By This Sign Conquer!
Posted: September 14, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: dying to self, Elevation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, Eucharistic life, spiritual power, transformation Leave a commentSeptember 14 commemorates the Elevation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, or commonly known as the Feast 
of the Holy Cross in the western church. In short, Emperor Constantine sent his mother, Empress Helen, to the Holy Land to find the Cross of Christ in Jerusalem in the year 326. The site was nearly forgotten due to the shameful desecration at the hands of previous pagan emperors. But, by Helen’s actions and those of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, St. Macarius, the site was located and the Cross of Christ was identified. Once again the Cross of Christ was elevated, but now to be venerated by the faithful.
However, St. Constantine had his own encounter with the Cross when he was a younger man, and not yet a Christian. Read the rest of this entry »
A Real Musician
Posted: September 13, 2015 Filed under: Music and Guitars | Tags: guitar instruction, voice coach Leave a commentThere are only two kinds of people: those who are and those who “wanna be”. Each one of us is a combination of an “is” and a “wanna-be”. I am many things, but I admire a truly good musician. I am, so my wife and my instructor tell me, a solid intermediate guitarist. They both encourage me when they note progress and advancement in my “chops.” But, I will never be a guitarist of the caliber of a Lindsey Buckingham, Nancy Wilson (of Heart), or The Edge to name just three Guitar Heroes. I will never come close. So, in terms of this category of people, i.e. musicians, I’m just a “wanna-be.” But I know someone who is truly a musician, my guitar instructor, and a family friend. Let me introduce you to Ann Herring. Read the rest of this entry »
…And Become Thankful.
Posted: September 7, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: Eucharistic life, prayer without ceasing, St. Paul, thanksgiving, transformation Leave a commentIn his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul writes,
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which [peace] you were also called in one body: and become thankful [kai eucharistoi ginesthe]. (Colossians 3:15)
Being thankful and having the peace of Christ go hand in hand. Though it may seem an afterthought in the above verse, St. Paul likely puts emphasis on thanksgiving. In fact it can be argued that with thanksgiving first being given, peace comes with it, and both will reside in one’s heart in unison. Read the rest of this entry »
“The Visions of Theosebase”
Posted: September 5, 2015 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: "The Day of Light", short story, St. Paul Leave a commentA Short Story which precedes in time “The Day of Light.”
He has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
– St. Paul
Kalous awoke prematurely. He remained motionless on his mat. His nose and eyes burned and itched because of the pollen released by the grasses of outlying fields. If it wasn’t for the stifling heat’s daily invasion during the late afternoon they wouldn’t have to leave the windows open to cool off the cell. Sleep would be impossible if they didn’t do so. Among his cellmates, he was the only one who suffered from these allergies, but the torment would be gone by the fourth full-turn [1] of the day. Read the rest of this entry »
“The Day of Light”
Posted: September 2, 2015 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: "The Day of Light", short story, St. Paul Leave a commentA Short Story by Fr. Irenaeus Williams
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in the heavens, making peace by the blood of his cross”
– St. Paul
With this first report from the journey, allow me to introduce myself: my name is Zetophos. In the Old Language it means “Light Seeker.” My background is that of Taerophos [1] (priest), historian, and auxiliary navigator. I was chosen to serve on this mission in those capacities because of my extensive study of the Day of Light and its historical setting, and my familiarity with flight conditions from limited missions within our solar system. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave-Takings
Posted: August 23, 2015 Filed under: Etcetera | Tags: Proverbs 3:5, SVOTS Leave a comment
Fr. Dcn. Joseph & Mka. Felicity
The Feast of the Dormition falls on August 15 every year. The feast’s leave-taking comes on August 23 (also the feast day of St. Irenaeus of Lyons!). On Sunday August 23, Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church is also noting the leave-taking of our second deacon, the Reverend Deacon Joseph Ramos. He is leaving our parish to do a year of special studies at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) in Crestwood, NY. He is going so to be ordained a priest, God willing.
Deacon Joseph and I, and our families, have known each other for about 15 years. Read the rest of this entry »
Life-Giving Grains
Posted: August 22, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: dying to self, Eucharistic bread, the bread of life, transformation Leave a commentIn the twelfth chapter of St. John’s gospel we read these words of Jesus:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless the Grain of wheat falling into the earth should die, it remains alone. But if it should die, it bears much fruit.” (John 12: 24)
Jesus says these words as he enters into the very last days of his earthly life in human flesh. His betrayal, trial, and crucifixion await him. The Grain of Wheat dies and is entombed. Three days later he rises from death in a glorified physical body. His death leads to the fruit, the new Grain, of eternal life for all who place their faith in Christ and follow him.
Our knowledge of the Eucharist should make us think of the eucharistic Bread when we read John 12: 24. Jesus is the Grain. In His resurrection all life is Read the rest of this entry »
Guitar Review: Cordoba Acero D11-CE
Posted: August 16, 2015 Filed under: Music and Guitars | Tags: Cordoba acero d11-ce, guitar review 3 Comments
If you’re a guitarist and hear the name Cordoba you should think “classical guitar.” That has been their bread and butter. About a year ago, while perusing through my latest issue of Acoustic Guitar (August, 2014), I read about Cordoba’s new Acero (meaning “steel”, thus steel string) line of acoustic guitars. I was impressed by the review and filed it away. A year later I remembered the review of the Acero D10 dreadnought. I searched Reverb for an Acero, and found an Acero D11-ce. It, too, is a dreadnought with solid spruce top and solid acacia back and sides (note photo of guitar). Read the rest of this entry »
A Commentary on a Prayer for the Eucharistic Life
Posted: August 15, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: Christ the High Priest, Eucharistic life, prayer, St. Paul, thanksgiving, transformation Leave a commentFather, I pray this day I would be living the eucharistic life which is in accordance to your will for me in Christ Jesus. Thus, by the Holy Spirit may I be giving thanks in, with, and for all things, in order that I might bear Christ to all and all things, and that I might bear all and all things to Christ Jesus; that I might be self-giving and other-receiving; that I might live as broken bread and poured out wine for the life of the world and the sake of all things to the praise and glory of your name.
1 Thes 5: 18 reads, “Give thanks in all things: for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” St. Paul writes in all things (en panti) in the Greek dative case. The dative case, essentially, shows relationship. Read the rest of this entry »
A Prayer for the Eucharistic Life
Posted: August 10, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: Eucharistic life, prayer, thanksgiving 1 CommentFather, I pray this day I would be living the eucharistic life which is in accordance to your will for me in Christ Jesus. Thus, by the Holy Spirit may I be giving thanks in, with, and for all things in order that I might bear Christ to all and all things, and that I might bear all and all things to Christ Jesus; that I might be self-giving and other-receiving; that I might live as broken bread and poured out wine for the life of the world and the sake of all things, to the praise and glory of your Name. Amen.
The Touch of Jesus, and the Touch of His Saints
Posted: August 10, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: miraculous healing, St. Paul, St. Seraphim of Sarov, Theosis Leave a commentSt. Seraphim of Sarov, arguably, is the most 
popular of Russian saints. July 19 marks the celebration of the first uncovering of the relics of St. Seraphim. This event took place in the year 1903 in Imperial Russia. That day in Imperial Russia, 70 years after his repose, or death, the physical presence of his relics brought about miraculous healings among those present.
The primary gospel reading of this Sunday came from St. Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 9: 27 – 35). In this reading we hear of the healing of two blind men Read the rest of this entry »
No Natural Food Served Here!
Posted: July 20, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: St. Photinia, supernatural food, the bread of life, The Samaritan Woman 1 CommentFollowing shortly after Pascha, we have the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman. We know her as St. Photinia. She encounters Christ, and her life is changed. She becomes a new woman. She leaves her past life and its sinful ways. As a new woman, in Christ, she embarks on a new way of life.
There were many lifestyle changes brought about by her encounter with Jesus. Among the many changes there was also a dietary change. New menu items were added to her diet: supernatural foods. Read the rest of this entry »
Father Irenaeus Williams 