A Priest's Wife on Conversion, Homeschooling, & Biblical Femininity | Ascetic Life of Motherhood | Ep. 118
A Conversation with Khouria Destinie Winn
I paused our Occult to Orthodoxy series for a conversation that so many of you requested—and it did not disappoint.
I had the honor of sitting down with Khouria Destinie Winn, wife of Fr. David Winn, mother of four, and creator of Ascetic Life of Motherhood, to talk about what it really looks like to live an Orthodox Christian family life today.
We discussed her family’s journey into the Church, what it means to serve as a khouria, and the hidden sacrifices and quiet beauty of that calling. Khouria shared candidly about balancing motherhood, homeschooling, parish life, and content creation.
Homeschooling & Liturgical Living
One of the most requested topics was homeschooling. Khouria walks through her daily rhythm and the curriculum resources she loves, including:
• Charlotte Mason philosophy
• The Good and the Beautiful (math & language arts)
• Beautiful Feet Books (history & cultural studies)
• Treehouse Schoolhouse (nature studies)
• Her own liturgical living resources at Ascetic Life of Motherhood
What stood out most wasn’t just the structure, but the overall phronema. Teaching children that the Church calendar is not something we visit on Sundays, but something we live.
Women in the Orthodox Church
We also addressed a topic many women quietly wrestle with: What is my place in the Church?
Khouria beautifully explains how the Orthodox Church does not suppress women, but honors them through sacrificial love, spiritual strength, and the model of the Theotokos.
We even discussed veiling, and whether it still holds relevance today.
Preparing for Lent as a Family
As Lent approaches, Khouria shared how her family prepares beyond simply changing what’s on their plates. Prayer, repentance, simplicity, and increased participation in the services of the Church all become part of the family rhythm.
This episode is deeply practical, encouraging, and grounding—especially for mothers, catechumens, and women discerning their place in the life of the Church.
If you’ve ever wondered how to build an Orthodox home in a modern world, this conversation is for you.
You can listen to the full episode now on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
Listen & Subscribe:
🎙️ Podcast: Raised & Redeemed on Spotify
🎥 YouTube: Michaela Nikolaenko Channel
Coming Up Next
Coming up next: In the next episode, we will be returning to our Occult to Orthodoxy series, talking about the Orthodox Christian perspective on tarot, oracle, and angel cards.
