Here’s a personal favorite from the Orthodixie AFR-chives.Enjoy! Did you read about that Baby Jesus that was recently stolen from someone’s yard? Well, I decided to do something about it. I became an Investigator. The other day I went door-to-door in my neighborhood in search of … Baby Jesus. My first stop was the home of Minerva Simmons, aged 73, on Tomball Drive. She’s the owner of the giant Crèche scene … You know with the big plastic light-up Mary... Read more

Some have informed me that they followed my plug for AMAZON’s deal on One Flew Over the Onion Dome only to find that it is currently out of stock. No problem! Send me an email [orthodixie at aol dot com] — including your U.S. snail addy — and I’ll get One Flew Over the Onion Dome out to you (same super-saver-price) ASAP! Read more

This life is neither a joke nor a plaything, although men may turn it into either. They fritter away the time given to us to prepare for eternity, disporting themselves with empty words. They go about visiting, sitting and gossipping, playing this or that game. They get together in the theatres and amuse themselves there. Life is, for them, amusement. But woe to those who do nothing but amuse themselves. — St John of Kronstadt Taken from Fr Josiah’s blog. Read more

In Bishop HILARION’s e-publication Europaica the following new statistics of the Russian Orthodox Church are reported: “The number of churches and chapels acting in Moscow has increased from 851 to 872 since December 2007, Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutistsy and Kolomna told a meeting of the capital’s clergy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. He also cited the data saying that about 1,838 clergymen are working in the capital today (last year their number equaled to 1,770). The Russian Orthodox... Read more

Though more than a year old, this story is timeless. Thanks to Margo Elgohary for the FWD. PITTSBURGH – Strong safety Troy Polamalu has become known around the Pittsburgh Steelers as the last guy out of the locker room on Sundays after home games. All of his teammates are long gone and even most of the equipment guys have cleared out by the time he emerges. Polamalu goes through a detailed process, including a dip in a cold tub and... Read more

In last week’s episode of the Orthodixie Podcast I was unwittingly put to sleep by one of the worst Christmas songs of all time … Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmas Time. In my slumber I was visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past. (Then, strangely, there was Bob Marley’s Ghost.) Naturally, believing I was experiencing my own twisted version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, I expected the second of three spirits to soon follow … The Ghost of Christmas Present.... Read more

Those, dear friends, are snowflakes … click pic to enlarge in Houston, Texas. When I was a kid, I always called my Grandma to tell her it was snowing. She loved the snow. You know what? She still does. I called her on my way home from church this afternoon. (Her great-grands are pictured at left.) 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 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. (Pic, above left, is of the altar at the Anglo-Catholic Parish of St Mary, Grove Park, Asheville, North Carolina.) Yesterday [10/2006],... Read more

Folks. Believe me, as we progress within this Nativity Fast, unless you’re allergic to shellfish, or good food, this one’s a keeper. Really. From my wife’s recipes. Trust me. It’ll make you slap your Grandma.* Sea Bean Chowder3 c. dry beans or 3 cans2 c. chopped onion6 cloves minced garlic1 32 oz container of Clamato Juice1 c. white wine or sherry1 bay leaf1/2 tsp thyme2 Tbsp chopped parsley (or 2 tsp dried)1/4 c. fresh fennel, chopped (1/2 tsp crushed fennel... Read more

Thanksgiving break provided for some family camping at Garner State Park near Utopia, Texas, with a side trip to Lost Maples State Natural Area. Though not quite Appalachia, it’s a far cry from Houston — Boy likes to lead … Cameraman lags behind … You want colors? Get a load of them shirts! Not bad … not bad a’tall. Baby Girl follows the leader … We were about a week or so beyond peak color … “I remember that old... Read more