About chasubles

Beautiful chasuble
in silk and gold

Saturday ... this morning was so different from yesterday. It started very sunny and crisp ... but after lunch the skies darkened, drizzle started again and it looks as if temperatures will drop. It's been 8 degrees the past few hours. And getting colder. I've had another early morning: 6am at work moving manuscripts, 7.15am Mass inside the Empty Tomb of Christ for the migrant community of Jaffa then immediately after, a bible class with the same group. When they left, it was again moving manuscripts, then rushing to the other library to work till lunch time. Total exhaustion.

While at the Holy Sepulchre sacristy, the sacristan was laying out an exquisite baroque chasuble. It was hand-embroidered in gold-thread. Made in Spain. A spanish cardinal was coming to preside Mass and the sacristan prepared this for him to vest. There're not many people who know how to hand-embroider liturgical vestments anymore ... let alone in gold.

Little girl trying on new
shoes. Note the string hold-
ing up her sock.

Got some good news from Damascus. Sr. Munira who works in the St. Vincent de Paul hospital there called to thank for the kind donation that helped the sisters buy medicine, food and clothing for the refugee syrians at their hospital grounds. The children were given winter clothes and shoes to stay warm in this bitter cold. Sr. Munira sent photos as well. Meantime a local newspaper ran an article about israeli youths who took the initiative to collect used clothes from the neighbourhood to be donated to the syrian refugees. It was one of the largest national actions ... and it says a lot especially when syrians are not considered the best of friends of the Israelis.   http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4907188,00.html

Weekend begins

Damascus Gate all wet with drizzle

It suddenly started to drizzle from midnight to early morning. Without traffic pollution at that hour, the smell of drizzle falling on the cold grass and stone pavements is something most of us have rarely experienced in this drought ridden land.

I had another very early morning work schedule. 5am I had to go up to the other library to prepare some 20 manuscripts (some are over a meter in height and weights a good 30 kg) for the team from the British Library to digitalise. They start work early at 7.30am but I must get the manuscripts out before that, otherwise I won't be able to make it back to the university library at 7.30am to open it to the students. It's up and down hill on the very slippery slopes of the City.

One piece of good news yesterday. Some Old Boys from my Secondary School have managed to save the Cross that was dismantled from the entrance and handed it over to the school administration at its new premise. It's a nice thought. Thousands of us boys have passed beneath the Cross to get to and out of school. It means a lot to us, even for the non-christian students.

Billy's pear soup

Yesterday Billy and his wife boiled some nice chinese soup for me to keep warm. There were pears, chinese figs, carrots, snow fungus ... lots of other stuff. It felt good drinking it in this cold wet weather. Billy and his wife run the cantonese noodle shop "Mian" opposite the Chinese Sisters' convent in the Mamilla neighborhood. The pears however were local ones, not the chinese sand pears which would have made the soup a lot more home-like. But no complaints. It's already a blessing to have soup made like that; and people who care enough to share their food.

It's Friday and military presence is again high in the streets. Trump's insistence on shifting the American embassy to Jerusalem is causing a lot of tension here. But being so dramatic and unpredictable, he might just change his mind at the last minute.

Built over memories

Syntagma Square in Athens with
ceremonial guards

The cold continues to bite us ... 2 degrees in the nights and just around 8 degrees during the day. The cold snap has overtaken Europe with Greece and Turkey snowed under. It's amazing the photos coming in of snow in the beaches of the Greek islands ... snow and sea pushing each other at the shoreline. Incredible.

Anyway it's strange that the snow never got further than Turkey. In our part - the eastern Levant - there is no rain, only cold winds. We hope this will pass soon. What we really need is the rain. The drought looms over us this summer and water prices and taxes are rising.

Been receiving news and photos of the demolition of my Alma Mater - St. Gabriel's Secondary School. Sad. The cross over the main gateway was removed yesterday. Many Old Boys were there to photograph and video it. Later in the week the gateway itself will be knocked down, and then the entire school. It has to make way for a highway. Development takes precedence. I remember a Charlie Brown cartoon where Snoopy returns to his birthplace "The Daisy Mill puppy farm" only to find a shopping mall and carpark built in its place. Snoopy shouts "You've built over my memories".

Full moon over St.
Louis hospital at
3am

Right now I've been in the cold, outside New Gate, waiting for a group of Polish professors. They took a night flight but because of the heavy snow their flight was delayed. They could arrive anytime between 4am to 6am ... I think. Anyway I've been in the street since 3am. They're boarding at our hostel "Maria Bambina" but because of the early hours, no one (the nuns in charge) will wake up to open the door for them. The nuns gave me the keys and I have to bring the group in. Poor me. It's cold out here in the street ... but the full moon is amazing. In the silent streets, the moon dominates your attention while no one, not a sound is heard.

There's an interesting report that in 15 years, China will have the world's largest number of christians. Wow. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10776023/China-on-course-to-become-worlds-most-Christian-nation-within-15-years.html

Extreme cold

Empty street at Municipality Square

It's possibly the coldest day today this winter ... even though it's 8 degrees. Weather forecasts all say it's extremely cold ... and it really is. Lots of people are wrapped in (artificial) fur hats, hoods and earmuffs. Most people are wearing gloves and scarves. It is unbelievable. And this bitter cold winter is hitting Europe hard .... even in the Greek islands where snow seldom if ever falls. The world famous sunny beaches of Mykonos and Santorini are snowed over. Incredible pictures are being posted on the internet of snow throughout Greece.

Yesterday we saw one of the worse terrorist attacks ever in Jerusalem: a truck ramming into a group of soldiers, killing 4 and injuring 15. It had all the looks similar to Nice and Berlin. Horrific. It is difficult to identify such attackers because they seem to work alone ... and intelligence is not available on non-organised acts. Let's hope this is the last. It's not coming to anything positive. Everyone is a loser.

Don't be fooled by
the bright sun - it's
freezing cold

Tel Aviv has lost it's iconic fountain at Dizengoff Square. This Square is above the busy roads below and had become a landmark to the White City (the local nickname of Tel Aviv). Many people went to take photos of it before it was demolished yesterday afternoon.

Healthwise my shoulder still hurts very much. I guess the cold is partly to blame. My 2 small heaters are insufficient and I'm using 3 blankets to cover up at night. The asthma is not as severe but I still have attacks everyday. I was in a bit of panic the other day when I ran out of Telfast (my allergy medicine) and the only pharmacy opened at that hour had no stock of it. Next time I'll have to buy several boxes to keep as reserve so that if they run out on a public holiday, I won't have to panic.

Epiphany

The chinese sisters have now been officially gazetted in the Diocese of Jerusalem. They are now an official part of the Holy Land mission, and they come under the jurisdiction of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. That's good news ... all possible because of your support and prayers.

Basking in the sun at Damascus Gate

The sun is up again but the wind continues to be bitterly cold. It is however great weather for a walk. I noticed the Spring bulbs are all sprouting vigorously in this weather ... especially the tulips. They need this cold snap to get them going. Despite the cold, lots of locals and tourists take advantage of the sun, basking along the parks and steps of Damascus Gate ... eating a falafel pitta, drinking coffee and of course, updating their Facebook.

The case of an israeli soldier shooting dead a wounded arab terrorist has divided the country. It's another moment of the israeli implosion ... and this time it is very serious.  The military court found the soldier guilty of killing an incapacitated criminal but the opposition to the verdict was/is not only loud but dangerous. Locals feel the soldier should be exonerated, and there had been incitement of violence against the judges, the govt. ministers etc .... Justice stands second place to nationalism. To the nationalists, the soldier is a hero. In response, a demonstration was organised to confront this violent implosive nationalist movement. Former military chiefs rally support to defend the Defense minister and judges are given security guards. As expressed by an official, the worry is not just about the safety of govt. officials but about the whole country, where it is heading when the judicial system is not independent but should tag along popular demands. Event the PM has supported exonerating the soldier, implicitly  expressing displeasure with the judges. The country is torn apart and violence is incited by jews against other jews. This is a sad prelude to further disaster.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4904425,00.html

Another must-read article on this subject written by a parent:  http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/i-will-not-turn-the-other-cheek/

Grandma's bowls from a bygone era

Leaving aside this ominous saga in the public domain, personal life continues trudging along. Yes there were a few hours of break for Christmas and the New Year, but even then I had gone to work in the nights. There has not been one day that I have not worked ... which tells you how much there is to be done. My sciatica and right shoulder continue to hurt ... much more these days because of the cold. The past 2 nights were quite sleepless due to the pain. But one consolation: my cousin can on a pilgrimage and brought me some memos of my grandma: a few porcelain bowls from which we as kids used to eat from whenever we were at her house. It's nice to remember the old days and keep the memories.

Back again

I've been having problems uploading my blogs the past few days. Don't know why. Anyway things look like they're back to normal again so hopefully today's blog gets uploaded.

Ethiopic rite Christmas Mass

Today the Orthodox churches are celebrating Christmas. It's usually a week after ours, because they follow the Julian calendar. That means it falls on our Latin rite Feast of Epiphany.  Bethlehem therefore is double crowded with latin and orthodox christians ... all celebrating Nativity mysteries. Security has been extra tight as a result ... both in Jerusalem as well as in Bethlehem. Israel is touting itself as having the tallest Christmas tree in the Middle East, and christians having the greatest freedom to celebrate their faith. Well, yes and no. Lebanon is much more christian ... with some 40% of the population as Maronite Catholics. There they do not have rabbis banning christmas trees or carols or lights because it's idolatrous; but neither do they have muslims threatening to chop off christian heads if they celebrated Christmas. This year in Israel and Palestine, many muslims came to see the christmas lights, taking photos and generally having fun on this holiday. Secular jews too are doing the same.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/watch-christmas-in-israel-25802

The Custos in mitre

I was at our Jaffa community today to help out at the Epiphany - Christmas celebrations. First there was the Ethiopic Catholic rite celebration which was very colourful and different. Huge traditional drums were beaten, the choir was dancing in rhythm to the chants. Fr Medhin the celebrant had a wonderful voice that wove between the mesmerising haunting chants of the people. Later I went to our Ukrainian Catholic Mass further down the street. It was equally crowded as the Ethiopic Mass. The Unkrainian catholics follow the Byzantine rite which is very restraint. But their chanting is very harmonious, usually in 4 voices ... which sounds a lot better than Greek chanting.

I noticed in some photos published in our circular newsletter of the Custos presiding at the Christmas Mass in Bethlehem. He was wearing the mitre for the first time I guess as Custos. That's because the Custos has been the ordinary of the Holy Land ever since the Patriarch fled when the muslims conquered the Land 700 years ago. Though not consecrated as bishop, the Custos functioned as one until only 100 years ago when the patriarchate was re-established in Jerusalem. However the secular powers (both muslim and jewish) continue to recognise the Status Quo which deems the Custos as the ordinary of the Holy Land, so the Custos retains the privileges such as wearing the bishop's mitre and pectoral cross.

Midweek

Damascus Gate this morning ... wet

The bright cold weather yesterday turned dark and gloomy today. It even started to drizzle ... and continued to drizzle right through the night. I had to go to work up at the other library at 5pm but climbing up the hill was difficult. The streets were so wet and slippery ... I was in constant fear of falling and breaking a limb. Now if that's scary ... coming home downhill is a nightmare. Everyone I met along the road was walking gingerly, holding on to handrails when there were, others holding on to each other for support.

Inside Damascus
Gate: hawkers brave
the drizzle

This wet weather has caused some minor flooding in the Old City. Drains used to being dry for 11 months a year ... for the past 10 years, are stuffed with dirt, garbage and grime. Rainwater cannot flow through so flooding occur in the streets. This evening Municipality drainage teams are opening the drainage manholes, cleaning and flushing out all the stoppage so rain water can flow as it should. Problem is they leave the manholes opened right down the street ... in the night, where in our Quarter the street lights are very very poor. I'm just hoping no one falls into one ... especially the little children who play in the streets. It's a tragedy just waiting to happen.

We're expecting colder weather this weekend. Tentative forecast is 2 degrees minimum and 8 degrees maximum. Sunday would see lots of rain and graupel ... perhaps snow in Bethlehem. But please ... no snow in Jerusalem. I'm not ready to shovel snow from the terrace.

The oil spill off Singapore waters is a catastrophe. You read about it in other countries but now its on Singapore's shores. No more swimming, no more seafood, expect a lot of sea life to die. I wonder what the S'pore govt. is doing about it.