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Are We the Modern Palm Sunday Fair-weather Friends?
Today is not Palm Sunday for us Orthodox, but most of my family is Protestant, and most of my wife’s family is Roman Catholic, and seeing their posts on social media got me thinking… Palm Sunday has always fascinated me. The Jews welcomed Christ, because they did believe at that moment that He was the […] -
Happy Thanksgiving to All
I think most secular holidays are artificial attempts at reintroducing seasonal meaning into the calendar after our Protestant forefathers destroyed the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar, which had adequate celebrations throughout the year to help sanctify the time, but Thanksgiving* is an eminently beautiful and even Christian holiday, and I have always enjoyed it, especially because […] -
The Traditional Orthodox Church and Its Hierarchy in the Western Hemisphere
(Note: a Spanish Translation Is in Progress) Introduction Knowledge of the Orthodox Christian faith is growing in Latin America; there is an increasing number of clergy, parishes, and monastic institutions, and more and more materials are being published in Spanish and Portuguese, as well. This is a cause for rejoicing, as more and more people […] -
War on Christmas?
On my Facebook news feed, I see a lot of posts about the so-called “War on Christmas.” However, something just doesn’t sit right with me when I read these types of posts… For one thing, the “Christmas Season” starts earlier and earlier each year (for shopping purposes). So, I guess the real war is on […] -
Infrequent Posting
Friends, I’ve been working on several website projects in the evening, and as a result, have had little time to write. However, writing is my passion and something I want to do regularly, even if I am stretched thin with other obligations. For this reason, I am planning to set a schedule of one post […] -
Reflection on the Latest ISIS Murder
For whatever reason, I decided to watch the ISIS murder[1] video of the Jordanian pilot by burning after hearing about it on the news today. ISIS has propaganda down well. Here are some thoughts: The video was well-produced, slick, and I can see how the target demographic could be swayed by such (disgruntled youth lacking […] -
As 2014 Comes to a Close
(Originally posted on my personal Facebook page). 2014 was what a year is: some good, some bad. Some success, some failure. A few steps forward, and some back. Certainly not as hard for me personally as 2012 and 2013, when everything in my world changed drastically. But certainly not easy, as some years were. All […] -
Thoughts on the Russian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate
The following question was recently posed to me on my personal Facebook page, by a Ukrainian friend of mine, who is a college professor. Dear Anastasios… Just what do you think about the current status of, and what do you think about, this “Russian Orthodox Church?” You see, I’ve known you “virtually,” in “cyber space,” […] -
Ordained by a New Calendar Bishop?
Part of my ongoing Correspondence series, featuring replies to people who contacted me and asked questions. Based on your research, Is it true that one of the ordaining bishops of Metropolitan Petros was with the “New Calendar but under the ROCOR” like I have read? You’re getting things mixed up a bit—Metropolitan Petros was ordained by ROCOR Bishop […] -
Thoughts on Halloween
I don’t celebrate Halloween, out of obedience to my bishop and because my conscience does not permit me to engage in anything that makes light of the dark powers (which, when I was involved with occultic things as a teenager, I witnessed with my own eyes). That being said, a few points: 1) A lot […]