When the ever-virgin Mary's forty days of purification were passed, according to the Law of Moses she took her son Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, to dedicate him to God as her first-born son. At the temple the Lord's parents offered the sacrifice of a pair of doves (Luke 2:22-23), from which we learn that they were poor, since those who were able were required to offer a lamb. At the Temple, the Lord was met by Zacharias, father of St John the Baptist, and by the aged, righteous Symeon, who had awaited the salvation of God for many years. (Sts Symeon and Anna are commemorated tomorrow.) We are told that some Pharisees, seeing the child Jesus recognized as the Messiah of Israel, were enraged, and went to tell King Herod. Realizing that this must be the child of whom he had been warned, Herod immediately sent soldiers to kill Him. But the righteous Joseph, warned in dream, fled with the child and his wife, the most holy Theotokos, into Egypt, and they were preserved.   The Feast of the Meeting of the Lord was observed in Jerusalem at least from the fourth century. Its observance was brought to Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian in 542. In the West it is called the Feast of the Purification of the Mother of God, or Candlemas Day.

In this new series from Fr. Andrew, he explores the impact of taking the Gospel into our times and our places. This first lecture challenges us to examine the real and tangible aspects of Christianity as opposed to viewing God as a "product."

This is part 2 in his series where Fr. Andrew explores the impact of taking the Gospel into our times and places.

On this feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple, Fr. Andrew explains not only why we bring 40-day-old children to be dedicated in church but also opens up the inner meaning of meeting the Lord.

With the Sunday of the Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick tells the story of how God showed up at the meeting and also meditates on what happens when we actually expect Him to show.

This week on Healthy Minds, Healthy Souls, join Fr. Nick and Pres. Roxanne Louh as they talk with Orthodox director Robert Krantz about his new movie, FAITH, HOPE, & LOVE.

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.

This week's podcast features snippets from "The Newlywed Game" taken from a Couples Retreat at St Joseph Antiochian Orthodox Church in Houston, Texas.

Someone, apparently a young adult, wrote me recently and asked about prayer. This person was having a hard time discerning the difference between worry and prayer. He or she was wondering if prayer, although salutary to ourselves, really does have an effect on those we pray for. Particularly, this person was worried about and/or praying for his or her parents who seemed to be getting further and further apart. Did God hear his/her prayers for them? Do a child’s prayers really make any difference for the parents?

On Forgiveness Sunday, Holy Ascension Orthodox Church was visited by missionary James Hargrave. James serves with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center in Tanzania. Fr. John Parker interviews James about his work there.

Fr. John Parker traveled to Romania and sat down with OCMC missionary Floyd Frantz who works with the Church to help people with addictions.

In this episode, Fr. John interviews Fr. Jason Foster, pastor of Holy Nativity Orthodox Mission in Shreveport, LA. Fr. Jason is doing amazing and catalytic missionary work in Louisiana.

Fr. John reflects on the final Plenary Speeches of Pastor Rick Warren and Cardinal O'Malley of Boston from the World Meeting on Families in Philadelphia at the end of September.

43. Book 1: The Meeting of Our Lord from The Twelve Great Feasts for Children by Mother Melania (Conciliar Press, 2002) Book 2: Katie Visits a Monastery, by Elizabeth Saxild, part three and conclusion (St. Nectarios Press, 1998)

79. Book 1: "Meeting John" from The Bible for Young People by Zoe Kanavas (Narthex Press, 2005) (7.33 mins) Book 2: A Miracle in the Desert (The Publishing House of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, 2001) (4.23 mins )

132. Meet the Evangelists: Christina Book Series by Maria Khoury (CDK Publications, 2009)

Nicholas Meets His Guardian Angel by Eleni Christos and Helen Iakovos-Dalalakis (Light & Life Publishing, 2001).

There is a parallel between what happens to Zacchaeus to what happens to us every Sunday.

Here is part 2 of this historic interview with Metropolitan Jonah who was just enthroned as Archbishop of Washington and New York and Metropolitan of All America for the Orthodox Church in America. In this half of the interview, His Beatitude Jonah addresses matters such as Administrative Unity among Orthodox jurisdictions, evangelism, and the events that led up to his election at the All American Council in November.

On November 12, 2008, a remarkable thing happened in Pittsburgh, PA. Just 11 days after his consecration as Bishop of Fort Worth and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of the South, Bishop Jonah was elected Archbishop of Washington and New York and Metropolitan of All American and Canada for the Orthodox Church in America. Kevin Allen was able to spend well over an hour on the phone with His Beatitude Jonah in a candid and fascinating interview that we are bringing you in 2 parts. In this first part we learn about his background, personal interests, conversion to Orthodoxy and the monastic life. Next week we will bring you part 2.

Fr. Chad Hatfield introduces us to Alla Generalow, the new Director of Liturgical Music at St. Vladimir's.

There is no "Missionary's Handbook" for post-war countries such as Sierra Leone. But Orthodox Christian missionary Fr. Themi (Adamopoulo) is writing one from scratch as he meets the challenge of spreading the Good News in West Africa.

The raising of the Widow of Nain's Son is a dramatic scene where the Power of Life confronts the reality of death. Fr Thomas reminds us that we experience this encounter every time we participate in the Divine Liturgy, entering into the presence of the One Who has victory over Hades and death. (Our apologies for the poor audio quality of this recording.)

Every icon is a mediator, a means of reconciling each of us to God.

Dr. Rossi interviews a young seminarian at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary about the Indian Orthodox Church. We also hear some examples of Indian Orthodox chant.

Dr. Rossi interviews Fr. Michael Nasser, past Director of Antiochian Village Camp and Project Mexico. Fr. Michael is now priest of Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission in Bowling Green, KY.

John talks with Don West about the impact of the Missions and Evangelism conference on his journey to Orthodoxy. The 2009 Orthodox Conference on Missions and Evangelism will be held at Antiochian Village on Labor Day weekend September 4-7.

Fr. John Parker has been appointed the new Chair of the Department of Evangelism for the Orthodox Church in America. We caught up with him at the All-American Council in Seattle and asked about his plans and vision for evangelization and outreach.

Bobby Maddex interviews Nicholas Chakos, the new Executive Director of FOCUS North America, the Orthodox service organization devoted to serving "the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick and imprisoned by providing Food, Occupation, Clothing, Understanding, and Shelter."

Archimandrite David [Mahaffey] will be consecrated to the episcopacy at Saint Innocent Cathedral in Anchorage on Friday, February 21, 2014. He will fill the vacant Episcopal See of Sitka and Alaska for the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). AFR introduces you to the Bishop-elect and he talks about his vision for the Diocese.

Ancient Faith Radio is at the GOA Clergy/Laity Congress in Philadelphia and while there we ran into Steven Christoforou, host of the very popular youth video cast - Be the Bee!

Meet the host of the new live call-in show on AFR: Faith Encouraged Live with Fr. Barnabas Powell! It begins September 14 at 7:00 Central/8:00 Eastern on the Talk Station and will be heard on the second and fourth Sundays of every month. Orthodoxy Live with Fr. Evan Armatas continues on the first and third Sundays.

Bobby Maddex interviews George Matsoukas, the Executive Director of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL), and Alexei Krindatch, the Research Coordinator of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, about the upcoming OCL Program Meeting at St. Vladimir's Seminary.

Did you know that the President and COO of the Chick-Fil-A restaurant chain is an Orthodox Christian? Meet Tim Tassopoulos who in 2016 was tapped by the Cathy family to head the day-to-day operations.

Get to know Fr. John Parker, Chair of the Department of Evangelization of the Orthodox Church in America. Hear about his conversion to Orthodoxy as well as his views on evangelism.

We talk with Fr. Theodore Petrides about his fascinating life and his new AFR podcast Signs In Our Times.

Ancient Faith Radio welcomes the Executive Director of the Orthodox Christian Missions Center, Fr. Martin Ritsi, to our studio. The phone number for OCMC was misstated in the interview. The actual number is 1-800-GO-FORTH.

The Gospel is the Word of Truth directed to the conscience of man in the presence of God. Fr. Pat explores this topic in the context of the conversation Jesus has with the Woman at the Well.

Both Galatians 1 and Luke 8 contain stories of men converting to Christ. Fr. Pat examines these two accounts.

John Deery, who is alive due to a series of events and some strangers, is backing a defibrillator campaign.

Manx Care meets 52% of the recommendations outlined in a series of Care Quality Commission reviews.

The secret meetings were revealed by Rev Harold Good in a new book, In Good Time.

Bob goes out on street sweeps with Cornerstone to support the homeless.

12-year-old Alfie has competed in three Rubik's Cube championships.

Helen Gordon can be seen every morning dancing through the streets of Billingham.

Law student Joel Wilson and his typewriter are becoming a popular sight in York city centre.

The black Labrador goes out on street sweeps to help a charity speak with vulnerable people.