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As part of the requirements for my Theology class, I visited the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. From the moment we arrived, I became acutely aware of its unique ‘old world’ feel. Our guide informed us that not much had changed over the 1500 plus years when the Orthodox tradition was first started. I found it remarkable that their worship is pretty much the same as it was when it was first practiced by Christians in the Middle Ages. To me, that demonstrates how connected they are with their forefathers, making every effort to preserve what is most valuable to them for future generations.

The architecture of the sanctuary itself was quite impressive. Golden domes loomed overhead, as if they were beacons of goodwill. And a fount out front greeted congregants and visitors alike, with the soothing sound of trickling water. Once inside, the interior was equally astounding. Massive paintings graced every spare inch of wall space. Iconography, as it is called, depicts key events in the life of Christ or images of the saints. Flickering candles and pungent incense complemented the somber atmosphere of the sanctuary. Another element of their worship that I enjoyed was the chanting. Staying true to their Greek roots, the liturgy was sung predominantly in Greek; however, there were instances where English was used as well. But, in my opinion, English couldn’t compare with the Greek on the basis that, as you would imagine, the Greek seemed to flow better. The priest explained to us later that their tradition encourages active participation by all five senses: tasting the Communion; seeing the icons; smelling the incense; hearing the chanting; and feeling the icons by veneration, usually in the form of a kiss.

It’s important to maintain traditions. At times they may seem foolish or out-dated, but they have shaped us into who we are today. My experience at the Greek Orthodox church taught me a lesson in relativity. What I believe to be relevant now is subject to change in a heartbeat. But, I take comfort in knowing that a God who was relevant to Abraham and Moses, is relevant today. Although attitudes, societies, and people change, God is current.

This past Friday, the Messiah College Cultural Series opened with a concert by the band Cellofourte. For those expecting to hear traditional classical music, myself included, we were pleasantly surprised to hear classical music conveyed with a rock-infused twist.

Let me just begin by saying that I have no musical talent whatsoever. But, I do believe that musicians have the power to make persons like me, who don’t know a lick about music, appreciate music on another level beyond just what sounds good. For me, music speaks volumes culturally and provides a sense of belonging.

Cellofourte proved to be a funky group of college-aged musicians who, to put it bluntly, want to make classical music “young”. This was evident by upbeat tracks, complete with head-banging and all. For me, their rendition of Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life” was moving. Even without the lyrics, the message of the song was very clear. As the doleful chords permeated Miller Auditorium, emotions such as anguish and pain were unmistakable. During intermission, the CDs flew off the table–we had been hooked.