I would like to draw your attention to the danger of liberal Christianity. The liberalization of moral standards, initiated by some Protestant and Anglican communities several decades ago and developing with ever-increasing speed, has now brought us to a situation where we can no longer preach one and the same code of moral conduct. We can no longer speak about Christian morality, because moral standards promoted by ‘traditional’ and ‘liberal’ Christians are markedly different, and the abyss between these two... Read more

Today is Valentine’s Day, the day on which we celebrate love and especially romantic love. This day is linked to Greco-Roman February holidays devoted to fertility, in particular, the festival of Lupercalia. The romantic overtone of the holiday is in commemoration of St. Valentine, a Roman priest who was martyred on February 14 in 269 A.D. It’s worth noting that there are many different Christian martyrs named “Valentine,” and until 1969, the Catholic Church recognized 11 different Valentine’s days. Thousands... Read more

The following comment, sent in by a blog reader, concerns yesterday’s post about the new Orthodox Study Bible:I still wonder if this is really good. I mean, yes, having a Bible in hand that will motivate one to read it is good. But, like so many other scores of particular, niche market-driven study Bibles out there, I wonder if this isn’t just another evangelical/Protestant thing us converts are doing to Orthodoxy. I’ve seen what can happen when a group tries... Read more

Blog reg Keith sent me an NPR story about Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s continual biblical references and his audience’s lack of understanding. Well, call it coincidence but, though Huckabee may lose, this dilemma is just in time for a remedy … First, excerpts from the news story: In November, as Huckabee surged in the polls, a student at Liberty University asked him what was driving his startling success. Huckabee responded, “It’s the same power that helped a little boy with... Read more

This week’s Podcast is taken from the book, One Flew Over the Onion Dome – any similarities to your own parish, bishop or jurisdiction is purely intentional. Orthodoxy not available in all states. In your area, it may only be available in a foreign language – in which case, your mileage may vary … Read more

The following two images are of my e-pal, Jean-Michel, reading — in Belgium — One Flew Over the Onion Dome (2006) and Defeating Sin (2008). Oh, by the way, as the second pic reveals: Prayers coveted for his speedy and full recovery. No updates on this blog till week’s end as I shall be attending the annual Clergy Retreat of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America in Wichita, Kansas. Last year’s lectures (HERE) are now available in print … “THE... Read more

Did you ever wonder who made up the so-called “Five Second Rule?” You know the one where if some food item falls on the floor, it’s okay to just pick it up and eat it as long as it’s not been there for more than five seconds? I don’t remember that rule from my childhood, though I do remember that if you ate some food off of another’s plate, for some reason it didn’t taste the same as the same... Read more

ATHENS: Bells tolled and canon shots rang out in tribute as the Greek Orthodox Church head, Archbishop Christodoulos, was buried in Athens yesterday. Christodoulos, who mended ties with the Vatican but clashed with the Greek state, died after a seven-month battle with cancer on Monday at the age of 69. The Church said a successor would be elected by the Holy Synod on February 7. Public offices and schools were shut on a day of nationwide mourning. Thousands of mourners... Read more

House Blessings and seasonal busyness has prevented regular blog updates — yet, this piece, sent to me a while back by Jean-Michel, is interesting: An interview of Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren to daily Danas (translated from serbian policy site). Q: It is well-known you aren’t an ecumenist. What is your opinion about the Ravenna statement adopted by members of joint theological commission of Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church. A: Why wouldn’t we say the other way –... Read more

It was late one Friday when the call came in. I looked down at my cell phone and, though I didn’t recognize the number, I flipped the phone open and said: “Hello, this is Fr Joseph …” The distraught voice on the other end came from a concerned mother, “Father, could you please come visit my son? He hasn’t left his room in days … I can hear him in there every now and then, praying or singing or whatever... Read more