Light Through the Past

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues his investigation of Apollinarianism by looking first at the life of St Gregory of Nyssa, and then at St. Gregory's Letter to Theophilus of Apollonaris. For the content of the letter: luxchristi.wordpress.com. Doxamoot: tinyurl.com/doxamoot2023 Orthodoxy & Ed conference: tinyurl.com/OrthodoxEDU Florovsky Campaign: tinyurl.com/DonateFlorovsky

The week Dr. Jenkins Continues with the Apollinarian controversy, looking at three letters by St. Gregory the Theologian. The letters will be posted to luxchristi.wordpress.com. Doxamoot: tinyurl.com/doxamoot2023 Orthodoxy & Ed conference: tinyurl.com/OrthodoxEDU Florovsky Campaign: tinyurl.com/DonateFlorovsky

Dr. Jenkins in this episode examines the life of one of the great saints of the Church in St. Gregory the Theologian, whose defense of the Faith against Apollinarianism (to be discussed next week) proved crucial. The Vicissitudes of his life are this episodes subject. Details on Doxamoot can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/2ajczyna On Orthodoxy & Education here: https://tinyurl.com/3u6nvxph And the Florovsky fundraiser here: https://tinyurl.com/2ncjupea

Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of Apollinaris, the heretic often sandwiched between Arius and Nestorius, but whose error was not too different than theirs. Information on the St. Basil Fundraiser for publishing Fr. Florovsky's works can be found here: https://www.givesendgo.com/G9XBA?sharemsg=display. And Doxamoot tickets are here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/out-of-the-darkness-one-great-thing-to-love-doxamoot-2023-tickets-602985244097

This week Dr. Jenkins begins a discussion of the heresy of Apollinarianism, a heresy touching the question what does it mean that the Word became Flesh. Far more than just an ancient error, it has champions even today. Information on this episode can be found at luxchristi.wordpress.com, and information on Doxamoot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/out-of-the-darkness-one-great-thing-to-love-doxamoot-2023-tickets-602985244097?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete

This episode Dr. Jenkins takes a look at the Life of St. Mary of Egypt with regard to reordering our thoughts and desires, with some side thoughts on The Way of the Pilgrim. As always, notes on this episode can be found at luxchristi.wordpress.com, and information on Doxamoot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/out-of-the-darkness-one-great-thing-to-love-doxamoot-2023-tickets-602985244097.

This episode Dr. Jenkins examines how the Church at the time of the Arian controversy saw itself in relation to the state, and addressed the matter of the emperor's place in the Church. Notes for this episode can be found at luxchristi.wordpress.com. Info on Doxamoot can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/out-of-the-darkness-one-great-thing-to-love-doxamoot-2023-tickets-602985244097?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.

This week Dr. Jenkins looks at St. Athanasius's Life of Antony, and at St. Antony the Great himself. As always, show notes can be found at luxchristi.wordpress.com. The Florovsky Fundraiser is at https://www.givesendgo.com/G9XBA?sharemsg=display.

This episode Dr. Jenkins concludes his look at the life and thought of St. Athanasius, his final years in Alexandria, and his contribution to the growing controversies over what it meant that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The show notes to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. The preserving Fr. Florovsky fundraiser can be found at https://www.givesendgo.com/G9XBA?sharemsg=display. For St. Gregory’s Oration on St. Athanasius: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310221.htm For St. Athanasius’ letters: To Epictetus, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2806059.htm. And to Adelphius: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2806060.htm

This episode Dr. Jenkins continues his look at the life and thought of St. Athanasius, his return to Alexandria after his exile in Rome, the councils held (on both sides) to address (and aggravate) the controversy, and the breakthrough of the Council at Alexandria in 362. The show notes to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. The preserving Fr. Florovsky fundraiser can be found at https://www.givesendgo.com/G9XBA?sharemsg=display. Information on the Summer Scholars Program on Tolkien is at https://templeton.eastern.edu/academics/summer-scholars-program.

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of St. Athanasius, looking at his time of exile in Rome, the councils held (on both sides) to address (and aggravate) the controversy, and the issues involved that come into sharper focus in these years. The show notes to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/. Dr. Jenkins recent interviews with Fr. Reardon and the Cialinis can both be found at https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/pathacademy”

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of St. Athanasius, treating the initial struggles with the Arianist Eusebian party, and his first two exiles from Alexandria. The show notes to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/. Dr. Jenkins recent interviews with Fr. Reardon and the Cialinis can both be found at https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/pathacademy.

This episode Dr. Jenkins begins our look at one of the Church's most memorable and important saints, one remembered at the Intercessions during Matins, St. Athanasios. Dr. Jenkins begins with some introductory thoughts on recent (and some not-so-recent) studies of St. Athanasios, and situates him the fourth-century Roman world whose middle years he dominated. Show notes can be found at luxchristi.wordpress.com. More information of the Summer Scholar Program on Tolkien with Dr. Jenkins and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick can be found at https://templeton.eastern.edu/academics/summer-scholars-program.

“In this episode Dr. Jenkins begins year two of Light Through the Past by taking in a broad view of the decades of the fourth century that comprise the Arian controversy. The show notes to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/, and Dr. Jenkins recent presentation on the Troubadours at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF6MWkVC7DI”

In this episode Dr. Jenkins takes an in-depth look at Saint Constantine the Great. The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/.

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues to weigh in on the Council of Nicaea and the Nicaean Crisis, what occurred at the Council, who were some of the chief players, and what was the immediate implications of the Council’s acts. The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/.

In this episode Dr. Jenkins weighs in on the Council of Nicaea and the Nicaean Crisis, what were the events that lead up to it, and who were some of the chief players. The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/

This week Dr. Jenkins replies to emails from listeners.

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the origin of the Trinitarian controversy and addresses exactly what it was the Arius believed, and gives some thoughts on why the Church in righteous and just horror recoiled from the nice, rational religion. The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/.

In today's episode Dr. Jenkins at last gets to the Nicene controversy, and begins by discussing how recent historians of theology have framed the questions that surround this tumultuous time, beginning with John Henry Newman's 1833 book (later revised) The Arians os the Fourth Century. The books referenced and links to them on Amazon, along with show notes, can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/

In today’s episode Dr. Jenkins concludes his detour from the Trinitarian controversy to tackle the questions and problems surrounding the so-called conversion of St. Constantine. The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/.

In today’s episode Dr. Jenkins continues his detour from the Trinitarian controversy to address further the Great Persecution and the Conversion of St. Constantine. Specifically this episode, we look at the question of what exactly was the Church, these Christians, that St. Constantine would attach himself to? The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/.

In today’s episode Dr. Jenkins continues his circuitous and long detour from the Trinitarian controversy to address matters pertaining to the Great Persecution, the third of several episodes on this topic. While the persecution begins in AD 303, the great persecution was not empire wide, nor was its ferocity evenly distributed, but it was clearly marked by two periods. We shall treat the first period today. The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/.

“In today’s episode Dr. Jenkins continues his detour from the Trinitarian controversy to address matters pertaining to the Great Persecution, the second of several episodes on this topic. While the persecution begins in AD 303, events and confrontations happened before it that clearly signaled its approach, and this week we look at the story of the Martyrdom of the Theban Legion. The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/.”

In today’s episode Dr. Jenkins takes a detour from the Trinitarian controversy to address matters pertaining to the Great Persecution, an event that demands several episodes in and of itself; but which is also a necessary precursor to the Arian controversy and the Council of Nicaea. While the persecution begins in AD 303, events and confrontations happened before it that clearly signaled its approach. The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/.

In today’s episode Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of Trinitarian thought prior to the Council of Nicaea, and this week investigating St. Dionysius of Alexandria and the controversy with his namesake in Rome, Pope St. Dionysius. The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can find the most recent issue of Rule of Faith and subscribe at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/

In today’s episode Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of Trinitarian thought prior to the Council of Nicaea, focusing on the Schismatic Novatian, who, before he entered into schism, had written a treatise on the Holy Trinity. The show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. You can check out Rule of Faith at https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/. You can order through donation Patterns for Life at https://patternsforlife.org/ (click on the Donate link under 'Buy Now')

In today’s episode Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the path of Trinitarian thought prior to the Council of Nicaea, focusing on St. Hippolytus and his controversy with the Popes of Rome, namely Sts. Zephyrinus and Callixtus. Show notes and the texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins looks at how, if we say that we hold the Faith once and for all delivered to the Saints, the language and terminology used in the fourth century looks so different than that used in Holy Scripture and by the Fathers before the Council of Nicaea. As always, the items referenced in this episode can be found at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues the discussion of the Trinity, and particularly the controversy that occurred in Rome sometime around the year AD 210. Today especially we look at the N. African writer Tertullian, whom we have met before, and his treatise Against Praxeas. The texts quoted and alluded to in this episode put up under the episode notes at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues our discussion of the Trinity, looking at the thought of the great second-century saint, St. Irenaeus of Lyons, and his discussion of God in Himself from all eternity, and God as He has revealed himself to us in redemption. The texts quoted and alluded to in this episode can all be found under the episode notes at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/.

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues looking at the Trinitarian controversy by going back to the early Christian, St. Justin Martyr or Justin the Philosopher and his struggles with concepts and terminology, all the while working hard to stay faithful to the truth of the Holy Scripture and the teachings of the Church. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins begins looking at the Trinitarian controversy, a question that materially concerned the church for centuries, and formally plagued the church for some decades in the fourth century. Why did the Church adopt homoousion to describe the relations of the Persons of the Trinity? Why were some leery of the term? Who were the key thinkers in this controversy, and how did they build on the thoughts and teachings of the Saints before them? The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com

In this episode Dr. Jenkins concludes his look at the early church author and thinker, Origen of Alexandria, continuing our examination of Origen’s system, and this week Origen’s doctrine of creation, both of souls and then of the created cosmos around us. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues his look at the early church author and thinker, Origen of Alexandria, continuing our examination of Origen’s system, and this week Origen’s weird and wonderful (more weird than wonderful) doctrine of the Angels, their relationship to redemption, and their part in Providence. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. Info on Doxamoot here.

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues his look at the early church author and thinker, Origen of Alexandria, turning our attention to Origen's system, which extends from his views on the soul to that of Providence, to that of creation, to that of redemption and the age to come. The subsequent generation focused on Origen’s theology far more than his work as a scholar of the Bible, as It lead to many errors and even condemned heresies. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. Info on Doxamoot here.

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues his look at the early church author and thinker, Origen of Alexandria, focusing on Origen's life-long passion for the study of scripture. If we look closely at Origen’s life and thought, while some focus on his heterodoxy, it is clear that the key thing for Origen was getting Scripture correct. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. Info on Doxamoot here.

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues his look at the early church author and thinker, Origen of Alexandria. This week Dr. Jenkins looks at Origen and his life-long passion for the study of scripture. If we look closely at Origen’s life and thought, while some focus on his heterodoxy, it is clear that the key thing for Origen was getting Scripture correct. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. Info on Doxamoot.

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins continues his look at the early church author and thinker, Origen of Alexandria. This week Dr. Jenkins looks at his life and the background to Origen’s thought. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. Info on Doxamoot can be found here.

In this episode Dr. Jenkins begins the first of several podcasts on Origen. Probably the most problematic, if not controversial figure in the early Church, both praised and condemned by saints, his impact was enormous. Today’s episode starts exploring this enigmatic figure. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/. The book mentioned at the end can be found at https://patternsforlife.org/

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins continues to look at the history of the persecution of the Church. The mid-third century saw what would be the most savage persecution up to this point under the emperor Decius. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/

This episode Dr. Jenkins continues our look at the history of the persecution of the Church but now in the third century. For the first time, the persecutions were empire-wide, though concentrated in urban areas. While starting in Alexandria, the most well-known account to us comes from Carthage. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues our look at the history of the persecution of the Church in the second century, but this time with the attacks on the faith that came from pagan writers, namely the Satirist Lucian, and Lucian’s friend, Celsus. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins continues our look at the history of the persecution of the Church in the second century, and how the situation for the church in the 170s in the empire, even though ruled by the Stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, deteriorated. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/

In this episode Dr. Jenkins begins looking at the persecution of the Church in the second century, how the situation for the church changed from one of relative peace at the century’s beginning, and what brought this change about. The texts alluded to in this episode can all be found under the notes for it at https://luxchristi.wordpress.com/

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins begins looking at the question of martyrdom, what it was, how the early Church thought about it, and begins thinking about how, why, and the ways the early Christians were persecuted. Shownotes at luxchristi.wordpress.com

Due to a question from one of our listeners, we return this week to look again at Simon Magus and the place he has in history as the prototypical heretic and suppliant of demons. Shownotes at luxchristi.wordpress.com

Dr. Jenkins dives into the murky and fraught waters of the question of the relationship of Greek thought and the early Church, discussing the history of the question, why it's important, and gives some thoughts on how we should think about it. Shownotes at luxchristi.wordpress.com

This week Dr. Jenkins looks at the first notable teacher in Alexandria about whom we have any real information, Clement of Alexandria. There is much to learn here from someone who is generally overshadowed by his much greater pupil, Origen.

This week Dr. Jenkins looks at the great ancient metropolis of Alexandria, the home of many people important to our Faith, such as Clement, Origen, St. Alexander of Alexandria, St. Antony the Great, St. Athanasius, St. Cyril of Alexandria, inter alios. Dr. Jenkins discusses why Alexandria was important to the ancient world, and why this city’s culture and history were vital to the formation of our Orthodox Faith?