Category Archives: Uncategorized

Theophany: Transition to the Fullness of God

When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father didst bear witness unto Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, didst confirm the truthfulness of His word. O Christ our God Who hastContinue reading “Theophany: Transition to the Fullness of God”

FSMB 2022 Conference Reflections: Baptized In God’s Time and Way

Originally posted on Desert Fathers Dispatch:
Back in 2010, a young seminarian spoke at the Ancient Faith & Afro-American Christianity Conference in Aniston, Alabama. These were a few of his words: “And in many ways, if the Lord wills I know that if I have a ministry, it will be in many ways the fruit…

A Spiritual Journey Away from Social Media: In Good Company

Originally posted on The Modern Monastic Order Of Saint Simon of Cyrene:
Fasting from foods is a struggle for me. Before I became an Orthodox Christian, it was fairly easy to make up my own rules and only give up beef and pork during Lent. Dairy and fish became my dietary refuge. However, even these…

A Spiritual Journey Away from Social Media: My Beginning

Originally posted on The Modern Monastic Order Of Saint Simon of Cyrene:
I absconded completely from Facebook from the Dormition of the Theotokos Feast (August 15) until the Ecclesiastical New Year (September 1). Since then, I have made only one general post and posted a blog article and haven’t spent any time scrolling, checking for…

Of Desert Fathers & Maroons: Congolese Christian Experience

Originally posted on Desert Fathers Dispatch:
Usually when we think of African-American Christian leaders who spoke and acted out against injustice, a number of Civil Rights era figures come to mind; MLK (of course), Fannie Lou Hammer and the like. Or, if we want to talk about self-help leaders in our community, Elijah Muhammad and…

How Christianity Came to Africa: Foundation of Nile Valley Gods

Originally posted on Desert Fathers Dispatch:
The deities and religious thought of Egypt and Nubia also prepared the way for the Christian faith to come into Africa. The region’s polytheist faiths had high expectations that were to be embodied by the pharaohs and embraced by all. The sun god, Ra, was the source of all…

How Christianity Came to Africa: Hebrew Preparation

Originally posted on Desert Fathers Dispatch:
As in the Levant, Christianity in Africa has roots in the Israelite/Jewish religion. The story of Noah’s descendants populating the earth has the descendants of Ham settling Egypt and points west and southward along the Nile River (Genesis 10:6~20). An ancient name for the Nile is Gihon, one of…

How Christianity Came to Africa: Blacks of the Ancient Mediterranean

Originally posted on Desert Fathers Dispatch:
Between 10,500 to 7,300 BC, the area known today as the Saharah Desert was lush and habitable due to monsoonal rains falling on the land. There were enough waterways and wetlands to support crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and other aquatic beast as well as terrestrial creatures such as elephants and lions.…

Holy Friday: Peter’s Path

A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘You are certainly one of them too! Why your accent gives your away.’ Then he started cursing and swearing, “I do not know the man.’ And at once the cock crowed and Peter remembered what Jesus had said, ‘Before the cock crows you wouldContinue reading “Holy Friday: Peter’s Path”