Archpriest Peter Heers: Successors of the Kollyvades: St. Joseph the Hesychast & Ephraim of Arizona

About this sermon

Fr. Peter’s lecture from the “Torches of Truth” Conference by Uncut Mountain Press The Conference, “Torches of Truth: the Kollyvades Fathers and Their Successors”, took place from December 5-6, 2024 in Florence, AZ. The conference speakers explored the lives, teachings and times of the Kollyvades Fathers of Mt. Athos and Greece (late 18th and early 19th centuries) and also looked at those who are "followers of the holy fathers" today -- their contemporary successors, including the holy Athonite Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona. The lectures and Q&A sessions were followed by a round-table discussion. The conference was held on the eve of the Memorial Service for Geronda Ephraim which took place at St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery on December 7th. It was a rare gathering and an exceptional opportunity! SPEAKERS • Archimandrite Nikodemos (Barousis) Western Baptism: The “Study” of Dorotheos Voulismas, St. Paisius Velichkovsky, and the Kollyvades Fathers • Archimandrite Gregorios (Estephan) "Following the Holy Fathers": The Chief Characteristic of an Orthodox Christian Then and Now • Archpriest Peter Heers Successors of the Kollyvades: St. Joseph the Hesychast and Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona • Constantine Zalalas The Essence of the Kollyvadic Spirit and Its Significance Today Fr. Peter is the founder and current head of Uncut Mountain Press (founded in 2000), the founder and head of The Orthodox Ethos, and the founder and first editor of "Divine Ascent, A Journal of Orthodox Faith” (begun in 1995). Fr. Peter was also the host of the Ancient Faith Radio podcast, Postcards from Greece and is currently the host of The Orthodox Ethos podcast on The Orthodox Ethos Youtube channel. Fr. Peter Heers has undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees in Dogmatic Theology from the Theological School of the University of Thessalonica, all completed under the tutelage of Professor Demetrios Tselingides. Fr. Peter is the author of The Missionary Origins of Modern Ecumenism: Milestones Leading up to 1920, as well as The Ecclesiological Renovation of the Second Vatican Council: An Orthodox Examination of Rome"s Ecumenical Theology Regarding Baptism and the Church, which was released in November 2015 and is available here. It is also available in Greek. Fr. Peter is also the translator of several books, including The Life of Elder Paisios (co- translator) and the Epistles of Elder Paisios, The Truth of our Faith (vols. 1 & 2) by Elder Cleopa and Apostle to Zaire: The Life of Fr. Cosmas of Grigoriou, as well as the best-selling children"s book From I-ville to You-ville. Fr. Peter was the instructor of Old and New Testament at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, New York (2017-2018) and continues now as a Lecturer of Ecclesiology in the Certificate of Theological Studies Program. Fr. Peter was also the Headmaster of Three Hierarchs Academy In Florence, Arizona (2018-2019). He is a regular speaker to parish groups in the United States and Canada. Fr. Peter Heers currently resides outside of Coolidge, AZ. — Our mission is to present and support the Orthodox Christian Way, Truth, and Life, which is Christ Himself — guiding souls to communion in His Body, faithful to the teachings of the Holy Fathers. 👉 Become a YouTube Member for exclusive livestreams and videos, Q&A’s, book discounts, and more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChozbOPP6uOJ2UkiTZy-sgQ/join 🎥 New to Orthodoxy? Start here with our "Orthodoxy 101" playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCFiE3qfVkDisaFlaa38cO_iTvnpsUnhc 📚 Explore our full collection of Orthodox Christian books: https://www.uncutmountainpress.com 📝 Read our blog for weekly insights on Orthodox faith and tradition: https://www.orthodoxethos.com/blog ✉️ Questions? Contact us at: team@orthodoxethos.com #OrthodoxChristianity #ChurchFathers #HolyTradition #ChristianFaith #Orthodoxy