O Most Holy Mother of God, we turn to you in prayer, because you know a mother’s pain for her Son who suffered and was crucified. Comfort the anguished mothers and fathers suffering for their children who are experiencing attacks, violence, persecution, and sudden death. Preserve us from the hands of evil-doers and save us and them from every evil and sin. [Edited] Prayer Source Image Source. Read more

Hundreds of Orthodox Christians are expected to gather late this spring in Topeka, Kansas. That’s right, Topeka! Hundreds!“Why?” you may ask. First of all, it has nothing to do with, so I’m told, the zip code. Here at blog central, we know that the real reason folks want to visit Topeka is for the food. Here, I kid you not, is a man taking a picture of a hamburger near Topeka. See! THIS is so not true. It’s more like... Read more

This blog is a recipient of the Thinking Blog Award.My e-pal Dixie is the culprit just too kind. Here are the instructions:1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote. All right … even though I promised... Read more

My son decided, without any knowledge (to my knowledge) of recent events, to create a new character last night. He loves to pretend to be a pirate — Yet last night he played one who’d lost his right hand and had it replaced by a plastic hoe. I dubbed him, innocently enough, “Cap’n Hoe!” “Ho, ho! Cap’n Hoe!” My soon-to-be-teen came in from homework saying, “Dad! Stop saying that!” I said, “What?” She said, “Cap’n Hoe!” “I was thinking of... Read more

The following note is from a mom regarding a picture caption within this post … So, I go into my favorite youngest daughter’s room to find her changing the sheets on her bed. It’s Tuesday, no one asked (or told) her to change her sheets, no plans for house guests, and I am curious, but I don’t say anything. I asked her if she listens to The All- American Rejects and she scoots past me saying “move along.” I stepped... Read more

At risk of becoming a photo-blog, here’s some pictures from yesterday’s Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Monastery & Bluebonnet Tour. Hover your cursor over the pics for captions; click to enlarge. Enjoy! Read more

Here’s some pics, parish & personal, from Pascha 2007. Click to enlarge.Fr John Salem leads the procession with the GospelBook. Thanks to the cold, rainy weather —sleet in Houston! — we did not process outside. Fr Joseph Shahda … “Christ is Risen!” Blogger: “Christ is Risen!” His face says it: “Christ is Risen!” Amou Sami & the Arabic choir … ألمسيح قام English choir … Vivian said: “Si Cristo ay nabuhay! Siya nga ay nabuhay!” The Paschal Blessing … “Trampling... Read more

The following notes [an annual “tradition”] come courtesy of Fr Mark Mancuso of St Elizabeth the New-Martyr, Columbia, SC … Christ is Risen! A few notes for Bright Week and the Paschal season. • We greet one another during the entire Paschal season (which lasts 40 days) with the words: “Christ is risen!” and the response to the greeting is: “Indeed, He is risen!” • During Bright Week, the Holy Doors and the Deacons’ doors of the iconostasis remain open... Read more

Christ is Risen!Χριστὸς ἀνέστη!ألمسيح قام Хрңстос Воскресе!Hristos a înviat! Read more

by Subdeacon Anthony Camille Baba — posted by permission. The title should read …”A Pilgrimage thus far,” and that it’s been! We got here safely on Tuesday evening about 4ish but didn’t leave the airport until an hour or so after that. My parents got their passports stamped but I on the other hand had to wait. I fit the description: young, Arab, young, and Arab. They didn’t give me a hard time really, they asked me a couple questions... Read more