Today is the beginning of the Nativity Fast the Advent Fast, or Philip’s Fast. Whatever you call it, it is our preparation for the Nativity of Christ (Christmas) on December 25th. It is a time of fasting, prayer and repentance. It is also a time of joy, longing, and preparation. Minor Clergy’s blog had a beautiful piece on how fasting is a pilgrimage, but it is down right now. If it comes back up, I’ll post the link.

Huw has challenged Orthodox Bloggers to post the O Antiphons early Western Chritian meditations and prayers during Advent (I believe they are still used in the Western Liturgical Rite of Orthodoxy, the Anglican tradition, and the Catholic tradition, although my blog readers of those traditions will have to confirm that for me).
O Wisdom,
who proceeds from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching out mightily from end to end,
and sweetly arranging all things:
come to teach us the way of prudence
O Sapientia,
quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter,
suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

The wisdom writings of the Bible are very dear to me, and I often think of them. When I was just beginning to be aware of Orthodoxy and in college, I wrote a paper on the character of Sophia in Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment I took the position then that she was an embodiment of Divine Wisdom, and read the Wisdom writings in depth, as well as some of the applicable Orthodox hymnography. I think this research was important on my Orthodox journey, and thank Dostoyevsky as well as my Professor for the good grade it garnered.

Thinking of these writings, reading the scriptures (I’m working on the Old Testament and happen to be in the middle of Job right now) and beginning the Nativity Fast, this Antiphon seems to be most appropriate. May you have a blessed Nativity Fast, and just think, only 40 days until Christmas!


(on another note, I have two Memes I’ve been tagged with that I’ll get written up and posted in the next couple of days. I’m not ignoring them, just thinking!)