Light Through the Past

Mar 05 2025 156 ep. 81

Light Through the Past Podcast artwork

This podcast will look at the course and development of the Orthodox Church, its struggles with heresy, the empire, and relations to other Christian bodies.

Religion & Spirituality

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

St. Patrick and the Druids

This week Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the life of St. Patrick speaking, inter alia, about his confrontations with the Druids. On the Byzantine Course: https://tinyurl.com/LuxchristiByzantium

The World & Early Life of St. Patrick

Dr. Jenkins continues his investigation of western Monasticism by looking at the life of St. Patrick of Armagh (Ireland). Though a monk, St. Patrick is better known for his missionary work among the Irish, a people who once had been his masters.

St. Martin of Tours & the Beginning of Latin Monasticism

This episode, beginning our podcast's fourth year, Dr. Jenkins begins our look at monasticism in the Latin west.

The Troubled Birth of Asia Minor's Monasticism

This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the beginnings of monasticism in Asia Minor, with whom we rightly associate St. Basil the Great, but who was inspired by the wayward Eustathios of Sebastea.

The Monastic Communities of Egypt

This episode Dr. Jenkins continues his survey of the history of early monasticism, looking at the several monastic communities of anchorites and hermits that made up the world of Egyptian monasticism.

The Pachomian Shift in Monasticism

Dr. Jenkins continues he discussion of the history of monasticism. This week Dr. Jenkins looks at the shift in monasticism that the introduction of Pachomius's early fourth-century reforms entailed.

St. Antony the Pattern of Monks

St. Pachomius called St. Antony a pattern for those who pursued the life in the desert. This episode Dr. Jenkins unpacks what this means.

Martyrdom and Monasticism

"Christian discipleship is one of leaving the world and following Christ. This episode Dr. Jenkins explores how the Church in the shadow of Martyrdom became the Church of monasticism, and why this shift was not as great as it might seem."

St. Ignatius' Own Words on His Martyrdom

A cold has seized Dr. Jenkins, and so we have but an abbreviated version of Path to the Academy this week. You should however, read St. Ignatius of Antioch's beautiful Epistle to the Romans, as it will be discussed next week. You can find it here: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/richardson/fathers.vi.ii.iii.iv.html

Monasticism: Simplicity on the Path to Flame

Why do we have monks? Why do we have laity? Shouldn't all seek to lay aside all earthly cares all the time? This episode Dr. Jenkins explores the place of "simplicity" in the Christian life, both lay and monastic and how this informs the life of the desert. Fr. Patrick Reardon interview. https://tinyurl.com/FrReardon Are We All Cyborgs discount. https://tinyurl.com/cyborgsreduced