For we know all things work for the greater good of those who love God. Fr. John Parker and Archimandrite Sergius.

Dr. David Ford, Professor of Church History at St Tikhon's Seminary, reads a sermon by St. Epiphanius of Cyprus, 4th Century, titled "On the Burial of the Divine Body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Joseph of Arimathaea, and on the Lord's Descent into Hades, which, after His Saving Passion, Wonderously Ensued on the Holy and Great Saturday." Dr. Ford has read this sermon for the past 15 years over the Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, on Holy Friday night.

Fr. John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and Fr. Chad Hatfield, President of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, share their own callings to the priesthood and discuss that vital question, "How do I know if the Lord is calling me?"

Please see the attachment associated with this episode which is a PDF of a helpful article by Mother Christophora on Fostering Vocations in the Church.

Dr. David C. Ford, Professor of Church History at St. Tikhon's Seminary, and Fr. John Parker, Dean of the Seminary, discuss the events leading up to the crisis, precipitated by St. John Chrysostom's unjust and unexpected deposition from his office of Archbishop of Constantinople, and his subsequent exile to eastern Asia Minor. Then Dr. David gives a dramatic reading from Letter Seven, from his translation of St. John Chrysostom's Letters to St. Olympia, in which St. John expresses his great concern and wise assistance to help St. Olympia keep up her spirits in this devastating time. May his words assist and inspire us in the midst of our own crisis precipitated by the spread of the corona virus.

We are in an unusual time in our world as we see a global pandemic sweep from country to country. It was also a very difficult and surreal time in Antioch at the beginning of Great Lent in 386, after the tax riot and the desecration of the statues of Emperor Theodosius the Great and his family. The impending wrathful retribution hung over the terrified city like a suspended sword. It was in this time that St. John Chrysostom preached his amazing Homilies on the Statues, winning the undying love of the flock for his eloquent words of encouragement. This all happened during his first Great Lent as a priest, and as the main preacher in the cathedral church in Antioch. We can all benefit from these words today dramatically read for us by faculty member Dr. David Ford.

Archimandrite Sergius, the Abbot of St Tikhon’s Monastery—the oldest Orthodox monastery in North America—has recently posted a few short reflections on Facebook titled “The Liturgy of the Heart.” Fr. John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary, hosts Fr. Sergius on a live show on Thursday, April 2, at 3 PM Eastern on Ancient Faith Radio. From one of Fr. Sergius’ recent videos: “Let us dust off the altar of our heart, place the Gospel back in the center, take what is given to us in this life (both good and bad) and offer it to God in gratitude (εὐχαριστία). When we do so, we will find that we will receive Christ Himself in return, and every encounter with Christ is Pascha.”

We are in an unusual time in our world as we see a global pandemic sweep from country to country. It was also a very difficult and surreal time in Antioch at the beginning of Great Lent in 386, after the tax riot and the desecration of the statues of Emperor Theodosius the Great and his family. The impending wrathful retribution hung over the terrified city like a suspended sword. It was in this time that St. John Chrysostom preached his amazing Homilies on the Statues, winning the undying love of the flock for his eloquent words of encouragement. This all happened during his first Great Lent as a priest, and as the main preacher in the cathedral church in Antioch. We can all benefit from these words today dramatically read for us by faculty member Dr. David Ford.

Fr. Colin grew up as the son of a Lutheran pastor, and became Orthodox shortly before joining the Marine Corps. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, Fr. Colin met his wife and eventually came to seminary. He is now a priest in the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese and a third-year seminarian.

Fr. Silouan Burns grew up as a Protestant Christian with a calling to the ministry. After serving as a pastor in various Churches and living in the Philippines, he found the Orthodox Church. He is now a third-year seminarian and a priest in the Orthodox Church in America.

Fr. Colin grew up as the son of a Lutheran pastor, and became Orthodox shortly before joining the Marine Corps. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, Fr. Colin met his wife and eventually came to seminary. He is now a priest in the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese and a third-year seminarian.