You know how, every year, there’s always that certain someone on your gift-giving list – someone that either has everything (and why should you have to buy them something) – or they’re just so difficult to buy for (I mean, not like you’re a hater or anything) – or, well, let’s face it: Christmas is just a snowball’s throw away and you just thought SHA-ZAM! I FORGOT ALL ABOUT WHO-ZEE-WAT! Now what am I gonna do?! Well, have no fear.... Read more

Thanks to the good folks at Conciliar Press, I have some more free downloads of the audio book, We Came, We Saw, We Converted – The Lighter Side of Orthodoxy in America to give away. Send me, via email, your funniest Christmas Story! All stories chosen will be included in a special episode of the Orthodixie Podcast to be aired on Ancient Faith Radio beginning Christmas Eve! The audio version of the book, WC, WS, WC will make the perfect... Read more

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America (formerly known as the Episcopal Assembly of North and Central America) is one of twelve bishops’ assemblies which have been established in different geographical regions throughout the world. It is made up of all the active, canonical Orthodox bishops of North and Central America, of every jurisdiction. Check out the new site.Updates and additions will continue to be made to the several web pages which comprise the site, so... Read more

I’ve been holding on to this one for a while; thanks to tmatt for the notice. In the words of Sarah: My dress was a wonderful, and sanity preserving, find at a local thrift store. My first (any only!) time in a bridal salon I was wearing an old sweater and pants covered in paint (I was on my way back from work when I spotted the place and thought I could just sneak in and look around. But I’m... Read more

Former Evangelicals who convert to Orthodoxy are often painted with such a broad brush — seen as such peculiar fruit — that even the likes of a St Herman of Alaska (Happy Feast) might not understand. For those painted with such baggage (even a small “checked” bag), Community of Grace – An Orthodox Christian Year in Alaska serves to vividly remind of the how & why many Americans found and, through it all, stay in the Church. Having been a... Read more

Houston has a goodly share of beggars and bridges. Most of the beggars – forgive me this – look the part, at home, if you will, under a bridge. [The family pictured here was only camping, not homeless.] Some, however, do raise an eyebrow and serve to tempt: “Why, he looks perfectly able and healthy – why can’t he get a job?!” That one looked like Santa Claus. Wha-? I said, “That one looked like Santa Claus!” Did you see... Read more

I totally stole this from that wonderfully funny Steve, the author of 2010’s Funniest Blog Award. Congrats! (No, really.) Thanks to FWD from Erin.Other hat tips available at that other blog. Read more

Today being the Orthodox Feast of the Conception of the Theotokos (and yesterday, having been the Roman Catholic Feast of the Immaculate Conception) — here’s a re-post from a couple years back: We love Mary so much we made her blond! Don’t gasp, there is a tradition within the West of the Virgin Mary being honored with blond hair. (Image: the altar St Mary, Grove Park, Asheville, North Carolina.) Yesterday [10/2006], a blog commenter first posted a quote of mine,... Read more

A catholic priest, rabbi and Buddhist monk walked into a new burger joint in Chelsea today to bless the place. Read more. Hundreds of criminals are to be given four days a year off prison work – to celebrate pagan festivals. Prison governors have been issued with a list of eight annual pagan holidays and told pagan inmates can choose four to celebrate. The festivals include Imbolc – The Festival of the Lactating Sheep – which falls on February 1... Read more

By Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos of Nafpaktos I suspect that the custom of decorating a tree at Christmas time is not simply a custom which came to us from the West and which we should replace with other more Orthodox customs. To be sure, I have not gone into the history of the Christmas tree and where it originated, but I think that it is connected with the Christmas feast and its true meaning.

 First, it is not unrelated to the... Read more