My Father, Bishop John Holloway

My father was born on March 18, 1954 in the same hospital my mother would be born in a few months later. His parents were William Henry Holloway and Mattie Lee Allen, and their relationship was such that when she wanted to name my father a “junior,” he curtly replied that he already had one. Two older sisters, Mary, who is still alive, and Anne, who passed away in the 1980’s, also lived with him in the house. His parents got divorced when he was young, and she married Eugene Allen, who my Nanny affectionately “Gene,” which usually ended up with him turning off his hearing aid. When my father was still a young man, and very rough in his ways, his step-father, my granddaddy, took him on a tour of Reidsville State Prison, where when granddaddy died, was a Major in the State Corrections Department. This tour apparently did not work, for at the moment that my father’s testimony begins, he was about to be on his way to jail.

Recently, because of school and just life in general, with events like my apartment burning down, I have been thinking about my father a lot. In Classical Mythology, you learn a lot about the gods and goddesses of Greek and Rome, but you also learn a lot about heros. Men like Odysseus and Achilles. Hector and Aeneas of the Trojans. You learn historical figures as in Julius Caesae and Augustus Caesar. In the Bible you read of men like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Samson, Samuel, David, and so on. However, what I realized was, for me to see a true hero, I did not need to read the Iliad, or Bible stories, I just needed to look into a room where my sister Hannah used to sleep, where now my dad lays in bed and watches Star-Gate SG-1 and the Atlanta Braves.

My father is far from perfect, and he would be the first person in the world to tell you that. Of course right now if you asked him directly, praise be to God he can and will tell you, “No.” He was raised Southern Baptist in a small Georgia town named Collins, Georgia. Yet, around the time he was to turn himself in to the authorities, he was “born again” in a Methodist Church. At that moment his life changed, and all his legal problems also essientally went away. Hew went on to become a United Methodist pastor, attending Andrew College, Valdosta State University, and eventually finishing up at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. In the mid to late 1970’s, he found himself on the forefront of both the Civil Rights movement and the Charismatic movement in the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, and was eventually persuaded that the best course of action was for him to leave the Methodist Church and start an independent Charismatic Church, which he did in Griffin, Georgia in the early 1980’s. Before this however, my mother who medically cannot have children, recieved a prophetic word that they would have a son. Eventually they both forgot this, and yet my mother still got pregnant. This is the cause of my middle name Zachary, meaning “Jehovah has remembered.” Soon after, my father’s church merged with New Life Church in Griffin and Pastor Buren Goss. in 1983, my brother Jacob was born. My father was the associate pastor of the congregation, and even through many trials and tribulations, the church grew and flourished.

It is during this period that my father became very good friends with a man named Randy Adler, and thus his journey into the Charismatic Episcopal Church was born. While the CEC was in its birthing moments, so was my mother. In October 1992, Josiah was born into our family. The next year, on Pentecost Sunday in May, my father conducted the first service of the Church of St. Michael and All Angel’s CEC. Later in June he was ordained as a priest. Eventually, him, and others in other states were made Canon Missioners by Bishop Dale Howard. During this period the Missionary District of Georgia enjoyed a modest growth rate, and in April of 1997, my father was consecrated a bishop in the CEC. During his time as canon and bishop, he, through the grace of God, brought in such men as Canon Robert Wills, Archdeacon David Monroe, Canon Randall Allen, and Bishop David Epps, men who stood by him in running the diocese. Also during this time, my father took many trips to Africa, in which he earned the respect, love and affection of many of the African bishops. He also made trips into the Carribean and the Phillipines, and of course throughout his own diocese. Many of these trips he should not have made, at least in the world’s eyes, either due to problems and situations, or the lack of financial funds, yet when he was called by his Archbishop or his Patriarch, he never failed to obey. Everytime, even when the situation seemed hopeless, God always provided for him and our family. This brings me to why my father is my hero, he is the most faithful man I have ever known.

My father has always, since beginning his walk with the Lord, sacrificed everything from himself. From allowing black people into his Methodist Church, to laying down his ordination in the Methodist Church to follow the call of God into the Charismatic movement, to leaving everything behind – the security of an established church – and forging into the unknown with the Charismatic Episcopal Church. Giving all the money he had to help those in need, including money he did not have so someone could get a bag of food on Wednesday from his Cathedral’s St. Nicholas ministry. In all of this, my dad was faithful to give all of himself, and God always provided for him. In addition to this, my dad has always been a man of integrity. As a counselor at New Life, and as a priest and bishop, I have never known my father to uncover anyone or any situation, even going as far as refusing to testify in a trial – even before he was a priest and bound by the Confessional. Even in the face of being in contempt of court, he refused to uncover anything held in confidence. Even situations not held in confidence, but things he was aware of with people and situations, including myself, he has always covered, forgiven, loved, nurtured, and did his best to walk in reconciliation and healing, even when it was clear this would not be the end result. In my entire life, I have known my dad to get mad at me only a few times – like when I almost broke Jacob’s leg playing football after he told me not to tackle – but mostly, he would simply be dissapointed. He would raise his voice, b ut it was not in anger, but in love, and in all of those times, I wished my dad would simply be angry – anger I could deal with, but for him to be dissapointed in me, that was worse then Purgatory or Hell. Yet, in all things, he always forgave me, and helped me walk in healing. Lastly, my dad is the most patient man I have ever met, whether, again, it be my own personal issues that he saw me go through, or whether it was playing his favorite video game series Final Fantasy, where he would sit – not rushing through the game – but getting every item, defeating every side quest, and building his “men” up to their fullest level,- he would sit for hours (sometimes at the frustration of my mother) and playu. I can remember sitting up with him on Friday nights until 3:00 or 4:00am making maps and reading the strategy guides for him.

Lastly, two things. My fathers biggest push in our lives has been our education. His goal, get us through school and college, etc, etc. When I graduated from boot camp in the United States Marine Corps, it was one of the proudest moments of his life for me, but when I finished my first semester of college with all A’s, he was even prouder. In June of 2007, my father suffered an extremely sever stroke – practically a mortal blow, but through the grace and mercy of God, he continues on the road to recovery. Before the stroke, I had applied to the University of Georgia, and when I received my acceptance letter, my father was laying in a hospital bed at Upson Regional Medical Center in our hometown of Thomaston, Georgia. I walked up to his room and showed him the letter… didn’t tell him what it was, but even with his stricken state, he knew what it was, and he began to weep, then he smiled and laughed, it was the happiest I had ever seen him. In this, both myself and my brother have vowed not to dissapoint him, for him, he does not always have something to be happy about, except of course being alive and being able to spend all his time with his wife Elaine, his son Josiah, and his daughter Hannah. Even when myself and Jacob come home and he smiles, I have never seen him as happy and proud as when he saw that letter. Again, going back to his faithfulness, he always taught us the power of the blessing, and every day and night, ever since we were born, he blessed us. Even today, when we go home and are about to leave, both myself and Jacob will go into my father’s room, tell him we are leaving, tell him our upcoming assignments and tests, and he takes our hands, closes his eyes, and blesses us as only a father can.

My father is both a physical and spiritual father. Not perfect, a man, but in all things that I am aware of, has been faithful in both callings. He is the greatest man I have ever met, not because he is my father, but simply because he is the greatest man I have ever met. He is truly an example, just like the heros of old, and in this, he is my only hero.

New Roman Battlefield in Germany: The Search for Information before the Excavation

New Roman Battlefield in Germany:
The Search for Information before the Excavation

A new Roman battlefield has been found in Germany, near the city of Kalefeld. This places it over a hundred miles east then where the last previously thought battle had been fought, as well as nearly two-hundred years later. Previously it was believed that the last major Roman and Germanic battle had taken place at Teutoburg Forest, in the year of 9 C.E. However, with this recent discovery, it is believed by archaeologists at the new battlefield that the location “can be dated to the 3rd Century and will definitely change the historical perception of that time.” This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Roman Empire was still doing battle with the Germanic people all the way into the 3rd Century C.E. So far, over 600 artifacts have been unearthed, including arrowheads and shafts that came from Africa. Both Roman and Germanic armor, swords, horse harnesses, pieces of chariots and spears have also been found. Despite of this, however, the main excavation will not begin until this summer, so there will not be a lot of new information coming out of the new site until that point. Currently the site is being kept secret to deter looters and the beginning of the excavation will coincide with the 2000 year anniversary of the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Because of this, one does not need to look at the new excavation to get the idea of what a Roman battlefield, with all of its destructive nature, would have been like. To see this, there are accounts of the previous battle fought in 9 C.E., of the battle at Teutoburg.
The Battle of Teutoburg was fought in 9 C.E. between the troops of Rome and the German “barbarians.” In this battle, three Roman Legions, the XVIIth, XVIIIth and the XIXth, were effectively annihilated. To this day, the German hero of the day, Herrmann, is still celebrated as a national hero, as well as having a monument on the site where archaeologists determined the battle had been fought. The devastation to the Romans was so bad, that Suetonius, speaking of Augustus Caesar, that “they saw [the people around him] that he was so greatly affected that for several months in succession he cut neither his beard nor his hair, and sometimes he would dash his head against a door.” In the same chapter, Suetonius writes that Augustus would ran out the door calling out, “Quintilius Varus [the losing general], give me back my legions!” It is clear from both the German reaction, and the account of Augustus reaction by Suetonius that this was a major victory for the Germanic peoples and a terrible loss and blow to the Roman army and image. Beyond the blow to the Romans, however, there is even the argument that Europe, itself, would have been completely different. In his article in the Smithsonian Magazine, Fergus Bordewich quotes an Emory University professor as saying, “Had Rome not been defeated,” says historian Herbert W. Benario, “a very different Europe would have emerged.” According to his argument, the battle was such a devastating loss, that the Roman Empire struggled to survive. This is because it even shook Emperor Augustus to his corps. There are even reports that he wished to kill himself to spare himself the disgrace of his armies losing so badly to the Germanic peoples. Also, it created a barrier between the Roman Empire and the Germanic peoples further north. At the site, Bordewich reports, German archaeologists have found nails, Roman armor, and old fortifications. This was important because it confirmed that this was the location mentioned by so many Roman historians in antiquity. Though archaeologists knew the general location of the battlefield from Roman historians, it was not found until 1987, when a British Army Officer “stumbled” over the site. Since then, archaeologist Susan Wilbers-Rost has been leading volunteers in excavating the location at Teutoburg.
Though the discovery of the site and its since excavation has produced a lot of evidence and history, the majority of the accounts up until the discovery came from both Roman historians and poets. Ovid, a Roman poet, in his Tristia, mentioned barbarian incursions, and the death and destruction that follow their arrival and pillaging. He wrote how they would attack on horses, using arrows, as well as use spears and axes. He also described how if they could not carry it away with them, they would burn and destroy it, leaving nothing for the Romans who survived. He finished his description by explaining how, after the barbarian incursions, no one lived in peace, and no one planted or grew anything.
Strabo, in his Geographica, also mentioned the battle. He criticized Augustus for his handling of the plan of the Roman’s attempt to quell the many revolts of the German people. He explained that these “tribes” would revolt, yield, and then revolt again. Strabo claims that if Augustus would have allowed his generals and men to cross over the Alibis, then he believes this would have stopped the revolts. Instead, Augustus wanted to just hold them there, possibly thinking it might keep peace. However, soon, two Germanic warlords, Sugambri and Melo, soon began leading incursions into Roman territory. Strabo then claimed the three legions of Quintilius Varus was ambushed in violation of a treaty, decimating them all. He does point out however, that the “younger Germanicus” was able to receive a wonderful triumph once he returned and captured those who had led the ambush and broken their treaty with Rome.
Marcus Velleius Paterculus, in his Roman History, also mentioned the battle. He explained that, not soon after Caesar had finalized the Dalmatian and Pannonian War, the word came of the death of Varus, general of the three legions. He then continued to tell what kind of a man Varus was, but then he began to describe the way that the Germans attacked. He explained that with “great ferocity” the Germanic people revolted against Roman justice and ambushed Varus and his men. He described this as the “greatest calamity” since the disaster of Crassus at Parthia. He then continued on to explain how wonderful the three legions were, “the first of Roman armies in discipline, in energy, and in experience in the field,” and essentially blamed the loss on Varus, as well as the barbarians who led the ambush. After the massacre, he told that Caesar immediately repositioned his armies and resources in Gaul, so that such a massacre would never happen again.
Tacitus, in his Annuals, mentioned different accounts of actions that surrounded the battle in Germany sporadically throughout his book. First, he mentioned that Germanicus was chosen over Agrippa Postumus to lead the eight legions to take revenge for the murder of Varus and his men. Next, Tacitus made it clear that Augustus wanted to commit suicide due to the disgrace of losing his armies. He claimed that Augustus preferred to die before he had learned of their disgrace, however, the people around him had stopped him from committing the act. His next mention is when he described the triumph decreed for Germanicus, thus avenging Varus and the three legions. Through the subsequent verses, Tacitus explained why Germanicus deserved the triumph. In all, he captured and brought back the barbarians who had committed the ambush, as well as avenged Rome. It so effected Rome, that Tacitus even mentioned the fact that the Romans consecrated an arch near the Temple of Saturn to commemorate the recovery of the standards lost by Varus. This was also a day to commemorate Germanicus and his victory. This happened in 17 C.E., eight years after the Roman defeat.
One of the last historians from Roman antiquity who fully discussed the Battle of Teutoburg is Cassius Dio. He also wrote a history named Roman History. Essentially, he reverberated all of the previous written histories. He explained how the Germans actions ultimately were a betrayal and that the massacre was brutal and absolute. Again, he ultimately blamed Varus. Even worse than his military failure was Cassius’ reason of the Germanic revolts. He claimed that Varus, while governor of the Province of Germany, had forced taxes and other means of submission that would not have ordinarily been allowed. By doing this, to Cassius, Varus inevitably forced the Germans to revolt against his rule. Again though, the point of this history, as well as the others was clear; to assign blame and to tell how terrible the massacre was. First, he described how Varus could not keep his legions together in rank and file. This being the blame, and this caused the massacre.
Though the major excavation at the site in Kalefeld has not begun, one can get the sense of how terrible that battlefield, as well as the rest of them, was and is a terrible place. Though the battle at Kalefeld did not bring the Roman Empire to its knees, it is apparent that there were battles fought that came close. The Battle of Teutoburg Forest was just one of many battles the Romans fought, and yet that one battle effectively changed the Roman Empire and Europe to this very day. Also, the accounts of the battle show just how destructive war really is. In every battle there are winners and losers, in Teutoburg it was clearly the Romans who were the losers. However, through Germanicus, Rome was able to avenge her defeat and carry on. Could it have been different? We will never know, but this summer as the new excavations begin, it is clear that our view of history, and Roman battles, will change with each new discovery.

Bibliography

The China Post. “’New’ Roman Battlefield in Germany.” Available from
https://www.chinapost.com.tw/life/discover/2008/12/23/188941/New-
Roman.htm; Internet, accessed 2 April 2009.

Bordewich, Fergus. “The Ambush That Changed History.” Smithsonian Magazine (September
2005). Available from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/ambush.
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Cassius Dio. Roman History. Translated by Earnest Cary, Loeb Classical Library, 1924.
Available at http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/56*.html;
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Ovid. Tristia. Translated by A. S. Kline, 2003. Available at http://www.tkline.freeserve.co.uk
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Strabo. Geographica. Translated. by H. L. Jones. Loeb Classical Library, 1924. Available at
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Suetonius. Lives of the Twelve Caesars: Life of Augustus, Translated by J. C. Rolfe . Loeb
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Tacitus. The Complete Works of Tacitus. Translated By A. J. Church, and W. J. Brodribb. New York: The
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Tacitus. The Annuals. Translated by A. J. Church, W. J. Brodribb, and Sara Bryant, New York:
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Velleius Paterculus. Roman History. Translated by Fredrick W. Shipley, Loeb Classical Library,
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Update – April 11, 2009

Hello everyone!

I am finally “fully” back in the cyber world, so hopefully I will be able to get back to the posts and ideas I had mentioned in the last update before the fire post.

First, though not fully recovered from the apartment fire a little less then a month ago, I feel like I am better off then I was before. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me and my roommates in our recovery, especially Fr. Steve and Judy Dundus (clothes, etc), Julie Woodward Ward and her husband (computer), Pastor Buren Goss and Eagles Way Church in Griffin Georgia, Sara and Ashley’s parents (pretty much everything!), Ken and Margaret Mullis, my grandmother who we affectionately call Nina, my own mother and family, and everyone else who has held us in their prayers. Without these people, I would not be nearly as far along as I am today this Easter weekend.

Second, I would like to thank all of my professors at the University of Georgia who have been more then willing to bend over backwards to help me with class work and books. In the fire, though I lost a lot of expensive electronics, etc, what hurt me most was losing my books, which could be valued between 7 – 10 thousand dollars, some of which were priceless and irreplaceable. However, all the school books I had and that are still needed I have received at very little cost, mostly for free.

Next, again, all of the posts I talked about in the last update I found out that I had backups… so, once I get my school work up to date, I will be able to complete them and post them.

Lastly, a proud announcement for me… sometime around October I will become a proud father. Again, I thank everyone for their prayers and support!

God Bless and Happy Easter!
JZ Holloway