Rita interviews Cynthia Damaskos about the current research on gluten. Rita and Cynthia are the creators of My Beautiful Lent, a program to help Orthodox Christians in all stages of life to use the fast for the nourishment of the soul, leaving room for the blessings that the Church intends and that God wants to give freely. Find out more at http://www.mybeautifullent.com

Rita encourages us to deepen our Advent Fast by simplifying our choices of what and where to eat, so that we can spend more time attending services, praying and serving others who are in need. She also introduces a new program called My Beautiful Advent which can be found at http://www.mybeautifuladvent.com.

Rita explains the use of the Sanctification Prayer that we pray before eating, asking the Holy Spirit to fill and guide what we are partaking in.

Rita Madden shares some reflections from the book titled, "How to Live a Holy Life."

Today Fr. Andrew begins part four of his four-part talk on the Foundations of the Orthodox Faith. We bring you the first half of that talk in this episode.

This is the conclusion of Fr. Andrew's last talk in the four-part series - Foundations of the Orthodox Faith.

In this sermon, Fr. Andrew reminds us to obey all of the commandments of Christ.

On this Sunday, Fr. Andrew asks if we ever feel that we need a reset, a do-over in our lives. If we do, then the Cross is where we start over.

On this Sunday, Fr. Andrew speaks of the greatest gift he ever received from his parents, the gift of a Christian identity.

On this Palm Sunday, Fr. Andrew shows how what sociologists have observed about how both kids and adults stay in church long-term is built into the Orthodox tradition.

Reflecting on St. Paul's discussion of justification in Gal. 2:16-20, Fr. Andrew describes the difference between the faith and works of the Law of Moses and the faith and works of righteousness in Christ.

On this Thomas Sunday, Fr. Andrew speaks of the pervasiveness of death in human life and how the resurrection undoes its power.

Fr. Andrew discusses justification, faith, the Gospel and the New Covenant, and how they all relate to one another.

Fr. Andrew speaks at the clergy conference of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in South Bound Brook, NJ, on October 21, 2015. The talk addresses the question of how the Orthodox are to encounter the people of the West, especially focusing on the issues of ethnicity in the Orthodox Church and the secular mindset.

In the context of the Gospel of the healing of the Gadarene Demoniac Legion, Fr. Andrew talks about tithing in terms of sacrifice, which gets us 'unstuck' from what possesses us.

Commenting on the epistle reading for the Feast of the Archangels, Fr. Andrew discusses how we can follow Christ, the 'Leader of our Salvation.'

Fr. Andrew uses St. Paul's language of sin as spiritual sleep to talk about how our lives are distorted in this 'sleep' and what it's like when we 'awake.'

On this Sunday after Theophany, Fr. Andrew talks about the gift of Christ given at baptism that precludes both pietism and clericalism—Christians are called to be ministers to one another.

On this Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers, Fr. Andrew describes how death and other major life transitions present the opportunity to remake our lives, with the loosening up of previously locked relationships and ways of thinking.

In discussing Romans 10:4, Fr. Andrew shows how Christ as the fulfillment of the Law is shown to be the fulfillment of our own stories.

With the feast of the Prophet Moses, Fr. Andrew passes on a way of understanding how the stages of spiritual life connect with the prophet's life.

On this Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross, Fr. Andrew discusses Gal. 2:20, in which Paul says he's no longer living.

On this Sunday of the Adoration of the Cross, Fr. Andrew speaks on the ultimate priestly act of Jesus on the cross—sacrifice.

With the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt, Fr. Andrew uses both her life and the reading from Hebrews to discuss the priesthood of Christ in terms of purification.

Fr. Andrew discusses the idea of Christianity being an important part of life on this Sunday of the Blind Man.

Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick focuses on the four phrases in 2 Tim. 4:5 ('Be watchful in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry') and uses that verse as a summary of what it means to be Christian.

In Luke 13, Jesus heals a woman bent over for 18 years. Bringing in the commentary of St. Theophylact of Ohrid, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick talks about how this woman is an image of our own souls and how we perceive what is heavenly.

Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick reflects on a major milestone in his own life—finally living in one home for more than 5 1/2 years—and uses that to explore how life on the go can actually be quite paralyzing.

Using St. Paul's language about 'zeal not according to knowledge' (Rom. 10:2), Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick points out that our zeal is often for sacrificing to false gods, even when we may not see it that way, and gives direction on how to redirect that zeal for sacrifice toward the one true God Jesus Christ.

Sometimes, we wish God would just show up so that He would remove all our doubts and we could believe in Him without question. But what are we really asking for? What would happen? Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick discusses this question in light of the Gospel of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

With the parable of the Rich Fool, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick explores where life really comes from and why feeling deep feelings about God is not the same thing as loving Him.

Father Panagiotis gives his second College Conference talk about living an Orthodox life and how prayer, fasting, and almsgiving help to form Christians.

Original guilt, immaculate conception, the Filioque, papal authority: Sometimes it can be difficult to explain the differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. OCF Student Media Leader Tasya Lysack and Fr. Brendan Pelphrey will be speaking about other Christian denominations for the next few episodes of Orthodox Apologetics, and today they discuss the answers to common questions our peers might ask us about the differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism.

Unsure what to do during your spring break this year? Tasya and OCF Real Break Student Leader Anna Sobchak discuss OCF's alternative spring break trips: Real Break. They consider the importance of these trips in a college student's career, and also discuss fundraising ideas and what's new for Real Break in 2018.

Tasya interviews Michelle Ibrahim, a grad student in theology who recently became the youth director in the same parish where she was raised. Michelle and Tasya talk about the importance of embracing your parish-even when you're a young adult. They discuss the importance of developing strong relationships in the Church, getting involved in the various ministries offered in the Church, but most importantly, maintaining a spiritual life.

Matthew answers the question, "What was God's purpose with the Old Testament sacrificial system?"

Matthew concludes his series by examining the nature of man's conscience.

What are the obstacles we face that are inhibiting our joy? Fr. Nick and Dr. Roxanne help us understand how to remove those obstacles with the realization that "through the cross, joy has come into all the world."

Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh have found that relationship issues are common to all of us and tonight they tackle the problem again. Great interaction on the phone with callers and in the chat room. You don't want to miss this episode.

Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh welcome stewardship evangelist Bill Marianes to talk about how to live our best life to the glory of God.

Brandi Willis Schreiber, author of A Long Walk with Mary: A Personal Search for the Mother of God, joins Fr. Nick and Dr. Roxanne Louh for a conversation about her year-long quest to better know and love the Theotokos.

Fr. Nick and Dr. Roxanne Louh share ways we can practice looking at the world through the lens God gives us.

Fr. John reminds us that "we are not God," and that it is better to use discernment in situations where we do not know the whole story than to leap to judgment.

Fr. John Oliver asks difficult questions in the wake of the death of Osama Bin Laden.

The purpose of your life is to become by grace what God is by nature.

Are our physical bodies evil? Are they good? Fr. John explores these questions in light of Christ's Transfiguration.

Fr. John examines the life and faith of the Holy New Martyr and Grand Duchess Elizabeth.

Fr. John Oliver explores the four cycles or rhythms that are embedded in nature and in the Church.

Fr. John Oliver invites us to consider the unbelievable news that sends us searching for more.

In his first podcast, Fr. John reflects on his midnight vigil outside a prison in Tennessee.