Commemoration in the biblical context refers to the act of remembering and honoring significant events, individuals, or divine acts. It is a practice deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, serving as a means to recall God's faithfulness, covenant, and the history of His people. Commemoration is often expressed through rituals, feasts, and memorials, which are intended to instruct and remind future generations of God's mighty works and promises.

Old Testament Commemoration

In the Old Testament, commemoration is frequently associated with the feasts and festivals instituted by God for the Israelites. One of the most significant commemorative events is the Passover, which celebrates Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Exodus 12:14 states, "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come." The Passover serves as a perpetual reminder of God's saving power and His covenant with Israel.

Another example is the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, which commemorates the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and God's provision during that time. Leviticus 23:42-43 instructs, "You are to live in booths for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must live in booths, so that your descendants may know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

Memorial stones also play a role in biblical commemoration. In Joshua 4:6-7, the Israelites set up twelve stones taken from the Jordan River as a memorial to God's miraculous stopping of the river's flow, allowing them to cross on dry ground. The stones served as a tangible reminder of God's intervention and faithfulness.

New Testament Commemoration

In the New Testament, commemoration takes on a new dimension with the institution of the Lord's Supper. Jesus, during the Last Supper, commands His disciples to partake of the bread and wine in remembrance of Him. Luke 22:19 records, "And He took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'" The Lord's Supper is a central act of Christian worship, commemorating Christ's sacrificial death and the new covenant established through His blood.

The New Testament also emphasizes the commemoration of Christ's resurrection, which is celebrated weekly on the Lord's Day, or Sunday. This practice is rooted in the early church's recognition of the significance of the resurrection as the cornerstone of Christian faith and hope.

Commemoration in Christian Practice

Throughout church history, commemoration has continued to play a vital role in Christian worship and practice. The liturgical calendar, with its various feasts and holy days, serves to commemorate key events in the life of Christ and the history of the church. These commemorations are intended to deepen the faith of believers, foster a sense of continuity with the past, and inspire hope for the future.

In addition to liturgical practices, personal and communal acts of commemoration, such as the celebration of anniversaries of significant spiritual events or the remembrance of saints and martyrs, serve to reinforce the faith and identity of Christian communities.

Commemoration, therefore, is not merely an act of recalling the past but is a dynamic practice that shapes the present and future of the faith community, anchoring it in the unchanging truths of God's Word and His redemptive work throughout history.1. (n.) The act of commemorating; an observance or celebration designed to honor the memory of some person or event.

2. (n.) Whatever serves the purpose of commemorating; a memorial.

3417. mneia -- remembrance, mention
... Transliteration: mneia Phonetic Spelling: (mni'-ah) Short Definition: remembrance,
recollection Definition: remembrance, recollection, mention; commemoration. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3417.htm - 7k2143. zeker -- remembrance, memorial
... Or zeker {zeh'-ker}; from zakar; a memento, abstr. Recollection (rarely if ever);
by implication, commemoration -- memorial, memory, remembrance, scent. ...
/hebrew/2143.htm - 6k

Concerning the Neglect of the Commemoration.
... Sermons. Sermon LXXXIV . Concerning the Neglect of the Commemoration.
Concerning the Neglect of the Commemoration. I. The Churchmen ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon lxxxiv concerning the.htm

Centenary Commemoration
... CENTENARY COMMEMORATION. OF THE ELECTION OF BISHOP SEABURY. 1883. ... The opening service
was made a formal commemoration of the election of Bishop Seabury. ...
/.../the sermons and addresses at the seabury centenary/centenary commemoration.htm

Centenary Commemoration
... CENTENARY COMMEMORATION. ... Such a commemoration fitly ends the series of centenary
observances which we began in Woodbury in the spring-tide of 1883. ...
/.../centenary commemoration 2.htm

Centenary Commemoration of the Consecration of Bishop Seabury. ...
... CENTENARY COMMEMORATION OF THE CONSECRATION OF BISHOP SEABURY. 1884. THE RT. REV.
SAMUEL SEABURY, DD WAS CONSECRATED FIRST BISHOP OF CONNECTICUT AT ABERDEEN,. ...
/.../centenary commemoration of the consecration.htm

Prefatory Note.
... In his address to the Diocesan Convention of 1881, Bishop Williams suggested the
appointment of a committee to provide for the appropriate commemoration of the ...
/.../various/the sermons and addresses at the seabury centenary/prefatory note.htm

The Epistle of the Emperor Constantine, Concerning the Matters ...
... "The commemoration of the most sacred paschal feast ... One day has our Saviour set apart
for a commemoration of our deliverance, namely, of His most holy Passion. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter ix the epistle of the.htm

Whether the Effect of Christ's Priesthood is the Expiation of Sins ...
... have ceased to be offered; because the worshipers once cleansed should have no
conscience of sin any longer; but in them there is made a commemoration of sins ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the effect of christs.htm

Eucharistic Rites. Liturgy.
... But we cannot justly assume, from a mere omission in so brief a summary, that the
Commemoration of the Institution had no place in the Liturgy then in use at ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/chapter v eucharistic rites liturgy.htm

Sacred Times --The Lord's Day.
... It appears, therefore, from the New Testament itself, that Sunday was observed as
a day of worship, and in special commemoration of the Resurrection, whereby ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 57 sacred timesthe lords.htm

George Borrow
... You may desire some explanation of why we in this Cathedral, have thought it right
to take part with the city in the public commemoration of George Borrow. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/beeching/george borrow/george borrow.htm

Commemoration (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) Whatever serves the purpose of commemorating; a memorial.
Multi-Version Concordance Commemoration (1 Occurrence). Esther ...
/c/commemoration.htm - 7k

Purim (5 Occurrences)
... A lot, lots, a festival instituted by the Jews (Esther 9:24-32) in ironical
commemoration of Haman's consultation of the Pur (a Persian word), for the purpose ...
/p/purim.htm - 16k

Pur (3 Occurrences)
... A lot, lots, a festival instituted by the Jews (Esther 9:24-32) in ironical
commemoration of Haman's consultation of the Pur (a Persian word), for the purpose ...
/p/pur.htm - 15k

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A festival of the Roman Catholic and other churches in commemoration of
the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles; which occurred on the day of ...
/p/pentecost.htm - 21k

Jubilee (25 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The joyful commemoration held on the fiftieth anniversary of any event;
as, the jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign; the jubilee of the American Board of ...
/j/jubilee.htm - 27k

Wake (34 Occurrences)
... a vigil. 12. (n.) An annual parish festival formerly held in commemoration
of the dedication of a church. Originally, prayers were ...
/w/wake.htm - 17k

Festivals (17 Occurrences)
... This feast was appointed by Judas Maccabaeus in commemoration of the purification
of the temple after it had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes. ...
/f/festivals.htm - 15k

Feast (209 Occurrences)
... ta egkainia, John 10:22): A feast held by the Jews throughout the country for eight
days, commencing on the 25th Kiclev (December), in commemoration of the ...
/f/feast.htm - 47k

Regemmelech (1 Occurrence)
... re'-gem-me'-lek, re'-gem-mel'-ek (reghem melekh): One of a deputation sent to inquire
concerning the propriety of continuing the commemoration of the ...
/r/regemmelech.htm - 7k

Regem-melech (1 Occurrence)
... re'-gem-me'-lek, re'-gem-mel'-ek (reghem melekh): One of a deputation sent to inquire
concerning the propriety of continuing the commemoration of the ...
/r/regem-melech.htm - 7k

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Commemoration: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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