Dear Friends,

Tomorrow, I travel to participate in a retreat for Catholic teachers and to deliver a bit of a talk on Byzantine spirituality - focusing on Theosis and the lives of some contemporary Eastern Saints.

The head of the religion department there is an Orthodox Deacon, my convert from Anglicanism .

I'm working on some notes, preparing icons and the like which is why I'm not drowning you all with many posts (I'll keep a handle on those in future!), writing akathists or else calling attention to myself by threatening to leave . . .

I ask for your prayers that I may be a vehicle to communicate the riches of Christ as exemplified in our Eastern tradition.

(And also for the grace of greater maturity . . .).

Alex

Dear Lord, lead Alex to say what You want him to say. Through him, present Yourself to those who hear him. May the beauty of all of Your Saints and of all of Your Churches become clearer through his work tomorrow.

Alex,

Based on what you do here, He has chosen well.

May the Holy Spirit guide our New Romanos in his endeavor.

Dear Steve and Radoslav!

It was all a wonderful experience yesterday - everyone was happy with me at once.

That doesn't always happen, you know . . .

And my Orthodox Deacon friend will have oral exams in March in preparation for the Orthodox Priesthood.

Assuming all goes well, which it will, he has invited me to his ordination that will hopefully occur on Palm Sunday.

Also, the OCA up here generally seems to be on the Old Calendar.

And I always thought that "OCA" stood for "Old Calendar Administration."

Alex