Everyday Orthodox

Maria Silva is the daughter of Fr. Gregory and Pres. Lisa Koo, the priest and presvytera at the Life-Giving Spring Monastery in Dunlap, CA. After college, she spent three months working at the Orthodox orphanage mission in Kolkata, India, run by Sr. Nektaria Paradisi. Inspired by Sister's incredible work, she and a handful of volunteers created a nonprofit organization called Fili, Inc. to support the Indian mission as well as other worthy humanitarian causes. Maria and her husband were chanters and youth leaders at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, but three years ago, they made the decision to leave the bustling San Francisco Bay Area to raise their four girls close to the monastery in the countryside. At their home, Silver Goose Family Farms, they have a collection of pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, guineas, dogs and cats, and a milk cow named Cookie. Maria homeschools her children with the help and encouragement from the neighboring Orthodox community who also does the same. She also writes children's books: Katherine and the Monastery and Katherine and the Desert Monastery chronicle the experience of visiting the Life-Giving Spring Monastery and St. Anthony Monastery in Arizona through the eyes of children. She is working on several more books whenever there is a moment between animals, children, and the rest of the farm!

Ginny grew up in the Philippines with her missionary parents, making her a TCK (Third Culture Kid). She has been an editor, writer, project manager, and occasional podcaster for more years than she cares to admit. Twenty-six years ago, her family was chrismated into the Orthodox Christian faith, and shortly afterwards she edited the book Our Heart's True Home: Fourteen Warm Inspiring Stories of Women Discovering the Ancient Christian Faith. From 9-5, she is the editor of Antiochian.org and works for St. Vladimir's Seminary's Advancement team. She also serves on the advisory boards of Classical Learning Resource Center (CLRC) and Orthodox Christians for Life (OCLife).

Justin Bosl planned to become a Catholic priest, but God had something else in store for him. Find out all about his wife, Annemarie, and their journey to Orthodoxy! Now they have four kids, and Justin is a partner at an Oakland, California, law firm who chants and teaches adult religious education. He just finished the Diaconate program at Holy Cross Seminary, and may be ordained a deacon one day soon! Very active both in his parish and the larger Orthodox Church, Justin serves on the Board of FOCUS North America, and St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center.

Elissa Bjeletich talks with Lisa Rigisich! Lisa found her calling as a high school English teacher and was blessed with two wonderful sons. Life took a turn when her husband underwent a series of unsuccessful brain surgeries, leaving him with memory and stimuli-filtering challenges. Learnt how these unexpected struggles have borne fruit in her spiritual life, and how she's finding God's peace in the midst of the storms

Eddie is a brilliant and fascinating Orthodox convert who develops and oversees programs to address trauma and violence in Chicago.

This eloquent Orthodox teacher in Forth Worth, Texas, talks about teaching during a pandemic.

He is the new Chief Content Officer for Ancient Faith Ministries. He is the author of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy and other Ancient Faith books. He is the co-host of the Areopagus podcast and the Amon Sul podcast. He is Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick.

This week, meet Mikaila Demetroulis, live on Everyday Orthodox! Get to know this bright young Orthodox woman! A longtime camp counselor and now a traveling nurse, Mikaila is just starting out in life.

Malena is a delightful Serbian Orthodox woman in Northern California who tells us about growing up in a close community, her various female role models, and the mission opportunities she has enjoyed.

Malena is a delightful Serbian Orthodox woman in Northern California who tells us about growing up in a close community, her various female role models, and the mission opportunities she has enjoyed.