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March - April 2006

year XXXI
L E N T E N EDITION
By uttering these words, Mary the
ANNUNCIATION Blessed Virgin secured for
humanity what no prophet, saint or
OF THE any other living person has ever
achieved. Her total humility and
acceptance of the will of God
THEOTOKOS placed her in the unique position as
25 March the Mother of God, for through her
the Incarnation came to happen.
by Vicki Petrakis She is therefore connected to the
mystery of the Unfathomable
becoming fathomable, of the Logos
Epistle: Heb 2:11-18;
Gospel: Luke 1:24-38
becoming flesh, of the Uncreated
united to the created, of the
Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Unknowable becoming knowable.
Lord is with thee: blessed art thou With her gracious acceptance of the
among women. will of God, the Holy Spirit came
upon her, and the power of the
St Dionysios the Areopagite taught Most High overshadowed her all- WHAT WILL THE
us in his essay on The Divine blameless womb, and the Son and EASTER BUNNY
Word of God, who existed before
Names about the power of words;
the ages, was conceived beyond
BRING?
especially those pertaining to God. Andreea Hrincu
Invoking the name of Jesus Christ speech and understanding, and
in the Jesus Prayer for instance, is became flesh in her immaculate
It is Easter time! You go to the
also an example of how words can body (cf. Luke 1:26-38).
local convenience store to buy some
be used to attract God’s mercy, love March 25 of each year is the day eggs and egg dye. What do you find?
and peace. The words spoken by a when we remember the Is it:
young Jewish maiden some 2000 forthcoming of our Lord and A – Egg dye – the thing you came
years ago, "Behold the handmaid of Saviour into the world to fulfil the for,
the Lord; be it unto me according to Father’s will to become known to B – Chocolate eggs – the necessi-
thy word," were also powerful His people. It is a day to rejoice ties for an Australian Easter?
words, but this time they were not because we are given the Obviously it is B. So how can you
describing or using God’s name but opportunity to become the friends be expected to celebrate Easter in the
were directed to God’s messenger, of God, as St Gregory of Nyssa way you used to, when you can’t
the Angel Gabriel. These were urges us in The Life of Moses. God even find what you need?
important words for the fate of was serious enough to send His Son It is almost impossible to recreate
humanity and our agreement to to us and one can only ask of the atmosphere you used to have it in
work with God and recognise Him themselves how serious are we to Romania.
in order to fulfil His desire for our recognise Him and accept Him? The established customs, traditions
Who can amongst us mimic the and patterns of behaviour – habits,
salvation; our passage from death to
words of the Blessed Virgin, “be it are an integral part of our lives and
life.
have been ingrained into us, since
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pag. 2

grace, my ears are well. And until head (other people live in the streets)
Let’s rejoice! now God protected me and no dis- … a bed in which I can sleep (others
dr. Maria Vavila Diamandi ease that would make me deaf hap- are sleeping under the skies)… I
pened to me… have food every day (others do not
I am walking on the street and I I am walking in the streets… First have any food for days)… hot water
see how dirty things are… But I can of all I can walk! Some people are (some people have only a fountain as
see… Other people are born blind or paralysed; others are paralysed since a source for water)… water (there
at a certain moment in their life fall they have been born. How incredibly are countries where water is very
ill and become blind. What a joy, much must love me God, since he expensive)…
that I can see! What a joy, that God gave me such precious gifts… And not only I am able to walk on
took care so that I can see… If I had I am walking on the street in the the street… I exist. More: I exist as a
not seen, I would never have known year 2006… How beautiful to be in human being. If God had decided for
how a yellow leaf looks like in au- this year… If I had been born in a me to be a different creature, maybe
tumn… How terrible this would time, where so easily one could an animal or a plant, I could not
have been… And what a joy that I loose his head? have been a human being, I could
may enjoy such a thing… Or I could have been living in an- not have had the experience of what
I am walking on the street and I other place, in much more danger… being human means… Wonderful!
hear very much noise. But I can And how come that God thought And what an honour to me, that God
hear! What a good thing it is to be that I should be me… That I should decided all these things for me.
able to hear! It could have been dif- be this person, who has so many
ferent. And nevertheless, with God’s things: who has a roof above her

Annunciation...  page 1 What will... page 1 nia, as the climate does not which serves just as well, it
allow for the growth of its stead.
unto me according to thy birth. There are many hab- palm trees, willows were The lack of holidays
word”? Who can say these its that are entrenched in used as a substitute. This when our Easter falls
words without questioning Romanian culture. These though, presents a prob- means a deficit in the
God or telling Him this is become especially evident lem. Willows are not na- amount of time you can
the way I like it, but in religious holidays. tive to Australia, and are spend at church. With the
instead proclaim to Him as But how is one expected hard to find. One needs busy lifestyle of today,
His Son Jesus said to Him to celebrate all that is im- more than just one tree to kids, especially kids, have
in Gethsemane, portant, when what you be able to supply a a lot of trouble managing
“nevertheless not My will, need does not exist? churchful of people. time and going to church
Easter for one, uses The good times where more than usual. In my
but Yours, be done”?
many traditional ingredi- church was just a few steps point of view, the best
(Luke22:42). And so 25
ents. The obvious and fore- up the road, any of the night at church, is when we
March, an important day
most of these is the egg stores you went to sold egg celebrate the Good Friday
in the Orthodox calendar dye – going to the trouble dye, and where willow and the church is full with
is about a merciful God and hassle to buy these fronds were common, are people singing along to-
who so loved His creation from a Greek store, wastes gone. gether hymns dedicated to
that He sent that which much precious time. You One more custom that Jesus Christ. The following
was of Himself, His Son to may also want to cook one was probably used to night, The Resurrection, is
be slaughtered and some “sarmale” and was the spraying which just as emotionally charged
sacrificed for our “drob”, how hard is it to occurred between girls and as Good Friday, and is just
transgressions. find all the ingredients boys. The boys would as beautiful, if not more so.
needed for those? All this come around and spray the Some problems may
consumes time and makes girls with perfume and in arise with Easter and Lent,
life harder and more return receive eggs. This but this should not halt all
stressed than it needs to be, entertaining function the careful preparations
only so that you can repli- would remind children of which have to occur for the
cate the necessities of cele- the joy of Easter. But in best religious holiday to be
brating a religious holiday. Australia, with the in- celebrated.
Before Easter is Palm creased distances between So put aside all these
Sunday. This celebrated Romanian families, it differences between the
the time Jesus went into wouldn’t be possible to two countries, and embrace
Jerusalem, and how he was recreate this custom. In- the changes which try hard
treated like a king. There, stead Australians, tend to to get the same atmosphere
he was welcomed with the replace the perfume spray- to occur, and celebrate
leaves of palms. In Roma- ing with Easter-egg hunts, Easter.

Parochial Life | march - april 2006 |


pag. 3

the beginning of his


The Origins ministry in Palestine. How to fast
Lent is also associated Alina Victoria Paraschiv
of Lent with the forty day fasts
by Carol Cruceanu of Moses, on Mount Si- The great lent may be an opportunity to move on to-
nai, and of Elijah, as he wards another level of conscience: it is the very time for
My dear friends in journeyed to that same you to wake up (Romans 13:11). The Apostle indicates
Christ, I come across a certain sleep, namely that sleep representing the spiri-
mountain. Doubtless it
some information tual death of the soul, ignorance and lack of under-
was this combination of
(summarized and col- standing for the beauty of the heavenly everlasting day.
Jesus, Moses, and Elijah Let’s give up the night of this sleeping conscience
lated below) that not together on the mountain
only I found interesting and live like those pledged themselves to the knowl-
of Transfiguration that edge of the Life.
in content but prompted prompted many believ- For what is the meaning of clothing into Christ – our
me to think that many of ers to read that Gospel christening –, if not to be absorbed by the knowledge of
you like me as we are story near the beginning His life?
getting closer to the of Lent. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,
church will become ea- Gradually, the Chris- if you love one another (John 13:35). The Apostle’s
ger to know more about tian Church did settle on voice reveals us the criteria of this life.
our church history, the a period of 40 days, and How do we relate to the needs of our flesh: do not
importance and mean- the custom was so think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful na-
ing. The origin of Lent firmly in place by year ture (Romans 13:14).
is one of those topics…. How do we think of our fellows: Do not judge
325 that the Council of
The word Lent, now thoughts, do not despise, do not condemn (Romans
Nicaea also determined 14:1-3)… Do not judge our fellows; our measurements
associated exclusively that the forty days pre-
with the observance of will not correspond to those of the Truth.
ceding Easter should be And if the Apostle tells us what we are not allowed to
the liturgical year, origi- a special time of prayer do, Christ’s words introduce us in the positive dimen-
nally meant spring and and fasting in prepara- sion of fasting.
had no special religious tion for the baptisms to How can we cramp the empty place left by the lack of
significance. In English be done on that day. a passionate style of material and theoretical depend-
usage, however, its ref- Such were the origins of ences?
erence was gradually the season of Lent, Forgive people their mistakes (Matthew 6:14). Be the
limited to the season of which Christians from faithful friend of the merciful Samaritan, taking care of
preparation for Pascha/ the 4th century onwards the injured one. Give! Give what you are. The wound
Easter, a season that were very convinced existing in the others’ soul will be cured by the oil of
does, in fact, coincide were rooted in the time your fraternal love.
with spring in the North- Fast gladly. May gladness rule your life! This is the
and teaching of the
ern hemisphere. day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it
Apostles themselves. (Psalm 118,24). That day can be every day. If the Lord
In languages depend- The fasting observed
ent on Latin, the word – our exquisite happiness – is with us, who or what can
during this season is not, deprive us of Him? Let’s determine our soul to remain
for Lent is some variant needless to say, total. in this state of being.
of forty, derived from Over the centuries it es- Meekness. Do not let us make a motive of vaunt, out
the Latin quadragesima pecially came to mean of our fast. Let us have joyful and well-wishing face to
(forty). For instance, in simply a tougher, more our brothers, and teary heart for our sins, facing our
Romanian, the popular disciplined diet, exclud- Father.
term for the Great Lent ing more ‘substantial’ You may ask me: how can we do this? It is difficult!
is păresimi, a shortened foods like meat and But are the pains and death caused by passions easier
form of patruzecime, dairy products. Such to live with?
perfectly translating the fasting is accompanied Listen to your spiritual father, pray devoutly; what
original Latin word. by other practices of re- people cannot do, only God can do.
This is a period of Find your hope in Him.
straint, to encourage
forty days of fasting in Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am
concentration on the gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for
imitation of the Lord things of God and the
himself, who observed your souls (Matthew 11:29).
health of the soul, such
exactly that length of as prayer and the study (English version by Carmen Alexandrescu and Alina
time in fasting prior to of Holy Scripture. Paraschiv)

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pag. 4

A Spiritual Testament:
father Ivan Strannik /
John the Stranger
Two major, although very differ- and inter-religious dialog. Archi- the Lord, in incomprehensible ways
ent, spiritual events took place in mandrite of the Ecumenical Patriar- and in such different modes, as tools
Romania during the communist re- chate. of the glory of his holy Name.
gime, while the latter endured Below you will find my translation Blessed are those that have not
longer. The first was the group of of the letter, from the original Roma- doubted about me, your unworthy
Antim (Anthemios) monastery, gath- nian. I am grateful for the help I father and elder, who is among you
ering intellectuals, clergy and have received, at an early stage of as a “foreigner [and] messenger”.
monks; the second was Constantin this translation, from Mr. Dimitri Indeed, [I am like this not] not be-
Noica's philosophical school of Kepreotes (St Andrew’s Greek Or- cause I – a human being, with the
Păltiniş monastery, gathering mostly thodox Theological College). The qualities and weaknesses of our na-
intellectuals (among them, the to- letter, autobiographic, speaks of the ture – would have been somehow
day's Romanian top scholars and content of the spiritual experience different, but [because of] God's
writers Gabriel Liiceanu and Andrei and the place of the spiritual father will, the incomparable will of God.
Pleşu). in our ecclesial tradition. Many It is [God's will] that chose me, de-
I will refer to the former, reading things that are mentioned here look spite my unworthiness; it is [God's
Fr André Scrima's book The Time of like being vain metaphors. I assure will] that guides my steps and rests
the Burning Bush (Romanian). There you it is much more than that. So, I upon me, its servant.
it is published a letter, containing the invite you to take literally everything Since my very youth, the sweet en-
spiritual testament of father Ivan you will read here, although it is ergy of the Providence rested its fa-
Strannik, founder and spiritual men- practically impossible to understand vour in my heart and, on the way of
tor of the Antim group called ‘The the nature of the things that are de- my salvation, granted me the grace-
Burning Bush’. scribed. But if understanding repre- ful blessing of the Inheritance.
sents not an option, it is by experi- It granted me also a spiritual father
Father Ivan (John) the Stranger in who was working the grace that
was a former Russian bishop, exiled ence that we could hope to have a
true insight into this… [D.C.] filled his life.
by the soviet regime, who have Also, and moreover, it granted me,
found asylum, like many other po- all along my journey, the unmedi-
litical refugees, in Romania (before Glory and thanking to the Lord who, ated grace of strength and wisdom.
the installation of the dark commu- at this very moment, shows us His I have spoken to you many times
nist ages). He was a charismatic per- benevolence. about all these things by living word,
son, really endowed with the divine With the help of the Living God, just and I will definitely provide you
grace; a bearer and giver of grace. reminding you some signs and vari- with some other details [he quotes
After sending the above mentioned ous moments – as long as these The Book of Wisdom of Sirah
letter to his disciples, he went into could be shared by the means of 43:31]
the mountains, being seen only writing –, I will speak to you for Despite my weakness, I will always
rarely afterwards, like an angelic your minds and hearts to be truly be grateful to him, for on the ladder
luminous phenomenon... strengthened in a complete union of my spiritual growth He power-
The letter was published by Fr with the Lord, and your faith to re- fully revealed to me so many times
Scrima, the youngest member of the main balanced in the ways of the his truth and grace.
group, only a few years ago [second divine Providence; also [to be truly But as the emperor and prophet
edition, Bucharest: Humanitas, strengthened] the trust you put into Solomon says: [he quotes The Wis-
2000]. Fr Scrima was a distinguished the “stranger” whom, not outside a dom 7:29].
scholar, Macedo-Romanian by ori- mystery, you found on the salvific Truly his power works through the
gin, living (after he managed to journey of the souls belonging to weak and ignorant [he quotes Psalm
leave the communist Romania) in Him. 8:2-3 from the Septuagint].
India for many years where he I strongly confess the work of the And so the Lord granted me what it
learned the sacred ancient Hindu Providence accomplished in me and is called the charismatic Tradition of
language. He had also knowledge of which is unceasingly accomplished the spiritual Inheritance and the
Hebrew and Arabic. Founder of a in me. I again confess the wholeness grace of guiding people's souls to-
monastery in Lebanon. University of the divine mercies poured upon us wards salvation.
professor, militant for ecumenism and those which will be elected by  page 5

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pag. 5

A Spiritual... page 4 barbequed some fish for the apostles


Something Fishy to have for breakfast (John 21:9-12).
Looking back, in order to compre- By Presbytera Eisodia Menis During the Lenten period, those
hend the spaces I have walked who are able to fast abstain from
The Commonwealth games, held in (amongst other things) fish, but look
through, me, the traveller who since Melbourne this March, began with a
sixty four years ago sojourn this forward to the relaxation of this rule
grand opening. Part of the opening on the Feastday of the Annunciation
life, I acknowledge that, from de ceremony took place on the Yarra and a little later, Palm Sunday. I re-
beginning, the Lord hurried to pour River, very close to the main sporting member hearing a recorded talk given
in my young heart the flame impos- arena, the Melbourne Cricket Ground. by Father Niphon, a monk from the
sible to defeat of His love. In the weeks leading up to the Athonite monastery of Vatopedi. He
I bless the Lord for He was not re- Games, I saw some barges lined up in related a story about the blessed Fa-
luctant to fill my inner life and to the river near the sports precinct. Each ther Paisios (d.1994). One Sunday of
overwhelm it with His unfathom- barge had on it a large fish and each the Blind Man, Fr Paisios was feeling
able mercies. I humiliated myself fish represented a country which was rather exhausted and run down. He
because of the wholeness of these to compete in the Games. I photo- did not enjoy good health and more-
gifts, which are above all the graphed these intriguing creatures over had issues with his stomach. He
earthly goods, gifts than cannot be which seemed to swim, in single file, thought to himself that it would be
perceived by the world and human upstream but out of the water. beneficial if he ate a little fish to
mind. Fish out of water… The thought strengthen himself. As he was think-
I bless the Lord that from my first amused me. I remembered hearing ing, a large form, like an eagle or kite,
about monks saying that when they swooped down. He ignored it, think-
years he guided me on His mysteri-
were away from their monastery, they ing it may be from the demons, and
ous ways, towards the inexhausted felt as if they were fish out of water. I
springs from where flows the grace, retreated quickly into his cell. A short
wondered if they felt that they were time later he had reason to go outside
springs that the old Fathers guarded swimming against the current – up- again. He saw in the very place where
in hermitages, in mountains and in stream. Out of their familiar environ- the earlier incident happened, a live
places hidden to the eyes of the ment, anyone would need to make the fish which was still thrashing about.
world. required adjustments. Perhaps a lot of He thanked God and took the fish but
Yes, I bless the Lord who, at the effort is required to cope with a new said that he hardly had the heart to eat
threshold of my adulthood, made to situation. Perhaps a sense of bewilder- this blessing from God.
be melted in the [interior] room of ment overcomes one. May we have the intercessions of Fr
my heart, the richness of the gifts How did the apostles feel when they Paisios, who incidentally died out of
from which even now I live and were chosen and invited by Jesus to his monastery, as we travel through
renew myself, richness that were become “fishers of men” (Matthew Lent and more closely become ac-
not lost because of my sufferings 4:19)? These, mostly fishermen, were quainted with our Lord. Perhaps He
and the meanders of the road of my destined for something that they could will not ask us to be “fishers of men”.
life, for I looked with care and fear never have imagined in their lives. Shall we aspire then at least to be
not to diminish it. On the contrary, Sometimes they fumbled, sometimes “caught”?
they got it wrong. They may have felt
speaking with spiritual courage, I
like fish out of water at first, but our
may undoubtedly witness that even
Lord’s coaching with love saw the
myself, as humble and unworthy as majority of them martyrs for the faith.
I am, besides my weakness, I of- It is by the Grace of God that they
fered the true gift of the Providence struggled through. Levels of perception
to many of those who sincerely The early Christians had a short-
sought it. hand sign for Jesus. They drew a fish. Anomalogue
Yes, Him alone, the Lord has al- The acronym ΙΧΘΥΣ [for Jesus (Ι) (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)
ways shared himself to those travel- Christ (Χ)) God’s (Θ)) Son (Υ), the http://www.livejournal.com/users/
lers of this our earthly journey, Saviour (Σ)] means fish in Ancient
anomalogue/
whom He brought to Himself by the Greek. I remembered how many times
very roads of the everyday life, to Jesus had something to do with fish. Innumerable Heavens spread above
satisfy the thirst of their souls. He fed two crowds with bread and our heads; and high above them is
Or, the thirst for the Spirit is insa- fish (Matthew 14:14-21& Mark 8:1- Heaven.
tiable and nothing could overwhelm 10). He told Peter to find a coin in the Two handfuls of Earth lie dark be-
it; and inasmuch his grace pours mouth of a particular fish so that some neath our feet; and deep beneath
temple taxes could be paid (Matthew that is Earth.
into the being, as much this one We are suspended here between
17:21-27). On a certain occasion, Je-
grows and becomes complete. Earth and Heaven; Inside and be-
sus guided Peter and the fishermen
It is real, truly. tween us is Logos.
where to cast their nets so that they
May the mercy of God and the might catch fish, which on that night I was born here alone with Heaven
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be above me; and Earth below me;
they had been frustratingly unsuccess-
with you all. Amen! From here I surmise.
ful in doing (John 21:3-6). Jesus even

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pag. 6

Once upon a time, in the without energy, he rested in a cave, She asked a countryman for a sharp
Carpathian Mountains, lived a waiting to die. The next day, the knife, and with it speeded towards
brown bear called Theo. Every day vixen, which was humming a the sore of Theo. Everybody was
from sunrise ’till sunset he would popular song, passed the bear’s astonished at the heartless gesture of
roam the forest in search for forest shelter. the fox. The crowd’s hearts stopped.
fruits. Theo was a good bear. He - Theeeeeo! Theodore! Teddy! Carefully, Delilah stabbed the knife
never harmed other animals, not yelled Delilah, How is it going, into the wound. The bear howled
even those with two legs. Because honeybud? and then fainted. Everyone thought
of his goodness, he was often - Help! Help! muttered Theo under that this would be the end of the
rewarded with some honey from the his breath. good bear. But no! All of the pain
bees. The fox quickly entered the cave of and poison flowed out of the
the bear and saw him lying there in swelling. Everybody then just
pain. realised the medical knowledge of
- Teddy dear! What is the matter the fox. Delilah then washed the
with you? Are you sick? wound carefully with spring water,
- Help! said Theo, choking and and wrapped in leaves and fragrant
losing his consciousness. herbs, and started to walk around the
bear, mumbling some magic words
not understandable by ordinary
people:
Theo was even friends with
“Fire, black chook, pot and rain,
Delilah, the sly fox. He always tried
Make the sick bear well again,
to convince her to give up eating
meat, and to start eating things like When the soup is good to eat,
fruits and vegetables, which are Make the bear healthy and fit!”
much healthier for the stomach, and Not much time passed by, and
are abundant and easy-to-find The terrified and shocked Delilah Theo opened his eyes, and started
throughout the forest. After much bounded out, and started to scream shrieking with pain. Because
persuasion, Theo convinced the with all her might for help. Many everyone was so focused on him, he
‘horror of birds’ to become animals turned up, even some asked the crowd:
vegetarian. After converting to the peasants from nearby settlements. What’s happening with me! Am I
new diet, Delilah was much happier, All of them shrugged their still alive?
livelier and smelt freshly of mint. shoulders, not knowing how to cure Yes, answered Delilah, and you are
Because she knew how to sing the bear. Delilah was starting to get going to get well again.
nicely, all of the people from the more and more desperate.
surrounding villages invited Delilah A smile appeared on Theo’s
Accidentally, she stepped on the
to all types of parties. She even sung mouth, and he tried to move his
hedgehog, and, stinging herself,
with the roosters in a duet. paws. He was, however, too weak to
leaped two metres up in to the air
One day, while Theo was out stand up. The crowd told him of all
shouting with victory:
having his lunch in a blackberry the suffering he had been through
- Eureka! Eureka! and the skill of Delilah. The bear
bush, he had an accident that was
- E-ri-ka-aaa! My wife’s name is recovered after a couple of days, and
about to cost him his life. By
Erika, not Eureka! exclaimed thanked the fox very much for
mistake, he stepped on a thorn,
offended Socrates, the hedgehog, saving his life. He was always in her
which broke itself deep down into
stroking his bent spikes. company. They would go to
the heel of the bear. The wound
- I don’t care what your wife’s weddings, celebrations and
infected rapidly, and Theo suffered
name is! I said Eureka not Erika! festivities, where Delilah would sing
like a hero. After a couple of days,
Eureka! Eureka! shrieked Delilah, nicely, and Uncle Theo would dance
the bear could not offer himself his
triumphantly. I found the way to  page 7
necessary food. Hungry, sick and
make Theo well again!

Parochial Life | march - april 2006 |


pag. 7

The Bear... page 6 kindness towards the bear. They Whoever saw them was amazed.
graciously. made a deal with the always-drunk Not much time passed, and the
The years passed quickly, and boss of the circus, and bought the family of four went on a lovely
Delilah married Figaro, a fox polar beauty for two cases of vodka. excursion to Theo’s birthplace,
vocalist from over the hill, and, The deal created a big hole in their because the bear missed Delilah so
shortly they had cubs. Because they budget. much. Everybody was very happy
were of good breed, all of them sang The happiness of Theo was when the foxes and the bears met.
wonderfully. They established the enormous when he saw Mila in the People from seven villages came to
vocal group ‘Fox’, and toured all of tent. The bear asked the Russian see both Chum and Gum. They
the nearby forests and villages. lady to marry him and, after she relaunched the group ‘Fox’, and
Theo, who could not find a wife, accepted, they had a fantastic performed successfully all summer.
started to get glum and moody. He wedding party. After this, they went They put apart some money for the
would grumble and complain all on a honeymoon to the mountains. next trip, a special one to Mila’s
day. Mila, which always suffered of heat, native lands. And now, our story
was now delighted with the coolness finishes, the story about the good
of the place. It made her feel as if bear and the smart fox, animals
she was back home, in the Arctic which have won great fame,
Circle. She convinced the groom to becoming main characters in many
settle there. He accepted, and they stories that grandparents tell to their
made their shelter in a cave next to grandchildren…
an alpine lake.
The winter came with wintriness, © 1999-2006 Raymond Roca
blizzards and snow. Theo, with his Graphic by Dalia Druica
Again, Delilah was the one that got mind at hibernation, became very
him out of this mood, inviting him sleepy and taciturn. Mila, on the
to join the group. Theo, at first, did other hand, was contented, joyful
not understand how a bear could be and lively. This was the
part of a choir of foxes, but then environment and climate she liked.
again, no choir is complete without This time, she was the one who
a baritone. With a few lessons from found the cure for the lethargic
Delilah, the bear became a real husband. She made a hole into the
Seeing and eating
artist. They visited a lot of places, ice of the lake, and everyday caught
until one day, they reached a big Theo fresh fish. Because he had Anomalogue
city. Fame came upon them in the plenty of food now, he did not feel (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)
local circus tent, where they had a the need to sleep through winter. He http://www.livejournal.com/
show. The entire city came to see also put on a bit of weight, which users/anomalogue/
them. That is also where Theo met helped him to not feel the cold so
One man needed to make him-
Mila, a lovely polar bear. She was much. As the spring came, Mila had self understood to everyone. To
part of a Russian circus that had very good news for Theo. Soon, those closest to him, he showed
gone bankrupt. Now, Mila filled a they were going to have cubs. This his insights. To those who could
cage in the filthy menagerie of the made the would-be father very not understand his insights, he
local circus. happy. shared instruction. To those
who could not understand his
instruction he gave duties. The
rest he fed. All of them would
see, from first to last. All of
them would be fed, from last to
first.

editor:
Theo fell in love with Mila so Rev. Doru Costache, PhD
After a couple of months, Mila
much, that he started to suffer. He layout design:
gave birth to twins, which were both Ion Nedelcu (Bucharest)
even lost his nice voice. The bear white. They were named Chum and address:
started to get thinner and thinner, Gum, and were very cute. Not even 64 Linthorn Ave,
and was again depressed and a month passed, and black spots Croydon Park,
gloomy, because he knew that Mila began appearing on their fur. They NSW 2133.
was behind bars. Once again, phone: (02) 9642 02 60
looked like some bear-Dalmatians.
Delilah and Figaro proved their www.geocities.com/sfmaria_sydney

Parochial Life | march - april 2006 |

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