Okay, so she’ll kill me for posting this pic. But this is my favorite oldest daughter, Mary Catherine. I told my wife, “Ya know, having posted pics of Basil and Helen recently, it’s only a matter of time before Mary Catherine says something.” She agreed. And boy did she ever say something … Last night, at a PTO meeting where I was not, the 5th Graders had to stand up to the mike and state what they were going to... Read more

That’s what I should have done for Bright Week on the May church calendar — substituted the words “peanut butter” for “fasting” as in “is forbidden”. Peanuts may be safe, but pigs don’t stand a chance in these parts during Pascha. Anyway, here’s the news … The Antiochian Archdiocesan Website has changed. Check it out. Terry Mattingly’s bang-up piece on the legacy of Archbishop Iakovos: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was furious, seeing this as an effort to weaken ecclesiastical and financial... Read more

I hope this finds you, yours, and all manner of things well. Christ is Risen! The local newspaper reporter did indeed visit this Blog and use quotes from last week’s “interview” for a local story on Orthodox Easter (Pascha). Fr John Whiteford offers a report on the miracle of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem (among other things). Huw Raphael comments on the same. Douglas I mean, the Newly Illumined Ian, at Xanthikos, is closing up shop. Many years to him... Read more

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life. (Thrice.) Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We worship Thy cross, O Christ, and Thy holy Resurrection we hymn and glorify; for Thou art our God, and we know none other beside... Read more

I realize that today through Sunday are slim to none on Orthodox blogging & surfing thanks to the holy services. [Today is “Good Friday” for Orthodox Christians.] But I have to explain the title of this one. This morning, arriving at church — knowing it was going to be a busy day and hoping not to miss anything — I left my cell phone on. Before service, I took it out of my pocket and laid it on a shelf... Read more

As I walked in to the elementary school, I noticed a man up ahead of me wearing a hat similar to one I own. He was tall, lanky, seemed to know the teachers. He was black. I figured him to be the janitor. I had to stop and ask directions to the library, where my son and others would be reading some of their award winning writings. I’d thought of asking the janitor, but he was too far ahead of... Read more

Due to my weird and hectic schedule, I’ve missed a couple phone calls from a local newspaper reporter doing a story about Orthodoxy for this Saturday’s paper. Rumour has it that he’s visited this Blog, so I’m going to use the medium to conduct an interview with myself in hopes that, when he next visits, he’ll lift any quotes and info necessary for his story. (God knows our little mission appreciates the publicity!) Q: First off, why are you celebrating... Read more

Ancient faith gains believers from decidedly more modern churches April 22, 2005 – ROBIN GALIANO RUSSELL / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning NewsThe Eastern Orthodox Church, as far removed from a nondenominational or evangelical congregation as you can get, is nevertheless attracting a growing number of converts who are drawn by the tug of an ancient faith. Converts are trading in their PowerPoint sermons and praise bands for the ancient rhythms of a liturgy that hasn’t changed in thousands... Read more

Not exactly a blizzard. But it is Palm Sunday — almost May, in the South.May God grant all a spiritually profitable Passion Week and a glorious & bright Paschal Feast.(Now, where did I put those snow boots?) Read more

Ex-Anglicans to be received into Orthodox Church this SaturdayBy Michael Spears, Staff Writer, Friday April 22, 2005 Fort Saskatchewan Record — For seven months several former members of the Anglican Church have been meeting in the Chapel of the Riverview Funeral home to lay the foundations of a new church in the Fort. The ‘new’ church will in fact be one of the oldest branches of Christianity, the Antiochian Orthodox Church. The church will be a part of the Archdiocese... Read more