God Delights In The Death Of His Saints

"Many times I have seen the reflection of Your glory on the faces of the dead. What unearthly beauty and joy shone from them; how ethereal and immaterial were their features. This is the triumph of happiness and peace received gracefully, as they silently call upon You. At the hour of my death also illumine my soul as I call: Alleluia! "

Kontakion 12
Akathist of Thanksgiving
Fr. Gregory Petroff

My Buddy

NYC pub owner bans `Danny Boy' in March

In The Beginning Was Bill Buckley

Memory Eternal.

1389?

``I mean, after all, we're talking about something from 1389 - 1389. It's time to move forward.''

Funny, I hadn't considered that option.

No One Saw This Coming

Kosovo Serb protesters attack UN police

I May Get In Trouble For This One

Gabriel solicited suggestions about his Lenten reading, but strayed dangerously (for me) into blaming various characters for their parts in the decline of Western Civilization. I'm elated at his targeting of Rousseau and Marx, but uncertain about Nietzsche. I blame Nietzsche for Freud, or maybe Freud for Freud, but I don't blame Nietzsche for the Nazis. I do blame Nietzsche's sister for the Nazis.

Anyway, given my preoccupation with the relationship of Church and State, I expressed an interest in the formative role of the Roman Catholic Church in shaping young Hitler's and Himmler's minds. Likewise, I'm interested in the formative role of the Orthodox Church in shaping young Stalin's mind.

Offhand, I can't think of a Protestant tyrant, other than Cromwell, but I'll keep looking.

Anyone who's read my posts and comments knows that I have little patience for Orthodox who think that an Orthodox Tsar would be the best leader for an Orthodox State. In fact, it's certainly possible that the close identification of the Russian Orthodox Church with Russian Czar created the impression that both institutions' goals were identical. Frankly, I'd like to see the Orthodox Church as the established state church in states with republican or limited monarchical governments and free economies. A closer intertwining, in my view, would breed a decadence and backlash that doesn't help anyone.

I Guess Utilitarianism Is Bad

I'm amused when folks speak longingly about the age of chivalry, for underlying such longings is the unmindfulness of the economic infrastructure that supports the noble caste's leisure. The human capital providing economic support was, of course, some form of coercive economic servitude. We've seen this kind of magical chivalric existence in the modern era--Czarist Russia and the Antebellum South. Some of the costs associated with maintaining the structure of coercive parasitism were imposed on the society at large, and those citizens too were excluded from the chivalric dream of a few.

By the way, the "leisure" of Ancient Greece was supported by economic actors excluded from its "democracy".

Kingdom Consciousness

A little while ago I suspected that Och might get this topic going, and I've spent a little time thinking about Joel Osteen.

It's true; I like Osteen. He's pleasant and upbeat. He's kind and considerate. He wants folks to succeed.

His prosperity message is very Old Testament, wherein God's favor is demonstrated by material prosperity, and His disfavor...well, just ask the Noah or the Sodomites.

The only problem is that Christ came along and showed us that sometimes things aren't so simple. Orthodox Christians are especially aware of the phenomenon known as martyrdom--in which material failure veils spiritual success.

I'm having trouble finding the Kingdom in Osteenism.

Early Presidential Discussions

Och announces his preference. Comments appear to favor Ron Paul. Not bad, but what about foreign policy?

Nazi-Supported Independent State of Croatia

An Orthodox blogger questioned the connection of my comment regarding the Serbian Holocaust in Croatia during World War II and his posting regarding the 75th anniversary of Adolf Hilter's rise to power.

I can sort of understand why the connection would appear to be tenuous, since the popular culture's idea of Hitlerian Big Events doesn't include atrocities in an obscure European corner.

Hilter permitted the Ustashe (a Croatian nationalist organization) to create the Independent State of Croatia, which proceeded to kill, deport, and forcibly convert to Roman Catholicism hundreds of thousands of Orthodox Serbs. The leading Latin prelate in Croatia, Archbishop (later Cardinal) Stepinac, supported the forced conversions. Interestingly, Stepinac was beatified by Pope John Paul II, who ironically was a keen advocate of Latin/Orthodox ecumenism. Many Latin priests and monks participated in the atrocities.

The US Holocaust Museum website has information about the third largest concentration camp in Europe, Jasenovac, whose sometime commander was a Franciscan priest. The Serbian Orthodox Church website has information about this unfortunate period.


"Because of your faith in God and God's justice,
ye have suffered earthly sorrow in the flesh;
yet ye saved your souls, as heaven rejoices and your ancestors sin our in Heaven,
greeting you at the gate of Paradise in son;
Your names are in the book of eternity,
enter into Paradise, ye children of immortality!
Therefore we on earth, your posterity, cry out in unison:
Holy New Martyrs, pray for us."

Troparion of the New Martyrs of Serbia, Tone 8
(Composed by St. Nikolai (Velimirovich))

My Hero

Orthodixie's interview

Don't Beat Around The Bush, Pretty Please

It must be hunting season somewhere. That's why I loaded 00 buck here and here.

Potpourri

Ecumenism and economics

Me Loves Putin, But Just For Today

Now, will the West continue to kick Serbia with impunity?

You make me feel like dancing,
I wanna dance the night away...

This comment is too autobiographical, but I got carried away by Och's return.

I Wish That I Had Said Something Earlier

Gabriel has written a series of posts on limits. I've wanted to comment on some of them, but time contradicted my desire. After he expressed frustration at the whole subject, I found the time for a small comment.

Why isn't anyone surprised at this one?

Catholics play vital role in helping migrants to US

Me Loves Maxim

Och praises Maxim, and so do I.

Now We're Seeing Some REAL Christianity

Serbia's parliament overwhelmingly voted to tie the issue of EU and NATO membership to the status of Kosovo-Metohija. It's about time, and it's just what the doctor ordered.

Few Westerners have heard of the Metohija part of Kosovo-Metohija, and it's too much for anyone to expect that vapid network journalists would perform any intellectual heavy lifting, despite their pretentions.

Metohija means "Church lands", and this is the part of Kosovo-Metohija that is so rich in Orthodox history, churches, and monasteries.

Feast your mind on this writer and and this wonderful piece.

Incidentally, for all of the trash-talking about Vladimir Putin, he's been steadfast in his support of the Orthodox solution in Kosovo-Metohija.

As a personal aside, I am particularly fascinated with Serbia and Serbian Orthodoxy since Serbia's variation on Church/State symphonia involved a limited monarchy, rather than the more archetypical absolutist variety. I really get tired of Orthodox folks who think that Czars and such are the only truly Orthodox rulers.

Little Lent Arrived Too Soon

A promising discussion was brewing over at Och's blog, but the Calendar will force me to cut my participation way short.