Orthodixie

Polamalu: . . . Tuesday is also our only opportunity to go to church together, so we do that.

Cole: When and where do you go?

Polamalu: It starts at 8:30 (a.m.). . . . It’s the Nativity of the Theotokos monastery (in Saxonburg, Pa.).

Cole: I know you’re devoutly Christian . . . but exactly which denomination?

Polamalu: Greek Orthodox. Theotokos literally means the Mother of God.

Cole: How long are you in services?

Polamalu: They usually go to about 12:30.

Cole: That’s a four-hour service. Is that a normal service?

Polamalu: Pretty much, especially at a monastery.

Cole: Can you describe it?

Polamalu: What’s really neat about the Orthodox church is that it’s like walking back in time 2,000 years to the time of the Apostles, when they created these services. You walk into that and it’s really like living it. They have maintained the truth ever since the beginning.

So … What’s in Polamalu’s locker? Click the link below.

Pic & Teaser Source

“I felt immediately that I should turn to Orthodoxy because I didn’t want to abandon my relationship with Jesus – who didn’t feature in Hinduism. In Orthodoxy I found both Jesus and the closeness with God that is a major part of Hinduism,” Mother Thaiss said.

The monks and nuns pray twice a day. The services are unique. In the Russian Orthodox Church they are conducted in old-fashioned Russian, and the congregation always stands. Here the services are in French and the worshippers are seated.

The Story.

First, Rome really didn’t fall, as such; or at least not the way generally thought, or when generally thought. Certainly there were times when the barbarians were literally at the gates, so to speak. But there was never a time when a Roman citizen of southern Gaul, for example, would stop and say, “My, haven’t things been crappy since Rome fell.”

But by the time Rome “fell,” it had already been superseded (and eclipsed) by the New Rome (Constantinople). These Romans of the East thought of themselves as exactly that, the “Romaioi.” They would have been puzzled if anyone had addressed them as a Byzantine. And not only that, but this New Rome — for centuries, the marvel of civilization-continued on until 1453. So, even if one were to buy into the whole America = Rome theory, the date used for comparison is about 1,000 years shy of the final fall.

Read it all (by John) at NotesFromACommonPlaceBook.

Image Source

“The font will not suffice to save us unless after coming from it, we display a life worthy of the Gift.”

— St John Chrysostom, Homily 13 on Romans

“For he who feels the tooth of slander, gives by his vexation a proof that he is conscious of the truth of what is said. But he who smiles at it, by this very thing acquits himself of all suspicion with those who are present…flee from the abyss of a little mind.”

— St John Chrysostom, HOMILY 13 on Romans

One thousand six hundred years after his death, St John Chrysostom remains one of Orthodoxy’s most venerated church fathers, theologians, moralists, and liturgists. Fr Josiah Trenham sheds light on this great Saint in an hour long interview with the Illumined Heart Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

It’s well worth your time.

Go HERE and scroll to September 23rd’s Podcast.

Image Source

Jeffrey Steenson, [this week] explained to the US bishops why he is to be received into the Roman Catholic Church. He leaves an Episcopal Church in disarray, led no longer by a ‘house’ but by a ‘community’ of bishops, with a songbook of praise to Mother Earth, Sister Moon and Brother Sun.

Here’s the story (thanks to an e-tip from tmatt).

In an earlier letter to the bishops, the 55-year-old Bishop Steenson, who has headed the diocese based in Albuquerque, N.M., since January 2005, said his “conscience is deeply troubled about where the Episcopal Church is heading, and this has become a crisis for me because of my ordination vow to uphold its doctrine, discipline and worship.” Source

For the life of me, other than the big buck salaries, high media profile, and fabu pension plan …

Wait. Hmmm. Well, okay then. When put that way I guess I can understand how these men are still found hanging out in the morass that passes as Anglicanism in this country.

The General Convention of 1991 in Phoenix was my one and only foray into Pagan worship. Oh sure, I’d read New Age stuff when I was in college — and who’s not attracted to a bit of wackiness from time to time?

But the Convention in ’91 opened with American Indians “blessing” the altar in full traditional dress and ritual (feathers, moccasins, whooping, etc). They did this by invoking Father Sky and Mother Earth.

I kid you not.

No offense to the Native Americans! Hey, they were just doing their thing (an unofficial Episcopalian slogan commandment).

But, really.

And, adding insult to injury heresy, there was even a “Cafe Style Eucharist” held later in the week. I skipped out — thanks God! — on that one. This was where there was a main celebrant of the Mass down on the stage in the round … and worshippers attendees were seated around tables scattered throughout the convention center. There were multiple clergy at each table when suddenly, like a Jack-n-the-Box, up would pop a surprise Celebrant for each table (male or female, believer or not-so-much) and “zap” the gifts (the pottery chalice of wine and the bread) found on each table — from which those around that particular table would commune.

Again, I kid you not.

So while I commend the good bishop for taking a stand, and can only wish him well in Rome, I do scratch my head and ofttimes wonder …

After so many moons have passed …

Why now?