Is it possible to flee to the desert a little bit? No and yes. No, you can’t flee a little bit, for fleeing a little bit is not fleeing at all. But yes, you can flee a little bit, if that little bit is complete. Here’s what I mean. We are all called to flee the world, in the sense of fleeing the sinful ways of the world. But we are not all called to flee in the same way. St. Isaac the Syrian, also known as St. Isaac the Solitary, wrote letters and homilies for hermits, those who had fled the world in the most complete and literal way. Much of the wisdom of these letters and homilies can help anyone flee to the desert completely, even if they only flee completely a little bit.

Today we live in a time of uncertainty; but really, today is no more uncertain than yesterday nor the day or year or century before. Certainty is a kind of delusion. It is a delusion that conveniently forgets that there is much, much more going on in the world than we know and can see. How, then, can we live in peace when our life is enveloped in uncertainty? How do we escape the fear of uncertainty?

We live in a generation that has been taught to tie their personal identity to their imagined sexual preferences. Consequently, it is difficult to help people who struggle with sexual passions to find hope and repentance. However, the teaching of holy fathers such as St. Isaac the Syrian and St. Barsanuphius of Gaza provide a very helpful alternative to the world’s way of thinking about such passions. For these saints, same-sex attraction is a passion like any other. It is not part of one’s identity, but is a parasitical passion, resisted and struggled against as all other passions are.

Steve and Christian were asked to keynote the Mid-Atlantic Parish Life Conference, and rather than giving a lecture, they decided to do an episode of Pop Culture Coffee Hour! They discuss the big question of identity and its individual, communitarian, and cosmic sources, doing so through their favorite fictional universes of Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the MCU!

The One Who trampled down death by death purely out of love for His suffering children will never abandon us. If He can make someone like St. Mary of Egypt radiant with the divine glory through the desert, then there is hope for us all.

In this episode, Fr. John discusses ways in which papal supremacy led to the growing sense of crisis that preceded the Protestant Reformation.

In this reflection, Father John Strickland turns from secular humanism to reformational Christianity to see how Christendom's paradisiacal culture was subverted by both the Protestant "Counter-Reformation" and the Roman Catholic "Neo-Reformation." Ironically, Protestant fathers like Luther and Calvin did much to perpetuate the anthropological pessimism and cosmological contempt of their rivals like the earlier Pope Innocent III, opening the door even wider to the wholesale secularization of the West.

Bishop Rob is the Anglican Bishop of Edmonton and the former rector of St John's at Hackney. Bishop Rob explains how he, as rector of a parish church built for 2200 people, which was reduced in time to 50 souls, went about revitalizing the parish.

79. Book 1: "Meeting John" from The Bible for Young People by Zoe Kanavas (Narthex Press, 2005) (7.33 mins) Book 2: A Miracle in the Desert (The Publishing House of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, 2001) (4.23 mins )

150. The Ravens of Farne: A Tale of Saint Cuthbert by Donna Farley (Conciliar Press, 2009).

Fr. Ted reminds us that confession is a reconciliation.

Fr. Ted calls all Orthodox Christians to prayer and humility as the Holy and Great Council begins.

Listen in on this sublime conversation between renowned spiritual elder Father Zacharias (Zakarou), spiritual child of Elder Sophrony, and Kevin's guest host Father Josiah Trenham, senior pastor of St Andrew Orthodox Church, Riverside, California. This is one you won't want to miss!

Fr. Alexander Goussetis, priest, comparative religion professor, and interfaith dialogue participant and advocate, speaks with host Kevin Allen about his views on the purpose of interfaith dialogue with Jews, Muslims, and other non-Christians. Kevin asks: Does the Gospel call us to merely understand the faiths of non-Christians, to enter into dialogue with them with no agenda, or is the goal always to try to win those we dialogue with to Christ? Is it "Orthodox" to proselytize, or simply to be a holy witness? These and other questions will be addressed in this program.

6 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 are clinically infertile. Infertility presents a heartbreaking struggle for many Orthodox couples who wonder whether it is God's will for them to be childless, or whether new fertility technologies (and which ones?) are appropriate. In this edition Kevin speaks with Orthodox theologian and ethicist Fr. John Breck about infertility and what options Orthodox Christian couples have to deal with it within an Orthodox context.

Fr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor and CEO of St. Vladimir's Seminary, explains the reasoning behind the school's upcoming conference on poverty.

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and noted author Jay Richards was the keynote speaker at the Conference on Poverty, May 31 - June 1, 2013, at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Co-hosted by the Acton Institute, the event featured speakers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who offered fresh ideas for Orthodox Christians on how to effectively minister to the poor. Other speakers and panelists included Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, St. Vlad's alumnus and officer in the National Council of Churches; Seminary Trustee Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis; Fr Philip LeMasters, Dean of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University in Abilene, TX; Michael Miller of the Poverty Cure at Acton; John Couretas of Acton; and director of FOCUS North America in Pittsburgh, Subdeacon Paul Abernathy.

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and noted author Jay Richards was the keynote speaker at the Conference on Poverty, May 31 - June 1, 2013, at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Co-hosted by the Acton Institute, the event featured speakers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who offered fresh ideas for Orthodox Christians on how to effectively minister to the poor. Other speakers and panelists included Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, St. Vlad's alumnus and officer in the National Council of Churches; Seminary Trustee Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis; Fr Philip LeMasters, Dean of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University in Abilene, TX; Michael Miller of the Poverty Cure at Acton; John Couretas of Acton; and director of FOCUS North America in Pittsburgh, Subdeacon Paul Abernathy.

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and noted author Jay Richards was the keynote speaker at the Conference on Poverty, May 31 - June 1, 2013, at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Co-hosted by the Acton Institute, the event featured speakers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who offered fresh ideas for Orthodox Christians on how to effectively minister to the poor. Other speakers and panelists included Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, St. Vlad's alumnus and officer in the National Council of Churches; Seminary Trustee Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis; Fr Philip LeMasters, Dean of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University in Abilene, TX; Michael Miller of the Poverty Cure at Acton; John Couretas of Acton; and director of FOCUS North America in Pittsburgh, Subdeacon Paul Abernathy.

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and noted author Jay Richards was the keynote speaker at the Conference on Poverty, May 31 - June 1, 2013, at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Co-hosted by the Acton Institute, the event featured speakers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who offered fresh ideas for Orthodox Christians on how to effectively minister to the poor. Other speakers and panelists included Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, St. Vlad's alumnus and officer in the National Council of Churches; Seminary Trustee Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis; Fr Philip LeMasters, Dean of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University in Abilene, TX; Michael Miller of the Poverty Cure at Acton; John Couretas of Acton; and director of FOCUS North America in Pittsburgh, Subdeacon Paul Abernathy.

In this inaugural episode of the relaunch of the Voices of St Vladimir's podcast, we hear from Dr. Albert Rossi, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services and most senior faculty member at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Dr. Rossi is beloved by generations of seminarians and well-known to the wider Orthodox world through his podcast Becoming a Healing Presence, his books, and his many, many speaking engagements at parishes, conferences, and youth events over the years. In this conversation, Dr. Rossi speaks with Sarah Werner about his life, conversion process, his relationship with his dear departed wife, his close friendship with Fr. Thomas Hopko, his reflections on his many years at St. Vladimir's Seminary counseling students, and his favorite reading recommendations. Listen now to encounter Dr. Rossi in a one-on-one setting as he shares stories and wisdom from his many years of caring ministry in the Church.

Carta: Heb 11: 9-10, 32-40, Evangelio Mt 1: 1-25 El Padre Nicholas predicó unirse a Cristo y hacer su voluntad. Letter: Heb 11: 9-10, 32-40, Gospel: Mt 1: 1-25 Father Nicholas preached to join Christ and do his will.

Fr. Lawrence asks if we should be trying to convert those of other faiths or not faith to Christianity.

Every so often one encounters something that breaks the head as well as the heart. By that I refer to things that not only wring the heart with grief, but also confound the head because they are so perversely stupid. One such thing is the recent conversion of a Tasmanian Orthodox priest by the name of David Gould who had been Orthodox for 45 years and who then converted to Islam two years after becoming a priest. He now goes by the name of Abdul Rahman.

The method by which the Orthodox Church receives converts is a very controversial topic, and one which has provoked much online discussion. Should a convert be received by baptism, by chrismation alone, or perhaps simply after a recantation of previously-held errors? All three methods have been used in the past. And which groups should be received in which ways? Should the Oriental Orthodox (such as Copts and Armenians) be received in the same way as Pentecostals? What about Roman Catholics? The issue is far from clear, and has usually generated much more heat than light.

Fr. Apostolos shares from 1 Corinthians 3, reminding us that our bodies belong to the Lord, "The temple of God is holy, and that is what you are."

On Graduation Sunday, Fr. Apostolos speaks to the spiritual desert into which our graduates enter when they leave home for college or the workplace.

Fr. Apostolos Hill gave a recap of the vitality of our young ones' faith alongside the pitfalls awaiting those whose spiritual development is neglected in the home or parish. Stay Alert, Stay Alive was the theme of All Saints Camp (Arizona) this past week.

The parable of the Lazarus and the Rich Man is a story rich with lessons about life and about death. Fr Thomas focuses on the implications of living with unprecedented wealth in our modern society.

Today's sermon is given by Dn. Christopher speaking about Saint Mary of Egypt, one of the greatest examples of personal repentance that we have.

On a new “classics” edition of Ex Libris, the podcast of Ancient Faith Publishing, we re-explore one of the more timeless AFP offerings. Featured today is the book We Came, We Saw, We Converted: The Lighter Side of Orthodoxy in America by Fr. Joseph Huneycutt.

Bobby Maddex interviews Laura Jansson, author of the new AFP book Fertile Ground: A Pilgrimage Through Pregnancy.

Dr. Reynolds talks about experts, how one should deal with real experts, and how to spot fake ones.

Dr. Rossi interviews Fr. David Mezynski about a course he taught at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary about the Desert Mothers of the Church.

Dr. Albert Rossi discusses the difference between introverts and extroverts.

Dr. Albert Rossi interviews Fr. David Mezynski, Associate Dean for Student Affairs at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, on the book titled Harlots of the Desert by Benedicta Ward.

Dr. Albert Rossi shares his reflections on the book titled In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers by Fr. John Chryssavgis.

Dr. Albert Rossi interviews Fr. David Mezynski on the topic of Sobriety and the Desert Fathers. Fr. David is the former Dean of Students at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and is currently working as a social worker in Rochester, New York.

Fr. Philip LeMasters marvels at how central the balance of the masculine and the feminine is to our Orthodox faith and spiritual life.

To fully appreciate St. John the Forerunner, says Fr. Lawrence Farley, we need to place him in his historical context and to realize that he came to Israel as a thunderstorm at the end of a long drought.

Learn about the Tackling Poverty With the Polamalu Family campaign under the auspices of Focus North America (The Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve). Kevin Allen interviews Focus NA board member Theodora Polamalu and her NFL husband Troy.