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.

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?

Frederica reads from and reflects on St. Basil the Great's writings on praying without ceasing.

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 explores, in three parts, her experience as a beekeeper. She mispronounces “propolis” every time!

Frederica Mathewes-Green explores, in three parts, her experience as a beekeeper. She mispronounces “propolis” every time!

Frederica Mathewes-Green explores, in three parts, her experience as a beekeeper. She mispronounces “propolis” every time!

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

Frederica speaks with the Orthodox Christian Book Club about the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and the topic of prayer.

Frederica Mathewes-Green shares reflections about the Annunciation on the weekend of the Feast of the Holy Cross.

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 first of five interviews Frederica has with monks from Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, West Virginia.

As people make their way toward the ancient church, sooner of later they have to make a decision: Orthodox or Catholic? And they wonder, What about St. Peter? Did the Lord intend that he and his successors would govern the church worldwide? The Orthodox have a different take on that, which may be unexpected.

Vulnerability is one of the most important and least understood parts of developing deep and intimate relationships. Join Christian as he explores how Jesus Christ shows us what vulnerability looks like and why it is so scary.

Last week, we explored how Christ shows us the path of the Cross is the path of willing vulnerability. This week, Christian discusses the role of vulnerability in our lives as we seek close and intimate relationships.

Boundaries are a confusing topic for Christians, often because we feel like we are supposed to be really nice and help everybody with everything. Join Christian this week as he explores the importance of boundaries for establishing Christian relationships as well as the implications of poor boundaries on the health of our relationships.

This week, Christian is joined by Jacob Saylor, youth director at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Phoenix, Arizona. Together they explore some of the foundational points of building a Christian community.

After a long hiatus, Christian returns to discuss neurobiology and some of its implications for how we live our lives as Christians.

This week, Christian is joined by his wonderful wife, Michaela. Together, the two reflect on what marriage has taught them both about an experience of God's Love.

Have you ever struggled with being content with your own life? Accepting your own strengths? This week Christian (with a little help from Kylo Ren) explores how we must live into our own lives if we have any hope of serving the Lord.

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.

Looking for an inspiring book to read during Lent? Try the Bible! Fr. Tom specifically recommends certain books of the Bible during this season.

Fr. Thomas explains the significance of St. Paul's letter to the Hebrews in our Lenten journey.

Fr. Thomas examines who the myrrh-bearing women were and clears up some misconceptions about Mary Magdalene in the process.

Comparing the two sources for readings during the Paschal season-- the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of John.

What does this miracle of Christ tell us about the blind man, about God, about Jesus and ultimately, about us?

Fr. Thomas relates the story of the icon not made by hand which is celebrated each August after the Dormition of the Theotokos. Could it actually be the shroud of Turin?

Fr. Thomas examines the life of the prominent Russian Orthodox dissident, writer and Nobel Peace Prize winner, who passed away just last month (Click here to order the "Solzhenitsyn Reader" recommended by Fr. Tom).

Fr. Tom reflects on our spiritual labors while sitting in his office on Labor Day.

There are radical differences in John's baptism, the baptism that Jesus' disciples were doing before Jesus was crucified, and the baptism that came afterward. Fr. Tom helps us understand how our baptism is a baptism with fire.

Fr. Tom recorded this on Jan 21: the day after the inauguration of President Barak Obama and the day before the March for Life in Washington, DC. He draws on Scripture, Tradition, and St. Maximus to help us know how to react to rampant abortions in our world.

The next interview from Albania is with veteran OCMC missionary Nathan Hoppe. Fr. Tom references a recording of Nathan's late wife Lynette made only a week or two before she died. That recording was featured on AFR in an interview with Fr. Luke Veronis and can be heard HERE. You can purchase Fr. Luke's book by clicking HERE. For Lynette's pictorial album about the re-birth of the Church in Albania, click HERE.

In his continuing interview series from Albania, Fr. Tom interviews four US missionaries including full time OCMC missionary Pamela Anastasia Barksdale.

In his final interview series from Albania, Fr. Tom talks with John and Aleks from the Resurrection School of Theology in Albania.

With the Feast Day of the Beheading of St. John approaching (August 29), Fr. Thomas examines the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptizer, John.

In commemoration of the Feast of his beheading, Fr. Tom continues his discussion of the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptizer, John.

Throughout the history of the Church, there have been moments of scandal and disappointment with various hierarchs of the Church. How are we to respond as faithful Orthodox Christians? Fr. Tom shares his reflections.

As the Lenten season begins, Fr. Tom Hopko reads a brief sermon penned by Fr. John Parker of Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC. This sermon was written in the style and tradition of St. John Chrysostom's well known and loved Paschal Homily.

What is the place of the human body in our spiritual life?

As he travels, Fr. Tom is often asked to say some things on the radio about how to read the Bible. Where do you start? What translation does he recommend? What presuppositions should be discarded and what should be maintained? In this new episode, Fr. Tom addresses each of these questions and more.

Fr. Tom begins a series of talks on the role of bishops in the Church and their relationships to each other, to the priests, the deacons, and to us. He begins by identifying what is common to all of us in creation. Please also listen to a special encouragement at the very beginning of today's episode.

In the second in his series on bishops, Fr. Tom reflects on the New Testament and early Church formulations of the offices and functions of clergy.

In the third part of his series on reading the Bible, Fr. Tom discusses the various English language translations that are available and offers his recommendations.

Fr. Thomas looks at the writings of three of the earliest Church Fathers to see the structure of the Church in the second and third centuries.

In a new episode, Fr. Thomas Hopko presses the question on the Incarnation of Christ - do we REALLY believe it?

In his ongoing series on bishops, Fr. Thomas explores the fourth century under the Emperor Constantine.

Fr. Tom looks at the fourth century canons concerning bishops and clergy.

Fr. Tom talks about the other canons of the fourth century in addition to the Council of Nicaea.

The phrase "With God all things are possible" is found three times in Holy Scripture. How are we to interpret the meaning of that phrase, and how does it relate to the way we live our lives today?