Location:
United States
Description:
Thoughts and reflections on Orthodox theology and life
Twitter:
@ancientfaith
Language:
English
Contact:
800-967-7377
Email:
contact@ancientfaith.com
Episodes
Abraham at the End of the World
6/23/2025
Fr. Stephen looks at the story of the “Hospitality of Abraham” (Gen. 18) and his conversation with God concerning Sodom and Gomorrah, and sees in it a lesson for our time.
Duration:00:15:35
Gifts and Talents on the Road to Hell
5/29/2025
Modern management theory has crept its way into Christian thought over the years, suggesting that parishes are best served when we are sorted into our gifts and talents slots. Fr. Stephen looks instead at the Biblical description of the Church in which our weaknesses rather than our strengths are to be valued.
Duration:00:11:24
Behind Every Rock and Tree - An Allegory
7/22/2024
Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the “allegorical” or “symbolic” reading of Scripture - and its importance for our daily life.
Duration:00:20:21
Love and Freedom
6/22/2024
Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the mystery of love and freedom, and the limits God places on Himself as He raises us, by love, to be His “equals."
Duration:00:08:17
A Mediated Presence - Thank God
12/1/2023
Fr. Stephen Freeman shares about the importance of the sacraments in our lives - particularly in light of the Bible verse that says, “There is but one mediator between God and man, the man, Christ Jesus.”
Duration:00:11:32
Transformation and Forgiveness
10/13/2023
Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at our transformation into the image of Christ and the forgiveness of our sins in terms of concrete reality - thinking through the work that God is doing in us.
Duration:00:17:35
The Singular Goodness of God
9/11/2023
It is one thing to believe that God exists. But beyond that, it is important, even vital, that God is good. Fr. Stephen Freeman explores this importance.
Duration:00:14:04
The Peaceable Kingdom in a World at War
9/2/2023
Fr. Stephen Freeman reflects on the nature of the Kingdom of God and its distinct reality when compared to the wars and struggles of the secularized world.
Duration:00:10:30
The Meekness of God
5/11/2023
We rarely think of God as meek. Instead, we picture Him as mighty, powerful, and overwhelming. Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at a number of clear indications in Scripture concerning what we know of God through the revelation of Christ. God is meek.
Duration:00:09:25
Providence and the Music of All Creation
12/15/2022
Ever wonder what the phrase, “the Divine Energies,” means? Fr. Stephen looks at its inner depths and its constant place in our lives. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His mercy endures forever!
Duration:00:18:29
Marriage Is a Lifetime of Suffering
10/3/2022
Fr. Stephen Freeman offers some honest thoughts on the sacrament of marriage and its importance in our culture.
Duration:00:20:28
Will there be Faith on the Earth?
9/16/2022
Fr. Stephen speaks of the difficulties and trials of those coming to faith in God and the challenges facing our children.
Duration:00:08:33
The One-Storey Universe and Icons: Music from Another Room
9/7/2022
Fr. Stephen Freeman speaks on icons as doors that open onto other rooms. He also speaks about how we view evil in this understanding of God's world.
Duration:00:13:00
Nothing But the Whole Truth
8/26/2022
Fr. Stephen looks at Orthodoxy and our lives as a matter of the "whole" truth, rather than a "one-sidedness." He urges us to press forward into the whole truth of Christ.
Duration:00:09:32
All the Fullness of God
8/25/2022
In this podcast, Fr. Stephen speaks about the Orthodox use of the word "fullness," both as a description of the Church but also, and especially, as a description of what we long for in the Christian life.
Duration:00:09:21
Walking in a Lost World
8/24/2022
Fr. Stephen Freeman describes a reading project, comparing the writings of Richard Leigh Fermor (1933), to those of Nick Hunt (2011) as they made walks across Europe. Fermor's descriptions belong to a world that has disappeared, while those of Hunt seem thin and attenuated. They point towards much deeper realities of our modern world.
Duration:00:11:58
The Goal of a Lesser Life
7/31/2022
Fr. Stephen Freeman offers thoughts on the virtue of contentment and its place in the spiritual life.
Duration:00:11:51
Drag My Soul to Paradise
7/15/2022
Fr. Stephen Freeman offers some thoughts on one of the more common Morning Prayers for the Orthodox, in which we pray, “O Lord, Save me whether I want it or not.” It is a hopeful meditation.
Duration:00:12:01
Second Thoughts on Success
12/24/2021
Fr. Stephen Freeman examines in some depth why success and progress are not the right measures of the spiritual life.
Duration:00:16:05
The Community We All Need
12/24/2021
Community is rooted in a mutual need, and so depends on our weakness. Fr. Stephen Freeman tells us that this is God's intention for the Church.
Duration:00:11:31