Happy Fasting!

Beginning tomorrow, I won't be posting or commenting until the Dormition.


A kad postite, ne budite žalosni kao licemeri; jer oni naèine bleda lica svoja da ih vide ljudi gde poste. Zaista vam kažem da su primili platu svoju.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:16

Vlad III, Romanian Hero

Westerners view him negatively, but he's viewed favorably in the East across ecumenical lines.

Greek Fire

Desecration In Bosnia

Thanks to иерей Силуан Диньяк

When You're In Henderson, Nevada

During a discussion over at John's place, I discovered that our own Sophocles is co-owner, and soon to be a larger owner, of Kyklos Greek Cafe in Henderson, Nevada. The fact that Sophocles has access to enough lending--in one of the worst-hit housing markets--to enlarge his ownership stake demonstrates his business acumen. I'd call it extreme acumen.

I'm pleased to call attention to the Kyklos link that I'm placing in the appropriate spot on the right.

Sophocles can tell you what he does in his own words:

Invisible Kosovo

Thanks to Branka Talic

St. Nikolai (Velimirovic) And St. Justin (Popovic)

Thanks to Fr. James Thornton

Valaam "Северный Афон"

"Orthodox Anthem"

Rand And Rights

Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and the smallest minority on earth is the individual).

Ayn Rand

Kosovo! Kosovo!

"Hip-Hop Postulates Correspond To The Spiritual Ones"

I believe you. Really.

Clergy Don't Like Begging For Money

The Church should have its own stable source of income and this income can't be based only on parishioners' donations. The Church can't exist only on money received from selling candles, icons or church literature.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk


Property, prior to its nationalization and theft, provided the Church's income, he believes.

Finally, Good News From Russia

At Vladimir Putin's instruction, Russia will donate $2 million toward restoring Orthodox shrines in Kosovo.

Deadly Symfonia

Colonel Alexander Kozin serves in the Federal Security Service on week days, while on weekends he celebrates Divine liturgies in the garrison Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God on the Fields as besides having a military rank, he carries out a priestly ministry.

Russia's Federal Security Service is the successor organization to the infamous KGB.

Maybe Met. Laurus jumped the gun on reunification.


Father, would you bless my martyr's icon before you interrogate me?

A Strong Hand Is Needed

'The whole human history shows that nations with clear mission and clear goals, which knew exactly why they live and work, were most successful,' head of the Synodal Department for Church and Society Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said speaking on Thursday in Moscow Forum National Project – Russia.

National missions and goals don't emerge spontaneously from a free people. They emerge from tyrants. Fr. Vsevolod, you ain't foolin' me.