In the longest PCCH ever, the guys finally take on the entire Star Wars Saga! All of it. They pay special attention to the original trilogy while they explore the transcendence of the Force, the rage of the Dark Side, the passionlessness of the Light, and the need for love to balance them both. They close with their Top 5 Trilogies.

The girls saw the new children’s movie, Smallfoot. They discuss the complex nature of truth, how important it is to ask questions, and how we can use technology to create false images of ourselves. They close with their Top 5 Mythical Creatures.

The guys get back to the classics, this week taking on the 80's film, Big! They discuss the difference between innocence and naïveté, how the grass is not always greener somewhere else, and the reality that relationships help ground us in who we really are. They close with their Top 5 Coming of Age Stories.

Christina Andresen and Emma Solak discuss the new Amazon Prime show, Good Omens. They discuss how we are all fallen, the battle between heaven and hell, and whether or not the gospel falls flat for those in comfort. They close with their Top 5 Gangs of Kids.

The girls take on the highly anticipated Disney movie, Frozen II, and (spoiler alert) they weren't impressed. They discuss how we ought to gauge the next right thing, whether newness of knowledge equates with wisdom, and how we should acquire a spirit of service. They end with their Top 5 Sequels (That Were Actually Good).

The girls discuss the newest version of the classic story, Little Women. They take on topics such as death, the place and shape of gratitude in our lives, and the role of women in society. They close with their Top 5 Movies Based on Classic Novels.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on the gospel reading from the Sunday of the Canaanite Woman and the persistent humble faith that she exhibited.

We have all had experiences in which we have learned uncomfortable truths about ourselves. When that happens, we have a choice about what to do next. It is possible to recognize a weakness or failing and then to do what we can to overcome it. Too often, however, we give up hope and fall into despair due to our hurt pride. That is precisely what the man in today’s gospel lesson did when Jesus Christ gave him a commandment that he lacked the strength to obey: “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

The path to eternal life runs through our neighbors, especially those we are inclined to overlook, disregard, and even despise. How we treat the hungry and thirsty, the stranger and the naked, the sick and the prisoner reveals the true state of our souls. How we serve our suffering and inconvenient neighbors, whoever they are, is how we serve our Lord.

How we treat the hungry and thirsty, the stranger and the naked, the sick and the prisoner, manifests whether we serve a Kingdom not of this world in which the last shall be first or whether we have become conformed to corruption.

Lent does not call us merely to think or have feelings about our Lord’s Cross and resurrection. This season invites us to grow in our personal knowledge and experience of the Savior Who offered Himself on the Cross and rose in glory on the third day for our salvation.

This week, we consider the strange figure of Melchizedek in Hebrews 4:14-5:10, and read it in the light of Mark 8:27-9:1, Genesis 14, Isaiah 53 and Psalm 44/45. Why is this figure compared with our Lord, and how must we go beyond this comparison to embrace the cross?

We think about the profundity of this well-known hymn that focusses upon the Incarnation, looking to passages in Isaiah and Daniel, as well as the New Testament.

This week we consider Revelation 18:1-8, considering the inevitable judgment of Babylon in the light of the prophet Isaiah (13:21-22; 47:7-9) and Malachi.

The Suitcase: A Story About Giving by Jane G. Meyer, illustrated by Chiara Pasqualotto (Paraclete Press, 2017) Available at Paraclete Press.

Everything Tells Us About God, by Katherine Bolger Hyde, illustrations by Livia Coloji (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2018).

Fr. Ted speaks at the Biennial Clergy-Laity Conference for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Canada in Vancouver.

Fr. Ted calls us to receive from God all things that He knows we need for our salvation, not only what we ask for ourselves.

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

What’s a good time to have such a conversation? Well, it shouldn’t just be a one-off conversation… it should be an ongoing dialogue and discussion. Listen to the podcast and read the transcript HERE.

How talking about anything — including violence and sexuality — can lead to consequences in others’ lives, intentionally and unintentionally. Read the transcript HERE.

In a presentation centering on Christian identity, Archimandrite Zacharias, a monk of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Tolleshunt Knights by Maldon, Essex, England, inspired an audience of more than 100 people with what he termed "domestic theology," that is, "simple things, in Church life that bear profound consequences. Father Zacharias, a disciple of Father Sophrony (of blessed memory) who was a disciple of St. Silouan of Mount Athos, emphasized the importance of each Christian becoming a living temple of God, but in particular, priests.

Or, maybe you shouldn't... there are other people who are more authoritative. I'll tell you where to find them.

What does it mean to be mentally healthy?

Fr. Nicolaie shares a short story about forgiveness.

How the concept of punishment in the world to come was understood at the time of Christ.

Fr. Apostolos Hill discusses the Gospel reading from Matthew 6 and the Sermon on the Mount. He conducts a brief overview from Holy Writ of the pitfalls of money and our pursuit of it and that Jesus didn't say we "mustn't" or "ought not" serve God and Mammon, but that it cannot be done. He also refers to the writings of Solomon, Isaiah, and Jeremiah who each underscored how oppression of the poor invited the correction of God which saw Israel captive in Babylon for 70 years.

Sermon on the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (I Corinthians 3:9-17; Matthew 14:22-34)

Though we have the revelation of the one God in Christ, people the world over are free to believe in the god of their choosing, or no god at all. Fr Tom reminds us that as Orthodox Christians, though we firmly believe in the right to religious freedom, we must always assert to everyone the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ, because what we believe about God matters. (Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council)

Orthodox Churches are often culturally rich and sometimes churches hold festivals to showcase their delicious ethnic foods. Fr Thomas reminds us that, while there is nothing wrong with ethnic foods or festivals, we should ensure that our emphasis is on the Faith and that our focus is on Christ. (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)

Fr. John Parker, Dean of St Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan, PA, delivered the sermon on the Seventh Sunday of Pascha. Fr. John shares the story of his new leadership position at the seminary and how he grew to know the life of the seminary through daily experience. He reminds us that our knowledge of God must exceed simply knowing about Him to become instead the daily experience of God as members of the Church. (The recording begins in mid-story as he relates a call he received from Archbishop Michael to organize a talk at the All-American Council on church growth.)

As Christians, the Holy Spirit gives us a new perspective on life and that includes what we do with our time, talent, and treasure. In short, everything belongs to God. He gives it all to us as a gift and we're called to offer a portion back to Him in thanksgiving.

In the second of his Holiness Month series, Fr Thomas dispels three myths about Christianity. (Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30) All Saints Sunday, June 11, 2023

During these three days between the crucifixion and the resurrection, when living human beings could not touch Christ, He descended into hell. There, St Peter tells us in First Peter, chapter 4, verse 6, Christ “preached the Good News to the dead.” Fr. Emmanuel Kahn gives the sermon on Holy Saturday

Bobby Maddex interviews Katherine Hyde, the Acquisitions Editor of Ancient Faith Publishing, and the author of the new AFP children's book Everything Tells Us About God.

Dr. John Mark Reynolds talks with Bishop Thomas about struggles that families are facing.

Dr. Rossi addresses some of the difficult issues that youth today face, and how we can be a healing presence in their lives.

Dr. Albert Rossi continues his musings about the real life experiences of the Theotokos.

Dr. Albert Rossi muses about the life of the Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, "the Great Example".

Fr. Philip LeMasters shares what he has learned over the last 25 years of teaching Protestants about saints and icons.

Bobby Maddex interviews Alexei Krindatch, the Research Coordinator for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and Central America, about new survey data he just published under the title "Five Interesting Facts About Orthodox Church Geography and Demography in the United States." Some of his findings may surprise you!

Fr. Chad Hatfield tells us about the upcoming 32nd Annual Alexander Schmemann Lecture on the campus of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. The speaker will be Bishop Nicholas of Brooklyn talking about the life and ministry of St. Raphael of Brooklyn. This year is the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Raphael.

November 3-5 are the dates for the 2016 OCAMPR (Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology, and Religion) Conference at Holy Cross/Helenic College in Brookline, MA. We speak with two of the three plenary speakers: Dr. Al Rossi (Psychologist) and Dr. Donald Jenkins (Physician).

We interview Alexei Krindatch, the Research Coordinator of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, about a new map posted to the Assembly website titled "Orthodox Bishops and Parishes in the United States."

Seraphim Danckaert of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, speaks at the Second Annual Lenten Lecture and Fundraising Reception hosted by the Center for Orthodox Thought and Culture at Eastern University on March 12, 2017.

One of the extremely complicated issues with which Orthodox parents must contend these days is that of homosexuality. How do we talk to our kids about same-sex desires and relationships and how do we do so with the sensitivity, nuance, and frankness that the topic requires? At the request of Carole Buleza, the Director of the Antiochian Department of Christian Education, Bobby Maddex once again interviews Dr. Philip Mamalakis, an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, about how to talk about marriage, intimacy, and homosexuality with your children. This is part two!