Aleksandr Matrekhin. With God’s Help. 1997

With God’s Help (Aleksandr Matrekhin, 1997)

This is how the Church in Russia has risen from the ashes. It has risen again due to the self-sacrificial giving of the Russian Orthodox people, an openheartedness that led them to give their money, their labour, their time, and their talents. There are some in the OCA who claim that they gave a major portion of the money used in this effort. That is pure moonshine and puffery of the worst sort. What came from that source was a literal drop in the bucket.

No, the rebuilding is not yet complete. In a sense, the workmen are still on the roof, fixing all the leaks. However, in Russia, the problem is recognised and is being addressed. As for America…. I think that there is not only much to be done, there is a need to drop all pretence… however, time shall tell.

Yuri Lysov. Moses. 2007

Moses

Yuri Lysov

2007

______________________________

One thing that’s always gotten under my skin are those sorts who attempt to “explain away” miracles or who smirkily dismiss them (I’m not talking of people outside of the Church, I’m talking of overeducated pseudo-intellectuals inside the Church). As for me, I believe that Moses parted the Red Sea. Why not? If you’re a believer, you agree that God’s the Master of the Universe, and that He can suspend its laws (in a greater or lesser way) if He so desires. As for us being “better informed” than the ancients, that’s airy and mendacious nonsense. Those folks may not have known the scientific ins-and-outs, but they had a good-sense grasp of how the world operated, backed by copious observation and acceptance of legitimate tradition. In short, their mothers didn’t raise any fools! If ancient tradition reports a miracle, I tend to believe it, unless there’s disproving evidence (no, Aleksandr Schmemann calling St Basil the Blessed clinically insane without a shred of proof isn’t disproving evidence, to give an instance).

My God can part the Red Sea and raise the dead! Can yours?

BMD

Valery Busygin. A Cat. 1992

A Cat (Valery Busygin, 1992)

This cat reminds me of one of our cats, Poochie, a grey tomcat. No, his fur is not matted, but, he is as every bit as inquisitive and bold. Nicky named him Poochie because “he acts like a dog”, in his words. That is, Poochie is very protective and “guards the house”. It is interesting how this cat came into Nicky’s life. Nicky heard a scratching at the door, and, when he opened the door, Poochie meowed, walked in, and made himself right at home. That was ten years ago…

Valery Busygin. Nightingale Time. 2005

Nightingale Time (Valery Busygin, 2005)