Shows
Enacting the KingdomFinale - E11 - The Hours at HomeIt's time to wrap up our series on The Hours at Home! We hope this has been as refreshing and freeing for you as it has been for us. So much of the emphasis in Orthodoxy can be on doing something "right" or "completely", but this series has been about how we can actually, in practical ways, engage in the daily prayer of the Church that makes sense of our experience of time and reconnects us to the natural cycle of the day, but also addresses how we live our life in the 21st century.Remember, e...2024-10-2431 minEnacting the KingdomNinth Hour - E09 - The Hours at HomeWe come now to the Ninth Hour, the last service of the day, and the time to re-collect ourselves after being disoriented by our many worldly cares and concerns during the day. Fans of "The Office" might transition from work by playing "Closing Time" (if you know, you know), but the Ninth Hour encourages us instead to use this time to focus on the theme of "return" — the cycle of the day returning towards beginning again, returning to our homes, the return of humanity to God's purposes.Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey remind us that these ho...2024-10-1030 minEnacting the KingdomMatins - E05 - The Hours at HomeIt is cockcrow, the time when light just begins to break through the darkness, and the time for Matins. But don't go out and buy your rooster just yet (Fr Yuri is still trying to return his!) — the goal of this series is to help you enact the services of the daily cycle at home in a practical and sustainable way.Thematically, Matins is the mirror image of Vespers, straddling the transition now from dark to light. This transition is a sacramental moment, a transformational act we are all invited to be the priests of, offering up th...2024-09-1227 minEnacting the KingdomMidnight Office - E04 - The Hours at HomeMidnight Office is a service that Orthodox Christians rarely do, if ever. But don't worry, we are not going to ask you to set an alarm in the wee hours of the morning, disrupting your much-needed rest! The question this series is attempting to answer is, "How do the Hours make sense in (and how do they help us make sense of) our lives?", and not, "How do we artificially liturgize throughout our day?".Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri explore the history of how the midnight office developed, discuss an ancient sleep pattern that fell into disuse (t...2024-09-0531 minEnacting the KingdomCompline - E03 - The Hours at HomeThe hymns and prayers of the Hours are intimately linked to the time of day, but also to our human experiences at that time of day. Compline is served in the evening, after supper, when the sun is fully set and our own biological rhythms are slowing down. The service invites us to silence, repentance and forgiveness - in fact, when done in the context of a parish or monastery, it concludes with a rite of forgiveness similar to that done as we enter into Lent on Forgiveness Sunday. After the Compline service, the monastics and faithful would retreat...2024-08-2930 minEnacting the KingdomVespers - E02 - The Hours at HomeIn this series, we are encouraging you to bring the services of the hours into your home, as a natural extension of communal and liturgical church life. Today's episode will focus on Vespers, that service that straddles the transition from day to evening, from light to darkness. ETK's first public season was a (very thorough!) season on this service, so if you want a deep detailed dive into Vespers, please go check that out on your favourite podcast streaming platform, but today we will approach it in a different way.Far from suggesting that you do Vespers i...2024-08-2237 minEnacting the KingdomSeries Introduction - E01 - The Hours at HomeThe average Orthodox Christian does not actually pray the services of the church at home, the continuing cycle of prayers that Christians have been praying since the early days of the church, but rather prays the morning and evening prayers prescribed in prayer books. This has created a disconnect between the individualized and privatized prayer life that we experience at home and the communal prayer we experience in the church.In this new series, Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri plan to confront this disconnect and encourage us to renew our participation in the cycle of...2024-08-1536 minEnacting the KingdomFinale - E13 - Narrative TheologyFr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri wrap up our series on Narrative Theology and the discussion of Samuel Wells' book "Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics" with an overview of what we've learned and how we should move forward with this knowledge.While we navigate and improvise the fourth act of this five act play, we must remain faithful to the first three acts as we move the story forward. As the church we can find ourselves safeguarding what we have inherited, neither adding nor subtracting from it, so that when the fifth act comes, Christ will f...2024-08-0134 minEnacting the KingdomWealth & Accumulation - E12 - Narrative TheologyUniquely among the topics we've addressed so far in this series, wealth and accumulation has been an issue that humans have struggled with for all of history. There's nothing new here. There are many biblical examples of what it looks like to block, accept and over-accept into the wider story of God, throughout the Old Testament and also through the words of our Lord himself.The fact that it is still considered an issue is suggestive of how pervasive and insidious this narrative and its givens are in our culture, and how incredibly difficult it is to se...2024-07-2530 minEnacting the KingdomSex & Gender - E10 - Narrative TheologyIn this episode, Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri tackle the topic "Sex & Gender" as they continue to run the issues chosen by our patrons through the improvisation model we've explored in this series. This method allows us to take on a certain way of being in which we faithfully, in every moment, live the fullness of the tradition we have received in the first three acts and which directs us towards the fifth and final act.When it comes to sex and gender, there are so many offers on the table, with unclear and changing definitions, and n...2024-07-1134 minEnacting the KingdomTranshumanism - E9 - Narrative TheologyOver the next few episodes, Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri will be addressing some of the thorny issues of our modern age, filtering them through the elements of narrative theology that we've been exploring over this series such as forming habits, assessing status, accepting, blocking, etc.Our patrons chose transhumanism as the first topic: a vision of moving beyond the constraints of mortality, illness and suffering, eradicating poverty and scarcity, and enhancing our condition and current capabilities, through the use of science and technology.Some Christians accept this without reservation as a rather hopeful...2024-07-0432 minEnacting the KingdomReincorporating the Lost - E8 - Narrative TheologyWhether through improv, songs or stories, audiences are delighted when the narrative draws to an end and elements that had been seemingly discarded are brought back into play. In fact, "Reincorporating the Lost" is necessary to bring a fulfilling conclusion to any story (just ask a child whose parent has attempted to summarize the ending to a plot!).As those lost things that we thought had been written out of the story start to re-appear, we must be aware of the final act drawing nearer, and as a church and as individuals joyfully incorporate those things back...2024-06-2731 minEnacting the KingdomReceiving Gifts - E7 - Narrative TheologyInstead of a binary decision between accepting gifts without discernment, or blocking them without engagement (neither of which would make for good improv theatre), there is also a third option, that of over-accepting, which focuses on the way we receive the gift. Rather than focus on what the gift IS, or what the gift is FOR, or even whether it is good or bad, we can focus on what the gift COULD BE. In the context of narrative theology, how can this gift be understood in a faithful way? What does the way we accept the gif...2024-06-2031 minEnacting the KingdomQuestioning Givens - E6 - Narrative TheologyIn the previous episode "Accepting & Blocking", we discussed the importance in improv of using the strategy of "Yes, and..." to further the narrative. Of course, there are multiple ways of saying yes, and often this requires us to question givens. The givens we assume can imprison the way we think and act, but when we question those givens we can receive them as gifts and re-connect to the wider narrative.There is ultimately only one unquestionable given: God and His story.Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss another maxim of improv theatre, "Don't be bound by...2024-06-1330 minEnacting the KingdomAccepting & Blocking - E5 - Narrative Theology"I'm not your mom, and you're actually a dog".A ridiculous reply, without a doubt (especially taken out of context, but you'll have to listen to the podcast for that). Tragically, the Church sounds precisely like this most of the time. A blocking response like this one is based on fear. Fear that we cannot let go of control of the narrative, fear that the story will not unfold in the right way. And what does that say about our ultimate trust in God? Accepting an offer, and moving the narrative forward, requires a "Ye...2024-06-0631 minEnacting the KingdomAssessing Status - E4 - Narrative Theology"Assessing Status" is a game that improv actors use to develop their skills, and it's also a game that we play daily as we interact with other people. It's part of the context of every relationship, every encounter.High and low status are neither good nor bad in and of themselves, but both are assumed as roles and can be used to move the narrative forward. Status is also complex and is hardly fixed — it shifts backwards and forwards between high and low as we interact with others.Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey expl...2024-05-3035 minEnacting the KingdomForming Habits - E3 - Narrative TheologyIn this episode, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey reflect on a chapter in Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics by Samuel Wells... well, Fr Yuri improvises his part in the reflection (and a good job he does, indeed!).We make a mistake when we think of ethics as only being issues and struggles that interrupt our "normal life". In fact, this view is entirely unbiblical and untraditional. We need to think of ethics as the ongoing practice of the Good, so that we have the instincts and habits in order so that we are always acting in a...2024-05-2333 minEnacting the KingdomDrama & Improvisation - E2 - Narrative TheologyIf life is a play, indeed a drama, what are our lines?Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri explore the analogy of God's story as a five act play, where we have intimate knowledge of the three acts that have come before, book-ended by intimate knowledge of the final act, while in the midst of act four. As Christians we often look for a script, or mistakenly think we already have and know the script, when in reality this is an unscripted act. We have to improvise. With utter fidelity, we must receive the tradition that has...2024-05-1635 minEnacting the KingdomDoing the Right Thing - E1 - Narrative TheologyWe enter into our new series, Narrative Theology, by considering what it means to do the right thing, and by what methods we should discern what the right thing is anyway. Ethics are based on stories such as what a human person is, what the goal of our being is, and what constitutes a good life. As Christians, our ethics are based on the greatest story of all: the story of God.Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss the different branches of ethics that many modern-day Christians subscribe to, and the ecclesial ethic that early Christians...2024-05-0931 minEnacting the KingdomFinale - E19 - Your Liturgical BibleWe come to the final episode of our series on Your Liturgical Bible, which has been focused on the pillars of the bible and its narrative themes, connecting what's written in the bible with what we do through ritual. We have seen that in the Orthodox church, liturgical worship is the primary way we experience the Scriptures, express our faith and experience our relationship with God. There is a dynamic relationship between the old and new covenant and our own participation in the Liturgy, a continuous interplay, an eternal present in which God acts.Fr Ge...2023-09-1834 minEnacting the KingdomImage of God - E16 - Your Liturgical BibleAs we see in the Scriptures, the Israelites had a very mature, deep and rich understanding of what it means to be an image of God. Interestingly, the word used for being an image of God is also the same word that is used for an idol, showing a duality we need to be cautious of, and the importance of ordering ourselves according to the divine and not according to our own flesh.Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri flesh out this idea (please forgive the pun!), as well as show how this biblical imagery is expressed liturgically a...2023-08-2830 minEnacting the KingdomFamily - E15 - Your Liturgical BibleChristians like to tout that the Bible is all about family values, but what do we really mean by that? In fact, the very first thing that happens in God's plan of salvation is that Abram is told to abandon his family and nation in order to form a new family by which, God promises, all families will be blessed.Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss this ambiguity around family that runs right through the Scriptures, the meaning and beauty of being adopted into God's family, and the family values that the Scriptures truly stand behind.2023-08-2129 minEnacting the KingdomResurrection - E14 - Your Liturgical BibleWhat did Second Temple Jews believe about Sheol, the realm of the dead, and resurrection? There are resurrection - or bodily resuscitation - accounts throughout the scriptures, so how did the various sects interpret those accounts? Were they considered symbolic, historic or prophetic, personal or communal?In this episode of Your Liturgical Bible, Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri search the scriptures to better understand how Christ's resurrection is set apart, and how we as Christians are called to proclaim and to live according to this truth - a sign of the new age, a permanent new way of...2023-08-1830 minEnacting the KingdomLife After Death - E13 - Your Liturgical BibleTypically, and sadly, when we hear the words "life after death", we think of what happens to our soul after our body dies. Maybe it even spurs us to make sure that we are doing the proper things, thinking the proper way, checking the right boxes, achieving a spiritual condition that will assure we are on the right side of that equation.The scriptural narrative of life after death shares a much deeper understanding, one of creation and new creation. This is not an individual story, but a communal one, and what we do in this wo...2023-07-3131 minEnacting the KingdomArk - E12 - Your Liturgical BibleWhen we hear the word "ark", many of us think of Noah or Moses (...or perhaps Indiana Jones). What is an ark? What are we meant to call to mind when we read about arks in the scriptures, and how does this biblical imagery express itself in our liturgical worship?Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri explore these questions, and caution that we are not meant to be stuck within an Old Testament understanding of the ark, but rather we are meant to acknowledge its fulfillment in Christ.In this seventh public season of Enacting the Ki...2023-07-2435 minEnacting the KingdomDivine Council - E11 - Your Liturgical BibleTime to get uncomfortable! Instead of trying to explain away the "lowercase g" gods, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey define what is meant by the "Divine Council", both in common parlance and also within the Orthodox context and understanding. As we read the scriptures and participate in the liturgy, it's important to understand what monotheism is, and what it isn't, so that we can engage in theosis and answer the invitation to the heavenly realm.In this seventh public season of Enacting the Kingdom, we are releasing a series on the Your Liturgical Bible that was previously on...2023-07-1732 minEnacting the KingdomWind - E10 - Your Liturgical BibleWind, breath and spirit. In English we have these three words, but there is just one word in the Hebrew (ruach) and the Greek (pneuma). In fact, there are many more metaphorical applications of this word, such as air, anger, blast, courage, despondency, quick-tempered, inspired, trustworthy and wrath.This spirit, breath and wind portrays God's action in the world - from the life-giving and animating spirit within all human beings, to the powerful blast that forcefully brings order to chaos. Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey explore this scriptural theme and how substituting some of these other wor...2023-07-1031 minEnacting the KingdomFire - E9 - Your Liturgical BibleWhen we think of fire in the Bible, we may come up with images of hellfire, the judgement of God and a casting away from His presence. In actuality, fire is used in scripture as a way of God revealing Himself and His holiness. Fire is God's presence which humans encounter, which refines and purifies - and in this way, it's not wrong to think of fire as being God's judgement. Could it be that those fires of hell are not a sign of God's absence, but rather of His presence? In the Orthodox tradition, we reframe our understanding of a...2023-07-0331 minEnacting the KingdomTrees - E8 - Your Liturgical BiblePeople are trees! Except it's a bit more nuanced than that because you need to also keep in mind... trees are people!Right from the Genesis story, we see that trees (and seeds) feature prominently in the scriptural narrative, and often mirror the human story. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri offer tools for your "biblical literacy toolbelt" to help you unpack the full meaning when you come across trees in the liturgy and the bible.In this seventh public season of Enacting the Kingdom, we are releasing a series on the Your Liturgical Bible th...2023-06-2631 minEnacting the KingdomWilderness - E7 - Your Liturgical BibleTo be human is to experience times of wilderness. That is, wilderness the way Israelites understood and lived it. In modern times we tend to think of wilderness as a lush getaway, a place of refuge from our urban environment, but in the Scriptural context it is a place of desolation and lack and need, a place of testing, and a time of drawing nearer to God, learning to be completely and utterly dependent on Him. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss how the theme of wilderness appears both in Scriptures and in our liturgical life.2023-06-1931 minEnacting the KingdomMountains - E6 - Your Liturgical BibleSymbolically, to be on a high place is to be on secure dry land, where creation flourishes and where God dwells among His people in an awesome and awful (or rather awe-full) way. In this episode, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey discuss the ways mountains appear in the Scriptures, how we understand the meaning of mountains throughout the scriptural story and how they come up in our liturgical life.In this seventh public season of Enacting the Kingdom, we are releasing a series on the Your Liturgical Bible that was previously only available to our patrons. If yo...2023-06-1231 minEnacting the KingdomWaters of Death - E5 - Your Liturgical BibleContinuing on with the theme of water, in this episode Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri plunge into the Waters of Death - the chaotic, deadly, stagnant waters that are the counterpoint to the lifegiving waters that were explored last episode. Throughout the bible, in Genesis, Exodus, the prophets and the gospel accounts, the power of water is revealed. More than that, the power of the one true God is revealed as the One who can calm the waters, the One who can enter in to the destructive waters and emerge not only unharmed, but having also transformed th...2023-06-0530 minEnacting the KingdomWaters of Life - E4 - Your Liturgical BibleWhile the themes of the waters of life and death are intertwined in the Scriptures, in this episode, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey explore the aspect of water that is life-giving and fruitful.From the creation account, through the prophets and into the New Testament, the Scriptures are woven through with experiences of living water. As Orthodox Christians, we enact this story in our liturgies, recalling the creational and healing purposes of water, and understanding that living water is intimately connected with those who are living according to God's purpose and totally dependent on His grace.
★ Sup...2023-05-2931 minEnacting the KingdomThe Forgotten Pillar - E3 - Your Liturgical Bible We have now gone through the seven pillars of biblical literacy as outlined by the Bible Project podcast, but there is a pillar that was missed. This forgotten pillar, or perhaps better called the Pillar of Pillars, is the bible as Liturgical Literature. Of course the bible precedes our Divine Liturgy, yet if the Liturgy is understood as the experience of who God is, of being with God and God with us, then we see that it is the very origin of the bible. Liturgy is the natural home of the bible. Liturgy is where we go when...2023-05-2230 minEnacting the KingdomPillars of Biblical Literacy - E2 - Your Liturgical Bible"Your Liturgical Bible" is our new series created just for our patrons. We will be exploring what the bible is - and what it's not. We will discuss how we're meant to read Scripture, how it connects with Liturgy and our life, and how we can use it to enact the Kingdom.In this second of half of our series introduction, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey explore the remaining pillars of biblical literacy which will help us approach Scripture properly: Communal Literature, Ancient Literature, Meditation Literature and Wisdom Literature.Please reference the Paradigm series by...2023-05-1532 minEnacting the KingdomYour Liturgical Bible - E1 - Series Introduction We are so excited to begin our new series created just for our patrons, Your Liturgical Bible. The Scriptures are the source material for our liturgical services, either directly or indirectly. The goal is to provide our listeners with the tools to read the Scriptures in a way that informs how we experience Liturgy, and then ultimately allows us to bring that Liturgy into our everyday life.There is another podcast, Bible Project, that does an excellent job of describing certain pillars of biblical literacy that help us approach Scripture properly. Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey take a lo...2023-05-0836 minEnacting the KingdomBecoming a Monastic - Desert Fathers and Mothers Patreon Re-Release E8 - FinaleIn our final episode on the sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey reflect on the impact these words can have on our modern lives. Even those sayings that deal with becoming a monastic (which at first may seem too far out of reach) can apply to us who live in the world, as we share a common call to asceticism.In this sixth season of Enacting the Kingdom, we are releasing a series on the Sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers that was previously only available to our patrons. If yo...2022-10-1731 minEnacting the KingdomDo These Three Things - Desert Fathers and Mothers Patreon Re-Release E7There are many sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers that mention "three essential things" of the spiritual life, and they are incredibly varied and often paradoxical. Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey discuss these as well as sayings that involve prayer, and the differing gifts of Christians.In this sixth season of Enacting the Kingdom, we are releasing a series on the Sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers that was previously only available to our patrons. If you like what you hear, and would like access to much more, please consider supporting our project by heading to...2022-10-1033 minEnacting the KingdomVirtues & Silence - Desert Fathers and Mothers Patreon Re-Release E6As we continue our series on the desert sayings, Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri explore the themes of virtues, charity and services of love, as well as solitude, silence and hesychia.Today's sayings prove to us again the true meaning of monasticism, which is rooted in monachos - singular focus - which is not the same as being by oneself. It is rather about the release of all things that get in the way of our capacity to show love. The singular aim of all that we do is God.In this sixth season of En...2022-10-0334 minEnacting the KingdomSimplicity - Desert Fathers and Mothers Patreon Re-Release E4Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri explore two themes in this fourth episode in our series on the Desert Sayings. The first is simplicity - the importance of always being a beginner, maintaining humility, practicing restraint and putting things in their proper place. The second theme is on spiritual elders and soul friends - those relationships where we can be known fully, and trust in each other's unconditional love and acceptance. In this modern world, how do we find someone we can trust and reveal ourselves to, so that we can engage in a relationship this way?In th...2022-09-1935 minEnacting the KingdomThe Head and the Heart - Desert Fathers and Mothers Patreon Re-Release E3What do the terms "the head" and "the heart" encompass? What does it mean to have the head descend into the heart? Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey discuss desert sayings related to heart-centered spirituality, as well as thoughts, desires and passions.It's so much easier to numb ourselves to the real work we are called to, with counterfeits that replace what is truly needed - but what comes after the struggle? Ineffable joy.In this sixth season of Enacting the Kingdom, we are releasing a series on the Sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mot...2022-09-1232 minEnacting the KingdomSeason 6 Introduction - Desert Fathers and Mothers Patreon Re-Release E1In this sixth season of Enacting the Kingdom, we are releasing a series on the Sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers that was previously only available to our patrons. If you like what you hear, and would like access to much more, please consider supporting our project by heading to patreon.com/enactingthekingdom and choosing a tier of support. We would love to have you join our growing community!Before diving into the sayings themselves, today Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri chat about where and when these holy men and women lived, why they lived that wa...2022-08-2930 minEnacting the KingdomThe Joy of Life - Liturgies of Life FinaleWe can be tempted to see our faith as being in competition with other aspects of our life, be that sports, consumerism, politics, theatre or music (among so many others), but that is not the way we are meant to approach life. We should not artificially divide the sacred and the secular. We are called to participate in all of these Liturgies of Life, entering into every aspect and sphere of human society, and transform them with God's story, informed by our participation in the Divine Liturgy. In this series finale, Fr Yuri reflects on what helped him most in...2022-07-1830 minEnacting the KingdomPolitical Ideology as Dogma - Liturgies of Life E22Ideology is the study of ideas, the study of their origin and nature. In this sense, we should never let our ideology, political or otherwise, become dogmatic. It should always be careful, considered, skeptical, and open to new ideas. And as Orthodox Christians, we should model how to hold dogma properly. Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey discuss this and also how to enter into conversations about today's issues with the proper mindset... and more than that, with perspective.Did you know that we have a private podcast just for our patrons? The private setting allows us to engag...2022-07-1131 minEnacting the KingdomScientism as Sacred Authority - Liturgies of Life E21In the last episode, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey discussed science as a cosmic story and how that story relates to the Gospel. This week, they discuss the problem of the phrase "science says...". Scientific pursuit can be taken to an extreme, and thought of as the only way of rendering truth, in a sense proclaiming scientism to be a sacred authority in itself. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri also speak about the positive form of scientism, which can be profoundly Christian, indeed!Did you know that we have a private podcast just for our patrons? The priv...2022-07-0432 minEnacting the KingdomHealth & Fitness as Telos - Liturgies of Life E19As Orthodox Christians, we participate in a story that has a telos, or end purpose, which is theosis. So what is the telos of health and fitness? Or has health and fitness become the end goal itself? In this day and age, when fitness centres sometimes stand in for churches as a place for community, transformation and purpose, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey discuss to what degree we should be participating in this particular Liturgy of Life.Did you know that we have a private podcast just for our patrons? The private setting allows us to engage open...2022-06-2031 minEnacting the KingdomDoctors as Priests - Liturgies of Life E18As Orthodox Christians, we do not artificially divide the body and the soul. There is a spiritual dimension to the medical care of our bodies and there is a physical dimension to spiritual care. In this episode, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey discuss the roles of priests and doctors, the blind trust in (or mistrust of) medical science, the prosperity gospel, and how we should approach every decision with the proper goal in mind - enacting the Kingdom in the here and now.Did you know that we have a private podcast just for our patrons? The pri...2022-06-1331 minEnacting the KingdomTheatre & Film as Liturgy - Liturgies of Life E17The Orthodox Liturgy is full of theatricality, so it's easy to draw parallels between it and film and theatre, although clearly the Liturgy is no mere performance. In this episode, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey explore how theatre and film are similar to and different from Liturgy, and most importantly how they are both intimately connected with the performance of our own lives. The social drama that is our own existence can be informed, and ultimately should be transformed, by entering into each unique event fully.This show only exists because of an active community of people jus...2022-06-0631 minEnacting the KingdomHarry Potter as Sacred Text - Liturgies of Life E15"Reading fiction doesn't help us escape the world, it helps us live in it" is the thesis of a podcast called Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, which meditates on pieces of the text almost as if they were Scripture. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri can certainly get behind the thesis - but to what degree should we participate in narrative this way? You may be surprised by their answers!Keep up to date with us by joining our mailing list at enactingthekingdom.com! Also, if you'd like to support this project, we invite you to join our...2022-05-2330 minEnacting the KingdomPopular Music as Worship - Liturgies of Life E14Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri speak about what draws us to the concert experience, and how this can also be found within the church (sometimes controversially)! Popular music today is asking profoundly religious questions - often not with satisfying answers - but when you look deeply, the ultimate answer, the Gospel message, can be pointed to. Of course, this requires us to engage critically with the music, an act that we rehearse in the Liturgy.Enacting the Kingdom is social media free, but you can still connect with us! Subscribe to our newsletter by heading to enactingthekingdom.com...2022-05-1634 minEnacting the KingdomNetflix as an Altar - Liturgies of Life E13Just as our churches orient us to where our attention should be, so do our homes. Where is the focal point, or the altar, of our spaces? Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri explore the various ways that streaming services, and entertainment in general, manifest as a liturgy in our life - and offer strategies to take control, and use it for Good.Enacting the Kingdom is social media free, but you can still connect with us! Subscribe to our newsletter by heading to enactingthekingdom.com. Also, if you'd like to access our private podcast, become a patron for...2022-05-0931 minEnacting the KingdomSports as Religion - Liturgies of Life E11Cathedrals, liturgical colours, pilgrimages, chanting, saints, relics - sports are clearly religious, and profoundly successful, at that. To what degree can Orthodox Christians engage with these rituals? Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri point to the good in sports, and also point beyond to the greater Good.Keep up to date with us by joining our mailing list at enactingthekingdom.com! Also, if you'd like to support this project, we invite you to join our patron community where we post private episodes on a variety of topics - including the more controversial ones. Head to patreon.com/enactingthekingdom and...2022-04-2534 minEnacting the KingdomWork/Life Balance - Liturgies of Life E10As our work becomes increasingly divorced from the way we live our lives, we are often posed with the question of work/life balance. But are work and life opposites that need to be balanced? Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey propose a different way to look at how we measure a good life, rooted in the purpose of Life itself.Keep up to date with us by joining our mailing list at enactingthekingdom.com! Also, if you'd like to support this project, we invite you to join our patron community where we post private episodes on a var...2022-04-1831 minEnacting the KingdomFood at Home - Liturgies of Life E9We all have our food rituals. Whether its having our weekday lunch solo in front of Netflix, or insisting on buttery popcorn for family movie night, these rituals take many forms. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri pose some questions we can use to gauge whether these food rituals, these liturgies, are helpful or detrimental to us, as well as offer advice on how to recapture these rituals to do them Right.Keep up to date with us by joining our mailing list at enactingthekingdom.com! Also, if you'd like to support this project, we invite you to joi...2022-04-1135 minEnacting the KingdomYou Are What You Desire - Liturgies of Life E8Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey discuss the world of advertising and the ways that it forms us liturgically. The thousands of ads we are exposed to every day work to create perceived voids within us that can only be filled by the products and services that are being offered. As much as we rationalize our decisions after the fact, really we have been programmed by desire. Even though we cannot change how humans function in this way, there is an alternative - and it can be found within the Church.As we're social media free, Patreon is the...2022-04-0432 minEnacting the KingdomDebt & Slavery - Liturgies of Life E6As we continue to consider the wider implications of our everyday rituals, in this episode Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss the normalization of debt. In fact, the whole economy is structured on debt. So what are the spiritual implications of financial debt? What is the liturgical dimension of debt, and how are we being formed by it? Are there ways to prophetically challenge the system?Enacting the Kingdom is social media free, but you can still connect with us! Subscribe to our newsletter by heading to enactingthekingdom.com. Also, if you'd like to access our private podcas...2022-03-2134 minEnacting the KingdomWhere Your Treasure Is... - Liturgies of Life E4"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". Or to put it in modern terms: "Show me your bank account's monthly transaction list, and I'll tell you where your loyalties lie."Where have we spent our money? Where have we spent our time? The answers to these questions will speak volumes about where our heart is. In this episode of the Liturgies of Life, Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri speak about the liturgy and pedagogy of the shopping mall, and how the shopping mall, sadly, often speaks to the heart more effectively than the Church. ...2022-03-0733 minEnacting the KingdomObserving the Sabbath - Patreon Re-Release E10Sunday is NOT the Sabbath. But why do so many Christians think that? And are we supposed to follow the rules of the Sabbath as Orthodox Christians? Join us as we chat with Dr Nicole Roccas about the Orthodox approach to observing the Sabbath!Dr. Nicole Roccas is a communications professional who has worked in both academic and nonprofit environments. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the Orthodox School of Theology at Trinity College (University of Toronto). Nicole has been a contributor to Ancient Faith Radio since 2015 as host of the Time Eternal podcast and blog...2022-02-071h 34Enacting the KingdomDungeons & Dragons & the Divine Liturgy - Patreon Re-Release E9Playing Dungeons & Dragons is participating in a narrative about wizards, magic, and enchantment. Worshipping in the Divine Liturgy is participating in the story of God's salvation. Are these two stories at odds? Tune in as we're joined by special guest Fr Anthony Perkins in an exploration of the purpose of narrative in the lives of Orthodox Christians.In our fourth season, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey are releasing episodes on a variety of topics that were previously only available to our patrons. If you like what you hear, and would like access to much more - including m...2022-01-311h 34Enacting the KingdomAbusing the Church Fathers - Patreon Re-Release E8You can't just proof text the Fathers, can you? Should the Church Fathers be read by anyone or just the experts? Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri explore these questions and more with our special guest Dr Daniel Opperwall!Dr Daniel Opperwall is an Orthodox Christian author, teacher, scholar, father and husband. He lives and writes in Hamilton, Ontario. With a broad spectrum of tastes and interests, Dr Opperwall's work ranges from academic studies in Church history and patristics (in which he holds his PhD) to critical essays, sci-fi and fantasy, literary fiction, poetry, and children's books. Dr Opper...2022-01-241h 32Enacting the KingdomWhy is Lent Such a Big Deal? - Patreon Re-Release E7Compared to the other fasting periods of the year, Great Lent has a much stronger presence, liturgically with its extra services and hymnography, but also with its severity. It was never prescribed biblically to Christians, so how did the Lenten practice form? Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss this and also connect how the pandemic has thrust all of us into an experience quite akin to the "wilderness" of Lent.In our fourth season, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey are releasing episodes on a variety of topics that were previously only available to our patrons. If you lik...2022-01-1733 minEnacting the KingdomAtheism & Orthodoxy - Patreon Re-Release E6In the East, we describe God as uncircumscribed. You cannot capture Him with any human thought or human word. You cannot place limits on Him. The very act of placing Him within a syllogism is flawed and therefore any arguments attempting to prove or disprove the existence of God inevitably fall short. What, if any, benefit is there to this type of debate?In our fourth season, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey are releasing episodes on a variety of topics that were previously only available to our patrons. If you like what you hear, and would like...2022-01-1037 minEnacting the KingdomWhen to Baptize Your Child - Patreon Re-Release E5Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss the often misunderstood concept of the purpose of infant baptism in the Orthodox Church.In our fourth season, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey are releasing episodes on a variety of topics that were previously only available to our patrons. If you like what you hear, and would like access to much more - including monthly livestreams - please consider supporting our project by heading to patreon.com/enactingthekingdom and choosing a tier of support. We would love to have you join our growing community.
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2022-01-0334 minEnacting the KingdomMyths & Mistakes of the Orthodox Church - Patreon Re-Release E4Myths and mistakes of the Orthodox Church... oof, this can be a touchy subject! But really what are myths? How are they formed? What significance do they have? What purpose do they serve? In our fourth season, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey are releasing episodes on a variety of topics that were previously only available to our patrons. If you like what you hear, and would like access to much more - including monthly livestreams - please consider supporting our project by heading to patreon.com/enactingthekingdom and choosing a tier of support. We would love to have yo...2021-12-2737 minEnacting the KingdomPraying for the Dead - Patreon Re-Release E3How does intercessory prayer work for the dead? For that matter, how does intercessory prayer work for the living? Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey explore the importance of praying for the dead, and the ways in which we do this regularly as Orthodox Christians.In our fourth season, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey are releasing episodes on a variety of topics that were previously only available to our patrons. If you like what you hear, and would like access to much more - including monthly livestreams - please consider supporting our project by heading to patreon.com/ena...2021-12-2030 minEnacting the KingdomAdvent in the Orthodox Church - Patreon Re-Release E2In Orthodox tradition there is a clear liturgical transition into the fast of Great Lent, but that seems to be largely missing in the Nativity Fast. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri help us look a little more carefully for the nuances of the Orthodox expressions of Advent - a period of waiting, or postponing, as we anticipate the coming of Christ. As this experience of Advent disappears in the West, it is becoming even more important for Orthodox Christians to witness the spirit of slowing down, desiring and longing for the feast.In our fourth season, Fr Yu...2021-12-1333 minEnacting the KingdomAre Ecumenical Councils Actually Important? - Patreon Re-Release E1How important really are ecumenical councils to the Church, and to the individual Orthodox Christian? Not surprisingly, the answer is complicated. The Christological truths that were declared as dogma are obviously central to our faith, but we must also remember that the councils took place in a certain time at a certain place within a certain historical context. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri explore both the essential truths and also the more problematic declarations in this episode!In our fourth season, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey are releasing episodes on a variety of topics that were previously onl...2021-12-0635 minEnacting the KingdomOnly the Beginning - Baptism E17 - Season FinaleWe wrap up the season with Fr Yuri asking Fr Geoffrey a series of questions about baptism, including how candidates and observers can participate fully in the service, and how this participation moves beyond the service as we enact the Kingdom in our daily lives.Thank you for listening to this public episode of our podcast! If you'd like see this project continue, please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/enactingthekingdom. We just introduced a new entry level of support which we hope will enable more of you to join our community. We regularly post episodes jus...2021-11-2937 minEnacting the KingdomBut I'm Different! - Baptism E16 - Exceptional CasesThere are many scenarios that require pastoral flexibility when receiving someone into the Church. Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey explore many of these cases and describe how the Church approaches each one.Thank you for listening to this public episode of our podcast! If you'd like see this project continue, please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/enactingthekingdom. We just introduced a new entry level of support which we hope will enable more of you to join our community. We regularly post episodes just for our patrons, and host monthly livestreams with fun and expert guests. We ho...2021-11-2238 minEnacting the KingdomNew Age Orthodoxy - Baptism E13 - The Scripture Readings"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?" The prokeimenon sets the tone for all of the scripture readings at the point in the baptism. As difficult as this is to live out, if we truly understood what baptism is, we would know that there really is nothing for us to fear. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri We hope you enjoyed this public episode of Enacting the Kingdom. We also regularly post private episodes for our patrons, covering a wide variety of serious and fun topics. We'd love to have you join our commun...2021-11-0134 minEnacting the KingdomMy Secret Sin - Baptism E11 - Psalm 31Psalm 31 reflects the sheer joy of one who has come from being miserable in the hiddenness of their sin to being completely enveloped in God's mercy, protected and hidden within Him. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri walk through the psalm verses, showing how they connect to what has come before in the service, and point to what is coming.Thank you so much for listening to this public episode of our podcast, we hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to support this project, and gain access to the private portion of our podcast, please he...2021-10-1833 minEnacting the KingdomDipped into the Kingdom - Baptism E10 - BaptismThe whole story has been building up to this moment, but really the baptism (or "dipping") is as quick as passing through a gate. And it really is a gateway - a passing through death to Life. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss this, and also touch on the controversial immersion debate.We hope you enjoyed this part of our public offering! If you have appreciated this project so far and would like to support our work going forward, become a patron at patreon.com/enactingthekingdom. There are multiple tiers of support, and you will receive acce...2021-10-1135 minEnacting the KingdomSpa Day - Baptism E9 - Blessing the OilWater, oil, candles, incense - the makings of a good spa day, or the elements of a sacrament? The use of oil in baptism certainly gets less "press" than the use of water, but the anointing contains so much depth of meaning. Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss the prayers during the blessing of the oil and the anointing itself.We hope you've received benefit from this public offering of our podcast! If you're interested in supporting this project, and obtaining access to a growing backlog of private episodes and monthly livestreams, please head over to patreon.com...2021-10-0431 minEnacting the KingdomAnamnesis, Epiclesis, & Consecration - Baptism E8 - Blessing the Water Part IIThis week, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey discuss the blessing of the water, when the presbyter breathes on the water (recalling God's breath upon the waters at the moment of creation) and the powerful moment when the presbyter dips his fingers and makes the sign of the cross (recalling the power and authority we all call upon when making the sign of the cross). They also make an argument for reading the Scriptures regularly in order to use them to inform the story of our own lives.We hope you enjoyed listening to this "doozy" of an e...2021-09-2731 minEnacting the KingdomNo Word is Sufficient - Baptism E7 - Blessing the Water Part I"Great are You, O Lord, and marvelous are Your works, and there is no word which suffices to hymn Your wonders" No word is sufficient, but that doesn't stop us from trying! We are still moved to anamnesis, epiclesis and consecration (don't worry, Fr Geoffrey explains those terms!).This week, Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss the prayer which follows the Litany of Peace, a key moment in the baptismal service which is full of poetry and beauty. It is ecclesiological, eschatological, and cosmological.Thanks for listening to another episode of our public offering! If you...2021-09-2032 minEnacting the KingdomPeace & Creation - Baptism E6 - Litany of PeaceSo we begin the discussion of the "baptism proper", with the Great Litany, or Litany of Peace. Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey have already recorded 5 episodes walking through the Great Litany, so please head to Enacting the Kingdom's season one if you're interested in an even more in-depth discussion on how this litany developed, how we can actively engage in it, and how we can bring it into our lives.In this episode, we explore the Great Litany and the concept of Shalom in the context of the beginning of the baptismal service, along with its special petitions, a...2021-09-1347 minEnacting the KingdomSpit on the Devil - Baptism E5 - Denouncing the Devil & Proclaiming ChristThis week we explore what is essentially a declaration of war against the devil and utter submission to the one true King and God. It is the complete renunciation of anything that can come between us and God, and the utter affirmation and acceptance of everything that unites us to Christ.We hope you've enjoyed this public episode of Enacting the Kingdom! Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey also regularly post on our private podcast, solely for supporters of this project. If you are interested in joining our community, please head to patreon.com/enactingthekingdom and choose a t...2021-09-0635 minEnacting the KingdomSpinning Heads - Baptism E4 - ExorcismsThis week, Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey tackle the prayers of exorcism in the baptismal service. Hollywood would have us believe that exorcisms are all spinning heads and weeping and gnashing of teeth, as if its a battle between good and evil. The truth is, the battle has already been won.To listen in to the episode on Spiritual Warfare, along with a growing number of other episodes on our private podcast, please head over to patreon.com/enactingthekingdom and choose a tier of support. Not only do we release private episodes every week, but we also hos...2021-08-3034 minEnacting the KingdomDating the Church - Baptism E3 - What is a Catechumen?Fr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri compare the catechumenate to dating - albeit dating exclusively - and discuss how this period of preparation is the most loving way to receive a new member into the church. To listen to the patron-only episode on Spiritual Warfare, please head to www.patreon.com/enactingthekingdom and choose a tier of support. We'd love to have you join our community there.
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2021-08-2337 minEnacting the KingdomChildbirth & Purity - Baptism E2 - Prayers for a New Mother & ChildFr Geoffrey and Fr Yuri discuss how the prayers for mother and child, which exist outside of the baptismal service, have changed through the centuries – and also discuss how the prayers might change in the future.***We hope you enjoy this public offering of Enacting the Kingdom! We also regularly post content on our private podcast for those who choose to support our project. If you'd like to become a patron, please head over to www.patreon.com/enactingthekingdom. We'd love for you to become part of our growing community!***
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2021-08-1634 minEnacting the KingdomWhat Do You Really See? - Song of Symeon E6 - Enacting the KingdomWe hope you enjoyed this mini-series on the Song of Symeon! If you would like to support this project, gain access to our private podcasts and connect with Fr Yuri and Fr Geoffrey, please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/enactingthekingdom. We would love to have you join our growing community.Just ignore this code jargon and click on the "Become a Patron" link below it!Become a Patron!
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2021-07-1932 minEnacting the KingdomMeeting the Needs of Our People: Defining Autocephaly with Fr Bohdan Hladio - Double FeatureIn the second half of this double feature we'll be tackling the issues between Ukraine and Russia, and solving the problems of the Orthodox Church in America - it'll be that simple, really! To listen in, become a patron by clicking on the link below or heading to patreon.com/enactingthekingdom! We'd love to have you join our growing community.Become a Patron!
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2021-07-0544 min
The Prying Priest PodcastFaith & Film - Braden SiemensBraden & Fr Yuri discuss the film's which have had an impact on their spiritual lives. 2020-12-2147 minThe Prying Priest PodcastMonica McDonaldOriginally from Corunna, Ontario, Monica McDonald was raised Roman Catholic but has recently begun to peer down other spiritual paths to build a more deep and dynamic relationship with that part of herself. Along with being a wife and dog mama, she loves finding beauty in the natural world as well as creating jewelry and art in her spare time. Monica has previously worked in Toronto as a makeup artist in the entertainment industry but moved to Hamilton 4 years ago where she currently works at Architect Hair Design and Hendry’s Barbershop (with Yuri!) as a barber.2020-12-1446 minEnacting the KingdomAncient Patterns - Kathisma E3 - Historical DevelopmentDesert vs City - Fr. Geoffrey and Fr. Yuri explore the historical development of different forms of worship and how they have come to be they way they are today. 2020-11-2333 minEnacting the KingdomPsalms, Songs & Automobiles - Kathisma E2 - Biblical ContextKathisma means "to sit" and refers to portions of the book of Psalms as used liturgically. Fr. Geoffrey and Fr. Yuri help contextualize this form of prayer within its Biblical context.2020-11-1636 minEnacting the KingdomAre You at Peace? - Litany of Peace E6 - Enacting the KingdomIn this Episode Fr. Geoffrey and Fr. Yuri explain different ways in which the Litany of Peace can influence our lives outside of Church.2020-11-0224 minThe Prying Priest PodcastDirect Message Update from Fr. Yuri - October 26th, 20202020-10-2704 min
Enacting the KingdomWho's Actually Praying? - Litany of Peace E5 - Liturgical ParticipationFr. Geoffrey and Fr. Yuri explore the differing liturgical roles of the Deacon, Presbyter, and Congregation during the Litany of Peace2020-10-2632 min
Enacting the KingdomSetting the Mood - Litany of Peace E4 - Narrative TrajectoryFr. Geoffrey and Fr. Yuri contextualize the Litany of Peace within the narrative structure of Vespers. 2020-10-1931 min
Enacting the KingdomLate Bloomer - Litany of Peace E3 - Historical DevelopmentFr. Geoffrey and Fr. Yuri investigate the historical development of the Litany of Peace2020-10-1230 min
Enacting the KingdomPeace is our Purpose - Litany of Peace E2 - Biblical ContextFr. Geoffrey and Fr. Yuri explore the Biblical foundations of the Litany of Peace.2020-10-0550 min
Enacting the KingdomPeace on Earth - Litany of Peace E1 - Series PreviewFr. Geoffrey and Fr. Yuri preview the discussions they've already recorded about the Litany of Peace. 2020-09-2821 min
Enacting the KingdomBeing Born at Death - Psalm 103 E6 - Enacting the KingdomFr. Geoffrey & Fr. Yuri discuss how Psalm 103 at Vespers can effect our lives outside the walls of the Church.2020-09-2145 min
Enacting the KingdomCircles & Censing - Psalm 103 E5 - Liturgical ParticipationFr. Geoffrey & Fr. Yuri discuss how the assembled community experiences Psalm 103 at Vespers through Liturgical participation.2020-09-1454 min
Enacting the KingdomLights, Camera, Action! - Psalm 103 E4 - Narrative TrajectoryFr. Geoffrey & Fr. Yuri discuss the narrative purpose and meaning of having Psalm 103 as the beginning psalm of Vespers2020-09-0736 min
Enacting the KingdomEveryone's Doing It - Psalm 103 E3 - Historical DevelopmentFr. Geoffrey & Fr. Yuri discuss the historical circumstances that led to the placing of Psalm 103 at the beginning of Vespers. 2020-08-3121 min
The Prying Priest PodcastHot Take - Kenton Dyck on the Celibacy of PriestsIn this Hot Take Kenton and Yuri discuss the concept of priestly celibacy and the struggles that pastors have in feeling connected to their own Church communities. 2020-08-2711 min
The Prying Priest PodcastHot Take - Justin Koop on his problems with Orthodox ChristianityIn today’s Hot Take Fr. Yuri asks Justin Koop to explain the problems he has with Orthodox Christianity and what stops him from joining it. 2020-08-2008 min
Enacting the KingdomSetting the Stage - Psalm 103 E1 - Series PreviewIn this episode Fr. Geoffrey and Fr. Yuri lay the groundwork in anticipation for a deep dive into the study of Psalm 103 at the beginning of vespers. 2020-08-1719 min