The Great Tales

Latest Episodes:

Blood and Bow (Odyssey Pt. 5) Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

The twists and turns all come to an end as Dn. Seraphim and Fr. Andrew finally take a shot with Odysseus’s bow and see just who’s going to end up with the pious Penelope. Music attribution: Cold Journey by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

All Cretans Are Liars (Odyssey Pt. 4) Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Fr. Andrew and Dn. Seraphim continue their read-through of the Odyssey with Odysseus's arrival back in Ithaca, and the various disguises he'll have to wear, lies he'll have to tell, and the one faithful hound who sees through it all...

The One with the Giants (Odyssey Pt. 3) Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Fr. Andrew and Dn. Seraphim continue their read-through of the Odyssey with books 9–12, the "Apologoi," in which Odysseus tells the stories of his voyage from Troy. These are by far the most famous episodes when we think about the Odyssey, but can we trust him?

The Odyssey Part Deux-ly: Departed Suitors Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Father Andrew and Dn. Seraphim pick up the Homeric threads again, wrapping up their discussion on The Odyssey. All the beauty and nostalgia of the homecoming, plus the brutality of the ancient world, are on full display in this second half.

The Man of Many Twists and Turns Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Father Andrew and Dn. Seraphim return to the Bronze Age to tell the story of a man who was variously identified as the Trojan War's greatest hero or its greatest villain.

Kullervo: Born for Ruin Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

PARENTAL ADVISORY: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS CONTENT THAT MAY BE UPSETTING FOR CHILDREN. Kullervo is one of the most memorable figures in the Kalevala, the great poetic compendium of Finland. His compelling haplessness and dark story drew the interest of Tolkien and still command our attention today.

The Queen of Serpents Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

One of the greatest tales of Lithuania is Eglė, Queen of Serpents. We welcome our friend Fr. Gintaras Sungaila live from Lithuania to talk about this story as well as to share Baltic tales from the late medieval period which mix saints with pagan gods.

Fate the Mighty Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

How do you live in a collapsed civilization? Three Old English poems stand out for their reflection amidst loss - "The Ruin", "Deor," and "The Wanderer." Their elegiac power still sings across a thousand years and teaches in our own time of collapse, loss, and uncertainty.

Mermaid's Tale and Raven's Wing May 21, 2026

Show notes

Fr. Andrew and Dcn. Seraphim tell you three tales from medieval romance and legend -- tales concerning mermaids, monsters, and the Raven of St. Oswald.

Hagiography or Legend? May 08, 2026

Show notes

Special guest co-host Dcn. Nicholas Kotar joins us to tell the story of Russia’s strange tradition of mashing up saints’ lives with fairy tales.

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