Podcasts about eastern orthodoxy

People are leaving evangelical churches and flocking to Eastern Orthodoxy in search of something ancient, serious, and reverent. But is trading one set of forms for really the answer? Kevin and Josh weigh the claims of Orthodoxy against the Word of God — and find that the apostles say nothing about icons, prayers to saints, or the mystical epistemology at the heart of Orthodox theology.

Segment 1 • Dr. Jason Lisle argues that the strongest case for creation isn't fossils or geology—it's something far more fundamental. • If information always comes from a mind, where did the instructions inside DNA originate? • Carbon-14 findings in diamonds and dinosaur remains continue raising uncomfortable questions for deep-time assumptions. Segment 2 • A secular psychotherapist asks a startling question: What if therapy is actually tearing people apart? • Why does every difficult relationship now seem to involve someone who is "toxic," "narcissistic," or "traumatized"? • Todd examines whether modern therapy culture is helping people heal—or teaching them how to stay offended. Segment 3 • Young evangelicals aren't abandoning religion—they're searching for something they believe is missing. • Incense, liturgy, church history, and ancient traditions are attracting a generation raised on seeker-sensitive Christianity. • Were churches so focused on relevance that they accidentally stripped away transcendence? Segment 4 • The answer isn't copying Rome or importing Eastern Orthodoxy into Protestant churches. • What did the Reformers understand about worship, discipleship, and church life that many churches have forgotten? • From catechesis to church history to reverent worship, Todd outlines what may be needed to rebuild depth before more young people leave. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

ABOUT THE EPISODEAccording to Eastern Orthodoxy, at death the soul ascends to various levels where Angels and Demons engage in a courtroom battle. What determines whether the soul goes up to heaven or down to hell? (Spoiler: it's not Jesus)SponsorThis month's sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor's to a Doctor of Ministry.To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.Resources to Click“Aerial Toll Houses, or The Saving Weight of Works: The Soul's Trial by Demons After Death According to Eastern Orthodoxy” – Joshua Schooping“Octoechos” – Encyclopedia.com“The Origins of Pascha and Great Week – Part II” – Rev. Alkiviadis C. Calivas“The Icon FAQ” – Orthodox Christian Information Center“Icons as Teachers” – Archpriest John Matusiak“Exhortation to Baptism” – St. Basil the Great“Aerial Toll Houses, Provisional Judgment, and the Orthodox Faith” – Stephen ShoemakerTheme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern OrthodoxyGive to Support the Work Books to ReadAfter Death – Vassilios BakoyiannisThe Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition – Norman RussellEternal Mysteries Beyond the Grave – Archimandrite PanteleimonThe Departure of the Soul According to the Teaching of the Orthodox Church – St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox MonasteryLife After Death According to the Orthodox Church – Jean-Claude LarchetThe Soul, the Body and Death – Lazar PuhaloMount Athos: Microcosm of the Christian East – Graham Speake an Kallistos WareA Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain: Discussion with a Hermit on the Jesus Prayer – Metropolitan Hierotheos of NafpaktosThe Future Life According to Orthodox Teaching – Constantine CarvanosThe Soul After Death – Fr. Seraphim RoseThinking Orthodox: Understanding an Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind – Eugenia Scarvelis ConstantinouBible, Church, Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox View – Georges FlorovskyEarly Christian Hagiography and Roman History – Timothy D. BarnesPythagorean Knowledge from the Ancient to Modern World – Almut Barbara Renger and Alessandro StavruDemons in Early Judaism and Christianity: Characters and Characteristics – Hector M. Patmore and Josef LösslThe Life of the Virgin: Maximus the Confessor – Stephen J. ShoemakerMary in Early Christian Faith and Devotion – Stephen J. ShoemakerAncient Traditions of the Virgin Mary's Dormition and Assumption – Stephen J. Shoemaker

A host admits taking communion at home daily, then asks what the Eucharist really is. The reactions are priceless, but the pastoral wisdom is the point.A priest goes on a massive Protestant podcast and a slice of Orthodox internet melts down. We don't. We ask the harder question: if we won't talk to people outside the Orthodox Church, how will anyone ever hear what Orthodoxy actually teaches, believes, and lives? Father Josiah Trenham's appearance on Girls Gone Bible becomes a real-time case study in evangelism, online criticism, and what it looks like to show up publicly without compromising the faith.“The Eucharist is just a symbol” sounds harmless until John 6 lands with full force. What happens when a huge audience hears the Orthodox view of Communion for the first time?Jeremy Jeremiah, Mario Andrew, and Michael of Cloud of Witnesses talk through the backlash to Father Josiah Trenham (Patristic Nectar) appearing on Girls Gone Bible and argue that Orthodox evangelism requires real conversations outside Orthodox-only spaces. We also dig into why the Eucharist is not merely symbolic, how John 6 reframes everything, and why the Divine Liturgy is where many people first feel the presence of God and can't look back.• why some Orthodox listeners object to public conversations with Protestants• the case for assuming good intent instead of hunting for scandal• how common ground can open doors without conceding doctrine• a host's “Eucharist journey” and the confusion around at-home communion• Father Josiah's John 6 teaching on the body and blood of Christ• why the symbolic-only view is rejected and what that implies pastorally• the Divine Liturgy as an encounter that convinces seekers• Paul on preparation for Communion and the fear of receiving casually• why the Protestant Reformation is not one thing and why that matters• born again language alongside baptism as water and the SpiritFrom there we follow the thread that grabbed the hosts and their audience: the Eucharist. You'll hear why “Communion is just symbolic” isn't a harmless difference in emphasis, how John 6 frames Jesus' words about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, and why the Orthodox Church insists on the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We also react to the surprising honesty of a host describing daily at-home communion, curiosity about transubstantiation, and a search for healing, then break down the pastoral wisdom of responding with one clarifying question: “What do you mean by that?”We widen the lens to the Divine Liturgy and why so many visitors say they feel the presence of God and can't leave, plus Paul's warnings about approaching Communion without preparation. Finally, we touch the complexity of the Protestant Reformation, the wide range of Protestant sacramental beliefs, and why “born again” language is incomplete without being born of water and the Spirit through baptism. If you care about Orthodox Christianity, Eucharist theology, and real conversations across denominations, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more seekers can find the show.An Orthodox priest goes on a major Protestant show and people panic. Should Christians avoid hard conversations, or is that exactly where conversion begins?Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTokPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

Men are tired, and it's not just work and bills, it's the mental pressure of trying to decode what “being a man” is supposed to mean now. One voice says masculinity is toxic. Another says you have to be an always-on, hyper-disciplined “uber man.” Jeremy Jeremiah and Mario Andrew of Cloud of Witnesses sit down with special guests Deacon Anthony (https://st-anthony.org/) and Jacob Sadan (LMFT) (https://jacobsadan.com/) and name the real problem: the narratives we inherit about manhood, and the damage they cause when we never slow down to test them against truth.Men are getting whiplash from culture: “too manly” vs “never soft.” We talk responsibility, emotions, and why Christ is the model of healthy masculinity.We talk about why men feel pulled between competing cultural definitions of masculinity and how that confusion spills into family life, relationships, and the church. We connect Christian manhood with responsibility, emotional honesty, and the courage to live with integrity instead of performing a persona.• competing messages about masculinity and the search for real authority• responsibility accountability and integrity as core markers of healthy manhood• fatherhood as presence guidance affection and example not only providing• masculinity as what we do and what we refuse to do• thoughts feelings and behaviors as a cycle shaping identity• church seasons as a healthy place for repentance joy and emotion• therapy work on balance when men suppress or overflow emotionally• examining the narratives we inherited about manhood and love• vulnerability as the foundation of real relationships and the fear of rejection in datingTogether with Deacon Anthony and Jacob from a clinical therapy perspective, we get concrete about healthy masculinity and Christian manhood: responsibility, accountability, and integrity that show up at home, at church, and in everyday relationships. We talk about fatherhood that goes beyond providing and protecting, because kids learn what love is by what they watch, not what they're told. We also challenge the idea that emotions make men weak, pointing to the Church's wisdom around repentance, tears, joy, and self-control, and to Christ himself as the fullest picture of strength that includes compassion and honesty.“The more you deny your emotions, the more emotional you are.” A deacon and a therapist unpack why men shut down, why it explodes later, and how the Church can help you heal.We also go into what therapy rooms are seeing right now: men swinging between emotional shutdown and emotional overflow, the body storing anger, and the fear of vulnerability that makes dating and intimacy feel risky. If you've ever felt like you're performing a role instead of living with integrity, this conversation offers a path back to center, with practical insight and spiritual grounding.Providing and protecting isn't the whole job. What do kids actually learn from a father's presence, integrity, and apology? We get practical about manhood, family, and relationships.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

Orthodox Christianity is exploding in popularity online, but are all the arguments and memes actually convincing? In this episode, we react to some of the most viral Orthodox memes and respond to the thought-provoking takes of Father Moses McPherson, a Russian Orthodox priest with over 100,000 followers on Instagram.Whether you're a Christian, exploring Christianity, struggling with your faith, or simply curious about the growing influence of Eastern Orthodoxy, this conversation dives into important questions about church history, theology, tradition, authority, and what it means to follow Jesus today.We break down popular Orthodox claims, discuss where we agree and disagree, and examine how these ideas impact everyday believers. Our goal isn't to attack anyone, but to have an honest, biblical conversation that helps people think critically about faith and truth.If you're interested in Christian apologetics, theology debates, Protestant vs Orthodox discussions, church history, faith deconstruction, faith reconstruction, or learning how to evaluate religious claims, this episode is for you.Be sure to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy thoughtful conversations about Christianity, faith, culture, and defending the Christian worldview.

In this episode of the To Be The Church Podcast, Andrew, Ben, and Tyler discuss Roman Catholicism, salvation, and whether someone can genuinely know and follow Jesus while attending the Catholic Church. They also unpack why many younger Christians are gravitating toward liturgical traditions like Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, and what that reveals about the current state of modern evangelical churches.Don't forget to like and subscribe.To ask a question email us at podcast@tobethechurch.com, submit a question on tobethechurch.com, or submit a comment below this videoSocial media @tobethechurchtobethechurch.com

ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Knox Brown on his COA essays, "Divine Energies: Eastern Orthodoxy's Strangest and Most and Most Important Doctrine" and "All Protestants God to Hell": Eastern Orthodoxy's Official Rejection of the Gospel at the Synod of JerusalemSponsorThis month's sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor's to a Doctor of Ministry.To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.Timestamps00:37 – Intro04:43 – Knox's Exposure to Eastern Orthodoxy07:10 – Hans Boersma10:46 – Knox's Article on the Doctrine of God13:10 – Essence and Energies17:14 – Explaining How the Energies are Existing Enhypostatically19:56 – What Does Being Canonized Mean?21:40 – How Does This All Relate to the Economic Trinity?24:12 – In EO, How Do We Share in the Energies?29:27 – Sponsor: Grimké Seminary36:37 – The Council of Jerusalem38:57 – Is Cyril Lukaris Still a Saint?40:10 – How Prominent is the Council of Jerusalem?43:45 – Different Weights and Measures on Schism53:40 – Reading the Councils to Know What You Gain and What You Lose in EO57:35 – OutroResources to Click“Divine Energies: Eastern Orthodoxy's Strangest and Most Important Doctrine” – Knox Brown“All Protestants Go to Hell: Eastern Orthodoxy's Official Rejection of the Gospel at the Synod of Jerusalem” – Knox Brown“The Acts and Decrees of the Synod of Jerusalem, Sometimes Called the Council of Bethlehem, Holden under Dositheus, Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1672”“The Delayed Synodical Receptions of the Councils of Jasy (1642) and Jerusalem (1672)” – Craig Truglia“Georgian Orthodox Church” – Wikipedia“When Did Today's Autocephalous Churches Come Into Being?” – Orthodox History“Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox: What's the Difference?” – TheoriaTheme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern OrthodoxyGive to Support the Work

Are Aliens Demons, Our Cosmic Neighbors, or Something Stranger?   Host Curtis Chang and author Andy Crouch explore the theological implications of UFOs, extraterrestrial life, and the possibility that humans are not the only created beings in the cosmos. They ask whether aliens should be understood as material creatures, angels and demons, image bearers, or cosmic neighbors—and what Scripture, Christian theology, and even Aquinas suggest about our human uniqueness. Along the way, they consider whether first contact would reveal Christian love, humility, and wonder—or our instinct toward fear and domination.   00:47 - Introduction to Alien Life and Declassified UFO Reports 02:19 - Do Aliens Exist? 08:32 - The Value of Pondering Alien Life 13:02 - Aliens vs. Angels and Demons 23:18 - God's Mysterious Creatures in Scripture 27:42 - The Octopus Dilemma and Human Specialness  38:26 - Missional Work and Alien Life? 44:26 - The Nature of God's Love 48:49 - Domination or Love : The Human Response to Aliens 50:58 - Andy Imagines Worshipping with Cosmic Neighbors   Turn on Apple Podcasts Automatic Downloads: Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Apps, then tap Podcasts. Tap Automatically Download, then tap an option. Tip: To automatically download episodes from a particular podcast, go to the Podcasts app on your iPhone, tap Library, then tap Shows. Touch and hold the show, then tap Settings. Tap Automatically Download to limit automatic downloads to a certain number of episodes or a timeframe. Sign up for the Anxiety Opportunity Course Use the code: Goodfaith   Scriptures Referenced: Job 1–2 (ESV) Job 38–41 (ESV) Genesis 1–2 (ESV) Genesis 4 (ESV) Ephesians 2 (ESV) 2 Peter 1:4 (ESV) Romans 8 (ESV) Isaiah 11 (ESV) Romans 10 (ESV)   Mentioned in This Episode: UFO-related declassified files UAP disclosure Meghan Sullivan and Notre Dame's DELTA project What is the Fermi paradox? Eleanor Stump's Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering C.S. Lewis's Perelandra Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary: A Novel A scene from Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind A scene from Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial A scene from Denis Villeneuve's Arrival St. Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica: reason / will / dominion Salvation as Theosis: The Teaching of Eastern Orthodoxy (article) Isaiah's peaceable kingdom  Thunderbird in Native American traditions Do octopus brains work like humans'? (article) Pythagoras and Johannes Kepler's Musica Universalis or the Music of the Spheres   More From Andy Crouch: Check out Andy's website Check out Andy's work at Praxis Read Andy's book: The Life We're Looking For   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.  

A pastor rips a page from the Bible and tells a young man to eat it. What does that reveal about authority, emotion, and bad theology?A pastor tells someone to open Proverbs for him, rips out a page, and orders a young man to eat it while the music swells. The clip is hard to watch, but it's also clarifying: when church turns into a stage and “holy things” become props, people get pressured, confused, and spiritually harmed. Michael, Jeremy Jeremiah, and Mario Andrew slow the moment down and ask what's really being taught about God, authority, and power. From there, we trace the theology underneath the stunt. Why does it accidentally resemble the language Christians use about communion and the Eucharist? What happens when communion is treated as purely symbolic, and the weight of “real presence” gets shifted onto a printed Bible instead of Christ himself? We also explain how Orthodox Christianity holds Scripture as central and life-giving while keeping it rooted in the Church's worship, tradition, and lived authority, not in a lone pastor's improvised performance. We talk candidly about spiritual manipulation, emotional hype, and the subtle guilt that follows when leaders tell you what you're supposed to be feeling. We even share a personal story that captures the same dynamic in a different setting. If you've ever wondered about church abuse warning signs, the difference between the Eucharist and symbolic communion, or what historic Christianity actually looks like week to week, this conversation will help you name what you're seeing. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who's sorting through faith and church culture, and leave a review if this helped you. What's the clearest red flag you hear in the clip?If “holy things” become props, people get hurt. We react to a viral church clip and unpack spiritual manipulation, Scripture, and the Eucharist. We watch a shocking church video where a preacher rips out a Bible page and pressures a young man to eat it, then we unpack why the moment feels spiritually wrong instead of holy. We connect the stunt to deeper issues of authority, emotional manipulation, and what historic Christian worship actually centers on. • reacting to a pastor ordering someone to eat a page from Proverbs • why the staged music and public pressure signal manipulation • Eucharist as true communion versus treating objects as power sources • how Scripture is central in Orthodoxy without becoming a substitute for Christ • how “anything goes” practices grow when authority and tradition collapse • comparing the logic to Roman Catholic adoration and asking what worship is for • recognizing spiritual abuse patterns and the guilt they can produce • why what you see in the clip is not historic Christianity If anyone watching this right now, if you're at all, if maybe you don't know a lot about Christianity, maybe you're just curious about it, please understand what you saw in this video is not a representation of the historic practice of the church. Period. No questions about it. Um, and we would obviously encourage you come find an Orthodox church near you today.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

ABOUT THE EPISODEJoin David Schrock and Stephen Wellum as they interview Tony Costa on his COA Longform "The Challenge of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology"SponsorThis month's sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor's to a Doctor of Ministry.To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.Timestamps00:31 – Intro04:30 – Dr. Costa's Ministry and Familiarity with Eastern Orthodoxy07:51 – What Did Dr. Costa See That Made Him Know that EO Would Be a Problem Today?09:40 – Has Dr. Wellum Had Any Engagement with EO?12:13 – The Vibe Online16:03 – What is the Protestant Way to Think through Tradition?19:25 – How EO Thinks of Scripture and Tradition26:40 – Who in the Church is the Final Authority?35:00 – Sponsor: Grimke Seminary36:10 – Is the Canon Closed for EO?41:40 – Do EO and Antisemetic Sentiment Correlate to One Another?43:27 – The Counsel of Jerusalem46:15 – What Will the Priest tell Catechumens to Read as They Join the Church?48:38 – The Doctrine of the Filioque51:37 – Why Would EO Still Deny the Filioque Today?55:25 – Understanding Justification in EO1:01:12 – Assurance & Atonement1:05:40 – Original Sin & Theosis1:08:03 – Counsel to Those Considering EO1:12:10 – Final Thoughts1:13:26 – OutroResources to Click“The Challenges of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology” – Tony Costa“Masculinity, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Search for Stability” – Alexander Breytenbach“A Protestant Appraisal of Rock & Sand: Sola Scriptura Properly Understood” – Tyler Cox“Frank Schaeffer, Former Evangelical Leader, is a Self-Declared Atheist Who Believes in God” – Huffington Post“'The Bible Answer Man' Turns East: An Unlikely Conversion” – Erwin Lutzer“Young Men Leaving Traditional Churches for ‘Masculine' Orthodox Christianity in Droves” – Rikki Schlott“Evangelical Pastors and the Challenge of Eastern Orthdoxy” – Scott Hurst and Christian Clement-Schlimm“Reality: Questions regarding the Authenticity of the Sigillion of 1583” – Joshua Schooping“The Sunday of Orthodoxy 2024”“Service of the Small Paraklesis”“Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple” – Orthodox Christianity“Debatable, Unnecessary, or Essential? The Virgin Birth and Mary as the Mother of God” – Michael Pereira“Confession of Dositheus”“What is Salvation?” – Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon“Divine Energies: Eastern Orthodoxy's Strangest and Most Important Doctrine” – Knox BrownTheme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern OrthodoxyGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadDancing Alone: The Quest for Orthodox Faith in the Age of False Religion – Frank SchaefferThe Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity – Timothy WareThrough Western Eyes: Eastern Orthodoxy, A Reformed Perspective – Robert LethamThree Views on Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism – ed. James J. StamoolisDisillusioned: Why I Left the Eastern Orthodox Priesthood and Church – Joshua SchoopingEastern Orthodoxy: Through the Lens of Sola Scriptura – Samuel S. FaragThe Holy Standards: The Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms of the Eastern Orthodox Church – Joshua SchoopingThe Filioque: History of a Doctrinal Controversy – A. Edward SiecienskiVindicating the Filioque: The Church Fathers at the Council of Florence – Thomas Crean, O.P.The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship – Robert Letham

Orthodoxy, the Gospel, and Wartime UkraineAs war forces millions of Ukrainians to confront questions about death and eternity, one spiritual question stands at the center of this conversation:Can someone truly know they are forgiven by God?From Odesa, Ukraine, Caleb introduces the topic of Eastern Orthodoxy and its deep influence on Ukrainian faith, culture, and religious life before sitting down with Pastor Andrii Murzin in Kyiv, for a conversation on theology, war, and the gospel. The interview explores some of the major differences between Orthodox and evangelical Christianity, particularly regarding assurance of salvation, justification by faith, ritualism, and the authority of Scripture. Andrii and Caleb also examines how religion shapes culture, why many Ukrainians are searching for hope beyond religious tradition, and how the gospel continues speaking into fear and uncertainty during wartime.The Uncertainty”Pastor Andriin has spent years studying Orthodoxy and engaging with Orthodox believers throughout Ukraine. While he emphasized the importance of treating Orthodox Christians with kindness and respect, he also explained that there are significant theological differences Protestants cannot ignore.One of the clearest differences, he argued, is assurance of salvation.They will never dare say that I know that I am forgiven... They always have this uncertainty.According to Andrii, this uncertainty comes from a different understanding of salvation itself. Orthodox theology often emphasizes salvation as an ongoing process rather than beginning with justification by faith in Christ. By contrast, Protestant theology historically distinguishes between justification, sanctification, and glorification. Christians are justified through faith, sanctified throughout life as they grow spiritually, and ultimately glorified in eternity. Murzin argued that without justification as a foundation, believers can become trapped in fear and uncertainty over whether they have done enough to receive God's mercy.You cannot grow in sanctification unless you first receive the joy of knowing that God has forgiven you.At the same time, Andrii warned that Protestants can also drift into shallow understandings of salvation by reducing Christianity to merely praying a prayer or treating salvation like a “ticket to heaven.”War Makes Eternity Feel CloserThese questions carry enormous weight in a country at war. For millions of Ukrainians, death is no longer distant or theoretical. Air raid sirens, military funerals, missile strikes, and constant uncertainty have forced many people to think seriously about eternity. Caleb reflected on attending Orthodox funerals where priests repeatedly pray, “Lord have mercy,” while grieving families stand unsure of what awaits their loved ones beyond death. In contrast, evangelical Christians often speak confidently about Christ's promises of forgiveness and eternal life. For Andrii, this contrast reveals one of the central differences between Orthodox and Protestant theology.Rituals, Candles, and External ReligionThe Orthodox Church also contains a heavy presence of ritualism. Murzin explained that many people approach religion primarily through external actions and sacred traditions: lighting candles, repeating prayers, making signs, or participating in liturgies. When Ukrainians from Orthodox backgrounds speak with him, their questions often sound like this:What candles do I light? How many candles? When do I light them?According to Andrii, the danger is that the focus can become centered on performing the correct rituals rather than understanding biblical truth or having genuine faith in Christ. Referencing passages such as John 4 and 1 Corinthians 10, he explained that biblical worship is not confined to church rituals or sacred buildings. Worship flows from truth, faith, love for God, and obedience in everyday life. Riitualism is a passive form of religion where outward performance replaces inward transformation.So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31Cultural Christianity in UkraineTheology has shaped entire societies. Andrii argued that religion profoundly influences a nation's mentality, values, and culture over generations. In Ukraine, many people identify strongly with Orthodoxy culturally while remaining disconnected from personal faith or biblical understanding. It doesn't actually really matter that much what you believe.Caleb noted that many Ukrainians attend church on holidays, participate in religious traditions, and identify as Orthodox while living lives largely untouched by Scripture or discipleship. For him, this revealed a major spiritual challenge facing Ukraine today: the difference between inherited religion and genuine faith.The Church in a Time of WarAs the conversation turned toward the war itself, Andrii asked believers around the world to continue praying for Ukraine. He spoke about soldiers on the front lines, prisoners of war, grieving families, and civilians who have lost homes, health, and loved ones. But he also emphasized the responsibility of the church during this historic moment.Please pray that the Ukrainian church would be sacrificial, caring, and actively involved in serving the Ukrainian people.Across Ukraine, churches continue feeding refugees, helping wounded soldiers, counseling grieving families, and sharing the gospel while air raid sirens and missile attacks remain part of daily life. For Caleb, the role of the church may become even more important after the war eventually ends.[When] victory comes and the church hasn't walked along with Ukrainians the whole way... it's going to be an empty victory.”The Gospel Still StandsThe conversation concluded with a reminder that earthly peace will always remain temporary. Political victories, military success, and rebuilt cities cannot ultimately remove humanity's deepest problem: sin and separation from God.True peace, Murzin explained, is found only in Christ. As war continues across Ukraine, questions about eternity, forgiveness, suffering, and hope are becoming impossible for many people to ignore. And in a nation surrounded by uncertainty, that message still offers something many people desperately long for - assurance.‍

While Orthodox apologists are gaining traction online today, a similar wave of disillusionment with evangelicalism was already unfolding in American culture back in 1996. In this classic episode of White Horse Inn, Fr. Peter Gillquist, an evangelical convert to Eastern Orthodoxy, joins Michael Horton to explore the appeal of Orthodoxy among evangelicals.   GET YOUR FREE SOLA NEWSPAPER A quarterly print publication featuring articles on theology, the historic creeds and confessions, and reflections for the Christian life, delivered straight to your mailbox. For free.   FOLLOW US YouTube | Instagram | X/Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter   WHO WE ARE Sola Media serves today's global church by producing resources for reformation grounded in the historic Christian faith. For over thirty-five years, Sola has walked alongside Christians in their faith, pointing away from novelty and ourselves, and toward Christ and his gospel as proclaimed in the Scriptures, articulated in the ancient Christian Creeds, and summarized in the confessions of the Protestant Reformation. Learn more: https://solamedia.org/ 

Theological convictions cannot and should not be held in isolation. What Christians believe about church governance ties directly to what they believe about Scripture's authority and the gospel itself. Through a comparison between Eastern Orthodoxy and Biblical Christianity, this sermon explores how theological truth is a package deal, and what a person believes about the Church, Scripture, and the gospel will spill over into every aspect of their spiritual life.

“I walked in and started to cry.” What happens when an Orthodox Divine Liturgy feels more real than anything you've known?One visit to an Orthodox Divine Liturgy can expose a hunger you did not know you had. Hannah describes walking into the church, catching the smell of incense, hearing the choir, seeing the priest with the censer, and suddenly fighting tears. It is not just emotion for its own sake. Something feels ancient, steady, and real enough to set off a relentless chain of questions about the Eastern Orthodox Church, worship, and what it means to actually be formed by faith.Always reforming sounds noble until you ask: reform into what? We talk Reformation fatigue, denominational confusion, and why Orthodoxy feels like “home” for many.Jeremy Jeremiah and Mario Andrew talk with Hannah and Brian about what it feels like to walk into an Orthodox church for the first time and realize something deeper is happening than a new “style” of worship. We follow their move from Protestant assumptions to Orthodox practices that feel like home, and we ask what happens when the Church is meant to hold on to us.• Hannah's first Divine Liturgy experience, from incense to tears to nonstop questions• Curiosity turning into daily research, conversations, and a fast moving sense of conviction• Brian's slower pace, his prayer for truth, and the desire to avoid false teaching• First Holy Week and Pascha, including the beauty and the reality of the marathon• Intentional prayer, written prayers, veiling, icons, saints, and learning to die to self• Denominations, ongoing reform, and why Protestant apologetics can feel like mental gymnasticsWe talk through what happens after that first encounter: the research spiral, the awkward first-timer moments, and the different speeds two people can move at while still walking the same direction. Hannah dives in headfirst, hunting for the “why” behind icons, long services, and Holy Tradition. Brian shares a more cautious posture shaped by prayer, asking God to “lead me in all truth,” and naming the fear many seekers feel about being misled by bad information or falling into false doctrine.Holy Week and Pascha become a turning point, not because everything gets easier, but because the Church's rhythm starts to make sense. We explore the intentionality behind Orthodox practices like written prayers, a prayer rule, fasting, confession, reverence for icons, and learning to “die to self” so prayer becomes real instead of rushed. Along the way, we wrestle with Reformation after Reformation, denominational confusion, and why defending every disagreement can feel like mental gymnastics.If you're exploring converting from Protestant to Orthodox, or you're simply trying to understand why Orthodoxy emphasizes embodied worship, mystery, and continuity, this conversation gives you language for the pull you may already feel. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find Cloud of Witnesses.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Audio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.buzzsprout.comPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

ABOUT THE EPISODEMany Christians assume that Eastern Orthodoxy does not deny the gospel like Roman Catholicism did at the Council of Trent (1545–1563). But the Eastern Orthodox Synod of Jerusalem (1672) has some very fiery words about Protestants.SponsorThis month's sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor's to a Doctor of Ministry.To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.Resources to Click“All Protestants Go to Hell: Eastern Orthodoxy's Official Rejection of the Gospel at the Synod of Jerusalem” – Knox Brown“The Acts and Decrees of the Synod of Jerusalem, Sometimes Called the Council of Bethlehem, Holden under Dositheus, Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1672”“The Delayed Synodical Receptions of the Councils of Jasy (1642) and Jerusalem (1672)” – Craig Truglia“Georgian Orthodox Church” – Wikipedia“When Did Today's Autocephalous Churches Come Into Being?” – Orthodox History“Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox: What's the Difference?” – TheoriaTheme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern OrthodoxyGive to Support the Work

She chased “healing” through mushrooms, moon rituals, and mediumship then saw Jesus while channeling a client. That one moment changed everything. Money showed up fast, love felt uncertain, and the noise in Kara Mosher's (https://www.instagram.com/herecomestroublexo) mind kept getting louder. We talk with Kara, author of Here Comes Trouble, about growing up in a family that went from motorhome living to million-dollar restaurant success, and how that same rise coincided with divorce, abandonment, and a deep inner instability she tried to outwork. From obsessive thoughts and depression to chasing approval through achievement, her story puts language to the hidden pain so many people carry behind “successful” lives.“Satanism rebranded” is how she describes the occult hiding in plain sight through trendy spirituality. From third-eye talk to Divine Liturgy, her path is intense. Jeremy Jeremiah of Cloud of Witnesses sits down with author and podcaster Kara Mosher to trace her path from sudden family wealth and deep emotional instability into drugs, occult spirituality, and years of psychiatric labels that never quite fit. We follow the turning points that lead her to renounce mediumship after encountering Jesus and to keep searching until she finds a home in Orthodox Christianity.• Hot 'n Now family origin story and how money changes a household• divorce, abandonment, and the start of obsessive compulsive thoughts• overachieving as distraction and a bid for attention• panic attacks, emergency care, and a New Age rehab introduction• marijuana and psychedelics escalating into spiritual experiences• occult practices, mediumship, and “Satanism rebranded”• psych ward intake, bipolar misdiagnosis, and years of heavy medication• antidepressant withdrawal, brain zaps, and a suicide attempt• COVID-era conspiracy rabbit holes and moon ceremony communities• a vision of Jesus, quitting divination, and learning the faith under pressure• losing a Christian community, then rebuilding through church history• encountering Divine Liturgy, catechumenate, and a hunger for communion• “Dosage” and “Wasted Youth” as music that reframes her pastFrom there, Kara walks us through marijuana, psychedelics, and the moment panic cracked everything open. Rehab didn't bring the grounding she needed, and she explains how New Age spirituality, yoga, meditation, and ritual practices became stepping stones into deeper occult involvement. She shares what it was like to experience spirits, to be pulled into mediumship and “enlightenment” culture, and then to be labeled bipolar in a psych ward within seconds. We also dig into years of medication changes, side effects, withdrawal, and how a late realization about misdiagnosis forced her to rethink both mental health treatment and spiritual reality.Then the story turns on a single, disruptive encounter: Kara sees Jesus while channeling for a client, quits divination, and starts trying to follow Christ with almost no support system. We talk about viral testimony, online backlash, conspiracy-heavy Christian spaces, and why church history eventually leads her to Orthodox Christianity and the shock of experiencing Divine Liturgy for the first time. We close with her music, including “Dosage” and “Wasted Youth,” and what it means to tell the truth even when it costs you friends.Your copy of Here Comes Trouble: https://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Trouble-Kara-Mosher/dp/B0F74PNH6S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2E83J501THSPV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m_X-dOmOU-hA_ZoD6ow27v8xKMK6sgGvTjsaOWk6nlUJk-l_9z64XRQ-YELB844c.moplmsLa2-zYqV5cB_S6ycaz_qON5XtWLaguXnXCG8Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=here+comes+trouble+kara+mosher&qid=1779119461&sprefix=here+comes+trouble+kara+mosh%2Caps%2C208&sr=8-1Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Audio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.buzzsprout.comPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

Can human reason alone lead us to the conclusion that God is personal, even without divine revelation? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers apologists tackle deep philosophical and theological questions about God, authority, and the Church. The discussion explores whether Eastern Orthodoxy has a singular teaching authority comparable to the papacy, why Catholics often receive only the host and not the chalice at Communion, and whether extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are sometimes overused. Additional topics include whether Adam was a single historical person or a group, how to evangelize someone immersed in New Age spirituality, and whether the early Church taught any doctrines no longer held today. A thoughtful conversation on Catholic theology, Church practice, and apologetics. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 12:36 – Is there a way to arrive at the conclusion of the personhood of God without resorting to revelation?   21:46 – Does Eastern Orthodoxy have a singular authority like we do?  29:07 – How come everyone takes the host for communion but not everyone gets the chalice?  32:07 – Are extraordinary ministers of holy communion only to be used in emergency situations? My priest doesn't always give communion at mass. He lets the EMs do it. Is that an abuse?  39:35 – Was Adam one man or a group of men?  43:00 – How do you start a conversation with someone who's kind of a “new age junkie?” Like they're always looking for a spiritual high or buying the next big self-help book, but can't be bothered to open the Gospels?  48:54 – Is there something that the early church believed in terms of doctrine that isn't taught today? 

ABOUT THE EPISODEJoin David Schrock and Stephen Wellum as they interview Dr. Donald Fairbairn on his COA Longform Essay, "Eastern Orthodoxy: How Did It Emerge In History".SponsorThis month's sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor's to a Doctor of Ministry.To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.Timestamps1:00 – Intro04:44 – How Dr. Fairbairn Got Interested in Eastern Orthodoxy07:33 – Was Dr. Fairbairn Ever Interested in Joining the Orthodox Church?09:08 – The Conversations Dr. Fairbairn Has Had with the Orthodox?11:12 – Where Has There Been Familiarity in Studying Eastern Orthodoxy?13:33 – An Introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy Through Western Eyes16:34 – The Four Stages of History of the Eastern Church20:32 – How Do the Eastern Orthodox See Themselves Connected to Church History?27:00 – How Does Tradition Function in Eastern Orthodoxy?30:32 – What Happens in the Fifth and Sixth Centuries?33:23 – Chalcedon, Nestorianism, and The Effects of Islam36:26 – Persecution and Movement During the Modern Era37:47 – The Footprint of the East in the West39:22 – Sponsor: Grimke Seminary40:22 – The Persian Split and Oriental Orthodox42:42 – Cyril's Mea Fuscous44:33 – Recommendations for These Periods of Time47:27 – 1054 and the Division of the East and the West52:57 – How Did the Filioque Controversy Contribute to the Division?56:43 – Was There Unity with Protestants Against the Papacy?59:30 – ‘Orthodoxies' Rather than a Universal Orthodox Church1:05:22 – What Actually Unites the Different Orthodox Churches?1:08:17 – Augustine in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition1:10:13 – Three Major Trajectories in the Early Church1:13:11 – Intrepreting the Fathers Through Origen1:16:05 – Encouragements to Men Considering Eastern Orthodoxy1:20:48 – Closing Thoughts1:21:33 – OutroResources to Click“Eastern Orthodoxy: How Did It Emerge in History?” – Donald FairbairnTheme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern OrthodoxyGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadThe Global Church–The First Eight Centuries: From Pentecost through the Rise of Islam – Donald FairbairnThe Story of Creed and Confessions: Tracing the Development of the Christian Faith – Donald Fairbairn and Ryan ReevesEastern Orthodoxy through Western Eyes – Donald FairbairnThe Eastern Christian Churches: A Brief Survey – Ronald Roberson

“If the church compiled the Bible, what was the authority before the Bible?” A candid journey from Protestant certainty to Eastern Orthodoxy, sparked by a friend's conversion and a history problem you can't ignore.A friend you trust changes everything. Brian tells us how years of Protestant assumptions started cracking when his friend James, a man he respects as clearly regenerated and serious about Christ, said he felt led toward Roman Catholicism and later Eastern Orthodoxy. Brian's mind could not make it add up, and that tension launched a long stretch of debate, study, and a surprisingly practical test during Lent: what happens if you try living like an Orthodox Christian for 30 days?Jeremy Jeremiah and Mario Andrew, of Cloud of Witnesses, talk with Brian and Hannah about how a trusted friend's move toward Catholicism and then Eastern Orthodoxy forced a hard rethink of authority, history, and the first thousand years of the Church. We trace what finally opened the door, from catechism confusion and trauma triggers to a change in prayer life at home and a first visit to an Orthodox parish on Forgiveness Sunday.• growing up on YouTube apologetics and adopting harsh views of Catholics and Orthodox Christians• watching a friend show clear fruit while moving toward Rome and then Eastern Orthodoxy• debating sola scriptura alongside the formation of the biblical canon and early Church councils• asking where Protestant identity fits in the first thousand years of Christianity• trying “30 days living like an Orthodox Christian” during Lent through prayer, study, and liturgy• reacting to catechism language and fears about exorcism due to past Pentecostal experiences• choosing unity in marriage and taking the discipline to explore the faith together• stepping into an Orthodox church for the first time near Forgiveness SundayWe dig into the core questions that keep coming up for seekers: Where do you place yourself in the first thousand years of Christianity? What does sola scriptura mean once you face the history of the biblical canon, the early Church councils, and the claim that the Church is the “pillar and ground of the truth”? Brian shares why “historical reliability” began to matter more than hot takes, and how Orthodox prayer, worship, and tradition started to feel less like an argument and more like a lived inheritance.Hannah brings the marriage and mindset side of the journey. She's honest about being put off by long Orthodox services and about how unfamiliar words like catechism, plus vague talk about “emptying yourself,” can trigger fears shaped by past church experiences. But she also shares what softened her posture: seeing a new consistency and depth in Brian's prayer life, and choosing not to build a divided household. Their first visit to an Orthodox parish lands near Forgiveness Sunday, a moment that reframes repentance and community in a powerful way.If you're exploring Eastern Orthodoxy, church history, Orthodox conversion, or the authority of Scripture and tradition, come listen and think with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the biggest question you're still wrestling with.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

Is Eastern Orthodoxy more mystical than Roman Catholicism? Or have Catholics simply forgotten the mystical heart of their own tradition?In this episode, we explore Eastern Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic mysticism without turning it into a competition. Both East and West seek union with God. Both have deep theology, contemplative prayer, asceticism, sacramental life, and saints who burned with divine love.But they often speak with different mystical accents.Eastern Orthodoxy often foregrounds theosis, watchfulness, hesychasm, the Jesus Prayer, icons, Tabor, and the healing of the eye of the heart to behold divine light. Roman Catholic mysticism often foregrounds Eucharistic union, bridal mysticism, the Sacred Heart, the wounds of Christ, the dark night, contemplation, and the heart being wounded open by love.This is not about choosing East or West. It is about recovering the mystical depth already present in the Catholic tradition.Catholic mysticism is not missing.It is Eucharistic.It is bridal.It is wounded.It is contemplative.It is incarnational.And it is still burning.

Are papal supremacy and papal infallibility later inventions unknown to the early Church? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers apologists respond to some of the most common Orthodox objections to Catholicism. Topics include whether the papacy is biblical, if the Filioque was an illegitimate change to the Nicene Creed, and whether mandatory clerical celibacy reflects apostolic Christianity. The discussion also examines claims that purgatory and indulgences are Western corruptions, whether doctrinal development preserves or distorts the faith, and if Rome's actions caused the East–West Schism. Finally, the episode addresses whether Vatican I contradicts the structure and authority of the early Church. A deep and charitable exploration of the major theological divisions between Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Objections Covered: 02:34 – Papal supremacy is unbiblical and unknown in the early Church.  12:00 – Papal infallibility is a late doctrinal invention. Papal authority undermines conciliar Church governance.  18:45 – The Filioque is both unauthorized and theologically incorrect. Rome illegitimately altered the Nicene Creed.  24:20 – Mandatory clerical celibacy is non-apostolic.  30:33 – Purgatory is a Western innovation without early consensus.  36:37 – Doctrinal development is corruption, not preservation.  42:07 – Indulgences distort repentance and were historically abused.  45:40 – The East–West Schism was caused by Rome's overreach.  49:42 – Vatican I contradicts the structure of the early Church. 

ABOUT THE EPISODEYoung Protestants are reportedly departing for Eastern Orthodoxy in droves. What are the major differences between Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelical Protestant Christianity?SponsorThis month's sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor's to a Doctor of Ministry.To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.Resources to Click“The Challenges of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology” – Tony Costa“Frank Schaeffer, Former Evangelical Leader, is a Self-Declared Atheist Who Believes in God” – Huffington Post“'The Bible Answer Man' Turns East: An Unlikely Conversion” – Erwin Lutzer“Young Men Leaving Traditional Churches for ‘Masculine' Orthodox Christianity in Droves” – Rikki Schlott“Evangelical Pastors and the Challenge of Eastern Orthdoxy” – Scott Hurst and Christian Clement-Schlimm“Reality: Questions regarding the Authenticity of the Sigillion of 1583” – Joshua Schooping“The Sunday of Orthodoxy 2024”“Service of the Small Paraklesis”“Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple” – Orthodox Christianity“Debatable, Unnecessary, or Essential? The Virgin Birth and Mary as the Mother of God” – Michael Pereira“Confession of Dositheus”“What is Salvation?” – Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon“Divine Energies: Eastern Orthodoxy's Strangest and Most Important Doctrine” – Knox BrownTheme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern OrthodoxyGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadDancing Alone: The Quest for Orthodox Faith in the Age of False Religion – Frank SchaefferThe Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity – Timothy WareThrough Western Eyes: Eastern Orthodoxy, A Reformed Perspective – Robert LethamThree Views on Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism – ed. James J. StamoolisDisillusioned: Why I Left the Eastern Orthodox Priesthood and Church – Joshua SchoopingEastern Orthodoxy: Through the Lens of Sola Scriptura – Samuel S. FaragThe Holy Standards: The Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms of the Eastern Orthodox Church – Joshua SchoopingThe Filioque: History of a Doctrinal Controversy – A. Edward SiecienskiVindicating the Filioque: The Church Fathers at the Council of Florence – Thomas Crean, O.P.The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship – Robert LethamEarly Christian Creed and Hymns, What the Earliest Christians Believed in Word an Song: An Exegetical-Theological Study – Tony CostaThe Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission, and Authority – Lee Martin MacDonaldThe Canon Debate – Lee Martin MacDonald and James A. SandersThe Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity: Texts and Analysis – Edmon Gallagher and John D. MeadeThe Old Testament in Eastern Orthodox Tradition – Eugen J. PentiucThe Acts of the Second Council of Nicaea (787) – Richard PriceIcons and Power: the Mother of God in Byzantium – Bissera V. PentchevaThe Orthodox Study Bible – eds. Joseph Allen and Michel NajimProtestant Patriarch: The Life of Cyril Lukaris (1572-1638) Patriarch of Constantinople – G.A. Hadjiantoniou

As the old paradigm of secularism crumbles, people are migrating rapidly into traditional religions like Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. The collapse of dispensationalism is another factor, which is leading many Protestants to question their faith altogether. This has resulted in renewed interest in age-old debates, like whether salvation is by faith alone or faith and works, and today I will respond to a recent interview between Jay Dyer and Ruslan on a variety of these important topics. * 00:00 - Introduction* 10:20 - Part 1* 35:53 - Part 2* 2:57:53 - Part 3* 4:20:09 - Part 4* 4:39:55 - Final Thoughts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.danceoflife.com/subscribe

Two Protestants can sound airtight when they critique Eastern Orthodoxy together, until you ask a simple question: do they even agree on what a church is? Jeremy Jeremiah of Cloud of Witnesses pulls apart a popular interview between Dr. Gavin Ortlund and Joshua Schooping, author of Disillusioned, a former Orthodox priest who is now a Lutheran pastor, and we respond point by point from an Orthodox perspective with church history, theology, and plain logic.We spend real time on the practical consequences of Protestant ecclesiology, not just the slogans. If a Lutheran pastor shaped by the Augsburg Confession would refuse communion to a Reformed Baptist who follows the 1689 London Baptist Confession, what does that say about claims of easy unity in the “invisible church”? We talk Eucharist theology, baptism debates, and how sacramental disagreement turns into competing definitions of a “true church.”Then we tackle the biggest claims head-on: Has the Eastern Orthodox Church truly remained unchanged? What counts as doctrine versus liturgical development? How should Christians read Nicaea II and the language around icons and veneration? And when Marian prayers are quoted as proof that Mary replaces Jesus, we slow down and read them in context as devotional, poetic language about intercession, while keeping Christ's saving work central.We respond to a now Protestant discussion critiquing and frankly attacking Eastern Orthodoxy and explain why its framing collapses when you examine Protestant disagreements on the sacraments, the church, and salvation. We also defend Orthodox claims about continuity by separating minor liturgical development from core doctrinal stability across church history.• framing the interview as a strictly Protestant critique of Orthodoxy• contrasting Lutheran and Reformed Baptist ecclesiology on communion, baptism, and sacraments• challenging the idea that Protestantism offers a unified “invisible church” solution• addressing “one true church” anxiety and how mercy and salvation are discussed• separating liturgical variation from doctrinal continuity over 2,000 years• defending icons with early church evidence and the witness of ancient apostolic churches• responding to Nicaea II claims about forced icon veneration• interpreting Marian prayers as poetic intercession language rather than replacement of Christ• pushing back on claims that the gospel is absent from Orthodox worshipIf you care about Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestant apologetics, apostolic succession, icons, Mariology, and what it means to belong to the historic visible church, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who's debating Orthodoxy, and leave a review telling us where you agree or disagree.Two Protestants critique Orthodoxy, but can they even agree on baptism or communion? We break down the hidden contradiction and what it means for “the true church” claims. Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Audio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.buzzsprout.comPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

ABOUT THE EPISODEDiscover where Eastern Orthodoxy came from and how it differs from other Christian traditions.SponsorThis month's sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor's to a Doctor of Ministry.To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.Resources to Click“Eastern Orthodoxy: How Did It Emerge in History?” – Donald FairbairnTheme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern OrthodoxyGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadThe Global Church–The First Eight Centuries: From Pentecost through the Rise of Islam – Donald FairbairnThe Story of Creed and Confessions: Tracing the Development of the Christian Faith – Donald Fairbairn and Ryan ReevesEastern Orthodoxy through Western Eyes – Donald FairbairnThe Eastern Christian Churches: A Brief Survey – Ronald Roberson

It's Witness Wednesday! Come along with Todd Friel to Georgia Tech where we meet students Kevin, Wyatt, and Peter. These are real people with real hopes, fears, and opinions on topics ranging from Eastern Orthodoxy to the AI revolution. If you're waiting to see real evangelism and the Christian worldview applied to real-world topics, you've come to the right place. Segment 1 • Kevin, an Eastern Orthodox Christian, seems to mistake earning something for grace. • He explains faith + works… but does he accidentally argue like a Protestant? • If other religions might get to heaven, what happens to Jesus' exclusive claims? Segment 2 • Todd discussed AI and resulting fears with engineering major Wyatt. • Wyatt believes in Easter… but does he actually trust what it means? • Is being a “good person” enough—or does that completely miss the point? Segment 3 • If God judged your life today, would your “good intentions” actually hold up? • Wyatt admits guilt—but assumes self-improvement can fix it… can it? • Wyatt learns the true nature of forgiveness in Christ. Segment 4 • Peter, casual Christian, says: “I'm a Christian… I just don't think about it much”. Is that possible? • Are “small sins” really small when they're committed against a holy God? • If God is both just and merciful, how can He forgive without compromising justice? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

After some comments on a variety of topics at the top of the program, we dove deep into the following citation from Basil the Great, "because the honor paid to the image passes on to the prototype." We looked at the original context and meaning, and then how it was plucked out of that context and used by John of Damascus, and how that then became central to the arguments of the iconophiles at Nicea II, and hence became the basis of "infallible dogma" for both Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Not an entertaining program, to be sure, but hopefully a helpful one. Tomorrow we will be doing a Zoom call "open phones" program, so join us then!

In this addendum to my "Classical Protestant View on Tradition" series, I tackle three of the biggest reasons many Protestants feel drawn to Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. I share how I wrestled through these issues, and ultimately why they weren't enough to pull me away from a classical Protestant approach. Watch part 1 of this series: https://youtu.be/yZvzn565Aoc

“If 10 people say the Holy Spirit told them 10 different meanings, how do I know who's right?” A raw conversation on Protestantism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and the early Church.He tried to quit porn for the millionth time, sat down in silence, and opened the Bible at random. Proverbs 5 stared back like a warning with his name on it and that was the moment Tremayne Collins (https://www.instagram.com/tremaynecollins001/) stopped being a “fan” of church and started taking Christ seriously. What follows is a story of repentance, recovery, and rebuilding a life around Scripture, mentorship, and real spiritual discipline.Jeremy Jeremiah of Cloud of Witnesses talks with Tremayne Collins about leaving atheism behind, confronting a long battle with pornography, and finding a serious Christian life through repentance, recovery, and Scripture. Then we follow the questions that hit next when sincere Christians disagree on doctrine and church history starts pointing beyond modern Protestantism.• Tremayne's background in Lutheranism, then years away from faith• A moment in Proverbs 5 that sparks repentance and change• Porn addiction recovery, mentorship, and building daily Scripture habits• Why theological disagreement in non-denominational churches creates an authority crisis• Early church fathers and what they teach about Eucharist, baptism, and holiness• Orthodoxy's critique of Western innovations and why the Reformation happened• Purgatory, Mary, papal claims, and what Orthodoxy does and does not affirm• Why sola scriptura depends on later historical conditions and canon choices• A reading recommendation for comparing Protestantism, Catholicism, and OrthodoxyBut a new problem shows up fast: theology. In a non-denominational world, smart and sincere Christians can read the same passage and still end up in opposite places on salvation, assurance, righteousness, and church practice. Tremayne asks the question many people are afraid to say out loud: if everyone claims the Holy Spirit, how do you tell which interpretation is true? That question pushes us into church authority, the limits of private interpretation, and why “Bible alone” can feel impossible to live out without a coherent guide.From there we head into early church history, the church fathers, and the surprising discovery that writers like Irenaeus and Ignatius don't sound like modern Protestantism on the Eucharist and baptism. We also dig into Catholic vs Orthodox differences, the Great Schism, “innovations” in the West, and why Orthodoxy rejects purgatory. Along the way, we recommend Rock and Sand by Father Josiah Trenham for anyone who wants an Orthodox perspective on the Reformation and a grounded introduction to Eastern Christianity.If you're sorting through Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy or you're searching for the historic Christian faith, this conversation will give you better questions and clearer next steps. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves church history, and leave a review with your biggest sticking point: authority, Mary, purgatory, or something else?Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Audio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.buzzsprout.comPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

Episode 2.100In this episode of Cults, Michael and Zach examine Eastern Orthodoxy working through its core theological framework ending with a comparison and contrast with Roman Catholicism.The discussion moves through key categories including theology proper, Christology, soteriology, and authority. Eastern Orthodoxy stands firmly within historic Christianity in its doctrine of the Trinity and the person of Christ, while approaching salvation through a more transformational lens—often described as theosis, or participation in the divine life.From there, the episode explores how Orthodoxy understands authority through Scripture and Tradition, along with its use of icons and the practice of prayer to the saints. Each area is evaluated in light of biblical categories, particularly regarding the role of Scripture, the clarity of justification, and the pattern of prayer found in the New Testament.The episode concludes with a focused comparison between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. While Orthodoxy rejects papal supremacy and maintains a decentralized structure, both traditions share similar concerns regarding authority and the articulation of the gospel. The central issue is not historical rootedness, but whether Scripture functions as the final authority and whether the gospel remains clearly defined.Find our videocast here: https://youtu.be/pkIbvuLpMmUMerch here: https://take-2-podcast.printify.me/Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone⁠License code: 2QZOZ2YHZ5UTE7C8Find more Take 2 Theology content at http://www.take2theology.com

Each week, Pastor Keith Foskey and his wife Jennifer answer email questions about ministry, the bible, and theology from all around the world as well as engaging with their live audience in the comments. Come join the fun! Questions and Timestamps:Is there actually a meaningful distinction between a dip and a sauce? 51:32What are good resources defending sola scriptura historically and responding to Orthodox claims of continuity? 52:40What books are helpful for understanding Reformed theology? 56:20What is the biblical meaning and purpose of baptism? 1:00:22What guidance should young men follow when pursuing pastoral ministry? 1:20:03What advice should be given to a young seminary graduate unsure about entering ministry? 1:23:45How can a pastor's wife best support her husband in ministry? 1:30:17 What happens to marriage relationships in heaven? 1:37:22How should the church handle discipline for non-members who attend regularly but live in unrepentant sin? 1:40:46Who should administer the Lord's Supper and when might someone refrain from partaking? 1:44:43What is the proper congregational role in affirming and ordaining elders? 1:47:15What are the biblical responsibilities of elders in shepherding and teaching the church?1:51:40How should Christians respond when worship services feel irreverent due to ministry contexts such as homelessness outreach? 1:57:20How should we understand God's sovereignty in relation to permission, decree, and evil? 2:02:35Who is indwelled by the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant? 2:04:18How should Hebrews 6:4–6 be interpreted? 2:09:09Why was all Jerusalem troubled at the birth of Christ in Matthew 2-3? 2:16:24How should Christians understand David's imprecatory prayers in light of New Covenant ethics? 2:18:14Why do Protestants reject the Deuterocanon as inspired Scripture? 2:20:15What is the difference between Covenant Theology and New Covenant Fulfillment Theology? 2:25:50Is it sinful to support particular political candidates or parties? 2:28:40How should Christians respond to professing believers who enter same-sex romantic relationships? 2:31:22Support the Show: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/Yourcalvinisthttps://www.TinyBibles.comYou can get the smallest Bible available on the market, which can be used for all kinds of purposes, by visiting TinyBibles.com and when you buy, use the coupon code KEITH for a discount.Love Coffee? Want the Best? Get a free bag of Squirrelly Joe's Coffee by clicking on this link: https://www.Squirrellyjoes.com/yourcalvinistor use coupon code "Keith" for 20% off anything in the storeDominion Wealth Strategies Visit them at https://www.dominionwealthstrategists.comhttp://www.Reformed.Moneyand let them know we sent you! Spiraling Impressions — Custom Stickers — Facebook: Spiraling Impressions Website: spiralingimpressions.com.COUPON CODE: YourCalvinist (gets 10% 0ff)https://www.HighCallingFitness.comHealth, training, and nutrition coaching all delivered to you online by confessionally reformed bodybuilders and strength athletes.Visit us at https://www.KeithFoskey.comIf you need a great website, check out https://www.fellowshipstudios.com

Orthodoxy Ended Church Shopping: When Church History Won My Heart.  Special Uncut Edition.What if the ache you feel on Sunday isn't a lack of passion, but a hunger for roots? Tony Nektarios Vasquez joins us to share how a Pentecostal upbringing, a non-denominational season, and eventually a Calvinist-leaning church plant still left him asking where the first 1,500 years fit in. His story is not a theory lesson—it's a family saga: a praying father discovering the Desert Fathers, a brother slipping out to Vespers, a wife and children encountering reverence for the first time, and a co-pastor who realized that history, Scripture, and worship belong together.We trace Tony's path from Pentecostal roots and a non-denominational church plant to a sober look at church history, liturgy, and apostolic succession. Family doubts, online study, and the beauty of Vespers turn hesitation into conviction as Scripture and tradition align.• questioning charismatic altar practices and emotionalism• moving from Reformers to the first 1,500 years• parish visits to St James and first Vespers• answers on icons, relics, and intercession from Scripture• liturgy as continuity with Old Testament worship• apostolic succession and the promise that the Church endures• closing a young church to enter Orthodoxy• finding healing and stability in the sacramentsWe walk through the uncomfortable questions most avoid. Are altar manifestations genuine or coached? Does sola fide stand when held beside James and the early Church? How do relics, icons, and the intercession of the saints square with the Bible? Tony takes us inside St. James Orthodox Church in Modesto, where incense and chant weren't novelty, but a doorway to Christ-centered prayer. He shares the moment his daughter said the hymns made her want to cry, the way Revelation reframed prayer as a communion of heaven and earth, and how apostolic succession answered the authority problem that haunted his independent church.This conversation is a guided tour from system to story, from proof texts to a living tradition. We touch on the continuity between Old Testament worship and the Divine Liturgy, the claim that the Church Christ founded never paused or rebooted, and the quiet courage it took to close a young church for a faith that felt both ancient and alive. If you've wondered where the dots connect—Scripture, history, and sacrament—this is an honest map drawn in real time.If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more thoughtful journeys into the ancient faith, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your questions and stories shape future episodes—drop them in the comments and say hello to Tony.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

Jonathan and Mark Feather talk to Joshua Schooping, a former Eastern Orthodox priest, on how to pastor church members who may be considering joining the Eastern Orthodox church.

A single sentence from a saint can inspire a whole generation, or mislead it. We open with the line many Orthodox Christians have heard, “Saint Paisios said America will become Orthodox,” then slow the story down to ask the question most of us skip: what was actually said, to whom, through what translation, and with what intent? That one case becomes a clear window into how patristic quotes and saint sayings spread online, especially when memes replace sources and confidence replaces context.Translations shape theology. We dig into why older patristic translations can smuggle in legalistic language, and why terms like “atonement” and “substitution” carry baggage.Cloud of Witnesses, Jeremy Jeremiah, Mario Andrew, and James St. Simon talk with Father Joseph Lucas about how patristic quotes get distorted and how to read the Church Fathers in context without turning memes into theology. We trace how the Orthodox Church leans on consensus, careful sourcing, and prayerful practice so our reading leads to repentance rather than argument.• the Saint Paisios “America will become Orthodox” quote and why its original context is more tentative• why unsupported “floating quotes” should not shape doctrine or spiritual decisions• authority in tradition through ecumenical councils and the consensus of the Fathers• reading individual Fathers through the lens of the wider patristic tradition• why Saint Augustine needs careful, contextual reading alongside the Greek Fathers• the difference between modern online apologetics and patristic apologetics with oversight• why ancient rhetorical attacks do not translate well to today's debates• how translation choices can import legalistic or forensic connotations• why “the theologian is one who prays” matters and how Saint Mary of Egypt models itPlease, if you haven't already, give this video a like. Let us know your thoughts down below. Subscribe if you want more content like this. If you haven't bought the book yet please go check it out I would recommend it highly. You can find this entire conversation at our Patreon right now.Father Joseph Lucas, author of How To Read The Holy Fathers, helps us build a practical framework for reading the Church Fathers and the wider Orthodox tradition responsibly. We talk about patristic consensus, why ecumenical councils carry unique weight, and why later “compiler” saints can guide ordinary readers toward what the Church has truly received. We also tackle tough edges like how to approach Saint Augustine carefully, how to think about figures like Origen, and why you cannot build a full Orthodox theology on one favorite author.We then turn to Orthodox apologetics today: what it gets right, what it risks, and why ancient debate tactics do not map neatly onto modern online arguments. We close with translation and theology language, including how certain English terms can carry legalistic baggage, and we return to the heart of the Fathers: theology that forms prayer, repentance, and transformation, beautifully embodied in Saint Mary of Egypt.That “famous” Church Father quote might be fake or twisted. We talk with Fr. Joseph Lucas about reading the Holy Fathers in context, spotting meme theology, and staying inside the Church's consensus.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Audio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.buzzsprout.comPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

A pastor told her to try AA (alcoholics anonymous) when she asked for spiritual help after a miscarriage. That moment pushed her to look for something deeper – see what she found.A lot of people aren't leaving church because they “don't believe” anymore. They're leaving because they feel spiritually hungry, tired of being sold a vibe, and unsure where to take real grief, real sin, and real questions.Cloud of Witnesses talks with Lavender of Lavender & Lanterns (https://www.instagram.com/lavenderandlanterns/) about the hunger for humility and reverence that pushes many Christians from non-denominational life toward Orthodox Christianity. We compare performance-style worship with the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, then get practical about visiting a parish, speaking with a priest, and learning the faith through lived tradition.  • moving from early faith in pregnancy to searching for deeper roots • why emotional worship and corporate church culture can feel spiritually thin • leaving churches that center politics and branding over Christ • grief after miscarriage and the need for pastoral care that is truly spiritual • the value of trained Orthodox clergy and the simple step of calling a priest • humility as a practice through confession and Forgiveness Sunday at Lent • reverence in worship and the question of when church became a show • first-time guidance for visitors including Vespers, coffee hour, and what to wear • women finding Orthodoxy online and questions about head coverings  We sit down with Lavender to talk about her path from a non-denominational background to Orthodox Christianity, and why reverent worship in the Eastern Orthodox Church felt like water in the desert. We get honest about the modern church experience: emotional hype, stage culture, screens and slogans, even politics bleeding into the sanctuary. Jeremy shares why these trends can quietly push people toward a tradition that refuses to treat worship like a product and instead forms people through prayer, repentance, and the stability of the Divine Liturgy.  Lavender also shares a painful turning point after a miscarriage, when she tried to seek spiritual counsel and felt redirected toward something purely “programmatic” instead of Scripture-soaked guidance and healing. From there we talk about why Orthodox priests are trained for long-term pastoral care, why “talk to a priest” is not a slogan but a lifeline, and how practices like confession and Forgiveness Sunday cultivate humility in a way that's hard to fake. We also cover practical “come and see” advice for first-time visitors, plus common questions women ask about modest dress and head coverings.Why do so many people feel modern church is more performance than worship? We talk incense, reverence, humility, and the simple advice that changes everything: talk to a priest.  Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdh Please prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnesses Find Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

Jonathan, Mark and Mark Feather talk to Joshua Schooping, a former Eastern Orthodox priest, on the reasons he had to leave that church.

This long soft spoken sleep story tells you the history of Ancient Rome from its foundation to the fall of Constantinople. It is in 3 parts. In part 1, I tell you about the origins of Rome, its slow emergence and wars until the 1st Century BC - including the founding of the Republic and the rivalry between the Senate and the plebs, the conquest of Italy, the wars against Carthage, the overseas expansion, figures like Scipio, Marius, Sulla, Pompey and Caesar, and also life, religion, society, urbanism and warfare in Roman antiquity. In part 2, we go through the campaigns of Caesar, the transformation into an Empire under Augustus, the succession of emperors and the challenges they had to face, as well as the rise and persecution of Christianity until the new religion was adopted, the Roman economy, barbarian invasions, the separation of the empire into two parts and the final collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD. In part 3, I take you to the mythical city of Constantinople to explore the history of the Byzantine Empire. As the Western Roman Empire collapsed under invasions, its Eastern counterpart lived on and perpetuated the dream of recreating the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages. I discuss the waves of invaders that Byzantium had to face, from the Huns and the Arabs to the Turks, its culture, politics and society, how it drifted away from the west religiously, leading to the East-West Schism between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, and many more things, until the final fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD. This video is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it includes no AI, and mid-roll ad breaks are turned off so that you can relax without interruption. #sleep #bedtimestory #asmr #sleepstory Welcome to Lights Out Library Join me for a sleepy adventure tonight. Sit back, relax, and fall asleep to documentary-style bedtime stories read in a calming ASMR voice. Learn something new while you enjoy a restful night of sleep. Listen ad free and get access to bonus content on our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/LightsOutLibrary621⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Enjoy my audiobook on Ancient Egyptian History, Myths & Mysteries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6mCqX5FoO6uCilrWCS8mB9?si=e1ecb983d2534d69⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@LightsOutLibraryov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ¿Quieres escuchar en Español? Echa un vistazo a La Biblioteca de los Sueños! En Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1t522alsv5RxFsAf9AmYfg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ En Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/la-biblioteca-de-los-sue%C3%B1os-documentarios-para-dormir/id1715193755⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ En Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@LaBibliotecadelosSuenosov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Maharrey has been in the libertarian Christian space for a long time. In this episode he steps back from politics entirely and talks about his own story: a decades-long journey through evangelical Protestantism that eventually landed him in Eastern Orthodoxy. What drove the move, what he found when he got there, and what he'd say to other Christians who feel spiritually restless.Check out Mike's show on the Christians for Liberty Network:The Godarchy PodcastAudio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

“The Fathers are our history too” sounds nice, but can you read St. Ignatius and stay Protestant? We dig into authority, bishops, Eucharist, and why lived liturgy shapes interpretation.We live in a post-Enlightenment world, so we instinctively read everything through modern assumptions about proof, progress, and “what's real.” That's why so many Orthodox Christians, converts and cradle alike, feel a jolt when they open the Church Fathers or hear the services: the Church didn't go through the Enlightenment, but we did. Jeremy Jeremiah, James St. Simon, and Mario Andrew sit down with patristics scholar, author, and Orthodox priest, Fr. Joseph Lucas, to name that tension clearly and offer a practical way forward: learn to become worldview bilingual so the patristic worldview can speak in its own voice.Fr. Joseph Lucas is author of the wonderful book How To Read The Holy Fathers: A Guide For Orthodox Christians, and the wisdom of this book rings true throughout the conversation today.We talk about why Orthodox Christianity is a worldview and why modern people often struggle with the Church Fathers because we have been shaped by the Enlightenment. We explore how liturgy, ascetic life, and the Church's sense of continuity help us read saints' stories and patristic texts for truth without forcing them into modern categories.• worldview as the hidden framework that drives conclusions• “worldview bilingual” as a way to name modern baggage• why mysticism, miracles, and the Eucharist resist modern reduction• how the Lives of the Saints work as a distinct genre• why fact checking hagiography can miss the point• Protestant interest in the Fathers and why mindset matters• the Orthodox rejection of doctrinal evolution• the Holy Spirit, patristic consensus, and stability across centuries• how lived liturgy, fasting, and prayer shape real understandingWe dig into why Orthodox Christianity is more than a set of ideas to agree with. It's a way of life that shapes how we know, how we worship, and how we interpret texts. That lens changes everything from how we approach the Eucharist and miracles to how we read the Lives of the Saints. If you've ever caught yourself demanding the “CNN version” of a saint's story, we unpack why that reflex can miss the kind of truth hagiography is trying to deliver, and why trimming ancient texts to fit modern realism can quietly deform the faith.We also wrestle with the growing Protestant interest in the Fathers, including the claim that they are “our history too.” The conversation gets specific about why different traditions read St Ignatius of Antioch so differently, what Orthodoxy means by stability rather than doctrinal evolution, and how the Church discerns a real consensus across centuries. Along the way we return to a simple test: the closer we are to the Church's liturgy, fasting, prayer, and sacramental life, the more the Fathers stop feeling like museum pieces and start sounding like family.Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a friend who's wrestling with the Fathers, and leave a review so others can find Cloud of Witnesses. What's the hardest thing for you to read with a modern mindset: miracles, the Eucharist, or the saints' lives?Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Audio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.buzzsprout.comPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

I continue my series on why I remain Protestant after over a decade of serious study and reflection on Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. I unpack four key definitions of "tradition" that I think fit within a Protestant framework. If you're wrestling with these questions or want clarity for family conversations, this is for you. God willing, part 3 will come out the following week. #Protestant #SolaScriptura #Tradition #Catholicism #EasternOrthodoxy #Theology #ChristianApologetics #BibleTeaching

Eastern Orthodoxy doctrine part 2

Orthodoxy grows fast, but the real battle is basic: prayer, humility, obedience. Nikko explains why “hot takes” can harm seekers and why locality matters.Orthodoxy can feel like a tiny world. One unexpected conversation after liturgy proves it, and it sets the tone for a wide-ranging talk with Nikko about what actually sustains Orthodox Christianity when the Church is growing fast: humility, prayer, and the daily work of repentance. We get honest about how social media apologetics can form zealous inquirers and catechumens into armchair experts, while the real “theologian” is the one who prays, shows up, and learns to obey in the life of a local Orthodox parish.We trade hot takes for the basics that actually build an Orthodox life: prayer, humility, and faithful attention to the people right in front of us. Nikko shares why Orthodoxy spreads through relationships and community, why money and material stewardship matter, and how to approach suffering, evangelism, and Lent with sobriety.• the Orthodox world as a real network of parishes and people• why social media apologetics can distort Orthodox priorities• God as someone to be experienced through prayer and the sacraments• unpacking the Western mindset slowly instead of rushing for status• locality and staying in your lane with priest and bishop level matters• doing the basic things well as the real path to growth• tithing and funding the Church without reducing faith to moneyWe also tackle the topics people hesitate to say out loud. Why does the Church ask for money? What do tithing, stewardship, and parish donors have to do with the Incarnation and caring for real human needs? Nikko shares a grounded view of giving, poverty, and discernment, plus a powerful takeaway from The Sunflower by St John of Tobolsk on conforming our will to the will of God, even when life is painful and confusing.Then we pivot to evangelism and the LDS world. Jeremy Jeremiah tells a story where someone leaves Mormonism not through a debate but through Christlike love, and Nikko explains why community and gentleness often do more than “owning” someone with arguments, especially with young Mormon missionaries. We wrap with practical Lent advice for new Orthodox Christians and for those already “enlisted” in the fight: take grace when you need it, and take the basics seriously when you're ready.If your Lent turns into label-scanning anxiety, you missed the point. Nikko gives a grounded approach: take grace when you're new, go to war when you're ready. Subscribe for more conversations on Orthodox faith, prayer life, Lent, and parish growth, share this with a friend who's curious about Eastern Orthodoxy, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

 The Question That Changes Everything: Why Do You Matter? The question that won't go away is also the one that can change everything: why do we exist, and why do we matter? Rev. Dn. Anthony Turjman starts with the blunt honesty of Solomon's conclusion after chasing pleasure, wealth, power, and knowledge. Even when life looks “full,” the heart can stay empty. We talk about why that restlessness is a spiritual signal, and why purpose and meaning don't hold together without God at the center.We wrestle with why we exist and why we matter, and we argue that life stays confusing until those questions are answered through communion with God. We trace how spiritual life becomes real transformation, not religious habit, and how that healing brings genuine freedom. • King Solomon's search for pleasure and success ending in emptiness without God • Spiritual life as ongoing transformation rather than occasional belief • Healing through prayer, repentance, confession, Holy Communion, and obedience • Habits and desires becoming passions that distort how we see and choose • Christ as light revealing pride, fear, and selfishness for healing • Commandments as protection that exposes drift away from Christ • Sin as a chain of thoughts that leads to action • Freedom as becoming different rather than merely behaving differently  From there, we get specific about spiritual life. Not vague inspiration, not occasional church attendance, and not prayer only when we're overwhelmed. We describe Christian spiritual formation as an ongoing transformation where God heals the heart, purifies desires, and restores the soul through repentance, confession, Holy Communion, and daily obedience. The goal isn't legalism or rule-following to look good. It's inner change, the kind that makes you whole.  We also dig into how we lose freedom without noticing. Repeated desires become passions, and passions become lenses that shape what we call “truth.” That's why we often stop choosing and start reacting, repeating the same patterns even when we want better. We close with a different way to see the Ten Commandments: not as cold restrictions, but as a fence around a garden that protects the Tree of Life. If you want a deeper prayer life, real spiritual healing, and a clearer path to freedom, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share, and leave a review, and tell us what part of your inner life needs the most light right now.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

Join the show with a TEXT here!The finale is here! We've reached the point of the Reformation that truly makes or breaks the gospel: How is a person justified—made right before a holy God?Throughout this mini‑series we've explored the clarity and sufficiency of Scripture, the canon of Scripture, and the doctrine of grace. Now we arrive at the heart of it all: justification by faith—and by faith alone.Eastern Orthodoxy teaches that our works is the cause of what makes us right before God. But what does Scripture actually say? The Reformers aimed to recover this reality, this gospel—the only gospel—of justification by faith in Christ's finished work and nothing else.I hope you've enjoyed the journey up to this point, and I pray this finale strengthens you in your walk. If this episode encourages you, leave a comment and share it with a friend. God bless.

One of the most common questions that I get these days is, What is the relationship between Scripture and tradition? This is often prompted by followers who are beginning to explore conversion to Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy or have children who are. I am finally sharing my public answer to this question after a decade of study and dialogue. In this first teaching, I explain the problem and survey the major New Testament passages used by Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox apologists to make their case for tradition and to undermine the classical Protestant view of sola scriptura. #SolaScriptura #Tradition #Catholic #Orthodox #Protestant

Patrick answers listener questions about family struggles, moral decisions, faith and science, and Church authority, offering honest guidance rooted in Catholic teaching. The episode jumps from emotional calls on elder care and ethical dilemmas to sharp debates about sacraments and tradition, then pivots to engaging commentary on how faith interacts with scientific thinking, sharing insights from bishops and Catholic scholars. Emily – Do I have an obligation to help my grandmother who might be being exploited? (00:33) Eleanore - What is the boundary for parents to allow their kids to get piercings. Is it a sin for us to allow this? (07:46) Joanna - If priest can celebrate Mass in mortal sin, why can’t a lay person receive in a state of mortal sin? (14:48) Patrick share’s Bishop Earl Fernandes’ article, “Faith and Science Are Not Enemies — and Young People Need to Hear It” (20:31) Clancy - I asked Grok the question: “Who is more faithful to Jesus Christ, Eastern Orthodoxy or Catholicism” (38:04) Granger - Where do you get the rule of faith in the Bible? If I say tradition, isn’t that like saying the same thing? (46:17)

Pr. Joshua Schooping of St. John’s Lutheran-Russellville, AR Pastor Schooping’s YouTube ChannelThe post Eastern Orthodoxy, Part 6 – Pr. Joshua Schooping, 3/2/26 (0612) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Not that long ago many church-going Americans saw Russia as a godless place, an “evil empire” in the words of Ronald Reagan. But in President Trump's second term, US-Russia relations have been turned on their head. Last year, the White House sided with the Kremlin at the United Nations, voting against a resolution to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine.This seismic shift is also being felt in parishes across America. Increasing numbers of US Catholics and Protestants are embracing Eastern Orthodoxy. Many converts disillusioned by the showbiz elements in many megachurches, say they are drawn to a faith with enduring traditions. Some, uneasy with social and demographic change, believe the churches they were raised in have lost their authority by going “woke” – shorthand for supporting equal marriage, female clergy, pro-choice, Black Lives Matter and other liberal issues.Some converts have hundreds of thousands of followers online, and push Kremlin narratives that Russia is the world's last bastion of true Christianity - a few of the most radical have even emigrated there. Last year, Lucy Ash went to Texas – one of the most religious states in the US – to meet some new converts.This episode of The Documentary comes to you from Assignment, investigations and journeys into the heart of global events.

In this interview, Matt sits down with William Albrecht for a discussion about the Blessed Virgin Mary, the biblical foundations for our beliefs about Mary, what Protestant Reformers (particularly Luther) believed about Mary, what Catholics get wrong about Mary, plus Eastern Orthodoxy, the papacy, and more! Enjoy! Ep. 560 - - -