1) We admire the courage it takes for you to stand in front of the Willard Building on Penn State’s main campus and preach to the students. Could you tell us a little bit about how you began this endeavor, how long you’ve been doing it, and what it means to you today?

I began preaching in November of 1982. I had converted to Christianity a few months earlier and had always respected Bro Cope who was the first one to preach at the Willard Building. Shortly after my conversion I began to hang out at Willard and felt compelled to talk to the students and hand out tracts. Eventually I began to sense that God was prodding me to do what Bro was doing. At first I resisted as I saw the abuse Bro took which only added to my fear of public speaking. (I always hated speech class!) Eventually though, as I became sure it was God who was prodding me, I figured that whatever misery was in store for me through preaching, rebelling against God would be far worse. So on the last day of classes of fall term 1982, I preached for the first time. I was scared to death, but God was gracious and by his mercy I’ve been doing it ever since.

2) When students walk by you each afternoon or gather on the steps to hear your message, what do you think the concept of “The Willard Preacher” means to them? I realize that each person is different, but could you somehow convey what you think you represent to these students as a whole?

It’s a bit difficult for me to say exactly what the students think of me. My impression is that most think I’m a bit of an oddity, or maybe oddball would be a better characterization. After all, how many people do you see yelling on a street corner? Then again I’m sure there are those who truly dislike me, and others who for whatever reason have actually taken a liking to me.

3) One of my favorite passages from the Four Gospels is, “To those whom much is given, much more is expected in return.” If someone takes these words to heart, what do you feel their responsibility is to God?

I believe we owe God everything and we owe our fellow man almost as much. God has given us life and the possibility of becoming like him, and I don’t know of anything we can do in return other than to give ourselves fully to God and help our fellow man get closer to him.

4) You’ve received criticism in the past from certain student groups and the Daily Collegian (PSU’s college newspaper). Before I ask you a specific question in this regard, how do these negative criticisms affect you?

I wouldn’t be human if I said criticism never bothered me, but I try and look at it from the angle that any response is better than no response. If people get angry then at least something I’ve said has registered somewhere. When you tell people that their most closely held beliefs are wrong, you’ve got to expect at least some negative reaction. In other words, it comes with the territory. I try and deal with it by not getting angry in return. Jesus said to bless those who curse you, and that is one of the hardest commandments to follow.

5) Following the 9-11 terrorist attacks when many political leaders were trying to molly-coddle the American public into embracing Islam, you spoke out and said that this is a false religion with a false god. Is this a fair assessment of your stance? If not, please clarify it for us, and tell us how you reacted to your critics.

Well look, Christianity is what it is and Islam is what it is. As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is God. As Muslims, they believe that Jesus Christ is not God. One of us has to be wrong, and I believe it to be them. If we take a step back and look at it logically we’ll see that Christians claim that an historic human figure is the incarnate God. Every other religion including Islam believes that he is not. If we are right, then all other religions have to be wrong because they have denied God. If we are wrong, then we are the most foolish of all people, as we would be worshipping a dead guy. The fallacy of modern American thought is that all religions are equally true, and we should put aside our petty squabbles and get along. The problem is; it is not a petty squabble when we differ as to who God is.

6) Whereas many religious denominations portray Jesus as a benign, passive figure, I see him as a very active and absolute in his dealings with those around him 2,000 years ago. How would you characterize Jesus?

I agree, Jesus is often portrayed as a limped wrist fairy who would never hurt a fly. This is the feminization of Jesus, which has occurred over the last century or so. If one reads the Gospels, one sees that Jesus was every bit the man. He could show compassion to the prostitute and the peasant on one hand, and clear the temple of moneychangers and go toe to toe with the religious leaders on the other. The feminization of Jesus has turned many men off to the faith, as they can’t relate to what amounts to a female Jesus.

7) While preaching, you often refer to your old “barbarian” days. Tell us a little about your life before you made a transformation.

When I say barbarian I mean one whose ultimate authority is himself. For example, a person could be a mild mannered college student by day and a rioter by night and still consider himself to be upright and moral. A barbarian’s morals can be high or low and can change whenever he decides. As for me, I was a pleasure lover, which meant mostly partying and fornicating. By partying I mean alcohol, pot, coke, acid, mushrooms, etc. As is the case with all sin, it was fun but self-destructive, and I’m still recovering from its effects.

8) What are your views on the overall moral state of our nation in the year 2002?

As a nation I believe we have adopted the lowest moral standards possible without self-destructing. We are told we can do anything we want as long as we don’t hurt anyone else. (Our actions can hurt others, as in the passing of STD’s, but as long as we didn’t intend to hurt them it’s okay). It seems to me there is only one moral standard lower than this and that is to do anything we want even if it does hurt someone else. I sometimes illustrate how low our standards have become by asking what the next generation of sexual deviants will have to do to be considered deviant. Fornicating and homosexuality are definitely out, and transsexuals and transvestites are on their way out. It seems to me that the only deviancies left are having sex with children and animals - with animals being the likely choice.

9) One of Satan’s most successful tactics over the years has been to conceal his identity to such an extent that many people nowadays don’t even believe that he exists. How crafty is he really?

As my priest says (I’m Orthodox), Satan is very deceptive, but not very creative. In other words he is doing the same thing today as he was 2,000 years ago. That is why it’s so important for Christians to read about the struggles of the great saints of the ages. We can learn much about the Devil’s schemes by reading about the struggles they went through. Of course you are right. His greatest deception is to get people to believe that he doesn’t really exist.

10) I’m very intrigued by John the Baptist’s role in the Four Gospels, especially how he was a somewhat “wild figure” preaching in the wilderness. What do you derive from John’s role as someone who “prepared the way” for Jesus?

In the Orthodox Church we have a class of people whom we call Fools for Christ. Throughout history these are the characters, which to the world seemed crazy, but who were really very close to God. I don’t know if we would classify John the Baptist in that category, but certainly to the religious establishment he seemed a bit loony. However, the people perceived him to be a prophet, and Jesus called him the greatest of the prophets.

11) If Jesus returned to earth today and saw a Catholic mass being performed with all its pomp and circumstance, what do you think his reaction would be?

I don’t think it would be the pomp and circumstance that would bother Christ. As with Jewish worship, Christian worship has always been ceremonial. In many Protestant circles today any ritual is considered to be antithetical to true spirituality, but that is simply their bias and not based on anything biblical or historical. Remember, God set up Old Testament worship and it was full of ritual and ceremony. I think the real problem with the Roman Catholic Church is its pride and authoritative structure that has its root in papal infallibility. The Church should be expressing the humility, virtue, and power of God. When prides sets in, the power becomes more-worldly than spiritual and that rightfully turns people off.

12) Finally, if you could summarize the core of your message – what you’re ultimately trying to convey in your teaching – what would it be?

In essence, my message is that Christianity is the one true religion and Orthodoxy is the true Christianity. So as you can guess I manage to offend almost everyone.