bi Virgin-Martyr Febronia of Nisibis (310) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-06-25T05:01:00+00:00 Though the daughter of a Roman senator and a great beauty, she fled the world and entered a monastery in Mesopotamia. (So great was her beauty that the abbess had her stand behind a screen while reading to her monastic sisters.) At that time the Emperor Diocletian sent a certain Selenus, along with his nephew Lysimachus, on a mission to find and destroy Christians in the East. Though Selenus was a fierce persecutor of the Christians, Lysimachus felt sympathy for them and secretly protected them whenever he could. Selenus and his party came to Nisibis, where Febronia's virtue and holiness had already become well-known, though she was still only twenty years old. Selenus summoned her and made every effort to convince her to renounce her faith. When she stood firm, she was first viciously dismembered then beheaded. Lysimachus gathered her relics and took them to the monastery for burial. At the monastery he, together with many soldiers, were baptized. The holy Febronia's relics worked many healings, and she herself appeared to the other nuns on the anniversary of her repose, standing in her usual place among her sisters. Her relics were translated to Constantinople in 363. Full Article
bi Hieromartyr Pancratius, bishop of Taormina in Sicily (1st c.) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-07-09T05:01:00+00:00 He was born in Antioch during the years that Christ walked in the flesh in Palestine. His parents, hearing of Christ's miracles and teaching, journeyed to Jerusalem, bringing their young son Pancratius. There all three of them saw and listened to Jesus Himself, and met the disciple Peter as well. After the Ascension, Pancratius and his parents were baptised in Antioch (some accounts say by the Apostle Peter himself). The Apostle Peter installed Pancratius as bishop of Taormina in Sicily, where he worked great wonders and brought many to Christ. A pagan general named Aquilinus, hearing that Taormina had become Christian, set out with his army to destroy the town. Pancratius instructed the faithful not to fear and went out to confront the army, armed only with the sign of the Cross. When the army came near the town, the soldiers were seized with confusion and fear, fell on their own weapons and attacked one another, and finally withdrew in terror. Thus the city was saved by the prayers of the holy bishop. Later, pagans stoned him to death, granting him a martyr's end. His relics may still be venerated in Rome. Full Article
bi Saint Julian, Bishop of Cenomanis (Le Mans) (1st c.) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-07-13T05:01:00+00:00 He was made bishop by the Apostle Peter and sent to Gaul as a missionary. Some believe that he was Simon the Leper, whom the Lord healed, later named Julian in Baptism. In Gaul, despite great difficulty and privation, he converted many to faith in Christ and worked many miracles — healing the sick, driving out demons, and even raising the dead. In time the local prince, Defenson, was baptised along with many of his subjects. He reposed in peace. Full Article
bi Hieromartyr Athenogenes, bishop of Sebaste, and his ten disciples (311) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-07-16T05:01:00+00:00 "In the time of Diocletian, a fierce persecutor of Christians called Philomarchus came to Sebaste. He arrested and killed many Christians in the town. When he saw Athenogenes and his disciples, he told the elder to sacrifice to the idols, that they should not perish as had the other Christians. Athenogenes replied: 'O Torturer, those whom you describe as having perished have not perished, but are in heaven and make merry with the angels!' There was a touching moment when a deer, which had been hand-fed by the compassionate Athenogenes, ran up to him and, seeing him in such straits, shed tears. Wild animals of the hills had more pity on the martyrs than did the pagans! After harsh torture, during which an angel of God comforted them, they were all beheaded, first the priests and fellow workers of Athenogenes and then Athenogenes himself, and went to their heavenly home in the year 311." (Prologue) The Great Horologion adds "There is a second Martyr Athenogenes commemorated today, mentioned by St Basil... it is said that as this Athenogenes approached the fire, wherein he was to die a martyric death, he chanted the hymn O Joyous Light in praise of the Holy Trinity." This is one way that we know that the vesperal hymn Gladsome Light was in use before the time of St Basil the Great. Full Article
bi Hieromartyr Apollinarius, bishop of Ravenna (75) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-07-23T05:01:00+00:00 He was a disciple of St Peter, born in Antioch. St Peter took him to Rome (he was bishop of Antioch before being bishop of Rome, so Antioch is as much the 'see of Peter' as is Rome) and made him Bishop of Ravenna. In Ravenna, he healed the wife of the military governor of a grave illness, after which the governor and his household confessed Christ and were baptized. Apollinarius was able to form a house church in the governor's home, from which he labored for the Gospel for twelve years. Eventually, he was condemned to exile in Illyria for his faith, and began a life of missionary travel in the Balkans, travelling as far as the Danube. After twelve years of this work, he was driven back to Italy by the hostility of some of the pagans. He was received with joy by the people of Ravenna, which aroused the envy of the pagan elders, who denounced him to the Emperor Vespasian. When the elders asked permission to kill Apollinarius, the Emperor only gave them permission to drive him from the city, wisely saying 'It is not seemly to take revenge on behalf of the gods, for they can themselves be revenged on their enemies if they are angered.' But, in defiance of the Imperial decree, the pagan leaders attacked and killed Apollinarius with knives. His holy relics are preserved in Ravenna, in a church dedicated to him. Full Article
bi Hieromartyr Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons (202) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-08-23T05:01:00+00:00 He was born in Asia Minor around the year 120, and was a disciple of Saint Polycarp, who was in turn a disciple of St John the Evangelist. He succeeded the martyred St Pothinus as Bishop of Lyons in Gaul (now France). He produced many writings contesting not only against paganism but against Gnostic heresies that were then troubling the Church. When Victor, Bishop of Rome, planned to excommunicate the Christians of Asia Minor for celebrating Pascha on a different date than the Church of Rome, Irenaeus persuaded him to stay his hand and maintain unity and peace in the Church. (This was before the date of Pascha had been set by the Ecumenical Councils). By his efforts Lyons became for centuries a center and bastion of Orthodoxy in the West. Full Article
bi Hieromartyr Cyprian, bishop of Carthage (258) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-08-31T05:01:00+00:00 He was born around 190 to pagan parents in North Africa. Before baptism he was distinguished in Carthage as a teacher of philosophy and rhetoric. He came to faith in Christ and was baptized at a young age; as soon as he became a Christian he abandoned his prestigious teacher's position, sold his many possessions and gave all his wealth to the poor. He was ordained presbyter in 247, Bishop of Carthage in 248. He was known for his gentleness and paternal care for his flock, combined with firm opposition to heretics. His extensive writings still guide the Church today. For his confession of Christ, he was beheaded under the Emperor Valerian on September 14; since that is the date of the Exaltation of the Cross, his feast is kept today. At the time of his execution he left twenty-five gold pieces (a huge sum) for the executioner who beheaded him. Full Article
bi Our Holy Father Joannicius, Archbishop and first Patriarch of Serbia (1354) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-09-03T05:01:00+00:00 "Born in Prizrem, he served as first secretary to King Dušan. He became Archbishop in 1339, and in 1346 was raised to the rank of Patriarch. He was a zealous pastor, and brought order to the Serbian Church, being 'a great upholder of the Church's laws'. He entered into rest on September 3rd, 1349, and his relics are preserved at Pec´." (Prologue) Full Article
bi Hieromartyr Babylas, bishop of Antioch, and those with him (251) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-09-04T05:01:00+00:00 He was archbishop of Antioch at the time of the wicked Emperor Numerian. Once the Emperor came to Antioch and attempted to enter a church where Babylas was serving. Coming to the door, the Archbishop forbade the Emperor, as a pagan and a shedder of innocent blood, to enter the house where the True God was worshipped. Retreating in humiliation, the Emperor determined to take his revenge. Shortly after he had Babylas imprisoned along with several Christian children. Babylas was made to watch the beheading of each of the children. Having given them encouragement he submitted himself to beheading. At his own request he was buried in the chains with which he had been bound. After the establishment of Christianity in the Roman Empire, the Emperor Gallus had a church built in honor of Babylas near the site of a temple to Apollos at Daphne, outside Antioch. (This was where, according to pagan legend, the maiden Daphne had been turned into a tree to escape the lust of Apollos). When Julian the Apostate came to Antioch in 362 to consult a famous oracle there, he found that the oracle had been deprived of its power by the presence of a Christian church nearby. He ordered the relics of St Babylas to be dug up and removed from the Church. As soon as this had been done a thunderbolt destroyed the shrine of Apollo, which Julian did not dare to rebuild. Saint John Chrysostom, then Archbishop of Antioch, preached a sermon on these events within a generation after their occurrence. Full Article
bi Hieromartyr Autonomus, bishop of Italy (313) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-09-12T05:01:00+00:00 He fled from Italy to Bithynia during Diocletian's persecutions. In Bithynia he converted so many pagans to faith in Christ that those whose hearts remained hard rose up against him and, while he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Archangel Michael, slew him at the altar, killing many other worshipers with him. Two hundred years after his death, he appeared to a soldier named John, who unearthed his relics and found them to be completely incorrupt. Full Article
bi Our Holy Father Lambert, Bishop of Maastricht By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-09-17T05:01:00+00:00 He was born to a noble family in Maastricht (in modern-day Netherlands). When his spiritual father Bishop Theodard was killed in 671, St Lambert was elected Bishop of Maastricht despite his youth. He was loved by his flock for his holiness, ascetic labors and almsgiving, but was driven from his see in 675 after his patron King Childeric II was assasinated. He withdrew to the Monastery of Stavelot where he lived for seven years as one of the brethren, claiming no privileges despite his office. Once, getting up to pray during the night, he accidentally disturbed the monastic silence. The Abbot called out for whoever was responsible to do penance by standing barefoot in the snow before a cross outside the monastery church. In the morning the Abbot was dismayed to see the Bishop standing barefoot, covered with snow, before the cross, his face shining. The Abbot sought to apologize, but Lambert replied that he was honored to serve God like the Apostles, in cold and nakedness. When King Pepin of Heristal took power in 681, he restored Lambert to his see, despite the Saint's desire to remain in obscurity. The holy bishop renewed his pastoral labors with vigor, visiting the most distant parishes and preaching the Gospel to the pagans who still inhabited the area, despite danger and threats. But when King Pepin put away his wife and replaced her with his concubine Alpais, St Lambert was the only Bishop who dared to rebuke him. For this he incurred the wrath of Alpais, who ordered his death. His assassins carried out their evil commission, even though they found a cross shining above the humble dwelling where he was staying. Saint Lambert is one of the best-loved Saints of the Netherlands and Belgium, where many parish churches are dedicated to him. His relics are now in the Belgian city of Liège. Full Article
bi St Gregory the Enlightener, Bishop of Armenia By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-09-30T05:01:00+00:00 He was a nobleman, related to the imperial houses of Persia and Armenia. When these two houses went to war with one another, Gregory withdrew to Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he heard the Gospel proclaimed and came to faith in Christ. There he also married and had two sons. After his wife's death he returned to his homeland and served in the court of Tiridates, king of Armenia. When the king discovered that Gregory was a Christian, he subjected the Saint to many tortures, finally having him cast into a pit full of mire and poisonous reptiles. But Gregory was miraculously kept alive in the pit for fourteen years, during which a widow secretyly provided for his needs. King Tiridates, still cruelly persecuting the Christians in his land, eventually went mad and became like a wild animal. In a dream, the king's sister was told that her brother would only be restored to sanity when Gregory was freed from the pit. This was done, and Gregory healed and baptised his persecutor. At the king's request, Gregory was made bishop of Armenia. As bishop he brought countless thousands to faith in Christ and is counted as the Enlightener of Armenia. In old age he retired into ascetical life, and reposed in peace. Full Article
bi Hieromartyr Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-10-04T05:01:00+00:00 He was probably the first Bishop of Athens, ordained by the Holy Apostle Paul himself. St Dionysius (see October 3) describes St Hierotheos as his teacher and friend "after Paul." With St Dionysius, St Hierotheos was miraculously brought by the power of the Holy Spirit to be present with the Apostles at the Dormition of the Theotokos. He reposed in peace. Full Article
bi St Abercius, Bishop of Hierapolis, Wonderworker and Equal to the Apostles (167) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-10-22T05:01:00+00:00 He was bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia of Asia Minor, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, a persecutor of Christians. During a pagan festival, Abercius was instructed by an Angel to throw down the idols of Apollo and other pagan gods. When his work was discovered, the people of the city were outraged; but instead of hiding, the bishop went to the marketplace and openly confessed the Christian faith. The people grew angrier still, but when Abercius healed three possessed men they were amazed and listened to him more closely. He preached the Faith with such power that the entire city and surrounding countryside became Christian. These miracles reached the ears of the Emperor, whose daughter was suffering from demonic possession. The Emperor summoned Abercius to Rome, where he was enabled to cast out the spirit and perform several other miracles. The Empress offered him a large reward of gold for healing her daughter, but he would not accept it. On his way home, he was instructed in a vision to travel to Syria. He travelled first to Antioch and surrounding cities, then as far as Mesopotamia, proclaiming Christ and teaching the faith everywhere he went. No other bishop of his time travelled so widely in the service of the Gospel; for this reason he is called Equal to the Apostles. After several years he returned to Phrygia, where he lived the remainder of his life in peace, shepherding his flock. Full Article
bi Holy Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord and First Bishop of Jerusalem (63) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-10-23T05:01:00+00:00 His Hebrew name is Jacob. He was a close kinsman of Christ, and was therefore called, according to the Jewish usage of the time, his "brother." Some accounts say that he was a child of Joseph by his first marriage; others accounts say that he was the son of Joseph's brother Cleopas and his wife Mary, who was first cousin of the Theotokos. He took the Nazirite vows of one completely consecrated to God according to the Law, and from a young age he was called "the Just" by his people. He is called James the Lesser in Scripture (Mark 15:40) to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee, who is called the Greater. The Apostles appointed him first Bishop of Jerusalem. It was he who presided at the earliest Council of the Church in Jerusalem, where he resolved the problem of how gentile converts should be received into the Church (see Acts 15). He wrote the New Testament Epistle, addressed primarily to Jewish converts to the Faith, that bears his name. About the year 62, he ascended to the peak of the Temple in Jerusalem on Passover, and there bore witness to Christ so effectively that the people cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David." At this, the Scribes and Pharisees, fearing that all the people would be converted to Christ, cast him down to the ground. By God's grace, he survived long enough to rise, kneel and pray, like his Master, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do." He was then clubbed to death by one of the scribes. Full Article
bi Holy Martyrs Acepsimas the bishop, Joseph the priest and Aithalas the deacon (378-379) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-11-03T05:01:00+00:00 King Shapur II of Persia conducted a fierce persecution of Christians in his realm for thirty-seven years. In the final years of this persecution he gave his magi authority to torture and kill any Christians who would not renounce their faith. Acepsimas, the aged and holy Bishop of Paka, was arrested along with Joseph the priest and Aithalas the deacon. All not only refused to deny Christ, but boldly preached Him before the magi and the king. The enraged king had them viciously tortured, then, as a final indignity, made prisoners of all the local Christians and forced them to stone their own shepherds to death. With their martyrdom the great persecution in Persia came to an end. Full Article
bi Paul the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople (~350) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-11-06T06:01:00+00:00 A native of Thessalonica, he rose from secretary to Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople (commemorated August 30), to deacon, then succeeded St Alexander as Patriarch around 337. For his virtue and his zeal for Orthodoxy he was hated by the Arians, who were still powerful in the Empire. The Arian Emperor Constantius, learning of Paul's election, exiled him and made the Arian Eusebius Patriarch in his place. St Paul went to Rome, where he joined St Athanasius the Great in exile. Furnished with letters from Pope Julius, he was able to ascend the Patriarchal throne once again upon the death of Eusebius. But once again the Arians were able to put one of their party on the Patriarchal throne: Macedonius, who even went beyond the Arian heresy and denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Once again the legitimate, Orthodox Patriarch found himself in exile in Rome. In succeeding years St Paul stood firm for Orthodoxy while complex political and military intrigues swirled around him, with the Orthodox Constans, Emperor of the West (and Constantius' brother) supporting him while Constantius continued to oppose him. For a time Constans was able to enforce Paul's place on the Patriarchal throne, but when he died, Constantius banished St Paul to Cucusus on the Black Sea. There, while he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the house where he was kept prisoner, the Arians strangled him with his own omophorion. His relics were brought back to Constantinople by the Emperor Theodosius the Great. Full Article
bi Saint Willibrord, first Bishop of Utrecht and Apostle of Holland (739) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-11-07T06:01:00+00:00 He was born in Northubria in England around 638. At the age of seven he was sent to the monastery at Ripon for education under St Wilfrid (April 24), the abbot. At the age of twenty he traveled to Ireland to live among the holy monks of that land; he spent twelve years there as the spiritual child of St Egbert (also April 24). In 690 St Egbert sent Willibrord as head of a company of twelve monks to take the Gospel to the pagan lands around Frisia. The holy missionary first went to Rome to receive the blessing of Pope Sergius, then with his fellow-monks preached the Gospel throughout Holland and Zealand. In 695 Pope Sergius consecrated Willibrord Archbishop of Utrecht, instructing him to organize the Church throughout that area. As Archbishop, Willibrord continued to labor tirelessly for the spread of the Gospel in those pagan lands; his missionary travels took him as far as Denmark. He reposed in peace in 739 at Echternach Monastery (located in present-day in Luxembourg), having served for forty-four years as a bishop and for most of his life as a monastic. His tomb soon became a place of pilgrimage. Full Article
bi Our Father among the Saints Martin, Bishop of Tours (397) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-11-12T06:01:00+00:00 This holy and beloved Western Saint, the patron of France, was born in Pannonia (modern-day Hungary) in 316, to a pagan military family stationed there. Soon the family returned home to Italy, where Martin grew up. He began to go to church at the age of ten, and became a catechumen. Though he desired to become a monk, he first entered the army in obedience to his parents. One day, when he was stationed in Amiens in Gaul, he met a poor man shivering for lack of clothing. He had already given all his money as alms, so he drew his sword, cut his soldier's cloak in half, and gave half of it to the poor man. That night Christ appeared to him, clothed in the half-cloak he had given away, and said to His angels, "Martin, though still a catechumen, has clothed me in this garment." Martin was baptised soon afterward. Though he still desired to become a monk, he did not obtain his discharge from the army until many years later, in 356. He soon became a disciple of St Hilary of Poitiers (commemorated January 13), the "Athanasius of the West." After traveling in Pannonia and Italy (where he converted his mother to faith in Christ), he returned to Gaul, where the Arian heretics were gaining much ground. Not long afterward became Bishop of Tours, where he shone as a shepherd of the Church: bringing pagans to the faith, healing the sick, establishing monastic life throughout Gaul, and battling the Arian heresy so widespread throughout the West. Finding the episcopal residence too grand, he lived in a rude, isolated wooden hut, even while fulfilling all the duties of a Bishop of the Church. His severity against heresy was always accompanied by love and kindness toward all: he once traveled to plead with the Emperor Maximus to preserve the lives of some Priscillianist heretics whom the Emperor meant to execute. As the holy Bishop lay dying in 397, the devil appeared to tempt him one last time. The Saint said, "You will find nothing in me that belongs to you. Abraham's bosom is about to receive me." With these words he gave up his soul to God. He is the first confessor who was not a martyr to be named a Saint in the West. His biographer, Sulpitius Severus, wrote of him: "Martin never let an hour or a moment go by without giving himself to prayer or to reading and, even as he read or was otherwise occupied, he never ceased from prayer to God. He was never seen out of temper or disturbed, distressed or laughing. Always one and the same, his face invariably shining with heavenly joy, he seemed to have surpassed human nature. In his mouth was nothing but the Name of Christ and in his soul nothing but love, peace and mercy." Note: St Martin is commemorated on this day in the Greek and Slavic Synaxaria; his commemoration in the West, where he is especially honored, is on November 11. Full Article
bi Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople (407) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2024-11-13T06:01:00+00:00 This greatest of Christian orators is commemorated not only today, but as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs (with St Basil the Great and St Gregory the Theologian) on January 30. He was born in Antioch to pious parents around 345. His mother was widowed at the age of twenty, and devoted herself to rearing her son in piety. He received his literary and oratorical training from the greatest pagan teachers of the day. Though an illustrious and profitable career as a secular orator was open to him, he chose instead to dedicate himself to God. He lived as a monk from 374 to 381, eventually dwelling as a hermit in a cave near Antioch. Here his extreme ascetic practices ruined his health, so that he was forced to return to Antioch, where he was ordained to the priesthood. In Antioch his astonishing gifts of preaching first showed themselves, earning him the epithet Chrysostomos, "Golden-mouth", by which he became universally known. His gifts became so far-famed that he was chosen to succeed St Nectarius as Patriarch of Constantinople. He was taken to Constantinople secretly (some say he was actually kidnapped) to avoid the opposition of the Antiochian people to losing their beloved preacher. He was made Patriarch of Constantinople in 398. Archbishop John shone in his sermons as always, often censuring the corrupt morals and luxurious living of the nobility. For this he incurred the anger of the Empress Eudoxia, who had him exiled to Pontus in 403. The people protested by rioting, and the following night an earthquake shook the city, so frightening the Empress that she had Chrysostom called back. The reconciliation was short-lived. Saint John did not at all moderate the intensity of his sermons, and when the Empress had a silver statue of herself erected outside the Great Church in 403, accompanied by much revelry, the Patriarch spoke out against her, earning her unforgiving anger. In 404 he was exiled to Cucusus, near Armenia. When Pope Innocent of Rome interceded on his behalf, the imperial family only exiled him further, to a town called Pityus near the Caucasus. The journey was so difficult and his guards so cruel that the frail Archbishop gave up his soul to God before reaching his final place of exile, in 407. His last words were "Glory be to God for all things." Saint John Chrysostom is the author of more written works than any other Church Father: his works include 1,447 recorded sermons, 240 epistles, and complete commentaries on Genesis, the Gospels of Matthew and John, the Acts of the Apostles, and all the Epistles of St Paul. His repose was on September 14, but since that is the date of the Exaltation of the Cross, his commemoration has been transferred to this day. Full Article
bi Accountability and Fasting By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2017-02-23T02:56:35+00:00 Rita provides good insights into how we can keep the fast of Great Lent, and encourages us to stay connected to others who can help us be accountable and on the right path. Full Article
bi Voice From Antioch: The Bishop - Part 4a By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2015-08-05T02:51:42+00:00 What did St. Ignatius have to say about the role of the Bishop in the Church. Listen to the first half of Fr. Andrew's fourth talk in this series. Full Article
bi Voice From Antioch: The Bishop - Part 4b By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2015-08-05T02:52:29+00:00 St. Ignatius emphasized the importance of obedience to the Bishop. Full Article
bi The Church in the Bible: The Body of Christ in the Holy Scriptures By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2015-09-14T23:39:35+00:00 What does the Bible say about the Church? How did the first Christians understand the Church? How did (and does) the Church fit into God’s plan for man’s salvation? Full Article
bi The Church after the Bible: The Body of Christ after the Apostles By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2015-09-14T23:40:28+00:00 What impact did the written New Testament have on the early Church? How did the early Church develop along with the Bible? Finally, how does the New Testament faith community compare with the Church today? Full Article
bi St. Sisoes and the Bible (Sermon July 6, 2014) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2015-09-15T05:00:55+00:00 On the feast of St. Sisoes the Great, Fr. Andrew comments on how St. Sisoes was able to understand both death and life through the story of the Holy Scriptures. Full Article
bi Orthodox Christian Morality in Public: Reflections on Sexuality and Bioethics By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2016-01-18T23:07:21+00:00 What is a person? Is our culture confused about what a person is? What is morality? What does it mean to be moral? How does sex fit in? What about homosexuality, abortion, euthanasia, stem cell research and assisted suicide? How should we as Orthodox Christians live regarding these matters? How should we talk to our family and friends about them? How should we talk to the wider society about them? Should we engage in political action over them? Full Article
bi The Blind Man and Lawrence of Arabia (Sermon June 5, 2016) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2016-08-26T01:03:12+00:00 On the Sunday of the Blind Man, Fr. Andrew marks the 100th anniversary of the Great Arab Revolt and discusses it in terms of spiritual blindness. Full Article
bi Is Faith Like in the Bible Even Possible? (Sermon July 2, 2017) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2017-08-04T04:53:50+00:00 Using the example of the centurion, who believes that Jesus will heal his servant with just a word, Fr. Andrew asks if that kind of faith is even possible in our own age. Full Article
bi The Birth of a Prophet (Sermon Aug. 20, 2017) By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2017-08-31T18:14:20+00:00 Using the occasion of the feast of the Prophet Samuel, Fr. Andrew tells the story of his birth and connects that with salvation history and with our own lives. Full Article
bi Whose Bible Is It? By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-23T22:15:31+00:00 Speaking at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick asks the question 'Whose Bible Is It?' He presents four different paradigms for Scriptural interpretation through specific examples from multiple traditions, wrapping up with an Orthodox example and giving general principles for how the Orthodox Church reads the Bible. Full Article
bi Orthodox Apologetics: The Bible By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2016-10-11T13:05:48+00:00 Do Orthodox Christians believe in the Bible? On the first episode of the new season of the OCF podcast, media student leader Dan Bein asks Fr. Brendan Pelphrey this question and more. Full Article
bi Sacramental Living with Fr. Gabriel Bilas By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2017-05-05T14:50:16+00:00 Fr. Gabriel, priest at St. Mary Magdalene (OCA) in Fenton, MI speaks at College Conference Midwest about how to practically live a sacramental life by dissecting the Church's sacraments and how we draw closer to Christ through them. Full Article
bi What Happens to Babies When They Die? By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2018-10-18T16:09:11+00:00 Join Andja and Fr. Brendan as they share their experiences with death and discuss what happens to unbaptized babies when they die. Full Article
bi Metropolitans and Bishops By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2019-01-30T22:48:49+00:00 Fr. Brendan and Caroline Mellekas discuss the hierarchical and diocesan distinctions of the Orthodox Church. Full Article
bi The Bible And Predestination - Part 1 By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2010-07-18T18:20:13+00:00 Matthew returns again to the Calvinist doctrine of predestination and examines its merits in light of St. Paul's letters to the Ephesians and to Timothy. Full Article
bi The Bible And Predestination - Part 2 By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2010-08-07T18:24:46+00:00 How can St. Paul's use of the term "all men" be interpreted as "some men"? When it's used to erroneously support the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. This week, Matthew shows how. Full Article
bi The Bible And Predestination - Part 3 By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2010-09-03T20:41:17+00:00 In the final chapter of his series, Matthew conclusively shows St. Paul's meaning behind his use of the term "predestined." Full Article
bi Living Your Best Life - Bill Marianes By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2019-10-09T01:48:21+00:00 Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh welcome stewardship evangelist Bill Marianes to talk about how to live our best life to the glory of God. Full Article
bi The Priesthood: Biblical, Crucible, Miracle By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2016-06-03T20:04:46+00:00 Fr. John shares his reflections on the priesthood in anticipation of the 2016 Antiochian Archdiocese Clergy Symposium to be held at the Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA. Full Article
bi The Vulnerability of Love By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2022-03-09T19:16:28+00:00 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. Full Article
bi Babies in the Biosphere - 2 By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2022-03-09T19:38:45+00:00 In part 2 of his 3 part series, Fr. John explores further the Orthodox worldview that connects all of creation to our relationship with the Creator. Full Article
bi Babies in the Biosphere - 1 By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2022-03-09T19:39:31+00:00 This is part one in a series exploring the connection between abortion and the environment. Full Article
bi Babies In The Biosphere - 3 By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2022-03-09T19:40:24+00:00 The integrated Christian possesses a pro-life view that sees the environment as life giving and worthy of protection and a pro-environment view that sees the womb as an environment and worthy of protection. Full Article
bi American Orthodoxy: More Fun Than A Barrel Of Bishops By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2014-11-23T01:38:19+00:00 Father Joseph talks about possible titles for his forthcoming book: a humorous look at Orthodoxy in America. NOTE: For those keeping score, during the course of this podcast the following words will be mentioned: sycophant, bishops, titles, convivial, cult and Antiochian. Full Article
bi Ewnay Yearay At Bill's Bible, Bait & Tackle By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2014-11-23T01:41:57+00:00 Did you ever try to find something even remotely Orthodox in your local superstore, gift shop, or bible book store? Chances are, you'll find all manner of things purporting to be spiritual, religious, new-fangled and Christian -- though nary even a wall calendar reflecting the Ancient Faith. Besides, what should you do when you do find one? Full Article
bi Bishops and Old Shoes By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2014-11-23T01:44:22+00:00 When is a bishop like an old shoe? A comfortable shoe? A GPS? Alas, there may come a time when you have to check with Johnston and Murphy on such things. Full Article
bi My Big Ol' Hairy Godmother By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2014-11-23T02:10:29+00:00 Is it Real—or is it My Big Ol' Hairy Godmother? That's the question that hits a depressed Fr Joseph as he faces up to Change, and he tries to get up ... in anticipation of falling again. Full Article
bi American [Orthodox Bishops] Top 40 By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2014-11-25T03:36:27+00:00 As many of you know, an historic gathering took place this past week in New York City: All of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops (at least a goodly number of them) met to discuss matters which pertain to the Church in the Americas. The Orthodixie Podcast had a Man on the Street for the proceedings but, as this podcast is only updated about once a week,some of the information you are about to hear may seem contrary to other reports, or it may be a bit dated, or, frankly, it may be flat out untrue. (But have fun identifying the snippets of music in the podcast.) Full Article
bi Bill's Bible Bait & Tackle Calendar By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2014-11-25T04:11:47+00:00 Did you ever try to find something even remotely Orthodox in your local superstore, gift shop, or bible book store? Chances are, you'll find all manner of things purporting to be spiritual, religious, new-fangled and Christian -- though nary even a wall calendar reflecting the Ancient Faith. Besides, what should you do when you do find one? Full Article