Father Bill's Orthodox Blog – Orthodoxy from the Third Coast – A Variety of Topics: Saints, Seasons, Society, the Moral Life, plus Travels mostly to Greece, and more, by Father Bill Olnhausen

565. Many things: 1. Orthodox “Advent”, 2. Santa Claus, 3. Once Upon a Time, 4. Pope Leo, 6. Let;s feast! Let’s fast? 5. Ortho-bros and on-line sectarian “Orthodoxy”, 7. A Peoples’ Church

Posted on December 12, 2025December 12, 2025 by Fr. Bill

Here are some shorter items I’ve been saving up. 1. Orthodox “Advent” I put “Advent” in quotes, because it is nowhere found in Orthodox texts, though it is sometimes used as a popular nickname. I loved Anglican Advent. It begins with a flourish on the fourth Sunday before Christmas: the vestments go violet or blue, […]

564. My Adventures with Saint Nicholas

Posted on December 6, 2025December 7, 2025 by Fr. Bill

Please pray for the people of Ukraine, under continual attack by the Orthodox Russian aggressors. May God have mercy on us all. Today, December 6, is the feast of : Saint Nicholas of Myra, the Wonderworker Did you know that after Saint Nicholas Day, we slowly begin to gain light in the evening. After about […]

563. The Sin of Gluttony: The Purpose of Fasting and Feasting

Posted on November 28, 2025 by Fr. Bill

We have been away this week visiting our daughter and her family for Thanksgiving. Therefore, today’s Post is a rerun * of Post 93, from November 23, 2018 – part of my series on The Seven Deadly Sins. slightly revised Gluttony OK, I know it’s cruel, just cruel, to talk about gluttony on the […]

562. Charlie Kirk and Christian Nationalism: My Orthodox Perspective

Posted on November 21, 2025November 23, 2025 by Fr. Bill

Please pray for the people of Gaza and the West Bank. Soon after Charlie Kirk’s murder, I heard an Orthodox priest say it would be wise to wait forty days before saying anything about it – time for the tumult and shouting to die, to use an overworked but appropriate phrase, because there […]

561. My Adventures with Saint Nektarios

Posted on November 14, 2025November 16, 2025 by Fr. Bill

Will Orthodox Russia never stop this immoral war? – bringing scandal on the Orthodox Church. Saint Nektarios, the Wonderworker of Aegina November 9 If any here present heard the sermon last Sunday at Saint Nicholas Church, Cedarburg, Wisconsin, I take no offense if you now go do something else, because here it comes […]