In my opinion, this video should be required viewing for Orthodox Christians in America. Read more

In cleaning out last year’s “draft blog files” I came upon the following letter by the late Patriarch of Russia, published in the spring of 2008. (A very worthy read.) Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia:Response to the open letter of 138 Muslim theologians I would like to thank all the Muslim religious leaders and scholars who sent an open letter to representatives of Christian Churches and organizations including the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Christians and... Read more

Below are the hyper-linked blog titles, AFR blurbs, and links (pop-up & direct) to the 2008 Orthodixie Podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio. It’s been a fun year; I appreciate your support, emails, and comments. Thanks for listening! January 5 – House Blessing at Mr. Potato Head’s Theophany and House Blessings. What happens in the service, in our homes, and in our lives. [Click here to listen in pop-up; or here to listen via direct link.] January 11 – My Cup... Read more

To the tune of O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) —Meletios Metaxakis,Makes a Maalox MomentOur calendar was growing slowBrought forth through Ceasar long ago … Meletios Metaxakis,Makes a Maalox MomentHow often these days do we fightO’er calendars, who’s wrong – who’s right? Meletios MetaxakisMakes a Maalox MomentOur hope and dream will ever beThat calends soon shall all agree.Meletios Metaxikis … ahem! Okay, a bit of back story … The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. (Or, just listen right here.) Image... Read more

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s high time that a very sensitive topic was dealt with openly and honestly … I’m speaking, of course, about REGIFTING. Oh, come on — some of you are guilty. You didn’t want that sweatshirt, that cookie jar, that Chia Pet … So, you did what anyone who doesn’t regularly host yard sales would do. Out of, ahem, love, you turned around and gave that bulky shirt or colored piece of plastic to someone else. What’s that... Read more

Honestly, if I fell, backwards, into a black worm hole in outer space, where the celebration of Christmas is not dictated by the rotations of the earth, but by the beta carotene on the skin of one’s teeth, I could not possibly begin to answer your query (given the manner in which it is fashioned) … All of us are born in the presence of our mother. Yet, for Christians, the Church is our Mother; we are (re)born through Her... Read more

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The reason for the Nativity Fast and the festive season of Christmas is: God became flesh. God spoke, and this Word put on humanity that we might put on divinity. Or, as St Athanasius writes, “God became man, that man might become God.” Within the Virgin Mary the Word was clothed with human flesh and Christ was born: God dressed in human flesh. The first Eve, by her disobedience, bore the fruit of death to Adam, all Mankind. The new... Read more

Still haven’t sent those Nativity greeting cards? Just in time; you are safe! — Thanks to the Holy Dormition of the Theotokos Monastery, Hamatoura, Lebanon. Check it out H E R E. Thanks to FWD from Aaron Friar. Image Source Read more

Just catching up on some stuff, having returned from a weekend at Holy Archangels Monastery, a few things caught my eye: General Motors, like the other two geezers of the Old Three, is a vast retirement home with a small money-losing auto subsidiary. The UAW is AARP in an Edsel: It has three times as many retirees and widows as “workers” (I use the term loosely). GM has 96,000 employees but provides health benefits to a million people. The whole... Read more