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

It was a 16 hour flight from Dubai to Houston, having left Damascus the previous day. The lines to get through Customs were long. When it finally came my turn, I approached the counter to see a sight not seen in my two week absence: a very white woman with red hair and freckles. “Where you coming from?” she asked. “Dubai,” I said, “I’ve been traveling in Syria.” “Syria! On business?” she asked. “No, I was visiting the holy sites,” I replied. The fair skinned Customs Agent looked at me as if I had six heads and said, “Why Syria?!”

Now, I’m not much of a movie buff, but forty hours spent on planes can tempt one beyond resolve. Ladies and Gentlemen, I went to Syria. This trip could not have happened without good folks helping to pay the bills and make the plans, for which I am humbled and grateful. Yet, one of them begged me: “Please don’t come back with only pictures of goats and dirt!” I thought of this when, on the return flight from Dubai to Houston, I watched the movie, Men Who Stare at Goats. But it was the movie The Blind Side, which I watched on the way over to the Middle East, that touched me the most and, to be honest, in many ways reflected my experience as an American Orthodox Convert in Syria.

Here's the blurb from AFR: Fr. Joseph's not much of a movie buff, but he was recently "blindsided" in Syria. This special thirty minute episode details his recent pilgrimage to Syria, and a certain "Paul" whom he kept bumping into while there. You'll need to listen all the way to the end to discover the answer to a question he's now asked: "Why did you go to Syria?"

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.
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Dear Father Joseph:

It is with great sadness that I report to you today, that St George has lost another life-long member of the parish. My one and only camera died Sunday as a result of a tragic accident in the St George Parish Hall. Cannon A530 was approximately 3 years old and a life long member of St George when he fell asleep in the Lord Sunday afternoon. He was happily capturing the joyous memories of the Slavic Luncheon by snapping pictures of the event when his owner was bumped rather hard by someone causing him to drop Cannon. Unfortunately his lens was still extended and was bent as a result of the fall and can no longer retract. Despite his owners best efforts to revive him he was pronounced dead on the scene. During his brief life span he was able to capture hundreds of special memories at St George Orthodox Church in Houston TX. The Trisagion Prayers for a deceased Camera were recited by his owner late Sunday afternoon. Burial was at his owners residence in Houston TX. Cannon A530 was a wonderful companion to many who knew him and an occasional thorn to some as well. He will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his owner Greg Quartararo and many friends ...

Respectfully
Greg Quartararo
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The folks at AFR note:

"It's been a little slower than usual in terms of donations this month so if you are able to help us meet our $11,000 April goal, we would appreciate it."

Currently, they are $2,595 shy of the mark.

UPDATE: It's now (9pm) down to $1,595 needed ...

UPDATE: $1,138 needed (9am, 4/30).

UPDATE: Only $674 needed (5pm, 4/30).

UPDATE, MAY 1: Thanks for your help!

We came very close to meeting our April donation goal. Thanks to all of you who helped! Our May goal is $10,000. We budget an amount each month based on giving patterns to help us meet our expenses.

You can help support Ancient Faith Radio - HERE.

Speaking of AFR, having finally gotten some quality rest (does being in a 4-day daze count?), the Orthodixie Podcast concerning my recent trip to Syria should be updated by tomorrow.
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A note from Fr Mark Mancuso of Columbia, South Carolina:

Dear Brethren,

Christ is risen!

I just wanted to pass along the news that Bishop Daniel of Erie, Vicar Bishop of the President of the Synod of Bishops for Old Believers, reposed in the Lord this morning.

May his memory be eternal!

More HERE.

Still more ... here.

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By God's grace & your prayers, I returned last night from my trip to Syria; pics and stories soon to follow.

In the meantime, my artsy e-pal Molly Sabourin (check out Close to Home) posted a review of We Came, We Saw, We Converted while I was away ...

HERE:

When I first heard his Southern drawl…let’s see… back in 2007, I felt immediately like he’d fit right in with my family- my oftentimes goofy, always affectionate family who takes our love and need for Christ and His Church very seriously. “I like him!” I told my dad, founder of Ancient Faith Radio, and my guide into the world of Internet podcasting, after both laughing through and being moved by the wit and wisdom of the Texas priest we’d all come to know (all of us Ancient Faith Radio listeners) as Father Joseph Huneycutt.

Converting to Orthodoxy, especially here in the good ol' United States where Orthodox Christianity does not, nor has ever, played a prominent role in our American cultural heritage, can be difficult to say the least. I know after my husband and I converted in 1999, I really struggled awhile to find my place, my identity, as an American Orthodox Christian. While the theology and structure of the Church have remained mercifully and miraculously safe from differing opinions and interpretations, navigating the many small “t” traditions stemming from the various ethnicities within this great and historically rich Faith of ours can be confusing to us zealous American converts looking to assimilate ourselves into the Church (Should I, too, cover my head, grow out my beard, wear a prayer rope around my wrist 24/7?) . Our staunch determination to become the most legitimate Orthodox Christians we can be, via the imitation of our cradle Orthodox brothers and sisters, has resulted in many a changed appearance and a not a little insecurity. It is easy, I have discovered first-hand, to focus more on the externals than the internal - to, even with the best of intentions, lose sight of the "one thing needful".

In his new book, We Came, We Saw, We Converted, Father Joseph, host of the popular blog and podcast, Orthodixie, takes on that very challenge, the challenge to be both American and Orthodox, with frankness, humor and grace. He reminds us that fumbling a bit, that not having all the answers, is not only natural but perhaps even spiritually healthy:

Knowing that you don’t know much is a sign of maturity, writes Huneycutt. Do we want to move from adolescence into adulthood? Then we need to swallow our pride and admit that the first step in acquiring an adult faith is authentically uttering, “I don’t know.”

Yes, well there it is.

But we’re getting there - one generation, one day, and one step at a time. If the Church in America, much like her members, knows one thing, it’s this: Fall down, get back up, fall down, get back up; Orthodoxy is slow, and thank God for that! In the meantime we work together and hope to one day really, really be together. After all, think about it:

If you could become Orthodox like a Romanian,

Experience it like a Serbian,

Be loyal to it like a Ukrainian,

Sacrifice for it like a Russian,

Be proud of it like an Arab,

And enjoy it like a Greek,

What a great faith you’d have,

Especially if in addition you got to call yourself

an American.

In the meantime, don’t be surprised if sometimes, in the Church in America, the honest answer is simply, “I don’t know."

This is an important and timely book. How badly I wish I'd had access to it thirteen years ago! Thank you, Father Joseph, for making us laugh and inspiring us to be prayerful, and patient with ourselves and one another as together with complete dependence upon Christ for wisdom and direction we work to infuse our American society with the Truth, beauty and Mystery of the Orthodox Christian Faith.
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That's one of my favorite saints, Ephrem the Syrian. I beg his holy prayers and yours as I travel to Syria over the next two weeks. I am not taking my laptop and will, most likely, not be updating the blog until my return, April 24th.

The Orthodixie Podcast will be updated with two episodes from the archives.

Here's one now.

In the meantime ...

Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings, you have power over life and death. You know even things that are uncertain and obscure, and our very thoughts and feelings are not hidden from you. Cleanse me from my secret faults, and I have done wrong and you saw it. You know how weak I am, both in soul and in body. Give me strength, O Lord, in my frailty and sustain me in my sufferings. Grant me a prudent judgement, dear Lord, and let me always be mindful of your blessings. Let me retain until the end your grace that has protected me till now.

-- St Ephrem of Syria

Source
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My son, whose birthday always falls during the Great Fast (April 3rd), came as close to having a feasting birthday this year as he'll come ... with Pascha on April 4th.

Tonight, he has 6 friends (12 year old boys) over for a sleepover. Being a Fast-Free-Friday, we've got hotdogs, chili, chips, cheesy stuff, ice cream, sodas ... and cake. But the wife went the economical route on the cake; she picked up a generic one at the store ... and, as you can see, we improvised his name.

Christ is Risen!

Oh, by the way, the boy staved off boredom last night at his older sister's concert by drawing this guy (who shall also go unnamed) ...


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Oops. That's not the way ...



Uh-oh, the just-turned-12-the-day-before boy looks like he's flashing a gang sign!



There. That's better.

From us to y'all: Happy Pascha!

Christ is Risen!
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The following notes [an annual "tradition"] come courtesy of Fr Mark Mancuso of St Elizabeth the New-Martyr, Columbia, South Carolina.

Christ is Risen!

A few notes for Bright Week and the Paschal season.

• We greet one another during the entire Paschal season (which lasts 40 days) with the words: "Christ is risen!" and the response to the greeting is: "Indeed, He is risen!"

• During Bright Week, the Holy Doors and the Deacons' doors of the iconostasis remain open symbolizing the empty tomb of our Master and Savior: Christ is risen!

• During Bright Week, our prayers in church and at home are sung and not read as we sing all week the feast of the risen Christ: Christ is risen!

• During Bright Week, our morning and evening prayers are replaced by the singing of the short service of the Hours of Pascha (see your prayer books or see below): Christ is risen!

• During Bright Week, we do not read from the psalter at home or in church for the prophecies have been fulfilled: Christ is risen!

• During Bright Week, there is no fasting as we are at feast with the Bridegroom who processes forth from the tomb: Christ is risen!

• During the entire Paschal season there is no prostrating or kneeling permitted in church or at home for we stand with the resurrected Christ: Christ is risen!

• During the Paschal season we begin all of our prayers at home and in church by singing the troparion of Pascha: "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!"

• During the Paschal season and extending to Pentecost, we do not pray "O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth..." for the Comforter comes on Pentecost. Christ is risen!

• And most important of all: "A Pascha worthy of all honor has dawned for us. Pascha! Let us embrace each other joyously!...This is the day of resurrection. Let us be illumined by the feast. Let us embrace each other. Let us call 'Brother' even those who hate us, and forgive all by the resurrection, and so let us cry: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!" "And unto us He has given eternal life. Let us worship His resurrection on the third day!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PASCHAL HOURS

PRIEST: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages

But a layman sayeth: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us.

Amen. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life. Thrice.

Then we chant:

Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We worship Thy cross, O Christ, and Thy holy Resurrection we hymn and glorify; for Thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee, and we call upon Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ's holy Resurrection, for behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we hymn His Resurrection; for, having endured crucifixion, He hath destroyed death by death. Thrice.

The Hypakoe, eighth tone, once:

Forestalling the dawn, the women came with Mary, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, and heard from the angel: why seek ye among the dead, as though He were a mortal, Him Who liveth in everlasting light? Behold the grave-clothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen and hath slain death. For He is the Son of God Who saveth mankind.

The Kontakion, eighth tone, once:

Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of hades. And didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice! And giving peace unto Thine apostles: Thou Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.

And these Troparia, eighth tone, once:

In the grave bodily, but in hades with Thy soul as God: in Paradise with the thief, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit wast Thou Who fillest all things, O Christ the Inexpressible.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

How life-giving, how much more beautiful than Paradise, and truly more resplendent than any royal palace was Thy tomb shown to be, O Christ, the source of our resurrection.

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

O sanctified and divine tabernacle of the Most High, rejoice! For through thee, O Theotokos, joy is given to them that cry: Blessed art thou among women, O all-spotless Lady.

Lord, have mercy. Forty times.

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

More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

If a Priest Serve: In the name of the Lord, Father bless.

PRIEST: O Lord Jesus Christ our God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing fathers, and of all the saints, have mercy on us.

If a Reader's service: O Lord bless.

Amen. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life. (thrice) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

If a Priest Serve: Father bless.

PRIEST: May Christ our true God, Who rose from the dead, and trampled down death by death and on those in the tombs bestowed life, through the intercessions of His most Pure Mother, and of all the saints have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind.

If a Reader's service: O Lord bless!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Indeed, He is Risen!

Image Source
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Back in North Carolina, our Mission would process around the church three times singing “Thy Resurrection, O Christ our Saviour …” before entering the brightly lighted church. That is, of course, weather permitting. Well, one year the skies were threatening, it had rained earlier in the day, but it was our last year to serve Pascha in a former 3-car garage before moving into our soon-to-be-built building.

What’s a few rain drops, right?

First time around: no problem, just kinda misty. The Subdeacon said, “We goin’ round again?” “Absolutely!” I said exuberantly!

Then, about half way through that go-round, it started raining in earnest. Undaunted – I mean, what, were we melting? – we got in the full three laps. For the Matins Gospel the servers and I were afforded the roof off of the Rectory porch and then we entered the church.

Imagine my surprise when I turned ‘round and shouted Christ is Risen! Only to see a legion of ladies all Alice Cooperfied, resembling a bunch of depressed KISS fans ...

Anyways ... there's more to the story -- this week's Pascha Podcast features songs by: The Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper, Kiss, The Rascals, Harry Nilsson, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Fats Domino, a dab o' Bowie, The Vapors, and ... well, not really praise-worthy but: me.

From clerical collar wearing altar boys, to postpartum Paschal choir directors, to (apparently) Alice Cooper and KISS attending the Paschal Matins: I've seen it all. And you've never heard the Good News till you've heard it read in German, with a Japanese twist, and a Southern accent ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Christ is Risen!
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Pic from BlackBerry.
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A re-posting from 2007 ...

I was blessed to carry the cross for the Crucifixion re-enactment during last night's Twelve Gospels service. (Pictured here, courtesy Greg Quartaro, heading through the narthex.) I hadn't expected the honour, but was asked to carry it just before the procession left the altar. Having had no experience with that particular cross, I had no idea what I was getting into when I hoisted it over my shoulder and stooped to pass through the door leading out of the iconostasis. Then I felt a guiding hand assisting at the base of the cross. Knowing that there was someone helping me to steer the cross through building and people was a great relief! The darkened church was packed with people kneeling, and the last thing you want to do is to whap someone on the head during the three circuits of the temple.

As each curve approached, like an eighteen wheeler I was careful with my rear in making my forward movements. Always ... I felt the guiding hand helping out in the back.

After a while I started to resent all the help I was getting ... thinking: "Come on, Fr John, I'm not that bad! I think I've got the hang of it." But, it was a comfort, nonetheless, to know that someone was helping me to make it to Golgatha.

As I ascended the steps of the solea, and circled the stand for the cross, I noticed that I was alone ... the other priests and servers had stopped at the edge of the solea. I still felt the helping hand -- I thought my mind played a trick.

After placing the cross in the holder, Fathers John Salem and Joseph Shahda "nailed" our Lord's image to the Cross ... we made our reverences and re-entered the altar while 300 or so of the faithful made their way up to fall down before the Tree and kiss the image of the Saviour's feet.

I said to Fr John, "I appreciate your help steering the cross."

He said, "I didn't help you."

I said, "Come on! Really?"

"No," he said, "I made sure I was about five feet behind you so that I wouldn't interfere."

Y'all?


God is [always] good.

Good Friday.
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