In a Certain Kingdom
Dn. Nicholas Kotar, and Ancient Faith Ministries
Retelling of Slavic Fairytales and Myths, and an Explanation of How These Stories Help Us Better See and Live in the Real World
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Top 10 In a Certain Kingdom Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best In a Certain Kingdom episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to In a Certain Kingdom for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite In a Certain Kingdom episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
A Special Announcement!
In a Certain Kingdom
11/14/22 • 3 min
Dn. Nicholas will be taking a brief hiatus from his podcast. Click here to find out what he is working on in the meantime!
Prince Ivan, the Firebird, and Koschei the Deathless
In a Certain Kingdom
09/29/22 • 23 min
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!
The Frog Princess
In a Certain Kingdom
10/08/20 • -1 min
A king has three wonderful, princely sons. But none of them has a bride! So the king decides to fix the problem, and test their virtue at the same time. Each of them must shoot an arrow up into the sky. Wherever it falls, there they will find their bride. Poor Ivan, the third son, shoots his arrow straight into the swamp. But not only does he find a bride there, he also gets more than he ever bargained for... In the analysis section, Nicholas Kotar explores the strange, but compelling fact that stories of talking animals appear in nearly every folkloric tradition since ancient times. What do these stories say about us? Might they be reflections of some deep, primordial desire for something we lost?
Vasilissa the Beautiful
In a Certain Kingdom
10/01/20 • -1 min
A young girl loses her mother, and her father marries the stepmother from hell. Sound familiar? But this version of Cinderella has Baba Yaga, magical talking dolls, and a happily-ever-after to beat them all. In the analysis section, Nicholas Kotar introduces the idea of moral imagination and talks about how good stories help cultivate it in the heart of both children and adults. He also discusses how, yes, in some cases, stories can be very dangerous for you indeed . . .
Finist the Bright Falcon
In a Certain Kingdom
09/24/20 • -1 min
The third daughter of a poor villager has a secret. No one suspects this quiet, unassuming girl of being betrothed, much less to Finist, a falcon by day and a prince by night. But when her sisters find out, they put knives on her windowsill . . . Instead of an analysis section, Nicholas Kotar talks with Natalie Wilson, the composer of the podcast's wonderful music, about womanhood, spiritual and physical hardship, and how the ritualistic nature of fairy tales reflects reality on a far deeper level than we realize.
Marya Morevna, the Wondrous Queen: Part 2
In a Certain Kingdom
09/17/20 • -1 min
Prince Ivan has come back to life after Koschei the Deathless chops him into pieces. But he still has not rescued his wife, Marya Morevna. To do so, he'll have to brave everyone's favorite villainess, Baba Yaga herself. But if he's not careful, he'll lose his head a second time! In the analysis section, Nicholas Kotar concludes his exploration of Tolkien's "On Fairy Stories" by examining why escapism isn't as bad as some people say it is, and how good fairy tales are actually closer to scripture than you might expect.
Marya Morevna, the Wondrous Queen: Part 1
In a Certain Kingdom
09/17/20 • -1 min
Prince Ivan has lost his parents, and now must take care of his three sisters. After marrying them off to an eagle, a falcon, and a raven, he sets out to find a wife for himself. He finds one in the great warrior-queen Marya Morevna. But he also finds more than he bargained for. And it just might lead to him being chopped into pieces . . . In the analysis section, Nicholas Kotar leads us through J.R.R. Tolkien's excellent essay "On Fairy Stories," exploring why now, more than ever, we need the consolation and enchantment provided by old tales.
The Daughter of the Tsar of the Sea
In a Certain Kingdom
07/07/21 • -1 min
Sadko is a young musician. The best in Novgorod! But he's also one of the poorest. This is the lot of the true artist. No one understands him, he feels. No one except the beautiful river near his city. Well, it turns out that the river does understand him. Not only that, but she (yes, she!) is intent on marrying him! There is no analysis this week, as the Kotars are expecting the imminent coming of their fourth child. Feasting will no doubt ensue. Later.
Sukhmann the Young Warrior
In a Certain Kingdom
10/07/21 • -1 min
When Sukhmann the young warrior comes to Vladimir's feast, he feels a sudden desire to thank his host with a special gift. A white swan caught with his own two hands. But his hunting does not go at all as he planned. Unexpectedly, he is faced with a new enemy of the Rus. A never-before seen fighting force called the Tatars.
The Story of Volga Vseslav'evich
In a Certain Kingdom
05/26/21 • -1 min
After Ilya Muromets was healed by the three wanderers, they warned him against ever picking a fight with several famous fellow-warriors. One of those was Volga Vseslav'evich, renowned for his strength, but even more for his cunning. This is his story, a tale filled with deep magic, deeds of renown, and the triumph of virtue over power. In the analysis section, Deacon Nicholas reads a short essay by Ivan Ilyin about the failures of modern culture, and how a renewed attention to a life of the heart that warms the soul and spirit may be the only way out of our current difficulties. Luckily, it also may be the best way to begin anew the joyful process of cultivating our own selves.
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FAQ
How many episodes does In a Certain Kingdom have?
In a Certain Kingdom currently has 34 episodes available.
What topics does In a Certain Kingdom cover?
The podcast is about Christianity, Religion & Spirituality and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on In a Certain Kingdom?
The episode title 'The Frog Princess' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on In a Certain Kingdom?
The average episode length on In a Certain Kingdom is 13 minutes.
How often are episodes of In a Certain Kingdom released?
Episodes of In a Certain Kingdom are typically released every 8 days, 1 hour.
When was the first episode of In a Certain Kingdom?
The first episode of In a Certain Kingdom was released on Sep 17, 2020.
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