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JohnD

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John Means "God is gracious" English: from the Hebrew name Yochanan ‘Jehova has favoured (me with a son)My FEASTDAY: June 24: The Nativity of the Venerable and Glorious Prophet and Forerunner John the BaptistBackground of the feastHe that was greater than all who are born of women, the Prophet who received God's testimony that he surpassed all the Prophets, was born of the aged and barren Elizabeth (Luke 1:7) and filled all his kinsmen, and those that lived round about, with gladness and wonder. But even more wondrous was that which followed on the eighth day when he was circumcised, that is, the day on which a male child receives his name. Those present called him Zacharias, the name of his father. But the mother said, "Not so, but he shall be called John." Since the child's father was unable to speak, he was asked, by means of a sign, to indicate the child's name. He then asked for a tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And immediately Zacharias' mouth was opened, his tongue was loosed from its silence of nine months, and filled with the Holy Spirit, he blessed the God of Israel, Who had fulfilled the promises made to their fathers, and had visited them that were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and had sent to them the light of salvation. Zacharias prophesied concerning the child also, saying that he would be a Prophet of the Most High and Forerunner of Jesus Christ. And the child John, who was filled with grace, grew and waxed strong in the Spirit; and he was in the wilderness until the day of his showing to Israel (Luke 1:57-80). His name is a variation of the Hebrew "Johanan," which means "Yahweh is gracious."Orthodox Christian Celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the BaptistThe feast and commemoration of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom which is conducted on the morning of the feast and preceded by a Orthros service. A Great Vespers may be conducted on the evening before the day of the Feast. On this day, the Orthodox Church also commemorates the mother of Saint John the Baptist, Elizabeth.Scripture readings for the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist are: At the Vespers Genesis 17:15-19, 18:11-15; 21:1-3; Judges 13:2-21; Isaiah 40:1-5, 9; 41:17-18; 45:8; 48:20-21; 54:1. At the Orthros (Matins): Luke 1:24-25, 57-68, 76, 80. At the Divine Liturgy: Romans 13:11-14:4; Luke 1:1-25, 57-68, 76, 80.Hymns of the FeastApolytikion: Fourth Tone O Prophet and Forerunner of the presence of Christ, we who fervently honor you cannot worthily praise you. For by your revered and glorious birth the barrenness of your mother and the muteness of your father were unbound, and the incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world.Kontakion: Third Tone She that once was barren doth today bring forth Christ's Forerunner, John, the culmination and the crown of all the Prophets. For when he, in River Jordan, laid his hand on Him Whom the Prophets preached aforetime, he was revealed as God the Word's fore-chosen Prophet, His mighty preacher, and His Forerunner in grace.Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press, Northridge, CA Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA
God's Chosen Team
A GREAT SONG
(Polamulu Muppets)
(end Polamalu Muppets)
(Let my prayer arise)
(end let my prayer arise)(Bible Quiz) You know the Bible 96%!

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!
Ultimate Bible Quiz
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(End Bible Quiz)(Bible Quiz 2) Congratulations! You're 100% Christian!

Wow, you must be going for sainthood! You must love both the Old Testament and New Testament stories!
What's your Bible literacy
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(End Bible Quiz 2)See my "Movie" section for information about the display icon :)Your results:
You are Green Lantern Green Lantern 90% Superman 80% Spider-Man 80% Hulk 75% The Flash 70% Robin 60% Iron Man 55% Supergirl 45% Batman 40% Wonder Woman 35% Catwoman 35% Hot-headed. You have strong
will power and a good imagination.
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test
Myspace Backgrounds
Be sure to check out my pics, especially the miraculous one-yes, I'm serious.(Begin Grammar) Your Language Arts Grade: 100%

Way to go! You know not to trust the MS Grammar Check and you know "no" from "know." Now, go forth and spread the good word (or at least, the proper use of apostrophes).
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Teddy Bear Name
Your Teddy Bear Name is
Cuddly Angel Bear
Get Your Teddy Bear Name at Quizopolis.com
GENERAL: I'm pretty laid back, enjoy a good football game, love reading about Eastern Orthodox Christian topics, and I truly enjoy spending time in Church. I'm a "listener" more than a "talker" but if you get me started on one of my topics I'll probably talk too much. I LOVE a good theological/philosophical disucssion, but not just for the sake of discussion if that purpose can be avoided.*SLIDESHOW*MY HISTORY: I'm a pretty "straight-edge" kinda guy. I've never been drunk. The only time I've ever touched a cigarette was to put it out. I haven't smoked any of that other garbage either in case you're wondering, and never have even so much as sipped on a cup of coffee. My favorite color is blue-Penn State blue :) One of the most interesting days of my life was Tuesday, August 23, 2005. I'm terrible at math, and can't memorize lots of random information, but if you give me a concept to work with I do okay for myself. Meat on pizza is the best, and I love to cook just about anything. If you open a can of tuna in my presence, I'll probably gag; and if you start eating it I'm likely to gag even harder. Tuna is GROSS!
You Are a Believer
You definitely believe in God - and you're very unwavering in your religious beliefs.
In fact, religion and spirituality are definitely big parts of your life.
Religion shapes how you view right and wrong, as well as the decisions you make.
It's hard for you to imagine how your life would be without your beliefs. Are You an Atheist, Agnostic or a Believer?Biblical Name:
Your Biblical Name Is...
Ichabod Elias
You will not live to see the end of times.
What's Your Biblical Name? END Biblical NameI definitely enjoy playing foosball (table soccer). Any takers? Your results:
You are Qui-Gon Jinn Qui-Gon Jinn 73% Obi-Wan Kenobi 70% Yoda 70% R2-D2 67% Lando Calrissian 66% Mace Windu 62% Darth Maul 62% Chewbacca 60% Han Solo 60% Padme 58% Overall, you're a pretty well balanced person.
But maybe you focus a little too
much on the here and now.
Think about the future before its too late.
(This list displays the top 10 results out of a possible 21 characters)
Click here to take the Star Wars Personality Test
MY BELIEFS and Other random tidbits: I believe that relationship is the way to learn about someone if you're truly interested in learning about them. So if you'd really, truly, sincerely like to know more about me be sure to drop me a line and I'll let you know pretty much anything you'd like. I don't have secrets to hide-though some things are none of your business (yet). I tend to be straightforward though I do my best to look out for the best interest of those around me psychologically or otherwise. I'm not a genius, but I'm not stupid either; as such I know enough not to imply that women are older or fatter or that they are progressing toward any other perceived negative character trait acquisitions. I am a total kid at heart, but don't take that to mean that I'm not a serious person. I'm not impressed by money, fame, or any other such goals. I'm impressed when someone is bold enough to say that they love God. And I'm even more impressed when they say that their God is the Christian God-the Trinity-Father Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. Even beyond that anyone can say that they love God, but show me your actions. If you are a true Christian, I'll be truly impressed.
I stand up for what I believe in, especially regarding matters of faith and morality. I don't seek confrontation, but I'm not a pansy either. Open and honest thought is always good. Speaking of which let me just say that I can't stand Islam. It ranks NUMBER 1 on my "most detested heresy" list. The religion is total crap, and the only good things that it has have been stolen from Orthodox Christianity. They do the fasting, the praying, the dressing humbly, they even acknowledge that Mary is and always was a Virgin-something for the Protestants to learn from. But they deny the divinity of Christ and delude people into believing they are peaceful. Atheism is just stupid. I don't see how anyone could be atheist. All it shows is that you have no interest in eternity whatsoever, regardless of the reason and that you've bought into popular secular belief. "I'm okay, you're okay" is a terrible motto to live by. Odds are, you're really not okay. As a matter of fact, even the most "okay" people in the history of mankind were still not totally "okay". So, if you think you're better than them, I'd encourage you to think twice. Oh, and I don't particularly care if you get offended by reading this. If you take issue with what you've read, then let's talk. I'm a grown up, and hopefully you are too.Okay, I've said more than was necessary. As I wrote at the start of all this, if you'd like to get to know me the door is open. Just knock ;)You are Oscar Wilde
Charming and Witty. You are incredibly popular because of your wry and satirical sense of humor. You are also incredibly talented at writing, and pushing the conventional boundaries of your society.
Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.comhttp://kevan.org/nohari?name=johnd http://kevan.org/johari?name=johnd
You are mRNA. You're brilliant, full of important,
interesting information and you're a great
friend to the people you care about. You may
have sides to you that no one understands. But
while you understand more than most people,
you're only half-there most of the time.
Which Biological Molecule Are You?
brought to you by QuizillaYou are 81% Try-Lingual!!

Nicht so schlecht. Not bad. Try it with a friend, and then I know you'll be able to get above 84%. Practice makes perfect!
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You Have A Type A- Personality
You are one of the most balanced people around
Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want
You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you.
When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back
Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love!
You live life to the fullest - encorporating the best of both worlds Do You Have a Type A Personality?Personality Test
Your Values Profile
Loyalty:
You value loyalty a fair amount.
You're loyal to your friends... to a point.
But if they cross you, you will reconsider your loyalties.
Staying true to others is important to you, but you also stay true to yourself.
Honesty:
You value honesty highly.
You're unflinchingly honest, even when it's not easy.
For you, integrity is very important - in yourself and others.
People may not always like what you say, but they know they can trust it.
Generosity:
You value generosity highly.
So much so that you often put your own needs last.
There's nothing wrong with having a caring heart...
But you may want to rethink your "open wallet" policy.
Humility:
You value humility highly.
You have the self-confidence to be happy with who you are.
And you don't need to seek praise to make yourself feel better.
You're very modest, and you're keep the drama factor low.
Tolerance:
You value tolerance a fair amount.
You are open to new cultures, beliefs, and ideas.
You have very few prejudices that you're aware of.
And while you are tolerant, you do stand true to what you believe. The Five Factor Values TestOh My SOUL! :)
You Are a Prophet Soul
You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone.
Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people.
Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run.
No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way.
You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle.
Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings.
A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning.
You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer.
Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul What Kind of Soul Are You?(Evil Quiz)
How evil are you? (End Evil Quiz)(Last Judgment Wallpaper) (Last Judgement Wallpaper End)(Smart American)
You Are a Smart American
You know a lot about US history, and you're opinions are probably well informed.
Congratulations on bucking stereotypes. Now go show some foreigners how smart Americans can be. Are You a Dumb American? (Smart American)(English Type)
Your Linguistic Profile:
50% General American English
25% Yankee
20% Dixie
0% Midwestern
0% Upper Midwestern What Kind of American English Do You Speak? (End English Type)
You Are Cyclops
Dedicated and responsible, you will always remain loyal to your cause.
You are a commanding leader - after all, you can kill someone just by looking at them.
Power: force beams from your eyes Which of the X-Men Are You?(Nerdiness)
What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Social Nerd

You're interested in things such as politics, psychology, child care, and peace. I wouldn't go so far as to call you a hippie, but some of you may be tree-huggers. You're the type of people who are interested in bettering the world. You're possible the least nerdy of them all; unless you participate in other activies that paled your nerdiness compared to your involvement in social activities. Whatever the case, we could still use more of you around. ^_^


Literature Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Drama Nerd
Anime Nerd
Musician
Artistic Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type?
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My Interests

In no particular order: Foosball, Steelers, PSU, Orthodox Church stuff (icons, music, theology, history...) therapy things, evangelism and outreach. Cooking and singing are therapeutic, if not fun! There's more but comon, this is a website man. U know where to find me if u have questions, comments or concerns. ;)

I'd like to meet:

pretty much anyone is ok to start with. I particularly enjoy theological/philosophical discussion though. So, if you're one of those people we should definitely chat sometime. As long as your not more looney than sane you may IM me on yahoo or aol at: jcdiamantis if you'd like.

Music:

I used to like music...until my CD's were all stolen-AGAIN. On a lighter note (no pun intended) Ancient Faith Radio (www.ancientfaithradio.com) is pretty cool. I recommend giving it a listen if you haven't already. I like classical (Bolero is my favorite), Jazz and anything with a good beat. As a product of the 80's I'll admit that I even like Paula Abdul and Mariah Carey (the old stuff) as well as U2, Tom Jones (how can anyone NOT like tom jones...?) Billy Joel etc. nothing too original, sorry. And just for Jenn...I DO NOT LIKE the MACARENA!!! :p

Movies:

I graduated from St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA May 2007 with a Master's of Divinity. I am currently enrolled at Marywood University studying for my MA in Counseling Therapy. I'm slated to graduate 2010.

Television:

TRIBUTE to the 80s! (GI Joe) ..(Mask)(Silverhawks)(Transformers)(Tigersharks)(Centurions) (Snorks)(Gummy Bears)

Books:

what I DON'T like: gnostic garbage. I mean it's interesting to read, but anyone who takes it seriously really needs a reality check. This literature includes but is not limited to "The Gospel of Judas" and the types of writings referred to in "the DaVinci code" what I DO like: Bible (highly recommended), Philokalia, and generally speaking writings from early Christianity. Those guys were smart, eloquent, thoughtful and obviously inspired. Let's see...i'm here looking around my room and all I see are churchy type things, so I guess I'll have to limit it to that to be honest. It might sound boring, but answer me this: what topic other than God can a person read about all day every day and still only scratch the surface of knowledge? Yeah, that's what I thought :) Plus, it's the most important topic-since the purpose of life comes from God; or rather is to draw near to Him. Discussion anyone?

Heroes:

John the baptist and st. Constantine to start off. There are lots though. LOTS. I think of "heroes" as role models, you know? So, that's gonna be a long list. I try to learn the best from each person and get rid of the worst in myself with my heroes. It's an ongoing process with mixed results. But I try 2 have faith and patience. :) Let's not forget the Cappadocians (Basil, Gregory, and John) or St. Alexis Toth, Peter the Aleut, Mary of Egypt, Mary Magdalene, John Maximovitch Herman of Alaska, Dimiana. How about u? Anything good I can emulate...?

My Blog

South Africa: A brief memoir

Contained herein is a brief account of my time in South Africa.  As the saying goes "a picture is worth a thousand words" well, I took over 1,000 pictures during my time there and each has it's o...
Posted by JohnD on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 08:49:00 PST

Arrested !

You must listen to this!  http://www.ancientfaithradio.com/specials/interviews/P20/ go to "Arrested for Christ" July 1, 2006.  ...
Posted by JohnD on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 05:24:00 PST

Jehovah’s Witness

This is a reply posted to a question regarding how to deal with JW's...thought I'd share it. Founded in 1872 by Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) Jehovah's witnesses is one of the many religions that ...
Posted by JohnD on Sat, 11 Aug 2007 08:58:00 PST

A little less hair

On this glorious day of our Lord's Ascension, May 17 2007, it is with great joy that I announce my tonsuring to be a reader in the Church :)  Bp. Tikhon (of E. PA) snipped it off and I read 2 Tim...
Posted by JohnD on Thu, 17 May 2007 09:02:00 PST

What's a Scripture?

Presbytera Eugenia ConstantinouWho Wrote the Bible and When was it Written?  The Bible was not written by one person or all at one time. It is a collection of books composed by different authors ...
Posted by JohnD on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:10:00 PST

The Ever-Virgin Mary

Quoted Directly From Doctrine Of Christ"Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary..." Thus at the Liturgy and other services the deacon c...
Posted by JohnD on Fri, 20 Apr 2007 06:27:00 PST

St. Photius on the importance of Theology

Saint Photius the GreatEncyclical to the Eastern Patriarchs Countless have been the evils devised by the cunning devil against the race of men, from the beginning up to the coming of the Lord. Bu...
Posted by JohnD on Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:43:00 PST

Christ is Risen many languages

CHRIST IS RISEN!TRULY HE IS RISEN!Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death bydeath, and bestowing life on those in the tomb.Joyful greetings on the Feast of Feasts! AlbanianKrishti Ungjall! Ver...
Posted by JohnD on Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:14:00 PST

St. Tikhon's Choir in action

FYI I'll be offline from Saturday Evening through Pascha.  Kali Anastasi! :)also:This link will take you to some songs by St. Tikhon's Seminary choir.  We have a professionally recorded CD c...
Posted by JohnD on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:33:00 PST

Holy Tradition

On Holy Tradition Ch. 3 from The Truth of Our Faith:: A Discourse from Holy Scripture on theTeachings of True Christianity, By Elder Cleopa of RomaniaInquirer: What is the Holy Tradition that the Orth...
Posted by JohnD on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:32:00 PST