Many are strongly tempted today to allow the problems facing our culture and world to distract us from growing to maturity in the Christian life and bearing good fruit for the Kingdom of God. That is perfectly understandable in light of our constant access to global media and the gravity of current events.

Professor Humphrey here tackles the difficult passage of Romans 10:1-10, showing that it echoes Deuteronomy 30. Here we see the mistake of interpreting the religion of Israel as a cold and legalistic religion of laws, and are called to generosity of spirit in praying for all who do not know Christ, including the Jewish people, whom St. Paul declares to be “beloved for the sake of their forefathers.”

Here the Old Testament readings for Great Vespers and the New Testament readings for Divine Liturgy are used to illuminate the importance of councils and primacy in the holy Church—a Church that is visible and concrete, with a recognizable and divinely-ordained shape, just as our Lord actually took on humanity, and did not simply visit us in an “appearance.”

What is sure and what is shallow? Our Great Vesper readings (Genesis 14:14-20, Deuteronomy 1:8-11, 15-17 and Deuteronomy 10:14-21) guide us in understanding what the fathers of the ecumenical councils have done, and in reading Titus 3:8-15 and Luke 8:5-15.

Here the Old Testament readings for Great Vespers and the New Testament readings for Divine Liturgy are used to illuminate the importance of councils and primacy in the holy Church—a Church that is visible and concrete, with a recognizable and divinely-ordained shape, just as our Lord actually took on humanity, and did not simply visit us in an “appearance.” This program is a re-air from July 17, 2015.

Our readings for this Sunday, 1 Cor. 4:9-16; Matthew 17:14-23 are clarified in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel (1 Kingdoms)16:1-13; Micah 5:2-4. Here we see the great paradox of humility that shows forth greatness: we become, as G. K. Chesterton put it. “Straighter when we bend and taller when we bow.” Authentic reliance upon God is born of such humility, and so is authentic love for others. We see the examples in the cross-bearing Jesus, and in the apostle Paul, ‘father’ to the Corinthians.

This week we consider God’s actions, both as they fulfill our expectations of His righteous character, and as they astonish us. We remember the faithfulness of those who saw less of God’s revelation than we have, especially the three youths in the fire, and the holy ancestors of Jesus. Our readings for this Sunday, Luke 24:36-53, Luke 14:16-24 and Colossians 3:4-11, both respond to the desires of the ages, and shock us with the vibrancy and great extent of the new creation made possible through the Incarnation, Death and Resurrection of our LORD.

What is meant by the phrase “He was not tempted by Hades”, and is it the case that Jesus appeared first to the Theotokos? We look to the Scriptural teaching on the despoiling of Hades, to the cultural associations of Hades in the Greek and Roman mind, and to the prophet Isaiah for help in understanding the joy of Holy Saturday’s conquest.

This week we consider our reading from Acts 20: 16-18; 28-36, filling in the ten missing verses, and concentrating on the extra “beatitude” from Jesus that we learn from St. Paul as he speaks to the Ephesian elders. We are especially helped by thinking about the journey of Abraham, and what he both received and gave, blessed by God, and becoming a blessing to others.

The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, Dean of St. Vladimir'’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, delivers the annual Father Georges Florovsky Lecture, Friday, September 21, 2012, on the seminary campus. Father John's presentation, titled "“Reading the Fathers Today,"” addresses the meaning of “theology” and its study within an academic context.

Dn. Michael Hyatt begins a new series on the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, those second-generation Christian writers who learned at the feet of the Apostles themselves. Dn. Michael is using The Apostolic Fathers in English by Michael W. Holmes.

Dn. Michael Hyatt continues his series on the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, those 2nd generation Christian writers who learned at the feet of the Apostles themselves. Dn. Michael is using The Apostolic Fathers in English by Michael W. Holmes. This episode looks at the First Epistle of St. Clement. You will be amazed at how contemporary it is.

Ignored by much of Western Christendom, these letters give us insight into how the very early Church viewed the role of the bishop as well as the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Continuing his series on the Apostolic Fathers, Dn. Michael Hyatt looks at the Martyrdom of Polycarp, one of the most inspiring and instructional accounts of martyrdom in Church history.

If there was a catechism manual you could read that dates back to the time of the Apostle John or very soon thereafter, would you be interested? Believe it or not there is! Learn about The Didache as Dn. Michael Hyatt continues his series on the Apostolic Fathers.

What was different about those early Christians. The little known Letter to Diognetus gives us a glimpse as Dn. Michael Hyatt continues his class on the Apostolic Fathers.

An Orthodox Phronema sits on a three-legged stool: Tradition, Scripture, and the Fathers. In this episode, we consider the role of the Fathers. Specifically, we answer several questions about them: Who are they, why are they important, and how do they relate to Scripture and Tradition.

Steve interviews Fr. Meletios Webber, the Abbot of St. John's Monastery, on what the "grace of the priesthood" bestows on a man and what the priest's authority and role is in the life of the parish and in his relationship with his parishoners as his spiritual children.

Steve continues his interview with Fr. Meletios Webber and they discuss the role of the parish priest as a Father/confessor, confession and counseling, penances, clairvoyance and much more.

Steve finishes his interview with Fr. Meletios and discusses spiritual directors, accountability groups and obedience.

On the seventh Sunday of Pascha, we commemorate the holy God-bearing Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.

Fr. Apostolos Hill shares a tribute to fathers after having buried his father the week before.

Fr. Gregory gives a sermon by Fr. Andrew Phillips on the Sunday of the Forefathers.

Fr. Gregory Hallam presents a small selection of the Holy Fathers on the discipline of fasting.

Dr. Rossi conducts an interview with the Dean of Students at St Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary who gave a talk on this topic to a parish recently.

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.

In our broadcast for the Feast of the Nativity, we hear the words of the Fathers and the liturgical hymns of the Church on the mystery that brings the Son humanly into the world for the life and redemption of His creature.

Celebrating the Holy Resurrection of Christ, our broadcast this Bright Monday looks at the writings of various Holy Fathers on the bright feast of Pascha and its meaning to Christian life.

This week, in anticipation of Forgiveness Sunday, Archimandrite Irenei explores a series of patristic texts that deal with the imperative of forgiveness, and the need to forgive as the gateway into the life offered by Christ in the Church.

Wheaton College, the epicenter of Evangelical Protestantism, has just opened a Center for Early Christian Studies that will immerse students in the fields of Patristics, the Ecumenical Councils, and early Christian literature. This audio documentary, exclusive to AFR, explores the reasons for the sudden Evangelical interest in the Church Fathers, as well as the potential ramifications of this interest.

Fr. Pat discusses the Council of Nicaea, which gave us the Creed in the year 325.

In this two-hour edition, host Kevin Allen speaks with two early Church scholars—Reformed Christian James R. Payton, Jr. (editor of the newly published A Patristic Treasury: Early Church Wisdom for Today) and Orthodox Christian Bradley Nassif (a leading expert on the relationship between Orthodox and Evangelical Christians)—about the Church Fathers, including who they are, what they taught, and their significance in the Evangelical and Orthodox church traditions.

So how did you spend the day?

From Roman baths to modern water-saving showerheads, plumbing has come a long way.

In this special episode celebrating fathers, a man embraces his father's music; a new dad has a breakdown in the grocery store; a young father struggles with his emotions; a son flies to Ghana for his father's funeral, a daughter reveals an embarrassing truth, and an uncle steps in to play an important role. Hosted by The Moth’s Artistic Director Catherine Burns. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.

Hosted by: Catherine Burns

David Kendall inherits his love of music from his father.

Chris Myers rides out his emotions after the birth of his daughter.

Nestor Gomez struggles to pick out his baby among a group of newborns.

Karan Chopra learns to live his life by his father's example.

Amanda Hamilton Roos confesses her sins to her father, literally.

Jack Marmorstein realizes the role he must play in his nephew's life.

This week, an episode in honor of Father's Day. Moments of unexpected understanding, confrontations in cars, and a rubber chicken. This episode is hosted by Moth Senior Curatorial Producer, Suzanne Rust. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.

Storytellers:

Tomas Davila and his father finally connect. 

Single father Jeffrey Berke and his daughter tackle a medical issue together. 

Jill Chenault gets advice--of all kinds--from her father on car rides. 

Stacy Staggs goes on a search for her biological father. 

After her father dies, Whitney Gedden memorializes him in a unique manner he would appreciate. 

Podcast: 873

Staying true to fundamental business values like hard work and stellar customer service help keep the Oversons going during difficult times.

Gut microbiome disruption in male mice increases disease risk in offspring, indicating that preconception paternal health status can affect the next generation.

Edinburgh-based rap trio impresses with this potential-rich collection.