Fr. Bill's Orthodox Blog – Orthodoxy from the Third Coast
Saints, Seasons, Society, Sins, plus Travels mostly to Greece and who knows what next? by Father Bill Olnhausen
So Jesus’ birth was the result of Mary’s being raped by a Roman soldier?! That is the suggestion of Elaine Pagels, Professor of Religion at Princeton, University. * The evidence for this is… You’re right. There isn’t any. As for the Christmas stories? They, she says, are only “metaphors”. Metaphors for what? That’s not clear. […]
Read More »Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Bishop of Myra December 6, 343 Saint Nicholas was Bishop of the city of Myra on the south coast of Asia Minor (now Turkey) in the Fourth Century, back in the days when the Greek-speaking world stretched across much of the eastern Mediterranean. * He is perhaps the most popular, most […]
Read More »Notice above: In iconography for this Feast, the Virgin Mary is always depicted symbolically as a three year old “adult”, already full-grown spiritually. Before we talk about this lovely celebration, first let’s demolish a couple of objections to it. 1 It’s not Scriptural. This is the big Protestant objection. It troubled me before I became […]
Read More »During August I’ve been repeating some Posts from years past – with a few improvements. (I’ve never been able to leave well enough alone.) This one was originally published on October 6, 2017, telling about my trip to Patmos in September 2007. And as I write this, it’s August 30, 2024. Seventeen years ago – […]
Read More »I’m sorry this Post is a day late. I went to my eye doctor yesterday, who put drops in my eyes, so that my computer screen was a blur. I know this sounds like the old “my dog ate my homework” excuse, but it’s true! As I’ve told you, I’m taking August off and repeating […]
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