Welcome to the last battle of the week, the last matchup of the Elate Eight, and the last full week of Lent Madness 2025! Today, Philip, Deacon and Evangelist faces Nicolaus Zinzendorf as they seek to join Zechariah, Sundar Singh, and Elizabeth of Hungary in the Faithful Four.
Yes, you heard that correctly, Elizabeth of Hungary won her contest yesterday with Verena of Zurzach 67% to 33% to snag the final spot in the next round.
So, the Faithful Four is Set. On Monday, Zechariah faces Elizabeth of Hungary; on Tuesday, Sundar Singh squares off against the winner of today's matchup. And then all will be set for Spy Wednesday's Championship Round.
But first, here's your Daily Lenten Showdown...
Vote now!
Philip, Deacon and Evangelist
Philip, “lover of horses,” was a common name in the 1st century CE. Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, was a great hero. Here is a coin with a young Philip II riding his horse (that he loved). Neat!
Philip, deacon and evangelist, enters the scene in Acts 6 when the Apostles could not be bothered to “wait on tables.” What better way to honor Philip’s table service than with this nifty apron, emblazoned with the names of the seven, er six, original deacons. I’m not sure why Nicolaus (see Acts 6:5) did not make the cut. Maybe the designer is not too keen on proselytes. Or Antiochans (they’re the worst).
But this post is about Philip. Although Philip is a key figure driving the gospel “to the ends of the earth,” it is actually pretty tricky to find religious swag for him. Stephen and Philip the Apostle get the pious tchotchkes. Fortunately, all those ancient dudes look basically the same.
Philip does have an (awful) religious song, courtesy of Bible Buddies. Sadly, I listened to it. Twice. (I had to confirm that he really did sing “Ethio-thiopian.”) The things I do for you people.
Philip’s real claim to fame is how he proclaimed the gospel with great signs and wonders. It’s makes sense that he would have a knockoff Pokemon card. I choose you, PDE! He can protect you against capital A Artifacts! He can “band” with his capital D Daughters! (Honestly, I don’t even want to know what that means.)
Still in the mood to play? How about passing some time with this sweet Philip and the Ethio(thio)pian wooden playset? It was designed by people really committed to the colorblind, merit-based system that is popular in some circles today. Or maybe they just used all their stain on the horse/unicorn.
If playing outside is more your thing, next time you head to the beach or park for a picnic, why not bring along this towel cosplaying as a rug? They say this design is “taking the internet by storm.” Maybe because in addition to being great for outdoor concerts it also makes for lovely “general home décor.”
If you, like me, are feeling underwhelmed by all this (un)holy chintz, how about we vote Philip forward to get him a mug that is worthy of his incredible witness?
Nicolaus Zinzendorf
It is impossible to separate Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf from the Moravians Church. And it is equally impossible to separate Zinzendorf and the Moravians from Bethlehem, PA, as he was one of the founders of The Christmas City (as it is known).
Zinzendorf’s lasting marks touched many people and many things.
Read books about him and his influence, walk on the same streets that he did, read plaques about him on those streets, sing hymns he wrote, watch a video about his life, wear jewelry, visit the Moravian University hall named for him, admire and collect statues and knickknacks, and pray the prayers he penned.
But mostly, admire him and his deep spirituality.
In 1716, Zinzendorf and his school buddies founded The Order of the Mustard Seed, an ecumenical prayer movement that is still thriving, and is embraced by the Anglican Communion. The group's focus reflects Zinzendorf's lifelong commitment: "To be True to Christ; To be Kind to People; To take the Gospel to the Nations."
His pronouncements and prayers are insightful: "There can be no Christianity without community." “All of life becomes a liturgy.” “Come, Lord Jesus, our Guest to be; And bless these gifts bestowed by Thee.” “Preach the Gospel, die, and be forgotten.”
And, as society dictates, t-shirts, mugs, and wall hangings emblazon these sayings. Display a plate with his famous and much-loved prayer for meals, or wear a necklace with his visage.
With more than 200 hymns to his credit, listen and sing along with O Thou to Whose All Searching Sight here.
Visit the Moravian Book Shop, founded in 1745 and, as such, the oldest bookstore in the USA.
And then there is the Moravian Star, ubiquitous across the landscape.
Necklaces and earrings feature the Moravian Star, and, of course, a Christmas Tree ornament. Above all is the ever present electric Moravian Star that beams high atop South Mountain onto Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley.
Zinzendorf’s impact and contributions to Christianity, to Native American outreach and ministry, and to society cannot be ignored. As he lived, “I have one passion, it is He. Only He.”
50 comments on “Philip, Deacon and Evangelist vs. Nicolaus Zinzendorf”
Just put NZ ahead by one! Thanks for that feeling of power to start the day which is probably more reminiscent of Phillip!
Just curious if you've run any statistics on the apparent home-field advantage of having one's name listed first in the daily pairing. It was most prominent early in the round of 32. Sorry, a bit of a stats nerd.
As a Moravian-Episcopalian originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a great-great granddaughter of a Moravian bishop, I cast my vote for Count Zinzendorf. Plus, Moravians have great merch!
"There can be no Christianity without community." “All of life becomes a liturgy.”
If Nicholas had said and done nothing else, these alone would be enough to win my vote today.
I'm still chuckling at "Ethio-thiopian." LOL! That's painful.
Philip was on the ground at the start, one of the very few Christians in a world that was hostile to the new faith and yet thirsting for the Good News. Nicolaus founded and led an admirable group of Protestants in a world in which Christianity was normative. I respect Nicolaus but I vote for Philip.
I have been in this position before. Was it last year, or the year before, when I had to point out that the early church father helped to define/defend the doctrine of the Trinity, while the woman who literally followed in Jesus' footsteps would not have known what a "trinity" is.
Also, Philip has awesome kitsch. A role-playing card, an apron, a song, a toy? You go, Philip!
Wow! Tight race today. I chose Zinzendorf because (a) he treated North American Indigenous people with respect; (b) the quote, "There can be no Christianity without community"; and (c) that beautiful grace.
Real missed opportunity to discuss Trumpet in the Land (and by extension the whole genre of outdoor dramas) when discussing Moravian kitsch. The pageantry! The spectacle! The absolute cheese!
Our family truly loves Zinzendorf and we owe him a lot because our ancestors were Moravians from Winston-Salem NC. But we have to vote for Philip because we need to support the deacons out there organizing people to do the work! (I brought my family in on this one to help me vote!)
This was the best Kitsch round. I was actually tempted by both the adorably round Philip beach towel and the Zinzendorf prayer plate!!
We need a second Z in the Faithful Four, so I voted for Zinzendorf, much deserved.
I am strangely moved by the quote from Nicholas, "Preach the Gospel, die and be forgotten."
And so I am voting for Nicholas as a way of voting for all those many saints who have been forgotten..
How does Elisabeth of Hungary "snag the final spot in the next round" when there is still today's competition of the Elate Eight round?...
And Father Scott and Father Tim had joked we, the Lent Madness global viewing public, wouldn't understand math???!!!???
The entry on Philip made me laugh. Who would have thought there was so much cheesy kitsch devoted to him?
But I have to cast my vote for Nicolaus because I have my own Moravian Star of Bethlehem . . . and just because his influence is so much a part of my own Pennsylvania German heritage and childhood, though I didn't realize it at the time.
Another "1/2 vote to each for their work for the LORD" matchup.
Still: my vote goes to Nicolaus:
1. My dealings with Moravians through the years.
2. Been to Herrnhut, and the grave of Zinzendorf.
3. Moravian stars: great Christmas decoration.
4. Moravian ginger cookies, also at Christmas. 😎 yum!
As of this writing, Nicolas is ahead (surprising!). Philip's a great servant for the LORD, but I consider he's too remote in time for many. Nicolaus is closer time-wise, visited what is now the United States. Also, the accounts of his life are more detailed. Very definitely a servant in the LORD, also a very flawed human being: much easier to relate to such a person. Ausserdem spreche ich deutsch: so können wir miteinander reden.
How Come I Can't See The Current Bracket??? What the Ding Dong Daddy is going on here. Somebody is not earn9ing their Sheckles.My LentMadness Webpage is losing Credibility. No Daily Updates. Explanation Please!!
I love Philip. The story about the Ethiopian is one of my faves.
Philip won the kitsch round for me. David Creech's writeup made me smile.
I don’t feel any real religious vibes from either. At least I could vote this time.
Exactly, Melanie!
I love the diaconate apron. Where would I get it? I need to get it for my sibling deacon at our parish.
Being an ordained deacon myself, I have to go with Philip. His witness of service and evangelism helped spread the Gospel far and wide.
Had to keep voting for Zinzendorf, and glad he's ahead at least at the moment. But David Creech has produced one of the best Kitsch Round postings I've seen in all my Lent Madness years. Congratulations, bro!
I may have voted twice. I don't know why they let me. Please do not cast me into the outer darkness! Feel free to subtract a vote for Zinzendorf.
I've never played either, but I'm just nerd-adjacent enough to kno that that's a knockoff Magic the Gathering card, not a Pokémon card. Which probably gives Philip's kitsch a little extra cachet.
A nail-biter of a week ahead. It's been a great ride so far! Nicky got the vote today though.
I chose Philip for his reaching out to the Ethio(ethio)pian eunuch. One of my favorite stories in the Bible. And his song has a good beat and you can dance to it!
I almost voted for the unicorn (respect, David Creech!) but had to stick with Count Zed.
Another tough choice! I have voted for Nicolaus in previous matches and while I strongly considered voting for Phillip this time I ended up going with Nicolaus again. Perhaps it was the quick online trip I took to the Moravian Bookshop and the beauty of the Moravian star. I am quite enamoured with him though through his saying, "There can be no Christianity without community." And I have added his prayer, "Come Lord Jesus our Guest to be; And bless these gifts bestowed by Thee."
My dear father’s name was Phillip, and he “was good with the horses,” but I had to vote for Nicolaus. Forgive me, Dad.