A Little Bit of History....

iEcclesia was created in the summer of 2007, as a joint venture between the Departments of Youth and Internet Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada). As a member of the Metropolis Youth Board, Ms. Lia Karidas suggested the initial idea to create a podcast for the Metropolis Youth Department to minister to Orthodox youth and young adults of both Canada and abroad, along with the current iEcclesia logo and the original iEcclesia website.

Building upon this initial concept, Fr. Demetrios Koumarellas and Tim Prattas (the Directors of iEcclesia) set the wheels in motion and put together and prepared all aspects of the podcast and recorded the first podcast program at Prophet Elias Church in Missiassauga Ontario in early September 2007.

iEcclesia's premiere podcast program aired on Friday, September 14th, 2007.  Titled, "I'm Orthodox...Whatever," the first podcast program had host Lia Karidas sitting down with Fr. Peter Mentis, Subdeacon Costa Economos and Ms. Elaine Tsekouras, discussing what it is to be Orthodox in today's world. This show's would be the model on which iEcclesia would build its foundation on. Topics of future shows would be centred around the concerns and questions of Orthodox youth, dealing with issues such as inVitro Fertilization, Mixed Marriages, Philanthropy, Suicide, Evolution and many more.

Season Two began in August 2008 and built upon the success of season One. An innovation introduced this season was  telephone interviews, which makes it possible to conduct interviews with guests from all across the globe. Challenging topics this season included Death and Dying, Hauntings and Possessions, Giagiologies, Covenant Responsibility and Internet Pornography.

Over the span of two seasons, iEcclesia has had eight hosts. They include:

- Nick Asimenios (St. Nicholas Community - Toronto, Ontario)

- Costa Economos (St. George Cathedral - Vancouver, British Columbia)

- Eleni Kanavas (St. John the Theologian Church- Toronto, Ontario)

- Lia Karidas (Holy Trinity Community - London, Ontario)

- Tonya Konidis (St. Panteleimon Community - Markham, Ontario)

- Tim Prattas (St. Demetrios Church - Toronto, Ontario)

- Patricia Rakopoulos (Panagia Church - Toronto, Ontario)

- Rev. Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos (St. Demetrios - Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Through two seasons, forty-two guests have appeared on iEcclesia. They included both clergy and laity of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada) and other jurisdictions in Canada and the United States.

Season Three will continue on the successes of Season One and Two, with engaging guests and challenging topics.

Did you know?

There was a lot of discussion and ideas for choosing the name of the podcast program. Some initial ideas were "Frappe with the Fathers", iFaith, iChurch and a variety of others. It was Rev. Fr. Demetrios Koumarellas who suggested the current name "iEcclesia". The "i" stands for Internet, and Ecclesia means "Church" in Greek (Eκκλησία). So it is the Church which is ministered through the medium of the Internet. We glorify God to be able to minister to people in this unique way.

iEcclesia's opening theme music was created by Rev. Fr. Demetrios Koumarellas and Rev. Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos

The opening bells heard are from Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Mississauga, Ontario

The segway music was created by Rev. Fr. Demetrios Koumarellas

The Directors of iEcclesia take this opportunity to thank all the guests, hosts and dedicated listeners of iEcclesia who have been loyal to our program. It is our hope that this podcast helps shine the Light of Christ into the hearts of all people.

iEcclesia is... From Canada to the world!