Speakers and Topics for the 2019 Ancient Faith Women’s Retreat

· Melinda Johnson

On November 14-17, we will joyfully gather at Antiochian Village for the second annual Ancient Faith Women’s Retreat! This event sold out several times over when it debuted last year, and we’re nearing 70 guests already this year. If you have not yet purchased your ticket (or want more information), click HERE. We are delighted to welcome four wonderful women as our speakers and leaders: Mother Christophora, Pres. Dr. Jeannie Constantinou, Pres.…

Ancient Faith Writing and Podcasting Conference: What People Are Saying!

· Melinda Johnson

This June, we were delighted to host the third Ancient Faith Writing and Podcasting Conference at Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA. This Conference is a professional development and fellowship opportunity for Orthodox Christians who want to enrich their creative work or break into a new media field. Eleven speakers led sessions on a rich variety of topics (you can listen to them here), and guests also worshiped together, enjoyed fellowship, and visited…

Statement in response to “Orthodoxy’s Appeal to the Liberal Left” by an author with the pseudonym Ioannis Constantinou

· John Maddex

Recently, an article called into question Ancient Faith Ministries’ commitment to Orthodox Christianity by ascribing to it ulterior motives which might undermine the integrity of the Orthodox Faith. Other entities were also indicted, and we have no comment about them. 

The Body Grateful: A Review of Garden in the East: The Spiritual Life of the Body by Angela Doll Carlson (audiobook)

· Brandi Willis Schreiber 2 Leave a Comment on %s

“The body is a garden,” proclaims Angela Doll Carlson in the opening lines of her book, Garden in the East: The Spiritual Life of the Body. It is a declaration that should make any reader pause, particularly anyone who has ever struggled with body image, chronic illness, or immobility. It’s the line that immediately pulled me into the rest of Carlson’s poetic exploration of the relationship she has with her body and…

A Simple Way to Write an Effective Book Review

· Melinda Johnson

When you read a book you value, the best thing you can do to support the author and publisher is to write a review. The interconnected digital conversation that swirls around us daily is the modern equivalent of village talk around the well or in the marketplace. A good word passed from one villager to another will always be the most effective way to share news. A review is that good word!…

Writing the Akathist to St. Mary of Egypt

· Bev. Cooke

St. Mary of Egypt is one of the most important saints on the calendar – so important she gets an entire Sunday in Lent dedicated to her, in addition to her feast day of April 1. She’s a major part of the Canon of Repentance that’s said at the beginning and ending of Lent. So why write an Akathist to her, since we already have so much about her? Around the turn…

Depicting Evil in Christian Art

· Laura Wolfe

I’m a believer in radical honesty.  Only by being honest with ourselves about ourselves can we begin the fight against the father of lies.  What this means for art is that honest artists will have much difference experiences and familiarities with particular evils, and that will necessarily effect their portrayal in art.  I think that because of this, some artists are called to create messier worlds than others.