"Healing of the Woman with an Issue of Blood," from Feasts of Christ and the Theotokos and Miracles of the Lord by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

Chrissi reads her book as part of this interview and her new program is announced.

57. Book 1: Coloring with Christina by Maria Khoury (CDK Publications, 2007) (duration 5.16 mins) Book 2: Ella's Story: The Duchess Who Became a Saint by Maria Tobias, Chapter 3 (Conciliar Press, 2004) (begins at 6:38, duration 16.13 mins)

Fr. Ted encourages us to keep our moral compasses set firmly on Christ.

Fr. Ted explains what it means for us that God came into the world.

Fr. Ted calls us to do battle with the Enemy in the arena within during Great Lent.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos explains the Triodion season and the significance of the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee for us all.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos reflects on the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God, God with us!

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!)

Today Kevin's guest host on the program is Father Steve Tsichlis, Senior Pastor of Saint Paul's Greek Orthodox Church in Irvine, California. Fr Steve's special guest for this exclusive Illumined Heart interview is His Eminence, Metropolitan KALLISTOS [Ware]. Their topic is: UNDERSTANDING THE SACRAMENTS. Saint Paul’s recently hosted His Eminence, Metropolitan KALLISTOS to Southern California, for a two-day, packed-house seminar to the general public titled, “Drawing Closer to the Savior: The Sacramental Life”. CD’s of this seminar are available for purchase by calling St Paul’s Church Office at 949.733.2366. You can also contact them on St Pauls’ website: www.stpaulsirvine.org.

This week Kevin re-conneects after 35 years with his old college dorm neighbor, Conservative Jewish Rabbi Alan J.Iser, about Judaism, the Jewish roots of Orthodox Christianity, and how religious Jews understand the Torah verses what Christians interpret christologically in this frank interview. Rabbi Iser is the spiritual leader of Congregation OR SHALOM in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. 44:05

6 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 are clinically infertile. Infertility presents a heartbreaking struggle for many Orthodox couples who wonder whether it is God's will for them to be childless, or whether new fertility technologies (and which ones?) are appropriate. In this edition Kevin speaks with Orthodox theologian and ethicist Fr. John Breck about infertility and what options Orthodox Christian couples have to deal with it within an Orthodox context.

During a recent visit to St. John's Monastery, Steve recorded and interview with Abbot Jonah about the Jesus Prayer. In part one, Fr. Jonah discusses the Orthodox view of prayer that goes beyond "requests and praise." He also discusses the practice of the Jesus Prayer and the transformation of the human being which is a difficult and sometimes painful experience.

In part two of the discussion of the Jesus Prayer, Fr. Jonah talks about the context of the practice of the prayer and some of the spiritual pitfalls and dangers of entering a discipline of prayer without spiritual direction.

Steve interviews Fr. Gregory Jensen, an Orthodox priest and psychologist. Fr. Gregory discusses the place of clinical psychology within Orthodox spirituality, particularly as it relates to pastoral care and confession.

The second hour of an interview with Fr. Gregory Jensen on the use of psychology and the Orthodox spiritual life.

In this debut episode, Fr. Chad has a fascinating discussion with Bishop Hilarion about ecumenical dialogues between Anglicans, Catholics, and Orthodox.

Molly looks forward to 2016 with a personal desire to seek after Christ ahead of everything else.

Fr. Evan welcomes another guest co-host tonight: Fr. Ted Paraskevopoulos. Fr. Ted is heard on AFR with his iSermon and Fr. TedTalks podcasts. They field listener questions on the role of pain and suffering, making your home an Orthodox home, liturgical translations, and, from both of them, a statement of what makes Orthodoxy so special.

A lively program with a great variety of questions including questions on confession, spiritual maturity, chanting, and modernity. Be sure to listen for a "cameo" appearance by Fr. Barnabas Powell!

Fr. Evan interviews Fr. Chris Rowe and answers questions about introducing Orthodoxy to outsiders, the Orthodox situation in Guatemala, etc.

Fr. Roberto shares that there is little that we can do to solve the world's problems, yet that little is perhaps the most important thing in the world.

A Prayer of Welcome on the Occassion of Someone New Coming to Live with Us, written by Brother Luke.

Martha reminds us that the reason we cook is for love.

getting it to run DOOM is only a matter of time #

look in the direction you want to move, open and close your mouth to go faster #

There are stupider things to do than arguing with a culty fundamentalist. As the late great Jim Croce reminded us, you don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, and you don’t pull the mask off the ol’ Lone Ranger. Arguing with a culty fundamentalist is, I admit, not as stupid as any of these things, but it is pretty stupid nonetheless, for it is a waste of precious time and utterly futile.

Fr. Apostolos reminds us this Halloween season of the absolute and exclusive claims laid upon us by Jesus Christ.

Fr. Apostolos talks about synergy with Christ.

Fr. Apostolos begins with the story of Brittany, a young girl he briefly knew who suffered from an incurable skin condition who demonstrated for him how to carry a cross. The gist of the homily is simple: there can be no resurrection without a death and no Paschal celebration without the Cross.

In Fr. Apostolos' Cathedral homily, he talks about the challenges we are facing with COVID-19 as a Church and as a nation. Fr. Apostolos likened the shuttering of our various distractions to the "Alone with God" time our youth enjoy in the camping ministry.

Fr. Apostolos Hill preaches on what to do when we come upon disagreeable passages in Holy Scripture, such as Abraham's statement to the Rich Man that he has already received his "good things" in his life and can expect nothing more.

What should we do when thoughts come? The Psalms will help wash your heart of the distractions and you will reach the point where you can pray better.

Sermon on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52, 8:12)

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

The scriptures are replete with examples describing the union between God and His people as a marriage. Fr Tom teaches us that the intimate union God desires to have with us begins with our baptism. It's up to us, however, to keep our garment undefiled in order to worthily partake of the eternal Marriage Supper of the Lamb with His Bride. (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Beheading of St John the Baptist)

Our Lord taught his disciples to put away anxiety about life and instead trust in God. Fr Thomas reminds us that by seeing life through the teachings of Christ, even the difficulties and tribulations of life will build us up to be stronger followers of Him. (Third Sunday after Pentecost)

In the story of the Samaritan Woman at Jacob's Well, Jesus has a life-changing conversation with her. Fr Thomas reminds us that each one of us needs to have this conversation with God, which can ultimately lead us to put Him first above all things. (Fifth Sunday of Pascha)

Jesus's question to the paralytic, "Do you want to be made well?" is at the heart of our Christian life. Fr Thomas explains the important doctrine of synergy, or cooperation with God, as the key to our daily growth in life, faith, and spiritual understanding.

In a pluralistic society, the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the way, the truth, and the life, can become a casualty, even in the minds of Christians. Fr Thomas reminds us of the uniqueness of the Christian message: that the only way to peace with God is through faith in Christ. (This episode of our podcast introduces a new format, interspersing the thoughts and comments of faithful parishioners. We hope you enjoy it!)

The Parable of the Great Banquet is read to prepare us to celebrate the Nativity of Christ. Fr Thomas weaves the epistle and gospel for the Sunday to inspire and direct us toward closer communion with God Himself by accepting the invitation that God gives to us week after week.

The healing of the blind man in John 9 is a dramatic story of the healing power of God. Fr Thomas teaches us that we also have been healed by virtue of our baptism and we should tell others the story of our recreation.

On the Sunday before Christmas, the kingly lineage of Jesus according to St Mathew is read. Fr Thomas teaches us that the names recount that Jesus is anything but a distant ruler, but rather that He identifies with the brokenness of humanity and comes to redeem us from it.

The Gospel reading for the fifth Sunday of Lent relates the story of the audacious question posed by the apostles James and John, who asked for glorification without first drinking the cup of humiliation. Fr Thomas reminds us that this basic principle of the Christian life proves true even for seemingly mundane things that we might mistakenly think are unimportant, like going to church to worship.