It was a bad morning.....

It was a bad morning last Thursday at BESPA, the 'Belgian English Speaking Pastors' Association'. It am the only Orthodox in this group of Christian pastors from across the confessional spectrum, who meet once a month. The bible study from the Old Testament brought us just far enough not to ask the really hard questions. The prayer was interrupted by too many ‘hallelujahs’ and ‘praise you Lords’ from our black charismatic pastor. And yes, the fourth day of Great Lent is not the best day to be listening to young men and women from a youth missionary group talking of ‘God’s vision for Belgium’ in American, English and Dutch - just about everything except Belgian ­– accents.

And then there was the young Dutchman from that missionary group who wanted to know whether he could talk to an Orthodox youth group. It was not so much the question which irked me, as his aggressive manner, typical for me of unmarried (more accurately: sexually continent) men with too many hormones flying around (very visible in his complexion).

Perhaps I should have told him that, in Russia, they do not normally let you out to preach (as a priest) until you are married.