572. The Three Hierarchs: The Festival of Learning

Often in history, and most definitely today, we see what happens when people fail to seek truth, disregard facts, and therefore lack knowledge. Serious trouble ensues. We’ll come back to that. But before we get started: The Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (The Meeting with Simeon) is on February 2. If you […]

Read More »

571. Pre-Lent – already?

Well, actually no. The First Sunday of Pre- Lent (the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee) doesn’t come till February 1. However, next Friday, January 30, I want to talk about the Three Hierarchs’ festival which falls on that very day. So… Today let’s anticipate the Publican and the Pharisee. Then, for the rest […]

Read More »

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

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, […]

Read More »

562. Charlie Kirk and Christian Nationalism: My Orthodox Perspective

  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 […]

Read More »

555. The Assassination of Charlie Kirk and GUNS IN AMERICA

Pray for the suffering people of Ukraine and the Palestinian people of Gaza and the West Bank.   This will not be pleasant reading. If you want sweetness and light, come back next week. However, to your great relief and mine, I’m not going to talk about Charlie Kirk today. I’m just using him as […]

Read More »