Thirty-four consonants between them! That's what we're talking about in the long-anticipated Battle of the Consonants between Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky and Nikolaus von Zinzendorf. You have 24-hours (or 10 fewer hours than consonants) to decide this tongue twister of a matchup.
With only three battles left in the Round of 32, we will be kicking off the Saintly Sixteen on Thursday. The field is narrowing, folks! In case you missed it, on Friday Scholastica schooled Macrina the Younger 64% to 37%. But that's old news. So let's get on with it, shall we?
But first, check out this article about Lent Madness written by Emily Miller of Religion News Service that made its way into various secular newspapers over the weekend.
Oh, and we challenge you to write a limerick based on today's matchup. Just because. Leave your best attempt in the comment section.
Joseph Schereschewsky
Born in Russian Lithuania in 1831 and raised by his half-brother, Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky was groomed to become a rabbi. During his theological education, he received and read a copy of the New Testament in Hebrew. Becoming convinced of Christ’s divinity, Schereschewsky moved to Germany to continue his studies of Christianity and theology before ultimately immigrating to the United States in 1854. He celebrated his baptism as part of a Baptist worship community in New York the following year.
After falling in with the Baptists, he felt led to investigate the Presbyterian experience, and eventually made his way to the Episcopal Church, enrolling at the General Theological Seminary in New York City. In 1859, Schereschewsky offered himself as a missionary to China. The Foreign Committee of the Episcopal Church agreed to his proposed mission and consecrated him a deacon, and Schereschewsky jumped a steamer to Shanghai.
Schereschewsky was a stone-cold genius with language—to call him a polyglot is an understatement. By young adulthood, Schereschewsky could speak Yiddish, Hebrew, German, Polish, and Russian with absolute fluency. When he arrived in China, he began translating the Bible into the vernacular of the people to whom he was ministering. Once the Bible was translated, he also translated The Book of Common Prayer into Mandarin. Schereschewsky’s ministry in China was so vibrant that the House of Bishops called him to serve as Bishop of Shanghai in 1877.
Schereschewsky fell ill after arriving in China. A degenerative neurological disease resulted in the resignation of his episcopate in 1883 and his return to the United States. Schereschewsky spent the final years of his life entirely paralyzed, except for one finger, which he used to painstakingly type out his translations of the scriptures. These translations were so accurate and understandable that they are still used today. By the time of his death, Schereschewsky had translated the word of God into Mandarin, Wenli, and Mongolian, as well as compiling a Mongolian-to-English dictionary.
Collect for Joseph Schereschewsky
O God, who in your providence called Joseph Schereschewsky from his home in Eastern Europe to the ministry of this Church, and sent him as a missionary to China, upholding him in his infirmity, that he might translate the Holy Scriptures into languages of that land: Lead us, we pray, to commit our lives and talents to you, in the confidence that when you give your servants any work to do, you also supply the strength to do it; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Nikolaus von Zinzendorf
Nikolaus von Zinzendorf was a German poet, preacher, hymn writer, theologian, religious leader, and bishop. The phrase most closely linked with Zinzendorf is Unitas Fratrum or Unity of Brethren. The words have been associated with The Moravian Church since its inception.
Born into one of the great noble families of Austria in 1700, the young duke took a great interest in theology and religion. In 1716, he began his study of law at the University of Wittenberg in preparation for a career in diplomacy. Three years later, Zinzendorf departed the university and traveled throughout Europe. Upon acquiring a Saxony estate, Zinzendorf allowed the religious group Unitas Fratrum to settle on his land. There, the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living was born, reflecting a rich liturgical and devotional life. Zinzendorf said, “All of life becomes a liturgy, and even the most mundane task can be an act of worship.” Unitas Fratrum became the Moravian Church.
Zinzendorf was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1735 and consecrated a bishop in the Moravian Church in Berlin two years later. Regarded as a strong leader, Zinzendorf dedicated his personal funds and fortune to the work of the church, becoming a staunch advocate for ecumenism. In 1741, Zinzendorf and a group of companions arrived in the American colonies to minister to the Indigenous population and German-speaking immigrants. Inspired by their Christmas arrival, the missionaries named the new settlement Bethlehem. Zinzendorf preached the gospel to everyone he encountered—free people, indentured servants, slaves, and Indigenous peoples—including leaders of the Iroquois Nation, Benjamin Franklin, and other notable leaders in the colonies.
By the time Zinzendorf died on May 9, 1760, the Moravians had dispatched an astonishing 226 missionaries across the Americas and around the world to spread the good news of Jesus and his love. One of Zinzendorf’s best-known offerings is the Moravian Common Table Prayer: “Come Lord Jesus, be our Guest and let thy gifts to us be blessed.”
Collect for Nikolaus von Zinzendorf
God of new life in Christ, We remember the bold witness of your servant Nikolaus von Zinzendorf, through whom your Spirit moved to draw many to faith and conversion of life. We pray that we, like him, may rejoice to sing your praises, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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263 comments on “Joseph Schereschewsky vs. Nikolaus von Zinzendorf”
My vote today was MADingly clear!!!
Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky
Former Baptist, like me!
Plus, how fitting that one of his middle names - ISAAC - is my dad's name - and the meaning so appropriate for Len Madness!!! It's derived from צָחַק (tzachaq) meaning "to laugh"
Must confess prejudice. Pre judging before reading about Schereschewsky, whose life is also worth honoring. My years of meditating on Zinzendorf's writings, and the fruits of the Moravians has warped my spirit.
(Assuming pronunciation here)
There once was a guy Schereschewsky
To him languages were not pesky.
Although he got ill
He did more than nil
He used his one finger to press keys.
There once was a Duke Von Zinzendorf
who to a model Christian did morph.
To America he came
in the Moravian Missionary Name
Preaching from the moment he landed on the wharf.
Oh and I went with Schereschewsky, because if the pronunciation is right he actually was easier to rhyme with. Plus you know, that whole language and one finger thing.
Joe was a great man with one finger
That functioned; he was a humdinger,
Translating the Word
For those who’d never heard
Of Jesus with Whom our hearts linger.
Nikolaus unified his brothers
And sisters in Christ; preached to others.
We still use his prayer
When at table we share
Fellowship and food at Grandmother’s.
Always wanting to support the underdog, I voted for Mr. Z. I like how he gave up his status and wealth for the work of the church. But mostly I like how he supported the early Celtic Christians belief (1700 yrs. before) that “All of life becomes a liturgy, and even the most mundane task can be an act of worship.”
Love the Limericks. It is unclear to me how I ever did Lent without this wondrousness.
I wish Nikolaus had more of a hope. The jaw dropping work of Moravians among enslaved people in the parts of the world I am from is amazing to me. There's an awesome newish book to about even the enslaved came to feel themselves a part of a transatlantic Christian community. Amazing. We take that feeling for granted ...
Joseph Schereschewsky: Baptist to Presbyterian to Episcopalian. How I not vote for him.
Jew to Baptist to Presbyterian to Episcopalian!
As a fellow convert from Judaism to Christianity (although without the good bishop's peregrinations), I had to vote for Joseph Schereschewsky.
My family still prays the prayer by Nikolaus von Zinzendorf, so I had to go with him.
For me, this was a hard one - both men contributed so much to the faith of so many. Loved Nikolaus' observation that even the most mundane task becomes worship.
I was undecided until reading the comments.
Zinzendorf it is!
I have admired and even preached about Samuel Schereschevsky for years. In incomparable genius in language, with a heart for the gospel and evangelization.
The Episcopalian translated scripture & the BCP, typing mostly with ONE FINGER. That is ah-mazing to me. I must urge a vote for the Rt. Rev. Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky!
Am having an impossible time choosing between these two. On the one hand, how can I fail to vote for the Episcopalian and on the other, how can I fail to vote for the one whose life most resembles how I believe daily life should be lived? Some help please?
Once more, as so often, I go with a loser and a hymnist (though not a musician). Zinzendorf's work does not occur in Hymnal 1982, although Hymnal 1940 has "O thou to whose all-searching light" and "Jesus, lead the way"--neither of which registers in my failing memory of the time before 1982. I often wonder at the infinite wisdom of hymnal revision committees.
I also found two entries for Nicolaus von Zinzendorf in the 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship: titles of "Jesus, still lead on" (# 341, familiar tune Seelenbrautigam + umlaut) and "Jesus, your blood and righteousness" (#302, familiar tune, O Jesu Christe, ,wahres Licht). One newer hymnal since 1978.
wow! We certainly have some talented limerick writers! And witty!
This was very hard for me - they both are amazing! I finally decided on Zinzendorf and has been the case of late - I am again in the minority. Love this opportunity to read, share and discover more about these leaders!
Very hard choice. However growing up Lutheran the Zinzendorf prayer was always said. In German However it was slightly different. "Come Lord Jesus and be our guest and bless this food which Thou hast given us. " Amen.
During my misspent youth i spent some time taking bibles into China so how could I not vote for the remarkable dedication of Joseph Schereschewsky.
Today, flummoxed as usual, I voted for courage, stamina, intellect and extraordinary hard work, over hospitality, gentleness, peace and delight. Luckily, in our life of faith we don't have to choose one over the other. Both are needed in our work and witness, as I imagine both of today's saints would readily agree.
As someone of mixed Jewish and Christian heritage, and having spent much of my professional life at a keyboard (using more than one finger, fortunately), I must vote for Schereschevsky. Plus, I love a polyglot.
Between Joe and Nick,
It's difficult to pick.
But Joe's many languages I admire,
To learn that many I aspire.
But at 75, my brain has turned to brick.
Amazing that a Mormon news service would pick up Lenten Madness.
They own RNS? Or are you speaking of another news organization?
The poetry and limericks were simply too much - I wasn't able to vote until later today than I normally do (first thing in the morning) and was amazed at the great skill of our many poets and the witty limericks - does this mean that there will be an additional contest this year for the best of the limericks? Or perhaps and edition of Lent Madness poets, humorists, and kooky limericks - could be a best seller. By the way I voted for Joseph. I have trouble typing with all ten fingers, can't even imagine doing what he did with one finger.
Living faith and ecumenical thinking they shared
In their missions they honored the peoples for whom they cared
Schereschewsky translated God’s word with a finger
Zinzendorf tells us all of life becomes a liturgy with which to linger
Commit your life and talents too, be dared.
Travel in the days of both Shereschewsky and Zinzindorf would have to have been horrendous. Both of these saints deserve a vote, but I am with Shereshewsky since he ventured into the unique culture of China and put his language abilities to use promoting the word of God.
Here's my limerick
A new matchup we get on Lent Madness,
Schereschewsky and Zinzendorf no less.
Moravian or polyglot,
We thicken the plot
Who will win? One or the other I guess.
Well done, Claire!
Excellent! And your choice for the winner will be 100% correct, for sure.
I voted for Joseph.
We won a convert today! "You mean saints have brackets, like March Madness?" Why yes, yes they do!! I might add this was part of a discussion about St Gertrude the patron Saint of cats and gardeners. Perchance she might be included next year as she brought yet another soul to our cause. R U listening SEC???
Oh, gee! I do love a great Z name and couldn't ask for one better than Zinzendorf...
Zinzendorf is awesome. He opened his estate to religious refugees, cool. He was one of those rare rich men who seemed to get through the eye of a needle, stamina and determination and sincere love for Jesus, cool. His legacy is really inspiring - for those who finally decide that with Jesus, your all in or your sitting on the bench and just being ridiculous. The Moravians are an interesting lot in terms of how they behave. I could definitely benefit by adopting their standards.
Schereschewsky - a Jew who came to follow Jesus after an honest and careful study. Wow! A seeker. He toured the faith through the Baptists, the Presbyterians (attended seminary at Tim Keller's Alma Mater - Western Theological Seminary combined with another to become Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1959), and finally the switch to Episcopalian. I really respect this man's seeking - he found Jesus and then he kept moving until he found the right faith culture.
One amazing thing about this dear man that got left out - after his terrible diagnosis and paralysis issue unfolded and he returned to the US for treatment - which proved pointless, he returned to Shanghai to live and work along with his wife. WHO WAS THAT WOMAN, AND WHY ISN'T SHE CONSIDERED A SAINT????
I'm so thrilled to come to know these lovely Christians and am challenged by their fortitude and vision. Thanks Lent Madness.
In the battle of the consonants I cast my vote for Joseph Scherechewsky tho' my preference was based on whimsy: as a collector of older printed dictionaries and grammars (mainly 19th century) I would love to have his Mongolian-English dictionary in my library. And while Nikolaus von Zinzendorf's practical Christianity appeals to me, I find his writing so the peasants would understand him somewhat condescending. BTW our celebrity blogger, Neva Rae Fox, has inadvertently promoted this count (Graf) to a higher grade of nobility, duke (Herzog) than he ever held. He was not then, nor has he ever been, a duke, but tho' merely a count, Zinzendorf was certainly not a no-account count. Limerick to follow!