Please pray for Fr. Alexios, who was attacked today by a Marine with a tire iron who mistook him for a Muslim. Fr. Alexios is a gentle, kind, holy monk from Crete who made the terrible mistake of getting lost and asking for directions today. We hear that he is doing okay, but please pray for his speedy recovery.

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

I used to have a full beard. In my first month at my former parish, I was informed by some neighbors in my apartment comlex that 'sand n****r terrorists' like me weren't welcome in that city. I let them know I was a priest, but somehow they weren't totally convinced.

And that's why I have a goattee nowadays....

Logged

"As the sparrow flees from a hawk, so the man seeking humility flees from an argument". St John Climacus

I used to have a full beard. In my first month at my former parish, I was informed by some neighbors in my apartment comlex that 'sand n****r terrorists' like me weren't welcome in that city. I let them know I was a priest, but somehow they weren't totally convinced.

And that's why I have a goattee nowadays....

Father, I have often meant to ask you why you don't have a full beard. Now I know. But consider this: wearing a full beard may be an outward sign of "bearing the Cross." If the Muslims are not afraid to wear full beards, then why should we Christians be afraid? (Not that you are afraid, for I know you to be a man of courage as you serve a parish in a dangerous part of town. But I just offer these words for consideration. Personally, whenever I see Priests with long, full beards I am encouraged. Also, I just think it looks cool. )

Rastafarians are often persecuted for their dreadlocks. I know of Rastafarian prisoners who have been forced into years of solitary confinement because they refuse to cut their locks. Some of these Rastas are Orthodox Christians of the Ethiopian Church.

My point is this: Don't let the evils of this world or fear of persecution dictate whether or not you wear a beard. Do what you feel led to do. Do what you want to do if it in is the pursuit of glorifying God. Then trust that whatever consequences befall you will bring glory and honor to the cause of Our Lord.

On the other hand, wearing a long, full beard may be a source of spiritual or fleshly pride for some. The Rastas have a saying, "Dreadlocks grow in the heart, not on the head."

Please forgive me if I sound condescending or judgmental in any way. I dare not presume to give advice to a Priest, especially to one as wise, knowledgeable, and godly as you Father Chris. I like you just the way you are!

[Sorry, I forgot that this was the prayer forum. My prayers go out indeed to Father Alexios. "Lord Have Mercy."]

Selam

« Last Edit: November 11, 2009, 02:05:41 AM by Gebre Menfes Kidus »

Logged

"God is a consuming fire. And His fire is love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +

Gebre Menfes Kidus The Bosnian Muslim ,plus the albainian Macedonian ,pakistani and others that i know ,that are sort of devout don't seem to have a mustache... only the beard ... i never though to ask them maybe i will....

Gebre Menfes Kidus The Bosnian Muslim ,plus the albainian Macedonian ,pakistani and others that i know ,that are sort of devout don't seem to have a mustache... only the beard ... i never though to ask them maybe i will....

Maybe you know the reason why,and can answer.....

I can only speculate that the beard without the mustache evolved as a way of distinguishing themselves as distinctly Muslim as opposed to (or rather than) those of other faiths who also wear long, full beards.

I have had a full beard for many years now, and often without the mustache because it tends to curl inside my upper lip and irritates me. I have often been asked if I was a Muslim, even when I was carrying my Bible and wearing a Cross around my neck! Now I have a mustache too, but I may shave it again if it bothers me. I really don't care what others think.

You can imagine the looks I used to get here in Mississippi shortly after 9/11! And people often confused my Haile Selassie necklace for Osama Bin Laden! But do you think I changed because of their ignorance? Nope.

Selam

« Last Edit: November 11, 2009, 03:58:18 AM by Gebre Menfes Kidus »

Logged

"God is a consuming fire. And His fire is love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +

"For, by its immensity, the divine substance surpasses every form that our intellect reaches. Thus we are unable to apprehend it by knowing what it is. Yet we are able to have some knowledge of it by knowing what it is not." - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra gentiles, I, 14.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who can watch the watchmen?"No one is paying attention to your post reports"Why do posters that claim to have me blocked keep sending me pms and responding to my posts? That makes no sense.

Lord have mercy on Fr. Alexios, and on his attacker, that each may find healing.

Logged

"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."" Isaac Asimov