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
Introduction In our parish churches, Matins/Orthros is normally sung in the morning. So why, you may ask, are we now suddenly having it in the evening? Also and equally odd, why during Holy Week do we have Vesperal Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (obviously an evening service) in the morning? I’m really sorry you asked […]
Read More »Now we begin our twice-daily commentaries on the services and themes of Holy Week and Pascha – based on talks I gave at these services during the twenty-five years when I was Pastor of Saint Nicholas Church, Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Each year I’ve altered them just a bit as I’ve come across new information, to […]
Read More »Do we want to keep a good, holy Lent? No problem. In this Sunday’s Scripture readings, the Church tells us exactly how to do it. If you find this Post suspiciously familiar, that means you read my Forgiveness Sunday Post two years ago and have a good memory. I’m proud of you. This is a […]
Read More »Busy last week. Busy last weekend. Late Blog Post. Short Blog Post. Sorry. God at work in history Some Christians are forever trying to figure out what the future holds: When will the Second Coming be? When will the Lord return in Glory? Even we Orthodox often wonder – or at least I do, who […]
Read More »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. […]
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