My first time attending divine liturgy during lent was so powerful. The beauty brought me to tears and confirmed everything that had brought me to the church.
@@Sara-rv3op Mar Mari is not Orthodox, he is a Schismatic Nestorian. As many good things as he says, he is not a legitimate Hierarch. Please find a Canonical Parish and a Spiritual Father.
Wait, you mean grabbing a coffee and a donut and being treated to a rock concert, light show and a sermon given by a dude wearing jeans and an earring telling me I’m going to heaven isn’t how it’s supposed to be?
To everyone struggling don’t worry if you don’t understand or feel it in your heart. Your previous way of life is disturbing your present. Keep pushing and God will arrange everything. God loves laborers. God bless!
Former evangelical here (and former worship leader on staff at a non-Denominational church). Now a catechumen in the Church. What a great point about the direction that the priest faces. I know that’s not the first time that I’ve heard about that or thought about that, but I guess the depth in which that was explored in this talk stood out to me. Thanks! I hope all you Protestants of various stripes will take this talk to heart. There’s a lot that is simply irrefutable historically and Biblically, and if your heart is open, I believe the points he made about our preferences being a driving factor in how modern “worship” is done will convict your heart. Let alone the points about a lack of asceticism and sacrifice in worship as well as everyday life. So thankful that the Lord opened my eyes and is bringing many others out of heterodoxy and into the true faith. Lord have mercy on us all.
Protestant here, and I definitely took it to heart. He’s got a gift for speaking in a way that isn’t confrontational, and it kept me quite open-minded to his message. He’s right. My Christianity has always been about the Holy Spirit, Christ, the word of God, and that direct connection. Everything I’ve always seen in the evangelical Church has freaked me out, grossed me out, and confused me. I’ve been completely unable to reconcile how these people even have the same faith that I do, given the way that they act and think. Especially politically. I finally feel some validation in all this, and don’t feel so alone.
Please pray for me I want to become an orthodox Christian but I’m really struggling 😭 I keep sinning and keep getting distracted but I love God and want to serve him and become orthodox soon 😭💓
We all keep sinning and getting distracted. It's what we do. The Orthodox Church is there to help with that... even though we continue to sin and be distracted. We are all sinners.
Prayers for you. There is more strength battling sin inside the Church than outside it. God's grace helps us sinners through the holy sacraments. Lord have mercy!
I was raised a baptist, IE mega churches etc. I am becoming Orthodox and the Divine Liturgy is the one time my entire life I felt I was participating in worship. That isn't to take away from the "praise" in protestant churches. It's entertaining and I do enjoy occasionally going to their concerts.
I feel the same, I'm not getting enough from my church. It is only an hour we go every Sunday but yet I watch all these orthodox churches and they praise God for 3 to 4hrs in 3 to 4 days in a row. My church has a band where the pastor drums, they play guitar there's organ, piano and singing. I am not saying it's bad but I feel praising God is more important.
I’m a catechumen. Went to my parents Baptist church for Mother’s Day.. yeah this is exactly the difference. There is no worship in their church. There is praise and teaching, but no worship. So different
So true. I’ve been a low church Protestant all of my life and you get used to approaching God very casually. So much so that you can understand the often vitriol response that we often see when Protestants see veneration of the saints, because it is much more reverent than even their own worship to God.
Thank you father.❤ We are following you, and fr. Josiah T, and fr. Petre H., and dr Jeanie C., etc, from Romania. We are so happy to see the work of God in the whole world. God bless you dear father, and dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
This is my favorite channel on UA-cam right now. I’m a Protestant, but I’ve learned and been blessed by so many of these videos. Thank you for your work and interviewing such great priests!
Raised an Evangelical minister's daughter, your message and divine leaning of understanding in regard to worship, - I'm grateful for finding. That last statement was incredibly powerful, wow. I yearn for bare bones real connection with Christ not only in my life, but worship. In this journey, even though it is pure spirituality - attending church - wise, I've turned to Catholicism over Protestantism. The Evangelical church is all so very pretentious and self-serving in many ways, I agree with these points. I think when the "Jesus rock " and movement started in the 1970's, they were trying to speak to the youth and draw them away from the destructive lifestyle and culture at that time, so it was with good intention - but it stuck, morphed into this ridiculousness. Can anyone guide me to the type of Orthodox church I should be seeking? Not sure where to start church-wise. In the St. Augustine, FL area.
Greek Orthodox Church or Russian orthodox will suffice. Google maps will work wonders! I’m in Melbourne Australia so no idea what’s there. I have been an orthodox Christian (from Islam) for 9 years now!! Glad you’re seeking the Orthodox Church. The only preserved church.
When I became interested in orthodoxy, I just did an online search and studied as much as I could before attending a liturgy. It was a bit intimidating at first going by myself and the service was overwhelming in a very beautiful way.
Some of the canonical Orthodox options are Russian (ROCOR), Antiochian, Orthodox Church of America, Greek… St Augustine has a beautiful little Orthodox shrine in the old part of town
I could never articulate in my mind the uneasiness I feel when I attend Protestant worship (in my case the Church of Christ and earlier Calvary Chapel, etal)… I’m beginning to realize, to understand, to come to grips that what I’m attending is not worship, but something else, something that just doesn’t seem right, true…
omgosh I’m wanting to go to that church and I was wondering how nice it is ? I’m trying to convert to orthodoxy and I’m nervous because I do not know if I’m allowed due to my skin color, I am African American and I know that it’s not common for me to come to orthodoxy, I am a teen and I rlly want to improve my relationship with Christ 💗 God bless !
@@alyssae2007 my children are biracial. I met my ex-husband at the Greek seminary in Boston so all my children are not white my ex-husband from Nigeria we have plenty of converted people as many different backgrounds at Saint Ann’s so come on down open to any type of discussion that you might need we’re starting a beginners class in two weeks on Sundays after church so if you’re interested in that, just go to the website and they’ll have details there it’s great. It may have the word Greek in it but it’s not 100% you won’t feel left out if you’re not not great I’m not Greek my kids are Greek, so come on down
I could listen to Father Zechariah speak all day. Sincere, honest, direct. Thank you for teaching us and weaving it all together at the end beautifully.
The Lord’s blessings upon you, father, for sharing these truths. As a Greek Orthodox I am so inspired by the blossoming of American Orthodoxy through God’s Grace. But not just inspired, I remain united in prayer and the ears of my soul open. You are a blessing to us. God bless America!
10:50 - I attend a parish under the Anglican Church in North America. The altar of the sacraments is against the wall, which faces east. The Priest consecrates the elements, also facing east. Before this, as he gives the homily, he faces us but does so standing off to the left. Those who read the scriptures of the day face us but stand off to the right.
Really impressed by the people you are interviewing. So dear and measured in what they say, they make a good case for Eastern Orthodoxy being the one true church. Thank you.
Knowing God has no need of my worship, I am so grateful for the Orthodox church for preserving true biblical worship as the worship I need. Rather than praise presented as worship, warped by wants, preferences, contemporary culture, etc.
I was raised reformed Presbyterian and the silence during our services and the singing of traditional hymns from scripture without instruments always seemed to push people away to the other more "upbeat" and modern protestant groups. However I always felt the need to maintain a sense of revererance and silence when approaching God. Not to be entertained and stimulated emotionally, but to make the experience about God and not myself. This is one of the things that has been intriguing me about Orthodoxy lately.
Father Zechariah God bless you! I am blessed to live in a country with lots of monasteries and holy places but it makes me so joyful to hear the word of Truth spreading in the states. It’s more needed than the air over there.
That last line about setting up golden calves instead of waiting for Moses & true revelation...wow. I have attended Protestant churches for most of my life, and even in the most conservative ones, some of the pastors and staff shared how much of a struggle it was to keep the sense of worship focused rather than appealing to pop culture trends.
I have seen other churches offer “traditional worship” at 9 AM and “modern worship“ at 11 AM. The best one was when I was in London a few years ago, and they were offering in the church of England “jazz vespers“. I thought that was really interesting.
The Church of England is an absolute joke! I went to one of their schools as a child and thats what a thought christianity was. Thankfully i have found true Christianity. Glory to God!
My takeaways from this, shhhhh, quiet time, listen...for the voice of God. All facing the east together including Priest to bring attention to God's worship and away from ourselves. Not here to be entertained. Teaching isn't worship. But teaching has a place. Our minds are fragmented so we're here to bring back unity of the mind. How is it that the original christians worshiped. Christian worship is the point. And a big boy howdy to the fact that it is the ego that is in my words the antithesis of true worship, of being closer to God in our heart of hearts. Ego being the I n the greek alphabet. Me, me, me world we live in is the opposite. Wow something to strive for here for sure.
I’m a Protestant. And this message is wonderful. I adore the reverence and authenticity of Orthodoxy. I sometimes feel completely alone in my faith because I see so many in the Protestant church who have zero clue about my perception of salvation and walking with Christ. This video gave me insight into the selfish and self-focused nature of Evangelicalism and it really explains a LOT about why these people act the way they do. It’s become a faith of “self” and not of humble reverence. It also explains a lot of the harsh political viewpoints and behaviors that don’t reflect the Holy Spirit in these people’s lives. To be frank, Protestantism is my home. But most of the Christian Nationalists that propagate it these days have made me disgusted and alone. It’s good to know that Orthodoxy exists. If evangelicals don’t stop supporting corrupt politicians, denying science, and screaming like angry lunatics about their freedom, I will leave the church entirely and seek out something more focused on Christ.
Please do a series on Western Rite Orthodoxy. The conversion of trad Catholics is the great missionary work of our time. The energy of groups like the SSPX is incredible. Just look at the massive church they built in St. Marys, Kansas. These people are organized, determined, and fruitful. They would be a tremendous asset for spreading Orthodoxy in the West. Imagine if we converted all the TLM Catholics to Western Rite Orthodoxy. We're talking about the crème de la crème of Western Christianity. The fact that trad Catholics have remained faithful to their tradition in spite of the Francis pontificate means they have innate immunity to modernism. The crises of post-Vatican II Catholicism has worked to sort & concentrate hardcore Catholics into just a couple of traditional orders like the SSPX, FSSP, ICKSP, etc. These groups are ripe for mass conversion to Orthodoxy.
My journey into holy Orthodoxy - began in an outstanding Western Rite parish in Beatlton, Virginia - Saint Patrick Orthodox Church. The parish is loving - and I do feel that Father Patrick Cardine would be an outstanding person to interview. @RootsOfOrthodoxy.
Father, I’d just like to say thank you. Genuinely I’d just like to thank you for your work and for what you put out. I am dealing with some issues right now and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it I am a cradle Protestant (Conservative Pentecostal). Have been a Protestant my whole life and never considered any other church until a really good friend of mine invited me to his Orthodox Church very shortly after his conversion. I accepted. I told my mom about this and she told me I need to research a little bit of the EO church so I don’t go in blind. That research has shown me that I want to be an EO Christian, I have accidentally found the true church and have a longing for it that is so strong, it makes me cry sometimes. I love the church with such intensity, that I cannot express it in words My mother saw this longing in me and realized what had happened in my heart. She believes that I am being deceived by the devil and that I can’t even talk to a priest in person about certain questions I had. Needless to say, I have not visited a parish despite agreeing to last December due to my mothers disapproval I am 18, I live with my parents, I am working on getting my license. My father does not know about my desire. My mother does not want me to go to a parish and calls my friend who invited me to the church a temptation from the devil. She doesn’t even want me to continue my research into EO anymore. I do not know what my father will think if I one day tell him that I’m going to the local parish. I do not want to worry but I can’t help but do so. I have told God that I’m willing to follow His call even if it means doing something my parents are against because God is my Heavenly Father and His will for me is more perfect than my biological parents will Any advice for me is much needed. I don’t know what to do in such situations, I don’t know how. Maybe it all just needs to be done naturally, go with the flow as they say. Is it wrong that I desire something my parents don’t want for me? This is the first time I’m trying to reach out for support and advice from a priest, but anyone else is also welcome to help me understand what could be done in the situation. My parents are very loving, but my mom thinks that EO is a cult and I don’t know what my father thinks of it
I’d also like to add that more and more I realize that God wants me in the EO parish. I asked Him recently what worship was, and suddenly all these different videos talking about worship and how it’s not just singing like in the Protestant sense started coming up. I had questions that were going long unanswered, but when I continued to pray about them, either Catholic or Orthodox apologists would pop up on my YT feed and answer them. Protestantism, in my opinion, is clearly not giving me the answers I need and I keep finding truths in the two older churches, even if one of them is Catholicism (I do like their videos on topics like icon veneration and things like that)
@@stallelio376 God works in his own time. Patience is needed. At 18, you are of legal age to do whatever you want, but it may just be the right thing to wait, study, pray, and wait for God to provide the path for you to do what he wants for you. Your mother told you to research a bit of Orthodoxy before going. You did as she told you, and maybe it would be good for your mother to do the same, from Orthodox sources and not from those that are not Orthodox. God works his way, not our way. Simply pray and wait for God. You will be guided.
@@OrthoBrit thank you, I did study orthodoxy for a time, roughly 4 months, but now my mother asked me to stop my research and told me that while I’m under her roof, I can’t do whatever I want to but rather have to respect her authority. And I understand that, it’s just hard for me because I’ve really fallen in love with the church and want to dive into her teachings. I know that someday I will be able to attend a Divine Liturgy and bask in the beauty of Christs bride, I can’t wait for that moment. But I guess that also is my downfall, is a lack of patience I’ll keep praying about it, thank you for your advice, please pray for me. I’m in need of it currently. And please pray for my mom as well. She claims to have studied EO and looked into it, but it’s hard to believe that she did so seriously when she also claims that the chants originated from witchcraft, and that correct and fuller theology is a temptation from the devil, and all sorts of weird ideas like how we shouldn’t strive for a saintly life or how we shouldn’t struggle as Christians etc etc... I can’t have a decent conversation with her about serious topics like these because she has a certain mindset that’s hard to change. She makes assumptions and assertions without anything to back them up and doesn’t want to listen to what I have to say. Apart from that I have a wonderful relationship with her and love her deeply, I just can’t have conversations about anything she passionately disagrees with. And so it’s a tough spot, but I know it’s going to be okay in the end. May Gods will be done, peace be with you
Love is God,and God is love.Pray for your family and pray to God to take over your life.There will be temptations from all sides of your life,and it is a normal thing for christian.Pray in secret: Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me. When you don't have hope any more, Christ will come to you.That is the moment in life we all seek for.Love you son and pray for you....MFS
@@jojanajojanovic678 I agree with the sentiment of your message, just think it should be pointed out that love is not God. God is most certainly love, but to switch these around can lead to all sorts of wickedness and evil which is an abomination to the true God (like fornication and sexual immorality etc).
Almighty God, You are a living God whose testimony is reliable. As such, You teach us that You are a Father who wants to be reconciled with Man, through His eternal Son, Jesus Christ, by means of faith in Him, inspired by Your Holy Spirit. May the assurance of our faith always rest on the Trinitarian nature of your being and salvation, so that, firmly anchored in you, we may attain the eternal life you have promised since the dawn of time. We humbly ask this of You, through the same Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Do you believe that every non-orthodox church does those things? That’s a bit like saying all white people are racist. Perhaps asking questions is a better approach.
Thank you for noticing how the protestants then Roman Catholics turned their backs to God instead of facing Him, making church more of an entertainment and human focus than a focus on God...one of the MANY basic problems that have been destroy those heterodoxies.
TOMORROW’S FEARS - Lili Tomorrow when you wake again and find the world’s still here With all the zest of yesterday to sadden or to cheer There was no massive holocaust, no dead raised from the ground His promise to float you up, journey to your trials Will have to wait another day, trepidation all unfound. And when this happens every day throughout the years to come Will your faith grow stronger or will the doubts creep in? No planning for the future here or there, your life embroiled in sin For if he only takes the perfect, whose life on Earth was pure What of the human aspect, into the fire succumb. The holy ones judge each other, before the judgment day From the pulpit condemn, decry, their fellow travelers as impure The Judges of the Judges before the Earth implodes And everyone made to account, the strongest voice not sure A life of prayer gone all to waste, as confidence corrodes. Why worry of a future bleak, why think of future fears For if you try to change your fate, the world goes on unheeded There’ll be no Tribulation, Man’s destruction his own doing No God above, no day in Court, no casting out, all regrets unneeded Why worry of the rantings of those who think they know Of Spirits of the Underworld, pain and bliss, imaginations flow. Just take what comes, tell your God of hate Your life is not for him, your only life is yours So be it if you shun control, he won’t control your fate Your life on Earth is not to live with fear and shame and guilt The guilt is his, he made the snake, he cannot now berate Berate us for being human, Why then the potters hand did shake?
I was raised Southern Baptist in the 60’s. Sermons were: greeting, prayer, announcements, prayer, hymns, prayer, offering, sermon, prayer, altar call, dismissal. I never really knew what “worship” is until I visited an Orthodox Church recently. It’s so different and definitely worship rather than teaching or entertainment. Focused on God and not on me. To say, “I don’t really know what “worship ship is”, would be accurate. That is probably why Protestants think the Orthodox worship the Holy Mother Mary and the Saints. They don’t know the difference between worship and veneration and teaching and singing hymns. I’m lost and in-between now and don’t know when to say “us” or “them”. I have visited the Antiochian Orthodox Church 3 times They don’t speak much English but I can read the projection during the Services, though, and many hours in YT and Patristic Nectar. I will have to speak with the Priest soon about this.
I’ll tell you what it looks like. It’s silent. The only sound is the tears from the face of a sinner saved by grace. And you’ll be on your knees like in the mass asking God to have mercy on you.
AsI have grown older and matured in Christ I have come to the opinion that what you see what is called worship in most Western churches is anything but. I believe what you see in Elevation, Hillsong, most large churches is not worship, entertainment, yes, worship, no. But it dies not draw the majority of the congegation into singing to the Lord. Most folks in fact are barely moving their lips
I always had a hard time explaining this to people. I thank God I found a profound answer. I have always been taught that Music in general influences fame, lust and pride for the artists and this is why we should acknowledge it as a temptation and weakness. On another note the popularity of musical lyrics that portray Satan closer to the opposite to our literary and therefore is Satanic. Please correct me if I am wrong. I enjoyed how delicately Farther said this.
The closest Orthodox Church to us is 2 hours away. 😭 We don’t know what to do. We want to know more, to attend, to learn. But how? (besides watching on UA-cam.) We want to be involved.
I guess you could contact a priest in that closest Orthodox church (as long as it's not Coptic one) and ask what to do. I bet you are not the only ones with this struggle, and therefore the priest probably knows how to help you - if nothing else, he likely would recommend some good books to read... But I know some people who are seriously driving for 1-2 hours in order to go to church and attend the divine liturgy once in a month (and that driving time they spend in prayer). If you are able to sacrifice your time and money for travelling, I don't see why you couldn't visit the church closest to you once in a while.
Firstly, not all Orthodox churches are easy to find with Google. Try searching using other keywords, like "parish", "monastery", "mission". You can also contact parishes in your state and ask if they know of any place closer. That being said, 2hrs. Is not that bad. I have driven nearly an hour and a half to services regularly. It is expensive, but, thank God, we have been able to prioritize this expense over others. Even if you could make the trip once per month, it woukd be worthwhile. My priest catechised me by phone. Knock, and God will open doors!
Very well expressed....but look, the Good Shepherd rounds us up and brings us home into His pen(the Church)...why should we feel the need to apologise to those who are still wandering in the wilderness, either accidently or willfully? If anyone truly yearns to worship Christ, they will come to realise where He is and where He isn't. 🙏☦️♥️
Our choirs are not perfect, lol. There’s your joyful noise! David’s worship was described in the Scriptures, not prescribed as a “how to worship” text. Peace. ❤️☦️
If Fr. Zechariah had this talk with Martin Luther or Thomas Cramner, I wonder how much their Faith Model would have changed. I feel that would have changed a lot! Christ Is Risen!
Ive run into an issue. I love the liturgy but i dont like many of the lay people that surround me during liturgy. So i find ill show up for orthos but leave shortly after liturgy starts... any advice on dealing with my dislike of lay people around me??
When a sick man walks into a hospital, does he care about the sickness of the other patients and grumbles about their presence at the hospital, or he cares about his own illness and thinks about as to how to get fixed his own problem only.?
@@abrahamkassis3138 Message is - mind your own spiritual sickness brother. We are all spiritual patients and in need of cure. Focus on prayers and services. Cheers.!
This guy is awesome. And I seen the conference he's talking about, that didn't appear to be Christ like at all. And I'm glad the guy spoke out, he took a lot of heat for it, but Christ would have spoken out against it also I'm certain. Protestants have lost their way for sure. Ex southern Baptist here and I became atheist because the Protestant church
Listen closely everyone.. he’s explaining what WORSHIP is and is not. He’s not necessarily condemning a certain practice of your church - there’s a time and place for some of those things. But are they WORSHIP? Or just praise and teaching?
I never liked to participate in Protestant worship. To the point the priest mocked people who did not dance or raise their hands with the church when it was time to sing. I just never felt it and maybe this is the reason why. I questioned wether I was a bad Christian because I didn’t want to “act out” or have that spontaneous moment of feeling the Holy Spirit and scream out during the singing. I thought maybe I’m just not a good worshipper. And Maybe I can worship him better by just reading the Bible. Maybe I’ve never really worship God properly in the first place.
Seek orthodoxy my friend, it provides the right context to everything and all will fall into place. Find a spiritual father who can guide you through it, and get an orthodox study bible.
I really wish that orthodox videos and comments would be interested in whether or not non-orthodox worship services are just “entertainment. I don’t have entertainment at my church, yet we have a TEAM of musicians and singers (being derided as a “rock band”.) True, SOME churches are over the line but that is certainly not ALL. There is a great deal of over generalization here.
I saw another preiest say that modern church diesnt appeal to men because it placates to female persuasion ie the music, the lights, the show, the feelings and emotions etc
Dear father Zechariah please as you can let women and men wear the clothes properly when they attend liturgy or coming to church like Ethiopia orthodox
Some people are seriously missing the point that David invented new instruments for worship according to Amos, and the context means that this is a pleasing thing to the Lord WHEN your heart is in it. He played the Lyre to drive out the spirit from Saul, and the demon fled because his music was worship. Psalms says to “praise God with cymbals; praise God with clanging cymbals.” Even the passage he quotes in Revelation 4 actually has instruments. It never says they don’t use the harps that it says they specifically have! Worship is from the heart, and when I bow down or lift my hands it is because I am overcome with the truth of the words of our songs. I cry tears of joy routinely at Christian music, whether it be hiphop (i.e. J. monty’s song Augustus Gloop which has one line that always makes me so grateful) or rock (Oly’s song Vapor or Fraction’s song Dawning Light) or hymns (We Praise Thee). To praise God with instruments is biblical, and it is good, and I love hymns and chants! I want to attend a divine liturgy, as I have been researching Eastern Orthodoxy for months now (although the second council of Nicaea leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth), and I listen to EO hymns often in worship; but this protestant slander must end just as equally as protestants must stop being so rude to Eastern Orthodox Christians. My church has worship that kinda sounds terrible, but it makes me love Christ all the more to see people giving their all with their instruments and vocals. Christ is present within his church and humility is the key to understanding that, “he who is not against us is for us.” I do agree that worship shouldn’t be at the front facing me, though.
There is a difference in enjoying time lifting up your voice, shouting, singing a new song, and playing any instrument listed in the Bible, versus the moments that we are just in worship together, which must be OF ONE ACCORD, as stated in the book of Acts, especially. To your point on cymbals, several times during divine liturgy, large bells are struck with a hammer.
You make very good points in your post. All music should in it's own way be praise to God. We praise God when we gather together in a home and sing Christmas carols. We praise God in all we do (or we should be), and as Paul says "pray constantly". This video, however, is not talking about praise. It is about worship.
I agree with stopping the bashing. Regarding music, the problem is that Protestant denominations didn't develop a music style which helps them worship properly. If you check Orthodox Church or Catholic Church (more traditional ones) you can notice that there are some specific styles for worship. It is a melody developed by the Church which helps you getting closer to God. As much as is appreciated the efforts of Protestants to worship God properly, they don't have the tools for it. Even a great song may not be appropriate for worshipping because it may touch you more on an emotional level and not on a spiritual level.
Apostle Paul says: we have ONE Lord, ONE Faith & ONE Baptism!!! People made HIM many. Do not try to divide Christianity PLEASE Christianity is a spectrum of understanding even among clergy…
David worshipped jumping and dancing almost nude. I guess the "man after His own heart" was sinning. Thankfully, I don't judge how a person worships. One may worship in peace and quiet, another worships singing and dancing. The individual gets to decide how they choose to worship when lead by the Spirit. Besides, if I'm there looking at what others are doing, I should ask myself, why am I even here? Is it to worship God or look at others and determine if they are "truly worshipping" God according to my standards.
Oldest known Holy Liturgies were written by St. Mark and St. James. Are you saying they did not know as to how worship God.? Or perhaps, your majesty knows better.?
@techdivaful Worship is done anywhere at any time. Do you believe God only honored worship in the synagogue? Did worship only matter to God as long as it was in the synagogue? Did God command worship to be done only in the synagogue?
@@sbaker8971 go ahead and run around dancing naked if you want to but there is no example of it being done within God's house where we are told tondo all things in decency and in order. I'll be keeping to modesty and a quiet spirit in church.
(Acts 20, 7) "Now ON THE FIRST DAY of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread..." (1 Cor 16, 2) "ON THE FIRST DAY of the week let each one of you lay something aside..."
Pardon, Fr but 'sacralizing' the posture of the priest turning his back on the congregation in worship, seems rather like 'sacralizing' archaic Latin in the traditionalist Roman Catholic congregations and seminaries. It is possible, and does happen, with Protestants that facing the congregation can be 'sacred' worship. Fr apparently has never attended worship in many working class Black congregations calling for and turning in repentance and reconciliation, and/or marching out into the community singing praises to God to confront racism by stirring up faith. Jesus would certainly approve this as 'worship'.
All these things can be good and have a place, but that doesn't make them worship. Words have meanings and you cannot just change them to mean whatever you want.
Oldest known Holy Liturgies were written by St. Mark and St. James. Are you saying they did not know as to how worship God.? Or perhaps, your majesty knows better.?
My first time attending divine liturgy during lent was so powerful. The beauty brought me to tears and confirmed everything that had brought me to the church.
Amen
Congratulations! I am on the same boat as I have been looking into Orthodox Church recently. Have you heard of Father Mar Mari?
@@Sara-rv3op
Mar Mari is not Orthodox, he is a Schismatic Nestorian.
As many good things as he says, he is not a legitimate Hierarch.
Please find a Canonical Parish and a Spiritual Father.
Wait, you mean grabbing a coffee and a donut and being treated to a rock concert, light show and a sermon given by a dude wearing jeans and an earring telling me I’m going to heaven isn’t how it’s supposed to be?
😄
😂😂😂
Correct
Even Protestants from 50 years ago would cringe at such gaudiness.
You DO know that’s not the entirety of non-orthodox believers. PLEASE, acknowledge that.
To everyone struggling don’t worry if you don’t understand or feel it in your heart. Your previous way of life is disturbing your present. Keep pushing and God will arrange everything. God loves laborers. God bless!
"In Orthodoxy, we're not going to entertain you. That's not the point."... Amen!
Former evangelical here (and former worship leader on staff at a non-Denominational church). Now a catechumen in the Church. What a great point about the direction that the priest faces. I know that’s not the first time that I’ve heard about that or thought about that, but I guess the depth in which that was explored in this talk stood out to me. Thanks!
I hope all you Protestants of various stripes will take this talk to heart. There’s a lot that is simply irrefutable historically and Biblically, and if your heart is open, I believe the points he made about our preferences being a driving factor in how modern “worship” is done will convict your heart. Let alone the points about a lack of asceticism and sacrifice in worship as well as everyday life.
So thankful that the Lord opened my eyes and is bringing many others out of heterodoxy and into the true faith. Lord have mercy on us all.
God bless you on your journey into Holy Orthodoxy. Glory to God!
Protestant here, and I definitely took it to heart. He’s got a gift for speaking in a way that isn’t confrontational, and it kept me quite open-minded to his message. He’s right. My Christianity has always been about the Holy Spirit, Christ, the word of God, and that direct connection. Everything I’ve always seen in the evangelical Church has freaked me out, grossed me out, and confused me. I’ve been completely unable to reconcile how these people even have the same faith that I do, given the way that they act and think. Especially politically. I finally feel some validation in all this, and don’t feel so alone.
Glory to The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son Of God, Have Mercy On Me, A Sinner ☦️
God bless Father Zechariah☦️
Please pray for me I want to become an orthodox Christian but I’m really struggling 😭 I keep sinning and keep getting distracted but I love God and want to serve him and become orthodox soon 😭💓
I’ve had a similar problem. But remember that the Church is a hospital for the sick not a gathering of the pure
We all keep sinning and getting distracted. It's what we do. The Orthodox Church is there to help with that... even though we continue to sin and be distracted. We are all sinners.
Always knew that the Orthodox Church is a come as you are church. But it's not a stay a you are church. This is the time for you to come.
Prayers for you. There is more strength battling sin inside the Church than outside it. God's grace helps us sinners through the holy sacraments. Lord have mercy!
Brother or sister, orthodoxy is the path not the destination. ❤️ If you are touched by Orthodoxy, do come home. Praying for you.
I was raised a baptist, IE mega churches etc. I am becoming Orthodox and the Divine Liturgy is the one time my entire life I felt I was participating in worship. That isn't to take away from the "praise" in protestant churches. It's entertaining and I do enjoy occasionally going to their concerts.
Συγκρητιζμος.
I feel the same, I'm not getting enough from my church. It is only an hour we go every Sunday but yet I watch all these orthodox churches and they praise God for 3 to 4hrs in 3 to 4 days in a row. My church has a band where the pastor drums, they play guitar there's organ, piano and singing. I am not saying it's bad but I feel praising God is more important.
I’m a catechumen. Went to my parents Baptist church for Mother’s Day.. yeah this is exactly the difference. There is no worship in their church. There is praise and teaching, but no worship. So different
So true. I’ve been a low church Protestant all of my life and you get used to approaching God very casually. So much so that you can understand the often vitriol response that we often see when Protestants see veneration of the saints, because it is much more reverent than even their own worship to God.
👍🏽
Thank you father.❤ We are following you, and fr. Josiah T, and fr. Petre H., and dr Jeanie C., etc, from Romania. We are so happy to see the work of God in the whole world. God bless you dear father, and dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Glory to God. Thank you Father. Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
Great sermon Father.
This is my favorite channel on UA-cam right now. I’m a Protestant, but I’ve learned and been blessed by so many of these videos. Thank you for your work and interviewing such great priests!
Check out Harmony as well
This man is putting words to what I have been feeling and sensing in my prayers for some time now. 🙏🏽
Raised an Evangelical minister's daughter, your message and divine leaning of understanding in regard to worship, - I'm grateful for finding. That last statement was incredibly powerful, wow. I yearn for bare bones real connection with Christ not only in my life, but worship. In this journey, even though it is pure spirituality - attending church - wise, I've turned to Catholicism over Protestantism. The Evangelical church is all so very pretentious and self-serving in many ways, I agree with these points. I think when the "Jesus rock " and movement started in the 1970's, they were trying to speak to the youth and draw them away from the destructive lifestyle and culture at that time, so it was with good intention - but it stuck, morphed into this ridiculousness. Can anyone guide me to the type of Orthodox church I should be seeking? Not sure where to start church-wise. In the St. Augustine, FL area.
Greek Orthodox Church or Russian orthodox will suffice. Google maps will work wonders! I’m in Melbourne Australia so no idea what’s there. I have been an orthodox Christian (from Islam) for 9 years now!! Glad you’re seeking the Orthodox Church. The only preserved church.
When I became interested in orthodoxy, I just did an online search and studied as much as I could before attending a liturgy. It was a bit intimidating at first going by myself and the service was overwhelming in a very beautiful way.
Some of the canonical Orthodox options are Russian (ROCOR), Antiochian, Orthodox Church of America, Greek… St Augustine has a beautiful little Orthodox shrine in the old part of town
What an amazing man and an amazing humbling message. Thank you.
I could never articulate in my mind the uneasiness I feel when I attend Protestant worship (in my case the Church of Christ and earlier Calvary Chapel, etal)… I’m beginning to realize, to understand, to come to grips that what I’m attending is not worship, but something else, something that just doesn’t seem right, true…
Hey hey from Folsom CA! We go to Saint Anna’s in Roseville CA
Hey, I go to St Anna's in Utah! I believe we just hosted your priest a few weeks back!
I have been there, Fr Christopher is a wonderful man!
omgosh I’m wanting to go to that church and I was wondering how nice it is ? I’m trying to convert to orthodoxy and I’m nervous because I do not know if I’m allowed due to my skin color, I am African American and I know that it’s not common for me to come to orthodoxy, I am a teen and I rlly want to improve my relationship with Christ 💗 God bless !
@@alyssae2007 my children are biracial. I met my ex-husband at the Greek seminary in Boston so all my children are not white my ex-husband from Nigeria we have plenty of converted people as many different backgrounds at Saint Ann’s so come on down open to any type of discussion that you might need we’re starting a beginners class in two weeks on Sundays after church so if you’re interested in that, just go to the website and they’ll have details there it’s great. It may have the word Greek in it but it’s not 100% you won’t feel left out if you’re not not great I’m not Greek my kids are Greek, so come on down
Just went to like the video half way in only to realize I liked it after like the first minute. 😂 God bless you and grant you many years Fr!
I could listen to Father Zechariah speak all day. Sincere, honest, direct. Thank you for teaching us and weaving it all together at the end beautifully.
All Glory to Christ
Cristo Resucitó
Verdaderamente resucitó ☦️🙏🏻
Amén
The Lord’s blessings upon you, father, for sharing these truths. As a Greek Orthodox I am so inspired by the blossoming of American Orthodoxy through God’s Grace. But not just inspired, I remain united in prayer and the ears of my soul open. You are a blessing to us. God bless America!
Χριστός Ανέστη αδερφέ.Ξερεις μήπως τον Νικόλαο Κατουνακιώτη από το Καζακστάν;
Thank you so much. I was left speechless and I know this is truth.
Christ is Risen! XB! Thank you Fr. Zechariah for your wisdom, grace & love for Christ. God bless you and your family ☦☦☦
You passion makes me want to attend an Orthodox Christian Church.
Christ has invited you to the Table
10:50 - I attend a parish under the Anglican Church in North America. The altar of the sacraments is against the wall, which faces east. The Priest consecrates the elements, also facing east. Before this, as he gives the homily, he faces us but does so standing off to the left. Those who read the scriptures of the day face us but stand off to the right.
God bless you Father and God bless you Roots of Orthodoxy!
🌹🌿❤
Really impressed by the people you are interviewing. So dear and measured in what they say, they make a good case for Eastern Orthodoxy being the one true church. Thank you.
❤✝ CHRIST IS RISEN ✝❤
❤💪🙏✝ GOD BE WITH US AGAINST EVIL AND TEMPTATIONS ✝🙏🕊✌
Indeed he has risen☦️
God bless you and Ortodoxy happy day off Saint Nicholas I wish you a good health and lots of Happiness in your life ❤
Thanks!
Thank you! God bless
Knowing God has no need of my worship, I am so grateful for the Orthodox church for preserving true biblical worship as the worship I need. Rather than praise presented as worship, warped by wants, preferences, contemporary culture, etc.
I was raised reformed Presbyterian and the silence during our services and the singing of traditional hymns from scripture without instruments always seemed to push people away to the other more "upbeat" and modern protestant groups. However I always felt the need to maintain a sense of revererance and silence when approaching God. Not to be entertained and stimulated emotionally, but to make the experience about God and not myself. This is one of the things that has been intriguing me about Orthodoxy lately.
Beautifully explained!
Excellent! Words of a wise man. God bless you.
Father Zechariah God bless you! I am blessed to live in a country with lots of monasteries and holy places but it makes me so joyful to hear the word of Truth spreading in the states. It’s more needed than the air over there.
This is so powerful I’m watching it straight through again
So pleased with this. Thank you for helping us.
As a Protestant, I really appreciated this. Fr Zechariah is describing the Regulative Principle of worship.
Thank you for this, Father.
That last line about setting up golden calves instead of waiting for Moses & true revelation...wow.
I have attended Protestant churches for most of my life, and even in the most conservative ones, some of the pastors and staff shared how much of a struggle it was to keep the sense of worship focused rather than appealing to pop culture trends.
Thank you Father. Please pray for us
I have seen other churches offer “traditional worship” at 9 AM and “modern worship“ at 11 AM.
The best one was when I was in London a few years ago, and they were offering in the church of England “jazz vespers“. I thought that was really interesting.
Sounds like the COE, coming up with new ways to make a mockery of the faith at every turn.
The Church of England is an absolute joke! I went to one of their schools as a child and thats what a thought christianity was. Thankfully i have found true Christianity. Glory to God!
its not mockery bruh @neivo1714
@@neivo1714yup avoiding the COE, any form of new modern worship mockery. I’m looking into orthodoxy
Wow, stumbled on this word. Thank you thank you thank you. You spoke what I feel and what I am searching for. Beautifully spoken. Thank you.
If Fr. Zechariah were to hear that he would say, “Thank God.” I guarantee you.
CHRIST IS RISEN ☦️☦️☦️
Superbly expressed!
Glory to God ☦️
My takeaways from this, shhhhh, quiet time, listen...for the voice of God. All facing the east together including Priest to bring attention to God's worship and away from ourselves. Not here to be entertained. Teaching isn't worship. But teaching has a place. Our minds are fragmented so we're here to bring back unity of the mind. How is it that the original christians worshiped. Christian worship is the point. And a big boy howdy to the fact that it is the ego that is in my words the antithesis of true worship, of being closer to God in our heart of hearts. Ego being the I n the greek alphabet. Me, me, me world we live in is the opposite. Wow something to strive for here for sure.
May your days be long, Father.
Thank you Father.
I’m a Protestant. And this message is wonderful. I adore the reverence and authenticity of Orthodoxy. I sometimes feel completely alone in my faith because I see so many in the Protestant church who have zero clue about my perception of salvation and walking with Christ. This video gave me insight into the selfish and self-focused nature of Evangelicalism and it really explains a LOT about why these people act the way they do. It’s become a faith of “self” and not of humble reverence. It also explains a lot of the harsh political viewpoints and behaviors that don’t reflect the Holy Spirit in these people’s lives. To be frank, Protestantism is my home. But most of the Christian Nationalists that propagate it these days have made me disgusted and alone. It’s good to know that Orthodoxy exists. If evangelicals don’t stop supporting corrupt politicians, denying science, and screaming like angry lunatics about their freedom, I will leave the church entirely and seek out something more focused on Christ.
Walk into a local EO parish and give it a try. Simple.
As Catholic I completely agree with you Fr. Zechariah.
What the Western World has done to Christianity is sad.
CHRIST is risen ❤
Please do a series on Western Rite Orthodoxy. The conversion of trad Catholics is the great missionary work of our time. The energy of groups like the SSPX is incredible. Just look at the massive church they built in St. Marys, Kansas. These people are organized, determined, and fruitful. They would be a tremendous asset for spreading Orthodoxy in the West. Imagine if we converted all the TLM Catholics to Western Rite Orthodoxy. We're talking about the crème de la crème of Western Christianity. The fact that trad Catholics have remained faithful to their tradition in spite of the Francis pontificate means they have innate immunity to modernism. The crises of post-Vatican II Catholicism has worked to sort & concentrate hardcore Catholics into just a couple of traditional orders like the SSPX, FSSP, ICKSP, etc. These groups are ripe for mass conversion to Orthodoxy.
My journey into holy Orthodoxy - began in an outstanding Western Rite parish in Beatlton, Virginia - Saint Patrick Orthodox Church. The parish is loving - and I do feel that Father Patrick Cardine would be an outstanding person to interview. @RootsOfOrthodoxy.
Father, I’d just like to say thank you. Genuinely I’d just like to thank you for your work and for what you put out. I am dealing with some issues right now and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it
I am a cradle Protestant (Conservative Pentecostal). Have been a Protestant my whole life and never considered any other church until a really good friend of mine invited me to his Orthodox Church very shortly after his conversion. I accepted. I told my mom about this and she told me I need to research a little bit of the EO church so I don’t go in blind. That research has shown me that I want to be an EO Christian, I have accidentally found the true church and have a longing for it that is so strong, it makes me cry sometimes. I love the church with such intensity, that I cannot express it in words
My mother saw this longing in me and realized what had happened in my heart. She believes that I am being deceived by the devil and that I can’t even talk to a priest in person about certain questions I had. Needless to say, I have not visited a parish despite agreeing to last December due to my mothers disapproval
I am 18, I live with my parents, I am working on getting my license. My father does not know about my desire. My mother does not want me to go to a parish and calls my friend who invited me to the church a temptation from the devil. She doesn’t even want me to continue my research into EO anymore. I do not know what my father will think if I one day tell him that I’m going to the local parish. I do not want to worry but I can’t help but do so. I have told God that I’m willing to follow His call even if it means doing something my parents are against because God is my Heavenly Father and His will for me is more perfect than my biological parents will
Any advice for me is much needed. I don’t know what to do in such situations, I don’t know how. Maybe it all just needs to be done naturally, go with the flow as they say. Is it wrong that I desire something my parents don’t want for me? This is the first time I’m trying to reach out for support and advice from a priest, but anyone else is also welcome to help me understand what could be done in the situation. My parents are very loving, but my mom thinks that EO is a cult and I don’t know what my father thinks of it
I’d also like to add that more and more I realize that God wants me in the EO parish. I asked Him recently what worship was, and suddenly all these different videos talking about worship and how it’s not just singing like in the Protestant sense started coming up. I had questions that were going long unanswered, but when I continued to pray about them, either Catholic or Orthodox apologists would pop up on my YT feed and answer them. Protestantism, in my opinion, is clearly not giving me the answers I need and I keep finding truths in the two older churches, even if one of them is Catholicism (I do like their videos on topics like icon veneration and things like that)
@@stallelio376 God works in his own time. Patience is needed.
At 18, you are of legal age to do whatever you want, but it may just be the right thing to wait, study, pray, and wait for God to provide the path for you to do what he wants for you.
Your mother told you to research a bit of Orthodoxy before going. You did as she told you, and maybe it would be good for your mother to do the same, from Orthodox sources and not from those that are not Orthodox.
God works his way, not our way. Simply pray and wait for God. You will be guided.
@@OrthoBrit thank you, I did study orthodoxy for a time, roughly 4 months, but now my mother asked me to stop my research and told me that while I’m under her roof, I can’t do whatever I want to but rather have to respect her authority. And I understand that, it’s just hard for me because I’ve really fallen in love with the church and want to dive into her teachings. I know that someday I will be able to attend a Divine Liturgy and bask in the beauty of Christs bride, I can’t wait for that moment. But I guess that also is my downfall, is a lack of patience
I’ll keep praying about it, thank you for your advice, please pray for me. I’m in need of it currently. And please pray for my mom as well. She claims to have studied EO and looked into it, but it’s hard to believe that she did so seriously when she also claims that the chants originated from witchcraft, and that correct and fuller theology is a temptation from the devil, and all sorts of weird ideas like how we shouldn’t strive for a saintly life or how we shouldn’t struggle as Christians etc etc...
I can’t have a decent conversation with her about serious topics like these because she has a certain mindset that’s hard to change. She makes assumptions and assertions without anything to back them up and doesn’t want to listen to what I have to say. Apart from that I have a wonderful relationship with her and love her deeply, I just can’t have conversations about anything she passionately disagrees with. And so it’s a tough spot, but I know it’s going to be okay in the end. May Gods will be done, peace be with you
Love is God,and God is love.Pray for your family and pray to God to take over your life.There will be temptations from all sides of your life,and it is a normal thing for christian.Pray in secret: Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me. When you don't have hope any more, Christ will come to you.That is the moment in life we all seek for.Love you son and pray for you....MFS
@@jojanajojanovic678 I agree with the sentiment of your message, just think it should be pointed out that love is not God. God is most certainly love, but to switch these around can lead to all sorts of wickedness and evil which is an abomination to the true God (like fornication and sexual immorality etc).
Almighty God, You are a living God whose testimony is reliable. As such, You teach us that You are a Father who wants to be reconciled with Man, through His eternal Son, Jesus Christ, by means of faith in Him, inspired by Your Holy Spirit. May the assurance of our faith always rest on the Trinitarian nature of your being and salvation, so that, firmly anchored in you, we may attain the eternal life you have promised since the dawn of time. We humbly ask this of You, through the same Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Refreshing to see. As a protestant I've felt worship is just another word for blasting music and not much else
The conference was in Springfield, MO where I live. It was a scandalous event for the community. 😅
Exactly what I have always thought. The Church is not Woodstock, guns, and circus acts.
Do you believe that every non-orthodox church does those things? That’s a bit like saying all white people are racist. Perhaps asking questions is a better approach.
i like this faith but man i feel like i’m too slow to follow it, im trying to learn but i might be too slow 😭😭
Thank you for noticing how the protestants then Roman Catholics turned their backs to God instead of facing Him, making church more of an entertainment and human focus than a focus on God...one of the MANY basic problems that have been destroy those heterodoxies.
As a non-Christian/Abrahamist I have nothing but respect for this message. God is living in us all and hope for humanity to receive God’s love.
Can a Christian worship God outside of church/ divine liturgy? Thanks!
Amen Jesus ❤
TOMORROW’S FEARS - Lili
Tomorrow when you wake again and find the world’s still here
With all the zest of yesterday to sadden or to cheer
There was no massive holocaust, no dead raised from the ground
His promise to float you up, journey to your trials
Will have to wait another day, trepidation all unfound.
And when this happens every day throughout the years to come
Will your faith grow stronger or will the doubts creep in?
No planning for the future here or there, your life embroiled in sin
For if he only takes the perfect, whose life on Earth was pure
What of the human aspect, into the fire succumb.
The holy ones judge each other, before the judgment day
From the pulpit condemn, decry, their fellow travelers as impure
The Judges of the Judges before the Earth implodes
And everyone made to account, the strongest voice not sure
A life of prayer gone all to waste, as confidence corrodes.
Why worry of a future bleak, why think of future fears
For if you try to change your fate, the world goes on unheeded
There’ll be no Tribulation, Man’s destruction his own doing
No God above, no day in Court, no casting out, all regrets unneeded
Why worry of the rantings of those who think they know
Of Spirits of the Underworld, pain and bliss, imaginations flow.
Just take what comes, tell your God of hate
Your life is not for him, your only life is yours
So be it if you shun control, he won’t control your fate
Your life on Earth is not to live with fear and shame and guilt
The guilt is his, he made the snake, he cannot now berate
Berate us for being human, Why then the potters hand did shake?
"Self-help with Jesus" 👏
AlMasih Qam
Haqan qam☦️❤️💪🏼
Amen Jesus lord
I was raised Southern Baptist in the 60’s. Sermons were: greeting, prayer, announcements, prayer, hymns, prayer, offering, sermon, prayer, altar call, dismissal.
I never really knew what “worship” is until I visited an Orthodox Church recently. It’s so different and definitely worship rather than teaching or entertainment. Focused on God and not on me.
To say, “I don’t really know what “worship ship is”, would be accurate.
That is probably why Protestants think the Orthodox worship the Holy Mother Mary and the Saints.
They don’t know the difference between worship and veneration and teaching and singing hymns.
I’m lost and in-between now and don’t know when to say “us” or “them”.
I have visited the Antiochian Orthodox Church 3 times They don’t speak much English but I can read the projection during the Services, though, and many hours in YT and Patristic Nectar. I will have to speak with the Priest soon about this.
I’ll tell you what it looks like. It’s silent. The only sound is the tears from the face of a sinner saved by grace. And you’ll be on your knees like in the mass asking God to have mercy on you.
AsI have grown older and matured in Christ I have come to the opinion that what you see what is called worship in most Western churches is anything but. I believe what you see in Elevation, Hillsong, most large churches is not worship, entertainment, yes, worship, no. But it dies not draw the majority of the congegation into singing to the Lord. Most folks in fact are barely moving their lips
I always had a hard time explaining this to people. I thank God I found a profound answer. I have always been taught that Music in general influences fame, lust and pride for the artists and this is why we should acknowledge it as a temptation and weakness. On another note the popularity of musical lyrics that portray Satan closer to the opposite to our literary and therefore is Satanic. Please correct me if I am wrong.
I enjoyed how delicately Farther said this.
The closest Orthodox Church to us is 2 hours away. 😭 We don’t know what to do. We want to know more, to attend, to learn. But how? (besides watching on UA-cam.) We want to be involved.
I guess you could contact a priest in that closest Orthodox church (as long as it's not Coptic one) and ask what to do. I bet you are not the only ones with this struggle, and therefore the priest probably knows how to help you - if nothing else, he likely would recommend some good books to read... But I know some people who are seriously driving for 1-2 hours in order to go to church and attend the divine liturgy once in a month (and that driving time they spend in prayer). If you are able to sacrifice your time and money for travelling, I don't see why you couldn't visit the church closest to you once in a while.
Consider moving.
Consider moving yes but talk to the Priest, don't ask the internet life advice. 2 hours is a lot but once every couple months it's totally doable
Firstly, not all Orthodox churches are easy to find with Google. Try searching using other keywords, like "parish", "monastery", "mission". You can also contact parishes in your state and ask if they know of any place closer. That being said, 2hrs. Is not that bad. I have driven nearly an hour and a half to services regularly. It is expensive, but, thank God, we have been able to prioritize this expense over others. Even if you could make the trip once per month, it woukd be worthwhile. My priest catechised me by phone. Knock, and God will open doors!
Would be possible to speak Fr. Zechariah please?
Very well expressed....but look, the Good Shepherd rounds us up and brings us home into His pen(the Church)...why should we feel the need to apologise to those who are still wandering in the wilderness, either accidently or willfully?
If anyone truly yearns to worship Christ, they will come to realise where He is and where He isn't. 🙏☦️♥️
What about "making a joyful noise unto the Lord?" Or how David worshipped?
Our choirs are not perfect, lol. There’s your joyful noise! David’s worship was described in the Scriptures, not prescribed as a “how to worship” text. Peace. ❤️☦️
If Fr. Zechariah had this talk with Martin Luther or Thomas Cramner, I wonder how much their Faith Model would have changed. I feel that would have changed a lot! Christ Is Risen!
Luther didn't leave his church. They threw him out.
There isnt an Orthodox church where i live, sadly
❤
Ive run into an issue. I love the liturgy but i dont like many of the lay people that surround me during liturgy. So i find ill show up for orthos but leave shortly after liturgy starts... any advice on dealing with my dislike of lay people around me??
When a sick man walks into a hospital, does he care about the sickness of the other patients and grumbles about their presence at the hospital, or he cares about his own illness and thinks about as to how to get fixed his own problem only.?
@@johnnyd2383 so just try to focus on the prayers and ignore those around me?
@@abrahamkassis3138 Message is - mind your own spiritual sickness brother. We are all spiritual patients and in need of cure. Focus on prayers and services. Cheers.!
@@abrahamkassis3138yes
The Saints are there too…in the icons. Focus on them.
This guy is awesome. And I seen the conference he's talking about, that didn't appear to be Christ like at all. And I'm glad the guy spoke out, he took a lot of heat for it, but Christ would have spoken out against it also I'm certain. Protestants have lost their way for sure. Ex southern Baptist here and I became atheist because the Protestant church
Listen closely everyone.. he’s explaining what WORSHIP is and is not. He’s not necessarily condemning a certain practice of your church - there’s a time and place for some of those things. But are they WORSHIP? Or just praise and teaching?
Psalms 150 doesn’t sound so restricting and more human a natural praise
WE'RE HIS SHEEP 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑
WORSHIP, RELATIONSHIP NOT WHAT WE DO
I never liked to participate in Protestant worship. To the point the priest mocked people who did not dance or raise their hands with the church when it was time to sing. I just never felt it and maybe this is the reason why.
I questioned wether I was a bad Christian because I didn’t want to “act out” or have that spontaneous moment of feeling the Holy Spirit and scream out during the singing. I thought maybe I’m just not a good worshipper. And Maybe I can worship him better by just reading the Bible. Maybe I’ve never really worship God properly in the first place.
Seek orthodoxy my friend, it provides the right context to everything and all will fall into place. Find a spiritual father who can guide you through it, and get an orthodox study bible.
How do I study with you?
Search for an Antiochian, Greek, or Russian Orthodox church in your area and contact a priest and he will help you. Glory to God.
I really wish that orthodox videos and comments would be interested in whether or not non-orthodox worship services are just “entertainment. I don’t have entertainment at my church, yet we have a TEAM of musicians and singers (being derided as a “rock band”.) True, SOME churches are over the line but that is certainly not ALL. There is a great deal of over generalization here.
I saw another preiest say that modern church diesnt appeal to men because it placates to female persuasion ie the music, the lights, the show, the feelings and emotions etc
Dear father Zechariah please as you can let women and men wear the clothes properly when they attend liturgy or coming to church like Ethiopia orthodox
Some people are seriously missing the point that David invented new instruments for worship according to Amos, and the context means that this is a pleasing thing to the Lord WHEN your heart is in it. He played the Lyre to drive out the spirit from Saul, and the demon fled because his music was worship. Psalms says to “praise God with cymbals; praise God with clanging cymbals.” Even the passage he quotes in Revelation 4 actually has instruments. It never says they don’t use the harps that it says they specifically have! Worship is from the heart, and when I bow down or lift my hands it is because I am overcome with the truth of the words of our songs. I cry tears of joy routinely at Christian music, whether it be hiphop (i.e. J. monty’s song Augustus Gloop which has one line that always makes me so grateful) or rock (Oly’s song Vapor or Fraction’s song Dawning Light) or hymns (We Praise Thee). To praise God with instruments is biblical, and it is good, and I love hymns and chants! I want to attend a divine liturgy, as I have been researching Eastern Orthodoxy for months now (although the second council of Nicaea leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth), and I listen to EO hymns often in worship; but this protestant slander must end just as equally as protestants must stop being so rude to Eastern Orthodox Christians. My church has worship that kinda sounds terrible, but it makes me love Christ all the more to see people giving their all with their instruments and vocals. Christ is present within his church and humility is the key to understanding that, “he who is not against us is for us.”
I do agree that worship shouldn’t be at the front facing me, though.
There is a difference in enjoying time lifting up your voice, shouting, singing a new song, and playing any instrument listed in the Bible, versus the moments that we are just in worship together, which must be OF ONE ACCORD, as stated in the book of Acts, especially.
To your point on cymbals, several times during divine liturgy, large bells are struck with a hammer.
You make very good points in your post. All music should in it's own way be praise to God. We praise God when we gather together in a home and sing Christmas carols. We praise God in all we do (or we should be), and as Paul says "pray constantly".
This video, however, is not talking about praise. It is about worship.
@@intherightlight Well not all Divine Liturgies, but there are bells on the censer.
I agree with stopping the bashing.
Regarding music, the problem is that Protestant denominations didn't develop a music style which helps them worship properly. If you check Orthodox Church or Catholic Church (more traditional ones) you can notice that there are some specific styles for worship. It is a melody developed by the Church which helps you getting closer to God.
As much as is appreciated the efforts of Protestants to worship God properly, they don't have the tools for it. Even a great song may not be appropriate for worshipping because it may touch you more on an emotional level and not on a spiritual level.
Apostle Paul says: we have ONE Lord, ONE Faith & ONE Baptism!!! People made HIM many. Do not try to divide Christianity PLEASE
Christianity is a spectrum of understanding even among clergy…
Yes! One faith, one Church! Those outside of the Church should return!
I find myself in the middle of this I don’t agree but I don’t completely disagree
David worshipped jumping and dancing almost nude. I guess the "man after His own heart" was sinning. Thankfully, I don't judge how a person worships. One may worship in peace and quiet, another worships singing and dancing. The individual gets to decide how they choose to worship when lead by the Spirit. Besides, if I'm there looking at what others are doing, I should ask myself, why am I even here? Is it to worship God or look at others and determine if they are "truly worshipping" God according to my standards.
Oldest known Holy Liturgies were written by St. Mark and St. James. Are you saying they did not know as to how worship God.? Or perhaps, your majesty knows better.?
@johnnyd2383 Thanks for your non sequitur
David wasn't doing so within context of worship in the synagogue, God's house. It's not good exegesis to try to use David as an example.
@techdivaful Worship is done anywhere at any time. Do you believe God only honored worship in the synagogue? Did worship only matter to God as long as it was in the synagogue? Did God command worship to be done only in the synagogue?
@@sbaker8971 go ahead and run around dancing naked if you want to but there is no example of it being done within God's house where we are told tondo all things in decency and in order. I'll be keeping to modesty and a quiet spirit in church.
👍🏽❤️🩹
Why Sunday and not Sabbath Day, the Seventh-day of the week? Rev.14:6-7
Move on, get over it!
(Acts 20, 7) "Now ON THE FIRST DAY of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread..."
(1 Cor 16, 2) "ON THE FIRST DAY of the week let each one of you lay something aside..."
Pardon, Fr but 'sacralizing' the posture of the priest turning his back on the congregation in worship, seems rather like 'sacralizing' archaic Latin in the traditionalist Roman Catholic congregations and seminaries. It is possible, and does happen, with Protestants that facing the congregation can be 'sacred' worship. Fr apparently has never attended worship in many working class Black congregations calling for and turning in repentance and reconciliation, and/or marching out into the community singing praises to God to confront racism by stirring up faith. Jesus would certainly approve this as 'worship'.
All these things can be good and have a place, but that doesn't make them worship. Words have meanings and you cannot just change them to mean whatever you want.
Worship is also dancing like David danced
Oldest known Holy Liturgies were written by St. Mark and St. James. Are you saying they did not know as to how worship God.? Or perhaps, your majesty knows better.?
No idea