Everyday Orthodox

Elissa Bleletich's guest tonight is Symeon van Donkelaar. He uses local wood, soil, plants, and even bones to make icons.

Joining Elissa Bjeletich tonight is Matushka Anna Crawford the author of the excellent Orthodox resource for miscarriage and infancy loss,Lost Innocents, as well as the author of the blog, Praying With My Feet, and is the creative genius behind Cozy House Curios, a popular line of handmade items including censers and priest and nun dolls for children. Mentioned in the show was a Service after a miscarriage or still birth.

Zoë Filutowski, a Greek Orthodox Christian from Orlando joins Elissa Bjeletich. You cannot help but love her, because she's so insightful and energetic and creative. They talk about growing up Orthodox, about following her artistic passions, about some neat trips she's taken with OCMC and about what's it like to be a single young adult in the Church today and what unique struggles and challenges she faces.

Fr Dcn. David-John Williams is the parish Deacon at Saint Petka Serbian Orthodox Church in San Marcos, San Diego California.Dcn David and his wife Lauren have two young children Zoe and Theodore. Both Lauren and David work in the area as educators. In addition to his diaconal ministry Dcn David is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Saint Katherine San Diego and a post-graduate researcher at the Hellenic Institute at Royal Holloway University of London. His Phd research concerns the sharing of sacred space, sacred objects and holy people in the Byzantine Mediterranean. Born and raised in the U.K Dcn David’s original training was as a musician and was brought to the US on an entertainment visa by Warner Bros music as a professional musician for several years. While working in that capacity he became involved in fashion and design, designing shoes for a high end Italian designer and eventually moving into haute couture women’s wear. His experience in the design and textile world led to his recruitment by Riza orthodox vestments, a ministry of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand:a position he has held since 2014.

Elissa interviews Diakonissa Alexandria Ritsi, a teacher, photographer, radio show host, and leader of OCMC short-term mission teams. Serving as an OCMC Missionary in Albania, she is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and attended Hellenic College. Serving in Albania with her husband and son Moses Anastasios since 2013, Diakonissa Alexandria is blessed to work closely with Archbishop Anastasios, a modern day missionary and living saint.

The unlikely story of Fr. Kaleeg Hainsworth will give you renewed hope in the providence of God. Learn about his journey but also about his film project The Face of God, a documentary exploration into the beauty of God's creation.

Elissa Bjeletich introduces us to a delightful young newlywed couple who have had more than their share of challenges beyond just being newly wed. Jorge is battling cancer in the midst of studying for the priesthood yet their faith remains strong. You can help the Luque's on their Go Fund Me page.

Elissa interviews Jenny Stasinopoulos about public education and Orthodox youth ministry. Jenny likewise tells stories about life growing up in Oklahoma.

Elissa interviews Marlene Kosich. She lives in Northern California, and belongs to both the Serbian and Greek Irthodox communities. She is the grandmother of 5 boys, and Kuma (godmother) to Elissa’s husband, Marko! Kuma Marlene is a woman with hard-won faith and wisdom, and a fantastic sense of humor.

Elissa interviews Adam Lockridge, the director of the St. Raphael Orthodox Online School.

Elissa interviews Anna Cory about finding your niche in the Orthodox Church on a brand new Everyday Orthodox, a live show on Ancient Faith Radio.

Elissa interviews Pamela Dunteman, a singer/musician and a mother of seven, grandmother of 13, who has lived most of her life in the Charismatic/Evangelical world, but who came home to Orthodoxy and is now living out the faith in the best parish in the world, located in Kansas City.

Elissa Bjeletich welcomes back Marilyn Swezey with more stories from recent Orthodox history in Russia and here in the United States.

Elissa Bjeletich welcomes Christian Gonzalez, a Young Adult Ministries Coordinator for the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. His newest podcast is We Are Orthodoxy.

This Thursday on Everyday Orthodox, we'll talk with Marilyn Swezey, who is a wonderful storyteller with an inspiring love for our Orthodox faith. Marilyn worked with Bishop Basil for twenty years, and can tell us many stories about this holy man's beautiful life. You may already know Bishop Basil Rodzianko from the instant classic, Everyday Saints, in which Archimandrite Tikhon introduced us to a holy, loving and regal bishop who broadcast his Orthodox radio program in Russian on the BBC, infiltrating the Soviet airspace via radio waves throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s. After the death of his beloved wife, he was made a bishop, but he was concerned that because he had not lived a monastic life, he had never properly practiced obedience -- so his spiritual father, Met. Anthony Bloom, assured him that he would be in obedience to everyone under him, and he took that very seriously. In his later years, in Washington DC, Marilyn worked closely with Bishop Basil, truly a living saint, and we'll hear all about his life, as well as Marilyn's life, which was truly transformed by her contact with him.

This Thursday night on Everyday Orthodox we'll be talking with Dr. Nicole Roccas! Nicole is an American convert who moved to Canada to be with her Greek Orthodox Canadian husband. She's fascinated with time and writes the beautiful podcast Time Eternal, and has just published her first book, Time and Despondency. Nicole is a scholar, a writer, and a really funny person. I think you're going to like her

As part of her PhD Dissertation research in Anthropology, in 2016 Hilary Bethancourt undertook "The Lenten Season Study: A Research Project on Diet, Lifestyle and Health during the Christian Lenten Season". Orthodox Christians who were curious how the Lenten fast impacts our health, our mood and our energy signed up to be monitored and tested throughout Great Lent. Hilary will tell us the story of her study, how the results turned out, and what it was like to load up her car and travel across the country to meet up with Orthodox people throughout the country.

Elissa Bjeletich interviews Fr. Silouan Brown about his ministry work with missions in Africa and how he’s found a way to put the gifts God gave him—not really missionary gifts—to work!

Elissa interviews Megan Hieger, a school teacher in Fort Worth, Texas, who has much to say about the single life and living in the moment for others.

Michael Strong joins us to talk about his fascinating journey: from his picturesque 1950s childhood to his work in prison ministry and his conversion to Orthodoxy, his dramatic career in high tech with the ups and downs of startups and 'bubbles' and personal health struggles with narcolepsy, he has found life to be rife with opportunities for spiritual growth.

Those of us who are in the struggle to raise our children with a love for Christ need role models and inspiration -- and tonight, Katrina Bitar joins Elssa telling us stories about her own upbringing and how her parents' Christ-like love allowed their children to grow and blossom. You'll also learn about the Focus North America YES program for young people.

Everyday Orthodox is back with another interesting Orthodox person with an unusual story. Denis Phocas was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and due to changes in the political situation there, eventually had to move his family to the United States. As Zimbabwe endures a military coup, Elissa and Denis talk about the situation there in years gone by, and about what it's like growing up Greek in Africa.

Christi Ghiz, an Orthodox homeschooling mom from Houston, Texas, joined us to talk about the story of her family's escape from their home, which flooded in Hurricane Harvey. A volunteer in a fishing boat rescued them, and with the help of generous strangers, they made their way through the flooded streets to a friend's safe home.