Dr. Jacobs returns to the podcast with a personal update on his time away, news about the upcoming East West Series, and reflections from Holy Week, Pascha, and Bright Week on Mount Athos. In this episode, he shares stories from Vatopedi Monastery, discusses miracles, relics, and monastic life, and offers insight into how these experiences challenge modern skepticism and deepen faith.

Support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

Leave a comment on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIZVUy5v32M

Breakwater Festival 2026 | 19–21 June | London:

I’ll be speaking at Breakwater Festival 2026, a 3-day Estuary gathering focused on bringing online conversations into real-life dialogue and connection. This year’s theme, Cross Pollination: Conversing Across Religious Lines, explores how beliefs engage across difference in a pluralistic world.

Join me and other speakers in London — Early Bird tickets are available now: https://www.thebreakwaternetwork.com/upcoming-event

Chapters:

00:00 I'm back

00:13 Why I disappeared for Lent and Mount Athos

02:33 What this episode covers

03:00 East West Series update

04:53 Production timeline and release plan

05:54 Fundraising and pre-orders

07:16 Why the East West Series matters

09:35 Who the series is for: converts, inquirers, and online debate

11:45 Vatopedi Monastery endorsement announcement

14:05 Podcast facelift and rebrand

16:25 New 30-minute “Coffee with Dr. Jacobs” episodes

21:07 Topic requests, comments, and sharing

23:30 Website simplification and one-stop hub

24:20 Mount Athos reflections begin

25:45 Third trip to Mount Athos and Holy Week overview

28:05 Visiting Elder Paisios’ hermitage

30:32 Other monasteries and the capital of Athos

32:55 Daily monastic rhythm: Matins, Vespers, and Compline

35:19 Holy Week, Pascha, and the intensity of Athos

37:41 The washing of the feet service

40:09 Pascha procession and the all-night liturgy

42:31 Holy Week exhaustion and conversations with monks

45:00 Bright Week procession and blessing of the waters

47:25 Pizza on Mount Athos

49:48 Relics, miracles, and confronting modern skepticism

54:29 The Belt of the Virgin Mary

56:49 The True Cross and miraculous yeast

59:16 St. John Chrysostom’s incorrupt ear

01:04:00 The Panagia Paramythia miracle icon

01:08:44 Skepticism, belief, and re-enchantment

01:13:26 Why skepticism feels safe

01:15:41 Belief, faith, and how we live

01:20:23 Why people chase the paranormal

01:24:59 Culture, plausibility, and belief

01:34:40 Cyprus, Lazarus, and his relics

01:39:23 Great Lavra, John the Baptist, and Athanasius the Athonite

01:44:17 The bullet hole icon story

01:46:42 The disobedient monk and the blackened hand

01:53:46 Why Mount Athos belongs to the Virgin Mary

01:56:15 Final thoughts and East West Series support

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