Orthodixie

This is the first in a 15-part series of pics from Syria.

First — Second — Third — Fourth — Fifth — Sixth — Seventh — Eighth — Ninth — Tenth — Eleventh — Twelfth — Thirteenth — Fourteenth — Fifteenth.

The first order of business in Damascus was to visit the home of Ananias — where St Paul went after being struck blind on his way there. (You can read about that here.) Pictured above is my helper, Fr Isaac, also helping two young pilgrims, a Muslim girl from Malaysia and her boyfriend from China.

For various reasons, St Paul would not have been able to read these signs … they must be “new”.

A stone reenactment at the entryway …

Here’s Fr Isaac helping to educate the young Muslim woman within the walls of the home of Ananias; this room has been converted into a chapel.

In Damascus, you can see the old and the new all jumbled together …

Or, sometimes, the old stands amid the new as a reminder …

Here’s something very old atop something way older …

Ah … here we are, 1.5 hours away from Damascus, arriving at the Cathedral of St George & the Chancery of Metropolitan SABA in Sweida.

The first sight upon entering: The Salon.

What lies south of Sweida you ask? We’ll travel down that road tomorrow.

Podcast – “The Blindside” (in Syria); Article – Antiochian website

To be continued …

It was a 16 hour flight from Dubai to Houston, having left Damascus the previous day. The lines to get through Customs were long. When it finally came my turn, I approached the counter to see a sight not seen in my two week absence: a very white woman with red hair and freckles. “Where you coming from?” she asked. “Dubai,” I said, “I’ve been traveling in Syria.” “Syria! On business?” she asked. “No, I was visiting the holy sites,” I replied. The fair skinned Customs Agent looked at me as if I had six heads and said, “Why Syria?!”

Now, I’m not much of a movie buff, but forty hours spent on planes can tempt one beyond resolve. Ladies and Gentlemen, I went to Syria. This trip could not have happened without good folks helping to pay the bills and make the plans, for which I am humbled and grateful. Yet, one of them begged me: “Please don’t come back with only pictures of goats and dirt!” I thought of this when, on the return flight from Dubai to Houston, I watched the movie, Men Who Stare at Goats. But it was the movie The Blind Side, which I watched on the way over to the Middle East, that touched me the most and, to be honest, in many ways reflected my experience as an American Orthodox Convert in Syria.

Here’s the blurb from AFR: Fr. Joseph’s not much of a movie buff, but he was recently “blindsided” in Syria. This special thirty minute episode details his recent pilgrimage to Syria, and a certain “Paul” whom he kept bumping into while there. You’ll need to listen all the way to the end to discover the answer to a question he’s now asked: “Why did you go to Syria?”

The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

Dear Father Joseph:

It is with great sadness that I report to you today, that St George has lost another life-long member of the parish. My one and only camera died Sunday as a result of a tragic accident in the St George Parish Hall. Cannon A530 was approximately 3 years old and a life long member of St George when he fell asleep in the Lord Sunday afternoon. He was happily capturing the joyous memories of the Slavic Luncheon by snapping pictures of the event when his owner was bumped rather hard by someone causing him to drop Cannon. Unfortunately his lens was still extended and was bent as a result of the fall and can no longer retract. Despite his owners best efforts to revive him he was pronounced dead on the scene. During his brief life span he was able to capture hundreds of special memories at St George Orthodox Church in Houston TX. The Trisagion Prayers for a deceased Camera were recited by his owner late Sunday afternoon. Burial was at his owners residence in Houston TX. Cannon A530 was a wonderful companion to many who knew him and an occasional thorn to some as well. He will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his owner Greg Quartararo and many friends …

Respectfully
Greg Quartararo

The folks at AFR note:

“It’s been a little slower than usual in terms of donations this month so if you are able to help us meet our $11,000 April goal, we would appreciate it.”

Currently, they are $2,595 shy of the mark.

UPDATE: It’s now (9pm) down to $1,595 needed …

UPDATE: $1,138 needed (9am, 4/30).

UPDATE: Only $674 needed (5pm, 4/30).

UPDATE, MAY 1: Thanks for your help!

We came very close to meeting our April donation goal. Thanks to all of you who helped! Our May goal is $10,000. We budget an amount each month based on giving patterns to help us meet our expenses.

You can help support Ancient Faith Radio – HERE.

Speaking of AFR, having finally gotten some quality rest (does being in a 4-day daze count?), the Orthodixie Podcast concerning my recent trip to Syria should be updated by tomorrow.

A note from Fr Mark Mancuso of Columbia, South Carolina:

Dear Brethren,

Christ is risen!

I just wanted to pass along the news that Bishop Daniel of Erie, Vicar Bishop of the President of the Synod of Bishops for Old Believers, reposed in the Lord this morning.

May his memory be eternal!

More HERE.

Still more … here.