Young Penitent

Today we welcome to the channel best-selling author Michael Witcoff, who has just recently published his third book titled "Fascism Viewed From the Cross." With this book Michael is firmly establishing himself as an author, following the publication of his first book "On the Masons and Their Lies" and his second book "Theopoetica." His latest work is a side by side comparison of the Orthodox approach to political life and three nationalist movements from the 20th century. This book is especially timely because the political environment of today has many similarities to the environments that led the creation of nationalist movements in the past. Thus by studying these historical movements we can better understand our situation today and how we ought to approach them as Orthodox Christians.

Brother Nathanael is a monastic with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Of Russia (ROCOR) where he is blessed by his Bishop, Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco, to pursue his public ministry.

On Sunday, June 25th, 2023, I conducted this interview with "The Unknown Iconographer." The subject would only agree to be interviewed on the condition of anonymity, in keeping with the ancient iconographic tradition. The iconographer tells of his journey as an Okie who became a Christian and moved to Russia in the mid-1990's soon after the fall of the Soviet Union. He came to Russia to perform works of charity, such as feeding the hungry, but eventually was exposed to Orthodox Christianity and began to study iconography. He studied under two Master iconographers: Maxim Chrnychov in Moscow and Sergei Vershinin in Siberia. After being told that he had "the grace of a housepainter with the brush" and going through a year of obedience, he was finally allowed to pick up a brush and begin painting. He learned how to stop "copying" icons and rather began "composing" them. He was told to follow the path of the "silent liturgy" and the "music of color." He has now repatriated to the United States and continues to paint icons.