Beards are all the rage. Here in New England, the Red Sox just won the World Series by getting their beards on; the male cast of Duck Dynasty has also done their part to bring respect to the beard. In my profession, beards are often seen as part of the game. When I was catechized, […]
From our Parish Service Book: Twelve Things
October 9, 2013 By
Twelve Things I Wish I’d Known:Learning how to Live and Love Orthodox Worship Welcome to the God-protected, God-loving parish of St. Michael’s! Here are some things that we hope will increase the profundity of your worship experience here, whether you are an experienced member of this parish, a visitor from another Orthodox parish, or this […]
Ten Things Everyone Should Know about the Divine Liturgy: An Introduction to Orthodox Worship
October 8, 2013 By
Ten Things Everyone Should Know about the Divine LiturgyAn Introduction to Orthodox Worship 1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind… (St. Matthew 22:38)The most striking thing about Orthodox worship is that it is not about you; rather, it is about the one thing needful (St. Luke 10:42). For example, […]
RIOCF: Statement on Same-Sex Marriage
September 21, 2013 By
Rhode Island Orthodox Clergy FellowshipStatement on Same-Sex Marriage We, the clergy of the Orthodox Churches of Rhode Island, express our disappointment over recent developments concerning the status of marriage in our country and in our state. Specifically, we disapprove our state legislature’s vote in favor of and signing into law the practice of same-sex marriage. […]
“Children are not our future – they are our present!”
June 30, 2013 By
Homily in Celebration of our Children and Youth (All Saints Day, 2013) “Children are not our future – they are our present!” These words of our beloved Metropolitan Constantine of blessed memory are not a call to put our children and youth on some kind of throne, but to expect and allow them to join […]
Homily: How to be a Man
June 16, 2013 By
Homily: advice to my oldest son, graduating from high school Introduction Be a hero – the right man in the right place at the right time, prepared to get things done. But how do you do that? It doesn’t just happen on it’s own. Too many men are too lazy or vice-ridden to step up […]
20130325 Paleo, the Paranormal, and Prepping
March 26, 2013 By
Today’s show addresses the questions of Lenten Paleo fasting, whether NDE’s are proof of the soul etc., and what everyone should do to be prepared for the most likely emergencies. I also talk about fun and transformative lenten disciplines like fasting, meditation, and walking. Enjoy the show! Check out this episode Some links for this […]
20121107 Gvosdev on Orthodoxy and Politics
November 20, 2012 By
The hits keep coming! After I share some of my thoughts on how to approach democratic politics as a member of a minority faith that has universalist moral truth claims (hint: I love the U.S. Constitution), I share an awesome interview with Professor Nick Gvosdev. He gives historical and theological hope for a “third way” […]
Why do Orthodox Christians Participate in “Pagan” Activities?
October 29, 2012 By
We have some Jehovah’s Witnesses that come by the rectory pretty regularly (you have to admire their persistent optimism!). Theologically, Jehovah’s Witnesses are latter-day followers of the heretic Arius: they do not believe that Jesus Christ is the uncreated, only-begotten Son of God, One of the Holy Trinity. But that is not the point for […]
Homily (notes): The Parable of the Sower (St. Luke 8:5-15)
October 28, 2012 By
God explained his own parable, but he waited to explain its real importance in the next parable (found in the version recorded by St. Matthew, not by St. Luke): nothing but the things that grow from the pure seed of God will endure: When confronted with a field full of tares and wheat; “In the […]
