Thoughtful and piercing article, Sir. I personally come from a long line of Protestants that sought to grow their own audience via ministries and organizations. Some even named their ministry after themselves. It's part of what drew me to Orthodoxy. My Priest of Confession radiates the Love of Christ but few outside of our parish and surrounding neighborhoods know of him. In saying all of this, my family gleaned deep meaning and understanding from social media in our journey to Orthodoxy. There is a place for audience engagement but it can quickly slip into growing one’s brand and ego if the true intent of gathering souls is placed second.
Christian celebrity has become its own “kingdom”, one pursued by those “Christians” who value their worldliness more than any indwelling of God’s Spirit and Christ’s teachings. Last year, while attending a conference on faith, I observed that other kingdom. A well-know Anglican author and speaker, highly intellectual, was at the same conference. During the break, I attempted to introduce myself as a fellow Anglican. Before I got my name out, the celebrity author immediately dismissed me with a look of total annoyance. Instead of the inner spirit of love, contentment and charity, what came out was this celebrity’s total preoccupation with himself and the world. When the kingdom of worldly intellectualism and self-importance takes priority in life, there is little space left for God’s Kingdom.
I do think the critique against orthosphere internet celebraties is valid and warranted. However, Orthodox often want to lionize the hermits and minimize the Social Saints who were orators and leaders. People like St John Chrysotom, St Basil the Great, St Athanasius, etc. St Anthony was Great; but you wouldn't know about him if the Popular Speaker Bp. Athansius had not done the interview, written it down, and circulated it. While we should not try to ape the forms of the world and create and Orthodox Mr. Beast or something; we should still have people who we raise up, who are great examples of the Christian Life, and who are leaders. Most people are not called to live in a cell in the desert.
Kenneth! So nice to hear your voice and see your face! Interesting I was reading in 1 Corinthians this morning about this very topic (“I follow Apollos” “I follow Paul”) It seems there is nothing new under the Sun! I’m so glad your spiritual home has escaped this trap. Thank you for your offer of hospitality to us all—that mirrors the hospitality of Christ, who has made an eternal place for us with Himself. May God bless the work of your hands!
Interesting take. Our world worships celebrities of all stripes. I know there are several "celebrity" Orthodox writers such as Rod Dreher who had already built up a large following prior to switching from Catholicism.
Yet my impression (as an outsider Protestant) is that Orthodox in general are less prone to trumpeting their faith publicly. I've found several times when I was reading an obituary about a well known person where it was mentioned someone was Orthodox but I never knew it until they died and it was written about. Most recently Cary Tagawa from the Mortal Kombat movie.
If the Church is the embodiment of the faith delivered once for all to the saints, if God in Trinity is intrinsically relational, and if humanity is as God created us - male and female and not meant to be alone - to relate to one another in fellowship of the Spirit, then what became of those saints you quoted as retreating from the madding crowd?
Thoughtful and piercing article, Sir. I personally come from a long line of Protestants that sought to grow their own audience via ministries and organizations. Some even named their ministry after themselves. It's part of what drew me to Orthodoxy. My Priest of Confession radiates the Love of Christ but few outside of our parish and surrounding neighborhoods know of him. In saying all of this, my family gleaned deep meaning and understanding from social media in our journey to Orthodoxy. There is a place for audience engagement but it can quickly slip into growing one’s brand and ego if the true intent of gathering souls is placed second.
Christian celebrity has become its own “kingdom”, one pursued by those “Christians” who value their worldliness more than any indwelling of God’s Spirit and Christ’s teachings. Last year, while attending a conference on faith, I observed that other kingdom. A well-know Anglican author and speaker, highly intellectual, was at the same conference. During the break, I attempted to introduce myself as a fellow Anglican. Before I got my name out, the celebrity author immediately dismissed me with a look of total annoyance. Instead of the inner spirit of love, contentment and charity, what came out was this celebrity’s total preoccupation with himself and the world. When the kingdom of worldly intellectualism and self-importance takes priority in life, there is little space left for God’s Kingdom.
Spoken from a well of deep wisdom. And I say amen.
Thank you for this. I too am grateful to have a spiritual father /parish priest like yours who doesn't even have social media.
A thousand time, AMEN!!!
We had a conversation like this after church in coffee hour.
It hung on one line:
“Wow. That’s not American.”
Truth.
Thank you for sharing and sounds like you have a wonderful priest. How blessed your parish is!! God bless
Wow, so cool! What a great idea
I do think the critique against orthosphere internet celebraties is valid and warranted. However, Orthodox often want to lionize the hermits and minimize the Social Saints who were orators and leaders. People like St John Chrysotom, St Basil the Great, St Athanasius, etc. St Anthony was Great; but you wouldn't know about him if the Popular Speaker Bp. Athansius had not done the interview, written it down, and circulated it. While we should not try to ape the forms of the world and create and Orthodox Mr. Beast or something; we should still have people who we raise up, who are great examples of the Christian Life, and who are leaders. Most people are not called to live in a cell in the desert.
Kenneth! So nice to hear your voice and see your face! Interesting I was reading in 1 Corinthians this morning about this very topic (“I follow Apollos” “I follow Paul”) It seems there is nothing new under the Sun! I’m so glad your spiritual home has escaped this trap. Thank you for your offer of hospitality to us all—that mirrors the hospitality of Christ, who has made an eternal place for us with Himself. May God bless the work of your hands!
Interesting take. Our world worships celebrities of all stripes. I know there are several "celebrity" Orthodox writers such as Rod Dreher who had already built up a large following prior to switching from Catholicism.
Yet my impression (as an outsider Protestant) is that Orthodox in general are less prone to trumpeting their faith publicly. I've found several times when I was reading an obituary about a well known person where it was mentioned someone was Orthodox but I never knew it until they died and it was written about. Most recently Cary Tagawa from the Mortal Kombat movie.
You are such a great guy. I thoroughly enjoy reading your work also very generous. Love & Blessings 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💙😇
This reminds me of a phrase I just read on Matushka Olga’s life: “hidden in the arctic tundra.”
https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/10/27/100561-righteous-mother-olga-of-kwethluktanqilria-arrsamquqwonderworker
Hmm, questions...
If the Church is the embodiment of the faith delivered once for all to the saints, if God in Trinity is intrinsically relational, and if humanity is as God created us - male and female and not meant to be alone - to relate to one another in fellowship of the Spirit, then what became of those saints you quoted as retreating from the madding crowd?
I don’t want to hear about Tom Hanks anymore.