Imagine the blessed Theotokos in old age being cared for by St. John the Evangelist. That is the image Frederica beautifully portrays for us in today's podcast for the Feast of the Dormition. Read more of her thoughts on the Virgin Mary in her newest book The Lost Gospel of Mary. Listen here: [audio:http://audio.ancientfaith.com/frederica/fhn_2008-08-14.mp3] … [Read more...]

The monks at St. John Monastery in California released this Hymn to the Theotokos a while back sung in an American idiom. They want to see how the Byzantine hymns could be sung in a way true to their musical meaning yet incorporating the tones and cadences that are unique to America and define our cultural legacy (think music scores for Westerns for example). I think they succeed. It almost … [Read more...]

Last week I mentioned an essay I wrote that would be published soon. It was first published on the Acton Institute website and then picked up by Catholic Online. The essay follows. With the Rise of Militant Secularism, Rome and Moscow Make Common Cause The Acton Institute just published my essay. Source: Acton Institute | Fr. Johannes L. Jacobse The European religious press is abuzz over … [Read more...]

I saw these last year on Fr. Peter Preble's blog, and thought they were excellent to bring into focus what is really important during this sacred season. 1. Make participation at the Services a priority. This is especially crucial for those families with children. They must experience as much of Holy Week and Pascha as possible with their parents. 2. In our homes we should strive to “keep out … [Read more...]

by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon Another gem of Scripture and sense from Fr. Patrick, this one comes to us from Orthodoxytoday.org. Using the narrative third-person, the evangelist John describes his arrival with Peter at the tomb of Jesus: "So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying; … [Read more...]

Each day in Holy Week is devoted to a particular theme, and since they pass quickly, here they are for your meditation in advance. PALM SUNDAY: The Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Christian Faith, and celebrated with great honor. We commemorate his entrance into His saving Passion for us, and like the Apostle Thomas, prepare ourselves to “go … [Read more...]

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware of Oxford University gives us the Orthodox answer. … [Read more...]

Source: Mystagogy The Martyrdom of the Saint in Rome Saint Valentine lived in Rome in the third century and was a priest who helped the martyrs during the persecution of Emperor Claudius II the Goth. The great virtue and catechetical activities of the Saint had become known. For this he was arrested and brought before the imperial court. "Why, Valentine, do you want to be a friend of our … [Read more...]

Please note: This topic came up at our bible study last night (February 9, 2011). I am posting it here for anyone interested. Fr. Hans Source: OrthodoxyToday.org Originally posted on the Al-Jazeerah website. Synopsis from The American Thinker by James M. Arlandson. This translation of a televised conversation reveals a rare glimpse into the outlook of Muslim scholars who are concerned about … [Read more...]

Throughout the history of the Church, there have been moments of scandal and disappointment with various hierarchs of the Church. How are we to respond as faithful Orthodox Christians? Fr. Tom shares his reflections. [audio:http://audio.ancientfaith.com/hopko/stt_2009-09-04.mp3] Podcast courtesy of Ancient Faith Radio. … [Read more...]

Source: Interfax January 21, Interfax - A Muslim woman in Russian Republic of Bashkiria, who was unsuccessfully treated for infertility for 14 years, gave birth to a son after praying before the icon of St. Nicholas in an Orthodox church. "I'm a Muslim, but for some reason I believed that it (the icon - IF) will help me," the happy mother is quoted as saying by Ufa edition of the Komsomolskaya … [Read more...]

Today, Fr. Thomas Hopko reflects on the nature of our thoughts and emotions in this fallen world. It's more complex than we think, but also understandable and we have more control than we think. Listen here: [audio:http://audio.ancientfaith.com/hopko/stt_2010-09-03.mp3] … [Read more...]

By. Fr. Hans Jacobse This essay appeared on the Preachers Institute website. I used to preach at the end of the Liturgy. It was a pragmatic decision. A good portion of my congregation didn’t arrive until after the Gospel reading. The sloppy behavior was ingrained in parish life for decades and wasn’t likely to change soon no matter how strongly I exhorted them to arrive on time. Better to hear … [Read more...]

Everyone at one time or another has been fearful. But how do we deal with unhealthy anxiety and fear? Fr. Tom looks at this problem in light of Holy Scripture. Listen here: [audio:http://audio.ancientfaith.com/hopko/stt_2010-08-27.mp3] … [Read more...]

Fr. Peter-Michael Preble interviewed me (more of a running conversation actually) about the building of the mosque at Ground Zero after my article was published on Catholic Online. In it I discuss some of the ideas that inform the argument I made in the article. Fr. Peter blogs at Shepherd of Souls, and Fr. Peter-Michael Preble. He hosts the Shepherd of Souls podcast on Ancient Faith … [Read more...]

February 21, 2010 On this day we celebrate the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the commemoration of the defeat of the heresy of iconoclasm. The word “heresy,” as we know, means “false teaching” and the false teaching that was finally vanquished was iconoclasm. “Iconclast” comes from the Greek work that means “icon-breaker.” The iconoclasts were those who smashed the icons because they believed that the … [Read more...]

Recently, Fr. Hans was interviewed by Fr. Peter Preble, host of the Shepherd of Souls internet radio program on Ancient Faith Radio. He talked about the Ecumenical Patriarchate including how the Patriarch differs from the Pope, his role in world Orthodoxy, and more. Go to the … [Read more...]