Fr. Ted reminds us that it is impossible for us to be Christians without the Holy Spirit.

The most important part of the Paschal service is not the Holy Light, but rather the Divine Liturgy in which we receive Holy Communion.

Fr. Ted points out that the Spirit of God always brings people together, brings understanding, brings Truth, and brings love.

Fr. Ted calls all Orthodox Christians to prayer and humility as the Holy and Great Council begins.

Fr. Ted calls us to the right usage of Holy Water rather than an idol that replaces a life lived in Christ.

Fr. Ted invites to cultivate the full life that is ours in Christ through Baptism and Chrismation - enlightened and guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth.

Fr. Ted shares the story of St. Fanourios and reflects upon the Gospel reading about Jesus' interaction with the Rich Young Ruler.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos preaches on the healing of the paralytic.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos explains the significance of the spiritual calendar and the beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos explains how we acquire the mind of Christ, by living in Christ through the life of Church.

Mother Frederica Mathewes-Green, well-known author and public speaker, discusses the Christian life. Kevin and Steve ask her about prayer, forgiveness, and to mark our inaugural show--the Illumined Heart!

Continuing discussion with Mother Frederica Mathewes-Green, Kevin and Steve delve deeper into what it means to live life as an Orthodox Christian. Just in time for Lent!

How old is monasticism in the west? Are there historic connections between eastern and western monasticism? What does the western monk strive to achieve? Is the praxis similar for the western (Roman Catholic) and eastern (Orthodox) monk? These are questions Kevin asks Fr. Simon O'Donnell (OSB), a Benedictine monk (and former novice master) of 42 years at Saint Andrew Abbey, Valyermo, California.

Join Illumined Heart co-host Kevin Allen on his pilgrimage to Saint Herman of Alaska Monastery, Platina, California to talk with its Abbot Fr. Gerasim and Fr. Seraphim Rose legacy-keeper and biographer Monk Damascene. September 2nd marks the 25th anniversary of the repose of Fr. Seraphim Rose. In part 1 of this 3 part series, Kevin is in the cell constructed by Fr. Seraphim and now occupied by Monk Damascene where he talks with the monk about his spiritual father. For more information about the books published and distributed by the monastery, visit their website.

In the conclusion of our 3 part series commemorating the 25TH anniversary of the repose of Fr Seraphim (Rose), Kevin Allen is seated on a wooden bench overlooking a panoranmic view of Mt. Yolla Bolly with the Abbot of St. Herman of Alaska Monastery, Fr. Gerasim. Listen for valuable lessons (as well as birds chirping!) on the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting from a spiritual child of this venerated American monk and writer.

Host Kevin Allen speaks with Father Steven Tschlis about the role of the spiritual guide - father or mother - in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, and how such a guide may differ from one's parish priest or sacramental confessor. Should we look for a "spiritual father or mother" in a monastery? What role does the parish priest play? These and other questions will be addressed in this conversation.

Today Andrew continues his practical advise for freeing ourselves from addiction by offering St. Theophan's four spiritual weapons for our contimplation . Read the transcript HERE.

An Interview with Father Damian

In this episode, Steve and Bill discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing salvation to the human race through the person of Mary on whom the Holy Spirit descends to incarnate the second person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ. This is understood as the "economy" or the role of the Spirit as the one who does not manifest Himself, but reveals Christ. But then something happens during the second break and... well, don't reveal the suprise ending of this program to anyone.

We've gotten several requests over time to do a program on the Orthodox view of "speaking in tongues" and the charismatic movement within the Evangelical Churches. After avoiding the topic for a couple years we decided to do a series on the Orthodox Church's understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. With all the claims and experiences regarding the Holy Spirit today is there a way to discern what is real and what is perhaps a spiritual deception? We begin the series at the beginning: the role of the Holy Spirit in creation.

Dn. Michael Hyatt returns to his Sunday school class and begins teaching through Time and Despondency: Regaining the Present in Faith and Life..

Up until this point, we have focused on understanding the concept of an Orthodox phronema—what it is and how it is different from the Western phronema. In this episode, we explore five actions you need to take in order to acquire an Orthodox phronema. Thinking Orthodox by Dr. Jeannie Constantinou

Padre Nicholas predicó sobre como nuestras alas espirituales nos lleva a Dios. Vamos a madura en el Señor dejando todas las preocupaciones del mundo y fortalecido por la Palabra de Dios. Juan 4:5-42 Fr. Nicholas preached on how our spiritual wings bring us to God. Let us mature in the Lord, leaving all the worries of the world behind and being fueled by God´s Word. John 4:5-42

Steve interviews Fr. Meletios Webber, the Abbot of St. John's Monastery, on what the "grace of the priesthood" bestows on a man and what the priest's authority and role is in the life of the parish and in his relationship with his parishoners as his spiritual children.

Steve reflects on the limitations and dangers of the tools of his trade and how it applies to how we approach the Canons of the Church.

Steve continues his interview with Fr. Meletios Webber and they discuss the role of the parish priest as a Father/confessor, confession and counseling, penances, clairvoyance and much more.

Steve finishes his interview with Fr. Meletios and discusses spiritual directors, accountability groups and obedience.

Presented for your consideration (as Rod Serling used to say): an old man dressed up as an Orthodox priest-monk who is actually neither priest nor monk, performing outrageous antics both in public and online in a furious attempt to draw attention to himself. Mr. Milton Kapner calls himself Brother Nathanael, and he is a Jewish man who has attracted a large following of online listeners to his regular virulent anti-Semitic rants. Though he was once a novice in an Old Calendarist monastery in Colorado, he was kicked out of that monastery and is now not a monk at all, despite wearing monastic garb, but “a showman with a persecution complex who likes to be the center of attention” (from “Orthodox Christianity Then and Now”).

Fr. Apostolos shares about spiritual progress on the Sunday of St. John of the Ladder.

Fr. Apostolos shares on the Sunday of the Blind Man. "Jesus Christ ardently desires to remove from us our own deeply seated spiritual blindness, replacing the shattered eyes of our unrepentant hearts with the eyes of faith capable of receiving the vision of His glory."

Fr. Apostolos speaks about the First Ecumenical Council and the importance of obedience to our spiritual fathers.

With reflections on the life and ministry of St. Panteleimon, Fr. Apostolos encourages us to commit ourselves to give at least as much attention to our spiritual health as we do to our physical well-being.

Fr. Apostolos reminds us of the effort needed and the benefits of participating fully in the spiritual fitness regimen of Great Lent.

Fr. Apostolos shares on the Sunday of the Paralytic. "Once healed and loosed from his paralysis, the paralytic took up his mat and started walking. So too must we shake off whatever form of spiritual paralysis has us in its grip and start walking actively, energetically, and intentionally in the Holy Orthodox faith God has given us."

Fr. Apostolos talks about feeding ourselves spiritually, not only physically."Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."

Fr. Apostolos reflects on the story of the Blind Man (John 9:1-38), and how it should remind us not to become spiritually blinded.

Yesterday's homily was the first of a two-part presentation leading to Pentecost. Taken primarily from Ezekiel, Fr. Apostolos reviews the departure of the Presence and Spirit of God from the first Temple because of the wickedness of the priests and people. Then, from the Prophet's vision of the valley of the dried bones, we have the promise of the Spirit's return to us by the mercy of God as we repent. Next week, Fr. Apostolos will speak about the operation of the Spirit as addressed in Romans 8 and elsewhere.

On Pentecost, Fr. Apostolos Hill speaks about the operation of the Spirit as addressed in Romans 7 and 8, and elsewhere.

Using some recent surgeries in his eye, Fr. Apostolos Hill explains the importance of staying vigilant to the blindness of our soul.

Fr. Apostolos Hill shares a homily on the Sunday of the Blind Man about the Causes and Cures of Spiritual Blindness.

In this 2nd episode, Fr. Maxym addresses the question about love in the spiritual life.

Sermon on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman (John 4:5-42)

Sunday of the Blind Man - Sixth Sunday of Pascha