Ancient Faith Ministries

May 30, 2024 • 6h 54m

What should we be willing to do for Christ? Is a Christian really required to die to the world to have eternal life, and what does that even mean? How do we die for Christ in our modern society? The Fathers speak!

May 29, 2024 • 24 min

Healing happens within the community in different ways, and at times it is given to us to witness little miracles. In the end it heals us all, in our heart. And this is the real miracle.

May 29, 2024 • 1h 43m

Nothing is more natural to the fallen mind than to be delighted with praise and one’s own achievement, and likewise to be frustrated and embarrassed by criticism and failure. But the examples of our Lord and His apostles tell us they were not beholden to anyone or anything in this world. Our struggle to become like them, and to take steps toward true victory over our fallen nature and true freedom in Christ, must begin today. At the Divine Liturgy, ahead of St Vladimir’s Seminary’s 2024 Commencement Exercises, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon offered sage counsel to graduating seminarians, families, and friends.

May 22, 2024

As we continue to celebrate the most glorious Pascha of our Lord, says the Very Rev. Dr Alexander Rentel, we must remind ourselves how difficult it must have been for His disciples immediately after His crucifixion. There was fear, doubt, and extreme discouragement. This is what made their joy all the more exuberant and full when the Lord appeared to them through locked doors as they prayed in hiding. For Thomas, as well as for the other disciples, witnessing the Lord in His resurrected form enabled them to finally understand the entirety of His teaching and saving work here on earth.

May 22, 2024 • 29 min

Brother Luke reflects on Holy Week experiences in the community.

May 21, 2024 • 3h 14m

What does it mean to pick up your cross? Most people assume that Christ is teaching us how to handle the difficulties of life. But the Fathers would not agree with that! Join Dr. Jeannie to learn the truth about this famous verse.

May 20, 2024 • 47 min

Bobby Maddex interviews Kendra Hunter, Kristina Tartara, and Stephanie Petrides, the authors of the new companion guide to Dr. Philip Mamalakis's book Parenting Toward the Kingdom: Orthodox Christian Principles of Child Rearing, publishing by Ancient Faith Publishing.

May 15, 2024 • 1h

A continuation of Pres Melanie's conversation with Summer Kinard, who shares valuable resources for making churches accessible to all.

May 15, 2024 • 18 min

Brother Luke reflects on some scenes from every day at the mission.

May 14, 2024 • 1h 43m

This month Cynthia and Molly talk to Olympia Rusu on the topic of natural medicine and herbal remedies. They also found out that they should continue to record podcasts in the mornings! Come along for a fun time learning about medicinal herbs.

May 14, 2024 • 2h 56m

In one of the most dramatic reversals of the New Testament, the Lord, who previously praised Peter and gave him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, now associates Peter's words with the Devil. What were Christ's words and Peter's response that led to the sudden change?

May 10, 2024 • 2h 19m

In this homily on Holy Thursday, the Very Rev. Dr Bogdan Bucur invites us to consider the establishment of the Holy Eucharist as a sacrament and God’s core invitation to us to partake in His life. Fr Bogdan draws on the many Scripture readings of Holy Week to emphasize both the characters who heeded God’s invitation to Himself (e.g. the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet, the prophet Job) and the many ways in which the Lord has invited us to draw near to Him throughout the Scriptures (e.g. the Hebrew people’s Exodus into the wilderness, Moses’ encounter with God on Mt Sinai). Fr Bogdan also urges us to consider our own similarities to the scriptural characters who rejected God’s invitation to Himself, especially Judas and the Jews who murmured against God in the desert. Through honest self-evaluation and repentance, we can accept the Lord’s invitation and truly draw near and partake in Life.

May 9, 2024 • 2h 20m

In the wake of an untimely death in the seminary community, the Very Rev. Dr Bogdan Bucur asks all the questions of the grieving person, of Martha and Mary at the tomb of Lazarus, of each of us when we encounter the loss of a loved one. Fr Bogdan leads us to see how God Himself mourns and weeps with us, suffers with us in our grief. But it does not end there. He, the Eternal God, has come to experience our mortal life and to bear with us even unto death, and then–He transforms it all, He defeats the power of death which has kept all mankind captive, and brings us new life, everlasting life that is beyond anything we have experienced in this fallen world. This is the hope we have as Christians, as we journey towards the Lord’s Holy Pascha.

May 8, 2024 • 50 min

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Calliope Couchell-Wilson on her book that addresses the stages of divorce and practical advice on forging a new life.

May 1, 2024 • 21 min

A community member and Father Nicolaie each reflect on their experience with an aspect of the Gospel story of the young man who was possessed.

Apr 25, 2024 • 1h 36m

This month, Molly and Cynthia focus on the importance of community. They bring in Paula Dranger, a licensed mental health professional who specializes in social work. The benefits of community are many, including healing, helping us reach our goals, and living a more intentional life.

Apr 24, 2024 • 1h 42m

Drawing on the gospel reading for the liturgy of the 5th Sunday of Great Lent, in which our Lord recounts his upcoming sufferings in detail, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon (OCA) calls upon us to “truly lay aside all earthly cares and crucify our minds with Christ” during this last week of Great Lent, and especially during Holy Week. His Beatitude goes on to point out that “each year Holy Week invites us back into the mystery of Christ, back into the authentic pattern of our life and salvation. We are not learning a new story, we are being called to experience and live more truly the story that has existed since before the beginning of time…If we allow ourselves to be transformed during this coming Holy Week, by the renewing of our minds, then we hope this renewal will remain with us throughout all the days of the coming year, and even into eternity.”

Apr 24, 2024 • 17 min

It is always better to give than to receive. When we try to help other people, we tend to forget their need to also be able to give.

Apr 24, 2024 • 51 min

Bobby Maddex interviews Hallvard Lid and Fr. Theodor Svane of The Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in Bergen, Norway, about the religious climate in Norway, the state of Orthodoxy there, and the pressing needs of their own Orthodox parish.

Apr 23, 2024 • 3h

As we approach Holy Week and will be contemplating the Passion of the Lord, Fr. Nick and Dr. Roxanne Louh are Dr. Jeannie's special guests this week to discuss the seven last statements of the Lord, the lessons we can learn from what He said and how we can apply that to our lives.