Glory to God for All Things
The Church and the Cross of Christ
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This series is a reflection of the life of the Cross in the life of the Church. Orthodoxy in the modern world (as well as its past) frequently engages in struggle – not only with the world – but within itself. This is not the failure of an ideal – for the Church is not an ideal – but instead is the life of salvation lived out in this world and in…
The Morning Offering
Thursday
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101 Year Old Abbot Tryphon May 12, 2011 Third Week of Pascha. Tone two. Nine Martyrs at Cyzicus: Theognes, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemas, Magnus, Theodotus, Thaumasius, and Philemon (3rd c.). Venerable Memnon the Wonderworker of Corfu (2nd c.). Venerable Nektarius of Optina (1928). Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaev (1970). Martyrs Diodorus and Rhodopianus, deacon, at Aphrodisia in Anatolia (284-305). St. Basil,…
Glory to God for All Things
The Things We Share
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Modern culture frequently celebrates the freedom we each enjoy – in come cases going so far as to think of human beings as discreet individuals. Of course each of us lives in his/her own body – but even as such – we live in a common world. What I do and how I live affects others whether I want it to or not. In one manner or another, we live on the…
The Morning Offering
Wednesday
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May 11, 2011 Third Week of Pascha. Tone two. Fast. Fish Allowed Apostles Jason and Sosipater of the Seventy, and their companions: Martyrs Saturninus, Jakischolus (Inischolus), Faustianus, Januarius, Marsalius, Euphrasius, Mammius, the Virgin Cercyra, and Christodolus the Ethiopian, at Corfu (1st. c.). Martyrs Dada, Maximus, and Quintilian at Dorostolum (286). Virgin-martyr Anna (1938). St. Cyril, bishop of Turov (1183). Martyrs…
Nearly Orthodox
bride-zilla...
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It’s a little like getting married. I mean the ceremony, the life changing, the name stuff, the new way of looking at things, it is a little like getting married. This may be why I feel like I want to talk about it with my friends, bring it up in conversation, find ways to connect it to the rest of my real life. I am beginning to suspect my friends are losing…
The Morning Offering
Tuesday
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May 10, 2011 Third Week of Pascha. Tone two. Hieromartyr Symeon the Kinsman of the Lord (107). New Hieromartyrs Paul and John priests, Martyrs Peter, Nicholas, Auksentius, Sergius and Virgin-martyr Anastasia (1922). Virgin-martyr Mary (1938). New Hieromartyr John priest (1941). Venerable Stephen, abbot of the Kiev Caves and bishop of Vladimir in Volhynia (1094). St. Eulogius the Hospitable of Constantinople…
Praying in the Rain
There's Probably No God...
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Many of you know that there is a controversial bus ad that reads “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” Many Christians and other theists are upset by these ads. However, the ads don’t bother me at all. I, too, don’t believe in the atheists’ god. In fact, I have good news for atheists the world over: You are not alone. Most Christians don’t believe your god exists.…
The Morning Offering
Monday
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May 9, 2011 Third Week of Pascha.Tone two. Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Amasea (322). St. Stephen, bishop of Perm (1396). New Hieromartyrs John priets and his childrens Martyrs Nicholas and Peter (1918). Righteous Virgin Glaphyra of Nicomedia (322). Venerable Ioannicius of Devich (Serbia) (1430). Venerable Jusca, righteous. St. Nestor the Silent (Greek). Venerables Andrew and Anatole, disciples of St. Euthymius…
The Morning Offering
Sunday
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May 8, 2011 Third Sunday of Pascha: The Myrrh-bearing Women. Tone two. Sts. Myrrh-Bearing Women, righteous Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (celebration on the 3rd Sunday of Pascha). Right-believing Tamara, Queen of Georgia (movable holiday on the Sunday of Myrrh-Bearing Women). Sts. Mary and Martha, sisters of St. Lazarus (1st c.) (movable holiday on the Sunday of Myrrh-Bearing Women). All…
The Morning Offering
Saturday
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May 7, 2011 Second Week of Pascha. Tone one. Martyr Sabbas Stratelates (“the General”) of Rome, and 70 soldiers with him (272). St. Alexis Toth, priest of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania (1909). Martyr Sergius (1938). Hieromartyr Branko of Veljusa, Serbia (1941). Venerables Sabbas (13th c.) and Alexis the Hermit of the Kiev Caves. Martyrs Pasicrates, Valentine and Julius in Moesia (Bulgaria)…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy available for purchase!
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Some news from Conciliar Press: Good news! The [Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy] books arrived in our Illinois warehouse yesterday! For those of you who write book reviews for print media and/or who have blogs discussing such things, contact our marketing manager, Matthew Dorning (email hidden; JavaScript is required) to request a review copy, and let him know which publication / blog you represent. Ready to…
The Morning Offering
Friday
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May 6, 2011 Second Week of Pascha. Tone one. Fast. Fish Allowed Holy Glorious Great-martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George (303). New Hieromartyr Priest Egor (George) of Spas Chekriak village, Russia (1918). New Hieromartyr John priest (1940). New Hieromartyr Priest Sergius Zacharczuk of Nabroz (Chelm and Podlasie, Poland) (1943). Martyr Alexandra the Empress, wife of Diocletian (303). Martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon,…
Praying in the Rain
The Sin of Ananias
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When Ananias sold his property and gave a portion of it to the Church, he sinned–not in holding back, but in appearing to give all when he didn’t. Barnabas had just sold all of his property and given it to the Church. However, Barnabas had apostolic grace and calling. Barnabas could sell all his property and give it to the Church (without fear and without pride) because he had the grace and…
The Morning Offering
Thursday
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May 5, 2011 Second Week of Pascha. Tone one. Venerable Theodore the Sykeote, bishop of Anastasiopolis (613). New Hieromartyr Eustaphius priest (1918). Hieromartyr Platon of Banja Luka (1941). Martyr Demetrius (1942). Apostles Nathaniel, Luke, and Clement. Translation of the relics of St. Vsevolod (in holy baptism Gabriel), prince and wonderworker of Pskov (1138). Venerable Vitalis of the monastery of Abba…
Praying in the Rain
Descent Into Hell: The Focus of Love
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In my last blog, I wrote about how the character Wentworth chose hell by choosing unreality. In chapter five, “Return to Eden,” Williams provides a detailed description of Wentworth’s confused and confusing experience. Wentworth creates an imaginary lover–like Adel only better. The imaginary lover plays on Wentworth’s self pity (“You don’t think about yourself enough”) to draw him deeper into the imaginary relationship. Williams plays out Wentworth’s complete acceptance of his…
Glory to God for All Things
The Hard Reality of the Kingdom of God
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There are many things that bring us up against the hard reality of the Kingdom of God. The Gospel given to us by Christ, the verbal icon of the Kingdom, often gives us commands or parables that run radically counter to instinct (as we experience it) and, not infrequently, against reason (or so it seems). No commandment in the teachings of Christ fits this description better than “forgive your enemies.” Our instinct…
Nearly Orthodox
cell...
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Every so often I get the urge to move to a monastery and take up residence in a monk’s cell. An empty cell, not one with a monk in it still. That’s wrong on a number of levels. Several years ago I visited The Abbey at Gethsemane in Kentucky for a silent retreat and it was wonderful,  well except for the food. The food was not great. I can say that with…
The Morning Offering
Wednesday
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Protection of the Holy Virgin Monastery Church May 4, 2011 Second Week of Pascha. Tone one. Fast. Fish Allowed Hieromartyr Januarius, bishop of Benevento, and his companions: Festus, Proclus, and Sosius, deacons; Desiderius, reader; and Eutychius and Acutius, laymen, at Pozzuoli (305). Hieromartyr Theodore of Perge in Pamphylia, his mother Philippa, and Martyrs Dioscorus, Socrates, and Dionysius (2nd c.). Uncovering…
Glory to God for All Things
Hiding from God and God's Hiddenness
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I have written a number of times about the “hiddenness” of God. It is a very important aspect of how He makes Himself known (though I know that is a paradox). His hiddenness both protects our freedom and removes compulsion from our relationship with God. There can be no compulsion where there is love. I found a small verse from the writings of St. Ephrem the Syrian that offers some thoughts: Lord,…
The Morning Offering
Tuesday
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Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! May 3, 2011 Radonitsa, or Day of Rejoicing. Commemoration of the Dead. Tone one. Venerable Theodore Trichinas (“the Hair-shirt Wearer”), hermit near Constantinople (400). New Hieromartyr Theodosius, bishop of Kolomensk (1937). Translation of the relics (1991) of St. Nicholas (Velimirovich) of Ochrid and Zhicha (1956) from America to Serbia. Venerable Alexander (Oshevensky), abbot,…
The Morning Offering
Monday
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A Beautiful Sunny Day at the Monastery May 2, 2011 Second Week of Pascha. Tone one. Venerable John of the Ancient Caves in Palestine (8th c.). New Hieromartyr Victor, bishop of Glazov (1934). New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest (1942). St. Matrona the Blind of Moscow (1952). Martyrs Christopher, Theonas, and Antoninus in Nicomedia (303). Hieromartyr Paphnutius of Jerusalem. St. George the…
Nearly Orthodox
under the water...
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There was a time in my life after I wandered away from Catholicism and stumbled into the non-denominational, grass roots emergent church plant during which I had a great desire to be baptized again. Being a cradle Catholic I was baptized as an infant. I usually tell people that I was baptized as an infant and that it “took” because I’ve never known a moment in my life that didn’t feel somehow…
The Morning Offering
Sunday
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Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! May 1, 2011 / April 18, 2011 Second Sunday of Pascha: Antipascha, St. Thomas Sunday. “Sladkoe lobzanie” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (9th c.) (movable holiday on the Antipascha). Venerable John, disciple of St. Gregory of Decapolis (820). New Hieromartyr Bessarion priest (1918). New Hieromartyrs Priests Nicholas (1937) and Basil (Derzhavin) (1930)…
The Morning Offering
Saturday
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April 30, 2011 Bright Saturday. Bright Week. Fast-freeHieromartyr Simeon, bishop in Persia, and those with him: Martyrs Abdechalas and Ananias presbyters, Usthazanes, Fusicus (Pusicius), Ascitrea, and Azat the Eunuch (341). Venerable Acacius, bishop of Melitene (435). Venerable Zosimas of Solovki (1478). New Hieromartyr John priest (1918). New Hieromartyr Michael confessor, priest (1935). New Hieromartyr Theodore priest (1942). Uncovering of the…
The Morning Offering
Friday
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April 29, 2011 Bright Friday. Bright Week. Fast-free “Life- giving Spring” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (movable holiday on the Friday of the Bright Week). Commemoration of the renewal (sanctification) of the Holy Theotokos temple near the Life-giving Spring in Constantinople (5th c.) (movable holiday on the Friday of the Bright Week). “Pochaev” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos…
Praying in the Rain
Descent Into Hell: Choosing Unreality
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Charles Williams’ Descent Into Hell presents a strikingly Orthodox vision of the nearness of heaven and hell. In the novel, heaven and hell are not places or realms, but perspectives on reality, leading perhaps to realms and other-worldly places. Early in the novel, in a chapter entitled “Quest of Hell,” Lawrence Wentworth chooses hell. He chooses hell by choosing unreality, by choosing to act childishly and call it manly.* Wentworth is a…
The Morning Offering
Thursday
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April 28, 2011 Bright Thursday. Bright Week. Fast-free Apostles Aristarchus, Pudens, and Trophimus of the Seventy (67). New Hieromartyr Alexander priest (1930). Martyrs Basilissa and Anastasia of Rome, disciples of Apostles Peter and Paul (1st c.). Martyr Suchias and his companions: Andrew, Anastasius, Thalaleus, Theodoretus, Ivchirion, Jordan, Quadratus, Lucian, Mimnenos, Nerangius, Polyeuctus, James, Phocas, Domentianus, Victor, and Zosima (Chorimos), in…
