Interview with the Prying Priest, Fr. Yuri Hladio

Join Fr. Anthony as he talks about cooperative story-telling, liturgy, and the joy of Ukrainian Orthodoxy with Fr. Yuri Hladio, the priest of St. Maria of Paris mission in West Hamilton, Ontario and the host of the wonderful “Prying Priest” podcast (pryingpriest.com).  Enjoy the show! Check out this episode!

Political Science, Dungeons and Dragons, and Orthodoxy

Audio recording of Fr. Anthony’s livestream of 05 December 2020.  He talks for a bit about how political scientists see the world (to include election fraud), but mostly he talks about the joy of playing games – and especially playing dungeons and dragons.  He ends up giving three reasons: it’s fun, it’s good for you […]

2019 Reading List

These are the books I listened to and read for fun this year (in reverse order): Prince of Chaos; Roger Zelazny Knight of Shadows; Roger Zelazny Sign of Chaos; Roger Zelazny Blood of Amber; Roger Zelazny Trumps of Doom; Roger Zelazny That All Shall Be Saved;  David Bentley Hart Windmaster’s Bane; Tom Deitz Fireshaper’s Doom; Tom Deitz The Courts of Chaos; Roger Zelazny The […]

Fr. Anthony’s Kefir Routine

Background. The kefir “grains” are small beads of good bacteria that change milk into kefir at room temperature. The longer the milk is allowed to change, the more sour and (eventually) solid it gets. I like mine at two days. Three days and it’s a bit too sour. Four days and I can’t use it.  […]

On Starting at a New Parish (AFR Podcast and Notes)

The Podcast is here. Review: Ten (Eleven!) Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation In a previous post and podcast, I reviewed Rev. Lawrence W. Farris’ book Ten Commandments for Pastors Leaving a Congregation. It was full of good advice to help set your successor and the parish you are leaving up for success and ensure […]

Homily of the Prodigal Son – The Metaphor of Food

Homily on the Prodigal Son:  A Metaphor on FoodSt. Luke 15:11-321 Corinthians 6:12-20  Introduction Some people think of sin, judgment, and salvation as a courthouse: God gave us rules we have to follow.  Because we fail to follow the rules, God must condemn us at the Great Judgment.  The only thing that keeps this from […]

Homily Notes: Publican and Pharisee

Big problem:  the deep-rooted temptation/sin of self-justification.  Justifying by religion – especially by religious leaders. Hypocrites are the worse.  Priests and bishops really do have to set a good example The news gives us constant reports of clergy who make a mockery of the faith with their lifestyles; I always wonder why they didn’t get […]

Specialization as a threat to spiritual growth

One of the problems I have seen in Orthodoxy is [excessive] clericalism, the idea that religious experts are responsible for our spiritual needs.  We are all members of the royal priesthood!  Bishops and priests provide necessary sacramental services, grace, and guidance [etc.] … but we are all responsible for the state of our souls and the health […]

A Meditation on MLK Jr and Our Own Cowardice

The Lord God stands in the midst of the Divine Council and judges among the gods.”How long will you rule unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?Defend the poor and fatherless, maintain the rights of the afflicted and the destitute.  Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 81/82:1-4) One […]

The Joy of Baking Prosphora

I love baking phosphora.  I’ve worked at it and learned what I can from my betters, but I certainly can’t claim to be great at it… so it’s all the more humbling to realize how this offering is transformed into something so glorious (a prefect metaphor for the Christian life!). Here’s my current approach.  It […]