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PODCAST · religion

Light Through the Past

This podcast will look at the course and development of the Orthodox Church, its struggles with heresy, the empire, and relations to other Christian bodies.

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  1. 220

    St. Gregory the Dialogist and the Liturgy: Part 1

    This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at St. Gregory the Dialogist's activity regarding the Liturgy, with a long detour on the nature of the Liturgy in the early history of the Church.

  2. 219

    St. Gregory, Chalcedon, and the Istrian Schism

    This week Dr. Jenkins looks at St. Gregory the Dialogist's interesting take on the 4th and 5th Ecumenical councils, siding with the emperor St. Justinian against the rigorist interpretation of Chalcedon that claimed "beyond St. Leo we cannot go."

  3. 218

    Gregory the Great and the Active Life

    This episode Dr. Jenkins continues with the life of St. Gregory the Dialogist, and addresses his years before becoming pope, and the tension Gregory felt between the life of contemplation and the life of service. Doxamoot: https://www.ancientfaith.com/events/Doxamoot/

  4. 217

    An Introduction to St. Gregory the Dialogist

    This episode Dr. Jenkins begins discussion of St. Gregory the Dialogist, Pope of Rome, a saint of immense importance, for both Orthodox and Catholics, but one too often discussed in light of the medieval papacy than in light of his own context. Doxamoot: https://www.ancientfaith.com/events/Doxamoot/

  5. 216

    The Unorthodox Origins of Penal Substitutionary Atonement

    This week Dr. Jenkins wraps up his answering of listener questions by looking at the matter of penal substitionary atonement, a 19th-century Presbyterian phrase to define a Reformation doctrine. Doxamoot: https://www.ancientfaith.com/events/Doxamoot/

  6. 215

    Risible Excommunicable Offenses

    This week Dr. Jenkins continues with questions from listeners, looking at the incredible accusations leveled against Patriarch Michael Kerularius by the Papal legate, Humbert, cardinal priest of Silva Candida, out of which hat he was pulling these libels, and how they relate to real Orthodox practices. Doxamoot signup: https://www.ancientfaith.com/events/Doxamoot/ J. S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No4-1 BWV1049 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 3.0.

  7. 214

    The Little Flock: The Deeds of God in the Epistle to the Romans

    This episode Dr. Jenkins continues with listener questions, addressing the subject of God's Providence in the history of redemption, especially as it appears in the Epistle to the Romans. Doxamoot signup: https://www.ancientfaith.com/events/Doxamoot/

  8. 213

    Questions 2: Truth, Councils, Authority, and the Corpus Mysticum

    This week Dr. Jenkins takes up another listener question, this week dealing with the matter of the authority of councils, and the place of councils within the life of the Church. For Fr. Florovsky's article: https://tinyurl.com/FlorovskyCatholicity For St. Athanasius De Decretis: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2809.htm

  9. 212

    Questions Part I: St. Augustine and Origen

    This episode Dr. Jenkins finally dives into all questions viewers have been sending him, and begins with one from Jack on why we venerate Augustine, but slight Origen. Doxamoot Tickets: https://www.ancientfaith.com/events/Doxamoot/

  10. 211

    Closing Thoughts on the Schism

    Having for over a year traced the origins and particulars that went into the Schism of the Orthodox and the Catholics, Dr. Jenkins gives some final thoughts to the whole affair.

  11. 210

    The Aftermath of Florence 3: The Fall of Constantinople

    This week Dr. Jenkins presents the sad tale of the fall of the Queen of Cities, a fall that many in despair had long awaited, and how this brought with it an end to the failed and futile attempts at ending the schism.

  12. 209

    Put Not Your Trust in Princes: Florence's aftermath 2

    This episode Dr. Jenkins details the "political" events that followed the Council of Florence, namely the tragic results of the crusade aimed at rescuing Constantinople from the grasp of the Turks. For poetry: https://basilianmedia.org/

  13. 208

    The Aftermath of the Council of Florence, Part 1

    This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the reaction of the Orthodox to the union,with the Council of Florence now behind. For Paideia Society: https://www.paideiasociety.org/ For Rule of Faith: https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/

  14. 207

    Florence and the Roman Primacy

    This episode Dr. Jenkins completes looking at the Council of Florence proper with a discussion of its teaching on the primacy and prerogatives of the Bishop of Rome. For Fr. Joseph Lucas on Purgatory: https://tinyurl.com/FrJosephPurgatory St. John of Damscus, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

  15. 206

    Florence and Purgatory. The Debate

    This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the specific debate on purgatory at Florence, and why the Orthodox rejected the Latin doctrine. St. John of Damscus, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

  16. 205

    Florence and Purgatory. An Introduction

    Dr. Jenkins continues looking at the council of Florence, this week looking at the question of Purgatory, with a history of the doctrine in the Latin west, and how it developed. St. John of Damscus, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

  17. 204

    Florence and the Filioque, part 2

    On the heels of last week's episode, Dr. Jenkins seeks to tie together loose ends as regards the question of the filioque, along with addressing some recent scholarship on the question. St. John Damascene, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

  18. 203

    Florence and the Filioque

    This episode Dr. Jenkins continues with the Council of Florence, tackling that most thorny of issues, the filioque addition to the creed. For Basilian Media's new book by St. John of Damascus: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

  19. 202

    St. Mark of Ephesus and Latin Theology

    As Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the Council of Florence this week he looks at the key figure in the council St. Mark (Eugenikos) of Ephesus and his theological training and education, and why he has been vilified by Catholics in the last century. New book on St. John of Damascus: https://tinyurl.com/Damascus2Wills

  20. 201

    Making Sense of the Council of Florence

    The run-up is over, as this episode Dr. Jenkins, back from Rome and recovered from Holy Week and Pascha, begins in earnest the events and implications of the Council of Florence.

  21. 200

    From Constance to Florence

    In this episode Dr. Jenkins finishes his discussion of the events in the West that made the Council of Florence a reality, one in which, unlike Lyons in 1274, the theological differences between the Latins and the Greeks were fully aired and discussed.

  22. 199

    A Eucharistic Divertimento

    On this Great and Holy Thursday Dr. Jenkins takes a pause to reflect on the Eucharist and the nature of Love in the Church.

  23. 198

    The Rise of Conciliarism

    At the beginning of the 15th century the doctrine that the council stood over the pope dominated the Latin Church, and its ascendence provided a necessary ingredient for the coming council of Florence. Dr. Jenkins takes this episode to explain this movement. https://tinyurl.com/FrDamickDrMoritz

  24. 197

    Blaspheming, Sword-wielding Monks: The Knights Templar and the Council of Florence

    In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues the long strange trip through maze of Latin church history that brings us to the Council of Florence, by looking at the trial of the Templars, an element without which Florence as it happened would not have occurred. https://tinyurl.com/FrDamickDrMoritz

  25. 196

    Intro to the Council of Florence: A Pope so Important even the Bees Love Him

    The long journey of the Council of Florence begins with imperious popes, corrupt Italian families, and conniving French lawyers. It ends with the Catholics going from demanding submission to the pope, to allowing a debate of the issues dividng the Church. St. Basil Society Lectures: https://tinyurl.com/FrDamickDrMoritz

  26. 195

    The Faith of the Orthodox, the Faith of Blachernae

    This episode Dr. Jenkins finishes looking at the tumultuous 25 years that followed the retaking of Constantinople, examining the Council of Blachernae’s decision on how the Spirit proceeds “through the Son," and what this entails for the Nicene doctrine of the Trinity.

  27. 194

    Cleaning Up Michael VIII's Mess: The Council of Blachernae, part 1

    Michael VIII's death found the Byzantine empire secured from its enemies, but theologically and ecclesiastically in confusion on all sides. This episode looks at the task that awaited Patriarch Gregory II as he began cleaning up the late emperor's madness.

  28. 193

    The Aftermath of the Council of Lyons

    From mutilations to executions, Michael VIII violently imposed the Union of Lyons, while at the same time successive popes raised demands on the Orthodox, while Charles of Anjou waited in the background.

  29. 192

    The Political Union of Lyons

    Prof. Jenkins continues his look at the course of the Schism, focusing specifically on the events surrounding the Council of Lyons in 1274, and how the whole affair was driven by political considerations on the part of the emperor, Michael VIII Palaeologos.

  30. 191

    Michael VIII Palaeologos and the Byzantine Dilemma

    In this episode Dr. Jenkins unpacks the perilous aftermath of the Byzantine reconquest of Constantinople, and the extreme ecclesiastical length's the emperor was willing to take to secure the Empire's safety.

  31. 190

    The Consequences of the Sack of Constantinople

    In this episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the political implications of sack of Constantinople in 1204 (implications never far removed from the questions of Church history nor the life of the Church).

  32. 189

    The Fourth Crusade

    In this episode Dr. Jenkins covers the details of the 4th Crusade, how it happened to be diverted from its original destination, and how it happened that the city was sacked and pillaged by the army of the 4th Crusade. Fr. Deacon Corrado's lecture on the Shroud of Turin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5glqEGO5cM Basilian Media & Publishing: https://basilianmedia.org/

  33. 188

    A Prelude to the 4th Crusade

    As Dr. Jenkins continues looking at the Schism between Greek East and Latin West, he picks up with the perhaps the most dramatic event in the history of the two communions, the sack of Constantinople by the armies of the 4th Crusade. This event and its long sequel shall dominate the podcast for the next several weeks.

  34. 187

    The Tension between the Churches in the 12th Century

    This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the worsening situation between the Orthodox East and the Latin West, comparing the witness of one tenth-century Latin bishop, critical in its own right, with a more vitriolic work by a twelfth-century French monk. For the most recent issue of The Rule of Faith: tinyurl.com/Rule6-2 For the essay mentioned by Prof. Siecienski: https://tinyurl.com/Union-Siecienski

  35. 186

    Anselm of Havelberg and Church Unity

    This week Dr. Jenkins's look at the schism takes us to a disputation on Constantinople in 1135, one that reveals real differences between the Orthodox and the Latins, but one which also reveals a good bit of cordiality and amity, seeking a way forward to overcome differences. For the latest issue of Rule of Faith: ttps://tinyurl.com/Rule6-2

  36. 185

    St. Leo the Great, Pope St. Nicholas, and Answering a Philosophical Question

    This episode Dr. Jenkins returns one last time to the question of the powers and prerogatives of the bishop of Rome, revisiting some matters as regards St. Leo I, but then looking again at pope St. Nicholas, before turning at last to a question from a former student.

  37. 184

    "Lies! All Lies" The Symmachian and Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals in the Formation of Papal Dogma

    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his study of the growth of the papacy, looking at the context of a few notable frauds and forgeries that nonetheless play a key role in the formation of the doctrines of the Papal Primacy.

  38. 183

    St. Photios, the Mystagoge, and the Council of 879

    This week Dr. Jenkins ends his look at St. Photios's thought on the Filioque by speaking about both his Mystagoge of the Holy Spirit and the council of 879.

  39. 182

    St. Photios and the Filioque: An Introduction

    This week we continue looking at matter of the Schism, and in particular the theological and philosophical underpinings of the doctrine laid bare first by St. Photios, patriarch of Constantinople.

  40. 181

    Persecuted Monastics and Imperial Factions

    This week Dr. Jenkins returns to the question of the Schism, but focusing again on the questions surrounding the Patriarchates of St. Ignatios and St. Photios, and the papacy of Nicholas I.

  41. 180

    Pope St. Leo the Great as Legal Heir of St. Peter

    In this issue Dr. Jenkins returns to the question of the powers and prerogatives of the pope, and what this has to do with the Schism.

  42. 179

    An Episode 1700 Years in the Making 4

    This episode Dr. Jenkins concludes his series on the Council of Nicaea and its implications for the Orthodox Church.

  43. 178

    An Episode 1700 Years in the Making, Part 3

    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his detour, discussing the significance of the Council of Nicaea. Fr. Deacon Patrick Mitchell's recent book: https://tinyurl.com/christtruth

  44. 177

    Nicaea: A Podcast 1700 Years in the Making, Part 2

    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his peregrinations on the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, addressing the theological implications of Nicaea for the Orthodox way of thinking about theology. Dr. Jenkins book: http://tinyurl.com/DragonsAngelsSaints

  45. 176

    An Episode 1700 Years in the Making

    Dr. Jenkins takes a detour from discussing pope St. Leo I to discuss the significance of the Council of Nicaea, on this its 1700th birthday, for the history of the Orthodox Church.

  46. 175

    Pope St. Leo the Great: An Introduction

    This week Dr. Jenkins shifts the discussion about the development of the claims of the medieval papacy to the important figure of Pope St. Leo I, the fifth-century pope remembered for his famous Tome that shaped the Christology of the Council of Chalcedon.

  47. 174

    Pope St. Julius, St. Athanasius, and the Council of Sardica

    St. Athanasios appealed his deposition at the hands of the Arians to Pope St. Julius and the Apostolikos Thronos. What exactly did St. Athanasius believe this appeal entailed as regards the power of the papacy, and what can his appeal tell us about how we Orthodox should think about the rightly ordered authority of St. Peter’s heirs?

  48. 173

    To Baptize or Not to Baptize: A 3rd Century Test between Saints

    This episode Dr. Jenkins examines the clash between St. Cyprian of Carthage and St. Stephen of Rome. This confrontation brought to the fore the 3rd century's understanding of not only the extent of papal power, but also the question of the origin of the episcopate and the episcopal office. https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025

  49. 172

    Pope St. Victor Again, and a "Touching" Reminiscence

    This week Dr. Jenkins again looks at the incident of St. Victor and his clash with the Quartodecimans and St. Irenaeus of Lyons, along with a divertimento about the Touchstone Conference. Orthodoxy & Education: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025 https://tinyurl.com/ChristasTruth https://tinyurl.com/sundoesnotshine

  50. 171

    St. Irenaeus and the Bishop of Rome

    This week Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the papacy in the early church, looking specifically at St. Irenaeus and his confrontation with pope St. Victor over his confrontation with the Churches in western Asia Minor. Orthodoxy & Education: https://tinyurl.com/OrthEd2025 https://tinyurl.com/ChristasTruth https://tinyurl.com/sundoesnotshine

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

This podcast will look at the course and development of the Orthodox Church, its struggles with heresy, the empire, and relations to other Christian bodies.

HOSTED BY

Dr. Cyril Jenkins, and Ancient Faith Ministries

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Light Through the Past have?

Light Through the Past currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Light Through the Past about?

This podcast will look at the course and development of the Orthodox Church, its struggles with heresy, the empire, and relations to other Christian bodies.

How often does Light Through the Past release new episodes?

Light Through the Past has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Light Through the Past?

You can listen to Light Through the Past 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 Light Through the Past?

Light Through the Past is created and hosted by Dr. Cyril Jenkins, and Ancient Faith Ministries.
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