On Being a Bi-Vocational Priest
When people meet me, they are usually surprised to learn that not only am I an Orthodox Christian priest, but that I also work as a computer Network Consulting Engineer. The term for what I am is “bi-vocational.” It is not a term that I invented, or which was even created in reference to Orthodox priests, but rather has its roots in Protestant thought, to describe a minister that works a secular job while also preaching in and pastoring a local Church. Most Orthodox priests are full-time, being compensated financially by their parish and not holding any other employment. However, in America, there has been an increased number of priests who hold down part-time or even full-time jobs while serving as priests, owing to the difficult circumstances for Orthodoxy in this country. In this article, I will share a few reflections on the experience I have had so far, both to satisfy curiosity, appeal to others to support missionary work with their financial resources to reduce the necessity of priests to work in secular employment, and encourage others to follow in my footsteps.
Pre-Lenten Spiritual Sticky Notes
Dear Friends in Christ,
Lent begins this year on Monday, March 7 (n.s.), and Pascha will occur on Sunday, April 24 (n.s.). The Church gives us forty-seven days to reflect and renew our lives and our commitment to Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. The saying, “you get out what you put in to it” applies here, though; March 7 is just around the corner, and we could easily forget about the beginning of Lent until it already in full gear! The Church knows we need spiritual sticky-notes, though, and for this reason, we have four Sundays leading up to Lent to remind us and prepare us.
To make an analogy, a lot of people commit to a diet before going on vacation, but before they know it, it’s time to hit the road and they haven’t got the look they were hoping for. By getting familiar with the diet plan, planning out the meals, and talking over our goals with our spouse or family several times before starting the diet, we’ll be accustomed to the new plan and ready to jump in completely. In the same way, we have four reminders. For convenience, I will list the four Sundays here, the basic theme, and a key point to reflect on.
Η Εκκλησία του πατέρα μου
Πολλές φορές οι ορθόδοξοι άνθρωποι θέλουν να παραμείνουν με αυτό που έχουν μάθει από τους γονείς τους. Συνήθως αυτό είναι καλό, όπως μαθαίνουμε από πείρα, παρατήρηση, και επανάληψη. Η Ορθοδοξία είναι όχι μόνο ένα σύνολο δογμάτων, αλλά είναι και ένας τρόπος ζωής. Πώς κάνουμε το σταυρό μας, πώς νηστεύουμε, και ποια τραγούδια τραγουδάμε γύρω από τις εορτές κτλ, είναι όλα τα παραδείγματα των πραγμάτων που μαθαίνουμε στο σπίτι.
Μερικοί άνθρωποι της ελληνικής καταγωγής γνωρίζουν την Εκκλησία του παλαιού ημερολογίου, ή την Εκκλησία των Γνησίων Ορθοδόξων Χριστιανών (ΓΟΧ), αλλά είναι διστακτικοί να εκκλησιάζονται εκεί διότι νομίζουν ότι δεν είναι η εκκλησία των γονέων τους. Αλλά εάν οι γονείς μας (ή οι παππούδες και οι γιαγιάδες μας) γεννήθηκαν πριν από το 1924, γεννήθηκαν πραγματικά στην Εκκλησία του παλαιού ημερολογίου. Το 1924, οι επίσκοποι της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος εγκατέλειψαν το παλαιό ημερολόγιο και υιοθέτησαν το Νέο. Οι περισσότεροι ιερείς ακολούθησαν την αλλαγή διότι ήταν μισθωτοί της κρατούσας Εκκλησίας και δεν ήθελαν να χάσουν το μισθό τους. Αλλά παρά ταύτα πολλοί Χριστιανοί (σε μερικά μέρη 25%) και μερικοί ιερείς απέρριψαν αυτήν την αλλαγή. Η αλλαγή του ημερολογίου απαγορεύθηκε ήδη από τρείς Οικουμενικές Συνόδους στο 16ο αιώνα. Οι μοντερνιστικοί επίσκοποι της κρατούσας Εκκλησίας ήξεραν ότι με αυτή τη αλλαγή του ημερολογίου θα ανοίξουν την πόρτα σε πολλές άλλες αλλαγές. Μετά από τα γεγονότα του 1924, μερικοί επίσκοποι και ιερείς επέστρεψαν τελικά στο παλαιό ημερολόγιο μετά που κατάλαβαν το λάθος τους. Η Εκκλησία του παλαιού ημερολογίου συνεχίζει μέχρι σήμερα, και τώρα και έχει μια κοινότητα εδώ στο Greenville!
Η αλήθεια είναι ότι η Εκκλησία των ΓΟΧ δεν είναι διαφορετική από την Εκκλησία των πατέρων μας, είναι η Εκκλησία του νέου ημερολογίου που αποκόπηκε από τη Ορθόδοξο Εκκλησία όπως ήτανε στην Ελλάδα πριν από το 1924. Οι παππούδες μας ακολούθησαν την αλλαγή του ημερολογίου ή κατ’ ανάγκη, ή διότι δεν κατάλαβαν το θέμα. Αλλά οι πατέρες τους ήταν με το παλαιό ημερολόγιο, και έτσι εάν θέλουμε πραγματικά να ανήκουμε στην εκκλησία των προπατόρων μας, πρέπει να επιστρέψουμε στο παλαιό ημερολόγιο. Έχουμε το δικαίωμα να διορθώσουμε την αλλαγή που επιβάλλανε στην Ελλάδα το 1924, και αυτό θα έχει τεράστια πνευματικά οφέλη στις ζωές μας να επιστρέψουμε στην παραδοσιακή Ορθοδοξία.
Ένα πράγμα είναι σίγουρο όμως, εάν δεν επισκέπτεστε την ενορία μας, δεν θα είστε στη θέση ποτέ να δείτε για τον εαυτό σας τι είμαστε. Δεν έχετε τίποτα να χάστε από μια επίσκεψη. Περιμένουμε να σας δούμε στην επόμενη θεία λειτουργία μας!
An Instance of Baptist Harassment
Last Sunday, my wife and I met up for lunch with a priest friend and his family who were visiting from out of town. We went to an Indian restaurant in Cary, North Carolina, since it was close to where our friends were staying. They have three children, and so there were seven of us total at the table, which necessitated much shifting, re-arranging, and trips to the buffet. The conversation was a blessing, and we enjoyed each other’s company.
At one point, the wife left the table with two of the children, leaving Father alone with his youngest, whom he picked up and calmed down when she began to act up. It was at this moment that the family sitting in the table across from us sprung in to action. The father of the family, who had a discernable accent suggesting a Mediterranean background, asked our friend the perennial question that we priests face: “what religion are you?” Upon hearing the response, “Orthodox Christian,” the man followed up with a quick retort: “so are you born again? Saved?” From the tone of voice and context, I was rather sure the man knew what we were, and that he was baiting my friend.
My Father’s Church
Orthodox people tend to want to stick to what they’ve learned from their parents. This is usually a good thing, as we learn from experience, observation, and repetition. Orthodoxy is not just a set of theoretical beliefs, but also a way of life. How we make the sign of the Cross, how we keep the fasts, and what songs we sing around holidays, are all examples of things we learn in the home.
Some people of Greek descent are aware of the Old Calendar Church, but are hesitant to attend because they think it is not the Church that their parents attended. But if our parents (or grandparents) were born before 1924, they were actually born in the Old Calendar Church. In 1924, the bishops of the Church of Greece abandoned the Old Calendar, and the priests who depended on the Church for their salaries mostly followed. Many faithful, in some areas 25 percent, rejected this change, however, because the change in calendars had already been rejected by three councils in the 16th century, the bishops at that time foreseeing that allowing just one major change would open the door to many others. After the events of 1924, several bishops and priests eventually returned to the Old Calendar Church, after they realized their mistake. The Old Calendar Church continues today, and now even has a parish here in Greenville!
The fact is, then, that it is not the Old Calendar Church of Greece that is “different” than the Church of our fathers. It is the New Calendar Church which has broken from the Orthodox Church as it existed in Greece before 1924. Why our parents or grandparents went along with the change is in many cases because they were forced, or did not understand the issue. But their fathers were on the Old Calendar, and so if we really want to belong to the Church of our ancestors, beyond just what our parents did, we should return to the Old Calendar. We are free to undo the change that was forced upon Greece in 1924, and this will have immense spiritual benefits in our lives as we return to a more traditional way of practicing the Orthodox faith.
One thing is certain, however; if you don’t visit the Church, you will never be able to see for yourself who we are, and how we put these ideas into practice. You have nothing to lose from a visit, so we look forward to seeing you at our next Divine Liturgy!
My Father’s Church
Orthodox people tend to want to stick to what they’ve learned from their parents. This is usually a good thing, as we learn from experience, observation, and repetition. Orthodoxy is not just a set of theoretical beliefs, but also a way of life. How we make the sign of the Cross, how we keep the fasts, and what songs we sing around holidays, are all examples of things we learn in the home.
Some people of Greek descent are aware of the Old Calendar Church, but are hesitant to attend because they think it is not the Church that their parents attended. But if our parents (or grandparents) were born before 1924, they were actually born in the Old Calendar Church. In 1924, the bishops of the Church of Greece abandoned the Old Calendar, and the priests who depended on the Church for their salaries mostly followed. Many faithful, in some areas 25 percent, rejected this change, however, because the change in calendars had already been rejected by three councils in the 16th century, the bishops at that time foreseeing that allowing just one major change would open the door to many others. After the events of 1924, several bishops and priests eventually returned to the Old Calendar Church, after they realized their mistake. The Old Calendar Church continues today, and now even has a parish here in Greenville!
The fact is, then, that it is not the Old Calendar Church of Greece that is “different” than the Church of our fathers. It is the New Calendar Church which has broken from the Orthodox Church as it existed in Greece before 1924. Why our parents or grandparents went along with the change is in many cases because they were forced, or did not understand the issue. But their fathers were on the Old Calendar, and so if we really want to belong to the Church of our ancestors, beyond just what our parents did, we should return to the Old Calendar. We are free to undo the change that was forced upon Greece in 1924, and this will have immense spiritual benefits in our lives as we return to a more traditional way of practicing the Orthodox faith.
One thing is certain, however; if you don’t visit the Church, you will never be able to see for yourself who we are, and how we put these ideas into practice. You have nothing to lose from a visit, so we look forward to seeing you at our next Divine Liturgy!
Shedding Light on Our Fears
Dear Friends in Christ,
I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year! Given the snow event, we had to cancel liturgy on Sunday, December 26, and so I decided to hold a Vespers service Friday night so we could start off our New Year with prayer and meet together for our customary three services per month. Presbytera Michaela and I ended up spending the night quietly at home with family. We hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend, too!
This is the time when everyone talks about making a resolution to begin a new project, or to quit a bad habit. I won’t write today about making resolutions, because we all know how to do that, and we also know how often they are broken! Instead, I would like to comment on what can keep us from making the resolutions we should make in the first place: fear.
Just a public service announcement mostly aimed at the Greeks on my Facebook friends list, owing from a question I recently received: wearing the blue eye necklace/pin/jewelry as a way to “ward off” the evil eye is itself a demonic superstition, especially with all the rituals associated with it involving oil, spitting, etc. You are inviting other demons to come and inhabit your home and be a part of your life when you engage in this superstitious behavior! If you were becoming ill from eating food, would you try to “ward off” that illness by eating more food of a different variety, or would you just cut to the chase and take medicine?
While “the evil eye” is certainly a real thing (someone hating someone or wishing evil on them invites demonic attacks), the antidote is not in talismans, but rather in the prayers of the Church. There is a prayer that your priest can read over you to remove “the evil eye”, curses, negative “energy” being directed at you, etc.
These items are themselves evil and will NOT help you get rid of the evil eye! Don’t use them!
Trust in Jesus Christ, not in witchcraft. If you feel burdened by a depressing feeling, feel that many more bad things are going on in your life than normal, etc., then first pray to Jesus Christ by yourself and ask for His help, and then go to Church and ask the priest to pray for you! Don’t try your “luck” with instruments of the Devil that are disguised as “helpful.”
If you have ever trusted in the blue eye talisman or any other form of superstition to help you with your problems, then please go and confess this to your priest the next time you are in confession. It may not seem like a “big deal,” but you don’t know what the spiritual effects may be in your life.
What’s the Maximum I Have to Do?
Dear Friends in Christ,
Owing to the computer crash last month, the bulletin was not sent out, which also meant I missed being able to send out a reflection. We’ve had a lot happen since then; our regular Divine Liturgies, the celebration of our second anniversary, the Ohi Day Lecture of Dr. Papalas, and of course the Thanksgiving Day holiday. I hope you all were able to enjoy it as much as Presbytera Michaela and I did!
When presented with an obligation, we often ask about the “bottom line,” “the absolute minimum,” “the bare essentials.” In relation to Church, as a priest, I am sometimes asked “what is the minimum one has to do to be a good Christian?” This is nothing new; in today’s Gospel, we saw a similar question posed of Jesus:
Dear Kmart,
I believe that your store provides products at a reasonable price, and that this benefits many people in my community. You kept the Raleigh, NC Capital Boulevard store open even when that area was depressed, which provided jobs for local people, and the ability of locals to benefit from your low-priced goods. As such, I have had a good impression of your organization.
With that in mind, I am disturbed to see that your Raleigh, NC Capital Boulevard store (and I assume others) will be open all day on Thanksgiving. You probably have dual motives, like any corporation. You have an obligation to maximize profits, which I don't object to. You also have a sense of obligation to the local community, and there are surely some who would like to see the store open on a holiday for their last-minute needs.
However, in this case, you also have two other obligations. One is to your employees. They deserve a break from the never-ending hustle and bustle of the modern working life. Your employees are also cheated out of time to spend with their families. The second obligation is to our nation and to do your part to preserve our American culture. Our culture prizes Thanksgiving as one of the oldest holidays of our nation. As more stores are open on this day, the character of the day is diminished.
I encourage you to not repeat this mistake next year. If you are planning on sending a form letter back, there is no need. I just want you to know how I, and other Americans like me, feel about your decision to keep stores open on Thanksgiving.
Kind regards,
Rev. Father Anastasios Hudson
