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

Fr. Lawrence says it is safe to say that the allegorical method has fallen upon hard times in the scholarly world.

Today we begin a series on the use of the Old Testament in the early chapters of the Gospel of St. Matthew. We will examine his citations in his narrative of Christ’s birth, childhood and adulthood up to the time He settled in Capernaum, bringing a great light to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali and to all the world. St. Matthew (either the actual author of the Gospel or the one under whose blessing and authority it was first disseminated) took care to present Jesus as the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, and by examining the use of the Old Testament in this Gospel we can see how deeply and creatively the Church used those Scriptures.

We continue our series examining St. Matthew’s citations of the Old Testament. Today we look at his citation of Micah 5:2. “In the Masoretic Hebrew it reads, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you will come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” The LXX reads similarly: “And you, Bethlehem, house of Ephrathah, you are very small to be in the thousands of Judah, from which for me will come out to be for a ruler of Israel, and his goings out are from the beginning, from the days of eternity.” It is all the more surprising therefore that St. Matthew’s version reads a little differently from either the Hebrew or the Greek. It reads, “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you will come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.”

We continue our series examining St. Matthew’s citations of the Old Testament. Today we look at his citation of Jeremiah 31:15. It reads, “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are not.” The LXX renders it more or less the same way, though the order of the chapters is different. In the LXX the text is found in Jeremiah chapter 38, not chapter 31. But the meaning of the text is the same.

We conclude our series examining St. Matthew’s citations of the Old Testament. Today we look at his citation of Isaiah 40:3, which reads, “A voice cries, ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of Yahweh! Make straight in the desert a highway for our God!”

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

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

God uses even the difficult circumstances of our life for our salvation. Fr Tom reminds us that in these tests of life, God wants us to persevere and draw closer to Him. (Thirty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost)

How do we love God with all of our heart, with all of our mind, and with all of our soul? Fr. Tom shows us that Cross serves as the paragon example of fulfilling the greatest commandment of our Lord.

Bobby interviews Fr. Lawrence Farley, the author of the new Conciliar Press book The Christian Old Testament: Looking at the Hebrew Scriptures Through Christian Eyes.

Dr. John Mark addresses questions about the perception of God appearing nastier in the Old Testament than the New Testament.

Dr. Rossi talks about a recent book by Dr. Eugen Pentiuc entitled The Old Testament in Eastern Orthodox Tradition.

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

In a remarkable text by St. Macarius, the Christian is told that if he sees an arrogant man perform miracles, "even raise the dead," he should not follow. This week, Fr. Irenei explores what this message means for the Orthodox Christian, and how the good works of God are to be stored up secretly in the loving Christian heart.

We talk with Claire Brandenburg, Manager of the Heavenly Ladder Bookstore in Taos, New Mexico, about a new CD featuring the writings of Archpriest Sergius of Kasimov.

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Department of Missions and Evangelism has announced a contest for the best 30-second or less explanation of what the Orthodox Church is—essentially an Orthodox “elevator speech.” To learn more about this contest, Bobby Maddex interviews Howard Lange, Administrator of the Department of Missions and Evangelism.

AFR's Kevin Allen interviews His Eminence Metropolitan ANTONY, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the US. Learn about the issues surrounding the violent protests in the country and what is at stake as well as the role of the Orthodox Church in creating peace and moving forward.

Fr. Eugen Pentiuc joins us to talk about his new book The Old Testament in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition. Fr. Eugen is one of the speakers at the upcoming OCAMPR Conference at Holy Cross Seminary.

Bobby Maddex interviews Valerie Ann Zrake, the winner of the Elevator Speech Contest conducted by the Department of Missions and Evangelism of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

Part three of our four-part documentary Transformation: Same-Sex Attraction Through the Lens of Orthodox Christianity How are we doing as a Church at showing love to everyone who walks in our doors? Are we welcoming or judgmental? Does a warm welcome translate into endorsement of someone's lifestyle? If we are to truly love one another and bear one another's burdens, we need to get to know them first. Resource: Christian Faith and Same Sex Attraction by Fr. Thomas Hopko

Using 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 as his text, Fr. Pat looks at three qualities of the Thessalonian Church, and finds these qualities exemplified in the lives of three Old Testament saints.

There are times in our lives when we make our own the petition of the father in Mark 9: “Help my unbelief.” But faith is increased only by being tested. Fr. Pat offers reflections on this.

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.

In this inaugural episode, Fr. Philip says that Saint Paul talks about faith as an endurance race where the Lord is the starter and finisher of the race.

The Search Engine Experiment gives you the results from Yahoo, MSN, and Google without saying which is which. Currently, 41% of those who have taken the test picked Google (33% Yahoo, 26% MSN).

James Yu has a screenshot of a new design Google has been testing lately.

Novak Djokovic says he is shocked and overwhelmed by the news that his "greatest rival" Rafael Nadal will retire at the end of the season.

Major Test nations need to play more matches overseas to help the game bring in more fans and money says World Rugby chair candidate Brett Robinson.

Get daily news, stats, fans views and punditry from your Premiership club, all in one place.

Dr Sandesh Gulhane, husband of TV doctor Punam Krishan, gave the man CPR at the Scottish Parliament.

Aberdeen student Hannah Chowdhry is calling for better support for families in a petition to Holyrood.

A suicide prevention worker says talking about mental health is everyone's responsibility.