1 JUN 2023 · Talk given at the Orthodox Youth Conference at the Moutainview Russian Orthodox center on 15/28 May 2023.

31 MAY 2023

19 FEB 2020 · This talk was given at a conference for young adults held at St. Irene of Chrysovalantou Church in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, 2/15 February 2020. You can read the text of this talk at http://orthodoxtruth.org/uncategorized/the-call-of-god/

21 JAN 2019 · Class Eight of our *Thoughts on Spiritual Life.* Tonight we read and commented on cc. 1-2 of Part II of *Unseen Warfare*, on the Mystery of Holy Communion.

1 JAN 2019 · As we continue our Thoughts on Spiritual Life, we begin Part II, Chapter 1 of *Unseen Warfare*, on the Holy Eucharist. Tonight we read only the very beginning of the chapter and then were sidetracked onto several topics concerning Holy Communion that were of concern to those attending the class. I made at least one factual mistake: the last elder of Optina was not Nazary but Nectary. Because tonight's discussion was unplanned and completely spontaneous, it is rather disjointed and fragmentary, and, at times, emotional. There is some controversial matter and some opinions expressed by me - with serious misgivings - about the currently controverted question of frequency of and preparation for Holy Communion. . But there is probably something to be gained by listening to the talk - useful things here and there. For the specifics on preparing for Holy Communion, speak to your own spiritual father.

17 DEC 2018 · Tonight we are going to read and comment on chapters 51 and 52 of *Unseen Warfare*.

3 DEC 2018 · Tonight we shall read and discuss Chapters 50 and 51 of *Unseen Warfare.*

19 NOV 2018 · Tonight we will finish reading and discussing Chapter 48 of *Unseen Warfare*, "How to learn to pray in this way," and go on to read and discuss Chapters 49 and 50, "On praying in one's own words" and "On short prayers, or short prayerful sighings to God."

12 NOV 2018 · Tonight we will read Chapter 47 and begin Chapter 48 of *Unseen Warfare*: "What is mental or inner prayer, and of what kinds can it be?" and "How to learn to pray in this way."

5 NOV 2018 · Tonight we shall read and comment on Chapter 46 of *Unseen Warfare*. This is the introductory chapter to the section on prayer, which takes up Chapters 46 through 53 of the book. Please note that at 22:39 the recording skips. This takes place on p. 202, under point five, during which we are reading St. Basil's words on the four kinds of prayer. I am about to comment on the first kind of prayer, which is glorification, when suddenly the recording skips to the second kind, thanksgiving. But shortly after, I again summarize and discuss the meaning of glorification, so that no essential content is lost. If you don't own the book, you can read *Unseen Warfare* online or download it a thttp://www.unquotebooks.com/get/ebook.php?id=7ed4DF8tmS8C