Around the Country in Five Minutes

When Brian DeFrees decided to make a trip around the US, he also decided to document his travels with time-lapse photographs. The results are interesting, inspiring, and 'moving'.

Enjoy.

The Pastor, the Pulpit and "the Word"

Risque? O yes!
To the point? You bet!
Orthodox message? I believe so, actually....

New Movie based on Internet Reality Star

(Having myself come from the land far far away, I just had to show support for a fellow Tarheal. Remember Pete the Pistol-packing Possum from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?)

Of cats and holidays

You either get it or you don't.

Simon's Cat, also seen on I Can Has Cheezburger

Incidentally, this posting is in honor of my dearly departed wife, whose birthday would have been today. My Lady is missed more than words can tell.

Would that this sort of thing happened more often ... and when I'm shopping...

Frankly, I'm surprised and delighted that no one called the cops!

Sometimes you cheer; sometimes you cry; sometimes you just have to laugh

So all those disappointed folks in the US and England can smile.

Does Evil Exist?

From the mouth of babes....

Source: Orthodox Video of the Day.

Food, Dancing - What More Could One Want?

Sometimes we all need a good laugh, a catchy tune, or a nice dish of comfort food.



Personally, I'm a Fattouche man but, hey!

Test Your Awareness

I just came across this and had to share it. Not only does it get its point across, but that point is applicable to many other situations in life.

I would argue that in this day and age the spiritual, the Grace of God, often falls into this category.

Katavasia of the Nativity

Okay, I just find this one funny....

Think of it as release during this "end of the season" political time in America.

O Virgin Pure

Another version of "O Virgin Pure" by St Nectarios.

More Silliness

Okay, I have a weakness for silly music and videos. Here are several of my favorites. (I promise, I'll get back to more serious business after this.)

Please don't take out a contract on me for that last one!

In the Interests of Public Health

IRS tax exemption be damned; this is important stuff and needs to be heard!

Okay, so sometimes I get a bit loony! :-D

Christianity and Georgia

May our Lord bring peace to this suffering nation!

From the Historic Annals of World War II

Kalimafi tip to Fr Z



Keep liquid away from your mouth when watching this.

(Some people have way TOO MUCH time on their hands; thank God!)

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Enough Said

(Hat tip to GetReligion.Org.)

O Virgin Pure (in Greek)

O Virgin Pure
by St. Nectarios
Plagal First Tone (Tone Five)

Refrain: O Rejoice, Bride Unwedded.

O Virgin pure, immaculate/ O Lady Theotokos
O Virgin Mother, Queen of all/ and fleece which is all dewy
More radiant than the rays of sun/ and higher than the heavens
Delight of virgin choruses/ superior to Angels.
Much brighten than the firmament/ and pure than the sun's light
More holy than the multitude/ of all the heav'nly armies.
O Rejoice, Bride Unwedded.

O Ever Virgin Mary/ of all the world, the Lady
O bride all pure, immaculate/ O Lady Panagia
O Mary bride and queen of all/ our cause of jubilation
Majestic maiden, Queen of all/ O our most holy Mother
More hon'rable than Cherubim/ beyond compare more glorious
than immaterial Seraphim/ and greater than angelic thrones.

O Rejoice, Bride Unwedded.

Rejoice, O son of Cherubim/ Rejoice, O hymn of angels
Rejoice, O ode of Seraphim/ the joy of the archangels
Rejoice, O peace and happiness/ the harbor of salvation
O sacred chamber of the Word/ flower of incorruption
Rejoice, delightful paradise/ of blessed life eternal
Rejoice, O wood and tree of life/ the fount of immortality

O Rejoice, Bride Unwedded.

I supplicate you, Lady/ now do I call upon you
And I beseech you, Queen of all/ I beg of you your favor
Majestic maiden, spotless one/ O Lady Panagia
I call upon you fervently/ O sacred, hallowed temple
Assist me and deliver me/ protect me from the enemy
And make me an inheritor/ of blessed life eternal.

O Rejoice, Bride Unwedded.

(Source and translation from: Holy Nativity Convent, Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)

The Blogging Cardinal is also doing YouTube!

Check out his little corner of the YouTube world here.

New Online Video Service

HT to Catholic World News for an article about a new Christian Video service called GodTube. The website intends to provide an alternative to the popular YouTube and is designed in in similar fashion, but with Christian videos. While some of the material is decidedly anti-Catholic (so caution is in order) and a few videos are mocking (Weird Al Yankovic, etc. have not been pulled - I guess they haven't noticed these yet), I have found a few good videos. Amongst them, the below video featuring the Vespers Hymn O Joyful Light sung in Arabic. Beautiful! (The text in English is below the video.)



O Joyful Light of the holy glory of the Father immortal: heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ! Since we have come to the setting of the sun and have seen the evening light, we praise God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is proper for You to be praised at all times by fitting melodies. O Son of God, Giver of Life, therefore the world glorifies You!

And here is the same hymn in Greek (although not the more popular tune used in most parishes)!



Finally, as a bonus, a nice Arabic language description of the traditional Byzantine Iconistasion. Perhaps someone with better Arabic skills will send me a translation of the written commentary (although it's fairly easy to see what is intended). On the other hand, I might post a description and reflection on the Iconistasion in the near future.



PS, Blessed All Souls Day to our Roman brethren! And a belated Blessed All Saints Day as well. (Byzantine Catholics and Orthodox celebrate All Saints Day on the Sunday after Pentecost and commemorate All Souls on the Saturdays of Great Lent and other occasions.)