Raised and Redeemed

Why do friendships end after you come to Christ? How do you handle deep loneliness, heartbreak, and relationships that change after conversion? In this episode, we dive into finding God in seasons of isolation, navigating friendship breakups, and learning to pray through conflict...even for your enemies.In this episode of the Raised & Redeemed podcast, Michaela Nikolaenko sits down with Kara Mosher to talk about Christian friendship, friendship breakups, Orthodox Christianity, dating, marriage, and navigating relationships with Protestant and secular friends.Kara shares the raw story of losing her fiancé and his miraculous baptism. We discuss making idols out of friendships, handling conflict, knowing when a relationship needs to end, and how transforming your pain into prayer ultimately draws you closer to God.Plus, we answer your questions about Orthodox dating, celibacy, intimacy before marriage, birth control, and the spiritual power of praying for those who hurt you.#orthodoxchristian #christianfriendship #christiandating ----------------------------------------------------Ads Mentioned:👩‍💻☦️ Theos Sisters: https://www.skool.com/beloved-becoming-3448/about👨‍💻☦️ Masculine Revival: https://masculinerevival.com/----------------------------------------------------Michaela's Affiliate Partners:🫐🥦 Gruns: https://snwbl.io/gruns/MICHAELA11855🧸🧼 Papabear Naturals: https://www.thepapabear.com/MICHAELA66996☦️ Orthodox Icons CoronaOrthodox Icons Corona: https://orthodoxiconscorona.com/ (Use code: MICHAELAPROMO)🧖‍♀️🧴 Shire Skincarehttps://shireskincare.com?sca_ref=12418215.aKIwLRulSLFTS----------------------------------------------------🌐 Explore More:ALL LINKS → https://beacons.ai/michaelanikolaenkoWebsite → www.michaelanikolaenko.com 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raisedandredeemed🎥 Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn2x_6If3KUo5d9aA_7ALLw📲 Follow Along on Socials:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/michaelanikolaenko/TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelanikolaenkoFacebook → https://www.facebook.com/michaelanikolaenko----------------------------------------------------⏳ TIMESTAMPS:00:00-3:36 Intro3:36-6:40 Kara’s friendship background6:40-10:08 Not making idols out of friends10:08-18:07 Kara losing her finance and his miracle baptism18:07-21:13 Why birth control isn’t recommended in orthodoxy21:13-26:20 What if a man doesn’t want to be celibate?26:20-27:56 Intimacy before the time 27:56-30:47 Do Orthodox Christians get married more quickly?30:47-31:29 Theos Sisters Ad31:29-32:00 Masculine Revival Ad32:00-34:37 Can relationships still work after coming to Christ?34:37-44:20 Why relationships sometimes come to an end44:20-51:59 Secular Protestant and orthodox friends51:59-1:00:36 Navigating conflict in friendships1:00:36-1:06:35 The lonely season after loss1:06:35-1:09:27 Only God can save people1:09:27-1:13:07 God will both use and redirect us from our pain1:13:07-1:23:45 Praying for our enemies is our ticket to paradise1:23:45-1:26:03 Stay for the extended Elder Ephraim chat 1:26:03-1:27:23 Closing

Come inside St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Naples, Florida with me for a special tour of an Orthodox Christian church!In this video, Theophan—a dedicated parishioner of St. Paul—takes us through the church and explains the history, icons, saints, traditions, and spiritual meaning behind what we see.But this isn't just a church tour.As we walk through St. Paul, we talk about what the chandelier represents, why the saints are considered our family, why Christ is depicted in the flesh, the role of the Theotokos, the distinction between holy Christian spirituality and counterfeit spirituality, and what happens spiritually when someone begins the journey into Orthodoxy.And there are a few surprises along the way—including my husband joining the tour and a visit from Fr. Paul, the parish priest!Whether you're an Orthodox Christian, an inquirer, a catechumen, a Protestant curious about Orthodoxy, or simply wondering why Orthodox churches look and feel so different, I hope this gives you a glimpse into the beauty and depth of the Ancient Faith.📍 St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Naples, Florida https://stpaulnaples.org/#OrthodoxChristianity #OrthodoxChurch #Orthodoxy----------------------------------------------------Ads Mentioned:Floridoxy Designs: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FloridoxyDesignsOrthodox Icons Corona: https://orthodoxiconscorona.com/👩‍💻☦️ Theos Sisters: https://www.skool.com/beloved-becoming-3448/about👨‍💻☦️ Masculine Revival: https://masculinerevival.com/----------------------------------------------------🌐 Explore More:ALL LINKS → https://beacons.ai/michaelanikolaenkoWebsite → www.michaelanikolaenko.com 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raisedandredeemed🎥 Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn2x_6If3KUo5d9aA_7ALLw📲 Follow Along on Socials:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/michaelanikolaenko/TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelanikolaenkoFacebook → https://www.facebook.com/michaelanikolaenko----------------------------------------------------⏳ TIMESTAMPS:00:00-00:53 intro 00:53-4:33 Theophan’s Journey to Orthodoxy 4:33-5:05 History of St Paul 5:05-7:27 The ancient faith we weren’t taught 7:27-9:51 Children in the Church 9:51-11:10 The narthex 11:10-12:07 Saint Paisios 12:07-13:24 Why do some Churches have different icons? 13:24-13:44 Floridoxy Designs Ad 13:44-14:01 Orthodox Icons Corona Ad 14:01-19:35 What does the chandelier represent? 19:35-21:15 Icons & Christ taking on our mud 21:15-21:52 The saints are our family members 21:52-22:54 Saint Photini 22:52-23:45 The stained glass windows 23:45-26:41 What distinguishes the Antiochian Orthodox Church? 26:41-32:30 How St Paul was blessed with new icons 32:30-35:53 How do new people feel coming in? 35:53-39:37 Orthodoxy permeates into you slowly 39:37-45:38 When the Protestant house of cards fell down 45:38-47:09 The catechumen spiritual warfare 47:09-53:09 Holy spirituality versus counterfeit spirituality 53:09-53:52 Theos Sisters Ad 53:52-54:23 Masculine Revival Ad 54:23-1:01:32 The Theotokos/Panagia/Mother of God 1:01:32-1:02:44 My husband joins the party 1:02:44-1:04:08 Lighting candles and praying 1:04:08-1:05:35 The women saints 1:05:35-1:05:54 The men saints 1:05:54-1:06:25 men and women sitting separate in Orthodox Church 1:06:25-1:06:59 Future collab with Fr Paul 1:06:59-1:08:12 What are Saints 1:08:12-1:09:07 Closing

What happens when someone raised Mormon begins questioning everything they were taught about God, salvation, the Church, and Jesus Christ?In this episode of the Raised & Redeemed Podcast, I sit down with Sunny to hear her story of growing up Mormon, leaving the LDS Church, walking through a season of rebellion, returning to the Lord, and ultimately discovering Orthodox Christianity.Sunny shares what it was really like growing up in Mormonism, including the differences between LDS and FLDS beliefs, what happens inside Mormon temples, Mormon sacraments and theology, and why many Mormons are known for living seemingly Christ-like lives.We also talk about some of the common misconceptions about Mormonism, the questions that eventually led Sunny to leave the LDS Church, and some of the more unusual beliefs within Mormon theology.Subscribe to Raised & Redeemed for conversations about Orthodox Christianity, conversion, spiritual warfare, healing in Christ, and the journey of becoming raised and redeemed.#Mormonism #OrthodoxChristianity #LDS #LeavingMormonism #ChristianTestimony----------------------------------------------------Ads Mentioned:👩‍💻☦️ Theos Sisters: https://www.skool.com/beloved-becoming-3448/about👨‍💻☦️ Masculine Revival: https://masculinerevival.com/🫐🥦 Gruns: https://snwbl.io/gruns/MICHAELA11855🧸🧼 Papabear Naturals: https://www.thepapabear.com/MICHAELA66996----------------------------------------------------🌐 Explore More:ALL LINKS → https://beacons.ai/michaelanikolaenkoWebsite → www.michaelanikolaenko.com 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raisedandredeemed🎥 Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn2x_6If3KUo5d9aA_7ALLw📲 Follow Along on Socials:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/michaelanikolaenko/TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelanikolaenkoFacebook → https://www.facebook.com/michaelanikolaenko----------------------------------------------------⏳ TIMESTAMPS:00:00-2:09 intro2:09-3:53 growing up Mormon3:53-5:20 FLDS vs LDS 5:20-8:02 growing up Mormon8:02-11:00 inside Mormon temples11:00-15:00 Mormon sacraments & theology15:00-18:07 why are Mormons often so Christ-like?18:07-19:00 misconceptions about Mormonism19:00-23:44 leaving Mormonism23:44-27:33 some weird things Mormons believe27:33-28:15 Theos Sisters Ad28:15-28:46 Masculine Revival Ad28:46-34:22 The questions that will lead you out of Mormonism34:22-39:25 the dark path of rebellion after Mormonism39:25-41:36 coming back to the Lord41:36-43:21 how she met her husband43:21-58:59 coming to orthodoxy58:59-1:01:06 recommitting to purity1:01:06-1:06:30 listener questions1:06:30-1:07:12 closing

What does healing from our childhood trauma look like as Orthodox Christians?In this deeply personal conversation, Michaela Nikolaenko sits down with Christina Taylor of Orthodox Family Life to talk honestly about growing up in dysfunctional families, the lasting effects of childhood trauma, learning to forgive our parents, and discovering healing through Christ and His Church.Both Michaela and Christina share from their own experiences of difficult childhoods and the ways those experiences shaped their understanding of trust, relationships, authority, love, and God. Together, they explore what it can look like to bring those wounds before Christ rather than allowing them to define our lives.Healing does not mean pretending that the past didn't happen. It means bringing what is broken into the light of Christ and allowing Him to begin the work of restoration.If you have experienced childhood trauma, family dysfunction, abandonment, abuse, difficult relationships with your parents, or struggles with trusting God or the Church, we hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone, and that Christ is near to the brokenhearted.Subscribe for more conversations about Orthodox Christianity, healing in Christ, spiritual growth, motherhood, testimony, and the Orthodox Christian life.#OrthodoxChristianity #HealingInChrist #ChildhoodTrauma #ChristianHealing #TraumaHealing #Forgiveness #OrthodoxChristian----------------------------------------------------Find Christina Taylor: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orthodoxfamilylife/YouTube: youtube.com/@orthodoxfamilylifeSkool: https://www.skool.com/orthodox-family-life-2544/about?----------------------------------------------------Ads Mentioned:👩‍💻☦️ Theos Sisters: https://www.skool.com/beloved-becoming-3448/about👨‍💻☦️ Masculine Revival: https://masculinerevival.com/🫐🥦 Gruns: https://snwbl.io/gruns/MICHAELA11855🧸🧼 Papabear Naturals: https://www.thepapabear.com/MICHAELA66996----------------------------------------------------🌐 Explore More:ALL LINKS → https://beacons.ai/michaelanikolaenkoWebsite → www.michaelanikolaenko.com 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raisedandredeemed🎥 Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn2x_6If3KUo5d9aA_7ALLw📲 Follow Along on Socials:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/michaelanikolaenko/TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelanikolaenkoFacebook → https://www.facebook.com/michaelanikolaenko----------------------------------------------------⏳ TIMESTAMPS:00:00-2:24 intro 2:24-11:36 growing up in dysfunction 11:36-19:43 learning to forgive our parents 19:43-20:25 Theos Sisters Ad 20:25-20:56 Masculine Revival Ad 20:56-28:42 how dysfunction impacts development 28:42-36:02 God is close to the broken hearted 36:02-39:36 The Church unites us 39:36-42:26 becoming convinced of orthodoxy 42:26-47:55 did you struggle with having a priest after trauma? 47:55-51:28 building our capacity to bear God’s love 51:28-56:51 alone with God together 56:51-1:04:01 trusting God in hard times 1:04:01-1:04:31 Gruns Ad 1:04:31-1:05:00 Papabear Naturals Ad 1:05:00-1:13:12 embracing mother Mary after trauma 1:13:12-1:40:09 how to heal in the Church 1:40:09-1:43:13 Closing

What does Orthodox Christianity have to say about alternative medicine, yoga, meditation, herbology, acupuncture, psychedelics, and even Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?In this episode of Raised & Redeemed, Michaela Nikolaenko sits down with Dr. Michael Christian Kuhn, Doctor of Health Sciences, functional health and nutrition consultant, founder of Orthodox Health, host of the Orthodox Health Podcast, and author of Orthodoxy and the Medicine of the Future: Rediscovering the Healing Power of Fasting, Prayer, and Holy Tradition*.We explore the complicated intersection of physical health, alternative medicine, natural remedies, spiritual discernment, and Orthodox Christianity.Dr. Mike shares how his journey through alternative health ultimately led him to Orthodoxy, including the influence of Fr. Seraphim Rose and his book Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future. We discuss the important distinction between using natural approaches to care for the body and participating in practices that may carry an Eastern, New Age, or other spiritual worldview.Can yoga be “baptized” into Christianity? Is meditation always spiritually dangerous, or is the Jesus Prayer fundamentally different from Eastern meditation? What about herbology and acupuncture? Why might psychedelics exist? Can Brazilian Jiu Jitsu be spiritually safe? And how can Orthodox Christians learn to discern the difference?#OrthodoxChristianity #Orthodoxy #AlternativeMedicine----------------------------------------------------Dr. Mike's Website: https://www.orthodoxhealth.com/Dr. Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orthodox_health/----------------------------------------------------Ads:Theos Sisters: https://www.skool.com/beloved-becoming-3448/aboutMasculine Revival: https://masculinerevival.com/Gruns: https://snwbl.io/gruns/MICHAELA11855Papabear Naturals: https://www.thepapabear.com/MICHAELA66996----------------------------------------------------🌐 Explore More:ALL LINKS → https://beacons.ai/michaelanikolaenkoWebsite → www.michaelanikolaenko.com 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raisedandredeemed🎥 Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn2x_6If3KUo5d9aA_7ALLw📲 Follow Along on Socials:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/michaelanikolaenko/TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelanikolaenkoFacebook → https://www.facebook.com/michaelanikolaenko----------------------------------------------------⏳ TIMESTAMPS:00:00-2:05 Intro to Dr Mike2:05-5:50 Fr Seraphim Rose’s Inspo5:50-12:14 Alternative health led him to Orthodoxy12:14-17:22 Can yoga be baptized?17:22-20:29 the Jesus prayer versus eastern yoga and meditation 20:29-26:24 Christ the Eternal Tao 26:24-27:06 Theos Sisters Ad27:06-27:37 Masculine Revival Ad27:37-37:20 All religious traditions lead to Orthodoxy 37:20-39:11 Orthodox views on mental health industry39:11-44:38 An Orthodox economy44:38-54:35 Herbology & the extent it can be baptized54:35-55:06 Gruns Ad55:06-55:35 Papabear Naturals Ad55:35-1:00:19 Some natural remedies 1:00:19-1:07:52 Can acupuncture be baptized?1:07:52-1:13:29 Orthodoxy isn’t black and white1:13:29-1:19:08 Why are psychedelics on earth?1:19:08-1:24:23 Learning to Orthodox fast1:24:23-1:33:27 Is BJJ spiritually safe?1:33:27-1:36:37 How to discern if practices are spiritually safe1:36:37-1:38:02 Find Dr Mike