How do the media determine public discourse? Are bullying, racism, etc., the biggest problems of our day? Are these things common or becoming bigger problems? What is at the root of these behaviors? Why do people bully? Why do they have racist attitudes? What makes people intolerant? What should we as Orthodox Christians do when we encounter these behaviors in others? What should we do when we are tempted to engage in them ourselves? What are some spiritual strategies for preparing to encounter these behaviors in others, in ourselves, or in discussion?

On this Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers, Fr. Andrew speaks of the hidden secret that Christians know about death.

Do you struggle to help your little ones participate in Lent? How can we make this great spiritual season meaningful for the youngest believers? Join Fr. Nick and Dr. Roxanne Louh for a conversation with Pres. Michelle Triant about Love at Lent, a set of colorful activity cards that encourage kindness, humility, and mindfulness in daily practice.

Jesus said "the kingdom of God is taken by force" and sometime it feels like a battle to allow ourselves to love one another as God intended.

In this episode, Fr. Anthony talks about why funerals require extra attention, some of the challenges (both expected and unexpected) that they bring, and shares some lessons on bringing grace to the experience. He also shares a (satirical) warning about the danger of preaching politics.

The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives always takes place on two levels, both on the level of what is outside us or what comes to us, and on the level of what is within us or how we receive what comes to us.

Fr. Stephen De Young gives an overview of the General Epistles of the New Testament.

In the final episode before the summer break, Steve and Christian discuss DC’s hit summer blockbuster Wonder Woman. They discuss the nature of human beings, the power of compassion, and (as always) how secularism has taken hold of our notions of the transcendent. They close with their Top 5 Heroines.

Steve Christoforou and Christian Gonzalez open up for a vulnerable conversation where they share what they're struggling with, how they're doing, and how they're still finding God at work in the midst of a global pandemic.

Christina and Emma are back to discuss the new Downton Abbey movie! They discuss themes of growing up, changes, and preparation for death. As always, what they're cooking. Leave your comments for the 200th episode at 917-524-7483 (call or text).

We are all bent over and crippled in profound ways in relation to the Lord, our neighbors, and even ourselves. The good news of Christmas is that the Savior is born to set us free from captivity to decay, corruption, and weakness.

Today we celebrate that the Lord is at hand, coming into Jerusalem as the Messiah, hailed by the crowds as their Savior. He enters Jerusalem on a humble beast of burden, carrying no weapons and having no army, political machine, or media campaign to flatter the powerful and play on the fears, resentments, and hopes of the masses.

To rise up, take up our beds, and walk home requires obedience to Christ’s commands, but not a legalistic obedience in the sense of following a code for its own sake. Instead, this obedience is like following the guidance of a physician or therapist who makes clear to us what we must do in order to regain health and function for our bodies.

In this long-delayed episode (due to work on The Age of Nihilism, available at store.ancientfaith.com/the-age-of-nihilism-christendom-from-the-great-war-to-the-culture-wars), Father John presents the historical origins of liberalism as a modern secular ideology. Atheistic philosophers like Auguste Comte and John Stuart Mill provided the philosophical basis for hope in a secular "kingdom of posterity."

As we approach the Feast of Feasts, Dr. Humphrey takes us again to the Old Testament to illumine the Paschal New Testament readings including the story of the Prophet Jonah as well as the Three Youths in the fire.

Chapter 6 of Revelation has some uncomfortable moments, but in it we discern the care and deliverance of our Savior, who models for us the Christian way of victory by the cross. We read this difficult sequence of the seals by reference to ancient fathers, Zechariah 6 and 11, and Isaiah.

This week we behold the dramatic laments and final symbolic action concerning Babylon. The colorful vision of Rev 18:9-24, amplified by Amos 3:15-4:2, reveals the network of evil and oppression surrounding “Babylon,” and leads us forward towards joy in the victory of the God’s light and truth.

Special Agents of Christ: A Prayer Book for Young Orthodox Saints by Annalisa Boyd (Conciliar Press, 2012). Operation 1: Daily Prayer.

Special Agents of Christ: A Prayer Book for Young Orthodox Saints by Annalisa Boyd (Conciliar Press, 2012). Operation 2: Prayers in Time of Trouble.

Special Agents of Christ: A Prayer Book for Young Orthodox Saints by Annalisa Boyd (Conciliar Press, 2012). Operation 3: Prayers of Thanks.

Special Agents of Christ: A Prayer Book for Young Orthodox Saints by Annalisa Boyd (Conciliar Press, 2012). Operation 4: Prayers for Family, Friends, and Enemies.

Special Agents of Christ: A Prayer Book for Young Orthodox Saints by Annalisa Boyd (Conciliar Press, 2012). Operation 5: Prayers for the Dead

Special Agents of Christ: A Prayer Book for Young Orthodox Saints by Annalisa Boyd (Conciliar Press, 2012). Operation 6: Preparation for Confession.

Special Agents of Christ: A Prayer Book for Young Orthodox Saints by Annalisa Boyd (Conciliar Press, 2012). Operation 7: Praying with the Saints and Angels .

Special Agents of Christ: A Prayer Book for Young Orthodox Saints by Annalisa Boyd (Conciliar Press, 2012). Operation 8: Pray like a King.

"Saint Gerasimos of Kefalonia," from The Lives of Our Saints, Illustrated Biographies Book 7 (Spiritual Fragrance Publishing, 2012)

41. Book 1: "Friend of the Holy Spirit: St. Seraphim of Sarov." A short story for children by Katherine Bolger Hyde. The Handmaiden, Vol 11, No.4, Fall. (Conciliar Press, 2007) Book 2: Katie Visits a Monastery, by Elizabeth Saxild (St. Nectarios Press, 1998)

St. Seraphim's Beatitudes: Blessings for Our Path to Heaven by Daniel Marshall (St. Innocent Press, 2008)

127. St. Gerasimos and the Lion by Georgia Kalogerakis (St. Nectarios Press, 2009).

Fr. Ted explains that the Church provides a foretaste of the Resurrection before we celebrate it because, as Orthodox Christians, we know how this particular story ends.

Fr. Ted speaks at the Biennial Clergy-Laity Conference for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Canada in Vancouver.

As many as 30%+ of Iraqi's 4.2 million displaced refugees are Christian. They are being persecuted from all sides of the conflict. Amal Morcos of IOCC recently returned from Syria and Lebanon and reports first hand on what the U.N. calls "the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world."

Kevin interviews Robert Meyering, the former moderator of the Calvin Forum, now Orthodox Christian.

Join Illumined Heart co-host Kevin Allen on his pilgrimage to Saint Herman of Alaska Monastery, Platina, California to talk with its Abbot Fr. Gerasim and Fr. Seraphim Rose legacy-keeper and biographer Monk Damascene. September 2nd marks the 25th anniversary of the repose of Fr. Seraphim Rose. In part 1 of this 3 part series, Kevin is in the cell constructed by Fr. Seraphim and now occupied by Monk Damascene where he talks with the monk about his spiritual father. For more information about the books published and distributed by the monastery, visit their website.

Enter once again into the rustic cell of Fr. Seraphim Rose with Kevin Allen as he talks with Fr. Damascene, the biographer and spiritual child of Fr. Seraphim. This is part 2 of a 3 part series and provides a unique glimpse into the life of a man who many say will someday be venerated as a Saint.

In the conclusion of our 3 part series commemorating the 25TH anniversary of the repose of Fr Seraphim (Rose), Kevin Allen is seated on a wooden bench overlooking a panoranmic view of Mt. Yolla Bolly with the Abbot of St. Herman of Alaska Monastery, Fr. Gerasim. Listen for valuable lessons (as well as birds chirping!) on the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting from a spiritual child of this venerated American monk and writer.

Kevin interviews Dr. Frank Papatheofanis, President of the new St. Katherine College, about what it takes to start an Orthodox liberal arts and sciences college.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to combine the "best" of classic Orthodox Christian spiritual "therapies" (praxis) with modern psychological modalities in therapy? In the first of the new fall line-up, Kevin speaks with Orthodox professor and therapist, Dr. Philip Mamalakis about the ground-breaking work in this area he is pioneering. The web site for Dr. Philip that was mentioned in the interview can be found HERE.

Today we're going to be talking about the veneration of Mary and the Saints in the Holy Tradition. This topic is often misunderstood and can be a stumbling block for inquirers. Our guest is Father Patrick Henry Reardon, Pastor of All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois, Sr. Editor of Touchstone Magazine and author of Christ in the Saints.

The holy icon defines for us what an image should be. But pornography is an anti-icon because it breaks the link between the image and the archetype and replaces it with a link between image and fantasy. Read the transcript HERE.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dr. Paul Meyendorff, the Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology and the editor of the St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly journal, about a 2012 conference on Orthodox ecclesiology and nationalism that took place at the Volos Academy for Theological Studies, the papers from which have just been published in St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly.

Domingo 24 de Noviembre Pd. Nicolas predicó sobre como con esperanza podemos vivir una vida que aguanta las dificultades del mundo. Gálata 6:11-18

Domingo 16 de Febrero Pd. Nicolás predico sobre el arrepentimiento sin desesperación. No es bastante a conocer sus pecados pero cada uno tiene que tener esperanza en la misericordia del Señor. Lucas 15:11-32 Sunday February 16 Fr. Nicholas preached about repentance without despair. It is not enough to know your sins but everyone has to have hope in the mercy of the Lord. Luke 15:11-32

Domingo 30 de Marzo Pd. Nicolás predicó sobre la liberación de pecado en la vida de Cristo. Reflejó sobre el consejo de San Juan de la escalera y la carta San Pablo a los Hebreos. Hebreos 6:13-20 Sunday 30 of March Fr. Nicholas preached about the liberatioin from sin in the life of Christ. He reflected on the consel of St. John of the Ladder and the letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews. Hebreos 6:13-20

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre que sabemos algo grande viene porque estamos preparando. (Lucas 5:1-11) Fr. Nicholas preached about we know that something is coming because we are preparing ourselves. (Luke 5:1-11)

Carta: Gal 1: 11-19, Evangelio Lc 8: 41-56 El Padre Nicholas predicó sobre el premio celestial. Letter: Gal 1: 11-19, Gospel: Lk 8: 41-56 Father Nicholas preached about the heavenly prize.

Fr. Seraphim joins Fr. Evan to tackle questions and also talks about the founding of the first Orthodox monastery in the Celtic Isles of Scotland in a thousand years. Hear Fr. Seraphim on his own podcast, too: Through a Monk's Eyes.

Dn. Mark addresses the Orthodox funeral service itself.

Reflections written by Fr. Nicolaie, about communicating with a refugee, and Memory Eternal to Tom.