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Sex and Political Action

Fr. Philip LeMasters, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University, tries to account for why homosexuality has become the defining issue of our time, arguing that it was the civil rights movement and the sexual revolution that has turned us all into political hedonists.




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On the Pope, Twitter, and Maximalism

Fr. Lawrence Farley argues that the real story behind the Pope and his Twitter followers is the death of maximalism in the Roman Catholic Church and the modern rush to lower the bar for pretty much everything.




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You Don't Know Which Way the Wind Blows

Fr. Lawrence Farley reminds us that the resolution to our fearful inability to know and plan for the future lies in trusting Jesus.




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Re-evangelizing the Nation

With the Church of England just one generation from extinction, the call has gone out for re-evangelization. Fr. Lawrence Farley asks whether this particular church still possesses the evangel of Saints Cuthbert and Aidan.




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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.




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Honesty

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee.




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Male Converts and Female Saints: Strong Women in Orthodoxy and in My Family

Fr. Philip LeMasters marvels at how central the balance of the masculine and the feminine is to our Orthodox faith and spiritual life.




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The Repentance of the Prodigal Son

Fr. Lawrence Farley reminds us that repentance is not simply feeling bad for having broken God's rules; rather, it is a return to yourself and a return to your home.




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Is Orthodoxy the Same Everywhere?: Understanding Theological Controversy Within the Church

There is variety in Orthodox theology, but there is no plurality in dogma—and that is where the unity of the Orthodox faith lies. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick explains.




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Rape on College Campuses

Fr. Philip LeMasters, a professor of religion at McMurry University, argues that the shocking statistics on the number of female college students who are victims of rape provide a window on the moral and spiritual corruption of our society.




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“Congratulations, You've Given Birth to a Baby Girl—Maybe”

Fr. Lawrence Farley argues that we must show love for all people—male or female, straight or gay or transgendered—but as we articulate and transmit our Christian culture to our young and to our catechumens, we must also take care to include a traditional understanding of gender.




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St. Timon and Assisting the World

On the occasion of the Sunday of St. Timon and his congregation's ongoing support of its sister parish in Bosra-Hauran, Syria, Fr. Philip LeMasters encourages us to avoid despair and work to alleviate the suffering of our neighbors wherever they are in the world.




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Choices of Joni and Brittany

Fr. Lawrence Farley argues that Brittany Maynard took only this life—and not the life to come—into consideration when deciding to commit suicide.




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Ascension

Fr. Philip LeMasters argues that when it comes to the Ascension, we should recognize that what we have to offer the world is our witness that the crucified, risen, and ascended Lord has brought us into the eternal life that he shares with his Father and the Holy Spirit.




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Is Perversion Possible?

Fr. Lawrence Farley argues that we are increasingly living in a world which is eroding the concept of a transcendent standard and normalcy.




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Charleston

Fr. Philip LeMasters reminds us that just as God enables martyrs to remain steadfast and even rejoice in their sufferings, he strengthened those grieving family members in Charleston to respond with grace, peace, and reconciliation that are simply not of this world.




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Demonizing Dichotomies or a Rainbow Flag

Fr. Lawrence Farley warns us that we can neither demonize the world nor accept all that it offers.




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Niqab or Icon?

Fr. Lawrence Farley shares his concern that if the cultural values express by the wearing of the Muslim niqab take root in Canadian society, something important will be lost—namely, the greater importance of individuality and personhood over gender.




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Destination Weddings

Fr. Lawrence Farley argues that the popularity of destination weddings is symptomatic of a more profound cultural dysfunction—namely, the modern preoccupation with self.




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Teaching Protestants About Saints and Icons

Fr. Philip LeMasters shares what he has learned over the last 25 years of teaching Protestants about saints and icons.




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Defending the Synodikon

Fr. Lawrence Farley addresses the unpopularity of the concept of Church dogma.




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Embodied Persons: Male and Female

Fr. Philip LeMasters contends that the biological complementarity of males and females provides an important clue to the personal identity of human beings.




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St. John the Wonderworker

Wesley J. Smith, the host of Human Exceptionalism, details the life and miracles of St. John Maximovitch, his patron saint.




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Election 2016

Fr. Steven Ritter, the host of the AFR podcast, The Life of the Church Today, offers his perspective on the upcoming United States election.




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Contemporary Challenges in Marriage, Family, and Sexuality.

Fr. Philip reflects on the Eucharistic context of the pastoral response to contemporary challenges in marriage, family, and sexuality.




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On the Ukrainian Church Controversy

Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick shares his thoughts on the controversial situation of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Are we looking at the situation through worldly eyes or through spiritual eyes?




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Why Veneration is Obviously Not Worship

Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick posts a picture of the incorrupt hand of St. Katherine of Alexandria every year on Facebook. And every year, people freak out. But why?




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Just Sit On Your Couch?

Fr. Andrew Damick says stay home but don't stay idle.




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Spoons - One or Many?

On line discussions about using the common spoon or multiple spoons for the Eucharist during the pandemic has prompted this commentary by Dr. Jeannie Constantinou. Dr. Constantinou has been teaching Biblical Studies and Early Christianity at the University of San Diego since 2002. Previously she taught New Testament at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology from 1998-1999. She has led bible studies, taught and lectured on the Bible and Orthodoxy at parishes, conferences, retreats and seminars for over thirty years. Her Search the Scriptures Live podcast is a popular feature on Ancient Faith Radio.




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On Political Power and the Kingdom of God

Fr. Philip LeMasters reads an essay he wrote for Jacob's Well, the official magazine of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA). "What is the border between Christ’s Kingdom and the kingdoms of the world? The Savior said clearly that His Kingdom “is not of this world,” but the world is where we have to live out our lives as His followers. Throughout the Divine Liturgy, we pray for the salvation of all, peace for the world, and the wellbeing of our civil authorities and armed forces. To do this with integrity, we must discern how to deal with political and social matters in ways that not only convey the transcendence of the Kingdom, but also show how God’s will can be done, albeit imperfectly and partially, here on earth. The border between these realms is real, but not impermeable." Read the essay at https://issuu.com/jacobswell/docs/jacob_s_well_spring_2021_final/s/12860328.




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St Irenaeus on a Christ “of every age”

Beginning a new series of broadcasts reflecting on the writings of the Church Fathers, this opening segment explores St Irenaeus of Lyons' famous consideration of Christ "passing through every age" of human life.




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A Forest Climb for St Athanasius and the Three Monks

Recorded during a forest walk, this week's broadcast considers a traditional saying regarding St. Athanasius' encounter with three monks on an island, and the relationship between doctrine and transfiguration.




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The Feast of the Incarnation: The Fathers on the Nativity of Christ

In our broadcast for the Feast of the Nativity, we hear the words of the Fathers and the liturgical hymns of the Church on the mystery that brings the Son humanly into the world for the life and redemption of His creature.




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St Isaac of Syria on the Approach to Spiritual Wisdom

How does one attain spiritual wisdom? This week offers reflections grounded in the sayings of St Isaac of Syria, on wisdom approached through humility, prayer in the scriptures, and love of neighbor.




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St. Symeon the New Theologian on the “Impossible Beauty” of the Life in Christ

In this fourth week of the Great Fast, when the Church commemorates the universal adoration of the precious Cross, our broadcast looks at an important passage by St Symeon the New Theologian, on being joined to the suffering Christ and so attaining the "impossible beauty" of His glory. We ask with the saint: how shall we approach such glory?




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St. John of Sinai on Sorrow that Produces Joy

In this week’s broadcast, Archimandrite Irenei examines several sections from St John’s Ladder to Paradise, read throughout Great Lent and particularly remembered in this Fifth Week, dealing especially with the paradoxes of spiritual life and the mystery of a "joy-creating sorrow."




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Abba Dorotheos on the Sunday of Palms

In this broadcast—recorded "on the road"—we examine a brief word by Abba Dorotheos of Gaza on the spiritual symbolism of Christ's entry into Jerusalem.




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The Fathers on Holy Pascha

Celebrating the Holy Resurrection of Christ, our broadcast this Bright Monday looks at the writings of various Holy Fathers on the bright feast of Pascha and its meaning to Christian life.




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St. Clement of Rome on Living a God-Pleasing Life

Are there practical measures at hand to help the Christian turn from the passions and live a God-pleasing life? In this week’s broadcast, Archimandrite Irenei examines a brief passage by St Clement on practical steps toward living in holiness.




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St. Anthony of Egypt on Sobriety of the Heart

Turning once again to the testimony of St Anthony the Great, this week’s broadcast examines an incident in the great Father’s life in which the true heights of sobriety of heart are witnessed. Might this feed us in our own moments of struggle in the spiritual life?




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The “Wonderful and Confessedly Striking” Christian Manner of Life

Examining a passage from the anonymous second-century Epistle to Diognetus, Archimandrite Irenei explores the witness borne by the early Christian community and asks: does it reflect our Christian testimony today?




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St. Cyprian on the Community of the Lord's Prayer

What is implied in the "our" of the "Our Father"? In this week's episode, Fr. Matthew examines two passages from St Cyprian's treatise on the Lord's Prayer, which focus on questions of unity and community in the Son of God. Do we live this communion in our own life of prayer?




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St. Gregory of Nyssa on Emulating the Fortuitous Birth of Moses

In the first sections of the second book of his Life of Moses, St. Gregory of Nyssa instructs that Christians are to "emulate the fortuitous birth of Moses"—but how can this be done? Is not birth outside the realm of a person's control? In examining the manner in which St. Gregory exposes "birth" as the constant making of choices by the free human creature, we discover the rich manner in which the saint finds spiritual significance in the historical moments of Scripture.




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St. Gregory of Nyssa on Emulating the Fortuitous Birth of Moses

In the first sections of the second book of his Life of Moses, St. Gregory of Nyssa instructs that Christians are to "emulate the fortuitous birth of Moses"—but how can this be done? Is not birth outside the realm of a person’s control? In examining the manner in which St. Gregory exposes "birth" as the constant making of choices by the free human creature, we discover the rich manner in which the saint finds spiritual significance in the historical moments of Scripture.




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St. Nicholas Cabasilas on the Trisagion Hymn

In this episode, Fr. Dcn. Matthew explores the commentary on the "Holy God..." by the 14th-century Byzantine lay theologian, St Nicholas Cabasilas. What is the significance of this ancient hymn of glorification of the Trinity? This episode features portions of recordings of the hymn by St Anthony's Monastery, the Monastery of St John the Wonderworker, the Stretennia Men's Chorus, and St Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary.




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St. Nicholas Cabasilas on the Trisagion Hymn

In this episode, Archimandrite Irenei explores the commentary on the "Holy God..." by the 14th-century Byzantine lay theologian, St Nicholas Cabasilas. What is the significance of this ancient hymn of glorification of the Trinity? This episode features portions of recordings of the hymn by St Anthony’s Monastery, the Monastery of St John the Wonderworker, the Stretennia Men’s Chorus, and St Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary.




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St. John Chrysostom: Practical Guidance on Dealing with Others

St. John Chrysostom's preaching is filled with practical advice on living a Christian life in the world, and in this broadcast we look at four sayings in which he addresses commonplace issues in the Christian's dealings with others: combating envy, overcoming offence, learning to conquer anger with love, and living in unity to the glory of God.




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St. John Chrysostom: Practical Guidance on Dealing with Others

St. John Chrysostom’s preaching is filled with practical advice on living a Christian life in the world, and in this broadcast we look at four sayings in which he addresses commonplace issues in the Christian’s dealings with others: combating envy, overcoming offence, learning to conquer anger with love, and living in unity to the glory of God.




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From the Bone of Adam: St. Irenaeus on the Creation of Eve

The Genesis account of Eve being created from the rib of Adam has, throughout history, often been interpreted in negative ways. In this week's broadcast, through a brief text by St Irenaeus of Lyons, Fr. Dcn. Matthew examines a patristic vision of this creation grounding the true intimacy and mutual responsibility of the human community, male and female as "helpers" of one another in the work of salvation.




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From the Bone of Adam: St. Irenaeus on the Creation of Eve

The Genesis account of Eve being created from the rib of Adam has, throughout history, often been interpreted in negative ways. In this week’s broadcast, through a brief text by St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Archimandrite Irenei examines a patristic vision of this creation grounding the true intimacy and mutual responsibility of the human community, male and female as ‘helpers’ of one another in the work of salvation.