Here’s some pics I’ve had laying around — most are from Sunday of Orthodoxy in Houston, courtesy of parishioner Gregory Quartaro. (Click to enlarge.)Clergy process with icons at Vespers, St Joseph Antiochian Orthodox Church. (Right to left: me, Archpriest Matthew MacKay, Archpriest David Eckley, Archpriest Joseph Shahda in the shadows.) This year’s host pastor, Archpriest Matthew MacKay, during the procession. Fathers Richard Petranek, Michael Lambakis, Basil Biberdorf, and Iulian Anitei. From the far left: Archpriest Paul Tarazi (guest preacher), Archimandrite... Read more

Wow. Just read ALL the comments to your post about evangelism. No easy topic. I fall into the “unchurched” category and I hadn’t ever thought about anyone being worried about me like that. I’ve never been able to shake my selfishness, but you all really highlight it. Thoughts I can’t organize well, and are only one “unchurched” person’s opinion: I don’t go to a Divine Liturgy because I’m terrified. I’ve listened to them on AFR and we’ve got a Greek... Read more

A counselor at a rescue mission once told me of their intake interview wherein they asked each man about his history. The stories, with little variation, involved mostly drinking and drugging, coupled with promiscuity. Later, when asked, “How’s your relationship with God?” almost 100% of the interviewees answered along the lines of, “Oh! Me and God are tight! Yep. God and I are close.” It happens to all of us: our “old man” (Ephesians 4:22) plays tricks on us, leading... Read more

In a sermon on the First Sunday of Lent, I asked a rhetorical question: “So, one week into it, how’d y’all do?” Now, St George is a far cry from a “shouting church” but, several people yelled out: Good! or Not bad!I didn’t feel the need to ask the same question on the Fourth Sunday. I knew You know the answer. So, it seems, does the Church. Our Boy Scout Troop used to play “Kick the Can” — a suped... Read more

For those of you who are penny-pinchers (not that you’re any less important that those wonderful wonderful people who paid the full full price) … One Flew Over the Onion Dome is now available on Amazon.com Whoever you are. THANKS. Read more

Having been granted to stand in Thy holy place, O Lord our God, we Thine unworthy servants, having no good works to bring before Thee, offer up to Thee a contrite heart and an humble spirit, to Thee Who hast no need of our goods; and we ask from Thy bounty, the pardon of our sins. Hearken unto our meager supplications, O Thou Who didst not despise the Publican when he humbled himself before Thee, but didst shew him more... Read more

By MICHAEL COREN Thank God for liberal clergyman. Because if they didn’t exist we would have to make them up. The stuff of humour for generations, one of the most amusing of the gang is Michael Ingham, Anglican bishop of New Westminster in Greater Vancouver. As his church dissolves into a fringe group on the margins of North American society, the bishop has issued a statement calling for, “a more positive approach to sexuality.” Of course, when he speaks of... Read more

It has been said that fasting without prayer is only dieting and that prayer without fasting is only mumbling. SourceAngels talk all the way while they’re flying you up to heaven. The basic message is where you went wrong before you got dead.— Daniel, age 9From one of those emails my wife gets from friends gone by. (Some of you, no doubt, recognize the Toll Houses :)Gluttony makes a man gloomy and fearful, but fasting makes him joyful and courageous.... Read more

My interview with John Maddex of AFR is now available. Scroll to “Introducing the Orthodixie Podcast.” Read more

Click the link above. THE coolest thing I’ve seen in a long, long time. ABOUT. HT: Ancient Church (note the “new” addy) Read more