The phone rings late in the evening, an anguished orthodox rector is on the other end of the line. “David, my people won’t wait much longer. They want out. What do we do, where do we go? Will the Primates finally act in February? What can the Network do for us? Will there be a proto province? After February I believe all bets are off. I am going to lose 40 to 60 percent of my congregation. Do I go... Read more

Three New Diocesan Bishops Consecrated for the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America The hyperlink takes you — as of today, 12/10 — to the front page pic. Otherwise, scroll to the above titled story. Read more

Excellent words from a Catechumen on Mary, the Mother of God. While we’re talking about the Theotokos … The St Romanos Chorale, under the direction of Dr William Attra, choir master at St George Church in Houston, TX, has released a new audio CD entitled REJOICE, O QUEEN containing twenty-four hymns to the Most Holy Theotokos from throughout the Church Year. The CD is available for purchase at the price of $18.00 per copy (discounts available for parish bookstores) by... Read more

The Episcopal Church, with the help of St Gregory’s, San Francisco, now offers an online Liturgical Resource. Here’s a bit of commentary from Midwest Conservative Journal: So what sorts of resources can be found at The Worship Well? If you have to ask, you really should bail out now and go read something else. But if you have the stomach for it, here are two. The Rev. Bonnie Perry of All Saints Episcopal Church in Chicago delivered a sermon last... Read more

THE first book I read on my way to Orthodoxy was The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware. Mind you, I didn’t know I was on my way to Orthodoxy. In fact, I was on my way to Nashotah House [Episcopal] Seminary. Timothy Ware is now Bishop Kallistos. Also, his classic work is now online! Thanks to Jan Bear. Read more

A few reminiscences from the past week … Christmas favorites blaring from AOL Radio on the Computer in the living room … 10 year old singing, 2 year old hopping & dancing (in that hop-dance combination that only two year olds can) … 6 year old boy doing something akin to break dancing and convulsing while belly flopping on the recliner. Christmas. Asked a coworker at the recovery center to portray St Nicholas at our church on Sunday, the eve... Read more

A Newsweek poll of 1,009 adults found that 79 percent believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. The poll also found 67 percent affirm as historically accurate the entire Christmas story and 82 percent believe Jesus Christ is God and/or the Son of God. Along a different track of questions, 62 percent said they would prefer public schools teach creation science alongside evolutionary theory; 43 percent would approve the replacement of evolutionary theory with creation science. Stolen from World. Read more

This past weekend the Antiochian Archdiocese doubled her number of Bishops with consecrations taking place at the Patriarchate in Damascus. This is an amazing dynamic that will certainly reverberate throughout the Church in America. Please pray for the newly consecrated Bishops: Thomas, Rafeek, and Mark. (The latter is a Convert, ORU alum.) More news forthcoming … For those of a more Gnostic bent, you may find out all the latest news by way of these Saint Tarot cards from Amazon.... Read more

Amazing. There’s schools that are actually considering honouring the Muslim faith by allowing Friday prayers. Anything! (But Christmas carols.) Dawn Eden helps readers of the above linked site by posting a synopsis of Planned Parenthood’s, uh, services. In case you missed it, James offers some awesome pics of the recent transference of the relics of Ss John Chrysostom and Gregory Nazianzen. And one of our own, Adib Farha, writes a note about it for The Economist. The Tale of the... Read more

Do not receive an accusation against a priest except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 1 St. Timothy 5:19 A reflection by Fr Josiah Trenham: This morning in my devotional reading I read this verse. It is in St. Paul’s letter to Bishop St. Timothy. It is episcopal advice. It strikes me, however, as relevant to the faithful laity also. To accuse a priest of anything is a very, very serious matter. A priest is not accountable to... Read more