Podcasts about Eastern Christianity

Dr. Alexander Harb, author of The Kingdom of the Heart: Meditations from the Christian East, joins Bear Woznick to explore the heart-centered theology of Eastern Christianity. Together they dive into the mysticism of the early Church Fathers, the origins and meaning of the Jesus Prayer, and the fierce, solitary spirituality of the desert monks like St. Anthony the Great. The discussion centers on how these early Christians pursued holiness not through comfort but through stillness, silence, and struggle—preparing daily for death as the gateway to eternal life.In this episode:⚔️ Spiritual warfare was seen as literal, internal battles with demons and passions.

4:10 PM - Greed’s pull and how to resist it… GUEST Dorothy Little Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” … Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. 4:40 PM - GUEST Chris Martin, author of “Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media” … and most recently, “The Wolf in Their Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead” … his Substack is chrismartinfyi … Chris lives outside Nashville w his family. 5:10 PM - GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. 5:40 PM - GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4:10 PM - Greed’s pull and how to resist it… GUEST Dorothy Little Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” … Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. 4:40 PM - GUEST Chris Martin, author of “Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media” … and most recently, “The Wolf in Their Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead” … his Substack is chrismartinfyi … Chris lives outside Nashville w his family. 5:10 PM - GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. 5:40 PM - GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being Maundy Thursday: why is it so hard to love one another and why does it matter? … GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. Did Jesus institute a new priesthood at the Last Supper? … GUEST Dr Charles Camosy … Prof of Medical Humanities at the Creighton Univ School of Medicine … Charlie spent 14 yrs in Fordham Univ’s theology department, & is author of 7 books, inluding “Beyond the Abortion Wars,” and “Resisting Throwaway Culture” … his most recent book is “Bioethics for Nurses: a Christian Moral Vision” … Charlie advises the Faith Outreach office of the Humane Society of the US & the pro-life commission of the Archdiocese of NY … He & his wife Paulyn have 4 kids, 3 of whom they adopted from a Filipino orphanage in 2016. Look Full in His wonderful Face … GUEST Anne Kennedy ...author of “Nailed It: 365 Sarcastic Devotionals for Angry and Worn Out People” ... She blogs everyday at her substack “Demotivations w Anne”... Anne lives in upstate NY where she mothers 6 children and lives with her husband, an Anglican priest. Thursday night service in the Orthodox Church … GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being Maundy Thursday: why is it so hard to love one another and why does it matter? … GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. Did Jesus institute a new priesthood at the Last Supper? … GUEST Dr Charles Camosy … Prof of Medical Humanities at the Creighton Univ School of Medicine … Charlie spent 14 yrs in Fordham Univ’s theology department, & is author of 7 books, inluding “Beyond the Abortion Wars,” and “Resisting Throwaway Culture” … his most recent book is “Bioethics for Nurses: a Christian Moral Vision” … Charlie advises the Faith Outreach office of the Humane Society of the US & the pro-life commission of the Archdiocese of NY … He & his wife Paulyn have 4 kids, 3 of whom they adopted from a Filipino orphanage in 2016. Look Full in His wonderful Face … GUEST Anne Kennedy ...author of “Nailed It: 365 Sarcastic Devotionals for Angry and Worn Out People” ... She blogs everyday at her substack “Demotivations w Anne”... Anne lives in upstate NY where she mothers 6 children and lives with her husband, an Anglican priest. Thursday night service in the Orthodox Church … GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this session, biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan explores his proposal to reconstruct Easter, focusing on Paul's understanding of "the mystery of God." Crossan argues that this mystery refers to how God allowed Jesus, as Messiah, to be executed by Roman civilization to reveal its inherent injustice, while simultaneously vindicating Jesus through resurrection to reveal the justice of creation. He proposes that historically, the earliest interpretations of Jesus's exaltation were likely focused on individual ascension rather than resurrection, and that it was Paul who transformed this understanding into universal resurrection as an in-time process rather than merely an end-time event. Crossan contrasts Western Christianity's individual resurrection imagery with Eastern Christianity's universal resurrection imagery, arguing that the Eastern tradition is more faithful to Paul's original vision. He concludes by suggesting that Paul's cosmic justice concept serves as a metaphor for humanity's evolutionary challenge of sustainability, and proposes that both theists and atheists should focus on cosmic evolution rather than debating God's existence. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube To access all 5 of Crossan's lectures, submit questions, and join future live streams, head here to join the class. John Dominic Crossan, professor emeritus at DePaul University, is widely regarded as the foremost historical Jesus scholar of our time. Previous Podcast Episodes with Dom & Tripp Paul, Josephus, & the Challenge of Nonviolent Resistance Paul, Rome, & the Violent Normalcy of Civilization Paul & the Fictional History of Luke-Acts Paul & Thecla Ask JC Anything Diana Butler Bass & John Dominic Crossan: The Resurrection of Jesus Brian McLaren & John Dominic Crossan: The Message of Jesus & the Judgement of Civilization Brian Zahnd & John Dominic Crossan: God, Violence, Empire, & Salvation Why the Biblical Paul is Awesome Christian Resurrection & Human Evolution The Cross & the Crisis of Civilization The Coming Kingdom & the Risen Christ The Parables of Jesus & the Parable of God How to think about Jesus like a Historian the Last Week of Jesus' Life Jesus, Paul, & Bible Questions Saving the Biblical Christmas Stories the most important discovery for understanding Jesus The Bible, Violence, & Our Future Resurrecting Easter on the First Christmas   From Jesus' Parables to Parables of God  Render Unto Caesar on God & Empire Join Dom Crossan at ...Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025 3 Days of Craft Nerdiness with 50+ Theologians & God-Pods and 600 new friends. ONLINE CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Many Faces of Christ Today The question Jesus asked his disciples still resonates today: "Who do you say that I am?" Join our transformative 5-week online learning community as we explore a rich tapestry of contemporary Christologies. Experience how diverse theological voices create a compelling vision of Jesus Christ for today's world. Expand your spiritual horizons. Challenge your assumptions. Enrich your faith. As always, the class is donation-based (including 0), so head over to ManyFacesOfChrist.com for more details and to sign up! _____________________ Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 45 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this fourth installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs explores the complex relationship between divine providence and human freedom. What does it mean that God delegates subsovereignce to creation? And how does divine foreknowledge interact with human self-determination? Tune in as we examine biblical figures like Abraham, Job, and Saul alongside the desecration of goodness and the atheist's problem with evil. This episode lays crucial groundwork for understanding the synergistic nature of providence before our final exploration of theodicy.All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:13 The rational ordering principle00:13:17 What is the individual? 00:32:05 Divine foreknowledge 00:40:08 Abraham, Job, & Saul 00:52:06 Providence: blueprint or synergy? 01:01:29 The desecration of goodness01:08:28 The atheist's evil problem 01:18:51 So why doesn't God intervene? 01:34:30 God delegates subsovereignce  01:46:06 A critical feature of providence 01:49:51 What DOES God do? 01:56:49 The divine energies 02:16:40 The synergistic nature of providence 02:27:17 Engaging in self-determinationOther words for the algorithm… Leibniz, A defense of God, Epicurus, David Hume, Heraclitus, The Problem of Pain, The Problem of Divine Hiddenness, Christianity, Eastern Christianity, Orthodox Christian, Christianity, Evangelical, Protestant, Catholicism, Catholics, pantheism, Empedocles, body-soul dualism, metaphysical dualism, Manichaeism, Augustine of Hippo, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Nicene Creed, The Arian Dispute, Christology, Seven Ecumenical Councils, Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Jordan Peterson, Pints With Aquinas, Christian apologetics, theology, Alex O'Connor, John of Damascus, Alvin Plantinga, modal logic, Scholastics, the consequent will of God, Origen, complex goods, Theism, philosophy of religion, natural theology, moral philosophy, ontological argument, teleological argument, cosmological argument, ancient philosophy, patristics, church fathers, suffering, existentialism, free will, determinism, sovereignty, divine attributes, omnipotence, omniscience, benevolence, theological ethics, moral evil, natural evil, comparative religion, religious epistemology, divine justice, meaning of suffering, spiritual formation, rationalism, empiricism, atheism, agnosticism, William Lane Craig, Ravi Zacharias, Bishop Barron, apologetics debate, philosophical theology, Thomas Aquinas, divine providence, spiritual warfare, eschatology, redemptive suffering, qualified omnipotence

Observations from spending time in Spain… GUEST Dorothy Littel Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” … Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. The Most Valuable Class I Ever Had. A crucible of curiosity and creativity… The govt knows AGI is coming (NYT)**… GUEST Chris Martin … director of content at Moody Radio … author of two books about social media: “The Wolf in Their Pockets” and “Terms of Service”. ICE & who is my neighbor … GUEST The Rev. Daniel Behrens, Missionary in Residence, Church of the Ascension Pittsburgh. St Mary of Egypt … GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The govt knows AGI is coming (NYT)**… GUEST Chris Martin … director of content at Moody Radio … author of two books about social media: “The Wolf in Their Pockets” and “Terms of Service”. Vitriol … GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The govt knows AGI is coming (NYT)**… GUEST Chris Martin … director of content at Moody Radio … author of two books about social media: “The Wolf in Their Pockets” and “Terms of Service”. Vitriol … GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Syriac tradition and Eastern Christianity, the cave of Christ's birth is far more than a historical setting; it is a symbol of profound theological truths: Humility: The Infinite God chose a lowly cave as the place of His birth, emphasizing the humility of the Incarnation. Light in Darkness: The cave symbolizes a world darkened by sin, now illuminated by the Light of Christ. Typology: The cave of Christ's birth prefigures the cave of His tomb, linking the Incarnation to the Resurrection. Creation's Renewal: The earth itself (the cave) receives its Creator, pointing to the redemption of all creation. For Syriac Christians, the cave is not merely a location but a theological icon—a place where heaven and earth meet, where the eternal Word becomes flesh to bring light, life, and salvation to the world. For more in depth teachings check our online Academy: www.twinstours.com/academy

John Vervaeke engages in a profound discussion with James Filler, author of 'Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being'. They examine the core arguments of Jame's book, which emphasizes relationality as more fundamental than individual existence in understanding reality. The conversation explores Neoplatonism, Heidegger's philosophy, and the convergence of these ideas with contemporary physics and biology. James recounts his journey in developing his dissertation into a pivotal work aimed at reorienting ontological perspectives. John and James also discuss the trajectory of Western and Eastern Christian thought, touching upon relational ontology's scientific and ethical ramifications. James Filler is the author of Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being, a groundbreaking work exploring the philosophical underpinnings of relational ontology. His forthcoming book, Substance Ontology and the Crisis of Reason deepens the critique of substance thinking in Western philosophy. Notes:  (0:00) Welcome to the Lectern (1:00) Core themes of Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being (3:00) Background of James Filler (5:30) Core argument of the book (10:00) The philosophical debate between Parmenides and Heraclitus (15:00) Ontological relationality and its philosophical implications (25:00) Heidegger's dialogue with Asian philosophy and the Christian trinity (34:00) Western vs. Eastern Christianity - diverging paths (40:00) A critique of Process Philosophy  (48:30) The conceptual and ethical implications of historical Christian interpretations (51:30) Distinction between discursive and non-discursive reasoning (58:30) Substance ontology and the crisis of reason (1:03:00) Addressing the crisis of rationality in modernity (1:11:00) Final reflections on relationality and its broader impacts   ---  Connect with a community dedicated to self-discovery and purpose, and gain deeper insights by joining our Patreon. The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Become a part of our mission.   Join Awaken to Meaning to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships.   John Vervaeke: Website | Twitter | YouTube | Patreon     Ideas, People, and Works Mentioned in this Episode Martin Heidegger  Plotinus Aristotle St. Gregory  Heraclitus  Parmenides Plato Jordan Hall Evan Thompson Relationality  Neoplatonism Substance Ontology Trinity Process Philosophy Virtue Epistemology Humility Dialogical Rationality "Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being" by James Filler "Substance Ontology and the Crisis of Reason" by James Filler (upcoming book) "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis" by John "Recovering Plato: A Platonic Virtue Epistemology" by James Filler (published in Episteme) "The Divine Matrix" by David Ray Griffin "The One" by Paas "Being and Time" by Martin Heidegger "The Republic" by Plato "The Enneads" by Plotinus "Metaphysics" by Aristotle   Quotes:   "Relationality is itself more primordial, more fundamental to understanding the nature of reality."   "To be independent in the first place required a relation—because to be independent means there's something you're independent from."   "Our rationality operates best dialogically, not nomologically, which aligns deeply with relational ontology."  

In this episode Dudley continues his conversation with Leigh Scarborough, CEO of Sheild of the Children, and they dive into the complex relationship between the gospel and culture. They discuss how the gospel transcends cultural boundaries and they confront misconceptions about Western Christianity, Eastern Christianity, and more. Leigh shares his experiences from Indonesia and Australia, highlighting issues like church practices that exclude people and the influence of the prosperity gospel, which distorts true teaching of the Gospel. Together, they explore how the Gospel creates its own culture of love and inclusivity, emphasizing the importance of understanding what agape love truly means—unconditional, divine love that shapes authentic Christian community. For more information and resources, visit https://kerygmaventures.com/podcast/ For more information on Leigh's work at Shield of the Children, visit https://raiseyourshield.orgFollow and subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/41N9SAP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LEIxeo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerygmaventures Watch our "Conversations At The Ranch" series: https://bit.ly/conversations-at-the-ranch Watch our “Dudley's Monthly Message” series: https://bit.ly/dudleys-monthly-message 

Letting go gracefully: How do we parent our adult children? ... GUEST Dorothy Little Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” ... Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. 5 Things I've learned to go Long-Term in Ministry ... GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. St Gregory the Illuminator, who brought the gospel to Armenia (his feast day is this month)... GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Letting go gracefully: How do we parent our adult children? ... GUEST Dorothy Little Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” ... Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. 5 Things I've learned to go Long-Term in Ministry ... GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. St Gregory the Illuminator, who brought the gospel to Armenia (his feast day is this month)... GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten-Mile Valley Community Prayer Breakfast ... GUEST Patrick O'Brien ... Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, Dollar Bank. How to navigate social media in an Election Season ... GUEST Chris Martin ... director of content at Moody Radio ... author of two books about social media: “The Wolf in Their Pockets” and “Terms of Service”. GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical PresbyterianChurch ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. The Transfiguration when Jesus was transformed & Peter, James, John saw him talking w Elijah & Moses ... GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten-Mile Valley Community Prayer Breakfast ... GUEST Patrick O'Brien ... Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, Dollar Bank. How to navigate social media in an Election Season ... GUEST Chris Martin ... director of content at Moody Radio ... author of two books about social media: “The Wolf in Their Pockets” and “Terms of Service”. GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical PresbyterianChurch ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. The Transfiguration when Jesus was transformed & Peter, James, John saw him talking w Elijah & Moses ... GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Parenting Health and Wealth Gospel ... GUEST Dorothy Little Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” ... Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/ retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. Surprising Events in Charleston ... GUEST Frederica Mathewes- Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity". The Doctrines of Grace for daily living ... GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Readings from a rare study linking ancient spiritual practice with modern neuroscience. Parallels are drawn from these insights with similar ideas of Gurdjieff's Fourth Way, revealing their origins in the instructions to monks on the path of Theosis in the tradition of the Neptic Fathers.Excerpts from the article "Theosis in the Light of Modern Brain and Mind Sciences" by Brother Theophan Miskovic to be published in the anthology "Ascetic Practices and the Mind in Eastern Christianity" by Catholic University Press.

In episode 35 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Dr Amy Brown Hughes about a topic that has often been left for Youth groups to discuss nervously - that's the topic of Virginity. In her work in historical theology, Amy has explored the ways that, for the church, virginity has historically been about more than just sexual abstinence, but was a calling, an identification with Christ and the church, and a theological category in its own right. They discuss the ways perceptions of celibacy and marriage have changed, and how we might learn from the early church to reclaim the virtues of chastity, faithfulness, and integrity in our personhood. Amy teaches Patristics at WTC and is an associate professor of theology at Gordon College. She holds a B.A. in Theology and Historical Studies from Oral Roberts University, a Masters in General History of Christianity and a PhD in historical theology with an emphasis in early Christianity, both from Wheaton College. She is the author (with Lynn Cohick,) of 'Christian Women in the Patristic World. Her research interests include Eastern Christianity, trinitarian and christological thought, Christian asceticism, theological anthropology, and highlighting the contributions of minority voices to theology, especially those of women. She is also a co-host for the theology stream of the biblical studies and theology podcast OnScript.

James welcomes Connie Marshner to The Manly Catholic to discuss St. Patrick, the High Cross, ancient Irish Catholicism, and so much more in her latest book "Monastery and High Cross: The Forgotten Eastern Roots of Irish Christianity."  She explains the influence of Eastern Christianity on Irish Christianity, the role of St. Patrick in the conversion of Ireland, and the evidence of early Christians in Ireland before St. Patrick. Marshner also explores the origins of the Irish High Cross and the unique aspects of Irish liturgy. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding our roots and the early history of the Church as men and Catholics.  TakeawaysSt. Patrick played a significant role in the conversion of Ireland, but there were already early Christians in Ireland before his arrival.The Irish High Cross is a unique symbol of Irish Christianity, and its design has roots in Armenian and Egyptian traditions.Understanding our roots and the early history of the Church is important for men and Catholics. Knowing one's roots provides a grounding in reality and a sense of identity.The Catholic Church has shown resilience and strength even in the face of suppression.Saint Dymphna is an important patron saint for those struggling with mental illness.Thoughts to Chew On"The early history of the Catholic Church in Ireland is influenced by Eastern Christianity.""The Irish High Cross is a unique symbol of Irish Christianity, and its design has roots in Armenian and Egyptian traditions.""Knowing your roots gives you a grounding in reality.""The Catholic Church, no matter how much it's tried to be suppressed, always comes back in full force.""I think there was a spirituality and a directness that was lacking in European spirituality."Resources Buy the book here!Check out more of Connie's work here!Support local Irish education here! TAN Books - Become a Saint! TAN is offering 15% off to you! Use code "manlycatholic" at checkout to help support the podcast. Support the showMystic Monk Coffee → For the best coffee for a great cause, we recommend Mystic Monk Coffee. Roasted with prayer by the Carmelite Monks in Wyoming, Mystic Monk Coffee has the ultimate cup waiting for you. See more at mysticmonkcoffee.comTAN Books → TAN has been one of the most well-known and respected Catholic publishers for a long time. Their objective? To make men and women saints. Take 15% off your order and help support the podcast by using the code “manlycatholic” at checkout. Visit TAN Books for more! Contact us directly at themanlycatholic@gmail.com. Support the show on Patreon

As we come toward the end of Step 26 on Discernment, St. John begins to offer us a summary of all that we have considered in the previous pages. In doing this, he alters his typical way of writing. One may speculate that he does this because of the importance of the virtue of discernment; both in fostering it and in protecting it.  Using brief sayings, very much like those found in the Philokalia, St. John begins to lay out for us the path to perfecting this virtue as well as to speak of the fruits of it in our lives.  Our capacity to see spiritual realities in an unimpeded fashion allows us to be attentive to all of the vices as well as the remedies that the fathers set before us for overcoming them. In summarizing the step in this fashion, St. John presents us with the truth very much in the way that we receive it from the gospel. It overturns the worldly way of viewing things. It allows us to experience the discomfort of having our sensibilities challenged in regards to our patterns of thought and our most basic desires. It compels us to ask ourselves, “For whom  do I live? Who do I love above all things?” --- Text of chat during the group: 00:02:46 FrDavid Abernethy: page 215   00:02:51 FrDavid Abernethy: number 85   00:03:29 FrDavid Abernethy: number 185   00:08:47 Tracey Fredman: Thank you, Fr. David for referencing the book "Toward God" by Michael Casey. It's amazing!   00:08:57 FrDavid Abernethy: great!!   00:09:11 FrDavid Abernethy: he's a wonderful writer   00:09:40 Kate : I am reading it too!  It is wonderful.   Like nothing I have read before.   00:09:41 FrDavid Abernethy: his book on lectio divina called Sacred reading is great too   00:26:15 Anthony: Do you have any comments on discerning the origin of thoughts without playing with the thoughts?   00:43:12 Anthony: That makes sense since Eros is a seeking, inquisitive movement.   00:51:38 David Swiderski: Especially prayer with gratitude.   00:52:19 Andy Nguyen: Replying to "Especially prayer wi..."     Yup   00:52:21 Wayne: Reacted to "Especially prayer wi..." with

"Truth and Love are wings that cannot be separated, for Truth cannot fly without Love, nor can Love soar aloft without Truth." (Saint Ephrem the Syrian)   "Look at God within yourself, how 'God is Light.' For his Nature is a glorious, many-splendored Light. He manifests the Light of his Nature to those who love Him in all the worlds…" (John of Dalyatha, Syriac Mystic)   "To be glorified art Thou, the Father Supreme, born of Thy First-born in the silence and tranquility of meditation." (Syriac Acts of Saint Thomas in India)   "There is a silence of the tongue. There is a silence of the whole body. There is a silence of the soul. There is a silence of the mind, and there is a silence of the spirit." (Abraham of Nathpar)   "Open your ears, and I shall speak to you. Give Me yourself, so that I may also give you Myself." (Odes, 9: 1-2)   "What wonders has your love effected! When someone is still alive he has left this world: though his bodily condition remains with the world's bodily condition, yet his spirit has been raised up towards You, so that for a period of time he is where he knows not, being totally raptured and drawn towards You." (John of Apamea)   Several scholars have made a convincing case that the Syriac mystics were a major influence upon early Sufism. And Sufism, as many know, has been an influence on the Sants of India. There is a demonstrable connection between East & West via several sources (Syriac mystics of the Church of the East in the Saint Thomas tradition, Mazdakism, Manichaeism and other schools of Gnosticism) and the Sant tradition of India.   Sebastian Brock, Scholar of Eastern Christianity and Aramaic-Syriac Saints, has translated many wonderful texts of Eastern Saints such as Isaac of Nineveh, Abdusho (Joseph the Visionary), John of Dalyatha, Abraham of Nathpar, Martyrius, Babai, Philoxenus of Mabbug, Aphrahat, Ephrem, John of Apamea, Jacob of Sarug, and others, in great books such as, The Syriac Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life, The Wisdom of St. Isaac of Nineveh, A Garland of Hymns from the Early Church (including Odes of Solomon), The Luminous Eye, and several others. "The text-book and pulpit notion that all Christendom is divided between Greek East and Latin West overlooks an ancient and still continuing third stream of tradition: Syriac Christianity. "Cut off from the rest of the Christian world by theological controversy in the fifth century, Arab conquest in the seventh and Mongol invasions in the thirteenth, Syrian Christians continues to celebrate the Christian mysteries, to meditate on Scripture and to apply its teachings to their lives. "Some of them, attempting to realise here on earth their baptismal potential to re-enter paradise, chose a life of asceticism and single-minded devotion to Christ. Their reflections created across the centuries a rich literature. Some passed into the byzantine tradition; some remained unknown to other Christians and have never until now been translated into a modern language. "These Syriac fathers offer the modern heirs of both Latin and Greek Christendom new, yet ancient and enduring insights on prayer and the spiritual life." (The Syriac Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life, by Professor Sebastian Brock of Oxford University)   In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters   James Bean Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts Sant Mat Radhasoami A Satsang Without Walls Spiritual Awakening Radio Website: https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com    

Telos: vision & purpose for each season of life ... GUEST Dorothy Little Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” ... Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/ retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. Meta, Snapchat, X, TikTok, and Discord grilled by bipartisan panel about addressing widespread safety concerns ... GUEST Chris Martin ... author of “Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media” ... also a content marketing editor at Moody Publishers and a social media, marketing, & communications consultant. Inter-generational discipleship (2Tim 2:2) ...GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. Fool-for-Christ: a role that some prayerful people might choose to play ... GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green ... author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bible Study: (2:02) 1 Jn 3:11-21 Why wasn't Cain's sacrifice acceptable to God?  Jn 1:43-51 Father shares a story from Eastern Christianity that helps illuminate today's Gospel Letters:  (17:55) - Psalm 25 - Remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness (21:53) - Was Mary Magdalene at the cross?  (24:27) - Destroying a Satanic display; is that OK?  (28:16) - Seminarians need to sit in the pews!  Word of the Day: Hates (32:53) Callers:  (35:58) - Friend married a protestant. He is Catholic. Can he receive communion? (39:13) - What does the last paragraph from today's gospel Mean? (43:33) - Luke CH2: 39-40 - Never talks about going to Egypt. Why not? (49:16) - If 2 Catholic soldiers in a war kill each other, does the absolution they may have received allow them to get to heaven?

Why a Church Planter with Cancer Isn't Giving Up ... GUEST Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra ... senior writer and faith-&- work editor for The Gospel Coalition ... also coauthor of “Gospelbound: Living with Resolute Hope in an Anxious Age” and editor of “Social Sanity in an Insta World”. The Lessons of Ebenezer Scrooge and Christmastide ... GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co- founder and former president of EduNations. Epiphany ... GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Mason Neale was born in London to evangelical parents. His father's early death meant that Neale attended many different schools; he eventually earned a degree from Trinity College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge, Neale moved from an evangelical to a strongly Anglican religious orientation. He helped found the Cambridge Camden Society, which later became the Ecclesiological Society, at Cambridge in 1839; the group's main goal was to align church architecture, decoration, and ritual with its teaching. Neale was ordained a deacon in 1841 and a priest in 1842. His role in mid-19th-century British religious history is complex: many of his innovations, including establishing the Society of Saint Margaret for the nursing of pensioners and the poor, seemed too close to Roman Catholicism for Anglican leaders of the day.  Nonetheless, Neale's literary and religious output was immense. He wrote books and pamphlets on a wide range of spiritual and material issues. Neale's other volumes included novels, books for children, and works on church history. He penned a multivolume History of the Holy Eastern Church (1847, 1850, and a posthumous volume in 1873). Neale's interest in Eastern Christianity led him to translate Hymns of the Eastern Church (1862), though he translated many other kinds of hymns, including from Latin, for Anglican use. Neale is best remembered as a hymnist whose collections include Hymns for Children (1843), Hymns for the Sick (1843), Carols for Christmas-tide (1853), and Carols for Easter-tide (1854). Perhaps his most famous carol is “Good King Wenceslas.” Neale's early death, at age 48, was not widely recognized at the time; however, the archbishop of Canterbury celebrated its centenary.-bio via Poetry Foundation Get full access to The Daily Poem Podcast at dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Sources/Recomended Reading: Gendle, Nicholas (translated by) (1982). "Gregory Palamas: The Triads". In the "Classics of Western Spirituality Series". Paulist Press. Greer, Rowan A. (1979). "Origen: Selected Writings". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press. Hart, Columba (translated by) (1980). "Hadewijch: Complete Works". Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press. Laird, Martin (2004). "Gregory of Nyssa and the grasp of faith: union, knowledge and divine presence". Oxford University Press. Lossky, Vladimir (1944). "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". James Clarke & Co. Luibheid, Colm (Translated by) (1987). "Pseudo-Dionysius: The Complete Works". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press International. McGinn, Bernard. "The Presence of God" Series, in several volumes. Perhaps the best and most comprehensive introduction to Christian mysticism. Published by Crossroad Publishing Co. McGinn, Bernard (2001). "The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart: The Man From Whom God Hid Nothing". Crossroad Publishing Co. "Meister Eckhart: The Essential Sermons, Commentaries, Treatises and Defense". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press. "Meister Eckhart: Teacher and Preacher". Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press. Tobin, Frank (translated by) (1997). "Mechthild of Magdeburg: The Flowing Light of the Godhead". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press.Walshe, Maurice O.C. (translated by) (2010). "The Complete Mystical Works of Meister Eckhart". Crossroad Publishing Company. Ware, Timothy (2015). "The Orthodox Church: An introduction to Eastern Christianity". New Edition. Penguin Books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Delve into the philosophical and theological parallels that shaped the development of early Christian thought. From the influence of Plotinus and his concepts of the One and the emanation of divine beings, to the fusion of Platonic ideas with Christian theology, this video uncovers the intellectual interplay that helped shape the foundations of Western spirituality. Explore how Neoplatonic concepts, such as the nature of the soul, the hierarchy of being, and the pursuit of the divine, found resonance within Christian doctrines.Sources/Suggested Reading: Gerson, Loyd P. (ed.) (2019). "Plotinus: The Enneads". Cambridge University Press.Gerson, Loyd P (2008). "Cambridge Companion to Plotinus". Cambridge University Press. Greer, Rowan A. (1979). "Origen: Selected Writings". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press. Laird, Martin (2004). "Gregory of Nyssa and the grasp of faith: union, knowledge and divine presence". Oxford University Press. Lossky, Vladimir (1944). "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". James Clarke & Co. Luibheid, Colm (Translated by) (1987). "Pseudo-Dionysius: The Complete Works". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press International. McGinn, Bernard (2003). "The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart: The Man from Whom God Hid Nothing". Independent Publishers Group. O'Meara, Dominic J. (1981). "Neoplatonism and Christian Thought". State University of New York Press. Pine-Coffin, R.S. (Translated by) (2003). "Confessions". Penguin Classics. Proclus "The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary". Translated by E.R. Dodds. Second Edition. Oxford University Press. O'Meara, Dominic J. (1999). "Plotinus: An Introduction to the Enneads". Oxford University Press. Wallis, R.T. (1998). "Neoplatonism". Second Edition. Bristol Classical Paperbacks. Hackett Publishing Company. Ware, Timothy (2015). "The Orthodox Church: An introduction to Eastern Christianity". New Edition. Penguin Books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pastor Steve discusses the Eastern Church and its evolution between the 9th and 16th centuries. This is a key piece of church history that is missing from most church history classes.

Father Deacon Anthony Dragani, a Deacon in the Ukrainian Catholic tradition, joins Justin Hibbard to talk about the history and practices of Eastern Catholicism and specifically the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Fr. Dcn. Anthony, a professor of Religious Studies at Mount Aloysius College, specializes in Eastern Christianity and helping Western Catholics better understand Eastern Catholicism.Watch the video interview on YouTube.Questions & Timestamps:* 2:15 - Where can people find you?* 3:10 - Can you explain the title “Father Deacon?”* 3:55 - What was your Catholic upbringing?* 6:20 - What's the process of changing rites?* 9:09 - Can you provide a broad overview of Eastern Catholicism?* 12:36 - Why are you Eastern Catholic instead of Eastern Orthodox?* 19:14 - What draws people to Eastern Catholicism?* 23:22 - What are some of the challenges being Eastern Catholic in a predominantly Roman Catholic Church?* 28:49 - What are some practical ways the Roman Catholic community can embrace the Eastern Catholic community?* 32:26 - What is the relationship like between the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches?* 37:20 - Does the Ukrainian Catholic Church have a sister Eastern Orthodox Church?* 47:41 - How much of the current war between Russia and Ukraine is related to ecclesiastical history? * 52:50 - What's the relationship with the Mother Church in Kiev since the Russian invasion?* 55:13 - Our of the options in Eastern Catholicism, why did you choose to be Ukrainian Catholic? * 1:00:15 - Are Eastern Catholics separated based on their ethnic roots?* 1:03:50 - What are some of the differences between the Roman and Ukrainian Catholic liturgies?Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why Catholic Etsy shop in your email inbox.Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.Subscribe to Why Catholic on YouTubeSHOW NOTES:* Fr. Dcn. Anthony Dragani's Website - East2West.org* Orientale Lumin - Pope John Paul II* The Other 23 Catholic Churches and Why They Exist - Ascension Press Get full access to Why Catholic? at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

The Ride Home with John & Kathy! Buckle in for a Tuesday full! Like… Beauty in the midst of difficulty and pain ... GUEST Dorothy Littell Greco ... writer and photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” ... Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops and retreats, speak at conferences nationwide, and have been helping couples create and sustain healthy marriages for over 25 yrs. Being wise about misinformation/ disinformation you see around the war in Israel/Gaza—because it ABOUNDS on social media ... GUEST Chris Martin ... a content marketing editor at Moody Publishers and a social media, marketing, and communications consultant ... He writes regularly in his Substack newsletter, Terms of Service, and will publish a book of the same title appearing soon ... Chris lives outside Nashville with his family. Mary as the early Christians viewed her ... GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity". Plus Does This Make Sense? And more! Thanks for riding with us on The Ride Home with John & Kathy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Bradley is a professor of religious studies and director of the Center for the Study of Human Flourishing at the King's College in New York City. He gives a personalist analysis of the criminal justice system (touching on everything from architecture to food) and the Black Lives Matter movement. In this rerun episode, Anthony and Ryan discuss the relationship between Afro-pessimism, hope, and Eastern Christianity, and how Black experience informs trinitarian theology. They also touch on the dangers of missional narcissism and the invention of whiteness. 

A Form of sacred art is the icon. An icon is a type of religious artwork, often a two-dimensional painting on wood, that is common in religious devotion. While icons are most frequently associated with Eastern Christianity, they are no uncommon in the Latin Church. Joining us for today's program is Iconographer Joseph Malham.

Religion in America is undergoing a revolution. In 1972, 90% of Americans were self-professed Christians. Now, that number is about 64%. There are now large and growing populations of non-Christians, as well as many who have no particular religious beliefs. Such a time of change has made it an exciting time to be a scholar of religion, charged with making sense of the shifting landscape of American religious experience. For today's conversation, Zach Davis sat down with one of those scholars, Charles Stang, the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School. Zach went to grad school at HDS and Charlie was one of his very favorite professors. In the conversation, Charlie discusses his life as a scholar of religion, the path his own spiritual life has taken and shares details about the exciting new research initiative he is leading at Harvard called Transcendence and Transformation. Charles M. Stang is Professor of Early Christian Thought at Harvard Divinity School and the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions. His research and teaching focus on the history and theology of Christianity, in particular asceticism, monasticism, and mysticism in Eastern Christianity. His most recent book, Our Divine Double, was published in 2016 by Harvard University Press.

Evangelization ChallengeNext time you are with a friend or family member ask The Holy Spirit to tell you what Good News of the Gospel He wants you to share in that time with your friend.  Keep in mind our life on earth is but a short while.  You may never see that person again.  What would the Lord want you to tell them.  Ask the Saints that are Early Church Fathers to pray and intercede for you in this moment of evangelization!Notes on The  Church FathersBoth Western and Eastern Christianity have four figures called the “Great Church Fathers.” These are Sts. Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Gregory the Great in the West, and Basil the Great, Athanasius, Gregory of Nazianzus (Nazianzen) and John Chrysostom in the East. The Roman Catholic Church calls these the “Eight Doctors of the Church,” to which more have been added in the past few centuries.According to most scholars, The Didaché (a brief, anonymous Christian treatise, considered to be the oldest Christian catechism in history) was written between the years 65 and 80. Also known as “the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,” or simply “The Teaching” (Didaché means “teaching” in Greek), the Didaché is a letter belonging to the very first Christian corpus of literary production. It is considered the first and oldest written catechism, and as such has been respected and preserved to this day.Both the author and the place where the Didaché was written remain unknown. The original text of the Didaché survived in a single manuscript, known as the Codex Hierosolymitanus. Some scholars argue the text was put together by an editor (instead of an author) who might have also written down some teachings directly from apostolic preaching, either in Syria or Egypt. After the text was lost for years, the Metropolitan of Istanbul, Philoteos Bryennios, found a Greek copy in 1873 and published it in 1883. The copy the Metropolitan found dated to 1056. This brief treatise provides us with extra-biblical data regarding the institutions and life of the earliest Christian communities. The Didaché codifies the moral, liturgical, and legal dispositions of the early Church that were considered convenient and necessary then. It almost exclusively consists of “practical” teachings, leaving aside any discussion concerning the dogmatic contents of faith, except for a single chapter.There are hardly any quotations from the Old Testament in the Didaché; instead, the author speaks of the “Gospel of the Lord” (without specifying which of the Synoptics he or she might be referring to), and quotes and alludes to around 20 sayings or statements of Jesus Christ. The author seems to ignore the Gospel of John, and none of St. Paul's epistles is formally cited.The Didaché contains the first known instructions for the celebration of both Baptism and the Eucharist, as well as one of the three earliest known forms of the Lord's Prayer. Considering the various translations of the work, the geographical dispersion of the fragments found and the list of later works that depend on it, the Didaché should be better known among Christians today.Article is from AleteiaRead it here in English

Join us as we navigate the intricate maze of religion, intelligence, and deep-state machinations with the insightful Jay Dyer. Transitioning from a staunch Protestant through Catholicism and finally finding his spiritual home in Orthodoxy, Jay's transformative journey is bound to captivate you. From his initial encounter with the Antiochian liturgy and his reception into the Orthodox Church, it's a profound exploration of faith and belief systems. We don't just stop at religious matters but dive deep into a world shrouded in mystery and shadow games. Jay unravels the convoluted connections between intelligence agencies, geopolitics, and religious institutions, shedding light on CIA-backed initiatives and their far-reaching effects on different faith traditions. As we demystify these complex relationships, we also dissect how financial resources have been leveraged to manipulate and shape these institutions, prompting a change in the narrative you may have believed to be true.In the final leg of our discussion, we grapple with the ethical and moral implications of emerging global trends. From the controversial discourse on geoengineering, the formation of a single world power, to the suspected creation of a steered world religion, Jay offers his unique perspective on these critical issues. As we wrap up our enlightening conversation, prepare for a deep dive into the world of Eastern Christianity and Orthodox spirituality - a world far removed from the ordinary, promising astonishing insights. Listen in and experience a discussion that promises to be both eye-opening and thought-provoking.********************************************************https://www.avoidingbabylon.comLocals Community:  https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comStore:  https://avoiding-babylon.sellfy.store/RSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssSpiritusTV:  https://spiritustv.com/@avoidingbabylonRumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1626455Odysee:  https://odysee.com/@AvoidingBabylonBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showCheck out our new store!

The Ride Home with John & Kathy! Buckle in for a Wednesday full! Like… Confession as a marital practice ... GUEST Dorothy Littell Greco ... writer and photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage ," Dorothy and her husband lead marriage workshops and retreats, speak at conferences nationwide, and have been helping couples create and sustain healthy marriages for over 25 yrs The end of the world and the last days... GUEST Doug Bursch ... writer, podcaster & pastor ... the author of “Posting Peace: Why Social Media divides us and What we can Do about It” When Life seems Crappy ... GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co- founder and former president of EduNations Lost city of Dura-Europos ... GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity" ... (it has the oldest house church ever found, oldest space set aside for Xian worship, also a synagogue, covered inside w depictions of the OT w icons arranged like a Orthodox Church today) Plus Does This Make Sense? And more! Thanks for riding with us on The Ride Home with John & Kathy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Easter basket, also known as a Paschal basket, is traditionally, a basket containing the foods traditionally forbidden to consume during Lent (meat, eggs, and dairy products), that is blessed by a priest for breaking the Lenten fast. This continues to be normative in Eastern Christianity and Easter baskets are typically blessed before the midnight service on Holy Saturday, with their contents being consumed at the feast after the service. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tradepaperbacks/message --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rangerryan/message

Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The ride home with John & Kathy! Buckle in for a Thursday full! Like… GUEST Frederica Matthew's Green... author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity" .... GUEST Frederica Matthewes Green... has provided commentaries for NPR's “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” & columns for the LA Book Review, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, & Ancient Faith Publishing ... She's published 800 essays & 11 books, incl "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity" On Asbury ... GUEST Greg Gordon ... founder of SermonIndex.net, established in 2002, from which millions of audio sermons have been distributed world- wide ... He's also been involved in organizing 12 intern'l historic revival conference events GUEST Alissa Wilkinson ... is a film, culture and food writer ... she's currently the senior culture reporter at Vox.com, as well as an associate professor at The King's College ... she was a writing fellow at the Sundance Institute's Art of NonFiction project and has written for Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, & The Washington Post ... she lives in Brooklyn w her husband Plus Does This Make Sense? And more! Thanks for riding with us on The Ride Home with John & Kathy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 23: Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr c. 69–c. 155 Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red (When Lenten Weekday, Optional Memorial; Violet) Patron Saint of earache sufferers A venerable bishop's martyrdom ends the sub-apostolic age A Catholic bishop is brutally executed in Turkey. His assassin yells “Allahu Akbar,” stabs his victim repeatedly in the heart, and then cuts his head off. There are witnesses to the act. The few local priests and faithful fear for their lives. The Pope in Rome is shocked and prays for the deceased. Five thousand people attend the solemn funeral Mass. An event from long ago? No. The murdered bishop was an Italian Franciscan named Luigi Padovese, the mourning Pope was Benedict XVI, and the year was 2010. Turkey is dangerous territory for a Catholic bishop, whether he is Bishop Padovese or today's saint, Bishop Polycarp. For over a millennium, the Anatolian Peninsula was the cradle of Eastern Christianity. That era has long since come to a close. A few hundred miles and one thousand eight hundred years separate, or perhaps unite, Bishop Padovese with Bishop Polycarp. Whether shed by the sharp knife of a modern Muslim fanatic or spilled by a sword swung by a pagan Roman soldier, the blood still ran red from the neck of a Christian leader, puddling in the dirt of a hostile land. The news of the martyrdom of Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, spread far and wide in his own time, making him as famous in the early Church as he is now. He was martyred around 155 A.D., one of the few early martyrs whose death is verified by documentation so precise that it even proves that he was executed on the exact day of his present feast—February 23. Polycarp was eighty-six years old when a rash of persecution broke out against the local Church. He waited patiently at a farm outside of town for his executioners to come and knock on his door. He was then brought before a Roman magistrate and ordered to reject his atheism. Imagine that. What an interesting twist! The Christian is accused of atheism by the pagan “believer.” Such was the Roman perspective. Christians were atheists because they rejected the ancient civic religion which had been believed by everyone, everywhere, and always. The Roman gods were more patriotic symbols than objects of belief. No one was martyred for believing in them. No one fought over their creeds, because there were no creeds. These gods did for Rome what flags, national hymns, and civic holidays do for a modern nation. They united it. They were universal symbols of national pride. Just as everyone stands for the national anthem, faces the flag, puts their hand over their heart, and sings the familiar words, so too did Roman citizens walk up the wide marble steps of their many-columned temples, make a petition, and then burn incense on the altar of their favorite god. It required heroic courage for Polycarp, and thousands of other early Christians, to not drop some grains of incense into a flame burning before a pagan god. For the Romans, to not burn such incense was akin to spitting on a flag. But Polycarp simply refused to renounce the truth of what he had heard as a young man from the mouth of Saint John: that a carpenter named Jesus, who had lived a few weeks to the south of Smyrna, had risen from the dead after His cold, linen-wrapped body had been placed in a guarded tomb. And this had happened recently, in the time of Polycarp's own grandparents! Polycarp was proud to die for a faith he had adopted through hard-earned thought. His pedigree as a Christian leader was impeccable. He had learned the faith from one of the Lord's very own Apostles. He had met the famous Bishop of Antioch, Saint Ignatius, when Ignatius passed through Smyrna on the way to his execution in Rome. One of Saint Ignatius' famous seven letters is even addressed to Polycarp. Polycarp, Saint Irenaeus of Lyon tells us, even travelled to Rome to meet with the Pope over the question of the dating of Easter. Irenaeus had known and had learned from Polycarp when Irenaeus was a child in Asia Minor. Polycarp's own letter to the Philippians was read in churches in Asia as if it were part of Scripture, at least until the fourth century. It was this venerable, grey-haired man, the last living witness to the apostolic age, whose hands were bound behind him to a stake, and who stood “like a mighty ram” as thousands screamed for his blood. Bishop Polycarp nobly accepted what he had not actively sought. He was stabbed to death after the flames licking his aged skin failed to consume him. His body was burned after his death, and the faithful preserved his bones, the first instance of relics being so honored. A few years after Polycarp's death, a man from Smyrna named Pionius was martyred for observing the martyrdom of Saint Polycarp. In just this fashion links are added, one after another, to the chain of faith which stretches down the centuries to the present, where we honor Saint Polycarp as if we were seated within earshot of the action in the stadium that fateful day. Great martyr Saint Polycarp, make us steadfast witnesses to the truth in word and deed, just as you witnessed to the truth in your own life and death. Through your intercession, make our commitment to our religion a life project, enduring until our life of faith concludes with a death of faith.

Western Christianity is fundamentally African in the way that Eastern Christianity is fundamentally Greek. It was in Africa that a vigorous Christian Latin culture first developed. Carthage had a Latin liturgy for a full century before Rome switched over from Greek. Africa gave the Church great saints and Fathers such as Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Cyprian, Arnobius, Lactantius—and the greatest of all: Augustine. For a Western Christian, to know early African Christianity is to know one's own roots. LINKS Mike Aquilina, Africa and the Early Church: The Almost-Forgotten Roots of Catholic Christianity https://www.amazon.com/Africa-Early-Church-Almost-Forgotten-Christianity/dp/1645852598/ Mike Aquilina's website https://fathersofthechurch.com Mike Aquilina's books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/ Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org

Today's Topics: 1) Finding the Fallacy: False Authority fallacy Meet the Early Church Fathers: Jerome 2, 3, 4) Interview

In this Episode Dr. Iorg talks with Dr. Philip Hopkins about global Christianity, racism, the church in Armenia, and the importance of maintaing a global perspective for western Christians.

In this episode, we talk about the mystical tradition called "Hesychasm" in the Eastern Orthodox Church.Sources/Suggested Reading:Lossky, Vladimir (1944). "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". James Clarke & Co.Ware, Timothy (2015). "The Orthodox Church: An introduction to Eastern Christianity". New Edition. Penguin Books."Gregory Palamas: The Triads". Translated by Nicholas Gendle. In the "Classics of Western Spirituality Series". 1982.#Hesychasm #Mysticism #Christianity Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the show segues through a much-needed re-brand, I invited my good friend Matt Erickson back on to help explain our journeys over the last couple of years and how we might help relate what we have learned to others. We touch mainly on the different ideas of Western vs Eastern Christianity, and the impact these differences have not just on the Christian life but Christiandom as a culture. Check Matt out on Twitter at @realkingpilled and on his show with Steven Messina - "Kingpilled" on YouTube. Enjoy!

Does your approach to theology bring healing and reconciliation? Does it introduce Christianity as a way of life and peace, flourishing, justice, and shalom? Does your theology have space for diverse and difficult questions to occupy the same space? That kind of hospitable theology would indeed make a difference in our world. Today on the show, we're playing a conversation between Matt Croasmun and Amy Brown Hughes, Associate Professor of Theology at Gordon College and author of Christian Women in the Patristic World. Amy and Matt reflect on the promise and hope of a hospitable theology, grounded in a way of life, sensitive to the difference theology makes for the most pressing issues of our lives today.About Amy Brown HughesAmy Brown Hughes is Associate Professor of Theology at Gordon College. She received her Ph.D. in historical theology with an emphasis in early Christianity from Wheaton College and is the author (with Lynn H. Cohick, Wheaton College) of Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority and Legacy in the Second Through Fifth Centuries (Baker Academic). Amy also received a M.A. in history of Christianity from Wheaton College and her B.A. in theology and historical studies from Oral Roberts University. While at Wheaton, she worked with the Wheaton Center for Early Christian Studies, which encourages dialogue about the interplay between our modern world and early Christian texts. The overarching theme of Amy's work as a historical theologian is that early Christian writers continue to be fruitful interlocutors in modern discussions of theology. Her research interests include Eastern Christianity, Trinitarian and Christological thought, Christian asceticism, theological anthropology, the intersection of philosophy and theology, and highlighting the contributions of minority voices to theology, especially those of women. Her dissertation, “‘Chastely I Live for Thee': Virginity as Bondage and Freedom in Origen of Alexandria, Methodius of Olympus, and Gregory of Nyssa,” explores how early Christian virgins contributed substantively to the development of Christology. She regularly presents papers at the annual meeting of the North American Patristics Society.Recently, Amy contributed to an edited volume of essays from a symposium on Methodius of Olympus at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany,Methodius of Olympus: State of the Art and New Perspectives(De Gruyter) and co-authored a series of essays about early Christian writers with George Kalantzis (Wheaton College) for the early Christianity section of a volume for Protestant readers of the Christian tradition (T&T Clark).Production NotesThis podcast featured Amy Brown Hughes and Matt CroasmunEdited and Produced by Evan RosaHosted by Evan RosaA Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/aboutSupport For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give

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Questions Covered: 13:47 – Is there a cycle of readings in the Eastern Churches, and what are they? How do they differ from the west? Are they similar to the readings from Orthodoxy?  17:56 – I'm part of the Assyrian Church of the East, being in partial communion what should I do? Should I seek full communion?  22:09 – For any of the Orthodox churches to come into the Church, does it boil down to the primacy of Peter or are the other things that are in the way?  30:41 – Why do you think we don't talk about the eastern rites among Catechism classes?  34:36 – I'm Eastern Orthodox. Why did you convert from Orthodoxy to Catholicism? Is there anything else we can do to promote unity apart from praying?  42:33 – I heard that as a Catholic you can go to an Orthodox divine liturgy and fulfill the Sunday obligation. Is this true?  44:51 – Can you explain the use of the prayer rope in the east?  47:27 – Does the Russian government have any role to play in the lack of unity amongst the eastern orthodox churches?  49:22 – Mickey Rorke played St. Francis of Assisi in a Biopic movie.  50:18 – Is there any belief that the Orthodox have that we don’t as a point of faith?  53:16 – What is your perspective on the Orthodox teaching on contraception?  …