Happy New Year! 2011

Here wishing that 2011 will be better than 2010, especially for Bishop Mark and the faithful of the AOANA!

May the economy prosper!

May the forces of evil be beaten back!

May this disease called "Political Correctness" be cured!

May there be even better beer and food!

May everyone get what they need and not what they greed!

May God Bless you and keep you in his sight!

Here's to 2010!

VSO

Living by the point of my spear

Soon to be included in my library:

Living by the Point of My Spear by Zaki Ameen. He's a former Iman who through his own research of arabic and muslim sources discovered the truth about his own religion and how it has been hidden and obsfucated.



Don't burn the koran. READ IT!

Real Men of Orthodoxy: Mr. and Madam Pew Blocker

* With apologies to the guys in the Bud light commercials*

Orthodox Cavemen present: Real Men of Orthodoxy

Real Men of Orthodoxy

Today we salute you Mr. and Madam Pew Blocker

Mister and Madam Pew Blocker

The end of the pew in the center aisle is your domain. You are the King and Queen of that entrance and Woe unto they who try to sit there.

You shall not pass!

You sit like an impenetrable fortress, refusing to move in for anyone, and we mean ANYONE. The TSA don't have this kind of security. Stonewall Jackson would be proud.

You shall not pass!

No one will sit next to their loved ones. Not on your watch.

You can go around!

So here's to you Gandalf the guardian of pews. It's because of you they were taken out.

Mister and Madame pew blocker

Black Bart defends ecumenism

His "All Holiness" ecumenist pan-heresiarch Black Bart the bishop of Istanbul is defending his public denials that Christ is the only path to salvation. Read this and tell me if this sounds like something Sts. John Chrysostom or Maximus the Confessor would say.

Constantinople (AsiaNews) - On the eve of the holiday season, Bartholomew I delivered a major address before an highly qualified audience [and what does THAT mean?] from the Orthodox world, defending the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s choice for inter-faith dialogue. "We will insist on dialogue, despite the criticism that we suffer," he said. "There is, unfortunately, a certain religious fundamentalism, a tragic phenomenon, which can be found among Orthodox and Catholics, among Muslims and Jews. These are people who think they alone have the right to exist on earth, almost as if they alone have the right to rule on this our planet according to the Old Testament. [so I guess Jesus lied when he said that stuff about him "the Way, the Truth and The Life" (John 14:6) And they say there is no room for anyone else, and are therefore opposed to any dialogue."

The Patriarch continued: "We are subject to criticism and attack because we maintain relations with the Pope (because we are strong supporters of the ecumenical dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics), with Islam and the Jewish world. But we will continue to move forward on our journey, according to the path laid by our predecessors, well aware of our actions, regardless of the criticisms of which we are object. These fringes, characterized by extreme positions, are everywhere. It is therefore natural that we suffer their criticisms, according to their ideological dictates, all of us who try to widen our horizons and have a theological view of things. Because we want the peaceful coexistence of all, based on the principles of charity and friendship. "

Bartholomew I added: "This is the credo of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and I want to remember that in 1920 the regent of the patriarchal see, along with the synod, had addressed to Catholics and Protestants an encyclical, called 'The community of churches', along the lines of the newly created 'society of nations'. That encyclical is considered today by the World Council of Churches as the 'Charter' of the ecumenical movement of our time. This is a well known fact to insiders, and it is good that it should be made as widely known to as many people as possible”.

Then Bartholomew I went on to highlight: "With regard to interreligious dialogue, it is our belief and our creed. Because we need to know each other better, to work together while respecting the religious beliefs of others, their cultural identity, without oppression. This is the only way to live in peace. For this reason, the Patriarchate, in addition to having a dialogue with other Churches and Christian denominations, has established over the past 25 years a dialogue with Islam and Judaism. We have had several successful meetings. With the Muslims and Jews, our brothers, we do not discuss purely theological issues as it would be difficult. But we talk about social issues, social issues that effect all people, all humanity, all over the world. "

Ecology has been one of the favorite themes of the Ecumenical Patriarchate since 1989. The Patriarch said: "Everything that we try to do, we do because we believe it is our duty, because the Church should be actively present in the contemporary world and be sensitive to people's problems, raise awareness and encourage them to love and protect nature like their own homes". He added: "The environment, nature, is God's creation and do not belong only to us who live today in 2010. They belong to all future generations. "

Bishop Dositheos, spokesman for the Patriarchate, commented on the Patriarch’s homily for AsiaNews, "a certain confusion prevails in some sectors of the Orthodox Christian world between the two terms, tradition and traditionalism. Tradition, to which those minorities often refer, is the ongoing search to interpret and understand the truth, while traditionalism which essentially belong to these minorities, is an intellectual sterility which often is identified with nationalism in the Orthodox world”.

A common tactic among ecumenists is to label those of us who believe in actual and...dare I say it...TRUE ORTHODOXY as fundamentalists. Well isn't this kumbaya spirit that is forced upon us by Black Bart and like-minded World Orthodox a form of fundamentalism? This is coming from the same obsolete synod who think they own the USA which they refer to insultingly as "the diaspora" and thinks only they can grant a local church autocephaly while denying that Christ is the only True Path. As my good buddy and fellow former Antiochian Nathan has pointed out in the past, according to Black Bart et al (or perhaps it's better to say "Green Bart") Christ is A way, A truth and A life and that any man can cometh to the Father through him or other ways. That'd be fine, if it weren't coming from an Orthodox bishop.

Let these offenses, introduced by Ecumenical Patriarchs Sergius, Pyrrhus and Paul into the Church, be removed; let those who have introduced them be deposed; and then the path to salvation will be cleared of all barriers, and you will walk on the smooth path of the Gospel, cleansed of all heresy! When I see the Church of Constantinople as she was formerly, then I will enter into communion with her without any exhortation on the part of men. But while there are heretical temptations in her, and while heretics are her bishops, no word or deed will convince me ever to enter into communion with her.”

If St. Maxius the Confessor can take such a stand, so can I.

Getting the Text for the Nativity Vigil

Hello True Believers!

As usual I will be observing Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Traditional date (Old Calendar) with the local ROCOR (Hilarion) folks only this time I'll have non-Orthodox guests observing. I can't speak a word of russian or slavonic and at least half of the service is usually in both. I'd like to be able to tell them how longer we have to go, and what those russian guys are saying.

Where can I find a text/book/pdf for the Nativity Vigil?

Och mad! Och smash!

Ochis really mad at some pious Ameri-Anglo-Ortho-convert who thinks that Lotar can't reference his church in his blog.

Watch Och open a can of whoop ass! Can you just imagine what they'd say about me?! The AAOS that is.

UPDATE!

Version for Dummies: This all started when DBH (whom I've never heard of) took offense from second hand information that an Orthodox Abbot "had the temerity" *sarcasm off* to opine that Holiness is not possible outside the Orthodox Faith. Sounds reasonable to me, but apparently heretics don't like being called heretics as you will see by the comments that follow, almost all of which are snarky, smug, anti-Orthodox and have the air of the bourgeois elitism so rampant in Anglicanism and in American Orthodoxy ESPECIALLY in the AOANA as can be evidenced in $100 a person haflis, $50 a plate dinners and posh, expensive Conventions, all of which are well beyond my financial means.

Then Lotar took DBH (whoever he is) to task for his "racist" story about the black lady who was the family servant referred to by DBH as "Aunt Susie" but by Lotar as "his Mammy" (a reference to the slave in "Gone with the Wind"). Following that is a great flame war in the comments section thereof. I failed to see the racism in DBH's story but I digress. Ochlophobist had his take also followed with a great flame war in the comments.

This then led to Och's post to which I linked containing Lotar's ordeal with a blogger who goes by "Granny Miller" who sent that email to his priest...as if he can do anything about Lotar's blog.

As for me, I don't care to have Orthodox abbots slammed by a bunch of people from a sect that was started by a tyrant who wanted to get laid and then have the gall to call us heretics. Being called heretics by heretics? Pot meet the kettle.

I also stand firmly by Och and Lotar vis-a-vis the smug elitism, nepotism, simony and class division that runs through American Orthodoxy ESPECIALLY in the AOANA like the Nile through Egypt. I truly believe that the Lord Jesus Christ would not be welcome in his own church if he showed up anonymously because he'd be considered too poor and ergo of no use to those elitists who have an allergy to monasticism. I'm also convinced that Sts Paul, Martin of Tours and every other "convert" wouldn't be welcome by the Gang of Detroit. Order of St. Ignatius? Sure! Here's $1,000! *sarcasm off*

I have no problem with a man making a buck, or a million bucks. I'm not a communist. I'm reminded of a scene from "Fiddler of the Roof":

Tevye: Again with the Rich. What's wrong with being rich?

Perchik: It's no reason to marry. Money is the world's curse.

Tevye: May the Lord smite ME with it! AND MAY I NEVER RECOVER!

What I do have a problem with is people believing themselves to be superior to me just because they make more money, and I have an even bigger problem when it happens in the Church and I have an even bigger problem with Ameri-Anglo-Ortho-Speak as Lotar coins it, and as Och expands upon. And those AAOS people are full of shit.

I'll take popcorn and soda in the dining trailer of my favorite Skete over steak and lobster with the Balamad Glee Club any day.

Blackie Lawless...a Christian?!

For those of you who is not familiar with that name, you may be with the band he leads: W.A.S.P. This band was a shock-rock-hair metal band which began in the 1980's and through many line-up changes still continues today though on a lesser scale of popularity in the USA since the early 1990's. This band earned the ire of a group led by Tipper Gore called the Parents Musical Research Center (which demanded warning labels on records to let parents know about it's content, much like movies) with a single called, "Animal-I **** like a Beast. On stage, following Alice Cooper's lead, they featured half-naked models and did mock torture and even threw meat at their fans. Most of their material were anthems like "I Wanna be Somebody" and "Blind in Texas" whereas others were about getting laid. Former Guitarist Chris Holmes (once married to Lita Ford) even has a infamous scene in the documentary "Decline of the Western Civilization Part II" where he is incredibly drunk while in a swimming pool at night while his mother looks on with disgust. W.A.S.P according to Lawless doesn't stand for anything though the PMRC insisted it stood for "We are Satan's People" or "We are Sexual Perverts". Their magnum opus is a rock opera called "The Crimson Idol" about a aspiring rock musician with the moral, "Be careful what you wish for..."

I was a big W.A.S.P fan in my teen-aged years being a screwed up kid myself, that and the music was complex and "I Wanna Be Somebody" strikes a chord with everyone. This was during a time where I got tired of the hypocrisy of the church where I was raised (does it really matter which one?) and wandered looking for my own answers and ending up with people like Witchy-Poo. When I began my entrance into Orthodoxy I had an LP of "Animal" and threw it in the trash bin of my apartment and got rid of alot of other stuff I felt that I couldn't listen to or endorse if I was to take my new Faith seriously.

Blackie Lawless is one of the last people I'd ever expect to be religious, and I was right during all the time I listened to WA.S.P because he wasn't. FAR from it. But he got tired of profanity for profanity's sake and people "listening with their eyes". Here in this recent interview he explains why he will never sing "Animal" again. His singing voice sounds ALOT different from his speaking voice btw. I just wonder how he's going to perform "The Crimson Idol" since it has alot of profanity in it? Then again I and Jim Caviezel have to swear sometimes too. I first learned of this by accident and found christophobes complaining online about it. Well, the truth is only offensive to those who will not hear it. Blackie Lawless is not Orthodox, but neither is Chuck Norris.

Voice Over Sessions...with Santa

I'm getting into Voice Over acting like those "Real Men of Genius" commercials. This is what it's like: you're doing all these excruciating takes with a bunch of "experts" who couldn't find their own butt without a map. It can make even the jolliest of men want to throw the mic through the stui window! The first take was actually the best fwiw.

Real Men of Orthodoxy: Mr. Ethnic Ghetto guy

*With apologies to the guys in those Bud Light movies*

Orthodox Cavemen present: Real Men of Orthodoxy

Real Men of Orthodoxy

Today we salute you Mister Ethnic Ghetto Guy

Mister Ethnic Ghetto Guy

Your ethnicity defines you, and your Faith, and especially your parish. You want your Liturgy and priest in a language everyone understands, everyone that is who from the Old Country.

What are they saying?

Your parish is your cultural center, your expensive parties and banquets come first. Vespers? Confession? Monasticism. That's for Fundamentalists.

Please pass the kafta.

American Converts? They belong at that "American church"... unless they have money.

But I'm poor!

So here's to you Mr. Lamb kabob. Because you really put the "Fuh" in "Phyletist."

Mister Ethnic Ghetto Guy.

Parenting: German style

I'm not sure how to feel about this story. On one hand I'm opposed to violence, on the other it's a father defending his daughter from a pervert who paid the price for not keeping it in his pants.

German man castrates teenage daughter's 57-year-old boyfriend
An enraged father who disapproved of his daughter's older boyfriend went to his home and castrated him with a bread knife.
By Allan Hall, Berlin 10:11PM GMT 12 Dec 2010

Helmut Seifert, 47, an ethnic German originally from Russia, was enraged when he heard his 17-year-old daughter was having a relationship with Phillip Genscher, 57.

He went to police in the town of Bielefeld where he lives but officers said they were powerless to intervene.

"The man then recruited two work colleagues at his factory and then went to the house of the victim," said police.

"The man was forced to remove his trousers and, fully conscious, he was castrated. The severed testicles were taken away by the perpetrator."

The man was close to bleeding to death but managed to call police. His life was saved but he remains a eunuch for life.

Seifert pleaded guilty and will be on trial for attempted murder next year. But he has remained silent on who his accomplices were.

He told police: "I received a phone call anonymously that my daughter was involved with a guy 40 years older than her. You said you couldn't stop him – so I did.

"I saw it as my duty as a father."

I don't know folks. Beating up the creep is one thing, going to THAT extreme is another. Perhaps this should be a lesson to all perverts Peter Rabbits to stay out of Mr. MacGregor's garden? You be the judge.

Bishop Mark named Adminstrator of DOS

From the DOS website

December 13

(Dallas, TX) Today, it was announced by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, that His Grace, Bishop Mark (Maymom) was officially received into the Orthodox Church in America. His title will be Bishop of Baltimore, Auxiliary to the Metropolitan and Administrator of the Diocese of the South....

His Grace will reside in Dallas and take up temporary residence at the Dallas home of Metropolitan Jonah. His Beatitude purchased the home here when he was Chancellor of the Diocese of the South and then for 10 days Bishop of Fort Worth, Auxiliary Bishop to Archbishop Dmitri. Since then, the Dallas residence has been used only when His Beatitude traveled to Dallas.

Yesterday it was announced that Archpriest Joseph Fester, Chancellor of the Diocese of the South and Dean of St Seraphim Cathedral will be transferred to the Diocese of Washington and be assigned as Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral. At the time the announcement was made in Dallas, His Beatitude announced in Washington, DC, that upon the request of Archpriest Constantine White, Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Fr. White will be transferred to St. Matthew Church in Columbia, MD. The transfers will take effect in February 2011. Father Fester will work with Bishop Mark during this transition period to acclimate him to DOS and Cathedral life. Bishop Mark will meet with the DOS Diocesan Council in February.

The Metropolitan will lead the Nativity of our Lord services at St Seraphim Cathedral on Friday, December 24 and Saturday, December 25 with a midnight Liturgy for the Feast.

The DOS Pastoral Conference will be held this year in Clinton, MS hosted by Holy Resurrection Church. Bishop Mark will be a participant at the annual event. For more information and to reserve a hotel room, click here.

Godspeed to Bishop Mark! He will no longer have to deal with the Damascus Mafia and all it's corruption and BS, nor with ethnic ghetto mentality. I pray he will resist the urge to get involved with politics with the Religious Right as Met. Jonah appears to be doing. Still, the people of the former Diocese of Toledo of the AOANA have suffered a great loss for the sake of a few arab bourgeosie.

A Conversation with Archbishop Nienstadt

The Twin Cities MN got so much snow that the roof of the Metrodome collapsed. Meanwhile across town Catholic Archbishop of St. Paul/Minneapolis John Nienstadt made a visit to one of his parishes. This one in particular has a cantor who is, like me, an Orthodox Christian who is "in between jurisdictions". For a few weeks this fellow has been thinking of what to ask his Eminence knowing that he can't be excommunicated (but he could be fired) and even asked for ideas. Here is his report:

First let me start off by saying that the mood wasn't any different from what it normally is, almost as if nobody really cared. The music selection wasn't special and we didn't do anything for his visit other than let him sit where Fr. X sits, whom was sitting the sidelines for this one. In fact we sung two songs out of the Gather hymnal. [For my Orthodox readers, that is a blue book that has alot of cheesy hippie music in it that many Catholics and anyone else with good taste in music want burned.] The only thing unusual was that there were no altar girls and come communion time they used only 4 lay ministers and they incensed the Gospel book. [Again to my Orthodox readers, for some inexplicable reason (at least to us) the Church of Rome uses girls as acolytes and lets lay people distribute communion. Don't ask me why.] It was just the typical thing I see every week. But it turns out the Archbishop is a good singer and knows alot of Church history.

Afterwards I spotted him in the hallway greeting some people, that is most ignored him for the exhibit of 1st Grade Nativity sets (OT I could tell which ones didn't get any help from parents) so I got in the small line for him. One old lady kissed his ring, two teen-aged girls just shook his hand, then I greeting him like I would any Orthodox bishop, only I got on one knee and said "Laus tibi Magister" which I hope meant "Praise to you Master". He recognized me as being from the choir and I introduced myself and in case Fr. X hadn't told him I was Orthodox and that Fr. X organized these chit-chats with our priests and on behalf of the Orthodox laity I had a few questions, but that I didn't want to take up too much of time and asked if the reception would be better. He said it would and I could talk to him in a few minutes.

The reception was the polar opposite from every reception for every Antiochian bishop I've seen. No grandiose, expensive dinners with the bishop sitting at a big long table surrounded by the clergy and VIPs. It was just cinnamon rolls and milk/coffee/juice. When the Archbishop came in with a deacon no one sung "Eis polla despota" or anything. He snuck in unnoticed in a standard priest suit with a pectoral cross and went from table to table instead of people going to him. Although I did see Met. Joseph do that at the Skete. Anyway I was sitting with a fellow chorister and an elderly lady told me how she liked my singing and how I kissed the bishops ring being that it's too infrequent. "That's how you're supposed to greet a bishop" I said. I went on to describe the Orthodox ways of things: fasts, Liturgics, the Old Mass [The Tridentine Latin Mass or Divine Liturgy of Pope Gregory the Great] and things you never see in the Orthodox Church like altar girls, lay people distributing communion etc. Then the Archbishop came to us. I found that he likes to shake and hold hands even after you kiss his ring. [Sounds like a certain Orthodox abbot I know] I let him go off while I shared information. I ultimately said to these folks to go to the Ukrainian Catholic parish in town to see what I'm talking about. [Ok to all my Old Calendarist friends, I know what you're thinking but he was being what we call "diplomatic" and not wanting to lose his job] I saw the crowd thinning out, which wasn't more than 100
people in the first place. I said to the table I had better get to him before he leaves.

So I approached him again while he was talking to a woman and the parish deacon/seminarian who is on loan from South Dakota. I didn't get the whole conversation but i think that she was thanking him for the DVD's of he and the other MN bishops reiterating God's laws regarding homosexuality and he mentioned that Lutheran pastors thanked him. Then I got to be alone, so to speak with the Archbishop. He is at least 6'1 and pretty lean and has a soft voice like Dick Cheney. I knew that I wasn't going to get anywhere by challenging things he can't control or is required to enforce like Papal Infallibility and the novus ordo so I had to pick out little things to make him think.

I started out saying that I wasn't sure how to put it, and kept stammerin' from not wanting to offend him and losing my job, but I just said that I did research on the Church when I took the job, and have a degree in music from the U of MN and that we studied music history, which is ironically Church history and I had the pleasure of seeing the TLM and meeting Fr. Altier who is a friend of my former pastor and that I felt like I was at home. I felt reverence from all those involved, I felt the Holy Spirit and I don't see any of that here. They don't respect their own sanctuary and treat it like their living room. I could see that he was taking this to heart and nodding in agreement. He said "Yes. Reverence has to come from the heart."

Then I mentioned that we've been to Catholic Weddings, Baptisms and here, and that we see things that we would never see in an Orthodox Church. "Like what?" he asked. "Altar girls, lay people distributing communion, today we had applause. I've heard applause once in an Orthodox church and that was at the Consecration of a new church and that it took ten years to build, and that the Metropolitan asked for it for gratitude for all those who had helped build it, and even that was subdued. I've read some of your Popes encyclicals like Pius X who said, oh what was it? Oh yes. 'It is not fitting for the servant to be applauded in the house of his Master.' And places like Joan of Arc [an infamous pro-sodomy house of heresy in Minneapolis] don't exist in the Orthodox Church." "Really?" he said. "Yes, our bishops would've closed that place down long ago." The look in his eyes was one of intrigue like I was giving him ideas, and then I said, "Well, this is YOUR Archdiocese. How come your not doing anything about it?" "I did" he said. "The pastor there has assured me that all that stuff is going to end." Then he got a serious look in his face "So hopefully it will." The tone in his voice and look in his face suggested to me that he is more than willing to take that final step and close that place down. In other words St. Joan of Arc parish is on double secret probation.

I commented on all those beautiful side altars in the Cathedral [of St. Paul in St. Paul, MN] and I heard that they're never used. He said that "The Mass is usually said on the High Altar. It's not that they're not allowed to use them, it's just that they haven't found a use for them."

I then mentioned, while keeping the priests name anonymous, that I saw a priest on Holy Thursday washing not only women's feet but little girls. He clearly didn't like hearing that but said it is often open to "interpretation" though he doesn't seem to approve.

I then told him my wife wants to know why people keep wanting to shake her hand. He didn't seem to understand what I meant so I mentioned that "Sign of Peace". [Yeah I hate that crap too] He said with a slight pause, "That...is open to interpretation too."

He then motioned like he was about to leave and asked if there was anything else. "Oh Yes your Eminence. Do you do the Tridentine Mass?" [You'll love this Catholic Cavemen] "I do on occasion. Yes." I then thanked him for his time and let him go and ended up holding a door for him on his way out even with a reverential bow like I would one of ours.

"Open to interpretation"? Sounds like a great guy but he didn't really answer some of those questions. He doesn't sound like a enemy of modernism, rather one attempting "orthodox novus ordo" which is a contradiction. Still the gaystapo absolutely HATES this guy for no other reason than enforcing God's laws and he doesn't sound reluctant to layeth the smacketh down. He also does the TLM "on occasion" which is better than "never". Perhaps Abp. John and one of our bishops could meet at the next "chit-chat"? I'd LOVE to watch that.

Something that never happens in LA...

Blizzards. The MN, WI, IA area is getting pounded with snow. This Orthodox Caveman has only one for for snow: SNOW! I can't even see out my widow past ten feet, and it's eerily quiet outside.

This makes me even angrier about those who screwed up the economy. I miss my palm trees.

On the other hand it gives me something in common with the Slavic saints.

Real Men of Orthodoxy: Mr. Really Really Really Bad Singer

*With apologies to the guys in the Bud Light Ads*

Orthodox Cavemen present: Real Men of Orthodoxy.

*Real Men of Orthodoxy*

Today we salute YOU Mister Really Really Really Bad Singer.

*Mister Really Really Really Bad Singer*

Eye's glazing, mouth chewing, voice cracking, to NO particular melody. You're either singing or having a stroke.

*Call me a Doctor!*

The congregation stares, then so does the priest, then the taunts begin. "Is that you're best?" Unfortunately...yes. It is.

*My ears are bleeding!*

What are they praying for? For the church to hire someone who can actually sing or for you to take lessons. That's what.

*Please God make it stop!*

So take a seat with the rest of the people Pavarotti. Because your voice is like your farts; it smells to everyone but you.

*Mister Really Really Really Bad Singer*

I've had it with these mother bleepers: Anti-Christian Vandals

I hope the jackasses who did this get publicly flogged, but I'm not sure that's enough. Who wants to bet they were either muslims, or white liberals?


From the Mail Online:

BEFORE


AFTER

Avon and Somerset Police have launched an investigation after locals found that vandals had hacked off the branches of the iconic tree. They were dumped next to the trunk which is protected by a metal cage.

Locals wept openly today at the foot of the tree, on the town's Wearyall Hill opposite its world-famous Tor as they struggled to contain their emotion.

Katherine Gorbing, curator of Glastonbury Abbey, said: 'The mindless vandals who have hacked down this tree have struck at the heart of Christianity.

'It holds a very special significance all over the world and thousands follow in the footsteps of Joseph Arimathea, coming especially to see it.

'It is the most significant of all the trees planted here and can be linked back to the origins of Christianity.

'When I arrived at the Abbey this morning you could look over to the hill and see it was not there.

'It's a great shock to everyone in Glastonbury - the landscape of the town has changed overnight.'

Glastonbury Mayor John Coles rushed to the tree site after he heard the news.

Mr Coles, 66, said: 'I'm stood on Wearyall Hill looking at a sad, sad, sight. The tree has been chopped down - someone has taken a saw to it.

'Some of the main trunk is there but the branches have been sawn away. I am absolutely lost for words - I just do not know why people would want to do this.

'This tree was visited by thousands of people each year and is one of the most important Christian sites. It is known all over the world.'

Deputy Mayor William Knight, 63, added: 'This is absolutely mindless. We are all devastated.'

Christian legend dictates that Jesus's great uncle, Joseph of Arimathea, came to Britain after the crucifixion 2,000 years ago bearing the Holy Grail - the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper.

He visited Glastonbury and thrust his staff into Wearyall Hill, just below the Tor, planting a seed for the original thorn tree.

Roundheads felled the tree during the English Civil War, when forces led by Oliver Cromwell (pictured) waged a vicious battle against the Crown.

However, locals salvaged the roots of the original tree, hiding it in secret locations around Glastonbury.

It was then replanted on the hill in 1951. [Typo?]Other cuttings were also grown and placed around the town - including its famous Glastonbury Abbey.

Experts had verified that the tree - known as the Crategus Monogyna Bi Flora - originated from the Middle East.

A sprig of holy thorns was taken from the Thorn tree by Glastonbury's St Johns Church on Wednesday and sent to the Queen.

The 100-year-old tradition will see the thorns sit on Her Majesty's dinner table on Christmas Day

Marian Apparitions in Champion, WI

No not "Arian" MARIAN as in the Theotokos and ever Virgin Mary. Catholic priest Father Z has more information on the Green Bay Bishop officially recognizing it. So what is the Orthodox response to it?

There isn't one, at least not officially. Many we do recognize like the Theotokos appearing in Walsingham, Guadalupe (due to the Icon not made by hands) and the one at the Coptic church in Egypt. Others we find hard to believe. We certainly believe in the possibility of the Theotokos appearing to Adele Brise, it's just that the vision was received by a woman outside the Orthodox Faith, but then again the mother of our Lord can appear to whomever she wishes to. I always keep a healthy skepticism about these things because "Weeping Icons" and miracles have been faked. However I think I can buy this one.

Stupid is as Poison Ivy League does

Dad29 has a post he got from Curt Jester about a Textbook from Yale profs.

A high-school textbook used for the AP (Advanced Placement) European History exam equates the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Penance with “high magic” and says that, to combat witchcraft in the 13th century, “the Church declared its magic to be the only true magic.”

The Western Heritage Since 1300 (10th Edition, AP Edition, is published by Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall) is written by Donald Kagan of Yale University, Stephen Ozment of Harvard University, and Frank M. Turner of Yale Unversity...


An actual AP European History study sheet featuring material from the book. The study sheet is available as a download from http://teacherweb.com/ . The download link is http://teacherweb.com/CA/SantiagoHighSchool/Krueger/AP-Euro-Chapter-14-Student-Notes-Pages.doc .

Sample quote from the book’s Chapter 14, p. 438, under the section title “Influence of the Clergy”:

Had ordinary people not believed that “gifted persons” could help or harm by magical means, and had they not been willing to accuse them, the hunts would never have occured; however, the contribution of Christian theologians was equally great. When the church expanded into areas where its power and influence were small, it encountered semipagan cultures rich in folkloric beliefs that predated Christianity. There, it clashed with the cunning men and women, who were respected spiritual authorities in their local communities, the folk equivalents of Christian priests. The Christian clergy also practiced high magic. They could transform bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ (the sacrament of the Eucharist) and eternal penalties for sin into temporal ones (the sacrament of Penance or Confession). The also claimed the power to cast out demons who possessed the faithful.

In the late thirteenth century, the Church declared its magic to be the only true magic. Since such powers were not innate to humans, the theologians reasoned, they must come either from God or from the devil. Those from God were properly exercised within and by the church. Any who practiced magic outside and against the church did so on behalf of the devil.

This is just too stupid beyond words. "Feckin' retarded anti-Catholic shite" comes to mind.Orthodox Christians don't believe in magic, and the Church of Rome last I checked haven't fallen so far from Orthodoxy that they believe in magic either. Some fringe "Spirit of Vatican 2" boomers might but the RCC itself does NOT, ESPECIALLY in the 13th Century. It isn't just anti-catholic trash, it's anti-Orthodox too. The Orthodox Church has always had sacraments, and not just seven. Tonsuring of a monk/nun, Coronation of a Monarch, Consecration of a Church are all other examples. And guess what? Rome hasn't been a part of the Orthodox Church in almost 1,000 years. Ergo if sacraments were "made up" by the Vatican, then why do the Orthodox (Chalcedonian or Not) have them too? Let's practice some critical thinking here! Why would the Orthodox adopt the practices of schismatics and heretics especially back then in the so-called "Dark Ages"? To do so would be a complete contradiction to Orthodoxy, hence UN-Orthodox. Black Bart may deny that Christ is the only path to Salvation (read his speeches at the WCC for yourself) but the Orthodox Church does not. Heck I don't respect anyone who thinks their religion isn't the one true one, because if it isn't, then why are you in it?

This reminds me of two things: what Sony Corleone said to Michael at the end of "Godfather Part II" in the flashback scene, "Did you got to college to be stupid?" and when Catholic priest Corapi said that can "educate oneself into stupidity." This is even dumber than Najib Saliba's dhimmi screed in "The Word" a while back, and THAT'S DUMB!

Children and Animals

Those are the two things with which in show business that you are never supposed to do scenes. But what about an entire show? I'm currently in a Christmas themed production which involves a bunch of kids, in fact the show revolves around them. Child actors are not to be judged on the same level as adults for the simple reason that they are kids. Therefore their scenes and dialogue are much simpler and we're happy if they just get their lines right. Directing kids however is harder because you really have to show them how to do what you want them to do.

Then there are the preshow and backstage issues. They have to be told to check their props, not to touch props that aren't theirs, and to practice the art of shutting up. They often fail at all of those which creates headaches for the Stage Manager (who is the lord/lady of the show once it goes into production)and the crew. Our kids often to be reminded to pipe down because they can be heard from the audience. I even looked at one little girl and said, "What is your problem?" Then she shut up.

Then there's the "Green Room" before the show and during intermission. We have to share it and I found that I'm not used to working with kids and I had to think of other things to talk about than beer, South Park and slasher movies like "Saw". The kids get very rambuctious because they don't like being cooped up in a room. The youngest boy in particular is a handful. He has taken a liking to trying to tackle when when I'm sitting down and trying to put me in arm-bars...and failing. I feel like I'm on the set of "Sesame Street" because everything is G-rated. We adults haven't had a "night out" yet.

But you know what? I could get used to it. When kids are around I never heard lamentations from liberals or sissies. It's nice to see these kids haven't been turned into lesbians and neo-pagans...yet. So maybe there's still hope yet?

Creationist Theme Park?

Go read Ad Orientem: Kentucky to back creationist theme park (with $37M) for yourself.

This is not from the Onion? Really?

Things heard in Irish pubs: Governments

Today we were servicing an Irish pub that we get bi-weekly. The owner is a middle-aged Irish national with the customary brogue and temperament. Along the usual small talk he asked if we thought these rape charges against the Wikileaks guy were trumped up. Both my partner and I suspected so but are not sure. The owner then shared his pleasure with the gummit's comeuppance saying that empires have been keeping secrets for years, which I mentioned was right out of Sung Tsu's "Art of War".

It was a good thing we weren't drinking anything because we would've spit it out at what the owner said next, "You got all these faggot govmints doing all this shit!" We started busting a gut laughing and he repeated himself saying "No seriously! All these faggot govmints are conspiring and causing this shit. Like in aafghanistan you got that fookin' Karzai who should be workin' a 7-11." I mentioned that I heard he wants to cut a deal with the Taliban. "Yer kiddin? Un fookin' believable."

Oh man. Only the Irish have a way with words like that.

A tale of two bishops

First Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Ill calls out IL Governor Pat Quinn on using his being a CINO to hurt the Church.

Then ecumenist heretic Black Bart, who repeatedly and publicly denies that Christ is the only path to salvation now apparently denies that the Orthodox Church is the True Faith and apparently endorsing modernist, ecumenist heretic Pope John Paul II's "two lung theory". "Bartholomew I warned that 'those who preach Christ separated from one another cannot convince the world that we have found the Messiah -- which means Christ." Every time I think that the "Synod of Constantinople" couldn't be anymore obsolete and heretical they show me otherwise.

So which one is the Orthodox bishop?

Not Again! Fighting over the Civil War

I'm so tired of fighting the Civil War! Alot of good folks over at Ad Orientem are doing just that. I'm staying out of it. There is a previous thread comments where the battle is waging with the usual ad hominems. "Stay up North!" "I'm never going to the South where people are ignorant and proud of it!" Hells bells people! Don't we have more important things to worry about?

Also follow the link to the SPLC bashing Christian Pro-Family speech.

I'm REALLY sick of fighting the Vietnam War too.

Critical thinking or lack thereof

I've had an interesting exchange via the internet today. This acquaintance of mine is a typical liberal actor in his mid-twenties and spends most of his time at artsy-fartsy clubs and trying to get laid. With what I don't know and never cared to ask or wonder. He started off bemoaning the Catholic League shutting down another tax-payer funded "art exhibit" about some gay guy who I guess died of AIDS as censorship. A few of his buddies approved with one woman (judging by the name) opining that "free speech is all relative I suppose."

Far too often, I often get messages from liberals thinking that just because I sing and act, I support sin, and praying to false gods, and use drugs. On the other hand I get the other side, people assuming I'm republican just because I'm Christian (they often don't get me being an Orthodox Christian) and supporting Nation Building as we are seeing in Afghanistan and Iraq. "HOW DO YOU KNOW I SUPPORT...?!" I often ask them. It reminds me of that scene from "Malcolm in the Middle" where Francis (the oldest son) is in Alaska and his bunkmates steal a totem pole. Francis has the flu and is having hallucinations and thinks the totem pole is causing them. Then the owner of the pole shows up (an Inuit I think) and Francis asks about what the pole means. The owner just carved it with his family and uses it as a parking post. But Francis goes on about how the pole spoke to him. The owner tells him off. "You white boys are all the same" he says. "Huh" replies Francis. "I have dark skin therefore I dance with bears and speak with the wind. Well I work for a living, and I'm Baptist and proud of it! Oh...and I have only one word for snow: SNOW!"

Anyway back to this fellow in question. I pointed out the hypocrisy in the premise regarding "Free Speech" saying that he now has to put on "Piss Mohammed" exhibits and allow those scumbags at the Westboro Baptist Church at funerals because to do so would be "intolerant". I also pointed out that it is the Democrats who are trying to censor blogs and talk radio and any opposing opinion in general and all these invasive searches by the TSA. And boy did the full force of liberalism try to come down on me.

First was the usual stuff like "where were you when Bush bla blah blah" and saying "if u don't spit on muslims too you're a hypocrite" [sarcasm intended I presume] and the fellow in question blaming Christianity in general for "conflict, but was/is the role of the church in creating a conflicted identity as a gay man during the initial AIDS crisis, a crisis which [the artist] and others felt was aided and abetted by the general stand of churches on homosexuality." In other words, it's all OUR fault -that is all us racist/sexist/homophobes who actually believe in God and the Bible and it's teachings- that these people are so screwed up and get disease. It's US that force these people to shove their manhood up other guys rectums. Typical behavior in liberals is a complete denial of responsibility and being held accountable for ones actions. Oh, the fellow also told me never to use the WBC as an example with him because the're "evil incarnate" and he can just ignore them. You see, liberals have been conditioning society for the last 40 years that if a liberal gets into argument with a conservative or moderate and that when the liberal gets upset the conservative is supposed to back down or else they're "over-bearing" and "aggressive". Well I'm not over-bearing or aggressive, I just don't back down and I didn't.

So I responded first to the fellow in question that he was breaking my heart and I'd mention the WBC if I damned well pleased and that they have the right to be scumbags. I then proceeded to point point the errors in their logic, particularly the selective courage of the Left vis-a-vis the religion of peace who embodies EVERYTHING they are against. The koran says that a woman's life is worth half of a man, to beat their wives, to wage war against non-muslims and to just kill so-called gays. Yet it is those Christian sects who actually follow Scripture who get all the vitriolic rage from the Left, nevermind the fact that the Dalai Lama condemns buggery too. I also pointed out that these same "artists" go around committing buggery while complaining that the Religious Right wont "let them" commit buggery in the same fashion that militia groups run around the forest carrying guns, complaining that the government wont let them run around the forest carrying guns. I also pointed out to those accusing me of the usual charge of being a republican and talk radio bla bla bla, that I've been bashing Bush and the other RINO's for years, never voted for Bush, and condemned those great intrusions by the TSA then.


And it went all downhill from there. As is usual with homofacists, this fellow responded with the customary lack of tolerance vis-a-vis dissent and COMPLETELY MISSING MY POINT. Accusing me of being angry and afraid of people buggering each other, that anti-Christian speech should be pulled from the airwaves and "speech critical of Islam should not be broadcast"- HELLO! It's the Koran, CAIR and their liberal dhimmis who say that!!I say the opposite-and that Muslims should be searched at airports -BY JOVE HE'S GOT IT!-and called me "hate-filled" and "ignorant".

Let's see, the vast majority of terrorist attacks are caused by whom? Muslims. So wouldn't it make sense to search THEM and not old ladies and 5 year-olds? I mean if you have an IQ higher than room temperature? For arguments sake, if the IRA did 9/11 wouldn't it make sense to search Irish guys?

This guy showed no originality. John Rankingets this all the time. They first accuse you of being "hate-filled" and "ignorant" and then they try to make you angry to justify their own anger. Well I never got a chance to respond because he blocked me and thus JUDGED ME and was INTOLERANT.

OK, I'm not afraid of people committing buggery, I'm disgusted by it. I'm HOMOTAEDET!
Also I would've liked to ask the fellow if he would've felt the same if the shoe were on the other foot. Obviously not. The fellow just couldn't handle questions. In other words, he got exposed as a hypocrite and lost an argument in the worst fashion.