“My church life got so much better the minute I stopped trying to look for someone to date at Mass,” [Dawn Eden] … said. “I mean, it isn’t a good thing if people learn to look each other over at church the same way they look each other over in a bar.” Here’s tmatt’s whole story. Read more

As we prepare to enter “Cheese Week” progressing toward the Great Fast of the Church, here follows a repost from years past to aid in the struggle. Here’s some items that can help stock a Lenten Pantry … + dried fruits (raisins, currants, apples, cranberries, apricots, prunes, coconut flakes)+ fresh fruits and vegetables+ candied peels, mixed+ dried beans (black beans, soy beans, navy beans, red kidney beans, great northern beans, mung beans, etc)+ dried legumes (red lentils, green lentils, brown... Read more

Due to our annual diocesan pre-lenten Clergy Retreat with His Grace, Bishop BASIL in Wichita, I shall be away from the computer until Friday evening, February 9th; no blog updates or comment approval until that time. This year’s retreat, “The Hidden Man of the Heart,” is being led by Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou of the Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist in Tolleshunt Knights-by-Maldon, Essex, England. (Click on the above diocesan link and scroll down for the schedule.)I covet your... Read more

Joseph the Visionary was born into a Zoroastrian family some time around 710. As a child of seven he was taken captive during a raid, to be sold first to an Arab, and then to a Christian in the region of mount Qardu (north Iraq). Impressed by the example of some local monks, he sought baptism, and when his owner subsequently liberated him, Joseph became a monk himself. For two separate periods in his monastic life he lived as a... Read more

It was high noon when Doreta Peppa, a woman with long, dark locks and owlish eyes, entered the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. At first, tourists visiting the Athenian temple thought they had stumbled on to a film set. It wasn’t just that Peppa cut a dramatic figure with her flowing robes and garlanded hair. Or that she seemed to be in a state of near euphoria. Or even that the group of men and women accompanying her – dressed as... Read more

Last night, the Adult Fellowship of St John the Divine hosted their annual Country Western Dance and BBQ at St George, Houston. Here’s some pics — AND, down at the bottom of this post, you’ll also find a music video (apologies to Buck Owens and the whole Hee Haw Gang). Believe it or not, this man’s a cradle Orthodox (Texan). These guys (Bob Macey, Fr John Salem, and yours truly) are not real performers (though they play the role on... Read more

MOSCOW, January 29 (RIA Novosti) – Imposing on schoolchildren the theory that humans descended from apes is unacceptable, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said Monday. “Teaching the biblical theory of the world’s creation will not harm students. If people choose to believe that they descended from apes, let them, but without imposing their opinions on others,” Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia told an educational conference in the Kremlin … Read it all … H E... Read more

Here’s some good advice for anyone considering faking their death: Nope. The answer is:Skip the memorial service. Actually … find another church! One more caring, less kooky. Perhaps, this one. Read on … Alison Matera of New Port Richey, Fla., should have done just that last Friday, but instead her ruse was exposed when she sat among mourners, listening to friends and family celebrate her life. Celebrate? You’re kidding. They never visited her or, seemingly, carried on a serious conversation... Read more

In addition to being a Great Feast, today, being the Friday of the Publican & Pharisee, is … fast-free! It’s a Fast Free Friday Feastday! And, for your files, here’s the Lenten fasting tradition of the Church:During the week following the Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican there is katalysis [relaxing of rule; allowance] for all things, meaning that there is no fasting on any day of the week. During the week following the Sunday of the Prodigal Son we... Read more

There is a section in One Flew Over the Onion Dome entitled “Orthodox Evangelism.” It reflects much of what has been shared by others HERE. Thanks to all who are participating! However, I can’t help but return to the question: “Are we doing all we ought?” I remember approaching my Church History Prof in Seminary for approval on a project. I asked if I could do my paper on Mysticism. He said, “Sure.” I replied, “Well, it’s not exactly Church... Read more