Growing up, I never got Christianity. I went to Church because my parents dragged me there, I didn't pay attention in Church School, and by the time I was a high schooler I had completely lost my faith. I went to college in '93, and there I became involved in Wicca/Witchcraft and the occult. In August of '99, a TV special on the Shroud of Turin ( Read more... )

What can I say, as a married Orthodox Christian I can't help but love the Holy Martyr St. Valentine ^_^

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There's been many versions on film of Christ's resurrection from the dead on the third day, but this I think may be one of my favorites. It's from the 1927 movie "King of Kings" directed by Cecil B. DeMille and features very early two-color Technicolor. The fact that it's a silent film gives it a bit of a timeless quality.

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This past Sunday was Forgiveness Sunday (also known as Cheesefare Sunday) in the Orthodox Church. I'm a bit late, but if I have hurt or offended anyone during the past year, I'm sorry. And if anyone has offended or hurt me during the past year, I forgive you.

"Don't Laugh in High School!" A group of contestants are sent back to high school. The school has one main rule- don't laugh on the school grounds. Of course, it doesn't help when everyone in the school is attempting to get them to laugh! And if they laugh, they receive immediate punishment! My favorite is the segment where the teacher leaves the ( Read more... )

So I went to Church today for Othros (also known as Matins, the liturgical prayers said/sung before the Divine Liturgy), and since I'm in the choir I was all ready to stand with Regina in the choir. Regina is this wonderful older lady who's been going to the same Antiochian Orthodox Church for the last 61 years! Anyways, my Spiritual Father, Father ( Read more... )

It's funny what we do to some Saints. We turn Saint Nicholas of Myra into Santa Claus, we turn the feast day of Saint Patrick into an excuse to drink, and as for the Holy Martyr Saint Valentine, all we think of when we hear St. Valentine is flowers, chocolates, Cupids, Valentines Day card and romance ( Read more... )

I'm a former Irish Catholic, and I'm now an Antiochian Orthodox Christian. I have become fascinated, however, by a book called "Father Arseny, 1893-1973" all about a Russian Priest sent to the gulags by the Soviet authorities for his faith. I knew that the Soviet Union was hostile towards the Russian Orthodox Church, but like most Westerners I had ( Read more... )

From the Orthodoxy livejournal page:

Please remember Deacon Matthew and Reader Constantine in your prayers. They left today for Haiti to help with the Orthodox mission there. We have no news as of yet what the status of the mission is.
I just thought I'd share this with anyone reading. Please keep Deacon Matthew and Reader Constantine in your prayers ( Read more... )

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Lyrics:

Refrain: O Rejoice Bride unwedded.
O Virgin pure, immaculate, O Lady Theotokos. (Refrain)
O fleece bedewed with every grace. O Virgin Queen and Mother.(Refrain)
More radiant that the rays of the sun, and higher than the heavens. (Refrain)
O joy of virgin choruses, superior to the angels. (Refrain)
O brighter than the firmament and purer that the ( Read more... )