(Courtesy of Byzantine, Tx) (mospat.ru) - On 2 June 2013, the fifth Sunday after Pascha, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and His Beatitude Archbishop Hieronymos II of Athens and All Greece celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Panteleimon in Athens. Concelebrating were ordained members of the Moscow Patriarchate delegation, Metropolitan Prokopios of Philippe, Neapolis and Thasos, Metropolitan Kosmas of Etolia and Akarnania, Metropolitan Pavlos of … [Read more...]

Heart - Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin - Kennedy Center Honors … [Read more...]

There's a saying in the Air Force: You're only catching flak if you're over the target. It looks like one of us anyway is not only over the target but has dropped some well-place ordnance as well. Fr Hans Jacobse, of the American Orthodox Institute published this thoughtful essay on the recent Acton/SVS conference on poverty. We know that Fr Hans, John Couretas and the fine people at Acton hit one out of the ballpark when the preeminent voice of the Left Orthosphere ended his self-imposed … [Read more...]

Well, isn't this interesting? For a little over two years Your Humble Correspondent has been screaming from the rooftops that there was a Lavender Mafia (or Gay Cabal) working behind the scenes in the OCA. This Gay Cabal and their liberal cobelligerents in the Syosset Bubble were working overtime undermine Metropolitan Jonah, said we. Of course Monommakhos and our many traditionalist correspondents were roundly condemned as sexual McCarthyites or conspiracy theorists. Well, I guess Pope … [Read more...]

As part of the healing process, yours truly asked readers for their input. One layman gave his take on the psychological dynamics that cause our bishops to make missteps. That fine essay was concentrated on the past --how we got here so to speak. Today, we publish "Philippa's" assessment about the present. Philippa as you may know, is one of our more prolific correspondents. She has chosen to examine Syosset's latest financial report. We thank her for doing so as my own financial acumen … [Read more...]

As usually is the case, Fr Hans Jacobse of the American Orthodox Institute, has penned another thoughtful essay. This one dealt with last weekend's joint SVS/Acton event on poverty. Please take the time to read it. Kudos to Fr Chad Hatfield, the President of St Vladimir's for hosting this conference and for John Couretas of Acton for helping it all come together. I believe that events like these make it possible for us to shake off the tired, old (and not very workable) socialist ideas … [Read more...]

To expedite the process of healing, one has to understand firmly identify the dysfunction. In order to do that, we must examine the past, not so much the actions which took place but why they took place. Being fairly new to the OCA myself (and having never been to Syosset), I don't know how to answer this question. My knowledge of the history and interpersonal relationships which is at the root of the problem is likewise sorely lacking. Fortunately, others have taken up my request and … [Read more...]

The OCA reported last week that it has reached an agreement with Metropolitan Jonah. What was printed on the website was terse but positive in its own way. We don't know the particulars as neither Syosset nor His Beatitude released any specifics. In this absence some have taken to speculation. Regardless, the OCA has seemed to take the some of the right steps and that is good. Some details need to be worked out. For example, will Syosset take back the original Stinkbomb letter that was … [Read more...]

Though your humble correspondent is a Republican (of the Founding Father variety, not necessarily the Gang of Eight one), he does have a soft spot in his heart for the Christian monarchy. I wish I could enunciate why this is so but sometimes words get in the way. It's often a feeling. Perhaps instead of a learned exegesis, it would be better to just paint a picture so to speak. Thanks to the miracle of photography, that's not hard to do. Be immersed in the colors and pageantry of … [Read more...]

Source: Wall Street Journal | Leif Babin In 2006, my SEAL Task Unit deployed to Ramadi, Iraq. Among the rubble-pile buildings, bomb craters and burned-out hulks of vehicles, we experienced firsthand the harsh realities of war. We fought alongside the U.S. Army's Ready First Brigade of the First Armored Division to take Ramadi back from a brutal and determined insurgency. Combat is hard. It is alarmingly violent, ear-shattering, dirty, exhausting and ugly. It is marked by chaos and … [Read more...]

This is what I've meant by saying we Orthodox should engage the culture. We have a lot to offer and St Vladimir's is to be commended for partnering with The Acton Institute to address the issue of poverty. This essay is from Fr Hans Jacobse of the American Orthodox Institute. Acton does stellar work. And it's a healthy reminder of the colloquia and symposia that took place during the archpastorate of Metropolitan Jonah. Perhaps there is some hope for the OCA if it continues along this … [Read more...]

Recently, CQ, one of our many intelligent correspondents here at Monomakhos, took me to task for doom-saying the Golden State. While he did not take the opposite tack and state that things were all Milk and Honey in California, my own negative assessment was unwarranted. Surely the increase in certain Red States' population at the expense of California's was too dire by half. Perhaps. Please allow me to say something in my defense: one of the good things about not being an academic or … [Read more...]

And War is Peace, Hunger is Plenty, and Evil is Good. Seriously. The Orwellian nightmare that our elites have foisted upon us with their disastrous immigration laws is getting harder and harder to deny. The Multicultists who assured Western nations that we had nothing to fear from swarms of immigrants from non-Christian, Third World regions is being laid bare for everyone to see. Both Great Britain and America were told back in the 60s that Diversity is Strength! and the natives had … [Read more...]

Yesterday, a tornado cut a 1.5mile wide, 20 mile long swath of destruction through Moore, OK, a southern suburb of Oklahoma City. Several schoolchildren were killed. Living here in Tornado Alley, one would think we would get used to things like this as tornadoes are a yearly occurrence. Usually though the destruction is not this massive. We are touched by your prayers and comments regarding this phenomonon on this blog. Yours Truly is humbled by calls and texts and emails from several … [Read more...]

Source: Clash Daily Stewart Destroys Obama Over IRS Scandal, “You’ve Vindicated Conspiracy Theorists” Jon Stewart mercilessly tore into the Obama administration tonight over the revelation that the Internal Revenue Service specifically targeted Tea Party groups for scrutiny. Stewart slammed the government’s lack of “managerial competence” and said that thanks to this scandal, conspiracy theorists how have a level of vindication they’ve never had before. … [Read more...]

Things must be getting desperate in Syosset. They've had another feces-hitting-the-fan moment with the revelations about the Director of St Luke's Institute and so they had to do something else to detract attention from their inexplicable devotion to this odious institution. It seems possible that someone has used the offices of two of our more loquacious correspondents to leak (fabricate?) information about that Institute's report about Metropolitan Jonah's "evaluation." Rather than … [Read more...]

Source: Catholic News Agency Baltimore, Md., May 9, 2013 Amid allegations of financial indiscretion and an “inappropriate adult relationship,” Monsignor Edward J. Arsenault has resigned as head of a Maryland treatment center for Catholic priests and religious. “This is very difficult news, and we are keeping this situation in prayer,” Sheila Harron, Ph.D., chief operation officer and interim CEO of the St. Luke Institute, said May 6. “We are committed to … [Read more...]

Americans Are Migrating To More Free Republican States Source: Investors Business Daily | John Merline Americans are migrating from less-free liberal states to more-free conservative states, where they are doing better economically, according to a new study published Thursday by George Mason University's Mercatus Center. The "Freedom in the 50 States" study measured economic and personal freedom using a wide range of criteria, including tax rates, government spending and debt, … [Read more...]

Monomakhos and our many correspondents have justly been slow during Holy Week. That gives Yours Truly much cause for joy, because it shows that we have been concentrating on the truly important things in life which are our sinful natures. Because we personally experienced a wonderful and triumphant Resurrection (as we hope you did), we reenter gingerly into the mundane world the afterglow of Christ's glorious Resurrection illuminating all. Though we have had the pleasure of Revelation and … [Read more...]

Please take the time to read this thoughtful essay. It's a real eye-opener and caused me to reevaluate my negative feelings towards the serpent-staff carried by Orthodox bishops. It's extremely pertinent now in my opinion as we get ready to observe the Lord's Passion. Source: Orthodox Arts Journal | Jonathan Pageau | HT: Byzantine, TX (I)t happened that I fell into a sin very dangerous to my soul. But as it was not in my habit to hide a serpent in the depths of my heart, I seized it … [Read more...]