There is an intense feeling of close personal attention as the deacon carries them through the Royal Gates.* A beautifully bound copy — in ordinary churches the best they have — rests upon the altar, in its very centre, with a silken covering, and when the priest comes to celebrate he first kisses it, and then, lifting it up and setting it upon end, and laying the corporal where it has rested, with the chalice and paten upon it, proceeds to the Liturgy. The consecration takes place on that part of the altar where the Gospels have lain before, and where they will again be laid when the service is over. Then there is nothing in the ordinary services to compare with the reading of the Holy Gospel to the people, nor is any special or private ministration complete without reading some portion of these, the most important parts of the sacred Scriptures.
It is easy to see, therefore, how it comes about that the Russian sense of the living Christ is essentially that which is realized by His Apostles and described in the New Testament. If Russia gives, as we pray she may, a lead to Christendom in the direction of unity, she will have a wonderfully uplifting and apostolic contribution to offer to the common stock of our Christian heritage.
* The Royal Doors are two swinging gates at the centre of a large screen which separates the sanctuary (where the altar stands) from the rest of a Russian Orthodox church.
Précis
Bury painted an enthusiastic picture of the honoured place held by the Gospel book in Russian church services, stressing that it was not mere ritual, but matched by the affection of the people. Indeed, he felt that this almost tangible affection was something that the Russians could teach the English, and that could even bring Christendom back together. (58 / 60 words)
Bury painted an enthusiastic picture of the honoured place held by the Gospel book in Russian church services, stressing that it was not mere ritual, but matched by the affection of the people. Indeed, he felt that this almost tangible affection was something that the Russians could teach the English, and that could even bring Christendom back together.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: despite, if, just, must, or, otherwise, ought, who.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Appeal. Cover. End.
2 Gate. Last. Unity.
3 I. No. Rest.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 End. 2 Part. 3 Sense. 4 Lift. 5 Lie. 6 Move. 7 Spirit. 8 Service. 9 Appeal.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Phrase. 2. Great. 3. Good. 4. People. 5. Will. 6. Form. 7. Common. 8. Lie. 9. Look.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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