About Us

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The Host

Jim Badeen, a member of the Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary in Livonia, hosts DOOR each and every week with a keen interest in the teachings and work of the Orthodox Church, as well as an enthusiasm for sharing it with all of us.

Having grown up as the son of an Orthodox Christian priest, Jim has been involved in the work and mission of the Church in various capacities throughout his life.  In the 1980s, he was an instrumental part of the Antiochian Christian Orthodox Radio Network (ACORN) -- a weekly show that at its peak was syndicated in 156 radio markets across North America and 17 countries worldwide.  He has brought that experience here to Detroit's Own Orthodox Radio, playing a large part in starting the program and serving as its host.

"Our parents came to these shores from many lands seeking a better life and, in doing so, brought with them the one true Faith of Orthodoxy," he says.  "Although we, their children, are the inheritors of their many different cultures, we stand together united in the one true Faith and in the freedom of this new nation that we all call our home."

In addition to his career in business, Jim dedicates part of his time to working with our veterans.  Himself retired from the United States Army, Jim has never forgotten the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, and continues to assist those in need of understanding and support after their active service has finished.

The Production Team

Detroit's Own Orthodox Radio is produced thanks to a committee of volunteers working under the auspices of The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches of Metropolitan Detroit, including advising and contributions from the St. John Chrysostom Clergy Brotherhood.

Committee members include...

  • Olga Liskiwskyi - Director
  • Jim Badeen - Executive Producer / Host / Segment Producer / Technical Engineer
  • Fr. Dimitrie Vincent - Spiritual Advisor / Clergy Liaison / Segment Producer
  • Fr. Dusan Koprivica - Segment Producer
  • Karen R. Todorov - Segment Producer
  • John E. Lazar - Segment Producer / Music
  • Tom Rosco - Website Editor

The committee may at times be in need of additional assistance.  If you have an interest and experience in radio production and would like to offer your volunteer services to DOOR, please email us at staff@DOORradio.org.

The Radio Station

DOOR is broadcast live in the Metropolitan Detroit area each Sunday evening on WNZK 690AM radio.  Known as "The Station of the Nations" since it began broadcasting in 1985, WNZK is home to many programs serving the Arabic and Eastern European community.

It is one of over 20 radio stations owned by Birach Broadcasting Corporation.  Thanks to Mr. Sima Birach, president and CEO, the Orthodox Christian community of Detroit again has the opportunity to share our message on the airwaves and live streaming on the internet.

A Short History of Orthodox Radio in Detroit

The first incarnation of an Orthodox Christian radio program in Detroit called “The Orthodox Hour” aired on WNZK from the late 1980s until 2001.  It was a one hour time-slot produced in cooperation with the Romanian Orthodox Deanery of Michigan.  The first half hour was dedicated to Romanian-language programming, while the second half was hosted by Fr. Leonte Copacia (and later Fr. Dusan Koprivica) in the English language.  The English segment was very much "pan-Orthodox" in content, appealing to the entire Orthodox Christian community of Metropolitan Detroit, as well as reaching out and evangelizing to non-Orthodox listeners.  The show was well received by listeners, but due to financial challenges the program ceased to be broadcast.

Aside from occasional radio efforts by local parishes, mostly in their particular foreign languages, there was no pan-Orthodox radio presence in Detroit for more than two decades.  Then, beginning in 2014, the efforts to produce a weekly broadcast were resurrected at the suggestion of Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, who had been involved with "The Orthodox Hour."  A group under the auspices of The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches of Metropolitan Detroit began meeting and making arrangements to bring the message of the Orthodox Church back to the Detroit airwaves...this time having the benefits of modern technologies such as live streaming and podcasting.

Having received the blessings of both Archbishop Nathaniel and His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas of The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit, Detroit's Own Orthodox Radio began broadcasting on Pentecost Sunday, 31 May 2015.  We pray that it will continue for many years to come!