A friend of mine sent me this photo in December. I don't fully understand the significance of such a photo but I appreciated their having shared it with me. They are mitred Deacons, a curious Armenian tradition. As Gandalf said to Gimli on the confines of Hollin, ''may you have joy of the sight, my good dwarf!''
I am presently listening to Good King Wenceslas, a favourite Christmas carol of mine (and one which I know off by heart), though I am trying in vain to recall the amusing lyrics composed by a friend of mine about that awful Pope Sarto...
A very happy feast of St Stephen Protomartyr to you all!
I am so glad that J.M.Neale did not give in to puritan Anglican pressure to alter two lines in G.K.W to:
ReplyDeleteBring me milk and bring me bread
Thou and I shall see him fed,
as was suggested, but as he had written a ballad against teetotalism he refused. The words and tune are charming even if dear old Percy Dearmer heavily criticised it as doggerel. Alan Robinson
Alan Robinson,
ReplyDeleteI can't stand teetotal people. It is very Catholic and proper to drink. Can you imagine a teetotal Hobbit? Even the Sackville-Bagginses drank!
On St. Stephen's Day, December 25th in the Armenian Calendar, deacons may wear mitres in honour of the Deacon Protomartyr.
ReplyDeleteI rather hope I might see it 'live' on year.