Orthodixie

Orthodox Christianity, thank goodness, doesn’t lend itself too well to bumper sticker theology. Sure, you can see Orthodox Christians with those plastic fishies … or a window decal featuring a Cross. But the more popular version of so-called Christian bumper stickers are all far from Orthodox theology.

There’s the one that says: “Next time you think you’re perfect, try walking on water.”

Talk about snarky! Forget Peter, I always think of St Mary of Egypt when I read that one.

A few years ago you saw these: “Hate is not a family value.” I always wondered how the person sporting that one defined Family … differently than me, I guessed. Then again …

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

God being my helper, I plan to turn in a book manuscript for editing this Sunday, June 24th. Other than AFR updates, blogging will resume afterwards.

Prayers coveted.

I’m in Topeka for the final day of the Parish Life Conference for the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America. At this morning’s Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, His Grace, Bishop Basil, will ordain David Lewis to the Diaconate — and next week to the Priesthood — to serve the Western Rite community of St Peter, Forth Worth. Prayers coveted.

Now for the kooky …

Remember John Tavener? I’ve always found his music to be bizarre. Once, after someone loaned me a CD, I gave my review: “If I were you, I’d burn it.”

It’s nice to be right, even if once in a while.

In recent years he has begun to broaden his spiritual horizons, he tells me over tea in the garden. “The path I follow is still an Orthodox path,” he says. “You have to follow a path, otherwise it becomes a little bit new-age, a bit of this, a bit of that … But I suppose I had a dream vision after a visit from an Apache Indian medicine man. Many people when they’ve met American Indians have very strong dreams afterwards. I had a kind of vision from the Sufi Frithjof Schuon, who was a believer in the inner transcendent unity of all religions. And he seemed to be giving me permission, in a way, to work musically within other traditions. It wasn’t that the Christian thing was failing me in any way, but rather that it enriched it by going into other things, particularly Hinduism and Sufism.”

The idea of the eternal feminine is important to Tavener. He tells me about a visionary to whom the Virgin Mary would appear, always naked. I am not sure Pope Benedict would approve. He says Mary “feels closer to me than Christ. I can’t explain that – she’s much more mysterious because there’s so little known about her, yet she seems very active in the world in an extraordinary way.”

More … if you must.

Image Source

My beloved sons and flowers of my heart, Hafeeth, Lamy and Jabour, I pray that your days may be long on this earth … For the love of our Lord, Jesus Christ and my love for you, protect what I’m asking you to do.

Protect your Orthodox religion until the end of your life.

Walk in truth with everybody …

Study the Holy Bible for the Bible will teach you everything. Keep your lent and prayers and everything concerning the rules and regulations of the Orthodox Church.

Honor your guests …

Love everybody, especially each one of you …

Pay my debts and don’t hold it against me.

In ending — walk according to the will of God.

— Excerpts from the will of Rt Rev’d Shukrallah Shadid, first priest of St Elijah in Oklahoma City. (Stolen from the souvenir program for the 3rd Annual DOWAMA Parish Life Conference hosted by Ss Peter & Paul Church, Topeka, Kansas.)

Image Source