ORTHODOXY: Old, New, Borrowed & Blue

First, the old: Hellenism. At Sunday’s lunch I bumped into a man who had just returned from the “Hellenism & Orthodoxy” conference hosted by St Vladimir’s Seminary. Although this man is Greek, I’ve never understood him to be what I would call a Hyper-Hellenist. He said the conference was wonderful! He mentioned that one of his favorite quotes came from a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch, who said (and I paraphrase): “Our expression of Orthodoxy should reflect not so much our ethnicity as our geography.”

Hear! Hear!

Check back with the Orthodox Christian Network for the complete talks (coming soon).

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Under the new: Free Pamphlets!

The Antiochian Archdiocese is now offering two helpful pamphlets:

1) A Guide to Church Etiquette
Everything parishioners need to know about respectful and reverent behavior while in liturgy.

2) Crowned with Glory and Honor
A set of helpful guidelines for Orthodox marriage preparation, including such concepts as the meaning of crowning, and the purpose of the Betrothal Service. Readers will even learn about the wedding almonds!

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Next for the borrowed …

Steve, at Pithless Thoughts, continues to amaze with his Orthographs; some, however, are NSFBS (not safe for Bible Study). The one above speaks volumes with regard to recent events. Yay!

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Finally, the blue …

Did I ever tell you about the time the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God spent the night in my hotel room? It’s true, thanks God, but for another time.

Recently, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kyril served a Moleben before the image at Christ the Savior Cathedral:

Doh!
Those thumbnails don’t do justice!

Click HERE & enlarge.

Photo of the Opening Prayers of the First Episcopal Assembly (at top), taken by Dimitri Panagos; lifted from the daily Clergy Brotherhood Memo of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America (June 14, 2010).