ORTHODIXIE ... Southern, Orthodox, Convert, Etc.: April 2011

Friday, April 29, 2011

Prayer before partaking of Prosphora and Holy Water

It is a pious custom to keep some holy bread and holy water in one's icon corner -- to consume, breaking the night's fast, with one's morning prayers.

O Lord my God, may Thy holy gift and Thy Holy Water be unto forgiveness of my sins, unto enlightenment of my mind, unto strengthening of my spiritual and bodily powers, unto health of my soul and body, unto vanquishing of my passions and weaknesses, by Thy boundless merciful kindness, through the prayers of Thy Most-pure Mother and all Thy Saints. Amen.

Taken from the Parish Newsletter of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St John the Baptist (May 2011).

You can read about St Ahmed (feast - May 3) and his connection to holy bread here; or listen to a podcast containing info about St Ahmed here.

Image Source.

| Link

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Danger of Hell? - Tomorrow at Houston Baptist University

“If one wants more than secular reason can disclose – and one should want more – then one should join a religion and be careful to choose the right one … I indeed affirm the canonical, concrete moral narrative, but realize it cannot be given by reason, only by grace. I am, after all, a born-again Texan Orthodox Catholic, a convert by choice and conviction, through grace and repentance for sins innumerable (including a first edition upon which much improvement was needed). My moral perspective does not lack content. I am of the firm conviction that, save for God’s mercy, those who willfully engage in much that a peaceable, fully secular state will permit (e.g., euthanasia and direct abortion on demand) stand in danger of hell’s eternal fires." (At the Roots of Christian Bioethics; FWD, xi).

-- Dr H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr.

Dr Engelhardt delivers the first keynote address ...

Health Care in a Secular Culture:
The Conscience of Physicians & Nurses at Risk

Friday, April 29th and Saturday, April 30th:

ORTHODOX: Dr H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr

PROTESTANT: Dr C. Ben Mitchell

ROMAN CATHOLIC: Dr Grattan T. Brown

Co-sponsored by Houston Baptist University, Pope John Paul II Forum, University of St. Thomas, Orthodox Clergy Association of Southeast Texas, and Touchstone Magazine.

Also, invited to Friday evening's banquet:

ROMAN CATHOLIC: Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

PROTESTANT: Dr. Robert B. Sloan, Jr.

| Link

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Christ is Risen [Rockin'] in Africa!

Thanks to Fr Seraphim Holland and Matushka Elizabeth Perdomo.

| Link

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

This Week in Houston

Health Care in a Secular Culture:
The Conscience of Physicians & Nurses at Risk

Friday, April 29h and Saturday, April 30th:

ORTHODOX: Dr H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr

PROTESTANT: Dr C. Ben Mitchell

ROMAN CATHOLIC: Dr Grattan T. Brown

ROMAN CATHOLIC: Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

PROTESTANT: Dr. Robert B. Sloan, Jr.

| Link

Monday, April 25, 2011

That 60 Minutes Mt Athos Story

A nice job by CBS; a beautiful presentation of Orthodox monasticism.

If you missed 60 Minutes' Mount Athos Story:

Click HERE.

Worth your while.

And broadcast on Pascha!

What is the "world" coming to?

Christ is Risen!

Image Source

| Link

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Mine to Yours, Happy Pascha!

Christ is Risen!

| Link

Past Songs of Peculiar Paschas (Oldies but Goodies)

From clerical collar-wearing altar boys to (apparently) Alice Cooper and KISS attending the Paschal Matins -- Oh, and you've never heard the Good News till you've heard it read in German, with a Japanese twist and a Southern accent. (In this "blast from the past," Fr. Joseph even describes how to get one's choir-directing wife to "do her job" only 48 hours after giving birth!)

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 (Blast from the Past) 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.

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Christ is Risen!

| Link

XB

Source

| Link

Friday, April 22, 2011

Source

| Link

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Peter Cottontail & Pascha

A silly visit from the "Easter Bunny" leads to a serious exposé of "Spring Celebration Customs", the Bunny Basket, and the Pascha Basket -- even Red Eggs -- in this timely encore episode.

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

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

| Link

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Ancient Christian Cognitive Therapy?

Could an ancient mystical path of inner transformation, most rigorously pursued and explored by monks and hermits, possibly bear much resemblance to what now seems to be establishing itself as the standard psychotherapeutic approach to living an effective and rational life? Would they not of necessity lie worlds apart, reflecting two different mindsets, one pre-modern and the other modern and indeed post-modern—one rational and secular, and the other mystical and sacred? As the first century Christian theologian Tertullian asked: “What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?”

More here.

Guest blog posts:

One

Two

Three

Four

The book.

| Link

Friday, April 15, 2011

STUDENTS: Free Health Care ...

... CONFERENCE!

Lunch, however, costs a little extra.

More info on the Bright Week Bioethics Conference in Houston - HERE!

Don't miss out on the Banquet with Bishop Thomas, Cardinal DiNardo, and Dr Sloan!

More details forthcoming!

Co-sponsored by Houston Baptist University, Pope John Paul II Forum, University of St. Thomas, Orthodox Clergy Association of Southeast Texas, and Touchstone Magazine.

| Link

HOUSTON: Two Weeks Yet

Health Care in a Secular Culture:
The Conscience of Physicians & Nurses at Risk

Join us in Houston during Bright Week -- just after Easter -- Friday, April 29h and Saturday, April 30th:

ORTHODOX: Dr H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr

PROTESTANT: Dr C. Ben Mitchell

ROMAN CATHOLIC: Dr Grattan T. Brown

Also, invited to Friday evening's banquet:

ROMAN CATHOLIC: Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

PROTESTANT: Dr. Robert B. Sloan, Jr.

ORTHODOX: Bishop Thomas

Schedule

Register NOW!

General registration is $50, Clergy registration is $30, Student registration is ~~$30~~ FREE! Registration includes admission to a day-and-a-half conference of panels, breakouts, and discussions, including three plenary addresses.

Friday Banquet Dinner - $18; Saturday Boxed Lunch - $8

Co-sponsored by Houston Baptist University, Pope John Paul II Forum, University of St. Thomas, Orthodox Clergy Association of Southeast Texas, and Touchstone Magazine.

| Link