Rephonic
Artwork for Light of the East

Light of the East

Father Thomas Loya
Eastern Catholic Churches
Roman Catholic Church
Byzantine Catholic Church
Spirituality
Sacrament Of Confession
Cantors
The Markmaker
Byzantine Tradition
Eastern Christian Churches
Eastern Catholic Church
Liturgical Chant
Koch Foundation
St. Augustine
Latin Rite Church
Science Fiction
Byzantine Spirituality
Exaltation Of the Cross
Nativity Of the Mother Of God
Pope Francis
Second Vatican Council

This unique program reveals how the riches of the Eastern Catholic Churches - their liturgies, spirituality and relevancy - are a gift to the whole Church and to today's world.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes832Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityReligion & Spirituality

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Light of the East

Latest Episodes

Why does a good and loving God allow so much evil to happen, especially to good people? The answer comes from an unlikely person on week after the Resurrection of Our Lord."

As we have died with Christ, we now rise with Him in his bodily resurrection making all things new not just 2,000 years ago, but even at this very moment and forever.

Behold the Bridegroom comes in this middle of the night. Blessed is the servant He shall find awake. It is time to light our lamps and keep vigil during this Great and Holy Week.

On this last Sunday of Lent in many Eastern Catholic Churches a woman is put before our eyes who is a model of repentance, reverence for the Eucharist and hope for women experiencing the pains of shame.

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

What God is Not
What God is NotFather Michael O'Loughlin and Mother Natalia
Shameless Popery
Shameless PoperyCatholic Answers
The Counsel of Trent
The Counsel of TrentCatholic Answers

Recent Guests

Bishop Robert Pippda
Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma
Byzantine Catholic Church (parish and eparchy connection mentioned in episode)
Episode: Light of the East 1123 Great and Holy Week
Peter Galadza
Fr. Peter Galadza, associated with the Sheptytsky Institute, featured in a Minute segment
Sheptytsky Institute
Episode: Light of the East 1121 A Byzantine Catholic Liturgical Powerhouse
Monsignor Charles Pope
Catholic clergyman featured in a Lenten reflection
Catholic Church (Monsignor)
Episode: Light of the East 1120 The Feast of the Veneration of the Cross
Abbot Nicholas Zechariadis
A retired abbot of Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Monastery with extensive experience in monasticism and Catholic spirituality.
Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Monastery
Episode: Light of the East 1107R Return to Baptism Through Monasticism
Kevin Matthews
A former radio personality who found hope through a broken statue of the Virgin Mary, whose story is captured in the film 'Broken Mary'.
Episode: Light of the East 1098 Hope Through a Broken Statue of Mary
Jack Fiegel
Orthodox liaison for the Ecumenical Office of the USCCB, entrepreneur, and publisher
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Episode: Light of the East 1087 Healing the 1,000 Year Schism
Fr. Bruce Reaby
Byzantine Catholic priest providing outreach in Iowa.
Eparchy of Parma
Episode: Light of the East 1058 Iowa Byzantine Mission
Abbot Nicholas
Retired Abbot of Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Monastery
Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Monastery
Episode: Light of the East 1056 Return to Baptism Thought Monasticism
Bishop Robert Pipta
Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma
Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma
Episode: Light of the East 1053 So Which Are You?

Host

Fr. Thomas J. Loya
Fr. Thomas J. Loya, pastor and host focusing on Eastern Catholic spirituality, liturgy, and theology.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 93 ratings
  • Thank you!!

    This is a great podcast.. thank you for this podcast.. it has answered soo many questions I have had..

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jimmyskins
    United Statesa year ago
  • Amazing Catechism

    As someone new to the Byzantine tradition, I learn a lot from Fr. Loya. I appreciate his pastoral tone and his appropriate engagement with American and global culture through a lens of faith, as I have learned liturgy, spirituality, theology, and praxis from him.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Baby Byzantine
    United States3 years ago
  • More political than spiritual

    Very shocked and disappointed to hear Fr Loya describe immigrants at the border as disease carriers and criminals. This was not what I was expecting from a podcast on Eastern Catholic Spirituality. Not one mention that many at the border are fellow Catholics who are escaping extreme and horrific violence. I am surprised at the lack of love and empathy. To compare the US to something holy like a physical church or temple, when the US border is on stolen land is mind boggling to me. You can’t hide... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Weyu
    United States3 years ago
  • Wonderful Podcast, but….

    …please try to stay away from divisive U.S. politics.

    Dear Father Loya,

    Thank you so, so much for continuing to make this wonderful podcast that has greatly enriched my spiritual life and taught me so much about Eastern Rite Catholicism/Christianity. I just finished listening to episodes 946 and 947. Ep. 946 about St. Michael and the Incorporeal Beings was tremendous! Ep. 947 was also good, and I learned more about how the iconostasis and the sanctuary in Eastern churches echoes the Ho... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Steve456743
    United States3 years ago
  • Truly Light Shedding

    Father,

    Would you be able to help me find the episode or create one that goes into depth on how certain Eastern Churches have a Latin tradition in devotions such as the Ukrainian Greek Catholic (though the argument those are really universal, such as the Rosary)?

    May God bless you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Catholic1124
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critics note political references can feel off-topic for faith-focused content.
Episodes are spiritually enriching and accessible to newcomers.
Guests and discussions are often insightful about Eastern Christian spirituality.
Listeners praise the host's pastoral tone and deep expertise.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Light of the East 1116R The Eastern Catholic Churches Respond
Q: What should we say about deceased loved ones?
Instead of claiming they are in heaven, we should express a reasonable hope for their salvation and continue to pray for them.
Light of the East 1116R The Eastern Catholic Churches Respond
Q: Does a loving God really send people to hell forever?
Father Loya discusses the complexity of judgment, indicating that while God offers salvation, He does not guarantee that everyone is saved, and he addresses the ancient heresy of Apokarastasis.
Light of the East 1107R Return to Baptism Through Monasticism
Q: How do you see monasticism in America?
Monasticism is weak and small in the Western Church, which indicates a bad state for the Church as a whole.
Light of the East 1098 Hope Through a Broken Statue of Mary
Q: What is it like to hear a voice like that?
Kevin describes hearing a distinct, profound voice that is not of this world, guiding him during his journey of faith and transformation.
Light of the East 1098 Hope Through a Broken Statue of Mary
Q: Tell me about your story. Tell me a little bit about your background, and then also where it started to change for you, and what happened.
Kevin shares his journey from a successful radio career to experiencing profound brokenness, which led him to discover a statue of the Virgin Mary that became a symbol of hope and renewal in his life.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Light of the East

What is Light of the East about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful exploration of Eastern Catholic spirituality, liturgy, and theology with a focus on liturgical practices, iconography, and the relationship between Eastern and Western Christian traditions. Episodes frequently cover Lent, prayer forms (like the Jesus Prayer and St. Ephraim's prayers), and how sacred imagery and liturgical life shape faith. The host's pastoral tone and in-depth knowledge make complex theology accessible, while occasional critiques of political discourse suggest a strong commitment to faith-centered conversations. The show stands out for its emphasis on unity within the broader Catholic Church and for bringing nuanced Eastern Christian perspectives to a wider audience.

Where can I find podcast stats for Light of the East?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Light of the East. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Light of the East and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Light of the East get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Light of the East, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Light of the East?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Light of the East, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Light of the East have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Light of the East has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Light of the East?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Light of the East:

1. What God is Not
2. Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World
3. Pints With Aquinas
4. Shameless Popery
5. The Counsel of Trent

How many episodes of Light of the East are there?

Light of the East launched 12 years ago and published 832 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Light of the East?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Light of the East?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Light of the East from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Light of the East?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Light of the East. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Light of the East?

Recent guests on Light of the East include:

1. Bishop Robert Pippda
2. Peter Galadza
3. Monsignor Charles Pope
4. Abbot Nicholas Zechariadis
5. Kevin Matthews
6. Jack Fiegel
7. Fr. Bruce Reaby
8. Abbot Nicholas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days