A journal of byzantine digressionS
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An Important Announcement!
Know, dearly beloved Brethren, that by the mercy of God, as we have been rejoicing in the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, so also do we announce unto you the joy of the Resurrection of the same our Saviour.Septuagesima Sunday will be on the 16th day of February. Ash Wednesday and the beginning of…
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I am Herod.
Notes from Father’s Sermon yesterday. 1. We like to compare ourselves to shepherds and magi2. We know where the messiah is to be born, we have a wealth of patristic commentary, we are surrounded by support for our faith yet we most often decide to act in a most unfaithful way.3. We are more like…
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A.D. VIII Kal. Jan.
I n the 5199th year of the creation of the world, from the time when in the beginning God created heaven and earth; from the flood, the 2957th year; from the birth of Abraham, the 2015th year; from Moses and the going-out of the people of Israel from Egypt, the 1510th year; from the anointing of David as king, the…
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From the Royal Hours for Nativity
Today he who holds creation in the hollow of his hand is born of a Virgin.Today he who holds creation in the hollow of his hand is born of a Virgin.Today he who holds creation in the hollow of his hand is born of a Virgin. He who in his being cannot be touched is…
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Ducking Out.
I had a friend back east, a pastor in a “mainline” denomination who had engaged me to talk about Orthodox spirituality in an Adult Sunday School class. Now, I’ll be honest, my friend whom I love and pray for always is an Alpha Male who does not gracefully yield his teaching space. So, while I…
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M-B typing thoughts
Some people in my social circles just had their Myers-Briggs Types done, along with a consultation with an MBTI therapist… and I’ve been doing some self examinations (I have an MBTI coming up in the new year). I usually think of myself as an Introvert b/c when the party is over (and I may have…
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Old Calendar Readings – 1 Advent
Trying something new here: readings as assigned on the Old Calendar. Again, these are for MP and EP in the Rite of St Tikhon. As far as I know, these are not authorised by ROCOR’s WR Vicarate. But if you want a set of daily readings on the Julian Calendar, here they are! Dates are…
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Daily Readings 14 – 21 Dec AD 2013
The Daily Offices for Morning and Evening Prayer in the Rite of St Tikhon. The readings are as assigned by the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate supplemented with other devotional material. Each MP/EP link will take you to a complete office, needing only the daily psalter or, for MP, the Martyrology link. Saturday Conception 8va (Advent Feria) –…
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O Rex – 6th Advent Meditation
Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. King of the Nations, and the one they desired, keystone, who makes both peoples one, come and save mankind, whom you shaped from the mud. Making both people one… There is a lot of “us vs…
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Daily Readings 7 – 14 Dec 2014
The Daily Offices for Morning and Evening Prayer in the Rite of St Tikhon. The readings are as assigned by the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate supplemented with other devotional material. Each MP/EP link will take you to a complete office, needing only the daily psalter or, for MP, the Martyrology link. Sat St Ambrose of…
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O Oriens – 5th Advent Meditation
Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. Dawn, splendor of eternal light, and sun of justice, come, and shine on those seated in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Dawn… it’s the slow realization of the light. There’s a prayer in the communion preparations of…
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Advent Soup & Frybread
For Orthodox of both eastern and western rites, the period leading up to Christmas is a time of abstaining from animal products. Fish may be ok, shellfish too, but meat, dairy and eggs are right out. So we find other things to do. These two recipes have become mainstays for me this season, already: and…
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O Clavis – 4th Advent Meditation
Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel, qui aperis, et nemo claudit, claudis, et nemo aperuit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. Key of David, and sceptre of the house of Israel, you open, and no one shuts, you shut, and no one opens: come, and lead the prisoner from…
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Daily Office 30 Nov-7 Dec AD 2013
The Daily Offices for Morning and Evening Prayer in the Rite of St Tikhon. The readings are as assigned by the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate supplemented with other devotional material. Sat – St Andrew, Apostle – MP – EP – Martyrology 1st Sunday of Advent – MP – EP – Martyrology Mon – St Peter…
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O Radix – 3rd Advent Meditaiton
Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare. Root of Jesse, who stand as a sign for the people, kings stand silent in your presence, whom the nations will worship: come to set us free, put it off no longer.…
Orthoparadoxy 