In this episode, we hear a Christmas letter from Fr. Nicolaie about two things, no three things, St. John the Compassionate Mission can count on.

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

Reflections written by Fr. Nicolaie.

Martha begins the new year listing a few basics she hopes her children learn before entering adulthood.

Martha is back, and she recounts what she has been doing since her last episode, including experiencing a car crash, preparing mercy meals, and celebrating a wedding.

In the late Metropolitan’s Kallistos Ware’s classic The Orthodox Church, he describes the Church as “a continued Pentecost”. This is true, but it is important not to misunderstand his meaning.

Many years ago, when I was tucking my eldest daughter into bed, she asked me a question: “Dad, why do we believe in the Resurrection?” I have always taught both my daughters to be strong and to think for themselves, and so I was happy to hear the question, and I answered it as best as I could, giving the historical evidence. At the end of it all, she said, “Oh, good. I was afraid you were going to say that we should believe in it because it was in the Bible.” No chance of that; Dad is not a fideist, nor a fan of circular reasoning. The case for Christianity is a strong one, and can withstand historical scrutiny. Here I would like to set out the case for Christianity in somewhat fuller terms than I did that night so long ago.

In my previous piece, “Why I Am a Christian (Part 1)” I examined the question of why one should believe in the physical Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. I looked at the essential historical reliability of the Gospels portraits of Jesus and His claims to be God. I concluded that given the number and audacity of those claims, there were only three live options on the table: either He was a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. I suggested that His many miracles made sense of and supported the third option.

Recently I heard a very dark and serious song about the judgment of God and His wrath against sinners. It was the folk song “Great God Almighty’s Gonna Cut You Down” (accessed here). I was not aware of the song before; apparently it is an American folk song. The oracular Wikipedia informs me that it was first recorded by the Golden Gate Quartet in 1946 and issued in 1947 by the Jubalairies, and since then has been covered by a variety of singers in country, folk, electronic, and black metal genres, including such singers as Johnny Cash, Tom Jones, and Elvis Presley. It takes some imagination to contemplate someone singing both about blue suede shoes and the wrath of God, but that’s America for you.

It has been suggested to me that in many (most?) Evangelical circles one becomes a Christian “by accepting the finished work of Christ”—i.e. by believing and accepting as true that on the cross Jesus paid the full price due our sin and by saying a prayer acknowledging this.

Fr. Apostolos Hill discusses the book "God and the Pandemic' by Anglican bishop N.T. Wright. This book, as Fr. Apostolos notes, is written for us to consider the Christian response to this crisis as one of lamentation.

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

In the story of the Samaritan Woman at Jacob's Well, Jesus has a life-changing conversation with her. Fr Thomas reminds us that each one of us needs to have this conversation with God, which can ultimately lead us to put Him first above all things. (Fifth Sunday of Pascha)

The scriptural readings for the eighth Sunday after Pentecost reveal a clear picture of who we are to be in Christ. St Paul teaches us that we are to be of the same mind, while St Matthew records the miracle of feeding the 5,000. Fr Thomas teaches us that we must consciously reject the choices the world presents to us, but rather fully immerse ourselves into the Church's life, which is transforming us into the likeness of God.

The Gospel reading for the fifth Sunday of Lent relates the story of the audacious question posed by the apostles James and John, who asked for glorification without first drinking the cup of humiliation. Fr Thomas reminds us that this basic principle of the Christian life proves true even for seemingly mundane things that we might mistakenly think are unimportant, like going to church to worship.

On the Sunday of All Saints, Fr. Tom reminds us that our sainthood can only be achieved through dying to the world and pursuing a life of true discipleship in the bosom of the Church.

God alone is perfectly righteous but by His grace we are also able to acquire our own righteousness through active participation in and collaboration with Him.

Today Fr. Gregory combines his children's sermon and his adult sermon to illustrate the importance of the cross.

Fr. Gregory Hallam talks about the real St. Nick!

Fr. Gregory is in Ireland for the commemoration of the Holy Cross.

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Luke—the author of the Gospel of St. Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. The preacher today is Fr. Emmanuel Kahn.

Fr. Gregory takes his theme from the Sunday of the Cross to show that every road can become a Cross-Road on the way to the Resurrection

Bobby interviews Jane G. Meyer and Megan Gilbert, the creators of the new book A Child’s Guide to the Divine Liturgy, published by Ancient Faith Publishing.

In this prophetic Psalm, we have a song filled with love and a Psalm which gave theme to Hebrews 10. See the incarnation of Christ in this beautiful hymn of the Church.

Yesterday's views of depredation have become today's banal norms.

Dn. Michael Hyatt is the chair of the Ancient Faith Ministries board and a Deacon at St. Ignatius Antiochian Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN. Most people know him as one of the top leadership mentors in the country and the Founder and CEO of Michael Hyatt & Company, an online leadership development company dedicated to helping high achievers win at work and succeed at life. In this commentary (which is actually a sermon given at St. Ignatius), Dn. Michael assesses the impact of social media on people in general and Christians in particular. Be looking for the return of his Ancient Faith Radio podcast At the Intersection of East and West in September!

Nic Hartmann, a parishioner at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reminds us that God sometimes wills that we lead a life seeking our salvation through the world.

Beginning a new series of broadcasts reflecting on the writings of the Church Fathers, this opening segment explores St Irenaeus of Lyons' famous consideration of Christ "passing through every age" of human life.

Our guest is Fr. Eric Tosi, Chairman of the Department of Evangelization at the Orthodox Church in America. Learn about the grant program to help establish Orthodox missions in the US.

John Maddex talks with Daria Petrykowski of the Department of Christian Education at the Orthodox Church in America about an important parish ministries conference the end of June. The dates are June 27-30 and speakers include Metropolitan Jonah, Fr. John Behr, David Drillock, Bishop Melchizedek and many others. For more information, click HERE.

Fr. John Parker has been appointed the new Chair of the Department of Evangelism for the Orthodox Church in America. We caught up with him at the All-American Council in Seattle and asked about his plans and vision for evangelization and outreach.

An interview with Fr. Laurent Cleenewerck, Editor of the Greek Orthodox New Testament and one of the keynote speakers, along with Fr. Meletios Webber, Abbot of the St. John of San Francisco Monastery, at next year's Alaska Conference at Sea.

One bishop per city or region is what the canons call for. Yet, here in North America we have multiple bishops in one location. The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops are working to correct that, and today we speak with Proto-Deacon Peter Danilchick who is the liaison for the Canonical Regional Planning Committee. Learn about the importance of this task and how long it will take to get it done. For more information on this issue, we refer to you our documentary section - Unravelling Chambesy.

AFR talks with Dr. Maria Khoury about what it is like to live as a Christian within the barricaded walls of the West Bank of Israel. Visit the web site of her parish - St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Taybeh.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dn. Patrick Mitchell, author of A Crown of Life, an epic romance spanning ten pivotal years in the history of the world, beginning in 303, when churches were closed, scriptures were confiscated, and Christians were forbidden to assemble and later forced to prove their loyalty to the empire by offering a sacrifice to the government’s gods.

Bobby Maddex interviews Fr. David Wey and Dean Theodore Nottingham of the Hagia Sophia Classical Academy, located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Bobby Maddex is joined by award-winning actor, Jonathan Jackson to discuss the new Theoria College of Filmmaking. Listeners can learn more about the college and apply here. Also, listeners can find Jonathan's book, The Mystery of Art, at the Ancient Faith Store.