Orthodixie

I was ordained in Mississippi and, prior to that, also attended an AEOM pastors’ conference there. I love Mississippi! It’s a very pretty state.

My cousin, a native of Texas, now lives in Madison. The Antiochians have a parish there, St Peter, and about a month ago I emailed the priest, Fr John Henderson — a wonderful man, and told him of our upcoming visit. He wrote back that that was also their annual episcopal visit from Bishop BASIL!

We didn’t make it for Vespers but, in the midst of moving to Texas, had the pleasure of a Hierarchical Liturgy in the pretty town of Madison, Mississippi. It was very nice. St Peter Church is beautiful and worth a visit if you are in the area. The community is very friendly and welcoming. It was also a blessing to see so many Camp St Thekla alumni!

That evening, my cousin took us to dinner at “Cock of the Walk.” This restaurant (sort of like “Uncle Bud’s” in other parts of the South) only serves Catfish and/or Chicken … with all the fixins. It sits on the shore of a lake and the staff wear costumes fitting the great river boating days of Mississippi. Meals are served on pie tins with tin cups and pitchers. Way cool and very good.

After feasting on marinated onions, fried pickles, greens, and cole slaw … they brought out the catfish, chicken, fries & puppies. My son said, “But Dad, we just ate dinner! Why are we eating two dinners?”

Then, at no extra charge, if you time your visit just right, you can kill at least 5 million love bugs on your way home.

More later …

The trip to Houston from Hendersonville was blessedly uneventful. My son and I shared the car. My wife, the girls & the new cat, Lily, occupied the van.

We only got as far as North Georgia on Friday, September 16th. Said “Goodbye” to Archimandrite Damian … and traveled to Birmingham, Alabama, for a lunch visit with my wife’s kin.

We ended up at my cousin’s in Madison, Mississippi, for two nights.

George Strait, who is slated to do a big concert here in Houston next week, once had a hit song called “The Love Bug.” I will never hear that song again without thinking of the 50 trillion — times two — love bugs seen in Mississippi and Louisiana! These bugs are, well, hooked together in an interesting way and, I would hazard to guess, outnumber the sands of the sea. At one point it looked (and sounded) like black rain.

I shall mercifully refrain from describing the windshield. (I must have killed 40 million on the way here.)

More later …

Many thanks to all well-wishers as we leave the wonderfully blessed state of North Carolina. God willing, we’ll arrive in Houston on Monday after a couple of family visits along the way — including a hierarchical liturgy in Mississippi.

I beg your prayers.

Angels from Heaven invisibly circle the life-bringing Cross in fear, and seeing it now brilliantly shed light-bestowing Grace upon the faithful, amazed they stand and cry to thee such words as these:

Rejoice, O Cross, guardian of the world!
Rejoice, the glory of the Church!
Rejoice, thou that dost bountifully gush forth
with healings!
Rejoice, thou that dost enlighten the ends of
the earth!
Rejoice, wood-fragrant with life, and treasury of
wonders!
Rejoice, fitly-joined, thrice-blessed, and bestower of Grace!

Rejoice, for thou art the divine footstool!
Rejoice, for thou wast ordained for the
worship of all!
Rejoice, bowl of nectar, full to the brim!
Rejoice, torch of the radiance above!
Rejoice, thou through which the creation
is blessed!
Rejoice, thou through the Creator is worshipped!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!

O thou thrice-blessed and all-worshipped Cross of Christ, all we the faithful venerate and magnify thee, being joyous at thy divine Exaltation. But as the trophy and unconquered weapon that thou art, by thy Grace, protect, cover, and shelter those who cry to thee:

Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!

Taken from the Akathist Hymn to the Spiritual Ladder, the Precious Cross (Jordanville, 1994).

The image above displays the largest fragment in existence of the True Cross. It is preserved at the Holy Monastery of Xeropotamou on Mount Athos.

I kid you not.

H E R E .

Thanks to THUNDERSTRUCK