In the Feast of Sacrifice pilgrimage, Muslims perform rituals at and around their holiest shrine, the Ka’ba, in Mecca. The ritual itself reminds them of what they believe to be the reenactment of Abraham’s near Sacrifice of his son (Ishmael not Isaac according to Muslims) which God replaced with an animal sacrifice. At the conclusion of their rituals, they slaughter animal sacrifices, called “Qurban,” to be distributed to the poor.

This word “Qurban” was also used by the Jews during the time of Christ to signify anything that is sacrificed to God, as it is said:” “But you say, `If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me [is] Corban” (that is, a gift to God) (Mark 7:11).

This word is also used by the Syriac Orthodox Christians for the Divine Liturgy/Holy Communion in the form of “Holy Qurbana,” and is also used by the Coptic Orthodox Christians for the “prosphora” bread, which they simply called it as “Qurban”.

In itself the word “Corban/Qurban” is derived from the word “Qarab/Qarib” which means “to be near/to be close”. Therefore a Qurban is a sacrifice that makes the sacrificer closer to God; it is a way to unite with God.

The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin and our trespasses, begun by the Fall of Adam, have caused this spiritual death of ours, which is the loss of the divine life in us. We are “being alienated from the life of God,” (Ephesians 4:18b). By being alienated from the life of God, we have no recourse to that very life, unless the alienation be destroyed and we be reconciled to God: be made near to God through a “Qurban”.

Through His crucifixion on the Cross Christ has become our “Sacrifice” or our “Qurban” (“the One who brings us closer to God”) because “by Him” God “reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). We are brought near to God, by being “reconciled” and “made peace” through the blood of His Cross. In it “He condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3).

The essential nature of sin is disobedience, and in His Crucifixion, Christ “humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). He used His body to be obedient on the Cross, thus condemning sin. Hence the disobedience of sin in the fleshly human nature is defeated through the obedience of Jesus Christ.

The result of this redemptive act of Christ’s is “by one man’s (i.e. Adam’s) disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s (i.e. Christ’s) obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). By being “made righteous,” we have boldness to enter into the throne grace of God (Hebrews 4:16), where we are united into Christ.

Every week we enter into this communion offered to us through the partaking of the blood and body of Christ. Hence we are made near to God through the Sacrifice of Christ; Christ is our true Qurban.

Holy Week and Pascha are when the mystery of the healing and restoration of our nature is manifested. The time of the actual sacrifice, but His Qurban started long before when he humbled Himself and was born on earth. As the Advent Kontakion says, “He appeared by His own Will as a young child.” He embraced our nature through His Incarnation, squeezed out sin from this nature through His Crucifixion, and destroyed completely the death that holds sway over this nature through His Resurrection.

As Christ has become our Qurban, may in turn we make our life as Qurban in the service of God and humanity.

Amen.

During the massive eruption of Mount Merapi in the fall of 2010, Fr. Marcus and Fr. Alexios started to reach out to the people of that area, first in their physical relief efforts, later in their spiritual. While they were delivering relief supplies and housing refugees, they were also spreading the gospel.

A small seed that has since flowered. Fr. Markus had been talking to a shaman of the area whose wife, Kartini, was very sick and had been paralyzed for many years. The shaman, Pak Mulyoto, wanted to know if Jesus Christ could heal people; he had tried every other type of healing powers. Shamans in Indonesia, and this one in particular, believe that they have a great power for healing, but he could not heal his own wife.

Fr. Markus assured him that indeed Jesus could heal, but it was faith in Jesus Christ that brought the healing power. The shaman said that he believed. Fr. Markus said that Jesus wouldn’t heal his wife while he was worshiping his own power and magic. He couldn’t worship two gods, which is a very common thing in Indonesia where people often practice many religions at once. Pak Mulyoto gave Fr. Markus all of his magical implements, not keeping even one back.

Fr. Markus went and burned them all and then he prayed for Kertini’s healing. Suddenly, the woman could move her head and talk. She asked for a spoon so she could eat. She was healed and was hungry. The former shaman and all of his family were then catechized and baptized, along with many other people of their area who had witnessed the miracle.

A mission then started in earnest on the slopes of Mount Merapi. There are now about 40 people in the mission, and they meet in the house of one of the elders of the village who also converted. The church is composed mostly of flower farmers, the main industry of the region.

Fr. Markus goes to visit this new community almost every Sunday after services are over in Solo. Fr. Alexios often lends a hand, especially in teaching all the new converts. Mount Merapi is not far from Solo where both Fr. Alexios and Fr. Markus are stationed. The community is growing fast. Praise God!

Click to enlarge

Baptisms at Mt. Merapi

Mt. Merapi converts

Sunday, January 23, 2011 Fr Alexios led the Divine Liturgy and blessing of the water in his visit to the Community of St. Mary of Egypt in Jakarta.

Click pictures to enlarge.

January 24, 2011, Fr Alexios attended a world Christians prayer week along with the Catholic and Protestant Spiritual Leaders in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia.

January 25, 2011 Fr Alexios blessed Diakonisa’s Monica home and the family home of Mr Chrysostomos Tukiman.

Renovation of the Holy Trinity Church Building fence at the back and side of, in Solo.

Pray for and support the development of rear and side fence building Holy Trinity Church Solo.

Read a news report on Yahoo News.

Dear friends,

Please kindly read the sad news at the bottom of my following report.

On Sunday, February 6th a radical mob of Muslim fanatics had attacked an Ahmadiyah congregation in Cikeusik, Pandeglang, Banten province (West Java). Three people were killed and some members of Ahmadiyah group were severely wounded.

On Tuesday, February 8th three Christian churches were attacked by radical mobs in Temanggung, Middle Java. The three churches are the Catholic parish church Saint Peter and Paul, the Bethel Church of Indonesia or the Church of God and the Pentecostal church.

On Wednesday, February 9th a Christian church “Protestant Church of West Indonesia Galilea” (GPIB Galilea) in Taman Galaxi, Bekasi, West Java Province was sealed by a radical mob . The police had successfully managed to avoid a riot like those in Pandeglang or Temanggung days before to happen yesterday in Bekasi, a suburb of the capital city of Jakarta known in the last months because of religious tensions. Last year the same Protestant church was also attacked by radical mobs . In the neighborhood of the church you could find another 5 churches and a hospital and a Christian school.

There was another attack on Ahmadiyah congregation in Bogor , West Java on Wednesday, February 9th .This was reported by the news media. It seems to me that religious tensions are getting high again in the country. Please pray for us in Indonesia

Now I want to tell you about a good story of our country as the following:

Please kindly read my following report about the great celebration on World Interfaith Harmony Week on Sunday, February 6th, 2011 at Jakarta Sport Palace .
About 6,000 people came on Sunday morning to the stadium although Jakarta was hit by heavy tropical rain.

Some personalities were present at the event and I want to mention only a few names of them:

• Dr. William F. Vendley, the Secretary General of Religions for Peace International
• Mr. Taufik Kiemas, President of Indonesian People’s Congress
• Mr. Marzukie Alie, President of Indonesian Parliament
• Mr. Irman Gusman, President of Indonesian Regional Representatives
• Mr. Hajriyanto Thohari, Vice Presidnet of People’s Congress

The religious communities of Indonesia were represented by the following leaders:

• Prof. Din Syamsuddin, President of Muhammadiyah and President of Inter Religious Council , Indonesia
• Mr. Slamet Effendy Yusuf, Chairman of Indonesian Ulama Council and Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama
• Mr. Wawan Wiratma, President of Supreme Council of Confucianism in Indonesia
• Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi, MSC,Chairman of Interfaith Commission of Indonesian Bishops’ Conference
• Bishop of Amboina Rev. Pastor Surpiatno, President of Communion of Christian Churches in Jakarta Province
• Mr. I Dewa Putu Sukardi, Chairman of Religious Affairs, Parishada Hindu Council of Indonesia
• Prof. Philip Wijaya, Secretary General of Buddhist Association of Indonesia Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, Assistant to Secretary General of Religions for Peace

All political and religious leaders delivered eloquent speeches to strengthen religious harmony among all faith traditions in Indonesia and all over the world.

“The commitment for interfaith harmony must be maintained by religious communities and also by the government.

Religious tensions are results of poor maintenance of religious harmony”, Dr. William F. Vendley said in his opening remarks. Dr. Vendley also said that tensions also happen because religious values are not yet fully applied by the followers in their daily life.

Religious values must be applied for peace, justice and prosperity of the people. As a first step religious tolerance must be maintained between the majority religious group and the minorities in a society.

Religious communities can cooperate in all fields of life and this is not only for Indonesia but for all over the world, Dr. Vendley said in his message.

The government has a very important role in promoting religious harmony among faith communities.

In this case the role of the government is to serve and to play the role of a facilitator to give the opportunity to religious communities to understand and to respect each other, Dr. Vendley said.

The president of Inter Religious Council of Indonesia Din Syamsuddin said that in general the religious harmony is good in the country. But sometime there are tensions which must be addressed. That is why religious tolerance and mutual respect must be enhanced among religious communities. Pluralism must be strengthened and tolerance and peaceful coexistence must be maintained. Pluralism may not be diminished but it must be maintained as a precious heritage of Indonesian people. “As a pluralistic society with various religions, ethnics and culture let us respect each other to maintain our national unity”, Din Syamsuddin stressed in his speech.

The role of Inter Religious Council (IRC) is to enhance religious harmony by working together constructively in solving the social problems. “Our goal is to achieve a modern, dignified and independent society through the application of religious values”, Din Syamsuddin said in his speech.

IRC will also take quick and appropriate steps to solve religious conflicts through education, advocacy and mediation.

Slamet Effendi Yusuf, Chairman of Ulama Council said that efforts to achieve peace through religious harmony must be done by all faith traditions to avoid tension. “We must avoid the situation that all faith groups work eagerly for peace but on the other hand the UN allows some countries to produce armaments,” Slamet Effendi Yusuf said. He said further that religious harmony can only be maintained if justice, economic welfare and political stability are also achieved. It is also important that religious communities respect the pluralism, he said.

Wawan Wiratma, the new president of Confucianism in Indonesia said that the role of religion is to bring peace. He said that the pluralistic society must maintain the unity of Indonesian nation. Religious diversity may not bring friction or conflict which only brings more sufferings for the people, he said.

Philip Wijaya from Buddhist Community said all religious communities must work for the peace in the country.

Fr. Seraphim Scheidler, a great friend of the Orthodox Church in Indonesia, passed away January 17, 2011. He had struggled with a weak heart condition for many years.

Fr. Seraphim loved the Orthodox mission in Indonesia, which he visited twice in an official capacity. In fact, he was ordained to the sub-diaconate at Holy Apostle Thomas Orthodox Church in Jakarta, February 23, 2006, and was initially assigned to work with Fr. Daniel Byantoro, founder of the Indonesian Orthodox Church. Fr. Seraphim’s poor heart-health held him back from realizing his desire to serve in Indonesia along side Fr. Daniel.

You can read more of Fr. Seraphim’s journey on the Journey to Orthodoxy website.

Below are pictures of his funeral.

Sunday, January 23, 2011 Fr Alexios led the Divine Liturgy and blessing of the water in his visit to the Community of St. Mary of Egypt in Jakarta.

Fr. Alexios serving the Divine Liturgy

Fr. Alexios blessing the water

Monday, January 24, 2011 Fr Alexios attended a world Christians prayer week along with the Catholic and Protestant spiritual leaders in Solo, Central Java Indonesia.

Fr. Alexios attending a religious conference

Fr. Alexios attending a religious conference

January 25, 2011 Fr Alexios blessed Diakonisa’s Monica home and the family home of Mr Chrysostomos Tukiman

Renovation of the Holy Trinity Church in Solo.

The amount needed to finish the Church is Rp 15 million = US $1,700.
Funds available from Holy Trinity Parish are Rp 8,000,000 = US $888.

We are short IDR 7 million = US $778.

Fr. Alexios needs $778 to cover the difference and complete the Church. Can you help?

On behalf of Fr. Daniel Byantoro, overseer of the Orthodox Church in Indonesa, Fr. Alexios Setir Cahyadi visited several parishes and offered this report.

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

Fr. Markus Wiyono who serves as the priest of St. Matthew Orthodox Church in Pasekan Village, Tlatar, Boyolali, along with Mr. Michael Raka and his wife Elizabeth led the congregation in collecting a monetary donation for the victims of the Merapi Mountain volcanic explosions. Mr. Raka and his wife are members of the Friends of Indonesia Australia (a sister organization to the Friends of Indonesia USA) that is run under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) in Australia.

Friends of Indonesia USA offered help to the victims previously. Fr. Alexios accepted the donation who passed it on to Fr. Markus. Fr. Markus lives in the area and knows the immediate needs. The funds were used to provide clean drinking water for the people displaced by the volcano.

Present at the meeting were: Fr Alexios , Fr Antonius, Fr Markus, Fr Barnabas, Subdeacon Yakobus, Presbytera Heleny, Presbytera Klaudia, Mr Michael Raka, Mrs Elisabeth Koesoemo-Raka and Dan Johanes.

Orthodox Community of St Matthew in Pasekan Village, Boyolali

Fr. Alexios continued with a visit to the St. Mark Community in Simo Village, Boyolali served by Fr. Barnabas Gregorius Elu van Basten. The appointments are modest but the Spirit of God is present in abundant supply! They use a small room that belongs to Mr. Anatolios to hold their worship.

Orthodox Community of St Mark in Pasekan Village, Boyolali.

The final stop was the Ngemplak Mission in Ngemplak Village, Kaliwungu, Semarang, served by Fr. Antonius Bambang Setiatmodjo. Fortunately, the mission has a separate building for worship. Fr. Daniel was able to purchase the building for half the listed price but they are still carrying a debt for half of the payment.

Orthodox Community in Ngemplak Village, Kaliwungu Semarang, served by Fr Antonius.

As you can see, despite some obstacles the Orthodox Church continues to grow and prosper, drawing people who seek a deeper communion with Christ into it. In many ways the Indonesian experience replicates the Early Christian Church that, despite hardships, persevered through the prayers and faithfulness of those people God called into it.

Fr. Seraphim Scheidler, a great friend of the Orthodox Church in Indonesia, passed away January 17, 2011. He had struggled with a weak heart condition for many years.

Fr. Seraphim loved the Orthodox mission in Indonesia, which he visited twice in an official capacity. In fact, he was ordained to the sub-diaconate at Holy Apostle Thomas Orthodox Church in Jakarta, February 23, 2006, and was initially assigned to work with Fr. Daniel Byantoro, founder of the Indonesian Orthodox Church. Fr. Seraphim’s poor heart-health held him back from realizing his desire to serve in Indonesia along side Fr. Daniel.

You can read more of Fr. Seraphim’s journey on the Journey to Orthodoxy website.

May his memory be eternal!

Below are pictures of Fr. Seraphim’s ordination. We will miss him.

Norberth (Norberthus Analau) was a Charismatic Christian who came from a long line of Pentecostal believers. He is of Chinese descent from the village of Dobo located on a small Mollucan Island southwest of the island of Papua, New Guinea. His family moved to the capital city Jakarta on the island of Java, a six hour non-stop flight from his former island. One of Norberth’s brothers is a Pentecostal pastor.

Norberth felt that he needed a deeper spiritual tradition and more grounding and stability in theology in order to grow in his Christian faith. After considerable searching he stumbled on some of the writings of Fr. Daniel Byantoro, the founder of the Orthodox Church in Indonesia. It was the first time he encountered the Orthodox faith. Norbeth contacted the St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Jakarta and met Fr. Boris Setyawan who introduced him to Fr Daniel.

Fr. Daniel catechized Norbeth and in 2010 Norbeth was baptized. At that time Norbeth introduced Fr. Daniel to his girlfriend Widya, a beautiful Chinese-Indonesian young woman also from his home village of Dobo. Widya came from a Buddhist-Taoist-Confucianist family but had converted to Christianity and joined a Pentecostal Church. They were engaged and Norbeth asked Fr. Daniel to marry them.

Widya was hesitant to leave Pentecostalism and embrace Orthodoxy. She objected to a second baptism if she was to become Orthodox. Nevertheless, she attended Divine Liturgy every Sunday with Norbeth. Fr. Daniel counseled Norberth not to pressure Widya or push her into becoming Orthodox.

Finally Fr. Daniel performed a mixed marriage ceremony of the Orthodox Sacrament of Matrimony. The wedding was performed in a big hotel in Jakarta with some Orthodox people and many non-Orthodox family members and guests attending. Widya is now expecting their first child. They still faithfully attend St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Jakarta where Fr. Boris Setyawan serves.

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Hi to all the friends reading this wonderful site. My name is Jeff, and I would like to take this privileged opportunity to share my story about how my wife and I discovered and became Christian Orthodox.

Both my wife and I, are Indonesian of Chinese descent. We were Christian Protestant, or should I say “Kristen” in the term that most Indonesians recognize it as. Sometimes, I was also a little confused when some people threw me a question like, “Kamu Kristen atau Katolik (are you a Christian or a Catholic)?” which my most basic logical knowledge assumed that those two are supposedly the same. Little many such things, it was a question I did not understand and left me with many more questions. The fact is that some people sit and listen in Churches, while others sit and occasionally kneel on padded wooden surface which have been specifically designed and constructed behind the sitting benches, and some others would most of the time stand and sing aloud with very well equipped music instruments and sound system placed on the front stage of the Church. Above all else, I was actually afraid to ask anyone about these matters and differences. I kept all these questions locked somewhere in my heart at that time.

One unexpected day, an unexpected friend, showed us a Church that I had never encountered. It was the simplest Church that I have ever seen. A church without chairs or benches, a Church without a microphone, a Church without a stage, without any sort of sound system, speaker or any musical instrument. It was a square room with nothing in it but the Altar humbly standing before me. My first reaction about this Church was that it had no real financial budget probably, and I mean no offense by that. My wife was seriously afraid that it might be a satanic Church. Were we ever wrong!

We then went home, did research and homework about it, and we discovered that it was an Orthodox Church.

Christian Orthodox, the very first of its’ kind, when there was only still one of its’ kind before the countless many that we have today. Then came the big day, the day I met Father (Romo) Daniel for the very first time, and that was the day, the day I have all the questions that were “locked in my heart” explained from the Holy Bible itself! Every question was miraculously answered from and by the verses of the Bible. It was the day I have finally found the missing piece of the puzzle.

The inevitably growing love, to want to learn and listen and know more about the Orthodox teachings by Father Daniel, has led us to the growing interest to be Orthodox. During that time, we heard a few friendly warnings about being spiritually and mentally challenged upon all those who are going to be baptized in Christian Orthodox. To be honest, I somehow did not choose to believe it. They said the challenge or the test would usually strike at our greatest weakness. It is the wicked way evil obstructs the good deed and holy path that we are nearing towards. Every time I heard that, I just responded with a nodding smile, and I truly, honestly, did not quite believe it. Again, I was totally wrong.

The truth is that evil DOES exist! Evil caught me in the most unexpected way, at my unexpected weakness – forgiveness. While I was very actively involved in hearing Father Daniel’s teachings, recorded his teachings sessions almost every day, an appalling disastrous incident took place upon me. I was betrayed by a friend, the friend who introduced me and showed me that Orthodox Church for that very first time! Caught unprepared, I broke into pieces in every way, betrayed by faith, back stabbed by the growing love I have for Him. I could almost blame God for the pain that I suffered, but I knew it was not Him who did this to me. I totally lost the will to become Orthodox that time. The pain was so deep that it was hell on earth.

Eventually one day, when I had finally overcame that hellish time, when I could brought my heart to forgive and restored peace in my heart, I decided to be baptized and become Orthodox along with my family. We were baptized at Tritunggal Maha Kudus Orthodox Church in Solo when Metropolitan Hillarion was there to visit as well.

So, I guess that’s it, the story of my journey to becoming an Orthodox that I will never forget. Thank you for the opportunity given to share this story with the wonderful friends out there.

God bless us all and forgive us sinners. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.