Current conventional wisdom would have one believe that same-sex physical affection has been consistently and uniformly condemned by Christianity throughout the ages. Within this mindset, it would be considered fully anathema to suggest that same-sex intimacy could be utilized as a metaphor for Divine-human intimacy. Derek Krueger’s new book, Monastic Desires: Homoeroticism, Homophobia, and the Love of God in Medieval Constantinople upends these assumptions. Exploring the deeply incarnational writings of St. Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022 C.E.), Krueger aptly seeks to situate Symeon’s writings within the Byzantine society in which Symeon lived. Read More

A young Orthodox Christian can belong to a warm, faithful parish and still feel completely alone when it comes to dating. The parish may offer beautiful services, a serious priest, and a community ready to help in a crisis. Yet there may be no unmarried Orthodox adults of a similar age. When that person asks how to meet someone, the answer is often prayer, patience, or a vague promise that God will provide. All three may be sincere. None changes the fact that the nearest realistic introduction could be hundreds of miles away. Read More

Due to the compromised clarity of the above image, we identify some of the men pictured as Fathers Peter Heers, Josiah Trenham, John Whiteford, Jonathan Ivanoff, Seraphim Holland, et alii.

Your Beatitude, Patriarch Daniel:

Has the Patriarchate vetted these men? Do they represent the direction in which you are taking the Romanian Church? Our tens of thousands of readers around the world are eager to know.

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God has blessed me with a warm friendship between myself and a parish priest of the OCA in the US. He discovered me through Orthodoxy in Dialogue. He doesn’t agree with everything my theological work on sexuality and gender represents, yet we recognize in each other kindred spirits for whom Holy Tradition is paramount in the life of the Church.

Today he wrote to discuss developments subsequent to my response to the ordination of a female deacon two years ago in the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Some of his parishioners, catechumens, and inquirers are shaken. They question their own commitment to a Church that looks less and less like itself in their experience. “Progressives” might mock the discomfiture of these sincere Orthodox believers. I do not.

I take the liberty of sharing my response to my friend. Read More