Tomorrow, Saturday SEPTEMBER 11th, is the third anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country which took the lives of nearly 3,000 people. At divine services tomorrow, please remember in your prayers those who were killed and those who were injured, their families and friends, our nation, her president, elected officials, civil authorities and “first responders,” and the men and women of our armed forces. YOUR PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES Let us... Read more

The Antiochian Archdiocesan website has a Glossary of Orthodox Terminology. The AA site is also offering daily meditations. Scroll down, left center column. Those interested in parenting issues — especially the campaign of Planned Parenthood to sexualize our children — should check out the Dawn Patrol. Looking for Orthodox prayers? Go here. New Blog: Church Planting Through the Eyes of a Matushka. Read more

Those who would like to make a donation for the assistance of the victims of the terrorist attack at the school in Beslan should send their contributions to: St. John Russian Orthodox Church 4001 17th St. NW Washington, DC 20011 (In the memo section of the check, please note, “Beslan.”) Read more

September 4, 2004 — THE mass murder of children revolts the human psyche. Herod sending his henchmen to massacre the infants of Bethlehem haunts the Gospels. Nothing in our time was crueler than what the Germans did to children during the Holocaust. Slaughtering the innocents violates a universal human taboo. Or a nearly universal one. Those Muslims who preach Jihad against the West decided years ago that killing Jewish or Christian children is not only acceptable, but pleasing to their... Read more

Do you, dear reader, know of anyone working through Julia Cameron’s stuff – The Artist’s Way or Vein of Gold? I would like to meet some Orthodox folks who are doing it or have done it. Reply to my email: orthodixie at aol dot com Read more

During my summer vacation, I reread, for the first time since college (25 years ago), Marcus Aurelius’s MEDITATIONS. Marcus was emperor of Rome from 161 – 180 A.D. He was not a Christian, but he was wise. Here’s just a sampling … When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can’t tell good from evil. But I have... Read more

Fr John McCuen presents the dilemma de jure. Worth a read and/or comment. Read more

The vale of humility is indeed dark and gloomy in appearance. But no sooner do you step into that holy vale than you are met by the guards of the heavenly watchtower. They come running to your aid to wash the wounds that have torn your soul or body when you ventured suddenly from the false mountains of this world down the dreadful scarp of humility. They take you to have a little rest, after which they invite you to... Read more

Huw’s got a nice intro to Church New Year. The Antiochian Archdiocesan website has a new feature: a Daily Devotional. These are written by priests of the Archdiocese and are intended to be “Orthodox Lite” and non-Orthodox friendly. The site gets many hits each day. No doubt, some of these are from seekers. These daily meditations are intended to be familiar and welcoming. Should the seeker wish to go deeper, of course, there are other resources available. And, let’s face... Read more

Below you will find two lists from a book I’m reading by Matthew the Poor. I’m a “lists person.” When I was doing my clinical work my fellow chaplains said that when I died I could check that off my list: LIFE, that is. Anyway, unlike certain Bibles where the words of Jesus are in red, you’ll find the words that spoke to Joseph in red below (i.e., emphasis mine). Read more