American Orthodox History

This week, Matthew Namee and new co-host Aram Sarkisian discuss, among other things, the Russian Mission in North America, the consecration of Bishop Arseny of Winnipeg, three fascinating early parish priests, and the time Jimmy Carter awarded Archbishop Iakovos the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In this episode, Matthew discusses, among other things, some influential early convert priests, the Romanian Bishop Polycarp Morusca, a 1940s attempt at jurisdictional unity, and the renowned church historian Jaroslav Pelikan.

Matthew discusses Philip Ludwell III, St. Alexis Toth, Archimandrite Theoclitos Triantafilides, and others.

Matthew discusses Archbishop Arseny of Winnipeg, the first Orthodox chapel in Oregon, the first All-American Sobor, the funeral of St. Raphael Hawaweeny, and the life of the early Greek priest Fr. Kallinikos Kanellas.

Matthew recounts the story of Fr. Kallinikos Delveis, the first priest of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in New York.

On this special episode of American Orthodox History, recorded at the first symposium on American Orthodox History at Princeton University, Matthew interviews Samuel Noble, a doctoral candidate at Yale University who has been translating from Arabic the homilies of St. Raphael Hawaweeny.

On this special episode of American Orthodox History, recorded at the first symposium on American Orthodox History at Princeton University, Matthew interviews Scott Kenworthy, Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Religion at the University of Miami of Ohio, about St. Tikhon, Enlightener of America.

Matthew speaks at the Fortieth Biennial Clergy Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in Atlanta, Georgia.

Matthew Namee talks with His Grace Bishop Basil, the newly elected Secretary of the Episcopal Assemblies. We learn of his impressions of the historic May 26-28 gathering in New York as well as the assignment he has been given to coordinate the work of the committees that will be formed leading up eventually to a Great and Holy Council.

After explaining why the past five attempts to achieve administrative unity in America have failed, Matthew tells us why the sixth attempt, which takes place this coming May 26th-28th, has a very good chance of succeeding.

Matthew tells the story of his favorite figure in American Orthodox History, a fiery Greek Orthodox priest from Philadelphia named Fr. Demetrios Petrides. Learn more HERE.

Matthew introduces us to one of the most prominent females in early American Orthodox history. Learn more HERE.

Matthew tells the story of Metropolitan Antony Bashir on the 44th anniversary of his death. Learn more HERE.

Matthew recounts another tragedy affecting the St. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Cathedral in San Francisco. Learn more HERE.

Matthew recounts the first of many scandals that have rocked the St. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Cathedral in San Francisco and then explains why knowledge of such scandals is important. Learn more HERE.

Matthew looks at a few of the ways in which Theophany has been celebrated throughout American Orthodox History. Learn more HERE and HERE.

Matthew interviews Nicholas Chapman, the Managing Director of Orthodox Christian Books, about an 18th-century Orthodox convert from Virginia named Philip Ludwell III. Ludwell gave George Washington his commission in the army and was a cousin of George's wife Martha. Learn more HERE and HERE.

Matthew interviews historian Fr. Oliver Herbel about a little-known—though very important—1940s precursor to SCOBA. Learn more HERE.

Matthew interviews Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Associate Director of the Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas, about another of the past attempts at Orthodox administrative unity. Learn more HERE.

Matthew continues his discussion with Fr. John Erickson about one of the past attempts at Orthodox administrative unity. Learn more HERE.

Matthew interviews Fr. John Erickson, the preeminent historian of American Orthodoxy, about one of the past attempts at Orthodox administrative unity. Learn more HERE.

Matthew discusses the careers of Nicholas Bjerring (1870) and James Chrystal (1868), the first two convert priests in American Orthodox history. Learn more HERE.

Matthew continues the story of the first great American convert priest. Learn more HERE.

Matthew introduces us to the most outlandish figure in the history of Orthodoxy in America. Learn more HERE.

Matthew begins the story of the first great American convert priest. Learn more HERE.

Matthew tells us about an interesting and colorful character from the late 1800's in American Orthodox history. Learn more HERE.

This week's episode features a speech that Matthew delivered at the 2009 St. Vladimir's Seminary Summer Conference on the myth of past unity in American Orthodox history. Click here for supplemental material related to this episode.

This week's episode features a speech that Matthew delivered at the 16th Annual Ancient Christianity and African-American Conference on Fr. Raphael Morgan: America's first black Orthodox priest. Click here for supplemental material related to this episode.

Matthew concludes his discussion with Eric Peterson about the spread of Orthodoxy in Alaska from the 18th century to the early 19th century. Click here for supplemental material related to this episode.

Matthew continues his discussion with Eric Peterson about the spread of Orthodoxy in Alaska from the 18th century to the early 19th century. Click here for supplemental material related to this episode.

Matthew interviews Eric Peterson, who has a Master's Degree from the University of Kansas in Russian and East European studies with a focus on Orthodox missions to America. The topic is the spread of Orthodoxy in Alaska from the 18th century to the early 19th century.

Matthew tells the story of a pan-Orthodox parish that almost was. Click here for supplemental material related to this episode.

Matthew provides a brief overview of early American Orthodoxy to establish a framework for future discussions.

In his first episode, Matthew explains why it is important to study American Orthodox History.