Fr. Michael talks about the difference between inwardly-focused spiritual zeal and outwardly-focused emotional zeal.

This week, the guys discuss Marvel’s Doctor Strange and how the film handled transcendence, sacrifice, heroism, and love. They close with their top 5 fictional (medical) doctors of all time.

The guys recently watched Forks Over Knives, a documentary about the dangers of meat consumption. Join Steve and Christian as they discuss the film, the cultural importance of food, and the sacramental nature of all things. They close with their Top 5 Meals of All Time.

The girls take on Delia Owens’ novel, Where the Crawdads Sing. They discuss how love is central to the human experience, the duality of nature, and whether the heart is affected by concealing sin. They close with their Top 5 Outcasts.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on the gospel reading from the Sunday of the Canaanite Woman and the persistent humble faith that she exhibited.

In response to Christ’s statement about how hard it is for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God, the disciples were amazed and asked, “Who then can be saved?” The Lord responded, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” That is true not only for the wealthy, but for us all.

The veneration of icons should prod us all to wrestle with the question of who we are and who we want to become. Too often, however, we think that iconography simply has to do with wood and paint, and we ignore the question of whether we are becoming more beautiful icons of Christ. The icons are not merely examples of religious art, but reminders that to become truly human is to become like Jesus Christ, for He has healed the corruption of the human person that began with the first Adam.

Instead of obsessing over how we measure up, we should simply focus all our energies on finding healing for our passions as we reorient our disordered desires for fulfillment in God. If we persist in doing so and call out for the Lord’s mercy whenever we stumble and fall, we will come to know the joy of those liberated from the tomb, clothed in the divine glory, and finally in our right minds.

In order to take up our crosses, we must choose to embrace the struggle of dying to our vain illusions about ourselves and our world. Our hope is not in spiritual or moral perfection acquired merely by our own willpower, but in the gracious mercy of the One Who offered up Himself for our salvation purely out of love.

Fr John explains why “Lord, send me!” has its name, and challenges us with Isaiah 6.

Fr. John Parker reflects on his appearance on the new live call-in program entitled Faith Encouraged Live with Fr. Barnabas Powell. This is the first of two podcasts where he talks about effectively reaching out as a parish.

Fr. Josiah Trenham speaks about marriage at a parish retreat earlier this month at Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

Fr. John Parker analyzes the impact of love in two Super Bowl commercials, and exhorts us to comprehend the impact they have on our lives as Orthodox Christians.

This week, in the middle of the season of Luke’s gospel, and looking forward to Luke’s feast-day, we consider the many uses that Luke makes of the Old Testament Scriptures, and his careful attention to what “is written” there so that we may better know the LORD. His intimate knowledge of the Old Testament is an indication of its importance, and how we should aspire to know and understand it better.

This week, we consider the strange figure of Melchizedek in Hebrews 4:14-5:10, and read it in the light of Mark 8:27-9:1, Genesis 14, Isaiah 53 and Psalm 44/45. Why is this figure compared with our Lord, and how must we go beyond this comparison to embrace the cross?

What Do You Hear, Angel? by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson, illustrated by Masha Lobastov (Conciliar Press, 2011)

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

Fr. Ted explains that "the gospel" is the message that God came into the world, died for us on the cross, and then rose from the dead.

Fr. Theodore examines the first part of Sunday's Gospel. He explains that truth does not change according to culture or time period. Christian values, he explains, are absolute.

Fr. Ted assures us that the more time we commit to our spiritual life, the more we will get out of it.

Dr. John Karvelas speaks at the Greek Orthodox Metropolis Youth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada.

Fr. Ted calls us to receive from God all things that He knows we need for our salvation, not only what we ask for ourselves.

Fr. Ted reflects upon the offering that we make as we come into the House of God.

Fr. Ted discusses the importance of what we wear when we go to the House of God.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos speaks about the most important call for us in this life.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos reflects on the lives of Ss. Constantine and Helen and calls all Orthodox Christians to strive to become saints.

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

In our first interview with an Eastern Orthodox Bishop, Steve McMeans talks with His Grace, Bishop Joseph+, on what a bishop is; his calling, his ministry, and the role the monastic life can play for us all! Burn this on a disc, friends!

In this special 1 hour edition of The Illumined Heart, Kevin talks with Charles Ajalat. Mr. Ajalat is a powerful voice for Orthodox unity with a great deal of pan-Orthodox leadership experience. Currently chancellor and board member of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of America, he was also the architect of the historic Ligonier Meeting of Orthodox bishops in 1994—the first meeting of all twenty-nine bishops in North America. He is the founder of a Los Angeles law firm specializing in tax and litigation matters, and a graduate of Harvard University and the Law School at the University of California at Berkeley. He is a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles. More resources on this topic: Again Magazine (Winter 2003) Kevin's interview with Fr. Josiah Trenham Metropolitan PHILIP's keynote address at Antiochian Convention in Montreal (2007)

What can Evangelicals and Orthodox learn from each other is the subject of the 2nd section of our interview with His Eminence.

We ask God to forgive our sins and God tells us that His forgiveness is conditional on our forgiveness of others. But what does forgiveness really mean? Does it mean forgetting the offense entirely, or is it the intention to forgive that matters? What if we forgive, but the bitterness or the memory of the sin or offense comes back - have we not truly forgiven? Are we to repent of our sin once, or is it a continual process? These and other questions are the topic of the next Illumined Heart with guest Rev. Fr Tom Soroka.

You may be surprised by the answer from musicologist, composer, arranger, author and Sacred Music Department Committee member (Antiochian) Fr. John Finley!

How talking about anything — including violence and sexuality — can lead to consequences in others’ lives, intentionally and unintentionally. Read the transcript HERE.

In the first of a series on prayers to the saints, we begin to discuss how the Orthodox Church connects the dots of many aspects of what it means to be "in Christ" and a member of "the body of Christ." Are we worshipping the saints in prayer? Does Scripture forbid prayer to the dead? Can the living communicate with the dead? What is true prayer? These and many more issues will be discussed in light of Scripture over the next four programs.

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

It can seem sometimes that if we are not fasting, we are preparing to fast in the Orthodox Church. In part 1, Dn. Michael helps understand why we fast.

Dn. Michael continues his study on fasting in an age of self-gratification and excess.

Dn. Michael Hyatt continues his class series entitled "This Present Moment: Practicing Orthodox Spirituality in an Age of Distraction." Based on the book by Dr. Nicole Roccas—Time and Despondency—he defines despondency and differentiates it from depression.

This is lesson three in Dn. Michael Hyatt's class series "This Present Moment: Practicing Orthodox Spirituality in an Age of Distraction." He is teaching through the popular book by Dr. Nicole Roccas entitled Time and Despondency. Today he looks at the two ways of defining time: chronos and kairos.

In this week’s class, Dn. Michael considers Orthodox Thinking from four different perspectives: Ancient Greek literature, the Biblical text, the writings of the fathers, and the practice of ordinary Orthodox Christians.

El Padre Nicolás predicó sobre el llamado de Dios en nuestras vidas. Father Nicholas preached on the call of God in our lives.

Fr. Nicolaie shares a short story about forgiveness.

Fr. Roberto shares reflections on how we can only truly know what we have experienced.

Listen to a short reflection about R., whose life has been difficult as he lives for the Truth.

"The love he experienced, and still does, is deeper in his heart than the harm brought about by drugs."

With many of the autocephalous Churches meeting in Crete this week, some have wondered if this was another "Ecumenical Council" of the Orthodox Church. Fr. Lawrence Farley helps us understand that term.

Despite his often being stigmatized by later generations as “Doubting Thomas” there is nothing in his past record to indicate such a defect of character.