Explore every episode of the podcast Christian Saints Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for Christian Saints Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
Rows per page:
50
1–50 of 171
Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Open the Doors, Gather As The People
11 sept. 2026
01:10:01
00:00 Introduction 07:22 The History of The Church is the history of Israel 27:35 The Life of The Church is the pursuit of holiness 36:52 Faithfulness is not blind credulity, it is hope we have seen evidence 42:47 Faithfulness is emulating God, not “Nature” 52:56 Being The Church, being The Temple, is being God’s chosen people 62:36 The culture changes when we live the faith ~~~ Open the Doors, Gather As The People S8E9 ~~~ In this episode, Fr. Symeon Kees & James John Marks discuss the role of the laity in The Church with a special focus on the ecclesiological new year, which will occur between recording & publishing this conversation. ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:
https://pomog.org/prayers-after-holy-communion-en/ - Post communion prayer about fire & cleansing
Scripture materials for this episode:
Exodus 19:1-9 - The calling of The Children of Israel
Hebrews 11:1 - Hope is essential to faithfulness
1 Peter 1:13-25 - The calling of The Church
1 Peter 2:1-12 - Relating to our discussion about the altar ~~~ #orthodoxChristianity #OrthodoxChurch #laity #spirituallife
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Thine own of Thine own, we offer unto Thee
28 août 2026
01:06:04
00:00 Introduction 03:21 Words can mean many things 14:02 Symbols, like words, can be misinterpreted 21:06 Human relationships must be physical to be healthy 30:28 Scholasticism & Fundamentalism are at odds with righteous living 36:55 The civil religion of Popular Progressive Paganism 48:00 The importance of finding the altar of God Most High 52:10 The Eucharist brings true unity, not ideological unity 58:52 Humility is crucial to being able to learn 63:20 Closing ~~~ Thine own of Thine own, we offer unto Thee Orthodox Liturgics S8E8 ~~~ In this episode, Fr. Symeon Kees & James John Marks discuss the altar, & the sacrificial meal of thanksgiving prepared upon it which is the center point of right worship in The Temple because it brings us into communion, physical connection, with one another as well as with God Most High. ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:
https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/resources-and-publications/military/prayers/holy-communion-prayers-text - The prayer of preparation in which we admit we are the chief of sinners
https://pomog.org/prayers-after-holy-communion-en/ - Post communion prayer about fire & cleansing ~~~ #orthodoxChristianity #OrthodoxChurch #ChurchHistory #Temple #Altar #Sacrifice #Worship #paganism #eucharist
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Here Is The Church, a Dome Not a Steeple
14 août 2026
01:06:43
00:00 Introduction 01:24 Altar to an unknown god 08:07 Sacrifice in temples is human 16:26 Israel chosen to build true temples 24:20 We so easily forget who God Most High is 30:58 Where are the temples of today 35:30 Orthodox Christian temples 45:45 It is a temple because God is present in it several ways 51:33 Right worship of God Most High transforms us into something divine 61:31 Closing ~~~ Here Is The Church, a Dome Not a Steeple Orthodox Liturgics S8E7 ~~~ In this episode, Fr. Symeon Kees & James John Marks discuss why a dedicated, physical church building, with a consecrated alter, which is to say a temple, is necessary. ~~~ Scripture citations for this episode:
Exodus 25-30 - The covenant regarding The Tabernacle, Priesthood & ritual life of Israel
Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf is distorted worship
Matthew 5:17 - Fulfill not do away with
Matthew 17:1-13 - Transfiguration
Acts 17:16-34 - St Paul preaches in Athens
Revelation 21 - True worship in the fullness of revelation ~~~ #orthodoxChristianity #OrthodoxChurch #ChurchHistory #Temple #Altar #Sacrifice #Worship #paganism #tabernacle
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How to Understand The Collapse of The West
31 juil. 2026
01:10:30
00:00 Introduction 01:14 The History of the Collapse of Western Christianity 29:11 The West doesn’t have to become The East to be saved 34:14 You Need a Genuine Hospital & to be a Good Patient 38:00 There’s No Gap Between Second Temple Judaism, Apostolic Christianity & The Church 43:46 The Councils Were About Avoiding Schism & Heresy, Not Punishment 46:31 Modern media Combined with Ignorance of Orthodox Ecclesiology Breeds Confusion 49:21 Apostolic Succession Is Supported & Validated by The Historic Choir of Saints 52:58 To Prove You Can Heal, You Need Verifiable Patients Who Aren’t Sick Anymore 55:25 How We Strive for Unity Amidst Conflict IS our Salvation 60:44 The Enlightenment Dream Is Only Possible Through The Church, Not Reason 63:09 Our Culture Is Redefining Intrinsically Christian Terms In Pursuit of Utopia 65:52 Closing ~~~ How to Understand The Collapse of The West Apostolic Succession S8E6 ~~~ In this episode, Fr. Symeon Kees & James John Marks discuss the history of what we call The West from the birth of Christianity in The Acts of The Apostles up through the Great Schism, the rise of the papacy, & how the collapse of Western Christianity shaped modern civilization from an Orthodox Christian perspective. ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:
Against Heresies by St Ireneaus - Book III, chapter 3, section 4 - succession of St Polycarp - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103303.htm
Scripture citations for this episode:
Acts 2:46 Acts 3:1 Acts 5:42 - The continuation of Torah worship ~~~ Subscribe for more conversations on Orthodoxy, theology, Church history, the lives of the Saints, and practical Christian living. ~~~ #orthodoxchristianity #OrthodoxChurch #ApostolicSuccession #ChurchHistory #ChurchFathers #GreatSchism, #RomanCatholicism #EarlyChurch #Pope ~~~ The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion
Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images. Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
What the Apostolic Fathers Believe About the Church
17 juil. 2026
01:02:08
00:00 Introduction 02:25 St Ireneaus, Against Heresies 08:58 Apostolic Succession is about preservation of revelation 11:35 Apostolic Succession is NOT merely genealogy 17:58 Preservation of revelation is about rightly dividing the word of truth 20:39 Bishops reject heresy, not compromise for the appearance of unity 25:26 The Founding Fathers, The 30 Years War & the rise of civil religion 31:34 The Bad Reasons to Enter (or Avoid) Orthodoxy 39:24 Do Not Despise The Tradition Which Raised You 46:12 If You Entered Orthodoxy for Bad Reasons, Stay & Grow & Be Corrected! 51:25 Religion Is Not a Part of Life, It Is a Way of Life 53:49 The French Revolution Was About Displacing Christianity in Society 57:06 To Understand What The Church Is, You Have to Go All the Way Back ~~~ What the Apostolic Fathers Believe About the Church Apostolic Succession S8E5 ~~~ In this episode, Fr. Symeon Kees & James John Marks discuss the writings of St. Irenaeus of Lyon, the historical claim of the Orthodox Church, and how the theological foundations of the West inform how we think about religion as a whole. ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:
Against Heresies by St Ireneaus - Book III, chapter 3, section 4 - succession of St Polycarp - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103303.htm
The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom (in English) - The priest’s prayer for the bishop during The Anaphora ~~~ Subscribe for more conversations on Orthodoxy, theology, Church history, the lives of the Saints, and practical Christian living. ~~~ #orthodoxchristianity #OrthodoxChurch #ApostolicSuccession #ChurchHistory #ChurchFathers #theology
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
The Original Christian Church Still Exists
03 juil. 2026
00:57:02
00:00 Introduction 01:09 If you want a good marriage, focus on your own healing 05:07 The Orthodox Church is THE Church, make the world The Church 11:24 There is no gap between the apostles & the bishops 23:50 The Epistle of St Ignatius to The Church in Smyrna 26:42 The relationship of the bishops to The Catholic Church 30:50 The Epistle of St Ignatius to The Church in Ephesus 34:06 The Church is not a democracy, yet there is no power except God’s 39:59 Humble obedience is not about toxic shame nor naivety 43:59 We don’t need to understand in order to be obdient 47:09 The correct functioning of The Church has nothing to do with our will 51:52 We don’t have to argue with everything with which we disagree 54:55 Closing ~~~ The Original Christian Church Still Exists Apostolic Succession S8E4 ~~~ In this episode, Fr. Symeon Kees & James John Marks discuss how the earliest Christians understood apostolic succession, the role of bishops, and the historical continuity of the Orthodox Church. Drawing from the writings of St. Ignatius of Antioch and other early witnesses, they explore the foundations of The Church. ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:
Church History of Eusebius - Bk II, Chapter XIV - Bk II, Chapter XXIV - Bk III, Chapter IV - Bk III, Chapter XI - Bk III, Chapter XXII - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250103.htm
The Epistle of St Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans - Chp 8 & 9 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htm
The Epistle of St Ignatius to the Ephesians - Chp 4-6 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0104.htm
The Epistle of St Ignatius to the Trallians - Chp 1-3 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0106.htm
Scripture citations for this episode:
Acts 15 - The Council of Jerusalem
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 - We cannot have factions because our wisdom cannot help us
Numbers 21 - The bronze serpent on the pole as saving image
John 17 - Jesus prays for the oneness of His believers
Ephesians 4:7-14 - “Pastor” really should be bishop in English here ~~~ Subscribe for more conversations on Orthodoxy, theology, Church history, the lives of the Saints, and practical Christian living. ~~~ #orthodoxchristianity #OrthodoxChurch #Orthodoxy #Christianity #Church #ApostolicSuccession #ChurchHistory #ChurchFathers
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How Orthodoxy Preserves the Apostolic Faith
19 juin 2026
01:02:33
00:00 Introduction 03:41 The Historicity of The Church 16:25 The Unity of The Church 27:30 Finding The Church is not Church Shopping 33:42 St Paul lost his cool about schism breaking The Church 37:41 Apostolic Succession requires hierarchy (bishops) 46:45 The therapy we need has never & will never change 54:58 Marriage counseling is about recognizing the need for individual repentance 61:41 Closing
~~~ How Orthodoxy Preserves the Apostolic Faith Apostolic Succession S8E3 ~~~ Can we know where The One Church is? In this episode, Fr. Symeon Kees & James John Marks discuss apostolic succession, Christian unity, and the historical roots of the Orthodox Church, tracing its story from the Apostles to the present day. ~~ Reference materials for this episode:
Church History of Eusebius - Bk II, Chapter XIV - Bk II, Chapter XXIV - Bk III, Chapter IV - Bk III, Chapter XI - Bk III, Chapter XXII - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250103.htm
The Epistle of St Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans - Chp 8 & 9 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htm
The Epistle of St Ignatius to the Ephesians - Chp 4-6 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0104.htm
The Epistle of St Ignatius to the Trallians - Chp 1-3 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0106.htm
Scripture citations for this episode:
Acts 15 - The Council of Jerusalem
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 - We cannot have factions because our wisdom cannot help us ~~~ Subscribe for more conversations on Orthodoxy, theology, Church history, the lives of the Saints, and practical Christian living. ~~~ #orthodoxchristianity #OrthodoxChurch #Orthodoxy #Christianity #Church #Salvation #Repentance #SpiritualHealing #ChristianPodcast #Theology
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
The Orthodox View of Spiritual Therapy and Healing
05 juin 2026
01:04:19
00:00 Introduction 00:57 Being sick in the hospital is not hypocrisy 07:16 Apostolic Christianity is not religious philosophy or psychology 19:06 Creation is an invitation to spiritual experience, not the experience itself 23:44 Why this spiritual life requires The Church in the formal sense 32:01 Making worship an obligation is like making romance an obligation 37:32 God taught us what the best way for us to worship Him is 39:40 Orthodox worship is the fulfillment of all things which are Good 43:46 Theology & practicality are united in our understanding of persons 50:27 The divine persons do not change, so becoming like them does not change 53:28 This season will be a lot of defining terms to avoid ambiguity 58:51 The ecumenical councils preserve the effective therapy for spiritual healing 61:20 Closing ~~~ The Orthodox View of Spiritual Therapy & Healing Orthodox Ecclesiology S8E2 ~~~ In this episode of the Christian Saints Podcast, Fr. Simeon Keyes & James John Marks discuss the Orthodox view of salvation, spiritual healing, the sacramental life of the Church, & more. ~~ Scripture citations for this episode:
Luke 15:11-32 - The prodigal son John 9:1-38 - The healing of the man born blind ~~~ Subscribe for more conversations on Orthodoxy, theology, Church history, the lives of the Saints, and practical Christian living. ~~~ #orthodoxchristianity #OrthodoxChurch #Orthodoxy #Christianity #Church #Salvation #Repentance #SpiritualHealing #ChristianPodcast #Theology
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Who, What & Where Is The Church & Why Is It Necessary?
22 mai 2026
00:51:01
00:00 Introduction 02:10 Post-modernism in literature 03:40 What to expect from season eight 08:48 Be The Body of Christ, be The Church 12:48 Bad Ecclesiology causes parish problems & soul problems 16:17 Spirituality is deeply practical, the purpose is to be changed 20:04 Obedience is central to humility & repentance 22:20 Loving compassion is helping people cease to sin 28:28 It makes no sense to be in The Church & make our sin our Identity 31:04 We live in a culture which doesn’t believe in forgiveness (or repentance) 33:43 What we believe is real, physically, mentally & spiritually 37:58 The Church is where we encounter reality most fully 42:00 We need to accept our diagnosis & the effective therapy to heal it 44:11 A welcoming, loving church is one who expects daily repentance 49:23 Closing
~~~
Who, What & Where Is The Church & Why Is It Necessary? Orthodox Ecclesiology S8E1
~~~
In this episode of the Christian Saints Podcast, we explore one of the biggest questions in Christian life: What actually is the Church? Is it an organization, a community, a building—or something deeper?
We discuss why the Church is practical without being banal and spiritual without being abstract. Through a conversation on repentance, identity, spiritual healing, and modern culture, we examine how the Church understands itself as the Body of Christ—not merely as a place people attend, but as a life people enter.
If Christianity is more than ideas—if it’s meant to heal, transform, and bring us into reality—then understanding the Church changes everything.
~~~
Subscribe for more conversations on Orthodoxy, theology, and practical Christian living.
Luke 15:11-32 - The prodigal son John 9:1-38 - The healing of the man born blind
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
What Is Salvation?
17 avr. 2026
00:34:54
00:00 Introduction 02:20 The structure of the vesperal portion 09:21 Why The Bible should have more than 66 books 11:22 The structure of the Divine Liturgy of St Basil for Holy Saturday 17:31 This service describes salvation in detailed images 31:55 Closing
~~~
Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great - What is Salvation?
~~~
Reference materials for this episode:
Reference materials for this episode:
The rubrics of the services, in English translation, of The Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
Scripture citations for this episode:
The fifteen Old Testament readings - Genesis 1:1-13 - Isaiah 60:1-16 - Exodus 12:1-12 - The Book of Jonah - Jesus of Navi (Joshua) 5:10 - 15 - Exodus 13:20 - 15:19 - Sophronios (Zephaniah) 3:8 - 15 - 3rd Kingdoms (1st Kings) 17:8 - 24 - Isaiah 61:10 - 62:5 - Genesis 22:1 - 18 - Isaiah 61:1 - 10 - 4th Kingdoms (2nd Kings) 4:8 - 37 - Isaiah 63:11 - 64:5 - Jeremiah 38:31 - 34 (31:31 - 34) - Daniel 3 (including the song of the 3 youths from the Greek manuscript tradition)
Epistle reading - Romans 6:3 - 11
Gospel reading - Matthew 28:1 - 20
~~~
In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the service of Holy Unction, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here.
The morning of Holy Saturday finds us at the very brink of the celebration of Pascha, Passover, The Resurrection of Jesus The Messiah. All vespers services mark the beginning of the new day (there was evening, there was morning, the first day) & so in this service we transition from Sabbath to The Lord's Day. However, we're still in this accelerated timeline of Holy Week & so we cannot yet fully proclaim Christ is Risen. Yet, in the middle of this service we do transition from the darkness of Holy Week into the white of purity & resurrection & we proclaim who The Messiah is & what it is He saves us from & what it is He saves us for.
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How Do We Go On?
03 avr. 2026
00:22:15
00:00 Introduction 02:55 The structures of the services 07:05 How do we face the apparent loss of trust & hope? 10:14 The three stasis of The Lamentations hymn 21:06 Closing
~~~
Winding Sheet & Lamentations - How Can We Go On?
~~~
Reference materials for this episode:
The rubrics of the services, in English translation, of - Vespers of Holy Friday evening (known as the service of The Winding Sheet) - Orthros of Holy Saturday morning (known as The Lamentations)
~~~
In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the service of Holy Unction, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here.
On Holy Friday there are typically two services which are conducted in community parishes: the vesperal service of Friday evening which is usually celebrated at 3p, the time Jesus hung on the cross, as well as the orthros service of the morning of Holy Saturday which is celebrated Friday night. These two services are known as The Winding Sheet & The Lamentations, respectively.
In this episode Jim talks about this pivotal moment for the faithful. God Himself, the source of all Life, is in The Underworld. What do we do when our trust & hope seem to be destroyed? How we respond shapes who we are becoming. The bulk of the episode is Jim reading the more than 70 verses of the Lamentation hymns for your reflection.
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How Did It Happen?
27 mars 2026
00:26:38
00:00 Introduction 01:42 Summary of the 12 readings 05:35 Jesus is condemned for claiming to be God 10:53 Why Saint Paul was a crucial member of The 12 13:32 The 2 odd Psalms which highlight Jesus’ teaching from The Cross 23:37 Closing
~~~
Orthros of The 12 Passion Gospels - How Did It Happen?
~~~
Reference materials for this episode:
The rubrics of the service of the 12 Passion Gospels in English translation
Scripture citations for this episode:
Two additional Psalms read in this service prior to the usual six of Orthros - Psalm 19/20 & 20/21
The 12 Gospel readings from the service - John 13:31-18:1 - John 18:1-29 - Matthew 26:57-75 - John 18:28–19:16 - Matthew 27:3-32 - Mark 15:16-32 - Matthew 27:33-54 - Luke 23:32-49 - John 19:19-37 - Mark 15:43-47 - John 19:38-42 - Matthew 27:62-66
Psalm 22/23 - Jesus quotes this from the cross
~~~
In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the service of Holy Unction, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here.
The Orthros of The 12 Passion Gospels is the service for the morning of Holy Friday which is typically celebrated on Thursday evening because of the shifted schedule which began on the evening of Palm Sunday (to facilitate holding the Paschal divine liturgy immediately after midnight Saturday night into Sunday morning). In this service we transition from more abstract lessons to the literal, chronological events of Jesus' arrest, trial, mockery, torture, death & burial.
In this reflection, Jim turns our attention to why Jesus is condemned to death by The Sanhedrin & why this is so important to the identity of The Christian faith.
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Do You Want to Be Healed?
20 mars 2026
00:23:36
00:00 Introduction 04:01 A service of healing 06:12 Prayer is always answered 14:20 From what does Jesus heal us? 18:55 We were created for the good life 21:55 Closing
~~~
Holy Unction - Do You Want to Be Healed?
~~~
Reference materials for this episode:
The rubrics of the service of Holy Unction in English translation
Scripture citations for this episode:
Readings from the service - Psalm 50/51 & 142/143 - James 5:10-16 - Luke 10:25-37 - Romans 5:1-7 - Luke 19:1-10 - 1 Corinthians 12:27 - 13:8 - Matthew 10:1-8 - 2 Corinthians 6:16 - 7:1 - Matthew 8:14-23 - 2 Corinthians 1:8 - 11 - Matthew 25: 1-13 (which we also heard during the bridegroom services) - Galatians 5:22 - 6:2 - Matthew 15:21-28 - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 - 23 - Matthew 9:9-13
Isaiah 11: 6-11 - Peace on the new earth
John 5:1-18 - Jesus heals the lame man on Sabbath
2 Corinthians 12:1-10 - Saint Paul boasts in his weakness & speaks of the thorn not taken from him
~~~
In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the service of Holy Unction, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here.
Holy Unction is a penitential service of healing at the end of which parishioners are anointed with Chrism, holy oil.
In this reflection Jim reads excerpts from the prayers of this service & expands on what it is we seek to be healed from as well as what it means for prayer to be answered both of which apply directly to why we pray & what the life of a Christian is all about.
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Is Our Lamp Full?
13 mars 2026
00:39:59
00:00 Introduction 01:43 The parable of the ten bridemaids 04:50 Distinct hymns & gospel readings 13:09 Jesus’ conflict with Jewish leadership 17:25 The twelve steps to humility by Saint Benedict 19:23 One - Reverence for God 20:03 Two - Doing God’s Will 22:05 Three - Obedience to Others 24:24 Four - Enduring Affliction 26:09 Five - Confession 28:27 Six - Be Content without Prestige 29:17 Seven - Interior Conviction 30:23 Eight - Fulfill Your Role 31:09 Nine - Keep Silence & Solitude 31:37 Ten - Avoid Frivolity 32:29 Eleven - Speak Modestly & Rarely 33:57 Twelve - Keep a modest posture 35:17 Icons of humility in paint & in Saint Paul’s words 38:19 Closing
~~~
The 3 Bridegroom Orthros Services - Is Our Lamp Full?
~~~
Reference materials for this episode:
Rubrics of the three bridegroom services in English translation
St John Chrysostom Homily 78 on Matthew - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200178.htm
The Rule of St Benedict, 12 steps to humility - https://www.regent.edu/journal/inner-resources-for-leaders/rule-of-st-benedict-12-steps-of-humility-in-leadership/
Scripture citations for this episode:
Matthew 21:18-43 - Jesus Curses the Fig Tree - The Authority of Jesus Questioned - The Parable of the Two Sons - The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
Matthew 22:15-23:39 - The Question about Paying Taxes - The Question about the Resurrection - The Greatest Commandment - The Question about David’s Son - Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees - The Lament over Jerusalem
Matthew 25:1-13 - parable of the ten bridesmaids
John 12:17-50 - The crowd comes because Lazarus was raised from the dead - Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus - Jesus Speaks about His Death - The Unbelief of the People - Summary of Jesus’ Teaching (keep my commandments)
Romans 13:1-7 - Submit to the civil authorities
Phillipians 2:1-11 - Jesus’ humility
~~~
In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the 3 Orthros Services known as The Bridegroom Services, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here.
These 3 services are held Sunday, Monday & Tuesday evening rather than Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday morning for reasons Jim explains in the video. In fact, all the services of Holy Week, after Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy, are shifted forward.
In this episode Jim reflects on what the gospel reading & hymns of these three services set us up to become aware of & then he goes through the 12 steps of pursuing humlity as laid out in The Rule of Saint Benedict of Nursia.
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Is This for Everyone?
06 mars 2026
00:14:43
00:00 Introduction 01:50 The focus of the four gospel accounts 02:40 The hymnody, apolytikion & odes for Palm Sunday 07:55 But what about us Gentiles? 11:59 We are from the ten tribes & we are grafted in to restore them 13:42 Closing
~~~
Palm Sunday - Is This For Everyone?
~~~
Reference materials for this episode:
Orthros for the Sunday of The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem
Scripture citations for this episode:
Isaiah 1:2-3 - Prophecy we see reflected in The Nativity icon, those Of The Nations are the donkey
Ezekiel 37: 1-14 - The valley of the dead bones
Zachariah 9:9-17 - The prophecy picked up by Saint Matthew
The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem - Matthew 21:1-17 - Mark 11:1-11 - Luke 19:28-40 - John 12:12-19
Matthew 27:51-53 - Those who rose from the dead when Jesus died
~~~
In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached Palm Sunday, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here.
When talking about Lazarus Saturday, Jim focused on what Jesus' ministry meant for The Jews. This week he's focusing on what it means for those of us who are Of The Nations, known as Gentiles. Salvation is for everyone.
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
From What Are We Saved?
27 févr. 2026
00:20:43
00:00 Introduction 01:19 The Gospel Account of Saint John's telling of the raising of Lazarus 08:53 The apolytikion emphasizes the general resurrection 11:29 Parallel to The Feast of Transfiguration 12:32 The verses of the odes for Lazarus Saturday 15:36 Our obligation to the evangelion of The Christ 19:45 Closing
~~~
Lazarus Saturday - From What Are We Saved?
~~~
Reference materials for this episode:
Little Compline for the evening prior to Lazarus Saturday - As translated into English by the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America
Scripture citations for this episode:
John 11:1 - John 12:11 - The raising of Lazarus
~~~
Jim returns to the series of Lenten Triodion reflections he began last year. Having completed the Sundays of preparation & the Sundays of Lent, he picks up this week with Lazarus Saturday.
The Church emphasizes the confirmation of the general resurrection as well as this event being the "final straw" which drives the Sadducees to seek Jesus' death which is why this day is one week prior to His crucifixion on the Liturgical calendar.
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
This, too, Shall Pass (Season Finale)
20 févr. 2026
01:16:51
00:00 Opening 02:50 Fr Symeon's Sermon 21:30 Salvation isn't heaven, or morality, it's illumination 28:11 The paranoia born of living in exile 37:18 Orthodoxy doesn't do philosophical apologetics, we seek illumination 54:10 You can't put an onion dome on The Academy 73:29 Closing & housekeeping
~~~
This, too, Shall Pass (Season Finale) - S7E20
~~~
This is the end of season 7, in which we have focused almost entirely on the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness being one which requires us to put all ideologies to the side & focus on the inner, spiritual life.
~~~
Scripture citations for this episode:
- Gospel Reading from Sunday January 11 - Matthew 4:12-17
- Wisdom & illumination are spiritual not discursive - Colossians 1:3-14
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
It Will All Fail
06 févr. 2026
00:56:20
00:00 Opening 01:04 You can't put The Faith on the screen & do it well 04:23 Stop debating if Jesus was an undocumented immigrant or refugee 07:54 Don't use Christian images as a foil for ideological vision 10:42 I care if the vulnerable meet God, which means I have to feed them 18:40 Silencing the monstrous is the only righteous anger 22:33 Response videos & click bait breed arrogance & division 27:43 Our utopian vision tends to not include ourselves changing 31:38 It is too easy to convince ourselves our sin does not matter 34:08 Your anger is probably self righteous, which means it is sinful 38:27 The lesson of Ebineezer Scrooge is "fear not!" 40:44 God wants to look at us & have us look at Him the way husband & wife look at each other 42:25 It is hard to be angry at other people if we know we're an idiot 46:26 The utopian vision eliminates the possibility of forgiveness 50:49 Dungeons & Dragons plane of Nirvana teaches us how scary utopia would actually be if we tried to live in it 53:34 Closing
~~~
It Will All Fail - S7E19
~~~
We are nearing the end of season seven & Fr Symeon didn't want to miss the opportunity to talk about how the two dominant ideologies in our culture both rely on what we could call an unconstrained vision of humanity - the dream of The Enlightenment still alive.
In this third part of three, we delve into a bit more pop culture references than is typical for us as we continue to try to drive home the idea the pursuit of utopia brings dystopia & the problem is human delusion. We must focus on dispelling delusion, not problem solving & system building.
~~~
Scripture citations for this episode:
Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, John 2:13-17 - Cleansing of the temple
Mark 5: 1-20 - Gerasene Demoniac
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
You Can't Build It
23 janv. 2026
00:54:00
00:00 Introduction 02:20 Opening 06:17 We are all nuts 10:36 The sins others can't see are more dangerous 13:30 Living enslaved to Sin is standing on a cliff 17:39 We Can't Build Utopia 18:45 What we do has far more consequence than we realize 23:00 The Dream of The Enlightenment breeds cattle & monsters 25:27 Pursuit of Eutopia breeds Dystopia 28:45 A rabbit trail about our favorite fiction genres 32:47 Self delusion causes us to make the means The End 34:10 The Gerasene Demoniac & the pigs 36:07 Why can't people see the path of The Kingdom 43:55 Confession shatters self delusion 47:45 The divine revelation to The Apostles was unique 49:30 Humans tend to want kings, one way or another 50:50 Another rabbit trail about movies about The Bible 54:00 Closing
Human Persons Are Not Infinite - S7E18
We are nearing the end of season seven & Fr Symeon didn't want to miss the opportunity to talk about how the two dominant ideologies in our culture both rely on what we could call an unconstrained vision of humanity - the dream of The Enlightenment still alive.
In this second part of three, we delve into a bit more pop culture references than is typical for us, we both admit to a love of dystopian fiction & we also speak of the core mission of The Church to usher all of Creation into Paradise, not to amass warriors to create Utopia through Power.
Scripture citations for this episode:
Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, John 2:13-17 - Cleansing of the temple
Mark 5: 1-20 - Gerasene Demoniac
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Human Persons Are Not Infinite
09 janv. 2026
00:48:23
00:00 Introduction 05:25 Competing ideologies 09:46 The fundamentals - vision of humanity 12:27 Are humans good or evil 16:20 Are people evil or deluded? 19:46 Can we agree on what good & evil are? 22:55 The sinless passions 25:29 Issues of identity 28:00 The Prince of Peace is Born! 31:44 Too much Emmanuel Kant 33:36 Christmas proclaims Love Incarnate 35:00 Genesis 3, The Lie is "Be Unconstrained" 38:12 Optimistic Christianity 40:30 The subtle lie of the brazen serpent 44:15 Christmas is the beginning of the end of Death 47:29 Closing
Human Persons Are Not Infinite - S7E17
We are nearing the end of season seven & Fr Symeon didn't want to miss the opportunity to talk about how the two dominant ideologies in our culture both rely on what we could call an unconstrained vision of humanity - the dream of The Enlightenment still alive. We are suggesting the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness to the evangelion of Jesus, The Christ requires us to accept we are created, finite beings & as a consequence we must have a constrained vision of humanity - the dream of The Enlightenment is not only dead, if it came true, we would become either monsters or animals.
Yes, there is a way in which our understanding theosis, divination, is a vision of an unconstrained humanity, we can become divine through grace! And the world's denial of this is a kind of constrained vision. Yes, we see this irony. But for the sake of the conversation, we're framing our thoughts as we outlined them above.
This conversation was quite long! So the production team has decided to cut it into three sections this time, not just two.
Scripture citations for this episode:
Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, John 2:13-17 - Cleansing of the temple
Mark 5: 1-20 - Gerasene Demoniac
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Look Here, Christ Is Born!
26 déc. 2025
01:04:16
00:00 Intro/lead in from previous episode 02:49 Icon of The Nativity, concentric circles 09:05 She Isn't Looking At Her Baby?! 13:00 We Are Joseph, Trying to Understand 18:18 Everyone Has Doubts, We Can't Stay There 22:06 Joseph As Exemplar for Masculinity 29:29 There is Doubt & There is Doubt 33:31 Overcoming Sin Is Target Practice 35:50 Bethlehem is The Church 39:30 Wanting to Believe, Over Time, Changes Us 45:25 Who Is The Hairy Old Man? 48:01 When Jesus Talked to Job About Doubt 51:53 Listen to God, Not Lies 56:20 Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Mankind! 57:49 Is Mary Beckoning to Joseph? 62:03 Closing thoughts & outro
In this second half of our conversation with friend of the show, iconographer Nick Papas, we turn primarily to Christmas, while continuing to explore the relationship between the Old Testament icon of The Tree of Jesse & the icon of The Nativity of Our Lord God & Savior Jesus Christ.
If you would like access to the spreadsheet which details the relationship of the figures on the tree to Jesus or The Theotokos, please contact us so we can provide it to you.
Reference materials for this episode: - Nick’s work - https://www.saintdemetriuspress.com - https://www.facebook.com/Nick.Papas.Studio
Scripture citations for this episode: - Genesis 18: Sarah laughed - Isaiah 11: The Peaceful Kingdom prophecy of The Messiah - Luke 1: Zechariah doubts the birth of John & Mary is amazed at the birth of Jesus - Luke 24: The Road to Emmaus - Romans 15; references Isaiah 11
#advent #christmas #nativity #iconography
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
A Shoot from The Stump of Jesse
12 déc. 2025
00:57:24
00:00 Intro/Catching up together 04:48 Pairing Old & New Testament Icons 11:42 Fr Symeon tells a story 17:12 Adoption, grafting, Friendsgiving & the cherry on top 24:05 Saint Paul explaining the reality of Israel in Romans 34:07 The secret in The Nativity icon about Joseph & Mary 37:37 The presence of The Son at both ends of The Tree of Jesse 41:10 Saint Paul at Mars Hill, is the problem life or death 51:15 The importance of physicality & mental stillness 55:09 Closing thoughts & outro
A Shoot from The Stump of Jesse - S7E15
In this special Advent themed conversation we again welcome friend of the show, iconographer Nick Papas to help us dive deep into the relationship between the Old Testament icon of The Tree of Jesse & the icon of The Nativity of Our Lord God & Savior Jesus Christ.
If you would like access to the spreadsheet which details the relationship of the figures on the tree to Jesus or The Theotokos, please contact us so we can provide it to you.
Reference materials for this episode: - Nick’s work - https://www.saintdemetriuspress.com - https://www.facebook.com/Nick.Papas.Studio
Scripture citations for this episode: - Genesis 18: Sarah laughed - Isaiah 11: The Peaceful Kingdom prophecy of The Messiah - Luke 1: Zechariah doubts the birth of John & Mary is amazed at the birth of Jesus - Luke 24: The Road to Emmaus - Romans 15; references Isaiah 11
#advent #christmas #nativity #iconography
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
The second half of our conversation about how a huge part of the problem with "politics" in The United States is both "sides" have the same underlying assumption: we can't live the good life until everyone agrees with us & the laws reflect our agreement.
Fr Symeon's recent trip to visit his family provides an opportunity to poke holes in this assumption by discussing the ways in which, simply as a practical example, we can see people living, as St Paul said "...aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands..." in a country most Americans would insist is about as far from what we want our society to be as is possible. Well, if people can do it under the world's most challenging conditions, then Orthodox Christians can do it in the USA, whether the political winds are going their way, or against them.
And if we can walk in the way of the life of faithfulness no matter the political climate, then why are we spending so much time getting wound up about it? Maybe what it boils down to, is we don't want to see all of humanity get saved, we want to see our enemies get their comeuppance.
Reference materials for this episode:
St John Chrysostom’s commentary on Romans -12:9-21 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210221.htm & https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210222.htm - 13:1-7 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210223.htm
Scripture citations for this episode:
Romans - 12:9-21 live in harmony - 13:1-7 be good citizens 1 Corinthians - 6:1-11 lawsuits Ephesians - 6:5-9 no slave rebellions Philemon - no slave rebellions
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Find the Eye of the Storm
14 nov. 2025
01:07:53
00:00 Intro/Back from China 03:56 Journalism in China & The West 09:51 Harmony, rancor, journalism, editorial & social media 19:49 Saint Paul to The Church in Rome on quiet living 23:07 Vacation vs daily life in a place 27:29 Nominalism cannot be the path to social harmony 35:57 To love neighbor & enemy we must participate in God's holiness 40:12 Humble repentance is the path to a just society 43:11 Christianity isn't convenient, look at Syria 50:10 Models of church & state 53:20 No such thing as Orthodox government 54:54 The Church is perfect, stop trying to defend it from itself 58:55 The is no invisible church, there is only The Church 63:45 Two ways to try to be above the bishops 65:27 No, we can't all just get along/Closing
A huge part of the problem with "politics" in The United States is both "sides" have the same underlying assumption: we can't live the good life until everyone agrees with us & the laws reflect our agreement.
Fr Symeon's recent trip to visit his family in China provides an opportunity to poke holes in this assumption by discussing the ways in which, simply as a practical example, we can see people living, as St Paul said "...aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands..." in a country most Americans would insist is about as far from what we want our society to be as is possible. Well, if people can do it in China, then Orthodox Christians can do it in the USA, whether the political winds are going their way, or against them.
And if we can walk in the way of the life of faithfulness no matter the political climate, then why are we spending so much time getting wound up about it? Maybe what it boils down to, is we're afraid of inconvenience.
Reference materials for this episode:
St John Chrysostom’s commentary on Romans -12:9-21 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210221.htm & https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210222.htm - 13:1-7 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210223.htm
Scripture citations for this episode:
Romans - 12:9-21 live in harmony - 13:1-7 be good citizens 1 Corinthians - 6:1-11 lawsuits Ephesians - 6:5-9 no slave rebellions Philemon - no slave rebellions
#china #syria #journalism #editorial #quietlife
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
The Future Is Not History
31 oct. 2025
01:06:23
As we continue our discussion of the difficulty in integrating the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness to the evengalion of Jesus, The Christ, the Orthodox Christian way of life, into contemporary western culture, Jim & Fr Symeon take the opportunity to discuss "the other side". Last conversation we defined & critique "woke" as the civil religion of the so-called Left. This time we will define & critique "Make America Great Again" as the civil religion of the so-called Right. The reason we wish to critique it is because it uses Christian language but is not Christian.
And yet we can end the episode with the hymns to The Theotokos which call her a military leader, proclaiming our victory & the establishment of our way of life. Find out why this isn't about theocracy & isn't about violence, by tuning in!
Scripture citations for this episode:
- Genesis 1 & 2 - Creation as a battle against chaos & death
- Genesis 11 - Tower of Babel
- Galatians 5:16-26 - Fruits of The Spirit
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Nostalgia Is a Narcotic
21 oct. 2025
01:04:42
As we continue our discussion of the difficulty in integrating the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness to the evengalion of Jesus, The Christ, the Orthodox Christian way of life, into contemporary western culture, Jim & Fr Symeon take the opportunity to discuss "the other side". Last conversation we defined & critique "woke" as the civil religion of the so-called Left. This time we will define & critique "Make America Great Again" as the civil religion of the so-called Right. The reason we wish to critique it is because it uses Christian language but is not Christian. In fact, by the end of this first half of the conversation Fr Symeon will straight up ask "...what religion are you following?!"
Scripture citations for this episode:
- Genesis 1 & 2 - Creation as a battle against chaos & death
- Genesis 11 - Tower of Babel
- Galatians 5:16-26 - Fruits of The Spirit
#nostalgia #maga #goldenage #conservative
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Trust Means Giving up
03 oct. 2025
01:03:18
Our ongoing discussion of the difficulty in integrating the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness to the evengalion of Jesus, The Christ, the Orthodox Christian way of life, into contemporary western culture continues as Jim & Fr Symeon talk about the tower of babel as the proto-story of humanity's quest for control over our own destiny & God, repeatedly, making us aware we're not, He is.
In this second half of the conversation we began in S7E9, Go Ahead & Lose Control, we focus more on what is involved in breaking free from civil religion, human ideology, & the distraction of politics by pursuing the authentic spiritual life, which breeds humility, which allows us to see ourselves not as those who are capable of changing the world, but as the chief of sinners.
Let us know what you think!
Particularly let us know if you prefer this video format to the side by side.
Reference materials for this episode: - Sherlock Holmes’ “ideal reasoner” speech - The Five Orange Pips, the “ideal reasoner” monologue - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1661/1661-h/1661-h.htm
Scripture citations for this episode: Martyrdom - 2 Maccabees 6 & 7 Voluntarily constraining our freedom - Romans 14
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Go Ahead & Lose Control
19 sept. 2025
01:05:18
Our ongoing discussion of the difficulty in integrating the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness to the evengalion of Jesus, The Christ, the Orthodox Christian way of life, into contemporary western culture continues as Jim & Fr Symeon talk about the tower of babel as the proto-story of humanity's quest for control over our own destiny & God, repeatedly, making us aware we're not, He is.
Our culture is in the grip of two competing civil religions, two ideologies, which manifest themselves as politics. One is openly anti-Christian, the other uses Christian language, but is in no way advocating actual traditional Christian culture.
Let us know what you think!
Particularly let us know if you prefer this video format to the side by side.
This is, again, part one of two. The second half of this conversation will go live in two weeks, on October 2nd.
Reference materials for this episode: - Saints Who Show Sympathy to Communism - https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blog/question-27-orthodox-fathers-on-communism?srsltid=AfmBOopmpsDSl8enxknhEb-3mzRs589BiTPq7agS0YoTbJp13OMtRTy1
Scripture citations for this episode: - Tower of Babel - Genesis 11
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Embark into the Floating Hospital
05 sept. 2025
01:07:14
Part two of our conversation with friend of the show & Iconograhper Nick Papas, who is once again our most welcome guest for this conversation.
Our previous discussion about Independence Day having individual meaning for Jim & Fr Symeon got Jim to thinking about how much this actually inverts the purpose of public holidays. This lack of unity as a country reminded him of an increasingly popular turn of phrase in our culture "my tribe" & his concern this trend is stark evidence we are choosing to become less civilized.
The actual conversation focuses on Fr Symeon's turn of phrase "Community As Babel Versus Communion at Pentecost".
Tune in here in two weeks for the second half of the discussion!
Scripture citations for this episode: - Tower of Babel - Genesis 11 - Pentecost - Acts 2
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Don't Go Back to Babylon
22 août 2025
01:06:39
Don’t Go Back to Babylon - S7E7
Friend of the show & Iconograhper Nick Papas is once again our most welcome guest for this conversation, which will be presented in two parts, the second of which will be episode eight.
Our previous discussion about Independence Day having individual meaning for Jim & Fr Symeon got Jim to thinking about how much this actually inverts the purpose of public holidays. This lack of unity as a country reminded him of an increasingly popular turn of phrase in our culture "my tribe" & his concern this trend is stark evidence we are choosing to become less civilized.
The actual conversation focuses on Fr Symeon's turn of phrase "Community As Babel Versus Communion at Pentecost".
Tune in here in two weeks for the second half of the discussion!
Scripture citations for this episode: - Tower of Babel - Genesis 11 - Pentecost - Acts 2
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How Not to Care When They Want to Kill You
08 août 2025
01:15:20
Following our two part discussion of artificial intelligence, we continue the discussion with another two part conversation returning to the right use & role of books in this episode followed by a discussion of the place of martyrdom in the way of the life of faithfulness.
This is part two of this discussion, please excuse the awkward edit from the preamble (identical to episode 5) into the content, which picks up about an hour into our conversation.
Reference materials for this episode: - Harken My Beloved Brethren, page 273 - St Sophrony the Athonite - “seeing God as He is” - Martyrdom, St Ignatius, the wheat God - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0107.htm
Scripture citations for this episode: - The brazen serpent questions God’s authority, Adam doesn’t correct him - Genesis 3:1-5 - Tower of Babel, idolatry, self determination, control - Genesis 11 - We know false prophets because their signs don’t come to pass - Deuteronomy 18:15-22 - No king, everyone does what is right “in their own eyes” - Judges 21:25 - What seems right to a man ends in death - Proverbs 14:12 - False prophets have visions in their own minds rather than seeing God’s divine council - Jeremiah 14:13-14 - Jeremiah 23:16-17 - Scripture is inspired of God - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - Love drives out fear - 1 John 4:7-21 - The Ethiopian Eunuch needs Scripture interpreted for him to understand - Acts 8:26-40
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Learn How to Read
25 juil. 2025
01:03:31
Following our two part discussion of artificial intelligence, we continue the discussion with another two part conversation returning to the right use & role of books in this episode followed by a discussion of the place of martyrdom in the way of the life of faithfulness.
Reference materials for this episode: - Harken My Beloved Brethren, page 273 - St Sophrony the Athonite - “seeing God as He is” - Martyrdom, St Ignatius, the wheat God - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0107.htm
Scripture citations for this episode: - The brazen serpent questions God’s authority, Adam doesn’t correct him - Genesis 3:1-5 - Tower of Babel, idolatry, self determination, control - Genesis 11 - We know false prophets because their signs don’t come to pass - Deuteronomy 18:15-22 - No king, everyone does what is right “in their own eyes” - Judges 21:25 - What seems right to a man ends in death - Proverbs 14:12 - False prophets have visions in their own minds rather than seeing God’s divine council - Jeremiah 14:13-14 - Jeremiah 23:16-17 - Scripture is inspired of God - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - Love drives out fear - 1 John 4:7-21 - The Ethiopian Eunuch needs Scripture interpreted for him to understand - Acts 8:26-40
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
The Fourth Death of Reason
11 juil. 2025
01:10:31
Part two of our discussion about AI, the collapse of Western knowledge structures, the final (fourth) nail in the coffin of The Enlightenment & why Eastern Orthodox Christianity shouldn't be all too worried about it.
This will lead directly into episodes 5 & 6, a discussion about the right use of books, the crisis of authority in The West & the path of martyrdom as we saw it exhibited by an entire community in Damascus on Sunday June 22, 2025
Reference materials for this episode: - The future of AI - https://www.wired.com/story/ai-risk-party-san-francisco/ - AI is making us less smart - https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/
Scripture citations for this episode: - Genesis 3 - Tree of Knowledge - Proverbs 1:1-7 - Instruction produces wisdom
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
What to Do When The Lights Go Out
27 juin 2025
01:02:57
What to Do When The Lights Go Out
Is artificial intelligence the fourth death of The Enlightenment & should Orthodox Christians even care particularly much?
Part 1 of a 2 part conversation.
Reference materials for this episode: - The future of AI - https://www.wired.com/story/ai-risk-party-san-francisco/ - AI is making us less smart - https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/
Scripture citations for this episode: - Genesis 3 - Tree of Knowledge - Proverbs 1:1-7 - Instruction produces wisdom
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How to Be a Winner
13 juin 2025
01:29:01
Following on our last episode in which we ended with the celebration of the righteous triumph of the gospel, we felt it was important to point out the boundary which must be kept on how we understand this triumph.
With the rise of nationalism in the USA, much of it Christian nationalism, as well as reflecting on such relatively recent tragedies as The Balkan war of the 1990's, it is crucial we understand winning as genuine participation in what God is doing rather than us going out into the world, weapons (rhetorical or military) in hand, to do the winning for Him.
(we didn't get to all this material, but it is relevant)
Reference materials for this episode: - love of place is tied to attachment to possessions - Shepherd of Hermas: parable 1 - https://www.strengholt.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Book-5-hermas-for-website.pdf - our desires must be for virtue & we must not fear death - 2nd Epistle of St Clement: chapter 5 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1011.htm
Scripture citations for this episode: - dwellers in God’s tent (to the Gentiles) - Ephesians 2: 11-21 - no lasting city (to the Jews) - Hebrews 13:5-17
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Go to a Church You Can’t Understand!
30 mai 2025
01:36:00
We start season seven off with by urging you to attend a [Orthodox] church you can't understand. Co-host Jim has realized he wasted 15 years of spiritual progress waiting for a local parish to be served in English. He traveled The Balkans enjoying all kinds of church services he couldn't understand a word of during early May & this dovetails with Fr Symeon's recent efforts to fulfill the wishes of Metropolitan Saba to teach Americans in the Antiochian tradition how to fully embrace & actualize this tradition without "becoming Middle Eastern".
Reference materials for this episode: - The burning of the relics of St Sava - https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/04/27/100127-the-burning-of-saint-savas-relics - Episode we did on “change” on a different channel - https://youtu.be/-Z_6hXs_wMc?si=sTsUeGqcGKMLPGY1 - Nikolai of Zica episode - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/14740645
Scripture citations for this episode: - Swords into ploughshares - Isaiah 2:1-4 - Let your enemies be scattered - Psalm 68
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
What Then Shall We Do?
03 avr. 2025
00:26:13
The fifth Sunday of Lent, the veneration of St Mary of Egypt, is the subject of this season finale episode.
Saint Mary did not leave us with insightful writings. Saint Mary left us with an exemplary life we can strive to emulate. Yet, we have almost no details about how she lived her day to day life & we couldn't emulate it anyway because we don't live alone in a desert. But she clearly spent her life cultivating a deep sense of her sinfulness, a deep repentance of her sins, a profound awareness of God's love & a profound joy at God's forgiveness & these are what we can strive, with God's help, to emulate.
This is the answer to the question asked of the apostles in the second chapter of Acts after the first preaching of the evangelion of Jesus, The Christ: "what then shall we do?"
Reference materials for this episode: Previous episodes - Saint Mary of Egypt: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/8220564 - Sacred Space part 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/16010821
Complete account of St Mary’s life - https://stmaryofegypt.org/files/library/life.htm
Scripture citations for this episode: Readings for The Fifth Sunday of Lent - Hebrews 9:11-14 - Mark 10:32-45
Luke 9:46-48 - parallel to Mark 10 above Luke 9:51-56 - shall we call down lightning & thunder? 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 - Run the race to complete it & win
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Why Are We Here?
28 mars 2025
00:29:17
The Fourth Sunday of Lent, The Veneration of St John Cassian, is the subject of this week's episode.
Jim reflects on the core beliefs which come even before details about The Trinity, The Incarnation, The Virgin Birth, The Death, Resurrection & Ascension of this incarnate God, the singularity of the church which His apostles established, or the succession of bishops who have preserved the divine revelation which was given to those apostles by the incarnate God.
There is someone we have to acknowledge we are, a reality we have to admit is the one in which we live, before we can even begin the lifelong journey of becoming a Christian.
Reference materials for this episode: Episodes on St John - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/10364782 - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/14611115
Scripture citations for this episode: Matthew 5:17-20 - Torah will not pass away Matthew 11:25-30 - easy burden, light yoke John 10:7-18 - the good shepherd brings abundant life Romans 7 - our confusion about our own behavior Philippians 3:6 - blameless under Torah
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How Can a Tool of Execution Be Life Giving?
21 mars 2025
00:20:54
The third Sunday of Lent, The Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, is the subject of this week's episode.
Jim reflects on the paradox of a device of torture & execution becoming the emblem of our military victory, our triumph, over sin & death.
Reference materials for this episode: GOA Digital Chanters’ Stand - https://digitalchantstand.goarch.org/goa/dcs/dcs.html Antiochian Liturgical resources - https://www.antiochian.org/liturgicday
Scripture citations for this episode: Hebrews 4:14-5:6 Mark 8:34-9:1 John 3:14-17
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Who Can See God & Live?
14 mars 2025
00:25:09
The Second Sunday of Lent, St Gregory Palamas, is the subject of this week's episode.
Considered a second triumph of orthodoxy, because just as the veneration of icons is necessary for Christian worship as we remembered last week, the prayer of a single thought, hesychasm, ceaseless prayer, through which we see the uncreated light of God within ourselves, is also necessary. St Gregory defended this tradition against scholastic innovations from the Latin West which rejected the capacity of the human person to have the direct experience of God.
Reference materials for this episode: Previous episode about St Gregory - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/13986560 The Trinity & The Life of The Soul - https://enlargingtheheart.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/gregory-palamas-the-trinity-and-the-life-of-the-soul/ Homily on The Second Coming of Christ by St Gregory - http://www.eschatologia.com/2018/02/homily-on-christs-second-coming-st.html#more
The Ladder of Divine Ascent, St John Climacus - Step 25 Translation & publication by Holy Transfiguration Monastery revised edition 2012
Scripture citations for this episode: Hebrews 1:10-2:3 Mark 2:1-12
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
What Does It Mean to Be Orthodox?
07 mars 2025
00:22:59
What Does It Mean to Be Orthodox?
The first Sunday of Lent, The Triumph of Orthodoxy, is the subject of this week's episode.
Originally remembering the Old Testament prophets, who spoke truth to power, now remembering the fathers of the 7th ecumenical council, which affirmed the necessity of the veneration of icons in Orthodox worship, Jim takes a few minutes to reflect on why it is Orthodoxy seems to triumph under adversity rather than flourishing when it is the established state religion.
Reference materials for this episode: Episode remembering The Icon Not Made By Hands - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/13419081 Synodikon of Orthodoxy - https://allsaintsorthodox.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-05-Triumph-of-Orthodoxy.pdf
Scripture citations for this episode: John 1:43-51 Hebrews 11:24-26, 11:32-12:10
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How Do We Prepare for the Evangelion of The Christ?
28 févr. 2025
00:30:00
How Do We Prepare for the Evangelion of The Christ?
Fr Symeon is busy now with the activities of Great Lent in his parish & so Jim is solo hosting a series of short reflections on the structure of the Paschal cycle.
This first episode will examine the four pre-Lenten Sundays: - The Publican & The Pharisee - The Prodigal Son - The Last Judgement - Forgiveness
He is choosing to frame this under the question how do we prepare for the Evangelion of The Christ because it was at the feast of Pentecost, which was originally the Jewish feast on which they celebrated the giving of the covenant through Moses to the people of Israel, at which St Peter & the other apostles first preached Jesus’ victory over death, setting all humanity free from the power of sin. This five month season of the year sets in motion a process of preparation which culminates in our renewal of our commitment to the life of the way of faithfulness to this declaration of a military victory.
Reference materials for this episode: St Gregory Palamas on The Sunday of The Last Judgement - https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2018/02/homily-on-christs-second-coming-st.html Episode about St Gregory - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/13986560
Scripture citations for this episode: Exodus 19-31: The covenant with Moses Matthew 6:9-13: The Lord’s prayer Matthew 7:1-5: We will be judged as we judge others Acts 2: The preaching of the evangelion of Jesus The Christ Romans 2:1-11: By judging others we condemn ourselves because we do what they do
First Sunday - The publican & the pharisee - 2 Timothy 3:10-15 - Luke 18:9-14
Second Sunday - The prodigal son - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 - Luke 15:11-32
Third Sunday - The Last Judgement - 1 Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2 - Matthew 25:31-46
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Is Jesus a Hippie?
21 févr. 2025
01:13:45
Is Jesus a Hippie?
Scripture citations for this episode: - Genesis 9:8-17: Covenant with Noah - Luke 15:11-32: The Prodigal Son - Acts 2:14-43: The declaration of the military conquest of Jesus
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How Can I Be Civilized?
10 févr. 2025
01:32:54
A just society, politics, economics & ideology. What our culture used to call Civics.
But we don't seem to be civilized these days, do we?
If you keep on the way you have been the past few weeks, it is going to be a long four years. Just remember, nothing is perfect, nothing is finished, & nothing lasts forever.
Flat earth theory, non-Euclidian geometry, the divinity of George Washington, School vouchers, circles of love, the abuse of high quality Chinese tea!
Tune in to find out if we're Christian Nationalists, Communists, Libertarians, Socialists, bleeding heart monarchists or just stumbling on our journey on The Way of the Life of Faithfulness to the evangelion of Jesus, The Christ.
Reference materials for this episode: Letters from the Desert: A Selection of Questions and Responses - Ss. Barsanuphius and John - Questions 699 & 700
Scripture citations for this episode: Luke 10:25-37 - Who Is My Neighbor 1 Peter 2:1-17 - Do not let your freedom become a pretext for evil
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How Does a Real Man Protect & Conquer?
27 janv. 2025
01:32:03
Reference materials for this episode:
Letters from the Desert: A Selection of Questions and Responses - Ss. Barsanuphius and John - Questions 699 & 700
Past episodes on these saints & feasts - St Joseph the Betrothed — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/14219830
Scripture citations for this episode: Ephesians 6 - the whole armor of God
YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/tgBvzq4Sbro
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How Can I Become a Real Man?
10 janv. 2025
01:27:48
How Can I Become a Real Man?
Reference materials for this episode: Past episodes on these saints & feasts - St Nicholas of Myra — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/6919991 - St Stephen — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/6259483 - St Joseph the Betrothed — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/14219830 - St James the brother of The LORD in The Flesh — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/11547555 - The Circumcision of The LORD in The Flesh — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/14257473 - St Basil the Great — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/9810397 — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/11954819 - Theophany — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/14299911 — (St John the Forerunner) https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/8728030
Scripture citations for this episode: Genesis 1 Genesis 3
Ephesians 2
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
How Can We Avoid Materialism This Christmas Season?
27 déc. 2024
01:28:18
How Can We Avoid Materialism This Christmas Season?
Reference materials for this episode: https://orthodoxtao.com/notes/notes-on-lessons-11-20/ - specifically #11
Scripture citations for this episode: Genesis 1-3 - made to be different, devolve to be more like animals Exodus 32 - worshipping an animal, behaving like animals Isaiah 1 - born between an ox & and a donkey Habakkuk 3 - in the Greek, is known “between two living creatures” Matthew 4 - Jesus rejects temptation without deliberation Luke 2 - Nativity narrative has no reference to these animals but they are in all our icons - St Symeon can behold the uncreated glory of God in Jesus body because he has experienced it before John 2 - cleansing the temple isn’t Jesus throwing a temper tantrum, He is dispassionate John 11 - Jesus weeps at the cost to Mary, Martha & Lazarus despite knowing He will raise him Revelation 4, 21, 22 - The elders participate in & perceive the glory of God as true human persons
YouTube: https://youtu.be/O2ZcPooh8Ic
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Does Anybody Know What Christmas Is All About?
13 déc. 2024
01:28:18
Reference materials for this episode: - Google search “vintage santa coca cola advertisements” - Saint Demetrius Press website — Nick Papas icon of St Nicholas — Nick Papas icon of The Nativity - Google search Rothko Chapel Houston Texas
Scripture citations for this episode: Messianic fulfillment - Matthew 4:12-17 — Isaiah 9 - Luke 4: 16-22 — Isaiah 61 Luke 2: 13-15 - The equating of angels with the stars & the declaration of global peace Matthew 10:34-39 - not peace but a sword Revelation 19:11-16 - Christ as the conquering king
Video version: https://youtu.be/iyDSOhbBKYQ
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
What Does Worship in Spirit & in Truth Look Like?
27 nov. 2024
01:31:12
Reference materials for this episode: https://orthodoxtao.com/notes/orthodox-worship-notes/
Scripture citations for this episode: John 4:1-42 - the Samaritan woman at the well, worship in spirit & in truth
Genesis 1-3 - Jesus walks in the Garden with Adam & Eve Genesis 3 - Sin results in toil & labor Genesis 4 - Cain is off the rails which is why God rejects his sacrifice - His ascetic activity tilling the ground has hardened his heart instead of softening Genesis 5-9 - Everything gets worse & worse until God unmakes the world - The ark is the vessel of salvation, many churches are designed to look like an inverted ark - Noah is given the same first commandment, “be fruitful & multiply”, be a gardener Genesis 11 - Babel is the archetypal false religion: transactional, tries to control “the god” - God scatters the nations to try to save them from this but they worship demons Ezekiel 1, Revelation 4 & 7, 21 & 22 - liturgical Sabbath worship
Exodus 25-31 - The physicality of The Tabernacle - An Orthodox church has an alter, an ark of the covenant, a 7 branch candle stand - We have the table of bread, we have incense & oil
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026
Why Does God Sit Down While He Rules Creation?
13 nov. 2024
01:38:39
Reference materials for this episode: https://www.catholic.com/tract/sabbath-or-sunday - Early church quotes about not Judaizing Hymns of The Lamentations Service Hymns of Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday Hymns of The Divine Liturgy
Scripture citations for this episode: Genesis 2:1-3 - God’s day of rest Genesis 2:24 - Jesus as the bridegroom going to His bride Exodus 31:12-17 - sabbath as part of the Mosaic covenant Psalm 24/25 - lift up your heads o ye gates Psalm 109/110 - Sitting at the right hand & ruling in the midst of enemies Matthew 12 - the sign of Jonah Mark 2 - The Sabbath was made for man Acts 2 - Peter preaches the evangelion of Christ & the response is “what must we do” 1 Peter 3:18-20 - Christ’s descent into Hades
The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago.
Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images
Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com
All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026