Dear listeners and friends,

I want to share a quick update to explain our unexpected absence. The podcasts are on a bit of a pause — but I'll be back soon.

I was diagnosed this summer with a benign acoustic neuroma, and i underwent surgery to remove it. The big challenge was to be a loss of hearing on one side -- I have a cool cyborg implant to share with you when I get back!

While the procedure itself went well, recovery hasn’t been as smooth or as simple as we hoped. i've had challenges requiring physical, speech and occupational therapy -- I'm learning more patience! and it has brought me into contact with very wonderful people i wouldn't have met otherwise, and it's giving me the chance to be on the receiving side of such beautiful prayers and gestures!

I’m healing every day, and slowly but surely I will work my way back to you!

Thank you for your patience, your support, and of course for your prayers! Our God always provides, and He continues to do so.

With love in Christ,

Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Corina is a wife, mother to 7 grown children, and grandmother to 3! A licensed midwife, author, speaker, and advocate, her recently published book, ‘The Chicken with the Red Feather’, portrays the true story of a family's journey with Huntington’s Disease

Matthew Robb Brown was born in Michigan. He has been a published poet since 1969 and has had many jobs. He became Orthodox in 1998. He is a subdeacon, and his wife, Kay, choir director at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Fort Wayne, IN. He has 3 books of poetry on Amazon.

Abraham and Desirre Ghebremicael are from Eritrea–a small nation along the coast between Ethiopia and the Red Sea–but are raising their kids in Austin, Texas. We'll hear about Abe's journey and about how he finds that life in Texas compares to his homeland.

Dn. Anthony is originally from England, but married his wife Ruth in southern Africa. The two moved to East Asia, spending years in Hong Kong and Singapore, then emigrated to the US. They have been instrumental in building a vibrant Orthodox community in Appalachia.

Sophia Kellachow joined us in June, and we ran out of time as we talked about the sudden death of her husband and the conversion that followed. Join us as we welcome Sophia back to hear the rest of the story, and to learn about the wisdom these years have yielded.

From life in war-torn Berlin to the relative peace working in insurance in Canada, Mother Karitina was looking for something more—and she found it in a monastery. (Once she confirmed that she could still eat chocolate in the monastery, she was in!)

Sophia Kellachow is a vibrant Orthodox Christian who gives of her time, talents, and love freely. She seeks out those who are hurting and need encouragement and shows Christ's love. Passionate about the Church, she uses her gifts to teach and lead youth ministry.

It's time to get to know our new live show by producer, Mike DeGan! He has been with Ancient Faith Radio for just a few months, but he's already part of the family.

Matt's the oldest of four brothers who are just as comfortable weaving through traffic as hiking trails. Son of a southern Baptist preacher, Matt loves films and is a successful stuntman. He met his wife on a tv set, and they have three daughters.