In this, the second section of the book, St. Gregory talks about what sort of internal and external life the pastor should lead. The version read is from The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.). The mispronunciations are all Fr. Anthony, though. The text is available for free here. Enjoy the show!

This episode shares the first ten "Admonitions" of Part Three section of St. Gregory's Book of Pastoral Rule. In it, St. Gregory gives advice on how to pastor people based on their varying personalities. Going beyond the basic, "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable," he explains how to adjust the medicine to the exact needs of each type of patient. This is good and useful stuff! The version read is from The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.). It is available for free here. Enjoy the show!

This episode shares the "Admonitions" eleven to twenty of Part Three of St. Gregory's Book of Pastoral Rule. In it, St. Gregory gives advice on how to pastor people based on their varying personalities. Going beyond the basic, "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable," he explains how to adjust the medicine to the exact needs of each type of patient. This is good and useful stuff! The version read is from The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.). Enjoy the show!

This episode shares the "Admonitions" twenty-one to twenty-nine of Part Three of St. Gregory's Book of Pastoral Rule. In it, St. Gregory gives advice on how to pastor people based on their varying personalities. Going beyond the basic, "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable," he explains how to adjust the medicine to the exact needs of each type of patient. This is good and useful stuff! The version read is from The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.). Enjoy the show!

This episode shares the the final admonitions and advice from (including advice on preaching!) Part Three and gives the entirety of Part IV (on preaching) of St. Gregory's Book of Pastoral Rule. How are preachers like roosters? Listen and find out! The version read is from The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.). It is available for free here. Enjoy the show!

Listen as Dn. Nicholas talks about Ivan Ilyin, the benefit of reading fiction (even for priests!), the role of Orthodoxy in developing healthy creativity, and what Russian culture has to offer Orthodox Christians in America. Enjoy the show!

Join Fr. Anthony next to his back porch in Hartwell GA as he talks with Professor Carrie Frost, PhD about clericalism, ritual, and the risks and benefits of lay hesychasm. There were some audio problems with the YouTube livestream; our editor (Doug) made the best of it for the podcast version. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, Fr. Anthony talks with Dylan Pahman (Research Fellow, Acton Institute) about what we can learn about virtue and markets playing Magic the Gathering. Then, after lamenting the lack of economic literacy among some theologians and clergy, Dylan addresses some of the major objections some Christians have with markets, liberal democracy, and international trade. He makes the case that they will not automatically cultivate virtue, but can be compatible with Orthodoxy. You can read the works referenced at acton.academia.edu/DylanPahman.

Listen to find out which of the many conspiracies is occupying space in Fr. Anthony's fool head. Without it, he argues that the other problems (e.g. injustice, riots, elections, presidential narcissism) would have been handled as normal rather than extra-ordinary problems. We should have seen it coming! From his YouTube Livestream of 1/16/2021.

In this episode, Fr. Daniel shares wisdom from St. John Cassian, St. Moses the Black, and St. Anthony the Great on the problem of discernment and talks about why it is so important for us - and especially clergy - to take the problem seriously. Fr. Daniel Greeson is rector of St. Anne's Orthodox Church in Oakridge TN and the editor and a writer for the new Ancient Faith Ministry Blog "Every Thought Captive", where he is publishing a series on the challenge of discernment (among other topics). Enjoy the show!

In this episode, Fr. Anthony talks with the COVID-stricken Fr. Harry Linsinbigler about parish life and the implications of recent survey results from Gallup (on further declines in American church membership) and Pew (on American religion and the COVID). Enjoy the show!

In this interview, Fr. Anthony and Dn Nicholas talk about the rhythms of Lent and how a gentle asceticism may cultivate more lasting changes than the most stringent fasting and an over-packed liturgical calendar. Along the way, Dn Nicholas shares wisdom on how this same general approach builds a lasting and self-propagating harmony (even among tenors who often sing flat). We hope you enjoy this calm and gentle conversation. Enjoy the show!

You may recognize Dn Timothy Kelleher from his appearances in NCIS, Independence Day, Thirteen Days and other movies and shows, but he has also published many thoughtful essays in First Things, Church Life Journal, and now the National Review (among others). In this episode, he and Fr. Anthony talk about Dn. Timothy's two most recent essays; "Memories of a Staten Island Childhood" and "A Nation of Sinners." You can read these essays and others at timkelleher.org. Enjoy the show!

Fr. Anthony talks with Fr. Harry Linsinbigler, the Canonist for the UOC-USA, about how priests should prepare for confession, the role of penance in confession, the importance of protecting the confidentiality ("seal") or confession, and what needs to happen when that confidentiality is broken. It's an important but difficult subject and we look forward to your questions and comments.

Join Fr. Anthony as he talks with Dn. Timothy Kelleher about his roles on Independence Day and Star Trek: The Next Generation (he was also on Voyager and Enterprise) and how good storytelling is always evangelical. Enjoy the show!

Fr. Gregory Jensen, PhD and Fr. Anthony Perkins talk about Orthodox sexuality, chastity, celibacy, and abstinence. Along the way they also discuss the negative effects the culture wars have had on Orthodox pastoral care. They hope to make this part of a series. Warning: it's hard to talk about this euphemistically. Some graphic terms were used. Enjoy the show!

Fr. Gregory Jensen PhD and Fr. Anthony begin by talking about three (no four!) indicators of whether a man is a suitable candidate for seminary, then segue into the importance of a healthy marriage and family life (e.g. 1 Timothy 3). They use the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s “For the Life of the World; Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church” as a springboard for talking about contraception, ascetic abstinence, and the benefit of a healthy monastic witnesses. Warning: it's hard to talk about this euphemistically. Some graphic terms were used. Enjoy the show!

In this episode Fr. Anthony talks with Fr. Harry, the Canonist for the UOC-USA, about the scriptural and canonical context and instructions about sex. Framing it within the context of holiness, they address real issues that Christians need to understand and deal with in the materialist and sex-saturated age. Warning: some graphic terms were used (e.g. fornication, masturbation, adultery).

Join Fr. Anthony and Amon Sul co-host Richard Rohlin as Richard shares his origin story (the spider bite was a bilingual household!), some thoughts on kata, and his love of language. This edition serves as a warmup for their upcoming conversation on the need to get the stories of ourselves, our nation, and the cosmos right. Enjoy the show!

Fr. Anthony talks with evangelical author, blogger, and podcaster, John Michalak about grace, liturgy, and the need to "surrender subjectivity." John started attending services at Holy Resurrection in Waynesville NC a few months ago and shares some observations. Enjoy the show!

Fr. Robert Holet is the author of The First and Finest: Orthodox Christian Stewardship as Sacred Offering, one of the best practical guides to fostering a healthy parish culture that you can find. Fr. Robert is also one of Fr. Anthony's mentors, something that comes out clearly in this, their conversation on the role of leadership in fostering a healthy mission culture. What do horses have to do with that? Listen and find out!

Fr. Anthony continues his discussion with Fr. Robert Holet, author of "The First and Finest: Orthodox Christian Stewardship as Sacred Offering" about mission work, this time focusing on the need to organize and routinize the work of the parish intentionally and well (so that grace can grow). Enjoy the show!

Elissa encourages us to allow this season—the beginning of the new school year—to be one that sanctifies us and changes us for the better.

Elissa explains how to help children who struggle with doubt about the existence of God.

When teaching Orthodoxy to children, our goal is not just to make sure that our kids know things about our faith, but rather to shepherd them in their faith. So how do we do that? Elissa shares a few ideas.

Elissa recounts her week at Camp St. Sava, the official Orthodox summer camp of the Serbian Orthodox Church's Western American Diocese.

Elissa tells the complete story of Noah's Ark to demonstrate how doing so can be used to teach children about why we go to—and participate in the disciplines of—the Holy Orthodox Church.

Elissa shares some of the youth-centric traditions of her home parish with regard to Holy Week and Pascha.

Why does it matter that our God came down to earth and took on flesh? Elissa discusses using the Jesse Tree and other means to teach our children about the Feast of the Nativity.

Elissa offers some suggestions for guiding children through death and dying.

The four Gospels offer different perspectives and even different stories on our Lord. Elissa uses this situation as the basis for a family retreat during Great and Holy Friday.

Our culture shies away from death, but every year, as we Orthodox participate in Holy Week and Pascha, we recalibrate our relationship with death. We face death squarely, and we enter into grief and find that Christ conquers death.

Elissa takes a look at a question from a friend: How do we handle it when an older child doesn't want to go to church? Can't we just worship from home? Why does it matter and how do you teach that?

In this debut episode, Fr. Michael begins a seven-part series on the warnings of Jesus.

Fr. Michael examines Jesus's exhortation to "Take heed concerning covetousness" in Luke 12:14.

Fr. Michael examines Jesus's exhortation to "take heed how or what you hear" in Mark 4:24 and Luke 8:18.

Fr. Michael examines Jesus's exhortation to "take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees."

Fr. Michael examines Jesus's exhortation to "take heed that the light in you is not darkness."

Fr. Michael examines Jesus's exhortation in Matthew 6:1-3 to "take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men."

Fr. Michael explains that the Church provides a context in which what has been good before can become better—more deeply understood, more sanely practiced.

Fr. Michael discusses "the dark night of the soul," an expression coined by St. John of the Cross, a 16th-century Spanish mystic.

Fr. Michael addresses disappointment—what it is and how we should deal with it.

Fr. Michael shares about discernment. "We all have to begin where we are, with the limited ability and grace we have.... If we follow what we know, maybe God will reveal to us some of what we do not know."

Fr. Michael shares a quote and reflections from Jim Forest's book, Living with Wisdom: A Life of Thomas Merton, "I find myself traveling to my destiny in the belly of a paradox."

Fr. Michael answers the familiar question, "If God is real, why isn't it obvious to everyone?"

Fr. Michael follows up last week's podcast ("Error to the Right") with a discussion about the warning to the Laodicean Christians to not be lukewarm (Revelation 3). "We are all sick, blind, naked, wretched, but it's only the lukewarm who don't think they are."

Fr. Michael shares reflections from his presentation on Theosis at the Orthodox Institute, held this past weekend at Antiochian Village. This is Part 1.

Fr. Michael shares reflections from his presentation on Theosis at the Orthodox Institute, held earlier this month at Antiochian Village. This is Part 2.

Fr. Michael shares reflections from his presentation on Theosis at the Orthodox Institute, held earlier this month at Antiochian Village. This is Part 3.

Fr. Michael shares reflections from his presentation on Theosis at the Orthodox Institute, held earlier this month at Antiochian Village. This is Part 4.