Frederica recounts the history of her patron saint, whose feast day is February 1.

Frederica speaks at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, about Orthodox spirituality and the Jesus Prayer.

Frederica reviews Tim Burton's film Alice in Wonderland, a movie that she says is too frenetic and ludicrous to be enjoyed.

Fredrica discusses the ethical problems of enhancing performance with medication.

Frederica talks with Crunchy Con author Rod Dreher and his wife, Julie, about practical sustainability.

Frederica discusses a portion of the book American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us by Robert Putnam and David Campbell.

Frederica speaks on the abortion issue at the Festival of Orthodox Christianity, hosted by North Texas Orthodox Missions in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Frederica explains to the leader of a week-long Protestant retreat why she would not want to speak at the event again.

Frederica reflects on giving to the needy, countering the cultural beliefs that the poor have nothing to offer, that it is okay to be consumers and not producers, that we must despise the wealthy, and that charity must go through an established organization.

Frederica reflects on Fr. Marc Dunaway's article "Taking Orthodoxy to America," which appeared in the In Community newsletter from St. John Orthodox Cathedral in Eagle River, Alaska.

Frederica discusses the book Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (and How to Reverse It) by Robert D. Lupton, published by HarperOne.

This week as we think about the Transfiguration of our Lord, Frederica has some interesting reflections on a particular icon of the Transfiguration from the apse of St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai. To view the icon, click HERE for a large image, and HERE for a smaller one.

Today Frederica is at the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in Wayne, WV, with her guest Fr. Seraphim. Who should be a monk and how does the monastic life contribute to the salvation of us all?

Frederica interviews a fellow parishioner about his recent pilgrimage to Scotland and encounter with its collection of "forgotten" Orthodox saints.

Frederica shares the prayer titled St. Patrick's Breastplate.

This past May 6-7, Frederica spoke to a group of Romanian Orthodox Christians in Brussels about Fr. George Calciu.

Frederica Mathewes-Green interviews Nicholas Kosar about Colonel Philip Ludwell III, the first known American convert to Orthodoxy.

Frederica Mathewes-Green interviews author and AFR podcaster Michael Haldas about the life and impact of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Frederica explains that whereas other Christian traditions have mystics, people devoted to the contemplative life alone, the Orthodox Church has wonderworkers, saints who are contemplative, yes, but also very active in the lives of their neighbors.

Why do we dislike living in peaceful times?

Why does Jesus often tell people not to talk about their healings? I have a theory.

Frederica Mathewes-Green shares the prayer titled St. Patrick's Breastplate.

Frederica is outside of the ornate (and a bit tattered) Muvico theatre near Baltimore in today's episode.

Christian screen writer Barbara Nicolosi joins Frederica at a Malibu cafe for an informal conversation about Christian attempts at film producing. Barbara is the editor of "Behind the Screen: Hollywood Insiders on Faith, Film and Culture."

Frederica, only occasionally distracted by her grandson, chats with daughter Megan about the foods we eat and maybe shouldn't eat.

A weeping icon exuding myrrh is not something one sees everyday. Frederica talks to the priest of a parish where it did.

Frederica revisits two of her previous podcasts with some additional reflections as the result of some email she received from listeners.

Frederica talks about the modern day quest for the "real" Jesus and examines The Quest of the Historical Jesus by Albert Schweitzer. It is the question for the ages: What think ye of the Christ?

What might God be planning for America given the rampant infiltration of sin, abortion, and depravity? Frederica has adjusted her thinking on this after a rather strange "awakening."

Is there a consistent morality or ethical system planted in human beings? If so, why doesn't this sytem include the protection of baby girls?

Frederica reflects on how music can penetrate through the fog of advanced years and even senility to focus our minds on the worship of God.

Frederica is in Spokane again for today's episode and chats with icnonographer Heather Kochamma Durka.

Today Frederica is in Spokane and has an enlightening visit with a Coptic monk. Don't miss his intoned prayer at the end!

An informal chat with the wives of two priests from Western Rite parishes in the Antiochian Archdiocese.

We are walking with Frederica in a shopping mall today only to be bombarded by inappropriate images from a certain famous store.

Doxacon is a gathering of Orthodox Christians with an interest in fantasy, sci-fi, and gaming. This year they asked me to deliver the lay keynote (conference theme: "Making Virtuous Decisions in Fiction"), and I confessed that I don't know much about those popular forms of media. So we compromised. First, I speak about Charles Dickens, and how some non-virtuous personal decisions affected his life and his writing; then my son, Fr. Stephen Mathewes, relates the "virtuous decisions" question to some popular books, movies, and videogames. At the end I came back with a few thoughts about bees. Enjoy!

Frederica Mathewes-Green presents a Romanian elder’s take on the simple faith that is held by many Americans, and how God responds to it, and she also reports a prayer experience that conveyed the same idea.

Frederica Mathewes-Green reads the first essay she ever published, a secular, feminist presentation of the pro-life cause.

The second-biggest problem Protestants have with Orthodox Christianity (after our love for Jesus' mother Mary) is our icons--not so much the fact of them, but the way we venerate them, bowing, kissing, and lighting candles. But they misinterpret those actions, which are simply continuations from an earlier time. I hope this video will help Protestants understand how we really relate to icons--with affection and honor, and not as objects of worship.

Here's the third of five interviews Frederica has with monks from Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, West Virginia.

Listen to the final of five interviews Frederica has with monks from Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, West Virginia.

It's the beginning of another fasting season as we prepare for the Nativity of Christ. This week, Christian explores how our practice of fasting is also a practice at stepping outside of ourselves so that we can live for others.

Fr. Tom offers thoughts on the healing of the paralytic.

As we continue to remember the significance of the Annunciation, Fr. Tom gives a helpful reflection on the Magnificat.

Fr. Thomas enumerates the seven great messianic signs of Jesus in St. John's Gospel, focusing on the healing of the paralytic at Bethesda.

Fr. Thomas explains the two ways the Holy Trinity are depicted in icons.

Father Thomas reveals how icons are painted and the proper procedure for placing them in the church building.

How should we reflect on calamity and disasters like what was experienced in Haiti from a Christian perspective? Is God exacting judgment or is there another explanation? Fr. Tom Hopko helps us think this through.

Today Fr. Tom talks about the study and communication of the Fathers of the Church according to Archimandrite Vasileios, retired Abbot of the Iviron Monastery on Mt. Athos.

In response to a listener's question, Fr. Thomas reflects on the phenomenon of suicide. How do we as Christians deal with it?