Best Darren C. Ong Podcasts (2025)

1
Go to a Church You Can’t Understand! 1:36:00

3d ago1:36:00

1:36:00

We start season seven off with by urging you to attend a [Orthodox] church you can't understand. Co-host Jim has realized he wasted 15 years of spiritual progress waiting for a local parish to be served in English. He traveled The Balkans enjoying all kinds of church services he couldn't understand a word of during early May & this dovetails with F…

1
What Then Shall We Do? 26:13

2M ago26:13

26:13

The fifth Sunday of Lent, the veneration of St Mary of Egypt, is the subject of this season finale episode. Saint Mary did not leave us with insightful writings. Saint Mary left us with an exemplary life we can strive to emulate. Yet, we have almost no details about how she lived her day to day life & we couldn't emulate it anyway because we don't …

1
Why Are We Here? 29:17

2M ago29:17

29:17

The Fourth Sunday of Lent, The Veneration of St John Cassian, is the subject of this week's episode. Jim reflects on the core beliefs which come even before details about The Trinity, The Incarnation, The Virgin Birth, The Death, Resurrection & Ascension of this incarnate God, the singularity of the church which His apostles established, or the suc…

1
How Can a Tool of Execution Be Life Giving? 20:54

2M ago20:54

20:54

The third Sunday of Lent, The Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, is the subject of this week's episode. Jim reflects on the paradox of a device of torture & execution becoming the emblem of our military victory, our triumph, over sin & death. Reference materials for this episode: GOA Digital Chanters’ Stand - https://digitalchantstan…

1
Who Can See God & Live? 25:09

3M ago25:09

25:09

The Second Sunday of Lent, St Gregory Palamas, is the subject of this week's episode. Considered a second triumph of orthodoxy, because just as the veneration of icons is necessary for Christian worship as we remembered last week, the prayer of a single thought, hesychasm, ceaseless prayer, through which we see the uncreated light of God within our…

1
What Does It Mean to Be Orthodox? 22:59

3M ago22:59

22:59

What Does It Mean to Be Orthodox? The first Sunday of Lent, The Triumph of Orthodoxy, is the subject of this week's episode. Originally remembering the Old Testament prophets, who spoke truth to power, now remembering the fathers of the 7th ecumenical council, which affirmed the necessity of the veneration of icons in Orthodox worship, Jim takes a …

1
How Do We Prepare for the Evangelion of The Christ? 30:00

3M ago30:00

30:00

How Do We Prepare for the Evangelion of The Christ? Fr Symeon is busy now with the activities of Great Lent in his parish & so Jim is solo hosting a series of short reflections on the structure of the Paschal cycle. This first episode will examine the four pre-Lenten Sundays: - The Publican & The Pharisee - The Prodigal Son - The Last Judgement - F…

1
Is Jesus a Hippie? 1:13:45

3M ago1:13:45

1:13:45

Is Jesus a Hippie? Scripture citations for this episode: - Genesis 9:8-17: Covenant with Noah - Luke 15:11-32: The Prodigal Son - Acts 2:14-43: The declaration of the military conquest of Jesus The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees Paradosis Pavilion - https:/…

1
How Can I Be Civilized? 1:32:54

4M ago1:32:54

1:32:54

A just society, politics, economics & ideology. What our culture used to call Civics. But we don't seem to be civilized these days, do we? If you keep on the way you have been the past few weeks, it is going to be a long four years. Just remember, nothing is perfect, nothing is finished, & nothing lasts forever. Flat earth theory, non-Euclidian geo…

1
How Does a Real Man Protect & Conquer? 1:32:03

4M ago1:32:03

1:32:03

Reference materials for this episode: Letters from the Desert: A Selection of Questions and Responses - Ss. Barsanuphius and John - Questions 699 & 700 Past episodes on these saints & feasts - St Joseph the Betrothed — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/14219830 Scripture citations for this episode: Ephesians 6 - the whole armor of God You…

1
How Can I Become a Real Man? 1:27:48

5M ago1:27:48

1:27:48

How Can I Become a Real Man? Reference materials for this episode: Past episodes on these saints & feasts - St Nicholas of Myra — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/6919991 - St Stephen — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/6259483 - St Joseph the Betrothed — https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/14219830 - St James the broth…

1
How Can We Avoid Materialism This Christmas Season? 1:28:18

5M ago1:28:18

1:28:18

How Can We Avoid Materialism This Christmas Season? Reference materials for this episode: https://orthodoxtao.com/notes/notes-on-lessons-11-20/ - specifically #11 Scripture citations for this episode: Genesis 1-3 - made to be different, devolve to be more like animals Exodus 32 - worshipping an animal, behaving like animals Isaiah 1 - born between …

1
Does Anybody Know What Christmas Is All About? 1:28:18

6M ago1:28:18

1:28:18

Reference materials for this episode: - Google search “vintage santa coca cola advertisements” - Saint Demetrius Press website — Nick Papas icon of St Nicholas — Nick Papas icon of The Nativity - Google search Rothko Chapel Houston Texas Scripture citations for this episode: Messianic fulfillment - Matthew 4:12-17 — Isaiah 9 - Luke 4: 16-22 — Isaia…

1
What Does Worship in Spirit & in Truth Look Like? 1:31:12

6M ago1:31:12

1:31:12

Reference materials for this episode: https://orthodoxtao.com/notes/orthodox-worship-notes/ Scripture citations for this episode: John 4:1-42 - the Samaritan woman at the well, worship in spirit & in truth Genesis 1-3 - Jesus walks in the Garden with Adam & Eve Genesis 3 - Sin results in toil & labor Genesis 4 - Cain is off the rails which is why G…

1
Why Does God Sit Down While He Rules Creation? 1:38:39

7M ago1:38:39

1:38:39

Reference materials for this episode: https://www.catholic.com/tract/sabbath-or-sunday - Early church quotes about not Judaizing Hymns of The Lamentations Service Hymns of Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday Hymns of The Divine Liturgy Scripture citations for this episode: Genesis 2:1-3 - God’s day of rest Genesis 2:24 - Jesus as the bridegroom going…

1
Why Is a Sacred Space Required for Worship? 1:20:40

7M ago1:20:40

1:20:40

Reference materials for this episode: https://stmaryofegypt.org/files/library/life.htm - St Mary of Egypt Scripture citations for this episode: 2 Samuel/2 Kingdoms 6:3-8 & 1 Chronicles 13:7-11 - Uzzah is killed for touching The Ark of The Covenant The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with over…

1
What Does It Mean for Christians to Keep Sabbath? 1:30:44

8M ago1:30:44

1:30:44

What Does It Mean for Christians to Keep Sabbath? Reference materials for this episode: St. Gregory Palamas The Homilies, edited and translated by Christopher Veniamin homily 17 "Explaining the Mystery of the Sabbath and of the Lord's Day and Referring to the Gospel of New Sunday" (Waymart: Mount Thabor Publishing, 2009) Scripture citations for thi…

1
How Can I Begin to Pray? 1:53:36

8M ago1:53:36

1:53:36

How Can I Begin to Pray? Reference materials for this episode: The Art of Prayer The Inner Closet of the Heart St Dimitri of Rostov pg 43, 45 St. Gregory of Sinai, “Instructions to Hesychasts”: Scripture citations for this episode: Psalm 140/141 Matthew 6: 6-15 Matthew 24: 36-44 The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sound…

1
How Can I Overcome My Blindness? 1:24:40

10M ago1:24:40

1:24:40

How Can I Overcome My Blindness? Reference materials for this episode: St Gregory Palamas The Homilies Homily 34: On the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord & God & Savior Jesus Christ St Symeon The New, Theologian On the Mystical Life: The Ethical Discourses, Vol 2 Fifth Discourse Book of Mystical Chapters: Meditations on the Soul’s Ascent St Mark th…

1
Why Can't I Be Still? 1:24:45

10M ago1:24:45

1:24:45

Why Can’t I Be Still? Reference materials for this episode: Lao Tsu - Tao Te Ching - - poem 16 Cai Song Fang - Warriors of Stillness - - author’s intro Philokalia vol 1 - Evagrios the Solitary - - pg 40-41 - - - watchdog passage - St Mark the Ascetic - - pg 128 - - - sayings 29-31 - St John Cassian - - pg 91 - - - first paragraph “On Self Esteem” S…

1
How Do I Become a Gardener? 1:03:41

11M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

How do I become a gardener? Reference materials for this episode: The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection (Volume 59) - pg 85-86 &125-126 Publisher ‏ : ‎ Liturgical Press; Revised edition (January 1, 1984) ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0879079592 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0879079598 Scripture citations for this episode: Genesis 1:28-31 Ezekiel 37:1-…

1
How Can I Know God? (S6-E000) 21:41

12M ago21:41

21:41

A brief discussion on the categories of knowledge, how the life of the way of faithfulness to Christ prioritizes them, how this is in stark distinction to our culture, & why the examination of this question is at the heart of the restructuring of this podcast for Season Six. This is, essentially, episode 000 as our first true conversational episode…

1
Reboot Teaser 3:48

1y ago3:48

3:48

A quick note from one of our hosts to let you know about the reboot of the program which will begin publishing in about a month. The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555 https://www.instagram.com/chr…

1
Saint Nikolai Velimirović of Žiča 46:21

1y ago46:21

46:21

Saint Nikolai Velimirović of Žiča ( March 18 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://orthochristian.com/46256.html - biography https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/03/18/100825-repose-of-saint-nikolai-of-zhicha - biography http://orthodoxclergy.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-statement-concerning-sin-of-racism.html “Prayers by the Lake” A Treasury …

1
Saint Symeon the New, Theologian 36:03

1y ago36:03

36:03

Saint Symeon the New, Theologian ( March 12 ) THE ICON FEATURED IN THIS WEEK’S PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL IS NOT BY THE HAND OF NICHOLAS PAPAS & IS NOT THE PROPERTY OF St DEMETRIUS PRESS Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/03/12/100790-venerable-simeon-the-new-theologian https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2019/12/on-…

1
Saint Felix, Bishop of Dunwich, Enlightener of East Anglia 35:25

1y ago35:25

35:25

Saint Felix, Bishop of Dunwich, Enlightener East Anglia ( March 8 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2021/03/saint-felix-of-burgundy-bishop-of.html - life of St Felix https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38326/38326-h/38326-h.html - St Bede mentions Bishop Felix (Book II-Chap XV, Book III-Chap XVIII&XX) The Silver C…

1
St John Cassian (Second Look) 38:46

1+ y ago38:46

38:46

St John Cassian ( Feb 29 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/02/29/100623-venerable-john-cassian-the-roman https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/14557292 - first episode on St John Cassian https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/6356446 - episode on Desert Fathers https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/350705.htm - The …

1
Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna 29:28

1+ y ago29:28

29:28

St Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna ( Feb 23 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/02/23/100589-hieromartyr-polycarp-bishop-of-smyrna http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/ignatius.html - St Ignatius’ letter to St Polycarp https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0136.htm - St Polycarp’s letter to the Phillipians https://…

1
St Empress Theodora, Defender of Icons 26:30

1+ y ago26:30

26:30

St Empress Theodora, Defender of Icons (Feb 11) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/02/11/100504-righteous-theodora-wife-of-emperor-theophilus-the-iconoclast https://www.oca.org/fs/paschal-cycle https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sunday_of_Orthodoxy https://orthodoxwiki.org/Seventh_Ecumenical_Council https://www.newadv…

1
Ss Barsanuphius & John, a Conversation w/ Fr Symeon Kees & Nicholas Papas 1:32:10

1+ y ago1:32:10

1:32:10

Ss Barsanuphius the Great & John the Prophet ( Feb 6 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/02/06/100443-venerable-barsanuphius-the-great-and-john-the-prophet Title: Guidance Toward Spiritual Life: Answers to the Questions of Disciples Publisher: Saint Herman Press ISBN 10: 0938635840 Author: Saint Barsanuphiu…

1
St Ephraim the Syrian w/ Fr Symeon Kees of Eastward Iowa City 1:02:08

1+ y ago1:02:08

1:02:08

St Ephraim the Syrian ( Jan 28 ) conversation w/ Fr Symeon Kees producer of Paradosis Pavilion & host of "Eastward Iowa City" podcast Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/01/28/100328-venerable-ephraim-the-syrian https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ephrem_the_Syrian St. Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Paradise, - trans. by S…

1
St Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople 37:30

1+ y ago37:30

37:30

St Gregory The Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople (Jan 25) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/01/25/100298-saint-gregory-the-theologian-archbishop-of-constantinople - hagiography of St Gregory Poems on Scripture - written by the saint - Popular Patristics Vol 46 - St Vladimir’s Seminary Press - ISBN 97…

1
St Macarius the Great, of Egypt 37:52

1+ y ago37:52

37:52

St Macarius the Great of Egypt ( Jan 19 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/01/19/100226-venerable-macarius-the-great-of-egypt - life of St Macarius of Egypt https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2013/01/healthy-and-sick-monasticism.html - Monasticism is not intrinsically virtuous https://pemptousia.com/2016/12/…

1
Feast of the Theophany 25:33

1+ y ago25:33

25:33

Feast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ( Jan 6 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/2019/10/why-do-we-baptize-in-the-name-of-the-holy-trinity-and-not-in-the-name-of-jesus - understanding “in the name of” during baptism Scripture citations for this episode: Genesis 1:2 - God begins creatio…

1
The Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 47:09

1+ y ago47:09

47:09

The Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Jan 1) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/01/01/100001-the-circumcision-of-our-lord-and-savior-jesus-christ - information about the feast day https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ - details on what name was actually given Scripture citations …

1
St Joseph the Betrothed 34:15

1+ y ago34:15

34:15

St Joseph the Betrothed ( Dec 26 & Sunday after Nativity ) Scripture citations for this episode: Leviticus 12 - the timeline of purification for a woman after childbirth Matthew 1 & 2 - Jesus’ birth & the story of the wise men & the flight into Egypt Luke 2 - Jesus’ presentation in the Temple as well as the events in His twelfth year John 8:12-20 -…

1
Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, Bishop of Antioch (second look) 39:50

1+ y ago39:50

39:50

Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, Bishop of Antioch (Dec 20) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/12107042 - previous episode https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/12/20/103594-hieromartyr-ignatius-the-god-bearer-bishop-of-antioch - bio of the saint http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/ignatius.html - transla…

1
Repose of Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America 33:40

1+ y ago33:40

33:40

Repose of Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America ( Dec 13 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/htc/orthodox-calendar/ - biography of St Herman (find Dec 26/13) https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/12/13/103530-repose-of-venerable-herman-of-alaska-wonderworker-of-all-america - more detail on t…

1
Saint Ambrose of Milan 40:43

1+ y ago40:43

40:43

Saint Ambrose of Milan ( Dec 7 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/12/07/103485-saint-ambrose-bishop-of-milan - bio of Saint Ambrose https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1101.htm - Augustine’s “Confessions” in which he discusses his relationship with Ambrose https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2014/12/when-saint-…

1
Saint Stephen the New 30:31

1+ y ago30:31

30:31

Saint Stephen the New Martyr or Stephen the Younger ( Nov 28 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/11/28/103412-monastic-martyr-and-confessor-stephen-the-new - life of St Stephen the New https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/john-of-damascus - St John of Damascus on icons Scripture citations for …

1
The Great Martyr Katherine of Alexandria 21:48

1+ y ago21:48

21:48

The Great Martyr Katherine of Alexandria ( Nov 24/25 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/11/24/103382-great-martyr-katherine-of-alexandria - biography https://sinaimonastery.com/index.php/en/ - website of the monastery of St Katherine on Mount Sinai Scripture citations for this episode: Acts 2 - St Peter pr…

1
St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica 40:45

1+ y ago40:45

40:45

St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica (Nov 14) Reference materials for this episode: https://youtu.be/rkM5Mhd_s7c?si=Y9mELt52x_S08w9D — playlist of lectures discussing the hesychast controversy https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/11/14/103303-saint-gregory-palamas-archbishop-of-thessalonica — biography https://sgpm.goarch.org/Monastery/?…

1
Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis & Aegina 40:31

1+ y ago40:31

40:31

St Nektarios of Pentapolis/Aegina ( Nov 9 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://youtu.be/ldUGahNlMRk?si=Yo-vJF2MoZk7vwKu — Film “Man of God” based on the life of St Nektarios https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/11/09/103251-saint-nectarius-kephalas-metropolitan-of-pentapolis — Biography https://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/s…

1
Saint Romanus of Rouen 36:45

1+ y ago36:45

36:45

Romanus of Rouen ( October 23 ) Reference materials for this episode: https://orthochristian.com/156173.html — biography of St Romanus https://www.normandythenandnow.com/the-legend-of-saint-romain-the-dragon-in-rouen — account of the dragon https://lainhart.medium.com/legend-of-the-gargoyle-5c30e063a37f — detail about the dragon’s head being hung a…

1
Saint Lucian the Martyr of Antioch 30:55

1+ y ago30:55

30:55

Saint Lucian the Martyr of Antioch (Oct 15) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.antiochpatriarchate.org/en/page/806/ - saint’s biography http://nttextualcriticism.blogspot.com/2011/06/metzger-on-lucianic-recension.html - analysis of Saint Jerome’s (and others) comments about the Lucian recension https://www.tertullian.org/decretum_eng…

1
The Glorification of Saint Tikhon 41:16

1+ y ago41:16

41:16

The Glorification of St Tikhon of Moscow, Enlightener of North America (September 26) Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/10/09/102906-glorification-of-saint-tikhon-apostle-to-america - biography of St Tikhon https://orthodoxwiki.org/Julian_Calendar https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregorian_Calendar https://www.goar…

1
Soldier Martyrs Ss. Sergius & Bacchus 30:40

1+ y ago30:40

30:40

Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus in Syria (October 7) Reference materials for this episode: Prologue of Ohrid ISBN: 9780971950504 Translation of “The Passion of Ss Serge & Bacchus” by John Boswell: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/scotts/ftp/wpaf2mc/serge.html Apolytikion for The Three Hierarchs, in Greek & English: https://www.bulletinbuilder.org/GOA-…

1
The Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian 45:07

1+ y ago45:07

45:07

The Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (September 26) Reference materials for this episode: Previous episode about St John: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1443073/episodes/7009990 OCA feast summary: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/09/26/102731-repose-of-the-holy-apostle-and-evangelist-john-the-theologian Previous episod…

1
The Holy Prophet Jonah 37:55

1+ y ago37:55

37:55

The Prophet Jonah (September 21/22) Reference materials for this episode: Jonah’s Journeys (material regarding connection of Jonah to Elijah or Elisha) — Barbara Green OP, PhD — ISBN: 9780814650387, 5038 Saint Jerome's commentary on Jonah: Translation with introduction and critical notes — Timothy Hegedus PhD — Biblical Studies Commons — https://sc…

1
Saint Euphrosynos the Cook of Alexandria 38:31

1+ y ago38:31

38:31

Saint Euphrosynos the Cook of Alexandria (September 11), patron of cooks & kitchens Reference materials for this episode: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/09/11/102581-saint-euphrosynos-the-cook-of-alexandria The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints, Volume 1 - ISBN-10: ‎0963518372 & ISBN-13: 978-0963518378 Scripture citations for this …

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