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


    • Jan 29, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 618 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Light Through the Past

    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

    St. Peter's Primacy in the Gospels

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025


    In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues his look at the office of the Bishop of Rome by examining the Primacy of Peter and what the four Gospels have to say about his authority.

    St. Peter's Primacy in the Gospels

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025


    In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues his look at the office of the Bishop of Rome by examining the Primacy of Peter and what the four Gospels have to say about his authority.

    The Authority of the Pope & the Schism: An Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2025


    The week Dr. Jenkins shifts gears in his discussion of the Schism to offer an introduction to the office and function of the bishop of Rome. For the Orthodoxy and Education Conference: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025.

    The Authority of the Pope & the Schism: An Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2025


    The week Dr. Jenkins shifts gears in his discussion of the Schism to offer an introduction to the office and function of the bishop of Rome. For the Orthodoxy and Education Conference: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025.

    Anslem of Bec and the Filioque

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2025


    Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the schism between the Orthodox and Latins, focusing this week on Anselm of Bec and Canterbury and his treatise on the Holy Spirit, and how this became the basis for so much of later Latin theology on the subject. For the Orthodoxy and Education Conference: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    Anslem of Bec and the Filioque

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2025


    Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the schism between the Orthodox and Latins, focusing this week on Anselm of Bec and Canterbury and his treatise on the Holy Spirit, and how this became the basis for so much of later Latin theology on the subject. For the Orthodoxy and Education Conference: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    A Record of Errors

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins looks at the errors and misunderstandings that plagued by Rome and Michael Kerularius, and thus we examine both Humbert's Bull of Excommunication against the Patriarch, but also Peter of Antioch's reprimand of Kerularios for his own misunderstandings of the Latins. For the Orthodoxy and Education Conference: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    A Record of Errors

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins looks at the errors and misunderstandings that plagued by Rome and Michael Kerularius, and thus we examine both Humbert's Bull of Excommunication against the Patriarch, but also Peter of Antioch's reprimand of Kerularios for his own misunderstandings of the Latins. For the Orthodoxy and Education Conference: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    1054 and All That

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2025


    This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the crucial and calamitous event that was the Papal legation to Constantinople in 1054, what it was (a sign of Rome's new jurisdictional claims), and what it wasn't (either the de facto or de jure beginning of the schism). https://tinyurl.com/OrthodoxRoadtoCollege

    1054 and All That

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2025


    This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the crucial and calamitous event that was the Papal legation to Constantinople in 1054, what it was (a sign of Rome's new jurisdictional claims), and what it wasn't (either the de facto or de jure beginning of the schism). https://tinyurl.com/OrthodoxRoadtoCollege

    Revolution in Eleventh-Century Rome

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025


    This episode Dr. Jenkins looks into the events and movements in the Latin world that lay the foundation for the claims of the late-medieval Roman popes, and how the two questions of the filioque and the powers of the pope became intertwined. Still Points https://tinyurl.com/StillPoints From the Morning Watch https://tinyurl.com/HaikuPsalms

    Revolution in Eleventh-Century Rome

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025


    This episode Dr. Jenkins looks into the events and movements in the Latin world that lay the foundation for the claims of the late-medieval Roman popes, and how the two questions of the filioque and the powers of the pope became intertwined. Still Points https://tinyurl.com/StillPoints From the Morning Watch https://tinyurl.com/HaikuPsalms

    The Dissonant Theology of the Latin West on the Spirit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2025


    Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion on the history of the Filioque by looking at the responses of the Latin west to the accusation leveled against it by St. Photios. What emerges are two responses, with one marking the future of Western theology, and the other a road pointed to by St. Maximos the Confessor, but untraveled. https://tinyurl.com/Doxamoot2025 https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    The Dissonant Theology of the Latin West on the Spirit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2025


    Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion on the history of the Filioque by looking at the responses of the Latin west to the accusation leveled against it by St. Photios. What emerges are two responses, with one marking the future of Western theology, and the other a road pointed to by St. Maximos the Confessor, but untraveled. https://tinyurl.com/Doxamoot2025 https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

    A Clash of Titans: The confrontation of Pope St. Nicholas and Patriarch St. Photios

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2025


    In this episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the conflict between St. Photios the Great and Pope St. Nicholas, a confrontation that touched the question of the Filioque, but involved so much more, even scandalously so. https://tinyurl.com/Doxamoot2025 https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025 Byzantine course: https://tinyurl.com/LuxchristiByzantium Still Points: https://tinyurl.com/StillPoints

    A Clash of Titans: The confrontation of Pope St. Nicholas and Patriarch St. Photios

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2025


    In this episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the conflict between St. Photios the Great and Pope St. Nicholas, a confrontation that touched the question of the Filioque, but involved so much more, even scandalously so. https://tinyurl.com/Doxamoot2025 https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025 Byzantine course: https://tinyurl.com/LuxchristiByzantium Still Points: https://tinyurl.com/StillPoints

    Shambolic Theology and Ecclesiastical Mayhem

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2025


    This week Dr. Jenkins completes the discussion of the Frankish kingdom's descent into theological error (and the Pope's reprimand of them for it), and transitions to a key moment in Byzantine history which will bring East and West into conflict, and with it the first real disputes about the filioque. https://tinyurl.com/Doxamoot2025 https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025 Byzantine course: https://tinyurl.com/LuxchristiByzantium Still Points: https://tinyurl.com/StillPoints

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