Fr. Josiah Trenham speaks about the connection between church building consecration and people consecration at a clergy retreat for the Carolina Deanery of the Orthodox Church in America.

We read Hebrews 1:10-2:3 and Mark 2:1-12 shows how the arrival of God the Son in our midst was wholly unanticipated, something completely new, helped by hints in Psalm 101 (102 MT) and Daniel 7.

Our readings for this week hold together in tension two key teachings: that everything is by God’s initiative, and that we are called to respond. God is sovereign, and yet looks for our cooperation. We see these teachings in Matthew 4:18-23 and Romans 2:10-16, illumined by numerous OT passages, including Isa 53:2-5, the Song of the Suffering Servant.

Looking at the heart of things clearly a principle of the Old Testament as well as the New. But in the NT, we learn also that God has concern for the material world and for the details of life, for in the Incarnation He took on all that it is to be human. We read our passages for Divine Liturgy in the light of other Old and New Testament readings that help us to see things in perspective. (Galatians 6:11-18; Luke 12:16-21; 1 Chronicles 28:9)

Daring to be Different: Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Second of Luke, and feast day of the Apostle Ananias. Our readings for this week (2 Cor 6:16-18, 7:1; Luke 6:31-36) bring us face-to-face with an uncomfortable part of our faith: we are to be “holy” or different. We look to the challenge God gives to Israel in Exodus, and the promises to fulfill this holiness in the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel to help us to understand our calling.

We consider the astonishing resurrectional hymns in the second tone, and understand their dramatic language in the light of the book of Job, the prophecy of Isaiah, and the Transfiguration narratives.

We read Revelation 13:11-18 in light of current interpretation (even among Orthodox readers), the fathers, and LXX Daniel “Bel and the Dragon,” 12b: 1-42. This chapter is not significant for identifying in our day the figure numbered 666 nor the mark of the beast. Instead, it prepares us for faithfulness, the possibility of exclusion or even martyrdom, and sober worship of the God of all.

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.

Fr. Ted explains that secularism is when we live according to how we want to live.

Fr. Ted speaks to us of the wall of faith that cannot be destroyed.

As many as 30%+ of Iraqi's 4.2 million displaced refugees are Christian. They are being persecuted from all sides of the conflict. Amal Morcos of IOCC recently returned from Syria and Lebanon and reports first hand on what the U.N. calls "the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world."

The Saint Vladimir's Seminary community entered into its annual two-day Lenten Retreat March 2 and 3, 2020. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All America and Canada (Orthodox Church in America), delivered four reflections over the two days loosely built around his own experience of life in community.

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)

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

In the gospel reading for the second Sunday of Great Lent, Christ heals a man of debilitating paralysis. But Fr Tom reminds us that Jesus reveals something even more important, that He forgives sins as the eternal Son of God. (Second Sunday of Great Lent - Healing of the Paralytic)

Using the stories of the healing of the woman with the flow of blood and the raising of Jairus's daughter, Fr Thomas points out that the only answer to the empty promises of the world and its false philosophies is faith in Christ. (Lk 8:41-56)

In this final sermon on the Beatitudes, Fr. Gregory says that persecution can be an occasion of great blessedness.

Fr. Emmanuel Kahn gives the sermon on the Feast of the Birth of the Theotokos.

In the third installment on the general topic of asceticism, Dr. Rossi addresses the subtle temptation to slip into secularism.

St. John Chrysostom’s 19th homily on St. Matthew’s Gospel account addresses Christ’s promise of open rewards for secret acts—but what does this mean? In this broadcast, we explore the words of St. John on secret acts of virtue being shown forth "in the presence of the whole universe."

We talk with Fr. Luke Veronis about the upcoming conference "Speaking to Secular America" to be held October 28-30 at Hellenic College Holy Cross Seminary in Brookline, MA. More information is available from the Missions Institute.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dr. George Demacopoulos and Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou of Fordham University. Dr. Demacopoulos is the Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies at Fordham and Dr. Papanikolaou is the Archbishop Demetrios Chair of Orthodox Theology and Culture. Together they co-founded and co-direct Fordham's Orthodox Christian Studies Center.

Bobby Maddex interviews Alexei Krindatch, the National Coordinator for the Second US Census of Orthodox Christian Churches and also a member of the national oversight committee for the 2020 US Religion Census.

Fr. Pat uses Aristotle's four causes to explore the consecrated life of the Mother of God.

Fr. Pat looks at three images of the Church found in 1 Corinthians 3 and Matthew 14.

Each of us is the servant of the Lord, which means that we do not belong to ourselves. And if we do not belong to ourselves, we certainly do not belong to the world, we belong to God.

On the occasion of the third night of Hanukkah, Fr. Pat talks about the divisions God built into creation, about the consecration and desecration of sacred space, and about dedication of God's temple and of ourselves.

Host Kevin Allen talks with Faith McDonnell and Ralph H. Sidway about the rising tide of Christian intolerance and genocide—the intentional killing of people for their Christian faith—and why global Christophobia is rarely covered by Western media or addressed by the United Nations. Faith McDonnell is the Director of Religious Liberty Programs at the Institute for Religion and Democracy and the author of the book Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda's Children. Her blog is titled "Juicy Ecumenism." Ralph H. Sidway is the author of Facing Islam and the blog of the same name.

So the Church is persecuted? Nothing new there - Herod and St. Paul both did their best to rid the world of the faith. Today the same happens but the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church though it grows smaller in some places and greater in others. Maintain Faith, never retaliate, love the enemies, pray for them.

St. Paul reminds us to concentrate on those things that will last for ever. Mark's Gospel today shows us that we have to work hard to come to the feet of Christ. God bless your Lenten struggle! Hebrews 1:10-2;3, Mark 2:1-12

To you has been given... Titus 3:8-15, Luke 8: 5-15

Today, I sit down with the Head of Deliverability at ConvertKit, Alyssa Dulin, to shed some light on the often mysterious game of getting your email into the right inbox. Alyssa’s expertise about what creators need to focus on and the most recent developments in the email marketing space can truly take your company’s reach […]

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller looks at the team and the sacrifices behind "absolute tennis keeno" Jack Draper's run to the US Open semi-finals.

England's Liz Young wins the Women's Indian Open by one shot to claim her second Ladies European Tour title.

Ding Junhui beats Xu Si 9-6 to set up a final against Chris Wakelin at the International Championship in Nanjing.

Australia claim a Pacific Cup double as their men and women both win the tournament.

But the South African parliament's speaker will decide whether vote will be held in secret.

The Tory leader attacks the prime minister over the National Insurance rise, but he says she is resorting to a "magic money tree".

The arrival of a "fanatical" group in the late 18th Century was a key moment in Crocketford's history.

Conservative MP Alex Burghart has defended not visiting Northern Ireland during his time as shadow secretary.

Despite raising £70,000, a group against second home planning permission cannot launch appeal.

The man in charge of the spit roast reveals how Gladiator celebrated after the battle.

A first win in the Premier League for 22 years lifts Town out of the relegation zone.

A sailing club thanks supporters after raising £30,000 towards the cost of a new slipway.

It changed the course of the First World War.

Paul Waring birdies the final two holes to win the Abu Dhabi Championship by two shots from fellow Englishman Tyrell Hatton.