Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Lightman, I am intrigued by your tagline:
"If the Patriarchate of the East held a state like the Vatican I would apply for political asylum."
Are you saying you would convert to Orthodoxy if they had a state? Sounds good to me, but I'm not sure I'm understanding you.
(I took a pain pill for my knees about 20 minutes ago, so maybe by thinker is on the blink...) :o|