Susan founded and directs Thrive Life Skills, an international ministry organization and has worked for over 30 years with suffering people around the world. She wrote A New Song: Our Journey Toward Healing and lives with her daughter and family in MichiganBy Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Did you know that St. Paul’s cousins were famous saints too? Intelligence and faith ran in his family! These sisters were holy unmercenary doctors, and we think you’re going to like them!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Clarissa grew up in South Africa, and has a background in acting. She homeschools three fiercely spirited girls and is wife to a man who gets paid to make actors look like superheroes. The Murrays live in downtown Atlanta, with their 90-lb Doberman named Blaise.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Bishop Basil had a very interesting obedience — one that you might want to consider too!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Dr. Jenkins is the Director of the St. Basil Center for Orthodox Thought and Culture at Eastern University He has taught History, Theology, Greats, Latin, and Greek, and recently published A Perilous Realm: Confronting Dragons, Angels, and Saints in the Ordering of the Soul.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Dr. Mark Faries, professor in behavioral medicine and adjunct faculty with the College of Medicine with Texas A&M College of Medicine and School of Public Health, Mark is the Director of the Well Church Initiative. He specializes in theology in health, health behavior change, and the role of religious beliefs in chronic disease prevention.…

Zachary Porcu is a professor of history and theology and a catechist. His is the author of Journey to Reality. He earned his PhD in church history from the Catholic University of America and holds degrees in philosophy, classics, and interdisciplinary humanities.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

A mother, writer, and teacher of college students and preschoolers, Laura received her Ph.D. from Harvard, earned tenure, published her first academic book, and then left to homeschool her children. She's working to set up Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in her parish.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Greetings beautiful people of planet earth! Ya boys are back at it with a heater of an episode! We were blessed to have the opportunity to chop it up with the multidisciplined homie Omega Watts. Many know of him as a producer, MC, and DJ. In addition to these talents he is also and independent art-director, graphic designer, photographer and of cou…

Aleksandr Jovic just made his directorial debut with the documentary, Beyond the Peak. He has spent years in Hollywood, working in various roles in both production and post-production. Get to know Aleksandr, and learn about his lenten documentary!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Aubree’s curious about All Saints Day, and so are we! Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about it…By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Kristi grew up with a Yiayia who truly lived the faith. In one of the hardest experiences of Kristi’s life, she was diagnosed with MS and Lyme. She relied on prayer, like Yiayia, and this struggle led to her true calling - author and illustrator of Orthodox children’s books!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

As Pascha comes to its conclusion with Ascension and then Pentecost, we consider how all of these feasts fit together in God’s great plan for us. God loves us and wants to be united to us — and Jesus ascending into heaven is a big part of that!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Evan and his wife discovered Orthodoxy in 2008 and soon established Otherworldly Productions, a video production company specializing in quirky commercials (Adidas, Clif Bar). Now, they're focused on Facing Phantoms, a feature-length documentary on the beauty of Orthodoxy.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

With years of experience in prison ministry, Fr. Michael Pejovic serves as a Prison Relationship Manager for OCPM, responding to the spiritual needs of prisoners and supporting the community surrounding them. Serbian-American, he serves as an OCA priest in New Jersey.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

In this episode, Elissa and Kristina answer a special request from listener Luke to talk about none other than St. Luke of Crimea!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

In this episode, we’ll meet two of St. Emmelia’s very famous and distinguished sons, and one of their friends.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Fr. Nick specializes in negotiation, diplomacy, peacemaking, and change leadership. He has used those gifts in service to the GOA, the Patriarch of Constantinople, the Assembly of Bishops, and the UN––and now he's part of the effort to translate the Divine Liturgy into ASL.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Elissa and Kristina had a request for the life of St. Emmelia — but it’s hard to talk about her without discussing the whole family! So this time, we’ll talk about Macrina, Macrina and Emmelia, but next time, we’ll talk about Gregory, Gregory and Basil!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Artist Emanuel Burke found Orthodoxy through icons. His art, rooted in Orthodox tradition, portrays saints in fresh ways, exploring the boundaries of light and dark, life and death, and sketching out the path of salvation. He and his wife, Yam, have 3 young children.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Christ is risen! Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger consider the real meaning of myrrhbearing and incarnation, both for the Holy Myrrhbearers and for us today!Originally released April 20, 2023By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

This week, Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger get us ready for Pascha by asking: how exactly did Jesus trample down death by death? What does that mean?Originally released April 15, 2021By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

You know Jonathan Jackson from General Hospital, Tuck Everlasting and Nashville -- but now get to know him as a fellow Orthodox Christian. We'll talk about his faith, his role in the upcoming film, Unsung Hero, and his new album, The Harrowing of Hell.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Kristina and Elissa received another special request: this week, we will be learning the story of St. Dorothy of Kashin, who lived in the ruins!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Richard Ramsey co-wrote and co-directed the feature film, Unsung Hero. He and his brother, John, make comedic short films which have been featured in numerous film festivals. Richard and his wife live in Nashville and have five children (all named after Beatles songs).By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

On Sunday we commemorate St. Mary of Egypt, whose life was not always saintly. That’s why she is such a favorite in the Church, actually—she is a wonderful example of how we can turn our lives around when we truly repent.Find the Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families book, ebook, and audiobook at store.ancientfaith…

Fr. John Kowalczyk serves as chaplain at S.C.I. Waymart’s Forensic Treatment Center. He is an executive member of the board of Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM), and advocates for prison inmates in need of Christ and pastoral care.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

In this episode, we’ll get to know St. Ignatius the God-bearer — for Ephrem’s brother!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Michael is a husband and father of three, a parish council president, the son of an Orthodox priest, and the President of The Antiochian Men. We'll hear his story and learn why and how he founded this impressive new group.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Eleanor is a delightful woman whose deep faith has carried her through tragedy, including the loss of her sweet son. A wife and mother, she works in the banking industry and has taught Sunday School, sung in the choir, and baked prosphora.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

In this third episode on St. Ephraim, Elissa and Kristina look at some interesting things he said about where we can find God.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

As we begin Great Lent, let’s think about what the words we’re praying in the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim really mean, and why we’re praying them!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

This is an interview I did with my mother's mother, Grandma Colleen Pitts (O'Farrell) in 6 or 7 years ago. She died on February 14, 2024, and so now I'm releasing this episode in her honor. We discuss a variety of things—losing her husband to cancer, difficulties in families, depression, losing my dad in a car wreck, and even the blackouts of World…

One of our listeners requested an episode on his name saint, the very wonderful St. Ephraim the Syrian, and we were so happy to oblige!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Pres. Melanie and her husband, Fr. Joseph, have one son, Michael Seraphim, whose special needs greatly impact his health and independence. She works to encourage families who face similar challenges and to dispel cultural stigmas associated with disabilities.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

We have another episode based on a listener request! Join us as we talk about the wonderful Prophet Micah.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

We have a special listener request from Leia, so we are talking about the life of St. Prisca todayBy Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Fr. Eugen is the author of Church Ministries on a Shoestring Budget, a subject he knows well, having established mission churches in Pittsburgh, PA, and Columbus, OH. A husband and father, he has been a priest for 32 years, and speaks on Pastoral Theology and other topics.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

This week, Kristina and Elissa are taking requests! Elizabeth wants to know about St. Ita of Ireland, so this episode covers the story of this wonderworking Saint’s life.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Michael Witcoff is one of Elissa's AHOS classmates. He grew up Jewish, and then became a Freemason, before converting to Orthodox Christianity. His book ‘On The Masons And Their Lies’ was written to help communicate the fraternity’s incompatibility with Christianity.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Marie is cradle Orthodox from the coal region of Pennsylvania. She married her best friend and they have three adult children. She is outgoing and fun, and works as a Medical Assistant. Her family was always active in the Church, laying a firm foundation for her.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

In this final episode of the series on Orthodox prayers, Kristina and Elissa take a look at how the Church teaches us to lay down our cares and settle in for the night.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Kristina and Elissa begin the new year with a prayer for the new day!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Katherine is a wonderful author, and has been an editor at Ancient Faith since 1993. She has written several children's books, as well as the Crime with the Classics series of traditional mysteries for adults. She and her husband have recently moved to the Pacific Northwest.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Whassup good people Happy new Year!! We're back like we never left! Hopefully y'all remember a few episodes back the we had on Jeremiah Dirt and Illustrate, well you can consider this part 2 where we chop it up with Illustrate solo and get to hear more of his story and why he does what he does. We have the convo about being a rapper who's a christi…

Christopher is a figurative artist working primarily in a type of Biblical Narrative. He has a degree in Drawing and Painting from Biola University and has been a work-from-home artist and homeschooler. He and his wife lead the Burial Society ministry at their parishBy Elissa Bjeletich Davis

Kristina Wenger and Elissa Bjeletich consider the Magi: who were these wise men from the East, and what made them decide to seek out the Baby Jesus?By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

In this episode, Elissa and Kristina look at how St. Romanos tells the whole story of Christ’s birth, in just a few short sentences!By Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger

Fr. Patrick is Elissa's Liturgical Theology professor at AHOS, and author of Come, Let Us Worship. Though he grew up Protestant in New Jersey, he spent most of his life as an Orthodox priest on the West Coast.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis

For 22 years, Jimmy (Santiago) Garcia has worked as Operations Coordinator, Director and Child Care Administrator at a long-term residential program for at-risk teens. A convert to Orthodoxy and church school teacher, he and his wife, Veronica, are raising two grandkids.By Elissa Bjeletich Davis