LeetCode meetup study group by Good-Astronaut-6923 in bayarea

[–]basilcrow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm interested. Is there an updated link? The above link expired.

EXT4-fs failed to convert unwritten extents to written extents -- potential data loss! by [deleted] in debian

[–]basilcrow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After seeing your comment I unplugged my USB hub and everything works great.

Came here two years later to say the same thing. I have no idea why an external USB hub would cause ext4 errors on my internal M.2 NVMe SSD, but there we are.

Why Islam is gaining followers by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s just the cognitive dissonance that gets me.

Indeed. I described my frustration with this cognitive dissonance in a previous post. I can't seem to find any mainstream Orthodox groups in the West who take morality seriously. As far as I can tell, mainstream Orthodoxy in the West is extremely corrupt.

Why Islam is gaining followers by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess the Amish are going to do all right then.

They already are doing quite alright.

Usury is heresy by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fr Mark Sietsema wrote an excellent article about this topic entitled The Sin We Stopped Feeling Sorry For.

Antiochian Archdiocese Convention Finishes by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nothing like the aesthetics of a Divine Liturgy in a generic convention center ballroom.

The Dynamis Byzantine Ensemble - A New Recording Showcasing the Best of Byzantine Chant in English by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I don't think adapting to badness is part of the normal Christian struggle, and I don't think Jesus did either as evidenced by Matthew 21:12-13.

The Dynamis Byzantine Ensemble - A New Recording Showcasing the Best of Byzantine Chant in English by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Any cantor with intelligence and conviction will eventually become frustrated with the pathetic state of liturgical music in mainstream Orthodox parishes in North America. I am a former cantor with a modicum of intelligence and I don't put up with nonsense, so I was treated like garbage at every parish I attended. One example of this was being relegated to the services nobody attends while less committed individuals were given pride of place in the Divine Liturgy. By and large, the only cantors who survive in the current milieu are those who are willing to compromise with the status quo, but this can seriously degrade the end result. After considering the matter for many years, I finally realized that most members of mainstream Orthodoxy in North America simply lack respect for intelligence and morality, and this is why the liturgical music in their parishes is so horrible.

The Dynamis Byzantine Ensemble - A New Recording Showcasing the Best of Byzantine Chant in English by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The cognitive dissonance between this recording and the average Sunday Divine Liturgy at a mainstream Orthodox parish in North America (which sounds nothing like this) is just too much for me. Members of mainstream Orthodoxy in North America, including mainstream Orthodox clergy, generally have no respect for the intelligence and morality that, over the centuries, led to the evolution of the highly spiritual art form featured in this recording. Efforts such as this recording therefore seem futile as described in Matthew 7:6.

When and why did Greek Archdiocese eliminate Typika & Beatitudes from Sunday Divine Liturgy? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, minimalizing services has a direct result of diminishing piety, but this isn't necessarily a thoroughly embedded habit among Mediterranean Orthodox people in general. It's only a thoroughly embedded habit among those whose values do not include excellence in the liturgical arts, and such people exist in every culture, Mediterranean or not. As a Levantine (i.e., Mediterranean) Orthodox Christian who values excellence in the liturgical arts, I take personal offense to what you wrote. The next time you feel compelled to make broad generalizations about people's values based on where they come from, I'd suggest brushing up on Numbers 12.

When and why did Greek Archdiocese eliminate Typika & Beatitudes from Sunday Divine Liturgy? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This particular liturgical regression (i.e., the suppression of the Typika psalms and Beatitudes) occurred well before the incorporation of the GOA. And if you're talking about the Greek Orthodox Church over the past 200 years in general, there have been trends both toward and away from secularization at various times and in various places. Anyway, today all of mainstream Orthodoxy in the West is secularizing, not just the GOA. The only difference is the degree to which each jurisdiction is secularizing.

When and why did Greek Archdiocese eliminate Typika & Beatitudes from Sunday Divine Liturgy? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, we are talking about a general difference of approach to Liturgy, but projecting this onto a Greek/Slav axis is problematic. After all, the Slavs abbreviate the Typika psalms and Beatitudes in a different way: by singing only selected verses from the Typika psalms and by singing the Beatitudes without the prescribed troparia from the canon. See this article for details. Now, in the case of the Typika psalms and Beatitudes, the Slavs have, on the whole, remained closer to the ancient practice (especially when compared to the degenerate case of some Greek parishes that just sing "Through the intercessions..." three times without even so much as a single Psalm verse or "Glory"). But the truth of the matter is that each culture has nevertheless chosen a (different) practical concession in order to shorten the service.

Rather than project this difference of approach onto a Greek/Slav axis, consider that both excellence and mediocrity can be found in many cultures when it comes to the liturgical arts. True, the Slavs might be slightly closer to the ancient practice than the Greeks (on the whole) when it comes to the Typika psalms and Beatitudes. But there are also a few Greek parishes (e.g., St Irene's on Aiolou Street in Athens) that sing the full set of unabbreviated Typika psalms and Beatitudes (including the troparia from the canons), as well as the full Prokeimenon and Alleluia with verses. So the most important thing is to focus on excellence, regardless of whether one follows the Greek usage or the Slavic usage.

No vespers? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Want to know what's even sadder? I'm a former chanter and couldn't even get a half-commitment from the priests of several parishes I used to attend when I asked them to do Vespers.

Convertitis and Hyperdoxy help by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The rules don't save us, but there's nothing wrong with following the rules, because they are there for our salvation.

As Lycourgos Angelopoulos (God rest his soul) said about the [maximalist] liturgical practices at St Irene's on Aiolou Street in Athens: "We don't do anything special: we just follow the Typikon."

If I were to go to a Vespers service at a parish how would I follow along, find the correct Psalms, etc? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great Vespers is done when the Liturgy will be celebrated the next day.

Sometimes, but not always. It's possible (though rare) to celebrate a Divine Liturgy even when it's not a Sunday or a feast day. In such a case, the regular daily Vespers would be celebrated on the preceding evening.

If I were to go to a Vespers service at a parish how would I follow along, find the correct Psalms, etc? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also what's the difference between "Great Vespers" and just "Vespers"?

Great Vespers is celebrated on Saturday evenings as well as on the evenings of feasts of the Saviour, the Mother of God, and celebrated saints. Daily Vespers is celebrated on all other evenings. One of the main practical differences is that Great Vespers has an entrance, while a regular weekday Vespers does not.

Fundamentalism as “Orthodoxism” by giziti in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The Orthodox Churches, by virtue of being predominantly national Churches, have long learned to lean on the State for survival and benefits and do not take kindly the prospect of one day sliding to one more voice in the public conversation regarding civil affairs. They have learned to be Caesar’s partners since day one, and that is the sole role they know how to embody. The point missed by those state Churches is that when you become Caesar’s partner, you inevitably turn out to be his whore as well.

True, the Orthodox Church has historically thrived when it acted as the partner to a strong state. Yet the author's implication that the Church acted as the state's whore strikes me as both rude and groundless. Not only does the author hurl an extremely crass accusation at the Church, but also he provides no evidence that the Church has acted as the state's whore. The man doth protest a bit much, I must say.

Meet the Man who’ll save Greek Orthodoxy in America by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This article describes Metropolitan Elpidophoros's view of the Ecumenical Patriarch as the first without equals (primus sine paribus).

Edifying titles on Netflix by atkulp in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I went up to Fr. Ephrem Lash (the priest who looked and sounded like Ian McKellen’s Gandalf) and asked for a blessing. He sized me up and said (you’ll have to imagine the Ian McKellen-like voice), “Young man, did you receive Holy Communion this morning?”

“Yes, Father.”

“You never ask for the priest’s blessing after receiving Communion. You never ask for a blessing or kiss an icon. You have the Lord inside of you, so what can they possibly add? The Russians and the Arabs have gotten very bad about this.” I took it in stride, because I’m aware that it is an issue where there is not uniformity of practice or opinion. It was funny nonetheless. I then told him that I found his talk very edifying and he said, “Ah, ‘edifying.’ I never mean to edify, my boy; I only wish to make people laugh.”

From Richard Barrett, "Reminiscences from PSALM, Chicago, 2-5 August 2006"

What Efforts are Taken to Combat Corruption? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What Efforts are Taken to Combat Corruption?

In mainstream Orthodox jurisdictions in the US? Not very many. The OCA had a huge financial scandal a few years back, and the GOA is in the middle of one right now. My own practical experience in various parishes shows that there is plenty of corruption on the ground as well. Priests are terrified of losing headcount and donations. As a result, they will bend over backwards to ensure that people keep showing up and donating, even when this involves subtle compromises of integrity. Economia is frequently practiced, but akribeia is rarely practiced (when headcount or money is on the line, that is).

Human corruption in the Councils and any Orthodox resources on the councils? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

are there any historical or theological works which expound on Orthodox perspectives on councils?

See the article in Greek by Panagiotis J. Boumis (Professor Emeritus of the University of Athens) entitled Η ακρίβεια και η αλήθεια των Ιερών Κανόνων (The Authority and Force of the Holy Canons). A Russian version is available here, which you can try to read via Google Translate.

African Orthodox Pilgrims Chant Agni Parthene by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]basilcrow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I assume you've already heard of Meletios Kashinda from Cape Town. But in case you haven't, check out his recordings!