Everyday Orthodox

Deacon Nicholas Kotar is a writer of epic fantasy inspired by Russian fairy tales, a freelance translator from Russian to English, the resident conductor of Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary choir in Jordanville, NY, and a semi-professional vocalist.

Fr. Ilya fell in love with pilgrimage and has found a way to live the dream: he leads pilgrims on Orthodox Tours to holy sites all over the world! We hear how he found his way into such a life and all about his travels to the Holy Land and Greece, Russia and the Balkans, Italy, Ireland, and Western Europe.

Bobby Maddex is AFR's fearless station manager, and his sister, Molly Sabourin, is the original Orthodox influencer and all-around creative spirit. Hear about their new book club and how these two siblings get along.

Fr. Seraphim talks about his very interesting life and work— from the small mission he's built into a beautiful and strong parish, to a robust prison ministry which carries him all over the state, to his work with the Church in Africa!

Kathryn is the mother of five daughters with a son on the way, and the Senior Advisor to the Illinois Attorney General on issues related to violence prevention and crime victims. She and Elissa talk about how she lives out the faith supporting crime survivors.

Summer is the mother of five, a student of theology, and an autistic woman parenting autistic children. How can our Holy Church welcome and support everyone, no matter their disabilities?

Alexis Pappas works in youth ministries and religious education at her parish in Birmingham, Alabama. Her joy is contagious.

Hannah Vazquez is wife to Will and mother of four, ages 9-2, with one on the way. They live in rural Indiana where they have space to garden and let the kids run free. She enjoys making her home a haven while trying to keep Christ at the center. She has contemplated seeking the kingdom of God while fulfilling her motherly responsibilities for several years and continues to seek and learn—and this is the subject matter of her new AFR podcast All These Things,

Christine Hallberg is an Orthodox Christian living in Cary, NC. Chris has played a lot of roles in her life. Wife and mother, actor and educator, movie buff and current church school director. In 2013, at the age of 36, she got one more role she wasn’t counting on—breast cancer patient and survivor. Join us as we discuss the spiritual side of Chris’s journey through breast cancer.

Elissa Bjeletich will be talking with Fr. Nebojsa Pantic, a man who was sure he would never be a priest.