The Inner Altar: Exploring Patristic Spirituality

Description: Welcome to st shenouda podcast on our 4th season discussing The Inner Altar, dedicated to exploring the depths of Orthodox spirituality and the foundational teachings of the Church Fathers. This series delves into Patristics, the study of early Christian theologians from the first to the eighth centuries who defended the faith and established the intellectual landscape of Christianity. We journey beyond mere academic study to discover the "heart," which the sources describe as the spiritual centre of the human person and the inner altar where one truly meets God.

In each episode, we examine the human being as a psychosomatic unity—a complete integration of body and soul where the soul permeates and enlivens every part of the physical frame. We explore the mysterious faculty of the nous (the spiritual intellect), which is meant to descend from the brain into the heart to achieve ceaseless prayer and spiritual awareness. Our discussions cover the "difficult road to salvation," viewing it not as an escape but as a transformation of the heart from a place of chaotic passions and "unnatural" desires into a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Listeners will gain practical insights into the ascetical disciplines of the Church—such as fasting, stillness (hesychia), and the Jesus Prayer—which serve as tools for "radical house cleaning" and the purification of the heart. We also tackle the reality of the heart as a battlefield, where the line between good and evil passes through every individual, requiring constant repentance and recalibration to stay on the trajectory toward the Kingdom of Heaven.

Whether you are interested in the historical development of Christian creeds or seeking a deeper, interior life, this podcast offers a guide to "finding the heart," where, as Saint John Chrysostom taught, you will also find the Kingdom of Heaven.