Orthodixie

On the last episode of the Orthodixie Podcast, I interviewed two Deacons of the Church – both hailing from the Old Country (i.e., Tennessee and West Virginia).

This week, a Yankee.

Actually, some would say he hails from the Holy Land.

(You know, Pittsburgh.)

On this week’s episode of the Orthodixie Podcast, I interview Fr John Salem on the high calling of Priesthood.

Fr John is a very funny guy. Thus, I was surprised by his very serious reflections on the work and call of a priest. Here follows the questions; you’ll have to listen in for his answers:

So … you weren’t happy in life, being whatever you were before you felt called to the priesthood; I mean, how’s that work?

What can you say about the office of the Priesthood? What do you find to be the greatest struggle? The greatest joy?

What does a priest do?

[Follow up question] What does a priest do on that “half day” he does work?

I’m an adult convert to Orthodoxy; I grew up in church, but not the Orthodox Church. You, Fr John, grew up in the Orthodox Church. I’m sure there were priests along the way that you noticed –something about the way they carried themselves; they treated people; they served the Liturgy — that had an influence on you?

Looking through the eyes of, say, your own children — if they see a priest celebrating the Liturgy — what questions might come to mind?

Anytime someone says to me that they feel called to be a priest, one of the first things I ask them is: “Do you like going to church?” I mean, if someone doesn’t like going to church, I’d say they’re probably not being called to Priesthood. So, you like going to church?

Someone comes to you and says, “I feel called to be a priest” – or – “I think I want to be a priest” – or – “I want to go to seminary and study for the Priesthood” …

Do you have any standard counsel?

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Thanks to Carole Buleza, Director of the Antiochian Archdiocese Christian Ed Department for suggesting the interview, and Vasiliki Oldziey for her suggestions.

IMAGE: Fr John on the mic, me to his left, George Kaleh on guitar — Source.

Make Yours Acceptable to the Lord!

It seems odd saying “Happy New Year” in September, but that’s when the Church marks Her annual beginning. September 1st is, for the Church, the first day of a New Year.

A pious tradition of the Church holds that Jesus of Nazareth began preaching the good news of His mission on September 1st. When our Lord entered the Synagogue, He was given the book of the Prophet Isaiah to read, and He opened it and found the place where it is written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:18-21).

Tradition also holds that it was during the month of September that the Hebrews entered the Promised Land. And, the custom of beginning a new year with autumn was common in Biblical and Mediterranean lands because the summer harvest was completed, the crops were stored, and it was a time when people began preparing for a new agricultural cycle. It was an appropriate time for a new beginning. This is evident in the services for the New Year as the Church beseeches God for fair weather, seasonable rains, and an abundance of the fruits of the earth.

As we begin this new year it should be noted that the Church Calendar is loaded with important events — especially the 12 Great Feasts, the Four Fasts, and PASCHA. Also, each day of the Church Year is set aside to honor Saints; many of whom died on that particular date. Similar to our personal calendars where we mark the earthly birthdays of family and friends, the Church remembers the Saints on their “heavenly birthday” — the day they passed from this life to Paradise.

Liturgically, the Church Year begins and ends with the Mother of God. The first Great Feast of the Year, September 8th, honors her birth; the last Great Feast of the Year, August 15th, remembers her falling asleep. Between these two Great Feasts the Church marks 10 other major Feasts and PASCHA, the Feast of Feasts. Here’s a list of those Feasts, including their dates for the coming year (those using the so-called Old Calendar add 13 days to fixed feasts — not Pascha, Ascension & Pentecost):

Special thanks to the webpage of the Greek Archdiocese for the following feast info!
Birth of the Theotokos, September 8th

Elevation of the Holy Cross, September 14th

Entry of the Theotokos in the Temple, November 21st

Nativity of Christ (Christmas), December 25th
— preceded by a 40-day fast which begins on St Philip’s Day, November 15th

Baptism of Christ (Theophany), January 6th

Meeting of Christ in the Temple, February 2nd

Annunciation of the Theotokos, March 25th

Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) April 17, 2011
— preceded by the Great Fast and followed by Passion Week

PASCHA – April 24, 2011

Ascension of our Lord, June 2, 2011

Pentecost Sunday, June 12, 2011

Transfiguration of our Lord, August 6th

Falling Asleep of the Theotokos (Dormition), August 15th
— preceded by a 2-week fast which begins on August 1st

The dates for Palm Sunday, PASCHA, Ascension, and Pentecost vary each year. In 2011, Eastern Orthodox Christians will — yet again — celebrate PASCHA at the same time the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches celebrate Easter, April 24th. The Apostles’ Fast can vary in length. It begins on the Monday after All Saints Sunday (the first Sunday after Pentecost) and ends with the Feast, June 29th.

Each parish also celebrates its “altar feast” on the day set aside for its Patron Saint, Feast, or Name.

The wall calendars that most parishes make available each fall include many of the daily Saints and readings for the year. Also, most people have their own Patron Saint — or “nameday” — to remember, as well as other favorite and family Saints’ days.

Why not start the New Year off right? Mark your personal calendar with the Feasts, Fasts, and Saints days of the Church. Make a resolution to participate in the liturgical cycle of the Church. Unlike mundane New Year’s resolutions, marking your calendar, keeping the Feasts and Fasts, and embarking for a new life within the annual life of the Church is a wonderful way to sanctify time. Let’s all join together in making this an “acceptable year of the Lord!”

Happy New Year!

As can be seen from some of the Comments, this is an edited re-post from 2006.

Many come to the Holy Mountain, visit various Fathers, become enthused with what they hear from each, interpret them in their own way, muddle them up in their heads and then say, ‘We had a really good time.’ Whereas, if they visited only one Father, heeded his advice and tried to apply all that he said to their life, they would have some positive help. Now what they are doing is spiritual tourism; they are wasting their time, exhausting themselves without gaining anything. How restful and beneficial it would be if they stayed with one Father and applied what he told them! They could experience the soul’s inner repose, whereas now they wander from place to place, enjoying the Holy Mountain’s beautiful green landscape just like worldly people.

— Elder Paisios the Athonite

Taken from Fr Josiah’s blog.

Image Source

On this episode of the Orthodixie Podcast, I sit down with two Deacons of the Church – both hailing from the Old Country (i.e., one was reared in middle Tennessee and the other was born and raised in the hills of West Virginia).

Take a listen:

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

That’s Deacon Joseph Carter and Deacon Symeon Kees, both of St George Church, Houston, Texas.

I’d like to thank Carole Buleza, Director of the Antiochian Archdiocese Christian Ed Department for suggesting the interview.

Oh, and on the next episode of the Orthodixie Podcast, I interview my boss, Fr John Salem on the priesthood.

Some would say the Deacons hail from the, uh, Old Country:

Tennessee and West Virginia.

And, some would say that Fr John was reared in the Holy Land …

You know …

Pittsburgh.

Image of Wake Forest Demon Deacon – Source

This was sent to me by Fr Justin McFeeters. True … and funny (as all funny things are) … and, in a way, sad: