Liza Anderson
@ecclesiangst.bsky.social
scholar of church history, ascetical theology, and monastic studies; teacher of priestlings; translator of Syriac; ecumenist; Episcopalian; aspiring goatherd-nun
Come study church history with me! I'm teaching online classes in Episcopal history (starting in January), and the history of Christian monasticism (starting in April). I'm especially excited about getting to teach monasticism, and hoping it will draw a good enrollment! ⚓ cdsp.edu/call/online/
CALL Online Courses - Church Divinity School of the Pacific
The Center for Anglican Learning and Leadership’s (CALL) online courses are offered throughout the year and are designed so that you can participate at your own pace and at your […]
cdsp.edu
November 18, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Come study church history with me! I'm teaching online classes in Episcopal history (starting in January), and the history of Christian monasticism (starting in April). I'm especially excited about getting to teach monasticism, and hoping it will draw a good enrollment! ⚓ cdsp.edu/call/online/
A very reasonable and relatable reaction to going for a walk in the fresh air, honestly, even if there HADN'T been an execution waiting at the end of it...
(From Salvation at Stake by Brad Gregory, p.99)
(From Salvation at Stake by Brad Gregory, p.99)
May 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM
A very reasonable and relatable reaction to going for a walk in the fresh air, honestly, even if there HADN'T been an execution waiting at the end of it...
(From Salvation at Stake by Brad Gregory, p.99)
(From Salvation at Stake by Brad Gregory, p.99)
I’ve been running late to everything this week because there are so many cute baby geese to watch, but who among us, etc… (I’m sure Saint Werburgh would excuse me slinking in late to prayer if the excuse was “BUT LOOK, BABY GEESE!”⚓️
May 10, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I’ve been running late to everything this week because there are so many cute baby geese to watch, but who among us, etc… (I’m sure Saint Werburgh would excuse me slinking in late to prayer if the excuse was “BUT LOOK, BABY GEESE!”⚓️
Pope Leo XIII had pet goats (and deer and gazelle) which were allowed to freely roam the grounds of the Vatican, and I choose to believe that THAT is why the new pope has chosen the name Leo! ⚓ 🐐
(This is not a terrible idea, though. A papal menagerie would do well in the age of social media...)
(This is not a terrible idea, though. A papal menagerie would do well in the age of social media...)
May 8, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Pope Leo XIII had pet goats (and deer and gazelle) which were allowed to freely roam the grounds of the Vatican, and I choose to believe that THAT is why the new pope has chosen the name Leo! ⚓ 🐐
(This is not a terrible idea, though. A papal menagerie would do well in the age of social media...)
(This is not a terrible idea, though. A papal menagerie would do well in the age of social media...)
I am fascinated by just how many people in Rome have a national flag to wave! Does one just buy it on site? Does someone come around and hand them out because it makes for good tv optics? Did this many people actually think to put that on their PACKING list? Socks, deodorant, toothbrush, flag....
May 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I am fascinated by just how many people in Rome have a national flag to wave! Does one just buy it on site? Does someone come around and hand them out because it makes for good tv optics? Did this many people actually think to put that on their PACKING list? Socks, deodorant, toothbrush, flag....
Walked in, read the white board, and wondered if this was the to-do list for today. I could get on board with this as an agenda! ⚓️
May 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Walked in, read the white board, and wondered if this was the to-do list for today. I could get on board with this as an agenda! ⚓️
Reposted by Liza Anderson
Hi folks- CFP for the NAAE conference just before AARSBL is live. Please spread the word. A very-grad student friendly conference with fully online options.
“In Necessities, Unity”. Question is: what is necessary for unity? Why?
bit.ly/NAAE2025
“In Necessities, Unity”. Question is: what is necessary for unity? Why?
bit.ly/NAAE2025
April 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Hi folks- CFP for the NAAE conference just before AARSBL is live. Please spread the word. A very-grad student friendly conference with fully online options.
“In Necessities, Unity”. Question is: what is necessary for unity? Why?
bit.ly/NAAE2025
“In Necessities, Unity”. Question is: what is necessary for unity? Why?
bit.ly/NAAE2025
At our last SCLM meeting, we joked about creating "Additional Plant-Based Liturgies" and as I'm typing up the minutes I'm like "...wait, but what if we DID, actually?"
(Does anyone else's church bless herbs on the August 15 holiday that we don't actually call the Assumption but it totally is?) ⚓️
(Does anyone else's church bless herbs on the August 15 holiday that we don't actually call the Assumption but it totally is?) ⚓️
March 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
At our last SCLM meeting, we joked about creating "Additional Plant-Based Liturgies" and as I'm typing up the minutes I'm like "...wait, but what if we DID, actually?"
(Does anyone else's church bless herbs on the August 15 holiday that we don't actually call the Assumption but it totally is?) ⚓️
(Does anyone else's church bless herbs on the August 15 holiday that we don't actually call the Assumption but it totally is?) ⚓️
This year's experiment was waking up at 1:55am* to go to the airport, which arguably makes it better, because I'm too disoriented to notice the time change!
*It would have been 2, but I admit to having been uncertain about what would happen if I set an alarm for 2, and I didn't want to chance it. ⚓
*It would have been 2, but I admit to having been uncertain about what would happen if I set an alarm for 2, and I didn't want to chance it. ⚓
Them: What are you giving up for Lent?
Me: An hour of sleep, because of stupid Daylight Saving Time.
Me: An hour of sleep, because of stupid Daylight Saving Time.
March 9, 2025 at 1:35 PM
This year's experiment was waking up at 1:55am* to go to the airport, which arguably makes it better, because I'm too disoriented to notice the time change!
*It would have been 2, but I admit to having been uncertain about what would happen if I set an alarm for 2, and I didn't want to chance it. ⚓
*It would have been 2, but I admit to having been uncertain about what would happen if I set an alarm for 2, and I didn't want to chance it. ⚓
Just learned (or, more accurately, just noticed) that Catholics have Sundays "of" Lent rather than "in" Lent. This was surprising, because whenever an Episcopalian says "the First Sunday IN Lent..." you can't even count to 10 before they are yelled at by a liturgist... ⚓
March 9, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Just learned (or, more accurately, just noticed) that Catholics have Sundays "of" Lent rather than "in" Lent. This was surprising, because whenever an Episcopalian says "the First Sunday IN Lent..." you can't even count to 10 before they are yelled at by a liturgist... ⚓
I almost skipped morning prayer because I didn't think I could face a 16 minute walk in the freezing rain. Then I read this, and could only imagine this woman having some very pointed words about my spiritual frailty in the face of mild discomfort... ⚓ archaeologymag.com/2025/03/fema...
1,500-year-old female ascetic buried in chains discovered near Jerusalem
Excavations at Khirbat el-Masani near Jerusalem uncovered a chained individual, later identified as a woman.
archaeologymag.com
March 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
I almost skipped morning prayer because I didn't think I could face a 16 minute walk in the freezing rain. Then I read this, and could only imagine this woman having some very pointed words about my spiritual frailty in the face of mild discomfort... ⚓ archaeologymag.com/2025/03/fema...
Hey look, it's me, except that "how much she ought to write every day" is "no writing, only reading"! ⚓
“[Melania] decided for herself how much she ought
to write every day, and how much she should read in the canonical books, how much in the collections of homilies. And after she was satisfied with this activity, she would go through the Lives of the Fathers as if she were eating dessert." V.Mel.23
to write every day, and how much she should read in the canonical books, how much in the collections of homilies. And after she was satisfied with this activity, she would go through the Lives of the Fathers as if she were eating dessert." V.Mel.23
February 27, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Hey look, it's me, except that "how much she ought to write every day" is "no writing, only reading"! ⚓
“[Melania] decided for herself how much she ought
to write every day, and how much she should read in the canonical books, how much in the collections of homilies. And after she was satisfied with this activity, she would go through the Lives of the Fathers as if she were eating dessert." V.Mel.23
to write every day, and how much she should read in the canonical books, how much in the collections of homilies. And after she was satisfied with this activity, she would go through the Lives of the Fathers as if she were eating dessert." V.Mel.23
February 27, 2025 at 10:49 PM
“[Melania] decided for herself how much she ought
to write every day, and how much she should read in the canonical books, how much in the collections of homilies. And after she was satisfied with this activity, she would go through the Lives of the Fathers as if she were eating dessert." V.Mel.23
to write every day, and how much she should read in the canonical books, how much in the collections of homilies. And after she was satisfied with this activity, she would go through the Lives of the Fathers as if she were eating dessert." V.Mel.23
I've spent the last few months asking Saint Walburga to fix this whole bird flu situation. But it turns out that Saint *Werburgh* is the nun with the geese! Rookie Benedictine error... I'm sure we'll have this whole mess straightened out in no time now that the prayers are going to the bird nun...⚓
February 25, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I've spent the last few months asking Saint Walburga to fix this whole bird flu situation. But it turns out that Saint *Werburgh* is the nun with the geese! Rookie Benedictine error... I'm sure we'll have this whole mess straightened out in no time now that the prayers are going to the bird nun...⚓
I spent morning prayer trying desperately to figure out why we were using the booklet for apostles, and not googling the answer DURING morning prayer felt like an act of true spiritual heroism! Turns out: It's the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, shockingly NOT on the Episcopal Church calendar! 😆⚓
February 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I spent morning prayer trying desperately to figure out why we were using the booklet for apostles, and not googling the answer DURING morning prayer felt like an act of true spiritual heroism! Turns out: It's the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, shockingly NOT on the Episcopal Church calendar! 😆⚓
Re: A127, the only procedurally sensible thing to do on the last day of convention is concur with bishops. But we had a careful conversation on the SCLM and determined that we could do this work with 3 people and no budget (meeting only electronically)... #gc81
June 28, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Re: A127, the only procedurally sensible thing to do on the last day of convention is concur with bishops. But we had a careful conversation on the SCLM and determined that we could do this work with 3 people and no budget (meeting only electronically)... #gc81
Episcopalians! There is a Yemeni coffee place (Haraz) just a short walk from the convention center, and this is arguably the best thing that has happened to me in a year. If you have never had Yemeni coffee or pastries, I strongly endorse both (more strongly than any resolution!) #gc81
June 22, 2024 at 11:40 AM
Episcopalians! There is a Yemeni coffee place (Haraz) just a short walk from the convention center, and this is arguably the best thing that has happened to me in a year. If you have never had Yemeni coffee or pastries, I strongly endorse both (more strongly than any resolution!) #gc81
Totally misread this sign as saying that the local Catholics were having a "Guilt Auction," and I was genuinely disappointed to discover my error, because I was actually intrigued!
June 21, 2024 at 12:46 AM
Totally misread this sign as saying that the local Catholics were having a "Guilt Auction," and I was genuinely disappointed to discover my error, because I was actually intrigued!
Syriac text I'm translating: "Now we see that after the age of 40, the soul is strengthened and reason is perfected and wisdom flourishes..."
Me, age 41: "That's RIGHT they do!"
Syriac: "....while the body begins to fail and weaken and slide into decrepitude..." Me: "What, what...."
Me, age 41: "That's RIGHT they do!"
Syriac: "....while the body begins to fail and weaken and slide into decrepitude..." Me: "What, what...."
March 23, 2024 at 9:47 PM
Syriac text I'm translating: "Now we see that after the age of 40, the soul is strengthened and reason is perfected and wisdom flourishes..."
Me, age 41: "That's RIGHT they do!"
Syriac: "....while the body begins to fail and weaken and slide into decrepitude..." Me: "What, what...."
Me, age 41: "That's RIGHT they do!"
Syriac: "....while the body begins to fail and weaken and slide into decrepitude..." Me: "What, what...."
Bar Ebroyo (13th century): "Woman is more compassionate than Man; she cries more; is more envious; complains about her fate; likes to gossip; is argumentative; is very mean, is often sad, is prone to despair... 1/2
March 20, 2024 at 9:18 PM
Bar Ebroyo (13th century): "Woman is more compassionate than Man; she cries more; is more envious; complains about her fate; likes to gossip; is argumentative; is very mean, is often sad, is prone to despair... 1/2
Me, rejoicing in the modified prayer schedule for the Transitus of Saint Benedict: "Yesssssss! With all due reverence for our holy father Benedict, I would kill him off every day to sleep 90 more minutes!"
Friends: "Probably exactly what his monks said before trying to assassinate him, tbh..."
Friends: "Probably exactly what his monks said before trying to assassinate him, tbh..."
March 20, 2024 at 9:12 PM
Me, rejoicing in the modified prayer schedule for the Transitus of Saint Benedict: "Yesssssss! With all due reverence for our holy father Benedict, I would kill him off every day to sleep 90 more minutes!"
Friends: "Probably exactly what his monks said before trying to assassinate him, tbh..."
Friends: "Probably exactly what his monks said before trying to assassinate him, tbh..."
The Episcopal Dioceses of East and West Michigan have just voted to become the Diocese of the Great Lakes. While I wish them all the best, the name DOES sound rather ominously like a threat to annex those of us in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, etc....
March 16, 2024 at 8:51 PM
The Episcopal Dioceses of East and West Michigan have just voted to become the Diocese of the Great Lakes. While I wish them all the best, the name DOES sound rather ominously like a threat to annex those of us in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, etc....
The Hampton Court Conference (1604) promised to put "a learned and painful minister" in every parish, and even though I realize that the word "painful" has evolved in its meaning, my reaction is still to think that we've actually done pretty well on that one...
March 11, 2024 at 12:52 AM
The Hampton Court Conference (1604) promised to put "a learned and painful minister" in every parish, and even though I realize that the word "painful" has evolved in its meaning, my reaction is still to think that we've actually done pretty well on that one...