American Christianity at Its Best

So, a Baptist professor and a Syrian Orthodox priest walk into a bar . . .

Actually, it was a southern style cafeteria owned by a Greek family.  I went there to visit with a new friend from the Touchstone world I met through Jim Kushiner.  

I was surprised to find that my new friend, a priest in the Antiochian (Syrian) Orthodox church, had a southern accent and a complexion a lot like mine.  He enlisted in the Orthodox church after growing up Baptist in North Carolina and switching to the Episcopal church just in time to find their orthodoxy waning at the hands of mainline Christian church democracy.  "They VOTE on what they BELIEVE!" he exclaimed.  

As we talked, the Greek owner of the cafeteria (who goes to a Greek Orthodox church in another neighborhood) came by our table where he and my friend embraced in a sidewise fashion and kissed on the cheeks in the old European style.  What a vision to behold in an international city like Houston!

As a southerner, I'm guessing that took a little getting used to for my Baptist-Episcopalian-Orthodox friend.  But he carried it off like a seasoned pro.

Comments

[Truth Unites... and Divides]

"American Christianity at Its Best"

Nice story. Here's another beautiful story about how a NT scholar made the journey from being a college professor to being a pastor who's made a positive impact for the Kingdom.

[Nathan]

An excellent anecdote. As a Houstonian, and guessing that your references might have been to St. George's and Annunciation...and if there's any prize for deciphering local references...and being a huge fan of Greek food...I'm of course hoping that you'll reveal to me the name of the eatery! You may, of course, email me if you like.

[Fr Nathan Thompson]

Nathan, bonus points if you can actually name the Priest. By the way, we Orthodox converts suffer from the "how do I greet this person" syndrome. Handshake, American style handshake to hug (shake, pull, pat, pat, pat,) kiss on each cheek or three kisses (left, right, left)or the simplified Americanized Mediterranean/ Slavic kiss, just one on their right cheek (which generally doesn't even involve lip contact, just the touching of cheeks together.) Then you have to add the traditional form of asking a Priest for a blessing and kissing his hand and it's all very confusing at times.

[Hunter Baker]

Father Nathan, it might have been the three kisses thing. Left, right, left. That may well have been it. The restaurant was Cleburne's Cafeteria. Owned by Greeks, but not necessarily Greek food! Wonderful Houston eatery. I requested we eat there.

[George Patsourakos]

People from Eastern Mediterranean countries -- including Greece and Syria -- tend to greet people they know with a strong hug and a kiss on each cheek, because that is part of their culture.

Eastern Orthodox Church services tend to be longer and more "intense" than church services of other Christian denominations, which is probably why many Southerners have converted to the Orthodox religion.