Direct and Unapologetic: Real Conversations on Orthodoxy That You Need To Hear
Fr. Christopher Metropulos in conversation with some of the most compelling voices in Orthodoxy ,on the topics that actually matter.
Direct & Unapologetic episodes will drop weekly. We encourage you to share these videos with your communities and networks, and join the conversation.
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About the Series
Join Fr. Christopher Metropulos for a series of candid conversations about topics that matter to Orthodox Christians and seekers. We’re talking about Addiction, Grief, Relationships, Family Conflict, Mental Health as well Spiritual Discipline, Engaging with Contemporary Culture, Conversion, Prayer, Passing on the Faith and a deeper understanding of our Scripture.
Guests include the “Bible Answer Man” Hank Hanegraaff; Orthodox Priests Fr. Samuel Davis, Fr. Nicholas Louh and Fr. Dimitrios Moraitis; Professional Counselor Paula Marchman, Writer and Speaker Frederica Matthewes-Green, Spectrum Films Producer Nick Furis, and “Path to the Priesthood” host Christo Pappademos.
The series is filmed at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Jacksonville, Florida, and produced by Spectrum Films, Inc. Like 👍 and Subscribe 🔔to follow this series! We encourage you to share the video and let us know in the comments what topics you’d like to see covered in future series.
This program is being made possible through a generous donation from the George and Judy Marcus Family Foundation.
Episodes
Episode 1: Why Faith Looks More Like Training Than Inspiration with Christo Pappademos
Christo Pappademos is an admissions counselor at his alma mater Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, a personal trainer at Equinox and an OCN digital media associate. In faith, just as in fitness, inspiration can get us started, but it doesn’t create lasting transformation. It’s discipline and consistency that keeps us progressing on our faith journey. We also talk about how regularly showing up in Church changes how we understand the Gospel, and how prayer, fasting and silence are not burdens, but useful technologies toward building spiritual strength.
Hank Hanegraaff, known to millions as the Bible Answer Man, spent decades defending Scripture before converting to Orthodox Christianity in 2017. In this conversation, he makes the case that the Bible’s power hasn’t faded, but that most of us have been taught to read it in a way that limits what it can do in our lives. In the Orthodox Church, Scripture isn’t just studied, it’s prayed, sung, and lived within the sacramental life of the Church. The Bible’s central message is the redemption and restoration of humanity, and engaging with it seriously means being formed by it over time, within a community that has been reading it the same way for 2,000 years.
Episode 3: How can we sustain connection to God and each other? | Fr. Nicholas Louh
Modern life is marked by chronic stress, digital overload, and relentless demands that leave little room for spiritual practice. For Orthodox Christians struggling to maintain their faith amid burnout, anxiety, and distraction, the question isn’t whether to prioritize God—it’s how. Hear pastoral wisdom from Fr. Nicholas Louh, Senior Priest at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Jacksonville, Florida, to offer practical, Orthodox Christian strategies for sustaining spiritual connection under pressure.
Episode 4: What Does Orthodox Christianity Demand of Us? | Fr. Samuel Davis
In our individualistic culture, we are trained to treat faith as a personal pursuit. In this episode of Direct and Unapologetic, Fr. Samuel Davis argues that this is precisely what makes genuine Orthodox formation so difficult for many Americans. His message to every person going through the conversion process is the same: you are not saved alone. You need the people around you, and they need you. Fr. Samuel also tells every new inquirer to be careful with Orthodox social media. Real formation happens in community, and through ordinary, unplanned moments that have the potential to draw us closer to God—if we choose well.
Promotional Materials
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