The Morning Offering
November 11 / October 29
·
Father Moses’ brick pathways. Saints of the Day Martyr Anastasia the Roman. St. Abramius the Recluse and his niece St. Mary of Mesopotamia. St. Abramius, archimandrite of Rostov. St. Anna of Constantinople. Martyrs Claudius, Asterius, Neon and Theonilla of Aegae in Cilicia St. Abramius, recluse of the Kiev Caves. New-Martyr Athanasius of Sparta, at Muatanach. Martyr Timothy of Esphigmenou Monastery…
Praying in the Rain
Michael Henchard, Power, and Me
·
Michael Henchard has lost it all. He lost his wealth trying to squeeze his rival and former employee out of business. Blinded by his desire for revenge and willing to suffer loss to destroy Fanfrae, Henchard seeks in a Saul-like manner the guidance of a seer and based on the seer’s words mortgages his business to make a huge purchase only later to doubt the seer’s word and sell at a loss.…
Nearly Orthodox
push and pull...
·
It won’t always be like this; me spinning out again and again with the struggle and the intoxication, will it? I feel like I’m split in two most days. In the early part of the day I wake up and spend time in prayer. I’m excited to be there, to spend time in this way. In the middle of the day I seek out time to be alone and pray. I find…
The Morning Offering
November 10 / October 28
·
Father Moses’ brick pathway. Saints of the Day Martyrs Terence and Neonilla and their children Sarbelus, Photus, Theodulus, Hierax, Nitus, Bele, and Eunice. St. Stephen of St. Sabbas’ Monastery, hymnographer. Repose of St. Arsenius, Archbishop of Serbia. Great-Martyr Parasceva of Iconium. Martyrs Africanus, Terence, Maximus, Pompeius, and 37 others, of Carthage. St. John the Chozebite,monk. Hieromartyr Cyriacus, Patriarch of Jerusalem,…
The Morning Offering
November 9 / October 27
·
Abbot Tryphon, contemplating old age. Saints of the Day Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica. Martyrs Capitolina and Eroteis of Cappadocia Martyr Mark of the isle of Thasos. St. Nestor the Chronicler of the Kiev Caves. Opening of the Relics of St. Andrew, prince of Smolensk. St. Cyriacus, Patriarch of Constantinople. St. Procla, wife of Pontius Pilate Quote of the Day “We…
Nearly Orthodox
water...
·
I have the strongest urge to break away from my noisy life this week and just sit in the church. I’ve asked Fr. G and he has said that if someone is at the church I can get in there. I think it’s because I want some practice, some quiet. It’s the toe in the water instead of just jumping in. I’ve never liked just jumping in fast. Everyone says it’s the…
The Morning Offering
November 8 / October 26
·
Saints of the Day Holy and Glorious Great-martyr Demetrius the myrrh-gusher of Thessalonica. Commemoration of theGreat Earthquake at Constantinople in 740 A.D. St. Athanasius of Medikion Monastery. Martyr Ioasaph, monk of Mt. Athos,disciple of St. Niphon of Constantinople. St. Demetrius of Barsabov in Bulgaria. St. Theophilus of the Kiev Caves, Bishop ofNovgorod. St. Anthony, Bishop of Vologda. (Greek Calendar Martyrs…
The Morning Offering
November 7 / October 25
·
Old Holy Virgin Cathedral Daylight savings time ends today. Set clocks back one hour. Saints of the Day Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius the notaries of Constantinople.. MartyrAnastasius the Fuller at Salona in Dalmatia. St. Tabitha, the widow raised from the dead by the Apostle Peter. St. Martyrius thedeacon and St. Martyrius the recluse of the Kiev Caves. (Greek Calendar: St.…
Glory to God for All Things
The Holy Angels
·
This 8th of November is the Feast of St. Michael and All the Bodiless Powers of Heaven. The feast marks its own special occasion, but it seems entirely appropriate that the feast should be so close to the beginning of the Nativity Fast. There are very few Biblical stories where angels do not play a part, and their presence only grows greater with the incarnation of Christ. In the life of the Church…
The Morning Offering
November 6 / October 24
·
Assembled Bishops and Clergy Feast of the Holy Virgin, Joy of All Who Sorrow Many Years to His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill, and the clergy and members of Holy Virgin Cathedral, on this, the Patronal Feast of their Cathedral Parish! Saints of the Day Martyr Arethas and those with him, including Martyr Syncletica and her two daughters. Blessed Elesbaan, king of…
Praying in the Rain
A Generous Reverie
·
On the way home from matins this morning I fell into a reverie (“reverie” sounds so much more sophisticated than daydream). I was looking at a piece of property and immediately began imagining what sort of glorious Orthodox Church could be built there with 50 million dollars–although a quarter of that would do just as well. I noticed the feeling of goodness and generosity that swelled inside me as I imagined myself…
The Morning Offering
November 5 / October 23
·
Holy Virgin Cathedral, San Francisco, California Saints of the Day Holy Apostle James the Brother of the Lord. Translation of the Relics of Blessed James of Borovichi, Wonderworker of Novgorod. St. Ignatius, Patriarch of Constantinople. St. Nicephorus of Constantinople. St. Petronius, disciple of St. Pachomius the Great. Quote of the Day “Contrary to the recipes of modern teachings such as…
Nearly Orthodox
the holy kiss...
·
I’ve written about The Holy Kiss on Mrs Metaphor in the past. I’m reminded of this concept again today as I consider the idea of the veneration of icons. This practice is one that we did not employ in the Catholic church and so the “awkward” factor kicks up a bit more around this issue. I don’t have a problem with the idea of venerating an icon, I really don’t. It might…
Praying in the Rain
Emily Carr as Emily Carr
·
For the last two or three years Bonnie has been on an Emily Carr kick. She has read everything she has written, read every book about her, and studied all of her paintings–she even visited her home in Victoria. Bonnie has been inspired by her, almost as if she has found a kindred spirit, a patron saint. I’ve followed along, reading a bit over her shoulder. Emily’s painting doesn’t do much for…
Nearly Orthodox
night...
·
What is it about the night that it’s able to bring such moments of doubt and sadness? I’ve always loved the night, loved the quiet it offered. Lately, though, the night has been an enemy; I’m tired but unable to sleep. The nighttime becomes an opportunity for my confusion to come to the surface. Forget the noonday demon, acedia strikes at night for me. I label acedia as “why bother.” I’m not…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
The Worship of Fire
·
While I was in Toronto a few weeks ago for an educational event, I had the delight to spend many hours with a good friend from my seminary days. He turned out to be a fine guide to introducing an American to Toronto. One of the many places we stopped was a place of some religious curiosity that he’d apparently always wanted to look…
The Morning Offering
November 4 / October 22
·
Holy Virgin “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Cathedral Kazan Icon of the Mother of God Saints of the Day The Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, commemorating the deliverance from the Poles in 1612 Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Abercius, Bishop of and Wonderworker of Hierapolis. The Holy Seven Youths(Seven Sleepers) of Ephesus (see August 4). Martyrs Alexander the bishop, Heraclius, Anna,…
Nearly Orthodox
healthy...
·
I’m not organized. I’m not tidy. It’s very very hard for me to find time, make time, be timely about things that ought to be done. Laundry and dishes are easy in the quotidian realm. If I don’t do the laundry we have nothing to wear, if I don’t do the dishes we have nothing to hold our food. The repercussions of NOT doing these daily tasks are fairly immediate. Someone will…
Praying in the Rain
The Spirit Gives Life
·
“Woe to you Lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear” (Lk 11:46). Sometimes I feel like one of those lawyers, when I talk about the ascetic aspects of the Orthodox life: fasting, prayers, disciplines, rules, rules, rules. Pharisees and Lawyers are where you find them. Just because I am an Orthodox Christian doesn’t mean that Jesus’ words to the religious leaders of the Jews two millennia ago can’t apply…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Voice from Antioch: An Ignatian Catechism
·
The Morning Offering
November 3 / October 20
·
Interior of Saint Katherine Church, Rogue River, Oregon Saint Katherine Church Saints of the Day St. Hilarion the Great. Repose of St. Hilarion, Bishop of Meglin in Bulgaria. Martyrs Dasius, Gaius, andZoticus at Nicomedia. Saints Theophilus and James, abbots of Omutch (Pskov). St. Hilarion, abbot of Pskov. St. Hilarion,Schemamonk of the Kiev Caves. St. Philotheus of Mt. Athos. New-Martyr John…
Nearly Orthodox
live...
·
Fr G. spoke about the “nous” last week. I know this word already. He spoke of “nous” as being the “eye of the soul.” This is the metaphor I’ve heard employed in the past. Everyone who has given that description has explained that it is incredibly lacking. What the “nous” represents to us is so much more which is why the loss of it’s meaning in our lives is so great. We’ve…
The Morning Offering
November 2 / October 19
·
The Saint John the Wonderworker Chapel, as seen from the Abbot’s Cell Saints of the Day Great-Martyr Artemis at Antioch. Martyrs Eboras and Eunous of Persia. St. Matrona of Chios. Martyr Zebinas of Caesaria in Palestine. Righteous Artemius of Verkolsk. St. Gerasimus the New, ascetic of Cephalonia. New-Martyr Ignatius of Mt. Athos. Repose of Abbot Theodosius (Popov) of Optina (1903)…
Praying in the Rain
Singing
·
Sometimes I sing to my wife. I don’t sing very well, so I don’t sing very long. Just a line or two. I make up the words. Sometimes I have to sing, otherwise my wife forgets how much I love her. My mindless actions and strayings into grumpy old manhood often communicate just the opposite. It is easy for her to forget. It’s easy for her to be overwhelmed by my dirty…
Glory to God for All Things
Suffering in a One-Storey Universe
·
A comment on a previous post which mentioned the Biblical and patristic teaching that we should “give thanks to God for all things” has been an occasion for personal reflection – the substance of which forms this present post. For those who wrestle with the inherent difficulties of giving thanks for all things – I hope this reflection will be helpful. The comment which occasioned these thoughts: ..I think the lines separating…
The Morning Offering
November 1 / October 18 A Financial Appeal
·
David Munkres, and his chicken coop. Please forgive me, my friends, for asking once more. This economic downswing has hit the monastery in a big way, and we are in need of help. You may contribute through PayPal, or by sending a donation directly to the monastery (PO Box 2420, Vashon Island, WA 98070.) May the Lord richly bless you…
Nearly Orthodox
vespers...
·
I attended Vespers at the Greek Orthodox church last night for the first time. I felt as I expected…awkward, confused, grateful, tired, did I mention awkward? I wanted it to be darker in there. It was so light. I wanted to hide, very badly. It was interesting because just as I began to realize no one was watching me, judging my feeble attempts to understand hand motions and timing and listening, just…
