Orthodixie

Sadly, every now and then, one hears of an Orthodox Christian who leaves the Ancient Faith and returns to his former delusion – or, as in the subject of this podcast, to just plain delusion.

Other times, I’ve heard tell, some may have shopped around, joined ‘em all, then made Orthodoxy their final stop before … well, stopping. In other words, some give up on “church” entirely.

Having served as an Episcopal priest before converting to Orthodoxy, I was curious if there’d ever been a case where an Orthodox convert priest had gone back to the Anglican Communion. I asked a trusted Retread priest friend and he said, “I’ve only heard of one case … and when I asked him why he did it, he said, ‘I longed for sane conversation.’”

Heh.

Recently, on the radio, I heard of a former Baptist minister who’d converted to Unitarianism. They said he was now full of doubt, but was so very adamant about it!

Anway … this leads me to the curious case of Fr Athanasios Wagner – or Tan the Man as he now calls himself. “Reverend Tan … the Man with the Plan … to help you make Right … to see the Light.” [At least that’s what was on his business card.]

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Tan (whose given name is Willy) only lasted a few years in Orthodoxy – long enough to be catechized, baptized and ordained. This experience had apparently born some bitter fruit – for, so I’d heard, he’d started his own “church” out in the hills of East Tennessee called …

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

The following segment of the Orthodox Christian Network‘s radio program, Come Receive the Light, is a rebroadcast which, ironically, includes Khouria Gigi Shadid, who grew up at– and me, currently serving at– St George, Houston.

On this week’s CRTL podcast: Fr. Chris speaks with Fr. Joseph Huneycutt on his book Defeating Sin: Overcoming Our Passions and Changing Forever. The Fathers describe this essential effort as the path to godliness–“theosis” in the Orthodox faith. You won’t want to miss this powerful message! Also, Gigi Shadid talks about her music, faith and teaching. Gigi Shadid is an educator, a Khouria, and a musician with two CDs of Orthodox children’s music.

Listen H E R E.

Thanks to the Antiochian web page for the plug!

As many prepare for the leave-taking of the Great Feast of the Dormition, and those on another calendar prepare to celebrate the Feast in honour of the Falling Asleep of the Mother of God, Seraphim [now Fr James] writes on MARY.

The Orthodox Church year begins on September 1st and contains 12 Great Feasts. The first Feast of the year is the Birth of Mary (the Theotokos) on September 8th. The final Feast of the Church Year is the death of Mary — or, the Dormition — on August 15th.

THEOTOKOS: Theotokos is a compound of two Greek words, θεος “God” and τοκος “parturition, childbirth.” Literally, this translates as “God-bearer” or “One who gave birth to God.” However, since many English-speaking Orthodox find this literal translation awkward; in liturgical use, “Theotokos” is often retained in Greek or translated as “Mother of God.” This last is not precisely synonymous, as it describes a family relationship but not necessarily physical childbearing. Furthermore, “Mother of God” (Greek Μητηρ Θεου) has an established usage of its own in certain hymns, but especially on icons of the Theotokos, in which case it is usually abbreviated as ΜΡ ΘΥ.

Source.

Appellations of the Theotokos.

Ark.
The Theotokos is often called an Ark, for the Glory of God settled on her, just as the Glory of God descended on the Mercy Seat of the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25:10-22).

Aaron’s Rod.
Just as Aaron’s Rod sprouted miraculously in the Old Testament, so too, the Theotokos has budded forth the Flower of Immortality, Christ our God (Num. 17:1-11).

Burning Bush.
On Mt. Sinai, Moses saw the Bush that was burning, but was not consumed. So too, the Theotokos bore the fire of Divinity, but was not consumed (Ex. 3:1-6).

(Golden) Candlestick.
In the Old Testament Tabernacle, there were found in the Sanctuary golden candlesticks. The Theotokos is the Candlestick which held that Light that illumines the world (Ex. 25:31-40).

(Golden) Censer.
Just as the censer holds a burning coal, so too, the Theotokos held the Living Coal. In the Apocalypse, there stands an Angel before the Throne of God, swinging a censer, representing the prayers of the Saints rising up to God. This is also seen as a symbol of the Theotokos, for it is her prayers that find special favor before her Son.

Cloud.
In the Exodus, the Israelites were led out of Egypt by a Cloud of Light, symbolizing the presence of God in their midst. So too, the Theotokos is a Cloud, bearing God within.

Fleece.
In the book of Judges we read the account of the dew which appeared miraculously on Gideon’s fleece (Judges 6:36-40). So too, the Dew Christ, appeared miraculously on the Living Fleece the Theotokos.

Holy of Holies.
Into the Holy of Holies only the High Priest could enter. So too, the Theotokos is the Holy of Holies into which only the Eternal High Priest Christ entered (Heb. 9:1-7).

Ladder.
In a dream Jacob saw a ladder ascending to Heaven, with Angels ascending and descending on it. The Theotokos is a Ladder, stretching from earth to Heaven, for on It God descended to man, having become incarnate.

Mountain (from which a Stone was cut not by hand of man).
The Prophet Daniel saw a mountain, from which was cut a stone, not by the hand of man (Dan. 2:34, 45). This is a reference to the miraculous Virgin Birth which was accomplished without the hand of man.

Palace.
The Theotokos was the Palace within which the King Christ our God dwelt.

Pot.
[See Urn]

Stem of Jesse.
In the Nativity Service, the Lord is referred to as the Rod from the Stem of Jesse (Is. 11:1), indicating His lineage from David, which was fulfilled through the Theotokos, who was a scion (or stem) of the line of David, the son of Jesse.

Tabernacle.
The Tabernacle was the place where the Glory of God dwelt. So too, the Glory of God dwelt in the Theotokos the Living Tabernacle (Ex. 40:34).

(Holy) Table.
This refers to the Holy Table (Altar Table) on which, at the Divine Liturgy, the Divine Food is offered. So too, the Theotokos is the Holy Table which bore the Bread of Life.

Temple.
The Prophet Ezekiel speaks of the Temple whose East gate remains sealed, through which only the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered. This clearly prophesies the Virgin Birth of the Theotokos (Ez. 44:1-2).

Throne.
The Theotokos is the Throne upon which Christ, the King of All, rested.

(Golden) Urn.
In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant contained within itself a golden urn filled with the heavenly manna. The Theotokos is the Urn which contained Christ, the Divine Manna (Heb. 9:1-7).

Vine.
The Theotokos is the Vine which bore the Ripe Cluster (of Grapes), Christ our Lord.

Source.
More info here.

For a homily by St Gregory Palamas on the Dormition of the Theotokos, go here.

Edited from a previous posting in 2006.
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This past Sunday, St Joseph Antiochian Orthodox Church hosted their annual benefit for Project Mexico / St Innocent Orphanage. This was my first year in attendance — it was a blast!

During one of the numbers performed by the Latin-Jazz Trio, various instruments were passed around for audience participation. That’s my boy, third from left … but the main attraction during this piece was the gal you see right there in front of the bass player, who was shakin’ that tambourine like a Polaroid picture!

Here’s the host priest, Fr Matthew MacKay (and Kh Lynn), no doubt reliving his Woodstock days …

Fr Richard Petranek portrays the Western Rite — now with more cowbell!

The lady, cited above, with the extremely enthusiastic tambourine playing, came close a couple times to knocking silly this adorable PK:

You can’t tell from this picture (actually, all the pics were shot using a Blackberry), but St George parishioner Hanni Farah was so caught up in the music that he literally sprouted wings and flew all around the church hall! (At least, at one point, it seemed likely.)

Then there was the lady who came up to me and swore she had seen me doing opera on YouTube. (Those who have actually heard me sing have never made such an accusation.) She later sent me video …

Actually, I’ve not worn my hair that short in years and there’s no way I could do justice to that dress.

Whether it was the invite to my 30-year high school reunion, or the fantasy that I was losing my hearing, one thing’s for certain: Nothing clears Disco like an oil change. Reminiscences about the dance floor — whilst lying on the floor — at a North Carolina Jiffy Lube …

Back in 1982, I had tickets to a Prince concert … when, long story short, my friend decided not to attend.

But, by goodness, I was determined to see the show.

I was a Junior in college, my car was in the shop, everyone else was busy …

So I did what any rebellious college kid would do: I got my mom to drop me off at the Charlotte Coliseum – and told her that I would surely meet up with someone I knew to give me a ride home.

As a footnote, I must mention that a local friend, the one I was counting on for that ride home, was a black guy whose last name – the moniker he preferred, you’re not going to believe this – was PRINCE.

Y’all, can you imagine trying to find a black guy at a Prince concert named, oh, PRINCE?

You guessed it; it didn’t happen. I was stranded.

Again, doing what any rebellious college kid (who desperately needed a ride home) would do … I called, um, home.

My Dad was working late so, imagine …

There I stood on the sidewalk by the Charlotte Coliseum, complete in trench coat and bandana …

When, what should I see in the distance but my mom coming down the street to pick me up in the family pick-up truck, and on the passenger side was …

Wait for it:

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Many thanks 2 my producer, Ron Smith, 4 deejaying this episode!

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