The Illumined Heart

In this interview Fr David Lowell, the Executive Director of San Francisco's first homeless shelter for families with children, takes us behind the scenes and through the history, mission and "Orthodox ethos" of this prominent and well-known Orthodox ministry.

The centrality of human life in the created world is under attack on all fronts. At the very heart of the debate is whether humans have intrinsic value greater than animals, minerals and lifeless matter. Orthodox convert, lawyer, writer and "human exceptionalism" advocate Wesley J. Smith is at the vortex of this debate, and discusses the current issues that will determine whether our culture views human life as unique in the years ahead.

Molly Sabourin, wife, mother and writer discusses her new book, Close To Home, with Illumined Heart host Kevin Allen. They talk about the craft of writing, how a mother of four found time to complete a book, and how Molly has learned to integrate all of the many jobs of a wife and mother without burning out, or forgetting "the most needful thing" - life in Christ!

Kevin continues his Lenten discussion with Fr. Stephen Freeman.

This special, two-part The Illumined Heart Lenten interview is with Fr. Stephen Freeman, popular blogger and pod caster. Fr. Stephen discusses questions like how Lent forms us for "inner knowledge of God." This is a mid-Lent "treat" you won't want to miss.

We are taught how to live and die in Christ as Eastern Orthodox Christians. In this edition of The Illumined Heart, Antiochian Auxiliary Bishop, the Right Reverend Thomas (Joseph) shares with us valuable lessons on how to prepare for and care for those who are near the end of their physical journey.

There is a growing movement afoot to create elementary and secondary "Orthodox schools" in the U.S. Kevin discusses this development with veteran educator Bryan Smith, the Director of the Orthodox Schools Association and the Director-Headmaster of Saint Peter's Classic School in Fort Worth, Texas.

Kevin concludes his interview with Veronica Hughes.

Veronica Hughes was a 20-year seeker, practitioner and teacher of hatha yoga, EST, Hinduism, occult, metaphysics, psychic healing, out of body travel, spirit channeling, Tibetan Buddhism and Theosophy before re-discovering her childhood faith in Christ in the Orthodox Church. She and host Kevin Allen discuss her search for personal transformation and what led her to eastern Christianity. Veronica chronicles her experience in the book The Pearl of Great Price.

Everyone in Christendom claims noted Christian author C.S. Lewis as one of their own! Met. Kallistos Ware calls him an "anonymous Orthodox". In this edition of the Illumined Heart, C.S. Lewis scholar Chris Jensen and Kevin Allen examine key beliefs of C.S. Lewis and find that he is far more patristic in ethos and praxis than he is a "mere" Christian! (Click here to read Chris Jensen's article on Lewis.)