In the Orthodox Church, yesterday was the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul. To celebrate, I was invited to a parish dinner at the rectory of Archbishop Dmitri here in Dallas. Though the cathedral is quite lovely, the archbishop -- "Vladika" they call him (from a Russian word meaning "Master," used here as a term of affection) -- lives humbly in a small cottage out back. His house was full of parishioners last evening, everyone bringing food and drink for the feast. Unsurprisingly, there was lots of Russian fare, and several bottles of frozen vodka. Vladika himself is a gourmet cook, and had prepared a flan, a flan de queso, a dried apricot torte, and some sort of complicated raspberry meringue cake. One sidebar filled up with deviled eggs, cheeses, anchovies, sausages and other antipasti, and the more hearty dishes lined a side table in the dining room. There were old people there, and kids, and you could hear at least three languages being spoken as people laughed and chattered on the feast day in the crowded little cottage behind the cathedral.
Finally, Vladika called everyone to attention for the blessing. Everyone turned toward the icon at the head of the dining room, crossed themselves, and prayed the Our Father. Then it was prayed a second time, in Russian. Then a third time, in Spanish. Vladika blessed the food, and the feast began in earnest.
Vladimir, the iconographer, leaned over and whispered in my ear, "This is the Church." Yes, I thought, it sure is.
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Also, I would ask you to honestly look at most Orthodox parishes and tell me how they are doing local missions. Sadly, many are not. Many Orthodox recognize this situation.
Your point is taken. Overall, the witness of local churches is really the more pertinent, in my opinion. Sending foreign missionaries is not nearly the "white field" that it once was because most countries have established churches. Orthodox foreign mission is primarily one of supporting the local churches in a given place.
But the ethnically insular parishes are, in many cases, as you say. These parishes will eventually grow old and die. However, for each of those you can likely find a new mission parish springing up where there is a need.>
JohnT,
I couldn't find a button to contact you on your blog. I'd be happy to give you the titles of some books if you'd like. email me at jbosl at yahoo dot com.>
dropping in late in the conversation. i just wanted to state that there is not a man on earth i love so much, yet know so little than our dear Archbishop Dmitri. i'm glad you got to spend some time with him. He is a wonderful bishop. God grant him many years!>
"Kathleen is not a shrew she is a woman trying to live out her vocation in a difficult world."
Yes, that is very much in evidence from how she apparently lives out that "vocation" over on that blog and in the comments boxes here.
"That is a dehumanizing, unchivalrous, and shameful thing to say about her, especially coming from, and it is difficult to say in light of this exchange, someone on 'our' side."
Just returning fire, sir. If she truly wants to be treated in a chivalric manner, then she should start behaving like a lady.
I need another discussion forum like I need a hole in the head, by the way, but thanks for the invitation nonetheless.>
The response above was to JohnT, by the way.
And Rod, something tells me you're tolerating all these frenzied attacks by Roman Catholics in the comments boxes for a very good reason. (Wink-wink!)
Adieu to all.>
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