This week, the guys talk about the Russian novel, Laurus. They discuss issues of transcendence and transformation, hope and healing, and as usual, a big fat dose of death and resurrection. They conclude with their Top 5 Stories of Redemption.

The guys take on Isaac Asimov’s classic sci-fi short story, “The Last Question.” They discuss ever-changing views on technology, the inherent meaning in God’s act of creation, and the answer to the ultimate question: what happens when we die? They close with their Top 5 Characters with Artificial Intelligence.

The girls discuss the Broadway-to-Silver-Screen musical, Dear Evan Hansen. They touch on themes such as the role of social media in trying to be authentic, the complexity of the human person, and the need for community in support.

Is the cross a symbol of death or life, victory or defeat? This Lent we are called once again to take up our cross and follow our Savior, setting us free from the fear of death.

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.

Whenever we give our time, resources, or attention to help anyone who is in need in any way, we embrace an opportunity to serve our Savior and participate more fully in His life.

As we continue to celebrate Theophany in a world that remains in “the region and shadow of death,” let us focus mindfully on living each day as those who have died to sin and risen with our Lord to a life of holiness. That is how we may wear a garment of light and become living epiphanies of the salvation of the world.

Today we celebrate that the Lord is at hand, for He is coming into Jerusalem as the Messiah, hailed by the crowds as their Savior. He does not come to usher in an earthly reign or to serve any nationalistic or political agenda. He enters Jerusalem on a donkey, a humble beast of burden, carrying no weapons and having no army. He had no well-oiled political machine to tell the powerful people what they wanted to hear or to manipulate the masses. His Kingdom was and is not of this world.

We are baptized into Christ’s death in order to rise up with Him into a life of holiness in which we regain the robe of light rejected by our first parents. In every aspect of our lives, we must become radiant with the divine glory shared with us by the New Adam.

Today we celebrate that the Lord is at hand, coming into Jerusalem as the Messiah, hailed by the crowds as their Savior. He enters Jerusalem on a humble beast of burden, carrying no weapons and having no army, political machine, or media campaign to flatter the powerful and play on the fears, resentments, and hopes of the masses.

Let us look to the Savior’s raising of the son of the widow of Nain as a sign that we must entrust ourselves only to the One Who has conquered the grave, for slavery to the fear of death is the reason that it is so appealing to entrust ourselves to false gods as a distraction from facing the truth about ourselves and our world.

Fr. John interviews Fr. John Dunlop, Dean of St. Herman’s Seminary, Kodiak, Alaska, about the seminary, the incredible Archives (which include the handwritten documents of St. Innocent as well as the journals of St. Iakov Netsvyetov), and his own missionary work in the villages.

Fr. John encourages us to reflect on death and preparation for life eternal.

Fr. John Parker shares insight on some of his visits to Death Row.

As we approach Lent, we are confronted by Jesus’ parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25, and Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 8 about making good judgments in life. We see these two passages illumined by the prophet Ezekiel’s parable of the Shepherd and the sheep.

This week we consider Revelation 17 in the light of Jeremiah’s words concerning historical Babylon. The dark mystery of the visionary Babylon instructs us on the unreal nature of human and demonic power when it is sought in defiance of the living God.

We read the fourth of the six Orthros psalms of penitence, Psalm 87 (LXX)/88 (MT), looking to Jesus as the “perfect Die-er” who brings light to the whole world, showing wonders even to the dead! This heavy psalm is understood through the similarly difficult passages of Luke 2:29-35, 2 Cor 5:21, Gal 3:13, John 12:20b-36, and Psalm 21(LXX) /22 (MT).

1. In her inaugural broadcast, Chrissi reads her own composition for younger children - Under the Grapevine: A Miracle by St. Kendeas of Cyprus (Conciliar Press 2006) and for the older children part 1 of The Boy, a Kitchen, and His Cave by Catherine K. Contopoulos (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press 2002).

"The Death of John" from The Bible for Young People by Zoe Kanavas (Narthex Press, 2005)

145. Under the Grapevine: A Miracle by Saint Kendeas of Cyprus by Chrissi Hart (Concilar Press, 2006).

Fr. Ted discusses what you will see in Divine Liturgy that includes an ordination.

Fr. Ted reflects upon the recent bombing in a Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egyptd during the Divine Liturgy.

Fr. Ted examines all of the actions that we do as a Church when someone leaves this world.

Fr. Ted concludes his series on Orthodox life.

Fr. Ted differentiates the deacon's vestments from those of the reader and the priest, and then explains why vestments are worn.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos calls us to keep focused on the eternal kingdom even in the midst of the distractions of this life.

In this episode, Kevin and Father Steven C. Kostoff discuss two views of the afterlife that separate the New Age/Eastern/Gnostic from the central historic Christian belief.

On this encore program from 2008, Kevin speaks with Fr. Jonathon Ivanoff, Secretary of the Department of Evangelization of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) about the "life cycle" of parishes and how to know whether your parish is thriving, dying or dead on the vine -- and what can be done about it!

Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimir's Orthodox seminary, addresses the controversial subject of "toll houses" in this highly animated half-hour discussion with our co-hosts.

The Death To The World crew reports back on their week at Cornerstone 2009 - the largest Christian rock festival in the world. This is the third year DTTW has set up shop in the exhibitors area as an Orthodox outreach at this largely Evangelical youth gathering. John Valadez, Gary Allen and Julia Gatalskaya report to host Kevin Allen that the 'times they are a' changing' in the world of contemporary Christian youth, reflecting a broader trend towards ancient faith!

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 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.

Archpriest Chad Hatfield, the chancellor of St. Vladimir's Seminary, interviews Fr. Lawrence Farley, author of the new St. Vladimir's Seminary Press book Feminism and Tradition: Quiet Reflections on Ordination and Communion, about deaconesses and the true extent of their role in Orthodox Church history. Enter discount code FT20 during checkout to receive a 20% discount on Fr. Farley's book.

Sponsored by the St. Ambrose Society, a student interest group at St. Vladimir's Seminary, this is a lecture by Dr. Ryan Sampson Nash, the Director of the Ohio State University Center for Bioethics.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Sarah interviews Deacon (soon-to-be Priest) Giorgi Lomsadze, a third-year M.Div. student from the Republic of Georgia. Dn Giorgi shares his path beginning with studying medieval Georgian literature in his home country, to bringing his family to New York to undertake a Master of Arts to better understand liturgical theology as a way to further his academic career, and then, through his experience of the liturgical life at seminary, discovering his calling to priestly ministry. Giorgi also shares the joy and beauty of raising a family immersed in the community and chapel life at seminary, talks about his hopes for his future parish assignment, and gives his thoughts on the challenges and benefits of experiencing Orthodoxy online.

Steve discusses his death at birth, his life-long desire to be old, his "death wish," and what it means to "live is Christ and to die is gain."

Fr. Seraphim joins Fr. Evan to tackle questions and also talks about the founding of the first Orthodox monastery in the Celtic Isles of Scotland in a thousand years. Hear Fr. Seraphim on his own podcast, too: Through a Monk's Eyes.

Dn. Mark presents the Orthodox Christian perspective on death.

Dn. Mark explains that everything the world teaches is the exact opposite of what the Church teaches, particularly when it come to death. Only Orthodox Christianity resolves the problem of death.

Dn. Mark discusses what happens physically when a loved one approaches a natural death.

Only those who suffer and speak the universal language of the heart can help others who suffer.

Listen to excerpts from this past Sunday's bulletin at St. John the Compassionate Mission, serving the most vulnerable in Toronto.

Puzzled about what to give the foodies on your list? Join Martha for some gift ideas that can meet every skill level and interest and possibly keep you out of the mall!

I am told that during a very interesting and well-run radio show about deaconesses, it was agreed (or at least widely thought) that Phoebe, mentioned famously in Romans 16:1, was a deaconess. But was she?

What should we do when thoughts come? The Psalms will help wash your heart of the distractions and you will reach the point where you can pray better.

At every post-Resurrection appearance, the Lord Jesus Christ greets His Disciples with the words "Peace be with you! Do not be afraid!" Fr Thomas teaches us that because of Christ's destruction of the sting of death by His own death, and our participation in His death and resurrection through our baptism, we have nothing to fear, not even death itself!

The raising of the Widow of Nain's Son is a dramatic scene where the Power of Life confronts the reality of death. Fr Thomas reminds us that we experience this encounter every time we participate in the Divine Liturgy, entering into the presence of the One Who has victory over Hades and death. (Our apologies for the poor audio quality of this recording.)