Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Platina, CA
Many of us know of the monastery at Platina, CA, where father Seraphim (Rose) lived while here. Someone I know recently visited it and posted pictures from it. There's a bit of text there, but it's in Russian - thought it wouldn't become an obstacle to enjoying the photos.
Fr. Seraphim's cell
New England winter
Winters in New England seem to go long period with no snow at all, and then a major snow storm comes in and we're all stuck at home for a day or two. Glory to God for our advances in science - we at least know when they're coming. Well, we just had a couple of those storms and here's a pile of snow, one of many built by snow (re)moving machines in our condo complex. You can see my daughter on top of it.
And today the story is very different: snow and rain, instantly freezing into black ice. We'll see whether we can get out by tomorrow.
Friday, January 14, 2011
life is beautiful
Once I and my friend/co-parishioner Joseph (we’ve known each other for a few years) went to the Greek monastery of St. Nektarios for a couple of days. The monastery has a little hotel for visitors on its grounds, but it’s a popular place and there were no rooms available. So, we rented a room for two of us in a motel nearby – just to spend the sleeping hours there and go back to the monastery in the morning.
As we arrived at the motel reception, we were both asked to sign in. The gentleman at the desk asked my name and wrote it down. “Your first name?”, he inquired. I said, “Alexander”. Joseph’s eyes became wide as he said: “your name is Alexander?” The man writing down my name stopped and looked up at us, 2 men who rented a room in the motel to spend one night there, very curiously. I explained to Joseph that “Sasha” is short version of “Alexander” in Russian. I guess I never had a chance to mention that before. That was a great moment. We smiled thinking of how it can be perceived.
Then it was Joseph’s turn to sign in. “Your first name?”, asked the gentleman at the desk. “Richard”, said Joseph.
“You’re Richard?” was my bewildered response. I’ll let your imagination go free with the face expression of the clerk.
“Richard” turned out to be his legal first name, while “Joseph” is his baptismal name and that’s how people in the church know him.
We proceeded to the room.
P.S. The monastery and the visit were great, but that's a whole different story. Life is beautiful.
Monday, January 10, 2011
"Multiplication and God"
My son D is 6 now. He's a loving and lovable little guy, and in his school he found the same type of girl G, and they are great friends, even calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend.
They are also both chatterboxes and love talking when they're together. They also like to walk hand in hand or even hug each other, for which they were warned by the teacher more than once. We, knowing it, tried to softly explain it to him that it's not proper to do such thing in school.
One day Vera was in school for parent-teacher conference and D was standing next to her, when G was walking buy - swiftly hugged him to the point of him squeaking and then went on. At that point D said to Vera: "See?! she does this to me all the time!" Poor guy can't understand what is wrong with this. :)
Recently G's mom and Vera were talking, and G's mom told that she was talking to G about talking to D too much in school. And G replied: "Oh, but mommy, I love him so much!... And besides, do you even know what we're talking about? Multiplication and God!"
P.S. Some time ago I was doing something with D, and he said that I am his friend. And this was & is so terrific and touching, it brings tears to my eyes every time I recall that, even now. It's a precious memory.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
will a prayer be heard?
Pharaoh entreated, saying: "May God take away from me this death" (Exodus 10:17), and he was heard.
Similarly, when the demons asked the Lord not to cast them into the abyss, their request was granted (Luke 8:31).
How much more, then, will a Christian be heard when he prays to be delivered from spiritual death?
St. John of Karpathos
( from http://stisaacthesyrian.com )
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