Pope Shenouda III, the top Coptic cleric, has withdrawn to a desert monastery to draw attention to grievances among Egyptian Christians. I’ve heard of antagonists in the church, but this one takes the cake. An overdue welcome to the Blogosphere to a fellow worker in the Southern vineyard. Our parish’s catechumen has also launched. Ah … Planned Parenthood. God help us. Here’s their “Christmas Card.” Did you know that St Athanasius’s classic, On the Incarnation, with preface by CSL, is... Read more

It was around 200 A.D., according to St. Clement of Alexandria, that theologians in Egypt settled on May 20 as the birthday of Jesus, while others argued for dates in April and March. This wasn’t a major issue, since early Christians emphasized the Epiphany on Jan. 6, marking Christ’s baptism. Then sometime before 354, Rome began … Read the full story H E R E ! Read more

The ubiquitous hoopla over Christmas creches, sayings, and celebrations seems to concern the secular powers that be. After all, Christian churches are all still on board with the program. Right? Given the assumption that the struggle involves Culture more so than Church, revisiting H. Richard Niebuhr’s classic paradigms of Christ and Culture might prove beneficial. In quoting Niebuhr’s material, I shall be substituting Christmas for Christ and taking other necessary liberties with his foundational work. 1) Christmas Against Culture Whatever... Read more

“Christians have been told their faith is represented in the season by Christmas trees and snowflake displays. If frozen water pellets represent my faith, should I genuflect before the icemaker in my refrigerator?” Read the entire article HERE. Read more

Christmas is a time for clothes. It is one of the few times that I notice clothes. Even before wearing a jibbee – a clerical robe – I’d never been much of a clotheshorse or trendsetter. Thanks to Christmas, I’ve never bought much clothing for myself. Ever. This time of year finds even the houses, trees, and pets clothed in festive array. During the season, you will see some of the oddest outfits that you will ever see, and many... Read more

I realize it’s cold outside. Snow’s coming, Christmas is not far behind. But it’s August in Antioch. This as a state of mind rather than simple chronology. August in Antioch may outlive 31 days, this year, or several years. There’s a new day coming, “A new era,” said His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP at the summer convention. At the time it was like summer. Well, it was summer. The new era was just around the corner, but not yet. Now, it’s... Read more

I’m heading to warmer climes tonight … Kansas. Believe it or not, many schools were canceled here in Western North Carolina today due to snow and ice. God willing, I’ll be present tomorrow — December 15th — for Saidna BASIL’s enthronement as Bishop of Wichita and Mid-America. May God grant him many years! A full report, or shall I say a report, ahem — in toto — forthcoming. Prayers coveted. Read more

I sent my old football coach my reminiscences — CULLYROCK — and here follows his response, which was handwritten. Dear Huneycutt, What a blast! Having a great weekend at North Stanly was great and receiving your epistle was icing on the cake. I have always wondered what went on in the heads of the players I coached. Now I know why they always referred to me as that “sweet old boy” and only used the initials. All this time I... Read more

As a connoisseur of pop culture and a student of the art of comedy, the following parody [HERE] of last year’s #1 hit, “Hey Ya,” is, to me, a work of art. In other words, it’s funny. (While they were singing the refrain, “Hanukkah,” my two year old said they were singing “Huneycutt!” That’s probably the closest an outcast ever got to the chosen 🙂 Thanks to Dawn Eden for the link. Read more

Khouriya Gigi Baba Shadid of St George Cathedral in Wichita, KS, has produced a CD of her own compositions of educational and fun songs created specifically to help Orthodox children “grow in their faith in Christ and their love for His holy Church.” Designed for use in the home, Church Schools, Vacation Bible Schools, Family Nights, Summer Camps, etc., Gigi has also produced an accompanying Teacher’s Resource Manual and a Song Book to help in using the CD as a... Read more