10 October ~ St. Paulinus of York

Posted on by Fr. Peter
He lived between 584-644. He was a Roman monk in St. Andrew’s monastery at Rome, and was sent by St. Gregory the Great in 601, with St. Mellitus and others, to help St. Augustine of Canterbury…
He laboured in Kent – with the possible exception of a mission to East Anglia before 616 – till 625, when he accompanied Ethelburga (Aethelburh), the sister of King Eadbald of Kent, when she went to the Northumbrian Court to marry King Edwin (later Saint Edwin), then a pagan. Before leaving Kent, he was consecrated bishop by St. Justus, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was successful in converting Edwin and large numbers of his people. With the assistance of St. Edwin, he established his see at York.
Following the defeat and death of Edwin by pagan Mercians at the Battle of Hatfield in 633, Paulinus was driven from his see, and he returned to Kent with Edwin’s widow Ethelburga, her two children, and Edwin’s grandson Osfrid. Paulinus then took up the see of Rochester, which he headed until his death.

More at Wikipedia
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Scripture Readings ~ 20th Sunday After Pentecost

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Today’s commemorated feasts and saints
The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19
BRETHREN, now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. But when [God], who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles, only James the brother of the Lord
The Reading is from Luke 7:11-16
At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”

Deanery Meeting

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Friday began a meeting of all of the priests and delegates from the Eastern Deanery of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas.  The deanery is a subsection of the Archdiocese and stretches from Maine to Florida and was far west as New York and Virginia.  There are three deaneries in the USA; Eastern, Midwest, and West and two in Canada; Eastern and Western.  We gather every other year for meetings and discussions and Social time to renew old friend ships and make new ones.

Yesterday we began with parish introductions and a time to share, briefly, what is going on in the parish.  Many spoke of repairs and other such things but not many spoke about ministry that is going on in the parish.  I find this a little disturbing.  We tend to focus on the problems and not on what is really going on.

After the introductions we had a presentation by the Dean of the School of Theology in Bucharest on the problems with the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony.  He spoke of the Liturgical irregularities and how we need to get back to what the typicon instructs us to do.  This is in other words what the great blogging priest Fr. Z always says, “Do the Red and Say the Black” I for one am glad to see we are taking these things a bit more seriously.  It was a great talk and an even greater discussion after.

Last night it was a time for the priests to gather around our Bishops for a time of discussion and education.  His Eminence has a wonderful head on his shoulders and he is a great leader.  He listens and lets us talk and help his to enact policies in the Archdiocese that will move us forward.  We hear reports of what is going on and what some of the plans are for the future.  By the way the future looks bright we had two new mission parishes in attendance with us one from Norfolk, Virginia and one from New Jersey.  I also hear of one forming in New Hampshire.

Today we continue our discussion on Marriage and Baptism and then hear more parish reports.  The food has been wonderful, as it usually is at these gatherings.  I like to say that these gatherings are one long meal interrupted by meals!  It seems we leave the dining room only long enough for them to re set the tables!  It has been great.

I will ask your prayers as I head home this afternoon.

Recipe Wednesday ~ Tomato and Basil Soup

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Tomatoes in the Pot
This recipe comes from Chef Hillary Brown of the Scottish Chefs Association.
1 lrg Onion
4 T Unsalted Butter
1 lbs. Ripe Tomatoes
1/3 c dry sherry (I left this out)
1 T Sugar
3/4 oz fresh basil

Peel and finely slice the onions.
Melt butter in a medium size saucepan.
Add the onions and cook gently until softened but not brown.
Stir from time to time with a wooden spoon.
Add the tomatoes whole, with skins and stalks, sherry and sugar.  No water is required at this stage.  Stir together, cover with a lid, then simmer 45 minutes to an hour.
Stir occasionally.
Ladle mixture into a blender (I used a food processor) and blend until smooth.
Drop the fresh basil into the blender and continue to blend for 15 seconds.
Pour soup through a sieve into the pan. (I like my soup rustic so I skipped this part) add enough water for the correct consistency.
Season to taste, about 1 to 2 teaspoons of salt.

I used the last of the tomatoes from the garden and they were very ripe.  This is a good way to use up those tomatoes that are soft and almost ready to turn.  I left is rustic, but you can pass it through a sieve and filter out the big bits, but blend it up fine and it is just right.

Serve with some nice crusty bread!

After cooking

How do we Write History?

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Last year I had the honor of present a paper at the 1st gathering of the Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas. The conference was held at Princeton University.
Like most conferences of this type, many folks presented papers on various topics. I find them interesting but for me the conversations that go on in between these presentations is where the rubber meets the road.
The Friday night of the conference, I attended a panel discussion about how we should proceed in the study and writing of American Orthodox History. This is still a rather new field of study so the rules, so to speak, have not really been established. I have always been of the mind that history should not be written for at least 100 years after the events have taken place. Distance is needed for a truly objective look at events that will give a truer picture of what really happened.
During the panel discussion a question was raised about how we write about saints. There exists the type of historical writing called Hagiography; this is the study of the saints from what I would call a holiness perspective. Their story is told, not always historically accurate, and sometimes events are left out of their lives. So the question of how do we write about them was interesting to me.
In this media driven age when we know all there is to know about someone, should we write about them, warts and all, or do we need to gloss over parts of their life?
The example was Mother Maria of Paris. Mother Maria had children and history will show she was not what one would call mother of the year. It has been said she neglected her children, maybe for the mission, but it is unclear. But in the end, she gave her life in the gas chamber to save another’s life, she was able to step up and truly give her all. So do we write about mother Maria as a person or do we write about her as something superhuman?
My personal preference is that we portray people as they were, as real people. Part of our Orthodox spirituality is to read the lives of the saints and imitate them and their sanctity. I think to show saints in their real lives, with their real struggles is what should be written about. The saints were real people and that is how we should write about them. That seemed to be the consensus of those in attendance as well.
Thanks to the folks at the Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas and for the folks at Princeton for hosting a great conference. I look forward to next year.

Scripture Readings ~ 19th Sunday after Pentecost

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Saints and Feasts

Eleutherios and Roustikos, the Athenian Martyrs
Theophilus the Confessor
Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:13-35
At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The Reading is from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:1-10
BRETHREN, working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
The Reading is from Luke 6:31-36
The Lord said, “And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Episcopal Cathedral to Close

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I am never happy to see any Church close regardless of the denomination.  I always feel for the people who attend Church there and what they must be going through.  Recently, 4 Roman Catholic Churches in Southbridge were merged into one.  Although this move was necessary for many reasons, it is still very hard on the people who are there.

News comes from Wilmington, Delaware that the Vestry of the Cathedral Parish have voted to close the Church next year.  This is the Cathedral Parish of the diocese with a school!  One has to wonder what happened.

Over at the Blog, To All the World, the author speculates about the closing.  The Church prided itself on inclusion and social justice ministry and the author speculates that this is what lead to their demise.  If you substitute inclusion, diversity, and social justice for the Gospel things will not always work out.  At the end of the article he has this to say:

Apparently the emphasis on diversity and inclusion wasn’t sufficient to build a congregation big enough even to continue to operate.

This is where the Episcopal Church has made a huge mistake: substituting inclusion and social justice for evangelism. (But when you have lost sight of the biblical gospel, what else can you expect?) It was the death of the 20/20 program, and to the extent that the rest of the Episcopal church follows this trend (and it is!) it will be the death of the denomination.

Don’t misunderstand me: Evangelism is supposed to be inclusive. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel…” (Mark 16:15). The gospel is about diversity: “make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). But inclusion and diversity (social justice, the Millennium Development Goals, etc.) apart from the authentic, saving Gospel of Jesus Christ is a futile and empty thing–one that offers no true salvation but only death.

Let this be a lesson to all of us.  Although the Gospel is indeed diverse and inclusive we cannot substitute good ole Biblical preaching, teaching and evangelism for whatever thing the wind happens to blow in.  It’s our job to preach the truth as revealed in the Gospel and handed down through the ages by the Church, not to preach whatever happens to be popular today!  Being a Christian is hard, just ask the martyrs.

On the Road Again

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I am off today to the 2011 Symposium Pilgrims and Pioneers: The Growth of Orthodox Christianity in 20th Century America sponsored by The Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas and Fr. Georges Florovsky Orthodox Christian Theological Society at Princeton University.

I will be presenting a paper titled: Macedonian-Romanian Immigration to Southbridge.

It has been a very interesting exercise in writing this paper.  Digging back into the minutes of the parish has been very enlightening, especially since they were all in Romanian!  I have a much greater respect for the founding father and mothers of not only this church, but every church that was founded by hard working immigrants.  The sacrifices that they made so we could have a church today is nothing short of amazing.

So, please pray for me and for those who will be attending, as we travel from all points to Princeton and pray for those of us who will be presenting papers.

His Beatitude Daniel Celebrates 4 Yrs of His Enthronement As Patriarch Of The Romanian Orthodox Church

Posted on by Fr. Peter

The Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate informs us:

Friday, 30 September 2011, it is four years since the enthronement of His Beatitude Daniel as Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
On this occasion, at 9.30 hours, the Patriarch of Romania will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral assisted by a group of hierarchs, priests and deacons. After the Divine Liturgy, at 11.30 hours a Te Deum service will be celebrated as thanksgiving and gratitude to God for the achievements in the life of the Romanian Orthodox Church during the fourth year of patriarchal service of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
Further on, at 12.30 hours, an anniversary celebration will take place in “Patriarch Teoctist Aula Magna” of the Patriarchal Palace which will comprise the presentation of the congratulation messages of the representatives of the central and local state authorities and the synthesis of the pastoral – missionary, social – philanthropic and cultural – educational activity unfolded by the Patriarchal Administration and Archdiocese of Bucharest under the supervision of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, from 30 September 2010 till present.
Further on, a film about the construction works of the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation during the last year, made by Trinitas television of the Romanian Patriarchate will be presented and the book “Faith for Good Deeds”, recently published by Basilica publishing house of the Romanian Patriarchate, will be launched.
Those who want to congratulate His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, members of the Holy Synod, representatives of the central and local authorities, personalities of the Romanian public life, priests and faithful are expected to participate.

FOCUS North America ~ Tackle Poverty

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I have written before about FOCUS North America.  This is a great program that helps alleviate some of the suffering of poor Americans.  Our Community Meal program was the recipient of a grant from FOCUS last year so I can tell you first hand how the money raised goes directly to help those in need.
I have started a team in the Let’s Tackle Poverty campaign.  Click here to donate and join in the fight for those who cannot fight!

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