Finding Home

Comfort or Christ? This episode contrasts secular solutions (comfort, symptom relief) with the Orthodox Christian answer that suffering, humility, and ascetic practice can lead us to God.
Using examples from Brave New World, Blade Runner, and The Hobbit, the hosts explore how excessive comfort erodes spiritual life, while humility and suffering open the way to gratitude, love, and union with Christ.
Practical pastoral insights from therapy and the Desert Fathers, plus reflections from St. Sophrony and St. Seraphim Rose, show how Christian healing restores the heart rather than merely removing symptoms.

In this episode Barbara and Subdeacon Silouan explore the wisdom of Abba Poemen, one of the Desert Fathers, focusing on how to face invasive thoughts through silence, patience, confession, and spiritual companionship.
Unpacking what Abba Poemen suggests, they cover some practical steps—don’t feed temptations, reveal thoughts to elders, distinguish shame from despair, and run toward the inner struggle rather than away—offering hope, humility, and concrete spiritual practices for everyday life.
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Asceticism in the Orthodox Church, like fasting, prescribed prayers, and even attending the liturgical services have a beautiful point to them, and are meant to be beneficial to our spiritual growth towards theosis. However, sometimes it can become more of a burden, hindrance, and even begin to replace the point itself if we're not careful.
In this episode, we continue our Summer in the Desert series, where we discuss a story from The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, and how it can be applied to our own lives in a way that is helping us align our hearts closer to the heart of the Orthodox Faith. This week we're focusing on sayings from Abba Poemen and Abba Anthony.

Welcome back to the Finding Home Podcast with Silouan and Barbara, where this week, we dive into the world of the Desert Fathers, focusing on the life and teachings of Abba Sisoes. Join us as we explore the feast of this influential monastic figure in continuation of our "Summer in the Desert" series.
Abba Sisoes stands as a prominent figure among the second-generation Desert Fathers, living in the shadow of the great St. Anthony of the Desert. Through his sayings, we uncover the essence of monastic obedience, the value of spiritual mentorship, and the delicate balance between guidance and autonomy within the Christian life.
We further reflect on how these ancient teachings translate into modern relationships, including the dynamics of leadership and humility in marriage. Discover the timeless wisdom in respecting and supporting each other without dominance or coercion, fostering a cooperative path to salvation.
Whether you're interested in Christian monastic traditions or seeking insights into personal spiritual growth and relationships, this episode offers profound reflections from the heart of the desert.

We’re back! This episode begins a new pattern for this podcast, where we share a story from The Desert Fathers and reflect on how we can apply it to our lives. This story of a stolen Bible shows us the pattern of loving the person behind the sin, even when it’s difficult.

What is the will? Do we really have one? Do children have one? Is it something to be fought against? Or are we born with some form of intrinsic wisdom that just needs space to grow? In this episode, Sbdcn Silouan and Barbara talk about gentle and not so gentle parenting, vices, virtues, and so much more!

Howl’s Moving Castle is a marvelous story about a rough relationship that ends up being just what they both needed to break each other’s curses.
In this episode, Sbdn Silouan and Barbara use this movie (and the book) to illustrate the humility, courage, and selflessness that’s necessary for a loving, faithful, Christian marriage.

Does it matter if we are close to our children and spouses? Isn’t it better to be our independent selves? What is the pattern we see in Genesis and throughout scripture? Pull up a chair on our porch, enjoy the cool night air, and join the conversation with Barbara and Subdeacon Silouan. Sprinkler, motorcycle, and cricket interruptions included!

Meet Silouan and Barbara! Hear us talk about our journey in marriage, Orthodoxy, professions, hobbies, parenting, the works! And a bit about our goals for this podcast. Glad to have you with us!