He was the son and appointed heir of Leuvgild, King of the Visigoths, who had embraced the Christianity of the Arian heretics. But through the teaching of Bishop Leander of Seville (February 27), Hermengild was converted to the fullness of the Orthodox faith, for which his father the King had him thrown in prison. On the day of Pascha 486, the King sent one of his priests to give his son communion. But Hermengild refused, proclaiming that to commune with heretics is to assent to their belief and to sink into their error; going further, he told the priest that the heretics' communion was nothing but bread and wine, for the Body and Blood of Christ are found only in the Offering made by the Church. The enraged King sent soldiers, who at his orders put his own son to death. Later, the King repented of this inhuman deed and asked Bishop Leander to instruct his youngest son Recared in the Orthodox faith. Thus the Visigoth people was brought into the Faith.

He was the son and appointed heir of Leuvgild, King of the Visigoths, who had embraced the Christianity of the Arian heretics. But through the teaching of Bishop Leander of Seville (February 27), Hermengild was converted to the fullness of the Orthodox faith, for which his father the King had him thrown in prison. On the day of Pascha 486, the King sent one of his priests to give his son communion. But Hermengild refused, proclaiming that to commune with heretics is to assent to their belief and to sink into their error; going further, he told the priest that the heretics' communion was nothing but bread and wine, for the Body and Blood of Christ are found only in the Offering made by the Church. The enraged King sent soldiers, who at his orders put his own son to death. Later, the King repented of this inhuman deed and asked Bishop Leander to instruct his youngest son Recared in the Orthodox faith. Thus the Visigoth people was brought into the Faith.

Addressing alumni and seminarians at St. Tikhon's Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, during the year-opening retreat, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick challenges them to have conversations with the non-Orthodox and not to settle for falling into either polemic or compromise, showing how engagement is instead the traditional Orthodox patristic posture.

OCF Student Podcast Assistant Nathan Jekel is joined by Maria McClatchey and Andrew Abboud to discuss St. Matthew's account of Peter walking on the water and what it means for our Christian lives. Also in this episode, Nathan, Maria, and Andrew give a preview of the topics that they will be discussing on the program throughout the remainder of the academic year and ask listeners to send in questions to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)/**/.

Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh begin a 2 part series on the family. You'll find some very practical tips for managing family life in our times. Listen to this episode and mark your calendar for part 2 on October 23 at 7:00pm Central on the Talk Station.

In part 2 of Strengthening Our Families, Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh offer 15 very practical steps to help your family live together in harmony.

Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh spend the hour talking about our relationships and how we can strengthen them. Listen for some very practical tips!

When reviled, we bless. When insulted, we forgive - St. Paul

Just back from five weeks in the United Kingdom, Fr. Joseph shares from his travelogue on the Saints—and others—he encountered there. In other words, what do Joseph of Arimathea, Patrick of Ireland, Elder Sophrony, King Arthur, and Ron Weasley all have in common?

One of the challenges of our present spiritual situation is that our society has settled for something less than truth. This affects the quality of our opinions, policies, and judgments and undermines our ability to live and spread the Gospel. An indicator of the seriousness of this is our growing inability to listen to, learn from, and love people who think differently than we do. In this presentation, I frame the situation as a problem of discernment, compare scientific and Orthodox methods of knowing, and describe how polarization keeps us from using either well. I conclude with a discussion of the critical role diversity plays in discerning truth, and how the Gospel can transform the (Babelic) divisions that deafen us to the truth into a (Pentecostal) harmony that proclaims and celebrates it. Emulating the academic forum the paper was written for (the 2020 Institute for Studies in Eastern Theology), Dn. Timothy Kelleher then offers his thoughts on the presentation and subject. Enjoy the show!

Fr. Anthony talks frankly with Fr. Gregory Jensen, PhD, about the how the selection of priests affects the quality of priestly ministry. From narcissism to the built-in preference for agreeableness - it's all grist for the mill. Enjoy the show!

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.

The man in today’s gospel reading would never have found healing had he chosen to remain as he had been for thirty-eight years. Lying still for a long time makes us weak and unable to move on our own.

We must never think that the vocation to holiness is reserved exclusively for some people, perhaps the clergy, the monastics, or only the great saints.

As we celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross, let us examine ourselves to see if our lives appear foolish and scandalous by the standards of the world because of our faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” These words from the brokenhearted father in today’s gospel lesson resonate with all of us who are honest about what the deep challenges of our lives reveal about our spiritual state.

When we truly know that we are the chief of sinners and recognize that our very existence is dependent upon the mercy of the Lord, then we will no longer be driven to condemn anyone else.

In this episode Father John explores the way in which the loss of sacramental experience among Calvinists led to the rise of a political ideology that would unintentionally lay the foundation for utopia.

Our readings for the eleventh Sunday of Matthew (1 Corinthians 9:1-12, Matthew 18:23-25) happily correspond this year with our remembrance of the Holy Prophet and last of the Judges of Israel, Samuel. Parts of his story in 1 Samuel/Kingdoms 12 and 28, plus words about him in Psalm 98 (LXX)/99 and Sirach 46, help us understand more deeply God’s character of justice and forgiveness, exemplified in the prophet. We, too, are called to this pattern as we respond to the problems of our day, including the social unrest and violence of this week.

We hear Jesus’ words to Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) in the light of the prophets Amos (2:4-12, 5:16-20, 6:1) and Isaiah (42:3), considering that divine warnings are meant to lead to repentance, and that we are invited to participate in the strengthening help that Christ gives His Church.

Fr. Ted discusses the necessity of icons in worship.

Fr. Ted speaks at an adult lenten retreat at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Toronto, Ontario.

Steve and Kevin interview syndicated columnist Rod Dreher about today's Islamic faith. Buckle up!

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

On its return to Orthodox Education Day at St. Vladimir's Seminary October 6, 2018, the Boston Byzantine Choir, directed by Charles R. Marge, delivered a beautiful performance at Three Hierarchs Chapel in celebration of the choir's own 25th anniversary.

Domingo 28 de septiembre Pd. Nicolás predicó que nosotros necesitamos a provechar cada dia que tenemos y tener una fe con vida. Él propusó que cada uno de nosotros podemos ser activo para hacer lo que es bueno. (2 C or. 6:1-10) Sunday September 28 Fr. Nicholas preached that we need to take advantage of every day that we have and have a faith that is alive. He proposed that everyone of us can be active in order to do that which is good. (2 Cor. 6:1-10)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre el poder de la resurrección para guiarnos en una vida de rectitud. No debes robar. (Hechos 5:1-11) Fr. Nicholas preached about the power of the resurrection which guides in the life of rectitude. One should not steal. (Acts 5:1-11)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre la importancia de limpiar nuestros pensamientos y corazones para saber bien que es la voluntad de Dios. (Filipenses. 2:5-11) Fr. Nicholas preached about the importance of cleansing our minds and hearts in order to know with clarity the will of God. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre la importancia para tener gozo en nuestros corazones y no dejar las cosas del mundo a quitar nuestra alegría. (Lucas 9:18-22) Fr. Nicholas preached about the importance of having joy in our hearts and not to let the temptations of the world take away our happiness. (Luke 9:18-22)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre el Dios todo consiente. Nuestro Señor sabe todo entonces no tratas a esconderte. (Efesios 4:1-7) Fr. Nicholas preached about the all knowing God. Our Lord knows all therefore do not try to hide. (Ephesians 4:1-7)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre necesitamos a mantener el mensaje de Dios en nuestros almas para todo nuestra vida. (1 Corintios 16:13-24) Fr. Nicholas preached about how we need to keep the message of God in our souls for all of our life. (1 Corinthians 16:13-24)

Pd. Nicholas predicó sobre la importancia de defender la verdad y mantenga nuestra fe firme. Marcos 15:43-16:8 Fr. Nicholas preached about the importance to defend the truth and remain firm in our faith. Mark 15:43-16:8

Padre Nicholas predica que ocupamos a mantener la calma, y enfocarnos en Dios. Si hacemos eso, vamos a recibir un premio grandísimo. Mateo 10:32-38 Fr. Nicholas preached on how we should keep calm, and focus on God. If we do this, we will receive a grand prize. Matthew 10:32-38

Padre Nicholas predica que ocupamos mantener el Amor de Dios, para tener una vida de amor. Efesios 4:1-7 Fr. Nicholas preaches that we need to keep the love of God, to have a life full of love. Ephesians 4:1-7

Carta: Ef 4: 1-7, Evangelio Lc 12: 16-21 El Padre Nicholas predicó sobre escuchar la llamada de Dios. Letter: Ef 4: 1-7, Gospel: Lk 12: 16-21 Father Nicholas preached about listening to God’s call.

Martha discusses the importance of fasting within the context of a community.

Fr. Apostolos shares about real strength from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians.

Fr. Apostolos Hill shares a homily centered on the Epistle reading and St. Paul's admonition that we exercise the spiritual gifts given to us for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Sermon on the Leavetaking of the Elevation of the Precious Cross (Galatians 2:16-20; Mark 8:34-9:1)

Jesus is given various titles in the New Testament: Teacher, Master, Lord and others. Fr Tom reminds us that, as Orthodox Christians, we must strive to approach God for not only who He really is, but who we really are too. (Thirty-first Sunday after Pentecost)

On the Sunday before the Elevation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, the Church presents readings to prepare us to celebrate the feast. Fr Thomas reminds us that the Cross is lifted up in our midst to encourage us and to show us how to become more faithful and loving.

The gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent is about the healing of the demon-possessed boy. In it, we can all relate to the pleading of the boy's father: "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!" To help us in our Lenten journey, Father Thomas gives us three practical ways to strengthen and deepen our faith, taken directly from this Sunday's readings.

How can we find the power of God and strength amidst feelings of weakness and persecution? Fr. Thomas urges us to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles, and saints as we find ourselves in a world opposed to the Christian life.

Leading into the feast of Theophany, Fr. Tom calls to remembrance the Forerunner and how he points us to repentance in order to see clearly our Savior in the Holy Trinity.