Rastas and Orthodoxy Part Seven of Seven! RTE: I hope you both get there. Looking back, after this wonderful journey, what do you feel that you’ve brought to Orthodoxy from your Rasta experience that could help other Orthodox converts, especially those from a more middle-class background? MICHAEL: Living simple. Seeing your brother as yourself. Seeing […]
SONGS OF FREEDOM: Part Six
St. Basil of Ostrog Part Six of Seven RTE: I understand that both of you have a strong tie to St. Basil of Ostrog. He isn’t well- known in the West, so how did that come about? MICHAEL: A couple of years ago I received a flyer about a book about him called, The Mystery […]
SONGS OF FREEDOM: Part Five
More On Orthodoxy Part Five of Seven RTE: Probably every married woman reading this can feel what you went through, Teresa. When were you finally baptized, Michael? MICHAEL: About six years after I met Fr. Paisius. I was working towards baptism, going to classes along with our son Nesta, who was to be baptized with […]
SONGS OF FREEDOM: Part Four
Encountering Orthodoxy RTE: What finally brought you to Orthodoxy? MICHAEL: All through my Rasta years, my reason for being there was to get closer to God. I think it was just God working with me through the Rasta movement. As I said earlier, in everything you read about His Majesty, in every speech, every proclamation, […]
SONGS OF FREEDOM: Part Three
The Rastafari Movement Part Three of Seven RTE: So, what is Rastafari, and how did it begin? MICHAEL: In my understanding, Rastafari is an Ethiopian word – Ras means “head, chief, or king”; tafari means “Creator” or “the One to be feared.” Ras Tafari was His Majesty Haile Selassie’s name before he became the emperor […]