Season 2, Episode 2: St. Theodora, Empress of Byzantium
Using power to uplift the powerless
Justinian convinced the emperor to change Rome's laws so he could marry Theodora--it was otherwise illegal for him marry an actress. That wasn't the only rule she would change when she became empress. Learn more on today's "Saints Who Love the Poor." phoebefaragmikhail.substack.com/p/season-2-e...
24.02.2026 18:28 β
π 0
π 0
π¬ 0
π 0
Why Christians Fast During Lent - Christianity Today
An excerpt on generosity and solidarity from βHunger for Righteousness: A Lenten Journey Towards Intimacy with God and Loving our Neighbor.β
Lent began last Monday for most Oriental Orthodox Churches, last Wednesday for Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants, and today for Eastern Orthodox. Here is why Christians fast during Lent - and it's not what you think:
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/03/why-...
23.02.2026 23:16 β
π 2
π 1
π¬ 0
π 0
When the Epstein Files come up in Sunday School
Four opportunities for a conversation of faith
When the Epstein Files come up in Sunday School: Four opportunities for a conversation of faith
phoebefaragmikhail.substack.com/p/when-the-e...
07.02.2026 15:02 β
π 0
π 0
π¬ 0
π 0
Happy Epiphany to all Orthodox Christians celebrating tomorrow!
18.01.2026 13:29 β
π 0
π 0
π¬ 0
π 0
A Joyful Epiphany - Being In Community
By Phoebe Farag Mikhail I had an epiphany recently at a momβs fellowship meeting at my church. We were reading Luke 1 together, a joyful chapter in a joyful Gospel, exciting reading for someone who ha...
βJohnβs call to repentance is this same call to ready our hearts β cleaning them out, setting them in order, adorning them with beauty in eager expectation for the coming of the Bridegroom. What more joyous cry can there be than βChrist is comingβ?β
Read more:
beingincommunity.com/a-joyful-epi...
18.01.2026 13:28 β
π 0
π 0
π¬ 1
π 0
I will be honest, this wasnβt my first try- the first word I got was βmelancholicβ but I make my own rules.
bsky.app/profile/merr...
01.01.2026 21:22 β
π 0
π 0
π¬ 0
π 0
Take a screenshot of this GIF, and whichever new word you land on is YOUR word for 2026.
Let's. Go.
01.01.2026 15:16 β
π 4851
π 858
π¬ 1824
π 14958
Greetings and salutations to everyone who cracked open that brand new planner today!
01.01.2026 20:35 β
π 42
π 7
π¬ 3
π 2
Thank you for sharing, Charlotte!
21.11.2025 15:57 β
π 1
π 0
π¬ 0
π 0
We also don't always examine how the research was gathered, and if that is the most appropriate way to gather it.
You can't really draw conclusions about churches made up of a very large group of people whose first language is neither English nor Spanish with a mail in survey.
20.11.2025 19:42 β
π 2
π 0
π¬ 0
π 0
A note: I don't blame the @pewresearch.org on these faulty numbers. Their research methodology is clear, their dataset is public, and they are transparent about their margin of error. The problem is, if the numbers support our story, we don't always look further into them.
20.11.2025 19:40 β
π 1
π 0
π¬ 1
π 0
The NYT wrote about the Orthodox Church
Its conclusions are based on faulty research.
I would love it if @ruthgraham.bsky.social and the @nytimes.com would read my response to Graham's recent article on the Orthodox Church in the U.S. In it, I point out a flaw in the statistics on which Graham builds her story. I invite her to revisit.
phoebefaragmikhail.substack.com/p/the-nyt-wr...
20.11.2025 19:37 β
π 4
π 0
π¬ 1
π 1
My unfiltered thoughts on Benedict's βDaughter of Egyptβ
Along with a treasure trove of Egyptian women authors and Egyptologists Benedict neglected to consult
*Imaging oneself in anotherβs shoes can be a profound act of empathy and solidarity. Consistently and historically walking in a particular groupβs shoes, however, without letting them speak for themselves, leaves that community shoeless.β Read more in my newsletter:
open.substack.com/pub/phoebefa...
13.11.2025 23:49 β
π 2
π 1
π¬ 0
π 0
Check out this excerpt in Sojourners from my latest book!
10.03.2025 22:23 β
π 3
π 0
π¬ 0
π 0
Thank you Shirley!
05.03.2025 17:12 β
π 1
π 0
π¬ 0
π 0
"In choosing to abstain from certain foods for over a month and a half and giving what we would have fed ourselves to others, our almsgiving is less a charity than it is empathy and solidarity."
05.03.2025 13:04 β
π 3
π 0
π¬ 1
π 0
That's me wearing one of their book dresses during my book event yesterday!
18.02.2025 20:22 β
π 0
π 0
π¬ 0
π 0
The pockets on these dresses are unsurpassed. You can hold everything you mentioned in those pockets, plus a bottle of water and some art supplies. They were made with teachers in mind.
18.02.2025 16:00 β
π 2
π 0
π¬ 1
π 0
Almost everything I wear comes from this business!
18.02.2025 04:33 β
π 3
π 0
π¬ 1
π 0
I found a good comparison of this exact spot from 2012 that really shows the transformation
15.02.2025 19:23 β
π 107
π 25
π¬ 3
π 0
Ah, the 1930s Germany frame.
But in the post-reconstruction era, America had Jim Crow, the resegregation of the federal workforce, and deadly pogroms against black people in the South.
Weβve been here before. Itβs just it didnβt happen to white people.
Where do yall think Germany learned from?
16.02.2025 21:07 β
π 2285
π 529
π¬ 59
π 26
I just figured out how to make QR codes and I am inordinately pleased with myself about this.
17.02.2025 03:36 β
π 2
π 0
π¬ 0
π 0
Here is a sneak peek (and a feast for the eyes) for Podcast Episode 2 with Photographer Mary Jasmin Yostos. She's not yet on BlueSky but you can follow her on IG at www.instagram.com/stories/trek...
To watch the whole episode click here (you will need to subscribe) open.substack.com/pub/phoebefa...
13.02.2025 19:27 β
π 1
π 1
π¬ 0
π 0
Here is a sneak peek (and a feast for the eyes) for Podcast Episode 2 with Photographer Mary Jasmin Yostos. She's not yet on BlueSky but you can follow her on IG at www.instagram.com/stories/trek...
To watch the whole episode click here (you will need to subscribe) open.substack.com/pub/phoebefa...
13.02.2025 19:27 β
π 1
π 1
π¬ 0
π 0