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… Continue reading On Being a Bi-Vocational Priest
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… Continue reading Pre-Lenten Spiritual Sticky Notes
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… Continue reading Η Εκκλησία του πατέρα μου
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… Continue reading An Instance of Baptist Harassment
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… Continue reading My Father’s Church
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… Continue reading My Father’s Church
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… Continue reading Shedding Light on Our Fears
On Wearing Jewelry to Ward Off the Evil Eye
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… Continue reading On Wearing Jewelry to Ward Off the Evil Eye
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… Continue reading What’s the Maximum I Have to Do?
Letter to Kmart About Being Open on Thanksgiving
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… Continue reading Letter to Kmart About Being Open on Thanksgiving