#AdventReading Day-19: The Christmas Mystery - Melchior

 

credit: Flora Waycott

A man "with long white hair and white beard, wearing read cloak and a pointed red hat" appears in the picture of magic Advent calendar when Joachim opens the 19th door. You know who he is, of course, Santa Claus! Or what the Norwegians call "Christmas nisse".

The godly procession is travelling across Phrygia, passing some bears, wolves, and jackals. Fortunately, they are travelling through time as well, so when they encounter danger, they just have to step aside one or two weeks to avoid it. Convenient, right? :)

During their climb up through a mountain, they catch sight of a man dressed in green sitting at the watershed. Seeing whom, Caspar and Balthazar runs towards the man, who is Melchior, the third Wise Man, King of Egriskulla, and a fun cheerful guy. He tells Elisabet that they are about to greet the Christmas nisse who lives nearby. 

King Melchior

So they continue on to a town of Myra, where, two hundred years after Paul came to found a Christian community on his way to Rome, a boy called Nicholas was born. He became the bishop of Myra, and helped a very poor girl to get married by throwing a bag of gold coins through her window, so that her father could pay the dowry. The generous bishop is the first Santa Claus as we know now. And he did clothed in red cloak and red hat, with a large silver cross with red stone round his neck, because in the year 325 where they are now, that's a normal bishop's clothes.

Bishop Nicholas does not travel with them, though. He just offers each of the Wise Man a casket. For Caspar a casket full of gold coins, for Balthazar, of incense, and the one contains myrrh for Melchior. It was some gifts for the Christ Child they are about to see in Betlehem.

For Elisabet, the Bishop give a wise advise about the joy of giving:

"The more we give away, the richer we become, and the more we keep for ourselves, the poorer we become."

"You needn't own anything at all to feel generosity fizzing in your veins. A little smile is enough, or something you've made yourself."

And with these words, the pilgrims move off to continue their journey, with the Bishop's laughter 'Ho-ho! Ho-ho! Ho-ho!' can still be heard behind them.

Previous posts:

- Day-1          - Day-13
- Day-2          - Day-14

- Day-3          - Day-15

- Day 4          - Day-16

- Day-5          - Day-17

- Day-6          - Day-18

- Day-7 

- Day-8 

- Day-9

- Day-10
- Day-11 
- Day-12

#AdventReading Day-18: The Christmas Mystery - The Emperor Augustus

 

credit: Flora Waycott

When Joachim opens the door number 18, they find a picture of a golden sceptre, which kings and emperors used to carry as a symbol of dignity. Another king will be introduced, but who?

The pilgrims are now going through Thrace towards Constantinopel when Ephiriel's angel watch shows the year to be 495 (today Thrace region is split among Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey). They are about to cross the Bosporus strait, when they see a beautiful church; it was the basilica built by Emperor Constantine, but destroyed by fire in a few years. Later on a lovely Santa Sophia church was built on the same spot, which we know now as Hagia Sophia, after it was turned as a Mosque.

Bosporus Strait

Right on the furthest point of Golden Horn quay, a handsome man in colorful clothes and a golden sceptre in his one hand and a thick book in another welcomes them. He introduces himself as the Emperor Augustus, who "order" them to accept him "without any unpleasant protest." The thick book he's carrying isn't a Bible, as Elisabet thought, but the sacred census (of course he'd need it in Betlehem!) There's no doubt that he's one of them, so off they all go on the Emperor's boat with large sails.

Elisabet wonders why Emperor Augustus becomes one of them when he's not a Christian, of which Ephiriel says: "God's kingdom is open to everyone, even people who travel without a ticket."

After landing on the other side of Bosporus, they arrive at the town of Chalcedon that is teeming with so many priests. It's because at that time (year 451) the biggest conference in the history of Christian Church was held in Chalcedon (Council of Chalcedon) to agree on Christian doctrine.

Upon that subject, the two Wise Men have a little quarrel with the angels. And it needs the angel Seraphiel to mediate the disputes, and Joshua's striking the crook, for them to start again the journey, this time down through Phyrgia towards the 4th century.

That's all for today, but we still have six chapters left till Christmas, so, Auf Wiedersehen!

Previous posts:

- Day-1          - Day-13
- Day-2          - Day-14

- Day-3          - Day-15

- Day 4          - Day-16

- Day-5          - Day-17

- Day-6 

- Day-7 

- Day-8 

- Day-9

- Day-10
- Day-11 
- Day-12

#AdventReading Day-17: The Christmas Mystery - Seraphiel (The 3rd Angel)

 

credit: Flora Waycott

To be honest, I begin to feel tired of these daily posts... :) but it's only seven days to Christmas Eve, so let's just do it!

The 17th door reveals a picture of the pilgrims' procession when Joachim opens it. The word "Seraphiel" appears on top of the piece of paper, and so Joachim and his parents read on the pilgrims' adventure for today. 

They have reached Greece today, and are coming along the bank of the River Axios in North Macedonia. A farmer sees the strange procession for few seconds (before it vanishes), and remembers that his father had seen a similar vision many years before. It means that the farmer's father saw the same pilgrims, maybe in a couple of hours later. You see, it's because the pilgrims are travelling through reversed time. And something occurred to me just now. Maybe the reversed words mystery (Elisabet - Tebasile) is about how the pilgrims will arrive in Betlehem at the same time when we celebrate Christmas? That our Christmas and the first Christmas is one of the same, though happening in two different times? And that whatever happened between both times, Christmas is and will always still be Christmas? 

Anyway, today we follow the pilgrims through Thermaic Gulf in the Aegean Sea, while gazing at the peak of Mount Olympus, in the year 569 - just a few years before the Church closed the ancient school of Philosophy who was founded by Plato in Athens. Next they come to Thessalonica (which the Roman had made the capital of Macedonia). But it is in Philippi that they meet Seraphiel, the third angel. He flies out from an octagonal church, and joins them along the road called Via Egnatia. It is already the year 511, and tomorrow they shall be in Constantinopel!

Thessalonica - or Thessaloniki - today

Meanwhile, Joachim received a phone call from John, the flower seller, and asks him whether Elisabet (the young woman whose photograph he puts on the bookstore window) is a Norwegian. John's answer is quite elusive: "Both yes and no. She was from palestine, from a little village near Betlehem. She said she was a Palestinian refugee. But it seems she was born in Norway. The whole thing's so strange." And how about the fact that John the Baptist's mother is called Elisabeth? 

I guess all will be clarified in the end, meanwhile, we must be patient, and wait for tomorrow....

Previous posts:

- Day-1          - Day-13
- Day-2          - Day-14

- Day-3          - Day-15

- Day 4          - Day-16

- Day-5 

- Day-6 

- Day-7 

- Day-8 

- Day-9

- Day-10
- Day-11 
- Day-12

#AdventReading Day-16: The Christmas Mystery - Daniel (The 4th Shepherd)

 

credit: Flora Waycott

Now Joachim, Papa, and Mama cannot take their minds off the Advent calendar mystery; they think about it all the time. Joachim even thinks that the magic Advent calendar is like having a birthday everyday. Imagine if we can have that kind of thing 365 days in a year! But, really... I believe life is full of wonders and expectation, only if we allow it to govern our lives, instead of troubles and bitterness. I remember years ago when I had my first job. I've had a rough time to adapt to work situation. Nevertheless, I kept thinking about cheerful things when I woke up first in the morning: which clothes I'd wear today, which accessories to match it - just little things like that, but it kept me hopeful to face another rough day.  Why didn't I do that anymore? 

Anyway, the picture behind door number 16 is of an old castle. The pilgrims are in Croatia now in the 7th century. It was the time when old Roman Empire was divided into two: East and West, and Christian world was plundered by heathen peoples. The strange procession (and quite a procession too, containing of 16 men, girl, and sheep!) stop at an ancient ruins of a Roman imperial palace in Dalmatia. It was the old palace of Emperor Diocletian, who persecute the Christians.

It's in the year of 659 now, and they arrive at a little town called Ragusa, which was founded by the Greeks. Later on it became an important trading and shipping center town, called Dubrovnik. It is there that they meet another shepherd wearing blue tunic (just like Joshua, Jacob, and Isaac), called Daniel. Now there are four shepherd, seven sheep, two kings, two angels, and a littler girl.

City of Dubrovnik - today

Their next transit is the town of Scodra, which, after centuries, will be called Albania. It's in the year 602, when Christian Church had two capitals: Rome and Byzantium. Elisabet is wondering why there must be two capitals if they believe the same things. Impuriel's answer is worth to reflect upon:

"For there was only one Mary and only one Christ-child. Since then many millions of images of mary and the Christ-child have been painted and fashioned, and none of them are alike. For even though there was only one Christ-child, every person's imagination is a little different."

Albania - today

And that's where this 16th story ends. After reading the story together, Joachim and his parents are discussing about the mystery of the missing Elisabet girl in 1948. She was seven years old when vanishing, and she only left behind her knitted hat. Papa contacts the police, and even Elisabet's mother (now seventy years old), who remembers having talked to a man called John from Syria. 

It gets more mysterious... but we must end here. See you again tomorrow!

Previous posts:

- Day-1          - Day-13
- Day-2          - Day-14

- Day-3          - Day-15

- Day 4 

- Day-5 

- Day-6 

- Day-7 

- Day-8 

- Day-9

- Day-10
- Day-11 
- Day-12

#AdventReading Day-15: The Christmas Mystery - The Seventh Sheep

 

credit: Flora Waycott

Nowadays Joachim's Mama and Papa are as excited as Joachim when morning comes, and they are about to open the next door of the Advent Calendar. By the way, if you have your own Advent Calendar, would you think about cheating, and peeping what's inside tomorrow's door? Joachim once had that thought, but he controlled himself. I wonder whether his parents didn't have the same impulse.

Anyway, door no. 15 is for islands and skerries (islets) with houses on them. Elisabet and the gang (two kings, two angels, three shepherds, one Roman, six sheep - do I forget someone/something?..) has reached the Venetian lagoon. It's in the year 797, so that Venice is still young. Only few centuries ago The Venetians settled there to take refuge from sea pirates and barbarians. And while they are looking out, a boat is approaching; inside which stand some sheep. The rowing man offers them one sheep after Ephiriel saved him from drowning as he fell from the boat, and it becomes the seventh sheep of the growing flock.

Venetian Lagoon - today

After that, they resume their journey through Aquileia (an ancient town in Italy), and Trieste (a city on the Yugoslavia border). Tomorrow they will arrive at Croatia.

Same as yesterday, Joachim's Papa immediately consults his atlases (he also brings home a historical atlas) to locate the towns Elisabet and the gang has passed. To explain why he needs more than one atlas, here's a rather funny answer:

"History is like a big pile of pancakes where each pancake is a new map of the world." - it made me craving for pancakes!

Later in the afternoon, the family stop by at the market to look for John the flower seller, but he's nowhere to be seen. They ask the bookseller where John is from, and the bookseller reveals that John said he was born in Damaskus. Damaskus is the capital of Syria, so.... does that mean we will meet John again soon? 

Previous posts:

- Day-1          - Day-13
- Day-2          - Day-14

- Day-3 

- Day 4 

- Day-5 

- Day-6 

- Day-7 

- Day-8 

- Day-9

- Day-10
- Day-11 
- Day-12

#AdventReading Day-14: The Christmas Mystery - Isaac the 3rd Shepherd

credit: Flora Waycott

In term of plot, the fourteenth chapter is, by far, the flattest. There's almost no interesting thing happen.

A picture of a raft with people, animals and angels appears inside door number 14 when Joachim and his parents opens it. Of course, they are the fourteen pilgrims who are going to Betlehem through time and distant.

Their raft is sailing across River Po towards Padua. During their journey, people often see a glimpse - only a mere split of a second - of the weirdest procession they have ever seen. Some think it's a heavenly phenomenon, but most of them think it's only a reflection. I think the same goes with our faith. Some of us truly believe in God, in His Way and His Truth, in Heaven, but some might think it's just a tale. Just like Joachim's Papa. Unlike Mama, he's only interested in Elisabet and the gang's journey through distant - he even brings home a large atlas to follow their route by finger, which he confirms because he finds it in his atlas. He does not really believe that they could travel through time.

The River Po

When the pilgrims arrive at the town gate of Padua, they see a man in blue tunic sitting on a stone, who introduces himself as Isaac, the third shepherd, and he too is going to Betlehem with them.

Ephiriel looks at his angel watch; it shows the year 800. At Christmas Day Charles the Great or Charlemagne will be crowned Emperor of Rome.

Goodbye for now, and see you again tomorrow!

Previous posts:

- Day-1          - Day-13

- Day-2
- Day-3
- Day 4
- Day-5
- Day-6
- Day-7
- Day-8
- Day-9

- Day-10
- Day-11 
- Day-12

#AdventReading Day-13: The Christmas Mystery - The Sixth Sheep

credit: Flora Waycott

Today is the 13th day of Advent, and the story gets more mysterious and complicated every day. Remember the existence of two Advent calendars, Joachim's and Elisabet's? Well, today Elisabet finds a picture of an Advent calendar, just like hers, inside the 12th door of HER Advent calendar. She asks Quirinius what's inside it (the Advent calendar in the picture), and his answer would make your head spin.

Each door contains Elisabet's fragments of name - real and reversed. So in door-1 is Elisabet, door-2 Lisabet, then Isabet and so on until Et. After that came Te, Teb, and so on until Tebasile inside door 14. Next door is repeating door 1, and so there's door 22, 23, and 24 left. Door 22 is for Roma, 23 is Amor, and the last one is for Jesus.

Every letter of J-E-S-U-S are printed in different colors, representing all the colors of rainbow. And sure enough, rainbow is in the picture inside door 13 of Joachim's Advent calendar. You can't expect less, can you?

Like us, Elisabet is wondering: why rainbow? The answer is quite as beautiful as the rainbow:

"When it’s been raining heavily, and the sun breaks through the dark clouds, the rainbow appears in the sky. It’s as if a little bit of Jesus is in the air, for Jesus was a rainbow between heaven and earth."

By the way, they are now in Italy, in the 10th century. It's year 904 when they reach a trading city called Pavia, which, says Ephiriel, had a university that was famous throughout Europe. I wonder what a university looked like in the 10th century!

Next they are about to go across the River Po by boat, when a farmer offers a sheep to them. And so, now there are... err... how many of them? Anyway, right after they are on the river, Quirinius asks Elisabet to open door no. 13 of HER Advent calendar, inside which a man carrying a sheep appear on the picture....

I must leave you here before your head spinning much faster.

Previous posts:
 - Day-1

- Day-2
- Day-3
- Day 4
- Day-5
- Day-6
- Day-7
- Day-8
- Day-9

- Day-10
- Day-11 
- Day-12