Dr. Cyril Jenkins, and Ancient Faith Ministries

Light Through the Past

Religion EN ↓ 224 episodes

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.

Author

Dr. Cyril Jenkins, and Ancient Faith Ministries

Category

Religion

Podcast website

www.ancientfaith.com

Latest episode

Jul 9, 2026

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Episodes

Questions Part I: St. Augustine and Origen 09.07.2026

This episode Dr. Jenkins finally dives into all questions viewers have been sending him, and begins with one from Jack on why we venerate Augustine, but slight Origen. Doxamoot Tickets: https://www.ancientfaith.com/events/Doxamoot/

Closing Thoughts on the Schism 02.07.2026

Having for over a year traced the origins and particulars that went into the Schism of the Orthodox and the Catholics, Dr. Jenkins gives some final thoughts to the whole affair.

The Aftermath of Florence 3: The Fall of Constantinople 25.06.2026

This week Dr. Jenkins presents the sad tale of the fall of the Queen of Cities, a fall that many in despair had long awaited, and how this brought with it an end to the failed and futile attempts at ending the schism.

Put Not Your Trust in Princes: Florence's aftermath 2 18.06.2026

This episode Dr. Jenkins details the "political" events that followed the Council of Florence, namely the tragic results of the crusade aimed at rescuing Constantinople from the grasp of the Turks. For poetry: https://basilianmedia.org/

The Aftermath of the Council of Florence, Part 1 11.06.2026

This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the reaction of the Orthodox to the union,with the Council of Florence now behind. For Paideia Society: https://www.paideiasociety.org/ For Rule of Faith: https://stbasilcotc.org/journal/

Florence and the Roman Primacy 04.06.2026

This episode Dr. Jenkins completes looking at the Council of Florence proper with a discussion of its teaching on the primacy and prerogatives of the Bishop of Rome. For Fr. Joseph Lucas on Purgatory: https://tinyurl.com/FrJosephPurgatory St. John of Damscus, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

Florence and Purgatory. The Debate 28.05.2026

This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the specific debate on purgatory at Florence, and why the Orthodox rejected the Latin doctrine. St. John of Damscus, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

Florence and Purgatory. An Introduction 21.05.2026

Dr. Jenkins continues looking at the council of Florence, this week looking at the question of Purgatory, with a history of the doctrine in the Latin west, and how it developed. St. John of Damscus, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

Florence and the Filioque, part 2 14.05.2026

On the heels of last week's episode, Dr. Jenkins seeks to tie together loose ends as regards the question of the filioque, along with addressing some recent scholarship on the question. St. John Damascene, On the Two Wills in Christ: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

Florence and the Filioque 07.05.2026

This episode Dr. Jenkins continues with the Council of Florence, tackling that most thorny of issues, the filioque addition to the creed. For Basilian Media's new book by St. John of Damascus: https://bit.ly/4cWYqcA

St. Mark of Ephesus and Latin Theology 30.04.2026

As Dr. Jenkins continues his discussion of the Council of Florence this week he looks at the key figure in the council St. Mark (Eugenikos) of Ephesus and his theological training and education, and why he has been vilified by Catholics in the last century. New book on St. John of Damascus: https://tinyurl.com/Damascus2Wills

Making Sense of the Council of Florence 23.04.2026

The run-up is over, as this episode Dr. Jenkins, back from Rome and recovered from Holy Week and Pascha, begins in earnest the events and implications of the Council of Florence.

From Constance to Florence 16.04.2026

In this episode Dr. Jenkins finishes his discussion of the events in the West that made the Council of Florence a reality, one in which, unlike Lyons in 1274, the theological differences between the Latins and the Greeks were fully aired and discussed.

A Eucharistic Divertimento 09.04.2026

On this Great and Holy Thursday Dr. Jenkins takes a pause to reflect on the Eucharist and the nature of Love in the Church.

The Rise of Conciliarism 02.04.2026

At the beginning of the 15th century the doctrine that the council stood over the pope dominated the Latin Church, and its ascendence provided a necessary ingredient for the coming council of Florence. Dr. Jenkins takes this episode to explain this movement. https://tinyurl.com/FrDamickDrMoritz

Blaspheming, Sword-wielding Monks: The Knights Templar and the Council of Florence 26.03.2026

In this episode Dr. Jenkins continues the long strange trip through maze of Latin church history that brings us to the Council of Florence, by looking at the trial of the Templars, an element without which Florence as it happened would not have occurred. https://tinyurl.com/FrDamickDrMoritz

Intro to the Council of Florence: A Pope so Important even the Bees Love Him 19.03.2026

The long journey of the Council of Florence begins with imperious popes, corrupt Italian families, and conniving French lawyers. It ends with the Catholics going from demanding submission to the pope, to allowing a debate of the issues dividng the Church. St. Basil Society Lectures: https://tinyurl.com/FrDamickDrMoritz

The Faith of the Orthodox, the Faith of Blachernae 12.03.2026

This episode Dr. Jenkins finishes looking at the tumultuous 25 years that followed the retaking of Constantinople, examining the Council of Blachernae’s decision on how the Spirit proceeds “through the Son," and what this entails for the Nicene doctrine of the Trinity.

Cleaning Up Michael VIII's Mess: The Council of Blachernae, part 1 05.03.2026

Michael VIII's death found the Byzantine empire secured from its enemies, but theologically and ecclesiastically in confusion on all sides. This episode looks at the task that awaited Patriarch Gregory II as he began cleaning up the late emperor's madness.

The Aftermath of the Council of Lyons 26.02.2026

From mutilations to executions, Michael VIII violently imposed the Union of Lyons, while at the same time successive popes raised demands on the Orthodox, while Charles of Anjou waited in the background.

The Political Union of Lyons 19.02.2026

Prof. Jenkins continues his look at the course of the Schism, focusing specifically on the events surrounding the Council of Lyons in 1274, and how the whole affair was driven by political considerations on the part of the emperor, Michael VIII Palaeologos.

Michael VIII Palaeologos and the Byzantine Dilemma 12.02.2026

In this episode Dr. Jenkins unpacks the perilous aftermath of the Byzantine reconquest of Constantinople, and the extreme ecclesiastical length's the emperor was willing to take to secure the Empire's safety.

The Consequences of the Sack of Constantinople 05.02.2026

In this episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the political implications of sack of Constantinople in 1204 (implications never far removed from the questions of Church history nor the life of the Church).

The Fourth Crusade 29.01.2026

In this episode Dr. Jenkins covers the details of the 4th Crusade, how it happened to be diverted from its original destination, and how it happened that the city was sacked and pillaged by the army of the 4th Crusade. Fr. Deacon Corrado's lecture on the Shroud of Turin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5glqEGO5cM Basilian Media & Publishing: https://basilianmedia.org/

A Prelude to the 4th Crusade 22.01.2026

As Dr. Jenkins continues looking at the Schism between Greek East and Latin West, he picks up with the perhaps the most dramatic event in the history of the two communions, the sack of Constantinople by the armies of the 4th Crusade. This event and its long sequel shall dominate the podcast for the next several weeks.

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