Our ongoing discussion of the difficulty in integrating the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness to the evengalion of Jesus, The Christ, the Orthodox Christian way of life, into contemporary western culture continues as Jim & Fr Symeon talk about the tower of babel as the proto-story of humanity's quest for control over our own destiny & God, repeatedly, making us aware we're not, He is.

Our culture is in the grip of two competing civil religions, two ideologies, which manifest themselves as politics. One is openly anti-Christian, the other uses Christian language, but is in no way advocating actual traditional Christian culture.

Let us know what you think!

Particularly let us know if you prefer this video format to the side by side.

This is, again, part one of two. The second half of this conversation will go live in two weeks, on October 2nd.

Reference materials for this episode:
- Saints Who Show Sympathy to Communism
- https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blog/question-27-orthodox-fathers-on-communism?srsltid=AfmBOopmpsDSl8enxknhEb-3mzRs589BiTPq7agS0YoTbJp13OMtRTy1


Scripture citations for this episode:
- Tower of Babel
- Genesis 11

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/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Part two of our conversation with friend of the show & Iconograhper Nick Papas, who is once again our most welcome guest for this conversation.

Our previous discussion about Independence Day having individual meaning for Jim & Fr Symeon got Jim to thinking about how much this actually inverts the purpose of public holidays. This lack of unity as a country reminded him of an increasingly popular turn of phrase in our culture "my tribe" & his concern this trend is stark evidence we are choosing to become less civilized.

The actual conversation focuses on Fr Symeon's turn of phrase "Community As Babel Versus Communion at Pentecost".

Tune in here in two weeks for the second half of the discussion!


Scripture citations for this episode:
- Tower of Babel
- Genesis 11
- Pentecost
- Acts 2

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/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Don’t Go Back to Babylon - S7E7

Friend of the show & Iconograhper Nick Papas is once again our most welcome guest for this conversation, which will be presented in two parts, the second of which will be episode eight.

Our previous discussion about Independence Day having individual meaning for Jim & Fr Symeon got Jim to thinking about how much this actually inverts the purpose of public holidays. This lack of unity as a country reminded him of an increasingly popular turn of phrase in our culture "my tribe" & his concern this trend is stark evidence we are choosing to become less civilized.

The actual conversation focuses on Fr Symeon's turn of phrase "Community As Babel Versus Communion at Pentecost".

Tune in here in two weeks for the second half of the discussion!


Scripture citations for this episode:
- Tower of Babel
- Genesis 11
- Pentecost
- Acts 2

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/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Following our two part discussion of artificial intelligence, we continue the discussion with another two part conversation returning to the right use & role of books in this episode followed by a discussion of the place of martyrdom in the way of the life of faithfulness.

This is part two of this discussion, please excuse the awkward edit from the preamble (identical to episode 5) into the content, which picks up about an hour into our conversation.

Reference materials for this episode:
- Harken My Beloved Brethren, page 273
- St Sophrony the Athonite
- “seeing God as He is”
- Martyrdom, St Ignatius, the wheat God
- https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0107.htm


Scripture citations for this episode:
- The brazen serpent questions God’s authority, Adam doesn’t correct him
- Genesis 3:1-5
- Tower of Babel, idolatry, self determination, control
- Genesis 11
- We know false prophets because their signs don’t come to pass
- Deuteronomy 18:15-22
- No king, everyone does what is right “in their own eyes”
- Judges 21:25
- What seems right to a man ends in death
- Proverbs 14:12
- False prophets have visions in their own minds rather than seeing God’s divine council
- Jeremiah 14:13-14
- Jeremiah 23:16-17
- Scripture is inspired of God
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- Love drives out fear
- 1 John 4:7-21
- The Ethiopian Eunuch needs Scripture interpreted for him to understand
- Acts 8:26-40

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/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Following our two part discussion of artificial intelligence, we continue the discussion with another two part conversation returning to the right use & role of books in this episode followed by a discussion of the place of martyrdom in the way of the life of faithfulness.

Reference materials for this episode:
- Harken My Beloved Brethren, page 273
- St Sophrony the Athonite
- “seeing God as He is”
- Martyrdom, St Ignatius, the wheat God
- https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0107.htm


Scripture citations for this episode:
- The brazen serpent questions God’s authority, Adam doesn’t correct him
- Genesis 3:1-5
- Tower of Babel, idolatry, self determination, control
- Genesis 11
- We know false prophets because their signs don’t come to pass
- Deuteronomy 18:15-22
- No king, everyone does what is right “in their own eyes”
- Judges 21:25
- What seems right to a man ends in death
- Proverbs 14:12
- False prophets have visions in their own minds rather than seeing God’s divine council
- Jeremiah 14:13-14
- Jeremiah 23:16-17
- Scripture is inspired of God
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- Love drives out fear
- 1 John 4:7-21
- The Ethiopian Eunuch needs Scripture interpreted for him to understand
- Acts 8:26-40

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/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Part two of our discussion about AI, the collapse of Western knowledge structures, the final (fourth) nail in the coffin of The Enlightenment & why Eastern Orthodox Christianity shouldn't be all too worried about it.

This will lead directly into episodes 5 & 6, a discussion about the right use of books, the crisis of authority in The West & the path of martyrdom as we saw it exhibited by an entire community in Damascus on Sunday June 22, 2025

Reference materials for this episode:
- The future of AI
- https://www.wired.com/story/ai-risk-party-san-francisco/
- AI is making us less smart
- https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/


Scripture citations for this episode:
- Genesis 3
- Tree of Knowledge
- Proverbs 1:1-7
- Instruction produces wisdom

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/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

What to Do When The Lights Go Out


Is artificial intelligence the fourth death of The Enlightenment & should Orthodox Christians even care particularly much?

Part 1 of a 2 part conversation.


Reference materials for this episode:
- The future of AI
- https://www.wired.com/story/ai-risk-party-san-francisco/
- AI is making us less smart
- https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/


Scripture citations for this episode:
- Genesis 3
- Tree of Knowledge
- Proverbs 1:1-7
- Instruction produces wisdom

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/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Following on our last episode in which we ended with the celebration of the righteous triumph of the gospel, we felt it was important to point out the boundary which must be kept on how we understand this triumph.

With the rise of nationalism in the USA, much of it Christian nationalism, as well as reflecting on such relatively recent tragedies as The Balkan war of the 1990's, it is crucial we understand winning as genuine participation in what God is doing rather than us going out into the world, weapons (rhetorical or military) in hand, to do the winning for Him.


(we didn't get to all this material, but it is relevant)

Reference materials for this episode:
- love of place is tied to attachment to possessions
- Shepherd of Hermas: parable 1
- https://www.strengholt.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Book-5-hermas-for-website.pdf
- our desires must be for virtue & we must not fear death
- 2nd Epistle of St Clement: chapter 5
- https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1011.htm


Scripture citations for this episode:
- dwellers in God’s tent (to the Gentiles)
- Ephesians 2: 11-21
- no lasting city (to the Jews)
- Hebrews 13:5-17

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/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023