This month I started teaching a theology class on “Kyivan Spirituality” here in the parish and at our seminary in New Jersey. They say that the best way to learn something is to teach it. Given how mundane (i.e. non-spiritual) I am, there has been a … [Continue reading]
Catching Up
January 19, 2009 By
It’s been even busier here than normal over the last couple of weeks. Not only are we are in the midst of our Nativity Season (today is Theophany, when we celebrate the Baptism of Christ) with all the extra services, celebrations, and caroling, but I … [Continue reading]
Life on the Old Calendar
December 29, 2008 By
Introduction: Christmas on 12/25 or 1/7? While the majority of Orthodox Christians in the world use the Julian (aka “Old”) Calendar for liturgical purposes, the majority of Orthodox Christians here in the West join our heterodox and secular … [Continue reading]
Soviet atheism and American secularism
December 21, 2008 By
Introduction: thinking about the radical atheism of the Soviet Communists The Soviet Communists were atheist totalitarians. They tried to create a system that would make both faith and the religious institutions that foster it seem silly and … [Continue reading]
On Newsweek’s Religious Case for Gay Marriage
December 9, 2008 By
I warned my parishioners that the only thing that the Fathers spent more time preaching on than money was sex. I’m sure they rather I talked about their budgets! Advocacy Journalism - and Bible Study - at their Worst The December 15th (2008) … [Continue reading]
Just another update
December 8, 2008 By
This past week was another busy week. Monday: After updating the website and publishing the podcast, I headed to New Britain for Ihumen Gregory’s memorial service (Panakhida). We carried his casket from the hearse, up the stairs, then into the … [Continue reading]
Mumbai attack – connecting the dots
December 1, 2008 By
Islamist terrorists conducted coordinated attacks against pre-selected targets in Mombai last week. This kind of attack requires a network consisting of well-developed recruiting, training, intelligence, operations, and command & control cells. … [Continue reading]
How many cars do we need?
November 29, 2008 By
Our economy continues to “correct” itself after decades of being artificially inflated by easy credit, poor saving habits, and superfluous spending. The government is attempting to ease the effects of this correction by replacing the suddenly prudent … [Continue reading]
The Holodomor – not just bureaucratic excess
November 24, 2008 By
A letter to the editor entitled “Stalin didn’t purposely starve Ukrainians” recently appeared in the local paper. The author attempts to dispel the “myth”, “tall tale”, and “legend” of the Ukrainian Holodomor in 1932-33. Sifting through his … [Continue reading]
The Orthodox Witness of Peace and the Repose of +Ihumen Gregory
November 23, 2008 By
It is with a “profound depth of sadness and prayer” that I share the news that the servant of God, Ihumen (abbot) Gregory fell asleep in the Lord this past Thursday evening. You will remember that I have asked all of you to pray for him: please … [Continue reading]
