Rita explores the use of modern day medicine and how it lines up with our Holy Orthodox Tradition.

In this podcast, we see how the teachings of our holy tradition guide us in understanding our relationship to health.

The Church offers us guidance for what to eat and what to abstain from during the fast, but does not give much guidance in the way of exactly how much to eat. Today, I am hoping to suggest that, when keeping the proper spirit of the fast, the wisdom of how much we need is already within us.

On this Sunday of St. John of the Ladder, Fr. Andrew tells us that being an Orthodox Christian gives us 'something to do'.

On this Sunday of St. John of the Ladder, Fr. Andrew speaks on how the spiritual life, the path to holiness and perfection, is pursued by climbing little by little.

On this feast of the Elevation of the Cross, Fr. Andrew shows how the Cross reveals the divinity of Jesus.

Commenting on the epistle reading for the Feast of the Archangels, Fr. Andrew discusses how we can follow Christ, the 'Leader of our Salvation.'

Speaking on both the feast of St. John Chrysostom and also the Gospel of the Good Samaritan, Fr. Andrew discusses how Christians are outside and above the orders of this world.

"But whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant"- Matthew 20:26 The All-Stars series continues with guest Athena Vlamis, a senior at Kennesaw State University and Georgia District Student Leader for OCF. In this podcast, Tasya and Athena talk about Athena's leadership role in a new Pan-Orthodox initiative, the Connect Conference. The college seniors also discuss servant leadership, using our talents for the glory of God, the role of young adults in the church, the foundation OCF has laid in their lives, the importance of living as an Orthodox in day-to-day life, and more.

Today, we start a 3-part series entitled The Ancient Christian Faith in the Modern World. Theme music: "Burn Out Bright" by Switchfoot from their 2006 album "Oh! Gravity." Used by permission.

Today, we continue our 3-part series entitled "The Ancient Christian Faith in the Modern World." (25:43) Theme music: "Burn Out Bright" by Switchfoot from their 2006 album "Oh! Gravity." Used by permission."

Today, we wrap up our 3-part series entitled The Ancient Christian Faith in the Modern World. We also take time to chat with Stephanie Mardigian, chapter president at VCU in Richmond, VA. Theme music: "Burn Out Bright" by Switchfoot from their 2006 album "Oh! Gravity." Used by permission.

Fr. Barnabas Powell joins Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh to talk about the importance and significance of the Divine Liturgy.

Fr. John Oliver offers a view of the pain of the "wilderness" stage of the Christian life while journeying with God to the Promised Land.

Fr. John Oliver ponders the long climb ahead of us, and the ways that we can be led astray and fall off the Ladder of Divine Ascent.

Fr. John Oliver talks about the crisis of exclusion...and its greatest remedy.

Fr. John Oliver reflects on suffering.

Interviews and arguments, struggles and slogans, one thing's certain: Orthodoxy ain't easy -- and that's no small thing. Or, is it?

Fr. Joseph joins Sir Paul McCartney, Alvin Chipmunk, José Feliciano and other Wailers in a journey down memory lane -- eschewing the worldly sounds of the season for some really bad (ghostly) percussion moments. Are you prepared?

Whether in tuxedo or collar, whether playing the role of smart aleck or slow learner, one thing is certain: Stuff happens. Be prepared. Say your prayers . . . and wear clean underwear.

Sometimes you can judge a podcast by its title!

It's not often that Bruce Jenner, St Photios, Hipsters, and Fabio make it into the same sermon. Maybe it's time for Fr Joseph to upgrade his reading glasses.

My age is the right age and it increases annually.

What's in a name? Our names represent our families and we are family through the blood of Christ.

After talking a bit more about narcissism in the priesthood (and a brief word from a sponsor), Fr. Anthony uses some insights from comparative politics to help explain some of the divisions that plague some communities and why things often get blown out of proportion.

In this episode Fr. Anthony talks about the problem of "young elders" in the post-Soviet Russian Orthodox Church (and in our own) and then, after a commercial break, shares his approach and advice on Confession.

In this episode, Fr. Alexander Webster, the Dean of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary and a retired Army Chaplain, shares his thoughts on the challenges of the priesthood and describes how Holy Trinity prepares men for it. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, Fr. Anthony talks with theologian and professor Carrie Frederick Frost about her book, Maternal Body: A Theology of Incarnation from the Christian East (Paulist Press, 2019). She shares what it was like to study with Vigen Guroian, her thoughts on why the book elicits such varying (and emotional) reactions, as well as some of the theological lessons we can learn from each of the stages of motherhood from conception through weaning. Along the way, they talk about the process of discernment and what to do (and not do!) when the Church teaches us or does things that trouble us. Like her mentor, Professor Frost makes full use of Orthodox hymnography, iconography, service texts, and personal experience in her work. Enjoy the show!

Citing the writings of Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, Elissa demonstrates how the conveniences we have invented to make life easy have actually made it quite a bit harder.

In Homily 42, St. Isaac the Syrian makes an interesting statement about spiritual guidance. He says, “Do not seek advice from a man who does not lead a life similar to your own, even if he be very wise.” St. Isaac goes on, “Confide your thoughts to a man who, though he lack learning, has experience in things, rather than to a learned philosopher who speaks on the basis of speculations, having no actual experience.” For St. Isaac, and many Orthodox spiritual writers, both ancient and modern, it is very important to seek advice from those who have actually lived and experienced the things that you are seeking advice about.

It seems the future of the Church, the future of the next Great and Holy Council (or the continuation of the one that has already begun) depends mostly on us, the people: the moms and dads, the brothers and sisters, the laity in general and the married priests and simple monastics. We’re the one’s whose holiness or lack thereof determines the holiness of tomorrow’s generation of leaders in the Church.

This week, Emma and Christina read (and watched) A Light Between Oceans. Join them as they discuss the danger of spiritual delusion, the path toward true love and repentance, and how the film adaptation missed the heart of the novel. They close with their Top 5 Worst Book-To-Film Adaptions.

In the final episode before the summer break, Steve and Christian discuss DC’s hit summer blockbuster Wonder Woman. They discuss the nature of human beings, the power of compassion, and (as always) how secularism has taken hold of our notions of the transcendent. They close with their Top 5 Heroines.

Reunited at last, Christina and Emma bring their own perspective to Wonder Woman. They discuss the characteristics of heroism, how femininity and power are related, and the line between virtue and naïveté. They close with their Top 5 War Films.

The guys swing into the newest movie about everyone’s favorite wall-crawler, Into the Spider-Verse. They explore how loss affects who we become, how personhood is shaped in relationship, and how our identities are shaped by more than what we choose for ourselves. They close with their Top 5 Examples of Multiple Dimensions in Pop Culture.

The guys take a hack at the Black Mirror’s groundbreaking choose-your-own-adventure episode, Bandersnatch! Besides being thoroughly creeped out by it, the guys discuss participatory culture, the role of freedom in the human life, and how our desire to control is born out of fear. They close with their Top 5 Breakings Though the Fourth Wall.

The guys finally take on the latest Spider-Man film, Far From Home. They discuss the nature of reality vs. illusion, the human need for belief, and how we often are willing to disown our lives for something easier. They close with their Top 5 Spider-Man Villains.

The girls discuss the podcast-gone-Amazon series, Modern Love. They reflect on the nature of "modern" love, how love makes us vulnerable, and how true love calls us to become real. They close with their Top 5 Love Stories That Are Not About Romantic Love.

The girls discuss Cinderella and the various themes associated with her stories. This includes friends as helpers, the line between truth and lies, and the power of resilience in the face of adversity. All this, plus what they're cooking!

Steve and Christian are back to discuss the new MCU film, "Spiderman: No Way Home." Spoilers ahead! They explore restorative justice, loss and sacrifice, and identity.

Have you lost your sense of wonder at God's presence in your life?

None of us has the power to fix today’s problems, but we all have the ability to offer ourselves in seemingly small ways to bless people by listening to them patiently, providing an encouraging word, and sharing our resources as we are able.

The love to which Christ calls us is not merely an emotion, but a true offering of ourselves for the sake of someone else. It is a self-less offering in which we put the needs and interests our neighbors before our own. It is a personal offering that builds communion with other people and unites us together as those who share a common life. Of course, the basis of such love is the great Self-Offering of Christ, Who enables us all to share in His eternal life as members together of His Body, the Church, as a foretaste of the Kingdom of Heaven.

As “the poor and maimed and blind and lame,” we must prepare to accept the extraordinary invitation that is ours in Jesus Christ by gaining the strength to make our daily responsibilities points of entrance to the heavenly kingdom. They are not reasons to shut ourselves out of the heavenly banquet, but opportunities to unite ourselves ever more fully to Him in freedom.

Even as Jesus showed mercy by tangible actions such as healing a Samaritan from a dreaded and isolating disease, we must take the actions available to us, no matter how seemingly small or imperfect, to manifest His love to our neighbors, regardless of who they are. Find the book Syria Crucified at store.ancientfaith.com/syria-crucified.

By miraculously satisfying so many with so little, Christ revealed what it means for us to live eucharistically as we offer ourselves and our resources for the fulfillment of His gracious purposes for the world and all its inhabitants.