Orthodixie

Honestly … these ads for this site keep popping up as I surf the net. I’ve been in lots of Orthodox churches (see picture), and quite a few Roman Catholic ones (ignore the picture).

What’s the deal?

On January 1st I pledged 30 posts in 30 days — “mostly my own words”.

My. Own. Words. THAT’S the problem.

Lately, words fail me.

Recently, my Youth Director — from when I was a kid growing up in the Baptist Church — emailed me, out of the blue, after he’d bumped into an old friend and got my contact info. I wrote him back; here’s a portion of my reply:

My, my … as I live and breathe.

It is so good to hear from you. You made such a difference in my life — one that cannot be, specifically, pin-pointed. You were there for me. I have spoken of you often, all these many years. (I realize this sounds overly-dramatic … but, hey, it’s the truth.) Were you not there then, I’m positive I would not be here (struggling in Christ) now …

There are people, one-hand countable types, in my life … your position there is solid.

Thanks so much for the note!

I covet your prayers.

in Christ …

—————-

Anyway, though a sinner, I’m not such a megalomaniac as to believe my words will be there for someone else. But, judging by some notes that have come my way in the past couple years, my words in some books have served as a help to others.

Maybe We Came, We Saw, We Converted – The Lighter Side of Orthodoxy in America will prove, for some, to be such a book.

My mother — MY MOTHER of all people — is on Facebook and she’s been hawking copies of We Came, We Saw, We Converted to her Protestant friends.

You may want to re-read the above sentence.

I said, “Mom! What are all those Baptists gonna think of all that Orthodox stuff?”

She said, “Awe, as long as it draws them closer to the Lord — it’s a good thing.”

Thus it was that, just recently, before Conciliar Press moved their warehouse, I tried to order about 100 of the books for a book signing … AND THEY DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH COPIES ON HAND.

Baptists. Baptists! in North Carolina. Buyin’ an Orthodox book.

Who’dathunk?

Thanks, Mom!

😉

BTW, warehouse now moved, fresh copies now available.

O God, I beseech Thee, grant unto me Thy divine saving grace, and endow me with patience and strength to endure my tribulations with complete submission to Thy will. Thou knowest my misery and suffering, and unto Thee – my only hope and refuge – I flee for relief and comfort. Trusting in Thine infinite love and compassion, I know that in due time, when Thou knowest best – Thou will deliver me from this trouble, and turn my distress into comfort. I shall rejoice in Thy mercy and exalt and praise Thy Holy Name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, forever.
Amen.

Unknown Author – FWD from Fr Demetrios Carellas, with regard to a note, excerpted here:

Robert’s wife, Judy, has been sent home to die … Judy’s cancer is so bad now, it has spread … just about every other place except her brain, thank God! She still able to talk and has met with Father Alex to talk about her funeral and her death, how she did this is beyond me … Her doctor told her last week that she only had two weeks at the most to live and she ended up telling him how sorry she was that he had to give his patients news like this and how hard it must be for him, then she told him she tried as hard as she could to beat the cancer but she accepts the fact that she didn’t and just didn’t want him to feel bad …

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Resa was the Youth Director at St George when my family moved to Houston back in 2005.

May her memory be eternal!

Fr James Coles writes: My friend, Resa, fell asleep in the Lord today. Thank you to all who answered my call to pray. Would you please continue to pray? I am asking that He who trampled down death and made the devil powerless would give rest to the departed handmaid of God, Resa. With the spirits of the righteous made perfect, give rest to the soul of Thy servant, O Savior; and preserve it in the life of blessedness which is with thee, O thou who lovest mankind.

Here is the message posted from her mother:

Loved Ones, As many of you already know, our beautiful daughter, Resa, has passed from this life to her joyful repose this day. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow and rejoicing at the same time. As you have so many times during the last eight weeks, we ask you to join us as we pray for forgiveness of her sins and rest eternal. We will post at a later time the funeral arrangements. Pray for us as we prepare to take Resa to church once again. With much love, Kh Linda.

Here is her story:

Wed. Nov. 4, Resa Ellison, choir director at St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral in Minneapolis, sang at Vespers but was beginning to feel sick. On Thurs she went to the doctor and was diagnosed with probable H1N1. He sent her home to rest. On Fri she felt pretty good but by Sat she was running a fever and on Sun Nov 8 she was admitted to Unity Hospital with H1N1 and pneumonia. Mon as her breathing became difficult, the decision was made to move her to the ICU. Her condition continued to worsen and by Tues evening she had to be sedated and put on a ventilator to breath for her.

The Ellison family has incurred some extraordinary costs associated with Resa’s illness and care; from the OCA Diocese of the Midwest:

Online donating to Resa Ellison Fund can be made through Razoo – HERE

or

Checks payable to

St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral (memo Resa Ellison Fund)

1701 Fifth St NE

Minneapolis, MN 55413

UPDATE: Funeral service at St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral (17th Ave. NE & 5th St., Minneapolis) Thursday, January 7th, at 7 PM with visitation beginning at 5 PM. There will be an all night vigil. Those interested in reading should contact St. Mary’s Cathedral Office. 612-781-7667. Funeral Divine Liturgy Friday at 9 AM followed by Parastas and luncheon. Visitation Sunday at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (312 West Elm St., Urbana, IL) from 3-7 PM with Memorial service at 7 PM. Interment at Bailey Cemetery, Tolono 10:30AM Monday with luncheon to follow at St. Nicholas Church, Urbana. Memorials will be directed to Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala via St. Mary’s or St. Nicholas Church.

ALSO … The Trisagion Prayers, in memory of Resa Romani Ellison, will be served tomorrow evening, January 5th, following the Blessing of Water (which follows the 6:30 PM Liturgy) — at St George Church, Houston.

May the All-Merciful Lord grant peace and consolation to her grieving family — May her memory be eternal!

I am not making this up. (And I mean no disrespect to this preacher.)
BUT, while in North Carolina recently, where there’s no shortage of TV Preachers, I caught this fellow preaching.

I could not close my mouth for at least 5 minutes.

Does this not strike you as …

Well?

Say something!

That’s what I thought you said!

The above image is of the famous painting by Heinrich Hofmann of Christ in Gethsemane (c. 1890).
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But, you gotta admit, seeing him preaching from the Bible is dumbfounding.

Riverside Church in New York City is the home to some of Heinrich Hofmann’s religious art. The above image of Christ Teaching in the Temple would not work with TV Preachers, however.

Then again …

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