: If at the end we say Wisdom is our Saviour Jesus Christ, why do we refer to Wisdom in a feminine form throughout the fraction?


    because that is the way it is in the Bible. This fraction is not made up of nothing. there is a clear prophecy in the Old Testament where it is clearly calling Christ "The Wisdom." In the Hebrew tradition and language of the Old Testament, more specifically into poetic forms of texts, one would refer to another in the feminine and masculine forms. So as the fraction was constructed, it kept the original context of the text from the Bible. the arabic source is here: http://st-takla.org/Lyrics-Spiritual-Songs/Words-of-Coptic-Alhan-Tasbeha-Kodas/Arabic-Coptic-Liturgy-Lyrics/5-Al-Kesam-Prayers/28-Kesma-Sanawy-St-Abiphanious.html

    It says the fraction is for St. Epiphanius.....i personally haven't seen it in any books but i would love to find a written source.
  • minatasgeelminatasgeel
    and here is the text parallel to the arabic....also with some minor corrections from the version posted before:

    Lyrics Library << Annual Days << The Divine Liturgy << The Liturgy of the Believers << Fraction Prayers << Annual – Wisdom Fraction for St. Epiphanius
  • mmatt95mmatt95
    Note that both sin and wisdom are often symbolized by a woman (in more than one prophecy and in revelation for instance). The reason is that women bring forth children, just as sin brings forth sin and wisdom brings forth wisdom. This i had picked up from a bible study one time.

    Another reason is simply that the word sofia (wisdom) is a feminine word, just like Trinity is a feminine word. That doesn't mean that God is a female all of a sudden  ;D
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