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

On Missions and Evangelism

2012-01-25T07:57:00.002-06:00

This year, the Missions and Evangelism Department of the Antiochian Archdiocese teamed with North Texas Orthodox Missions for a joint conference held in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex.

The speakers were Fr. Joseph Huneycutt, Fr. Evan Armatas, and Fr. Peter Gillquist. The dates were January 20-21, 2012. The conference was dedicated to the memory of His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri. -- from Ancient Faith Radio (click the link to listen).

Pictured with me: Deacon Gregory Norris of St Seraphim Cathedral.

God’s a Steeler, Tebow’s Out, and Orthodixie Takes a Bow

2012-01-13T12:28:00.002-06:00

Freshly mown grass, newly lined field, colorful band uniforms, zealous cheerleaders, the smell of hot dogs and popcorn under a Friday night sky in the fall.

Football.

Back in the day, high school football practice began on August 1st. That was the day that we all had to run 5-miles around the field – for God and all to see what kind of shape we were in.

That kind of routine marks you. It was only a few years ago that I realized August 1st had come and gone and I’d not thought of the smell of that freshly cut grass and the rigors of the game.

Time flies.

On another note, I’ve been doing the Orthodixie Podcast for almost five years now … and it’s time to take a break. But, more on that later.

Y’all? Let me just say, right at the start, God is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan -- at least that’s what I've always thought. So this whole Tebow-Jesus thing will go nowhere. It’s a media created stir-fry which has no bearing on the salvation of souls. The NFL is big business – and if a buzz can be created, even using Evangelicalism – whatever sells! – the NFL is all for it.

Frankly, I prefer the days when the game was rough and tumble without hair extensions, sharpie marks all over the arm, girlie looking men doing fairy dances in the end zone. Yep, back in the days of Jack Lambert -- when mud and blood and teeth (or not) prevailed.

Sure, I’m biased. These days, I prefer the quiet and frequent witness of Troy Polamalu’s signing of the Cross to someone who can’t complete a paragraph without mentioning “mylordandsaviourjesuschrist”.

But as a Christian, I guess I prefer that to ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Ha! Really: You have to watch/read this!

2012-01-12T19:50:00.002-06:00

Follow this link. The video, God help me, is cringe worthy. But, Fr Andrew Damick's response makes it all worthwhile!

The Shy Single Christian’s Guide to Coffee Hour

2012-01-12T10:00:00.004-06:00

by Thomas Eric Ruthford

There is only one place a man can ask a moral, religious woman he’s just met to stay for breakfast without getting slapped. It is church coffee hour.

Many a Christian single has wished to meet someone at church, both because shared faith gives shared purpose to a relationship and because you automatically have a meeting place for shared activities where you can get to know one another. Church is also a great place to make friends with people of your own sex, friends who can later connect you to someone special. But, if you’re like me, you have a difficult time working a crowd and collecting lots of phone numbers.

This challenge does not require you to be a smooth operator with pickup lines like, “Come here often? Oh, once a week? Funny, me, too!” or “What’s your favorite hymn?” or “I prophesied that I’d meet someone as wonderful as you here.”

Your purpose is to get acquainted with some new people, which involves um, yes, you know, talking. Really, you just need to start with something like, “Hi.” But, if you’re an introvert ...

Read it all - HERE.

Thomas is the author of Heaven Help the Single Christian.

2012-01-06T07:58:00.000-06:00

A repeat -- an annual posting.

How is it that my Creator comes to me?I'm not worthy.
To quench is my fate.
THIRST
All can relate.
Before Eden thou wast; even before the flood.
I parted for Thy people at the behest of Moses, Thy chosen one.
I’ve whetted e’ery path man’s trod; every field he’s plo’d.
At Thy command I came to be; my rest shall be in Thee.
Tell me Lord, what brings Thee to me? I’m not worthy,
I must confess.
Me? I cleanse from sweat, dirt, sand, and disease.
Washed away are cares and burdens -- the soot of the day --
in my waves.
John calls forth the people.
In their salvation I participate.
Yet, to Thee, how can I relate?
For without, I’d not be.
Jest it seems!
(Agent of cleansing feels dirty in the presence of the King.)
Cleanse me, O Lord, that I may be worthy of Thee.
THIRST
I am water.
I lack nothing but Thee.
At Thy baptism, O Lord, Thou hast found me worthy.
Quenching, cleansing:
paths, fields, people,
salvation;
I
shall ne’er be the same.

Come Lord Jesus,
cleanse Thou me!

Published in 2005 on the Antiochian Webpage - click the link for other Epiphany offerings.

ALSO ... here.

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Orthodixie - 2011 in Brief

2011-12-30T07:10:00.001-06:00

AFR BLURB: Fr Joseph looks back on the past year and is thankful that the basketball does not determine the wife; that space aliens did not kill him; that Fr Danislav (pictured at left) is not a weekly guest; that Elton John and Lady Gaga were not singing in church at Pascha; that kids go to Camp; and, especially, that God forgives sinners (and fools).

Thanks for your support!

Click here to support the ministry of Ancient Faith Radio.

Click here for a short review of Orthodixie 2011.

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

St Romanos Chorale Christmas Special on Ancient Faith Radio

2011-12-23T14:18:00.003-06:00

The St Romanos Chorale under the direction of Dr William Attra (pictured here at St George Church) presented a special concert of Orthodox Christmas hymns at St Joseph Antiochian Orthodox Church on December 10, 2011.

The concert was recorded and is now presented as a Christmas Special on Ancient Faith Radio.

Click HERE to listen!

Past Christmas Podcasts

2011-12-22T19:06:00.016-06:00

Here follows links to all the Orthodixie Christmas Podcasts.

And a timely reminder: If you enjoy the ministry of Ancient Faith Radio -- of your charity, please consider a donation as we near [civil] year's end.

Thank you.

(Pics in order, top to bottom: My oldest cheering to victory the Carolina Panthers over the home team last Sunday; my youngest elbowing another play participant; my son just before eating a shark; the unsuspecting -- long-suffering -- Mrs.)

Santa Claus in my son's -- and my own -- imagination (12/1/07):

Here Comes Santa!

I set out on a search for the Baby Jesus (12/8/07):

Baby Jesus by the Chimney

Just a few more days until the Nativity feast. With the fast, the shopping, the preparations....how are you doin'? Let us prepare? Yes. But regardless of how prepared we are, let us be thankful (12/15/07):

‘Twas the Week Before Nativity

Every year at this time we reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas. Here, I show, from Holy Scripture and from the Church Fathers, that Christmas is all about .... clothing (12/22/07):

The Skinny

I join Sir Paul McCartney, Alvin Chipmunk, José Feliciano and other Wailers in a journey down memory lane -- eschewing the worldly sounds of the seasonfor some really bad (ghostly) percussion moments. Are you prepared? (12/6/08):

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas ... Carol?

What do Charles Dickens, Buzz Lightyear, Vladimir Lossky, the Carolina Panthers, the Baltimore Colts, Angels, Shepherds, George Frideric Handel and Kawasaki all have in common? Surely to goodness nothing but this podcast! I am is visited by another "ghost." (12/13/08):

The Ghost Of Past Christmas Presents

Okay, so the wife may not agree with my [re]posting this one, but (it was once "true"):

A vision of Bret Favre, along with the surprise of a Pittsburgh Steeler, join me (a husky seventh grade boy) on the playing field of ... priestly ministry.

The Ghost Of Christmas Favre

And, last year's contest winner:

The entries are in, the votes have been tallied -- thanks to all who participated! We have three "winners", Erin, Alex, and Adam: a kid's story, and some kids telling stories.

Back When Christmas Was Younger

Most recently ...

I bump into Mariah, the Grinch, and the Boston Pops, as he beats up a camera man, a mother, and a child—all in the name of "winter."

Handel for Ho-Ho, Half Nelson for Noel, Hunger for Hesychia

A recollection of picking up a homeless Santa who helps the homeless (even grumpy clergy on their way home).

Last Year’s Santa Totes Gun, Sings Songs, Needs . . . Beer?

(By anticipation: Christ is Born!)

Solstice

2011-12-22T06:30:00.003-06:00

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the astronomical event that has more rituals and ceremonies associated with it than any other. It is no coincidence that there are numerous holidays around the solstice, for the timing of these holidays is rooted in ancient religions. There is archaeological evidence that the solstice has been important to human cultures for at least 30,000 years; many ancient stone structures like Stonehenge are designed to pinpoint the precise date of the solstice, and many ancient peoples held festivals of light to bring about the return of summer's longer days.

The term solstice means "sun stands still." It is when the sun stays closer to the horizon than at any other time of the year and appears to rise and set in the same place for several days in a row. But while the sun stands still and tonight is long, stars may appear to streak through the sky as the Earth passes through a stream of comet dust — the yearly Ursid meteor shower — which may produce a pleasing shower of shooting stars for northern viewers near the end of the night.

Stolen from The Writer's Almanac, 12/22/11.

Image Source

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like ...

2011-12-19T14:17:00.006-06:00

C

H

R

I

S

T

M
A
S

Remember to keep the MASS in Christmas!
(I mean, THAT is what it's all about, no?)

Image thanks to Dr. Elena Shoshitaishvili.

Last Year’s Santa Totes Gun, Sings Songs, Needs . . . Beer?

2011-12-18T13:39:00.004-06:00

Houston has a goodly share of beggars and bridges. Most of the beggars – forgive me this – look the part, at home, if you will, under a bridge.

Some, however, do raise an eyebrow and serve to tempt:

“Why, he looks perfectly able and healthy – why can’t he get a job?!”

That one looked like Santa Claus.

Wha-?

I said, “That one looked like Santa Claus!”

Did you see him?

Then I realized I was talking to myself; it’d been one of those kinda weeks.

Sigh.

I was on my way home for the Advent Paraklesis service at church when, while turning left under a bridge, I spotted what looked to be Santa … begging.

“Now, wait a minute,” I thought!

He was holding a cardboard poster with some writing on it – but, thanks to the cold rain, I couldn’t quite make it out.

Hmmph. Not tonight, buddy! I didn’t give him anything. I mean, heck, he’s SANTA! What does one give Santa for Christmas?

Weird.

I just drove on past, making my way toward the highway …

My last glance caught a twinkle in his eye and a bit of smile on his lips and ...

Y’all, his sign read NEED BEER.

What is this world coming to?

I squeezed in between ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Original posting - here.

Image (not related to podcast) Source

Lies Dickens Told Me

2011-12-17T08:03:00.002-06:00

Sal Sberna offers a reflection on his blog, The Kingdom by Force - Life as a crumb on the diskos:

I can’t help it. Every year I get sucked into watching one more rendition of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Whether it’s the Muppets, George C. Scott or Patrick Stewart retelling the ubiquitous tale, my heart strings are gently pulled when I see Scrooge’s change of heart after his haunted Christmas Eve.

Nothing could be less Christian. Nothing could be more antithetical to the spirit of true repentance that the days leading up to Christmas try to engender in the faithful.

You see, the story is simply not true. I mean, obviously the plot is ...

Read it all.

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To Hell with Evangelism!

2011-12-13T12:43:00.014-06:00

Now, before I'm accused of cussing, let me quote:

... upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18b)

I know there are those who believe that Orthodox Christians are relieved of the burden of evangelism, like maybe evangelism's just a Protestant thing.

True, St Seraphim of Sarov did say, "Acquire the Holy Spirit and thousands around you will find their salvation".

So ...

What?

Maybe buying some more icons, surfing some more sites, and smoking up the room will take care of the old evangelism thing?

Fr Alexander Elchaninov: "On Protestantism and Orthodoxy: in the little things they have, they have obtained great results, and we, who have great things, vegetate in mediocrity" (Diary of a Russian Priest, p. 121).

What say ye? Let me know, via email, your ideas, criticisms, concerns, and suggestions concerning Orthodox Evangelism.

Send to the email address, below, by midnight 12/15/2011.

-- orthodixie at aol dot com --

Those emails selected will be quoted, with attribution, in presentations given HERE.

Also, those selected will receive, thanks to the good folks at Conciliar Press, a free copy of Fr Michael Keiser's new book: Spread the Word - Reclaiming the Apostolic Tradition of Evangelism.

Tank image source

Handel for Ho-Ho, Half Nelson for Noel, Hunger for Hesychia

2011-12-10T12:28:00.001-06:00

Ah, the Nativity Fast!

That time of year when many Americans go crazy for gadgets, batteries, champagne, chocolates, and parties.

However, not us.

NO, the Orthodox Christian is fasting: no meat, no dairy, no wine or oil; no milk chocolate; no parties; no, no, No, NO!

Okay, fine. I can’t speak for you, but for me this Winter Festival – or whatever it’s called – is FULL of temptations.

For example the other night:

The wife, son, and I attended our oldest daughter’s “Winter” Concert, while our youngest daughter had her own school gig elsewhere. We arrived early and chose our seats carefully, especially since my wife had brought a camera and tripod for recording. Thus, we chose a front aisle seat, at a section break, so that the camera would not interfere with anyone’s view.

Mind you, we were early: 30 minutes prior to show time.

My first problem was the woman two rows behind me. You know the type: Yap, yap, yap … on and on and on … about the spectacular achievements of her son!

THEN, 1.5 songs into the dozen song concert, a big bulky man came noisily down the aisle bearing backpacks and equipment and began setting up his recording equipment right in front of me.

RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!

Did I mention he was big?

Did I mention the “right in front of me” part?

Did I tell you that I beat the living daylights out of him?

No?

Okay, well ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

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The Desperate [Orthodox] Wife Hunter

2011-12-08T17:56:00.001-06:00

7th Annual Winter Service Retreat for Older Teens & Young Adults

2011-12-08T10:42:00.007-06:00

This gathering, which I was blessed to attend a few years back, is worth the drive, time, and sacrifice!

I would encourage any and all to avail themselves!

This year's Retreat Master is Fr. Melitios Webber, Abbot of St. John of Shanghai Monastery in Manton, California.

TOPIC: Why Become (or Remain) Orthodox? How Do We Stand Up for & Live the Faith?

Why become or remain Orthodox rather than simply following the "easier" more populated versions of Christianity practiced by friends and society in general?

Why would/should we choose or continue on the more narrow path, which often includes isolation since most parishes are smaller and within which we have few if any peers?

How are we to become knowledgeable "apologists" and stand on a firm foundation in the faith? In everyday life? In times when we face special challenges and/or temptations?

How do we stand with our heads held high knowing that our beliefs are right and true?

How do we do this without being prideful or thinking "low" of our brothers and sisters in Christ outside of the Orthodox Church?

What are the real dividing lines which separate our Orthodox beliefs from those held by other Christians?

Dates: This year's actual activities will begin on the morning of December 27th. People will travel, arrive and get settled in on the evening of December 26th. The event will end after Divine Liturgy and a meal on Sunday, January 1st, but anyone is welcome to stay until the following day before returning home.

Cost: $225.00 Per Participant - Includes all Food, Lodging, Local Transportation and Fees. Note:

Where: St. George Orthodox Church; Pharr, Texas - Rio Grande Valley of South Texas near the Texas-Mexico Border.

This retreat is open to Orthodox teens, college students, young adults, catechumens, inquirers and their friends of any Orthodox jurisdiction. We prepare food for those who are feasting and those who are still within the Nativity Fast.

Hands-on Orthodox Service Activities, Spiritual Talks/Sessions, Working Together, Fellowship & More!

Please publicize and share with others about this wonderful and life-changing event for Orthodox young people and their friends!

Go HERE for more information, as well as for application forms.

Revisiting the Face of Santa

2011-12-02T07:28:00.004-06:00

Back in '05, I received the following note from a reader:

I caught this [show on the Discovery Channel] on Christmas day. It was a very interesting history about his life and how his relics had traveled. Then using the relics they reconstructed his face using forensics.

My thoughts?

Well, it just goes to show ya, scientists should always check with the Orthodox -- it might save time, effort, and money:

Icon of St Nicholas, 10-11th century.

Or, here's one from Russia, 13th century:

I was reminded of this old posting when Jean-Michel sent me these larger images ...

Here & Here.

Fasting in Fact ...

2011-11-29T07:29:00.003-06:00

Thanks to FWD from Jean-Michel.

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One Man, Forty Women - Shelby County

2011-11-26T13:36:00.000-06:00

Usually my speaking invites come from Yankee enclaves:

Chicago

New York

Canada

Pennsylvania

Dallas

:)

Recently, however, I spoke at a women's retreat in a venerable Southern town. You may be able to identify the location from the photo alone, but I've sprinkled some musical hints (Johnny Rivers, Paul Simon, William Warfield, etc) in the following podcast:

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Image Source

Oh, and: Don't forget to send me your ideas (complaints, suggestions, etc) on Orthodox Evangelism, as mentioned here, before December 15th.

"Thank you very much!"

Pyramids, Pirates, Packers & Sand

2011-11-26T05:53:00.029-06:00

The family normally goes camping over Thanksgiving break. But this year's statewide burn ban dampened that prospect.

Where in the world ... ?

See that? The right shoulder and most of the right lane: covered!

Pics do no justice to the size and scope of these dunes ...

That's the family car in the distance.

Where. Are. We?

Lost!

In the dessert!

@ Thanksgiving!

"O, gee ... that's just great!"

"Dad! We're at South Padre Island!"

Actual quote: "Basil and I actually took a nice picture together!"

Case in point.

Need I say more?

No. Please stop.

You never know what you might find on the beach ...

... just make sure to get the wife to a TV in time for kick-off!

Someone had built a sand pyramid on the beach; I was determined to ~~recreate Pink Floyd's album cover~~ get a shot of the sunrise by the artwork.

From mine to yours, a belated:

Annual Ecumenical Campfire & Contest

2011-11-17T11:49:00.009-06:00

It's become a "tradition" -- running a contest in conjunction with the special Thanksgiving episode of the Orthodixie Podcast:

The Eighth Ecumenical Campfire.

As always, I need to thank Subdeacon Jason Gilbert for his help with the original episode's conclusion.

This year, as we revisit the Campfire, I invite you and yours to join me and others at the upcoming Missions and Evangelism Conference - January 20-22, 2012 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Conference Schedule

Come to think of it … I need your help!

To find out how you can help -- and win a prize! -- take another listen to:

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

UPDATE: One fellow sent ...

Regarding evangelism: Obtain a rocket, a space suit, and a large quantity of paint. Fly to the moon. Paint the message "Go Orthodox" in large letters.

Regarding Donne: He was wrong. At least one man is an island.

(No winners yet :)

Confederation of Church and State?

2011-11-17T07:42:00.004-06:00

Today's edition of The Writer's Almanac, in honor of the 211th anniversary of Congress meeting in the Capitol building, notes:

In its early days, the Capitol moonlighted as a church on the weekends; beginning with the Jefferson administration in 1801, church services were held every Sunday in the House of Representatives. Jefferson did not feel that this violated separation of church and state, because attendance was voluntary and the services were nondiscriminatory — at least as long as you were Protestant, since all (and only) Protestant denominations were represented. Jefferson and his successor, James Madison, attended the services themselves. Worship services were expanded to include Catholic mass in 1826, and church meetings in the House continued until after the Civil War.

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You Got My Get Go?

2011-11-16T07:33:00.006-06:00

Where did my get go?

It was there just moments ago.

Not yesterday

Nor the day before

But it once was,

I declare.

I even had get to go, get to share.

Can you

Could you

Have you, dear friend

Some umph to spare?

Image Source

The difference between try and triumph is a little umph. ~ Author Unknown

Gaze of Pantocrator, Dance of Dragonfly

2011-11-10T15:42:00.000-06:00

Recently, St Joseph Church underwent a church make-over.

Icons were installed in the “silo style” dome:

16 prophets,

12 apostles,

4 evangelists,

4 angels,

2 archangels,

the Image Not Made with Hands,

the Protection of the Theotokos …

and a big ol' dragonfly.

A brief mediation tries to capture the beauty of the fallen (flying, whirling, buzzing, devouring, dying, batty) world, here:

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

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"Go On, Take the Cowbell and Run!"

2011-11-07T20:12:00.010-06:00

With apologies to Steve Miller Band ...

This here's a story 'bout Dean Joe from daughter, Boo ...

And some others with nothin' better to do ...

Than stand around the church, sing high, just like this dude ...

And here's what happened when they decided to cut loose ...

They headed down to, ooh, not El Paso ...

That's where they ran into this Man's castle ...

Dean Joe looks a man who used to wrastle ...

Daughter Boo used the camera for fun ...

Go on use the camera for fun!

Go on use the camera for fun!

Go on use the camera for fun!

Go on use the camera for fun!

Papa Jack's defected from Texas...

You know he knows just exactly what the facts is ...

He ain't gonna let this dude escape justice ...

He now lives north of where the tracks is ...

Daughter Boo, whoa, whoa, she snapped away ...

And Dean Joe got what was coming his way ...

He got the cowbell, hey, you know he got away ...

He still down south and he's still ringing today ...

Singin' go on take the cowbell and run!

Images taken from St Joseph's annual picnic, St George's All Saints Party, and the Hierarchical Liturgy and Banquet at St Joseph Church (11/3/11); and one ~~utter~~ other.

Dome Icons: St Joseph Houston (6)

2011-10-27T20:44:00.016-05:00

St Joseph - Houston has been transformed over the past three weeks by the installation of icons in the church's "silo style" dome. Last night, we had the blessing of the icons -- complete with priest, deacon, altar boy, and photographer climbing up to the first platform -- with holy water and censer, and about 70 faithful gathered beneath chanting. Today, the scaffold workers came to disassemble; by tomorrow afternoon all will be cleared out except the dust!

The following images are listed pretty close to sequential, though you can't hear the noises (which were extreme!). I'll forgo comment except to say: Awaiting the appearance, board by board, of the Lord ... paled in comparison to His "appearing".

Previous postings with images: One ... Two ... Three ... Four ... Five ...

More (at least ONE) to come.

Embracing Faith, Facing Death

2011-10-26T07:49:00.000-05:00

Dear Father Joseph,

I'm writing because you had a question asked [at a recent speaking engagement] ... that I heard on an Orthodixie podcast, that I can answer and answer well. It was something like, "what do you do if you are Orthodox, but your family is absolutely apathetic, lost, anti-church, etc."

Well, you pray, regularly receive the Eucharist, go to confession a few times a year, and experience joy in your Orthodox faith. Concentrate on yourself and get out of God's way. He's doing all He can to reach your relatives. Just stay out of His way.

How do we do that? STOP SINNING!

Okay, nobody has successfully stopped sinning, but you can lower the occurrence significantly. That's where the sacraments come in. If you have a problem with swearing, overeating, not exercising enough, poor time management, short temper, or the like, you can begin to work out these sins with a father confessor and your family will see a better you begin to shine through.

Let me tell you what happened to me. Now, I'm one of those people who just looks like a sinner. I'm obese, so I obviously struggle with sloth and gluttony. About a year ago, after years of confessing the same things over and over, my father confessor said that his expertise is not sufficient to help me kick these bad habits and that I should consult a nutritionist. I avoided confession after that.

I don't think of myself as much of an example of a good Christian life, but there have been major changes since I was chrismated into Orthodoxy in the mid 90s. I'm more patient, I don't hold grudges or get furious like I used to. I can see other people's side of things more. I've learned to apologize and really mean it. And I drastically changed my taste in men. Now, I judge men by the yardstick of Christ. Had this not happened, I would never have recognized my husband as the wonderful man that he is. His whole life, women have seen him as the "brother type", not dangerous or mysterious enough to be a romantic interest. Well, their myopia is my blessing because, at the age of 39, we found each other and married.

My mother was a woman who would make Archie Bunker look liberal. When I announced my engagement to her, she hung up on me and I assumed that I was disowned. You see, my husband is not from my ethnic group. My brother had been estranged for something in the 80s and, over 20 years later, he was still estranged. I knew that this was forever. I was heartbroken but knew that my best chance for true happiness was to follow Jesus, forgive my parents, and just live my life without them in it.

Well, stage 3 cancer and a very good friend made my mother reassess her reaction to me. Only two weeks after my announcement, my parents agreed to meet my fiance. He is truly a man after Christ's own heart and I've yet to meet anyone who doesn't instantly like and trust him. They fell in love with him and instantly welcomed him into their family! They even helped significantly with the funds for the wedding.

My brother was at the wedding and my mother and brother spoke for the first time in 25 years on my wedding day. It was just small talk, but it was something. Later, when our little daughter Susanna was born, my brother and mother went to the baptism (remember what I said about the sacraments). There they had a substantive conversation and really began to reconcile. The beauty of the wedding and the joy of all occasions associated with church really struck my mother. She noticed that I was more patient and kind. She certainly noticed that I now had awesome taste in men and could judge character well. She saw me being joyful.

This past January she could not tolerate any more chemotherapy and she knew that death was imminent. She kept telling me that she wanted an Orthodox funeral, but I told her that being an Atheist, that would probably not happen. I called my spiritual father for help. He said, "she could become Orthodox." I was skeptical. He urged me to offer the possibility to her. "Just offer to make a call for her. Let her tell the priest what she wants when he visits."

Of course I knew that she could convert. Deathbed conversions are very common in the lives of the saints. I told her that, if she wanted me to, I could call the Orthodox church near her and have a priest stop by. If she wanted to convert, I could be her godmother. She said that she'd like that. "I've given lip service long enough. I want to do this, she said." Of course, I didn't believe her, but made the call.

I told Father Gregory that "she's an old woman who has never had a loving and tender moment with a priest. Don't expect anything. If nothing else, you can sit with her a while and give her a positive experience before she dies." He said he would be happy to do that.

Father Gregory's wife, Presvytera Anastasia, emailed me to tell me that my mother had been chrismated that day and that she was the godmother. She said, "I know that you both wanted you to sponsor her, but time was of the essence and you live far away." I was not disappointed at all, I was shocked! I called Presvytera, "Didn't she have to say the creed?" I was incredulous. Presvytera's reply, "Yes, she did. Happily."

I cannot begin to tell you the surprise and the true joy I feel still, just thinking about it. I never really knew her. The night she died, 20 days after her chrismation, our priest came to the house to offer prayer for the departure of soul from the body.

My mother died just before Great Lent. When Pascha came, it gave me great joy to know that her first Pascha would be celebrated by Christ Himself with the homily delivered by Saint John Chrysostom. Can you imagine that?!

Now I'm not naive. I know how people have a tendency to throw joy away with both hands so that they can indulge their pride. I know that estrangements and cruelty and sinful pride are part of most families. I know the pain. I also know that Jesus is real. He actually did die on that cross and He actually came back. He calls each and every one of us to Him.

When I concentrated on my life and cleaning up my own soul, my mother was moved. When I got out of His way, Jesus came to my mother and claimed her as His own. If He can shine through a person like me, why not you? Forget about what your family believes and just love them and get closer to Christ. He is calling them, know that. You never know the heart of another person. All you can do is give them part of your heart in love. Sometimes they take the gift and treasure it. Sometimes they see Christ through you.

I'm not so naive as to think that living a good Christian life is enough to draw everyone to Christ. If that were the case, Christ Himself would not have been crucified. But the only way it EVER happens is by drawing near with faith and with love. It's the only way that has ever worked.

After mom died, I called a nutritionist. That father confessor was pretty bright, I took his advice. I'm just a few pounds from my first goal. I'm sleeping better and have more energy. It's slow going, but I'm learning to enjoy the process. I miss my mother and pray for the repose of her soul regularly. I thank God for her conversion and I know that it wasn't anything that I did that drew mom to Christ. I just got out of His way and had a bit of joy.

I hope this email finds you well, Padre.

Much love to you and your family and parish.

Mariam

An email sent from an AFR listener; names changed for privacy.

Image of St Dismas - source.

Halloween ... Again?

2011-10-24T06:12:00.000-05:00

Those who know me know I ain't much on Halloween. I never was much on Halloween, even as a kid. It seemed a bit odd to me that perfectly normal devil-hating church folks would go all out, once a year, to root for the other side.

As I popped in to Kroger the other day my eyes were accosted with the images of bogey-ness. Goblins, the living dead, spider webs, and ghoulishness everywhere.

Did I mention brightly wrapped massive amounts of chocolate?

Then I received the following email from a young girl:

Dear Fr Joseph,

My parents don't allow me to go to Halloween because they think that I will be killed or vampires might come out. My church doesn't allow it at all – and my parents say it's all about Satan. What should I do?

I was tempted to reply ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

IMAGE: The Huneycutts, 2007: [Mary] Catherine the Great, the Priest of Halloween Past, the Seamstress, Basil, and Peter (Helen) Pan.

Houston Icons - Nearing Completion (5)

2011-10-22T21:45:00.015-05:00

Blogging without comment here.

(Note the images, about halfway down, of the 3-levels of the "silo dome" at St Joseph Church. Also, the angels surrounding the Pantocrator are, at the moment, held up with duct tape!)

-- Thanks to Jeff Anderson for these images.

Iconographers - St Joseph, Houston (4)

2011-10-17T16:39:00.019-05:00

You can't have icons without iconographers & helpers; here's ours:

Inanimate.

Jennie ... assisting.

Dmitry ... thinking.

Victor and Aleko ... measuring.

Paints & stuff ... sitting.

Marking.

Patterning.

Tarrying.

Closer.

Further.

Spying?

Hanging.

Drawing.

Climbing.

Guarding.

Arriving.

Pics courtesy of Doug Burns.

More to come ...

Teen Photographer: Icons at St Joseph (3)

2011-10-16T19:04:00.009-05:00

No 13.5 year old boy was harmed in the capture of these images ...

As Mark ...

Luke

Matthew

John

... and even an Archangel are my witness!

"Basil ... time to come down, Bud."

Boy says: "It's pitch dark up top!" Dad says, "Take a picture with the flash on!"

Pantocrator, coming along.

That's enough for now ...

Previous images: One, Two, Parish Icon Page.

More later!

Dome Icons (2): St Joseph, Houston

2011-10-13T15:22:00.010-05:00

As mentioned -- here -- the "silo style" dome of St Joseph Church is getting a make-over over the next couple weeks. Intrepid parishioner Jeff Anderson scaled the ladder and scaffolding today and snapped some images of the work in progress ...

Iconographer Dmitry Shkolnik's website: here.

Greece's Dostoevsky

2011-10-11T11:17:00.000-05:00

A long time in coming and worth the wait!

Advance word:

“What a book! As I devoured…Greece’s Dostoevsky: The Theological Vision of Alexandros Papadiamandis…I realized that I was ‘dog-earing’ the entire manuscript! Thank you for introducing me to Alexandros Papadiamandis, to his world and to the characters who populated that world…”

 -- Bishop BASIL , Antiochian Archdiocese of North America

“Dr. Keselopoulos’s work on Papadiamandis is a truly masterful presentation of the Orthodox ethos, and of the spiritual freedom engendered by it. This is a work in which subject and author emerge as bearers of the Orthodox ‘eucharistic’ tradition. Encompassing such wide-ranging themes as the role of liturgy, clergy-laity relations, the monastic and married ways of life, the Typicon, liturgical language, art, and music, Greece’s Dostoevsky: The Theological Vision of Alexandros Papadiamandis is both fascinating and deeply instructive, and as such is certain to benefit theologians and laypersons alike.”
-- Dr. Christopher Veniamin, Professor of Patristics, St. Tikhon’s Seminary

“This is an excellent contribution on the philosophy-theology of Papadiamandis…. The translation and the documentation are very good.”

-- Dr. Constantine Cavarnos,  Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies
Read more in the blogosphere:
Byzantine, TX
Eighth Day Books Blog
Bombaxo
Mystagogy

More? -- Go HERE.

The Way of Christ is Easy ... in Mecca

2011-10-08T20:43:00.026-05:00

The first week of October found me in Mecca -- Orthodox Mecca, that is:

Pennsylvania.

Pictured, above, the beautiful Holy Cross Church - Williamsport.

Fr Dan Kovalak has labored long in this vineyard, even building (literally) the church building back in the 70s.

About 60 people turned out on a blustery wet Monday night for my presentation, The Way of Christ Is Easy, We Just Make It Hard. Some excerpts from that presentation available here.

Formerly in the Houston area and now serving Holy Trinity Church & the Chapel of the Holy Spirit - Fr Basil Biberdorf, Matushka Claudia, and new addition, George.

On Tuesday, October 4th, I toured St Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary - South Canaan ...

And was blessed to speak at a lunch assembly and a class full of senior seminarians.

Tuesday evening's lecture was at the lovely St Nicholas Church - Bethlehem.

On Wednesday morning I caught up with former North Carolinian, Fr Andrew Damick of St Paul Church - Emmaus. Following Matins, I got my first ride in a Toyota Prius as Fr Andrew taxied me to ...

Agia Sophia! (Agia Sophia Coffee & Books, that is -- right smack in the midst of the state capital area!)

Icons mixed in with old church photos -- not your typical Starbuck-fare!

Yes, here you may have a man in a black dress and a cross serving as your barista! (Especially if you agree to lead his Noon Bible Study down the block in an upper room near the capital building.)

My final speaking stop: Christ the Saviour - Harrisburg.

... where a local barista, Fr Stephan Vernak serves as parish priest.

See that guy to your right? That's Fr Daniel Ressetar. He stood up at the end of my presentation and humbly asked a very serious question. God help me ...

You can listen to a portion of my poor answer and his follow-up response (and other excerpts from my talks in Pennsylvania) on:

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Dome Icons - St Joseph Houston

2011-10-08T09:04:00.008-05:00

Iconographer Dmitry Shkolnik is in Houston for the next few weeks to install images in the dome of St Joseph Church.

These pictures, snapped with my cell phone, do no justice to the images as (especially as they are laid out on the floor awaiting assignment).

New meaning to "How many angels can dance on ..."

The four Evangelists look ready.

The head of the Christ Pantocrator.

The Mother of God.

A measuring tape shows the scope of the chief dome image.

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
The first image is attached to the walls ...

More to come.

Thanks to all who donated (and donate) toward this huge project!

Click HERE for more pics of the icon install!

SYRIA - President, Sheiks, Mufti, and Kanafeh

2011-09-30T08:54:00.002-05:00

This is the final post, 6th in a series (one, two, three, four, five), of my recent trip to Syria - September 13-18, 2011. You can listen to the Orthodixie Podcast about the trip by clicking HERE.

Our final full day in Syria, Saturday, September 17th, began with a visit to the Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus (formerly the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist). Unlike my visit last year -- HERE -- this time, as part of an official delegation visit, I got to see the "VIP Lounge" (so to speak).

You'd think I'd have learned that when taking a picture of a mirror you do so from an angle so as not to be in the picture!

In this entry salon, there is a model of the Umayyad Mosque.

You can read about its history here.

After enjoying some refreshments here ...

... instead of taking off our shoes, like everyone else, we got to don little blue booties.

The only female member of our delegation got to don more (think: Harry Potter 8.5).

Looking back toward the public entry of the mosque, toward the street.

And turning to view the inner courtyard.

Inside, the Umayyad Mosque is massive open space. The tomb of John the Baptist can be seen to the left.

This shrine is the main attraction, especially for those visiting Syria.

Like this guy.

The Dome of the Treasury (more here).

After the mosque, it was time to dive into the Souk El-Hamidiyeh (the sprawling market in Old Damascus).

...

...

...

...

...

A perfumery where I was able to get some essence for my daughters ... and my son.

We discarded our tourist identities around 2:30 PM; little did we know that our "day" still had a good 12 hours yet to go.

This image (not the official pic) was taken with my camera following our 2-hour meeting with President Assad. A bit of an overview of that meeting, including the question I asked the President, is presented in this episode of the Orthodixie Podcast.

Our meeting with the President was 5-7:00 PM, around 7:30, back at the hotel, we met with a group of tribal leaders, Sheiks, about their views of the current situation in Syria.

...

Looks like Fr Timothy is starting to feel at home.

Originally, we were to meet with the Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun, around 7:30 PM, with dinner following.

He was delayed in Aleppo, however, and our meeting did not commence until 11:30 PM.

And yes ...

... "dinner" followed. We did not lift our forks till after midnight.

The outdoor courtyard of a local banquet hall, where we dined, had a huge chandelier with glass globes for oil.

I should have snapped a pic of every course of this massive meal. Y'all? -- They served two entrees! There was an imam across the table from me who did not speak English, but when they brought out the second hefty entree, he and I both laughed (a universal language) until we had tears in our eyes.

A little after 2:00 AM, September 18, 2011.

But this ...

Though I would have sworn I had no room for another drop of food, this was the best kanafeh I've yet had. (Notice the word yet; I stand to be corrected.)

The podcast about this trip is available by clicking HERE.

Last year's podcast about my trip to Syria - here.

Thanks to all for your prayers for a safe and profitable journey.
Pray for peace in Syria.

Some images courtesy of John Maddex.

A “No Brainer” in Syria

2011-09-29T11:01:00.010-05:00

August 31st was a long day at the church office, from 7 AM through Evening Liturgy for Church New Year; the work day’s start to finish: about 15 hours. I’m getting older and I have a couch in my office. No-brainer; I took a nap.

I awoke around 2:30 PM Central Time, just 10 minutes before my cell alarm was set to pester me. I didn’t recognize the Area Code displayed on the Blackberry.

I won’t recount whole the conversation. The voice on the other end is not known for verbosity. The upshot? The Metropolitan wanted me to go with a delegation to Syria. When? In two weeks, for a stay of 4 days!

Y’all?

The nap may have been a no-brainer, but this … this seemed to require something more cerebral. I mean, does one say No to the Metropolitan? I asked that question … was told Yes. I asked, “When do you need my answer?”

I fumbled through my Franklin-Covey to check my schedule …

The Man-of-Few-Words said something like: Heh, now.

Uh-oh. Being the father of a high school senior, I was scheduled that weekend to visit a college for a look-see. I mentioned this. Few-Words became fewer.

I asked “Can I call you back in an hour?”

One word: Sure.

I called the Mrs. She’s great – God bless her, she married me. (That’s the best part of the Great part.) She seemed kind of excited for me.

Now I was confused.

I called another guy, you probably know him, I won’t reveal, let’s just say: he has known both the Metropolitan and Man-of-Few-Words for a long, long time. He said: Say NO! Don’t go!

Okay: Wife = yes; friend = no.

I called a parishioner who hails from Lebanon.

He said:

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Syria - September 2011, Part 5

2011-09-28T22:06:00.001-05:00

I promise: I'll get to my visit with the President of Syria; but first, the final post of some other stuff.

I was part of a delegation that traveled to Syria September 13 - 18th on a fact finding mission, especially regarding the 3 million Christians in that country.

Parts One, Two, Three, Four.

Another one of those traditional homes converted to a nice restaurant.

In the Jewish quarter, a Synagogue.

Here, Fr Pat prayed, I believe, Psalm 8 (in Hebrew).

I stuck my daughter's camera up against the windows ...

... for a snap or two.

The Damascus National Museum of History kept our delegation intrigued on the morning of Friday, September 16th.

You never know what you will find in such places ...

... some things are old, some are new -- some are 42.

Ma'alula. Flag on one hill ...

... crosses on the other.

Now ... enlarge this pic and check out the Beast of Burden helping to haul gravel!

Heading up the monastery steps to visit the shrine which houses the relics of St Thekla.

See the figure of Christ up at the top of the stairs (see below -- and last year).

Inside the temple at Ma'alula.

Fr John exits the shrine to St Thekla; pilgrims must remove their shoes.

A local priest asked his beautiful daughter to sing the Apolytikion of the Feast for us. We were all nearly moved to tears.

Inside the salon, as in most salons in parishes and monasteries in Syria: images of leaders, spiritual and secular.

Our delegation enjoyed the hospitality of the abbess, Mother Pelagia.

Fr Dimitri and I pause for a pic on our way out. (Is there something on my head? Enlarge the pic and look at him looking at ... me?)

The "backside of Our Lord" on exit.

We joined the other pilgrims making their way through the mountain that was split for St Thekla.

After St Thekla ... Paradise.

Paradise Restaurant, that is.

Entering the "outdoor" eatery ...

... to sit beside the flowery garden.

Guaranteed not to leave hungry.

The women's Monastery at Saydnaya.

The daytime view from that balcony.

The inside view of the temple.

Saydnaya is home to one of the four icons which St Luke painted. I imagine it resembles the one above the throne (above).

Closer.

Glancing back over my shoulder before heading down to the ground ...

... where we were serenaded by some gathered teens about God, Syria, and ...

... well, more on that later.

Next up: The President, the Sheiks, the Grand Mufti, and the Orthodixie Podcast.

Syria - September 2011, Part 4

2011-09-24T17:58:00.000-05:00

As mentioned earlier (here, one, two, three), I was part of a delegation that traveled to Syria September 13 - 18th on a fact finding mission, especially regarding the 3 million Christians in that country.

Yes, we met with the President, the Grand Mufti, Abbesses and Sheiks (but more on that later).

Here's some more touristy stuff ...

Remember those traditional homes mentioned in previous posts (one, two, three)? Well, this one has been converted into a magnificent hotel: The Talisman.

The delegation got a tour ...

And, no doubt, had visions of future stays :)

My reflection, complete with camera and ubiquitous water bottle.

From there -- this is still our first day, mind you -- we were treated to a wonderful meal at THE place to eat in Old Damascus (directly across from the Patriarchate): Naranj Restaurant.

Appetizers.

I grew quite fond of the lemonade with mint.

After our feast, we adjourned to another room at Naranj to discuss what questions we might ask a member of the "opposition".

But, first ... across the street to visit the Cathedral of the Antiochian Patriarchate.

The side entry to the church.

The main entry to the Church.

A beautiful (full being the operative word) sight.

What was I staring at?

I was probably imagining preaching from up there.

A view toward the main altar.

Back through the courtyard of the Patriarchate ...

... making our way toward the salon to meet with Bishops Louka and Moussa.

Fr Dimitri helped with the transition back and forth, Arabic and English.

Standing outside the Patriarchate, toward dusk ...

... the old Mosque tower by the Patriarchate (on the Street Called Straight).

On our way to meet with a supporter of the "opposition", we stopped at the place commemorating St Paul's being let down -- out a window, and down the wall-- by basket, mentioned in Acts 9:20-25.

We interviewed Michel Kilo (at left) in a friend's apartment.

And enjoyed warm hospitality.

Next up ... Day 2: Ma'alula & Saydnaya.

Some images courtesy of John Maddex.

Syria - September 2011, Part 3

2011-09-22T13:25:00.000-05:00

As mentioned earlier (here, one, two), I was part of a delegation that traveled to Syria September 13 - 18th on a fact finding mission, especially regarding the 3 million Christians in that country.

Yes, we met with the President and the Grand Mufti (but more on that later).

Here's some more touristy stuff ...

While walking around Old Damascus, we descended from street level into the small shop of a woodworker.

Can you guess what he was crafting?

Beautiful inlay work ...

See?

J'ya guess it, yet?

The seat is gonna go here; the icon up a little higher. The third image, up above, shows the canopy of the future ...

Bishop's Throne.

Next up for our delegation ...

Another traditional home, this one converted into a restaurant.

This one, an antique store.

American tourists, especially those only in Syria for a few days, should probably beware the raw veggies.

Then again, the scales await you back home, you might wanna beware a lot of things!

Our delegation took a bit of a rest at another traditional home -- this one now serving as the art studio of renowned artist Mustafa Ali.

Fr Dimitri points the way ...

... to the Antiochian Patriarchate. Also in the next installment, we visit a well-known Revolutionary who has been called "one of Syria's leading opposition thinkers."

Some images courtesy of John Maddex.

The Kingdom of God? You're Going to Hell! (Blogs)

2011-09-21T14:52:00.004-05:00

There once was a small town, somewhere in Middle America, with a restaurant, hardware store, law office and bank found at the crossroads of Main Street and Vine.

It was a busy intersection, that part of town, and every day there passed by these businesses, and the people of the town, a man with a sign which read: It’s the End of the World.

A curious thing about this town, however, was that there was another man, another sign carrier, and his sign said: The sun will come up tomorrow.

For whatever reason, the people of the town paid very close attention to the man with the sign saying It’s the End of the World – because, to be quite honest, that’s what they believed. It was what they read in the daily newspaper, it came up daily on the Internet news sites, they heard it on the radio, and the guy said it on TV – It’s the End of the World.

The townspeople paid little or no attention to the man with the other sign, the one that read: The sun will come up tomorrow.

Why?

Because they didn’t believe it!

Even though the sign proclaiming The sun will come up tomorrow had never once, not since the world began, been wrong, the people of the town chose either to take it for granted, or to ignore the message entirely.

Every day, day in and day out, there were the men with the signs: two messengers, two competing messages.

It’s the End of the World.

The sun will come up tomorrow.

Till one day, in the middle of the day, it came a terrible downpour in the little town in Mid-America.

So much so that the two messengers with the two competing messages found that they had both sought shelter from the rain under ...

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Image Source

Syria - September 2011, Part 2

2011-09-21T06:40:00.014-05:00

As I mentioned here & here, I was part of a delegation that traveled to Syria September 13 - 18th on a fact finding mission, especially regarding the 3 million Christians in that country.

Yes, we met with the President (but more on that later).

First, a little touristy stuff ...

Day one in Damascus, Thursday 9/15, we headed toward the Eastern Gate -- and the Street Called Straight -- and into Old Town. Fr John Winfrey was the one who brought it up -- but, he was right: We were seeing the shape of the ancient "house church".

You never know what you'll find tucked away in an ally or ...

... around a corner.

We made our way down this ally ...

... to enter a traditional home in Old Damascus that is being remodeled. Now, pause here a sec and think about St Paul and the various "house churches" mentioned in his writings. Was this the kind of floor plan he was used to? The courtyard serving as the Nave ...

... the "high place" an elevated salon ...

And, in the center, a fountain or pool which could be used for ...

Oh, you get the picture!

Speaking of St Paul, house churches, and baptism ...

;
The home of Ananias.

Read about it here.

Fr Pat ponders.

Next up, thanks to some pics stolen from John Maddex, we'll visit a woodworker's shop, an antique dealer, and a famous artist's studio -- all in Old Town Damascus.

Syria - September 2011, Part 1

2011-09-20T18:20:00.009-05:00

September 13 - 18 a delegation of Christians, 11 in number (6 Orthodox priests, 3 Orthodox laymen; a Protestant pastor and a professor), visited Syria on a fact finding mission -- especially regarding the 3 million Christians in that country.

I was one of them.

After an 11.5 hour flight from JFK in NYC, the first contingent of our delegation arrived in Amman, Jordan. We were later to be joined by the other half, coming in from Chicago. As there was several hours to spare, we decided to venture into Amman for a visit ...

These two guys look American, or what?

Uh, what, she says.

Fr Timothy bounds around the corner with his super-duper camera for some quality shots. (Which, once available, I hope to ~~steal~~ view.)

A slice of Amman (day).

There was much discussion about eating. This place looked nice to Fr Dimitri, though we did need to get back to the airport to meet the rest of our gang ~~slightly guilt-free~~.

So, we opted for falafel sandwiches from a street vendor which we took to a happening little place in the open air. These pics are not blurry, we just look that way because we are ...

Weary.

A slice of Amman (night).

Oops ... those guys are due in from Chicago!

Whew! We They made it!

Strategy planning before boarding our late night flight to Syria.

Next up ... Damascus.

My Weekend in Syria

2011-09-19T14:57:00.005-05:00

It's not every day that your cell phone rings and the voice on the other end invites you to take a short trip to Syria in a couple weeks.

But it does happen.

At the invitation of the Antiochian Archdiocese, I traveled to Syria, September 14 thru the 18, with a delegation of Orthodox and Protestant Christians.

IMAGE: Fr Dimitri Darwich and me in Ma'loula on Friday, September 16th.

God allowing and flesh willing, a full photo report and podcast forthcoming.

The Road (Fork, Toilet Paper, Water Tower) Not Taken

2011-09-09T13:26:00.006-05:00

A portion of this week's podcast already in progress:

... then there was the high school water tower which, even though it was 1979, still had a big fat 70s style “Class of 76” painted on it. We were the Class of 79 -- and, of course, thought we needed to upgrade the water tower.

Problem was, the school had wizened up to such pranks and, some time after 1976, had removed two sections of the water tower’s ladder. There was no ladder at bottom, a short section existed in the middle; and, the uppermost portion, that led to the platform around the water tank, was missing.

Anyway, there was a gang of us who’d clandestinely gathered with paint buckets, brushes, and rope to remedy the outdated water tower art.

You know how Ben Franklin once said: The only way 3 people can keep a secret is if 2 of them are dead - ?

Well, if memory serves me, there were 7 of us.

(You see how this is going to turn out don’t you?)

Two skinny boys made it up the rope and, with the same rope, we sent up the paint, brushes, and such.

Then it was my turn.

I’ve never been good at climbing rope, but I made it to the section of ladder in the middle and then, when I got up to the last rung and again grasped the rope that would lead me to the top, I froze.

It didn’t help that there was a light as bright as the sun shining on my back and a police megaphone piercing the night with a voice that said:

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Image (not me!) Source

September 8: The Birth of the Mother of God

2011-09-08T10:02:00.004-05:00

The Church's veneration of Mary has always been rooted in her obedience to God, her willing choice to accept a humanly impossible calling.

By Fr Alexander Schmemann

The Orthodox Church has always emphasized Mary's connection to humanity and delighted in her as the best, purest, most sublime fruition of human history and of man's quest for God, for ultimate meaning, for the ultimate content of human life. If in Western Christianity veneration of Mary was centered upon her perpetual virginity, the heart of the Orthodox Christian East's devotion, contemplation, and joyful delight in Mary has always been her Motherhood, her flesh and blood connection to Jesus Christ. The East rejoices that the human role in the divine plan is pivotal.

The Son of God comes to earth, God appears in order to redeem the world, He becomes human to incorporate man into His Divine vocation, but humanity takes part in this. If it is understood that Christ's "co-nature" with us is Christianity's greatest joy and depth, that He is a genuine human being and not some phantom or bodiless apparition, that He is one of us and forever united to us through his humanity, then devotion to Mary also becomes understandable, for she is the one who gave Him His human nature, His flesh and blood. She is the one through whom Christ can always call Himself "The Son of Man."

Son of God, Son of Man... God descending and becoming man so that man could become divine, could become a partaker of the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4), or as the teachers of the Church expressed it, "deified." Precisely here, in this extraordinary revelation of man's authentic nature and calling, is the source of that gratitude and tenderness which cherishes Mary as our link to Christ and, in Him, to God. And nowhere is this reflected more clearly than in the Nativity of the Mother of God. Nothing about this event is mentioned anywhere in the Holy Scriptures. But why should there be? Is there anything remarkable, anything especially unique about the normal birth of a child, a birth like any other? And if the Church began to commemorate the event with a special feast it was not because the birth was somehow unique or miraculous or out of the ordinary; but because on the contrary, the very fact that it is routine discloses something fresh and radiant about everything we call "routine" and ordinary, it gives new depth to the "unremarkable" details of human life. What do we see in the icon of the feast when we look at it with our spiritual eyes? There on a bed lies a woman, Anna according to Church tradition, who has just given birth to a daughter.

Next to her is the child's father, Joachim according to the same tradition. A few women stand by the bed washing the newborn baby for the first time. The most routine, unremarkable event. Or is it? Could it be that the Church is telling us through this icon that every birth, every entrance of a new human being into the world and life is a miracle of miracles, a miracle that explodes all routine, for it marks the start of something unending, the start of a unique, unrepeatable human life, the beginning of a new person. And with each birth the world is itself in some sense created anew and given as a gift to this new human being to be his life, his path, his creation.

This feast therefore is first a general celebration of Man's birth, and we no longer remember the anguish, as the Gospel says, "for joy that a human being is born into the world" (Jn 16:21). Secondly, we now know whose particular birth, whose coming we celebrate: Mary's. We know the uniqueness, the beauty, the grace of precisely this child, her destiny, her meaning for us and for the whole world. And thirdly, we celebrate all who prepared the way for Mary, who contributed to her inheritance of grace and beauty. Today, many people speak of heredity, but only in a negative, enslaving and deterministic sense. The Church believes also in a positive spiritual heredity. How much faith, how much goodness, how many generations of people striving to live by what is high and holy were needed before the tree of human history could bring forth such an exquisite and fragrant flower-the most pure Virgin and All Holy Mother! And therefore the feast of her Nativity is also a celebration of human history, a celebration of faith in man, a celebration of man. Sadly, the inheritance of evil is far more visible and better known.

There is so much evil around us that this faith in man, in his freedom, in the possibility of handing down a radiant inheritance of goodness has almost evaporated and been replaced by cynicism and suspicion... This hostile cynicism and discouraging suspicion are precisely what seduce us to distance ourselves from the Church when it celebrates with such joy and faith this birth of a little girl in whom are concentrated all the goodness, spiritual beauty, harmony and perfection that are the elements of genuine human nature. In and through this newborn girl, Christ-our gift from God, our meeting and encounter with Him-comes to embrace the world. Thus, in celebrating Mary's birth we find ourselves already on the road to Bethlehem, moving toward to the joyful mystery of Mary as the Mother to God.

Taken from "Celebration of Faith" Sermons, Vol. 3, "The Virgin Mary," - Schmemann, 1995.

Thanks to FWD from Jean-Michel -- especially, again, for THIS WONDERFUL SITE.

Clergy Feet Are Made of Clay

2011-08-31T10:50:00.001-05:00

With the recent falling asleep of Archbishop DMITRI of the Orthodox Church in America, I was reminded of the many occasions in his presence – mostly around the Monastery of the Glorious Ascension, Resaca, Georgia – back in the day.

Then there was that one occasion concerning my feet and His Eminence … it’s included in this repeat episode of the Orthodixie Podcast. Forgive me, it’s silly really – obviously an attempt at humor by a fool; but even a fool, I believe, can recognize the truth of … clay feet.

May the soul of His Eminence Archbishop DMITRI rest in peace, and may you and yours be granted good health and long life!

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

EP Calls Meeting: Church in the ME

2011-08-31T09:29:00.003-05:00

Patriarchate of Constantinople calls Synaxis to focus on the state of the Church in the Middle East

An announcement issued by the Office of the Chief Secretary of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s Sacred and Holy Synod, dated August 31, 2011, announced the convocation of a Synaxis of the Heads of the Ancient Patriarchates and the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus at the Ecumenical Patriarchate September 1-2, 2011.

The text of the announcement reads as follows.

“At the invitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is also presiding over deliberations, the Synaxis of Heads of the Ancient Patriarchates and the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus is convening at the Phanar from September 1-2, 2011. The Synaxis will be personally attended by Their Beatitudes, Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, and Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus, who are arriving today in Istanbul. Patriarch Igantius of Antioch, who ultimately was unable to participate, although he was the first among all invited Patriarchs to accept the invitation to attend the Synaxis, will be represented by His Grace Bishop Isaac of Apameia.

“Their Beatitudes the Patriarchs, the Archbishop of Cyprus and his hierarchal entourage, as well as the representative of the Patriarch of Antioch will concelebrate with His All-Holiness and the Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne during the Divine Liturgy to be held on Thursday, September 1, 2011, on the occasion of the feast of the Indiction. They will also sign the relevant Act prepared for the beginning of the new ecclesiastical year.

“The sessions of the Synaxis will begin on the evening of September 1 at the venerable Patriarchal Church of the Phanar and will focus on the state of the most holy Orthodox Churches in the Middle East at this time, as well as on Orthodox affairs in general, including the matter of the way toward the Holy and Great Synod of the most holy Orthodox Church.”

News item stolen from the OCA.

Image Source

RETREAT: Parenting in the 21st Century

2011-08-28T19:09:00.005-05:00

Guiding, Guarding and Discipline for Parents, Grandparents & Godparents in the Orthodox Tradition

Retreat Master:
Fr. John Peck

September 10, 2011

Fr. John A. Peck is the priest in charge of St. George Orthodox Church in Prescott, AZ. Fr. John founded the Incarnation Broadcast Network, the first 24 hour Orthodox Christian internet radio broadcast in the world. He is the creator and webmaster of the popular websites "Preachers Institute", "Journeys to Orthodoxy", and "Good Guys Wear Black".

Fr. John has written several workbooks and manuals for instruction: Called To Serve, Student and Leader’s Manuals, Divine Liturgy: A Student Study Text, the Bible Drill/Bible Divas Field Manuals, and S.W.A.T. (Spiritual Warfare And Training). He has written articles for Orthodoxytoday.org, the American Orthodox Institute, The Handmaiden magazine, the Interior Strength blog, the St. Katherine College website, and others.

Fr. John & Presvytera Deborah are the parents of three grown children.

St. Joseph Orthodox Church
10644 Hammerly Blvd. Houston, TX 77043

September 10, 2011

$30 for an individual $50 for a couple
Lunch provided

9 AM - 4:30 PM

Registration forms must be received by Saturday, September 3rd; send registration to:
St. Joseph Orthodox Church
attn: Fr. James Early

For registration form click: HERE.

TEXAS: Stolen Comment from GetReligion

2011-08-24T06:24:00.004-05:00

The following comment from "Bill" was in reference to this story.

1) Texas is a big place, with different geography, different climates and different economies. (TMatt, try the Davis Mountains, sometime.) San Antonio is pretty much in the middle of the state. There’s a sign on I-10 heading west from San Antonio which says, El Paso - 535 miles. Big state.

2) Religion is in the air, the water and the soil. It is assumed. There are crosses everywhere. There are major denominations and conventions and lots of minor ones. One of the fastest growing is the Cowboy Church. Amy P is correct about the Polish, Czech and Irish Catholics. The Catholic Church in our town was built by Polish shingle makers in 1857. There are several nearby communities settled by German Free Thinkers which forbade churches. There are churches there now; the Free Thinkers must have either changed their minds or moved.

3) Politics is not as important as it is in DC, NY or LA. There’s a rancher’s saying that it doesn’t matter who is in power in Washington or Austin as long as it rains. (It hasn’t rained much this year.)

4) Texans can differ on politics and politicians, but don’t mess with Texas.

5) Texans don’t care much about the Ivy League. UT, A&M and Tech are a different story.

6) There is a big military presence in Texas. You will see bumper stickers that say “Army Mom,” “My Son is a Marine,” etc. You will see Blue Star decals on windows, and occasionally Gold Star flags. You will see Purple Heart and disabled military license plates. Regardless of your position on our military involvement, the kids here did not start the wars; they just bear the burden.

7) There are a lot of highly educated, interesting people in Texas from many walks of life and from all over the country and the world. Don’t assume the guy in the old jeans and boots is a hick.

8) Even if he is a hick, don’t sell him short. Country people are wise, intelligent, practical and gracious. They know how to do a lot of useful things, such as care for animals, deliver calves, raise crops, operate heavy machinery, fix broken machinery, put in a full day of hard labor, raise children, care for the sick and help others. It doesn’t matter whether they’re Mexican or Anglo, or increasingly, a mix. They’re good people. If you find yourself in a small Texas town around a holiday, say Thanksgiving, and you ask around if there will be a restaurant open on Thanksgiving (Dia de Gracia), I can all but guarantee you’ll get several invitations to dinner, all sincere.

9) If you don’t like guns, keep it to yourself. Same thing goes for Willy Nelson.

10) Music is big, and it’s not all in Austin. Austin does have great live music, though.

11) If you get stung by a scorpion, you’ll know it right away. No big deal, put some ammonia on it. Some people say peroxide, some people say vinegar. Some people say take a drink of whiskey. Probably doesn’t matter. Rub spit on it; it’ll stop stinging presently. But remember, of all the cures that don’t work, whiskey is the best.

12) Welcome to Texas. Can I get you a Shiner Bock?

Why not click on over to Get Religion to see what it's all about: HERE.

News Story, Includes Scientists, Must Be True ...

2011-08-20T08:36:00.004-05:00

LONDON: US scientists claim that when aliens arrive, they will destroy Earthlings because we harm our environment so much.

Three scientists from NASA and Pennsylvania State University have warned that aliens would declare a war with us after they see how we kill other species and harm our planet by giving off greenhouse gases.

"Extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) could attack and kill us, enslave us, or potentially even eat us," the report said.

"ETI could attack us out of selfishness or out of a more altruistic desire to protect the galaxy from us. We might be a threat to the galaxy just as we are a threat to our home planet," it stated.

However, there is also a possibility that aliens "could help humanity by solving hunger and disease," the Daily Star quoted NASA boffins at Pennsylvania State University, as saying.

Source

PS - As reported on Twitter, the family and I recently saw "Cowboys and Camel Crickets".

We're Not Gay; We Were Sewn This Way! (2 of 2)

2011-08-18T08:56:00.002-05:00

This episode of the Orthodixie Podcast is the second in a two-part series.

After Part One, I’m Not Gay; I Was Drawn This Way, I received a number of emails, some from so-called homosexuals, thanking me. A couple emails were from parents. I’d mentioned that the topic of “sexuality” – especially use of the word gay – is on the minds of our young people. This, unless you are deaf or disinterested, is a fact.

Why?

Because our young people are bombarded with this topic online, on the tube, in the classroom and, please forgive my honesty, many parents have shirked their responsibility in being, well, PARENTS!

But, I’ll come back to that …

I am tempted to say: Parents, please do not let your young'uns listen to the following podcast. But, believe me, they hear worse sitting in their school desk.

So, even though I’ll mention Sesame Street’s Bert & Ernie, you have been warned.

Here goes …

A female Camp Staffer asked me:

When young kids ask about their sexuality, what are we supposed to say?

What fell out of my mouth was this:

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

A Word About "A Mother's Eyes"

2011-08-17T12:08:00.002-05:00

A work of pious fiction which details the earthly life of Our Lord through the eyes of His mother.

Incarnating the Mother of God as more than icon, more than statue, more than pious emotion, author Karen S. Woods treads where few have dared, wrapping the story of Christ and His Mother within our very taste, touch, and feel. It's a bit unsettling. The struggle for the author was staying true to the story; the difficulty for the reader is allowing the senses to appreciate what the soul already knows. This is Real.

NOTE: Income from the book will be donated to the building fund of St. Raphael Orthodox Mission, Quincy, Illinois.

Order your copy - HERE.

About That Elevator Evangelism ...

2011-08-10T05:48:00.010-05:00

A while back -- HERE -- I mentioned the Antiochian Archdiocese's Department of Missions and Evangelism was sponsoring a contest to see who could write the best 30-second explanation of what the Orthodox Church is, essentially an Orthodox “elevator speech”.

Courtesy of the Department of Missions and Evangelism, here's the Winner (at top) and some honorable mentions:

The winner, as chosen by plurality in an on-line poll:

Orthodox Christianity is the authentic and original Christian Faith founded by Jesus Christ. As an Orthodox Christian you can experience heaven on earth through the Divine Liturgy which is mystical, spiritual, and beautiful, with it's incense, icons, and sacred music. You can transcend time and space while you meditate upon the words and teachings of Jesus Christ. It's the most pure form of Christianity – nothing artificial added. It's the real deal.

-- Valerie Ann Zrake – New York, NY

Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God—who came to earth to heal our brokenness and restore all of us--and all Creation--to our original beauty. He promises that we can be healed of all our brokenness and filled once again with God’s Light and Life and Love—right now—when we follow Him and participate in the wonderful gifts He offers in and through His Church. As we participate in these gifts, God’s Life pours into us—making us more and more like Him—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Geri Farman – Austin, TX

It's pretty simple, really. Orthodox Christianity is nothing more and nothing less than an eternal love affair with God. We love Him so much that we seek to become one with Him, by His grace, and He welcomes us into Himself. It's not an easy life, being Orthodox. But it has great joys and extreme beauty. Come to Church with me on Sunday and see for yourself.

Karen Woods – Jacksonville, IL

Have you ever been reading the Bible, or hearing about the lives of the martyrs, and wondered, where did that Christianity go? How can I be a part of that now? The good news is that the church of the martyrs, and church of the apostles, and holds to the faith once for all delivered to the saints still exists. That's the Orthodox Church.

Mark Bradshaw – Decatur, IL

The Orthodox Church is the guard and keeper of the Ancient Faith passed down from the Apostles. She encourages everyone to seek an intimate journey with Christ into the depths of their hearts. Her desire is that all men everywhere would be illumined from within by the Light of Jesus Christ.

Vivian Miles – Bixby, OK

If you go back and look at what the New Testament Church believed and practiced, and look at what the Early Church believed and practiced in the writings of those who were there at the time, you'll find all that safely preserved, adhered to and practiced in the Orthodox Church. Orthodox Christianity is to experience Christ and become like Him, through the Church and the spiritual training it offers.

Mark Butt – Polson, MT

The Orthodox Church is the original church established by Christ through His disciples. Unlike Western Christianity that now has over 30,000 variations, its beliefs and practices are essentially unchanged from the time of Christ. Since that time, it has been seen as a hospital for broken humanity where God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—brings his healing Presence to us and restores us to our original beauty—making us more and more like Him.

Geri Farman – Austin, TX

Orthodox Christianity is an ancient faith about love and how we are supposed to manifest Christ's commandment to love one another through our thoughts and actions. It strips away the notion that Christ is an accountant or a lawyer who is focused on rule-breaking. Instead Orthodoxy focuses on how we show true cosuffering love in our relationships with other people, with the world around us and
with God.

Edward Bottei – Sioux City, IA

Orthodox Christianity is, simply put, the whole of the Christian Gospel. We read about it on the worn pages of our scriptures, we are sobered by it through the blood of our martyrs, we are stirred by it in the lives of our saints and we are transformed by it as the Spirit guides us into all truth. It is the path to deepest worship, the road to the fullest life and the way by which we come to Christ, Who is Himself the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Aaron Jordon – Omaha, NE

So many people are searching for "authentic" church, sensing that something is lacking from their church. When you peel back 2,000 years of history, and look back at what the church was when it all started, you're looking at the Orthodox Church. It's remained true to the original pattern of Christianity for 2,000. You should come and see!

Mark Bradshaw – Decatur, IL