PODCAST · health
Prosphorka series the Ladder
by Priest Methodius Chwastek
Prosphorka Series The Ladder is follows the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus. This book is assigned to be read in the Churches during the Lenten season. If one were to attend all of the Lenten hours, each week, he would hear the entire book read. Since these services are ill attended and because many have been infected with the idea that Orthodoxy applies differently between monastics and the Laity, many wrong ideas have given rise to an almost Gnostic Orthodoxy. Listen as Fr. Methodius attempts to show how we can all learn from "the Ladder". He bases his teaching on a premise taught by St. Anthony Krapovitsky who said that the unique form of Christian unity that is Orthodox, is Asceticism. Fr. Methodius believes that the Laity will not be able to truly live the Chrisitian life unless they discover this truth.
Episodes
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The Ladder Step 30 Supreme Virtues
This episode concludes our discussion of the Ladder of Divine Ascent. St. John has given us his gift. Let us make use of it!
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The Ladder Step 29 On dispassion
The Saints became what they are when they climbed the Spiritual Ladder. Since they have left their ladders propped up, doesn't it make good sense to start the climb ourselves?
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The Ladder Step 28 Prayer
Prayer is a mystery. This does not mean that it cannot be understood, to a degree. It means that it is much bigger than we know and that it can transform us. Fr. M gives a beginners take on a discipline he hopes you will take up.
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The Ladder Step 27 On holy solitude
Holy Solitude, once again, not a virtue accessible only to monastics, offers those who practice it a chance to listen to God Himself. This endeavor, however, cannot be successful unless it is done under guidance.
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The Ladder Step 26 On Discernment
Many people today are jaded and untrusting. This is a misappropriation of energy that should be focused in. Discernment enables us to know if our thoughts are good or evil. However, we don't automatically have discernment. It is a result of spiritual formation experienced in the Ascetical life.
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The Ladder Step 25 On Humility
Fr. Methodius shows how the virtues are not tangential to our salvation, but instrumental. Salvation is made available to us through the work of Christ, but unless we accept it we never benefit from it. We accept it by keeping His commandments which is one way of saying acquiring virtue.
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The Ladder Step 24 Meekness, Guilelessness, and Simplicity
If there are three queen passions, the three virtues presented in this talk present a formidable weapon against them. Learn how meekness paves the way for progress in virtues.
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The Ladder Step 23 Pride and Blasphemous thoughts
Pride includes thinking too highly of oneself but this does not exhaust its meaning. Learn how pride not only causes problems but resists healing as well.
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The Ladder Step 22 Vainglory
This episode may help you to understand why you are so messed up. Vainglory has you convinced that you are worthy of praise. This is why you love those who praise you and hate those who don't. And this is the cause of all your problems.
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The Ladder Step 21 Unmanly and puerile cowardice
People are really weak these days. What psychological tyranny are they under though? The fathers say that pride and vainglory cause this impishness.
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The Ladder Step 20 Vigilance, Physical and Spiritual
For a while now, mindfulness has been a trendy topic. In the Church, techniques are available to us to practice Orthodox Mindfulness. But, since our goal is different from the new-age goal, our method is also different. Fr. M explains some of the details surrounding Orthodox watchfulness or...
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The Ladder Step 19 On Sleep
The Spiritual Life is a physical life. Whatever aspects of our lives we do not see as pertaining to the Spiritual life, we offer to the evil one for our ruin. Fr. M talks about sleep, prayer in church and other things you must consider.
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The Ladder Step 18 Insensibility, the deadening of the soul
This step will become increasingly difficult for us to conquer as history ebbs on. Transhumanism is the natural result of egotism. We should strive to soften our hearts and expose ourselves to those people and circumstances that can save us. Orthodoxy is a struggle!
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The Ladder Step 17 Poverty
This episode has a direct tie-in to the last episode and builds on it. Poverty for its own sake may be sinful, but poverty for Christ's sake has rich rewards attached to it.
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The Ladder Step 16 Love of Money
When it comes to the spiritual life, modern gnostics believe that God has no concern for how we use our money. But, in reality, He shows us that what we do with money determines what He will do with our soul.
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The Ladder Step 15 Incorruptible purity and chastity
What a monk calls fornication is masturbation. It is also called carnality, with it's passion, lust motivating it. This is an honest look at a real problem many suffer from and no one will speak of. Many people fail to understand the meaning of words used by the holy fathers. One misconception is...
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The Ladder Step 14 The Stomach
This is a big one! The Stomach may be said to be the dividing line between NeoGnostic Christianity (Evangelicalism) and Orthodoxy. Do we worship the True God or do we worship our bodies?
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The Ladder Step 13 On Despondency
Despondency is everywhere except in one place, where there is the remembrance of one's sins. But people don't want to go there. Despondency is so dangerous because most people who suffer from it do not want it cured. In our self-loving age narcissist bounce between the idolatrous adoration of the...
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The Ladder Step 12 On Lying
Is it ever ok to lie? Can a Saint lie? How is lying linked to talkativeness? Fr. M offers some help to understand these things.
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The Ladder Step 11 Talkativeness
Consider the difficulties involved in telling people they should speak less. Fr. M rises to the challenge throwing caution to the wind.
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The Ladder Step 10 Calumny and Slander
We learned about Angerlessness in an earlier episode and how far from it many of us are. In this episode, we see more clearly how destructive our anger is when it is left untransformed.
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The Ladder Step 9 Remembrance of Wrongs
We talk a lot about our thought life, about what goes on in our minds and how we must master it. One thing that has the power to destroy us is a vice called the remembrance of wrongs. Fr. Methodius gives some warnings here about just how dangerous it is.
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The Ladder Step 8 Angerlessness and Meakness
We all suffer from anger but do we know how to battle it? Do we have any methods in place to transform anger into something useful? We hear that the Meek shall inherit the earth. Do we understand meekness or do we define it in human terms only? Fr. M offers directions you may find useful and...
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The Ladder Step 7 Mourning Making Joy
Did you know that sorrow can save you? Did you know that there is also a kind of sorrow that condemns? You may have been stuck in the rut of thinking that happiness produces joy and in your confusion, you put all your energy into the pursuit of happiness. Did it ever occur to you that the pursuit...
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The Ladder Step 6 Remembrance of Death
People are afraid of everything. While many claim to fear flying more than anything else, they seem to have greater fears than this. An old euphemism was to say "It's not flying I'm afraid of...its crashing." In this episode we discuss the fear of death Vs. the remembrance of death. One saves the...
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The Ladder step 5 Repentance
How many sermons have you heard explaining that repentance means to change your mind. We change our minds all the time. "Should I get up extra early to say my prayers...I was going to but I changed my mind." If you are tired of twadle like this, would you like to hear what it actually means? Fr.…
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The Ladder Step 4 Obedience
People freak out when you mention obedience. If we wish to be saved, each of us will need to find a way to subject ourselves to another. In the monastery, obedience makes sense but many people cannot reconcile obedience with their life in the world. For this reason many are sick and dying. Fr. M...
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The Ladder Step 3 Exile or Pilgrimage
Many people engage in an activity they refer to as "going on a pilgrimage." For the Orthodox Christian, life is viewed as a pilgrimage from the comforts and allurments of the world. This pilgrimage begins at baptism. In this episode, Fr. M offers some definitions for words he uses and he warns...
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The Ladder Step 2 Detachment
It doesn't matter if you are a monk or a layman, detachment is necessary if you are to make spiritual progress. What can we expect if we jump right in and try to detach ourselves when we have not first volunarily abandoned the comfort of what we view as "normal?"
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Ladder Step 1 Renunciation of World
Can those of us who live in the world renounce it? How can married people benefit from the Ladder of Divine Ascent? Fr. M offers words that should resonate with your inner ascetic.
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Episode 1 The Ladder Introduction
What is the essence of Christian Orthodoxy? Do monastics and the Laity live two different kinds of lives? Fr. M offers a criticism of that notion in this series on the Ladder of Divine Ascent. These ten minute meditations are intended to supplement your Lenten labor.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Prosphorka Series The Ladder is follows the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus. This book is assigned to be read in the Churches during the Lenten season. If one were to attend all of the Lenten hours, each week, he would hear the entire book read. Since these services are ill attended and because many have been infected with the idea that Orthodoxy applies differently between monastics and the Laity, many wrong ideas have given rise to an almost Gnostic Orthodoxy.
Listen as Fr. Methodius attempts to show how we can all learn from "the Ladder". He bases his teaching on a premise taught by St. Anthony Krapovitsky who said that the unique form of Christian unity that is Orthodox, is Asceticism. Fr. Methodius believes that the Laity will not be able to truly live the Chrisitian life unless they discover this truth.
HOSTED BY
Priest Methodius Chwastek
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Prosphorka series the Ladder have?
Prosphorka series the Ladder currently has 31 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Prosphorka series the Ladder about?
Prosphorka Series The Ladder is follows the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus. This book is assigned to be read in the Churches during the Lenten season. If one were to attend all of the Lenten hours, each week, he would hear the entire book read. Since these services are ill attended...
How often does Prosphorka series the Ladder release new episodes?
Prosphorka series the Ladder has 31 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Prosphorka series the Ladder 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 Prosphorka series the Ladder?
Prosphorka series the Ladder is created and hosted by Priest Methodius Chwastek.
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