In a Certain Kingdom

Dn. Nicholas will be taking a brief hiatus from his podcast. Click here to find out what he is working on in the meantime!

A certain Tsar collects artisans like trinkets. And what do you think? Of course they all compete for his attention. But once a goldsmith and a carpenter argue so much they nearly come to blows. The Tsar, never one to avoid an exciting opportunity, orders them to create the greatest work of art ever made. The result? Well, a hero's journey, two thwarted executions, a princess in a tower. And a story that is sure to stay with you for a long time. In the analysis section, Deacon Nicholas wonders about creativity and how it can help inner transformation toward the good, the true, and the beautiful.

In a variation on a familiar story, Prince Ivan is the only one of his three brothers with the vigilance to find the thief of his father's golden apples. But when he tries to catch the thief - a firebird - he catches nothing but a tail feather. His father, overcome by the feather's beauty, promises riches to the son who brings back the firebird. Ivan repeatedly fails, and only through the help of a speaking wolf can he undertake the most difficult journey of all, through the dark forest of Baba Yaga, ending finally at the battlefield of the most dangerous foe of all: Koschei the Deathless Himself!

Little Prince Ivan was born dumb, and his parents couldn't wait to have another child. Anything was better than a voiceless future Tsar! But you should be careful what you wish for. They did have another child. A girl. But she had iron teeth. And an unfortunate taste for... well, everything! This strange, wonderful story has some of the most unusual and vivid images in all of Russian folklore. Instead of an analysis section, Deacon Nicholas is soliciting your feedback, dear listeners! Do you have any ideas for how to make the analysis section of the podcast better? Let me know!

Today we're happy to share two shorter stories, one called "Just Like Salt" and the other the return of everyone's favorite villain: Baba Yaga. In the analysis section, Deacon Nicholas recommends a wonderful new book that has some fascinating things to say about early Christian poetry and imaginative fictions. Be sure to check out "She Who Loved Much" by Fr Kevin Kalish, from Holy Trinity Publications.