This week we consider Romans 15:1-7 and Matthew 9:27-35, in the light of Psalm 69 (LXX 68), the witness of the Old Testament, and the steadfast, encouraging character of our Triune God.

This week, in the middle of the season of Luke’s gospel, and looking forward to Luke’s feast-day, we consider the many uses that Luke makes of the Old Testament Scriptures, and his careful attention to what “is written” there so that we may better know the LORD. His intimate knowledge of the Old Testament is an indication of its importance, and how we should aspire to know and understand it better.

This week we consider the message of the risen Jesus to the church as Smyrna, and are encouraged by a generous God who makes us His confidants, so that we will be prepared for all that comes our way. We are helped in this by looking at Genesis 15 and Daniel 1.

We move on from the seven messages of the exalted Jesus, to see, through John’s eyes, the wonder of heavenly worship. Revelation 4 is in harmony with Old Testament Visions such as Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, and Daniel 7, but suggests in its astonishing detail that God’s presence among us had been deeply enhanced through the actions of the Living One, Who was, and is, and is to come. The significance of thanksgiving as an essential characteristic of our service and worship is modeled for us by the hosts of heaven, both human and angelic.

This week we read Revelation 10, by which we are taught both how God has revealed Himself clearly in Jesus, and also how there remain mysteries that we cannot fathom. We read this chapter in the light of Ezekiel 3:1-3 and Daniel 9-12, learning that the new covenant brings us a new intimacy with God, but also calls for patience as we await God’s completion of His work.

The Littlest Altar Boy by Jenny Oehlman, illustrated by Grace Brooks (Conciliar Press, 2012).

The Drought, from The Adventures of a Little Ringtail Complete Series (2015). Anna Larsen Books. Available from the St. Anthony Monastery store.

An Amazing Pilgrimage, from The Adventures of a Little Ringtail Complete Series (2015). Anna Larsen Books. Available from St. Anthony's Monastery Bookstore.

Life in the Shed, from The Adventures of a Little Ringtail Complete Series (2015). Anna Larsen Books. Available from St. Anthony's Monastery Bookstore

Fr. Ted speaks to the need for children to be raised in the House of God, and addresses the challenges that parents of young children face when they come to Church.

A fascinating interview with Fr. Gregory Hogg, an Antiochian priest in Western Michigan. Fr. Gregory was a Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor and professor for 22 years before coming to Orthodoxy. He also recently spoke at the Faith of our Fathers colloquium for Lutherans on Eastern Orthodoxy and his lecture along with many others are available for download on Ancient Faith Radio.

Explore with Kevin Allen and his guest, Father Nicolas Speier, why Saint John Chrysostom calls the family "the little church" and what the true vocation of the Orthodox family is.

Father Roberto reflects on a moment that he shared with a woman who visits the mission.

Listen to reflections about what makes life rich, from Fr. Nicolaie at St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Today Martha describes a little red book from her collection. No, no, not that one… this one has recipes for a Dog’s Nose and a Tuxedo and serves as a metaphor for the good things the Church has to offer.

Fr. Apostolos shares from the book of Exodus and the life of St. Columba to prepare us for the Feast of Theophany.

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman - Fifth Sunday of Pascha

One day after the horrendous killings of 11 Jewish worshippers in a Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Fr Thomas gives a sobering reflection from the reading of the Sunday: the exorcism of the Gadarene demoniac.

Fr. Gregory Hallam gives the sermon on the Sunday of All Saints.

Bobby interviews Jenny Oehlman, the author of the new Conciliar Press children's book The Littlest Altar Boy.

Bobby Maddex interviews Elissa Bjeletich and Caleb Shoemaker, the authors of the new AFP book Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home.

Apple and art house film company A24 are in early development on a film about convicted crypto scammer Sam Bankman-Fried with a script written by Lena Dunham, Variety reported. The project will be based on the Michael Lewis book Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon that many critics found overly deferential to Bankman-Fried. 

The book describes the dizzying rise and equally vertiginous fall of Bankman-Fried and his FTX crypto exchange and Alameda hedge fund. However, it paints the FTX founder as a benevolent prodigy and glosses over the fact that he embezzled billions of dollars from customers and spent it on things like celebrity endorsements, political donations and high-end real-estate purchases.  

FTX was worth billions at its peak, but the exchange eventually collapsed and Bankman-Fried was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Most FTX customers will get their original investments back, plus interest, but that's based on a bitcoin price of around $17,000 — and the current price is nearly five times that.

Basing the film on Lewis's fawning hagiography isn't a promising start. Hopefully, Dunham or other writers will also draw on far better books (like Numbers Go Up by Zeke Faux) that show the dark, scammy side of crypto promoters like Bankman-Fried and the entire industry in general.

Apple Original Films and A24 have announced other collaborations recently, including the Spike Lee and Denzel Washington film High and Low. Other scripted FTX projects are also in the works, including a limited Amazon Prime series from the Russo brothers based on the 2022 FTX collapse. 

Dr. Albert Rossi reflects on the life of St. Silouan and the great value of little things.

Fr. Lawrence Farley argues that the real story behind the Pope and his Twitter followers is the death of maximalism in the Roman Catholic Church and the modern rush to lower the bar for pretty much everything.

Fr. Lawrence Farley argues that Brittany Maynard took only this life—and not the life to come—into consideration when deciding to commit suicide.

Fr. Tom Soroka of The Path and Sermons at St. Nicholas conducts an interview with Fr Igor Soroka as he discusses the 50th anniversary of the Cathedral Choir of the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania (OCA) as well as his significant contribution to the development of Orthodox music in the English speaking world. A liturgical choral concert celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Cathedral Choir of Pittsburgh will be held at St John the Baptist Orthodox Church, 601 Boone Avenue, Canonsburg, PA on Sunday, September 29, at 6:00 pm. The concert is open to the public and a social hour will follow the concert in the church hall. For further information, contact Rebecca Danchenko at 412-478-7252.

Bobby Maddex interviews Seraphim Hanisch, the Director of Little Spot Productions, a mobile, on-site, studio-level recording company.

Bobby Maddex interviews Fr. Tom Soroka, the host of the daily podcast “The Path" and the priest at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in McKees Rocks, PA, which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this coming October 10th through the 12th.

Bobby Maddex interviews Caleb Shoemaker and Elissa Bjeletich, the authors of the Ancient Faith Publishing book Blueprints for the Little Church, about how to effectively lead your family through the Advent fast and the Feast of the Nativity.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dr. John Burgess, a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, about the graduate school's Eastern Christian Doctor of Ministry Cohort, a new academic offering presented in partnership with Antiochian House of Studies.

Bobby Maddex, the Director of Digital Media for Ancient Faith Ministries, interviews Dr. John Burgess, the James Henry Snowden, professor of Systematic Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Fr. Pat discusses the quotation of the prophecy of Isaiah in Matthew 4.

On the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Fr. Pat looks at two questions posed to St. Peter; each question has to do with the identity of the same Person, but the two questions are posed very differently.

Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon discusses a Christian reading of the Hebrew Scriptures.

The Church isn't run by a single person. Instead, we come together in councils to keep the Faith and guide the Church through challenges. From the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem (in the Book of Acts) through the upcoming Great and Holy Council, this spirit of togetherness opens us to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Michael Barnfather, 90, has collected litter around his home village for 10 years.

A fundraising drive for a Terry Jones memorial statue in Colwyn Bay nears its £100,000 target.