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

In his new book Defeating Sin Fr Joseph Huneycutt has provided us with a clear and, above all, practical framework for personal spiritual growth. It will undoubtedly become a favorite title for individual Lenten reading, although Church School teachers and youth leaders will also find Defeating Sin to include valuable material that can readily be incorporated into curricula or workshops. Fr Joseph has given us a great tool to help us in the daily task of "work[ing] out [our] own salvation." (Phil. 2:12)

-- Deacon David Keim, All Saints Church, Raleigh, North Carolina

Order now!

Signed copies available through the PayPal button in the side margin of this blog (at left), or multiple copies through Regina Orthodox Press.

DEFEATING SIN will help readers to better understand the disease that troubles the human soul. DEFEATING SIN will prove an invaluable aid for those engaged in spiritual warfare, helping them make that U-turn from the passions toward the virtues.

Christians of all denominational backgrounds will benefit from the ancient wisdom of the Church Fathers and the perpetual call to repentance. Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Anglicans will find the book’s helpful guides for making a good Confession memorable, indispensable—a must!

DEFEATING SIN investigates the nature of the Passions and the saving grace of the Virtues.

- What led to the fall of the Archangel Lucifer and one-third of the heavenly hosts?
- What caused the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve?
- What causes our own stumbling?
- How can we identify the traps and temptations of the enemy?
- How do we get back up once we’ve fallen?
- How can we struggle toward God-pleasing solutions – even the Kingdom of Heaven?

More endorsements of DEFEATING SIN.
(And here ... and here.)
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TODAY, February 27th, is the ninety-third anniversary of the repose of St Raphael of Brooklyn. Below, thanks to Dr. Sam Cohlmia (translator) and Bishop BASIL (sender) is a translation of the first talk St Raphael gave in America of which we have a written transcript. This talk was delivered by him on December 17, 1895, exactly one month after his arrival in America.

Holy Father Raphael pray unto God for us!

It is true to admit that every true mind cannot but rejoice when it encounters education and knowledge. And every peaceful heart cannot but be reverend when it beholds great philanthropic endeavors which are crowned with a crown of goodness. Therefore, truth becomes evident in the ministry of education; and goodness becomes visible in the works of kindness. It is, then, truth and goodness which promote mental success and literary furtherance in every place and every age. For this cause, mental success stirs up within us joy and happiness; and literary furtherance excites within us poetic words of thanksgiving.

Having said that, I cannot but convey the great joy which my heart is feeling at the founding of this literary gathering, which is composed of Syrian men who have graciously poured out love for the strengthening of their own literacy, education, and knowledge; at the same time, they have spread such virtues onto the rest of their un-enlightened brethren. Therefore, I cannot but offer great thanks to the founders of this congregation and all of those who have helped and taking part in its establishment. Either literary or financially speaking, I ask of Him who is of true heart and spirit that He may fill the hearts and minds of the founders of this congregation with the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of knowledge, the spirit of truth, and the spirit of zeal and futuristic vision; that they may spread their literary and visionary knowledge to all of their country’s descendants throughout all of the ages.

What I rightly behold with respect to my witness of this, your first gathering, is your treasured and righteous vision throughout all of your discussions and resolutions; so as “not to believe every spirit”, but “to examine everything and hold onto what is good”. In that knowledge cannot be founded, even with the multitude of its truth and validity, if it is handled with chaos and dissention, doubt and deviance; with such limiting factors, the alienation of the knowledgeable and the wise, the poet and the counselor is imminent. Nonetheless, today knowledge has been strongly founded as truth through the wisdom of our past.

Therefore, if you read or hear that certain of the sciences contradict religion, it behooves you to understand that such sciences have never been originally founded in Truth; therefore, true knowledge and true science is the kin of true religion and true faith. For this cause, neither true science nor true faith has the ability to contract the other. On one hand, true religion is the introduction of what God has revealed unto us, with respect to those truths that have been dubbed “the truths of faith and religion”. On the other hand, true science is the introduction of what God has sent to us through His creation and His laws, which have been named “the laws of nature”. Having said that, it is possible for a true mind to surrender to the notion that what God revealed to us as “the truths of faith and religion” can be contradictory to what He sent to us as “the laws of nature”? Is it possible that the message of God can contradict what He created? Therefore, religious disbelief among the people is an indication of the lack of human-minded balance of truth; in addition, religious disbelief among scientists is an indication of the lack of human-minded balance of true science among them all.

In conclusion, my beloved and dear sons, “do not believe every spirit, but examine everything and hold onto what is good”, hold fast throughout your scientific discussions what has been forgotten by those who have alienated themselves from true science. Be mindful of how some of the famous scientists of our current age founded their beliefs after careful examination and great revelation, determining that the concept of science being contrary to religion is a lie. Therefore, with the knowledge of the multitude of scientific opinions, remember to preserve and protect your religious and literary ties from the attacks of ignorance, darkness, false truths, and other personal pleasures.


Delivered to a gathering of Syrian Men in New York on 12/17/1895; hand-written in Arabic by St. Raphael of Brooklyn; translated to English by Dr. Sam Cohlmia 12/17/2004; taken from the Clergy Brotherhood email of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America 2/27/2008.
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Forgive me. This has nothing to do with Orthodoxy, but everything to do with Internet. Does this happen to yous toos?

Hello,

I am John Obviouslymadeupname, and I am a highly very ranking Nigerian prince.

Because of utmost strict Nigerian security and banking practices, I have found myself in possession of $50 million USD that I found in my sock drawer after a party attended by the Queen of Norway, Sigrid Formaldahyde. It is my utmost thinking that the Queen of Norway, Sigrid Formaldahyde, left this money in my sock drawer because it was cursed. Taking the utmost precautions, I washed the money that I am now thinking the Queen of Norway, Sigrid Formaldahyde, left in my sock drawer in a completely utmost legitimate manner.

Since I now have a wet $456 million USD (there are sadly no privately-owned clothes drying machines in Nigeria), and am utmostly needing your bank account number so that I might get quarters. If you allow me to get four quarters out, I will gladly give you and only you six quarters upon utmost dryness of the $32 million USD.

Please thanking you in advance,

Prince Obviouslymadeupname



I suspect PO is a pseudonym for WBF.
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The following helpful hints are lifted from an email from Matushka Elizabeth Perdomo (with gratitude).

After Sunday, March 2nd (Meatfare Sunday / Sunday of the Last Judgement) - no meats are eaten until Pascha; that includes beef, pork, chicken and any vertebrate animals, including fish. (Though Fish may be consumed during "Cheese Week" leading up to Clean Monday, March 10th.)

For the week of Monday, March 3rd thru Sunday, March 9th (Cheesefare Sunday / The Sunday of Forgiveness) - Dairy products and eggs may still be eaten any day of the week! Butter, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. are all good! There are some recipe suggestions for Cheesefare Week in the St. George's Pantry link below.

After Forgiveness Sunday, which falls on March 9th this year, the Great Fast Begins.

From Monday, March 10th until AFTER the midnight services for Holy Pascha, no meat or dairy or egg products are eaten. A strictly VEGAN diet is adopted by Orthodox Christians throughout the world. That means grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, etc.

There are some exceptions to the rule during the Great Fast. For example, on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25th, Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed. This is also true on April 20th, the Celebration of the Entrance into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday. Fish, Wine and Oil are again consumed.

Non-vertebrate sea food is allowed any day during the fast, except for during the "Strict Fast" days. That includes shrimp, scallops, clams, oysters, lobster, etc. So, if you need a special occasion dish or night out, or need a bit extra protein, try to go for seafood dishes!

The liturgical calendars from Church pretty well specify the fast days and the degree of fasting we strive to enter into. If you have questions, check your calendars!

Also: Nursing mothers, Pregnant Women, Young Children and those in Ill Health or who must take certain medications should adapt the fasting rule according to their particular needs. Dairy products are particularly recommended for young children, nursing mothers and pregnant women. Please do talk to [your priest / spiritual father] and receive a blessing and some guidance if you have any questions or special circumstances which would prevent you from following the fast. Having that "Blessing" can better bring you into the fullness of the season, even when one must adapt the fasting guidelines.

People often worry about children and fasting. Children learn by our examples and through our efforts. Dairy can always be added for young children, but other than that, they can easily learn to eat what we eat: Fasting Foods. The key is to make and serve well balanced meals, which can be done even with vegan food choices. It's a learning process - so, let's all learn! If one eats lunches or breakfasts at school, it can be more challenging. Still, children can try to make choices which more closely follow the fasting guidelines if they are taught to do so and to want to do so. But, the point is to try to do the best one can. Maybe peanut butter sandwiches, or even cheese pizza, or a tuna sub must be substituted now and then. But, it is better to try than not to even try at all. After all, why do we Fast? To grow closer to Christ! So, what's not to try for?

Also, when one is traveling, sometimes it is often not possible to keep the fast completely. However, even so, try to follow the fast as closely as possible. If one can not eat a vegan meal, try shrimp or other non-vertebrate seafood. Or, if none is available, try fish. Or eggs... Or dairy... Don't just go straight to steak just because you're not at home!

There are always situations which come up during the Great Fast. The FASTING is not the point of the fast; the REACHING and FOCUSING on Christ IS the Point. Fasting is our Tool; our Friend; our Aid in setting aside this time and really refocusing our lives. So, if something comes up, don't beat yourself up. Refocus, get back into the fast, and continue putting one step in front of the other.

Fasting can not and is not meant to stand alone either. It must be accompanied by its other two components: Prayer and Almsgiving. Remember to make time in your busy lives and attend as many of the special lenten services as possible during this precious season. Remember to give to the poor and needy - and not just your dollars, but your actions as well!

Matushka then points to the programs at her own parish, St George.

Recipes ... and more.

Matushka's friend Denise, who lives in Savannah, GA, also has a cooking blog which shares recipes throughout the fasting and other seasons. She is Italian American, so many of her excellent recipes reflect that background ... HERE.

Image of a lenticular cloud taken from HERE.
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Citing an old post of mine dealing with the movie script from New Line Cinema's The Nativity Story, someone posted the following comment, first quoting me and then offering their own words. I'm happy to oblige, as soon as there's time. In the meantime, anyone want to [politely] weigh in here in the ComBox?

"We all know St Joseph was old, right? He was a widower with children, a man of means, by the time he became the guardian of our Lord. This is the tradition of the Church."

Actually, that is NOT the tradition of the Protestant Church. Scripture never says anything about the age of Joseph, and Protestants have no tradition in that regard, unless it is that he was close to Mary's age. We are also taught that the brothers and sisters of Jesus, which are mentioned in Scripture, were the product of Joseph and Mary's marriage, not a previous marriage.

I had heard about the belief in Joseph being older, but I had never heard about his having been previously married. It is beliefs like this, which are formed outside of Scripture, that have caused a lot of the disconnect between Protestants and Catholics. If we would all come back to Scripture and believe it and form our traditions from it, then we would be One Church as Christ commands.
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When I was a kid there was a TV-show that came on in our area called The Joey the Clown Show; all youngsters around the ages of 4, 5 & 6 were fans of Joey the Clown.

And on each episode of The Joey the Clown Show some of the kids in the audience were seen riding on this ride consisting of airships sailing around the globe … it was a big globe and those kids held on tight to the handlebars as their craft circled the planet.

That was cool.

Then, one day, my mom shocked me by saying that the following Saturday … we – as in ME!
WE were going with a group to The Joey the Clown TV-show …

That was amazing.

Of equal import, but certainly not in a good way, is the fact that between her surprise announcement and my circling the globe in an aeroplane, I contracted chickenpox. My skin was all red and splotchy, and here I was going to be on television!

Alas, with my skin all marred by the pox, and fearing this would show up on the television broadcast, I didn’t wanna go. In the end, my mom talked me into it.

Which turned out to be both good and bad.

The good news was – thanks to the quality of television cameras and broadcasting in the 60’s, my chickenpox was not visible on TV.

The bad news? Remember that ride that circled the globe? Boy, was I ever disappointed! The globe, up close, as we rode ‘round it on our space planes …

Well, it was just ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Image taken from Red Skelton Gallery of Clowns.
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The following is excerpted from an email from His Grace, Bishop Thomas (Joseph), in response to this post from Bishop Hilarion (Alfeyev).

I hope that liberal Christianity does not survive for long. Quite frankly, I have a problem applying the name "Christianity" to the religious philosophy known as "liberal Christianity."

We know from the Book of Acts that "Christians" were first called by that name in Antioch. Receiving the name "Christian" implied a destiny of great glory, yet a destiny often costing the bearers of that noble name a great price. In the world, we have many groups of people who refer to themselves as "Christians." There is, of course, only One True Christianity: Orthodox Christianity. I challenge the liberal groups who wish to associate themselves with Christianity to give themselves a litmus test against the early Church of the Apostles. Are these liberal Christians faithful to the teachings of the Holy Scripture? Are they faithful to the spirit of the canons of ... the Christian Church? What sort of link exists between these so-called "liberal Christians" and the Church that was founded on the Day of Pentecost and its Faith?

The last ten years I have been invited to visit of few countries around the world where I have been involved in various conferences that deal with Christian issues, most especially in the field of bioethics. Bp. Hilarion mentions that these "liberal Christian" groups do not hold to the Church's teaching on Christian life. Most especially, he mentions their positions on homosexuality and abortion that clearly oppose the teachings of the Orthodox Church. In discussions with leaders of these "liberal Christian" groups, one can learn that the theological problems that plague these organizations are far more deeply rooted than the issues I have mentioned. These issues result from philosophies and worldviews incompatible with traditional Christianity. "Liberal Christian" groups may deny the Incarnation, deny the Resurrection, deny the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, and/or deny other defining doctrines of the historic Christian Faith. Some have even attempted to make the Trinity appear more feminine and less patriarchal, according to contemporary "politically correct" thinking. My question is this: "If members of a group deny the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, deny that Jesus rose from the dead after descending into Hades to release those in bondage, design innovative interpretations of Holy Scripture in radical conflict with Holy Tradition, and compromise the integrity of the most basic traditional teachings of the Christian Church, how can they identify themselves as 'Christians' in good faith?" Strange ideas accepted within "liberal Christianity" as normal prove unrecognizable to Orthodox Christians as aspects of the True Faith. Can we, as Orthodox Christians, properly apply the same name that was bestowed upon the Holy Martyrs to those people who say that there is no Holy Trinity, no Incarnation, no Risen Christ, and who claim that much of the story of our Faith, which we preserve and continue to live, is ultimately a creative fairytale, one myth among the many diverse, humanly-created mythologies of the world?

We should be very selective and careful when applying the name "Christian" to groups outside of traditional Christianity. At the same time, I encourage us all to consider how we live up to that honorable name. Let's make sure that those of us who have rightly inherited this name and who confess Christ live in a way that reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ. Let's make sure that those of us who sing, "Ye Holy Martyrs who have fought the good fight and have received your crowns," and who walk around the Holy Table with the Martyrs, confess Christ with our lips and also confess the True Christian Faith through our daily lifestyle.

Yours in Christ,

+ Bishop THOMAS
Diocese of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic
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It is already Sunday in Kosovo, and the Muslims have most likely declared their independence from Serbia. What a shame that our nation, especially the previous administration, has been the chief catalyst in handing over the most sacred region of Serbia to Islamic extremists that have destroyed hundreds of Church and Monasteries in the last 9 years, and murdered thousands of Orthodox Christians ...

More here.

Image lifted from HERE where tmatt says:

Search the news reports in the next few days and look for the material on these treasures of art and faith. While many are celebrating, others are — sheltered in tiny enclaves protected by foreign troops — in mourning. Are there enougn troops to guard all the churches in northern Kosovo? Does anyone in Europe care? How about the United States? This is part of the Kosovo equation that should be included in balanced, accurate mainstream reporting.
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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.

A note from Matushka Ann Lardas from a few years back.
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HANDY FASTING GUIDE
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Miss Jane gets a tongue lashing, Mr Bodine speaks in tongues. Things go dark as I interview Dr Indadark. In the end, lacking the main ingredient, it's all just peas and carrots.

Suffice it to say: Love covers a multitude of podcasts.

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

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I would like to draw your attention to the danger of liberal Christianity. The liberalization of moral standards, initiated by some Protestant and Anglican communities several decades ago and developing with ever-increasing speed, has now brought us to a situation where we can no longer preach one and the same code of moral conduct. We can no longer speak about Christian morality, because moral standards promoted by 'traditional' and 'liberal' Christians are markedly different, and the abyss between these two wings of contemporary Christianity is rapidly growing.

We are being told by some allegedly Christian leaders, who still bear the titles of Reverends and Most Reverends, that ...

The rest of the story.

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: "Liberal Christianity will not survive for a long time" - Intervention at the opening session of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, Geneva, 13 February 2008.
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Today is Valentine's Day, the day on which we celebrate love and especially romantic love. This day is linked to Greco-Roman February holidays devoted to fertility, in particular, the festival of Lupercalia. The romantic overtone of the holiday is in commemoration of St. Valentine, a Roman priest who was martyred on February 14 in 269 A.D. It's worth noting that there are many different Christian martyrs named "Valentine," and until 1969, the Catholic Church recognized 11 different Valentine's days.

Thousands of couples will exchange gifts signifying their affection for one another, including chocolate, flowers, and of course, greeting cards. One hundred eighty-eight million Valentine's Day cards will be given today, making February 14 the second most popular card-giving day of the calendar year, finishing right behind Christmas.

The tradition of exchanging love notes on Valentine's Day originates from the martyr Valentine himself. The legend maintains that due to a shortage of enlistments, Emperor Claudius II forbade single men to get married in an effort to bolster his struggling army. Seeing this act as a grave injustice, Valentine performed clandestine wedding rituals in defiance of the emperor. Valentine was discovered, imprisoned, and sentenced to death by beheading. While awaiting his fate in his cell, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of a prison guard, who would come and visit him. On the day of his death, Valentine left a note for the young woman professing his undying devotion signed "Love from your Valentine."

Stolen from The Writer's Almanac (2/14/08).

Image Source
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The following comment, sent in by a blog reader, concerns yesterday's post about the new Orthodox Study Bible:

I still wonder if this is really good. I mean, yes, having a Bible in hand that will motivate one to read it is good. But, like so many other scores of particular, niche market-driven study Bibles out there, I wonder if this isn't just another evangelical/Protestant thing us converts are doing to Orthodoxy. I've seen what can happen when a group tries to promote their ideas using bad reasoning and logic (see the Reformation Study Bible and notes), and I'm wondering if we aren't trying to "systematize" the Church Fathers by putting them all in tidy little notes at the bottom of each page of our Bibles. Is it really a good idea to have concise commentaries at the bottom of the page of every text? Is that really the Orthodox way?

I ask because I'm inquiring into the Orthodox faith right now, and this has been on my mind. I've seen what Protestants do with their Study Bible notes, and most of the time it isn't good scholarship OR Christianity (New Interpreter's Study Bible, NRSV, and again, the Reformation Study Bible). If you want to see how someone can manipulate the text in such a way that it just looks silly, read some of the notes in the Reformation study bible that try to reconcile some of the narrative differences in each of the Gospel accounts of Christ riding into Jerusalem on a donkey/mule/ass, whatever it was.
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Blog reg Keith sent me an NPR story about Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's continual biblical references and his audience's lack of understanding. Well, call it coincidence but, though Huckabee may lose, this dilemma is just in time for a remedy ...

First, excerpts from the news story:

In November, as Huckabee surged in the polls, a student at Liberty University asked him what was driving his startling success. Huckabee responded, "It's the same power that helped a little boy with two fish and five loaves feed a crowd of 5,000 people."

We played the tape for Leitha Anthony, who was waiting to go into the Washington Monument. Did she know what he was talking about?

"That's when Moses ... had to feed all the people, the multitude of people that left Egypt," Anthony hazarded. "That's what it was?"

"Half of Americans can't name any of the four Gospels, and that includes the Christians," Prothero says. "And half don't know that Genesis is the first book of the Bible. Those are much easier questions than things like, you know, 'What's the loaves and the fishes story?'"

It is, indeed, here. I saw the new OSB -- OT & NT -- yesterday at church. I've not had time to study it. (Okay, I haven't even bought a copy yet.) But your comments are welcomed.
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This week’s Podcast is taken from the book, One Flew Over the Onion Dome – any similarities to your own parish, bishop or jurisdiction is purely intentional. Orthodoxy not available in all states. In your area, it may only be available in a foreign language – in which case, your mileage may vary …
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The following two images are of my e-pal, Jean-Michel, reading -- in Belgium -- One Flew Over the Onion Dome (2006) and Defeating Sin (2008). Oh, by the way, as the second pic reveals: Prayers coveted for his speedy and full recovery.



















No updates on this blog till week's end as I shall be attending the annual Clergy Retreat of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America in Wichita, Kansas.

Last year's lectures (HERE) are now available in print ...

"THE HIDDEN MAN OF THE HEART consists of a series of presentations on the place of the heart in the spiritual life of the Christian, with special reference to the Hesychast tradition of the Orthodox Church, including two of the most influential figures in contemporary Christianity: Saint Silouan the Athonite (1866–1938) and Elder Sophrony of Essex (1896–1993). Delivered in Wichita, Kansas at the 2007 Clergy Brotherhood Retreat of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, each lecture (divided here into chapters) is published in full together with its corresponding Questions & Answers. The author is a disciple of the Elder Sophrony and a member of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, England."

Price: $19.95

Published by: Mount Thabor Publishing


This year's event features: CHRISTOPHER VENIAMIN D.Phil. (Oxon.), a spiritual son of Elder Sophrony of Essex and Professor of Patristics at St Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA, who will speak to us on the theme IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE: A Patristic Initiation into the Mystery of the Saviour's Transfiguration.


Prayers coveted.

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Did you ever wonder who made up the so-called “Five Second Rule?” You know the one where if some food item falls on the floor, it’s okay to just pick it up and eat it as long as it’s not been there for more than five seconds?

I don’t remember that rule from my childhood, though I do remember that if you ate some food off of another’s plate, for some reason it didn’t taste the same as the same food on your plate.

Oh … and another rule: Never criticize the food at a covered dish or potluck … invariably the person sitting across from you is kin to the cook!

It starts early … like touch a girl and get germs – KOOTIES!

Therefore someone invented the “no germ shot.”

Everyone catches on quickly to: Finders keepers, losers weepers.

Sayings like: “I know you are, but what am I?”

Then there’s one I learned on an episode of the Brady Bunch: “I’m rubber and you’re glue, whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you.”

And at church Camps -- like Camp St Thecla, Camp St Raphael and the Antiochian Village -- if you’re caught with your elbows on the table during meals – all the campers join in singing a song to you which demands that you, in turn, stand and sing a song …

SOLO.

“Get your elbows off the table Fr Joseph …”

As we grow up, we also tend to grow callous; there are just so many rules & laws ...

What, you may ask, does this have to do with the ancient faith and our struggle toward salvation? EVERYTHING … because it’s ALL about the struggle toward salvation!

There’s truly nothing new under the sun …

Which brings us to ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

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ATHENS: Bells tolled and canon shots rang out in tribute as the Greek Orthodox Church head, Archbishop Christodoulos, was buried in Athens yesterday.

Christodoulos, who mended ties with the Vatican but clashed with the Greek state, died after a seven-month battle with cancer on Monday at the age of 69. The Church said a successor would be elected by the Holy Synod on February 7.

Public offices and schools were shut on a day of nationwide mourning. Thousands of mourners followed the funeral procession. Black-clad mourners, many weeping, sat quietly for hours on the pavement.

Dressed in white clerical robes in an open casket, the body was carried from the Athens cathedral to the cemetery on an army truck. Onlookers threw flowers on his casket amid shouts of "axios" (worthy) and "athanatos" (immortal).

"This man needs to be made a saint," an elderly Greek said.

He is credited with improving ties with the Vatican, agreeing to a 2001 visit by Pope John Paul that marked a turning point in relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

A bitter feud with the government over new ID cards, which no longer listed religion, his tirades against the EU and European culture and negative references to Turks and homosexuals affected his popularity.

President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and a 12-member delegation from the Vatican, attended the funeral mass.

His remains were buried in the First Cemetery, the historic Athens graveyard, where all leading Greeks are lain to rest.

News Source
Military pic SOURCE
Pic with clergy procession SOURCE
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