The Divine Ascent Podcast

Rev. Fr. George (Rajiv) Hatcher is the Assistant Vicar of St. Gregorios Orthodox Church Spokane, Washington--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters0:00:00 Intro & Prayer0:00:45 Uniqueness of St. Gregorios Spokane0:02:32 Father's Background and Calling to Priesthood0:09:30 Mission in Ecuador0:13:45 Orthodox Understanding of Evangelism0:15:28 Success in Evangelism0:19:53 Converting or Showing Love?0:22:54 Mathew 280:26:44 Spiritual Orphanhood29:54 Works Alone Not Enough0:37:48 Role of Divine Liturgy in Evangelism0:55:19 Evangelism in School and Workplace01:11:59 How To Not Be Pushy01:15:03 Obstacles that Hinder Evangelism01:34:40 How Parishioners Can Be Welcoming01:47:49 Role of Social Media in Evangelism01:53:00 Advice to Your Younger Self for Evangelism01:57:19 Outro & Prayer

Rev. Fr. Argey George is the Vicar of St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church Hollywood, Florida--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters0:00:00 Intro & Prayer0:00:38 Father's Background and Calling to Priesthood0:11:06 Church's View of Addiction0:16:08 How an Addiction is Formed0:22:26 Is an Addiction a Sin?0:24:42 How to Heal an Addiction?0:33:46 Experiencing Love of Christ as an Addict0:35:27 Role of Sacramental Life in Healing0:37:22 Addict Unworthy to Receive the Eucharist?0:40:03 Confession as Healing, Not Judgment0:42:38 Approach to Therapy0:48:30 Easing Into Prayer and Fasting0:51:33 Family Members that are Addicts0:59:05 Message to Someone Feeling Ashamed and Trapped1:05:22 Outro & Prayer

Rev. Fr. Mathew Alexander is the Youth Minister of the Dallas Area (Diocese of South-West America)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00:00 - Intro & Prayer00:00:29 - Father's Background and Calling to Priesthood00:05:16 - Life of St. Mary00:15:47 - Falling Asleep of St. Mary00:20:15 - She is the Theotokos00:22:04 - Virginity of St. Mary00:27:37 - Typologies of St. Mary00:30:36 - St. Mary's Role in Salvation00:36:12 - Too Much Emphasis on St. Mary?00:40:08 - St. Mary is the Chief Among Saints00:41:19 - Didn't St. Mary Have An Easier Time Than the Apostles?00:47:46 - Sinlessness of St. Mary00:52:29 - What From St. Mary Can We Apply To Our Lives?00:58:51 - Outro & Prayer

Rev. Fr. Joshua Varughese is the Assistant Vicar of St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church Austin and Youth Minister of St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church Houston--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00:00 - Intro & Prayer00:00:46 - Father's Background and Calling to Priesthood00:05:48 - What is Suffering?00:07:23 - Different Types of Suffering00:15:05 - Is Suffering a Punishment or Test of Faith?00:20:33 - Why Do Some Suffer More Than Others?00:24:46 - Why Would a Loving God Allow Suffering?00:32:54 - Why Allow People to Leave the Church (ChurchHurt)?00:40:00 - Building Trust in God in Times of Suffering00:43:28 - Joy and Sorrow Coexist in Suffering00:46:31 - Implications of Christ's Suffering for Our Suffering00:52:32 - How Achen Personally Dealt With Suffering00:57:04 - What Does Calling On God in Suffering Look Like?01:02:38 - Role of Us as a Church When Seeing Others Suffer01:08:43 - Outro & Prayer

Cheriyan Achen is the Vicar of St. John the Baptist Malankara Orthodox Church North Houston and Assistant Vicar of St. Stephen Malankara Orthodox Church Houston--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00 - Intro & Prayer01:13 - Father's Background and Calling to Priesthood07:44 - What is Spiritual Discipline?09:06 - Importance of Spiritual Discipline11:58 - How Spiritual Discipline Should Look Like15:38 - How Serving As A Priest Strengthened Father's Spiritual Discipline18:42 - Discipline in Times of Struggle and Suffering26:38 - Relationship Between Discipline and Emotion30:08 - Role of Fasting33:04 - Father's Vegan Diet39:57 - Discipline is Freedom42:55 - Failing in Discipline51:05 - Easing Into Discipline55:54 - Encouraging Each Other As A Church01:01:20 - Outro & Prayer

His Holiness sits down with us to talk about his personal life and answer the most pressing questions about the ChurchHis Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews lll is the 22nd Malankara Metropolitan & Ninth Catholicos of the East (Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church)An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxyTranslation: "Thirumeni" means BishopChapters00:00 - Intro & Prayer01:02 - When did you take ownership of your faith?03:26 - Did you have any role models or spiritual fathers that influenced you?04:46 - Why a monastic life? 07:50 - Thirumeni's experience in Russia and Rome15:06 - Thirumeni's emphasis on charity work22:44 - Thoughts on consecrating bishops that are raised outside of India24:38 - Process of canonizing a saint 28:36 - Can lay people be canonized as a saint?30:46 - Strengthening relationships with the other churches36:36 - Orthodox-Jacobite Issue42:13 - Vision of Evangelization45:11 - Effects of Nationalism in India46:48 - Church's future in North America50:38 - Words of encouragement 53:09 - Outro & Prayer

Deacon Toby John serves as the Youth Minister of St. Mary Malankara Orthodox Church, General Secretary for the MGOCSM of the Diocese of South-West America, and Prisoner Spiritual Support Manager for Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00 - Intro & Prayer00:45 - What is the Orthodox Understanding of Intercession?04:04 - Intercession in the Early Church06:42 - What is a Saint? 08:22 - The Church's teaching on lowercase-s saints09:49 - Isn't praying to God enough? 14:29 - Difference between venerating a saint and worshipping God17:01 - Is venerating a saint prayer? 17:55 - How are we allowed to pray to those that are dead?22:30 - Bodily Resurrection23:55 - If the saints are human, how are they physically able to listen to our prayers? 27:06 - Can we ask non-canonized departed to pray for us?29:07 - Why do we pray for the departed? Is their fate not already sealed?32:24 - Is praying to saints essential in our prayer life?34:38 - Do different saints have different roles? 36:19 - How do we keep our prayer life Christ-centered while praying to saints? 41:43 - How did you come to the ministry?43:25 - Deacon's experience as a prison minister46:09 - Outro & Prayer

Rev. Fr. Jake Kurian serves as the Vicar of St. Stephen Orthodox Church Houston, Texas and Assistant Vicar of Christ the Good Shepherd Orthodox Church Houston, TexasOrthodox Prayer for a Spouse O All-Good Lord, I know that any lasting happiness in my life depends upon loving You with all my soul and with all my heart, and upon acting according to Your Holy Will in all things. Direct my soul, O my God, and fill my heart; I want to please You alone, for You are my Creator and God. Preserve me from pride and self-love; may reason, modesty, and chastity adorn me. Idleness is hateful to You and breeds vice; give me the inclination to perform fruitful labor and bless my work. Since Your law commands people to live in chaste matrimonial union, lead me, Holy Father, to this blessed calling, not for the satisfaction of my passions, but for the fulfillment of Your commandment. For You have said: It is not good that man should be alone, and, having created a woman as a helper, blessed them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen. 1:28; 2:18). Hear my humble prayer which I send up to You from the depths of my heart. Give me a spouse who is honest and pious, so that we, through our love and harmony, can praise You, the Compassionate God; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, forever and ever. Amin.Translation from video:Achen - FatherSyros - Members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic ChurchMarthos - Members of the Marthoma Church--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters(00:00) Intro & Prayer(00:34) What is the Purpose of Marriage?(01:48) Orthodox View of Dating(03:14) Being Self-Aware(05:17) Living Together before Marriage(08:06) How an ideal relationship looks like before marriage?(9:39) Signs of being marriage-ready(15:24) Why is pre-marital sex wrong?(20:47) Does every marriage need to produce kids?(23:45) Birth Control(26:53) Being open to kids(29:31) Your Spouse is the Biggest Decision You Make & Qualities to Look for and Build(35:12) Importance of Family, Friends, and Spiritual Father for a Relationship(37:56) Being Equally Yoked & Relationship of people from different faiths(45:22) Next Steps After Finding a Partner(46:46) Steps After Marriage & Spiritual Father(52:15) Divorce (53:42) Does everyone need to get married?(56:32) Outro & Prayer

In Episode 3, Teji Achen talks about the Orthodox understanding of faith and works. Teji Achen is an Assistant Vicar of St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Cathedral Houston, Texas--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00 - Intro & Prayer00:44 - Faith-based and Work-based Salvation4:06 - Faithfulness over Faith5:37 - Thief on the Cross7:37 - Ephesians 2 and James 215:26 - Works and Repentance are Essential for Salvation27:04 - Jesus' Saving Work is Ongoing30:14 - Holy Spirit Working Outside of the Church41:03 - Believing in Jesus or Being Faithful?1:03:40 - Christ talked about Works-Based Salvation1:08:45 - Legalism is Paganism1:18:12 - Outro & Prayer

In Episode 2, Jake Achen talks about worship in the Malankara Orthodox Church. Jake Achen is the Vicar of St. Stephen Orthodox Church Houston and Assistant Vicar of Christ the Good Shepherd Church Houston.

We're joined by Rev. Fr. Christopher Mathew for episode 1 of the Divine Ascent Podcast! He is the Vicar of Christ the Good Shepherd Orthodox Church Houston, and Assistant Vicar of St. John the Baptist Indian Orthodox Church North Houston. We navigate through who Jesus Christ is in this episode!