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Fr Thomas Hopko Podcasts are increasingly becoming an important way to access Christian teachings. This series will review a presenter’s style and content. Fr Thomas Hopko (1939-2015) was Dean at St Vladimir’s seminary in the United States of America between 1992-2002. He was a prolific podcaster. Many of his talks can be found on Ancient Faith Radio (AFR) or on CD (via St Vladimir’s Seminary Press). Fr Thomas Hopko was a respected theologian and a gifted public speaker. In his podcasts, he weaves together historical facts, theological truths and dogmas to point the listener along the path of salvation. His [...]

Blessed are You, O Christ our God   Apolytikion of the Feast (Mode pl. 4) “Blessed are You, O Christ our God. You made the fishermen all-wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit and through them You drew the world into Your net O Lover of mankind, glory to You.” Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἑορτῆς (Ἦχος πλ. δʹ) «Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἀναδείξας, καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι.»   This Dismissal Hymn of Pentecost is chanted at the end of the Vespers service on [...]

St Ieronymos of Simonopetra St Ieronymos of Simonopetra is one of the most recent saints of our Church, having been canonised on 28 November 2019. He was born with the name John in 1871 in Reis-Dere of Asia Minor. His parents, Nicholas and Maria, were very pious Christians, and many members of John’s family became monks and nuns. From a young age, John grew up in poverty and learnt to depend entirely on the Lord. This dependence, along with the joy which he found in it, brought him to the Holy Mountain in 1888. He became a novice at Simonopetra [...]

Psalm 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. These words start the book of Psalms. In the words of St Nicodemus the Hagiorite, “It contains a blessing and praise of the pious and righteous, but for the impious and sinful is condemnation and unhappiness.” St Athanasius the Great says that David the prophet and king devotes this first Psalm to Christ, who was anticipated to be born from his lineage. He alone can be considered blessed because he was outside of all of the death and corruption of sin. Through this psalm, however, [...]

What Key Tips can Help a Teenager Navigate Life? The teenage years can be very special and beautiful. Teenagers often have very noble ideals. Teenagers however can make wrong choices, which they later deeply regret. The only way to live is to be close to Christ and to His Church. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Blessed Augustine states, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” What follows is some advice from a priest who has learnt a lot not only from [...]