Read the Dead Sea Scrolls Online!
I don’t want merely to repeat what’s already being about this, but this is a great opportunity. If you’ve been wanting to read the Dead Sea Scrolls yourself, here you go:...
View ArticleA Quick Trip to the ASCH Conference
Well, I returned from the American Society of Church History conference in New Orleans on Saturday, in time to celebrate Theophany. The timing of the conference is not good for Orthodox, as it is...
View ArticleUncovering the City of Myra in Lycia
Well, St. Nicholas of Myra, which was in Lycia, which is now in today’s Turkey, is the patron saint of our parish. The following provides some neat photography, especially the picture of the sanctuary...
View ArticleTheophany: The Baptism of Jesus and Holy Water
The celebration of Theophany, together with the blessing of waters is a uniquely Eastern Christian tradition. The Western Christian tradition celebrates the visitation of the Magi to the young Jesus....
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10th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood
On January 18, 2003, I was ordained to the priesthood in the Orthodox Church in America. I had been a deacon since May 25, 2002. In 2003, I was starting my last semester at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox...
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Orthodox Christians Bless Red River in Fargo
Normally at this time of year, if the Red River Valley hears of anything regarding Orthodox Christianity and blessing water, it is a report from some faraway place like Russia or Greece. What many...
View ArticleOrthodox Bishops Weigh in on Roe v. Wade and Abortion
Here is a link to the statement from the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in America: http://www.assemblyofbishops.org/news/2013/jan-22-roe-vs-wade-anniversary
View ArticleMore Discoveries Concerning the Assyrian Empire
Those of you familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures know that the Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrian Empire around 722, when Hoshea attempted to remove the yoke (the Northern Kingdom, called Israel,...
View ArticleSt. Valentine’s Day: Loving God to the Point of Martyrdom
We don’t often think about St. Valentine as an actual saint, certainly not in our consumerist driven society. After all, there isn’t much of a way to make Christian martyrdom a consumer good,...
View ArticleWhen Did Christianity Arrive in Western Scotland
Recent archaeological findings just might help give an answer to the question of when Christianity established itself in Western Scotland. The typical date is given around 1000, under the leadership...
View ArticleArchaeology, History, Tourism, and Ideology
Past Horizons has a fascinating article discussing the employment of archaeology for ideology promotion (by Chemi Schiff):...
View ArticleAssorted Church History News
Today, while taking a break, I came across some very intriguing articles that I share with you all here. I realize that is not why one comes to this site typically, but in this case, I hope you’ll...
View ArticleThe Current Usefulness and Limitations to Computer Textual Analysis
Recently, some scholars have made use of computer analysis to address the questions of who wrote the Federalist Papers and who wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews:...
View ArticleOrthodox Christians Enter Lent with Forgiveness Vespers
Today, Orthodox Christians around the world entered into Lent. Western Christians have been in Lent for some time. Most years, Western Christian Easter does not align with Eastern Christian Easter...
View ArticleSt. Ephrem the Syrian and Lent
This Wednesday, tomorrow already, we will discuss St. Ephrem the Syrian in our Wednesday educational meeting. St. Ephrem is an important saint for many reasons, not the least of which is the Lenten...
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Orthodox Chaplains and Prayers
As many, if not all of the readers of our parish blog already know, I have been commissioned as a chaplain in the Air National Guard. I include a picture of that here: My date is easy to remember:...
View ArticleAbortion as a Political, Philosophical, and Theological Issue: Connecting a...
North Dakota has recently passed legislation restricting abortion. Although, in part, it draws a line at a “heartbeat,” which does not define when conception occurs and allows for “the morning after...
View ArticleBrief Update on Bishop Matthias
For those of you who were unable to attend Liturgy this morning, please read the letters from Bishop Matthias and Metropolitan Tikhon on the diocese’s webpage: http://www.midwestdiocese.org/ Bishop...
View ArticleBiblical History and Archaeology Shackled by Politics Yet Again
Well, it seems that once again, what is going on within geo-politics affects whether and how we understand the history behind the Bible and archaeology evidence. It seems that there is a significant...
View ArticleOrthodox Christian Bishops in Syria Kidnapped
This news story as slowly begun being publicized amongst Orthodox in America and the West. I share this with our parish and readers in order to help keep us informed and ask for prayers....
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