As previously mentioned, awards notwithstanding, this is not the funniest blog. However, here’s some past posts which, at least to me, were fun well worth reading. Back in January of 2005, Of Course Sponge Bob is Gay sought to understand Dr James Dobson’s campaign against beloved cartoon characters. (None of the old links in that piece are essential — nor do they now work — except the final one, which is essential.) Forgive me, but before I moved to Houston... Read more

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) – A new interpretation of Mark’s Gospel, character slams on the late Jerry Falwell and rejection of Jewish evangelism were among the topics aired at workshops June 19-20 during the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly in Memphis, Tenn. A statement in the General Assembly Guide says, “The opinions and views presented in General Assembly ministry workshops are those of the workshop presenters and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of, or endorsement by, The Fellowship or its... Read more

Wild Fires threaten Saint Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina, California His Grace Bishop Maxim of the Western American Diocese urges all of our Orthodox faithful to offer prayers for the protection of the St. Herman of Alaska Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Platina, California. Wild fires are quickly approaching the Monastery grounds and the Monastery is in great danger of being burned down. The Monastic Community has been evacuated and are seeking refuge in the neighboring parish of Redding. UPDATE:... Read more

As my boss’s father-in-law likes to say: “I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you!” Take a peek at the updates on the OrthoRomance site. He’s newly wed and still fresh enough in the deal to mention the fish that got away, all the while being tickled pink with the catch God provided. Or, could be, his wife (the Game Warden) just hasn’t clobbered him yet. By the way, tonight being the night, Happy Honeymoon... Read more

In the past, some have asked for podcast scripts. Due to our Diocesan Parish Life Conference, this week’s podcast is an encore presentation from the archives; here it is, at least the majority of it, in written form. For the full audio version, click HERE.The question is often asked: “How do we bring Americans to Orthodoxy?” America is a big and complex country made up mostly of people who came from somewhere else. And this query is compounded if you... Read more

On Wednesday, June 11, 2008, His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP received the newly elected and enthroned Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence, HILARION. His Eminence was elected and enthroned in May as the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in New York City following the death of His Eminence, Metropolitan LAURUS of thrice-blessed memory. Accompanying His Eminence was Protopresbyter Alexander Lebedeff, the Secretary... Read more

By now, what with all the media coverage and all, y’all’ve no doubt heard that this site has been voted funniest in the 2008 Eastern Christian Blog Awards. Having been up against Grace (who now finds herself on the other side of glory), I can only attribute my receiving this award to pink cowboy hats Luck. I do struggle to be witty on the Orthodixie Podcast (here, here, here, and here) … and here … Here here and here But... Read more

Hooray! ROME – The Vatican has banned the makers of Angels & Demons, the latest Dan Brown thriller to be filmed, from shooting scenes not only in the Vatican but in any church in Rome on the ground that it is “an offense against God” and “wounds common religious feelings”. Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, head of the Vatican’s Prefecture for Economic Affairs, said that the author had “turned the Gospels upside down to poison the faith. It would be unacceptable... Read more

“Buzz never gives up hope. Even though he has limitations, he never lets that keep him from flying, from serving, from helping … I guess I’m a fan of Buzz Lightyear because of his honesty.” “Bingo,” he said. “Bingo?” I replied. “You mean like the dog? B-I-N-G-O …” “No,” he said, “I mean BINGO as in you’ve hit on the key to being an Ortho-Man.” I must have looked at him strangely, for he continued: “Describe your vision of Ortho-Man... Read more

New York, NY — On Monday June 9th, Archbishop Demetrios of America welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, the newly enthroned First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) at the Archdiocese Headquarters in New York City. This meeting between the two Primates follows on a new relationship between the Churches occasioned by the reunification of ROCOR with the Moscow Patriarchate in May of 2007. Archbishop Demetrios had already sent a congratulatory letter to Metropolitan Hilarion after his election... Read more