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  • *Bonus Episode* - The Nicene Creed with Bp. Jakob Palm

    *Bonus Episode* - The Nicene Creed with Bp. Jakob Palm
    2025/10/26

    This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed — a confession of faith that has survived despite the many ruptures and divisions Christians have experienced since its inception. Born out of the early Church’s struggle to articulate the mystery of Christ and the unity of God in the face of heresy, the Creed was first shaped at the Council of Nicaea in 325 and deepened at Constantinople in 381. It became a shared anchor for Orthodox, Catholic, and many Protestant traditions — even as its interpretation and use have reflected the fractures and hopes of Christian history.

    In this conversation, I sit down with Bishop Jakob Palm to explore not just the theological contours of the Creed, but its personal resonance: how it shapes his life as a bishop, a husband, a father, and a friend. We’ll reflect on the Creed’s role in church unity, its enduring beauty, and the tensions it still holds — and ask what it means to confess faith in one God, one Lord, one Church, in a world that desperately longs for healing.

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    The Nicene Creed

    I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

    And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; And He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.

    And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets.

    In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

    I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

    I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.

    Amen.

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    Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed - OrthodoxWiki

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    The Orthodox Faith - Volume I - Doctrine and Scripture - The Symbol of Faith - Nicene Creed - Orthodox Church in America

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    Visit our website to learn more about Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: https://www.holycovenantchurch.net/

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    October 24 to 28, 2025 The World Council of Churches truth and order conference The Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches (WCC) will take place from October 24 to 28, 2025, in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt. The conference will focus on the theme "Where now for visible unity?" and will be held at the Logos Papal Center of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This event marks the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a significant moment in the history of the Christian church. The conference aims to bring together church leaders and theologians from various traditions to engage in theological dialogue and promote visible unity among the churches. Resources published for the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order | World Council of Churches

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    1 時間 18 分
  • S1:E3.3 - Conversation with Rebecca Munro

    S1:E3.3 - Conversation with Rebecca Munro
    2025/10/24

    In this episode of City of Bridges, Deacon Aaron sits down with his sister, Rebecca Munro—a small-town librarian in Vonda, Saskatchewan, a mother of four, and a recent convert to Catholicism. Having journeyed through Mennonite, Pentecostal, and evangelical communities before finding a home in the Catholic Church, Rebecca brings a rich and thoughtful perspective to their conversation. Together, they reflect on the Saints, the meaning of womanhood, and the ways faith opens paths of healing. Along the way, Rebecca’s creativity and passions shine through—from her love of music and storytelling to her delight in superheroes and Jane Austen. This is a tender and thoughtful exchange between siblings, weaving together family, faith, and the beauty of a life lived in search of God.

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    Visit our website to learn more about Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: https://www.holycovenantchurch.net/
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    33 分
  • S1:E3.2 - Conversation with Kimball MacMillan

    S1:E3.2 - Conversation with Kimball MacMillan
    2025/10/10

    In Episode 3.2 of City of Bridges, Deacon Aaron sits down with longtime friend and Saskatoon criminal lawyer Kimbal MacMillan for a rich and wide-ranging conversation that weaves together faith, justice, and beauty. Kimbal—whose spiritual journey has traversed Catholic, Anglican, Charismatic, and Evangelical traditions—brings a deep compassion for the marginalized and a thoughtful curiosity about the Church’s diverse expressions. Together, they explore the often-misunderstood Protestant relationship to the veneration of saints, challenging the myth that reverence and tradition are foreign to evangelical faith. Their dialogue flows from the courtroom to the concert hall, touching on the healing power of music—from punk to jazz—and the enduring human hunger for communion. It’s a conversation as eclectic and grounded as Kimbal himself: a man shaped by the northern landscapes of Saskatchewan, the rhythms of family life, and a vocation to mercy in the justice system.

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    Visit our website to learn more about Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: https://www.holycovenantchurch.net/
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    1 時間 9 分
  • S1:E3.1 - Conversation with Bp. Jerold Gliege (Emeritus)

    S1:E3.1 - Conversation with Bp. Jerold Gliege (Emeritus)
    2025/09/26

    In this episode of the City of Bridges Podcast, Aaron continues the Who Do You Live episode through a conversation with Bishop Emeritus Jerold Gliege, delving deeper into the theology and practice of venerating the Saints. Together, they reflect on how wandering through cemeteries and beholding the bodies of departed loved ones can become acts of glorifying God—encounters with mortality that reveal divine beauty rather than demanding sentimental reinterpretation. Bishop Gliege shares insights on how the Orthodox tradition sees holiness not as abstraction but as embodied reality, and how the created world itself—especially through remembrance and reflection—can become a window into the glory of the Creator. The episode invites listeners into a contemplative space where memory, reverence, and creation converge in worship.

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    Visit our website to learn more about Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: https://www.holycovenantchurch.net/
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    56 分
  • S1:E3 - Who Do You Love?

    S1:E3 - Who Do You Love?
    2025/09/12
    City of Bridges Podcast - season one – episode 3 – Who Do you Love? In a world fixated on fame, we often find ourselves admiring those in the spotlight. But beyond the buzz, who is truly worthy of our attention? 🔭 This episode, we explore the quiet beauty of Christian veneration—honoring lives shaped by Christ, marked by humility and love. It’s not about idolizing personalities, but lifting our eyes from the fleeting to the eternal. ✝️ Let’s rediscover the grace of turning our gaze from celebrity to sanctity. ❤️ The Creation affirms that matter is good, and the Incarnation reveals that matter can bear God’s presence—together making veneration not only possible, but proper, as we honor the ways God’s grace is made visible through the material world and His holy ones. 😇 Veneration means honoring, not worshipping. In the language of the early Church, worship—latria—is given to God alone. ✅ Veneration—dulia—is the respect we offer to saints and holy things, because they reflect God’s glory. 😌 We don’t adore them as gods. We honor them as faithful witnesses—lives made radiant by grace. Like stained glass, they let the light of Christ shine through.🔆 So when we kiss an icon or ask a saint to pray for us, we’re not worshipping the image or the person— we’re remembering what God has done through them, and seeking communion with the Body of Christ, across all time. ⏳ Veneration is not a distraction. It’s a way of drawing near to God through those who already dwell in His light. 💡 In a world that prizes charisma and celebrity, we often elevate those who shine brightest in the public eye. But Scripture offers us a different vision of greatness—one embodied in the quiet, radiant life of the Theotokos. 🤰 When Mary magnified the Lord, she did not seek glory for herself. “My soul magnifies the Lord,” she proclaimed, “and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior… For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:46–48). Her greatness was not in fame, but in faith. Not in power, but in surrender. 🛐 The saints follow in her footsteps. They are not icons of self-promotion, but windows into Christ. Their lives point beyond themselves—to the One who is holy, merciful, and true. In them, we see the communion of witnesses: a family of faith that spans centuries, praying with us and for us. 🙏 Meanwhile, the modern world offers its own pantheon—pop stars, influencers, politicians—figures celebrated not for holiness, but for visibility. Yet their fame fades. Their influence often distorts more than it heals. 🤑 So we ask: who do we love, and why? As Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). The ones we admire shape the people we become.💪 To love well in this age is to choose wisely. To turn our gaze from the fleeting to the eternal. To learn from the saints, and from the Mother of God herself, who shows us that true glory is found in humility, obedience, and the quiet courage to say, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). 🗣️ 📚Additional Resources: “Evangelical Orthodox Church Worship” Talk by Bishop Jakob Palm at Horizon College & Seminary - https://youtu.be/ny8AyWz9pOo?si=KSyhFTQNW_9wx2aU St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386) “We mention those who have fallen asleep in the faith… first the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition.”— Catechetical Lectures, 23:9 St. John of Damascus (c. 675–749) “I do not worship matter; I worship the Creator of matter, who became matter for my sake… I honor all matter through which salvation came to me.”— On the Divine Images, 1.16 St. Basil the Great (c. 330–379) “The honor given to the image passes to the prototype.”— On the Holy Spirit, 18.4 St. Augustine of Hippo (c. 354–430)“The miracles that were wrought through the relics of the martyrs are not to be lightly esteemed… God gives testimony to their holiness.”— City of God, 22.8 St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 340–397) “We love the martyrs with all our devotion… we kiss their relics, we embrace their bones as if they were alive and give healing.”— Letter 22 Origen (c. 184–253) “There are places and objects where the divine presence dwells in a special way, and these we must approach with reverence.”— Homilies on Exodus Martyrdom of St. Polycarp (c. 155 AD) “We took up his bones, more precious than jewels, and more purified than gold, and laid them in a suitable place… where we may gather in joy to celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom.” Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 44:1–2 (Deuterocanonical) “Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us. The Lord hath wrought ...
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    1 時間 24 分
  • S1:E2 - “Okay, So What?” Why Old Things Still Matter

    S1:E2 - “Okay, So What?” Why Old Things Still Matter
    2025/08/29
    City of Bridges Podcast - season one – episode 2 – “Okay, So What?” Why Old Things Still Matter Modern believers live in a world of reinvention—where new is often equated with better, and tradition can feel like the needless residue of another time. So it’s natural to ask, “What does any of this have to do with me?” 🤔 Rituals, icons, liturgy, sacraments—these ancient practices can seem distant or even burdensome to the contemporary mind. But what if they’re actually gifts? Not constraints, but doorways? 🚪 In this episode, we’re not just looking back—we’re looking deeper. Let’s try to rediscover a few things together. 👁️ "For Orthodox Christians, the Liturgy operates as a time machine, transcending the here and now. It’s as if the congregation steps back into the upper room with Christ’s apostles, re-living the Last Supper with a sense of immediacy that’s both solemn and exhilarating. This is not merely symbolic; it’s believed to be a real participation in the original event." - OrthodoxChristianity101.com https://www.orthodoxchristianity101.com/post/understanding-the-divine-litergy-in-orthodox-christianity https://www.patheos.com/library/eastern-orthodoxy/ritual-worship-devotion-symbolism/rites-and-ceremonies The Church bears a living memory—Christ’s voice echoing through the ages— not only in Holy Scripture, but in the language of icons and incense, in the ancient rhythm of the liturgy, and in the faithful lives of those who have walked this road before us. 📜 This is not a museum of religion. It is the Body of Christ—alive and breathing. A faith handed down, not frozen. A faith that forms us, generation by generation, into the likeness of Jesus Christ. ✝️ To enter this way is to be joined to something older, deeper, and holier than ourselves—a sacred current that humbles the ego and awakens the soul. 🔆 The unified voice of the early Church is not just one voice among many. It is the Spirit-guided memory of a community still listening for the voice of Jesus. 👂 Some today may wonder, “Isn’t all this tradition too old?” But in Christ, nothing is ever old if it carries the pulse of the age to come. ❤️ When we forget the memory of the Church, we risk becoming spiritual wanderers— unmoored from communion, isolated in interpretation, susceptible to novelty and division. 😞 But when we anchor ourselves to the apostolic faith, when we take our place in the Great Tradition, we discover that every generation becomes a threshold of grace. ⚓️ Ancient practices are not ornamental. They are the language of heaven made tangible in time. ⏳ So come and see. Step into the liturgy—let the mystery shape you. Open the writings of the early Fathers—not to argue, but to listen. ⛪️ These are not burdens. They are bridges. Not nostalgia, but sacred memory. Not human invention, but Christ among His people. ☺️ This is the unbroken song that rises from the Upper Room, echoes through the catacombs, and still leads us toward the New Jerusalem. 🎶 📚Additional Resources: 1. Explicit Mentions of Tradition (Paradosis in Greek - “what is handed down”) in Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:15 “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions (paradoseis) that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.” (This is the clearest reference to Apostolic Tradition: both oral and written.)2 Thessalonians 3:6 “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition (paradosin) that you received from us.”1 Corinthians 11:2 “Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions (paradoseis) even as I delivered them to you.” (This includes liturgical tradition: head coverings, Eucharist, etc.) 2. Transmission Language (Handing Down, Receiving) Even when the word “tradition” isn’t used, the concept of “handing on what was received” is central: 1 Corinthians 11:23 “For I received (parelabon) from the Lord what I also delivered (paredōka) to you…” (Eucharistic institution – Paul explicitly frames it as tradition received and handed on.)1 Corinthians 15:1–3 “For I delivered (paredōka) to you as of first importance what I also received (parelabon): that Christ died for our sins…” (The Apostles’ Creed-like early confession – an oral tradition handed on.)Philippians 4:9 “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things…” (The Apostle’s life and teaching together form tradition.)2 Timothy 1:13–14 “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me… guard the good deposit entrusted to you, by the Holy Spirit…” (Refers to safeguarding the oral deposit of faith.)2 Timothy 2:2 “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to ...
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    1 時間 3 分
  • S1:E1 City of Bridges Podcast - The End of Everything

    S1:E1 City of Bridges Podcast - The End of Everything
    2025/08/15
    City of Bridges Podcast - season one – episode 1 – The End of Everything We live in the tension of the already and the not yet. The Kingdom of Christ is truly present—revealed in mystery, grace, and power—and yet we still await its full and radiant unveiling. 🌤️ In the Christian story, the Eschaton is not simply the end of history, but the revelation of its deepest meaning: the fullness of divine love, made visible in Christ and extended to all creation. 👁️ In Him, all things are being restored, reconciled, and drawn into communion.🫶 And every time the Church gathers in worship—especially around the Holy Table—we are tasting the age to come. “Blessed is the Kingdom…” 🍞🍷 We say it not as poetry, but as proclamation. 📢 The Eucharist is not just a remembrance—it is a participation. 🏃 It is the wedding feast of the Lamb breaking into this moment from eternity. ⚡️ The Church is not only historical; she is eschatological. She worships always with one eye on the horizon, her prayers shaped by the promise of the world made new. 🎉 We are pilgrims on the way, bearing witness not to fear or despair, but to a coming joy that already begins to shine. Our liturgy is not a retreat into the past, but an invitation into the fullness of time. In Christ, the End is not doom—but delight. ☺️ So we worship in hope. We live in anticipation. And we say to the world: Come, and share in the joy of what is coming—and what is already here. ⛪️ 📚Additional Resources: On Difficulties in Sacred Scripture - The Responses to Thalassius by St. Maximos the Confessor on the Incarnation and Reconciliation https://www.eighthdayinstitute.org/on-the-cosmic-mystery-of-jesus-christA grand vision of the Kingdom of God in the Revelation of St. John 21 https://tinyurl.com/Bible-Gateway-Revelation-21Prayer for Christ’s Second Coming in Revelation of St. John 22:20 https://tinyurl.com/Bible-Gateway-22St. Paul on the Resurrection and meaning of existence in 1 Corinthians 15https://tinyurl.com/Bible-Gateway-1-Corinthians-15St. Paul on the culmination of history and Christ victory in Romans 8:18-39 https://tinyurl.com/Bible-Gateway-Roman-8 Additional Content from EOC Catechism: Worship is a procession into the Heavens. The divine liturgy of the Church is a procession of the people of God into the heavenly Holy of Holies. Our lives are “hidden in Christ”(Colossians 3:3). Each week we gather together as one Body to ‘go again’ to where we always are: Heaven. Because of Christ’s finished work, we are able to approach our Father in Heaven as His beloved children. The author of Hebrews invites us to the glorious worship of God made possible by Christ’s blood: “Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near [a call to worship!] with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our body washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22 At every Eucharist celebration, God’s people enter the heavenly Holy of Holies in a great mystery of worship. There we approach God’s throne with confidence, “receiving mercy and finding grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). “If assembling as the Church is, in the most profound sense of the term, the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration—its first and fundamental condition—then its end and completion is the Church’s entrance into heaven, her fulfillment at the table of Christ in His Kingdom…[The essence of the Eucharistic liturgy] is movement and ascent.” - Fr. Alexander Schmemann, The Eucharist, page 23. 💒Check out the Holy Covenant EOC web presence here: https://www.holycovenantchurch.net 🌳Check out the Evangelical Orthodox Church web presence here: https://www.evangelicalorthodox.org Dig in! Live a beautiful life with Christ and His people! Disclaimer: We share these conversations to encourage Spirit-filled ecumenical dialogue and deeper theological reflection. While our discussions partially draw from the teachings and life of the Evangelical Orthodox Church, our words are personal and not to be understood as formal positions of the EOC. Christian Faith should be embodied so join Christ’s One, Holy, Apostolic Church wherever His Body is found.
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    51 分
  • S1:E0.5 City of Bridges Podcast - Introduction - Unity is our why

    S1:E0.5 City of Bridges Podcast - Introduction - Unity is our why
    2025/08/08
    City of Bridges Podcast - season one – episode 0.5 – Unity is Our Why

    With this humble podcast, we’re leaning into unity and reconciliation. We’re inviting Christians and spiritual seekers of all kinds to spend time under this “big tent” of Ancient Christianity. ✝️

    We’ll do that by sharing our personal experiences and discussing ancient theology in a contemporary way. 🤼‍♂️

    📚Additional Resources:

    1. Good-faith theology towards unity in the life and work of St. Maximus the Confessor - https://tinyurl.com/Matthew-Root

    2. Jesus prayer for the Church in the garden in John 17 https://tinyurl.com/Bible-Gateway-John-17 and a St. Peters teaching on Theosis in 2 Peter 1:1-10 https://tinyurl.com/Bible-Gateway-2-Peter-1

    3. St. Paul’s Teaching on One Body in Christ per Ephesians 4:1-6 https://tinyurl.com/Bible-Gateway-Ephesians-4

    4. Early Church Witness: Irenaeus on “That Church Which Has Ever Been” (Against Heresies, 3.3.2) https://tinyurl.com/Early-Church-Witness

    5. The Nicene‑Constantinopolitan Creed (AD 381) https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nicene-Constantinopolitan_Creed

    6. Jesus’ High Standard: Love One Another per John 13:31–35 https://tinyurl.com/Bible-Gateway-John-13

    🚶‍♀️Synthesis: Why All Christians Should Pursue Unity
    1. It Is the Lord’s Will and Prayed‑For by Christ Himself
    2. It Reflects the Inner Life of the Trinity
    3. It Empowers Our Mission
    4. It Upholds the Apostolic Faith
    5. It Manifests Christ’s Love and Glory

    💒Check out the Holy Covenant EOC web presence here: https://www.holycovenantchurch.net

    🌳Check out the Evangelical Orthodox Church web presence here: https://www.evangelicalorthodox.org

    Dig in! Live a beautiful life with Christ and His people!

    Disclaimer: We share these conversations to encourage Spirit-filled ecumenical dialogue and deeper theological reflection. While our discussions partially draw from the teachings and life of the Evangelical Orthodox Church, our words are personal and not to be understood as formal positions of the EOC. Christian Faith should be embodied so join Christ’s One, Holy, Apostolic Church wherever His Body is found.
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    29 分