The guys watched the new Orthodox documentary Becoming Truly Human. They discuss the nature of conversion stories, the role of parents in journeys through faith, and how doubt can be central to our spiritual walk.They close with their Top 5 Martyr Stories.

The guys take on the 90's classic The Shawshank Redemption. They discuss the theme of Life vs. Death, the saving grace of friendship, and the need for ministry to prepare young people for a truly Christian life. They close with their Top 5 Fictional Friendships.

Live from New York, it’s PCCH! The guys discuss the epic trilogy, Lord of the Rings. The touch on topics such as friendship, the human obsession with power, and where hope can be found. Fr. Andrew joins the guys for a Q&A;, as well as a special quiz designed just for him.

The guys explore the beautiful new documentary film, "New Men." They explore the challenge of staying in one place, whether monastic life is a higher calling, and struggles of the Christian life. You can find the film at newmendoc.com.

"I’m just like my country—I’m young, scrappy, and hungry, and I am not throwing away my shot." Steve, Christian, Emma, and Christina are all back for the series premiere of "Pop Culture Coffee Hour." They explore the popular musical, "Hamilton." They discuss the cost of honor, the beauty of forgiveness, and the complexities of race in the American story.

The girls discuss Becoming Mrs. Lewis, the historical fiction novel about Joy Davidman, CS Lewis' wife. They address the idea of womanhood, how love builds up, and how faith is often very messy.

"Families can be hard, but they're so worth fighting for. They might be one of the only things that are." Steve and Christian watched the new Netflix film, "The Mitchells vs. The Machines." The guys discuss family, belonging, and being corrects vs being connected. Philanthropy Spotlight: Christ's last words to the Apostles were "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all people". Since 1987, OCMC has sent Missionaries and Mission Teams to work, worship and witness around the world. Continue this tradition by joining a Virtual Mission Team. If not you, then who? Find out more at www.ocmc.org

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!

The Feast of the Dormition calls us to embrace the fullness of life—the deepest reality of what it means to be a human being in the world as we know it.

Becoming a blessing to others is the way to be blessed ourselves.

On this Sunday of "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," by St. John Climacus, we are called to ever greater heights of union with God by lowering ourselves through humble repentance.

On Thomas Sunday, we are reminded that Christ rose victoriously with his wounds and that we too may bring our bodily limitations and challenges into the redeeming light of the risen Christ.

Do you understand the Gospel as being good news for all, even for those whom you hate?

Fr. Philip calls us to become vessels of the shocking love of God that is the salvation of the world.

The dormition of the Theotokos is an icon of our hope for eternal life.

What is keeping you "stooped over," hindering you from becoming more like Jesus?

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on the genealogy of Jesus, and healing work of redemption that comes through Christ.

Fr. Philip LeMasters draws together the meaning of the Transfiguration of Christ and the Dormition of the Theotokos for our participation in the healing of our corrupt humanity.

Fr. Philip LeMasters teaches us how to gain the spiritual clarity that we need to bear good fruit.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reminds us that our true enemies are the corrupt spiritual powers that tempt us to sin, and our own need to put on the spiritual armor of God.

Fr. Philip LeMasters recounts the Christmas story that is for all humanity.

Fr. Philip LeMasters preaches on the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on the Feasts of the Transfiguration of our Lord and the Dormition of the Theotokos.

Fr. Philip LeMasters shares a homily based on this Sunday's Epistle and Gospel readings, reminding us to follow St. Paul's humble obedience to the way of Christ.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reminds us to keep our attention on Christ.

Christ came to restore sight to the blind beggars of the world. Let us embrace the disciplines and spirit of the Nativity Fast in ways that will help us see that that is precisely who we are. Let us acquire the humility necessary to receive and share the peace that He was born to bring to the world. That is how we must all prepare to welcome Him into our hearts and lives at Christmas.

Lenten practices are not instruments of punishment or legalism, but blessed tools for becoming more fully our true selves as living icons of God.

On this second Sunday of Great Lent, we commemorate St. Gregory Palamas, who defended the experience of monks who, in the stillness of prayer from their hearts, saw the Uncreated Light of God.

Regardless of the particulars of our life circumstances, let us use the challenges posed by the global pandemic as reminders of the folly of making life in this world our false god.

Our calling this week is to enter into the profound contrast between the ways of the world as we know them and the life of our crucified and risen Lord. Especially today, it is easy to focus on what is going wrong, on what we have lost already or may lose in the future.

By rising into heavenly glory as the God-Man, Christ has shown us what it means to become truly human in the divine image and likeness.

The only true response to the challenges we face today is to believe in and confess Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. If we cultivate the humility necessary to entrust ourselves to Him, then we will gain the spiritual strength not to fall into self-centeredness, fear, resentment, hatred, or other sinful states of soul that are such appealing distractions to facing the truth about ourselves.

As odd as it will sound to many in our culture, Christ does not call us to become successful or powerful by earthly standards, including those of our own society. He calls us to shine with holiness such that His glory radiates through us and illumines a world darkened by sin and death. Doing so requires that we do not rest content with being good citizens or moral people, regardless of how those terms are defined.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reminds us that our words reveal the state of our souls.

Growing in humility is the only way for us to find healing for our passions, for our disordered desires ultimately root in the pride of not accepting the truth about who we are before God.

In response to Christ’s statement about how hard it is for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God, the disciples were amazed and asked, “Who then can be saved?” The Lord responded, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” That is true not only for the wealthy, but for us all.

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.

Joachim, Anna, and the Theotokos were the complete opposites of the rich man in today’s gospel reading. His only concern was to eat, drink, and enjoy himself because he had become so wealthy. He was addicted to earthly pleasure, power, and success, and saw the meaning and purpose of his life only in those terms. In stark contrast, the Theotokos followed the righteous example of her parents. She was prepared by a life of holiness to agree freely to become our Lord’s mother.

Matthew’s description of the family tree prepares us for the kind of Savior we encounter in Jesus Christ. It does not hide that His ancestors sinned greatly, for He came to heal those who had corrupted and weakened themselves by their own disobedience. His family line even included Gentiles, foreshadowing that He would make all with faith in Him heirs to the promise to Abraham. That being the case, the fact that we are sinners does not make it impossible or pointless for us to become the Savior’s living temples. He came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Mark 2:17). In the remaining days before Christmas, we must simply turn away from evil as we confess our sins and reorient our lives to the Savior, trusting that His healing will extend even to us.

Christ did not offer Himself on the Cross and rise from the dead in order to make us well-adjusted citizens of this world, but to heal every dimension of our brokenness so that we will shine brilliantly with His divine glory.

We must live distinctive lives that draw others to share in the divine healing that our Lord has made available to all.

Let us become transfigured in holiness as we pray, fast, repent, and give generously to our neighbors as we become living icons of the Savior’s fulfillment of the human person in the likeness of God.

The feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos calls us to live faithfully as those who have put on Christ like a garment in baptism, been filled with the Holy Spirit in chrismation, and become guests at the heavenly banquet in the Eucharist.

It is only by dying to the old ways of death that we may live as His “new creation.”

If we want to know Christ as the beloved disciple did, then we must learn that our very life is in our brothers and sisters. Loving them and Christ in them is the only way to find liberation from fear in our world of corruption, for it is fear that separates us from one another and keeps us from becoming together the uniquely beautiful persons our Lord created us to become in His image and likeness.

If we have received the Lord’s mercy, we must extend that mercy to our neighbors, especially those we are inclined to hate, condemn, or otherwise disregard.

We must remember who we are and find our true selves in Him, if we want to avoid the inevitable disintegration of personality and character that comes from slavery to our passions. Then we too will be able to obey with joy the Lord’s command to the formerly demon-possessed man: “Return to your home, and declare all that God has done for you.”

As we pray, fast, give to the needy, and confess and repent of our sins this Advent, let us do so with the joyful hope of the woman who could finally stand up straight after eighteen years. For the Savior is born to deliver us from bondage in all its forms.

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.

Lent calls us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” We must do so in order to accept the great dignity of beloved sons and daughters called to return to Paradise through His Passion.