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A Path to Greater Orthodox Unity

There are well over 1 million Americans who classify themselves as Orthodox Christians. And while fundamental theological beliefs and practices are very similar, we do not always speak with one strong and unified voice. On top of that, our Orthodox Patriarchs identified a Canonical anomaly in the way Orthodoxy has evolved operationally in the United States. This led some of our distinguished Patriarchs to want to resolve this anomaly and address our lack of unity. The result was the formation of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops. Its stated mission is to preserve and contribute to the unity of the Orthodox Church, and its goals include: 1. promoting Church unity in the United States; 2. strengthening the common pastoral ministry to all the Orthodox faithful and a common witness to all those outside the church; and 3. the organization of the Orthodox Church according to Canonical tradition. Ten years after its formation, what do you know about the Assembly of Bishops and what this distinguished group of over 55 Orthodox Hierarchs are working on? Tonight's program is devoted to a more thorough examination of the Assembly’s accomplishments and plans. Bill's guests include Metropolitan Gregory of the American Carpatho Russian Orthodox Diocese and the current Secretary of the Assembly, Mark Arey its first Secretary, and Nicholas Anton its Director of Operations.




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Hagia Sophia and Religious Freedom

Join Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Archbishop Elpidophoros, Orthodox Church in America Chancellor Very Reverend Dr. Alexander Rentel, Antiochian Orthodox Church Archdiocese Chancellor Very Reverend Thomas Zain, and Bill Marianes for a very special HAGIA SOPHIA Stewardship Calling Ancient Faith Radio program. The discussion centers on the decision in Turkey to turn the historic cathedral into a mosque. For many more resources on this subject including specific things YOU can do visit the Stewardship Calling website.




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Abortion : An Orthodox Perspective

On December 1st, the United States Supreme Court will hear Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This Mississippi case could overturn, refine, or re-affirm Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. Join Bill Marianes live with three special guests to discuss theological, legal, outreach, and ministry perspectives on this important event




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Prepare Youth for a Lifetime : Orthodox Volunteer Corps

Join Bill Marianes for a conversation with the leaders of Orthodox Volunteer Corps, the newest Approved Agency of the Assembly of Bishops. OVC leaders, Michael Sider-Rose and Kyra Limberakis, will share the exciting story of this transformational agency and help you understand how your youth and young adults can prepare for a lifetime through a year of service.Prepare




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Autism: What Can You and Your Parish Do

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects an estimated 1 in 44 children in the United States. ASD can create challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. After her son Michael was diagnosed with ASD, Dr. Lisa Liberatore and her husband Dr. Dimitri Kessaris formed LUV Michael, a pioneering nonprofit ministry that transforms the lives of those with ASD. We will speak with Lisa Liberatore and Mark Bondi about their innovative LUV Michael organic granola products enterprise that employs the autistic population, their U.S. Autism Homes housing initiative, and other autism advocacy. LUV Michael is a unique ministry opportunity for you and your parish to help create meaningful work for autistic adults, learn about autism, and advocate for autism acceptance




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Religious Freedom and Critical Legal Issues

Join Bill Marianes and Professor Brad Jacobs, Associate Dean and Constitutional Law Professor at Regent University School of Law, for a discussion about religious freedom and the critical legal issues that matter most to our Christian churches, institutions, and faithful.




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Strategic Leadership, Innovation & Change Management in Orthodox Parishes and Ministries Part 1

Orthodoxy has declined from 20% of global Christians in 1910 to 12% in 2010. We are not yet making Orthodox "disciples of all nations" to the degree our Lord instructed us. Why? Some answers can be found in the latest leadership, innovation, and change management best practices and research.




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Strategic Leadership, Innovation & Change Management in Orthodox Parishes and Ministries Part 2

Orthodoxy has declined from 20% of global Christians in 1910 to 12% in 2010. We are not yet making Orthodox "disciples of all nations" to the degree our Lord instructed us. Why? Some answers can be found in the latest leadership, innovation, and change management best practices and research.




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Strategic Leadership Innovation, and Change Management in Orthodox Parishes and Ministries Part 3

Orthodoxy has declined from 20% of global Christians in 1910 to 12% in 2010. We are not yet making Orthodox "disciples of all nations" to the degree our Lord instructed us. PART 3: Listen to the latest leadership, innovation, and change management best practices and research




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Native Americans and Orthodoxy

Frederica is in Anchorage at the Alaska Native Heritage Center today talking with Orthodox convert Steven Alvarez and is interrupted only once by Alaskan wildlife!




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Tender Love and the Dormition

Imagine the blessed Theotokos in old age being cared for by St. John the Evangelist. That is the image Frederica beautifully portrays for us in today's podcast for the Feast of the Dormition. Read more of her thoughts on the Virgin Mary in her newest book The Lost Gospel of Mary.




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Science and the Orthodox Church

Frederica interviews Daniel Buxhoeveden, an Orthodox scientist who just recently received a Templeton grant to establish an Institute for Science and the Orthodox Church. Please note that Frederica experienced technical difficulties while recording this episode. We apologize in advance for its poor audio quality.




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An Orthodox Chaplain in Afghanistan

Frederica interviews Kh. Tamera Pelikan, whose husband is the only Orthodox chaplain in Afghanistan.




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Doing Funerals Right

Frederica interviews Joe Canby, an auto mechanic who doubles as a funeral director, about bringing funerals back into the Church.




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That's Not Orthodoxy

Frederica urges us to focus on the truly important aspects of our Orthodox Faith, rather than getting distracted by politics, scandals, or gossip.




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Buddhism and Orthodox Christianity

Frederica uses the recorded comments of a Buddhist monk to examine the similarities and differences between Orthodox and Buddhist beliefs, particularly as they relate to anger and forgiveness.




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Don't Think About It

Frederica reminds us that a passion begins to die when you don't think about it.




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Taking Orthodoxy to America

Frederica reflects on Fr. Marc Dunaway's article "Taking Orthodoxy to America," which appeared in the In Community newsletter from St. John Orthodox Cathedral in Eagle River, Alaska.




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From Pentecostal to Orthodox

Frederica interviews Dn. Barnabas Powell, the former pastor of a Pentecostal church, about his conversion to Orthodoxy.




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Welcome to the Orthodox Church

Frederica discusses her new book in which she uses a visit to a fictional parish, St. Felicity, to provide a basic introduction to the Orthodox Church.




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Orthodox with Aspergers

A parishioner at Frederica's parish who has Aspergers writes a letter to a listener who likewise has the syndrome.




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Coping with Thoughts of Doubt

Frederica shares a reply on the subject of doubt to a visitor to her website.




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Welcome to the Orthodox Church: Introduction

Frederica reads the introduction to her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.




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Doing Our Best in the Fast

Frederica calls us to enter into the fast of Great Lent as fully as we can so that we can reap the fruit of repentance and humility.




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“Welcome to the Orthodox Church” Discussion Questions

Audio recording of Frederica reading the Discussion Questions for her new book titled "Welcome to the Orthodox Church."




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Tender Love and the Dormition

Imagine the blessed Theotokos in old age being cared for by St. John the Evangelist. That is the image Frederica beautifully portrays for us in today's podcast for the Feast of the Dormition.




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Madonna and Child

Frederica reflects on the earliest depiction of the Theotokos with the Christ child dating back to the 2nd century.




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Splendor of Purity

Frederica Mathewes-Green reads her essay, "Why They Hate Us."




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Orthodox Vestments

Frederica is in Portland this week chatting with Kh. Krista West about the history and significance of Orthodox vestments. Krista makes vestments for clergy and has a web site where you can see her products.




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Does Character Count?

Drawing on some literary classics, Frederica grieves the loss of the value of character in our modern society.




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From Mennonite to Orthodox

Frederica is in the fourth floor apartment of a friend who recently came to Orthodoxy from the Mennonite church and participated in an excursion to the Middle East with a group intent on apologizing to Eastern faiths for the Crusades.




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A Conversation With Doug LeBlanc

We catch up with Frederica at a quaint Virginia Barbeque where she is chatting with a reporter who chooses to stay in the Episcopal Church. Douglas LeBlanc of the blog site Get Religion began covering religion in June 1984 as religion editor of the Morning Advocate in Baton Rouge, LA. Since then he has worked as an editor for Compassion International, Episcopalians United (now Anglicans United), and Christianity Today. His work has appeared in Christian Research Journal, The Weekly Standard, and The Wall Street Journal.




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The Western Liturgical Rite in Orthodoxy

An informal chat with the wives of two priests from Western Rite parishes in the Antiochian Archdiocese.




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2021 Doxacon: Charles Dickens, MCU v LOTR, and Bees

Doxacon is a gathering of Orthodox Christians with an interest in fantasy, sci-fi, and gaming. This year they asked me to deliver the lay keynote (conference theme: "Making Virtuous Decisions in Fiction"), and I confessed that I don't know much about those popular forms of media. So we compromised. First, I speak about Charles Dickens, and how some non-virtuous personal decisions affected his life and his writing; then my son, Fr. Stephen Mathewes, relates the "virtuous decisions" question to some popular books, movies, and videogames. At the end I came back with a few thoughts about bees. Enjoy!




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A Great Time to Join the Orthodox Church

Orthodoxy in America is in revival, and that makes it a lively place to be. In other times and places revival has been a temporary state, so it can’t be expected to last forever. At the moment, though, it’s a great time to become Orthodox.




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Great Canon and Prayer - Orthodox Christian Book Club

Frederica speaks with the Orthodox Christian Book Club about the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and the topic of prayer.




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You Can't Share What You Don't Have

Join Christian this week as he explores the reality that we cannot share a real love for Christ if we don't possess it ourselves.




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The Triumph of Orthodoxy

You won't find a more concise and helpful explanation of why Orthodox Christians keep and venerate icons.




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Teaching Doctrine in the World We Live in Today - Part One

Ancient Faith Radio is proud to present a three-part lecture on teaching doctrine by Fr. Thomas given in June 2008 at the Met. Andrey Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa.




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Teaching Doctrine in the World We Live in Today - Part Two

We continue with part two of Fr. Thomas' three-part lecture on teaching doctrine given in June 2008 at the Met. Andrey Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa.




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Teaching Doctrine in the World We Live in Today - Part Three

Fr. Thomas concludes his three-part lecture on teaching doctrine given in June 2008 at the Met. Andrey Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa.




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Crossroad- Orthodox Youth Take the Challenge

Fr. Tom interviews the leaders of the Crossroad program at Hellenic College in Brookline, MA. Crossroad is intended to help High School students discern their life callings, matching their personal gifts with the needs of the world. His guests are Ann Bezzerides, Mary Long, and Dan Belonic. He referenced in this interview his very informative eight-part AFR podcast series on the Church and State. In the next program, Fr. Tom will interview some of the participants in Crossroad.




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Crossroad- Orthodox Youth Take the Challenge - Part 2

Fr. Tom speaks with two students and a leader in the Crossroad program.




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A Reflection on the Past 50 Years of the Orthodox Church

Sitting in his study, Fr. Tom reflects on the past 50 years of the Orthodox Church. August marked the 46th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.




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Doctrinal Development

Today Fr. Tom talks about theological formulation and explanation in the Orthodox Christian Church.




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The Sunday of Orthodoxy

As we celebrate the Triumph of Orthodoxy and the victory over iconoclasm, Fr. Tom gives a personal reflection on icons and their use and misuse.




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Does God Play Favorites?

Fr. Tom addresses a question that came in by email from a listener who is perplexed by the seemingly inequitable treatment of people by God. Why are some blessed and others experience so much turmoil? It's a common question that is often felt but not always expressed.




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Dormition of the Theotokos

On August 15, the Church celebrates the Dormition of the Mother of God. Fr.Tom explores the theology associated with this Feast and the implications on our own resurrection.




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The Incarnation - Do We Really Believe It?

In a new episode, Fr. Thomas Hopko presses the question on the Incarnation of Christ - do we REALLY believe it?




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How Should Orthodox Relate to Other Christians?

If we believe that the Orthodox Church is the True Church, how are we to relate to those in other faith traditions or even non Christians? Fr. Tom takes us to the Church Fathers for answers.