ORTHODIXIE ... Southern, Orthodox, Convert, Etc.

Per Huw Raphael's mention of the article entitled "EDUCATION: The End of Faith," in the January issue of The WORD, here follows an excerpt from Tom Wolf's latest novel, "I Am Charlotte Simmons," which speaks to the moral/ethical struggle of college life.

[Charlotte's friend, Laurie, is attending NC State; Charlotte, Dupont. They both hail from a small town in the mountains of Western North Carolina. By phone, Laurie is making an apology for cutting loose.]

"I guess what I really mean is college is like this four-year period you have when you can try anything -- and everything -- and if it goes wrong, there's no consequences? You know what I mean? Nobody's keeping score? You can do things that if you tried them before you got to college, your family would be crying and pulling thier hair out and giving you these now-see-what-you've-gone-and-done looks? -- and everybody in Sparta would be clucking and fuming and having a ball talking behind your back about it? -- and if you tried these things after you left college and you're working, everybody's gonna ... blow a fuse, and your boss or whoever will call you in for a ..."

"... little talk, he'll call it, or if you have a boyfriend or a husband, he's gonna totally freak out or crawl off like a dog, which would be just as bad, because it'd make you feel guilty? I mean look at it this way, Charlotte. College is the only time in your life, or your adult life anyway, when you can really experiment, and at a certain point, when you leave, when you graduate or whatever, everybody's memory like evaporates. You tried this and this and this and this, and you learned a lot about how things are, but nobody's gonna remember it? It's like amnesia, totally, and there's no record, and you leave exactly the way you came in, pure as rainwater." [p.157]

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Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Statement/Appeal Regarding the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean Basin
December 29, 2004

Venerable Hierarchs, Esteemed Members of the Board of Trustees, and Beloved Clergy and Faithful of this God-Protected Archdiocese:

We hope and trust that you have had a most blessed and joyful Nativity celebration. We are writing to you on the threshold of a New Year which we pray will be filled with peace and tranquility throughout the world. It is in this spirit that we also make this appeal to you.

You have all no doubt been following the news of the terrible devastation in Southern Asia, in the wake of the powerful tidal waves that swept across the Indian Ocean, striking the countries of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Burma, and Malaysia. The current estimates place the number of dead in excess of 60,000, with disaster experts predicting that the death toll could reach 100,000. This does not account for the enormous numbers of injured and homeless people due to this tragedy.

In my entire life, I have not witnessed a natural disaster that has caused human tragedy on this scale. It brings pain to all of us that the people in this part of the world, who already suffer more than their share of poverty, must also endure this suffering. Two of the Fathers of the Holy Orthodox Church speak with power and conviction regarding our responsibility as Christians in this time of need:

“The price of the Kingdom is the food that you give to those who need it.” – St. Leo the Great

“Feeding the hungry is a greater work than raising the dead.” – St. John Chrysostom

We completely support the efforts of the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) to respond to this emergency need. We call on all members of this Archdiocese to contribute generously to this appeal through the IOCC. Specific information on how to contribute can be found H E R E.

Praying that you will have a blessed New Year, I remain,

Your Father in Christ,

Metropolitan PHILIP
Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America

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Remember all the archeological news about the ossuary of James, the brother of our Lord? It may be a H O A X.


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Tsunami: A Japanese term which has been universally adopted to describe a large seismically generated sea wave which is capable of considerable destruction in certain coastal areas, especially where underwater earthquakes occur.

Current news reports put the death toll at around 60,000 ... with more to come.

A special Tsunami Blog has been established to aid in news & relief efforts.

Pictures of the destruction and videos of the Tsunami itself are available HERE. Thanks to Classical Anglican.

I'd originally planned to blog on the Holy Innocents today. But, given the overwhelming Tsunami tragedy, this icon speaks to the remembrance of the dead -- both those innocents slain by Herod nearly 2,000 years ago, and those, especially the children, who died in the waters of South East Asia this week. Thanks to James.

The International Orthodox Christian Charities organization is collecting money towards relief. Visit them HERE.

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No advantages do you offer those who love you, O world, you dwelling-place of sorrows. All who draw near to you do you seduce with your treasures and with all your delights, but in the day of death both the fair countenance of the beautiful and the might of the strong will be cast down into the grave. Woe to him who loves you and is loved by you, for his joy will be transformed into cries.

In the world -- the sea of sin -- all my days have passed in vain. My life has gone by without bringing me any profit. I have even forgotten about the day of death. I have whirled about and gathered a burden of sins, whole sheaves of tares destined to be consumed by fire. And behold -- lamentation and sighs await me in that land full of horrors.

Because I have loved you, O cunning world, from youth through old age, the time of my life has passed without my notice; and lo, in sin will death steal me away. O, if only I had never set foot in you, O world that deceives all who enter! Those who love you enjoy no pleasures, and those who hate you weep not. Blessed is he who has torn your snares asunder -- he shall inherit the habitation of joy.

This world deceives even the wise with its appearance, for at times it appears desirable. It even offers benefits and treasures for loan, but in the day of death it will take them back and give in return torment incomparably greater than our sins. For a short while will it let us sin, but as a reward it will give us eternal darkness.

Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and righteous is Thy judgment that condemns the world and those who love it! Therefore do I pray Thee that Thy right hand which pulled Simon out of the sea might also pull me out of the waves and the tumult of this world that rise up against me. I have become mired in filth; the waters of the world are drowning me, they do not let me break loose to catch my breath. May Thy Cross, O Lord, be my staff and my support on the path along which I walk.

-- St Ephraim the Syrian

Taken from A Spiritual Psalter.

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Jan Bear nails it.
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My pal, and son's Godfather, Priest John Whiteford, now has a B-L-O-G.

He also has a handy typicon resource for Readers, et al.
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Reader boards, like Baptist Churches, are to be found all over the South. Though I thought the saying was passe, there it was this morning at a used car lot:

"Jesus is the Reason for the Season."

I hadn't gone two miles till a contrary message appeared at a church:

"Jesus is the Gift, YOU are the Reason."

Ah, yes ... Glory to God in the highest!

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"I behold a new and wondrous mystery!

My ears resound to the shepherd's song, piping no soft melody, but loudly chanting a heavenly hymn!

The angels sing!

The archangels blend their voices in harmony!

The cherubim resound their joyful praise!

The Seraphim exalt His glory!

All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead herein... on earth and man in heaven. He who is above now, for our salvation, dwells here below; and we, who were lowly, are exalted by divine mercy!

Today Bethlehem resembles heaven, hearing from the stars the singing of angelic voices and, in place of the sun, witnessing the rising of the Sun of Justice!

Ask not how this is accomplished, for where God wills, the order of nature is overturned. For He willed He had the powers He descended. He saved. All things move in obedience to God.

Today He Who Is, is born ! And He Who Is becomes what He was not! For when He was God, He became man-while not relinquishing the Godhead that is His... And so the kings have come, and they have seen the heavenly King that has come upon the earth, not bringing with Him angels, nor archangels, nor thrones, nor dominions, nor powers, nor principalities, but, treading a new and solitary path, He has come forth from a spotless womb.

Yet He has not forsaken His angels, nor left them deprived of His care, nor because of His incarnation has He ceased being God. And behold kings have come, that they might serve the Leader of the Hosts of Heaven; Women, that they might adore Him Who was born of a woman so that He might change the pains of childbirth into joy; Virgins, to the Son of the Virgin...

Infants, that they may adore Him who became a little child, so that out of the mouths of infants He might perfect praise; Children, to the Child who raised up martyrs through the rage of Herod; Men, to Him who became man that He might heal the miseries of His servants;

Shepherds, to the Good Shepherd who was laid down His life for His sheep;

Priests, to Him who has become a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek;

Servants, to Him who took upon Himself the form of a servant, that He might bless our stewardship with the reward of freedom (Philippians 2:7);

Fishermen, to the Fisher of humanity;

Publicans, to Him who from among them named a chosen evangelist;

Sinful women, to Him who exposed His feet to the tears of the repentant woman;

And that I may embrace them all together, all sinners have come, that they may look upon the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! Since, therefore, all rejoice, I too desire to rejoice! I too wish to share the choral dance, to celebrate the festival! But I take my part, not plucking the harp nor with the music of the pipes nor holding a torch, but holding in my arms the cradle of Christ!

For this is all my hope!

This is my life!

This is my salvation!

This is my pipe, my harp!

And bearing it I come, and having from its power received the gift of speech, I too, with the angels and shepherds, sing:

"Glory to God in the Highest! and on earth peace to men of good will!"

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Thanks for FWD from Fr Miguel Grave de Peralta.

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Okay. I'm a hypocrite. At least, given what I'm about to say, some might accuse me of such. Those who know me know I ain't much on Halloween. I never was much on Halloween, even as a kid. It seemed a bit odd to me that perfectly normal devil-hating church folks would go all out, once a year, to root for the other side. But, that's just me.

Then, I'm hip on Santa.

You see, I SAW Santa. Really, I did! Back when I was young. This is one of those impossible memories. Here's the way my mind -- you know, the REAL mind where anything's possible -- tells it ...

I was asleep on the couch, having dozed off out in the den on Christmas Eve. The only "vision" I have is of his back -- red outfit, white trim -- as he passed by my sleeping self. The most unbelievable part of the memory is: I went back to sleep.

Why is this impossible? Well, I never fell asleep on the couch, staying through the night, on Christmas Eve. I mean, what? I wake up and there are all the presents (before the time)? My parents would actually leave me there? On Christmas Eve?

Notice the proofs given do not include: Santa don't exist. Nope.

I know, I know. I'm an Orthodox priest and there's others of my stripe -- even my pal, Frederica (note shameless name drop) -- who hold a contrary view of the man. But try as I might, I can't ... I won't, I say! ... let go.

I still have a visceral reaction when I see a "good Santa" -- you know, the ones with a real beard, real gut, real red cheeks, real joy. You know, real. I can't help it. It gives me hope. I become a kid again. The kid with memories that, I guess, can't be proved. You know, real memories.

I did go through a period, don't we all, where I tried to be anti-Santa. Then God allowed me to start a Mission named St Nicholas. Well, dang. Ain't that the way? I ended up giving in. I've repented. But even during that rebellion, if ever I saw a "good one," I knew -- hypocrite or no -- I knew!

Back when I started this Christmas series, I had no idea where it would wind up. If, for some odd reason, you've read all these ramblings, you've probably wondered where it was all heading as well. Fair enough. So here's the deal ...

I hate the shopping. I hate the frivolous debt. I hate supporting Communist China. I hate the extended commercial season. I hate the styles, the driving, the lack of sleep, the over nourishment.

But I cannot help but be touched by the magic. Somewhere along the line, every year, it touches me. No, no, no. I don't mean Santa magic. He's just an image of it. No. I mean the magic that makes steeples look brighter, loved ones look lovelier, hearts seem bigger, and homes seem warmer. I mean the magic that makes the impossible possible.

At this point, even I am wondering ... okay, ain't it time you said something about Jesus?

Well, I don't know how to say this without sounding hokey but, forgive me ... here goes ... to my mind at least, I just did.


The original post in the series asked: Does Christmas need a second baptism?

My answer is "Yes." Annually. In the Church, Confession is viewed as a "second baptism." Every year we are brought face to face with a wonderful mystery: God became Man. As a Patriarch once said, "[Christmas] ... the day when God bent down and kissed the earth." And somewhere along the line, in the midst of the madness of the season, we are confronted with another question: What am I to do about it? May we, like Our Lady, the Shepherds, the Maji, and all the Saints before us answer the question. Our answer, our conviction -- our confession -- is a prerequisite for our worship.

Venite, adoramus Dominum!

Here's hoping that you and yours all become like kids again -- and soon.

By anticipation: Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

(Merry Christmas!)

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Pope Shenouda III, the top Coptic cleric, has withdrawn to a desert monastery to draw attention to grievances among Egyptian Christians.

I've heard of antagonists in the church, but this one takes the cake.

An overdue welcome to the Blogosphere to a fellow worker in the Southern vineyard.

Our parish's catechumen has also launched.

Ah ... Planned Parenthood. God help us. Here's their "Christmas Card."

Did you know that St Athanasius's classic, On the Incarnation, with preface by CSL, is now online?

I've only been Christmas shopping once, that would be yesterday, but I noticed that everyone -- Everyone -- in the shops wished me a "Merry Christmas." Seems that the "C-word" is making a comeback.

Finally, a must read -- a wonderful memory of Christmas -- by (Huw) Raphael.


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It was around 200 A.D., according to St. Clement of Alexandria, that theologians in Egypt settled on May 20 as the birthday of Jesus, while others argued for dates in April and March.

This wasn't a major issue, since early Christians emphasized the Epiphany on Jan. 6, marking Christ's baptism. Then sometime before 354, Rome began ...

Read the full story H E R E !

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The ubiquitous hoopla over Christmas creches, sayings, and celebrations seems to concern the secular powers that be. After all, Christian churches are all still on board with the program. Right?

Given the assumption that the struggle involves Culture more so than Church, revisiting H. Richard Niebuhr's classic paradigms of Christ and Culture might prove beneficial. In quoting Niebuhr's material, I shall be substituting Christmas for Christ and taking other necessary liberties with his foundational work.

1) Christmas Against Culture

Whatever may be the customs of the society in which the Christian lives, and whatever the human achievements it conserves, Christmas is seen as opposed to them. Christmas confronts men with the challenge of an “either-or” decision.

From a broad perspective, we see this paradigm operating with certain reactionary and fundamentalist groups. Eschewing family gatherings, secular celebrations, and all manner of things in honour of the Feast, the choice is either Christmas or the World. The World is viewed as the Great Satan and Christmas is forever opposed to the ways and customs of the World. All is done in the name of correctness. Christmas is viewed as being perfect and pure – and it is the job of each individual to protect and save Christmas from the ways of the World and wayward Christians. A heretic is spotted under every bush, especially if he puts up a tree in Advent -- even uses the word Advent as opposed to Nativity Fast -- decorates his house, wears green and red, sings a Carol before the 25th, mentions "Santa," etc. [p.40]

2) Christmas of Culture

In this group, Christmas appears as a festival of human culture and history. The development of Christmas traditions is regarded as great achievements. It is at this time of year, during the celebration of the Feast, that the aspirations of men toward their values are brought to a point of culmination. Christmas confirms what is best in the past, and guides the process of civilization to its proper goal. Moreover, Christmas is part of culture in the sense that it is part of the social heritage that must be transmitted and conserved. In our time answers of this kind are given by Christians who note the close relation between Christianity and Western civilization, between the festivities of Christmas and democratic institutions.

As in Social Evolution, so develops the Feast. The orthodox interpretation of the Feast is viewed as the “fullness” of Christmas, but other interpretations and traditions are seen as grappling after the same Truth, the same goal. This paradigm is very tempting for those wishing to assimilate their religious beliefs with the current culture. They may mix Culture with Christmas to the point where the lines are blurred. [p.41]

3) Christmas Above Culture

This group views Christmas as the fulfillment of cultural and festival aspirations and the restorer of the human spirit. Yet there is in Christmas something that neither arises out of culture nor contributes directly to it. It is discontinuous as well as continuous with social life and its culture. Christmas enters into life from above with gifts which human aspiration has not envisioned and which human effort cannot attain unless the Feast relates men to a supernatural society and a new value-center. Christmas is, indeed, a Christmas of culture, but it is also a Christmas above culture.

Practitioners of this category have never met a Christmas concert or affair that they didn't -- or weren't tempted to – attend. They tend to be motivated by scholarly works. Much like a Western understanding of the study of Theology, these folks make a Science of the Feast. [p.42]

4) Christmas and Culture in Paradox

In this group, the duality and inescapable authority of both Christmas and culture is recognized, but the opposition between them is also accepted. Those falling into this category are Christians who are subject to the tension that accompanies obedience to two authorities who do not agree yet must both be obeyed. They are convicted that obedience and loyalty to the institutions of society and fealty to the celebration of Christmas is both contradictory and the norm. Those in this category are seen as subject to two moralities, and as a citizen of two worlds that are not only discontinuous with each other but largely opposed. In the polarity and tension of Christmas and culture life must be lived precariously and sinfully in the hope of a justification which lies beyond history. [pp.42-43]

5) Christmas the Transformer of Culture

This type is the conversionist solution to the problem. Those in this category understand with the members of the other four groups that human nature is fallen or perverted, and that this perversion not only appears in culture but is transmitted by it. Hence the opposition between Christmas and all human institutions and customs is to be recognized. Yet the antithesis does not lead either to separating Christmas from the world (as with Christmas against Culture), or to mere endurance in the expectation of transhistoral salvation (as with Christmas and Culture in Paradox). Christmas is seen as the converter of man in his culture and society, not apart from these, for there is no nature without culture and no turning of men from self and idols to the God of Christmas save in society. [p.43]

For Orthodox Christians there's another possible paradigm:

6) Christmas and Culture toward Theosis

Plagiarizing and paraphrasing Fr Alexander Elchaninov, Diary of a Russian Priest: Theosis -- or, deification -- is central to the understanding of salvation for the Orthodox. The question is: What path to follow in order to reach this theosis? Which is the best way for the Christian to enter into the Feast within the life and culture around him? All paths (above paradigms) may not be equal, but each one might be spiritually profitable to some.

Participation in culture is, from one point of view, a compromise so far as the spiritual life is concerned. Is not the method of deifying the world from within -- the way which St. Seraphim followed -- a more sure course? Then everything else is transfigured as well. [DRP, p.93]

So it is the same at Christmas as any other time of year:

Find inner peace and thousands around you will find their salvation.


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"Christians have been told their faith is represented in the season by Christmas trees and snowflake displays. If frozen water pellets represent my faith, should I genuflect before the icemaker in my refrigerator?"

Read the entire article HERE.

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Christmas is a time for clothes. It is one of the few times that I notice clothes. Even before wearing a jibbee – a clerical robe – I’d never been much of a clotheshorse or trendsetter. Thanks to Christmas, I’ve never bought much clothing for myself. Ever.

This time of year finds even the houses, trees, and pets clothed in festive array. During the season, you will see some of the oddest outfits that you will ever see, and many of the prettiest will remain on the mannequin. ‘Tis the dressiest time of the year.

Christmas and clothes, they go hand in hand. In fact, at some age, usually in your late teens, for some reason, most of the presents you receive become clothes. For this I am truly grateful, else I may still be wearing platform shoes and silk shirts. (Though, perhaps, I would now be in style?)

In fact, the reason for the Feast and season is God became flesh. God spoke, and this Word put on humanity that we might put on divinity. The Word was clothed with human flesh. Within the Virgin Mary the Word was clothed with human flesh and Christ was born God dressed in human flesh.

St. Paul writes, “So before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” [Gal.3:27].

It is only in being clothed in Christ that we can be in a right relationship with God. Christ clothed himself in humanity that we might be clothed in righteousness. Before Christ, there was the law. With Christ, there is no other way to stand in a right (just) relationship with God lest we be clothed in Christ. Just as our Lady the Most Holy Theotokos answered “Be it unto me according to thy word,” we, too, may take on Christ. Through the womb of the baptismal font we are born anew in Christ – marked, clothed as His own forever. Like the Mother of God before us, having been born anew in Christ, being justified by faith, we may bear Christ to the world.

This season shall be celebrated with gift giving. Yet, as the concluding prayer of the Divine Liturgy, the Prayer behind the Ambon, states: “For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from Thee, the Father of Lights.” Thus it is that the time may come during all the secular hoopla of the season that we ask ourselves “Am I doing this right? Is this the way to celebrate the birth of Christ?”

What is the “right” way to celebrate the birth of our Saviour? No matter how we answer this question, one thing is certain: Clothes. We’ll put them on, we’ll try them on, we’ll give them, and we’ll receive them. Soon we may find that we’ve outgrown ‘em. (The season does have a way of clothing you with a few more pounds!) Nonetheless, somewhere amid all the cares, burdens, and worries of the Fast and festive season, you’ll ask yourself “Am I doing this right?”

Whether we celebrate something once in a lifetime or annually we have a tendency to want to do it right – as if the moment depends on us! Usually, we overdo it. Our sinful pride clouds our vision. We think the more we do, the better things will be. We fall prey to the Serpent’s lie from the tree and view ourselves as gods. (Didn't this lead to worries about clothing to begin with?)

There is nothing you can do to make things “right.” This has been done for you. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This is right. It is this we prepare to celebrate during this season. We celebrate what God has done, is doing, shall do ... for those who believe.

So, in order to celebrate in a right, Orthodox, way: LOVE. Love one another with the same love that receives the King of Glory and wraps Him in swaddling cloths [Lk.2:12]. Do not worry about what you shall receive. Do not worry if you’re doing things right. For God clothed in flesh said, “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” [Mt. 6:28-30].

But oh how we worry through the months of December and January. We worry about our bills, our plans, our possessions ... ourselves. Yet, in order to see God clothed in human flesh, we must look with the eyes of faith. For often during times like these, our Lord comes to us. How? “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed me” [Mt.25:35-36]. We must look, with the eyes of faith, beyond ourselves.

For, “The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength” [Ps.9:31]. Yet this same Lord, the King of glory, we often clothe with a robe of purple. We fashion a crown of thorns. We spit upon Him – and, in His time of trial and agony, we walk away from Him. After all, we have our own cares.

May God be gracious unto us and forgive us. Let us love one another with a holy love during the Nativity Fast. Let us forget the cares and occupations of this temporary home and build up treasures in heaven. Forgive one another. Love one another. Be clothed with the King of Glory and let that Light shine round about you! Be ye holy as He is holy!

The perfect gift cannot be found in the mall, but in the manger. The perfect gift, God is! God clothed Himself in our flesh for our salvation. The manger is a feeding trough and God is now our food. So let us prepare with eyes of faith to see the King of Glory, God in human flesh, in the manger – the chalice of our salvation! Let us receive Him into our hearts as once did Mary. Let us partake of this heavenly food and rejoice! “Let your priests be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy!” [Ps.132:9]

“Make ready, O Bethlehem, for Eden hath been opened for all. Prepare, O Ephratha, for the tree of life hath blossomed forth in the cave from the Virgin; for her womb did appear as a spiritual paradise in which is planted the divine Plant, whereof eating we shall live and not die as Adam. Christ shall be born, raising the image that fell of old” [Proskomedia prayer].

New clothes. Yes, that is truly what the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour is all about.

A version of this piece first appeared in The Word, 1996.
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I realize it’s cold outside. Snow’s coming, Christmas is not far behind. But it’s August in Antioch. This as a state of mind rather than simple chronology. August in Antioch may outlive 31 days, this year, or several years.

There’s a new day coming, “A new era,” said His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP at the summer convention. At the time it was like summer. Well, it was summer. The new era was just around the corner, but not yet. Now, it’s August in Antioch.

Everyone knows that August is pregnant with expectation. The Church, having survived the summer, eagerly anticipates the coming New Year with its programs and promise. Plans are made so as to make this transition smooth and peaceful. At the very latest, these plans are made in August. It’s, at least, August in Antioch.

Tonight I was fortunate enough – blessed – to be present for the Enthronement of His Grace, BASIL, Bishop of Wichita and Mid-America. I’m just getting back into the hotel room as I’m punching out these words. No time yet to process. But I do know it’s August in Antioch.

The images ... St George Cathedral was dimly lighted for the Vespers service. The clergy – 50 of us? – lined the center aisle. As we looked back toward the door through which the Metropolitan would enter, two saints stared back at us from the western wall: Ignatius of Antioch and Raphael of Brooklyn. The bells. The arrival. The procession. Vespers. For such a huge building the service sounded and felt gentle and warm. A pregnant hush filled the air. In my heart, it felt like August in Antioch.

At service’s end, there stood Saidna PHILIP on the solea, Saidna JOSEPH to his right, and Saidna BASIL was ensconced on his throne to the left. His proclamation sounded much like the one delivered on the day of his Consecration to the episcopacy: full of love, humility, and power. He didn’t say it, but you could tell: It’s August in Antioch.

The reception that followed was grand without being pompous. (Arabs sure know how to fast.) Fr Constantine Nassr reminisced about his meeting Bishop BASIL 34 years ago at St Vladimir’s Seminary. It was a moving tribute – one which I could never have delivered without crying. George Farha was the first to accuse Metropolitan PHILIP of hallucinating. Then Fr Paul O’Callaghan joined in. They were referring to what they would have said 20 or 30 years ago if someone had told them that this day – Antiochian dioceses, self-rule, bishops of American Sees – would ever come. They would have told that someone that they were hallucinating.

When time finally came for Metropolitan PHILIP’s words, he admitted that he had, indeed, been hallucinating for years, and Fr Paul, Fr Constantine, George Farha, Bishop BASIL, etc, were all part of his hallucination. It was, per normal, a rousing speech by His Eminence. Suddenly we were there, really there, for the “Great Commission.” It’s August in Antioch.

His Eminence reminded us that the Lord said to “Go and make disciples of ALL nations,” not just Syrians, Jordanians, Palestinians, Russians, Greeks. He said he looked forward to the day when 50 bishops gathered to pray to the Triune God. “Why not?” he said. Why not?

He spoke of the great missionary work going on within Bishop BASIL’s diocese and throughout the Antiochian Archdiocese. He defended his reception – Welcome Home – of the Evangelicals in 1987. He said that sometimes we talk so much about “preserving” the Faith that we sound like a bunch of pickles! He said, “Our Lord did not tell us to preserve the Faith ... but to spread it!”

The Antiochian Archdiocese, just in the past 6 months, has been granted Self-Rule status, elected and consecrated 3 new bishops, and seated 2 bishops. It’s August in Antioch.

Why do I keep saying it’s August in Antioch? Because something new is happening. It didn’t just happen overnight, mind you. It has taken years and decades to get to this point. Yet if you view that span of time like the months of a year, it’s August in Antioch.

Each year in September, as we begin the New Church Year, we pray:

Again we pray that the Lord God will be gracious to us, remembering not the transgressions which we have committed during the year which is past but that he will look upon us with loving-kindness, and have mercy on us.

Again we pray that the Lord God will make us worthy to pass the coming year with a seemly disposition and virtuous life, guiding us by his righteousness and providing for us the path of salvation.

Again we pray that the Lord God will make this coming year plentiful, giving rain in due season, temperate breezes, seasonable weather and fertile ground.

Again we pray that the Lord God will give peace to the whole world and that he will be mindful of our holy Church and strengthen and establish it, enlarge it and give it peace and preserve it unscathed by the gates of hades and impregnable against the assaults of enemies both visible and invisible.

Again we pray that he may keep this holy church and this city and every city and countryside from wrath, famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, foreign invasion, civil war and sudden death; that our good God, who loveth mankind, will be gracious, favorable and conciliatory and turn away and dispel all wrath stirred up against us and all sickness, and may deliver us from his righteous chastisement which impendeth against us, and have mercy on us.

Again we pray that the Lord our God may hearken unto the voice of supplication of us sinners, and have mercy on us.

It is these petitions that come to my mind as I witness history being made in the God-protected Antiochian Archdiocese.

At the summer’s convention, His Eminence said:

The Book of Acts recorded the trials and tribulations of Peter, John, Paul and the rest of the early Christian community as they preached the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus. In Acts 4:31-32, we read: “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness. Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and one soul.” I hope that after our prayers and accomplishments at this convention, the foundations of this fragmented Orthodoxy in North America will be shaken and all Orthodox will speak the Word of God with boldness and with one heart and one soul.

He went on, back in July, to speak of struggles ...

Three years have elapsed since our first vote in Los Angeles. These three years have been marked by frustration, tension and disappointment. But our Church is a church of hope. In John 5:17, our Lord said: “My father is still working and I am working.” If you are in Christ, you do not despair, you do not give up, and you do not surrender. Christ is working with us and will continue to work with us until the end of time. He is the foundation and head of the Church. In I Corinthians 3:11-13, St. Paul said: “For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.”

The Orthodox Church of Twenty-first century America is destined to chart its own course and shape its own future, despite the obstacles. We in the Antiochian Archdiocese have reached the point of no return.

In II Corinthians 5:17, St. Paul said: “therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come.” Today, I am overwhelmed by a sense of newness. This is a new era and a new day.

In conclusion, I am reminded of the story of Marshall Lyautey, who once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow to grow and would not reach maturity for a hundred years. The Marshall replied, “in this case, there is no time to waste, plant this morning.” Today, in a world of fragmented Orthodoxy on this continent and abroad, we have no time to waste, let us plant our trees this morning.

On the ocassion of his enthronement as Bishop of Wichita and Mid-America, may God grant His Grace, BASIL, many, many years! But I maintain, in this chronological image, it’s August in Antioch. Let us proceed, brother and sisters, into the new era – being not hearers only, but doers – in faith, hope, and love.

By anticipation: Happy New Era!

Glory to God for all things!
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I'm heading to warmer climes tonight ... Kansas. Believe it or not, many schools were canceled here in Western North Carolina today due to snow and ice.

God willing, I'll be present tomorrow -- December 15th -- for Saidna BASIL's enthronement as Bishop of Wichita and Mid-America.

May God grant him many years!

A full report, or shall I say a report, ahem -- in toto -- forthcoming.

Prayers coveted.

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I sent my old football coach my reminiscences -- CULLYROCK -- and here follows his response, which was handwritten.

Dear Huneycutt,

What a blast!

Having a great weekend at North Stanly was great and receiving your epistle was icing on the cake.

I have always wondered what went on in the heads of the players I coached. Now I know why they always referred to me as that "sweet old boy" and only used the initials. All this time I thought I was just a kind, generous and softhearted old guy, and I saw Elvis at Walmart today.

I remember your fondness for music. I remember you had your own group and did a miming takeoff on the group KISS, with lights, smoke and all.

Please give my regards to any of the folks that were at the get-together, and especially to those who were not, that you see.

Again, thanks for the "review," you didn't just make my day, you made my decade.

Now I have to go read it again for the eleventh time. So far I have not been able to get through it without tearing-up, partly with laughter and part nostalgia.

I have never been much on setting goals, choosing routes or shooting at specific targets. Maybe I was afraid of failing to attain them or maybe I just like adventure and surprises. I usually just went where the wind carried me and thought there was a reason for it. Anyway, I am glad that part of my "shot gun" approach gave me 5 years in Stanly County. I tell my wife every place we have been was because we were supposed to be there.

Please excuse the penmanship, it was not good before I had a hole in my retina! I am hanging tough in the fourth quarter and giving thanks daily.

Love ya,

Coach

P.S. Old coaches never die, they just "kick off."

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As a connoisseur of pop culture and a student of the art of comedy, the following parody [HERE] of last year's #1 hit, "Hey Ya," is, to me, a work of art. In other words, it's funny.

(While they were singing the refrain, "Hanukkah," my two year old said they were singing "Huneycutt!" That's probably the closest an outcast ever got to the chosen :)

Thanks to Dawn Eden for the link.

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Khouriya Gigi Baba Shadid of St George Cathedral in Wichita, KS, has produced a CD of her own compositions of educational and fun songs created specifically to help Orthodox children "grow in their faith in Christ and their love for His holy Church." Designed for use in the home, Church Schools, Vacation Bible Schools, Family Nights, Summer Camps, etc., Gigi has also produced an accompanying Teacher's Resource Manual and a Song Book to help in using the CD as a creative catechetical tool. The price per CD is $12 (with discounts available for orders of 11 or more), while the Teacher's Resource Manual is priced at $5.00 per copy and the Song Book at $3.00 (all plus shipping and handling). For more information, contact Gigi.

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The phone rings late in the evening, an anguished orthodox rector is on the other end of the line. "David, my people won't wait much longer. They want out. What do we do, where do we go? Will the Primates finally act in February? What can the Network do for us? Will there be a proto province? After February I believe all bets are off. I am going to lose 40 to 60 percent of my congregation. Do I go with them? Do I stay with the remainder? What can the Network really do to save me and my people? I don't trust my bishop. He says he is orthodox, but then in the next breath he says unity is everything and if anyone leaves he will go after them. He wants us all to
stay. Things will change he tells us. Frank Griswold won't be around forever. But the truth is my people won't stay, and the giving is down. People are not going to put money into a church they don't believe in any more and doesn't have a gospel to proclaim and pushes sodomy. They have drawn the last line in the sand, they are going. "What do I do?"

Read the whole story by David Virtue here.

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Three New Diocesan Bishops Consecrated for the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America

The hyperlink takes you -- as of today, 12/10 -- to the front page pic. Otherwise, scroll to the above titled story.

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Excellent words from a Catechumen on Mary, the Mother of God.

While we're talking about the Theotokos ...

The St Romanos Chorale, under the direction of Dr William Attra, choir master at St George Church in Houston, TX, has released a new audio CD entitled REJOICE, O QUEEN containing twenty-four hymns to the Most Holy Theotokos from throughout the Church Year. The CD is available for purchase at the price of $18.00 per copy (discounts available for parish bookstores) by contacting Dr Attra.

The St Romanos Chorale is composed of singers from seven parishes in the cities of Houston, Spring, Beaumont, and Austin, TX, and Shreveport, LA.

Finally ... here's a great deal on the RSV w/ Apocrypha.

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The Episcopal Church, with the help of St Gregory's, San Francisco, now offers an online Liturgical Resource. Here's a bit of commentary from Midwest Conservative Journal:

So what sorts of resources can be found at The Worship Well? If you have to ask, you really should bail out now and go read something else. But if you have the stomach for it, here are two. The Rev. Bonnie Perry of All Saints Episcopal Church in Chicago delivered a sermon last March called "It's a River, Not a Pie" that starts out like this:

Christianity. Not the Christianity that some would have us believe. It's not the narrow, moralistic, judgmental, provincial ideology that some purport it to be. It's not the constitutional amending, gay marriage-banning, if-you-love-another-adult-that-somehow-wrecks-who-I-love theology that some claim it to be.

The scriptural reality is that Christianity is first and foremost, not about keeping people out, it's not about sending people away, it's not about saying, "You can't play." Christianity in its finest form is an open door and a warm hearth. It is a gracious host meeting us at the door and saying, "I've waited so long to see you. I am so happy you're here. You know, I was hoping you'd stop by."

And ends like this:

My second thought: It’s a river, not a pie! God's love for us is not a 9-inch, deep-dish strawberry, rhubarb pie - as delectable as that might be. God's love for us is a raging, roaring, rain-forest fed, class five river of grace. It is an ever-flowing stream of abundant love. God's love for us is not limited. God's love is not finite. It is not a pie that is whacked up and given out parsimoniously to the deserving. God's love, God's welcome, God's grace is distributed recklessly washing over all in its path. God's love is a river-not a pie.

This one's not quite as good as her famous sermon "It's a Strawberry Daiquiri, Not a Bridge Abutment" but that one's a homiletical masterpiece, pretty much.

The other example comes from St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church of, mirablie dictu, San Francisco. St. Greg's, who has an icon mural of these people dancing on its walls, put together some principles of worship in June of 1999. They include:

God invites us to be God's Friends.

We take part in a spirit of Holy play.

We make physical connection, touching one another as we greet the Gospel book, dance to the Table, exchange the Peace, and dance our final Carol.

We only put congregational music in people's hands, music they will need to sing, so our eyes are up, not reading along. As we pray the Eucharistic prayer together, we listen or drone a support pitch (again, not reading along).

We move together physically - the whole congregation moves in processions and congregational dance.

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THE first book I read on my way to Orthodoxy was The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware. Mind you, I didn't know I was on my way to Orthodoxy. In fact, I was on my way to Nashotah House [Episcopal] Seminary.

Timothy Ware is now Bishop Kallistos. Also, his classic work is now online!

Thanks to Jan Bear.
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A few reminiscences from the past week ...

Christmas favorites blaring from AOL Radio on the Computer in the living room ... 10 year old singing, 2 year old hopping & dancing (in that hop-dance combination that only two year olds can) ... 6 year old boy doing something akin to break dancing and convulsing while belly flopping on the recliner.

Christmas.

Asked a coworker at the recovery center to portray St Nicholas at our church on Sunday, the eve of St Nicholas Day. We've always had presents available for the kids, but never a visit from "the Saint."

Zeek's not a churchgoer. He grew up Roman Catholic and used to serve in the altar ... till one day he tripped on his robes and fell. And then there was the time he was supposed to pour water over the priest's fingers and he, well, used the wine. He's always very animated when he tells that story ... about getting fired as an altar boy. I've heard it at least five times.

He was a portrait of humility on Sunday as he handed out presents, in costume, to our gathered young folks. They were in awe. Even the adults were ... different. It was a touching scene. He later said it made his day. Others at work have said that he can't stop talking about it.

Christmas.

Listening to the "John Boy & Billy Christmas Album" CD ... at least one selection from Lipless ... "All I Want For Christmas is my Lips to Touch." My son can't remember half the things we tell him. He remembered that though. He's also been singing "Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg!" -- much to his parents' chagrin -- for months now.

Christmas.

As we're leaving church the 10 year old asks, "Dad, who was that?"

"Who?"

"The guy you had playing St Nicholas."

"I guess it was St Nicholas."

"Dad! Come on. Who was it? Mom said she didn't know him."

"I don't know, Mary Catherine, I just assumed it was St Nicholas."

"Dad!"

"No ... it couldn't have been St Nicholas," the six year old interjects, "because St Nicholas has two pieces of hair on the side and one on top. Right, Daddy?"

[He's referring to the Saint's balding pate as portrayed in some icons.]

"Well ..."

Christmas.

By the time we got home, it's only a five minute drive, Basil had convinced himself that it really was St Nicholas. He said that he was watching him leave the church and then he just vanished into thin air ... and went back to heaven. [My wife's version is that while Basil was watching him leave the church parking lot, she closed the door cutting off his view.]

Whatever.

Zeek loved that story.

Christmas.

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A Newsweek poll of 1,009 adults found that 79 percent believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. The poll also found 67 percent affirm as historically accurate the entire Christmas story and 82 percent believe Jesus Christ is God and/or the Son of God. Along a different track of questions, 62 percent said they would prefer public schools teach creation science alongside evolutionary theory; 43 percent would approve the replacement of evolutionary theory with creation science.

Stolen from World.
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This past weekend the Antiochian Archdiocese doubled her number of Bishops with consecrations taking place at the Patriarchate in Damascus. This is an amazing dynamic that will certainly reverberate throughout the Church in America. Please pray for the newly consecrated Bishops: Thomas, Rafeek, and Mark. (The latter is a Convert, ORU alum.) More news forthcoming ...

For those of a more Gnostic bent, you may find out all the latest news by way of these Saint Tarot cards from Amazon.

Huw Raphael gives a nice description of our St Nicholas visit at DOXOS. For those who celebrate today -- Through the prayers of our Holy Father Saint Nicholas, O God be merciful to us and save us!

Enjoy the Feast!

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Amazing. There's schools that are actually considering honouring the Muslim faith by allowing Friday prayers.

Anything! (But Christmas carols.)

Dawn Eden helps readers of the above linked site by posting a synopsis of Planned Parenthood's, uh, services.

In case you missed it, James offers some awesome pics of the recent transference of the relics of Ss John Chrysostom and Gregory Nazianzen. And one of our own, Adib Farha, writes a note about it for The Economist.

The Tale of the Lazy Parent. I was going to post it in it's entirety -- but everyone knows folks tend to skip the long offerings. So, visit the Tale at your leisure -- it's worthwhile. Speaking of long ones ... the recent article on Marriage by Elder Paisius is also a good read.

The following story came from Thursday's, 12/2, World (but had no permalink):

Love bombing the Islamists
Thailand has a new strategy for battling their problem with Islamist terrorists. The population is being asked to fold origami birds (cranes that are symbols of peace and good luck) out of paper. The goal is to assemble 63 million of them, one for every member of the population. The Thai air force will then drop them on the country's fractious Muslims in the southern part of the country, where terrorists have been bombing and killing. The Buddhist prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, head of the "Thais love Thais" party, believes this gesture will change the hearts of the terrorists and promote national unity.

Muslims, though, are reportedly condemning the birds as idols. Southerners are also complaining that this will just mean a lot of litter they will have to clean up. The Thais have been tough on terrorism, to the point that politic brutality has become one of the Muslims' grievances. But might this extravagant act of niceness have an effect? Or is it a metaphor for the globally widespread naivete about dealing with the Islamist threat?

Commenting on the above story, Grace said: "As Dave Barry says, I am not making this up."

As it turns out, Dave Barry mentions the story on his own blog.

Finally, for those 40-somethings reading this at work, Go Here.

Wacka, wacka, wacka, wacka ...

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Do not receive an accusation against a priest except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 1 St. Timothy 5:19

A reflection by Fr Josiah Trenham: This morning in my devotional reading I read this verse. It is in St. Paul's letter to Bishop St. Timothy. It is episcopal advice. It strikes me, however, as relevant to the faithful laity also. To accuse a priest of anything is a very, very serious matter. A priest is not accountable to the laity, but the laity are accountable to the priest. The priest is accoutable to his bishop. This is expressed by the fact that the priest is called "Father" by his flock.

We live in crazy days. Days when accusations are freely made against all sorts of people in authority without hesitation or care. If there is a scandal certainly an accusation should be made, with witnesses, to a bishop (in this passage St. Timothy). But this is a far cry from what often exists in our churches these days when anger and arrogance in the hearts of the faithful toward our spiritual fathers rules the day far too often, and instead of the priest judging and ruling the people, the people try to judge and rule the priest. There is no fear of God restraining the faithful from speaking against their own spiritual fathers. This is a frightful thing and the gravity of such is expressed in this verse from St. Paul. May the Lord help us all to use love to cover a multitude of sins, especially if the sins are found in our fathers. And may the Lord also give us the fear of Him ... in speaking against His servants the priests and bishops.

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"God sees the efforts of each Christian and knows the strength which He has given to each Christian, and asks from him accordingly."
--Elder Paisius the Athonite

A requisite condition for forming a strong Christian family is for the future couple to find a good spiritual father. The spiritual father will play the role of judge, making sure that the family does not dissolve into quarreling. When the married couple finds itself in total disagreement, it will go to the spiritual father, placing its faith in God. Otherwise the family falls apart: the wife’s parents interfere, the husband’s parents interfere, - and all of them together try to impose their own will and thus destroy the family. If, on the other hand, the couple agrees to have a spiritual instructor, then such complex situations will not arise.

In order for the married couple to forge ahead, it must have a common spiritual father, for the latter is similar to a carpenter who wishes to put together two boards: after sawing off protrusions, he shaves the boards, makes then even and then joins them together. In general, it would be better for all family members to have one spiritual father, since he,knowing the family problems well, will be able to give each one instruction accordingly.

Find a good spiritual father who will attend to you lovingly and always follow his advice: it is hard to obtain help from afar - the physician should be near you. Only prayer can be requested from afar.

A certain woman was unable to tolerate incense or lighted lampadas in her house. Her husband, however, despite all the wife’s protests, insisted on constantly lighting the lampada. The situation in the house became intolerable: neither was willing to yield. Then the husband appealed to the elder and described his problem to him.

The elder said: - Calm down, your wife is by no means possessed, as it seems to you, only because she does not tolerate incense. She does it partly to oppose you and partly because she has not been used to such things. From now on do not burn incense and do not light any lampadas, in order not to upset your wife, and I will pray for you.

The husband returned home and, without saying a word, ceased lighting lampadas and burning incense. Several days later, to his great surprise, he discovered that a lampada was lit in his house and the fragrance of incense pervaded it! Thus by his prayers the elder helped the married couple, and peace and love once again reigned in the family.

The head of a family came to the elder, grasped his hands and said that his wife was so-and-so, was treating him thus-and-thus, and generally said all the bad things which his dark thoughts had whispered in his ear.

The elder then began to speak well of the wife, and finally told the husband that he should glorify God for giving him such a wife, and that it was he, the head of the family, who was the cause for love having departed from them. Over and over again the elder brought him back to this love, convincing him that it was he, the husband, who was at fault, and urging him to reject his shameful thoughts. The elder did the very same thing when the wife came to see him. He berated her, and thus both partners,correcting their bad thoughts which were directed against one another,returned to their love. And, of course, they understood the actions of the elder, even though he had berated them, because his aim was to revive their love.

Try, as much as possible, to treat your wife spiritually, so that between you there would be love and mutual understanding. Strive for the same approach towards your children. A truly spiritual person has the habit of putting others first, says Apostle Paul (Rom. 12:10). The strong should bear the burdens of others so that the weak could rest, and not have each one bear only his own burden.

When a married woman retains her maiden name, that is the beginning of discord within the family. The foundation (order) which God gave to the family disappears and confusion reigns: one child takes his mother’s last name, another - his father’s, and there we go!

In life, including family life, people can be roughly divided into two categories. One category of people is similar to a fly. The fly has the following distinguishing characteristic: it always sits down on filth, passing over fragrant flowers. Thus the people who are like a fly have learned to think and search only for that which is bad, neither knowing nor ever searching for good. The other category of people is similar to a bee. The distinguishing characteristic of a bee is that it finds beautiful and sweet things and sits down on them, disregarding all that is filthy. Such people have good thoughts, see good in others and think only of good. To all who had become used to blaming others, including married couples, the elder offered to choose in which category they would like to find themselves, and determine accordingly the status of those people whom they blamed.

To the question why God does not bring together couples who would lead a truly spiritual life, the elder replied: “It would be even better if the devil did not exist. Then spiritual life would be easy. But the devil does exist. God’s love determines absolutely everything. In order to save a bad husband, God gives him a good wife. And vice versa. Now everything is mutable and nothing is certain. Be patient, brothers, and everything will pass.”

You ask me about the marital relations of priests and also laymen. Why have the holy fathers not given us absolutely precise guidelines? This means that there exists something indeterminable, because all people cannot live according to the same stereotype. The fathers leave much to our good sense, spiritual instinct, the possibilities and efforts of each one individually.

In order to be better understood, I will give you examples from the lives of married priests and laymen whom I know. Among them there are those who, having contracted a marriage, have born one, two, three children, and then proceed to live in purity. Others have intimate relations only at certain times in order to have children, and the rest of the time live as brother and sister. Still others abstain from intimacy only during periods of fasting, and otherwise have close relations. Some are unable to accomplish even that much. There are those who have relations in the middle of the week, in order to remain pure for three days before Holy Communion and three days after Communion. Others stumble even there.

The goal is for each one to lead a spiritual life with reasonableness and care, in accordance with each one’s spiritual abilities. Initially, of course, youth is a hindrance, but with the passage of time the body becomes more frail, the spirit becomes strengthened and even married people begin to get a taste of divine delight. At this point people become distracted in a natural manner from the delights of the flesh, which become insignificant in their eyes. This is how married people achieve salvation - they come to paradise by a quiet path of twists and turns.

You should keep in mind that the problem of marital relations is not only your problem, and that you do not have the right to regulate it by yourself; you can do it only through mutual agreement, as the apostle Paul commands us (I Cor. 7:5). Even when this takes place by mutual agreement, there is still need of prayer. And the strong party must take into account the state of the frail one. It often happens that one half agrees to abstain, in order not to offend the other, but suffers internally. Sometimes pious husbands, hearing from their wives words of agreement, unreasonably prolong the period of abstention, and then the wives suffer: they become nervous, etc. The husbands believe that their wives have become fortified in virtue, and desire to live more purely, abstaining from intimate relations over longer periods of time, and this causes the wives to become prone to temptation and to engage in extramarital relations. And when a fall occurs, their conscience bothers them terribly. However, the husbands continue trying to live more abstemiously, even though they see that their wives are not so disposed. Thus the husbands believe that their wives have reached spiritual perfection and no longer have bodily needs. But the physical side often cannot be disregarded and feminine egoism can be justified, and so can jealousy, which overcomes the frailer ones. The wife, that her husband wishes to live a spiritual life, is forced to constrain herself, trying to get ahead of him.

Of great importance is how similar are the husband and wife in their physical state. When one is meek and ailing, while the other is robust, then the stronger one must sacrifice himself to the weaker one. And gradually, with the help of the stronger one, the weaker one becomes better, and when both are in good health they can forge ahead.

As I said, the sanctification of a married individual requires good sense,effort and spiritual labor. I believe that it is wrong to get married only in order to eat, drink, sleep and obtain sensual delights, for all of that is of the flesh, while man is not only flesh but also spirit. The body must help to sanctify the soul, not ruin it.

God sees the efforts of each Christian and knows the strength which He has given to each Christian, and asks from him accordingly.

Many married couples complain about each other, because they are unable amid great family difficulties to recognize God’s good plan for them. One husband, for example, complains that his wife is capricious, another wife complains that her husband is quick to anger. When this was brought to the attention of the elder, he smilingly said: - Well, children, God knows better than we how to do His job. If, for example, a husband is “prickly,” then God provides him with a mild-mannered wife, and vice versa. The Lord sees everything, He also sees that two childish characters would not be suitable for married life, because they would fall apart!”

Taken from an email currently circulating the Net.
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Just in case anyone actually thought that all of those people waving flags on the streets of Kiev represent authentic Ukrainian sentiments, the London Guardian informed its readers otherwise last week. In an article titled "US campaign behind the turmoil in Kiev," the newspaper described the events of the past 10 days as "an American creation, a sophisticated and brilliantly conceived exercise in western branding and mass marketing." In a separate article, the same paper described the whole episode as a "postmodern coup d'etat" and a "CIA-sponsored third world uprising of cold war days, adapted to post-Soviet conditions."

The above is from the Washington Post ... and here's a story:

THE FACTS ON THE UKRAINIAN MELODRAMA

with similar sentiments.

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1) "I can't believe I ate that whole pineapple!" Tom said, dolefully.
2) "That's the last time I'll ever pet a lion," Tom said, offhandedly.
3) "I'll never sleep on the railroad tracks again!" Tom said, beside
himself.
4) "That's the third electric shock I've gotten this week!" Tom said,
revolted.
5) "I'm never anywhere on time," Tom related.
6) "I won't let a flat tire get me down," Tom said, without despair.
7) "That car you sold me has defective steering!" Tom said,
straightforwardly.
8) "I've been on a diet," Tom expounded.
9) "I'll have to send that telegram again," Tom said, remorsefully.
10) "I keep banging my head on things," Tom said, bashfully.
11) "Look at that jailbird climb down that wall," Tom observed with
condescension.
12) "I remember the midwest being flatter than this," Tom explained.
13) "That's the third time my teacher changed my grade," Tom remarked.
14) "I'll have to dig another ditch around that castle," Tom sighed,
remotely.
15) "I've lived through a lot of windstorms," Tom regaled.
17) "I haven't caught a fish all day!" Tom said, without debate.
18) "That mink coat is on wrong side out," Tom inferred.

Regards - Tom

Forgive me ... but, having rec'd them from my father-in-law, had to blog.

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