Christian Saints Podcast

James John Marks
  • 4.6 (13)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Paradosis Pavilion & Generative Sounds which explores the calendar of The ChurchEpisodes are hosted by James John Marks of Chicago, with oversight by Fr Symeon Kees, a priest of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, through which he is currently serving St Raphael Orthodox Church in Iowa City. If this podcast is edifying for you, please consider the entire Paradosis Pavilion catalog as well as the music of Generative Soundshttps://www.youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast https://twitter.com/podcast_saints https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com Please forgive us our shortcomings, and pray for us

  1. The Orthodox View of Spiritual Therapy and Healing

    2d ago

    The Orthodox View of Spiritual Therapy and Healing

    00:00 Introduction 00:57 Being sick in the hospital is not hypocrisy 07:16 Apostolic Christianity is not religious philosophy or psychology 19:06 Creation is an invitation to spiritual experience, not the experience itself 23:44 Why this spiritual life requires The Church in the formal sense 32:01 Making worship an obligation is like making romance an obligation 37:32 God taught us what the best way for us to worship Him is 39:40 Orthodox worship is the fulfillment of all things which are Good 43:46 Theology & practicality are united in our understanding of persons 50:27 The divine persons do not change, so becoming like them does not change 53:28 This season will be a lot of defining terms to avoid ambiguity 58:51 The ecumenical councils preserve the effective therapy for spiritual healing 61:20 Closing  ~~~ The Orthodox View of Spiritual Therapy & Healing Orthodox Ecclesiology S8E2 ~~~ In this episode of the Christian Saints Podcast, Fr. Simeon Keyes & James John Marks discuss the Orthodox view of salvation, spiritual healing, the sacramental life of the Church, & more. ~~  Scripture citations for this episode: Luke 15:11-32 - The prodigal son John 9:1-38 - The healing of the man born blind ~~~ Subscribe for more conversations on Orthodoxy, theology, Church history, the lives of the Saints, and practical Christian living. ~~~ #orthodoxchristianity  #OrthodoxChurch #Orthodoxy #Christianity #Church #Salvation #Repentance #SpiritualHealing #ChristianPodcast #Theology The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago. Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555 https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast https://x.com/podcast_saints https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast https://bsky.app/profile/xtiansaintspodcast.bsky.social Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026

    1h 4m
  2. Who, What & Where Is The Church & Why Is It Necessary?

    May 22

    Who, What & Where Is The Church & Why Is It Necessary?

    00:00 Introduction 02:10 Post-modernism in literature 03:40 What to expect from season eight 08:48 Be The Body of Christ, be The Church 12:48 Bad Ecclesiology causes parish problems & soul problems 16:17 Spirituality is deeply practical, the purpose is to be changed 20:04 Obedience is central to humility & repentance 22:20 Loving compassion is helping people cease to sin 28:28 It makes no sense to be in The Church & make our sin our Identity 31:04 We live in a culture which doesn’t believe in forgiveness (or repentance) 33:43 What we believe is real, physically, mentally & spiritually 37:58 The Church is where we encounter reality most fully 42:00 We need to accept our diagnosis & the effective therapy to heal it 44:11 A welcoming, loving church is one who expects daily repentance 49:23 Closing ~~~ Who, What & Where Is The Church & Why Is It Necessary? Orthodox Ecclesiology S8E1 ~~~ In this episode of the Christian Saints Podcast, we explore one of the biggest questions in Christian life: What actually is the Church? Is it an organization, a community, a building—or something deeper? We discuss why the Church is practical without being banal and spiritual without being abstract. Through a conversation on repentance, identity, spiritual healing, and modern culture, we examine how the Church understands itself as the Body of Christ—not merely as a place people attend, but as a life people enter. If Christianity is more than ideas—if it’s meant to heal, transform, and bring us into reality—then understanding the Church changes everything. ~~~ Subscribe for more conversations on Orthodoxy, theology, and practical Christian living. ~~~ #OrthodoxChristianity #OrthodoxChurch #Repentance #Ecclesiology #ChristianPodcast #Theology ~~~ Scripture citations for this episode: Luke 15:11-32 - The prodigal son John 9:1-38 - The healing of the man born blind The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago. Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555 https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast https://x.com/podcast_saints https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast https://bsky.app/profile/xtiansaintspodcast.bsky.social Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026

    51 min
  3. What Is Salvation?

    Apr 17

    What Is Salvation?

    00:00 Introduction 02:20 The structure of the vesperal portion 09:21 Why The Bible should have more than 66 books 11:22 The structure of the Divine Liturgy of St Basil for Holy Saturday 17:31 This service describes salvation in detailed images 31:55 Closing ~~~ Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great - What is Salvation?  ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:  Reference materials for this episode:  The rubrics of the services, in English translation, of The Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great Scripture citations for this episode: The fifteen Old Testament readings  - Genesis 1:1-13  - Isaiah 60:1-16  - Exodus 12:1-12  - The Book of Jonah  - Jesus of Navi (Joshua) 5:10 - 15  - Exodus 13:20 - 15:19  - Sophronios (Zephaniah) 3:8 - 15  - 3rd Kingdoms (1st Kings) 17:8 - 24  - Isaiah 61:10 - 62:5  - Genesis 22:1 - 18  - Isaiah 61:1 - 10  - 4th Kingdoms  (2nd Kings) 4:8 - 37  - Isaiah 63:11 - 64:5  - Jeremiah 38:31 - 34 (31:31 - 34)  - Daniel 3 (including the song of the 3 youths from the Greek manuscript tradition) Epistle reading  - Romans 6:3 - 11 Gospel reading  - Matthew 28:1 - 20 ~~~ In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the service of Holy Unction, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here. The morning of Holy Saturday finds us at the very brink of the celebration of Pascha, Passover, The Resurrection of Jesus The Messiah. All vespers services mark the beginning of the new day (there was evening, there was morning, the first day) & so in this service we transition from Sabbath to The Lord's Day. However, we're still in this accelerated timeline of Holy Week & so we cannot yet fully proclaim Christ is Risen. Yet, in the middle of this service we do transition from the darkness of Holy Week into the white of purity & resurrection & we proclaim who The Messiah is & what it is He saves us from & what it is He saves us for. The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago. Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555 https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast https://x.com/podcast_saints https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast https://bsky.app/profile/xtiansaintspodcast.bsky.social Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026

    35 min
  4. How Do We Go On?

    Apr 3

    How Do We Go On?

    00:00 Introduction 02:55 The structures of the services 07:05 How do we face the apparent loss of trust & hope? 10:14 The three stasis of The Lamentations hymn  21:06 Closing ~~~ Winding Sheet & Lamentations - How Can We Go On? ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:  The rubrics of the services, in English translation, of  - Vespers of Holy Friday evening (known as the service of The Winding Sheet)  - Orthros of Holy Saturday morning (known as The Lamentations) ~~~ In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the service of Holy Unction, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here. On Holy Friday there are typically two services which are conducted in community parishes: the vesperal service of Friday evening which is usually celebrated at 3p, the time Jesus hung on the cross, as well as the orthros service of the morning of Holy Saturday which is celebrated Friday night. These two services are known as The Winding Sheet & The Lamentations, respectively. In this episode Jim talks about this pivotal moment for the faithful. God Himself, the source of all Life, is in The Underworld. What do we do when our trust & hope seem to be destroyed? How we respond shapes who we are becoming. The bulk of the episode is Jim reading the more than 70 verses of the Lamentation hymns for your reflection. The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago. Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555 https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast https://x.com/podcast_saints https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast https://bsky.app/profile/xtiansaintspodcast.bsky.social Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026

    22 min
  5. How Did It Happen?

    Mar 27

    How Did It Happen?

    00:00 Introduction 01:42 Summary of the 12 readings 05:35 Jesus is condemned for claiming to be God 10:53 Why Saint Paul was a crucial member of The 12 13:32 The 2 odd Psalms which highlight Jesus’ teaching from The Cross 23:37 Closing ~~~ Orthros of The 12 Passion Gospels - How Did It Happen? ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:  The rubrics of the service of the 12 Passion Gospels in English translation Scripture citations for this episode: Two additional Psalms read in this service prior to the usual six of Orthros  - Psalm 19/20 & 20/21 The 12 Gospel readings from the service  - John 13:31-18:1  - John 18:1-29  - Matthew 26:57-75  - John 18:28–19:16  - Matthew 27:3-32  - Mark 15:16-32  - Matthew 27:33-54  - Luke 23:32-49  - John 19:19-37  - Mark 15:43-47  - John 19:38-42  - Matthew 27:62-66 Psalm 22/23  - Jesus quotes this from the cross ~~~ In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the service of Holy Unction, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here. The Orthros of The 12 Passion Gospels is the service for the morning of Holy Friday which is typically celebrated on Thursday evening because of the shifted schedule which began on the evening of Palm Sunday (to facilitate holding the Paschal divine liturgy immediately after midnight Saturday night into Sunday morning). In this service we transition from more abstract lessons to the literal, chronological events of Jesus' arrest, trial, mockery, torture, death & burial. In this reflection, Jim turns our attention to why Jesus is condemned to death by The Sanhedrin & why this is so important to the identity of The Christian faith. The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago. Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555 https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast https://x.com/podcast_saints https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast https://bsky.app/profile/xtiansaintspodcast.bsky.social Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026

    27 min
  6. Do You Want to Be Healed?

    Mar 20

    Do You Want to Be Healed?

    00:00 Introduction 04:01 A service of healing 06:12 Prayer is always answered 14:20 From what does Jesus heal us? 18:55 We were created for the good life 21:55 Closing ~~~ Holy Unction - Do You Want to Be Healed? ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:  The rubrics of the service of Holy Unction in English translation Scripture citations for this episode: Readings from the service  - Psalm 50/51 & 142/143  - James 5:10-16  - Luke 10:25-37  - Romans 5:1-7  - Luke 19:1-10  - 1 Corinthians 12:27 - 13:8  - Matthew 10:1-8  - 2 Corinthians 6:16 - 7:1  - Matthew 8:14-23  - 2 Corinthians 1:8 - 11  - Matthew 25: 1-13 (which we also heard during the bridegroom services)  - Galatians 5:22 - 6:2  - Matthew 15:21-28  - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 - 23  - Matthew 9:9-13 Isaiah 11: 6-11  - Peace on the new earth John 5:1-18  - Jesus heals the lame man on Sabbath 2 Corinthians 12:1-10  - Saint Paul boasts in his weakness & speaks of the thorn not taken from him ~~~ In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the service of Holy Unction, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here. Holy Unction is a penitential service of healing at the end of which parishioners are anointed with Chrism, holy oil. In this reflection Jim reads excerpts from the prayers of this service & expands on what it is we seek to be healed from as well as what it means for prayer to be answered both of which apply directly to why we pray & what the life of a Christian is all about. The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago. Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555 https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast https://x.com/podcast_saints https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast https://bsky.app/profile/xtiansaintspodcast.bsky.social Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026

    24 min
  7. Is Our Lamp Full?

    Mar 13

    Is Our Lamp Full?

    00:00 Introduction 01:43 The parable of the ten bridemaids 04:50 Distinct hymns & gospel readings  13:09 Jesus’ conflict with Jewish leadership 17:25 The twelve steps to humility by Saint Benedict 19:23 One - Reverence for God 20:03 Two - Doing God’s Will 22:05 Three - Obedience to Others 24:24 Four - Enduring Affliction 26:09 Five - Confession 28:27 Six - Be Content without Prestige 29:17 Seven - Interior Conviction 30:23 Eight - Fulfill Your Role 31:09 Nine - Keep Silence & Solitude 31:37 Ten - Avoid Frivolity 32:29 Eleven - Speak Modestly & Rarely 33:57 Twelve - Keep a modest posture 35:17 Icons of humility in paint & in Saint Paul’s words 38:19 Closing ~~~ The 3 Bridegroom Orthros Services - Is Our Lamp Full? ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:  Rubrics of the three bridegroom services in English translation St John Chrysostom Homily 78 on Matthew  - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200178.htm The Rule of St Benedict, 12 steps to humility  - https://www.regent.edu/journal/inner-resources-for-leaders/rule-of-st-benedict-12-steps-of-humility-in-leadership/ Scripture citations for this episode: Matthew 21:18-43  - Jesus Curses the Fig Tree  - The Authority of Jesus Questioned  - The Parable of the Two Sons  - The Parable of the Wicked Tenants Matthew 22:15-23:39  - The Question about Paying Taxes  - The Question about the Resurrection  - The Greatest Commandment  - The Question about David’s Son  - Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees  - The Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 25:1-13  - parable of the ten bridesmaids John 12:17-50  - The crowd comes because Lazarus was raised from the dead  - Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus  - Jesus Speaks about His Death  - The Unbelief of the People  - Summary of Jesus’ Teaching (keep my commandments) Romans 13:1-7  - Submit to the civil authorities Phillipians 2:1-11  - Jesus’ humility ~~~ In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached the 3 Orthros Services known as The Bridegroom Services, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here. These 3 services are held Sunday, Monday & Tuesday evening rather than Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday morning for reasons Jim explains in the video. In fact, all the services of Holy Week, after Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy, are shifted forward. In this episode Jim reflects on what the gospel reading & hymns of these three services set us up to become aware of & then he goes through the 12 steps of pursuing humlity as laid out in The Rule of Saint Benedict of Nursia. The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago. Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555 https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast https://x.com/podcast_saints https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast https://bsky.app/profile/xtiansaintspodcast.bsky.social Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026

    40 min
  8. Is This for Everyone?

    Mar 6

    Is This for Everyone?

    00:00 Introduction 01:50 The focus of the four gospel accounts 02:40 The hymnody, apolytikion & odes for Palm Sunday 07:55 But what about us Gentiles? 11:59 We are from the ten tribes & we are grafted in to restore them 13:42 Closing ~~~ Palm Sunday - Is This For Everyone? ~~~ Reference materials for this episode:  Orthros for the Sunday of The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem  Scripture citations for this episode: Isaiah 1:2-3  - Prophecy we see reflected in The Nativity icon, those Of The Nations are the donkey Ezekiel 37: 1-14  - The valley of the dead bones Zachariah 9:9-17  - The prophecy picked up by Saint Matthew The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem  - Matthew 21:1-17  - Mark 11:1-11  - Luke 19:28-40  - John 12:12-19 Matthew 27:51-53  - Those who rose from the dead when Jesus died ~~~ In our series of reflections on the Lenten Triodion we have reached Palm Sunday, which, strictly speaking, is after Lent is over, but we're going to carry all the way through Holy Week here. When talking about Lazarus Saturday, Jim focused on what Jesus' ministry meant for The Jews. This week he's focusing on what it means for those of us who are Of The Nations, known as Gentiles. Salvation is for everyone. The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion. Our hosts are Father Symeon Kees of Iowa City & James John Marks of Chicago. Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555 https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast https://x.com/podcast_saints https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast https://bsky.app/profile/xtiansaintspodcast.bsky.social Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds Copyright 2021 - 2026

    15 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Paradosis Pavilion & Generative Sounds which explores the calendar of The ChurchEpisodes are hosted by James John Marks of Chicago, with oversight by Fr Symeon Kees, a priest of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, through which he is currently serving St Raphael Orthodox Church in Iowa City. If this podcast is edifying for you, please consider the entire Paradosis Pavilion catalog as well as the music of Generative Soundshttps://www.youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast https://twitter.com/podcast_saints https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com Please forgive us our shortcomings, and pray for us

Information

  • Creator
    James John Marks
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    164
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Christian Saints Podcast
  • Show Website
    Christian Saints Podcast

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