Introduction
Fr George Skaramangás (1867-1944) was an energetic and popular figure on the Greek island of Paros, both as priest at the Ekatontapyliani (Church of the Hundred Doors) and as founder of the island’s Byzantine Museum. His adopted daughter married Spiros Mavris, a local hero of the Resistance. The following events took place in his time.
And the blind and the lame
came to him in the temple;
and he healed them.
Matthew 21:14
IT was August, the Feast of the Dormition of Mary,* and among the crowds was a mother and her seriously disabled daughter, aged twenty. After the services were over, with the priest’s blessing she tearfully laid her daughter on the marble paving right beneath the icon of Mary, and there day after day they remained, from morning service until late, in unbroken prayer.
At some stage, it occurred to the priest to cense the icon and sing the Marian hymn beginning ‘It is truly right’.* As he did so, he felt some inner force almost knock him off his feet. At the same time, he saw that the girl was standing up unaided, and whispering hoarsely, ‘I’m fine. I can walk. The Panagia told me so.’*
Soon the church bells were ringing joyously, and the clergy were chanting hymns of thanksgiving. The girl later married, and every August she and her husband brought her mother back to the place where her faith had been so richly rewarded.
On August 15th each year, the Church keeps the Feast of the Dormition of the Birthgiver of God, her ‘falling asleep’. According to Christian tradition, the Virgin Mary died surrounded by the Apostles and was buried, only for her body to have disappeared by the the third day. The feast is also known as the Easter of Summertime. See all posts tagged The Falling Asleep of the Theotokos (5), and for another miracle from Paros at this time, see The Miracle of Piso Livadi.
On the origin of this hymn, see The Voice of an Angel.
‘Panagia’ means ‘all-holy (lady)’, and is a popular address for the Virgin Mary.
Précis
A mother on the Greek island of Paros brought her disabled twenty-year-old daughter to church, and laid her in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary. She had done this for several days when, as the priest censed the icon, he felt a thrill run through him, and then saw the disabled woman was walking, completely cured. (58 / 60 words)
A mother on the Greek island of Paros brought her disabled twenty-year-old daughter to church, and laid her in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary. She had done this for several days when, as the priest censed the icon, he felt a thrill run through him, and then saw the disabled woman was walking, completely cured.
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: although, because, if, just, may, must, or, since.
Archive
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 Hymn. Same. Soon.
2 Beginning. Come. Whisper.
3 Begin. Chant. Have.
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.)
Adjectives Find in Think and Speak
For each word below, compose sentences to show that it may be used as an adjective. Adjectives provide extra information about a noun, e.g. a black cat, a round table, the early bird etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Forceful. 2 Late. 3 Same. 4 Rightful. 5 Blessed. 6 Tearful. 7 Latest. 8 Serious. 9 Disabled.
Variations: 1.show whether your adjective can also be used as e.g. a noun, verb or adverb. 2.show whether your adjective can be used in comparisons (e.g. good/better/best). 3.show whether your adjective can be used in attributive position (e.g. a dangerous corner) and also in predicate position (this corner is dangerous).
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. Foot. 2. Stage. 3. Daughter. 4. Day. 5. Beginning. 6. Service. 7. Priest. 8. Husband. 9. Reward.
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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