The Lord of Spirits

The Day of Pentecost is the end of a golden thread that begins with Eden and runs through the Tabernacle, the Temple, the Theotokos, Christ, Christians, the Church and the whole Cosmos. What is that thread? Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick look to the Scriptures to show what connects all these things together.

The Ascension of Christ in glory is not merely Jesus going back where he came from when he was done on earth. Nor is it an abandonment of his disciples. But what is it? Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick look at how ancient people would have understood the Ascension of Christ to his throne in the heavens.

Christ appeared to his disciples and to many others after he rose from the dead, numerous times over the forty days leading up to his Ascension. What happened at those appearances? What was their purpose? And how do the Gospel writers understand what was happening? Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick explore the vision of the resurrected Jesus Christ.

It's all Q&A, all the time. Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick make it an open-line night at the podcast.

With this Holy Week / Pascha special episode, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Fr. Stephen De Young take a close biblical look at what happens when the Lord of Spirits himself journeys into the underworld to set his people free.

With this second installment of their series on sacred geography, Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick take a journey into the shadowy and much-misunderstood realm of the dead—the Underworld, Hades, Hell, Sheol, the Grave. Do these words mean the same thing? Where is this place? And who or what exactly is there?

The Scriptures speak of what we might call spiritual places—sacred geography—the Mountain of God, Heaven, Paradise, the Underworld. Are these imaginary places? If not, how does one go there? In this first of two episodes on sacred geography, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Fr. Stephen De Young begin a fantastic voyage into another world.

Explore the intriguing origin of the word 'atonement' and its unique place in biblical translation. Discover the distinction between the various meanings of 'cover' and the importance of Yom Kippur in purifying sacred spaces. Delve into the roles of the two goats during the ritual, including the fascinating concept of the scapegoat. The discussion extends to how New Testament writings resonate with these themes, emphasizing Christ as the ultimate high priest and purifier. It's a journey through history, theology, and the participation in cosmic purification.

Exploring ancient Israel's unique sacrifices, the hosts unveil both parallels and departures from pagan rites. They discuss the transformation from family-based rituals to a centralized priesthood, emphasizing Torah's divine instructions. Incense practices reveal the importance of purity in worship. Notably, they connect Passover to Christ as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, underscoring its role in liberation from bondage. The conversation highlights Israel's priestly mission for the nations and how worship intertwines with daily life, enchanting creation.

What exactly is worship? What does it do? Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick explore worship in the ancient world, both pagan and Israelite, showing how it all resolves into one act—sacrifice. And does that mean killing?