By God’s grace & your prayers, I returned last night from my trip to Syria; pics and stories soon to follow. In the meantime, my artsy e-pal Molly Sabourin (check out Close to Home) posted a review of We Came, We Saw, We Converted while I was away … HERE: When I first heard his Southern drawl…let’s see… back in 2007, I felt immediately like he’d fit right in with my family- my oftentimes goofy, always affectionate family who takes... Read more

That’s one of my favorite saints, Ephrem the Syrian. I beg his holy prayers and yours as I travel to Syria over the next two weeks. I am not taking my laptop and will, most likely, not be updating the blog until my return, April 24th. The Orthodixie Podcast will be updated with two episodes from the archives. Here’s one now. In the meantime … Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings, you have power over life and death. You know... Read more

My son, whose birthday always falls during the Great Fast (April 3rd), came as close to having a feasting birthday this year as he’ll come … with Pascha on April 4th. Tonight, he has 6 friends (12 year old boys) over for a sleepover. Being a Fast-Free-Friday, we’ve got hotdogs, chili, chips, cheesy stuff, ice cream, sodas … and cake. But the wife went the economical route on the cake; she picked up a generic one at the store …... Read more

Oops. That’s not the way … Uh-oh, the just-turned-12-the-day-before boy looks like he’s flashing a gang sign! There. That’s better. From us to y’all: Happy Pascha! Christ is Risen! Read more

The following notes [an annual “tradition”] come courtesy of Fr Mark Mancuso of St Elizabeth the New-Martyr, Columbia, South Carolina. Christ is Risen! A few notes for Bright Week and the Paschal season. • We greet one another during the entire Paschal season (which lasts 40 days) with the words: “Christ is risen!” and the response to the greeting is: “Indeed, He is risen!” • During Bright Week, the Holy Doors and the Deacons’ doors of the iconostasis remain open... Read more

Back in North Carolina, our Mission would process around the church three times singing “Thy Resurrection, O Christ our Saviour …” before entering the brightly lighted church. That is, of course, weather permitting. Well, one year the skies were threatening, it had rained earlier in the day, but it was our last year to serve Pascha in a former 3-car garage before moving into our soon-to-be-built building. What’s a few rain drops, right? First time around: no problem, just kinda... Read more

Pic from BlackBerry. Read more

A re-posting from 2007 … I was blessed to carry the cross for the Crucifixion re-enactment during last night’s Twelve Gospels service. (Pictured here, courtesy Greg Quartaro, heading through the narthex.) I hadn’t expected the honour, but was asked to carry it just before the procession left the altar. Having had no experience with that particular cross, I had no idea what I was getting into when I hoisted it over my shoulder and stooped to pass through the door... Read more

The late Archbishop JOB sings the 15th Antiphon from Matins of Great and Holy Friday. I totally stole this link from Molly at Close to Home. [The video was recorded by a Holy Trinity parishioner, who writes: “In fact, the video’s existence is a miracle in itself because Vladyka didn’t want to sing it that year, but he was encouraged to by the other clergy and servers. I had tried for a few years before to record this, but something... Read more

Just like on Great & Holy Friday when, during the Lamentations of the Theotokos, we sing the verse “Every generation …” — each year, during Matins on Great & Holy Monday evening, when we sing the hymn (below) I am reminded of God’s great and bounteous goodness … Come, ye believers, let us work diligently for the Master; for he distributes wealth unto his servants. Let each of us according to his ability, increase the gift of grace twofold. Let... Read more