Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up the discussion of 2 Corinthians, Chapter 4.

Fr. Stephen De Young brings the discussion of 2 Corinthians, Chapter 6 to a close.

Fr. Stephen De Young completes the discussion of 2 Corinthians, working through chapters 10, 11, 12, and 13.

Fr. Stephen De Young completes the discussion of Galatians, Chapter 2.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes his discussion of Galatians, Chapter 3.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes the discussion on Chapter 4, of Galatians.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes St. Paul's letter to the Galatians, by discussing chapters 5 and 6.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes his discussion on the first chapter of Ephesians.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes the discussion on Ephesians, Chapter 3, verses 11-21.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes the discussion of Philippians, Chapter 2.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes the discussion of Colossians, Chapter 2.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes the discussion of Chapter 1 of St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians.

While normally associated with the Holy Spirit, the name Paraclete also refers to Jesus as our Advocate, Comforter, and Counselor.

The girls take on the 2018 novel, Bridge of Clay. They discuss how stories shape the way we live, how grief is a complex process, and how repentance doesn’t always look like what we imagine. They close with Christina’s Top 5 Greek Myths.

“It takes strength to resist the dark side. Only the weak embrace it.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi After talking with Ancient Faith's John Maddex about the current financial situation and opportunities (please support the guys' virtual Regatta team here: https://afm.kindful.com/lifeboat-2020/the-supplicants), Steven Christoforou and Christian Gonzalez explore the recently-concluded Star Wars animated series: The Clone Wars. They discuss why Star Wars TV shows have been better than the recent movies, the depth of the characters (both old and new), and what the failings of the Jedi Order can teach us as Christians.

The girls discuss the classic 80's film, The Breakfast Club. They discuss issues of identity, generational sin, and the community of God's Kingdom.

"I'm Santa Claus, Teddy, not Yoda." Steve and Christian watched the delightful holiday movies, "The Christmas Chronicles" and "The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two" The guys discuss Santa Claus, pastoral care, the struggle to determine our identity, and a sacramental view of the world. ​ Philanthropy Spotlight: We're also shining a light on the FOCUS North America, a national movement of Orthodox Christians, united in faith and joined by a desire to provide action-oriented and sustainable solutions to poverty in communities across America. FOCUS has operations and youth volunteer experiences in more than 20 cities in the United States. Learn more on the parish website: https://focusnorthamerica.org/ ​

Fr. Philip LeMasters shares from Luke 4:16-22, reminding us that earthly distinctions between different groups of people have no significance in the Kingdom of God.

As we celebrate the restoration of icons today, let us become more beautiful living icons of our Lord’s salvation and gain the strength to treat every neighbor accordingly as we live and breathe in this world. Remember: They are His living icons also.

Now is the time to prepare for a spiritually beneficial Lent that will help us grow in the humility necessary to see ourselves and our neighbors clearly as we reorient our lives toward the great joy of Pascha.

Think for a moment about how we mark the passage of time in our lives. We all know how old we are. Students know what grade they are in. Workers know how long they have been employed. Married people count their anniversaries. Some of us remember America’s bicentennial. Perhaps we pay attention to such markers to try to make sense of the meaning of our lives as those caught up in the inevitable cycle of birth and death, of one generation passing away as another arises. As we read in Ecclesiastes, “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” (Eccles. 1:9)

Fr. John draws attention to a feature of Byzantine statecraft in which the Emperor persecuted and manipulated the leadership of the Church.

In this final episode of his reflection on Muscovite Russia, Fr. John describes the Old Believer Schism as a crisis in the formerly optimistic cosmology of eastern Christendom, leading to its decline on the eve of modern times.

Fr. John reflects on a few experiences at Costco, and then about Clemson and Christianity.

This week we read the epistle through the lenses of St. John Chrysostom, St. John Climacus, the book of Genesis and Isaiah’s portrait of the Suffering Servant. Here we are given the hope to continue following our great forerunner Jesus. The gospel reading adds to this the importance of faith, prayer and fasting, as we set our faces towards the cross.

We examine St. Paul’s poignant picture of the apostles (1 Cor 4:9-16) as the “refuse of the world,” noticing that even the OT is ambivalent towards outward success, considering the problem of calling something “father,” and focusing upon the utter humility of Jesus, who St. Paul sought to follow.

This week we read Revelation 19:1-10 in the light of Isaiah 61:10, Genesis 3:21, Matthew 16:27, and 1 Peter 5:5, noting that the praises of God are undergirded by substantial reasons, that we are called to cooperate in our salvation, and that we have been blessed in a way that confers unimaginable dignity upon human beings.

At the head of the new year, we heed Deuteronomy 32:1–18 (Second Song of Moses, Part 1), in the light of other Biblical passages, and remember the days of old. Especially we contemplate the pictures of God offered here—Rock, Father, Ruler, like a mother giving birth—and learn from Moses to “ascribe greatness to the LORD our God.”

We read the second half of the second canticle of Moses, Deut 32:19-43, in the light of Jeremiah 1:10, Hosea 6:1-3, and the fathers. Its vigorous poetry must be read with care, but shows us strong truths concerning our holy God, and His desire for our purity and salvation.

We read Hannah’s sober and joyful canticle (canticle 3), taken from 1 Samuel/1 Kingdoms 2:1–10, and consider what it means for God to “bring low” and to “exalt” us. In this we are helped by St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil and Great, and other sections of the Old Testament.

The prophet Habakkuk, who waits with us during the Paschal vigil, gives us much to consider in the fourth Old Testament canticle, taken from Habakkuk 3. Modelling humility, giving us grounds for hope by remembering God’s mighty acts in Exodus and Joshua, and lifting our eyes to the places on high, he continues to speak with force and poignancy even to those of us who know the fuller story of the Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension.

This week we consider the deep canticle of the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 26:9-20), interpreting its more difficult phrases in the light of some of the Church fathers, and with reference to the story of the flood in Genesis 6-9, Psalm 119, Romans 8:22-39, and 2 Peter 1:19.

The song of Jonah (Jonah 2:2-9), Old Testament Canticle 6, is notable for its poignancy and substance. We read it with reference to Jesus’ words in Matthew12:39-41 and with help from these Old Testament passages: Job 41, Psalm 104/LXX 103:26, Psalm 139/LXX 138: 8-12, and Psalm 148:7.

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.

This week we revel in the colors, sounds, and wonder of Old Testament Canticle 8 (Dan 3:57-88 LXX). In this exuberant song of praise, we bring the whole cosmos before God, and enter into the praise that flows in different ways from everything that He has created.

This week we read the first part of Canticle 9 (Luke 1:46-55); interpreting it in the light of Hannah’s song, David’s joy in the Ark of the Lord (2 Sam/2 Kingdoms 6:9-15) 2 Cor 10:15, and Gen 22:17-18. Her humility and joy are models for us as we learn to “magnify” the Savior.

We read the righteous Zachariah’s canticle of praise and hope from Luke 1:68-79, looking to the Old Testament to shed light on it: Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 22:16-17; Psalm 18/17:3; 2 Sam/2 Kingdoms 7:1-17; 2 Sam/2 Kingdoms 22:3; Isaiah 9:2 and Malachi 3:1; 4:2-5.

In this final episode of “Light from the Canticles,” we contemplate the Song of Simeon, also known as the Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:29-32), with help from select fathers, Genesis 26:26-30, 2 Samuel (Kingdoms) 20:41-42, Isaiah 54:10, and Nehemiah 8:3. The elder Simeon’s song of blessing and gratitude becomes ours as we remember the fulfillment of God’s promises, and rejoice in the Incarnate One, who has brought us release from sin and death. Next episode we will start a series on the Psalms sung at Vespers, in the Divine Liturgy, and in our daily readings: “Light from the Psalms.”

76. Book 1: "The Birth of John" from The Bible for Young People by Zoe Kanavas (Narthex Press, 2005) (5.28 mins) Book 2: The Life of Saint Constantine and his Mother, Saint Helena by Euphemia Briere part two and conclusion (St. Nectarios Press, 2003) (17.06 mins)

Bearing the Saint, Conclusion, by Donna Farley (Conciliar Press, 2010)

Keeper of the Light: Saint Macrina the Elder, Grandmother of Saints by Bev Cooke, illustrated by Bonnie Gillis (Conciliar Press, 2006), Conclusion.

The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan, illustrated by Judith Brown (Bethlehem books, 1997)

Stranger Moon, a novel by Heather Zydek, Conclusion (Moth Wing Press, 2012)

Children’s Bible Reader, part forty and CONCLUSION, 2006, Greek Bible Society, Scripture Quotations taken from Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995, American Bible Society. Used by permission. Illustrations by Martha Kapetanakou-Xinopoulou. "The trip to Rome" "Paul writes many letters" "God's new world"

St. Moses the Ethiopian, part three, written and illustrated by Fr. Jerome Sanderson (Christ the Saviour Brotherhood Publishing, 2002).

The Illustrated Life of the Theotokos for Children by Georgia and Helen Hronos, (Light and Life Publishing, 1990). This audio is only available until October 11, 2013.

The Nightmare Tree: A Tale of Mysterion, Chapter twenty-three and conclusion, by Richard Rene (Coteau Books for Kids, 2007).

The Miracle of the Red Egg by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson, illustrated by Daria Fisher (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2013).

The Edge of Mysterion, Chapter Twenty Four and Conclusion, by Richard Rene (Conciliar Press, 2011)

The Miracle of the Red Egg by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson, illustrated by Daria Fisher, Ancient Faith Publishing (2012)