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

Fr John Whiteford, shown here in 2001 with my son & his Godson, Basil, posted recently about his early investigation of Orthodoxy. As you can see, Fr John ended up hairy & bedecked.

Back before he was a priest, I traveled to Houston to serve St Jonah's feast day services. Fr John picked me up wearing a cassock & cowboy boots; dark sunglasses for the glare, and a camouflage ball cap to hold the hair down while traveling with the windows open. I was being chauffeured by ZZ Top.

All of this is to say, Fr John, that your Godson and I went to a Monster Truck show last week. If you couldn't imagine yourself dressed like a priest, I never saw myself at a Monster Truck show.

You'd have fit right in. 'Cept maybe for the dress.
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Saying "I love you" in today's world, assuming youngsters still do, seems tantamount to saying "I Do" -- back when young folks still did. But most don't, at least not within the popular media, and therefore sex is deemed the be-all-end-all of relationships.

The devils must laugh. Sex, sex, sex. As if we invented it. One thing's for certain, we've made misuse of it. We've elevated sex to virtue status. Once we made sex, in and of itself, a virtue, then God's got to be for it ... right? I mean, after all, God is love ... right? Obviously something's wrong.

It wasn't long ago that twisted thinking imagined Our Lord's relationship with John, the Beloved Disciple as, well, twisted. Now that Gnosticism and Goddess-ism is all the rage -- again -- it's Jesus and Mary Magdalene.

Read more H E R E.
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In light of Fr Kirby's passing, this post has moved H E R E.
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Orthodox leaders will find a way to save the traditions of their homelands, said Philip. But the clergy and laity must realize that their own children and grandchildren are Americans who need a faith that is stronger than old music, familiar foods, folk dancing and traces of an ancient language.

Read Terry Mattingly's latest H E R E.
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Dear Fr Joseph,

I want to tell you how much I enjoy your writings and insight regarding our Holy Orthodox faith. I was raised Orthodox in ... the so called Russian tradition. After moving ... some twenty two years ago, I sort of “fell away” from any consistent practice and relationship with our Lord. About seven years ago I discovered [an OCA parish] ... That “convert” church really saved my spiritual life. It seems that the converts, through the glory of God, are teaching us who simply inherited this holy faith. I am very thankful to God for all of these wonderful folks who have struggled along and arrived at the true faith.

Now I will say this as one who had to attend Russian school and Russian jr. choir, and as one who loves Slavonic, and has a hunky surname:

THE TIME TO UNITE AS ONE ORTHODOX CHURCH NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW.

We can no longer afford to have separate ethnic archdioceses and try to evangelize a nation that is seeking the truth. Every time a protestant group goes off half baked with their liberal theology (gay this, gay that, denial of the Trinity,etc.) we as Orthodox need to make our presence known, and to open our hearts to help those who are searching for truth. We can’t do this as a divided church or even under SCOBA. In my mind I think that none of the Bishops want to loose their territory or job. Well I got news for them, there is plenty of work to do in this country. Too many people are just sitting on their porches reading the Sunday paper instead of being in church. I am fearful we as Orthodox are missing the boat about our witness of the gospel in this country. Waiting for next year or for the passing of the Ecumenical Patriarch is not good enough. The young generation of Orthodox I hope will not continue the foolishness of their grandparents and parents. Thanks for letting me vent. May our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless your ministry.

in Christ,
N.
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Thanks: Classical Anglican
Bishop Bart?

Anthony Esolen ... May God grant him many years! Go
H E R E ... scroll down.

Pope John Paul II makes headlines: Dog Bites Man
(i.e., Gay Marriage is Evil)

Just the other day I lamented losing some material -- namely, "Sacraments for Space Aliens" -- when my laptop crashed. For fun, I signed off that blog post with the odd Dan Rather line, "Courage." Well the conspiracy continues. Now ABC's Peter Jennings, himself (no doubt) an alien, is doing a news report on UFOs tomorrow night (Thursday, Frb.24th).

When I went to the ABCNews site, I mistook the wording of one of the news stories. Here's what I read: Bush meets with aliens. On second reading, I noticed it said allies.

Thickens the plot ... after my post linking the radio show Coast to Coast AM, the local station canceled it! Coincidence?

Then there's the fact that I lost a piece that I'd been feverishly working on -- on The DaVinci Code. Computer virus = gone. Now tell me THIS is a coincidence! Thanks: Thunderstruck

Finally, no fruit only nuts today, I never knew that Mary Magdalene wrote the Fourth Gospel (commonly attributed to St John the Theologian). Caution: Hooey alert.
How'd a find out?
A little Mermaid (aka M.S.) told me.

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Whatever calender you use, if you're Orthodox, this is a fast free week, so that when we eat our ice cream on Wednesday and pizza on Friday we will remember that we sin like the Publican more than we fast like the Pharisee, so we should be humble like the first -- AND fast like the second.

Next week is the last normal week till after Bright Week. Wednesday and Fridays are fast days but we can have meat the other days.

The next week is Cheese Fare week, when Wednesday and Friday are NOT fast days but we don't have meat all week in anticipation of the fast.

Then, BAM! Clean Monday comes, and Lent is upon us.

But for this week, enjoy.

In Christ,
Matushka Ann
________________________

But, as my Confessor always reminds me: "Glut'ny's always a sin." (Why he says this to me, I have no idea :)
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Skoufia tip to Dawn, who not only tips us off to the above link about St Paul, but tells the truth about Planned Parenthood's Racist Past ...

Speaking of tips, Dawn's also available for hire!
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Due to my secular job, third shift, I'm used to fashioning blog posts in the middle of the night. Never in the light of day. Yet thanks to the modern day struggle known as a computer virus, or something equally evil, my laptop is ailing ... on life support. Hanging on by a thread. Full lobotomy pending.

I think it's a conspiracy.

Consider the two posts that I was working on, both foolishly stored in my AOL Mail-to-be-Sent:

1) On the DaVinci Code

2) Sacraments for Space Aliens

See what I mean? Y'all know I've blogged freely for over six months. But now that I get to the real issues, the issues that hound us everyday -- space aliens and Gnostic novels -- well, you see how it is.

Forgive me but for safety reasons I shall write this next sentence in code:

H E L P M E

Then again, perhaps the drive to work at around midnight has limited my Radio surfing options.

More later ...

Courage.
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Read it. H E R E.

Or

H E R E.
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CONTAMINANT.
Dead horse. Beating. Translation: the TNIV.


CONSTANTINE.
Traditional Christianity with dualistic tomfoolery.

If Constantine were a scratch-and-sniff film, the theater would be overrun with the foul odor of burning sulfur and cigarette smoke.

Who says Hollywood stars are not interested in evangelism?


CONCILIAR.
A new B L O G. Pay a visit, participate.
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1988 ...

1) that sexual intercourse is an act of total commitment which belongs properly within a permanent marriage relationship;

2) that fornication and adultery are sins against this idea, and are to be met by a call to repentance and the exercise of compassion;

3) that homosexual acts also fall short of this idea, and are likewise to be met by a call to repentance and exercise of compassion;

4) that all Christians are called to be exemplary in all spheres of morality, including sexual morality, and that holiness of life is particularly required for Christian leaders.

-- The Episcopal Church, 1988.

Melton, J. Gordon, The Churches Speak on: Homosexuality, pp. 102-103.

Three years later, 1991, the Episcopal Church ...

We do not agree, in particular, concerning two issues fundamental to the Church's position on ethical questions before us:

1) whether homosexual orientation is an equally valid, God-given alternative to heterosexual orientation

2) whether committed, monogamous, heterosexual marriage is the only morally acceptable context for sexual intimacy

We agreed that homosexual orientation is not morally culpable or inconsistent with being a committed Christian. Such a position is consistent with a biblical witness, which, as mentioned earlier, does not speak in terms of orientation. It is also consistent with the evidence we have received from the social sciences that such an orientation is not, in the vast majority of cases, a matter of choice.

The Blue Book (1991): Reports of the Committees, Commission, Boards, and Agencies of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.

2003, 12 years later, the Episcopal Church ...

consecrated a practicing homosexual as Bishop.

What the future holds, God only knows.
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My laptop, from which I work on this blog, has ... died. Glory to God, I'm glad others are still sending me things! The following is from Fr Josiah Trenham.

In the light of statements that are so regularly being published through the various "Orthodox-Roman Catholic Consultations" both nationally and internationally that seek to downplay the dogmatic differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism here is an informative quote on the filioque heresy from the pen of St. Photios, the Pillar of Orthodoxy:

It has come to our ears that some of those who live in the West, either because they have not been fully satisfied with the Lord’s utterance, or because they have no understanding of the definitions and dogmas of both the Fathers and synods, or because they overlook the precisions therefrom, or because they have minds that are insensible to such matters, not knowing how else one would state it; nevertheless, surreptitiously introduce the teaching (would that they had not) that the Divine and all-Holy Spirit proceeds not only from God, that is, the Father, but also from the Son, and through such an utterance produce extensive harm to those who believe it.

-- St. Photios, Patriarch of Constantinople and Pillar of Orthodoxy -- Letter to the Metropolitan Of Aquileia, 9th century.
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"Orthodoxy will return to the West when the West begins to love her saints again."

-- Elder Arsenios of Cappadocia

FWD from Fr Josiah Trenham
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One of my personal joys -- as husband, father, and priest -- is family prayer. The Huneycutts struggle to pray as a family every night after dinner. Dinner ends, the kids clear the table, I prepare the family icon [prayer] corner, while my wife prepares kids' bath water, PJs, etc.

We use a combination of prayers from the Antiochian Service Book and the Jordanville Prayer Book.

The two year old, Helen, starts us out with "In the Name of the Father ... and of the Son ... and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Though co-equal and co-eternal, the names of the Persons of the Trinity start out audible and diminish to a whisper by "Holy Spirit." "Amen," however, is a bit louder. We're working on it.

Then the six year old, Basil, does his part of our family ritual, leading us through the introductory prayers. Being a boy in the first grade, he just started helping to read prayers last year. He leads us through the Trisagion prayers and Daddy does the benediction at the end of the Our Father.

Here's where our prayer pro, 10 year old Mary Catherine, takes over. She prays selections from the Jordanville Prayer Book, as she has been doing since she was four or five.

Our time concludes with my reading the live of the Saints from the Prologue. This is one of my favorite parts of the day: hearing about the heroes & heroines of the Faith. The kids like it, too.

My wife, having worked all day and prepared dinner, is given a momentary breather during family prayers. Since she is also head Chanter and Choir Director -- as well as being married to me -- she deserves every break available!

Sometimes during our prayers, for some reason, she and I look over at each other and, without words, smile and wonder at the mystery and blessing of parenting. What a joy. I am unworthy.

Before all five of us are the icons adorning our family icon corner: The Life Giving Spring, St Joseph the Betrothed, St Elizabeth (Mother of the Forerunner), St Andrew the First Called, St Mary Magdalene, St Basil of Kineshma, Ss Constantine and Helen, and St Raphael of Brooklyn.

The Life Giving Spring:
While in seminary at Nashotah House, I did my CPE at Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wisconsin. My wife and I used to visit Holy Assumption Greek Orthodox Church where we met their resident iconographer, Philotheos David Giffey. Having seen a sketch of the icon, Life Giving Font, in an Orthodox clipart book -- and knowing nothing about its history other than we liked it -- we commissioned Philotheos to write this icon for us.

St Joseph the Betrothed:
My relationship with St Joseph is contained in My Story. As tradition holds that St Joseph was 80 years old when he became the guardian of the Virgin Mary, I prefer icons that show him as an old man.

St Elizabeth:
My wife's relationship with St Elizabeth is also contained in My Story. A little over a year after becoming Orthodox, we had our first child.

St Andrew:
Elizabeth (Amy) and I first attended church together in Valle Crucis, North Carolina. This valley is so named, Valley of the Cross, because it is shaped like St Andrew's Cross -- an "X" shape. The Sunday we visited just happened to be St Andrew's feast day. The sermon was on St Andrew -- and a year later we were married on that same weekend in that same church. Thus, we adopted St Andrew -- or vice versa -- as our family's patron.

St Mary Magdalene:
Given my devotion to the Virgin Mary, we named our first child for her. Later, we gave her St Mary Magdalene as patron. This is the Russian tradition, whereas the Greeks frequently name daughters for the Theotokos. Anyway, our daughter feels blessed to have "two" patron saints.

St Basil of Kineshma:
Our son was actually named for a living person, Bishop Basil of Wichita. When he was born I was serving in the Russian jurisdiction (ROCOR) and we came to love the story of a New-Martyr, St Basil of Kineshma. Though he doesn't have two patrons, Basil relishes the memory of his patron and that of his name sake's, St Basil the Great.

Ss Constantine & Helen:
I really don't know how we settled on the name "Helen" for our youngest. She was born on Great & Holy Thursday at 2:15 am. She was baptized on St Helen's day, old style. Maybe that's it. Anyway, St Helen is most always portrayed in iconography with her son, St Constantine the Great.

St Raphael of Brooklyn:
Ever since hearing of Raphael Hawaweeny back in 1993, I've been continually drawn to his memory. By God's grace and with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip, I now pastor a small mission under St Raphael's heavenly patronage.

If you've read My Story, you may be wondering about a Roman Catholic saint, Thérèse of Lisieux. I admit, I have an icon of her on our dresser in our bedroom. That's just one of those things I trust God to sort out.

Each night, standing in prayer, I can't help but notice our children's growth: physically, mentally, and spiritually. It's a wonder to behold. There's not many things that I do each day that I look back on with total contentment. Yet, family prayer fits that bill. I'm not always motivated, fully alert, or even willing. But I always leave changed, blessed, different.

I'm helped in this transition by my family with me -- Kh. Elizabeth, Mary, Basil, and Helen -- and my family before me: Christ and His Mother, St Joseph, St Elizabeth, St Andrew, St Mary Magdalene, St Basil of Kineshma, Ss Constantine & Helen, and St Raphael of Brooklyn.

For those families who are Orthodox, I commend the practice of saying prayers each night, gathered as family. Hopefully, for the non-Orthodox, the above sketch sheds light on a rather peculiar space in most Orthodox homes, the home altar, the icon corner.

Glory to God for all things!
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Troparian
Thou Who didst pray for them that crucified Thee, O Lord, Lover of the souls of men, and Who didst command Thy servants to pray for their enemies, forgive those who hate and maltreat us, and turn our lives from all harm and evil to brotherly love and good works. For this we humbly bring our prayer, that with one accord and one heart we may glorify Thee Who alone lovest man.

Kontakion
As Thy first martyr Stephen prayed to Thee for his murderers, O Lord, so we fall before Thee and pray: Forgive all who hate and maltreat us, and let not one of them perish because of us, but may all be saved by Thy grace, O God the all-bountiful.

Also ... check out the beautiful prayer by St Nicolai of Zica.
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Ain't nothing like pilfering good quotes from someone else's site in order to enhance the quality of your own. Then again, in times of extreme temptation, persecution, and struggle ... one often manifests a shine and wisdom that, like all fruit, has been long in the making and hits the spot -- just what the doctor ordered. I couldn't resist. In other words, what she said:

In truth, anyone who knows anything about love knows that there is no guarantee that one will meet the right person at any given point in one's life. One may wish to just fool around in the meantime, but Page Six itself shows on a daily basis the toll of such hedonism, spelled out in bitchiness, superficiality, and backbiting, not to mention abortion and sexually transmitted disease.

There are men and women reading this who are dateless today not because they're undesirable, but because they are too wise, deep, and principled to settle for something superficial. Here's to you this Valentine's Day. My heart goes out to you.

Paul writes in Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

I may be in the Page Six universe. But I'll be damned—literally—if I'm of it.

Read MORE ...
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St Maximos the Confessor: “Many of the things that befall us, befall us for our training, either to do away with past sins or to correct present neglect or to check future sinful deeds. He then, who reckons that temptation has come upon him for one of these reasons, is not vexed at its attack, especially as he is conscious of his sin.”

John Lennon: “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”

In light of the above quotes -– both true -– by a saint and a musician, would that we were better prepared for those things that just “happen.” Wouldn’t it be nice if we got out of bed knowing full well that the Lord would send us trials to help us toward patience? Would that we got into our cars fully expecting the other drivers on the road to break all the rules, to help us toward patience? What if we determined, before our day even began, to look the other way when tempted by lust -– and then followed through with our promise as soon, and often, as able? What if we decided, just for one day, to go without participating in gossip, anger, swearing, or gluttony? (What if you are already doing this and I am the only one missing the boat?)

Prayer of the Optina Elders:
Grant unto me, O Lord, that with peace of mind I may face all that this new day is to bring. Grant unto me to dedicate myself completely to Thy Holy Will. For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in all things. Whatsoever tidings I may receive during the day, do Thou teach me to accept tranquilly, in the firm conviction that all eventualities fulfill Thy Holy Will. Govern Thou my thoughts and feelings in all I do and say. When things unforeseen occur , let me not forget that all cometh down from Thee. Teach me to behave sincerely and rationally toward every member of my family, that I may bring confusion and sorrow to none. Bestow upon me, my Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the day, and to bear my part in all its passing events. Guide Thou my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive, and to love.
Amen
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Thanks: News Forum

Also ... check out Curious Goldie's Suburban Adventures.

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I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman.
-- Arnold Schwarzenegger

The chilling truth is that industrialism brings on a paralyzing gluttony and greed in which the quality of life is quantified. Paradoxically, you cannot afford children in the affluent society. The world has never been so rich and wretched as in these air-conditioned Edens where another child would sap the payments on the second car. There is no population bomb today. Quite the opposite: the question is whether industrialized society can reproduce at all.
-- John Senior, The Death of Christian Culture

Then again, if you do sell yours for $500 each on eBay, tithing is also welcome.
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The day of the National ID Card is dawning.
Don't say I didn't tell you so.
Soon, some will have a chip on their shoulder.
No?
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Welcome to readers of the UK's Guardian Blog. I never thought I'd be lumped in with Dr Dobson but, as y'all say: "There it is." A quick read of the cited article might surprise, however. Oh, of your charity, I beg you to stay tuned. By week's end, here, on this very site ... a virtual cartoon character "outing". Also, beware, the Yanks are coming.

Wuh-deeb, wuh-deeb, wuh-deeb, uh, tha tha ...

There it is!

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For those of you following the story of Dawn Eden's dismissal from the New York Post: here's the scoop (caveat lector).

As I commented on her Blog ... with Florence King's exit, now Buckley too, I'm 'bout to let my 12 year subscription to National Review lapse. But cross my heart, hope to die, if NR picks up DE I'm back in for 12 more.

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Yesterday's note contained a link requiring registration. Sorry. The above link does not; or, read below.

N.C. Episcopal churches approve resolution on gays

The Associated Press

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Lay members and clergy from 75 Episcopal parishes in southeastern North Carolina have voted to endorse a report that, in part, calls on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to enact a moratorium on same-sex blessings.

The resolution, which also calls on the two churches not to ordain sexually active gay clergy as bishops, was approved at the 122nd annual Convention of the Diocese of East Carolina held at St. James Parish on Thursday through Saturday. St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Edenton offered the resolution.

At issue was the ordination of New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, in 2003, and the subsequent divisions over homosexuality in the Episcopalian priesthood that have occurred in churches across America and the world since.

The Edenton church's resolution hinges on The Windsor Report, which focuses on reconciliation and "asks for all parties to the controversy (surrounding Bishop Robinson's ordination) to express regret for ways in which their actions have harmed others," according to the Episcopal News Service.

The report, issued in October, calls on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to put the moratorium into effect while asking conservative bishops to stop going into other dioceses to assist congregations with disassociating themselves from the Episcopal Church.

The Rev. Joe Cooper, rector at Church of the Servant in Wilmington, said The Windsor Report, "invites the Episcopal church of America to regret the fracture it caused in the church. They're not saying what we did was wrong but that the global Anglican church isn't ready for it yet."

The entire church won't vote on the report until the next general convention in 2006," said the Rev. Richard Elliott, rector at St. Andrew's-on-the-Sound Episcopal Church in Wilmington.

During discussion about the resolution, churches from Fayetteville to Nags Head expressed concerns about disunity in individual Episcopal parishes during the debates.

Members of the Edenton church decreased church tithing out of protest for the national church favoring a gay man for such a high level of church leadership.

"We've taken a hit since the convention and have been scrambling for funding," said Earl Willis, a lay delegate for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Edenton, speaking to the diocese. "We're just trying to say that the American church being on the cutting edge is the wrong edge in this case."

After the last general convention, 20 leading members of Rev. Bill Bradbury's small parish, St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Washington, N.C., left in protest to form their own church, under the Anglican Mission in America.

The rector said the controversy and division the bishop's consecration caused has torn his parish apart.

"Some of the members of my church decided to stop doing business in town with the members who left, so there's still a lot of hurt feelings," he said.

THX: Classical Anglican


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In my experience, this would never have happened in Western North Carolina but ...

North Carolina Episcopalians in the southeastern part of the state have asked for a moratorium on whack nuttery.
THX: Classical Anglican

Country Music anyone? Having been raised on it, DJ'd it, and occasionally a consumer, I can relate to most of THIS.
THX: Thunderstruck

OrthodoxWiki ... if you haven't already, stop by and take a look.

A while back I mentioned the new Bible translation -- Today's New International Version. Welp, from World, here's a sample:

Genesis 4:1

NASB95: Now the man had relations with his wife Eve...
ESV: Now Adam knew Eve his wife...
NIV: Adam lay with his wife Eve...

TNIV: Adam made love to his wife Eve...

Good heavens! (Face it, it could have been worse.)

World is hosting a running commentary on the inclusive language TNIV Bible which is aimed at the 18-34 crowd.

SILOUAN ... a new site worth a look. WHICH I discovered through
Stitching Garden. (Which I don't know a stitch about.)

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by Frederica Mathewes-Green

The Psalmist writes, "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness," words that fall on deaf ears in a culture that knows as little of beauty as of holiness. Look at new church construction. So many contemporary churches do not aim to be beautiful; they aim to be functional. This might still work out all right, if the designers truly thought the function of a church is worship, but too often the assumed function is communication with the people in attendance, either to teach, uplift, or entertain them. Contemporary worship spaces look more like education spaces or entertainment spaces than like sanctuaries. By contrast, picture a church constructed with an eye to beauty, designed to draw us into the presence of God. It is fitting that it be beautiful, because beauty opens our hearts.

Of course it is not obvious to all that beauty always leads us to God. I once was interviewed by a reporter for National Public Radio, who questioned this point of view. She asked, "Doesn't all the music and painting and artwork in your church distract you from focusing on God?" and I responded, "Tell me this. If your husband takes you out for an anniversary dinner, and there is candlelight and roses and violins, does that distract you from feeling romantic?"

That's how humans are made, to respond to beauty with openness and joy -- truth more apparent to earlier Christians than to many of us today. And just as we delight in the presence of friends, so we might imagine a traditional church in which our joy is heightened by seeing the faces of our friends above us and around us: Christ, angels, and saints through history. My husband went on a mission team to Romania last year, and saw historic churches in which paintings cover every surface, walls and ceiling, inside and out, with images from Scripture and the lives of the saints. Such a sight is an overwhelming experience, but in fact, it is the truth. These images aren't just history-book reminders. In truth, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. When we worship, they are invisibly alongside us, "in every place lifting holy hands" (I Tim 2:8). When we look around and see these friends surrounding us it is as if for a moment the veil is lifted, and we see what a great company of believers we are.

But there are some things you won't see depicted in churches. There is an important safeguard in the tradition of Christian sacred art that keeps us from falling over into idolatry. It's that we don't make images of things that God has not shown us. You can make a painting of Christ, because he was born and walked on this earth; this human likeness is something God has deliberately chosen to show us, and it would be fearful superstition, if not Gnosticism, to forbid making paintings of Christ.

But you won't see a picture of God the Father as an old man with a beard. God hasn't shown us that. As a rule, you won't see a painting of the Trinity; instead, the Trinity is symbolized geometrically, by a triangle or triquetra.

There is one point in Scripture, however, when God is revealed in three persons simultaneously, and sometimes that event is depicted as a representation of the Trinity. Not the baptism of Jesus; there we see Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as a dove, but only hear the voice of God. When do we see all three visibly? "The Lord appeared to [Abraham] by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him." (Gen 18:1-2).

The painting reproduced on the cover of this issue is titled "The Old Testament Trinity," and it is probably the best-known and most-admired icon among Western Christians. It was painted by Andrei Rublev, a Russian monk, in 1411. He is honored as one of the most gifted icon painters, and you may have seen a film biography of him that came out a few years ago. (If you did, maybe you can explain it to me, because I couldn't make heads or tails of it.)

Though most icons are anonymous, and usually the name of the painter is forgotten, those by Rublev have continued to bear his name, because of his unusual gift. He painted with lightness, clarity, and an ethereal touch that few could equal. There is nothing sentimental about his painting, but instead a great sense of freshness. After the death of the abbot of his monastery, St. Sergius of Radonezh, Rublev painted this icon to hang over Sergius' tomb.

This is not the only presentation of the Old Testament Trinity in the art of Eastern Christianity. Sometimes we see Abraham and Sarah in the background, holding platters of food; in that case, the title is "The Hospitality of Abraham." This style, of the three figures alone, is often used on the Feast of Pentecost.



Note a few of the details in the image besides the commanding figures. We can see in the background the oak of Mamre; the Holy Land is such a treeless place that a stand of oaks would be a well-known landmark. The three figures sit around a stone table that early Christians would have recognized as an altar. The niche in the front represents a tomb; not only the empty tomb of Christ, but also the Christian custom from the time of the catacombs of placing the bones of departed believers beneath their altars. On the table is a gold chalice containing red wine mixed with bread. This is how Eastern Orthodox prepare the Eucharist, by combining leavened bread and wine in the same chalice and receiving from a spoon.

As we look at this icon, can we tell which of the three is the Father, which the Son, and which the Holy Spirit? Theologians would warn us against it; distinguishing the three into separate bodies suggests division, rather than the unity of the Trinity. It would be safer, perhaps, to understand that all three together somehow represent the Trinity.

And Genesis, it is true, doesn't encourage us to fix too closely on distinctions between the "three men." "They" speak to Abraham, but later it is "the LORD" who is speaking. "The men" depart, but "Abraham still stood before the LORD." When the company arrives in the city of Sodom it is no longer "three men," nor "the LORD," but now "two angels."

Whatever is going on here, it's complicated, and Scripture doesn't give us enough information to sort it all out. But this much we can rely on: the three men, or angels, who appear to Abraham and Sarah are a visitation from the LORD: God has appeared to them in the form of three persons.

As I look at this icon, though, I suspect that Rublev did intend for us to recognize the three different members of the Trinity. The Father is on the left. His robe is iridescent, shifting from glowing golden-red to azure blue, a triumph of the painter's art. "You robe yourself in light as in a garment" (Ps 104:2).

The Son and the Holy Spirit both gaze toward him, inclining their heads. There is an expression of deference, which is reflected in the version of the Nicene Creed that Rublev would have recited daily: the Son is begotten of the Father, the Spirit proceeds from the Father. If we imagine this theology of the Trinity represented as a triangle, the point is clearly on the top. The father is the "arche," the source; both Son and Spirit originate in Him.

Not to get too deeply into the minutiae of history, but it was of course a change in Western European Christianity about the turn of the millennium that first suggested adding the term "filioque" to the Nicene Creed, a dispute that eventually led to the Great Schism between Christians east and west. The original Creed, written in the fourth century, said that the Spirit proceeds from the Father; Western Christians wanted to add the word "filioque," "and the Son." At a time when the divinity of the Son was being challenged, it seemed an appropriate safeguard to proclaim that the Son is the source of the Spirit as well. And it seemed Scripturally accurate. After all, "[Jesus] breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (John 20:22).

But this confuses the immediate transmission of the Spirit to humans in this world, performed in this case by Jesus breathing upon his disciples, with the question of the eternal origin of the Spirit. At the beginning, the Spirit proceeds from the Father. Later, Jesus says he will ask the Father to send us the Spirit, and he then breathes on his disciples to impart it. But, like the Son, the origin of the Spirit from before all time remains with the Father alone.

What do such words even mean? What does it mean that the Son is "begotten," and the Spirit "proceeds"? I am not competent to tackle such questions. "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it" (Ps 139:5). And when I read over the orders I received when I became a Christian, it doesn't look like I need to know the answer to this question. I just need to do my job as an ordinary believer, following his path and helping others along the way. It looks like prying into the deep things of God is not included in my marching orders. The one thing I can know is that the Father is the ultimate source, as we see here. Both Son and Spirit incline their heads to him.

The Son, in the middle, is wearing a robe of deep purple-red; this is the purple of royalty, rather than the lavender or so-called "royal purple" we think of today. Purple fabric was very expensive; remember Lydia in the book of Acts (Acts 16:14), who dealt in purple goods. It sounds strange today to think of dealing in items based solely on their color, although I did once see a kiosk at the mall titled "All Things Purple," and it was. (I wondered whether the proprietor's name was Lydia.) Today purple dye is produced as cheaply as other colors, but in ancient times the source was a tiny gland at the back of the head of the murex snail. Only the wealthiest could afford it, hence the association with royalty. Over his purple tunic the Son wears a blue mantle, indicating divinity. Both Father and Spirit wear their blues as a tunic.

I should note that when we look at ancient art we shouldn't get too fixed on assigning symbolic meanings to colors. The artist could not just run down to the local Hobby Hut and buy more Blue # 3. If the seeds or minerals necessary for a color were not available or were too expensive, the artist would have to alter the color scheme to suit what he had. Some colors predominate in certain geographic areas for this reason, based on soil and climate conditions. But in some cases, as here, we can draw inferences about the colors used by this masterful painter.

The green mantle of the Spirit, scintillating with light, is another of Rublev's achievements. Green belongs to the Spirit because the Spirit is the source of life. On the Feast of Pentecost, Eastern Orthodox churches are decorated with greenery, boughs and branches, and worshippers will wear green clothing. The Orthodox prayer to the Holy Spirit begins, "O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of Life..."

This sense of the Spirit as the source of life, everywhere present, filling all things, contributes to one of the distinctives of Orthodox theology. That is, it is intimately bound up with daily life. There is no such thing as theology which is purely intellectual. If theology doesn't change you, if it doesn't flood you with light, it's not worth your time.

In the Christian East, a "theologian" is not someone who has thought hard about theological categories and labored at their construction. A theologian is someone who has drawn near to God and experienced his transforming presence in a palpable way. This is what St. Peter means as he writes of our becoming "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Pet 1:4). A theologian is someone who has seen the "Uncreated Light," a reference to the light which shown from Jesus on Mt. Tabor, and which illuminated the Burning Bush without consuming it. Being a theologian is akin to being a mystic-though I hate to use that word, because in the West mysticism seems like an odd calling for odd people, while in Eastern theology it's the whole purpose of the Christian life and the calling of every person: union with God, theosis. Evagrius of Pontus said, in the 4th century, "A theologian is one whose prayer is true."

Some readers have the job description "theologian," and may be thinking that seeing the Uncreated Light is not even on their list of things to do. But how refreshing it would be for all who "do theology" to understand their calling as that of being a source of light for others, a living example of what God can do with a fully-yielded person, someone whose deep meditation on the things of God has led to personal transformation and even holiness. That's the old meaning of the term "theologian."

Contrast this with a framed print I saw in the vesting room of the National Cathedral in Washington. It showed, surrounded by the darkness, a lone candle shining, and the text read: "I was wandering all alone in a dark forest, with only the light of a single candle to guide me, and along came a theologian and blew it out."

We laugh in recognition at that, even if we suspect it of latent anti-intellectualism. But we probably don't have an alternate image in mind of what a theologian can be, since we associate theology so exclusively with intellectual activity. Gazing at the luminous robe of the Holy Spirit depicted here we can imagine an experience of being filled with the light of God and becoming a "theologian" in the true sense.

Son and Spirit, as I said, both bow their heads to the Father. But all three show equality in other ways. Each of them carries a slim red staff, an emblem of authority. Each has a halo, which should not be understood as a flat disk behind the head, but as a globe of light encircling the head, like the sphere around a candle flame. All three gesture toward the chalice with their right hands; the Father and the Son are holding their fingers in the form of a blessing.

Though I have been referring to the three figures as Father, Son, and Spirit, you'll notice that they all look alike. The Son is not depicted in the familiar likeness of Jesus. This visitation to Abraham took place many centuries before the Incarnation. Instead, Rublev has relied on the indication in Genesis that the three resembled angels, and so they are depicted in the way angels usually appear in iconography: as young men with long, curly hair pulled back, no beards, and delicate gold wings.

Notice, too, how Rublev has handled perspective. The top of the table, and the tops of the pedestals the Father and Spirit rest their feet upon, tilt dramatically toward us, as if we are looking down on the scene from above. At the level of the figures' faces, however, we seem to be looking at the three directly from about shoulder height.

This is not a matter of incompetence. A painter who can handle drapery and color as well as Rublev is not ignorant of the method of perspective. As is often the case in iconography, perspective has been intentionally distorted it in order to give us a sensation that the scene is bursting out toward us, with the chalice in the center pressing itself our way.

In conventional painting we expect things to get smaller as they go into the distance; this is called the "vanishing point," and as you remember from elementary school art class, as the railroad tracks go away from you, far in the distance they converge. Yet icons often play with reversing or distorting perspective, in order to increase the viewer's sense of being off-balance and in an unfamiliar, powerful world, or even to feel that the whole scene is rushing toward him, converging on him and challenging him. Sometimes the painting is carefully arranged so that everything gets "larger" as it goes back, and "smaller" in the foreground, so that the "vanishing point" is right about where the viewer is standing. The viewer is the vanishing point; if God did not sustain us, we would vanish.

In addressing a complex theological topic like the Trinity one runs a danger of dryness, and I wanted to offer a bit of refreshment, by focusing on a beautiful example of ancient Christian art. It can be can be an aid to devotion and greater openness to God-an aid to theology. And that is where I will end. Everything we do as we read about, study or discuss our faith should enhance our devotion to God. We should all be on the way to becoming theologians. A theological conference or seminary setting can nurture fellowship and deepen faith, but it can also be an opportunity for the Devil to stir up trouble, by stimulating pride or, conversely, by dashing pride; by undermining self-confidence or by rousing a desire to dominate others.

So be wary, be watchful, and don't let your "theological" activities drag you away from the One you seek to know. "Take every thought captive to Christ" (II Cor 10:5) and take care that you not be led astray. The Evil One comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, and he is indisputably prowling around, seeking whom he may devour. He doesn't stay away just because we label an activity "theological."

We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses; we see them visibly in Christian art, but they are invisibly with us too, in the eternal company of angels and all who love the Lord. That's where we are all going, and when we get there, we'll have to give an account for every careless word we utter. So let us plan ahead for that, and watch our words now. When in doubt, silence is a good option. Because, after all we have said about this icon today, there is one thing we have not yet noted: none of the figures is speaking. The tranquility of their silence is sufficient. I invite you to spend some time in similar silence, and enter further into the mystery of the Trinity.

A speech for Beeson Divinity School conference on the Trinity, October 2003; published in The Cresset, April 2004. Article used by permission. Above image, and others by Rublev, may be found HERE.
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Two monks arrived in the city of Tyre to perform some errand. As one of them was passing by a certain place, a harlot named Porphyria followed him, crying: "Honorable Father, save me, as Jesus Christ saved the harlot." Without regard to people's suspicions, he took her by the hand, in full view of many, and departed with her through the middle of the city. A rumor was immediately spread abroad that the monk in question had taken Porphyria as his wife. As Porphyria passed through cities and villages with him, she happened to come across an abandoned infant, which she lovingly took up and carried with her in order to rear it.

A little later on, some Tyrians came to the place where the monk and the erstwhile prostitute were dwelling. When they saw that Porphyria had a child in her arms, they began to laugh and jeer at that courageous man, saying to Porphyria: "You truly succeeded in your purpose; you have borne a beautiful child by this monk!" Upon returning to Tyre, they put a rumor out everywhere that Porphyria had given birth to a child by the monk, to whom it bore an amazing resemblance.

People are always ready to give credence to suspicions, especially when such people are corrupt and wicked, and can find grounds within themselves for believing such suspicions. They assume without further ado that other people are just like themselves and readily slander other individuals, both because they take pleasure in such suspicions and slanders and, as well, because they wish to have others as accomplices in evil, so eager are they to evade the reproaches of their own consciences.

That honorable monk tonsured Porphyria a nun and clothed her in the monastic schema, changing her name to "Pelagia" and entrusting her to a convent, so that she might lead the monastic life. However, after some time, having foreknowledge of the day of his death, he took her along with him and they returned to Tyre, accompanied by the child, who was now about seven years old.

It was immediately bandied around that Porphyria and her "husband," the monk, had returned to the city. When the monk subsequently fell ill and was at the point of death, a great many of the inhabitants came to visit him. Under the eyes of all he ordered a censer full of lighted coals to be brought to him. Taking the censer, he poured the coals onto his chest, saying, within the hearing of all: "Blessed be the Lord, Who of old preserved the bush unconsumed; may He be my witness that just as the caustic power of this fire is not burning my clothes, so also I have never touched a woman in all my life."

When they heard this, they were all astounded and glorified God Who, through such miracles, is wont to glorify openly those who serve Him secretly.

After doing and saying these things, the monk commended his soul into the hands of God. "For this reason, my spiritual children, I urge you all, as I said before, not to be quick to condemn, but to guard yourselves as much as possible from this sin."
__________________________________________
This story, told by Patriarch John the Merciful of Alexandria, was sent to me by Bishop Auxentios of St Gregory Palamas Monastery / Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, Etna, California. Glory to God for all things!

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Two spotted recently ...

"God may say WAIT
But He never says WORRY."


"Get rich quick --
Count your blessings!"

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Fr John Whiteford on the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, who were slain by the Communists.

At half past six in the evening, the doorbell rang loudly three times. Five men, dressed in soldiers' uniforms and led by a sailor, entered the house and asked for "Vladimir, the Metropolitan". They were directed downstairs to the cell of the archpastor. The metropolitan came out to meet them, and was taken into the bedroom where they remained for twenty minutes behind locked doors. There Metropolitan Vladimir was tortured and choked with the chain of his cross, insulted and ordered to give them money. Later, the attendants found on the floor of the room pieces of a broken chain, a silk cord, a tiny case with holy relics and a small icon which the metropolitan always wore around his neck.

When the metropolitan came out twenty minutes later, surrounded by his torturers, he was wearing his cassock, a panagia and a white klobuk on his head. On the front steps he was approached by his old cell-attendant, Philip, who asked for a blessing. The sailor pushed him aside, shouting ...

Read it all H E R E.

Comment by HR.

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I read The Dawn Patrol

Every.

Day.

TODAY, I hope you do too.

Prayers coveted.

Lord have mercy!

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Entrance of Metropolitan PHILIP,
Enthronement of Bishop BASIL,
December 15, 2004
Wichita
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Enter your icon corner with reverence before God.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory to thee, O our God, glory to thee.

O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.

+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us. (Thrice)

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

+ Our Father ...

Troparia to the Holy Trinity

Having arisen from sleep, we fall down before thee, O Blessed One, and sing to thee, O Mighty One: Holy, holy, holy art thou, O God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

From my bed and sleep hast Thou raised me up, O Lord: enlighten my mind and my heart, and open my lips that I may praise thee, O Holy Trinity: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O God. Through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

+ Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Suddenly the Judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be revealed; but with fear we cry out in the middle of the night: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O God. Through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

The Symbol of Faith (Creed)

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, Begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made:

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man;

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried;

And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;

And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father;

And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the Prophets;

And I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.

I look for the Resurrection of the dead,

And the Life of the age to come. Amen.


TROPARION to the THEOTOKOS

+ It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, who art ever blessed and all blameless, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou who without stain barest God the Word, and art truly Theotokos, we magnify thee.

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

+ O Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, through the intercessions of thine immaculate Mother, of Saint N. (your patron saint), and of all thy Saints, have mercy on us, and save us, for thou art a merciful God, and lovest mankind. Amen.

Reverence the icon of Christ, the Theotokos, your patron, and others.

+ Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Make three metanias and quietly exit the icon corner.
________________________________
The above prayer rule is a shortened form of those found in the Antiochian prayer book. Psalm 50 is taken from the Jordanville Prayer Book. This rule is intended for non-Orthodox inquirers, some Catechumens, and those who struggle with making time for morning prayers. It is easily memorized, allowing, when necessary, its recitation in other places than one's home icon corner. As with all such matters, guidance should be sought from one's priest and/or spiritual father. For a "short rule" with intercessory prayers go HERE.

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La Quinta Inn will no longer grant suite deals to an abortionist in Kansas. You can thank La Quinta H E R E.
THX: World

X-X-Xanthan Gum: You know, read your labels, it's everywhere!
Xanthan gum is used as a thickener in sauces, as an agent in ice cream that prevents ice crystals from forming, and as a fat substitute that adds the "mouth feel" of fat without the calories. It is used in canned pet food to add "cling". In pastry fillings, it prevents "weeping" (syneresis) of the water in the filling, protecting the crispness of the crust.

Now, another word that starts with X -- Porn -- is becoming just as ubiquitous. In other words, you might wanna read your media labels for the X-word. You got Satellite? You got porn. Local Cable Access Channel? Yup, you got it.

The Dobson Drumming continues in the MSM. Actually, pretty much all Christians are bozos.

Cartoon characters adored by kids seized the spotlight in the latest flare-up of America's culture wars, but the debate itself poses serious questions for adults involving the depiction of gays and lesbians in materials for teaching children about diversity and tolerance.

The liberal camp argues that even young children should learn that intolerance based on sexual identity is wrong, and that gays are as legitimate a part of the national mosaic as anyone else.

``It's about creating awareness and understanding of people who are different,'' said Joan Garry of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. ``Why shouldn't that be a good thing for America's young people?''

The conservative camp has responded vehemently: By all means, teach children to respect other individuals, but do not cross the line and teach them that homosexuality is acceptable.

``Tolerance itself can be a very dangerous word,'' said the Rev. Terry Fox, a Southern Baptist pastor in Wichita, Kan. ``Tolerance gives the public schools an avenue to literally brainwash our kids that every lifestyle is OK.''

Read the whole story H E R E.

John Mark Reynolds chimes in with a splash of sanity.

Finally, when saying our Evening Prayers last night, my son reminded me of the Feast: February 2nd is the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple. Mind you, we'd just read about the Righteous Simeon and his disbelief that a VIRGIN would conceive and bear a Son. He'd even gone so far as to change the wording of the Scripture to say "a young woman" when he was corrected by an angel. And ... so forth. After prayers, Basil (almost 7) said, "Dad, I noticed something about that story ... he did it after Ground Hog Day."

There it is.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

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In religion, as in war and everything else, comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort, you will not get neither comfort or truth -- only soft and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair.

CS Lewis in Mere Christianity.

Thanks for FWD from Fr Victor Potapov.

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He's been the head of the Roman Catholic communion ever since I was a Baptist, a senior in high school. Anyone who knows me knows I'm no ecumenist. I've never wavered, however, in my belief that Pope John Paul II is a good man. He has led his flock through some tumultuous times. He was the first media Pope. He has stood firm on unpopular positions and still managed to stay in the positive spot light. And travel ... my goodness! There's no comparison, But. Like Reagan and Carson, I'm sure the MSM has bios ready to roll when JP II breathes his last. Yet for now, I'm bold enough to pray God's mercy and weak enough to covet his prayers.
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One of my wife's coworkers read my post on the SpongeBob controvery -- Of Course Sponge Bob is Gay! She enjoyed it so much that she bought me a new SpongeBob SquarePants placemat, much to the envy of my 2 year old. However, being a good sport, she (who'll be 3 in May) brought it to me last night just before our house blessing. I told her I was going to take it to work with me.

"No! You don't take it to work, Dad. You sit your plate on it; your fork; and your juice."

God love her. I can't clearly see me, sitting down with my other four family members, and I'm the only one with a big bright yellow cartoon placemat. THAT would look queer, no?

Anyway, if we get our act together, Huw Raphael and I will be co-authoring an article about cartoon characters later in the week. Alas, before we've even hammered our words out, USA Today is running a pity piece on cartoon characters who are in the closet. Where's Dave Barry when you need him?

Needless to say, the storm caused by Dr Dobson's comments certainly "has legs" --

In fact, you may now have to do some serious sleuthing to ever find the truth about the We Are Family organization.

Just by pointing out that Dobson's (whose show I have never listened to) words may have been twisted out of context, yours truly came under fire by fierce fans of tolerance (scroll down).

Face it, with all the problems in the world, if, after the November elections, THIS is all we have to argue about ... life's pretty good outside Toonville.

Glory to God for all things!

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by St Simeon the New Theologian

From sullied lips, from an abominable heart, from a tongue impure, from a soul defiled, accept my supplication, O my Christ, and disdain me not, neither my words, nor my ways, nor my shamelessness. Grant me to say boldly that which I desire, O my Christ. Or rather, teach me what I ought to do and say. I have sinned more than the sinful woman who, having learned where Thou wast lodging, bought myrrh, and came daringly to anoint Thy feet, my God, my Master, and my Christ. As Thou didst not reject her when she drew near from her heart, neither, O Word, be Thou filled with loathing for me, but grant me floods of tears, as with most precious myrrh, dare to anoint them. Wash me with my tears, and purify me with them, O Word; remit also my transgressions, and grant me pardon. Thou knowest the multitude of mine evils, Thou knowest also my sores, and Thou seest my wounds; but also Thou knowest my faith, and Thou beholdest my good intentions, and Thou hearest my sighs. Nothing is hidden from Thee, my God, my Creator, My Redeemer, neither a teardrop, nor a part of a teardrop. My deeds not yet done Thine eyes have seen, and in Thy book even things no yet accomplished are written by Thee. See my lowliness, see my toil, how great it is, and all my sins take from me, O God of all; that with contrite soul I may partake of Thy spotless and most holy Mysteries, by which all that eat and drink in purity of heart are quickened and deified. For Thou O my Master, hast said: Everyone that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood abideth in Me, and I in him. True is every word of my Master and God; for whosoever partaketh of the divine and deifying grace is no more alone, but with Thee, my Christ, the three-sunned Light that enlighteneth the world. And that I may not remain alone without Thee, the Life-giver, my Breath, my Life, my Rejoicing, the Salvation of the world, therefore have I drawn nigh unto Thee, as Thou seest, with tears, and with a contrite soul. O Ransom of mine offenses, I ask Thee to receive me, and that I may partake without condemnation of Thy life-giving and perfect Mysteries, that Thou mayest remain, as Thou hast said, with me, a thrice-wretched one, lest the deceiver, finding me without Thy grace, craftily seize me, and having beguiled me, draw me away from Thy deifying words. Wherefore, I fall down before Thee, and fervently cry unto Thee: As Thou didst receive the prodigal, and the sinful woman who drew near, so receive me, the prodigal and profligate, O Compassionate One. With contrite soul I now come to Thee. I know, O Saviour, that none other hath sinned against Thee as have I, nor hath wrought the deeds that I have done. But this again I know, that neither the magnitude of mine offenses nor the multitude of my sins surpasseth the abundant long-suffering of my God and His exceeding love for mankind; but with sympathetic mercy Thou dost purify and illumine them that fervently repent, and makest them partakers of the light, sharers of Thy divinity without stint. And, strange to angels and to the minds of men, Thou conversest with them oftimes, as with Thy true friends. These things make me bold, these things give me wings, O Christ. And taking courage from the wealth of Thy benefactions to us, rejoicing and trembling at once, I partake of Fire, I that am grass. And, strange wonder! I am bedewed without being consumed, as the bush of old burned without being consumed. Now with thankful mind, and grateful heart, with thankfulness in my members, my soul and body, I worship and magnify and glorify Thee, my God, for blessed art Thou, both now and unto the ages.
__________________________
Taken from the Jordanville Prayer Book, pp.362-366; The Order of Preparation for Holy Communion.

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Enter your icon corner with reverence before God.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory to thee, O our God, glory to thee.

O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.

+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us. (Thrice)

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

+ Our Father ...

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

+ O Lord and Master of my life,
Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk;

+ But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant.

+ Yea, O Lord and King,
grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother,
for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.
(St Ephraim the Syrian - 4th c.)

LIVING

Be mindful, O Lord, of our Archbishop N.; our Bishop N.; our priest N.; the president of the United Sates, our civil authorities and Armed Forces.

Be mindful, O Lord, of my parents, N. and N., of my brothers and sisters, my relatives, friends and enemies, N., N. and N. (name those whom you wish to remember); grant that they may have mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation, and pardon and remission of sins; that they may ever praise and glorify Thy Holy Name.

Be mindful, O Lord, of me, thy humble servant; grant me thy Grace, that I may be diligent and faithful; avoiding evil company and influence, resisting temptation; that I may lead a godly and righteous life, blameless and peaceful, ever serving Thee; that I may be accounted worthy to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

DEAD

Be mindful, O Lord, of my parents, relatives and friends, N., N. and N. (name those of the dead whom you wish to remember) who have fallen asleep in thy communion in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal, O Lord, lover of mankind. Amen.

TROPARION to the THEOTOKOS

+ It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, who art ever blessed and all blameless, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou who without stain barest God the Word, and art truly Theotokos, we magnify thee.

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

+ O Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, through the intercessions of thine immaculate Mother, of Saint N. (your patron saint), and of all thy Saints, have mercy on us, and save us, for thou art a merciful God, and lovest mankind. Amen.

Reverence the icon of Christ, the Theotokos, your patron, and others.

+ Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Make three metanias and quietly exit the icon corner.

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The above prayer rule is a shortened form of those found in the Antiochian prayer book. It is intended for non-Orthodox inquirers, some Catechumens, and those who struggle with making time for morning prayers. It is easily memorized, allowing, when necessary, its recitation in other places than one's home icon corner. As with all such matters, guidance should be sought from one's priest and/or spiritual father.

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