Everyday Orthodox

Meet Irene Perez, an iconographer and mom originally from Venezuela. Irene's family remains back home even as Venezuela crumbles. Irene came to the United States and found Orthodoxy through a complex and fascinating path, and today she teaches iconography and is raising her teenage son with her husband, Simon.

Get ready to know Basil and Nicole Roccas from Toronto. This podcasting pair is fascinating! In this episode, Elissa asks how they met, and how they found themselves starting their new husband-and-wife podcast, Help My Unbelief, which explores the chasm between belief and doubt. Basil and Nicole will be leading a workshop on infertility grief in marriage at the GOA's Center for Family Care's Pastoral Challenges in Marriage Conference, Jan 22-25 in Houston.

Joni is funny and smart, she's a cancer survivor, a mom, and a Sunday School teacher—and she's also an artist with a show opening soon at Fordham in New York City! Joni's father was a renowned iconographer, and her own art uses images and inspiration from Byzantine art and iconography, blending them with modern images to beautiful and profound effect. Check out her art here.

Joni is funny and smart, she's a cancer survivor, a mom, and a Sunday School teacher—and she's also an artist with a show opening soon at Fordham in New York City! Joni's father was a renowned iconographer, and her own art uses images and inspiration from Byzantine art and iconography, blending them with modern images to beautiful and profound effect. Check out her art here.

You'll enjoy Elissa's conversation with Dr. Tim Patitsas, ethics professor at Holy Cross Seminary in Brookline, MA. You'll hear about his upbringing in Kent, Ohio, his relationship with urban planning author Jane Jacobs, his work with Beauty First Films, and a new very non traditional calendar you may want to see.

Elissa interviews Kh. Jocelyn Mathewes, a fine artist and image-maker in rural Tennessee who cooperates with the sun to create gorgeous cyanotypes.

Jamey Bennett visits Elissa's Austin studio! Jamey's rap group Royal Ruckus released their latest album, Unexpected Joy (dedicated to the Holy Theotokos), on the Feast of the Dormition—and they're in Austin for a release party. Join us as we talk to Jamey about the journey that led him to become so active in the Orthodox Church and the independent hip-hop scene.

Elissa interviews Kh. Jocelyn Mathewes, a fine artist and image-maker in rural Tennessee who cooperates with the sun to create gorgeous cyanotypes.

Thomaida Hudanish joins Elissa Bjeletich for a fascinating discussion about outreach, evangelism, Orthodox films, and a new calendar unlike any you've seen before.

She saw a vision of St. Basil and now she credits him for bringing her through cancer. Kate Stevenson is Elissa Bjeletich's special guest who is a cancer survivor and energetic youth worker.