Orthodox leaders will find a way to save the traditions of their homelands, said Philip. But the clergy and laity must realize that their own children and grandchildren are Americans who need a faith that is stronger than old music, familiar foods, folk dancing and traces of an ancient language.
Read Terry Mattingly’s latest H E R E.
Dear Fr Joseph,
I want to tell you how much I enjoy your writings and insight regarding our Holy Orthodox faith. I was raised Orthodox in … the so called Russian tradition. After moving … some twenty two years ago, I sort of “fell away” from any consistent practice and relationship with our Lord. About seven years ago I discovered [an OCA parish] … That “convert” church really saved my spiritual life. It seems that the converts, through the glory of God, are teaching us who simply inherited this holy faith. I am very thankful to God for all of these wonderful folks who have struggled along and arrived at the true faith.
Now I will say this as one who had to attend Russian school and Russian jr. choir, and as one who loves Slavonic, and has a hunky surname:
THE TIME TO UNITE AS ONE ORTHODOX CHURCH NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW.
We can no longer afford to have separate ethnic archdioceses and try to evangelize a nation that is seeking the truth. Every time a protestant group goes off half baked with their liberal theology (gay this, gay that, denial of the Trinity,etc.) we as Orthodox need to make our presence known, and to open our hearts to help those who are searching for truth. We can’t do this as a divided church or even under SCOBA. In my mind I think that none of the Bishops want to loose their territory or job. Well I got news for them, there is plenty of work to do in this country. Too many people are just sitting on their porches reading the Sunday paper instead of being in church. I am fearful we as Orthodox are missing the boat about our witness of the gospel in this country. Waiting for next year or for the passing of the Ecumenical Patriarch is not good enough. The young generation of Orthodox I hope will not continue the foolishness of their grandparents and parents. Thanks for letting me vent. May our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless your ministry.
in Christ,
N.
Thanks: Classical Anglican
Bishop Bart?
Anthony Esolen … May God grant him many years! Go
H E R E … scroll down.
Pope John Paul II makes headlines: Dog Bites Man
(i.e., Gay Marriage is Evil)
Just the other day I lamented losing some material — namely, “Sacraments for Space Aliens” — when my laptop crashed. For fun, I signed off that blog post with the odd Dan Rather line, “Courage.” Well the conspiracy continues. Now ABC’s Peter Jennings, himself (no doubt) an alien, is doing a news report on UFOs tomorrow night (Thursday, Frb.24th).
When I went to the ABCNews site, I mistook the wording of one of the news stories. Here’s what I read: Bush meets with aliens. On second reading, I noticed it said allies.
Thickens the plot … after my post linking the radio show Coast to Coast AM, the local station canceled it! Coincidence?
Then there’s the fact that I lost a piece that I’d been feverishly working on — on The DaVinci Code. Computer virus = gone. Now tell me THIS is a coincidence! Thanks: Thunderstruck
Finally, no fruit only nuts today, I never knew that Mary Magdalene wrote the Fourth Gospel (commonly attributed to St John the Theologian). Caution: Hooey alert.
How’d a find out?
A little Mermaid (aka M.S.) told me.
Whatever calender you use, if you’re Orthodox, this is a fast free week, so that when we eat our ice cream on Wednesday and pizza on Friday we will remember that we sin like the Publican more than we fast like the Pharisee, so we should be humble like the first — AND fast like the second.
Next week is the last normal week till after Bright Week. Wednesday and Fridays are fast days but we can have meat the other days.
The next week is Cheese Fare week, when Wednesday and Friday are NOT fast days but we don’t have meat all week in anticipation of the fast.
Then, BAM! Clean Monday comes, and Lent is upon us.
But for this week, enjoy.
In Christ,
Matushka Ann
________________________
But, as my Confessor always reminds me: “Glut’ny’s always a sin.” (Why he says this to me, I have no idea 🙂
Skoufia tip to Dawn, who not only tips us off to the above link about St Paul, but tells the truth about Planned Parenthood’s Racist Past …
Speaking of tips, Dawn’s also available for hire!
