Ancient Faith Ministries

Jun 2, 2023 • 23 min

A story written by Fr. Nicolaie.

Jun 2, 2023 • 2h 38m

On June 9-11, 2016, Ancient Faith Ministries sponsored a Writers and Podcasters Conference at the St. Iakavos Retreat Center near Kenosha, WI. Here Christian Gonzales and Steven Christoforou extensively discussed the popular TV series The Simpsons, exploring the show’s humor and its relevance to Christianity and the Orthodox Faith.

May 26, 2023 • 2h 2m

The Sunday of the Paralytic coincides with the commemoration of Saint Alexis Toth this year, and the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield weaves together the missionary work of St Alexis, the need for help expressed by our post-pandemic catechumens, and the healing help our Lord gave to the man lying by the pool for 38 years, encouraging us to see the common thread of the Lord’s great saving work for His people.

May 26, 2023 • 4h 51m

Dr. Jenkins welcomes his friend Fr. Anthony Perkins, (Good Guys Wear Black), a student of Political Science and a teacher, to talk about what makes a good government for human flourishing, but more importantly, Orthodox flourishing. The discussion covers the state of the university, what Fr. Anthony is up to next, and why the state is not as vital as we might think.

May 25, 2023 • 2h 27m

When we look at the story of the Myrrhbearing Women, we see that they offered the best of what they could to the Lord, despite the detraction of the disciples. Likewise, advises Fr Bogdan Bucur, we must always strive to offer the best of ourselves—even if it feels like we don’t have much to offer to God, inviting Him to move and work in us. The Lord accepts us even in our sinfulness, turning our humble offerings into something greater and more whole to fulfill His purpose.

May 24, 2023

On Thomas Sunday, Fr Vincent Temirov encourages us to remember the apostle Thomas not only for his initial doubt in the Resurrection of Christ, but more so for the heartfelt confession he made upon encountering the risen Lord. “My Lord and my God” is one of the most complete acknowledgements of Christ and His nature in the Gospels; we are called to contemplate our Lord’s Resurrection, so that we too may confess Christ like Thomas, in fullness of faith.

May 24, 2023 • 57 min

When Lynnette’s husband contracted a painful case of shingles, neither of them thought to use holy oil in his journey of healing. Why not? This episode explores three reasons—faith background, culture, and personal doubt—that many of us don’t connect the physical and the spiritual in prayer.

May 24, 2023 • 28 min

Presvytera Melanie DiStefano interviews Fully Human Steering Committee member, Annie Konidaris. Annie shares her top lessons learned as a caregiver to her 53-year-old Autistic son Nikos, the way God's hand provided for her through a personal encounter with a contemporary Saint decades ago, and how parents and church communities can better embrace people with disabilities.

May 23, 2023 • 2h 9m

The Paschal Sermon by St John Chrysostom highlights a central tenet of our faith as Christians, that death has been overcome by Christ’s Resurrection. For we Christians do not take the popular stance that somehow death is just a natural part of life or something to just be accepted, says Fr Bogdan Bucur. Death is most unnatural and most certainly not God’s ultimate intention for us—instead, He invites us to eternal life with Him. Our faith and hope in the resurrection unto life is what truly sets us apart as Christians.

May 23, 2023 • 3h 13m

This line of the Lord's Prayer has many levels of meaning. The interpretation of one word in particular, rendered in the King James Bible as "daily," has sometimes been interpreted by the Fathers differently. Are we asking for ordinary food? Join the discussion!

May 22, 2023 • 2h 5m

When we hear the Gospel readings and sing the hymns of Holy Thursday which say so much about the betrayal and inhumanity of Judas, we must also heed the inherent warning, says Fr Bogdan Bucur–without humility of heart and trust in the glory and goodness of God, we too fall away from Him as did Judas. We must lament our sinfulness yet approach with hope, knowing that the Lord’s mercy overcomes all sins when we repent with our whole heart.

May 16, 2023 • 2h 27m

In the May Filled With Less podcast, Molly and Cynthia bring you the second half of their interview with Paul and Cindy Karos on creating boundaries as Orthodox Christians. Cynthia shares free tweaks you can make on a daily basis that will make a big difference in your health, and Molly explains how important it is to make daily goals each morning.

May 16, 2023 • 2h 53m

Why ask for the "coming" of God's kingdom? Is that a wish for the Second Coming or a call for us to make the kingdom present? Can God's will not be done but opposed? Join our continued discussion of the Lord's Prayer.

May 13, 2023 • 1h 50m

On Palm Sunday, we see our Lord arrive in Jerusalem as king - not as an earthly king, exulting in his own power, but as our Lord, God, and Savior, humble yet mighty, fulfilling all prophecy about the Messiah. The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield points out that the disciples spread their coats on an unbridled, wild foal, which was considered unclean by Jews of that time, and Jesus enters Jerusalem on this foal. We are to identify with this unclean, wild young animal - tamed and honored to bear our Lord in triumph.

May 12, 2023 • 5h 9m

In this episode Dr. Jenkins welcomes Robin Phillips and Joshua Pauling, discussing Robin's new book, Rediscovering the Goodness of Creation: A manual for recovering Gnostics (https://store.ancientfaith.com/rediscovering-the-goodness-of-creation-a-manual-for-recovering-gnostics/). Robin and Joshua are working on a book treating technology and the Faith, out later this year from Basilian Media & Publishing. The conversation roams across the modern map of unreality, from theological liberalism to the virtual world."

May 10, 2023 • 32 min

Reflections written by Fr. Nicolaie.

May 9, 2023 • 2h 57m

As we continue our study of the Lord's Prayer, we ask why we have a petition that God's name be kept holy? What does that mean? Does God need us to bless him? Why does the Bible speak about the "name" of God?

May 4, 2023 • 4h 9m

Every church does some things well and struggles with others. In Part 2, Join Bill Marianes for a recommended step-by-step parish strategic planning process.

May 3, 2023 • 58 min

Hymns about the three Holy Youths in the furnace keep popping up in Orthodox services. Their placement seems random, but it’s not. In this episode Lynnette discusses the meaning and symbolism in this story, as well as the sections of the Book of Daniel that are missing from Protestant Bibles.

May 2, 2023 • 2h 54m

After addressing God as "Father," why do we describe his "location"? What is the purpose of saying that God is in "heaven"? Can there be any real purpose in that? Join us as we join the Fathers and continue to study their spiritual explanations of the Lord's Prayer.