Dn. Michael investigates the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

Dn. Michael continues his discussion of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

Dcn. Michael tackles the Orthodox funeral service and the Sacrament of Healing.

Dn. Michael explains that being witnesses is part of our identity in Christ—not something that we do, but something that we are.

In his first episode, Steve reflects on fish, turtles, Disney, life and death.

Steve has been dealing with friends and family who are facing death for the past few weeks. Listen in as he talks about his father and friends and the difference between a good life and a life well lived.

Steve answers listener email and discusses our human fear of free will. Ultimately, we are created FOR paradise, not BY paradise.

In this podcast, Steve Robinson brings us up to date on his life, a four-year-old catechist, signing a death warrant and a prison release, and the challenges of caring for aging and dying parents.

Steve discusses his death at birth, his life-long desire to be old, his "death wish," and what it means to "live is Christ and to die is gain."

Listen to reflections from time at the Refuge and back in the city: gypsy moths, hydrangeas, and "keeping the water fresh."

Listen to reflections by Fr. Nicolaie about those on the mission's "Hall of Fame" and the value of each person.

Fr. Nicolaie writes about forgiveness and loss at St. John the Compassionate Mission.

A snapshot of an afternoon at St. John the Compassionate Mission, written by Fr. Nicolaie.

The dynamis of Theophany is towards new life and communion. We see this in the community, as God is bringing healing to Jacob, while also opposing the flattening (or "alienation of the spirit") that so often happens in modern culture.

Brother Luke reflects on some scenes from every day at the mission.

Commenting on the epistle reading of Paul to the Colossians, the Very Rev. Dr Bogdan Bucur concentrates on the idea that the passions we struggle with also lead us into idolatry. For “when Christ who is our life appears,” we either die to the passions, or we choose them over Him.This is a battle which happens in our hearts every day, as Christ has already appeared to us through our baptism, and continues to appear to us through our every encounter with Him spiritually and physically in the sacraments and the body of the Church.

Referencing the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Fr. Apostolos shares about suffering. "Suffering can make no sense to us unless we view it from an eternal perspective. Our suffering is made worse because we have lost the vision of the goal of suffering."

Fr. Apostolos shares about the life of Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis and encourages us to follow his example of humility, gentleness, perseverance, and devotion.

Fr. Apostolos shares from 2 Corinthians 6:1-10.

Fr. Apostolos introduces the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, "O Lord and Master of my life..."

Fr. Apostolos Hill gives a sermon on the Gospel reading from the Sermon on the Mount.

Fr. Apostolos Hill examines the feast of the Presentation and its application to the theme of collaborating synergetically with God as did the Virgin and her parents in the events of the feast.

Fr. Apostolos Hill challenges us with reflections on the Gospel reading of St. Peter's impetuous faith on the Sea of Galilee.

Fr. Apostolos Hill speaks on the theme of the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross with a challenge to consider that we have been viewing the Cross incorrectly; e.g. as an impediment to our happiness and not as the cause of joy in the life of the redeemed.

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

Sermon on the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (I Corinthians 9:2-12; Matthew 18:23-35)

Sermon on the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (Ephesians 2:4-10; Luke 12:16-21)

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Being a believer in Christ is more than just assenting to doctrines about God. In a stirring homily, Fr Thomas reminds us that it's not "what the gospel means to me" that's important, it's how we apply the true meaning of the gospel in our life that helps us to grow in the likeness of God. (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)

The Christian life is surely a paradox. Our Lord teaches those who love Him that if they want to be exalted, they must be humble; if they want to be great, they must be a servant. Fr Thomas leads us into Holy Week by telling us that the Lord Jesus Christ not only teaches this paradox, but He lives it, and by so doing, He wins our salvation.

In an age when people are cynically feeling distant from (the concept of) God, it is important to be reminded that God is nearer than our very breath. Citing the gospel story of the great catch of fish, Fr Thomas teaches us concerning the assurance of the living God in our lives and the abundant life He promises.

In the powerful parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus teaches us about the eternal Kingdom of God that awaits those who follow Him. Fr Thomas reminds us that we are given a foretaste of this glorious union with God through the reception of the Holy Eucharist. (Luke 14:16-24)

The question, "What must I do to be saved?" is usually interpreted of as, "How can I get to heaven?" Fr Thomas teaches us that eternal life is defined by Jesus as something we can have here and now and He teaches us what we need to do to experience it.

Fr Thomas uses the stories of two different healings by Jesus (Mt 9:27-35) to demonstrate the importance of developing an interior life. After the sermon (at 20:00) Fr Thomas talks with three nuns from the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA, about cultivating the interior life and the challenges and blessings of monasticism.

The raising of the Widow of Nain's Son is a dramatic scene where the Power of Life confronts the reality of death. Fr Thomas reminds us that we experience this encounter every time we participate in the Divine Liturgy, entering into the presence of the One Who has victory over Hades and death. (Our apologies for the poor audio quality of this recording.)

Using the example of the crowd who followed Jesus to a deserted place where he healed and fed them, Deacon Luke Loboda encourages us to trust Christ to come into the desolate places of our life to be present with us and heal us.

Christians are called to live in the will of God, but how do we find it? Fr Thomas teaches us that living in the will of God means identifying with God's Kingdom and not with the values of this fallen world.

Fr. Tom draws from both of the Scripture readings to tell us about the inner life of God and how it plays out in our interactions with one another.

We've all heard the saying "paradoxy is Orthodoxy". Fr. Tom discusses the path to salvation found by embracing the paradoxy of life and choosing to bear our cross.

When we discuss Eternal Life, do we think primarily of being a good enough person so that we can get to Heaven? When does Eternal Life begin? Listen as Fr. Tom calls us to focus on becoming like Christ here and now.

Have no thought for tomorrow for day by day God will provide His bread and His wine and none shall hunger or thirst any more.

Today Fr. Gregory combines his children's sermon and his adult sermon to illustrate the importance of the cross.

We should all take away from the Feast of Theophany a renewed commitment not only to our own personal renewal in the Spirit but also through our own service of God and a share in the blooming of creation and the healing of the nations.

Fr. Christopher delivers the Paschal homily.

Fr. Emmanuel Kahn teaches that the challenge which the Father gave to Christ and to his disciples and to us is to learn and to achieve the work on earth that the Father wishes each of us to accomplish.

Let us make the sign of the cross, and invite the Presence of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit into our lives—into our hopes and our fears. God already knows those hopes and fears, but sometimes He waits for us to share our lives with Him privately, to be honest with Him, so that He can then be honest with us, through revealing some of the fullness of Himself to each of us.

This Sunday we remember the 630 Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council held in Chalcedon, a suburb of Constantinople, in the middle of the fifth century in 451. The preacher today is Fr. Dn. Emmanuel Kahn.

Fr. Gregory Hallam reminds us that although angels are immaterial beings and have undoubted brilliance and glory, we humans are to be measured with no less dignity, particularly if we take up our own vocation to praise God, to be His obedient messengers and His valiant fighters.