- Aug 27, 2014
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A wonderful recent story that I missed because I don't know Dutch.
Translated by Google (I still don't know Dutch) from the Dutch-language website www.nieuwwij.nl, here is an interview about the young man's path, conducted by Femke van Loo.
The twenty (year old) Ruben van der Kaap traded in January his hometown of Enschede for the Syriac Orthodox monastery in Glane (village nearby). With his white skin and red hair Ruben is in a monastery where monks and nuns usually the Suryoyegemeenschap (as the ethnic designation of Syrian Orthodox, original inhabitants of the area we now south-east Turkey and Syria) houses. A candid conversation about his choice of the Syrian Orthodox Church.
How you came into contact with the Syrian Orthodox Church?
"My search for God, my spirituality and the truth brought me to the Syriac Orthodox Church. My search began as a process in which I explored many options, even several religions. Eventually I knew I had to find the truth. Not my truth, do not think from postmodernist, but a real sense of truth.
I found out that I was the tradition in which I grew up, the Dutch Reformed Church, to find a young form of Christianity. My research focused on finding answers to questions like "What is the church?" and 'what is really now in the Bible about being church? ". The questions led me to the Orthodox Church, the oldest church tradition. The music I found myself really spoke to on the Internet. The music was so spiritually charged, that I experienced as a listening and speaking of God. This way I got into the Syrian Orthodox Church very interested and I decided to visit the monastery in Glane.
Glane I entered the great cathedral. I walked to the altar, knelt and began to pray. A time that seemed to last ten minutes, lasted in reality more than an hour. While getting up I got a special, onomschrijfbaar feeling. This experience, as I call it, I will always remember. ''
What happened after this experience? There was someone ready to catch and to initiate you into the Syriac Orthodox Church?
'' No, there was really no one waiting for me. The church is not as missionary longer, due to the heavy persecution that has seen the church in history and still has in the Middle East. That the church collaboration not so focused on the outside world in the early difficult for me. It may sound strange, but I felt that God was on my side. I was at the right time in the right place. In this way I came very quickly in contact with the bishop, who allowed me to learn a lot. "
How did your surroundings on your choice of the Syriac Orthodox Church?
'' For my parents it was really some getting used to. When your parents say they would have preferred that you stay with your "own" church, do you know what. For my grandparents, this was difficult. You also get really another tradition, of course.
My Dutch contemporaries understood my choice is not so, though they had respect for it. Many nasty comments I did not have, but really Dutch friends I have no more. Suryoye youth (youth from ethnic group), however, totally loved it that I chose the Syriac Orthodox Church. I have found many new friends, good too. ''
What did you think of the Syriac Orthodox church which you did not like in the Dutch Reformed Church?
'' Within the Syriac Orthodox Church is much more space and attention to a rich liturgy. The meditative prayer and symbolism are central to the faith, spirituality. The valuable, deeper relationship with God is that the tradition has brought me closer to God. I think the Western churches, and especially the Protestant churches here could learn a lot from. The Syrian Orthodox Church has much to learn in turn from the organized nature of the young Protestantism. Especially in the Netherlands organized course. ''
What was needed to make you feel completely at home in the church?
'' That people take me seriously. Your input is appreciated. It was really as strange for many of the parishioners who attended a Dutch boy suddenly all celebrations. Luckily I got help quickly in the youth committee of a new church in Enschede and I was included in the Syrian Orthodox Youth Platform (SOJP). Then I was allowed to attend school to learn to read the language, Aramaic, and speaking. The Aramean creed example, you will need upon your joining the church to speak out flawlessly.
On June 9, 2013, I joined the church, and I received my chrismation (within the Roman Catholic tradition, this is the "Confirmation") of the bishop. On the day of St. Ephrem, I was made an example for the community; a professing member. An honor. Since my joining the church should I participate in the communion and I must confess when I want to. Something I when I was not a member yet, have long waited for. ''
You live a month in the monastery. Bounce you around problems?
''Yes. First, the language barrier is big. Talking to people, particularly the elderly, from Syria or Tur Abin (South-East Turkey) is very difficult. Between modern and classical Syriac is a lot of difference. Quite like I want a good command of the language. Here's just got to take time because the language is so different from the Dutch. In addition, I note that people of Suryoye community find it difficult to appoint a Dutch guy like me questions about the Church and the faith. Sometimes they think they fail to have to ask something to a Dutchman. Fortunately, I notice more and more that people ask their questions freely.
All in all I'd like to do more within the monastery. More tasks to fulfill and learn more. What I like most, still can not get my full attention, since I'm still studying and the weekends at my parents. Strange that I have no home of my parents 'home' more call. The monastery has really become my home. Here I have everything I need, this is my home. ''
What training do you follow and what you hope to achieve with this training?
'' I follow the training of Religion Volunteer Minister to Windesheim. My desire is to eventually be able to provide pastoral care in the church. But I dare careful to say that it is my greatest wish to be allowed to become priest. This is not only a function that you could "claim" within the Syrian Orthodox Church or "earn". No, the priesthood receive from God and the community. You'll have to be married as a priest. In any case, it is clear to me that I want to work in the church. The church youth workers, and pastoral staff needed. Here I see a future for myself. In order to work in the church next to my training I also follow a theological education in the church. The lessons are given by the bishop. Besides the theological lessons I continue to follow the language training that I so needed. ''
To what extent do you feel connected to Syria and the events there?
"Very strong connection I feel with the Christians in the Middle East, if only because I am a Christian. I think more people should feel connected to sister communities around the world. My spiritual heart lies particularly in Mesopotamia, where the Syriac Orthodox Church comes from. The heart of Christianity; one in which I believe there is. In the Middle East live my fellow brothers and sisters. I am therefore very excited about the apparent indifference of the Netherlands compared to places where people terribly evil is done. ''
And here is a more recent Dutch-language video interview with the young man, who is clearly still on this path (the title of the video apparently translates to "Ruben van der Kaap to become a priest in the Syriac Orthodox Church").
And just in case anyone is interested, here is a video of vespers from the Syriac Orthodox monastery in Glane where he has undertaken some study and living.
May God bless the future priest Ruben van der Kaap and all the Orthodox believers in the Netherlands, and bring many more to the Orthodox faith in that country and the whole world.
Translated by Google (I still don't know Dutch) from the Dutch-language website www.nieuwwij.nl, here is an interview about the young man's path, conducted by Femke van Loo.
The twenty (year old) Ruben van der Kaap traded in January his hometown of Enschede for the Syriac Orthodox monastery in Glane (village nearby). With his white skin and red hair Ruben is in a monastery where monks and nuns usually the Suryoyegemeenschap (as the ethnic designation of Syrian Orthodox, original inhabitants of the area we now south-east Turkey and Syria) houses. A candid conversation about his choice of the Syrian Orthodox Church.
How you came into contact with the Syrian Orthodox Church?
"My search for God, my spirituality and the truth brought me to the Syriac Orthodox Church. My search began as a process in which I explored many options, even several religions. Eventually I knew I had to find the truth. Not my truth, do not think from postmodernist, but a real sense of truth.
I found out that I was the tradition in which I grew up, the Dutch Reformed Church, to find a young form of Christianity. My research focused on finding answers to questions like "What is the church?" and 'what is really now in the Bible about being church? ". The questions led me to the Orthodox Church, the oldest church tradition. The music I found myself really spoke to on the Internet. The music was so spiritually charged, that I experienced as a listening and speaking of God. This way I got into the Syrian Orthodox Church very interested and I decided to visit the monastery in Glane.
Glane I entered the great cathedral. I walked to the altar, knelt and began to pray. A time that seemed to last ten minutes, lasted in reality more than an hour. While getting up I got a special, onomschrijfbaar feeling. This experience, as I call it, I will always remember. ''
What happened after this experience? There was someone ready to catch and to initiate you into the Syriac Orthodox Church?
'' No, there was really no one waiting for me. The church is not as missionary longer, due to the heavy persecution that has seen the church in history and still has in the Middle East. That the church collaboration not so focused on the outside world in the early difficult for me. It may sound strange, but I felt that God was on my side. I was at the right time in the right place. In this way I came very quickly in contact with the bishop, who allowed me to learn a lot. "
How did your surroundings on your choice of the Syriac Orthodox Church?
'' For my parents it was really some getting used to. When your parents say they would have preferred that you stay with your "own" church, do you know what. For my grandparents, this was difficult. You also get really another tradition, of course.
My Dutch contemporaries understood my choice is not so, though they had respect for it. Many nasty comments I did not have, but really Dutch friends I have no more. Suryoye youth (youth from ethnic group), however, totally loved it that I chose the Syriac Orthodox Church. I have found many new friends, good too. ''
What did you think of the Syriac Orthodox church which you did not like in the Dutch Reformed Church?
'' Within the Syriac Orthodox Church is much more space and attention to a rich liturgy. The meditative prayer and symbolism are central to the faith, spirituality. The valuable, deeper relationship with God is that the tradition has brought me closer to God. I think the Western churches, and especially the Protestant churches here could learn a lot from. The Syrian Orthodox Church has much to learn in turn from the organized nature of the young Protestantism. Especially in the Netherlands organized course. ''
What was needed to make you feel completely at home in the church?
'' That people take me seriously. Your input is appreciated. It was really as strange for many of the parishioners who attended a Dutch boy suddenly all celebrations. Luckily I got help quickly in the youth committee of a new church in Enschede and I was included in the Syrian Orthodox Youth Platform (SOJP). Then I was allowed to attend school to learn to read the language, Aramaic, and speaking. The Aramean creed example, you will need upon your joining the church to speak out flawlessly.
On June 9, 2013, I joined the church, and I received my chrismation (within the Roman Catholic tradition, this is the "Confirmation") of the bishop. On the day of St. Ephrem, I was made an example for the community; a professing member. An honor. Since my joining the church should I participate in the communion and I must confess when I want to. Something I when I was not a member yet, have long waited for. ''
You live a month in the monastery. Bounce you around problems?
''Yes. First, the language barrier is big. Talking to people, particularly the elderly, from Syria or Tur Abin (South-East Turkey) is very difficult. Between modern and classical Syriac is a lot of difference. Quite like I want a good command of the language. Here's just got to take time because the language is so different from the Dutch. In addition, I note that people of Suryoye community find it difficult to appoint a Dutch guy like me questions about the Church and the faith. Sometimes they think they fail to have to ask something to a Dutchman. Fortunately, I notice more and more that people ask their questions freely.
All in all I'd like to do more within the monastery. More tasks to fulfill and learn more. What I like most, still can not get my full attention, since I'm still studying and the weekends at my parents. Strange that I have no home of my parents 'home' more call. The monastery has really become my home. Here I have everything I need, this is my home. ''
What training do you follow and what you hope to achieve with this training?
'' I follow the training of Religion Volunteer Minister to Windesheim. My desire is to eventually be able to provide pastoral care in the church. But I dare careful to say that it is my greatest wish to be allowed to become priest. This is not only a function that you could "claim" within the Syrian Orthodox Church or "earn". No, the priesthood receive from God and the community. You'll have to be married as a priest. In any case, it is clear to me that I want to work in the church. The church youth workers, and pastoral staff needed. Here I see a future for myself. In order to work in the church next to my training I also follow a theological education in the church. The lessons are given by the bishop. Besides the theological lessons I continue to follow the language training that I so needed. ''
To what extent do you feel connected to Syria and the events there?
"Very strong connection I feel with the Christians in the Middle East, if only because I am a Christian. I think more people should feel connected to sister communities around the world. My spiritual heart lies particularly in Mesopotamia, where the Syriac Orthodox Church comes from. The heart of Christianity; one in which I believe there is. In the Middle East live my fellow brothers and sisters. I am therefore very excited about the apparent indifference of the Netherlands compared to places where people terribly evil is done. ''
And here is a more recent Dutch-language video interview with the young man, who is clearly still on this path (the title of the video apparently translates to "Ruben van der Kaap to become a priest in the Syriac Orthodox Church").
And just in case anyone is interested, here is a video of vespers from the Syriac Orthodox monastery in Glane where he has undertaken some study and living.
May God bless the future priest Ruben van der Kaap and all the Orthodox believers in the Netherlands, and bring many more to the Orthodox faith in that country and the whole world.
