Dr. Roxanne Lowe interview Elissa Bjeletich, the author of Blueprints for the Little Church and the host of the podcast Raising Saints.

This week on Healthy Minds, Healthy Souls, join Fr. Nick and Pres. Roxanne Louh as they talk with Orthodox director Robert Krantz about his new movie, FAITH, HOPE, & LOVE.

Join Fr. Nick and Dr. Roxanne with special guest Melinda Johnson for a new episode of Healthy Minds Healthy Souls titled "Women of Faith." They'll talk about the recent book Seven Holy Women: Conversations with Saints and Friends, which was written by a group of Orthodox women writers.

Metropolitan Gregory joins the Louh's to talk about Faith and Science. His Eminence is a trained scientist as well as an Orthodox bishop. Learn more about Metropolitan Gregory HERE.

Part two of introductory notes to the Transfiguration of Christ.

Fr. John tells us that faith is an active expression where we offer, fill, untie, explain, rise, walk, and follow.

Fr. John begins a four part series on the virtue of failure by describing the inevitability and purpose of failure.

Fr. John continues his series (Part 2) by redefining failure and describing the ways that we react to our own failures.

Fr. John continues his series (Part 3) by reflecting on the goal of interior renewal.

Fr. John completes his series (Part 4) by describing how failure can become a servant of God for the renewal of our lives.

Fr. John Oliver reflects on the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ (January 1st) and how God is to be found in the details of life.

What do these three have in common? Listen as Fr. John reflects on the power and beauty of the Psalter.

Fr. John Oliver considers whether blessings can be found in the midst of the unexpected suffering of mental illness.

The Ancient Faith Men's Retreat runs August 22-25, 2024.

It was only a dream but the lesson is of supreme importance.

"These days, Orthodox Christianity is becoming known on the highways and byways, even in the hills and the hollers. But let's not get lazy. Let's not squander this opportunity." Fr. Joseph thinks everyone should have the opportunity to hear about -- even come home to -- the True Faith (and click here to visit the SmallTown Heroes he speaks about at their web site).

What do you do when God ain't good enough? Now that's a softball question! In this week's episode, Fr. Joseph is still looking for that softball.

Did you ever try to find something even remotely Orthodox in your local superstore, gift shop, or bible book store? Chances are, you'll find all manner of things purporting to be spiritual, religious, new-fangled and Christian -- though nary even a wall calendar reflecting the Ancient Faith. Besides, what should you do when you do find one?

It's not often that one gets scalped by a Christian, rarer still is when a priest willingly airs his failures (of "Biblical proportion"). Protestants may cheer this episode as much as the Orthodox, but with both sides on differing sides. This episode of the Orthodixie podcast eavesdrops on some arguments concerning Scripture and Tradition at St Michael's in Beaumont, Texas.

Is it Real—or is it My Big Ol' Hairy Godmother? That's the question that hits a depressed Fr Joseph as he faces up to Change, and he tries to get up ... in anticipation of falling again.

On this special edition of the Orthodixie Podcast, Fr. Joseph interviews the author of the new Conciliar Press book Aidan's Song: A Year in the Life of a Parish Priest. The book has been compared to the "Far Side" cartoon and the TV show Married With Children—but nothing quite compares to Fr. Aidan Wilcoxson's singing a rather surprising number on this very podcast. Aidan's Song is an insightful, moving, and often hilarious personal snapshot of a year in the life of a parish priest. Enjoy!

Fr. Joseph interviews the Development Director, Presbytera Shyla Hadzellis and her husband, Fr. Nicholas, about OCF and their presence at the recent GOA Clergy-Laity Congress held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Did you ever try to find something even remotely Orthodox in your local superstore, gift shop, or bible book store? Chances are, you'll find all manner of things purporting to be spiritual, religious, new-fangled and Christian -- though nary even a wall calendar reflecting the Ancient Faith. Besides, what should you do when you do find one?

Studies show that no matter how many people get on an elevator, riders move around to allow the same amount of space between themselves and each of the others. Some elevator riders stare at the numbers, some continue conversations, and others start superficial ones. Uh oh, someone just asked about Orthodoxy! You've got about 30 seconds (and a $100 prize riding on it); what do you say?

Kiss the bride ... check! Walk the aisle ... check! Enjoy the honeymoon ... check! (Then what?) Pulling an episode from the "Best Of" files, Fr. Joseph discusses the ch-ch-changes that come with love and marriage. (Just for fun, see if you can identify all of the songs used in this oldie but goodie.)

Fr. Joseph was part of a delegation that traveled to Syria, September 13-18, 2011, on a fact-finding mission, especially regarding the three million Christians in that country. This episode of the Orthodixie podcast includes the one question he asked Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as well as other observations.

What's an Orthodox Christian to do on Halloween?

Fr Joseph rants and runs for cover—raising concerns, but not hands (please).

A silly visit from the "Easter Bunny" leads to a serious exposé of "Spring Celebration Customs," the bunny basket, and the Pascha basket—even red eggs—in this timely encore episode.

You ever had a wreck with the bishop in the car? Yeah, well, lemme tell ya before he does: I have!

So tell us, Father Joseph—just how did the Resurrection of our Lord get mixed up with bunnies, chocolate, and eggs?

In this episode Fr. Anthony offers ancient advice for understanding and loving others, even those with whom we are (or seem to be) at war. He concludes that until we have done the hard work of training our minds, the words that come out of our mouths are full of vanity and not to be trusted.

In this episode, Fr. Anthony and Fr. Hans Jacobse (American Orthodox Institute) lament a culture that denigrates manliness and talk about how priests (and other manly men) can help boys of all ages tame their passions and become the Christian warriors they were called to be. Note: this conversation includes a frank (but not explicit) discussion about pornography.

In this episode Fr. Anthony and Fr. Harry (UOC-USA Canonist) discuss historical and pastoral variations in taking communion and make a request for charitable discernment when evangelizing (much less judging!) autocephalists in Ukraine. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, Fr. Anthony interviews Met. Antony, the rector of St. Sophia's, about his path to the episcopacy, the primary challenges the Orthodox face in America, and how St. Sophia's trains priests to address those challenges. The culture at St. Sophia's is designed to help reinvigorate the sense of parish as a healthy family, with the priest as that family's spiritual father. He laments the distance that has grown between parishioners and between parishioners and their priests, but says that he has already begun to see the first fruits of St. Sophia's pastoral focus in the form of vibrant church communities led and loved by well-formed priests. Enjoy the show!

In this, the first section of the book, St. Gregory talks about the qualities that make for good and bad pastors. 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 (https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf212/npnf212.iii.iv.ii.i.html). Enjoy the show!

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 Fr. Anthony talks with Dn. Nicholas Denysenko, the Emil and Elfriede Jochum Professor and Chair at Valparaiso University, about his 2018 book The People's Faith; the liturgy of the faithful in Orthodoxy. Among other things, they discuss why it is important to listen to - and not just teach - the people and what can be learned when we do so (hint: it's more than an opportunity to figure out how to improve our catechesis). Enjoy the show!

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.

Fr. Anthony talks again with Fr. Harry Linsinbigler, the Canonist for the UOC-USA about what the Canons say (and don't say!) about clergy attire, hair, and beards. They make the case that, unless their bishops say otherwise, priests can adjust to what they discern is best going to meet the needs of the Gospel where they are. A bonus: you can hear just how bad Fr. Anthony is at liturgical math! Enjoy the show!

Fr. Anthony talks frankly with Fr. Gregory Jensen, PhD, about the how the selection of priests affects the quality of priestly ministry. From narcissism to the built-in preference for agreeableness - it's all grist for the mill. Enjoy the show!

Fr. Anthony talks with Fr. Gregory Jensen about motivated reason and the consequences of mixing micro and macro domains. They suggest that our increasing tribalism is exacerbated of confusing pastoral and public communications - something that is all but impossible to avoid on social media. Enjoy the show!

Elissa reminds us that if God were fair, we would be in big trouble.

How will we help our children find a respectful and good way to offer Orthodoxy to this world? Elissa emphasizes the importance of being able to articulate the Orthodox faith in emulation of the twelve Holy Apostles.

Many people hit a roadblock in their relationship with God when the weight of their sins catches up to them, when they realize they are trapped in a cycle of sin or habit of ungodly behaviour that they cannot control.

“So there you are on the heights, surveying the earth below and the sky above. Your intellect [nous] now begins to feel its freedom and wants to fly.” I enjoy reading spiritual literature from holy people in the Orthodox Christian tradition. I like it because I often catch glimpses of myself, of my own struggles and my own triumphs. In many ways, books have been like a surrogate spiritual father to me. However, there is also a great danger in reading books for spiritual guidance. Often—actually, just about always in my experience—the writers of spiritual books, especially the classical spiritual books of the Orthodox tradition such as The Ascetic Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian, The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John of Sinai, and the the writings found in the Philokalia, these were written to be read by monastic men and women who have already attained to a high degree of spiritual life. They was written, we might say, for those who have already attained the foothills and have now set their eyes on the heights.