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The Dangers of Sympathy

Frederica explains that "worried prayer" can actually be hurtful to the suffering person




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Fr. Makary

Frederica interviews Hieromonk Makary, the beekeeper at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Bombala, New South Wales, Australia.




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Einstein

Frederica examines the spiritual life of Albert Einstein as expressed in a 1929 article in the Saturday Evening Post—published just three days before the Wall Street collapse that began the Great Depression.




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Flaws of the Fifties

Frederica examines a few of the differences between her parents' generation and her own.




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Basil Athas

Frederica interviews Basil Athas, a godly man and key character in her first book Facing East.




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Popular Saints

Frederica wonders why some saints are more popular than others.




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The Cost of Independence

Frederica tries to account for why couples are increasingly living together without getting married.




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Women's Ordination

Frederica argues that women's ordination is not the main reason converts come to Orthodoxy.




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Faith, Experience, and Theory

Frederica discusses an email message she wrote that eventually become a post on Rod Dreher's blog at The American Conservative. In it she explains her view that trying to experience Christ exclusively with your brain and outside the Church is a futile endeavor—a stance that was not well-received by the blog's many readers.




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Don't Think About It

Frederica reminds us that a passion begins to die when you don't think about it.




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Rebel

Frederica reminds us that, despite repeated claims to the controversy, Jesus was simply not a revolutionary who wanted a military victory over the Roman state.




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Social Justice

Frederica reflects on giving to the needy, countering the cultural beliefs that the poor have nothing to offer, that it is okay to be consumers and not producers, that we must despise the wealthy, and that charity must go through an established organization.




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Unity

Frederica examines the concept of unity, arguing that the Eastern understanding of unity is different from that of the West. In particular, the unity of all Orthodox churches under a single hierarch is not desired by the East, which believes instead that it is enough for us to be unified under a common theology.




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What Is Worship For?: Part One

Frederica contends that, traditionally and historically, worship was aimed not toward other worshippers, as it is in the modern seeker-friendly church, but toward God.




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What Is Worship For?: Part Two

Frederica explains that worship is for believers to offer to God.




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Early Feminism

Frederica shares a piece that she wrote for National Review magazine in its special issue on women.




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Nativity Bible Study

Frederica examines the salient Nativity scripture.




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Parish Daily Prayer List

Frederica shares an idea she had for improving parish life.




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Taking Orthodoxy to America

Frederica reflects on Fr. Marc Dunaway's article "Taking Orthodoxy to America," which appeared in the In Community newsletter from St. John Orthodox Cathedral in Eagle River, Alaska.




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Chores

Frederica discusses a way she found of managing chores when her children were adolescents.




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Women and Clothing

Frederica argues that both men and women have a responsibility when it comes to impure thoughts in the male mind.




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Ultrasounds and Angels

Frederica compares seeing a baby via sonogram to angels seeing us from heaven.




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Gender

Frederica discusses the term "gender."




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Toxic Charity

Frederica discusses the book Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (and How to Reverse It) by Robert D. Lupton, published by HarperOne.




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The Meaning of Sex

Frederica delivers a speech at UC-Santa Barbara (sponsored by The Veritas Forum) titled "The Meaning of Sex."




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Transfiguration, Light, and an Icon

This week as we think about the Transfiguration of our Lord, Frederica has some interesting reflections on a particular icon of the Transfiguration from the apse of St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai. To view the icon, click HERE for a large image, and HERE for a smaller one.




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Interview with Emily Moore

College student Emily Moore interviews Frederica about her views on the pro-life movement, current social trends, thoughts on writing as a profession, as well as any recommendations for young single women of faith.




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The Role of the Monastic

Today Frederica is at the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in Wayne, WV, with her guest Fr. Seraphim. Who should be a monk and how does the monastic life contribute to the salvation of us all?




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From Pentecostal to Orthodox

Frederica interviews Dn. Barnabas Powell, the former pastor of a Pentecostal church, about his conversion to Orthodoxy.




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Prayers for the Departed

Frederica responds to a question about purgatory and explains why the Orthodox pray for the dead.




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The Angel Cried

In addition to treating us to a recording of the Holy Cross choir singing a beautiful rendition of this favorite hymn of Pascha, Frederica digs into the words of the hymn and its significance.




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The Fast

Frederica reflects on fasting and the rigor involved in all ascetic practices.




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Peter's Denial

Frederica reads the narrative of Peter's denial of Christ from St. Romanos the Melodist.




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In the Diner with Archbishop Lazar

The Double T Diner is the scene of Frederica's conversation with Archbishop Lazar, Abbot of the All Saints of North America Monastery in British Columbia. While waiting for their food to arrive, they have an insightful discussion about parish life.




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Welcome to the Orthodox Church

Frederica discusses her new book in which she uses a visit to a fictional parish, St. Felicity, to provide a basic introduction to the Orthodox Church.




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Nails in the Post

Frederica reads the story "Nails in the Post" by M. F. Cowdery, which can be found in the book The Moral Compass, edited by William J. Bennett.




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Nativity Paraklesis

Frederica presents the Nativity Paraklesis, recorded at her parish, Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church in Linthicum, Maryland.




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Wise Words from Isaac

Frederica shares some insights from her grandson Isaac, who was born blind but regained his sight after being baptized.




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Found Money

Frederica recounts two different occasions when she found a substantial amount of money on the ground.




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Escalator

Frederica encourages us to look for opportunities to grow spiritually by just allowing something to happen.




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C.S. Lewis on the Passion

Throughout the Passion, Christ experiences every one of the worst fears that the human race has.




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Orthodox with Aspergers

A parishioner at Frederica's parish who has Aspergers writes a letter to a listener who likewise has the syndrome.




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Coping with Thoughts of Doubt

Frederica shares a reply on the subject of doubt to a visitor to her website.




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Talking with a Spiritual Seeker

Frederica reads an email she wrote to an Orthodox priest who has had a couple of encounters with a man who enjoys challenging Christianity.




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Why Oppose Gay Marriage?

Frederica discusses a controversy that erupted online over her comment on gay marriage, and concludes that it is time for Christians to stand together on this issue.




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The Snow Queen

Frederica reads parts one and two of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, a tale told in seven stories.




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The Snow Queen (Continued)

Frederica reads part three of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, a tale told in seven stories.




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The Snow Queen (Continued)

Frederica reads part four of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, a tale told in seven stories.




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The Snow Queen (Conclusion)

Frederica reads parts five, six, and seven of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, a tale told in seven stories.




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Welcome to the Orthodox Church: Introduction

Frederica reads the introduction to her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.