The Morning Offering
October 31/18 A Financial Appeal
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A Beautiful Autumn Day at the Monastery Hieromonk Paul has just closed out the books for this past fiscal year, and, just as we suspected, we are about $6,000.00 in the red. Your help, through PayPal, or a mailed donation, would be greatly appreciated. Abbot Tryphon Saints of the Day Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke. Martyr Marinus the Elder at…
Nearly Orthodox
long distance running...
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I’m not a runner. I mean, I try but I’m just not really built for it. I’m more the flexibility and strength training kind of body. Running is something I do because it has merit for me and because I’m able to do it most places I go. I can take that practice with me wherever I go. It becomes a kind of prayer in that way. A friend mentioned a…
The Morning Offering
October 30/17
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A Beautiful Autumn Day on the Valaam Trail A Financial Appeal:Hieromonk Paul has just closed out the books for this past fiscal year, and, just as we suspected, we are about $6,000.00 in the red. Your help, through PayPal, or a mailed donation, would be greatly appreciated. Abbot Tryphon Saints of the Day Prophet Hosea (Osee). Monk-martyr Andrew of Crete.…
Praying in the Rain
Michael Henchard and Repentance: Ten Minutes Too Late
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“But the proposal came ten minutes too late.” These are some of the saddest words in The Mayor of Casterbridge. Michael Henchard, immediately after convincing his stepdaughter (whom he believes is his biological daughter) to take his name, finds out that she is indeed the daughter of the sailor, the man to whom he had sold his wife 19 year before. His Elizabeth-Jane had died three months after they separated, and Susan…
Nearly Orthodox
thirsting for God...
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I’ve begun a book suggested by a twitter friend called “Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells” by Matthew Gallatin. Ok so here’s the thing. I’m only in the first section of the book, written as memoir he has an interesting story. At this point he’s been through the denominational wringer so to speak. This is a man in search of “truth.” It’s funny, I have never sought “truth.” I…
The Morning Offering
October 29/16
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The Entrance to the Monastery, on an Autumn Day Saints of the Day Martyr Longinus the Centurion who stood at the Cross of the Lord [II Tim 2:1-10; Matt 27:33-54]. St. Malus the hermit. St. Eupraxia, abbess, before tonsure Princess Euphrosyne of Pskov. St. Longinus the gate-keeper of the Kiev Caves. St. Gall, Enlightener of Switzerland. (Greek Calendar: St. Sabinus,…
Glory to God for All Things
Whom God Would Have Us Be
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When man stands before the throne of God, when he has fulfilled all that God has given him to fulfill, when all sins are forgiven, all joy restored, then there is nothing else for him to do but to give thanks. Eucharist (thanksgiving) is the state of perfect man. Eucharist is the life of paradise. Eucharist is the only full and real response of man to God’s creation, redemption and gift of…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
The Golden Mountain
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The Morning Offering
October 28/15
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Autumn Arrives at the Monastery Saints of the Day St. Euthymius the New of Thessalonica, monk of Mt. Athos. Martyr Lucian, presbyter of Greater Antioch. (services combined) St. Sabinus, Bishop of Catania. Martyrs Sarbelius and Bebaia (Barbea) of Edessa. St. Dionysius, Archbishop of Suzdal. St. John, Bishop of Suzdal. Hieromartyr Lucian, presbyter of the Kiev Caves. Quote of the Day…
Glory to God for All Things
Falling Short
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I fail. We fail. It’s just how things are. It is not a conspiracy or the judgment of God or a universe arrayed against us – we simply fall short. At times falling short is nothing less than embarrassing. This is especially so if we have raised our own expectations as well as the expectations of others. I do not measure up to my own expectations much less to those of others.…
Praying in the Rain
Michael Henchard and A Dog That Kills Chickens
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I just chased a stray dog out of my chicken and goose run. It killed my beautiful hybrid rooster from good laying stock and chased all of the hens out over or under the fences onto the street and into the ditch in front of the house. They’ll slowly make their way back as they get hungry, I hope. I had a hard time chasing off the dog. I felt sorry for…
The Morning Offering
October 27/14
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A Rainy Autumn Day at the Monastery Saints of the Day Martyrs Nazarius, Gervase, Protase and Celsius of Milan. St. Parasceve of Serbia. Hieromartyr Silvanus of Gaza. St. Nikola Sviatosha, prince of Chernigov and Wonderworker of the Kiev Caves. St. Cosmas, abbot of Yakhromsk. (Greek Calendar: St. Euthymius the New of Thessalonica, confessor. St. Ignatius of Methymna, Archbishop and Wonderworker.)…
Nearly Orthodox
hot buttons...
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I’m making my list. I’m checking it twice…three times…maybe four. As I’m reading about the tradition I am thinking over and over about the reasons I have turned away from the “church” in this country. The odd thing is that I’m not REMINDED of this when I’m reading it. It’s not as if I’m reading the doctrine and think, “oh hey THAT is why I shun organized religion…” Not at all. I’m…
The Morning Offering
October 26/13
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Saints of the Day Martyrs Carpus, Papylus, Agathadorus and Agathonica at Pergamus. Martyr Florentius of Thessalonica. Martyr Benjamin, deacon of Persia. St. Nicetas the Confessor of Paphlagonia. St. Benjamin of the Kiev Caves. New-Martyr Chryse (Zlata) of Bulgaria. St. Vannatius of Poitiers (Gaul). Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Of the Seven Lakes. Portaitissa Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.…
Praying in the Rain
Marriage and Baptism
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In the old days, before divorce was a convenient option, it was not uncommon for a couple to be married, perhaps for many years, and yet not to know each other very well. Marriage is a fact of life, knowing one another, however, is a matter growing relationship. What a shame it is for a man and woman to be married for many years and perhaps raise a family together, but still…
Nearly Orthodox
matins...
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It turns out that the church I’m courting does have a matins service during the week…so, there’s that. I’ve been looking for a way to do a kind of location scout and maybe this is the way to do it. I’m told that there are not many seats in the typical orthodox sanctuary…most people stand during the service. This thought lends me some angst. I wish I could just be invisible until…
The Morning Offering
October 25 / 12
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Hammi and Mercedes. Saints of the Day Martyrs Probus, Tarachus and Andronicus at Tarsus in Cilicia. St. Cosmas the Hymnographer, Bishop of Maiuma. Martyr Domnica of Anazarbus. St. Martin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours. (canon only) Saints Amphilochius, Macarius and Tarasius, abbots, and Theodosius, monk, of Glushetskry (Vologda). (Greek Calendar: Virgin Martyr Anastasia of Rome. St. Theodotus, Bishop of Ephesus.…
Praying in the Rain
The Mayor of Casterbridge 1
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The Mayor of Caterbridge begins with a man selling his wife and daughter for five guineas. The man was drunk at the time, and he really didn’t expect that someone would actually buy her. He was only tormenting his wife, as he occasionally did when he had had too much rum not to speak his wishes out loud. Michael Henchard had married young, making good wages as a hay trusser; but the…
Praying in the Rain
Grandkids and Thomas Hardy (Not Related)
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May you see your children’s children (Psa. 127:6). As some of you know, I have been busy this week with my children’s children. It has been a wonderful and busy week. The week started out with two of my daughters and grandchildren joining me for Saturday morning matins. We began matins by running back and forth across the church nave: “One, two, three, go!” The room was cold and this both warmed…
Nearly Orthodox
hurry...
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I’m always in a hurry. I hate to wait. That whole patience thing is a train I can hear whistling in the distance but can never seem to catch. I watch it going by on a trestle far above my head and think, “well, that’s really majestic and beautiful….and unreachable. I wonder where it’s going.” This is how I feel about Orthodoxy today. I just can’t seem to get to a service.…
The Morning Offering
October 24/11
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David Munkres, to the left of Abbot Tryphon The framing goes up. Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council Saints of the Day Holy Apostle Philip of the Seventy, one of the seven deacons. St. Theophanes the Confessor and Hymnographer, Bishop of Nicaea. Martyrs Zenaida (Zenais) and Philonilla of Tarsus in Cilicia. St. Theophanes, faster of the Kiev Caves. Saints Nectarius,…
Praying in the Rain
Our Mutual Friend (Podcast Transcript)
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I was eager to reread Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens; I remembered it as being my favorite Dickens novel. However, 100 pages into this 800 page story, I was having a hard time remembering why I liked this novel so much. Our Mutual Friend is not one of Dickens’ popular novels, and certainly it is not one of his best. It is his last full novel, completed in 1865. Like…
Nearly Orthodox
people...
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I’m an introvert. Most people who know me will say I hide that well and I guess I do. I’m an extroverted introvert. I can be outgoing-ish and I can handle myself in a group of people but I’m completely worn out for meeting people. I don’t mind being IN FRONT of a large group, I’m a performer. Being IN a large group is hard for me. I’m afraid of a number…
The Morning Offering
October 23/10
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The monastic community, enjoying an evening by the hearth. Saints of the Day Martyrs Eulampius and Eulampia at Nicomedia, and 200 Martyrs with them. Martyr Theotecnus of Antioch. St. Theophilus the Confessor of Bulgaria. St. Bassian of Constantinople. Blessed Andrew of Totma, fool-for-Christ. Martyrdom of the 26 Martyrs of Zographou Monastery on Mt. Athos, by the Latins: Abbot Thomas, monks…
The Morning Offering
October 22/9
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Judith Trigg, Teaching a Class in Sewing Cutting Out a Pattern for a Banner Saints of the Day Holy Apostle James, son of Alphaeus. St. Andronicus and his wife St. Athanasia of Egypt. Righteous Forefather Abraham and his nephew Righteous Lot. Martyrs Juventius and Maximus at Antioch. St. Peter of Galatia. St. Publia the Confessor of Antioch. St. Stephen the…
Nearly Orthodox
first steps...
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I’ve attended my first Orthodoxy 101 class. I know that I already know most of this. I am at once encouraged and discouraged. I look around the small table of people sitting and listening. The priest, Father G is very kind. He’s young, passionate about the faith. He keeps stopping in his instruction, asking for questions. We all stare blankly. There is a sweet young couple sitting next to me, they identify…
Nearly Orthodox
long time coming...
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I’ve been considering a return to ancient traditon for a long time now. I was raised Roman Catholic, left that faith when I was in college and then while I kept my belief and love of God and the person of Jesus I just never found a home. I have a family now. They are, I recognize, a brood of little prophets. I have a husband who is strong in theologian leanings…
