Today marks the half way point on our journey from Pascha to Pentecost. In the middle of the feast, O Saviour, fill my thirsting soul with the waters of godliness, as Thou didst cry unto all: If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! O Christ God, Fountain of life, glory to Thee! (Troparion) Christ God, the Creator and Master of all, cried to all in the midst of the feast of the law: Come and drink... Read more

I get emails, regularly these days, asking me: What’s going on in Antioch? I kinda sorta responded to that here. Then there was Metropolitan JONAH exciting the masses (then apologizing). And, of course, there’s that whole Holy Cross message … Now this. I shall refrain from comment because, frankly, I’m speechless. Yet, this priest, refraining from going postal, is going editorial. UPDATE: I have deleted a half dozen comments which, though not so bad in themselves, may have served to... Read more

The craziest story you will read today. (Seriously!) Read more

Piggy-backing on Erin’s recent post — I just took the florist up to the Bridal Room to deliver some flowers and a pretty little 4-year old girl, with total innocence, said: “Hi God — you like my hair?” [I was in my riassa (long black robe) — and her hair was spectacular.] I said, “Why, I’m honoured but I’m not …” “And over there’s my dress,” she interrupted, pointing. Another equally pretty young lady, this one 6, said: “My Dad’s... Read more

Last month I posted some pics of the family in a sea of bluebonnets (a Texas tradition). My oldest, at least when I reviewed the pics from the file, did not appear to have posed in the flowers. I was wrong. TEEN: Dad! When you posted the pics of our family and the bluebonnets, why didn’t you put my picture up? DAD: Because you didn’t get down on the ground in the bluebonnets. TEEN: Yes I did! (Teen then finds... Read more

Years ago, the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the South held their diocesan convention in Columbia, South Carolina. I, a newly ordained Orthodox priest, drove down to attend. Columbia, South Carolina, is one of the hottest places on the planet (at least I thought so before moving to Houston), and I did not pack any shoes. (I think I was a wingtip man at that time.) Instead, it was just me, my cassock, and some Nike sandals … black... Read more

Along the way, as we grow up, we learn some sayings that just seem to stick with us. I remember one saying from a venerable teacher in my seminary days: “My age is the right age, and it increases annually.” My age is the right age, and it increases annually. One of our Parish Ministry Teams at St George, Houston, consists of a group of ladies (occasionally a gentleman) who, along with a priest, go together to call on the... Read more

It’s that time of year again … Time to vote for your e-faves. Last year, though I protested otherwise, this blog received the “Funniest Blog Award”. I said it wasn’t … here here here and here. So, this year … take my word for it: Orthodixie‘s not the funniest blog! (There is, however, a new category: Best Podcast. Not it! But this one still makes me smile.) Christ is Risen! Vote here. Read more

I hope the editors at TOUCHSTONE will forgive my lifting some lines from their latest issue … “The US Supreme Court has turned down an appeal from a high-school football coach who was banned from bowing his head during student-led team prayers. Without comment, the nation’s highest court ended Coach Marcus Borden’s efforts to overturn a township decision that, as a public employee, Borden cannot mix religion with his work as a coach. The High Court’s decision leaves intact a... Read more

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