Athon: Orthodox Bible

I really like this app so far. I like that a lot of things are available with the free version and it doesn’t require you to subscribe to access prayers like some other apps do which i feel is wrong. Beautiful interface, easy to use. HOWEVER- my only complaint is thd fact that it has an AI chat to ask questions and it’s just generally very AI heavy. I haven’t seen any AI icons in it at least. But I do feel this is inappropriate and could seriously misguide people. These are questions to be asked of spiritual fathers, general clergy or even godparents. Not soulless AI. We are called to be not of this world… asking artificial intelligence spiritual questions is exactly the opposite of that. Really wish they’d remove that aspect and it’d be an excellent app.

I’m fairly certain this entire app—all of the content, the images, the audio, and even the audio script—is generated by AI. Users have no idea who the people are behind the app, nor do we know who the speakers are in the audio lessons. Why? Because there’s no transparency, which leads me to be very suspicious of the person or persons behind the app. Everything about the app feels very generic, and the fact that they include an AI chatbot tells you everything you need to know about the app. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I can’t help but feel that this app is just a cash grab by some technobros who saw an opportunity to create an app for the Orthodox-curious by using LLMs to create all the content, with little if any input or guidance from the Church, Orthodox theologians, or Orthodox clergy. I paid for the premium version for a month to test it fully, and came away feeling that I’d been shortchanged. The bottom line is that no app or AI is a suitable replacement for Church membership and involvement, along with guidance from your local parish priest. Personally, I’d steer clear of this app, but that’s just my personal opinion. You’ll have to try it to see for yourself.

This app is amazing, offering the reminders for prayers access to the stories of the Saints being able to listen to him such as the Cherubic hymns along with the DailyReadings whenever a feast day is happening or a fast day or which saint we are commemorating on which day is amazing, this is one app that I am willing to pay for and contribute to, even though I’m not one who usually does that, but supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ, who go through the trouble to make an app like this, which looks amazing and has so many amazing features is something I’m willing to do especially after such an amazing job on this was done!