229. Your 2021 New Year’s Resolution… a week late, but ready to go

Your Resolution: “I will say Morning Prayers daily.”  image from Andrew Steven Damick: Wikimedia Commons Now that the Holy Days and holidays are over, it’s time to get down to business. Perhaps you already pray every morning, in which case forgive me for doubting you. But judging by what I’ve heard in private conferences and […]

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227. Magicians from the East

Christ is born! Glorify Him! All icons, unless noted, by permission of St Isaac’s Skete: skete.com from “Orthodox Chants”  The Magi It’s no secret that we Orthodox are always ahead of the game! With us Orthodox the Magi are already here – in our Gospel reading for Christmas Day Divine Liturgy: Matthew 2:2-12. Some others, […]

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226. Peculiar Things at the Altar

No, no, no, I’m not talking about us clergy, although… well, never mind. This article is about odd architectural and liturgical matters at the front of the church. Some you’ve seen and may have wondered about, but never thought to ask. Others perhaps you’ve never noticed, but now you will. Just to confuse us, the […]

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225. Saint Nicholas speaks! and Saint Nicholas Church is founded.

  I mean literally speaks! Or kind of. Or… once again, just keep reading. This is the last week I’ll focus on my experiences. Promise. For a while – because you new readers haven’t heard about Saint Nektarios. Last week we left it with me a deeply frustrated Episcopalian priest, sure now I must be Orthodox but […]

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