27 March 2016. Happy Easter to All My Friends Keeping Western Easter

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This is a turn-of-the-20th-century Russian Easter greeting card. My, my, my… it’s got an Easter Bunny… with eggs! Of course, there were many RCs and Lutherans in the old empire (along with a generous sprinkling of Mennonites and native Russian Baptists)… so, some of their imagery influenced the larger Russian Orthodox culture (it worked the other way ’round, too!). People were tolerant of one another… they wished each other well on their respective holidays. We should do likewise… we’re Christians; that’s what we do…

Have a happy and most blessed holiday. I bow before you in respect…

BMD

24 March 2016. This is What the Konvertsy Write About About Other Christian Confessions… Disgusting and Beyond the Pale

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I saw this on FB, posted by one Richard Casey:

Will be happy when “commercial” Easter is over. Another year of the Protestant Evangelicals teaching their children it’s all about egg hunts, candy, and bunnies. So exhausting. Not to worry. The real Pascha is on the way.

Yes, they actually wrote that. Here’s a comment from Tiffani Green:

You mean “Christmas” round 2?

Here’s something from Isaac Lambertsen:

More properly referred to as the “Santa” Christmas” and the “Baby Jesus” Christmas.

I replied:

To see people who call themselves “Christians” mock the religious holidays of other Christian confessions is noxious and says much about the poster, the commenters, and those who “liked” this. Shame on the lot of you. Leave Catholic Easter be. BTW… don’t forget to say “Thank You” when your Catholic and Protestant friends wish you “Happy Easter”. WWJD? NOT THIS!

I didn’t think highly of the groundedness of konvertsy… this proves that they’re even less grounded than I thought they were. You don’t mock the religious holidays of others. Yes… their beliefs may not be those of the Church… yet, we owe a debt of decency and the duty of courtesy to our neighbours. I find this beyond the pale… I’m not alone.

BMD

11 April 2015. A Thought from St John Chrysostom on this Holy Saturday

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Christ is risen… but the empty tomb isn’t known yet. Christ is “loosing the bonds of the captives” in Hades… leading out all those who chose to follow Him. Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; set your minds on things eternal, ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand Christ our God to earth descended, come our homage to command. The Feast of Feasts is tonight at midnight…

BMD

18 April 2014. Easter’s On Its Way… Making Easter Eggs in Yekaterinburg

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They’re gettin’ ready for Easter in Yekaterinburg (that’s in the Urals… it’s where the Imperial Family suffered martyrdom). People at the Assumption Cathedral are making Easter eggs for the weekend services. Yes, Virginia, things are achingly NORMAL in the Mother Church… thank God for that! Get those last-minute things done… it’s almost here! Remember… the Easter Bunny’s legit… he’s on pre-Revolutionary Easter cards with “Christ is Risen” on ’em… let your kids have some FUN…

BMD