Words of transformative hope from the abyss, courtesy of Fr. Philip
Akathist: Glory to God for All Things
Way to go Benedict. We thank God for you too.
Fundamentalism and Healing from Trauma
This is a fabulous conversation on what fundamentalism is, what trauma is, and how our nervous system and community context influence our healing process. I highly highly recommend a listen.
Choir of the Eparchy of Tripoli
I’m experiencing a surge of Antiochian Orthodox Christian pride lately, with the election of our new archpastor Saba, and my lenten music listening heavily favors the glorious choir of the Eparchy of Tripoli (Lebanon).
Fr. Stephen on Shame
Got to see Fr. Stephen Freeman in Kemp, TX last Saturday
St. Sava Cathedral
A masterful synthesis of liturgical architecture and iconography (mosaic) on the grandest scale.
Be Kind
lyric music video from Ajimal
Half Love by Red Hearse, Automatic Driver by La Roux
Just a couple of fun grooves
Feel the Way I Want
some fun with Caroline Rose
Naeem by Bon Iver
My favorite anthem of late. Enjoy
Gabor Maté on Parenting
It’s always good to be reminded what our foundation needs to be.
Kehinde Wiley
We thank God for you Kehinde.
Tomie dePaola
My favorite American illustrator passed away on Monday. Eternal be his memory.
Tomie dePaola speaks with America executive editor Kerry Weber about his latest book "Quiet" and what he hopes children will learn from his work. Read more a...
The Science Delusion
Remind me to show this to my children when they are in high school science. Rupert Sheldrake applying the scientific process to the modern religion of science itself, to demonstrate how many assumptions it’s based on that are beliefs, not facts. Well worth the listen to anyone who is alive in the 19th century or later. If you’re not alive during that time period this might not interest you.
Author of the best-selling Science Delusion; proponent of morphic resonance; banned by TED. Rupert Sheldrake has been dubbed the most controversial scientist on Earth. His best-selling book, The Science Delusion, tackles what he calls the dogmas within conventional science which can blind us to deeper discoveries about the way the world works.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
I don’t often mention it, but I am from Arkansas, and all my family are from Arkansas.
The Arkansas Senate Judiciary Committee voted down a bill that would have loosened regulations for the use of deadly force in self-defense. Video courtesy Arkansas Senate livestream
Both Sens. Stephanie Flowers and Bob Ballinger spoke after a video went viral where Flowers gave an emotional speech against a "Stand Your Ground" bill that failed in committee. Video courtesy Arkansas Senate
Angelo AND Sufjan
gives me hope that American artists are still out there doin it.
Musa Kirokote: from L'Arche Kenya
I need to keep this one in my pocket.
Excerpts from Arvo Pärt's Musical Diaries
"We shouldn't grieve because of writing little and poorly,
but because we pray little and poorly,
and lukewarmly."
A Hymn in NYC
My manboy Suf closes out the program on National Public Radio's Live From Here in NYC with Chris Thile. When's the last time a public theater full of New Yorkers sang a sacred prayer to Jesus Christ in earnest solemnity? Magic.
The moment was too holy, it seems the host forewent the usual end credits to lead all in singing the hymn's fifth verse.
Who has the courage to sing of Jesus's rejection and passion in a mixed audience that would certainly include Jewish people? A prophet. A Christian trying to find his way to the Truth, and to stay in the Truth. For all of us.
OAJ Interview with Ioan Popa
Fr. Silouan Justiniano recently interviewed the extraordinary Romanian iconographer Ioan Popa for the Orthodox Arts Journal. Below is my favorite passage, from Mr. Popa. Here he is addressing the context and creative challenges facing contemporary church painters. He lays out an artistic credo: an evangelical foundation for the ministry of iconography as a pastoral work.
"You have to think deeply to whom you are addressing the painting: To you, to your fellows, or to God? If we apply love as an evangelical foundation, I think that we must carefully bend towards the way our fellows feel things. Even though most of the times they are not educated, the love of beauty is seeded in them. And as servants in color we can either alleviate or exhaust them through what we paint; we can send them a message or, worse, confuse them.
"So we can use all the tools allowed: concise and powerful visual shapes, a narrow but valuable chromatic palette, gold foil not in excess, dropping frames between scenes in order to let the viewer read them as sequences, a careful balance between full and empty, monumentality, texts developed to replace abusive ornaments, dropping landscape or architectural accessories in scenes, and emphasizing the conception in unity with the rest of the liturgical objects from the interior. I do not exaggerate if I compare the image of today’s icon with a qualitative advertising banner. Practically, both address the same contemporary person in everyday life."