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The Sheep and the Goats

Fr. Ted explains that there are two ways—one of light and one of death.




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What We Need

Fr. Ted explains that what we really need for our lives is to have our sins forgiven.




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We Who See

Fr. Ted discusses the Gospel reading, John 9:1-38.




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Three Steps

Fr. Ted urges us to push our Christian faith a step further.




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Thoughts on the Second Week of Lent

Fr. Ted encourages us to pace ourselves in this, our second week of Lent, as temptations from the evil one can thwart our efforts to be closer to God. He also reminds us to be patient with others as each path is different and we are not to judge.




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We See As We Are

This week's homily was delivered by guest priest Fr. Nicholas Tambakis from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Thunder Bay, Ontario.




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Practical Orthodoxy, Part Three: Anamnisis

Fr. Ted addresses the concept of remembrance.




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Setting Us Free

Fr. Ted reminds us that true freedom is being a slave to God.




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The Three Offices of Priesthood

Fr. Ted explores the hierarchy of deacon, priest, and bishop.




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Ordination Speech of Dn. John Karvelas

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church has a new deacon. Listen here to the ordination speech by the newly ordained Dn. John Karvelas.




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Seeds of Truth

Fr. Ted discusses the importance of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council and St. Justin, the Philosopher and Martyr.




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Ascending to Meet Christ

There is a parallel between what happens to Zacchaeus to what happens to us every Sunday.




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Real Freedom

We fast to free ourselves from the slavery of the passions.




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Keeping Christ in Our Heart

A homily by guest speaker Fr. Tim Prattas from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in East Vancouver.




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Non Being: The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

Fr. Ted asks, "What happens when are neither the Publican or the Pharisee?" The Triodion calls us back to the roots of our faith to engage fully in the life of Christ's Church.




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The House of God 5: Prayer and Creed

Fr. Ted talks about the role of thanksgiving in the House of God.




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Is Forgiveness Free?

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos calls us to prepare our lives for the journey of Great Lent.




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Seeing the Truth

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos explains the way in which God chooses to work with us (synergy) in our lives.




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We've Been Training For This

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos preaches on the Gospel reading from the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, reminding us that as Orthodox Christians we have been training through our prayer, fasting and almsgiving for an unusual occasion like the one we face during the coronavirus pandemic.




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The Well is Deep

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos reflects on the Gospel reading from the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman.




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Keep the Faith

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos explains the importance of the First Ecumenical Council in maintaining the true Orthodox Christian faith.




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Frederica Mathewes-Green On Orthodox Spirituality (Part 1)

Mother Frederica Mathewes-Green, well-known author and public speaker, discusses the Christian life. Kevin and Steve ask her about prayer, forgiveness, and to mark our inaugural show--the Illumined Heart!




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Frederica Mathewes-Green On Orthodox Spirituality (Part 2)

Continuing discussion with Mother Frederica Mathewes-Green, Kevin and Steve delve deeper into what it means to live life as an Orthodox Christian. Just in time for Lent!




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Serving Christ in the poor and needy as Orthodox Christians

Kevin Allen interviews Peter Jordan, the son of the founder of Fred Jordan Mission, a major Los Angeles skid row ministry, and a recent convert to the Eastern Orthodox Church.




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Taking It To The Streets - An Interview With IOCC Executive Director Constantine M. Triantifilou

He served in war-torn Bosnia and Kenya before he turned 40! Now he heads Orthodoxy’s largest charitable and humanitarian aid organization – International Orthodox Christian Charities. Meet Constantine M. Triantifilou, IOCC’s Executive Director, as he speaks about a career and vocation of service. (Don’t hold it against him – he’s also a Boston Red Sox fan!)




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95: Meet Metropolitan Jonah - Part 2

Here is part 2 of this historic interview with Metropolitan Jonah who was just enthroned as Archbishop of Washington and New York and Metropolitan of All America for the Orthodox Church in America. In this half of the interview, His Beatitude Jonah addresses matters such as Administrative Unity among Orthodox jurisdictions, evangelism, and the events that led up to his election at the All American Council in November.




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94: Meet Metropolitan Jonah!

On November 12, 2008, a remarkable thing happened in Pittsburgh, PA. Just 11 days after his consecration as Bishop of Fort Worth and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of the South, Bishop Jonah was elected Archbishop of Washington and New York and Metropolitan of All American and Canada for the Orthodox Church in America. Kevin Allen was able to spend well over an hour on the phone with His Beatitude Jonah in a candid and fascinating interview that we are bringing you in 2 parts. In this first part we learn about his background, personal interests, conversion to Orthodoxy and the monastic life. Next week we will bring you part 2.




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160: Catechizing New Age and Eastern Religion Seekers

In this episode, the microphone is turned as AFR General Manager and founder John Maddex interviews host Kevin Allen on the catechism module he developed (with his priest's blessing) specifically for inquirers coming from New Age and Eastern spiritual backgrounds. Is the entrance of New Age and Eastern seekers perhaps a trend the Church needs to prepare for? Are the issues, concerns, and paradigms of these seekers the same as those inquiring from Evangelical backgrounds? Must the catechist know something about New Age and Eastern religions in order to catechize effectively? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in this program. You may download an attachment of the course outline here.




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Evangelism in America: How the Greek Archdiocese Sees It

Fr. Jim Kordaris, Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Outreach and Evangelism, speaks candidly about how the GOA understands “Orthodox evangelism” in America, whether it is committed to growth outside of its ethnic heritage, the role of "Hellenism" in the GOA's evangelistic strategy, and whether he sees the GOA playing a vital role in bringing Orthodoxy to America.




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Why Do I Need Icons? Why Do I Want Porn?

That which calls me to embrace the icon and that which calls me to embrace pornography is at root the same thing. Read the transcript HERE.




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Transforming Desires and Seeing Iconographically

In episode 4, Andrew helps us understand the transformation that takes place when we begin to see iconographically instead of pornographically. The transcript can be accessed HERE.




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Freedom to Repent: The Nun's Blood and Adulteress

Jesus said “Everyone who practices sin is the slave of sin!” (Jn. 8:34). But we know so long as we live, we live only through God’s dynamic, life-sustaining power active in us. Read the transcript HERE.




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Freedom is a Double-Edged Sword

Andrew says seeking union with anything or anyone outside of God gradually takes away our freedom, takes away our personhood, takes away our ability to be uniquely ourselves. Read the transcript HERE.




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Christ is Risen! Words From Holy Week

In this program, we revisit Orthodox Holy Week with selected passages from the Holy Tradition - in the hope of trying to convey the richness of the "conversation" between God and the Church. For Christ invites us to go with Him to the Holy Cross, and we find ourselves both willing and unwilling, like the repentant harlot and the betrayer Judas, like the good thief and the blind and unbelieving crowd. Glory to God in Christ! He overcomes the wrath and sins of mankind through love and humility in His Suffering and tramples down Death by Death.




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Encountering Mary, Part Three

In Part Three of the series on Mary, Steve and Bill tackle some listener feedback and questions about Mary, veneration, worship and children. In the second half of the program they discuss the early second century Fathers of the Church and the universality of the doctrine of Mary as the second Eve which is evidence of the Church's early embracing of Mary and the development of an understanding of her importance in the history of our salvation in Christ.




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Scholasticism and Theology: The Difference Between East and West

What accounts for the differences between the Eastern and Western churches? Many things of course, but primarily the development in the West - through those such as Anselm and Aquinas - of an emphasis on human reason and intellect in the pursuit of theological understanding. Returning briefly to our discussion of Rome and the Eastern Church, we contrast rationalism with the Eastern tradition that bows to the Mystery of the Incomprehensible, that proclaims that "theologians" are pure in heart through love of God (the eastern Church grants the title of Theologian to only three Saints in all of Church History), and we begin to see how steeped our modern culture and we ourselves are in scholastic thinking.




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The Creeds and the Sacramental Life - Part 3

In part three, we discuss the importance of the Creedal statements of the early Church. Are the dogmatic formulations of Trinity and Christology philosophical minor details for scholars or are they the very foundation of how we define EVERYTHING. Are Creeds divisive, intolerant and pointless or are they the basis for real unity in Truth?




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The Creeds and the Sacramental Life - Part 4

In Part 4 we continue the discussion of the Creeds and the 7 Ecumenical Councils. In a broad survey of the first eight centuries we discuss why the Councils called and the specific issues the 7 Councils dealt with. Then we ask, "What practical application do the ancient Councils have for modern Christians?"




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The Creed, Trinity, Incarnation, and the One Church Part 5

In part 5 of the series we continue the discussion of the importance of the Creeds, Christology and the incarnation of God in establishing the nature of the Church as the body of Christ. In this program we talk with Father John McCuen, a former Episcopal priest, about the nature of the "one, holy and apostolic Church" confessed in the Nicene Creed. Is it invisible? Is it "spiritual"? Is there still "one Church"?




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Meet the New Director of Liturgical Music!

Fr. Chad Hatfield introduces us to Alla Generalow, the new Director of Liturgical Music at St. Vladimir's.




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The Causal Principle of Freedom

Professor Christos Yannaras addresses St. Vladimir's Seminary upon receiving an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.




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Women Disciples of the Lord: Part Three

Dr. Kyriaki Karidoyanes Fitzgerald, an Orthodox theologian, pastoral counselor, and licensed psychologist, delivers a speech titled "Eve, Mary, and Us."




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Listen, Witness, and Weep: What Can the Church Offer Service Men and Women?

Dr. Stephen Muse speaks at the St. Vladimir’s Seminary 2011 Orthodox Education Day.




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Meeting the Crucified Christ in Sierra Leone

There is no "Missionary's Handbook" for post-war countries such as Sierra Leone. But Orthodox Christian missionary Fr. Themi (Adamopoulo) is writing one from scratch as he meets the challenge of spreading the Good News in West Africa.




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Mary, Mysteries, and Mission: Part Three

At the annual Lenten Retreat for SVOTS Seminarians, Fr. Chad Hatfield, the Chancellor of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, discusses three assured paths to spiritual renewal as we participate in the Great Fast: Mary and the Incarnation, the Mysteries of Baptism and the Eucharist, and our vocation to Mission. This is part three of four presentations.




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Poverty Conference Three

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and noted author Jay Richards was the keynote speaker at the Conference on Poverty, May 31 - June 1, 2013, at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Co-hosted by the Acton Institute, the event featured speakers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who offered fresh ideas for Orthodox Christians on how to effectively minister to the poor. Other speakers and panelists included Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, St. Vlad's alumnus and officer in the National Council of Churches; Seminary Trustee Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis; Fr Philip LeMasters, Dean of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University in Abilene, TX; Michael Miller of the Poverty Cure at Acton; John Couretas of Acton; and director of FOCUS North America in Pittsburgh, Subdeacon Paul Abernathy.




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Missions Week 2017

During Missions Weekend 2017, held at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary October 20–21, Metropolitan Ambrosios (Zographos) of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea, laid a patristic foundation for missionary work by Orthodox Christians, using 16 principles from the writings of St. John Chrysostom. His fascinating and uplifting talk was titled, “St. John Chrysostom’s Constitution for Christian Witness: Universal Principles and Their Relevance for Korean Orthodox Identity.”




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Autocephaly: The OCA, the Greek Archdiocese, and Antioch

St. Vladimir’s Seminary celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)’s autocephaly Thursday, January 30, 2020. A full-day of events included three workshops on the topic of autocephaly. In the first, “Autocephaly: The OCA, the Greek Archdiocese, and Antioch," Priest Anthony Roeber, the Seminary's professor of church history, delivered an eye-opening and candid lecture. He sheds light on motivations and circumstances leading up to the granting of the Tomos of Autocephaly in 1970 by the Russian Orthodox Church to the OCA (then known as the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of America) and addressed the reaction of other Orthodox jurisdictions to the Tomos.




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For the Life of the World: Part Three

Dcn. Michael echoes Fr. Schmemann's assertion that paradise and all other utopian dreams died with the death of Christ.




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For the Life of the World: Part Thirteen

Dcn. Michael tackles the Orthodox funeral service and the Sacrament of Healing.