Priest Anthony Roeber, Ph.D., professor of Church History at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four Lenten talks to the entire seminary community on February 19–20, 2018, as they gathered in Three Hierarchs Chapel for worship and reflection to mark the beginning of the season of Great Lent. Father Anthony based his talks on the “Great Farewell Discourse” of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John (John 14–17). Focusing on the words, “That they may be one, as we are one” (John 17.21), he challenged Orthodox Christians to love, trust, and seek unity with others—whether they are inside or outside the borders of the faith.

Priest Anthony Roeber, Ph.D., professor of Church History at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four Lenten talks to the entire seminary community on February 19–20, 2018, as they gathered in Three Hierarchs Chapel for worship and reflection to mark the beginning of the season of Great Lent. Father Anthony based his talks on the “Great Farewell Discourse” of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John (John 14–17). Focusing on the words, “That they may be one, as we are one” (John 17.21), he challenged Orthodox Christians to love, trust, and seek unity with others—whether they are inside or outside the borders of the faith.

Priest Anthony Roeber, Ph.D., professor of Church History at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four Lenten talks to the entire seminary community on February 19–20, 2018, as they gathered in Three Hierarchs Chapel for worship and reflection to mark the beginning of the season of Great Lent. Father Anthony based his talks on the “Great Farewell Discourse” of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John (John 14–17). Focusing on the words, “That they may be one, as we are one” (John 17.21), he challenged Orthodox Christians to love, trust, and seek unity with others—whether they are inside or outside the borders of the faith.

Padre Nicholas predice que nos debemos prepararnos para el reino, para el rey, y para el cielo. Galatas 2;16-20 Fr. Nicholas preaches that we must prepare ourselves for the kingdom, for the King, and for heaven. Galatians 2:16-20

El Padre Nicolás predicó sobre cómo Cristo conquistó el Paríso para nosotros. Father Nicholas preached on how Christ conquered Paradise for us.

Fr. Evan welcomes Dr. Philip Mamalakis for this special extended version of Orthodoxy Live. Many have found Dr. Philip's new book, Parenting Toward the Kingdom, to be a very helpful resource in raising their children. The two of them discuss child rearing, family life, and the joys and struggles of parenting. With far more questions than they had time to get to, look for a followup program down the road.

Phones were very active as Fr. Evan Armatas answered questions from Australia, from inquirers, from skeptics, and more. You don't want to miss this one.

Dn. Mark contends that when making the decision to become the primary caregiver, you must do so with your eyes wide open and at least some idea of what you're getting into.

Dn. Mark continues his discussion of what to consider before making the decision to become a caregiver.

Dn. Mark explains that when caring for the elderly and the terminally ill, you should not take the caregiving journey alone. Because this journey will change your life in ways that you never anticipated, he likewise enumerates what you need to be aware of as a caregiver.

Dn. Theodore, the Director of Community of St. John the Compassionate Mission, reminds us that our relationship with God needs to be simpler and a lot more trusting.

Fr. Nicolaie expresses the beauty of the mission that many are quick to over look in their every day busy lives.

Paul shares about his experiences at the mission with children of all backgrounds and from all walks of life. He reflects on a story that changed his perspective of world cultures, and how that pertains to our Orthodox way of life.

Listen to stories and reflections from Fr. Nicolaie at St. John the Compassionate Mission in Toronto,

Listen to reflections about the rich young man, written by Fr. Nicolaie.

Reflections written by Fr. Nicolaie about the gospel story of the father of the demon-possessed boy.

A question recently posed at the mission caused Fr. Nicolaie to recall an experience he had when he was a teacher in Romania; and to reflect on how we each have our very own occasional "Emmaus" roads.

I cannot be the only one who has had the experience of visiting a non-Orthodox church service and finding it stunningly empty and plain. After long familiarity with Orthodox worship with its icons, incense, candles, vestments, Gospel books, and crosses, attending such services produces a kind of sensory deprivation, rather like sensory overload in reverse. Entering those churches and experiencing their services left me looking around almost madly for something focus and feed upon—some cross or image. But there was nothing: the walls were barren and empty, with not even a plaque with an inscribed Bible verse to relieve the sensory monotony. It is like bringing to your lips what you expected to be a cup of wine and finding it to contain tepid water: it’s okay, I suppose, but disappointing to the point of surprise and irritation.

Fr. Apostolos shares from 1 Corinthians 3, reminding us that our bodies belong to the Lord, "The temple of God is holy, and that is what you are."

Fr. Apostolos Hill unpacks the story of Hosea and Gomer, contrasting the covenant between God and Israel and Gomer's infidelity in her pursuit of an "open marriage." Jesus' words in the Gospel reading today about the exclusive nature of our union with Him in the New Covenant ("whoever loves father, mother, son, daughter more than Me...") indicates that our fidelity to Him cannot be divided.

Sermon on the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (I Corinthians 15:1-11; Matthew 19:16-26)

Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

The American religious scene is full of false teachers preaching a "gospel" that is focused solely on making people feel good about themselves. Fr Thomas reminds us that the truth of Christ promises us God's comfort in suffering, not the absence of suffering in this world. (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

In the healing of the man born blind, Jesus heals not only his blindness, but also his spiritual understanding. Fr Thomas reminds us that just as the man born blind came to a fuller revelation of who Jesus was, we too must also allow the mercy and grace of God to heal us in order to experience Him in a deeper way. (Sunday of the Blind Man)

In a spirited presentation about growing the Church, Fr Thomas gives us practical advice about sharing our faith taken from the example of Jesus's conversion of the Samaritan Woman.

In John 4, Jesus, the Master Teacher, shares the good news with the Samaritan Woman that He is the Savior of the World, and brings her to a life-changing faith. Fr Thomas shows us how this incredible story is the pattern for sharing our faith in Christ with anyone.

Fr Thomas teaches us that, because Jesus is the truth, sharing our faith in Him is at the very heart of our experience as Orthodox Christians. (At 17:00 the power went out in the church on the hottest day of the year!)

Will we live as believers or unbelievers? The line of demarcation can be thin! Fr. Tom argues from the Scriptures and the lives of the saints that we must constantly choose to live out our baptism as the holy and set apart people of God.

Being judged by God is far more than a legal pronouncement. Listen as Fr. Tom reminds the faithful that God's judgment has much more to do with our purification and our becoming truly human.

All Saints Sunday is about far more than remembering especially holy people. It's about hearing Christ's call for us to become truly human.

We all suffer and struggle in our lives, but how often do we think of the reality that the demons seek to oppress us? Listen as Fr. Tom shows clearly from the Scriptures that this is the case, and what we must do about it.

Listen as Fr. Tom reminds us that, to fully worship God, we need both our souls and our bodies.

How do we react, what do we do when we pray and God doesn't answer?

The nature of Christ’s return will be within me and within you. We are now ready to put on Christ within ourselves in how we live as baptised Orthodox Christians.

Fr. Gregory speaks to both the children and adults admonishing them and all of us to properly prepare for the coming of Christ in the flesh.

Fr. Dn. Emmanuel reflects on the early childhood of Jesus and the role of his parents.

We are not called to set ourselves free, but we do need to want to be healed. We do need to praise God for coming into our lives—for joining us to Him and to each other in the Church.