Orthodox Christian Parenting

We fill our days with permission slips, practices and bedtime prayers—and hope our marriage will hold on its own. Dr. John Delony hoped the same thing until the moment he turned to his wife and said, “I don’t want to be married like this anymore.” In this episode, he shares what it takes to build a marriage on purpose and why loving your spouse well is the greatest gift you can give your children. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

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Your child asks who St. John Chrysostom is, and you realize you know the Liturgy is his and not much else. How do you introduce your kids to someone you barely know yourself? In this episode, we talk with Fr. George Dokos about who the Church Fathers and Mothers are and how their wisdom can guide our lives today. He shares some simple steps for getting started with young children and finding a saint whose story draws you in—without it feeling like homework. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

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You’ve always prayed that your kids will grow up to love and serve the Church. But are you so focused on who they’ll become that you’re overlooking the role they can play right now? In this episode, we talk with Fr. Gary Kyriacou about raising kids who love the Church—not just someday, but today. He shares real-life examples of the ways our children can serve at any age and reminds us they’re learning from how we live. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

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Your daughter says she’s the only one in her friend group who isn’t allowed to wear a two-piece bathing suit. You’ve said no, but is that the Church’s teaching—or just your gut? In this episode, we talk with Kh. Susan Wallace, who has raised three daughters and taught many women about their identity as the Bride of Christ. She shares how to talk about modesty at different ages, raise sons who treat girls with respect and respond when your kids compare your rules to another family’s. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

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Cindy and Paul Karos noticed during Liturgy that some families had their adult children standing beside them and some didn’t. Their own three were 6, 4 and 2, and this question wouldn’t leave them: What can we do now to help our children love Christ and His Church when they’re grown? Their new book, “Raising Orthodox Christians,” shares the answers they found over the next 20 years of searching Scripture, studying the Church Fathers and learning from other Orthodox families. In this episode, they tell us where to start—whether we’re chasing toddlers, raising teenagers or sending kids off to college. Do...

Your daughter sits alone at lunch every day, and you’re lying awake wondering whether she’s going to be okay. You’re both struggling—but in different ways. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Philip Mamalakis about why your first move should be calming yourself down, not solving her problem. He also walks through the fears he gets asked about most: the phone your kid won’t put down, the teen who doesn’t want to go to church and the spouse who isn’t Orthodox. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

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Your 10-year-old daughter tells you straight up that Bible reading is boring. So do you push back or let it go? Tripp Prince, head of content at Dwell, says there’s a third answer—and it starts with taking her seriously. He explains why repetition matters more than quizzes, how Sunday readings can carry into the rest of the week, and what to do when a child finds the Bible hard to understand. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

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Your son drapes a towel over his shoulders to bless the dog, and your daughter arranges her dolls on the bedroom floor for Sunday school. Are those just picture-worthy moments—or more? In this episode, we talk with Father Michael Prevas about cultivating our children’s God-given gifts. He explains what to do when gifts aren’t obvious, shares what brings them to the surface and walks us through helping a child find a place to serve in the Church. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

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Your son calls from his dorm and mentions casually that he hasn’t been to Liturgy for the last few weeks. What do you do when a call like that ends? In this episode, we talk with Pastor Will Browning about how to respond when a child walks away from the faith or makes choices we never expected. He names the shame that convinces parents they’re at fault, returns to the story of the prodigal son and offers ways to stay close without losing hope. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

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The hardest part of raising kids in the Church is that you don’t find out whether it stuck for another 20 years. In Season 2, we talked with Paul and Karen Kinan about what they got right and what they’d do over—and now we’re sitting down with their three adult children to learn the other half of that story. They tell us about the traditions that lasted, the rules they didn’t appreciate at the time and what they’re repeating as parents themselves. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

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Listening can be hard, even for adults. So how can we raise children who listen well—to us and to the other people around them? In this episode, Dr. Philip Mamalakis returns to the podcast to share his best advice for modeling and teaching the art of listening. He explains why actions matter more than words and reminds us that our goal should be learning, not just compliance. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.

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Have you ever yelled at your kid to stop yelling? Same. This week we're revisiting our conversation with Fr. Ted Pulcini about anger: the kind that shows up in our own kitchens and the kind we see in our culture. He traces anger back to a self-protective reflex we all share, explains why God never gets angry the way we do, and offers a question you can ask your child in the middle of a blowup.

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There are seasons when the most honest prayer you can manage is asking God to help you get through the next hour. This week we're revisiting highlights from our conversation with Dr. Rick and Dema Esper about the year that followed Rick's stroke. Rick tells us what got him out of bed on the mornings his body wouldn't cooperate, Dema describes how gratitude took the place of pride, and both explain why apologizing to your children teaches more than any lesson on forgiveness.

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Your kid begs for a new toy, plays with it for a week, and then starts begging for the next one. Rachel Cruze, a bestselling author, financial expert, and mom of four, joins us to talk about how gratitude—not more rules—can break that cycle. She explains what contentment really means, shares how small everyday moments shape kids' money habits, and responds to a parent asking how to hold the line on a tight budget.

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One of you is strict, the other is more relaxed, and the kids are watching you sort it out in real time. In this episode, we revisit a favorite conversation with Cindy and Paul Karos about the Middle Way, the Orthodox practice of finding the path between two extremes. They explain how spouses who disagree can learn from each other, share a plan for scaling back an overloaded family calendar and offer practical advice on how to decide which shows are worth your kids' attention.

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If you believe that being a Christian means a clean house, well-behaved kids and mostly happy feelings, this week's episode with Dr. Philip Mamalakis may come as a relief. We're counting down to the launch of season three by revisiting some of the most practical moments from our archives, and this conversation is one of our favorites. Dr. Mamalakis explains why peace isn't the absence of chaos, shares why our kids need a peaceful mother more than a spotless home and reminds us that naming our guilt out loud can loosen its grip.

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If you've ever sat across from a doctor and heard news you weren't prepared for, you know how quickly your world can come apart. This week we're revisiting some of the most meaningful moments from our conversation with Elias and Joy Hajjar, whose daughter needed her first heart surgery at a week old and a transplant years later. They tell the story of a priest who came to pray over her in the middle of the night, explain what it looks like to show up well for a family in crisis and offer encouragement to any parent sitting in...

Ask most people what school is for, and they'll say it's about getting into a good college and landing a well-paying job. But Liz Caddow, founder and head of school at Trinity Classical Academy, says school is really about who our children are becoming. In these highlights from our full conversation with her, she shares the advice she now gives mothers of teenage sons, explains how education forms the whole child—heart, mind and soul—and reflects on what our children lose when we step in to rescue them.

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If you've ever apologized to your spouse in front of your kids, you've taught them something about forgiveness no lecture ever could. This week's episode revisits some of the best parts of our full conversation with Paul and Karen Kinan, who joined us to talk about how a strong marriage helps kids learn to love God and each other. They explain why the love between a husband and wife outweighs a lot of parenting mistakes, share what they'd change about their Sundays if they could go back, and reflect on what happens in a home when kindness gets offered...

If you've ever struggled to keep a wiggly four-year-old quiet during the Anaphora, you know how easily our sense of success as parents can get tangled up with how our kids behave. This week's episode revisits some of the best moments from our full conversation with Dr. Philip Mamalakis, who joined us to talk about what success really looks like for Orthodox Christian parents. He walks through how to handle a meltdown in church without losing your peace, why asking questions works better than lecturing, and how modeling our own mistakes as parents might be one of the best...

If you've ever snapped at your child over nothing and then watched their face fall, you know how much damage one harsh word can do. This week's episode revisits some of the best moments from our full conversation with Father Stephen Muse, who joined us to talk about repentance. He tells a personal story about repairing a hard moment with his grandson, walks through how fear can quietly take over a household, and explains how our own children often help us heal the exiled parts of ourselves. 

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If you've got a teenager, you know how quickly the college search can take over: the rankings, the essays, the pressure to get into the "right" school. But what if this season is really a chance to help your child discern who God is calling them to be? In this episode, we talk with Christopher Chiakulas, a high school counselor and the founder of Orthodox Christian College Counseling, about walking through the college search with faith at the center. He shares the framework he created to guide Orthodox families, offers practical ways to keep your child connected to a...

Your kid asks to watch the show everyone else is watching, and you want to say yes. But should you? Paul and Cindy Karos understand the tension of that moment, and they're here to help. In this episode, they explore practical ways to guard your child's heart when the world walks through your front door without knocking. If you're tired of saying no, take heart. You don't need more rules—you just need a different approach. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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Can one parent—or even two—raise a faithful son alone? Father Jacob Saylor says no family was ever meant to. In this episode, he explains why boys need faithful men beyond their own father to show them Christ's version of masculinity, and how priests, godfathers, uncles and parish friends can help form the next generation. He also offers real encouragement to moms doing this without a father present in the home. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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Some days the sacred feels impossibly far away—buried under the laundry, the backpacks, the dishes in the sink. In this episode, Dr. Philip Mamalakis returns to the podcast with practical wisdom for parents worn thin by the chaos of daily life. He reminds us that a peaceful parent is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children, and offers a way to leave guilt and shame behind for good. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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When their daughter needed a heart transplant, Elias and Joy Hajjar learned what it looks like for an Orthodox Church community to truly show up. In part two of this conversation, they share the next chapter of their journey including the remarkable relationship they built with the donor's family. They also speak directly to parents caring for a sick child and to the communities trying to love them well. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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As parents, we all have a plan for how our lives will unfold. But how do we hold onto faith when those plans shatter? In this episode, Elias and Joy Hajjar share their story of raising a child with a heart defect and navigating surgeries, hospital stays and eventually a transplant. They explain how their Church community held them up during the most difficult moments and discuss the steps they’ve taken to keep their marriage strong in times of chaos and calm. Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss part 2 of this conversation, and down...

How do we raise children who love the Faith and aren't afraid to talk about it? Fr. Constantine Nasr, a ninth-generation priest, shares why we don't need to turn our children into little evangelists. Instead, he says, we need to live the Faith with enough joy, humility and love for them to see something worth embracing. He also reveals three questions his father passed down to him that are simple enough for children to remember but deep enough for all of us to live by. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is a healthy marriage. In this episode, Paul and Karen Kinan join the podcast to explain how investing in their marriage has helped them raise a family who loves God and each other. As parents of adult children—and now grandparents—Paul and Karen also reflect on what worked well when they were raising their kids as well as what they would do differently if they could go back in time. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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Church camp offers an incredible opportunity to give your children a break from the noise of the world and surround them with a community of believers. In this episode, Father Andrew Andrews explains how camp can transform lives and form a faith that lasts beyond the weeks of summer. He also shares practical guidance for parents about who camp is for and how to overcome common fears around sending your kids to camp. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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It's easy to get caught up in perfectionism in a world that gives us so much to worry about and so many "perfect" families to measure ourselves against. The question is what to do about it—and the Church, it turns out, has a lot to say. In this episode, Dr. Philip Mamalakis is back to share his advice for overcoming perfectionism, building life-giving relationships with other parents, and finding the freedom to stop caring what everyone else thinks. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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Whatever schooling option your family has chosen, you are your children’s primary educator! In this episode, Liz Caddow joins the podcast to talk about her work as the founder and head of school at Trinity Classical Academy. She explains why education is ultimately about a child’s formation, shares advice for parents on understanding their school’s curriculum and offers guidance on supplementing schoolwork with the Church’s wisdom. She also reminds us that education is not just about what our children are learning but also who they are becoming. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

We were never meant to raise our children alone, and one of our most valuable resources is one we often take for granted: grandparents! In this episode, Dr. Josh Mulvihill joins the podcast to break down the biblical role of grandparents and explain why the grandparent-child relationship is so vital. He also answers some of your most pressing questions about navigating the sometimes complicated but always important relationships between parents, grandparents and the children we’re called to disciple. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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Paul and Cindy Karos are back—and this time they're talking about one of the most quietly liberating teachings in the Orthodox tradition: the Middle Way. What does it actually mean to avoid the extremes of overzealousness and apathy? And what does that look like in the middle of an ordinary day with kids to feed and a thousand things pulling at your attention? Paul and Cindy bring the theology down to earth with practical, real-life examples that make the Middle Way feel not just possible but genuinely inviting. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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We all feel anger, but what does the Church say about what we should do when those feelings arise? In this episode, Father Ted Pulcini joins the podcast for a conversation about what anger is, why it's so prevalent in our world today and how we can manage it in our own lives as well as the lives of our kids. He shares practical advice and ancient wisdom about developing a secure identity in Christ and responding in love—even to the people who don't agree with us. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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What do we do when the bottom drops out from under us? And how can moments of suffering become pathways to transformation, both in our own lives and the lives of our children? In this episode, Dr. Rick and Dema Esper join the podcast to share their powerful testimony of finding strength in Christ after a stroke changed everything for their family. They reflect on how their struggles brought them closer to Christ and offer practical advice on how to show up for your kids in the midst of suffering. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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In a culture that’s always telling us we don’t have enough, how can we develop contentment in ourselves and our kids? In this episode, author, speaker and financial expert Rachel Cruze joins the podcast to share her best strategies for learning and teaching contentment. Whether you’re starting the conversation early with a young child, parenting teenagers, or examining your own relationship with money, this conversation will give you practical tools to use today. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

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●  Today we’re talking about contentment with Rachel Cruze.

For parents, Holy Week brings packed schedules, big emotions and the challenge of keeping children engaged through it all. But this sacred time is also an incredible opportunity to help our children encounter Christ in new and meaningful ways. In this episode, Father Jim and Presvytera Donna Pappas join the podcast to explain why Holy Week is so important and to share their best advice for making the experience tangible for children of all ages. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here. 

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Your parenting is not just about what you say and do; it’s a reflection of your inner life. In this episode, Father Stephen Muse joins the podcast to explain why repentance is one of the most important things we can cultivate as parents as we pursue eternity and seek to raise children who know and love God. He also encourages us to slow down, create room for exhale and accept that we won’t always have all the answers. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here. 

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What does it mean when we say that children are icons of Christ? And how should that awareness impact the way we relate to our kids? In this episode, Dr. Philip Mamalakis returns to the show to answer these questions and more about raising children to love Christ and parenting in the midst of chaos. He shares practical advice for parents (and grandparents) of young kids and teenagers alike—including warning signs that signal we’re drifting off track.

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