Light Through the Past

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This podcast will look at the course and development of the Orthodox Church, its struggles with heresy, the empire, and relations to other Christian bodies.

Dr. Cyril Jenkins and Ancient Faith Radio


    • May 21, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 635 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Light Through the Past

    Florence and Purgatory. An Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026


    Dr. Jenkins continues looking at the council of Florence, this week looking at the question of Purgatory, with a history of the doctrine in the Latin west, and how it developed. St. John of Damscus, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

    Florence and the Filioque, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026


    On the heels of last week's episode, Dr. Jenkins seeks to tie together loose ends as regards the question of the filioque, along with addressing some recent scholarship on the question. St. John Damascene, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

    Florence and Purgatory. An Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026


    Dr. Jenkins continues looking at the council of Florence, this week looking at the question of Purgatory, with a history of the doctrine in the Latin west, and how it developed. St. John of Damscus, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

    Florence and the Filioque

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026


    This episode Dr. Jenkins continues with the Council of Florence, tackling that most thorny of issues, the filioque addition to the creed. For Basilian Media's new book by St. John of Damascus: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

    St. Mark of Ephesus and Latin Theology

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026


    As Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the Council of Florence this week he looks at the key figure in the council St. Mark (Eugenikos) of Ephesus and his theological training and education, and why he has been vilified by Catholics in the last century. New book on St. John of Damascus: https://tinyurl.com/Damascus2Wills

    Making Sense of the Council of Florence

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2026


    The run-up is over, as this episode Dr. Jenkins, back from Rome and recovered from Holy Week and Pascha, begins in earnest the events and implications of the Council of Florence.

    From Constance to Florence

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2026


    In this episode Dr. Jenkins finishes his discussion of the events in the West that made the Council of Florence a reality, one in which, unlike Lyons in 1274, the theological differences between the Latins and the Greeks were fully aired and discussed.

    A Eucharistic Divertimento

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2026


    On this Great and Holy Thursday Dr. Jenkins takes a pause to reflect on the Eucharist and the nature of Love in the Church.

    The Rise of Conciliarism

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2026


    At the beginning of the 15th century the doctrine that the council stood over the pope dominated the Latin Church, and its ascendence provided a necessary ingredient for the coming council of Florence. Dr. Jenkins takes this episode to explain this movement. https://tinyurl.com/FrDamickDrMoritz

    Blaspheming, Sword-wielding Monks: The Knights Templar and the Council of Florence

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026


    In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues the long strange trip through maze of Latin church history that brings us to the Council of Florence, by looking at the trial of the Templars, an element without which Florence as it happened would not have occurred. https://tinyurl.com/FrDamickDrMoritz

    Intro to the Council of Florence: A Pope so Important even the Bees Love Him

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026


    The long journey of the Council of Florence begins with imperious popes, corrupt Italian families, and conniving French lawyers. It ends with the Catholics going from demanding submission to the pope, to allowing a debate of the issues dividng the Church. St. Basil Society Lectures: https://tinyurl.com/FrDamickDrMoritz

    The Faith of the Orthodox, the Faith of Blachernae

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026


    This episode Dr. Jenkins finishes looking at the tumultuous 25 years that followed the retaking of Constantinople, examining the Council of Blachernae's decision on how the Spirit proceeds “through the Son," and what this entails for the Nicene doctrine of the Trinity.

    Cleaning Up Michael VIII's Mess: The Council of Blachernae, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026


    Michael VIII's death found the Byzantine empire secured from its enemies, but theologically and ecclesiastically in confusion on all sides. This episode looks at the task that awaited Patriarch Gregory II as he began cleaning up the late emperor's madness.

    The Aftermath of the Council of Lyons

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026


    From mutilations to executions, Michael VIII violently imposed the Union of Lyons, while at the same time successive popes raised demands on the Orthodox, while Charles of Anjou waited in the background.

    The Political Union of Lyons

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026


    Prof. Jenkins continues his look at the course of the Schism, focusing specifically on the events surrounding the Council of Lyons in 1274, and how the whole affair was driven by political considerations on the part of the emperor, Michael VIII Palaeologos.

    Michael VIII Palaeologos and the Byzantine Dilemma

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026


    In this episode Dr. Jenkins unpacks the perilous aftermath of the Byzantine reconquest of Constantinople, and the extreme ecclesiastical length's the emperor was willing to take to secure the Empire's safety.

    The Consequences of the Sack of Constantinople

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026


    In this episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the political implications of sack of Constantinople in 1204 (implications never far removed from the questions of Church history nor the life of the Church).

    The Fourth Crusade

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026


    In this episode Dr. Jenkins covers the details of the 4th Crusade, how it happened to be diverted from its original destination, and how it happened that the city was sacked and pillaged by the army of the 4th Crusade. Fr. Deacon Corrado's lecture on the Shroud of Turin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5glqEGO5cM Basilian Media & Publishing: https://basilianmedia.org/

    A Prelude to the 4th Crusade

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2026


    As Dr. Jenkins continues looking at the Schism between Greek East and Latin West, he picks up with the perhaps the most dramatic event in the history of the two communions, the sack of Constantinople by the armies of the 4th Crusade. This event and its long sequel shall dominate the podcast for the next several weeks.

    The Tension between the Churches in the 12th Century

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026


    This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the worsening situation between the Orthodox East and the Latin West, comparing the witness of one tenth-century Latin bishop, critical in its own right, with a more vitriolic work by a twelfth-century French monk. For the most recent issue of The Rule of Faith: tinyurl.com/Rule6-2 For the essay mentioned by Prof. Siecienski: https://tinyurl.com/Union-Siecienski

    Anselm of Havelberg and Church Unity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026


    This week Dr. Jenkins's look at the schism takes us to a disputation on Constantinople in 1135, one that reveals real differences between the Orthodox and the Latins, but one which also reveals a good bit of cordiality and amity, seeking a way forward to overcome differences. For the latest issue of Rule of Faith: ttps://tinyurl.com/Rule6-2

    St. Leo the Great, Pope St. Nicholas, and Answering a Philosophical Question

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2026


    This episode Dr. Jenkins returns one last time to the question of the powers and prerogatives of the bishop of Rome, revisiting some matters as regards St. Leo I, but then looking again at pope St. Nicholas, before turning at last to a question from a former student.

    "Lies! All Lies" The Symmachian and Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals in the Formation of Papal Dogma

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his study of the growth of the papacy, looking at the context of a few notable frauds and forgeries that nonetheless play a key role in the formation of the doctrines of the Papal Primacy.

    St. Photios, the Mystagoge, and the Council of 879

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins ends his look at St. Photios's thought on the Filioque by speaking about both his Mystagoge of the Holy Spirit and the council of 879.

    St. Photios and the Filioque: An Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2025


    This week we continue looking at matter of the Schism, and in particular the theological and philosophical underpinings of the doctrine laid bare first by St. Photios, patriarch of Constantinople.

    Persecuted Monastics and Imperial Factions

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins returns to the question of the Schism, but focusing again on the questions surrounding the Patriarchates of St. Ignatios and St. Photios, and the papacy of Nicholas I.

    Persecuted Monastics and Imperial Factions

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins returns to the question of the Schism, but focusing again on the questions surrounding the Patriarchates of St. Ignatios and St. Photios, and the papacy of Nicholas I.

    Pope St. Leo the Great as Legal Heir of St. Peter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025


    In this issue Dr. Jenkins returns to the question of the powers and prerogatives of the pope, and what this has to do with the Schism.

    Pope St. Leo the Great as Legal Heir of St. Peter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025


    In this issue Dr. Jenkins returns to the question of the powers and prerogatives of the pope, and what this has to do with the Schism.

    An Episode 1700 Years in the Making 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2025


    This episode Dr. Jenkins concludes his series on the Council of Nicaea and its implications for the Orthodox Church.

    An Episode 1700 Years in the Making 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2025


    This episode Dr. Jenkins concludes his series on the Council of Nicaea and its implications for the Orthodox Church.

    An Episode 1700 Years in the Making, Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his detour, discussing the significance of the Council of Nicaea. Fr. Deacon Patrick Mitchell's recent book: https://tinyurl.com/christtruth

    An Episode 1700 Years in the Making, Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his detour, discussing the significance of the Council of Nicaea. Fr. Deacon Patrick Mitchell's recent book: https://tinyurl.com/christtruth

    Nicaea: A Podcast 1700 Years in the Making, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his peregrinations on the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, addressing the theological implications of Nicaea for the Orthodox way of thinking about theology. Dr. Jenkins book: http://tinyurl.com/DragonsAngelsSaints

    Nicaea: A Podcast 1700 Years in the Making, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his peregrinations on the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, addressing the theological implications of Nicaea for the Orthodox way of thinking about theology. Dr. Jenkins book: http://tinyurl.com/DragonsAngelsSaints

    An Episode 1700 Years in the Making

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2025


    Dr. Jenkins takes a detour from discussing pope St. Leo I to discuss the significance of the Council of Nicaea, on this its 1700th birthday, for the history of the Orthodox Church.

    An Episode 1700 Years in the Making

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2025


    Dr. Jenkins takes a detour from discussing pope St. Leo I to discuss the significance of the Council of Nicaea, on this its 1700th birthday, for the history of the Orthodox Church.

    Pope St. Leo the Great: An Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins shifts the discussion about the development of the claims of the medieval papacy to the important figure of Pope St. Leo I, the fifth-century pope remembered for his famous Tome that shaped the Christology of the Council of Chalcedon.

    Pope St. Leo the Great: An Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins shifts the discussion about the development of the claims of the medieval papacy to the important figure of Pope St. Leo I, the fifth-century pope remembered for his famous Tome that shaped the Christology of the Council of Chalcedon.

    Pope St. Julius, St. Athanasius, and the Council of Sardica

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025


    St. Athanasios appealed his deposition at the hands of the Arians to Pope St. Julius and the Apostolikos Thronos. What exactly did St. Athanasius believe this appeal entailed as regards the power of the papacy, and what can his appeal tell us about how we Orthodox should think about the rightly ordered authority of St. Peter's heirs?

    Pope St. Julius, St. Athanasius, and the Council of Sardica

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025


    St. Athanasios appealed his deposition at the hands of the Arians to Pope St. Julius and the Apostolikos Thronos. What exactly did St. Athanasius believe this appeal entailed as regards the power of the papacy, and what can his appeal tell us about how we Orthodox should think about the rightly ordered authority of St. Peter's heirs?

    To Baptize or Not to Baptize: A 3rd Century Test between Saints

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025


    This episode Dr. Jenkins examines the clash between St. Cyprian of Carthage and St. Stephen of Rome. This confrontation brought to the fore the 3rd century's understanding of not only the extent of papal power, but also the question of the origin of the episcopate and the episcopal office. https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    To Baptize or Not to Baptize: A 3rd Century Test between Saints

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025


    This episode Dr. Jenkins examines the clash between St. Cyprian of Carthage and St. Stephen of Rome. This confrontation brought to the fore the 3rd century's understanding of not only the extent of papal power, but also the question of the origin of the episcopate and the episcopal office. https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    Pope St. Victor Again, and a "Touching" Reminiscence

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins again looks at the incident of St. Victor and his clash with the Quartodecimans and St. Irenaeus of Lyons, along with a divertimento about the Touchstone Conference. Orthodoxy & Education: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025 https://tinyurl.com/ChristasTruth https://tinyurl.com/sundoesnotshine

    Pope St. Victor Again, and a "Touching" Reminiscence

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins again looks at the incident of St. Victor and his clash with the Quartodecimans and St. Irenaeus of Lyons, along with a divertimento about the Touchstone Conference. Orthodoxy & Education: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025 https://tinyurl.com/ChristasTruth https://tinyurl.com/sundoesnotshine

    St. Irenaeus and the Bishop of Rome

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the papacy in the early church, looking specifically at St. Irenaeus and his confrontation with pope St. Victor over his confrontation with the Churches in western Asia Minor. Orthodoxy & Education: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025 https://tinyurl.com/ChristasTruth https://tinyurl.com/sundoesnotshine

    St. Irenaeus and the Bishop of Rome

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the papacy in the early church, looking specifically at St. Irenaeus and his confrontation with pope St. Victor over his confrontation with the Churches in western Asia Minor. Orthodoxy & Education: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025 https://tinyurl.com/ChristasTruth https://tinyurl.com/sundoesnotshine

    St. Peter and the First 2 Centuries of the Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2025


    Continuing the discussion of the development of the office of the Papacy, this week Dr. Jenkins looks at St. Peter and the office of the pope in the first two centuries of the life of the Church. https://tinyurl.com/ChristasTruth https://tinyurl.com/sundoesnotshine Orthodoxy & Education: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    St. Peter and the First 2 Centuries of the Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2025


    Continuing the discussion of the development of the office of the Papacy, this week Dr. Jenkins looks at St. Peter and the office of the pope in the first two centuries of the life of the Church. https://tinyurl.com/ChristasTruth https://tinyurl.com/sundoesnotshine Orthodoxy & Education: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    St. Peter in the Book of Acts

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2025


    This episode Dr. Jenkins continues to look at St. Peter's place in the New Testament, and how this status can shed light on how we should think about the St. Peter's successors in Rome. For the new books from Basilian Media & Publishing: https://tinyurl.com/ChristasTruth https://tinyurl.com/sundoesnotshine Orthodoxy & Education: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    St. Peter in the Book of Acts

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2025


    This episode Dr. Jenkins continues to look at St. Peter's place in the New Testament, and how this status can shed light on how we should think about the St. Peter's successors in Rome. For the new books from Basilian Media & Publishing: https://tinyurl.com/ChristasTruth https://tinyurl.com/sundoesnotshine Orthodoxy & Education: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

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