Dear Fr. Joseph, Though I have not had the opportunity to hear your podcasts as of yet, I have read Defeating Sin. I was looking in our church bookstore one day for something to read. I came across the title and thought, “It doesn’t get much plainer than that!” So I picked up a copy. I really appreciate all of the quotations from the Holy Fathers and your ability to explain them so simply. There were two things that greatly... Read more

Our annual family pic following Sunday’s Agape Vespers.The baby’s missing two front teeth. Soon to be 6; soon to be 14; just turned 10. Here’s hoping you and yours have a blessed Bright Week!Christ is Risen! Read more

brrrrrrrrrrrrr brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrclickit The number you have reached: L E N T has been changed … The new number is: P A S C H A Please make a note of it. And how do we make a note of it? The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. Image Source Read more

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Holy Week takes its glorious toll … on everything (even, thanks God, blogging). And yet, while for Orthodox Christians today is Good Friday, the world goes on. Given that, the world and all, the opening paragraphs of this piece are worth a read — mainly for the commentary on who we are and what we’ve become … America is in line at the airport. America has its shoes off, is carrying a rubberized bin, is going through a magnetometer. America... Read more

I know, I know … it’s Great & Holy Monday. But, while you’re surfing the Net, you might as well visit a new site dedicated to Orthodoxy & Romance, the pitfalls of Orthodox dating, and the struggle to find the perfect mate. Here’s a small sample … If you do decide to go chasing the random girl who does not know you, think of a good opening line. Considering that we at St. Vladika’s Press are unaware of a successful... Read more

And you thought it was chaotic at YOUR church … Israeli police rushed into Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre to break up fist fights between dozens of Greek and Armenian worshippers on Orthodox Palm Sunday, witnesses said. Some 20 officers intervened after Armenian worshippers threw a Greek Orthodox priest out of the church, sparking a free-for-all, they said. Several worshippers then started beating the police officers with palm fronds they were holding for the Palm Sunday celebrations that mark... Read more

One of the benefits of Orthodox Easter — PASCHA — coming later than Roman Catholic Easter (pssssssssssssssttttt, if you’re Protestant — or, wink, wink, Non-Denominational — you’re following Rome’s calendar) … is reduced prices on chocolates and candies which are mass produced to meet the demand at this time of year. Though we have lost the original source, many believe there’s an ancient book, now extant, which contains the chocolate canons: rules demanding that the pious celebrate the Resurrection of... Read more

My visit to St George, Cicero — April 11-13th — for the North American Council (NAC) Fellowship of St John the Divine Lenten Retreat was a true blessing! Pictured here, however, is the only patch of blue seen during the weekend. Ah … Chicago in April. The serenity found while looking upon the weeping icon of the Mother of God on the iconostasis is hard to put into words. Contrast this image to the one below. Arggggggggghh! Oh my! Actually,... Read more

Just for fun, here are some pics from the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Lenten retreat, originating from Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, which took place the first weekend in April in the Texas Hill Country near New Braunfels. Either an ice breaker or the hokey pokey gone bad. Okay. Definitely the hokey pokey gone bad! Apparently, two college kids sharing fasting recipes. Texas the first weekend in April; small groups at T Bar M. This pic was taken just before everyone... Read more