Sunday Feast

My armenian chapel
today

Woke up at 2.30am (solar time: 3.30am daylight saving) when the muezzin began calling to prayer. It is noticeably louder than the previous months ... almost like a protest. There's a law which forbids the use of PA systems going beyond certain decibels. It's annoying to be disturbed so early ... but I'm used to it. It's a sign that summer is here. I started work at 4am ... throwing out the huge load of garbage into the dumpster outside, the watering the flowers. Had a breakfast of bourekas (puff pastry with potatoes) and coffee on the terrace facing the Mt. of Olives as the sun rose. Then an hour of studies till 7am. Then it was off to the 3rd Station for Mass.

The small community of armenian catholics faithfully showed up and we had a lovely celebration with great singing for the feast of Corpus Christi. Though it's a Roman Rite feast day, the armenians have warmly embraced these devotions. Vicky who is a soprano added to the volume and solemnity because the Sanctus (Sourp in armenian) is sung by a soprano. Because of the diaconal ordination of the Salesian students at the same time, my usual acolytes could not help me at Mass. But my deacon did come and today he even tried proclaiming some parts of the Mass in armenian. Well done!   


The PM's security guards have been tested positive with the cornonavirus. And they're not just neighbours to our Terra Santa College but actually work inside the compound because the PM uses our compound as a carpark. The infection has a high probability of spreading to our students staying there ... and these students are irresponsible ... refusing to wear masks and caring less about other people's wellbeing. And they come to our school for classes. I find it repulsive that students aspiring to be teachers of the Bible are so irresponsible and reckless ... contrary to the Bible.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/177-new-coronavirus-cases-diagnosed-in-24-hours-including-among-netanyahu-staff/?fbclid=IwAR2j6cr0Z8YepNp_LH3uSZPX2RocGKQg5LyMnj1dxCW7XZlOPJU7iFcLurA

Breakfast at 5am

Riots in Jaffa continued last night. Though the news mentioned that the govt had spoken about it ... I'm not sure a compromise has been reached. That's one bone of contention that will not easily pass away this summer.

Well we'll just have to adapt to the new realities this summer ... with the pandemic, the local violence and the predicted heatwave ... I'm still planning to have a busy summer schedule and making the most of it.