Chapter 31: Sinners and Saints

November 3, 1984, McKinley, Ohio

"That was fantastic, Mike!" Melody gushed when the debate ended about two hours after it had begun.

"He served me up a series of fastballs right over the plate," I replied. "His mistake was attacking externals at first because that put him on the wrong foot from the get-go. If he had focused purely on theology, I wouldn't have been able to score so many points with what amounted to 'zingers'."

"You had him too tied up in knots trying to explain how he knew what books were in the Bible! Once he had to admit that he accepted the list created by the Reformers uncritically, he was toast! And the real zinger was when you pointed out that he accepted the Jewish canon for the Old Testament instead of the Christian one. I never realized there was a difference."

"As I said, the Septuagint, which you'll see abbreviated with Roman numerals as 'LXX', was the Old Testament for Greek-speaking Christians."

"He was dumbfounded when you pointed out that Paul quotes it, as do the writers of the earliest Christian documents we have outside the Bible."

"The problem with sola scriptura is not that it depends solely on Scripture, but that it often leads people to read nothing except the Scriptures, and thus not understand how they were collected, preserved, and used by the early church. Our church IS scriptural, and we don't teach anything which is in contradiction to the Scriptures; we just don't limit our theology to only that which can be derived directly from Scripture."

"Mike?" a young woman asked, coming up to us.

"Yes?"

"How can I find out more about what your church teaches?"

"I want to know as well," a young man who was with her said.

"The best thing you can do is come to church," I replied. "But if you want to read, get a copy of the book The Orthodox Church by KALISTOS Ware, though you might find the author listed as Timothy Ware. But honestly, come to Vespers on a Saturday night, and you'll see."

"You two aren't students here, are you?" Melody asked.

"No. We're in High School. Reverend Saddler is our Youth Pastor."

Melody smiled broadly, "Then you should absolutely check out Mike's church."

"Where is it?" the young woman asked.

"Just off Ohio 159, about five miles north of town," I replied. "Saint Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church. Vespers are at 6:00pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Matins and the Divine Liturgy start on Sundays at 8:00am. I'd suggest coming to Vespers, which is an evening prayer service that lasts just under an hour. What are your names?"

"I'm Alyssa, and this is Mark."

"Nice to meet you both," I replied.

"Are you a pastor?"

I shook my head, "No. My pastor is over there in the cassock. I'm a subdeacon, which basically means I assist during the services. I also teach Sunday School and catechism. Are your parents here?"

"No. Why?"

"Just curious. From past experience, they might not be happy about you learning about the Orthodox faith."

"But what we heard today makes so much more sense than what Reverend Saddler is teaching us!"

"I agree, obviously, but just be careful. I do hope to see you both."

"Thanks!"

They moved off, and Clarissa, Jocelyn, Robby, and Lee all came over to where Melody and I were standing.

"You kicked his ass!" Robby grinned. "He slunk out of here like a whipped dog!"

"What's up with the cute guy and his friend?" Lee asked with a smirk.

"They're interested in checking out the church. I didn't know you went for High School boys!"

"You're engaged to a High School girl!" he grinned, causing everyone to laugh.

"True," I admitted.

"How the hell can anyone be a pastor and be that clueless?" Jocelyn asked.

"Because somebody handed him a Bible and told him he didn't NEED to know anything else," I replied. "I met an Arab priest once who said that Islam is what you get when you apply the principles of the Reformation to Orthodoxy, and Protestantism is what you get when you apply them to Roman Catholicism. In each case, they focus on their Scriptures as the literal words of God, to the exclusion of pretty much everything else. That's a simplification, I know, but he has a point. Your Lutheran church taught you about what you call other denominations, right?"

"Sure. And I know at one point, there were talks between the Orthodox Church and the Lutheran reformers, but nothing really came of those talks. And we learned about the Ecumenical Councils, of course, because we generally agree with their, uhm, I know there's a word, but I don't remember it, so I'll just say teachings about Christ."

"Christology," I replied. "Nobody taught him any of that. He views the world as having two camps — those who are in his church and saved and everyone else. Well, I suppose other similar churches to his are probably OK, too. But you heard my point about the thousands of Protestant denominations and independent churches which can't agree on basic theology despite claiming it comes from the Scriptures. Faith Bible Church, Our Savior Lutheran, and First Methodist don't agree on a whole lot of things, except that the Roman Catholics are wrong!"

Jocelyn laughed, "That's kind of a given, isn't it?"

"Probably the ONLY thing we agree with that is taught by all the Protestant churches!"

"Well, I'd say you won, big time," Clarissa said. "But I don't think there was much doubt. Those footnotes in his Bible buried him."

"Well, one thing is for sure," Robby said gleefully, "he's unlikely to come back here."

"You think this was enough to deter him?" Clarissa asked.

"Think about it. If Mike just walks up to him, he's lost any chance of an audience. They're better off just waiting until Mike graduates or sending someone new. And if those kids leave the church, I bet there will be hell to pay."

"Maybe we should have let him fill the room with his people!" Melody said. "Who knows how many people you might have swayed!"

"Actually," Jocelyn said, "the laughter and applause from the assembled students was part of why Mike was so effective. Mike came across as funny, personable, and engaging. Not sure how THAT happened, but it did."

"Gee, thanks," I replied flatly.

"Remember, I knew you in High School! Would Mike Loucks, the chess-playing nerd, have even considered doing this? Or been able to do it?"

"No."

"The contrast between who you used to be and who you are is pretty amazing. And compared to the harsh, soulless preacher, you were easily the crowd favorite. And that means people are more receptive to your message."

"The best part is you inoculated the campus against him," Lee said. "Nobody who was here is going to listen to him."

"Michael?" Father Nicholas said, coming up to me. "May I speak with you privately?"

"Of course," I replied, then said, "Excuse me," to my friends.

Father Nicholas and I moved to a quiet corner of the room.

"Very good job today," he said. "Though a bit less ridicule would have been better."

"I understand," I replied. "But he kept serving up chest-high fastballs over the plate. It was too easy to knock them out of the park."

"True, but you did play it for laughs at times."

"I did," I admitted.

"Please don't take this as an objection to your style; just dial it back slightly so you can't be accused of making fun of someone."

"Yes, Father."

"That said, I laughed just as hard as everyone else did! You have a very disarming, folksy style that really worked well with today's audience. If it weren't for your medical training, I'd suggest campus ministry was right up your alley. I think your success in teaching Sunday School to young adults shows that to be the case as well."

"And that is something I think I'd enjoy, having done this. But, as you say, my medical training basically prevents it. Maybe after I complete my Residency."

"Don't stop witnessing, Mike. You're very effective."

"Two High School students came up to me and asked about learning more. They go to Reverend Saddler's church. I invited them to Vespers."

"I had one man come up and talk to me in the same way. He's been struggling with his faith and said you provided a very different take, one that he wants to investigate."

"You know Reverend Saddler could have done a much better job, right?" I asked.

Father Nicholas nodded, "He started down what amounts to an anti-Catholic path when he should have stuck to basic theology. Granted, you'd still have prevailed, but the in-depth conversation would have prevented the laughter and completely blunted your message. It was a tactical error on his part."

"One I was sure he would make after talking to him that day on the sidewalk. I didn't even get to use my best line!"

Father Nicholas laughed, "About Santa Claus slapping Arius?"

"Exactly!"

"And now I see a certain young lady who I believe needs your attention!"

I received Father's blessing and went over to where Elizaveta was standing with Tasha, Nik, Elias, Oksana, and Viktoriya.

"I loved it!" Elizaveta said. "You did just as I hoped!"

"Thank you."

"Very good, Subdeacon," Nik said. "I enjoyed it immensely."

"I'm sorry I was a bit irreverent to him," I said to Nik, knowing his take on public behavior.

Nik smiled, "I believe he set himself up for that. I'm not sure the holiest monk could have resisted the opportunity to put him in his place in that way."

"Thank you. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to spend some time with Elizaveta."

"Of course!"

I took her hand, and we walked from the auditorium and out into the chilly Fall air and headed towards the dorm.

"I need to put my cassock away," I said. "And I'm sorry you'll have to wait in the lobby. I'll only be five minutes."

"I know. I don't like it, but it's OK."

We arrived at the dorm; I hurried upstairs, took off my cassock, folded it, and put it in my bag, then grabbed my light jacket and baseball cap and went back downstairs. I took Elizaveta's hand, and we walked to Doctor Blahnik's house so we could have some privacy.

"You did a GREAT job, Mike," Doctor Blahnik said when we arrived. "It was almost enough to make me want to go to church again. Almost!"

I chuckled, "When was the last time you were in church?"

"Other than weddings or funerals? When I was about five, I think. My grandmother used to take me to church."

"Do you mind if we use the music room?" I asked.

"Not at all. Derek is picking me up in about ten minutes, so you'll have the house to yourself."

"Thanks."

Elizaveta and I went into the music room, and I shut the door behind us. I led her over to the couch, and after I sat down, she sat on my lap, drew her legs up, and put her head on my shoulder.

"I like when you hold me," she said softly.

"And I like holding you," I replied.

"Kiss me?" she asked, raising her head from my shoulder.

Our lips touched, and then our tongues and we shared a gentle French kiss. When we broke it after about two minutes, Elizaveta sighed and put her head on my shoulder again.

"Six-and-a-half months..." she whispered.

I had the same desire, but it had to wait for a host of reasons. We cuddled for a bit, then exchanged several more soft French kisses. I very much wanted to cup her firm, full breast, but even that was off limits, and doing so might put us on the road to violating our promise to Father Nicholas, as well as the law, so I exercised self-control, something which had been lacking for the past few years.

We stayed at Doctor Blahnik's house for about an hour before we needed to leave to head to church for Vespers. After Vespers, I took Elizaveta home, then headed back to campus to hang out with my friends.

November 9, 1984, McKinley, Ohio

On Friday, I had my usual date with Elizaveta while everyone else went on dates or to an off-campus party. After I dropped her at home, I headed back to campus and went to my room. Nobody else had returned, so I put on Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads and sat down to read The Hunt for RED OCTOBER, a novel Viktor Kozlov had given me about a Lithuanian submarine captain in the Soviet Navy who decided to defect to the West. It wasn't my usual genre, as I strongly preferred science fiction, but I found it engrossing. I read for about an hour before Clarissa came into the room.

"Hey, Petrovich!"

"Hey, Lissa! No Jocelyn?"

"She and Bill wanted some privacy."

"And Abby?"

"Has to be up early tomorrow. What are you reading?"

"A spy novel about a Soviet sub commander who tries to defect to the US."

"Not exactly your usual fare."

"I know, but I'm actually enjoying it. What about the rest of the gang?"

"José and Sarah went out with Lara and Tommy and Dona and her boyfriend. Sophia, Robby, and Lee went to an off-campus party. Not sure about Sandy and Pete. How was your date?"

"The usual — dinner and some time together. How was the movie?"

They'd gone to see Body Double, which was rated 'R'.

"Sexy as hell, but there were some gruesome scenes, too."

"We haven't talked as much these past few weeks," I said. "How are things with Abby?"

"Good. I'm considering moving in with her instead of moving into the room at Doctor Blahnik's house."

"I half-expected that. You guys are pretty chummy!"

"Only you could call two girls who fuck each other 'pretty chummy'!"

"Yes, but I meant more than sex, you goofball, and you know it!"

"I know," Clarissa agreed. "This is way different from Glenda."

"How so?"

"It seems more intimate, deeper. I suppose it's because Abby and I got closer than Glenda and I did before we went to bed together."

"I prefer Abby, if that matters."

"It does, obviously! If you two didn't get along really well, we'd have serious problems with the amount of time you and I are going to spend together for the next six or seven years. That's why I want to spend time with Elizaveta, too. If she doesn't trust me implicitly, it'll be a disaster."

"In her mind, you're a lesbian, so the notion that you and I would be physically involved is outside the realm of possibility. Does Abby know about us?"

Clarissa shook her head, "She knows I had one heterosexual love affair, but not who I was with; she assumes it was in High School, and I felt it was better to leave it that way. I don't think she even suspects it was you because of how we behaved in public. Almost nobody knows. The only better-kept secret is that Kimiko has a new octopus!"

I chuckled, "I figured, but I also felt it wasn't my business. I'm assuming it's Brandon."

"Who else? Also, I'm not sure if you care or not, but I saw Maggie tonight. She was with a guy who looked to be about four or five years older than us, brown hair, decent looking, mustache, nice build."

"Mike Palmer," I replied. "Well, I'm going to guess, anyway. She had a crush on him when she was younger, and her dad really wanted her to date him rather than me. Did you say anything to her?"

"No. I didn't want to cause trouble either way. They were going in to see A Nightmare on Elm Street."

"Slasher movies are not my thing."

"Me, either. I saw Friday the 13th and decided not to see any other movies like that."

"Ditto. I meant to ask, did you hear back from your parents about Thanksgiving?"

"Mom wants me there, but Dad isn't thrilled. I'll probably go. What are you doing?"

"If you're going home, then for sure, I'll go to Elizaveta's. Otherwise, I was strongly considering Doctor Blahnik's invitation because I'll be staying there."

"I bet that would go over well with the new in-laws! Not to mention your pussy cat!"

"I'd have invited her to Doctor Blahniks', and she'd have said 'yes'. And I could talk with Viktor Kozlov to smooth things over. He knows you're my best friend and has a general idea you had trouble at home. I take it you'll be gone all week?"

"Yes. My mom will come to get me on Saturday morning and bring me back the following Saturday."

"What about Abby?"

"I'd really like to take her home, but I don't want to have any more conflict at home than I'm already expecting. It's so dumb, really, but for now, it's better to just work on my relationship with them. I swear, if you came home with me and fucked me on the dinner table while dad was carving the turkey, they'd be more OK than if Abby came along and we slept in separate rooms!"

"That might be a bit of an exaggeration," I grinned.

"Maybe, but only a bit. Your dad would be ecstatic with Liz living with any guy if she dumped Paul."

"I'm not sure ecstatic is the right word, but it would relieve some of the tension in the family."

"Are things any better?"

"I don't know the inner workings of my parents' relationship, but I have the ominous feeling."

"You think they might break up?"

"Given my dad's attitude, and with the priests and me pushing my mom to reconcile with Liz, I think it's possible. And I feel somewhat responsible."

"Jesus, Petrovich! It's not your fault!"

"No, but by pushing my mom to work on restoring her relationship with Liz, I'm driving a wedge between my parents."

"Have you thought about talking to him again?"

"I have, but given what he said last time, I'm not sure how much good it will do. I told you what he said about Elizaveta."

"That's his anger talking, I'm sure, given everything you said about how things went down when they found out Liz was sleeping with Paul. You told me you gave your gun to your friend's parents for safekeeping because of his temper."

"True."

"And honestly, you've told me your dad was totally non-confrontational and would hide out in his workshop when he disagreed with your mom. Don't you think this has been building?"

"I guess," I sighed. "But it sucks."

"I know. I was a bit worried about my parents when my dad basically ran away to avoid seeing us on our last visit, but he's calmed down enough that I can go home alone. It's a step, kind of like your mom and Liz."