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.

The Meekness of God

Ever wonder what the phrase, “the divine energies,” means? Fr. Stephen Freeman 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!

Providence and the Music of All Creation

Fr. Stephen Freeman offers some honest thoughts on the sacrament of marriage and its importance in our culture.

Marriage Is a Lifetime of Suffering

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.

Walking in a Lost World

Fr. Stephen Freeman offers thoughts on the virtue of contentment and its place in the spiritual life.

The Goal of a Lesser Life

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.

Drag My Soul to Paradise

Fr. Stephen Freeman examines in some depth why success and progress are not the right measures of the spiritual life.

Second Thoughts on Success

The Orthodox understanding of the spiritual life is unlike most things that we think about in our culture. There is not a "technique" that produces "results." Instead, it is a way of life. Fr. Stephen Freeman explores this understanding.

The Slow Road to Heaven - Why the Spiritual Life Doesn’t “Work”

Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the role of knowledge in our Orthodox faith, including the importance of what we do not know.

What To Do With What You Know

In the liturgy we pray that we have a "Christian ending to our life: painless, unashamed, and peaceful; and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ." Father Stephen Freeman looks carefully at the true nature of that judgment seat. It might surprise you.

Before the Judgment Seat of Christ

Thoughts and reflections on Orthodox theology and life - Thoughts and reflections on Orthodox theology and life from Fr. Stephen Freeman.

Outstanding

the best podcast

Glory to God

Fr. Stephen talks about eight different ways that the divided, "two-storey" universe, a world divided between sacred and secular, affect us as Christians, and offers reflections on how we should see and cope with each of them. This is the largest summary of his work to date.

Eight Things I Should Know

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.

All the Fullness of God

Fr. Stephen looks at how it is possible to distort an icon and how the distortions within our own hearts affect what we see.

The Icon as Truth

Fr. Stephen examines the association between existence and truth as  set forth in the work of a number of modern Orthodox writers, as  well as the Fathers.

Existence and Truth

The Orthodox faith is grounded in the experience of knowing God. Fr. Stephen looks at the boundaries of such knowledge and simple path to such knowledge given to us in the Tradition of the Church.

Knowledge of God

Continuing with his illuminating series, in part four Fr. Stephen Freeman discusses those (both non-Orthodox and Orthodox) for whom knowledge of God is but a relationship with a book (albeit a sacred book) or with ideas about God.  These people are what Fr. Freeman calls "practical atheists."  "Although a person may espouse a belief in God, it's quite possible for that belief to be so removed from everyday life that God's non-existence would make little difference."

Christianity in a One-Storey Universe - Part 4; Christian Atheism

Fr. Stephen looks at one of the most treasured notions of the modern world.

We Will Not Make the World a Better Place

Fr. Stephen contrasts what we think of as "normal" with the vision of the Christian life described in Scripture and the Orthodox faith.

The Normal Course of Things

Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the end of time and how it is thought about in Orthodox theology. It is profoundly important in our every day life.

The End of Time Is Probably Not What You Think

Fr. Stephen speaks about the paradox of prayer and the personal character it has in our life as well as the personal character of beauty and the resolution of all paradox.

The Paradox of Prayer and the Revelation of Beauty

Fr. Stephen reflects on the "theology of the image," particularly its importance in St. Paul.

The Theology of the Image

Fr. Stephen looks at the virtue of humility and its place in the life of Orthodox Christianity, suggesting that it is our only path towards union with God.

Humility - The Only Path Forward for Orthodoxy

Are "mental" and "spiritual" the same thing? Fr. Stephen looks at how modern misunderstandings of the spiritual life can distort our Orthodox practices.

Get Out of Your Mind

Is the me in my head, the voice that rattles on, the same thing as my soul? What is my identity in Christ?

Whose Psyche Is It?

Fr. Stephen looks at the Orthodox understanding of the wrath of God and the patristic teaching that His wrath is nothing other than His love given to us. The wrath is our own hatred for His love. It is an understanding of the good God who loves mankind.

The Wrath of God

Fr. Stephen reflects on the complexity of the human heart through the work of Dostoevsky.

The Marriage of Love and Hate

Fr. Stephen speaks at length about the place of Orthodoxy within the modern world. Orthodox history is unknown to most Americans but has something to say to them and to help them in the healing of their own culture.

History, Post-Modernism, and Orthodoxy

Fr. Stephen describes the spiritual warfare that Christians are to engage in as a battle within the heart—which is where we find the very depths of heaven.

Struggling in a One-Storey Universe

Fr. Stephen looks at Holy Thursday and the sacrament of the Eucharist and the meaning of Christ's words, "Take, eat."

Take, Eat

This podcast is part one of three where Fr. Stephen explores the topic of Orthodoxy and our sexual/gendered existence.

Male and Female Created He Them – Part One

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The best podcast episodes on parenting. Interviewing experts and talking through common issues surrounding parenting. This topic is filled with important lessons and insights for anyone listening. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!