#AdventReading Day-22: The Christmas Mystery - The Inn Keeper

 

credit: Flora Waycott

Three days before Christmas, the family find a picture of "a man standing in a river that reached up to his waist. The upper part of his body was clothed in rags." There's no doubt about who it might be implying - of course, it's John the Baptist. But is it the day we're gonna know whether John the flower seller is indeed John the Baptist?

The folded paper inside the door number 22 is titled: The Inn Keeper (I didn't see that coming, though - we never think about the inn keeper when we are talking about Christmas).

Anyway, today is the year 91, and Elisabet & co. is journeying through Samaria. They make a stop in River Jordan, then continuing to Jericho, which, according to Ephiriel, is possibly the oldest city in the world. Next they climb the Mount of Olives, from where they look down at Gethsemane.

Their next destination is, of course, the city of Jerusalem. it is now the year 71, and Elisabet is wondering how the city with ruined and destroyed buildings can be the Jewish capital. To which, Ephiriel is explaining about how the Romans had sacked and destroyed Jerusalem the year before, because its people had rebelled against Roman.

Impuriel is lamenting how humans kept singing about peace every Christmas, but never stop fighting each other. To which, Ephiriel is emphasizing that "...those who celebrate Christmas must remember that. Peace is the message of Christmas."

Entering the gate of Betlehem, they meet a man who is walking beside an ass, who introduces himself as The Inn Keeper, and that he is "one of them".

Meanwhile Joachim and his parents are wondering whether John the flower seller isn't in fact John the Baptist because when Joachim invited the flower seller to 'a cup of coffee', he said that he couldn't because he'll be going out in the wilderness - and John the Baptist also lived in the wilderness! However, a letter comes today for Joachim from the flower seller, who's inviting himself to 'a cup of coffee and a Christmas cookie' on Little Christmas Eve. I've just learned a Scandinavian tradition of Little Christmas Eve on the 23rd of December, when people usually begin to put and decorate their Christmas trees.

I can't wait to read about that little party tomorrow, but we must part here in the meantime.

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-19

- Day-8          - Day-20

- Day-9          - Day-21

- Day-10
- Day-11 
- Day-12

#AdventReading Day-21: The Christmas Mystery - Evangeliel (The Fifth Angel)

credit: Flora Waycott

On the 21st day of December, Joachim is rather worried about Christmas, because it means the excitement of finding something new from the Advent calendar everyday would be no more. Today's picture is of a village beside a shining lake. The village and the low hills round the lake were bathed in gold.

The pilgrims are walking alongside the bank of River Barada in the 2nd century. Two soldiers at the gate of Damascus see the glimpse of the procession, and while wondering what that was, remember a story of two other soldiers at the east gate, one of whom had been knocked over by a strange procession few days ago.

The pilgrims finally reach Lake of Gennesareth in Galilee, the image of which is printed inside door no. 21 of Joachim's magic Advent calendar.

"The village consisted of simple houses with a small shed for livestock at one end. Between the houses walked loaded donkeys led by men wearing tunics and cloaks. The women, in loose clothing, were carrying jars on their heads."

It is in the village of Capernaum, on the old caravan trail between Damascus and Egypt, where Jesus called His first disciples.

The three angels then explains things that had happened on the Lake Gennesareth according to the Bible. They also make a stop to see the place where Jesus made His Sermon on the Mount and taught people to pray and to be kind to one another. The essence of which, the Three Wise Men highlighted that "That is the message of Christmas."

It is in the year of 107, that the procession stop at Nazareth, the town where the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and tell her she was going to have a child, and where Jesus grew up.

And suddenly, something is falling down from the sky - similar to the yesterday's phenomenon. The fifth angel is blowing the trumpet he's holding, and says: 'I am the angel Evangeliel, and I proclaim to you a great joy. There is only a short time left until Jesus is born.’

Christmas is nearer, and while our journey is near to end, Joachim and his parents are yet to solve the mystery of who had made the magic Calendar, who is Elisabet, and whether the whole story they have been reading has a remote correlation with history. So, let them pondering for a while, and see whether they will solve it tomorrow.


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-19

- Day-8          - Day-20

- Day-9

- Day-10
- Day-11 
- Day-12

#AdventReading Day-20: The Chrismas Mystery - Cherubiel (The Fourth Angel)

credit: Flora Waycott

It's four days to Christmas. Papa and Mama are now waking up before Joachim every morning, so excited to open the door of the magic Advent calendar, which today reveals a peculiar un-Christmas-sy picture: a man lying on the ground, looking up at a bright light that was shining down from heaven. What could it be?

Meanwhile, the pilgrims are getting closer to Betlehem. They are now running along through Asia Minor, and arrive in Syria. They stop for a while at Tarsus, the birthplace of Saint Paul, then speed along the Gulf of Alex-andretta till they reach Antioch, where Paul's missionary journey had first begun.

Here Ephiriel explains about how Paul's missionary had spread Christianity to whole other nations, so that Jesus didn't belong to the Jews only.

Then they arrive at an old Roman road towards Damascus, the capital of Syria, where Ephiriel makes them stop. It turns out to be the same road where Paul had a vision, and converted (that is what the picture in today's Advent calendar represents). Ephiriel calls that "a miracle that was of great importance for the history of the whole world." Even Emperor Augustus plants his scepter on the exact spot, as token of his approval.

Paul's conversion

While Ephiriel is speaking, something falls down from the sky. It's the fourth angel: Cherubiel, who will take the journey with them to Betlehem. It is now the year of 235 .

Meanwhile, it is Sunday at Joachim's. He and his parents are starting to make some Christmas preparations, cleaning the house, baking cakes, and colouring marzipan sweets. Today Papa even read the Bible to check the story about Paul. So, we better leave them all for now, and come back again tomorrow.

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-19

- Day-8 

- Day-9

- Day-10
- Day-11 
- Day-12

#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