Happy Birthday, Blog

Posted on Monday, July 6, 2015 by Mendicant Monk

Happy third birthday to this blog! So happy to have all of you reading and commenting. I often think of the great writer and NPR commentator Frederica Matthewes-Green whenever I get the urge to post something. Her general rule of thumb before she sets something to print is to determine whether or not it is something she herself will want to read. On this third birthday of Like Mendicant Monks, I pledge to you dear readers the same thing: That I hope always to set forth something that will enrich me as much if not more than it does you. May our good God who loves humankind give us strength to speak the truth in love whether our audience is thousands, hundreds, or just the neighbor sitting next to us. Amen.

Care for the Soul, a Thing Immortal

Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 by Mendicant Monk

Sons of Noah Covering Their Father’s Nakedness- Icon in Cathedral of Surgut, Russia

I know some of you who read this post may think I am unaware of the sin that my spiritual father fell into late in this life. I am aware, mourn his fall, and wish for God’s healing on all affected by it. But throwing him under the bus for it is not the Christian response. As we have just passed the one year anniversary of his repose, I prefer to take the stance of Noah’s righteous sons who chose to cover their father’s nakedness. I at least will remember him for the good and pray God’s mercy on the evil.

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Test thyself, who thou art; come to know thy nature; come to know that thy body is mortal, while thy soul is immortal, that our life is two-sided: one side, proper the flesh, is transitory, while the other, related to the soul, does not admit limitation. Therefore, take heed to thyself, do not dwell on the mortal as eternal, and do not disdain the eternal as transitory. Do not care about the flesh, because it passes away; take care for the soul, a thing immortal.

— Saint Basil the Great

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Care for the Soul, a Thing Immortal

Posted on Monday, June 30, 2014 by Mendicant Monk

Test thyself, who thou art; come to know thy nature; come to know that thy body is mortal, while thy soul is immortal, that our life is two-sided: one side, proper to the flesh, is transitory, while the other, related to the soul, does not admit limitation. Therefore, take heed to thyself, do not dwell on the mortal as eternal, and do not disdain the eternal as transitory. Do not care about the flesh, because it passes away; take care for the soul, a thing immortal.

— Saint Basil the Great

Fr. Herman (Podmoshesky), sometime abbot of St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, died today after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease and diabetes. While his wish was for his body to lie in the ground close to his friend and co-struggler in the monastic life, Fr. Seraphim Rose, his precious soul, which he poured out on behalf of so many, will still be alive in the hearts and minds of those who knew and loved him. He is one of the first Orthodox pastors to teach me the true place of beauty in the spiritual life and how important it is to feed one’s soul with truth, beauty, and goodness before ever aspiring to things of the spirit. Continue reading →

Welcome Home, Syedna Philip

Posted on Thursday, April 3, 2014 by Mendicant Monk

He only said two words to me in his entire apostolic life, but they were the two most meaningful words I have ever heard a bishop utter. They were the same words he used to greet every wayward American pilgrim that had somehow found themselves at the doorstep of the ancient, apostolic Church. And they are the same words that we who love him the most now use to usher him in benediction on to his true and heavenly abode: WELCOME HOME. Continue reading →

What I Gave Up to Become Orthodox

Posted on Saturday, October 5, 2013 by Mendicant Monk

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the priesthood of Fr. Antony Hughes at St. Mary Orthodox Church in Cambridge, the 20th anniversary of the Boston Byzantine Choir, and incidentally also the 20th year of my being an Orthodox Christian, I would like to present this memory of Fr. Antony from the very beginning of his ministry and the very beginning of my walk as an Orthodox Christian. We remembered so many of these tonight at a special banquet in his honor at St. Mary’s… Continue reading →

Memory Eternal: Fr. Peter E. Gillquist

Posted on Monday, July 9, 2012 by Mendicant Monk

peter

Fr. Peter Gillquist was the first Orthodox priest I ever met, and his book Becoming Orthodox was the first book I ever read on the Orthodox Church. He came to my campus and introduced me to a Church I never heard about, though that time in my life I had been to 15 different churches, and like the Samaritan woman, the church I then was with was not really “my church”. Fr. Peter revealed to me my church, the Church of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Apostles, and not a day of life goes by that I don’t bless the memory of this great man and priest of God.

Memory Eternal! Vechnaya Pamyat!