339. The Holy Prophet Ezekiel: Was he “ON something”?

That was my immediate reaction when I read again the first chapters of Ezekiel, as I prepared this Post. (Please forgive my built-in scientific skepticism. I can’t help it.) So I looked up the date when hallucinogens were first known in the Old World. There’s some evidence that in Egypt it goes ‘way back. But […]

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331. Fifth Sunday of Pascha: The Samaritan Woman – how Jesus “works on us”

 Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! This is a contemporary Coptic Orthodox icon. Before we proceed, I have a complaint, which I made the last time I wrote this Pascha series – and nothing has been done about it. So now I have two complaints, about the following: I think the story of the Wedding […]

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329. Third Sunday of Pascha: The Holy Myrrhbearing Women, Saint Joseph of Arimathaea, Saint Nicodemus

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! by Archangel Voices (on Orthodox Christian Chants site) from their album “Resurrection! Orthodox Chants and Hymns of Holy Pascha” Today’s Post is a “new and improved [slightly] [perhaps] version” of a 2020 Post. (I’m taking a week off from original thinking.) Our Paschal lectionary is leading us, day by […]

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328. Second Sunday of Pascha: Thomas Sunday: 1) Who forgives sins? 2) “What is truth?”

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! 1  You’re still here! Well, at least you are. Readership was great during Holy Week, but it always falls off sharply after Pascha. * Little wonder: as much as I love Holy Week, afterwards I always feel as if I’ve overdosed on religion. I appreciate your tuning in. […]

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265. Heaven, Part Three – the Holy Mountain and the Garden, from “Hymns on Paradise” by Saint Ephraim the Syrian

Christ has ascended! “When You had fulfilled the dispensation for our sake, and united earth to heaven: You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, not being parted from those who love You, but remaining with them and crying: “I am with you and no one will be against you!” (Tone Six This series of Posts […]

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