The Great Tales

The great Old English poem ‘Beowulf’ is one of the most intriguing and gripping stories from the early English Christian world. What few people know, however, is that this story about giants has roots in a much older apocalyptic tale – the Book of Enoch.

The Great Tales continues the discussion of the Holy Grail in the story of Perceval. What does it actually mean to achieve the quest of the Holy Grail? And who may achieve it?

Arthur, King of the Britons, is the matter of the greatest of all Christian legends in the English language, and at the height of those legends is the Holy Grail. What exactly is this holy object? Did it ever come to England? And what does it mean to the Arthur legendarium?

Fantasy novelist and Russian language translator Dcn. Nicholas Kotar introduces two Russian fairy tales: “Marya Morevna, the Wondrous Queen” and “The Chestnut Roan.”

The Eddas are the two great sources for Norse mythology. In this episode, Fr. Andrew and Richard introduce the Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson, the 13th-century Icelandic historian, poet and politician.

Fr. Andrew and Richard conclude their first look at the Iliad, one of the foundational stories of Western civilization, discussing not only the basics for understanding the poem but also why it’s been so enduring for so much of human history

An introductory tour of the Iliad's world and why the poem still matters. Discussion of Homeric authorship, dating clues, and oral tradition. Archaeology of Troy and who the combatants likely were. Stories behind the Trojan cycle and the poem's opening conflict. Exploration of heroic values, fate versus free will, and how ancient readings shaped later interpretations.

Myths, legends, and lore are part of Christian tradition. Historically, Christians read and used even the mythology of paganism. In this inaugural episode of The Great Tales, Fr. Andrew and Richard discuss what St. Basil the Great has to teach us about reading pagan myth.

A new live show from Ancient Faith Radio. Join Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Richard Rohlin this coming fall as they examine the legends and stories that continue to remain relevant to the Christian Church today. The live edition of this show will air on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 2pm Eastern / 11am Pacific.