In this episode, Fr John Parker address same-sex marriage and homosexuality, in response to the frenzy of discussion on these topics today in the public sphere.

Fr. John Parker today reflects on what the ever-memorable Archbishop Dmitri taught him in the nine years during which Fr. John served His Eminence—lessons about love, economia, stewardship, and above all, Christ crucified and raised from the dead. His Eminence fell asleep in the Lord one year ago.

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 shares the Homily of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) for the Sunday of the Last Judgment.

Today, on what has unfortunately become a merely “secular” festival, we recover a deeper Valentine’s message by considering what our faith has to say about romance and true love. We look at the life of the third century St. Valentine, and consider Hebrews 13:4, Genesis 1 and 2, Ephesians 5; and the book of Tobit (especially 8:4-8).

This week we consider Canticle 7 (Dan 3:25-56), which details Azariah’s confession, and the beginning of his song with the three friends. Here we see the themes of human praises based on understanding, the importance of God’s glory, and God’s merciful justice as he keeps covenant with us, looking also to 2 King 19:15-20:6 and Genesis 22:15-18.

Welcoming the Christ Child: Family Readings for the Nativity Lent, "Saints Joachim and Anna and The High Priest Zacharias," by Elissa Bjeletich, illustrated by Jelena Jeftic (Sebastian Press, 2017).

"Saint Catherine of Alexandria," from Royal Saints: A coloring book with stories of saintly royalty throughout the history of Christianity (Draw Near Designs). Saints drawn by Marian Adams. Stories & Borders by Abigail Holt. Layout by Caroline Gann.

"Saint Buriana," from Royal Saints: A coloring book with stories of saintly royalty throughout the history of Christianity (Draw Near Designs). Saints drawn by Marian Adams. Stories & Borders by Abigail Holt. Layout by Caroline Gann.

Fr. Ted explains that the purpose of marriage is union with God.

He served in war-torn Bosnia and Kenya before he turned 40! Now he heads Orthodoxy’s largest charitable and humanitarian aid organization – International Orthodox Christian Charities. Meet Constantine M. Triantifilou, IOCC’s Executive Director, as he speaks about a career and vocation of service. (Don’t hold it against him – he’s also a Boston Red Sox fan!)

A common dillemma for inquirers into the Orthodox Church is either disinterest or outright hostility to the idea of Orthodoxy by their spouse. In this edition Kevin speaks with a couple who lived this scenario. Meet Bruce and Lynn Marie Heying and learn about their family dynamic and what made Lynn Marie decide to follow Bruce into Orthodoxy seven years later.

Steve McMeans talks to Fr. Josiah about St. John Chrysostom and his views on the relationship between marriage and monasticism. This show will suprise you...!

Orthodox marriage and family therapist and professor at Holy Cross Theological Seminary, Dr. Philip Mamalakis, speaks about the mystery of marriage and how it is meant to be—and can be—a path to holiness.

Andrew continues from the last episode about unfaithfulness being the characteristic act of immorality by exploring how pornography is a rejection of the ultimate significance of marriage. Read a transcript HERE.

In Part 7 of the series we discuss the "practical application" of the dogma of the Trinity. While all "orthodox" Christian churches affirm the dogma of the Trinity virtually none of them can really tell a believer why it is important to our salvation. If we are created in the image of God, then the Trinity is at the core of our being and defines not only God, but the human being and the nature of our salvation in Christ.

In a presentation centering on Christian identity, Archimandrite Zacharias, a monk of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Tolleshunt Knights by Maldon, Essex, England, inspired an audience of more than 100 people with what he termed "domestic theology," that is, "simple things, in Church life that bear profound consequences. Father Zacharias, a disciple of Father Sophrony (of blessed memory) who was a disciple of St. Silouan of Mount Athos, emphasized the importance of each Christian becoming a living temple of God, but in particular, priests.

Patriarch JOHN X of Antioch is awarded the degree Doctor of Divinity honoris causa at St. Vladimir's Seminary.

Dr. Predrag Matejić, the curator of the Hilandar Collection at Ohio State University, delivers the third annual Fr. John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture. Metropolitan Tikhon of the OCA and Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese were also given honorary doctor of divinity degrees at the convocation.

The St. Vladimir’s Seminary Octet, under the direction of Hierodeacon Herman (Majkrzak), presented a concert of liturgical music at this year’s Education Day at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. The program included hymns in celebration of saints venerated in both the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches.

Dr. Alice-Mary Talbot presented the 4​th annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lectu​re at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary on Friday, September 15​, 2017.​ ​Her presentation, titled, Varieties of Monastic Experience in Byzantium, 800–1453, opened a window into Byzantine monasticism that revealed a culture as rich and diverse as the personalities of the monks and nuns who embraced it.​ She highlighted the many ways one could be a Byzantine monk or nun, and the continuous tensions in Byzantium between the eremitic (solitary living) and coenobitic (community living) forms of monasticism.

St. Vladimir’s Seminary celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)’s autocephaly Thursday, January 30, 2020. A full-day of events culminated with a passionate, heartfelt 37th Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture delivered by His Eminence, Archbishop Michael (Dahulich). Hear his lecture, "The Gift of Autocephaly," the Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony, and a final reflection from His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon.

When one considers Orthodoxy, he or she is confronted with a clearly sacramental world view. So how does that apply to Christian marriage?

In part two of Dn. Michael's lessons on marriage, he explores the roles in marriage as indicated in Scripture and the Tradition of the Church.

In a new series, Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt team teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. In this first episode we learn that the purpose in marriage is not happiness but holiness.

Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. In part 2, they talk about the priority of pleasing God in our marriages.

How do we love our spouses even when we don't feel love? Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

Contempt has become an epidemic in our society and it can spill over into our marriages. Dn. Michael Hyatt reminds us that as our marriages mature, we have to guard against disrespecting our spouses. Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

Would you have thought that the quality of your marriage has a direct correlation to prayer? In this 5th episode of the Sacred Marriage series, Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt discuss the ramifications of your prayer life as it relates to your marriage.Together they are teaching through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt says that recognizing and dealing with our own sin is a necessary component of a good marriage. Together they are teaching through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. In this episode, Dn. Michael mentions 2 books by Drs. David and Mary Ford:Marriage as a Path to HolinessGlory and Honor: Orthodox Christian Resources on Marriage

Perseverance in marriage is not only possible it is expected by God. What choices are we making today that will either build up or tear down our marriages tomorrow? Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

There is a struggle in marriage and that isn't all bad. Discover what can result in this next class as Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

Conflict is inevitable in a marriage. But when it happens, we can either advance in our relationships or decline. Today's topic is Falling Forward when conflict arises as Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

Before moving on to the remaining chapters, Dn. Michael and Gail address questions from AFR listeners by email as well as from the audience. They are teaching through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

What are we willing to sacrifice for our spouses. Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt share a personal story as they continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

In this class, Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt address sex in the marital relationship as a means to holiness as they continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt discuss the importance of Sacred Presence in the marriage as they continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt wrap up the series teaching through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. This final lesson is about Sacred Mission as a couple. Your marriage must be about more than itself if it's going to be healthy and flourishing.

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre que la santidad de Dios viene a nosotros por nuestros parientes, maestros, y los antepasados. Estas personas nos dan ejemplos de la vida en Cristo y nos enseña que la voluntad de Dios debe estar nuestra prioridad más grande. (Mateo 1:1-25) Fr. Nicholas reflected on the reality that God’s holiness comes to us through our parents, our teachers and all those who have come before us. These people are Christ like examples for us and teach us that we should keep God’s will as our highest priority. (Matthew 1:1-25)

El Padre Nicolás predicó sobre cómo darle gloria a Dios, regocijándonos de que Él está con nosotros. Father Nicholas preached on how to bring glory to God, rejoicing that He is with us.

Listen in on Steve's reflections on learning to love, his marriage and his Valentine's day wish for his wife.

Dn. Mark enumerates the things you'll need to have ready to prepare a body for burial and explains what to expect when you encounter a dead body.

Dn. Mark explains exactly what needs to be done when preparing a body for burial.

Protestant critics of Orthodoxy fault us for many things, but one of the foremost of their objections is our devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Hostility to Roman Catholicism is built into Protestant DNA, so anything in Orthodoxy that resembles something in Roman Catholicism will be subject to criticism, including such more or less innocuous things like clergy wearing cassocks and calling themselves “Father”. Our Orthodox devotion to Mary (whom we call “the Theotokos”) often heads the list of Protestant objections, since it features so prominently in Roman Catholicism.

Fr. Apostolos Hill unpacks the story of Hosea and Gomer, contrasting the covenant between God and Israel and Gomer's infidelity in her pursuit of an "open marriage." Jesus' words in the Gospel reading today about the exclusive nature of our union with Him in the New Covenant ("whoever loves father, mother, son, daughter more than Me...") indicates that our fidelity to Him cannot be divided.

Fr. Apostolos Hill took the opportunity of his and Presvytera Denise's 38th wedding anniversary to offer a homily about marriage in the Orthodox view.

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.

We all receive an invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb, but how will we respond? Will we be found ready in our wedding garments? Fr. Tom calls us to look to the precious and life-giving cross to prepare ourselves as a bride waiting for the consummation of all things in Christ.

Tying together the Gospel readings from this week and the week prior, Fr. Tom lays out the reality that the One who prays, the One who walks on water, the One who gives us Himself in the Eucharist is always present . . . especially in our trials.

Listen as Fr. Tom discusses how active participation in the life of the Church now gives us a foretaste of the inheritance that awaits us in eternity.