Speaking the Truth in Love

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Compelling Commentary on Christian Belief and Behavior

Fr Thomas Hopko and Ancient Faith Radio


    • Feb 21, 2015 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 40m AVG DURATION
    • 281 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Speaking the Truth in Love

    Re-Marriage in the Orthodox Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2015 32:31


    In light of the debate in the Roman Catholic Church about divorce and re-marriage, Fr. Tom offers the Orthodox view of this topic as well as an explanation of the fundamental difference in how marriage is viewed in Orthodoxy. We are so happy to have Fr.Tom back recording podcasts. Please continue to pray for him.

    Bishops - Part 57: Anton Chekhov

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2015 41:04


    Today Fr. Tom speaks about the famous author Anton Chekhov from 19th-century Russia.

    Bishops - Part 56: St. Philaret of Moscow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2015 31:20


    One of the most influential and revered figures of 19th-century Orthodox Russia was St. Philaret of Moscow. Fr. Tom also speaks about Leo Tolstoy.

    Bishops - Part 55: 19th Century Clergy in Russia

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2014 36:05


    In his continuing series on bishops and Church organization, Fr. Thomas speaks about various clergy figures from that time. He references the book My Life's Journey: The Memories of Metropolitan Evlogy.

    Relax, God is in Control - Final Thoughts

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2014 35:53


    Fr. Thomas Hopko takes one last look at the phrase "Relax, God is in Control" and provides information on additional material he has written and spoke about regarding this general topic. Here is the list: Abba: The Tradition of Orthodoxy in the West by Met. Kallistos Ware And from his Speaking the Truth in Love series: Pain and Suffering The Wrath of God The Wrath of God - Part 2 Anger and Wrath in Human Life On Sadness and Grief in Christian Life Theological Reflections on Calamity Does God Play Favorites? Predestination, Providence, and Prayer Understanding Evil - 9/11 Remembered God and the World Sandy Hook God and Death

    Bishops - Part 54: 19th Century Russia

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2014 41:25


    For the next few podcasts, Fr. Tom will be looking at the important 19th century in Russian Orthodox history. He recommended several books but in particular these three. The Heart of Russia by Scott M. Kenworthy The Making of Holy Russia by Fr. John Strickland Russian Orthodoxy on the Eve of Revolution by Vera Shevzov

    God Is In Control - Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2014 40:31


    Fr. Tom returns to the subject of his recent episode "God Is In Control. Yes or No?" He responds to the listener feedback and clarifies his thoughts on the subject.

    Bishops - Part 53: The Impact of the 19th Century on Clergy and Laity

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2014 35:44


    Last time, Fr. Tom talked about the Ottoman Empire and its demise. Today he reflects on the impact of Turkish rule on Orthodox clergy and laity.

    God Is In Control - Yes or No?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2014 37:52


    We hear the phrase "God is in control" and may even use it from time to time when trying to make sense of a difficult situation. Fr. Thomas Hopko evaluates that phrase and challenges us to rethink it.

    Bishops - Part 52: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2014 41:59


    Fr. Tom takes up his series on the bishops and structure of the Church and moves to the 19th Century fall of the Ottoman Empire.

    Met. Anthony Bloom’s Homily on the Cross

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2014 14:46


    During this week as we venerate the cross of Christ, Fr. Tom Hopko shares a sermon by Met. Anthony Bloom on the cross and our sin.

    Awesome or Fearful?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2014 41:07


    A commonly used word today is "awesome." But, given its meaning today, Fr. Tom asks if it is the appropriate word to use in our Divine Liturgy.

    What Does Rome Need To Do? - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2014 35:05


    This is part two of Fr. Tom's paper on what Orthodoxy would expect from Rome before communion would be restored.

    What Does Rome Need To Do? - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2014 39:28


    As promised in his last episode, Fr. Thomas shares with us the paper he wrote in 2005 outlining what the Roman Catholic Church would need to do to unite with the Orthodox. He broke it up into two parts and this is part one.

    Ecumenical Efforts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2014 52:02


    In light of all of the discussion about the Ecumenical Patriarch meeting with the Pope, Fr. Tom offers some of his experiences with the World Council of Churches.

    Bishops - Part 51: 18th Century Russia

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2014 44:14


    In this fascinating episode, Fr. Tom talks about the tragic influence of Peter the Great and the further westernization of the Orthodox Church in Russia.

    Bishops - Part 50: 17th Century Russia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2014 29:37


    In the next in his series on Church organization and structure, Fr. Tom talks about 17th Century Russia and the influences of Patriarch Nikon and the Old Believer schism.

    Archbishop Fenelon and Great Lent

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2014 18:21


    Fr. Thomas talks about the writings of Archbishop François Fénelon, a Roman Catholic writer from the 17th century. Fr. Tom was particularly taken with Fénelon's spiritual writings surrounding Lent.

    The Purpose of Lent

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2014 41:44


    As we approach the mid-point of Great Lent, Fr. Tom reflects on the purpose of this season in the Church year.

    Bishops - Part 49: 17th Century Calvinistic and Roman Influences on Orthodoxy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2014 23:39


    Fr. Tom talks about what happened in the 17th Century, when Orthodoxy in both Constantinople and Ukraine were influenced by non Orthodox thinking.

    The Necessity of the Trinity

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2014 54:52


    In this very helpful theological discourse, Fr. Thomas Hopko states that the trinitarian understanding of God is absolutely essential to the Christian faith.

    Bishops - Part 48: The Reformation and its Impact on Orthodoxy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2014 53:15


    Fr. Thomas Hopko calls the Reformation one of the most impactful periods of Church history on Orthodoxy. Learn about how the Orthodox were influenced by Roman Catholic and Protestant thinking.

    Resisting Like St. Maximus

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2014 42:57


    We have just finished the month of January where many of the heroes of the Faith are remembered. One of them is St. Maximus the Confessor who paid a price for resisting bishops and emperors when he thought they were promoting false doctrine. Fr. Tom teaches us what can we learn from this humble and brave saint.

    Bishops - Part 47: Ivan the Terrible and the Russian Church in the 16th Century

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2014 37:08


    The 16th Century was pivotal for the Orthodox Church in Russia which is during the reign of Ivan the Terrible and also the period when the Russian Church was given autocephaly.

    Peace on Earth

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2013 39:09


    In his Christmas reflection, Fr. Thomas examines what "Peace on Earth, Goodwill Towards Men" means and what it doesn't mean.

    Bishops - Part 46: The Russian Church in the 15th Century

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2013 50:25


    Fr. Tom talks about the important 15th century in the lands of Rus at the time of the sacking of Constantinople by the Turks.

    Redemption in Christ

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2013 44:09


    Fr. Thomas often receives email asking him about the Orthodox view of redemption including the topics of God's wrath, the payment of a ransom, punishment, guilt, and salvation. Listen to this episode but also refer to his Names of Jesus series where many of these themes are addressed.

    Bishops - Part 45: The Russian Church in the 14th Century

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2013 48:43


    In this episode, you will learn about the relationship between the Church in the Russian lands and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople in the 14th Century.

    Bishops - Part 44: The Church of Kiev and Rus

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2013 48:04


    From Constantinople we go to the Church in Kiev and Rus from the 10th to the 13th Centuries.

    The Slippery Slope

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2013 37:11


    Fr. Thomas comments on the often used phrase "The Slippery Slope" and cautions about the assumptions made when using it.

    Bishops - Part 43: The Fall of Constantinople

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2013 47:16


    One of the most significant events in Church history was the fall of Constantinople. Fr. Thomas helps us understand the the years immediately following the fall.

    Bishops - Part 42: The Council of Florence

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2013 48:40


    As the series on the structure and organization of the Church continues, Fr. Thomas reflects on the famous Council of Florence and the Orthodox participation and rejection of the Council.

    Bishops - Part 41: 1st Half of the 15th Century

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2013 41:53


    After several months, Fr. Thomas continues this series with a reflection on the 1st half of the 15th century and the further declarations of the Roman Catholic Church.

    God and Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2013 47:55


    Fr. Thomas gets down to basics with this episode by saying everything the ancient Christian Church believes about the world, society, nature, sex, humanity, and everything else comes down to its view of God and death.

    Doctors and Medicine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2013 46:01


    In this episode, Fr. Tom talks about how we should view the practice of medicine and medication from an Orthodox Christian perspective.

    The First Three Days of Holy Week - Part 6

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2013 37:33


    Finally, Fr. Tom looks at the Harlot and Judas depicting two diverse models for the treatment of The Christ.

    The First Three Days of Holy Week - Part 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2013 26:15


    In the 5th episode, Fr. Tom reflects on the conflicts between Christ and the leaders of the day.

    The First Three Days of Holy Week - Part 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2013 41:53


    Then we have Joseph and his brothers showing us through this intricate biblical story, the imagery of Christ and His Passion.

    The First Three Days of Holy Week - Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2013 29:35


    Next is the parable of the fig tree and the imagery of leaves and fruit.

    The First Three Days of Holy Week - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2013 27:56


    In part 2, Fr. Tom reflects on the Bride, the Bridegroom, and the garments. Why was the man with no wedding garment cast out?

    The First Three Days of Holy Week - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2013 37:09


    In a 6 part reflection, Fr. Tom Hopko examines the first three days of Holy Week and the significance of the scripture and verses as we prepare for Great and Holy Pascha. In this first episode, he gives an overview of the 3 days and the services we will be a part of.

    Halfway Through Lent

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2013 39:15


    Fr. Tom sees a significant reality at this midpoint of Great Lent after the Sunday of the Cross.

    Bishops - Part 40: Patriarch of Constantinople in the 14th Century

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2013 54:27


    Fr. Tom says the 14th Century situation in Constantinople is critical to understanding the Church today.

    Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2013 51:24


    After a season of elections, an inauguration, the State of the Union address, as well as social and political unrest, Fr. Thomas Hopko explores an ancient Christian perspective on the rights identified in the Declaration of Independence.

    The Eucharistic Prayer of St. Basil’s Liturgy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2013 46:53


    During Great Lent, the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is prescribed in Orthodox Churches. Fr. Tom appeals for the audible use of that prayer for the blessing and edification of all.

    Letters to Spiritual Children

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2013 41:01


    As we approach Great Lent, Fr. Thomas has a helpful book to recommend entitled Letters to Spiritual Children by Abbot Nikon.

    The Commandments of the Gospel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2013 44:33


    Following his recent podcast on the virtue as well as the pitfalls of zeal, Fr. Thomas talks about where our zeal should be focused. He uses a 19th century book entitled The Arena by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov to help us understand.

    Bishops - Part 39: Serbia and Bulgaria

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2013 38:20


    Fr. Tom now turns his attention to the late 12th to early 14th centuries to talk about the Church in Serbia and Bulgaria and their relationship with Constantinople.

    Fr. Thomas Hopko - Sandy Hook and Our Response

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2012 45:53


    After listening to an AFR Commentary by Fr. Lawrence Farley and a sermon by Fr. Andrew Damick, Fr. Thomas offers some additional and personal thoughts on the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. We also encourage you to listen to the comments by Fr. Tom Soroka.

    Zeal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2012 45:15


    Fr. Thomas speaks about zeal that is godly as opposed to zeal that leads to death.

    Evangelical Dialogue

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2012 57:22


    Fr. Tom responds to an email from an evangelical listener who wrote in response to a podcast where Fr. Tom reflected on his visit to Wheaton College.

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