Part 4: The Brother's Perspective - Fr. John Touloumes and Dr. Nicholas Loutsion

“Go and make Disciples” was our Lord’s clear instruction, an at the end of His parable where the Good Samaritan helped an injured Jewish stranger, He advised us to “Go and do likewise” and help our brothers and sisters in need. So how can we do that critical work in our lives and our communities? We will explore practical ideas you and your Parish can implement to answer this critical question with Fr. John Kocolas, the Proistamenos at Nativity of Christ Orthodox Church in Novato, California. Nativity of Christ’s Community Outreach Ministry does so much to help so many. Join us for a discussion of creative ways you and your Parish can “go and do likewise.” Call in to share ways you and your parish make disciples and serve others.

Today we get a fascinating tour of a new temple built in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Frederica is with Architect Andrew Gould as they walk through Holy Ascension Orthodox Church.

Frederica explains the impact of technology on publishing and the distribution of the news.

Why do we dislike living in peaceful times?

Frederica likes the new Disney movie, Enchanted, and provides an enchanting review for our AFR listeners.

Recently, I uploaded an old video to YouTube, of one of the strangest and funniest experiences I ever had with an interview. It was 1996. A producer for a viewer-call-in political talk show, "Capital Watch," phoned me about the work I was doing with a group called Common Ground for Life and Choice. We brought pro-life and pro-choice people together in dialogue, to get better understanding of each other's beliefs. (To get past misunderstanding so we could arrive at genuine disagreement, I used to say.) I put it on my calendar, and drove to the studio on Capital Hill. But while I was standing just off the set, waiting to be introduced, I heard the host say I was going to talk about common ground between Republicans and Democrats. I knew nothing about that. I didn't follow politics at all. But in a matter of seconds I had to walk on the set, sit down, and basically fake it for 20 minutes. I guess the producer had written "Common Ground" on the schedule without any further explanation, and that's what the hosts thought I was there to talk about. It's pretty funny. You can see me making guesses about what answer the hosts expected me to give, trying to sound like I actually knew something about the topic. Afterward I wrote a column about it, and how you can see someone on a talk show who appears to not know what they're talking about, "the idiot beside the potted plant." Well, that would be me. Watch the interview at www.youtube.com/watch?v=SneiaHIiogA. Read the column at: frederica.com/writings/whos-that-idiot-next-to-the-potted-plant.html.

The Mother of our Lord is often a stumbling block for Protestants who are exploring Orthodoxy. Frederica Mathewes-Green discusses how to disregard medieval excesses, and see how the early Christians saw her.

What does this miracle of Christ tell us about the blind man, about God, about Jesus and ultimately, about us?

From the Speaking the Truth in Love archives, Fr. Tom Hopko offers this very helpful meditation on the feast of Theophany.

In his ongoing series on bishops, Fr. Thomas explores the fourth century under the Emperor Constantine.

Some call the 13th century the most important century in Church history when the schism between east and west was solidified to this present day.

Fr. Tom says the 14th Century situation in Constantinople is critical to understanding the Church today.

One of the most significant events in Church history was the fall of Constantinople. Fr. Thomas helps us understand the the years immediately following the fall.

During this week as we venerate the cross of Christ, Fr. Tom Hopko shares a sermon by Met. Anthony Bloom on the cross and our sin.

Today Fr. Tom speaks about the famous author Anton Chekhov from 19th-century Russia.

Jeannie continues her Intro to the Bible series with a lesson on the interpretive School of Antioch and St. John Chrysostom.

Jeannie continues her look at the interpretive style of Antioch and in particular St. John Chyrsostom. Listen for how his name is to be pronounced!

Jennie takes a break from her Intro to the Bible series this week to answer a question that has come to her from our listeners on more than one occasion.

In this special episode of The 153, His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH delivers a homily at St Simeon Mission, Santa Clarita, California on Sunday, February 5, 2017. His Eminence addresses: the meaning of the tonsuring of the Readers and their calling; the spiritual protection of the cassock; the contrast of pride and humility in the story of the Pharisee and Publican; the mothers of three great saints; and of the reception of the Evangelical Orthodox Church thirty years ago.

The Department of Missions and Evangelism workshop, at the 53rd biennial Antiochian Archdiocese Convention in Miami, enjoyed the remarks on parish revitalization by His Grace, Bishop ANTHONY of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest.

A brief reminiscence by Fr John, speaking at St Paisios Mission, Yuma, Arizona, on Bishop ANTOUN of Thrice-Blessed.

During the Paschal season, on the Sunday of the Paralytic, Fr Joseph was at St Paul/Tupelo, Mississippi. Here's excerpts from that Sunday's sermon which claims we don't always want the truth. (But we do need to be healed.)

In 2020, pretty much EVERYONE missed the Lamentations service! (No, watching it online is no more the same as watching American Bandstand, or Dancing with the Stars, is the same as attending the prom.) Fr Joseph wept.

Moving on from the Great Litany, Fr. Tom talks about the antiphonal verses and how they are treated in the Divine Liturgy by the various jurisdictions. He also talks about the Psalms and how the Church reads them.

After the hymn, "O Son of God," the next antiphons are sung in the Divine Liturgy. O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

As he continues his series on the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Thomas Hopko talks about the Antimension or Altar Cloth that is on every altar in the Orthodox Church. Learn about its importance in verifying the authority of the parish to offer the Holy Gifts.

Fr. John shares from Romans 6:18-23.

Fr. John shares from Isaiah 53.

Fr. John shares from Psalm 118:49-56.

Fr. John shares from Romans 3:1-8.

Fr. John Whiteford discusses the new laws in New York state regarding abortion.

Fr. John Whiteford talks about the ungodly society around us.

Fr. John Whiteford speaks from 1 John 2:18-29.

Fr. John Whiteford preaches from Genesis 15.

Fr. John Whiteford shares a homily from Proverbs 6:6-11 and Luke 16:19-31.

Fr. John Whiteford preaches on the Sunday of Orthodoxy.

Fr. John Whiteford speaks on the life of St. Anthony of the Kiev Caves, the founder of monasticism in Russia.

Fr. John Whiteford discusses the meaning of the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-25).

Fr. John Whiteford discusses true and false prophecy and the telling of difficult truths. Passages discussed are Jeremiah 26:11-19 and Matthew 19:16-26.

Fr. John Whiteford's sermon from October 13, 2024.

Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath Day and this reveals the hypocritical hearts of those around Him!

Struck by the phrase “disenchanted with morality” in the pages of a book one morning, Michael shares his thoughts that came to mind. Why does it seem society often appears disenchanted with morality? Why is Christianity so often wrongly perceived and taught as a judgmental set of moral rules and rigid codes of behavior? Why is legalism doing so much harm to our faith? What truly is morality from an Orthodox Christian perspective? Join Michael as he addresses these questions and more, and explains the “enchantment” we should all experience because of our faith.

Many of us can remember when we learned the truth about Santa Claus, but what truth did we learn? Using examples from J.R.R Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, the Polar Express and our Orthodox Christian understanding of mystery, join Michael as he shares a recent conversation about Santa and what the story of the Christmas gift giver may actually be teaching us.

Life’s often not fair and we all suffer from illness and affliction at times that are not of our own making. It is then we are often confronted with a choice – to continue to want to be with God even though we don’t understand why certain things are happening to us; or to let the seeming unfairness of our circumstance drive us away from Him. Join Michael as he uses a whimsical episode of the Brady Bunch to illustrate and discuss this profound truth we all experience.

Join Michael for an in-depth discussion of healing, what Christ demonstrates in the Gospels, and some surprising reasons why we are and are not as open to healing as we’d like to think.

Join Michael as he explains why we need to become, and always stay, “enchanted” by God through sacramental understanding and participation, and how this is our witness and demonstration of the truth of the Gospel.

The opinion of others can destroy one's self-esteem. We need to found our life on Christ's values, regardless of the response that generates in those around us. We may be unpopular, but we are truly ourselves, and that is worth carrying this Cross for.

What has light to do with darkness?