ORTHODIXIE ... Southern, Orthodox, Convert, Etc.: April 2008

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

"It Doesn't Get Much Plainer Than That"

Dear Fr. Joseph,

Though I have not had the opportunity to hear your podcasts as of yet, I have read Defeating Sin. I was looking in our church bookstore one day for something to read. I came across the title and thought, “It doesn’t get much plainer than that!” So I picked up a copy.

I really appreciate all of the quotations from the Holy Fathers and your ability to explain them so simply. There were two things that greatly impacted me. First, the reminder that, no matter what the world says, THE STRUGGLE IS GOOD, which is something I tend to forget being as immersed in the world as I am. Second, the poignant reminder that grace is not unmerited favor, but a real divine energy of God bestowed upon us which we can access to help us defeat our sins and find healing in the Great Physician and Lover of our souls. Reading that in bold type with the actual explanation of grace really drove it into my heart. My soul leapt with hope. I’m a convert from Protestantism, so that old (and wrong) theological tape keeps playing in the background of my mind. This sometimes continues to inhibit my understanding of the great tools God has given us to strive for freedom (from sin) and love for him.

Thank you for the book.

And THANK YOU to all who have supported the project!

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

And ... on AMAZON.

| Link

Monday, April 28, 2008

HAPPY PASCHA: Mine to Yours

Our annual family pic following Sunday's Agape Vespers.
The baby's missing two front teeth.

Soon to be 6; soon to be 14; just turned 10.

Here's hoping you and yours have a blessed Bright Week!

Christ is Risen!

| Link

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Past Fast

brrrrrrrrrrrrr

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

clickit

The number you have reached:

L

E

N

T

has been changed ...

The new number is:

P

A

S

C

H

A

Please make a note of it.

And how do we make a note of it?

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Image Source

| Link

Friday, April 25, 2008

Image Source

| Link

AMERICA: What We've Become

Holy Week takes its glorious toll ... on everything (even, thanks God, blogging). And yet, while for Orthodox Christians today is Good Friday, the world goes on. Given that, the world and all, the opening paragraphs of this piece are worth a read -- mainly for the commentary on who we are and what we've become ...

America is in line at the airport. America has its shoes off, is carrying a rubberized bin, is going through a magnetometer. America is worried there is fungus on the floor after a million stockinged feet have walked on it. But America knows not to ask. America is guilty until proved innocent, and no one wants to draw undue attention. America left its ticket and passport in the jacket in the bin in the X-ray machine, and is admonished. America is embarrassed to have put one one-ounce moisturizer too many in the see-through bag. America is irritated that the TSA agent removed its mascara, opened it, put it to her nose, and smelled it. Why don't you put it up your nose and see if it explodes? America thinks.

And, as always: Why do we do this when you know I am not a terrorist, and you know I know you know I am not a terrorist? Why this costly and harassing kabuki when we both know the facts, and would agree that all this harassment is the government's way of showing "fairness," of showing that it will equally humiliate anyone in order to show its high-mindedness and sense of justice? Our politicians congratulate themselves on this as we stand in line.

It's Peggy Noonan, so you might guess her politcal views. Even if you disagree with them, and many shall, the opening paragraphs and the final one are spot on.

Read it, at least those paragraphs, HERE.

| Link

Monday, April 21, 2008

OrthoRomance?

I know, I know ... it's Great & Holy Monday. But, while you're surfing the Net, you might as well visit a new site dedicated to Orthodoxy & Romance, the pitfalls of Orthodox dating, and the struggle to find the perfect mate. Here's a small sample ...

If you do decide to go chasing the random girl who does not know you, think of a good opening line. Considering that we at St. Vladika’s Press are unaware of a successful romantic pilgrim, we haven’t got any good ones to recommend, but here are a few ones that flopped:

"May I borrow your prayer rope?"

"My priest told me I didn’t have a chance with his daughter, so he told me to broaden my horizons and travel."

"I’ve been thinking of becoming a monk; could you talk me out of it?"

"You remind me of St. Mary of Egypt."

Even if you are a conflicted soul about whether to be a monk, leave your klobuk at home. Nothing drives a girl crazy more than competing with St. Anthony of the Caves for your heart.

Pay a visit -- or bookmark for later -- H E R E.

Image Source

| Link

Sunday, April 20, 2008

PALM SUNDAY: The Way We Roll

And you thought it was chaotic at YOUR church ...

Israeli police rushed into Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre to break up fist fights between dozens of Greek and Armenian worshippers on Orthodox Palm Sunday, witnesses said.

Some 20 officers intervened after Armenian worshippers threw a Greek Orthodox priest out of the church, sparking a free-for-all, they said.

Several worshippers then started beating the police officers with palm fronds they were holding for the Palm Sunday celebrations that mark the return of Jesus to the Holy City a week before he was crucified ...

The whole story.

| Link

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Here Comes Peter Cottontail?

One of the benefits of Orthodox Easter -- PASCHA -- coming later than Roman Catholic Easter (pssssssssssssssttttt, if you’re Protestant -- or, wink, wink, Non-Denominational -- you’re following Rome’s calendar) … is reduced prices on chocolates and candies which are mass produced to meet the demand at this time of year.

Though we have lost the original source, many believe there’s an ancient book, now extant, which contains the chocolate canons: rules demanding that the pious celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord with, well, massive amounts of CHOCOLATE.

There are other confections and goodies, too, in addition to chocolate. My kids always enjoy those little marshmallow Peeps that also double as science experiments when used with a microwave ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Thanks to sources: Fr John Matusiak, Fr Seraphim Holland, and St Raphael of Brooklyn.

| Link

St John Fellowship in Cicero

My visit to St George, Cicero -- April 11-13th -- for the North American Council (NAC) Fellowship of St John the Divine Lenten Retreat was a true blessing! Pictured here, however, is the only patch of blue seen during the weekend. Ah ... Chicago in April.

The serenity found while looking upon the weeping icon of the Mother of God on the iconostasis is hard to put into words. Contrast this image to the one below.

Arggggggggghh! Oh my!

Actually, Fr Fouad Saba, the Assistant Priest at St George Cicero, was a delight! I took this pic hoping to grab his intensity. I did not know, however, that it would radiate out from his image and warble the background. Amazing.

I had the honour of being the keynote speaker for the Retreat entitled "Taking Steps Toward the Kingdom ... CHANGE SOMETHING!" The young adults were then divided into small groups (pictured above and below).

Ker-Pow! Ka-blewie! Spuh-lash!

(Fr Fouad is pictured here ~~casting out demons~~ leading a small group.)

A view from the narthex, entering the church.

Honest to goodness, I have no idea what happened here to Fr Nicholas Dahdal's hand. It was there when I snapped the pic, but my batteries were low. Actually, Fr Nicholas was a warm and generous host, hands down.

That's me and John & Tonya Maddex (aka Ancient Faith Radio) and their wonder-grand, Elijah.

Peering in past the holy doors, "Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O God be merciful to us and save us!"

Speaking of saints, here's a beautiful image of the "great cloud of witnesses" -- Saints throughout the ages -- under the choir loft on the western wall

A close-up of the Pantocrator ...

St Herman's image, found on one of the side entry doors to the altar from the Kliros.

As Fr Nicholas said, even with an empty church one senses the presence of the Saints.

For more in the Parish of St George and the Miraculous Lady of Cicero, Illinois -- go HERE.

| Link

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

OCF at the T Bar M

Just for fun, here are some pics from the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Lenten retreat, originating from Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, which took place the first weekend in April in the Texas Hill Country near New Braunfels.

Either an ice breaker or the hokey pokey gone bad.

Okay. Definitely the hokey pokey gone bad!

Apparently, two college kids sharing fasting recipes.

Texas the first weekend in April; small groups at T Bar M.

This pic was taken just before everyone was, unfortunately, vaporized by that menacing light coming through the side wall.

One the one hand, virtue; on the other hand ...

Slummin' at the T Bar M. (The guy in the Texas-T, Sergei, is from Moscow. I served as his "straight man" for the weekend. What a hoot!)

I suspect this is a universally common sight: college kids ... followed by a laundry basket.

Our chanters for the Retreat, Alex (GOA) & David (ROCOR).

So long from New Braunfels, Texas!

Pictured are students from University of Texas, Texas A & M, University of Houston, Stephen F. Austin State University, Rice University, University of North Texas -- and points beyond the Republic.

The book on which the retreat was based ...

Available through PayPal in the side margin ...

From Regina Orthodox Press ...

And Amazon.

| Link

Monday, April 14, 2008

Atheists to Become Priests?

London, April 1, Interfax – Certain Anglican Commonwealth churches will simplify rules of ordaining clerics next year.

“Realities of today’s life require revision of certain canons and rules. We have agreed to women clergy and ordination of open gays, but we shouldn’t stop on the achieved,” the Rev Anthony Priddis, the Bishop of Hereford said in his interview to the Monday Telegraph.

Three years ago he gained popularity for supporting a woman-priest who had changed sex.

According to Priddis, next year not only Christians would be able to become Anglican priests.

“When you a person is hired, especially to a British state religious organization he shouldn’t be discriminated for his confession. The Anglican Church should give an example of fighting against xenophobia in our multicultural tolerant society and give equal opportunities to all people no matter if they believe in God, gods or any other power,” the bishop stressed.

Priddis has not excluded the possibility of future ordaining atheists in the Anglican Church, the weekly reports.

Source

This was brought to my attention by Catherine K. (commenting on a previous post). Hmmmmm. I noticed the date of the news story, April 1st ...

| Link

From the Alamo to Cicero ...

Having been involved with a couple Lenten Retreats over the past two weeks, not much bloggin' goin' on. Pics from those events, with commentary, forthcoming.

Our Lady of Cicero, pray to God for us!

| Link

Saturday, April 12, 2008

A Funny Thing, Sex

Though this week’s podcast is a serious one, dealing with sex ... sex can be just plain funny.

Sex is the funniest topic, with the most serious consequences.

I was around 8 years old when I asked my mother the question -- not how babies are made -- but, having just welcomed a baby brother a year earlier, I asked her where the baby came out …

You know: “Mom, where did the baby come out of your body?”

I can still see her staring at me long and hard and, God bless her, she said ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

| Link

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Make You Look Like a HomoGenderal

REEDSBURG, Wis. (AP) - An elementary-school event in which kids were encouraged to dress as members of the opposite gender drew the ire of a Christian radio group, whose angry broadcast prompted outraged calls to the district office.

Students at Pineview Elementary in Reedsburg had been dressing in costume all last week as part of an annual school tradition called Wacky Week. On Friday, students were encouraged to dress either as senior citizens or as members of the opposite sex.

First of all, I was unaware that males and females dressed any differently these days. Secondly, how does one dress as the opposite gender? (Is that le dress or la tee shirt?)

A local resident informed the Voice of Christian Youth America on Friday. The Milwaukee-based radio network responded by interrupting its morning programming for a special broadcast that aired on nine radio stations throughout Wisconsin. The broadcast criticized the dress-up day and accused the district of promoting alternative lifestyles.

Ah, yes. It all started when Tom wore a dress for Wacky Week ...

Then he started collecting Village People memorabilia, listening to Elton John, growing a mustache, and renting Rock Hudson movies ...

Oh wait! Sorry. Come to think of it, Tom actually dressed as a Senior Citizen.

The dress-up day was not an attempt to promote cross-dressing, homosexuality or alternative gender roles, district administrator Tom Benson said.

"The promotion of transgenderism - that was not our purpose," Benson told the Baraboo News Republic. "Our purpose was to have a Wacky Week, mixing in a bit of silliness with our reading, writing and arithmetic."

Transgenderism? But, but. I thought that was all the rage -- what, with boys and girls all dressing the same these days. Jeans and tees. What are they wearing in Wisconsin?

The theme for Friday's dress-up day came from students, Hayes said.

"It's different every year. They basically present the ideas, and they vote on what they would like from Monday through Friday," Hayes said. "... They did not mean anything by this day. They were trying to have fun and come up with a fun dress-up day."

Fun?

Face it. It's so hard to come up with anything both Wacky and unoffensive these days. Okay, I've got it!

Next year during Wacky Week the students can dress as different types of Christians:

MONDAY: Church of God.
Girls can tease and pile hair high (just not like Amy Winehouse). Boys can wear short ties and polyester sport jackets; toothpicks a plus.

TUESDAY: Menonites.
Girls can dress like girls, boys like boys.

WEDNESDAY: Episcopalians.
Doh! You see how hard this is?!

Here's the whole news story.

| Link

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Happy ... EIEIO!

Letters have been pouring into the Orthodixie headquarters over the past week, many of them dealing with what can only be said and not written. You’ve all no doubt heard it, it is pronounced "********."

For instance, here’s a note from Penelope in Kentucky:

Dear Fr Joseph,

I am new to Orthodoxy, having been received into the church just last year. Though English is my first – and only – language, I have learned many foreign words and phrases since entry into the Church …

Xhristos Voskrese

Xerophagy

Orthros

and Tofu …

But this is the first year that I’ve ever heard the phrase "********." Is this Orthodox? What does it mean?

Also, when someone says to me "********" how should I reply?

____________________

Ah, yes …

It’s beginning to look a lot like Lent’s here!
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look at those ladies and men frowning once again
With aches and pains and complaints galore.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Lent’s here!
Soy in ev'ry store
But the ugliest sight to see is the box of "********" that will be
On your own front door ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Image Source

| Link

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

PICS: St Paraskevi Monastery

Yesterday, April 1st, otherwise known as Rosalie's birthday, I was blessed to once again travel with the Seniors of St George to make the annual ~~Bluebonnet~~ St Paraskevi Monastery pilgrimage.

Click pics to enlarge.