OrthodoxNet.com Blog

Our Blog was hacked on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 at approximately 19:29:06. The criminal who did this erased the entire database (including all online backups) of stories, posts, and comments and deleted all the user accounts, including all administrator access. Luckily, our provider uses monitoring software on its servers and we were able to capture and restore some key information about this perpetrator. (PS - He’s not a conservative.)

We were also able to restore our Blog database as of January 24, 2008 from our off-site server backups. Over the next few days we will re-add some of the more important stories that were posted here.

Theme for March for Life January 22, 2008: “Build Unity on the Life Principles throughout America. No Exception! No Compromise!”

Fr. Hans is in Washington supporting the March for Life. Continue Reading »

OCN | Seraphim Danckaert | Jan. 15, 2008

“I would like to see Share the Light Sunday reach out, and, in the future, [for Come Receive the Light] to be heard throughout the United States,” His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston said during Sunday’s live Web TV program hosted by the Orthodox Christian Network. Continue Reading »

ABC 4 News | Chris Vanocur | Nov. 22, 2007

SALT LAKE CITY - On Thanksgiving day, some two thousand people were welcomed with open arms at Salt Lake’s Greek Orthodox Church. The Church has been serving Thanksgiving meals to the needy for more than 20 years.

Continue Reading »

Human Events | Margaret Hunter | Nov. 12, 2007

“If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.” I read this and can barely hold back the tears. I feel that, because I am a military wife and I know exactly what it means.

It is Veterans Day, and for so many, it is just another long weekend, a day off from work. It is Veterans Day. On this day our every thought should be remembering those who so bravely fought for the very freedom we enjoy. For every American, this day should be about educating ourselves and others on why we celebrate this national holiday. On this day we express gratitude to those who continue to give up their every comfort and leave their family homes to protect the country we and they hold so dear. The men and women in uniform — past and present — are the reason why America is and always will be known as the greatest nation on earth.

Continue Reading »

After a couple of very interesting years on this blog, it is time to call it quits. Several events prompted my decision, chiefly the launch of the American Orthodox Institute. AOI will have its own blog, administered by John Couretas, the Executive Director of AOI, where I will be an occasional contributer. The AOI blog will be moderated with the goal of discussing in greater detail and depth the Orthodox response to cultural issues and other items. I am simply not able to maintain this blog with the new projects.

But don’t despair! The blog isn’t going away, it’s just under new management. Chris Banescu, webmaster of OrthodoxNet.com, lawyer, university professor, business owner, and all around good guy whom many of you already know, is taking over the helm. He is the man in charge. We’ve already redesigned the blog to match the upcoming redesign of his popular site. Things will work just as they did before, but I am sure that Chris will put his own stamp on things as time goes along.

OrthodoxyToday.org will undergo a few changes as well. In addition to spinning off the blog, I plan to return the site to its original focus of social commentary informed by morally clear analysis, and spin off the Orthodox authors section into a separate website. I think the authors section has great potential for growth. Hopefully this can be done in the next few weeks.

Usually when I resign a project, I resign it completely. I was involved in starting the Orthodox-Forum internet discussion list when these lists were just in their infancy. It took off, but once it got established I left to start OrthodoxyToday.org. Well, that took off too, and now I am working on AOI. I will check in from time to time but you won’t see me contributing much.

For you techies, OrthodoxNet.com Blog hosting will remain where it is. That’s why you see a blog title and url mismatch. Apart from the hosting however, this blog is now Chris’ baby.

Let the debates continue!

FOX News | October 18, 2007

A controversial film that PBS axed from its documentary series about the post-Sept. 11 world will be broadcast for the first time nationwide this week by the FOX News Channel.

The documentary, originally titled “Islam vs. Islamists,” was produced by ABG Films with $675,000 in public funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was originally slated to run earlier this year as part of PBS’ “America at a Crossroads” series.

Continue Reading »

Got this in the mail yesterday. It’s true. You might want to put your name on the list to avoid junk calls.

REMINDER….all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing
companies tomorrow and you will start to receive sale calls.

….YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:

888-382-1222

It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your
time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the
cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a
different phone number.

Ancient Faith Radio interviewed me yesterday on the launch of the American Orthodox Institute (AOI). Listen here.

The project I’ve been working on the last three years was unveiled yesterday. It’s called the American Orthodox Institute (AOI) and has this mission: The American Orthodox Institute is a research and educational organization that engages the cultural issues of the day within the Orthodox Christian moral tradition. Take a look at the AOI website to get a clearer idea of contributers, advisors, and such. Note our journal, “The Clarion Review” (new website for Clarion in the works), which has been receiving praise and press in Europe. My latest article, “Orthodox Leadership in a Brave New World” is also included. The opening was a collaboration between AOI and Conciliar Media Ministries.

Ed. (Jacobse): Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, mentioned in the release below, is a columnist for OrthodoxyToday.org.

Christina Sacorafas Mosher, Victim of the I35 Bridge Collapse, Laid to Rest August 20, 2007 at Funeral Service at St. Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA | August 23, 2007

The Parish of St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis, the Metropolis of Chicago and the nation experienced a terrible loss with the tragic death of Christina Sacorafas Mosher in the Minneapolis bridge collapse on August 1, 2007. Christina was in route to St. Mary’s church to teach a youth dance class. She called just before 6:00 pm to say she was caught in traffic. A few minutes later, the bridge she was on splintered and collapsed plunging dozens of cars and tons of concrete and metal into the water below. On August 2, the news reached the Metropolis offices in Chicago that Christina was one of the many that were feared missing.

Continue Reading »

It was nice. A total Disney adventure (as they put it). My daughter loves Disney, so Disney it was. We did the full tour including the fireworks at the end of the day which actually was very good. Also Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, two water parks. (We like waterparks.) Got home last night early evening, liturgy this morning, then hospital visits, catch up on a load of work (still behind). Will catch up here over the weekened.

I am going to be gone for four days. We (my family) are going to Orlando to do a little Disney, Sea World, and Typhoon Lagoon (yes, we love water parks). I’ll check in now and then, late evening or early morning probably. Be good. See you next weekend.

…so I inserted some code in every comment box that brings you back to the top of the page. Look for it on the right side top corner next to the date. Make sure to click it.

I am not interested in a Hindu-Christian ecumenical dialogue on this blog. If you want to start a blog of your own where you discuss your ideas why Christianity has not ascended to the heights of Hinduism (”not yet started its transcendence” and the like), I would be happy to notify the members here of it. However, we won’t be discussing it here.

Go to Borders Books (or B&N if you prefer), get a cup of coffee, and then read Michael Novak’s article “The End of the Secular Age” in “First Things.” I’m not as optimistic about the collapse of secularism as he is, but his overview of secularism (including neo-atheism) is top notch. You’ll have to read it there first. They won’t allow posting until next month.

Continue Reading »

Sorry to three posters, but I must have clicked something wrong. I went to approve three pending comments, and they did not show up. It’s a reliable system, so the error is most likely mine. My apologies.

I heard Terry Schiavo’s lawyer today at a small meeting. We ended up talking privately for about twenty minutes about a host of topics. A very bright and engaging man. He had some very interesting points such as the different ways the American and non-American press reported her death, what her death was like (he escorted Mrs. Schindler when she visited Terry as she lay dying), why he took the case, evidence that Terry was not in a vegetative state (testimony not allowed in the record), and more. I’ll post my notes tonight if I have time.

I won’t be able to check in much for the next few days. I fly to Atlanta tomorrow morning and return Saturday evening. Be good.