A Risk-Averse Approach to Confession
There is a tradition among some Orthodox bishops not give a blessing for newly ordained priests to hear confessions. Presumably this is in recognition of the tremendous harm even well-meaning but...
View ArticleOn Christmases, the Accumulation of Rituals, and the Gravity of God
I love the rituals of Christmas. The home ones are especially nice: hanging stockings (made by my Mom for my Pani, each of my kids, and me), putting up the Nativity banners, setting up the Nativity...
View ArticleThoughts on Transhumanism
Genesis is one of my favorite books of the Bible, and its description of our life in paradise is certainly one of the reasons. Humanity has been plagued since that time by its sense of loss and...
View ArticlePodcast Episode #18: Ten Suggestions for Chanters
Good Guys Wear Black (AFR), 27 December 2016 Fr. Anthony Perkins In this episode, Fr. Anthony gives ten suggestions, ranging from practical advice on how to pass the liturgical baton to the need for...
View ArticleWhat is a Priest? An Orthodox Statement
by Thomas Hopko The following remarks are intended as a brief apologia for what I understand to be the theological and spiritual vision of the sacrament of the priesthood in the Christian Church. I...
View ArticleThe Need for Competent Musical Leaders (Benedict Sheehan)
A Musical Culture in Crisis Benedict Sheehan, The Music Stand (Ancient Faith Blogs) January 2, 2017 The longer I spend working in church music—conducting, singing, rehearsing, teaching, composing,...
View ArticleEpisode 19: Advice on Chanting … for Priests
Advice on Chanting – for Priests (Ancient Faith Radio) Fr. Anthony Perkins, 05 January 2017 In this episode, Fr. Anthony shares some advice on how to build a good relationship with choir directors and...
View ArticleHow to Get Competent Musical Leaders (Benedict Sheehan)
Addressing the Crisis: Part II of the Musical Culture in Crisis series. Benedict Sheehan, The Music Stand (Ancient Faith Blogs) 06 January 2016 Orthodox church music in America is collapsing. What can...
View ArticleOrdination to the Priesthood: St. Petersburg Theological Academy
This video of a deacon being ordained to the Holy Priesthood was taken on October 18, 2015, on the 20th Sunday after Pentecost, in St. Petersburg Theological Academy in Russia. It’s a visual and...
View ArticleAdvice for priests who feel sorry for themselves (from St. Leo the Great)
I came across this gem while preparing for a Bible Study class on the readings for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (esp. 2 Timothy 3:10-15). This mirrors the advice given to a friend by...
View ArticleEpisode 23: Hunger, Social Media Silence, and the Stickiness of the Priestly...
Hunger, Social Media Silence, and the Stickiness of the Priestly Profession by Fr. Anthony Perkins Good Guys Wear Black (AFR Podcast) February 24, 2017 In this episode, Fr. Anthony expresses how much...
View ArticleTwo reasons priests love the Rite of Forgiveness
On this, the first day of Great Lent, I ask your forgiveness for all I have done, both in ignorance and intention, to harm you. God forgives and I forgive! ******* Every morning we all pray these or...
View ArticleEpisode 24: A conversation with Fr. Gregory Jensen on Personality Types and...
Personality Types and the Priesthood by Fr. Anthony Perkins Good Guys Wear Black (AFR Podcast) March 10, 2017 In this episode Fr. Anthony Perkins and Fr. Gregory Jensen have a conversation about how a...
View ArticleEpisode 25: Training the Whole Mind—Gut, Brain, and Heart
Hunger, Social Media Silence, and the Stickiness of the Priestly Profession by Fr. Anthony Perkins Good Guys Wear Black (AFR Podcast) March 13, 2017 In this episode Fr. Anthony offers ancient advice...
View ArticlePreaching Better – Practical Suggestions for Homilists
One of the complaints made against priests is that their homilies are largely a waste of time. Personally, I think that a good portion of the blame for this lays with the hearer (e.g. lack of...
View ArticleEpisode 26: Saving Ourselves from the Damage of (Virtual) War
Saving Ourselves from the Damage of (Virtual) War by Fr. Anthony Perkins Good Guys Wear Black (AFR Podcast) March 18, 2017 In this episode, Fr. Anthony talks about Great Lent in the Lehigh Valley (PA)...
View ArticleHow to Describe What We Do
‘People often say to me, ‘J.John, what do you do?’ It’s difficult to know what to say. Because if I say to you that I’m a Reverend, which I am, that conjures up certain images in people’s minds as to...
View ArticleAbout That Apostolic Succession
Apostolic Succession is not a private possession Fr. John Morris of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, states that “Apostolic Succession is not merely a historical...
View ArticleThe Swag Seminary
Look out comtemporvant church videos, Swag Seminary is on your tail! Ever wonder? Just look up James 4:4, and thank God that this is a parody… so far. And no, Orthodox seminary is not like this.
View ArticleEpisode 27: Learning to Say “No”
Share the post "Episode 27: Learning to Say “No”" FacebookLinkedInPinterestTwitterEmailPrint Learning to Say “No” by Fr. Anthony Perkins Good Guys Wear Black (AFR Podcast) April 5, 2017 Many priests...
View Article