Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos gives a sermon on Holy Thursday evening after the Service of Twelve Gospels.

Kevin and Steve interview Fr. Wayne about some hard to ask questions about Lent.

Hunter Haynes, midwest policeman and self-proclaimed "nominal Presbyterian", spent a year in Kosovo (then part of Serbia) as a United Nations peacekeeper. The experience changed his life. Find out why in this compelling interview!

In this edition of the Illumined Heart, pioneering radio host of "Our Life In Christ" Steve Robinson talks with Kevin about the role, opportunity and challenges of lay (person) "ministry" within the Orthodox Church. Is the Orthodox Church so clerically oriented that there isn't room for lay ministry? Listen and find out in this frank interview!

In the conclusion of our 3 part series commemorating the 25TH anniversary of the repose of Fr Seraphim (Rose), Kevin Allen is seated on a wooden bench overlooking a panoranmic view of Mt. Yolla Bolly with the Abbot of St. Herman of Alaska Monastery, Fr. Gerasim. Listen for valuable lessons (as well as birds chirping!) on the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting from a spiritual child of this venerated American monk and writer.

Kevin's guest is Alexei Krindatch, the research director of the most extensive and authoritative study ever conducted on how American Orthodox view the Orthodox Church today. This just-published study is full of interesting surprises and will shatter many stereotypes about Orthodoxy in America.

In the next 4 episodes, Andrew gets very practical on ways to find our way out of addiction. Part 1 asks "How Do We Live?" Read a transcript HERE.

Andrew tells us that will power and relying on ourselves is an ineffective strategy for dealing with addiction to pornography. Read the transcript HERE.

Today Andrew continues his practical advise for freeing ourselves from addiction by offering St. Theophan's four spiritual weapons for our contimplation . Read the transcript HERE.

St Theophan tells us that “the four weapons of which we have spoken receive their power from the forces and gifts of grace, obtained for us by the blood of Christ.” And the mystery of holy communion “is Christ’s blood itself, and His flesh itself, in which Christ is Himself present as God.” Find the transcript HERE.

We continue our discussion of the famous Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian and his plea for God to remove from him the "lust for power" and "idle talk". As is made clear from the sayings of the Fathers cited here, these sins are so well-rooted in our normal, everyday lives that raising our self-awareness regarding how and how often we commit them is a significant Lenten undertaking.

We begin a series on prayer which is the center of the life of the Orthodox Christian. Prayer is our connection to God who is our life. It is to be like our breathing, without ceasing. The Church provides a deep wealth of writings about prayer, but it also provides us with a daily order of services that structures the entire day around prayer. We are able to pray in the same ways the Jews prayed at set hours of the day that we see in the book of Acts. In this program Steve and Bill begin a discussion of the daily order of prayer services and then next week will move into "personal prayer" and a discussion of "The Jesus Prayer", the single most important prayer of our spiritual life.

In this program we discuss the topic of "personal prayer" in the Orthodox Tradition. Liturgical (corporate) and personal prayer are tightly linked together because the goal of all prayer is, ultimately, union with God. To "pray without ceasing" (I Thess. 5:17) is to live every moment consciously in the presence of God and to "take every thought captive to Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). The Fathers teach that when we set ourselves to pray seriously, we enter the arena of spiritual warfare with the hosts of Satan whose aim is to keep us from God. As in all things, the Orthodox Christian succeeds in prayer through humility and simplicity - and the Jesus Prayer and the prayer rope are our aids in making our lives, as Paul Evdokimov says, "prayer incarnate."

The mystical change of the gifts of bread an wine into the Body and Blood of Christ in the Epiclesis is followed by a series of pre-communion prayers and hymns - given to continually focus us on the grace and unity of the Holy Spirit, for it is He who has been invited to come down upon us and abide in us. The closing prayer of the Epiclesis, which declares the unity of all saints made righteous by faith, is followed by the Megalynarion - the Magnification of Mary, for it was she who by virtue of her humility and purity and the power of the Holy Spirit provided the world with Christ's Body and Blood - the Incarnation itself. The litanies then lead us to the Lord's Prayer, the extolling of God's Holiness (not ours), and then a final declaration of of our own humility and allegiance before we partake of the Mystery of Mysteries. The now thoroughly inadequate Steve and Bill move through this part of the Divine Liturgy "as usual" - with their familiar, winsome klutziness.

In this final program of the series on the Divine Liturgy we discuss the dismissal prayers after communion. These are more than just a formality as they express the summation of all that we have experienced for the past hour or more: God is the lover of mankind. But the Christian's experience of the Eucharist does not end with the final doxology or the Liturgy. In many parishes there are "post communion prayers" that are read as the people come for the closing blessing and antidoron from the priest. These express in prayer the Orthodox experience of the Eucharist and its meaning to us as we commune and "go forth in peace."

During a recent visit to St. John's Monastery, Steve recorded and interview with Abbot Jonah about the Jesus Prayer. In part one, Fr. Jonah discusses the Orthodox view of prayer that goes beyond "requests and praise." He also discusses the practice of the Jesus Prayer and the transformation of the human being which is a difficult and sometimes painful experience.

In part two of the discussion of the Jesus Prayer, Fr. Jonah talks about the context of the practice of the prayer and some of the spiritual pitfalls and dangers of entering a discipline of prayer without spiritual direction.

We continue our discussion of Great Lent by reviewing, with many quotes from the Church Fathers, the famous Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian that is used during all the weekday services. Writing in the 4th century, St. Ephraim's hymnography captures the Spirit of the Lenten Season and has been a vital standard for the Orthodox Church ever since. In its simplicity and penetrating quality we learn that we are at once helpless and in need of God's grace to overcome our sinful nature, and yet must also pursue repentance and the virtues in faith continually, to be both emptied and filled.

We finish this Lenten series discussing the virtues of patience, love, and not judging our brother. Again, the Orthodox axiom of working out the virtues in the body is true, and we learn that patience is not merely a passive state, but also requires spiritual/bodily effort to restrain evil thoughts/actions, choosing to perform God's will instead. Love for God, neighbor, enemies and the whole of creation is our aim, cultivated with our growing awareness of God's pure and captivating eros coming down from heaven. Engulfed in this love we lose interest in the world and adopt the humble mind of Christ, whose words on the Cross, "forgive them for they know not what they do," are to become our own towards all men.

Following Chastity in the the list of virtues in St. Ephraim's prayer comes Humility. Reading from the Fathers, we find that humility is not merely a state of mind, but a mystery that comes about as the result of labors of the soul and body, mirroring the Incarnation itself, and so it is by nature incomprehensible. We look at humility and its opposite, pride and prelest. to try to gain even just a little more understanding of this virtue and why it is central to our life in Christ.

St. Ephraim begins the second half of his great prayer "Give rather a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant." Asking God to take our sinful passions away is followed by a petition to give us virtue, chastity being first in the order. In the Fathers, and especially St. John Climacus, we find that the virtues (which are in truth the energies of the Holy Spirit) act in our heart and are active through us through the deeds of the body surrendered to Christ. And chastity, rather than being limited to some quaint notion of sexual purity (true enough), is the virtue of wholeness in Christ which enables us to fight the passions fervently.

How can we communicate with the departed saints if they are dead? What is the state of the departed according to the Scriptures? Are they concious, and if so, of what? Can they hear the petitions of those alive on earth? What do they do when people pray to them? These and other questions are actually answered in the Bible. Tune in and find out where.

In this program we deal with the concept of prayer and intercession. What is prayer in the scriptures? Is "prayer" worship to be given only to God? What is intercession? Why are we commanded to intercede for each other? More importantly, who can intercede for us?

In the first of a series on prayers to the saints, we begin to discuss how the Orthodox Church connects the dots of many aspects of what it means to be "in Christ" and a member of "the body of Christ." Are we worshipping the saints in prayer? Does Scripture forbid prayer to the dead? Can the living communicate with the dead? What is true prayer? These and many more issues will be discussed in light of Scripture over the next four programs.

In the final program of the series on "Prayer to the Saints" we continue the discussion of the state of the departed from the Scriptures. In many enigmatic passages we find the foundations for why the Church affirms the "Communion of the Saints" as including both those "in Christ" on earth and the "departed in Christ." Within these passages we find the rationale for believing that those who have gone before us do stand before the throne of God and intercede on our behalf because of our prayers to them.

The bread and wine, the gifts of the people, have been moved from the table of preparation (prothesis table) to the altar in the Great Entrance. In this program we further discuss the Cherubic Hymn in which we are admonished to "lay aside all earthly cares" as we confront the reality of the heavenly Kingdom and the unity of all believers both in heaven and on earth who confess "Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity one in essence and undivided." We enter a liturgical dialogue with the priest as we contemplate the greatness of the grace of God who accepts from us sinners our gifts in order to return them to us as the Body and Blood of His Son. In this liturgical dialogue we acknowledge our life in the Trinity, the love and unity of the Church, the glory of God, our gratitude to God for His mercy and the awesome and fearful prospect of taking the "fire of divinity" into our human flesh in the Eucharist.

The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, Dean of St. Vladimir'’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, delivers the annual Father Georges Florovsky Lecture, Friday, September 21, 2012, on the seminary campus. Father John's presentation, titled "“Reading the Fathers Today,"” addresses the meaning of “theology” and its study within an academic context.

Jesse Brandow, a longterm missionary with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, talks about the Orthodox mission efforts in Guatemala.

On Sunday, March 5, 2017, Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, was guest homilist during the Great Vespers service celebrating the Sunday of Orthodoxy, at Holy Ghost Russian Orthodox Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut—whose rector is Archpriest Steven J. Belonick, seminary alumnus (M.Div. ’77). The parish hosted the event, which was sponsored by the New England Clergy Association.

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary held its annual open house, Orthodox Education Day, Saturday, October 7, 2017. This year’s timely theme was “Modern Martyrs: Christians of the Middle East and North Africa.” In his keynote address titled, “Dying, and Behold, We Live: Martyrdom in the New Testament,” biblical scholar the Reverend Dr. George Parsenios, Associate Professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Sessional Professor of New Testament at St. Vladimir’s, focused on the writings of St. Paul and the Gospel of Saint John, texts that indicate how suffering is connected to assimilation to Christ and being “in Christ.” Father George emphasized how the actions of both ancient and modern martyrs continue to teach us that “the meaning of life is death,” and “that if you want to live the Resurrection, the only path is to carry the Cross.”

Dr. Christine Chaillot speaks about the relations between the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches. She gave her talk on Orthodox Education Day, held at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Saturday, October 7, 2017. Referring to her latest work, The Dialogue between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, Dr. Chaillot explains the initial dispute that split the two church bodies in the 5th century following the Council of Chalcedon, and she also informs us about contemporary ongoing official dialogue and current increased rapprochement between the two faith communities.

Archpriest Michael Oleksa delivered a powerful, enlightening, and heart-felt message on the campus of St. Vladimir's Seminary Saturday, September 1, 2018, as part of the Seminary's celebration of the Ecclesiastical New Year. The distinguished alumnus and author beautifully weaved the history of the Alaskan Mission and the work of St. Herman and others into the present, as the Orthodox Church continues to defend the native peoples of Alaska and uphold the sanctity of the created world. Fr. Michael passionately implored Orthodox Christians everywhere to draw upon the past and modern-day experience of Orthodoxy in Alaska in witnessing Christ to all nations.

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.

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.

St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS) celebrated two milestones at the 2018 edition of Orthodox Education Day (OED) on Saturday, October 6: fifty years of OED and fifty years of St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press. The day included several highlights befitting the historic celebration, including a passionate call to spread the Gospel as individuals in addition to supporting Orthodox evangelistic enterprises such as SVS Press and Ancient Faith Ministries, delivered by Ancient Faith co-founder John Maddex.

At Orthodox Education Day (OED) on October 6, 2018, former SVS Press director Ted Bazil and St Vladimir's Seminary Professor Emeritus David Drillock offered a fantastic look back and wonderful stories from the fifty-year history of SVS Press and Orthodox Education Day.

Saint Vladimir’s Seminary President Fr. Chad Hatfield discusses Orthodox evangelism, drawing from his experience as a missionary in South Africa and Orthodox mission planter in the United States, to an audience at NLA University College in Bergen, Norway. The talk, delivered on December 5, 2019, was organized in part by St. Vladimir's Alumnus Fr. Theodor Svane (’15) and the parish Fr. Theodore serves, Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Mission Parish, in Bergen.

Saint Vladimir's Seminary entered into its annual, two-day Lenten Retreat on Clean Monday and Tuesday, March 15 and 16, 2021. Four talks delivered over the two days followed the theme of "Ora et Labora: The Foundations of Spirituality According to the Rule of St Benedict of Nursia." Seminary President Fr Chad Hatfield, in this first reflection, offers thoughts on "Praying Alone."

Saint Vladimir's Seminary entered into its annual, two-day Lenten Retreat on Clean Monday and Tuesday, March 15 and 16, 2021. Four talks delivered over the two days followed the theme of "Ora et Labora: The Foundations of Spirituality According to the Rule of St Benedict of Nursia." In this reflection, Dr Vitaly Permiakov, the Seminary's assistant professor of liturgical theology, leads a meditation on "Praying Together."

Dn. Michael begins a new series discussing the book Beginning to Pray by Anthony Bloom.

Dn. Michael continues his discussion of Anthony Bloom's book, Beginning to Pray. He emphasizes the importance of humility when approaching our Lord in prayer.

Dn. Michael discusses chapter 3 of Anthony Bloom's book, Beginning to Pray . He borrows Nike's slogan and urges all of us, when it comes to prayer, to "Just Do It."

Dn. Michael continues his discussion of Anthony Bloom's book, Beginning to Pray . This week he looks at chapter 4.

Dn. Michael concludes his study of Anthony Bloom's book, Beginning to Pray.

Dn. Michael Hyatt shares some very valuable and practical insight into the need for and practice of prayer. He is teaching through the book by Dr. Nicole Roccas Time and Despondency and this is lesson 5.

In this final lesson of his teaching through Time and Despondency by Dr. Nicole Roccas, Dn. Michael Hyatt reflects on the practical take away value of the book. He identifies three implications for living in the present moment.

Domingo 24 de Noviembre Pd. Nicolas predicó sobre como con esperanza podemos vivir una vida que aguanta las dificultades del mundo. Gálata 6:11-18