Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - October, 2005

Koodosh Etho (Sanctification of the Holy Church)

By Jose Kurian Puliyeril

As we all know, the blessed Church calendar of a year starts with the Koodosh Etho/Sanctification Sunday, which falls most probably on the last Sunday of October or the first Sunday of November. When we would try to learn the real meaning, significance and importance of the blessed arrangement of the unique system only we would understand the greatness and glory of the traditions and faith handed over to us by our Holy Church Fathers. How wisely and meaningfully they have introduced the system. It is so marvelous and splendid to start the Church life of a year with sanctification of all members alike. In the Aramaic and Syriac language, ‘Qadash’ is used for “to sanctify, or be holy’. From the very usage “to sanctify” itself it is crystal clear that the process of sanctification is applied to a person or a thing, which is not sanctified or which has lost the original sanctification. First of all the word signifies an act where by a person or a thing is set aside for the worship of God by consecrating them or made sacred. When once a person or a thing is made sacred, it must be treated as holy, sacred and also as a possession of God. Please see Exodus 29:21 and 29:37. In 2 Samuel 6:6 we read about a person who had to suffer the wrath of God while he put his hand on the sanctified thing. Numbers 4:15 and I Samuel 21:6 give instructions that the holy people should only touch the sanctified things. Qadash is also applied to the consecration of things by placing them into a state of ritualistic purity and dedicating them solely to God’s use. See Leviticus 16:19. In some cases consecrating something to God requires no action upon the object, but leaving it entirely alone. Moses acknowledges to God that the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. See Exodus 19: 23. In Exodus 28:38, the word is used in the meaning of “to give for God’s use”. Also kindly refer 1 Kings 9:3, Jeremiah 1:5. Zephaniah 1:7.

In the New Testament we find ‘Hagiasmos’ as equivalent to the term ‘Sanctify’. It is a separation to God. Kindly refer 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2. The Holy Scriptures guarantees benefits for such ones who are separated to God. Kindly refer 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, Romans 6:19-22, 1Timothy 2:15, Hebrews 12:14. Sanctification is that relationship with God into which men enter by faith in Christ as said in Acts 26:18 and 1 Corinthians 6:11. In the New Testament, sanctification means separation of the faithful from the evil things and ways. St. Paul tells that this sanctification is God’s will for the believer. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:3) The Holy Bible and the traditions teach that sanctification is a slow process, as a result of obedience to the word of God and of following the example of Christ. Kindly refer St. Matthew 11:29, St. John 13;15, Ephesians 4:20, and Philippians 2:5. In Romans 8:13 and Ephesians 3:16, we read that the Holy Spirit would help us with His power.

Now let us think why we should be sanctified prior to the starting of a year’s spiritual activities? We are trying to live in God and with God. As long as we are living in the world, our lives are always influenced by the attractions of the world, which in effect would distract us from God. That is why we need sanctification for the abiding life with our Lord God. The system of the implementation of the sanctification is hence so meaningful and significant. We should not forget that we are selected by God as a blessed tribe to live with Him and in Him. As we are blessed to have the regular sacramental lives, we could abide with our Lord and lead a meaningful and systematic spiritual life.

What must be our part in the process of sanctification? As individual faithful, we must long for the day with more hope and faith. The ones who feel the need of confession must do it with due importance and real repentance. We must learn the way in which one could hate the sins. There is no meaning in repeating the sins, which we confessed once. The confessed and the forgiven sins should not come into our private lives. We must take extra care not to allow such sins to re-enter in our lives. Let us wait for the day of sanctification, with due prayers, preparations and hope.

May God be pleased in all of us and bless us.