s:

Connecting To Our Roots: Serbian Youth Night

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos addressed the first inaugural Youth Night at St. Savas Serbian Orthodox Church in Toronto, Canada, on the topic of “Connecting To Our Roots.”




s:

Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Relations: Where Does It Go From Here?

Fr. Ted Pulcini, ex-Roman Catholic and now Eastern Orthodox priest and long-time Orthodox participant in Orthodox-Catholic ecumenical dialog, discusses the Vatican's recent document on the doctrine on the Church. He and Kevin Allen discuss the timing of its publication, what it really means, what it says about the current and future state of relations between the two oldest branches of Christianity, and what the divisive issues are.




s:

One Marriage - Two Churches: Loving Your Spouse Into The Orthodox Church

A common dillemma for inquirers into the Orthodox Church is either disinterest or outright hostility to the idea of Orthodoxy by their spouse. In this edition Kevin speaks with a couple who lived this scenario. Meet Bruce and Lynn Marie Heying and learn about their family dynamic and what made Lynn Marie decide to follow Bruce into Orthodoxy seven years later.




s:

156: Orthodox & Evangelical Relations: Where are we?

Dr Bradley Nassif, a “pioneer of Orthodox-Evangelical Dialogue” talks with host Kevin Allen about “where things are” formally and informally between The Orthodox Church and Evangelical Christians. Kevin asks the question: “What is an Evangelical?”




s:

The Passions: How we get into this mess and how we get out

Mother Melania, stavrophor (little schema) nun at St. Barbara Monastery, Santa Paula, California and author of the series, "The Twelve Great Feasts for Children", and the series, "The 3-Day Pascha" (for Great and Holy Friday, Great and Holy Saturday, and Pascha) discusses purity (and impurity) of heart and overcoming the passions.




s:

Toll Houses: After Death Reality or Heresy?

Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimir's Orthodox seminary, addresses the controversial subject of "toll houses" in this highly animated half-hour discussion with our co-hosts.




s:

Our Common Saints: Hymns of Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople, and Sebaste

The St. Vladimir’s Seminary Octet, under the direction of Hierodeacon Herman (Majkrzak), presented a concert of liturgical music at this year’s Education Day at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. The program included hymns in celebration of saints venerated in both the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches.




s:

The Hope of the Hopeless: The HOPE Project

This is a lecture from St. Vladimir's Seminary's annual Orthodox Education Day event, held this year on October 1, 2016. The speakers are the Sisters of All Saints Greek Orthodox Monastery, Long Island, New York.




s:

50 Years: A First-Hand Look Back at SVS Press & Orthodox Education Day

At Orthodox Education Day (OED) on October 6, 2018, former SVS Press director Ted Bazil and St Vladimir's Seminary Professor Emeritus David Drillock offered a fantastic look back and wonderful stories from the fifty-year history of SVS Press and Orthodox Education Day.




s:

Love Wins: An Orthodox View of Salvation

In response to Rob Bell's controversial book Love Wins, Steve ventures into the world of video and gives a short summary of the difference between the mainstream Protestant view of salvation and an Orthodox view. Listen to the short audio introduction below, then watch the video.




s:

Steve the Builder Awakens: Reflections at 63

Steve returns to podcasting after five years of silence. He reflects on "the will of God for your life" in light of his recent life events.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Peter

Meet Peter, one of the treasures that is part of the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Catherine

Meet Catherine, one of the treasures who is part of the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Father Tom

Meet Father Tom, one of the treasures who is part of the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Helen

Meet Helen, one of the treasures who is part of the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Carol Anne

Meet Carol Anne, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Edna

Meet Edna, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: John

Meet John, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Nick

Meet Nick, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Anna

Meet Anna, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Karl

Meet Karl, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Daniel

Meet Daniel, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Xenia

Meet Xenia, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Edward

Meet Edward, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Kenneth

Meet Kenneth, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Ruth

Meet Ruth, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: Chris and Laura

Meet Chris and Laura, two of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Flowers from the Hedges: William and Jane

Meet William and Jane, two of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Counting on Three Things: A Christmas letter from Fr. Nicolaie

In this episode, we hear a Christmas letter from Fr. Nicolaie about two things, no three things, St. John the Compassionate Mission can count on.




s:

Three Witnesses: “The Christians love the poor and embrace them like brothers and sisters”

Listen to three short reflections about interactions at St. John the Compassionate Mission, reminding us that all lives are worth living.




s:

Speaking in Tongues: the Friday before Pentecost at the Mission

Fr. Nicolaie writes about language and communication--reflections on the Friday before Pentecost at St. John the Compassionate Mission.




s:

Anaxios: Unworthy and Evil

A story is told of the final temptation of Christ. Satan had been trying to tempt Jesus to sin, to compromise, to abandon His divine mission (see Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13), and according to this story, Satan tried one last time to deflect Jesus from His goal. Jesus had been arrested, interrogated, condemned by the Sanhedrin, brought before Pilate, again condemned, mocked and flogged. He carried His cross along the way from the Roman praetorium to the place of execution and was nailed to the cross. His adversaries continued to mock Him, even unto the end: “He saved others, He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel; let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him!” (Matthew 27:42). And it was then, the story goes, that Satan whispered into His ear the words of the final temptation, intended to convince Jesus to give it all up and indeed come down from the cross. Satan said to Him, “They’re not worth it, Lord”.




s:

Icons: Objects for Veneration or Mere Decoration?

Recently I have come across an anti-Orthodox polemic which rejects our veneration of icons on the grounds that venerating an image painted on a board of Christ, His Mother, or His saints is contrary to the practice of the apostles and of the earliest Church. The objection is stated with some sophistication, and is not the usual fundamentalist reference to the Mosaic Law’s proscription of carved statues used in worship (e.g. Exodus 20:4f). This more sophisticated objection acknowledges that there were indeed images of Christ, His Mother, and His saints used in the early Church such as can be found in the funerary art of the catacombs and on the walls of churches (such as that of Dura Europos). But, it points out, there is no evidence that these images functioned as anything more than mere decoration. That is, the people did not come up to the wall to kiss the wall art or venerate the images.




s:

Zaccheus: Exemplar of Salvation

Fr. Apostolos Hill delivers a homily on Zaccheus' response to Jesus proclamation of salvation, the giving away of his earthly wealth and the restoration of those he had swindled.




s:

Forgiveness: A Divine Act (Mt 6:14-21)

On the last Sunday of preparation before we begin the Great Fast, the Church calls us to offer and receive forgiveness from everyone. Fr Tom reminds us that we are commanded to forgive precisely because this action allows us to participate in and experience the Divine Life of God Himself.




s:

The Cross: More than a Symbol (John 3:13-17)

The accusation is sometimes leveled against Orthodox Christians that they are "concerned with symbols over substance." Fr Thomas reminds us that both symbols and the meaning behind them are important for deep faith in God. (Sunday before the Elevation of the Cross)




s:

The Theotokos and Us: Finding the Presence of Christ Together

Deacon Emmanuel gives the sermon on the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple.




s:

Your Desires: Your Master or Your Servant?




s:

Two Paths: One Weak, One Strong




s:

Two Paths: One Good; One Bad!




s:

Q&A with Bishop Thomas: Returning to the Natural

Dr. John Mark Reynolds asks Bishop Thomas questions about angels, demons, miracles, house blessings, weeping icons, and other topics.




s:

Pro-Lifers: Get Out of Medicine!

Returning to the podcast after a personal break, Wesley ask, "Can doctors and other healthcare providers be forced to provide medical proceeds, like abortions, when it goes against their convictions?"




s:

The Basis of Christian Ethics: Part 2

Professor David Frost continues his exploration in the field of ethics and tries to find an answer to the question, "How do we discover and apply a Christian standard?"




s:

The Basis of Christian Ethics: Part 1

Professor David Frost, the Principal of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, speaks about "Christian and other ways of deciding what is right" in this first of two lectures on ethics.




s:

Fresh Hope and New Challenges: The Church in the Traditional Orthodox Countries

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware addressed the topic of "The Church in the Traditional Orthodox Countries" as the first session (out of two) on the larger theme of "Orthodoxy in the 21st Century." The lecture was delivered in Cambridge in the Institute's seminar room during the Community Lecture Day of 22 February 2014.




s:

Clergy Peer Learning Groups: An Interview with Fr. Nicholas Solak

Dr. Rossi interviews Fr. Nicholas Solak, parish priest of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Stroudsburg, PA, on the topic of Clergy Peer Learning Groups in the life of a priest.




s:

Apologetics: Interview with Fr. Sergius Halvorsen

Dr. Rossi interviews Fr. Sergius Halvorsen on the topic of apologetics.




s:

Risen Christians: An Interview with Fr. Alexander Rentel

Dr. Albert Rossi interviews the Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Rentel, the new Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America. Fr. Alexander recently gave a homily in the chapel of St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary on the topic of the paschal light of Christ at work in risen Christians.




s:

Borders and Frontiers: An Interview with Rev. Dr. Anthony G. Roeber

Dr. Albert Rossi interviews Rev. Dr. Anthony G. Roeber, Professor of Church History at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, on the topic of "Boundaries and Frontiers Within the Church."




s:

Food, Sex, and Sports: Idols or Pathways to Salvation?

Fr. Philip LeMasters reminds us that our Orthodox faith does not require us to abandon or condemn any dimension of life, but instead to offer all that we are and do for fulfillment and blessing and healing.