Orthodixie

TODAY, February 27th, is the ninety-third anniversary of the repose of St Raphael of Brooklyn. Below, thanks to Dr. Sam Cohlmia (translator) and Bishop BASIL (sender) is a translation of the first talk St Raphael gave in America of which we have a written transcript. This talk was delivered by him on December 17, 1895, exactly one month after his arrival in America.

Holy Father Raphael pray unto God for us!

It is true to admit that every true mind cannot but rejoice when it encounters education and knowledge. And every peaceful heart cannot but be reverend when it beholds great philanthropic endeavors which are crowned with a crown of goodness. Therefore, truth becomes evident in the ministry of education; and goodness becomes visible in the works of kindness. It is, then, truth and goodness which promote mental success and literary furtherance in every place and every age. For this cause, mental success stirs up within us joy and happiness; and literary furtherance excites within us poetic words of thanksgiving.

Having said that, I cannot but convey the great joy which my heart is feeling at the founding of this literary gathering, which is composed of Syrian men who have graciously poured out love for the strengthening of their own literacy, education, and knowledge; at the same time, they have spread such virtues onto the rest of their un-enlightened brethren. Therefore, I cannot but offer great thanks to the founders of this congregation and all of those who have helped and taking part in its establishment. Either literary or financially speaking, I ask of Him who is of true heart and spirit that He may fill the hearts and minds of the founders of this congregation with the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of knowledge, the spirit of truth, and the spirit of zeal and futuristic vision; that they may spread their literary and visionary knowledge to all of their country’s descendants throughout all of the ages.

What I rightly behold with respect to my witness of this, your first gathering, is your treasured and righteous vision throughout all of your discussions and resolutions; so as “not to believe every spirit”, but “to examine everything and hold onto what is good”. In that knowledge cannot be founded, even with the multitude of its truth and validity, if it is handled with chaos and dissention, doubt and deviance; with such limiting factors, the alienation of the knowledgeable and the wise, the poet and the counselor is imminent. Nonetheless, today knowledge has been strongly founded as truth through the wisdom of our past.

Therefore, if you read or hear that certain of the sciences contradict religion, it behooves you to understand that such sciences have never been originally founded in Truth; therefore, true knowledge and true science is the kin of true religion and true faith. For this cause, neither true science nor true faith has the ability to contract the other. On one hand, true religion is the introduction of what God has revealed unto us, with respect to those truths that have been dubbed “the truths of faith and religion”. On the other hand, true science is the introduction of what God has sent to us through His creation and His laws, which have been named “the laws of nature”. Having said that, it is possible for a true mind to surrender to the notion that what God revealed to us as “the truths of faith and religion” can be contradictory to what He sent to us as “the laws of nature”? Is it possible that the message of God can contradict what He created? Therefore, religious disbelief among the people is an indication of the lack of human-minded balance of truth; in addition, religious disbelief among scientists is an indication of the lack of human-minded balance of true science among them all.

In conclusion, my beloved and dear sons, “do not believe every spirit, but examine everything and hold onto what is good”, hold fast throughout your scientific discussions what has been forgotten by those who have alienated themselves from true science. Be mindful of how some of the famous scientists of our current age founded their beliefs after careful examination and great revelation, determining that the concept of science being contrary to religion is a lie. Therefore, with the knowledge of the multitude of scientific opinions, remember to preserve and protect your religious and literary ties from the attacks of ignorance, darkness, false truths, and other personal pleasures.

Delivered to a gathering of Syrian Men in New York on 12/17/1895; hand-written in Arabic by St. Raphael of Brooklyn; translated to English by Dr. Sam Cohlmia 12/17/2004; taken from the Clergy Brotherhood email of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America 2/27/2008.

Forgive me. This has nothing to do with Orthodoxy, but everything to do with Internet. Does this happen to yous toos?

Hello,

I am John Obviouslymadeupname, and I am a highly very ranking Nigerian prince.

Because of utmost strict Nigerian security and banking practices, I have found myself in possession of $50 million USD that I found in my sock drawer after a party attended by the Queen of Norway, Sigrid Formaldahyde. It is my utmost thinking that the Queen of Norway, Sigrid Formaldahyde, left this money in my sock drawer because it was cursed. Taking the utmost precautions, I washed the money that I am now thinking the Queen of Norway, Sigrid Formaldahyde, left in my sock drawer in a completely utmost legitimate manner.

Since I now have a wet $456 million USD (there are sadly no privately-owned clothes drying machines in Nigeria), and am utmostly needing your bank account number so that I might get quarters. If you allow me to get four quarters out, I will gladly give you and only you six quarters upon utmost dryness of the $32 million USD.

Please thanking you in advance,

Prince Obviouslymadeupname

I suspect PO is a pseudonym for WBF.

The following helpful hints are lifted from an email from Matushka Elizabeth Perdomo (with gratitude).

After Sunday, March 2nd (Meatfare Sunday / Sunday of the Last Judgement) – no meats are eaten until Pascha; that includes beef, pork, chicken and any vertebrate animals, including fish. (Though Fish may be consumed during “Cheese Week” leading up to Clean Monday, March 10th.)

For the week of Monday, March 3rd thru Sunday, March 9th (Cheesefare Sunday / The Sunday of Forgiveness) – Dairy products and eggs may still be eaten any day of the week! Butter, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. are all good! There are some recipe suggestions for Cheesefare Week in the St. George’s Pantry link below.

After Forgiveness Sunday, which falls on March 9th this year, the Great Fast Begins.

From Monday, March 10th until AFTER the midnight services for Holy Pascha, no meat or dairy or egg products are eaten. A strictly VEGAN diet is adopted by Orthodox Christians throughout the world. That means grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, etc.

There are some exceptions to the rule during the Great Fast. For example, on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25th, Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed. This is also true on April 20th, the Celebration of the Entrance into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday. Fish, Wine and Oil are again consumed.

Non-vertebrate sea food is allowed any day during the fast, except for during the “Strict Fast” days. That includes shrimp, scallops, clams, oysters, lobster, etc. So, if you need a special occasion dish or night out, or need a bit extra protein, try to go for seafood dishes!

The liturgical calendars from Church pretty well specify the fast days and the degree of fasting we strive to enter into. If you have questions, check your calendars!

Also: Nursing mothers, Pregnant Women, Young Children and those in Ill Health or who must take certain medications should adapt the fasting rule according to their particular needs. Dairy products are particularly recommended for young children, nursing mothers and pregnant women. Please do talk to [your priest / spiritual father] and receive a blessing and some guidance if you have any questions or special circumstances which would prevent you from following the fast. Having that “Blessing” can better bring you into the fullness of the season, even when one must adapt the fasting guidelines.

People often worry about children and fasting. Children learn by our examples and through our efforts. Dairy can always be added for young children, but other than that, they can easily learn to eat what we eat: Fasting Foods. The key is to make and serve well balanced meals, which can be done even with vegan food choices. It’s a learning process – so, let’s all learn! If one eats lunches or breakfasts at school, it can be more challenging. Still, children can try to make choices which more closely follow the fasting guidelines if they are taught to do so and to want to do so. But, the point is to try to do the best one can. Maybe peanut butter sandwiches, or even cheese pizza, or a tuna sub must be substituted now and then. But, it is better to try than not to even try at all. After all, why do we Fast? To grow closer to Christ! So, what’s not to try for?

Also, when one is traveling, sometimes it is often not possible to keep the fast completely. However, even so, try to follow the fast as closely as possible. If one can not eat a vegan meal, try shrimp or other non-vertebrate seafood. Or, if none is available, try fish. Or eggs… Or dairy… Don’t just go straight to steak just because you’re not at home!

There are always situations which come up during the Great Fast. The FASTING is not the point of the fast; the REACHING and FOCUSING on Christ IS the Point. Fasting is our Tool; our Friend; our Aid in setting aside this time and really refocusing our lives. So, if something comes up, don’t beat yourself up. Refocus, get back into the fast, and continue putting one step in front of the other.

Fasting can not and is not meant to stand alone either. It must be accompanied by its other two components: Prayer and Almsgiving. Remember to make time in your busy lives and attend as many of the special lenten services as possible during this precious season. Remember to give to the poor and needy – and not just your dollars, but your actions as well!

Matushka then points to the programs at her own parish, St George.

Matushka’s friend Denise, who lives in Savannah, GA, also has a cooking blog which shares recipes throughout the fasting and other seasons. She is Italian American, so many of her excellent recipes reflect that background … HERE.

Image of a lenticular cloud taken from HERE.

Citing an old post of mine dealing with the movie script from New Line Cinema’s The Nativity Story, someone posted the following comment, first quoting me and then offering their own words. I’m happy to oblige, as soon as there’s time. In the meantime, anyone want to [politely] weigh in here in the ComBox?

“We all know St Joseph was old, right? He was a widower with children, a man of means, by the time he became the guardian of our Lord. This is the tradition of the Church.”

Actually, that is NOT the tradition of the Protestant Church. Scripture never says anything about the age of Joseph, and Protestants have no tradition in that regard, unless it is that he was close to Mary’s age. We are also taught that the brothers and sisters of Jesus, which are mentioned in Scripture, were the product of Joseph and Mary’s marriage, not a previous marriage.

I had heard about the belief in Joseph being older, but I had never heard about his having been previously married. It is beliefs like this, which are formed outside of Scripture, that have caused a lot of the disconnect between Protestants and Catholics. If we would all come back to Scripture and believe it and form our traditions from it, then we would be One Church as Christ commands.

When I was a kid there was a TV-show that came on in our area called The Joey the Clown Show; all youngsters around the ages of 4, 5 & 6 were fans of Joey the Clown.

And on each episode of The Joey the Clown Show some of the kids in the audience were seen riding on this ride consisting of airships sailing around the globe … it was a big globe and those kids held on tight to the handlebars as their craft circled the planet.

That was cool.

Then, one day, my mom shocked me by saying that the following Saturday … we – as in ME!
WE were going with a group to The Joey the Clown TV-show …

That was amazing.

Of equal import, but certainly not in a good way, is the fact that between her surprise announcement and my circling the globe in an aeroplane, I contracted chickenpox. My skin was all red and splotchy, and here I was going to be on television!

Alas, with my skin all marred by the pox, and fearing this would show up on the television broadcast, I didn’t wanna go. In the end, my mom talked me into it.

Which turned out to be both good and bad.

The good news was – thanks to the quality of television cameras and broadcasting in the 60’s, my chickenpox was not visible on TV.

The bad news? Remember that ride that circled the globe? Boy, was I ever disappointed! The globe, up close, as we rode ‘round it on our space planes …

Well, it was just …

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Image taken from Red Skelton Gallery of Clowns.