Orthodixie

And you thought it was chaotic at YOUR church …

Israeli police rushed into Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre to break up fist fights between dozens of Greek and Armenian worshippers on Orthodox Palm Sunday, witnesses said.

Some 20 officers intervened after Armenian worshippers threw a Greek Orthodox priest out of the church, sparking a free-for-all, they said.

Several worshippers then started beating the police officers with palm fronds they were holding for the Palm Sunday celebrations that mark the return of Jesus to the Holy City a week before he was crucified …

The whole story.

One of the benefits of Orthodox Easter — PASCHA — coming later than Roman Catholic Easter (pssssssssssssssttttt, if you’re Protestant — or, wink, wink, Non-Denominational — you’re following Rome’s calendar) … is reduced prices on chocolates and candies which are mass produced to meet the demand at this time of year.

Though we have lost the original source, many believe there’s an ancient book, now extant, which contains the chocolate canons: rules demanding that the pious celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord with, well, massive amounts of CHOCOLATE.

There are other confections and goodies, too, in addition to chocolate. My kids always enjoy those little marshmallow Peeps that also double as science experiments when used with a microwave …

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

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

My visit to St George, Cicero — April 11-13th — for the North American Council (NAC) Fellowship of St John the Divine Lenten Retreat was a true blessing! Pictured here, however, is the only patch of blue seen during the weekend. Ah … Chicago in April.

The serenity found while looking upon the weeping icon of the Mother of God on the iconostasis is hard to put into words. Contrast this image to the one below.

Arggggggggghh! Oh my!

Actually, Fr Fouad Saba, the Assistant Priest at St George Cicero, was a delight! I took this pic hoping to grab his intensity. I did not know, however, that it would radiate out from his image and warble the background. Amazing.

I had the honour of being the keynote speaker for the Retreat entitled “Taking Steps Toward the Kingdom … CHANGE SOMETHING!” The young adults were then divided into small groups (pictured above and below).

Ker-Pow! Ka-blewie! Spuh-lash!

(Fr Fouad is pictured here casting out demons leading a small group.)

A view from the narthex, entering the church.

Honest to goodness, I have no idea what happened here to Fr Nicholas Dahdal’s hand. It was there when I snapped the pic, but my batteries were low. Actually, Fr Nicholas was a warm and generous host, hands down.

That’s me and John & Tonya Maddex (aka Ancient Faith Radio) and their wonder-grand, Elijah.

Peering in past the holy doors, “Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O God be merciful to us and save us!”

Speaking of saints, here’s a beautiful image of the “great cloud of witnesses” — Saints throughout the ages — under the choir loft on the western wall

A close-up of the Pantocrator …

St Herman’s image, found on one of the side entry doors to the altar from the Kliros.

As Fr Nicholas said, even with an empty church one senses the presence of the Saints.

For more in the Parish of St George and the Miraculous Lady of Cicero, Illinois — go HERE.

Just for fun, here are some pics from the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Lenten retreat, originating from Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, which took place the first weekend in April in the Texas Hill Country near New Braunfels.

Okay. Definitely the hokey pokey gone bad!

Apparently, two college kids sharing fasting recipes.

Texas the first weekend in April; small groups at T Bar M.

This pic was taken just before everyone was, unfortunately, vaporized by that menacing light coming through the side wall.

One the one hand, virtue; on the other hand …

Slummin’ at the T Bar M. (The guy in the Texas-T, Sergei, is from Moscow. I served as his “straight man” for the weekend. What a hoot!)

I suspect this is a universally common sight: college kids … followed by a laundry basket.

Our chanters for the Retreat, Alex (GOA) & David (ROCOR).

So long from New Braunfels, Texas!

Pictured are students from University of Texas, Texas A & M, University of Houston, Stephen F. Austin State University, Rice University, University of North Texas — and points beyond the Republic.

The book on which the retreat was based …

Available through PayPal in the side margin …

From Regina Orthodox Press …

And Amazon.

London, April 1, Interfax – Certain Anglican Commonwealth churches will simplify rules of ordaining clerics next year.

“Realities of today’s life require revision of certain canons and rules. We have agreed to women clergy and ordination of open gays, but we shouldn’t stop on the achieved,” the Rev Anthony Priddis, the Bishop of Hereford said in his interview to the Monday Telegraph.

Three years ago he gained popularity for supporting a woman-priest who had changed sex.

According to Priddis, next year not only Christians would be able to become Anglican priests.

“When you a person is hired, especially to a British state religious organization he shouldn’t be discriminated for his confession. The Anglican Church should give an example of fighting against xenophobia in our multicultural tolerant society and give equal opportunities to all people no matter if they believe in God, gods or any other power,” the bishop stressed.

Priddis has not excluded the possibility of future ordaining atheists in the Anglican Church, the weekly reports.

Source

This was brought to my attention by Catherine K. (commenting on a previous post). Hmmmmm. I noticed the date of the news story, April 1st …