This Sunday, our host will be celebrating his 60th birthday. We want to encourage you to wish him many years.
When George loves, he loves with his whole heart. It matters not what it is: his country, his Church, his family, he’s all in. Luke 14:26 says, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Few of us really knows what it means to give up one’s family to follow Christ, but that’s exactly what George did when he left the GOA to build a convert friendly parish for the OCA. It cost him dearly, but God blessed his efforts because there are now so many families there, they’re running out of room! Soon, we’re going to ask George to include a donate button so you can help these young families expand their classrooms and parish hall. This is the kind of parish we’d all like to support.
George is brave and he doesn’t pull punches. Who among us would have the courage to host a blog like this, giving a voice to so many? He knows there are consequences. He does it anyway.
He’s good to other people. There was a handyman he heard about recently who had just been released from prison and was having a hard time finding work. George went to the trouble to find out where he lived to encourage him. We later learned he gave him $100 just to help him out. This isn’t uncommon with George. He lives to give.
He has a passion for history. There is no one better at connecting the dots to the present than our host which is why his posts generate so much comment. Agree with him or don’t agree with him, it doesn’t matter. His arguments are cogent enough to generate a response which is why his blog is still here after so many years.
This blog is known and respected the world over. Last summer, he ran into someone on the street who knew him in Russia. He is humble about it, though. We have never known George to talk about himself in anything but a self-deprecating way. He is seemingly unaware of the impact he has on others and has no illusions about his shortcomings, which are few. You can bring anything to his attention, even things that are hard to face, and he’ll consider them.
He’s an incredible friend, too. When he takes you under his wing, you can get comfortable because he will never let go of his responsibilities toward you. He will be there long after everyone else has left, even putting his own well-being in jeopardy. He is not one to abandon ship.
A real guy’s guy. He knows metropolitans, bishops, priests, and deacons, across jurisdictions, and is frequently in touch with them. But women love George, too. I think it’s because he has so much heart.
In summary, George is an all-around good guy. The best. Join us in wishing happy birthday to the Man of Monomakhos, on this noteworthy of milestones. May he never lose his honor or his sword!
Happy birthday, George, from your editorial staff. May God grant you many, many years. Keep reaching for that unreachable star.
So well said and so well deserved! Wishing you George, the “Happiest of Birthdays” and may the coming year be filled with all of life’s best … health, happiness, faith, love and peace. God bless you and your family and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do!
Γιώργο, Χρόνια Πολλά. Να ζήσεις. Δύναμη στα χέρια σας. Νίκος .
XRONNIA POLLA, LEVENDI MOU!!! O THEOS NA SE POTESI PANDA!!!
The happiest of birthdays, George! You so deserve it. Glad to be one of those who knows what it is like to be your friend.
OK, I just saw this. One of my co-workers asked me what’s wrong, I’m blushing so much. (I’m gonna get a hold of the editor who put this out and give ’em a talking to!)
Seriously, I love each and every one of you. Keep the Faith and keep on fighting!
We all need a good talking to then ????????????
Only 60, still just a spring chicken.
Exactly. I did a major career change at 60 and had a blast at it for years…
Many happy returns, George!
TimR, interestingly, I’ve been undergoing a career change!
Many years, George!
Good and God bless George Michalopulos for all his good work here and elsewhare!
But I’d like to know who wrote this encomium, which could have used some editorial help..
I have to disagree, Father. These individuals need NO HELP from you in expressing how they feel. That you would see fit to embarrass one of them by drawing attention to his or her lack of editorial skills surprises me. I didn’t peg you for being this unkind. You remind me of my mother when I was a little girl. I used to write letters to her over the summer when I was visiting my grandparents. She was a first-grade teacher and she’d take out her red pencil and grade each and every one of them before returning them to me to be corrected. I think she was genuinely surprised when the letters stopped coming.
Frankly, even YOU could not write a more heartfelt tribute, and it wouldn’t matter if you spelled everything correctly and put commas in all the right places. When someone writes something like this it is incumbent on those with whom it is shared to be gracious and remain silent if they find it does not live up to their standards. Why go out of your way to hurt someone just because you can? There is no sport in that.
Getting back to George, I suspect he edited this after the fact, as he is notoriously uncomfortable with praise. I kind of feel sorry for his team. It must be disheartening to have taken the time to write something like this and then see the man it was written for, alter it, making it less powerful to the point where it draws fire from the peanut gallery. It all seems very unChristian to me but what do I know? If this is the case, George, I’m sure you didn’t mean for it to turn into a source of pain for someone else. This is not your style. However, the next time someone wants to praise you, man up and take it. You’ll remain intact, as will the feelings of the those who thought enough of you to honor you in the first place.
Fr James. I am the guilty one.
Gail … thank you ever so much for speaking up and as always, God bless.
Sorry, but I must admit. I do feel the criticism was most unfortunate and totally unwarranted.
Happy Birthday, George! Many, many years!
Happy birthday. A warm and manly shoulder punch to you.
Happy Birthday, George.
…or as I prefer, God grant you many beers!
Eis polla eti, George!
God bless you!
Keep up the Good Work!
That’s a great photo. Very funny
Xronia polla
There’s a story behind that photo. It’s the look of a defeated man who’s worked nine hours already with no break, having to listen to some harridan going on about how my pharmacy tech didn’t grovel before her enough when she came in to give her a tongue-lashing. Or some geezer complain about the $10 increase in his Viagra Rx.
“Yes ma’am”, “Uh-huh”, “Of course”, “Please forgive me”, “Yes, I’d be glad to sacrifice a bullock on an altar of Ba’al and present you the entrails on a silver platter if that would make you feel better”. Etc.
Oh yes, dealing with the public. How delightful!
I found in health care they came in two sorts. Angels or bloody impossible and wanting u sacked.
Well, nicely done. It’s clear that you were just plain fed up and yet still maintained your humour
Dear George,You are a most impressive giant for the Lord. You are a role model for us all. You are the epitome of a Spirit filled Christian businessman. In fact, you are one of my idols.
May you have a wonderful sixtieth birthday. I pray that God will give you a minimum of another forty years here on earth. I can’t believe all the people you have blessed. I put you up there with the saint Kay Valone, another hero of mine. By the way, isn’t it amazing that John McCain’s mother is 107 years old!
If you just rested on your impressive laurels for the rest of your life, the first thing you would hear from the Lord is “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.”
I agree, Costa. George is a giant among men. (This comment better get approved!)
Dear George,
You and Gail have done more for the Lord than everyone else on this forum, combined, multiplied, and squared. If I was 1/1000th the Orthodox Christian you two are, I would be 100 times better than I am right now. The both of you set a tremendous example for the rest of us to try to emulate. I can’t tell you how much I admire you both. Again, Happy Birthday, and a minimum of at least forty more.
I don’t know if this is true but I do know that it is lovely to hear you say it because I know you mean it. Thank you, Costa. You made my day.
Blessings!
Many happy years from your brethren in Italy, too: please keep on the good fight!
Grazi!
Thank you.
Многая літа!
Thank you to all. Seriously.
Costa, please forgive me but your wishes really humbled me. Forgive me for not publishing them. I am nowhere near the man that my editorial staff wrote about (at least in my own estimation –they’re entitled to their own opinion).
If anybody is to blame for not posting your lauds, it’s my beloved mother, who raised her three kids to always deflect attention from themselves. I know you mean well and am more than flattered but I am still my mother’s son. And thus, I embarrass easily.
Many years, young man!
George. God grant you many years! We have never met but I so enjoy reading your posts as well as comments. At a time when there is so much confusion and conflict within Orthodoxy both here and abroad it is good to hear a layman such as yourself that is traditional, conservative, balanced and as a Greek able to be forthright about issues. Many Orthodox clergy are on the timid side and fearful of losing their position (with good reason) and therefore do not express their views publicly. Few do so on your site. But I do know that many follow it. We know that the Church is BOTH within time (now) and outside of time (in eternity) One and Holy. Yet though being always One and Holy she is under fierce attack both from within and without. These are really spiritually dangerous times even as we see the very real possibility of world wide Orthodox schism. And head long pursuit of unity with heterodox. And compromising of traditional moral and doctrinal standards. May you continue to be bold in defending the Apostolic, Patristic Faith uncompromisingly, mingled with much prayer and love. God Bless. Fr James
Fr James, I am most humbled by your kind words. Especially as they come from a priest and evangelist of your stature.
I hope to meet you someday. Your story emboldened me way back when.
Dear George,
I still have my copy of Father Bernstein’s excellent book. He’s a great man of God. To receive these kind words from him is indeed humbling. The Orthodox Church desperately needs more priests like him. He has humility, grace, intelligence, kindness, dignity, and love. I love the fact he doesn’t go around promoting himself like many Orthodox priests do. With many of these priests, it seems like it is all about them. With Father Bernstein, it’s all about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray that God will continue to mightily use him.
George, what a blessing to have a message from Fr.James Bernstein!
I hope Fr.James will soon write to us here again!
Yes. Exactly right fr James.
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday Dear George
Happy Birthday to you!
Enjoy your very special day and hoping it is grand from beginning to end!
Na ta ekatostisis! … May you live to 100!
George, I have to say this blog for all of the silliness that is posted at times or maybe because of it has taught me to practice not reacting, the virtue that Met Jonah preached.
Happy Birthday, George. I always look forward to your blog. I am writing you from a hospital bed with a repaired broken femur. Glory to God for all things.
Perastika, Fr! (“May it pass,” loses a little in the translation.)
Happy Birthday, George. I always look forward to your blog. I am writing you from a hospital bed with a repaired broken femur. Glory to God for all things. My dear friend Fr James Bernstein has come out of retirement to cover for me.
I heard about that, Father. Shattering a femur is no small thing. Praying for you. . .
Fist bump! Many years!
Health and length of days, George. I’m new to this site, but it is so good to be in a “room” of like-minded people. “Like-minded” I say because we all seem to be sojourners in our determination to be more like our Lord. Thanks to you, we have the opportunity to hear strong and reasoned (well, most times) reactions to what is going on with Orthodoxy. There is impassioned disagreement at times, but a respite from all of that confirmation bias. I am always challenged to dig a little deeper and for that I thank you. Happy birthday.
Thank you, Susan! And welcome aboard!
Χρόνια Πολλά, George! God grant you many years! Your blog is the “ΚΗΡΥΞ ΤΗΣ ΠΙΣΤΗ” (in contradistinction to another type of ΚΗΡΥΞ publication)! I turned 60 myself earlier this month.