The following note is from a blog reader … Hi Father, I thought you and your readers might be interested in the fact that the Anglican Church of Canada voted against same-sex blessing this past synod. The clergy and laity voted in favour but the Bishops voted against thus defeating the motion. However, the Anglican Church did say that same-sex marriage does not go against the creed. This, I thought, was odd. Wait. Is this in reference to the term... Read more

Orthodox Christianity, thank goodness, doesn’t lend itself too well to bumper sticker theology. Sure, you can see Orthodox Christians with those plastic fishies … or a window decal featuring a Cross. But the more popular version of so-called Christian bumper stickers are all far from Orthodox theology. There’s the one that says: “Next time you think you’re perfect, try walking on water.” Talk about snarky! Forget Peter, I always think of St Mary of Egypt when I read that one.... Read more

God being my helper, I plan to turn in a book manuscript for editing this Sunday, June 24th. Other than AFR updates, blogging will resume afterwards. Prayers coveted. Read more

I’m in Topeka for the final day of the Parish Life Conference for the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America. At this morning’s Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, His Grace, Bishop Basil, will ordain David Lewis to the Diaconate — and next week to the Priesthood — to serve the Western Rite community of St Peter, Forth Worth. Prayers coveted. Now for the kooky … Remember John Tavener? I’ve always found his music to be bizarre. Once, after someone loaned me a CD,... Read more

Recently, at dinner with a group of Orthodox Christians – both Cradles and Converts — the topic of Evangelism came up. We’d all just finished worshipping together, the same God, same Creed, same Communion, same Church … when a man who’d spent his whole life within the bosom of the Orthodox Church said: “You do know that we Orthodox don’t evangelize … don’t you?” He was dead serious. I was speechless … I ended up practicing one of my religious... Read more

My beloved sons and flowers of my heart, Hafeeth, Lamy and Jabour, I pray that your days may be long on this earth … For the love of our Lord, Jesus Christ and my love for you, protect what I’m asking you to do. Protect your Orthodox religion until the end of your life. Walk in truth with everybody … Study the Holy Bible for the Bible will teach you everything. Keep your lent and prayers and everything concerning the... Read more

This story, sent to me by a parishioner, is everywhere. That’s a good thing. Enjoy! Wandering Around an Albuquerque Airport Terminalby Naomi Shihab Nye “After learning my flight was detained 4 hours, I heard the announcement: If anyone in the vicinity of gate 4-A understands any Arabic, please come to the gate immediately. Well — one pauses these days. Gate 4-A was my own gate. I went there. An older woman in full traditional Palestinian dress, just like my grandma... Read more

“In my opinion, being in Church for that first Amen is a sign, an indication of one’s humility. And where humility is, its opposite is sin. The sin is not disturbing other people. The other people in Church are not the object of our worship. It is rude, to disturb other people. But it is sinful to be so presumptuous and prideful that one can jump in and sing with thousands of Archangels and ten thousands of Angels at one’s... Read more

If you believe firmly that God cares for you, then you do not need to worry about the body, nor need you be concerned about discovering ways how to conduct your life. If, however, you doubt God’s care, and want to look after yourself without God, then you are the most miserable person imaginable. There are people who are continually making clever plans, but who never get down to beginning on them. Commence every good action wholeheartedly. Do not approach... Read more

for Mohammed told me so.” A little more than a year ago, the Rev. Dr. Ann Holmes Redding found herself at the doorway of a new world, Islam, and wasn’t quite sure how she got there. As she reflected on her journey, she realized Jesus was her guide. Now both a practicing Muslim and an Episcopal priest, Redding shares her thoughts on how the two faiths inform each other. “The way I understand Jesus is compatible with Islam,” Redding explains,... Read more