Unseasonable weather patterns, natural disasters, and accelerating climate shifts are increasingly common. Alongside these changes, more people are experiencing environmental anxiety and even ecological trauma. Contemporary environmental discourses can sometimes frame human beings as little more than a parasite on the planet. One notorious bumper even put it bluntly: “Care for the earth—commit suicide!” But what if the way forward requires more humanity rather than less? What if healing our fragmented relationship with the natural world begins with reclaiming what it truly means to be human creatures living in communion with God and His creation? In this episode, we explore the fragmented relationship between humanity and the environment with Dr. Elizabeth Theokritoff, a theological writer and translator whose work sits at the intersection of Orthodox theology, liturgy, and ecology. Re-Creation is a podcast about trauma, faith, and mental health from an Orthodox Christian perspective. Hosts Nicole Roccas, a trauma-informed coach and author, and Eleni Opperwall, a registered therapist, explore what it means to be human after trauma through honest and hopeful conversations. Drawing on Orthodox tradition, professional insights, and personal stories, they share reflections to support healing, wholeness, and spiritual growth. Listen on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or RSS wherever you get podcasts. In this episode, we talk about: * Eden as eschatology—what it was like in the beginning according to various patristic views * What we can learn from monastic communities about creation care and stewardship * Different threads of ancient Christian tradition regarding human connection with home and creation—indigeneity (dwelling in the same place as your ancestors lived) vs. the asceticism of exile * Ecological trauma, environmental anxiety, and Christian anthropology * Why does a theological approach to ecology matter to us as Christians More about Dr. Elizabeth Theokritoff’s work: * Website: https://saltalas.com/members/dr-elizabeth-theokritoff/ * Living in God’s Creation: Orthodox Perspectives on Ecology (SVS, 2009) * Article: Elizabeth Theokritoff, “Keeping This Place: Contemplative Vision and Ecological Living as Christian Witness: An Orthodox View,” Mission Studies 41 (2024), 388–411. * “Keeping This Place: An Interview with Dr. Elizabeth Theokritoff,” Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery’s Essays & Notes 22-2 (Fall 2025), 7-11. Other resources and links mentioned: * John Zizioulas, Remembering the Future: Toward an Eschatological Ontology (Sebastian Press, 2023) * Olivier Clement, On Human Being: A Spiritual Anthropology (New City Press, 2002) * Chrysopigi (Golden Font) Convent (Chania, Crete) * Monastery of Timios Prodromos (Anatoli of Larissa, Greece) * Gerard Manley Hopkins, “As Kingfishers Catch Fire” * All music featured on this podcast is used in accordance with Creative Commons licenses. For a full list of the tracks we use, visit https://recreationpodcast.substack.com/p/music-featured-in-our-episodes Let’s Connect: Find Nicole at www.nicoleroccas.com Find Eleni at www.eleniopperwallcounselling.com Subscribe to our Substack for show notes + behind-the-scenes reflections: Disclaimer:This podcast is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional mental health care. Get full access to The Re-Creation Podcast at recreationpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
