Orthodox Priest+Kettlebell

AoM reader and Orthodox priest Father John A. Peck sent us this picture of himself swinging a kettlebell. Awesome.

{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }

Robert August 30, 2011 at 9:40 pm: Don’t forget to notice that he is also crushing a heavy hand gripper at the same time
EatRealThings August 30, 2011 at 9:47 pm: Not swinging, but bottoms-up pressing. WAYYY harder and more advanced than the elementary swing. And the CoC gripper is just icing on this beautiful cake.
Cameron August 30, 2011 at 9:51 pm: He got that strong from wrestling with temptation…..
Tyler August 30, 2011 at 9:53 pm: gotta be strong to fight the devil
Isaac Lewis August 30, 2011 at 9:54 pm: As an Orthodox Christian myself, this is really inspiring. Way to go Father John!!
Brendan August 30, 2011 at 9:55 pm: = Total Man.
O'C. August 30, 2011 at 10:09 pm: good one Cameron! That’s an awful big kettle bell; any idea how much it weighs? It must be hollow.
ced August 30, 2011 at 10:11 pm: how heavy is that kettle? i doubt if i could even get a grip on the handle
Brian August 30, 2011 at 10:13 pm: ….Jeebus!
Fernando August 30, 2011 at 10:14 pm: Thank God he’s merciful. the CoC and kettle are brilliant.
Simeon Smith August 30, 2011 at 10:16 pm: Orthodox Priests are awesome .
Maxam August 30, 2011 at 10:24 pm: Wow! Awesome photo. I too wonder how much that Kettle weighs. I say 90 minimum.
Alex J. Taylor August 30, 2011 at 11:10 pm: Orthodox Christianity + AoM = Total win.
MaryGrace August 30, 2011 at 11:18 pm: Manliness is saturated in every nuance of this image. So much epic going on…
John Whitfield Andrade August 30, 2011 at 11:47 pm: I’m converting.
CJ Kelly August 31, 2011 at 12:41 am: Father Peck is my friend’s priest in Prescott, AZ. Very cool to see him on here!
Rob W August 31, 2011 at 12:48 am: Looks like a hollow bell to me.
D. Peck August 31, 2011 at 12:51 am: What a surprise to find my husband on this site! FYI – the kettle bells weighs about 95lbs with a 2 1/2″ handle, and the gripper was a #2 at about 198lb.
Robert August 31, 2011 at 3:08 am: Is he or his wife cooler? Anyone else’s wife on here able to tell your friends details about your workout routine?
Monte August 31, 2011 at 4:29 am: Cool! Love kettlebells, but Father John demonstrates thatvi have much father to go in my quest!
Nat Walker August 31, 2011 at 4:58 am: Fantastic.
Papajohn August 31, 2011 at 5:12 am: The dude’s name is “Peck” even, a homonym for the muscle. Bauss.
pinchy August 31, 2011 at 5:48 am: That looks like a shot loadable KB,which means it could weigh anything.That could be completely hollow or filled with lead shot.
Tomfeeny August 31, 2011 at 6:47 am: Now THAT is a MANLY MAN of the cloth!
Fr. Joseph Bittle August 31, 2011 at 8:50 am: Go, Fr. John!
CoffeeZombie August 31, 2011 at 10:31 am: I’ll just leave this here.
Photios Adams August 31, 2011 at 11:37 am: Demons Beware!!
Maaldweb August 31, 2011 at 2:33 pm: I was raised as a Christian Orthodox, I wouldn’t say I am a religious person but I consider myself a theist.
Let me first say that you shouldn’t think that the Orthodox Churches aren’t corrupted, there are several financial and sexual scandals involving Orthodox priests, however in doctrinal terms the Orthodox Churches are closer to the manly and in some cases militant nature of the early Christian Church. We nowadays forget that the first Christians were characterised by self-denial, contempt for death and they were very good soldiers.
When you compare the different christian denominations you will find that Orthodoxy is probably the least girly and feminised by far, especially in Slavic countries. Feminist influence is non-existent in Orthodox churches and liberalism hasn’t distorted Orthodoxy yet. Neither there was an orthodox version of the Second Vatican Council (which destroyed the Catholic Church).

Listen to the following hymn, listen to the bass male voices. Can you imagine anything of the sort coming from a protestant church or the post-Second Vatican Council Catholic Church?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrdz-UJbVXQ&feature=related

can churches with such
Chris Homan August 31, 2011 at 3:37 pm: Maaldweb,

How about we leave the religious discussion out of this and focus on the coolness of a priest, no matter the denomination, keeping himself in shape with a very manly-looking method?

Way to go, Fr. John!!!!!
Shane A. Williams August 31, 2011 at 8:44 pm: Truly a MAN of the cloth.
Jamey W. Bennett September 1, 2011 at 1:59 pm: Fr. John rocks!
Nate A September 1, 2011 at 2:13 pm: The premise is simple…Be Strong…and have courage to take a stand
clark berry September 2, 2011 at 1:30 am: I need this picture in a higher resolution so I can use it for my wallpaper. Anyone know where I can find it?
Kevin Palm September 2, 2011 at 5:35 am: Wow! I knew Fr. John when he lived in NE Ohio. He and his son also play the bagpipes and were taking lessons though our pipe band! Very cool picture!!
Beth Hill September 2, 2011 at 10:50 am: That’s my big brother!!The best man I know!
BA November 13, 2011 at 1:04 am: The strength of faith in yet another form…
Knifey Boy April 25, 2012 at 8:34 pm: Hey that’s my dad! Ill just say everyday I try and be as awesome as him!
He can also bench 300….just saying
josh hodges June 19, 2012 at 5:30 pm: I would love to get you in the weight room at the fire house father!
Jim Peck June 20, 2012 at 12:01 am: For all the doubters… it weighs near 100 pounds.