Frederica reads "On the Ascension" by St. Romanos the Melodist.

Frederica reads "On Pentecost" by St. Romanos the Melodist.

Frederica explores the many complex issues surrounding Orthodoxy clergy and their pastoral stance toward same-sex attraction.

Frederica argues that women's ordination is not the main reason converts come to Orthodoxy.

Frederica reminds us that a passion begins to die when you don't think about it.

Frederica contends that, traditionally and historically, worship was aimed not toward other worshippers, as it is in the modern seeker-friendly church, but toward God.

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 recounts two different occasions when she found a substantial amount of money on the ground.

Throughout the Passion, Christ experiences every one of the worst fears that the human race has.

Frederica reads part three of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, a tale told in seven stories.

Frederica reads part four of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, a tale told in seven stories.

Frederica reads parts five, six, and seven of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, a tale told in seven stories.

Frederica reads the introduction to her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads from chapter 20 of her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica explains what it means when we say that the Orthodox Church is changeless in a passage from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads a passage on interpreting scripture from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

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

Frederica heads home to Charleston, South Carolina, and visits the Emmanuel AME Church, the site of last week's tragic events.

Frederica shares some email advice that she gave to a person suffering from depression.

Frederica discusses an article published by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware that distinguished praying that all will be saved from assuming that all will be saved.

Audio recording of Frederica reading the Discussion Questions for her new book titled "Welcome to the Orthodox Church."

Frederica offers an introductory guide to the services of Baptism and Chrismation.

Frederica introduces us to St. Matrona the Blind and reads her akathist hymn.

"Our religion is founded on spiritual experience seen and heard as surely as any physical fact in this world, not theory, not philosophy, not human emotions, but experience." St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Imagine the blessed Theotokos in old age being cared for by St. John the Evangelist. That is the image Frederica beautifully portrays for us in today's podcast for the Feast of the Dormition.

Frederica was interviewed in a busy fellowship hall by a teen from her parish about how she became a writer and spokesman for the Pro-Life cause.

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 reflects on the earliest depiction of the Theotokos with the Christ child dating back to the 2nd century.

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.

How does practicing the Jesus Prayer differ from "mindful" meditation?

St. Paisios has come reassuring comments about our struggle against sin. Here is the prayer that Frederica shares in this episode, "O Merciful Lord, you who are all-good and all-loving and patient with me, I know I have sinned; in word, deed, and thought, in knowledge and in ignorance, voluntarily and involuntarily. It is impossible for me to list all my sins, because of their multitude, and my forgetfulness, but especially because of my stony insensibility that prevents me from even noticing them. I truly repent of all these sins, including the ones I don’t remember or prevented myself from recognizing as sin. Please forgive me, you who love mankind, and help me to do better; make me your dwelling place, so that I will love holiness and pursue it more closely every day, until the day when at last I see your face."

I believe that it's good to set yourself a prayer rule that you won't be able to fully complete.

Don't miss this rich and inspiring reading by Frederica Mathewes-Green of the entire Nativity Kontakion written by St. Romanos the Melodist and translated by Fr. Ephrem Lash. It was taken from the book On the Life of Christ: Kontakia, published in 1994.

In her debut podcast, Frederica invites us into the back seat of her car to listen in on a conversation she is having with her husband, Fr. Gregory Mathewes-Green about catechumens. Feel free to listen, but don't make them miss their turn.

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."

Today Frederica is in her living room chatting with her son Stephen about last week's Bonnaroo music festival. Listen close and you might hear a revelation about someone who was at Woodstock 38 years ago!

Frederica chats with her father confessor about what it is like to hear confessions and to offer the forgiveness of Christ and his Church.

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

Frederica recalls Forgiveness Vespers from a few weeks back which reminds her of a Garrison Keillor story about the effects of sin.

Don't know who Hannah Montana is? Ask any pre-teen girl! From her article in First Things, Frederica reflects on the popularity of this entertainment phenomenon.

Frederica received some helpful corrections from a couple of listeners on her Roe v Wade podcast which posted on January 23.

January 22 marks the 35th anniversary of legalized abortion in the United States despite all of the facts demonstrating the presence of life at conception. You don't want to miss this powerful commentary! To read more from Frederica on this topic, you will want to pick up Real Choices published by Conciliar Press.

Don't miss this rich and inspiring reading by Frederica of the entire Nativity Kontakion written by St. Romanos the Melodist and translated by Fr. Ephrem Lash. It was taken from the book On the Life of Christ: Kontakia, published in 1994.

Frederica previewed the new movie starring John Cusack, Grace is Gone, and offers this analysis.

Why do some people feel that "converts" to Orthodoxy are so obnoxious? Today Frederica reflects on the practices of some Orthodox Christians compared with the path to spiritual healing that Orthodoxy represents.

Frederica is in the fourth floor apartment of a friend who recently came to Orthodoxy from the Mennonite church and participated in an excursion to the Middle East with a group intent on apologizing to Eastern faiths for the Crusades.

We catch up with Frederica at a quaint Virginia Barbeque where she is chatting with a reporter who chooses to stay in the Episcopal Church. Douglas LeBlanc of the blog site Get Religion began covering religion in June 1984 as religion editor of the Morning Advocate in Baton Rouge, LA. Since then he has worked as an editor for Compassion International, Episcopalians United (now Anglicans United), and Christianity Today. His work has appeared in Christian Research Journal, The Weekly Standard, and The Wall Street Journal.

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?