At the Episcopal Assembly recently concluded in New York City on Friday, May 28, His Grace Bishop BASIL was elected Secretary of the Assembly.
Matthew Namee interviewed His Grace on his impression of the Episcopal Assembly …
Listen HERE.
Image Source
Not being a big fan of television, years ago I fantasized about a TV show that would portray the real typical American Family — I guess it would have been what these days is known as a “Reality Show”.
The plot was simple and repetitive; you’ve probably thought of it, too: It would show a family of four sitting in front of a TV.
Period.
That’s all there was to it. Alas, the show would be boring — too long, lasting for hours — and, of course, no network would broadcast it. I mean, in reality, what medium criticizes its own medium?
Such is the dilemma facing me coming to you via the Internet and criticizing the medium known as the Internet.
As with television, it’s not so much the medium as it is the message and, given our base fallen human nature, any medium, especially one that’s visual, has a tendency to deteriorate into Endless Pics of Naughty Bits.
Here’s me in my underwear –
Your blog is great – check out BUYTHISNOWDOTCOM –
Here’s my Birthday Suit –
You stink –
I DRINK –
I lost 10 lbs 5 minutes ago, click here now –
I love Jesus, but I hate You –
IseeLondon, IseeFrance –
Then there’s MyFace – you know, those evil step sisters, Face Book and My Space. These sites are basically a continuation of Your High School Year Book combined with the scribbling on the stall-walls at a greasy gas station …
Then there’s blogging …
Oh, don’t worry – I’m not going to criticize YOUR BLOG! (Mine’s been bad enough from time to time.)
Rather, at risk of “shoulding” on you, I want to mention …
The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.
Image Source
Nuthin’ a-tall to do with Orthodoxy, but:
With a son who plays trombone, I’m very familiar with “C Jam Blues” — perhaps you are too — but here’s a video of Duke Ellington & Crew back in 1942.
Check out Sonny Greer (around the 2:18 mark); you’ll be glad you did.
Other artists included in the video: Barney Bigard, Ray Nance, Joe ‘Tricky Sam’ Nanton, Rex Stewart, and Ben Webster.
Interested? Go HERE.
Thanks to commenter Alex Forstenhausler for the link.
This is the fifteenth (final)in a 15-part series of pics from Syria.
First — Second — Third — Fourth — Fifth — Sixth — Seventh — Eighth — Ninth — Tenth — Eleventh — Twelfth — Thirteenth — Fourteenth — Fifteenth.
Having spent about five days at the Chancery in Sweida — right next door to the Cathedral — I’d never actually been inside the Cathedral until just hours before my departure from Syria. On my final day, Friday, there was to be a Liturgy in the Cathedral for the school children. (Friday is a weekend “holiday” in Syria, whereas we have Saturday-Sunday weekends in the United States, workers and public schools have Fridays and Saturdays off in Syria.)
Inside the altar of St George Cathedral, Sweida.
Now, for those who may have listened to my Syrian Pilgrimage Podcast, The Blindside, (or read it): See the icon pictured on the far wall, about eleven o’clock from center, to our left from the procession cross?
Well …
It’s the same one pictured here, five years earlier, at a small Mission in North Carolina. The monk (with the hat) is Fr Paul, also mentioned in the podcast. He was on his way back to Syria, taking the icon of St Mary of Egypt, with relic, as a gift to Metropolitan SABA from Bishop BASIL. (Also pictured here, to my right: the future priest, Christopher Morris and his wife, Anastasia, who were also visiting the Mission that day.)
Monk Paul, who was home on “holiday” visiting his parents in North Carolina, converted to Orthodoxy at the same time as my wife and I, back in 1993. His home monastery is St Paul’s on Mt Athos. Here he is showing the Mission faithful the location of all the historic monasteries of Mt Athos which are portrayed on the image of The Abbess of Mt Athos. (This icon forms a foundational portion of my Syrian Pilgrimage Podcast / Article).
…
… and here’s a close up of the same icon of St Mary of Egypt, snapped from the back wall of the altar in St George Cathedral, Sweida.
After marveling at the ways of God, which pass our understanding …
I found a seat near the back of the Cathedral. As the young school children began gathering around the chanter’s stand, I wondered if they would actually sing the service …
They did! It was such a blessing!
A parting shot of His Eminence and me before I headed back to Damascus for my 3-hour flight to Dubai and the next day’s 16-hour flight back to Houston.
There’s nothing left to say that wasn’t said here (or written here).
Thank you for your prayers!
Most Holy Theotokos (the Abbess of Mount Athos), St Thekla – Equal to the Apostles, St George the Great-Martyr, St Mary of Egypt — and All Saints of Syria — pray to God for us!
Orthodixie 