This is the fifth in a 15-part series of pics from Syria. First — Second — Third — Fourth — Fifth — Sixth — Seventh — Eighth — Ninth — Tenth — Eleventh — Twelfth — Thirteenth — Fourteenth — Fifteenth. The problem is: I’m lost! I remember when my wife and I sat with a young couple, years ago, who’d just returned from Alaska … They had about 400 pictures of beautiful black mountains jutting up out of the... Read more

This is the fourth in a 15-part series of pics from Syria. First — Second — Third — Fourth — Fifth — Sixth — Seventh — Eighth — Ninth — Tenth — Eleventh — Twelfth — Thirteenth — Fourteenth — Fifteenth. Welcome to Beit Ania — a working farm, place of rest and retreat, and … [Click this pic to enlarge] … God willing, the future Monastery of Saints Martha & Mary. Looking down the line of the fence, you... Read more

This is the third in a 15-part series of pics from Syria. First — Second — Third — Fourth — Fifth — Sixth — Seventh — Eighth — Ninth — Tenth — Eleventh — Twelfth — Thirteenth — Fourteenth — Fifteenth. In the previous post of pics I mentioned riding ’round Old Bosra by horse drawn carriage … Voila! Fr Timon gives instructions. See that guy with the white hat? This one, with the bag in his hand? This is... Read more

This is the second in a 15-part series of pics from Syria. First — Second — Third — Fourth — Fifth — Sixth — Seventh — Eighth — Ninth — Tenth — Eleventh — Twelfth — Thirteenth — Fourteenth — Fifteenth. In my last post of pics from Syria, we ended up heading out into the country … That, in the distance, is the famed citadel / amphitheater in Bosra. Following Fr Timon, let’s go in — shall we? Stopped... Read more

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This is the first in a 15-part series of pics from Syria. First — Second — Third — Fourth — Fifth — Sixth — Seventh — Eighth — Ninth — Tenth — Eleventh — Twelfth — Thirteenth — Fourteenth — Fifteenth. The first order of business in Damascus was to visit the home of Ananias — where St Paul went after being struck blind on his way there. (You can read about that here.) Pictured above is my helper, Fr... Read more

It was a 16 hour flight from Dubai to Houston, having left Damascus the previous day. The lines to get through Customs were long. When it finally came my turn, I approached the counter to see a sight not seen in my two week absence: a very white woman with red hair and freckles. “Where you coming from?” she asked. “Dubai,” I said, “I’ve been traveling in Syria.” “Syria! On business?” she asked. “No, I was visiting the holy sites,”... Read more

Dear Father Joseph: It is with great sadness that I report to you today, that St George has lost another life-long member of the parish. My one and only camera died Sunday as a result of a tragic accident in the St George Parish Hall. Cannon A530 was approximately 3 years old and a life long member of St George when he fell asleep in the Lord Sunday afternoon. He was happily capturing the joyous memories of the Slavic Luncheon... Read more

The folks at AFR note: “It’s been a little slower than usual in terms of donations this month so if you are able to help us meet our $11,000 April goal, we would appreciate it.” Currently, they are $2,595 shy of the mark. UPDATE: It’s now (9pm) down to $1,595 needed … UPDATE: $1,138 needed (9am, 4/30). UPDATE: Only $674 needed (5pm, 4/30). UPDATE, MAY 1: Thanks for your help! We came very close to meeting our April donation goal.... Read more

A note from Fr Mark Mancuso of Columbia, South Carolina: Dear Brethren, Christ is risen! I just wanted to pass along the news that Bishop Daniel of Erie, Vicar Bishop of the President of the Synod of Bishops for Old Believers, reposed in the Lord this morning. May his memory be eternal! More HERE. Still more … here. Read more