Rev. Fr. Argey George is the Vicar of St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church Hollywood, Florida--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapters

0:00:00 Intro & Prayer

0:00:38 Father's Background and Calling to Priesthood

0:11:06 Church's View of Addiction

0:16:08 How an Addiction is Formed

0:22:26 Is an Addiction a Sin?

0:24:42 How to Heal an Addiction?

0:33:46 Experiencing Love of Christ as an Addict

0:35:27 Role of Sacramental Life in Healing

0:37:22 Addict Unworthy to Receive the Eucharist?

0:40:03 Confession as Healing, Not Judgment

0:42:38 Approach to Therapy

0:48:30 Easing Into Prayer and Fasting

0:51:33 Family Members that are Addicts

0:59:05 Message to Someone Feeling Ashamed and Trapped

1:05:22 Outro & Prayer

Rev. Fr. Mathew Alexander is the Youth Minister of the Dallas Area (Diocese of South-West America)

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An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy

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Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro & Prayer

00:00:29 - Father's Background and Calling to Priesthood

00:05:16 - Life of St. Mary

00:15:47 - Falling Asleep of St. Mary

00:20:15 - She is the Theotokos

00:22:04 - Virginity of St. Mary

00:27:37 - Typologies of St. Mary

00:30:36 - St. Mary's Role in Salvation

00:36:12 - Too Much Emphasis on St. Mary?

00:40:08 - St. Mary is the Chief Among Saints

00:41:19 - Didn't St. Mary Have An Easier Time Than the Apostles?

00:47:46 - Sinlessness of St. Mary

00:52:29 - What From St. Mary Can We Apply To Our Lives?

00:58:51 - Outro & Prayer

Rev. Fr. Joshua Varughese is the Assistant Vicar of St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church Austin and Youth Minister of St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church Houston--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro & Prayer

00:00:46 - Father's Background and Calling to Priesthood

00:05:48 - What is Suffering?

00:07:23 - Different Types of Suffering

00:15:05 - Is Suffering a Punishment or Test of Faith?

00:20:33 - Why Do Some Suffer More Than Others?

00:24:46 - Why Would a Loving God Allow Suffering?

00:32:54 - Why Allow People to Leave the Church (Church

Hurt)?

00:40:00 - Building Trust in God in Times of Suffering

00:43:28 - Joy and Sorrow Coexist in Suffering

00:46:31 - Implications of Christ's Suffering for Our Suffering

00:52:32 - How Achen Personally Dealt With Suffering

00:57:04 - What Does Calling On God in Suffering Look Like?

01:02:38 - Role of Us as a Church When Seeing Others Suffer

01:08:43 - Outro & Prayer

Cheriyan Achen is the Vicar of St. John the Baptist Malankara Orthodox Church North Houston and Assistant Vicar of St. Stephen Malankara Orthodox Church Houston

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An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.

This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.

Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapters

00:00 - Intro & Prayer

01:13 - Father's Background and Calling to Priesthood

07:44 - What is Spiritual Discipline?

09:06 - Importance of Spiritual Discipline

11:58 - How Spiritual Discipline Should Look Like

15:38 - How Serving As A Priest Strengthened Father's Spiritual Discipline

18:42 - Discipline in Times of Struggle and Suffering

26:38 - Relationship Between Discipline and Emotion

30:08 - Role of Fasting

33:04 - Father's Vegan Diet

39:57 - Discipline is Freedom

42:55 - Failing in Discipline

51:05 - Easing Into Discipline

55:54 - Encouraging Each Other As A Church

01:01:20 - Outro & Prayer

His Holiness sits down with us to talk about his personal life and answer the most pressing questions about the ChurchHis Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews lll is the 22nd Malankara Metropolitan & Ninth Catholicos of the East (Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church)

An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.

Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy

Translation: "Thirumeni" means Bishop

Chapters

00:00 - Intro & Prayer

01:02 - When did you take ownership of your faith?

03:26 - Did you have any role models or spiritual fathers that influenced you?

04:46 - Why a monastic life?

07:50 - Thirumeni's experience in Russia and Rome

15:06 - Thirumeni's emphasis on charity work

22:44 - Thoughts on consecrating bishops that are raised outside of India

24:38 - Process of canonizing a saint

28:36 - Can lay people be canonized as a saint?

30:46 - Strengthening relationships with the other churches

36:36 - Orthodox-Jacobite Issue

42:13 - Vision of Evangelization

45:11 - Effects of Nationalism in India

46:48 - Church's future in North America

50:38 - Words of encouragement

53:09 - Outro & Prayer

Deacon Toby John serves as the Youth Minister of St. Mary Malankara Orthodox Church, General Secretary for the MGOCSM of the Diocese of South-West America, and Prisoner Spiritual Support Manager for Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00 - Intro & Prayer00:45 - What is the Orthodox Understanding of Intercession?04:04 - Intercession in the Early Church06:42 - What is a Saint? 08:22 - The Church's teaching on lowercase-s saints09:49 - Isn't praying to God enough? 14:29 - Difference between venerating a saint and worshipping God17:01 - Is venerating a saint prayer? 17:55 - How are we allowed to pray to those that are dead?22:30 - Bodily Resurrection23:55 - If the saints are human, how are they physically able to listen to our prayers? 27:06 - Can we ask non-canonized departed to pray for us?29:07 - Why do we pray for the departed? Is their fate not already sealed?32:24 - Is praying to saints essential in our prayer life?34:38 - Do different saints have different roles? 36:19 - How do we keep our prayer life Christ-centered while praying to saints? 41:43 - How did you come to the ministry?43:25 - Deacon's experience as a prison minister46:09 - Outro & Prayer

Rev. Fr. Jake Kurian serves as the Vicar of St. Stephen Orthodox Church Houston, Texas and Assistant Vicar of Christ the Good Shepherd Orthodox Church Houston, Texas

Orthodox Prayer for a Spouse

O All-Good Lord, I know that any lasting happiness in my life depends upon loving You with all my soul and with all my heart, and upon acting according to Your Holy Will in all things. Direct my soul, O my God, and fill my heart; I want to please You alone, for You are my Creator and God. Preserve me from pride and self-love; may reason, modesty, and chastity adorn me. Idleness is hateful to You and breeds vice; give me the inclination to perform fruitful labor and bless my work. Since Your law commands people to live in chaste matrimonial union, lead me, Holy Father, to this blessed calling, not for the satisfaction of my passions, but for the fulfillment of Your commandment. For You have said: It is not good that man should be alone, and, having created a woman as a helper, blessed them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen. 1:28; 2:18). Hear my humble prayer which I send up to You from the depths of my heart. Give me a spouse who is honest and pious, so that we, through our love and harmony, can praise You, the Compassionate God; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, forever and ever. Amin.

Translation from video:

Achen - FatherSyros - Members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

Marthos - Members of the Marthoma Church

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An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro & Prayer

(00:34) What is the Purpose of Marriage?

(01:48) Orthodox View of Dating

(03:14) Being Self-Aware

(05:17) Living Together before Marriage

(08:06) How an ideal relationship looks like before marriage?

(9:39) Signs of being marriage-ready

(15:24) Why is pre-marital sex wrong?

(20:47) Does every marriage need to produce kids?

(23:45) Birth Control

(26:53) Being open to kids

(29:31) Your Spouse is the Biggest Decision You Make & Qualities to Look for and Build

(35:12) Importance of Family, Friends, and Spiritual Father for a Relationship

(37:56) Being Equally Yoked & Relationship of people from different faiths

(45:22) Next Steps After Finding a Partner

(46:46) Steps After Marriage & Spiritual Father

(52:15) Divorce

(53:42) Does everyone need to get married?

(56:32) Outro & Prayer

In Episode 3, Teji Achen talks about the Orthodox understanding of faith and works. Teji Achen is an Assistant Vicar of St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Cathedral Houston, Texas--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00 - Intro & Prayer00:44 - Faith-based and Work-based Salvation4:06 - Faithfulness over Faith5:37 - Thief on the Cross7:37 - Ephesians 2 and James 215:26 - Works and Repentance are Essential for Salvation27:04 - Jesus' Saving Work is Ongoing30:14 - Holy Spirit Working Outside of the Church41:03 - Believing in Jesus or Being Faithful?1:03:40 - Christ talked about Works-Based Salvation1:08:45 - Legalism is Paganism1:18:12 - Outro & Prayer

In Episode 2, Jake Achen talks about worship in the Malankara Orthodox Church. Jake Achen is the Vicar of St. Stephen Orthodox Church Houston and Assistant Vicar of Christ the Good Shepherd Church Houston.

We're joined by Rev. Fr. Christopher Mathew for episode 1 of the Divine Ascent Podcast! He is the Vicar of Christ the Good Shepherd Orthodox Church Houston, and Assistant Vicar of St. John the Baptist Indian Orthodox Church North Houston. We navigate through who Jesus Christ is in this episode!