Incredibly sad news. I’m so sorry for your loss. Dawn was the best RE geek I knew—curious, thoughtful, and full of questions. The last time we spoke, she got top tips about Greek Easter in Rhodes -sadly not to be. I’ve been thinking of her often. Wishing you and all who loved her strength and peace.
Will take a look!
Teaching: when you'd rather go into school with a bleeding open wound than set cover and deal with the fallout.
Also teaching, setting cover before getting a bleeding open wound attended to!
Is Putin Really a Defender of Traditional Values?
Slavoj Žižek argues that Putin isn’t a true defender of Orthodoxy but another authoritarian modernizer, like Stalin or Peter the Great. His use of the Church is about power, not faith.
Read more:
prosyn.org/mMTAWA5
Give RE the status, coherence and rigour it needs, by ensuring all teachers of RE, primary & secondary, know what pupils have learned in earlier years and so can use and build on it. Our current system is inequitable. Countless children miss out. @culhamstgabriel.bsky.social @retoday.bsky.social
Pretty true in Orthodox circles too!
@saimasaleh.bsky.social Thoroughly enjoyed your slot!
Only briefly! Was looking for you to offer a lift after train woes!!
Interesting to see Byzantine wedding crowns and the Chora icon framed as ‘fascinating’ in contrast to Western traditions by Dr Richard Kueh. So familiar from my Orthodox perspective, but great to see them used here. I’ll dig out my resources to share with colleagues.
#StrictlyRE #Byzantine #Orthodox
Thank you!
Going to have to suggest this!!
Bluesky’s Algorithm is NOT based on capitalism. So it works a bit different... Engagement is different Likes are great, but REPOSTING BOOSTS So, when you resonate with something? REPOST to increase VISABILITY for the community Social Media sharing on BlueSky is Different
A reminder that BlueSky works differently. Make sure if something resonated with you to repost so others in the community can see the awesome. #TLSky #TLSkyChat #EduSky #EduSkyChat #EduAI #KitLit #TLChat #Skybrarians #Edtech
bsky.app/profile/mari...
A stylized digital illustration in red, black, and white features Saint Maria Skobtsova of Paris, a Russian Orthodox nun known for her charitable work. The artwork depicts her in a black monastic habit with glasses, a halo, and a gentle expression. She holds a loaf of bread in both hands, symbolizing her dedication to helping the poor and needy. The background is deep red with a cream-colored border. The text in a serif font reads: "However hard I try, I find it impossible to construct anything greater than these three words: 'Love one another.' Only, to the end, and without exceptions." Below the quote, the name Saint Maria Skobtsova of Paris is displayed in an elegant italic script. The poster is made by Bright Tuesday Design (see Instagram and Etsy) and uses a vintage-inspired, minimalistic aesthetic with bold lines and a limited colour palette, evoking early 20th-century religious iconography.
St. Maria of Paris (1891–1945) 🍞⛓️ was a nun in Nazi-occupied France who sheltered Jews and resisted Nazi rule, dying in Ravensbrück concentration camp.
Ultimately, we are called to love one another.
St. Xenia of St. Petersburg (c. 1719–1803) 🌧️🏚️ was a "fool for Christ" who rebuked the greed and corruption of the elites while living in poverty.
St. Elizabeth Romanov (1864–1918) 🏥⛓️ was a Russian grand duchess who renounced luxury, founded a convent, and was martyred by the Bolsheviks.
St. Anna of Kashin (1280–1368) 🛡️👑 was a Russian princess who resisted Mongol oppression and upheld Orthodox faith amid devastation.
St. Juliana of Lazarevo (1530–1604) 🍞❤️ was a noblewoman who protected the poor and confronted corrupt officials exploiting peasants.
St. Olga of Kiev (c. 890–969) 🔥👑 avenged her husband's murder, outmaneuvered corrupt nobles, and prepared Kievan Rus’ for Christianization.
St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk (1110–1173) 📜✨ was a princess-turned-nun who resisted political pressure to marry and fought for Church independence.
St. Empress Theodora (c. 815–867) 🎨👑 restored the veneration of icons and reversed the iconoclast policies of her late husband, Emperor Theophilos
St. Irene of Chrysovalantou ✝️🕊️ was a noblewoman chosen as empress but became a monastic leader, resisting political corruption and imperial intrigue
5/9
St. Macrina the Younger (c. 327–379) 🏛️✝️, sister of St. Basil, resisted imperial interference in Church doctrine and inspired monastic reforms.
St. Pulcheria (399–453) 👑⚖️, a Byzantine empress, defended Orthodoxy at the Council of Chalcedon and opposed Nestorian heresy. 4/9
St. Catherine of Alexandria (c. 287–305) 📚⚔️ was a brilliant philosopher who rebuked Emperor Maxentius and was martyred for her faith.
St. Anastasia of Sirmium (d. 304) 💊🔥 was a healer who secretly aided persecuted Christians, was tortured, and burned alive by Emperor Diocletian. 3/9
Women: Truth to Power
St. Thekla (1st century) 🔥🦁 defied Roman authorities, refused an arranged marriage, and survived being thrown to wild beasts.
St. Perpetua and St. Felicity (d. 203) 🏛️🦁 were a noblewoman and her servant who refused to renounce Christ and were martyred in the Roman arena. 2/9
Final thread
These are the female #Orthodox saints who have courageously spoken out against corrupt rulers, standing for justice and truth even at great personal cost. 🧵 1/9
Got another one coming with female saints!
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde stands in a good tradition.
I have my #Orthodox take here.
Each of these saints showed incredible courage in speaking truth to power.
These saints exemplify the concept of 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢
See thread 🧵
bsky.app/profile/mari...
St. Tikhon of Moscow (1865–1925) 🔒🕊️ denounced Bolshevik persecution of the Church and was placed under house arrest.
St. Luka (Voino-Yasenetsky) (1877–1961) 🏥⛓️ was a bishop and surgeon, exiled by the Soviets but continued healing and preaching.
St. Gennadius Scholarius (c. 1400–1473) 📜⚖️ criticized Byzantine and Ottoman rulers for their injustices.
St. Philip of Moscow (1507–1569) ⛪⚔️ rebuked Ivan the Terrible’s tyranny and was martyred.
St. Hermogenes of Moscow (1530–1612) 🛡️🇷🇺 resisted foreign control and died in prison for defending Russia.
St. Mark of Ephesus (1392–1444) ✝️❌ stood alone against the false union with Rome at the Council of Florence.
St. Gennadius Scholarius (c. 1400–1473) 📜⚖️ criticized Byzantine and Ottoman rulers for their injustices.
St. Maximus the Confessor (580–662) ✂️🗣️ had his tongue and hand cut off for opposing the Monothelite heresy.
St. Theodore the Studite (759–826) 🎨🚫 opposed iconoclast emperors and was imprisoned multiple times.
