Recent content by frjohnmorris

When I was in seminary at Holy Cross, they even changed the curtain before the Holy Doors to the color of the season. Fr. John.

I do not know why Jerusalem cares about Qatar. I do know, however, that Qatar s in the canonical territory of the Patriarchate of Antioch. It is uncanonical for one autocephalous Church to establish a parish, much less an Archdiocese within the canonical territory of another autocephalous...

In Antiochan tradition, we wear green vestments during July because of Pentecost.  My sacristan changes all the lamps and votive lights on the candle stands on the Holy Table to green. Next week, he will change them to blue for the fast of the Theotokos. Fr. John W. Morris.

Qatar is in the historical canonical territory of Antioch as defined by the Council of Chalcedon. Jerusalem was wrong to violate the canonical territory of Antioch by establishing a parish in Qatar in the first place. Jerusalem only compounded its wrong by consecrating a Bishop for Qatar. Fr...

The large censer is in the Cathedral of St. James in northern Spain. You put incense in a hand censer the same way that you put it on a regular censer with a small spoon. Fr. John W. Morris.

I could not disagree more. The Orthodox Church expresses its doctrine in its liturgical texts. For that reason, services should be done in a language that the people understand. There is nothing wrong with using a little foreign language for something like the Trisagion the meaning of which...

Meanwhile, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem continues to support an Archbishop within the canonical territory of the Patriarchate of Antioch. Why has Jerusalem provoked the Patriarchate of Antioch while ignoring the spiritual needs of its Arabic speaking flock? Fr. John W. Morris.

It is the 9th ode of the canon of the Saint. A complete Menaion will have a canon for every Saint. Fr. John W. Morris.

It is also a Holy Week censer. If you look at the rubrics for Holy Week at least in the Antiochian tradition, they specify that the Priest is to cense with the Hand Censer at the beginning of the Matins services for Holy Week, (The Bridegroom, Holy Thursday and Holy Friday) and during the Royal...

In theory the Liturgy of St. James can be offered in any Eastern Orthodox Church on the Feast of St. James, and the Sunday After Christmas. I have never tried it because it would be to confusing for the people of my parish. Fr. John W. Morris.

When I did prison ministry at a federal prison, I was told that if I served a Divine Liturgy, I had to give Communion to anyone who approach the Chalice and could not refuse anyone. I decided it was best not to try to serve a Divine Liturgy. However, the prison chaplain was forced to back down...

At our Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocesan Convention last summer in Houston, we passed a resolution opposing same sex marriage without opposition. Fr. John W. Morris.

I believe that our large Antiochian Orthodox Arabic speaking parish in Livonia is close to Dearborn. Fr. John W. Morris

You completely misunderstand me if you do not think that I consider children a blessing. I deeply love and treasure my son and daughter.  I would not marry a couple who told me that they never plan to have children. It is clear from the text of the Orthodox marriage service that having children...