That evil adversary Judas, was moved by a silver loving mind. He planned by conspiracy, the Betrayal of the Master, and fell from the light, accepting darkness. And having bargained for the sale, he sold the Priceless One. Wherefore, that wretched man found hanging and horrible death a reward for his deed. Save us, therefore, O Christ, from his company, and grant forgiveness of sins to those who eagerly celebrate Thy Pure Passion. — Taken from Holy Tuesday Bridegroom Matins. Read more

Disseive, ME — One of the first things you notice upon entering the Church of St Judas the Wonderwinker is how similar it looks to most other Orthodox Churches. That is, until closer inspection … The icon of the Mystical Supper above the holy doors looks just like others you may have seen. However, where Judas is usually portrayed reaching across the table to dip some food, here we see Jesus reaching out and shaking Judas’s hand. If you look... Read more

In the April issue of TOUCHSTONE, Franklin Freeman writes about this wonderful book. As I agree with him — and, myself, mentioned the book here last year — I’m again recommending it. Perfect for beach, bedtime, or campfire reading. Franklin writes: “Anyone who likes the writings of the Inklings will love this book.” Here’s a reposting from 2005 … Anyone who has ever borrowed one of my books knows that they are usually heavily marked. Pencil scribblings in side margins... Read more

U2 Eucharist? Episcopal Churches Turn to U2 to Pack Pews Sorry all y’all U2 fans. I’ve just never been. But … PROVIDENCE, R.I. – As the electric guitar in the U2 anthem “Pride (In the Name of Love)” faded from four speakers, the Rev. Robert Brooks welcomed worshippers to Grace Episcopal Church with an unusual suggestion: He warned them to protect their hearing. “If the sound’s an issue, we do have earplugs available,” he said. Ushers handed out earplugs and... Read more

Those of you participating in Good Friday [today] should skip this post. It’ll still be here next week. That said, I guess all you Orthodox, Heathen, and Lapsed are welcomed to read on. With internet services such as Haloscan, AOL, and MSN, one can’t help but notice the continual barrage of unwanted images disguised as advertising. Recently I’ve even witnessed some dancing bikini clad gal supposedly pushing mortgages. Haloscan and other services will often advertise diets and dating services using... Read more

For her part, Ms. Tchacos Nussberger rejected any suggestion that she was trying to profit from the Gospel of Judas. She described her run-in with Italian officials as inconsequential. “I went through hell and back, and I saved something for humanity,” Ms. Tchacos Nussberger said in a telephone interview. “I would have given it for nothing to someone who would have saved it.” “I think I was chosen by Judas to rehabilitate him,” Ms. Tchacos Nussberger, 65, is quoted as... Read more

As with the other Alaskan pics (Parts: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven), click on image for larger version. The approach by plane to Alaska: I’d been dozing when the Captain announced we were beginning our descent. This was the sight that greeted me as I awoke to look out the window. On enlargement, you can see the frozen ice floe. Here I am all bundled up like a Nordic version of the Infant of Prague — on the... Read more

FrontPageMagazine.com April 6, 2006One of the Catholic Church’s most controversial figures inflamed public debate in Italy with a typically off-handed comment — and inadvertently exposed the Vatican’s problems in crafting a coherent, comprehensive response to Islamic imperialism. Cardinal Renato Martino — the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the Vatican’s former ambassador to the United Nations — said that the Italian government should allow the Koran to be taught during the hour mandated for Catholic religious... Read more

New Gospel Discovered!! Newark, Apr. 8 (CWNews.com) – Archeological researchers in Ridgewood, New Jersey, have discovered an ancient Christian document that offers a radically new account of the founding of the Catholic Church. The newly discovered document, which scholars have named “The Gospel of Skip and Muffy,” was found in an abandoned row house in New Brunswick, New Jersey, which had formerly housed a Rutgers sorority. B.F.D. Zeitgeist, a Professor of Serious Christianity at Dupont University, said that the Gospel... Read more

Having promised blog regular, Keith, that I would offer no more postings on Britney Spears, I hereby fail. Forgive me. As mentioned earlier, during a Q & A with the 7th and 8th grade Sunday School class, I was asked: “So, Father … what do you think of the Gospel of Judas?” Shooting from the hip, hoping for context, I stated: “Well, as it was written 2-300 years after the fact, it would be like someone 300 years from now... Read more