Opinion 177: Gressus Sum; Regressus Sumus?

I graduated yesterday.  It was sort of an alienating event.  I sat in the midst of a group of twenty-two year old strangers, all friend with eachother.  I know about seven people at the University of Minnesota, only one of whom actually walked yesterday.  I was hoping to avoid the ceremony all together, but my dear mother flew out to watch.  One must pay his maternal debts.  At any rate, I made genial small talk with the gentleman next to me.  We looked through the list of graduates and made fun of the unfortunate and impossible names.  Lord, there are embarrassing names out there.  A local hip hop artist gave the commencement address.  It wasn't as bad as it could have been.  Afterwords though, things were pleasant.  Friends and family and grilled steaks.  I received much bourbon and scotch as congratulatory gifts.  I'm out of academia for a bit.  We'll see how long it lasts.


_____


I wasn't in church yesterday.  The graduation commencement began at 11:00.  I'm told, however, that Fr. Jonathan made comments on new directives from the throne of Bishop Matthias.  Coming this fall, baptismal divine liturgies are no longer to be celebrated.  However, churches which celebrate them already can grandfather them in until their current priest retires or dies.  Prayers which were silent and have recently been read aloud are to be read silently again.  Women are not allowed to hold the communion napkin.

My gut reaction is that these are moves of a man afraid of "liberalism" and quite unsure of what to do about it.  Like his message last year concerning homosexuality, which was to be read from the ambo during the divine liturgy, it strikes me as something knee-jerk and reactionary.  It seems that with this barrage of new orders +Matthias hopes to counter secularism and liberalism by doing something "more traditional."  Personally, the silent prayers do not bother me.  As for baptismal divine liturgies, I'm extremely curious as to the reasoning behind the decision.  I know that Fr. Schmemann's name is associated with their reintroduction into the Orthodox Church, especially the OCA.  I don't know more than that.  When it comes to women and napkins, however, it leaves a foul taste in the mouth.  God forbid a woman stand that close to the communion cup for too long.


At any rate, it'll be interesting to see how this all pans out, both in my parish and in the diocese of the Midwest as a whole.  Again, I've not read the precepts and I'm only reporting on what companions have told me. 


Packing today for Europe.

Opinion 176: Evolution and Inevitability

Obama's evolving views on gay marriage can perhaps be likened to George W. Bush's evolving views on invading Iraq.

Opinion 175: We got plans

I head out the door in a few minutes to take the final final.  Greek today.  A bit of the Homeric hymn to Hermes, a bit of Cleanthes' hymn to Zeus, and a wee bit of a 10th Century Byzantine hymn to spring and Christ.  Then graduation this weekend.  Then on Tuesday the wife, child and I head to Germany for a couple of weeks and from there to Rome for five days.  Lord!

Opinion 174: Salesmanship

Thanks, Ancient Faith Radio.

You know, it's not really the attempt to sell this or that that bothers me - monks have always done that...well, always is a long time, but you know what I mean.  Rather, it's the aesthetic.  Stealing a complaint from the Ochlophobist's (who doesn't write anymore, just so you know) playbook:  it's the pious background, the woman kneeling in veneration; men in strange hats; candles.  Buy monastic, because monastic is the key to warm religious feelings wrapped in an alluring "eastern "environement.

Perhaps I'm just sensitive.

Anyhow, they've got some good deals on candles and prayer ropes.

Opinion 173: on drinking

For sensible men I prepare only three kraters: one for health (which they drink first), the second for love and pleasure, and the third for sleep. After the third one is drained, wise men go home. The fourth krater is not mine any more - it belongs to bad behaviour; the fifth is for shouting; the sixth is for rudeness and insults; the seventh is for fights; the eighth is for breaking the furniture; the ninth is for depression; the tenth is for madness and unconsciousness.


(Dionysus, from a fragment of Eubulus’ play Semele)

Opinion 172: On that other blog/experimental similes

Hell of a lot more popular, so it seems to me.  Fools.  All I can say is that popularity passes like any modern successful NFL offense.

Opinion 171: Crude, beware

Constantine V, or Constantine Copronymus,  was emperor of the Byzantines from 741-775.  He was very much an iconoclast. A footnote on his name nickname:


"This epithet for Constantine (meaning 'shit-called'), a favourite among the iconodules, perhaps refers to the story that, during his baptism, he defecated in the font..." (from Andrew Louth's fantastic The Church in History, Vol III.  Greek East and Latin West).


I cannot tell you how much it delights my heart that our holy Orthodox fathers dubbed him "shit-called."