Without love I am incomprehensible

May 19, 2013

“Insofar as I am not loved, I am incomprehensible to myself.” These are the words of the late eminent Romanian theologian Dumitru Staniloae (1903-1993). Writing in the horrific twentieth century which saw the atrocities of communism, fascism, and world wars he was perhaps uniquely qualified to write about the overwhelming need for love in the world.  Writing in communist, war torn, Romania, an officially atheistic country, Father Dumitru understood that without love, there can be no whole person, no complete individual, no sense of humanity. Without love we are nothing (I Corinthians 13:2). Read the rest of this entry »

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ανέστη!

Христос воскрес! Воістину воскрес!

Хрыстос уваскрос! Сапраўды ўваскрос!

Христос възкръсна! Наистина възкръсна!

Христос васкрсе! Ваистину васкрсе!

Hristos a înviat! Adevărat a înviat!

Христос воскрес! Воистину воскрес!

المسيح قام! حقا قام!‎  المسيح قام! بالحقيقة قام!‎

ქრისტე აღსდგა! ჭეშმარიტად აღსდგა

On this feast of feasts, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, we greet all of our readers, visitors and supporters with the glorious day of Resurrection. As we celebrate this sacred day of promise, renewal and hope we take prayerful time to be thankful for the gift of eternal life that Christ has given us. Having endured the passion and crucifixion, Christ has risen from the dead bestowing the fullness of life upon His creation.

We rejoice and celebrate this gift with our loved ones and as the Canon at the Matins of Pascha – Easter  - proclaims, in honor of the Resurrection we forgive all and embrace all, even those who hate us. We hope that you are able to celebrate the feast in solace and great joy.  Even if you celebrate alone, without being surrounded by loved ones, know that you are never truly alone. We greet everyone with a holy kiss and the resounding words of Christ is Risen – Indeed He is Risen! We especially hold dear to us those who are persecuted and reviled because of who they are – lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. We especially hold dear to us those who live in great fear, worried that the love they share will cause them to be rejected by their parents, their family, the Church or their society. This includes members of the hierarchy, clergy and all faithful.

On this feast of feasts because Christ has destroyed death, we ask “O Death, where is your sting? (I Corinthians 15:55) As LGBTQ Christians along with those who understand, love and support us we also ask – “O hatred and rejection, where is your sting?” We exult in the love of God for His creation and remain people of hope.

CHRIST IS RISEN!  INDEED HE IS RISEN!

Eunuchs – the old version of the gay question?

April 21, 2013

What do we do with the eunuchs?  This was a real question that the holy fathers of the Church wrestled with for several centuries in late antiquity. In reading about this historical topic I could not help but draw a parallel with the a question that numerous theologians, members of the clergy and lay people in Christianity in general, and in the Orthodox Church in particular, are perplexed with – what do we do with the gay people? Read the rest of this entry »

Was Jesus At My Wedding?

April 7, 2013

The debate over gay marriage in the United States is raging.  The Supreme Court has heard arguments and will render their opinion on two cases sometime in June. The President has weighed in and everyone in the country seems to have an opinion on the topic. The issue has divided friendships, families, churches and even political parties. While some see this as simply an issue of marriage equality under the law, others are deeply concerned that the government would force religious groups to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples. Read the rest of this entry »

Bullying and the Orthodox Church

March 17, 2013

Slipping is a play about bullying that I saw not too long ago at the Studio 620 playhouse in St. Petersburg, Florida. The work by Daniel Talbot is specifically about bullying gay teenagers.  The story revolves around Eli, a high school senior who must carefully walk through the minefield that is being a gay teenager in a public school in Iowa.  Read the rest of this entry »

Reflection – Women Priests and Gay Marriage in the Orthodox Church

March 3, 2013

If bishops had fan clubs, I would be a charter member of the Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia fan club and I would certainly not be alone. Through his writings, lectures, interviews and travel His Grace Bishop Kallistos has enlightened and transformed our understanding of the Orthodox faith, especially in the English speaking world. For almost 40 years he was the Spalding lecturer of Eastern Orthodox studies at the preeminent Oxford University in England. Yet it is through his books that most Orthodox have encountered Timothy Ware, later Bishop Kallistos and now Metropolitan Kallistos.  Read the rest of this entry »

Dialogue anyone?

February 18, 2013

One of the hopes and aims of the creators and writers of this website is that meaningful discussion and dialogue might begin to occur between clergy of the Orthodox Church and faithful members of the Orthodox Church who are also lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered. We also hope that faithful members of the Orthodox Church who happen to be heterosexuals will begin to understand the predicament of LGBT Orthodox Christians and offer their vocal and moral support. Read the rest of this entry »

What are we teaching the children?

February 3, 2013

Although I am not one to constantly waive the American flag, I am happy and grateful to live in an advanced, relatively free country. The fact that I was born and raised in the United States is nothing more than an accident of birth. Considering the nationality of my father, I could have easily been born in Soviet Ukraine, or somewhere else behind the Iron Curtain, where my daily life, especially from the 1960’s until the fall of the Soviet Union, would have been consumed with trying to obtain the basics for simply getting by each day. Living in the Soviet Union meant standing in line for everything. As one priest serving in Soviet Ukraine explained to me, preaching against stealing and bribery were useless, because if one did not bribe or sometimes steal, one might not eat, have a roof over their head, wear shoes, or have other basic necessities of life. Read the rest of this entry »

New Year’s Resolutions for the Orthodox Church

January 21, 2013

For years I used to make New Year’s Resolutions. I gave myself the task of creating a list of them within a two week period. I started to think about them in earnest around January 1 and vowed to finish the list by New Year’s Day on the Julian calendar (January 14). It was then my practice to preach about making New Year’s resolutions. What I had hoped to accomplish in sharing my own resolutions was to encourage my congregation to make their own new resolves and changes.  Hopefully the resolutions that they made would lead them closer to Christ, and therefore a more fulfilling life. In Orthodox fashion, I always made three separate resolutions. Read the rest of this entry »

December 24, 2012

Dedicated to my friend, Porphyrogenitum

The holidays can be a difficult time for many people. Those who are separated from family and friends find this season emotionally difficult. People who have lost loved ones can find that putting on the holiday cheer is a cumbersome task. Christmas time can also be emotionally difficult particularly for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people. Those that have partners may not be “out” to members of their families and therefore might be forced to celebrate the holidays without their spouse. LGBT people who have never found a partner to share their life and love with, carry around a silent wound as they must endure another holiday alone.  Although they might be surrounded by family and friends, inside they feel alone.  This is especially acute during the time of year which is all about celebrating with family and loved ones. Everyone expects you to be cheery and celebratory and yet, in the words of one of my friends, “while others are feasting, I am fasting”. I understand his sentiment. Read the rest of this entry »