Devshirme

The latest issue of Sofia – our monthly ‘zine – came out today.  Copies should be arriving in the mail soon, and they are available in the narthex.  The website will have the December issue up at the beginning of the month.  Here is an excerpt from my article (the Santa picture I reference can be found here):

American Christmas largely developed through the popular reception of the writings of Washington Irving and Charles Dickens.  Traditions like Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and yule logs are largely German or Germanic in origin, and were popularized by those writers.  Even before their time, the many German- and Dutch-speaking enclaves in the Colonies and early America celebrated with these traditions.  Santa Claus is a combination of St. Nicholas and Father Christmas, a religious figure with pagan origins going back to the Anglo-Saxon god Woden, the equivalent to the Norse god Odin and the source of the word Wednesday (Woden’s Day).  Santa Claus today appears rather cartoonish, with his red suit and boots and hat, but if you look at depictions of him going back a few centuries you can see the evolution from his religious roots.  The attached illustration of Father Christmas from the late 17th century could almost have been copied from an Orthodox icon of St. Nicholas.  The name Santa Claus itself comes from the saint, and he was known for his generosity and gift-giving.  Forget the elves and North Pole stuff; Santa Claus is a modern depiction of our saint and offers us a teaching tool as we return to the religious roots of Christmas.

A good friend of mine always had an interesting perspective on American holidays.  He was Turkish and grew up in Turkey and other countries but went to an American school, so when he came here he could blend in easily (he spoke English without an accent) and I always found his observations on American stuff to be fresh and insightful.  He always appreciated Thanksgiving above our other holidays.  Christmas was way too commercial and Easter was fun but not of much significance to him religiously, but Thanksgiving was a time to be with our group of friends – an adopted family in America, as it were.

I held this view until recently.  Last year I talked about how it seems that Thanksgiving has turned into an excuse for gluttony.  This is actually an acceptable part of the culture of Thanksgiving; if you watch the news or read news websites there are features on how to deal with eating too much turkey or whatever on the holiday.  I am not trying to be a wet blanket here, and yes, I will probably overdo it a bit today – in our case there are tons of appetizers where we go – but by the time dinner rolls around I am full and usually eat almost nothing at the formal sit-down part of the day.  Gluttony is the only one of the seven deadly sins that we always dance around – you have to eat, after all – so every meal is a potential opportunity for gluttony.  Thanksgiving almost sanctions it.

This year’s rant is more about the holiday’s place in our culture and how it is has lost much of its bite.  Thanksgiving has been secularized just like other holidays (and keep in mind I am a defender of Santa and the Easter bunny, so I am not a no-fun, super strict person).  I have heard the phrase “give thanks” many, many times in the lead up to today.  Give thanks to whom?  This key part is missing, as is any acknowledgment of the Almighty in reference to the day.  So, in addition to my suggestion that we don’t overdo it on the food front, I have to add – please remember to whom we are giving thanks, and be sure to think about this and give voice to it.  Happy Thanksgiving to all, and more later…

I generally don’t discuss politics, and I certainly don’t venture much onto the topic of Greek politics, but I have found myself recently talking about the drachma, the old Greek currency replaced by the Euro some years back.  I have even come up with a nice little catch-phrase, although I suppose I heard it elsewhere first: “The drachma was just fine for several thousand years”.  I pipe up with this, as you can imagine, during talks about Greece and the EU.

The Wiki article gives a pretty good idea of the history of this unit of money.  I always knew that the Armenian dram derived its name from the drachma but never made the connection with the dirham of Morocco and the UAE.  I have a pretty decent collection of coins from all over the world.  It started when my dad would bring back change from his business trips, and it is now at the point where if I find out someone is going to a country whose coins I don’t have I ask if they can bring back a few for me.  The UAE coins are in the part of the collection still at my ‘rents; I need to reclaim these along with other stuff that I have there (a process that will probably never end).

The coin names likely spread due to Alexander the Great’s travels.  It is amazing how remnants of his conquests and his successors’ rule have survived, whether it is in the DNA of the Kalash, places names like Kandahar, literary expressions like “Gordian knot”, or coinage from places like Morocco where Alexander never set foot.

I was driving through Lincoln Square today when I saw a crew representing Occupy Worcester.  There were about 5-7 people on the sidewalk near the WWI monument.  One of the demonstrators carried a large red flag with the famous image of revolutionary icon Che Guevara.  I normally do not engage people in political talk, but when I saw Che’s face I had to say something.  Fortunately, due to late afternoon Worcester traffic, I was able to idle for a minute and chat with the gentleman bearing the Che flag.  I rolled down the window and he came over.  I had to ask – why do you have Che on your flag?  He answered that he was for “the people” and his philosophy was in line with the Occupy Worcester people.  I told him the reason I asked, and I disagree but respect his politics on this, is that Che, for all his revolutionary fervor, was a brutal mass murderer.  I did not get into whether Che’s actions were beneficial for those on whose behalf he advocated.  At this point the light changed and I had to drive; I wanted to continue the chat so I said I would park and come back.  I found a legal space several blocks away and did my usual  quick-walk back to the encampment.  The small group gathered around me as my new friend and I continued our conversation.

I am not sure if this group is representative of the whole Occupy movement, but our discussion, which was calm and cordial, was distressing.  I said that Che committed violence not just in the theater of warfare but for political means, including the lining up of political enemies and their summary execution (he also executed priests!).  This pretty much amounts to killing those with whom you disagree.  The occupy group made the argument that the “kleptocracy” (to use their term)  keep people from having health care or homes, and they are really killers in their own right and may well deserve death.  This is scary stuff.  I asked them if they thought violence was justified in their struggle and they said it may well be necessary and that the incidents of violence at other Occupy events throughout the country were “caused by the cops”.  I tried to point out that killing those with whom you merely disagreed on political matters, no matter how serious, was just plain wrong, but they resisted this line of argument.  After saying that, as a clergyman with a flock entrusted to my care I am a (minor) authority figure, I asked them if I may be a target.  They said that if it came to that I may well be.

Things ended cordially – I had to go visit someone in the hospital and left.  I may well return to engage them in more conversation on the Che matter.  I did ask them if they would carry banners with Stalin, Mussolini or other such figures, all of whom were for “the people” but did many unsavory things.  For articles on Che as a mass murder check out Jay Nordlinger’s writings here, and for the same from a left-wing perspective check out this from the New Republic.

Below is the November message from His Eminence.  I absolutely cannot believe Thanksgiving is less than a week and a half away!

November 2, 2011

To the Reverend Clergy and

Devout Faithful in the Metropolis of Boston,

Beloved in the Lord,

As we prepare to celebrate the great American holiday of Thanksgiving, let us thank Almighty God for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon us.  Indeed we are truly blessed! This year, as we “gather together to ask the Lord’s blessings,” let us be especially mindful of our brethren throughout America- those who have lost their homes and those who, together with their children, go to bed each night with little or nothing to eat.

I thank our Parishes and Philoptochos Societies for all you do to help alleviate the pain and misfortune of our suffering brethren.  I call upon you to enhance your efforts this winter by participating in local food bank programs, by supporting homeless shelters in your towns or cities, by collecting winter clothing for the needy, etc.

The entire Parish should open its embrace to our needy brethren. Everyone, including our GOYAns and Sunday school children, should be encouraged to volunteer their time in order to get a personal glimpse into the suffering in our midst.  I submit to you that it is not enough to make a monetary donation to a particular organization.  We need to experience first hand the tragedy faced by our fellow human beings.

Let us be mindful of our Savior’s words, “Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.”  Matthew 25, 34-36.

Praying that God bless you and your families during the Thanksgiving holiday, I remain

With Archpastoral love,

M E T H O D I O S

Metropolitan of Boston

The story is told about a number of frogs which were placed by scientists in a tub of water whose temperature was exactly the same as the pond from which they were taken. The scientists slowly increased the temperature and were soon astonished to see that, even though the water gradually became warmer, the frogs did not react. It was only when the temperatures were increased to a boiling point that the frogs reacted. It was too late. Before they knew it, they burned to death. Had they realized the slow increase in the water temperature, they would have reacted and thus spared their lives. The frogs grew accustomed to the slow rise in temperature and adapted. The change in water temperature occurred slowly but deliberately, and because of this process, the frogs failed to pay attention.

For us Orthodox Christians, the changes in the moral standards in our society have occurred so slowly that they have become imperceptible. We have adapted to the slow deterioration of moral life in society to the point where we have adapted to the moral decay in our midst and have taken it for granted. Sadly we live in a world of moral and ethical relativism, hedonism and selfishness; in a world in desperate need of spiritual renewal. Sunday is no longer the day that we worship Almighty God and then sit at our dinner table to enjoy fellowship. Rarely do we read the Bible. Prayers are no longer offered in our schools. The Ten Commandments have been removed from our civil courts. Lifestyles previously kept in the closet are now championed as reputable and worthy of emulation. The other day while driving to a liturgical service, a fellow priest pointed to a decal placed prominently on the bumper of the car in front of us. It was the symbol of a new atheist group in America.

The admonition of Saint Paul addressed to the Ephesians should echo in our hearts, “no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.” (Eph.4:17) We need to re evaluate our lives and ask ourselves how the way we live differs from the way others live who have no faith. Do we differ as Orthodox Christians from our secular and oftentimes atheist neighbors? How do we live our Orthodox Faith?

I am concerned that we have become so accustomed to sin and immoral behavior, that we do not notice it. We must not accept the prevailing permissive immoral and unethical standards of modern day society which are clearly at odds with the tenets of Holy Scripture and the teachings of the Fathers of the Church.

Remember the frogs in the experiment, and be wary of their mistake of growing accustomed to an environment which eventually caused their demise.

+ Metropolitan Methodios of Boston
October 2011

I voted in the primary yesterday and thought I would share a few thoughts.  Our area just had people on the ballot for the at-large City Council seats, so I went in, did my thing, and was out in less than two minutes.

-We have three parishioners on the ballot in the general election!  This is very exciting.  I have also made friends with some new people who are running, and I am happy to say that these are all great people who are civic-minded, regardless of their political leanings.

-Turnout was pretty low – the article from the T&G puts it at around 8.7%.  One precinct, which will go unnamed, had 5 people come out to vote.  Normally I defend low voter turnout – it is a sign that people are content with the status quo.  But I have been rethinking this.  Clearly people are not engaged on any sort of level here.  Politics is but one piston in the engine that moves society, but it does have a place, and it is sad and frightening to see such a disengagement.  When people do not feel part of a society nor want to participate in it there will be problems, and this seems to be what is happening.

-I voted at our quite precinct and was amused by the setup.  The door to the voting area had a small sign saying vote here and a gigantic sign, with a red-slashed circle, saying NO SMOKING (in two languages).  I do not promote smoking, but really – would anyone even think of lighting up in such an area (remember I voted and was there for only two minutes, if that)?  And why a huge, and no doubt expensive, sign?  Is this really the most important thing?  Sometimes I think we have become a parody of ourselves….

His Eminence has asked us to distribute the letter below concerning IOCC and the situation in Somalia.

August 2, 2011

To the Rev. Clergy and Faithful in the Metropolis

Dearly Beloved Brethren,

Reading this morning’s N.Y. Times, I was greatly saddened to see a picture of a starving young child in Somalia. Over 500,000 children are at the risk of starvation. This is one of Africa’s worst humanitarian disasters in decades. Millions will die by the end of this year. The magnitude of suffering cannot be imagined.

Whether in Somalia or Haiti or other parts of the world, it is incumbent upon all of us Orthodox Christians to respond to the best of our abilities. We cannot ignore what is happening throughout the world – not to say in our very own cities and towns in America.

Please send whatever financial assistance you can to the IOCC – International Orthodox Christian Charities. You can be sure that your donation will reach the starving children of Somalia. Each child is the icon of Christ placed in our world to remind us that, “if you did it to one of these the least of my children you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:41)

With Episcopal love,

M E T H O D I O S

Metropolitan of Boston

I have been looking for something to inspire me to start blogging again, and I am fired up after an incident, or non-incident, that happened this morning.  I rolled to the neighborhood hardware store and as I pulled into the parking lot I noticed a Prius whose rear was covered with about 10 or 12 bumper stickers and a Darwin fish with legs eating a Jesus fish (not just the Darwin fish with legs that you see sometimes).  I am into the Prius because a friend has one and I love it, so I notice them, but what drew my attention here was the Darwin fish.

Now, if you know me, you know I am pretty easygoing and live and let live.  I also see no conflict in believing in God as the Creator as well as believing in evolution or some other such scientific explanation for our development – Darwin himself believed God to be the origin of creation.  My thing about the Darwin fish is that instead of coming up with some other symbol, the people who have them take a Christian symbol – the Jesus fish – and use it to mock Christians.  The Darwin fish is not so much a statement of belief in science or whatever as it is a mocking of Christians.  It also betrays appalling ignorance of the many, many Christians like me who are believers in God and believe science is another gift from God.  I understand that the target of the Darwin fish is the Christian who believes in Intelligent Design and other such things (and can be guilty of intolerance or ignorance, as we all can be), but please…how about taking the high road, or at least coming up with a statement not so reliant on the Jesus fish, which is a cherished symbol to many of us?

In addition to the Darwin fish the car had a bunch of stickers.  Most were political and were sneering and rude (whatever happened to the New Civility?) to those on the other side of the spectrum.  Generally, when I see a car covered in political bumper stickers it throws up warning signs, but still…Some of the stickers said things like “Religion ruled the Dark Ages”.  So clearly, the driver had a problem with religious people, or at least certain types.  I will give him the benefit of the doubt – there are many people who have had bad experiences with churches, whether through abuse, unfriendliness, neglect, whatever.  Based on his political stickers, though, there seemed to at least be some sort of consistency to his thinking.

The hardware store is not big, and I figured I would see everyone from the six or so cars in the parking lot when I went in.  And I was in full priest-mode – black shirt, collar, everything.  I put a big (and genuine) smile on my face, went in, got what I needed, and got in the line near the register.  It was more a gathering than a line, so the handful of us there could all see each other.  I then engaged in a bit of stereotyping myself – I tried to figure out who was the driver of the car.  Everyone looked pretty much alike but the one whom I guessed to be the owner was indeed that person.  We ended up in the parking lot at the same time but he moved just a bit too quickly to his car for me to talk to him.  If I had had the chance I would have smiled and said “Most of us are decent people” or something like that, but whatever.  I have no idea if he even noticed me, but I would hope that anyone who feels so strongly about such matters would be open to meeting someone from the other side, as it were, and having an honest and friendly encounter.

I was chatting with Fr. Peter this morning and he casually mentioned how they “caught Whitey”.  WHOA!  I had no clue – I don’t watch tv and had not been online last night or in the morning – that the FBI had grabbed Whitey Bulger yesterday.  To give you an idea of how long he has been a fugitive – I was a senior in college, so we are talking 16 years.  The wiki article has a nice section on his fugitive years.  At one point the FBI even thought he might be in Uruguay like a Nazi fugitive!

I have to say that the first thing that entered my mind, after the initial feeling of surprise and delight, was “I wonder if he will give up the location or the story of the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum stolen art???”.   Wouldn’t that be something?  Of course, this is assuming he was involved.  I recently read (on the NookColor) a very exciting mystery novel about the theft called Among Thieves by David Hosp.  Bulger is a big character in this book and his portrayal, I imagine, is pretty close to real life.  One detail that sticks out is he wanted to be called Jimmy rather than Whitey (and he seemed to get what he wanted).  The book has him, the IRA, and a bunch of others connected to the theft.  I then read a non-fiction account of the theft called The Gardner Heist – although it is non-fiction it too is a page-turner.  I highly recommend both of these books, and if you do read both I suggest you read them in the same order I did – fiction first followed by non-fiction.  The second book only mentions Bulger once, but of course until the crime is solved we will not know all of the details (and even then we may never get the whole story).

We all have a set of events where we remember exactly where we were when we heard about them.  I don’t know if today will make the grade, but it is indeed huge news and very good news – Bulger was/is by all accounts a horrible man.  As for the events in my lifetime where the memory of finding out is indelibly stamped upon me, they include President Reagan being shot, the Challenger explosion, Magic Johnson announcing he was HIV+, Kurt Cobain’s suicide, and 911.  Maybe the Osama Bin Laden capture will also join the ranks – we will see.