Epiphany Eve

Sahlab and apple pie

The weather continued to be freezing cold tough the sun's shining. Though most people took advantage of the sunny weather and came out into the streets to stay warm, the heavy police presence in and around the Old City had deterred some from coming out. Many arab youths have been stopped and searched, while police cars accompany the light rail to deter arabs from throwing stones or Molotov cocktails ... or any attempts at terrorism. Much as I wanted to enjoy the afternoon off by strolling the New City and buying some essentials for the week, I was quite put off by tight security around the City.

My commission
for 2020

I met up with a friend and we had our first sahlab for winter. That's the turkish hot drink made from orchid root mixed with milk and rose syrup. It was delicious. And we decided to have an apple pie as well. That was a nice tea time ... something to break the monotony of daily routine ... and gave a feel of holiday. Well it was after all the eve of Epiphany.

In the evening at dinner, as is the custom of the Custody every Epiphany, we were given our commissions for the new year. Each received a little present of religious souvenirs and a card detailing our commission. So my patron saint for 2020 is the Prophet Jeremiah (feast day on 21st July); the virtue to inculcate is forbearance; the phrase for meditation is from Colossians 1:24 and the departed soul that I must pray for is Fr. Castellena, our famed archeologist in Syria.