Father Stephen N. Siniari has launched a new Orthodox Christian fiction YouTube Channel called Stories Nobody Wants to Hear. This channel is a collection of fictional short stories about faith and everyday life in a Philadelphia neighborhood called Fishtown. Central to the stories are an Orthodox Christian Church called Saint Alexander the Whirling Dervish Parish and the Priest, Fr. Naum. A new story is available every Sunday after Liturgy
When asked why he is focusing on Orthodox fiction stories on YouTube, Father Stephen’s response was:
Our Master used parables to teach and so, it seemed good to use parables as a means to introduce Orthodoxy to an American audience who may or may not be in the Church.
Ancient Faith published the first of three volumes of short stories in 2020, called Big In Heaven, followed by Secret Turning in 2022, and Bread from Home in 2024.
A major Roman Catholic publisher offered to do volumes 4 and 5, but my wife, Margot, after much prayer and consideration advised me to establish a YouTube Channel to make the stories available to people at no cost. Listen to your wife!
The YouTube channel idea evolved organically over a period of time and seemed fitting for the next generation and the future of Orthodoxy.
Orthodox Reflections is very excited for this project. Most Orthodox podcasts are polemical. One or more hosts, and often some guests, sit in front of cameras while explaining, discussing, and/or debating topics related to the Orthodox Faith. This is effective ministry, as evidenced by all those inquirers showing up at our parishes every Sunday. However, there are more ways to reach people than just lecturing to them. On the Internet, Orthodox Christian fiction and poetry are in short supply. This is an historic anomaly, however, which needs to be corrected. If one looks at the totality of Orthodox Christian history, including the contents of the scriptures, it is readily apparent that fictional stories and poetry are at least equal to expository teaching in their importance. Even non-Christians know the stories of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. The Psalms are actually lyrical poems. Could everyone recite Psalm 23 if it had been written as an essay?
Humans need more than just facts. We need stories we can relate to. Stories that engage us. Stories that inspire us. An appreciation for fiction is engrained in us by Our Creator. Humans have always gathered to tell stories to each other. We need creative projects exactly like this one from Father Stephen to fully round out our Orthodox approach to evangelism and spiritual formation.
Below is one of the recent episodes. Here is the link to the channel. Please like, subscribe, and share. Below the video is a biography of Father Stephen and more about his books published through Ancient Faith.
Father Stephen Siniari and Ancient Faith Publishing
Father Stephen N. Siniari is a retired priest of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Diocese of the South, serving for nearly four decades in parishes across New England and the Philadelphia/South Jersey area. He is known for his deep commitment to pastoral ministry, especially in outreach to homeless, at-risk, and trafficked youth, often working full-time for an international agency while serving the Church. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he now lives on the Florida Gulf Coast with his wife of over fifty years, Margot.
Siniari’s literary work is published through Ancient Faith Publishing, a Christian publisher focused on Orthodox Christian themes. His short story collections—Big in Heaven, Secret Turning, and Bread from Home—are set in the fictional parish of St. Alexander the Whirling Dervish in Fishtown, Philadelphia.
In these works, the central character is Fr. Naum, a humble, compassionate priest who listens deeply to the people of the parish, many of whom are immigrants or from marginalized communities. The stories blend humor, sorrow, and spiritual insight, portraying real-life struggles such as addiction, loneliness, illness, and family conflict, while showing how God’s grace can shine even in the darkest moments.
The collections are praised for their sacramental realism—they avoid moralizing or irreverence, instead offering honest, human portraits of faith in an American Orthodox context. Characters include a Russian immigrant who made vestments for Dachau, an altar server with Down Syndrome who knows the liturgy by heart, and a woman defying her Orthodox family to marry a Roman Catholic.
Big in Heaven and Bread from Home are available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats through Ancient Faith Publishing, with bulk discounts for multiple copies. Together, these works form a “Siniari Collection” that offers a unique lens into the life of an American Orthodox parish and the priest who serves it.
