PODCAST · religion
Be the Bee
by Steven Christoforou, and Ancient Faith Ministries
A production of the GOARCH Department of Youth and Young Adult ministries and a presentation of Ancient Faith Radio, this brief weekly video podcast will focus on the various ways in which God has infused all of creation with goodness and beauty.
Episodes
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Pointing the Way to Christ (and a Goodbye from Steve)
We've spent the last two episodes exploring how the internet shifts our attention from Christ and makes it harder than ever to be holy. In this episode, we're going to say goodbye by pointing to three things that need to shape the future of our homes and communities. We need to encounter Christ,...
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How the Internet is Hiding the Way to Holiness
We're called to be holy as God is holy. And we do this by participating in God’s efforts to redeem the world and bring it into the eternal life of the Holy Trinity. St Maximos the Confessor identifies 5 Divisions we need to overcome along the way. But what if the internet has created a 6th…
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How the Internet is Darkening our Minds
“Let us return, brethren, to ourselves...For we cannot be reconciled with God and assimilated to Him unless we first return, or rather, enter into ourselves... For the miracle consists in tearing ourselves away from the distraction and vain concerns of the world and in this way relentlessly…
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Our New Life in Christ (Pascha)
"You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8) Pascha is the start of a new liturgical year in the Church, with new readings from the Acts of the Apostles and the...
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Be Joyful and Gentle (Palm Sunday)
“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (John 12: 13) The Saturday of Lazarus and Palm Sunday are a sort of bridge between Great Lent and Holy Week. These days also live in the tension between joy and betrayal. People are welcoming Jesus as the Messiah while others are…
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Redemption & Repentance (Sunday of Saint Mary of Egypt)
“If you cross the Jordan, you will find glorious rest.” (Life of Saint Mary of Egypt) Jesus tells us that He came to shed His blood and "give His life as a ransom for many.” But what exactly does that mean? What does the Orthodox Church teach about atonement? We're going to learn about the...
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What is Real Christian Faith? (Sunday of Saint John Climacus)
“I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9: 24) We often think of faith as meaning either "certainty" (confidence that some idea is true) or "religiosity" (participation in a group's activities). But the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent is dedicated to Saint John Climacus, and the top rung of his "Ladder…
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Where to Carry Your Cross (Sunday of the Holy Cross)
“The glory of God is a living human; and the life of humanity consists in beholding God.” (Saint Irenaus of Lyons) Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him. But what does that mean? On the Third Sunday of Great Lent, we may think that "bearing your cross" means patiently enduring…
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The Light of Orthodoxy (Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas)
"O Gregory the Miracle Worker, light of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, comeliness of Monastics, invincible defender of theologians, the pride of Thessalonica, and preacher of grace, intercede forever that our souls may be saved." (Apolytikion for the Sunday of Saint Gregory…
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Why We Venerate Icons (Sunday of Orthodoxy, Triumph of Orthodoxy)
"On this day, the first Sunday of Lent, we commemorate the restoration of the holy and venerable icons…” (Synaxarion for the Sunday of Orthodoxy) After weeks of learning about forgiveness and pride and judgment, we begin Great Lent with a Sunday dedicated to icons. Why? On one level, this is the...
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Sharing the Space of Salvation (Forgiveness/Cheesefare Sunday)
“Nothing makes us so like God, as our readiness to forgive the wicked and wrongdoer.” (Saint John Chrysostom) The Greek word for forgiveness means "sharing the same space." At the doorstep to Great Lent, we're given the opportunity to both seek and offer forgiveness. Forgiveness Sunday…
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How Will You Be Judged? (Judgment/Meatfare Sunday)
“O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public.” (Kontakion of Judgment Sunday) In this Episode: 00:00 What is Judgment Sunday? 01:14...
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You are a Child of God (Parable of the Prodigal Son)
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.” (1 Corinthians 6:9) The Prodigal Son left the warmth and safety of his Father's house and joined himself to people that left him empty. And, when he returned, his Older Brother refused to welcome him.…
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The Danger of False Teachers (Parable of the Publican and Pharisee)
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) What this Episode is About: The Pharisee fasted, prayed, and gave to the poor. He did all the right things we're supposed to do. So what exactly did he do wrong? The Triodion Period begins with the Parable of the Publican and Pharisee…
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Episode 164: The Ministry of Listening
“Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "Life Together" Jesus describes the...
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Giving Ourselves to God
“He who loves humanity fulfills the Law that was writ of old and is brought to the Temple now.” - Stichera of Orthros The People of Israel were commanded to offer everything from the firstfruits of their harvest to their firstborn sons to God. This is just a part of a great cycle of offering…
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Theophany, Holy Water, and the Goodness of Creation
“Christ is the one who came in order to do what Adam did not do: to be the priest of creation...not just for the human being, although it was achieved through the human being. Christ came so that the whole world may live, and the human being may become that which he was meant to be when he was...
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The Meaning of Christmas (and How to Share It)
“What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, Who is simple, without complexity, and...
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Why Does God Allow Suffering?
“For Christians, [the Twofold Annointing] means that when a person is genuinely anointed by God’s Holy Spirit, he or she becomes both a king and a sacrificial offering: the two states are inseparable.” (Fr Timothy Patitsas, "The Ethics of Beauty") 2020 has been a rough year. Why does God allow…
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What it Means to Be a Man (or Woman)
“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) What does it really mean to be a man or a woman? Society usually gives us two extremes: to…
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Episode 158: How to “Give Thanks in All Circumstances”
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Thanksgiving is a time to feel grateful. But that attitude of gratitude can go away as soon as we're done with the turkey. How do we keep it going? Saint...
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3 Reasons to Fast from Social Media
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) Why do we fast from good things like tasty food? A the start of the Nativity Fast, we'll...
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3 Ways Christians Can Deal with Temptation
“Thoughts are like airplanes flying in the air. If you ignore them, there is no problem. If you pay attention to them, you create an airport inside your head and permit them to land!” (Saint Paisios the Athonite) Does having bad thoughts make you a bad person? What should Christians do with the...
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How Should Orthodox Christians Preach the Gospel?
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Orthodox Christianity…
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Why People Stop Being Christians (and What We Can Do About It)
“Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) Adults fear that young people will grow up and stop being Christians. But no one ever fears that a kid will stop rooting for their favorite sports team. Why? We'll look at how the life of a sports fan can challenge the way we share the Faith with…
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Is Self-Care Selfish?
But He would withdraw to deserted places and pray.” (Luke 5:16) #WorldMentalHealthDay can help raise awareness about the importance of self-care. But does this mean self-indulgence? Is taking care of your health a selfish thing that Christians should avoid? Aren't we called to sacrifice…
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How Christians Can Save Politics
“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5) Politics are toxic and the world seems full of darkness. Is our job, as Christians, to fight that darkness? We'll review the advice of two greats saints (St Isaac the Syrian and St Poprhyrios of Kavsokalyvia) to...
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The Amazing Strength of Jesus
“My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:8) Whether it's a mean comment or act of violence, why is it so easy to hurt people? And why should we care? We're all afraid of being weak, and will often hurt others to feel strong. Yet Jesus showed us that true strength often…
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Are You Struggling to Pray?
"For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21) Sticking to our daily prayer rule can be tough! But why? We'll explore the simple reason prayer can feel crammed into our day rather than a natural part of it. And we'll offer a simple way to help you transform wasted moments into...
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Why We Judge Others (and How to Stop)
"One who every hour prepares himself to give answers for his own sins will not quickly lift up his head to examine the mistakes of others.” (St. Gennadius of Constantinople) It's easy to point our finger at someone else's mistakes, rather than focus on our own. Why? We'll explore the Parable of…
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How to Start (and Keep) a Prayer Rule
“It is better to pray little but often.” -Saint Theophylact of Bulgaria Struggling to say your prayers? We want to help you connect with God! Let's start the new Church year with the Y2AM Prayer Challenge. Let's build a good daily habit and stick to a daily prayer rule for the next 3 months. In...
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Does God Have a Plan for You? (w/ Anna Karos)
Have you ever felt pressure about getting into the right school? Getting the right job? "Vocation" is about a lot more than a job. It's about how we respond to God's call. To learn how, Steve is joined by Anna Karos: a graduate of the CrossRoad Summer Institute. crossroadinstitute.org
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Dear Class of 2020 (w/ Christina Andresen)
Graduation ceremonies across the country have been cancelled. The Church is here to honor you! But we're not simply honoring your grades or extracurriculars. Steve is joined by Christina Andresen (Director of Ministries for Orthodox Christian Fellowship) to explore how Pentecost can shape our...
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How to Be a Healthy Human
Feeling scared to go back to school or work? What about Church? This has been a crazy time for us all. So Steve and Christian and back to share 4 keys to staying healthy during the coronavirus pandemic (and as public place begin to reopen). They even made a companion journal to the episode. The...
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How to Build Healthy Habits
Struggling to start a good routine, like saying prayers every morning? Finding it impossible to break a bad habit, like watching too much TV? Don't worry, we're here for you. Steve and Christian share 5 tips to help you build healthy habits! With these 5 tips in hand, what healthy habit would you...
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Why I'm an Orthodox Christian (with Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick)
As an Orthodox Christian, you're often the only one in the room. How do you share your faith in Christ with others? Why are you an Orthodox Christian (rather than part of some other tradition)? Father Andrew Stephen Damick joins Steve again as they share 4 basics reasons they're Orthodox Christians.
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What is Christian Unity? (with Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick)
Christians seem more divided than ever. Is there really such a thing as "one" Church? Does Christian unity even matter? Father Andrew Stephen Damick joins Steve to tackle these important questions!
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Does God Promise Happiness? (with Hank Hanegraaff)
If we are faithful, does God reward us? Does He promise wealth and blessings? Or is true happiness so much more... Hank Hanegraaff, the Bible Answer Man, joins Steve at the start of Holy Week.
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Christianity Under Quarantine
We're stuck at home We haven't been to Church services in weeks. What does it all mean? Steve shares a prayer and a parable that can help us see this with the eyes of a bee.
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Can You Be Spiritual and Not Religious?
Can you be spiritual without organized religion? What does it even mean to be spiritual? Maybe we need to rethink what we mean by spirituality and religion... Maybe we need to live like Christians: full of the Holy Spirit.
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What Does it Mean to be Good? (with Dr Tim Patitsas)
Who decides what is "bad" vs what is "good?" Is being "good" simply about following the right rules? Dr Timothy Patitsas, author of "The Ethics of Beauty" and Professor at Hellenic College Holy Cross, joins Steve this week!
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The Emptiness of the Christian Life
Our lives can feel empty and alone. But the Church offers us a different kind of emptiness: one that will lead us to be full of the Holy Spirit.
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The Importance of Service(s) (with Archbishop Elpidophoros)
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America joins Steve to explore why service is at the heart of our lives as Christians. But he also reminds us that, if we truly want to emphasize service, then we must also emphasize the services of the Church.
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Why Do Bishops Get Enthroned?
"Be the Bee" is back and getting ready for the enthronement of Archbishop Elpidophoros. Why do bishops get enthroned? Put on your hard hats, we're about to drop some knowledge.
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What if Your Parish Disappeared?
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 If your parish suddenly disappeared, would anyone notice? Are we living out the Gospel in our neighborhoods and communities? Because we believe the same things that the first...
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#StandAgainstBullying
Recognizing National Bullying Prevention Month
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Fasting (And Feasting) With Thanks
Why do we fast? What can that teach us about food?
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Who's Afraid of Halloween?
Christians don't need to be afraid of Halloween. We can celebrate it as a day for fun, friends, and family, and use it as a chance to grow closer to God and each other.
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Prayer and Joy!
Prayer isn't a numbers game, it's about experiencing Christ's joy!
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Praying in the Moment
Prayer doesn't need to be about hours, or even minutes. It's about the moments throughout the day that we spend with God.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A production of the GOARCH Department of Youth and Young Adult ministries and a presentation of Ancient Faith Radio, this brief weekly video podcast will focus on the various ways in which God has infused all of creation with goodness and beauty.
HOSTED BY
Steven Christoforou, and Ancient Faith Ministries
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Be the Bee have?
Be the Bee currently has 178 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Be the Bee about?
A production of the GOARCH Department of Youth and Young Adult ministries and a presentation of Ancient Faith Radio, this brief weekly video podcast will focus on the various ways in which God has infused all of creation with goodness and beauty.
How often does Be the Bee release new episodes?
Be the Bee publishes regularly with 178 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Be the Bee?
You can listen to Be the Bee on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Be the Bee?
Be the Bee is created and hosted by Steven Christoforou, and Ancient Faith Ministries.
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