Im a protestant who believes my church is spiritually bankrupt and all the other 33,000 protestant denominations too. Ive been looking into Orthodoxy for a while now and truly believe its the true church but im very nervous to go to an Orthodox church, I need a spiritual home.
Michael Elmore I am certain that you will find it in orthodoxy. Make sure that you are most welcome to enter, the orthodox love visitors, but they won’t let you know this fact 😀 just go to the liturgy, go to the front or stay at the back and see what everyone is doing, what the priest and the deacon are saying and then come again. And again, it takes a while to actually get used to, learn and know what’s going on. Not only there’s a lot of symbolism in the Divine Liturgy, but there’s also a lot to take in and to get used to since the liturgy takes usually more than two hours and in most churches you are going to stand for the whole time, in case you don’t want to prostrate (my favourite part because of the leg pain :D But you’ll get used to standing, it comes a second nature in a while. Sometimes I attend catholic masses with my gf and they have pews, but I still prefer to stand, because it’s just... better, you pay more attention standing), but you’ll get used to it. Take some time to get used to the liturgy, learn what it’s all about, read some things about orthodoxy itself and I am most sure that you’ll find what you are looking for. Actually I know this anecdote from one convert who said that “orthodoxy is so great that you must discipline yourself not to start telling everyone how superior it is to any other religion” 😀 Edit: now I realise you are talking about entering the church, not the liturgy, oops... but well the best I can say in that case is just to investigate. Read the fathers, read the Philokalia, read the Bible, pray and maybe make an appointment with your local orthodox priest so you can discuss the matters of the faith with him. Tell him what you seek and he will know. He’s the expert.
@@thedisintegrador Thank you so much for your help and understanding. It's a big step to change your Christian persuasion. To my surprise there's a Orthodox Church 30 minutes from my house and I will be making a trip over there. Again I appreciate your kindness and understanding thank you so much and God bless
I’m agnostic because there’s been a lot that I disagree with when it comes to other religions and denominations of Christianity, but there’s something that draws me to Orthodoxy. I want to explore it and find truth,
Matthew16: 18. "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". Jesus spoke about only one church. But which one?
You don't have to believe with 100% certainty to be an Orthodox Christian. Even if you only believe 5% you can profess the Creed in good faith. When you start practicing Orthodoxy, praying, fasting, attending services, receiving the holy mysteries, your faith will grow with time.
Hi, Im just a simple Orthodox christian. Not a priest, not a theologian. But i have a bit of knowledge of my faith (not to brag), a catechisis book and a close bond with my spiritual father. If you want, I can help you with your questions and the ones i don't know I can ask my spiritual father. If you want we can speak in private.
I was super atheist and always felt weird with Catholicism and Protestant Christianity. Something about them just turned me off from religion and from Christianity in general. Over time I had a spiritual awakening and looked to many religions. It all lead back to Christ because his way of being and his teachings are just so perfect that even an atheist could admire such a man. But when I found out about Orthodoxy, it all just made sense.
I went to an Orthodox service once in boot camp. One of my boot camp buddies was Russian Orthodox and I wasn’t sure what I was at the time. I didn’t understand a word, but I liked it. I’d probably convert if distance wasn’t such an issue. The priest’s wife was shocked when I told her that the nearest Orthodox church of any flavor was 80 miles from where I was from, but that’s the reality for most of the country. I think if you guys spread farther from the big cities you might find a lot of people who are interested.
I want to become Orthodox, but I've been Southern Baptist all my life. I want to convert to orthodox so that I can really connect with Christ, but I'm 17 and idk where to begin
Take a look online if there is an a Orthodox Church nearby. If you’re worried about just showing up, call ahead. Every Orthodox priest I’ve ever talked to has been welcoming and supporting. Best of luck and may Gos bless you
@@rebekahrobinson1609 it's important to visit one. If you become a catechumen and get baptised it's ok if you cant be attending the church but only a couple times every year (since it will be away from your place). It's paramount for your soul to become part of the Church
I was baptised greek orthodox and attend a greek orthodox church. Although I don't speak greek, everyone is so welcoming and trying to help as much as possible
Hello brother. Im not sure if your still interested, but you could email the Eastern Orthodox priest nearest your location and after a while you can visit.
Thank you. I'm a Protestant, this is the second time I'm feeling an almost irresistible drawing toward Orthodoxy. I seriously don't know what to do with it. I was raised a Baptist, then hovered in Pentecostal circles, now I attend the Salvation Army (Celebrate Recovery). Recently I've been learning about the Reformation, but everytime I get serious Orthodoxy sinks it's claws in (for lack of a better term). What's going on?
I'm a Roman Catholic and I had a lot of supernatural experiences about Orthodoxy also. I catn' get away from it. I think it's the Holy Spirit. The Orthodox priest told me to wait to move towards conversion until my husband is more open.
I'm born and raised Roman Catholic. Left the Church living in the South U.S. where I got "saved." Been in various circles...Baptist, Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, non-denominational,....then landed in the Hebrew Roots Movement. Very long story and journey. Contemplated Orthodoxy many times over but always found a reason not to. Came back to my Catholic faith several years back but since then cannot stop thinking about Eastern Orthodoxy. It is such a pull for me. The biggest hurdle now is I'm married with older children and not sure how they would take it but I can't stop this "drive" to Orthodoxy.
I know I'm a year late, but recently I am having an incredibly similar experience! I became a Protestant Christian a few years ago in a low Anglican church. Learnt about Orthodoxy online, and now I'm going to become Orthodox and try to attend a church ^^ In case you are still in a similar place: I urge you not to resist that leading, brother. I resisted it for a while, in the exact same way, but no more can I do it. Orthodoxy is the fullness of the holy Faith given to the apostles, it is the true path God has given us to be saved from sin. Seek the Lord for yourself and ask Him for guidance, so that He might make it clear to you Himself. May God bless you and lead you into all truth 🙏🏼☦️
In case you're wondering...yes, in retrospect, I wish I had asked other questions, better suited to Fr. John's expertise(!) That said, as you'll see from Fr. John's responses, his is a deeply pastoral approach that underlines the fact that Orthodox theology is, above all, pastoral and experiential.
" if your interested in Orthodoxy then go to church" is good advice however I would also say when you go to church don't go there with any preconcieved notions of what it might be like.
Excellent video. It’s answered a lot of questions for me, as I am methodically inching into Orthodoxy. I truly like the good Fathers approach. He keeps it simple. Thanks again for a great video. ☦️📿☦️
Out’ remer Me, too. “Inching toward”... I am curious about how it goes for you. I’m a little confused on a few things but definitely pulled toward Orthodoxy.
Im interested in becoming orthodox but I am a single 31 yr old woman and I feel kind of embarrassed as I would be going to church alone. 😔 i feel like in my community these churches are filled with families and I would feel like an outcast. I will pray about it and hopefully I will find a church soon
I too am in the process of my Catechumen phase in the Orthodox Church. After coming home here, and through all my studies with the Orthodox Church, Jesus Christ teachings and understanding them better, the Desert Fathers, and their wisdom, there is no turning back to any other church again. There is nowhere else I would rather be.This is the real church God meant for us to BE. Orthodoxy is a way of life and that way of life is following Jesus and doing what he instructs us to do, taking his teachings seriously in our lives in a way that is gentle but so real that the Holy Spirit shows you the truth that you cannot denye. We all live with some great sorrows in our lives, but It is good to know, that we are all in this together , and we don't have to journey alone. We can have Jesus in the boat with us always, as long as we invite him in and trust and believe him and the scriptures, and along side the church.
I have more than 18 hours per day of Silence. I have a caregiver for 6 hours I have no family members living or friends. I do a great deal of meditation both spiritual and otherwise.
Amazing advices, i just went for the firsttime at my local orthodox church and did exactly that ; i was blown away by the simplicity and the love i felt.
Today I wil be going to an Orthodox cathedral, it will be my first time steping foot in such a building. I am very strongly considering converting to the Orthodox faith as I believe that protestanism has strayed too far from the teachings of the bible and that it was never meant to become a faith in the first place, my feelings towards Catholicism are not particularly positive either given the light in which they hold the pope makes it seem to me as though he would stand between God and myself. I am going there to learn about the faith directly from those who practice it as I do not put much faith in what I read on the internet. The cathedral is roughly an hour away from my home so I have been preparing myself and watching videos like these. Thank you for making this video.
Loved the explanation of hesychasm!!! This will help me I think..... starting my 8th year in the Church. You who are new to O, It is simply an indescribable journey into relationship with God - more than I could ever get into before as a Protestant/Evangelical !
That was excellent, thank you, and very helpful. I'm making my way into Orthodoxy and I don't have easy access to an Orthodox church. I appreciate this especially helpful concise and comprehensive guidance.
I'm relieved to watch this inspiring guidance from Fr Behr, I've been increasingly drawn to orthodoxy for the last year.. And i may have done some of the steps backwards.., however i have found a church that i feel at home with, only visited for Sunday liturgy last week for the third time and have found myself doing all the thing's naturally that Fr Behr suggests. ❤️🙏
As a Protestant (Lutheran), who has seen the shortcomings of the Reformation and who has the intent of converting, I am torn between the Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, and Byzantine Catholic Church. Trying to discern the differences is not easy. I read the Orthodox Study Bible, listen to EWTN (Catholic Radio), and listen to a weekly Byzantine Catholic podcast. The Eastern liturgy is definitely more challenging to follow, but I am drawn to the iconography.
Same here. I love the eastern spirituality and mysticism, especially the wisdom of those fathers, but as a western person, there's just something about catholicism that appeals to me in a cultural sense.
@@33-vertebrae What should be deciding quality is The Truth. Everything else does not matter since The Truth has no alternative. Thus, Eastern Orthodoxy has no alternative.
@@johnnyd2383 Right, but I don't know for a fact that EO is truth. They have a different theology from what I have known my entire life. They speak of energies and view the Holy Trinity differently. They view hell as a state of being and not a place. So I can't just say for certain they are truth and jump on their bandwagon. I haven't discerned these things yet.
I was interested in Orthodoxy. The priest at the orthodox church told me I would have to renounce Roman Catholicism and would never be able to receive the Eucharist from the Roman Catholic Church, again. I am 61 years of age with health problems. The nearest orthodox church to me is quite a distance. With the Eucharist being a huge part of my life I had to give it a hard pass.
God bless you. God understands your situation, and where you can receive the sacraments and teachings of Christ and the comfort of belonging to a church is important. Peace be unto you where you are.
Just to add since this faith was always my dad's life... They totally betrayed and abandoned my dad an amazing arch priest who's been destroyed by my own family because my mother a master manipulator and my brother and sister went great lengths to destroy him and all defense. No one is telling me where he is now so its hurtful because I know what there trying to setup and I'm alone in this now. I asked the diocese website email why was my father removed from the list like he never existed no suspension no defrocking or anything. Who just disappears? And my mother told everyone hes got a disturbing case against him and he's suicidal but wow a year ago he was still a functional marriage family therapist but somethings not the same and no one's telling me where he is and it's being covered up this isn't right. Sorry I had to share this I only have my voice. I'm totally alone.
Have you found a local Orthodox church to visit yet? You can always begin slowly (usually the best way), by going to a weekly Vespers service, getting to know the priest, etc. It's good to give God time to work in the hearts and minds of those around you (and on you!) As they say in Greece, "Siga, siga," ("slowly, slowly").
@@ProtectingVeil yeah there's a church I've been visiting about once every month for vespers. Went to my first Divine Liturgy on Jan 1, and I visited St Anthony's Monastery. Talked with the priest a couple times. I've also spoke with one the deacons several times.
@@mywinterapocalypse Excellent...well...may God continue to guide your steps...He knows what you, your family, and your community need...good strength!
@@ProtectingVeil I don’t know Greek at all and I’m also a huge introvert so I’m nervous to enter and not know what to do and look dumb if they only speak Greek 😭
Can't tell to what extent that mention of Mary was an illustrative metaphor or literal interpretation. It's often very hard for inquiring Protestants to distinguish Illustrative, Physical, and Metaphysical speech in traditional Christianity.
One needs to approach it with the open heart and without prejudices... it is not easy but if we understand that it is easier to build a new house from the scratch than to fix the one that is built in a poor way with the irregularities left and right... it becomes more obvious what I am talking about. All the best.!
@@johnnyd2383 I appreciate your response. The illustration you provided can perhaps be used to better illustrate my difficulty. I have relieved myself of as much prejudice as possible, and when trying to build this new house am open to any design, so long as it stands on its own foundation (truth). What I'm asking, I suppose is what materials the house should be built of, and to say "be open minded" does not assist in the building of the house; I've already agreed to and do it under the careful instruction of my Orthodox brothers and sisters. Or to tell a man who has never seen a boat to build a ship, without specifying the materials, the boat will surely sink if made a cube and crafted of stone. It will not be stable if not constructed under some compliance to the tradition of successful boatmakers, to which the new boatmaker wished to subscribe. I hope this helps better illustrate the position I feel myself to be in
@@Eraktab Indeed. I admire God seeking people and especially those who are making such a spiritual journey as you do. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. Peace.
Hello Im a Protestant i guess i was baptized when i was jong in a NG church in RSA im 18 and want to visit a greek orthodox church neer me and im interested in the traditions of orthodox Wat i guess im asking is can you give me some advice on what to do or something im just really lost about what to do 🙏
I once asked this fellow, about two years ago, if he knew about any historical connections between Buddhism and Christianity, Orthodoxy in particular. There are stories of Jesus travelling to India. Alexander's army traveled to India and back directly through the area that Jesus would have lived. It is not inconceivable that they would have brought back some Buddhism considering Alexander was there right after the life of the Buddha and dissemination of Buddhism was white hot at that time. Also, Buddha and Jesus are the only religious figures appearing similarly, with arms outstretched and palms up in an offering of love. There are many other similarities, read "Living Buddha Living Christ." Father Behr's reply was to simply state what Irenaeus said. Irenaeus, the man who wrote "Against heresies." Irenaeus, over and over again. That's like if I asked someone what they think about Jews and they quote the opinion of the head of the Spanish Inquisition.
That's not accurate because Jesus did not go to India and his hand and arm position didn't have the same finger position that Christ is depicted with. There are many anti-Christs, but only one Christ. Satan didn't know all of God's plan for the Messiah, but he knew enough to be a copycat by having other "sons of God" and others tempting people to be like God. See God's promise to Eve in Genesis that her offspring will crush the head of the serpent. Buddhism teaches people that they can become buddhas themselves. Orthodoxy teaches that someday we will be with God, but not share His same essence. Satan wants people to think they can become god, but Orthodoxy teaches that we still be ourselves, saved by Grace, but be in a marriage with God (the Bride of Christ). If you want mysticism, Orthodoxy has truth. Metanoia (turning from one's sins) is what satan doesn't want anyone to do, so he comes up with lots of distracting ideas for people to be away from the one True God.
@John Q Buddha, all his life was in search of the way to reach God and reach enlightment. On the other hand, Jesus clearly and boldly declared that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and He is the ONLY Way to God the Father. Fundamentally different.
Where are you located? If you're in America, here's a tool that can help you locate the closest Orthodox church: orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Otherwise, I would encourage you to visit an Orthodox monastery for a few nights, to seek counsel...
Consider yourself lucky. I know someone from Norway and the closest Orthodox church from him is around 800 kilometers. Also consider this: God will provide a way but in the meantime you can do alot of things to prepare: read the New Testament, read a catechism book, pray.
Hi just came across this channel. I have been looking for church, and the orthodx christianity really is something im drawn too. How can i get lesrn more i live in a cstholic country
Hi, Im just a simple Orthodox christian. Not a priest, not a theologian. But i have a bit of knowledge of my faith (not to brag), a catechisis book and a close bond with my spiritual father. If you want, I can help you with your questions and the ones i don't know I can ask my spiritual father. If you want we can speak in private.
God will provide a way but in the meantime, you can prepare yourself in reading the New Testament, fasting and praying, reading a catechism book on Holy Orthodoxy. Struggle towards your goal, and God will help you.
@@johnnyd2383 it's amusing when Christians get on their high horse about Buddhism. You clearly haven't read The Buddha's teachings. Nothing pagan about it.
@@johnnyd2383 pagan is not a catch-all term for non abrahamic religions, perhaps it means something different in your part of the world. But play word games all you want, the point is you disparaged a comment making a connection between Orthodoxy and Buddhism, as if Buddhism is without its merits.
@@HerenorThere524 Any religion that is not worshiping One True God is pagan idolatrous baloney. That applies to Buddhism as well. All such religions are blinding people and leading them astray. That is their only merit.
I have a sincere question. If the great commission is to spread the gospel and get as many people saved as possible, why do the orthodox practice closed communion? Especially since it is seen as necessary part of the salvation process. Thank you for any input.
One is only supposed to take communion when one is genuinely in communion with the people around them [confessed one's sins, asked forgiveness for offenses against one's brothers and sisters in christ, etc]. When one approaches the altar, it is assumed that one is in regular confession and community with an actual Orthodox body of believers at a local, physical level. The Orthodox have no way of evaluating the spiritual state of non-Orthodox before God because only God knows the state of other's hearts, given the knowledge that they have of God at the time. The role of communion, however, is to ritually categorize everyone, orthodox and non-orthodox alike, in relation to their proximity to the cup. For example, in preparing holy communion, during the service called the proskemedia [offering], the priest says prayers of blessing for non-orthodox, non christians, and Orthodox christians alike. They are all represented symbolically on the loaf of bread that itself represents the lamb of God. A symbol of christ is at the center of that loaf, and symbols representing Orthodox christian Hierarchs, saints, and laity are all represented. Also represented are those who are not Orthodox Christians. The priest, through the liturgical prayers, re-enacts the crucifixion, using a knife-like instrument shaped like a spear. It is the part of the loaf representing christ that is mixed with the wine, which is served as communion. The bread that represents non-orthodox people is prayed over and blessed. This is what is distributed at the end of the service, and is called "blessed Bread". The bread that represents orthodox Christians, after everyone has taken communion and it is complete, is mixed with the wine and the bread that represents christ, thus representing the reality that these Orthodox Christians that took communion today are now "In Communion", literally. They are "in Christ" by virtue of their participation in the eating of Christ's body. The priest or deacon then consumes this mixture. Thus, communion in this way doesn't paper over differences as if they don't matter, but it likewise doesn't scorn those who cannot partake, but rather acknowledges where people are actually at. And from that place of sober acknowledgement, it doesn't gloat over its exalted status as "in-communion", but uses it as a way of understanding where people are and praying for them and blessing them from that place. Go to an orthodox liturgy and you will be showered with "Blessed Bread". These little pieces of bread are the physical embodiment of prayers said for you, and of the longing for you to enter the church so that you, too can be, quite literally, placed in the communion cup. Til then, know that you are blessed and prayed for every sunday by Orthodox Christians all over the world.
@@consciousstream5036 i became a catechumen last halloween 2021. I have another question if you dont mind. In the book of acts when people believed, they were immediately baptized along with their whole family. If baptism is for the remission of sins, why is there a waiting period to be baptized? This has caused some major anxiety for me seeing as how i am coming from protestantism. Thank you.
No problem! You should probably ask your priest about these things, as I am definitely not an expert. He will likely be able to offer a better explanation. That acknowledged, I am pretty sure that death is considered a baptism in-of-itself, such that if you die before your baptism and chrismation, if you are a catechumen, your death is considered your baptism.
The practice of hesychasm in the Orthodox church, as well as contemplative prayer in Catholicism, really gives me much hesitation in becoming a part of their particular brand of church. I've admired ancient Orthodox and Catholic hymns, and I do listen to them sometimes while in prayer if I'm having a particularly unpleasant time. They are quite beautiful, inspired, and soothing. Also, the traditional iconography is stunning and mesmerizing. They really make you feel as though you are approaching something holy. However... my hesitation comes from my background in mysticism and the occult. From my perspective, there seems to be no essential difference between these practices and Buddhist, Hindu, Wiccan, Neo-Pagan, New Age, Hermetic, Kabbalistic, gnostic, or even dare I say Satanist forms of prayer, meditation, or yoga. In my experience, none of these practices, which are all essentially variations on the same overall theme, can lead one to induce a true experience of God. Only God can give you a genuine experience of His presence... and when God does come, He cuts right through all of that stuff, cuts right through reality itself, with no effort or intentionality on our part, by His Will alone... and when He does, I warn that even the most well intentioned meditative practices can and will turn profoundly bitter quite rapidly. I wish I was wrong about that, because I am just about the most impatient guy you can find, and I would love to have at my disposal some sort of rituals or mantras which are able to force God to respond or induce visions of holy things to give me some sort of immediately tangible comfort... but patience is what I've had to learn. Truly having faith in what God is doing and has done and will do means letting go of all control mechanisms, and resting in His Spirit alone. While these ancient traditions are quite inspired and seductive in that way, capturing the eyes, the ears, the body, the mind, and the spirit in their mysteries, I fear that they may well be the most glorious ruse of Lucifer himself. I fear that they capture us in our impatience, and they seduce us into a sense of ritualistic control over our spiritual life. My realization, after God touched me and converted me to His Way (not my own, not the way of the traditions of ancient men, however well-meaning they may have been), was that we as natural men, have no spiritual life. We certainly have the look and the feel and even the internal experience of something we perceive in our natural ignorance as spirituality, but when all is said and done, we're only experiencing our lack of true Spirit by filling it with some other "spirit", and that other "spirit" may well be the wide path to destruction. Being a one-time friend of the devil, I was taught in his ways, and I saw into his mind. Do you believe the devil cannot sit in the place where God should be and appear even to be God? I wish this judgment had not come, for it is very painful, and there are precious few who truly understand, and it is incredibly lonely and alienating, having no religious home in this world to lay our heads and to congregate as we should... It's disheartening to be reminded of this... but I believe wholeheartedly that this is the Truth, and that scripture attests to it, that Christ's very being both while here on earth and now in heaven and in Spirit attests to it, that logic and reason attest to it, that history attests to it, and that even creation itself attests to it. It's a bummer... but the truth of the world rarely is anything but... God bless you, Andrew M.
Thank you for your comment! As you say, "From my perspective, there seems to be no essential difference..." I assure you that there is a difference...and in time, God willing, you will understand it. All humans were made for communion with God...it is only natural that humans everywhere would seek God in a similar way. The difference is that at the heart of hesychasm is union with the God-man Jesus Christ. Is it a dangerous path, fraught with perils? Yes, which is why one shouldn't attempt to walk it on their own. St. Paul's experience of God during three years in the desert (Galatians 1:11-19) attest to the validity of the path...and his understanding of the need for spiritual direction (1 Corinthians 4:15) provides the beginning of the Orthodox understanding of the path of hesychasm.
Have you seen materials about the scientific examinations and analysis of the brain activity during the Orthodox prayers and Pagan meditations.? Perhaps that may help you in understanding the differences...
@@johnnyd2383 That's interesting. I'd like to read more about that. Perhaps my fears are in error, but I do need more information, and I actually have been trying to contact some Orthodox priests with some questions, but so far none have responded. It's only been a few days, though. If I err, I'm erring on the side of caution, so please forgive me.
Also, for some weird reason, it's been hard getting relevant results in any search engines about things of this nature the past few years. It's like someone has been sanitizing the whole internet.
@Protecting Veil Upon further reading, I have come to the same conclusion I originally had, as I've realized that I've read and deeply considered most of it before. I'll start off by pointing to Simon Magus, when he asked Paul on how he could "buy" the Holy Spirit. Money is a physical representation of a physical or intellectual action one can take to gain something. In essence, it is something the mind or the body does to gain something according to one's own will. Of course, Paul told Simon Magus that the Holy Spirit could not be bought. Meaning that there is no act of the self-will which could attain the Holy Spirit. Simply put, the Holy Spirit is a gift from God which is according to His own Will, and not the will of the person asking. Another Pauline example would be his journey on the road to Damascus. Paul was not asking God for anything, nor was he practicing anything which would merit God's favor. As a matter of fact, he was on his way to Damascus to arrest the Christians there. Hardly an act of one who was set to receive a vision of Our Lord, let alone to later receive the Holy Spirit. The point of these examples was to illustrate that God alone holds discretion on who receives the gift of his Grace and who does not. It is not something that can be attained or realized or invoked or bargained with, and it is not something which any tradition holds a monopoly over. Thus, my fear for many people of all traditions, including Pagan ones, is that they are actively participating in a great (the greatest, in fact) spiritual forgery. I must ask the honest practitioner of the Orthodox or Catholic faith that, aside from tradition and the teachings of "Church Fathers", how one is able to recognize the Holy Spirit from some other deceiving spirit which appears as holy? Because it is written that Satan appears as an angel of light, and that his ministers appear as ministers of righteousness, and that he sits in the holy place of God, and makes himself to appear as God. It seems that Satan is not afraid of using the name of Christ, using scripture, or surrounding his traditions with Christianized icons. How, apart from God's willful intercession, is one to discern genuine Truth from a convincing counterfeit? Another teaching of the Orthodox church (and to a somewhat more obfuscated degree, the Catholic Church, as well) is that God is wholly transcendent in a way which makes him entirely unknowable. Yet we read countless times in scripture that God makes Himself knowable, and the knowability of God is exemplified most profoundly in the Incarnation. God condescends to the level of Man, and makes Himself a servant of Man, even unto death. He came to His people and they knew Him not. His own people rejected Him, and instead, over the years, descended into the same sort of "irrational" mysticism and seemingly absurd abstraction that Catholicism and Orthodoxy seem to have adopted. So, it seems that the oldest Christian traditions, apart from the original Christians of scripture and maybe the earliest church fathers who were in direct succession from the Apostolic fathers, have made the same error. Replacing a genuine transmission of the Holy Spirit by God's Grace through God's Will, with traditional rituals and practices and hierarchies created by men to serve men in a manner which, as Paul puts it, has all of the appearance of religion, but denies the power therein. Then, there's the issue of the so-called "Tabor Light", said to be the Light witnessed at the Transfiguration by the disciples on Mount Tabor. This is central Orthodox theology, and yet it is in essence indistinguishable from the "Uncreated Light" of other mystical religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism. In fact, in Freemasonic Tradition, the whole ritual of initiation is about receiving the "light" of Freemasonry... and quite a few high level Freemasons have described this light as noneother than the light of Lucifer, and that it was Lucifer who is God, not the God of the Bible. Yet,in the eyes of Masonry, any icon one wishes to use is equally sufficient. How is one to discern the difference? How is one to tell whether this is of God or of Lucifer? Let me state that Freemasonry does not make scruples about which "god" or tradition you surround your internal structure with, but only that you believe in a Supreme Being. Many mystics and occultists describe the ritual and dogma of ceremonial "higher magic" (that is, the practice of "divine union", and the basis of Freemasonic tradition) as the "divine science"... the SCIENCE of uniting oneself with the divine. While the abstractions may vary according to one's personal predilections, the essential practices remain rather consistent, and strikingly similar, with no difference other than one focuses on a certain icon over another for certain outcomes over others. Since Freemasonry especially does not distinguish between one religion or another, or one prayer/mantra from another, or one god/absolute from another, it would be safe to say that one could be a Freemason (or a mystic in general) AND a practicing Orthodox or Catholic, and one would "receive" this light in a fashion which would seem to be completely in line with their tradition, and the outcome would resemble what one might expect from said tradition. (That doesn't mean these traditions point to different things, but rather that the "thing" being pointed to is superficially very multi-faceted, and can produce a specific "cause" in any one individual which would result in a desired effect. Lucifer is not an impersonal force, after all. He's God's former Angel-in-Chief... on par with St. Michael the Archangel.) None of the disciples of Jesus were doing these things. They were just your average everyday Jews of that time, going about their normal business (Matthew we know was probably not particularly religious, as he was a tax collector, and publicans were counted as sinners by the more religious Jews), when Jesus shows up and completely upends their entire lives. Enter the day of the Pentecost, 50 days after the Resurrection. Apart from being told by Christ to congregate on a certain day in a certain building, these people were doing nothing in particular, when suddenly the Holy Spirit dramatically descended upon the room and fell upon everyone in it. They started speaking in languages foreign to them, and they could perfectly understand each other, even though they came from different areas and spoke different languages, and other extraordinary things. Yet, when they left, they did not speak of meditative prayer or emptying their minds. They simply said to each other, "We have seen strange things today!" It was as if they were caught up by Holy Spirit in a very unexpected manner! All of this happened not because of intensive practices, ritualized monastic living, or saying the right words in the right way. It happened, by no self-directed efforts of the disciples, but rather by the Will of God. I don't intend to condemn either the Catholic or Orthodox church, or to judge their members, but I am merely suggesting that its members and its clergy are engaging in deceptive practices. The fact that these practices have been described as perilous and dangerous without proper training under the tutelage of ordained elders tells me that these "divine experiences" have been occulted and are far out of the reach of the laity... and that itself is in direct violation of Christ's teachings. One should not hide one's light under a basket, but one should be as a shining city on a hilltop for all to see. Christ did not come for the righteous, but for sinners. He did not come to congratulate and make whole the Pharisees, but instead, he came to the lowly people, the outcasts, and the rejects of society. And what about the Sermon on the Mount? Does this describe the priesthood? Does this describe those mentally and/or physically capable of the complex and involved practices of the Catholic and Orthodox mysteries? It is the Sermon on the Mount which is the most detrimental to Orthodox and Catholic mystical traditions. Because he was not addressing one who should become these things. He is addressing those who ARE these things. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, so for men, it is an impossibility. Yet for God, all things are possible. Again, unless your righteousness EXCEEDS the righteousness of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, you will in no way inherit the Kingdom of God. Were the Pharisees and the Saducees much different from the clergy or earnest practitioners of the Orthodox and Catholic traditions? Were they not performing rituals, reciting repetitive prayers, and practicing contemplative exercises of their own? I think so. Later Jewish tradition reflects that they were doing those same things and passing on those traditions which have become a part of Judaism as it is known today. So who is more righteous than those who in deed are accomplishing righteousness by virtue of their acts? Nobody. Therefore... once again, for men, it is impossible. So either it is God alone, by way of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross, who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit... or it is nothing, and all of our efforts are fruitless, and all of our experiences are equally valid delusions... meaning that they are ultimately meaningless, no matter how we judge them, by whatever traditional means we shape them. We were not given the ability to reason, only to abandon it in favor of chasing ineffable absurdity.
Romans 8:5-8 [5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [6] For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (ESV)
Hello, im just a simple Orthodox and not a priest. If you want, I can inquire for you to my spiritual father for the question you have. If I can help you with other questions, I am here.
@Michael Elmore. Too bad, wrong address, Sir! Jesus tells us “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6, The Orthodox Study Bible version). A Protestant church, an Orthodox church, a Catholic one and so forth, are people’s churches by definition, men’s, flesh’s. Of course, they ALL go bankruptcy - only Jesus’ Church will last eternally. Do you want a spiritual church? First of all, and everything else, you MUST become spiritual yourself, by the process that Jesus calls it being born again (John 3, verses 3 and 5). No matter who you are. You can be like Nicodemus, a ruler in the chosen people on Earth, blood relative with Jesus - if you are not born again of the spirit, you can NOT be part of a spiritual Church, you can’t find a “spiritual home” one, as you call it, because, not being born again, you do NOT belong to it. You, I and the entire humanity that descend from the sinner, fleshly Adam, we ALL are flesh by our natural birth. And what is born of flesh, is flesh - as Jesus said it, and you can’t join what is spiritual. We ALL, you, I and everybody else, are “conceived in transgressions, and in sins our mother bore us” [Psalm 50(51):7]. And in this state, you and I cannot see, neither enter the spiritual Kingdom of God. Jesus made it absolutely clear talking about the necessity of being born of the Spirit two times in a row here in John 3 verses 3 and 5. You can be a Protestant, can be an Orthodox, can be either one of the tens of thousands fleshly denominations on Earth - you can be one of all of them at once, who cares? They are ALL fleshly and what is flesh, cannot be spiritual. Do you want a “spiritual home” Church? Become part of Jesus’ Church that He Himself built it. And you can become part of it by being born again. Jesus Himself, the God-man Jesus was born of the Spirit (Matthew 1:20). There is no other way for you. Do you want to become His brother? Listen to Hebrews 2:11: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” In closing this message, I call your specific attention to two facts: 1) By quoting you all the Bible verses above I just submitted to the order of Father John Behr who started his message to us (minute 1:25) by saying “But above all, start reading the Scripture”. So I just followed the instruction of the Orthodox priest. 2) And, secondly, as I mentioned already, all the quotes are from The Orthodox Study Bible. God bless you!
Leave theology aside and start learning getting some basic language skills. All these Chruches you mentioned claim to be "the" Church. None of them claims to be only what the adjective in front of the word Church describes. Your argument about it is so off place that i don't even feel that there is any need as an Orthodox to answer with theological arguments. Just learn to read and speak.
@@eleftheriosmas Empty words. Show me state, is the Missourian saying. Prove me being wrong by showing me what is the right thing putting it face to face to my, supposedly, wrong. The manner that you use is the ancient Phariseeic style. When they ran out of arguments grabbed stones and threw them at Jesus.
@@eotpatriarchs lol, answer to what? You didnt say anything. The first one that Orthodox/Protestant/Catholic are not Church's and the only Church is Jesus's Church is no argument, since all of them claim to be Jesus's Church. Want an actual answer? Alright, the Church of Christ is the one that was establised during the Pentecost as everyone knows. The true Church is the one who bears (so no Protestants) a valid (so not Roman Catholics) Apostolic Succesion till back to that day. Orthodox as even an english speaking person knows means "correct" and calling the Church Orthodox is simply saying that is the one who keeps being correct while other people deviated from it. The official name of the Orthodox Church as stated in the Nicene Creed is the One Holy Catholic (καθολικός means "of everyone/everything") and Apostolic Church. So your first statement wasn't even sth that needed a theological answer. The second about the flesh... well, ehm, i dont know, CHRIST WAS BORN IN FLESH in this earthly world to save us, but i guess you and your random throwing of bible passages here and there knows better. God i cant understand for a minute how the hell the first Protestants bought the crap of Luther about the truth of the Church being found individually by everyone that opens and reads it! I want to keep a screenshot of your comment to use it against any Evagelical that dares to say that again to me😂😂😂
@@chanting_germ. Whosoever REALLY desires to have a fellowship with Jesus and be part of HIS Church, MUST know that, according to His own sayings, namely Jesus’ words from John 12:48, the judgement will be done according to “the word that I have spoken.” Now, when it comes about denominations and THE Church, there is ONE Church, born and built by Him through His Holly blood at Golgotha, consisting of ALL the children of God born of God (John 1:11-13), born from the Same Father with Jesus (Hebrews 2:11).
so many churches are waving the LGBT flag and other cooky ideas, many of have come looking for the true, unchanging church, and I believe Orthodoxy is it. Here I am
Haha lol. The four ancient Patriarchates which are still Orthodox are in Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria. What do you expect us Orthodox people from this areas to be, milky white like the AngloProtestants?! Stop thinking about such irrelevamt stuff and start thinking about the only thing that matters which is the Truth of the Church.
Orthodox means "correct". Orthodox Christianity is what we call the correct Christianity and heteredox Christianity the various deviations like roman-catholicism, protestantist denominations etc.
The day the church restores the teaching about reincarnation (the real deal teaching, not the new age disney version) and the rightful throne of Miryam of Magdala in EVERY aspect - then orthodoxy will live by its name.
@@johnnyd2383 It IS happening actually. If you had the nobility of soul to study stuff unbiased you would not talk to me with such fear as you are disposing now.
@@johnnyd2383 I know both reincarnated templars and cathars. They almost never talk about it, with few exceptions when guidance tell otherwise. If you really put truth first I think you should talk with real gnostic christians. What they have to say is way deeper than theories, dogma and blind faith. In fact, they cherish much of the orthodox churches and pay respect for them in prayers and thought.
@@johnnyd2383 You are one projection-happy dude for sure! I just asked you for honest study. Is that satanism I wonder what strange world this is then 😄 All the best
@@johnnyd2383 did you just judge my intelligence? Judge not... especially when you know nothing about me or my minds intellectual experience. Many many men of various people groups do not have facial hair. So who’s the dumb dumb? Your comment reveals you pride and arrogance.
@@thebluedan Can we all try to care more about the actual truth here and not to act smart, pls?😛 The Orthodox priests are required not to have beards... they are required not to cut them off😛. The reason for this is that a man of Christ should not care about cosmetics and taking care of his outer apperance. Of course for priests who live out in the world, they are allowed to do as ordinary men do withing decent limits with their appearance, including trimming their beard, but they are not allowed to completely shave it just as a symbolism and a reminder of what being a priest means in their daily life. People like your Philippino friend who grow no beards fall exactly under this category and they dont need to do anything about it. As for the robes they are from another world because they are from another world. They are from the 1st century AD world😛. They wear robes because tight/slimfit clothes do not go well with a priest's role, and they keep their body figures unexaminable by prying eyes. Well ofc many of them are too old for anyone to care, but the truth of the symbolism is still therr regardless😛
I come here to find out how, and the first thing you do is call a man “father”. If you need an entire page on a website to explain why something isn’t wrong, or blatantly violating the words in the Bible, you’re probably in the wrong.
Matthew 23:8-12 8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Jesus is condemning the prideful desire to be these things for the sake of being called these titles. A few verses later Christ then says in Matthew 28:19-20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and TEACHING them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” | What do you call someone who teaches? In Acts 7:2-4 Stephen when referring to ancestors says: 2 To this, he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia before he lived in Harran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’ 4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. | The same happens in Psalm 44 talks about "our fathers." Specifically to the title of "father" (spiritual father, father in the faith) we have a few verses: - 1 Corinthians 4:14-15 14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many FATHERS, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. - Philippians 2:22 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his FATHER he has served with me in the work of the gospel. (Paul is Timothy's spiritual father.) - Philemon 10 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus,[a] whose FATHER I became in my imprisonment. - 1 Peter 5:13 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. (Mark is referred to as Peter's "son" what does that make Peter?) - 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (Paul likens himself as a father to his spiritual children.) - 2 Corinthians 12:14 14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. (Paul likens himself as a father to his spiritual children.) There are many more.
In this case how do you present your father to your friends (if you ever had any), because we have only one Father in Heaven. "This is my mother, Jenny, he is his husband", like that?
@@MegaVIDEOGAMEVIDS INCREDIBLE answer... Thanks, already knew most of it, but it is absolutely good to see them gathered. Loud and clear your answer is! Bless you.
Politics are universally horrible, I think...I'm not sure that Orthodox ecclesiastical politics are any worse (though, indeed, they should be better...and perhaps they are? I wouldn't know how to judge, however!) They may appear particularly bad because they're so starkly contrasted to the fullness of Christian life found in Orthodoxy? Regardless, we're talking about a very small number of actually bad characters...most, I believe, are just flawed humans trying their best to do what's right...often unsuccessfully...
@@ProtectingVeil I am not sure that one can say that about the Patriarch of Constantinople, especially in view of the schism occasioned by uncanonical actions of the Patriarch
@Son of a Bob It is true that the Orthodox Church is not "liberal" or "politically correct" but then again neither is the Roman Catholic Church. Why not look into both? Every Church, in so far as it is an institution governed by fallible human beings, is going to have a certain amount of corruption in it. The Orthodox Church has its problems, like any other. The schism recently between the Russian Orthodox Patriarch and the Patriarch of Constantinople is particularly atrocious; you might want to look into that. You should only become Orthodox if you agree with the fundamentals of Orthodox theology, which in some respects are very different from the West.
JJ Timmo99 You cannot escape problems in a fallen world. The Church is Truth because it’s the Body of Christ. Politics will never go away. It’s silly not to join the True Church because of that. Honestly, where else are you going to go? Are you willing to settle for partial truth or none at all? Protestantism, Rome, and non-canonical churches are false.
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Im a protestant who believes my church is spiritually bankrupt and all the other 33,000 protestant denominations too. Ive been looking into Orthodoxy for a while now and truly believe its the true church but im very nervous to go to an Orthodox church, I need a spiritual home.
Michael Elmore I am certain that you will find it in orthodoxy. Make sure that you are most welcome to enter, the orthodox love visitors, but they won’t let you know this fact 😀 just go to the liturgy, go to the front or stay at the back and see what everyone is doing, what the priest and the deacon are saying and then come again. And again, it takes a while to actually get used to, learn and know what’s going on. Not only there’s a lot of symbolism in the Divine Liturgy, but there’s also a lot to take in and to get used to since the liturgy takes usually more than two hours and in most churches you are going to stand for the whole time, in case you don’t want to prostrate (my favourite part because of the leg pain :D But you’ll get used to standing, it comes a second nature in a while. Sometimes I attend catholic masses with my gf and they have pews, but I still prefer to stand, because it’s just... better, you pay more attention standing), but you’ll get used to it. Take some time to get used to the liturgy, learn what it’s all about, read some things about orthodoxy itself and I am most sure that you’ll find what you are looking for. Actually I know this anecdote from one convert who said that “orthodoxy is so great that you must discipline yourself not to start telling everyone how superior it is to any other religion” 😀
Edit: now I realise you are talking about entering the church, not the liturgy, oops... but well the best I can say in that case is just to investigate. Read the fathers, read the Philokalia, read the Bible, pray and maybe make an appointment with your local orthodox priest so you can discuss the matters of the faith with him. Tell him what you seek and he will know. He’s the expert.
@@thedisintegrador Thank you so much for your help and understanding. It's a big step to change your Christian persuasion. To my surprise there's a Orthodox Church 30 minutes from my house and I will be making a trip over there. Again I appreciate your kindness and understanding thank you so much and God bless
Michael Elmore I am glad I was able to help :)
May God continue to guide you on your path, Michael! Christ is Risen!
Αληθώς ανέστη
‘ Come to church and listen...’. This is exactly what I’ve done, and I haven’t looked back. It’s good to be Orthodox.
Did you have one near you?
I’m agnostic because there’s been a lot that I disagree with when it comes to other religions and denominations of Christianity, but there’s something that draws me to Orthodoxy. I want to explore it and find truth,
The Truth... is Jesus Christ, brother.
Matthew16: 18.
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".
Jesus spoke about only one church. But which one?
You don't have to believe with 100% certainty to be an Orthodox Christian. Even if you only believe 5% you can profess the Creed in good faith. When you start practicing Orthodoxy, praying, fasting, attending services, receiving the holy mysteries, your faith will grow with time.
Hi, Im just a simple Orthodox christian. Not a priest, not a theologian. But i have a bit of knowledge of my faith (not to brag), a catechisis book and a close bond with my spiritual father.
If you want, I can help you with your questions and the ones i don't know I can ask my spiritual father.
If you want we can speak in private.
I was super atheist and always felt weird with Catholicism and Protestant Christianity. Something about them just turned me off from religion and from Christianity in general. Over time I had a spiritual awakening and looked to many religions. It all lead back to Christ because his way of being and his teachings are just so perfect that even an atheist could admire such a man. But when I found out about Orthodoxy, it all just made sense.
I went to an Orthodox service once in boot camp. One of my boot camp buddies was Russian Orthodox and I wasn’t sure what I was at the time. I didn’t understand a word, but I liked it.
I’d probably convert if distance wasn’t such an issue. The priest’s wife was shocked when I told her that the nearest Orthodox church of any flavor was 80 miles from where I was from, but that’s the reality for most of the country. I think if you guys spread farther from the big cities you might find a lot of people who are interested.
Alas...you are not alone, brother! Maybe you can help start a mission closer to you?
@@ProtectingVeil Interesting ....how does one "start a mission?"
There are two Orthodox Churches within 10-15 minutes from our home. My wife wants nothing to do with Orthodoxy. Please pray for us 🙏 Thank you!
I want to become Orthodox, but I've been Southern Baptist all my life. I want to convert to orthodox so that I can really connect with Christ, but I'm 17 and idk where to begin
Glad to hear it, brother...may God direct your steps...have you found an Orthodox parish to visit yet?
Take a look online if there is an a Orthodox Church nearby. If you’re worried about just showing up, call ahead. Every Orthodox priest I’ve ever talked to has been welcoming and supporting. Best of luck and may Gos bless you
I'm in the same exact situation man. Same age as well
I’m the same age and I’ve been southern Baptist but all the churches are far away. I really want to be an orthodox Christian
@@rebekahrobinson1609 it's important to visit one. If you become a catechumen and get baptised it's ok if you cant be attending the church but only a couple times every year (since it will be away from your place). It's paramount for your soul to become part of the Church
I was baptised greek orthodox and attend a greek orthodox church. Although I don't speak greek, everyone is so welcoming and trying to help as much as possible
As a former catholic, I really want to convert to orthodox-Christianity but unfortunately, there aren't that many orthodox churches in Ireland
Hello brother. Im not sure if your still interested, but you could email the Eastern Orthodox priest nearest your location and after a while you can visit.
Thank you. I'm a Protestant, this is the second time I'm feeling an almost irresistible drawing toward Orthodoxy. I seriously don't know what to do with it. I was raised a Baptist, then hovered in Pentecostal circles, now I attend the Salvation Army (Celebrate Recovery). Recently I've been learning about the Reformation, but everytime I get serious Orthodoxy sinks it's claws in (for lack of a better term). What's going on?
I'm a Roman Catholic and I had a lot of supernatural experiences about Orthodoxy also. I catn' get away from it. I think it's the Holy Spirit. The Orthodox priest told me to wait to move towards conversion until my husband is more open.
I'm born and raised Roman Catholic. Left the Church living in the South U.S. where I got "saved." Been in various circles...Baptist, Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, non-denominational,....then landed in the Hebrew Roots Movement. Very long story and journey. Contemplated Orthodoxy many times over but always found a reason not to.
Came back to my Catholic faith several years back but since then cannot stop thinking about Eastern Orthodoxy. It is such a pull for me. The biggest hurdle now is I'm married with older children and not sure how they would take it but I can't stop this "drive" to Orthodoxy.
Godspeed, brother...may God continue to enlighten and guide you!
I know I'm a year late, but recently I am having an incredibly similar experience! I became a Protestant Christian a few years ago in a low Anglican church. Learnt about Orthodoxy online, and now I'm going to become Orthodox and try to attend a church ^^
In case you are still in a similar place: I urge you not to resist that leading, brother. I resisted it for a while, in the exact same way, but no more can I do it. Orthodoxy is the fullness of the holy Faith given to the apostles, it is the true path God has given us to be saved from sin. Seek the Lord for yourself and ask Him for guidance, so that He might make it clear to you Himself. May God bless you and lead you into all truth 🙏🏼☦️
In case you're wondering...yes, in retrospect, I wish I had asked other questions, better suited to Fr. John's expertise(!) That said, as you'll see from Fr. John's responses, his is a deeply pastoral approach that underlines the fact that Orthodox theology is, above all, pastoral and experiential.
Actually, it was great; so simple and yet so hard to do
Thanks to God...I agree...this is one of my favorites thus far...
I've heard Fr. John speak on scholarly topics, but this was certainly more helpful for daily life.
" if your interested in Orthodoxy then go to church" is good advice however I would also say when you go to church don't go there with any preconcieved notions of what it might be like.
Excellent video. It’s answered a lot of questions for me, as I am methodically inching into Orthodoxy. I truly like the good Fathers approach. He keeps it simple. Thanks again for a great video.
☦️📿☦️
Out’ remer Me, too. “Inching toward”... I am curious about how it goes for you. I’m a little confused on a few things but definitely pulled toward Orthodoxy.
Im interested in becoming orthodox but I am a single 31 yr old woman and I feel kind of embarrassed as I would be going to church alone. 😔 i feel like in my community these churches are filled with families and I would feel like an outcast. I will pray about it and hopefully I will find a church soon
Just go.Dont worry about anything.Greetings from Greece.
Come home sister dont think about it just do it and everything will be ok.
You will find the church and a husband too within that church 😉
You can go to the Orthodox church with me..we can go together
@@ΟΟύτις Visited Athens And Corinth. You have a beautiful country!
Excellent Video! I am considering converting from Catholic. This video was a breath of fresh air. Thank You!
good! leave the catholic church which has corrupted the faith
@@robinsteendam1311 whatever church one goes to we have to put in the effort
I’ll be seeing him this coming Saturday at my Church, Saint Anthony’s in San Antonio. It will be stellar.
☦️
I too am in the process of my Catechumen phase in the Orthodox Church. After coming home here, and through all my studies with the Orthodox Church, Jesus Christ teachings and understanding them better, the Desert Fathers, and their wisdom, there is no turning back to any other church again. There is nowhere else I would rather be.This is the real church God meant for us to BE. Orthodoxy is a way of life and that way of life is following Jesus and doing what he instructs us to do, taking his teachings seriously in our lives in a way that is gentle but so real that the Holy Spirit shows you the truth that you cannot denye. We all live with some great sorrows in our lives, but It is good to know, that we are all in this together , and we don't have to journey alone. We can have Jesus in the boat with us always, as long as we invite him in and trust and believe him and the scriptures, and along side the church.
I enjoyed the video, it was well presented and the father is approachable.
Thanks to God...yes, he's a good man...
I have more than 18 hours per day of Silence. I have a caregiver for 6 hours I have no family members living or friends. I do a great deal of meditation both spiritual and otherwise.
May God give you strength and consolation, Elizabeth! Please pray for us!
Read "The spiritual life and how to be attuned to it" by Theophan the Recluse, or any other writing.
May God bless you!
Amazing advices, i just went for the firsttime at my local orthodox church and did exactly that ; i was blown away by the simplicity and the love i felt.
Rock solid advice - and a great reminder for those that have been in the Church for a while!
Today I wil be going to an Orthodox cathedral, it will be my first time steping foot in such a building. I am very strongly considering converting to the Orthodox faith as I believe that protestanism has strayed too far from the teachings of the bible and that it was never meant to become a faith in the first place, my feelings towards Catholicism are not particularly positive either given the light in which they hold the pope makes it seem to me as though he would stand between God and myself. I am going there to learn about the faith directly from those who practice it as I do not put much faith in what I read on the internet. The cathedral is roughly an hour away from my home so I have been preparing myself and watching videos like these. Thank you for making this video.
Godspeed, Nathan! May God continue to guide your steps...thank you for sharing your journey!
So, did you become Orthodox?
Loved the explanation of hesychasm!!! This will help me I think..... starting my 8th year in the Church.
You who are new to O, It is simply an indescribable journey into relationship with God - more than I could ever get into before as a Protestant/Evangelical !
This was very helpful and encouraging. Thank you for sharing.
That was excellent, thank you, and very helpful. I'm making my way into Orthodoxy and I don't have easy access to an Orthodox church. I appreciate this especially helpful concise and comprehensive guidance.
I'm relieved to watch this inspiring guidance from Fr Behr, I've been increasingly drawn to orthodoxy for the last year.. And i may have done some of the steps backwards.., however i have found a church that i feel at home with, only visited for Sunday liturgy last week for the third time and have found myself doing all the thing's naturally that Fr Behr suggests. ❤️🙏
Godspeed...and "slowly, slowly," as they say in Greece!
As a Protestant (Lutheran), who has seen the shortcomings of the Reformation and who has the intent of converting, I am torn between the Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, and Byzantine Catholic Church. Trying to discern the differences is not easy. I read the Orthodox Study Bible, listen to EWTN (Catholic Radio), and listen to a weekly Byzantine Catholic podcast. The Eastern liturgy is definitely more challenging to follow, but I am drawn to the iconography.
Same here. I love the eastern spirituality and mysticism, especially the wisdom of those fathers, but as a western person, there's just something about catholicism that appeals to me in a cultural sense.
@@33-vertebrae What should be deciding quality is The Truth. Everything else does not matter since The Truth has no alternative. Thus, Eastern Orthodoxy has no alternative.
@@johnnyd2383 Right, but I don't know for a fact that EO is truth. They have a different theology from what I have known my entire life. They speak of energies and view the Holy Trinity differently. They view hell as a state of being and not a place. So I can't just say for certain they are truth and jump on their bandwagon. I haven't discerned these things yet.
@@33-vertebrae That is alright. Take your time and pray to God to help you to understand the mystical theology of the Orthodox Church. God bless.!
I’m in the same boat. The epistemology, specifically in the context of ecclesiology, of the East is my last hurdle. Who makes a final decision?
Please pray for my wife Cathy and me. I am ready, but Cathy refuses. God bless you always and thank you all.
These things take patience...may God grant you encouragement and wisdom...good strength, brother! I will pray for you and Cathy, fwiw...
Thank you. It's just what I needed to hear.
Saw him at SVS at the Summer Institute before he was ordained. Wonderful human.
Thanks for your time and video
Take every thought captive.
Much enjoy your series. Wil you be doing an interview with Jay Dyer?
Thanks to God...thanks for your note! I will add his name to my (increasingly long(!)) list!
Thankyou for your helpful advice
I have sinned a lot. A recent experience of evil has brought me back to Christ. The Orthodox church is the only thing I'm interested in.
I was interested in Orthodoxy. The priest at the orthodox church told me I would have to renounce Roman Catholicism and would never be able to receive the Eucharist from the Roman Catholic Church, again. I am 61 years of age with health problems. The nearest orthodox church to me is quite a distance. With the Eucharist being a huge part of my life I had to give it a hard pass.
Orthodox priest was correct. (2 Corinthians 6,15) "...what accord has Christ with Belial?"
@@johnnyd2383 I am a devout Catholic and do not run with the pagans.
God bless you. God understands your situation, and where you can receive the sacraments and teachings of Christ and the comfort of belonging to a church is important. Peace be unto you where you are.
Thank You for this God Bless☦️
Just to add since this faith was always my dad's life... They totally betrayed and abandoned my dad an amazing arch priest who's been destroyed by my own family because my mother a master manipulator and my brother and sister went great lengths to destroy him and all defense. No one is telling me where he is now so its hurtful because I know what there trying to setup and I'm alone in this now. I asked the diocese website email why was my father removed from the list like he never existed no suspension no defrocking or anything. Who just disappears? And my mother told everyone hes got a disturbing case against him and he's suicidal but wow a year ago he was still a functional marriage family therapist but somethings not the same and no one's telling me where he is and it's being covered up this isn't right. Sorry I had to share this I only have my voice. I'm totally alone.
really grounded good practice advice, thanks for that.
I'm interested in becoming Orthodox but it's hard for me as I'm third generation in this church and I'm an usher for the church
Have you found a local Orthodox church to visit yet? You can always begin slowly (usually the best way), by going to a weekly Vespers service, getting to know the priest, etc. It's good to give God time to work in the hearts and minds of those around you (and on you!) As they say in Greece, "Siga, siga," ("slowly, slowly").
@@ProtectingVeil yeah there's a church I've been visiting about once every month for vespers. Went to my first Divine Liturgy on Jan 1, and I visited St Anthony's Monastery. Talked with the priest a couple times. I've also spoke with one the deacons several times.
@@mywinterapocalypse Excellent...well...may God continue to guide your steps...He knows what you, your family, and your community need...good strength!
Informative, even for the baptized. It always helps to review the basics.
Great video
Ex Jehovah’s Witness here wanting to convert to orthodox but I’m scared to enter a church.
There's nothing to fear! If it helps, reach out to the local Orthodox priest and ask him if he'll meet with you first?
@@ProtectingVeil I don’t know Greek at all and I’m also a huge introvert so I’m nervous to enter and not know what to do and look dumb if they only speak Greek 😭
@@Shy-v2p Go beyond your fears, they are only holding you back, don't let that stop you. Courage to do it and you will be glad. Why not?
Thanks
Im carpathian russian orthdox i was baptize in orthdox
Can't tell to what extent that mention of Mary was an illustrative metaphor or literal interpretation. It's often very hard for inquiring Protestants to distinguish Illustrative, Physical, and Metaphysical speech in traditional Christianity.
One needs to approach it with the open heart and without prejudices... it is not easy but if we understand that it is easier to build a new house from the scratch than to fix the one that is built in a poor way with the irregularities left and right... it becomes more obvious what I am talking about. All the best.!
@@johnnyd2383 I appreciate your response. The illustration you provided can perhaps be used to better illustrate my difficulty. I have relieved myself of as much prejudice as possible, and when trying to build this new house am open to any design, so long as it stands on its own foundation (truth).
What I'm asking, I suppose is what materials the house should be built of, and to say "be open minded" does not assist in the building of the house; I've already agreed to and do it under the careful instruction of my Orthodox brothers and sisters. Or to tell a man who has never seen a boat to build a ship, without specifying the materials, the boat will surely sink if made a cube and crafted of stone. It will not be stable if not constructed under some compliance to the tradition of successful boatmakers, to which the new boatmaker wished to subscribe.
I hope this helps better illustrate the position I feel myself to be in
@@Eraktab Indeed. I admire God seeking people and especially those who are making such a spiritual journey as you do. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. Peace.
Most Excellent
How can one who is interested go to church during lockdowns? My heart is longing for this for over a year now but the churches are not open here.
You can find an orthodox church that is holding online services
We found one near us. We are going to a liturgy soon!
I am so sick of things. I am rejecting to modernity and returning to tradition.
Hello Im a Protestant i guess i was baptized when i was jong in a NG church in RSA im 18 and want to visit a greek orthodox church neer me and im interested in the traditions of orthodox
Wat i guess im asking is can you give me some advice on what to do or something im just really lost about what to do 🙏
I once asked this fellow, about two years ago, if he knew about any historical connections between Buddhism and Christianity, Orthodoxy in particular.
There are stories of Jesus travelling to India. Alexander's army traveled to India and back directly through the area that Jesus would have lived. It is not inconceivable that they would have brought back some Buddhism considering Alexander was there right after the life of the Buddha and dissemination of Buddhism was white hot at that time. Also, Buddha and Jesus are the only religious figures appearing similarly, with arms outstretched and palms up in an offering of love. There are many other similarities, read "Living Buddha Living Christ."
Father Behr's reply was to simply state what Irenaeus said. Irenaeus, the man who wrote "Against heresies." Irenaeus, over and over again. That's like if I asked someone what they think about Jews and they quote the opinion of the head of the Spanish Inquisition.
That's not accurate because Jesus did not go to India and his hand and arm position didn't have the same finger position that Christ is depicted with. There are many anti-Christs, but only one Christ. Satan didn't know all of God's plan for the Messiah, but he knew enough to be a copycat by having other "sons of God" and others tempting people to be like God. See God's promise to Eve in Genesis that her offspring will crush the head of the serpent. Buddhism teaches people that they can become buddhas themselves. Orthodoxy teaches that someday we will be with God, but not share His same essence. Satan wants people to think they can become god, but Orthodoxy teaches that we still be ourselves, saved by Grace, but be in a marriage with God (the Bride of Christ). If you want mysticism, Orthodoxy has truth. Metanoia (turning from one's sins) is what satan doesn't want anyone to do, so he comes up with lots of distracting ideas for people to be away from the one True God.
@John Q Buddha, all his life was in search of the way to reach God and reach enlightment. On the other hand, Jesus clearly and boldly declared that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and He is the ONLY Way to God the Father. Fundamentally different.
what if there are no orthodox church services in your area?
What is your ZIP code... let's see where would be the nearest parish...
Maybe drive to the next town over
@@jacopieterse8363 Where are you at bro.?
Johnny D Southern Taiwan
I think the nearest English one is Hong Kong. I know there's a Chinese church in Taipei , but even that one is almost 6 hours away.
There are no orthodox Christian churches where I live…how would I go about becoming one without a church
Where are you located? If you're in America, here's a tool that can help you locate the closest Orthodox church: orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Otherwise, I would encourage you to visit an Orthodox monastery for a few nights, to seek counsel...
@@ProtectingVeil in Bermuda
Problem for me is that the nearest orthodox church to me is just over an hour away and I can't drive yet.
Consider yourself lucky. I know someone from Norway and the closest Orthodox church from him is around 800 kilometers.
Also consider this: God will provide a way but in the meantime you can do alot of things to prepare: read the New Testament, read a catechism book, pray.
Hi just came across this channel. I have been looking for church, and the orthodx christianity really is something im drawn too. How can i get lesrn more i live in a cstholic country
Glad you found us, brother! Which country do you live in? There are Orthodox churches in most western countries...
@@ProtectingVeil i live in nicaragua.
@@henrylau8122 You can read the Orthodox catechism to understand the faith a little better
Hi, Im just a simple Orthodox christian. Not a priest, not a theologian. But i have a bit of knowledge of my faith (not to brag), a catechisis book and a close bond with my spiritual father.
If you want, I can help you with your questions and the ones i don't know I can ask my spiritual father.
If you want we can speak in private.
So excellent
Unfortunately I don't live near a church, not sure if I can convert or not unless I move which isn't possible right now.
God will provide a way but in the meantime, you can prepare yourself in reading the New Testament, fasting and praying, reading a catechism book on Holy Orthodoxy.
Struggle towards your goal, and God will help you.
There are thoughts in the Orthodox Church which remind me of Buddhism.
And.? Just because some pagan religion is pretending to be true, Orthodoxy shall reject The Truth.?
@@johnnyd2383 it's amusing when Christians get on their high horse about Buddhism. You clearly haven't read The Buddha's teachings. Nothing pagan about it.
@@HerenorThere524 You mean... if there is no god in pagan religion, it is not pagan.? :o))))
@@johnnyd2383 pagan is not a catch-all term for non abrahamic religions, perhaps it means something different in your part of the world. But play word games all you want, the point is you disparaged a comment making a connection between Orthodoxy and Buddhism, as if Buddhism is without its merits.
@@HerenorThere524 Any religion that is not worshiping One True God is pagan idolatrous baloney. That applies to Buddhism as well. All such religions are blinding people and leading them astray. That is their only merit.
I have a sincere question. If the great commission is to spread the gospel and get as many people saved as possible, why do the orthodox practice closed communion? Especially since it is seen as necessary part of the salvation process. Thank you for any input.
One is only supposed to take communion when one is genuinely in communion with the people around them [confessed one's sins, asked forgiveness for offenses against one's brothers and sisters in christ, etc]. When one approaches the altar, it is assumed that one is in regular confession and community with an actual Orthodox body of believers at a local, physical level. The Orthodox have no way of evaluating the spiritual state of non-Orthodox before God because only God knows the state of other's hearts, given the knowledge that they have of God at the time. The role of communion, however, is to ritually categorize everyone, orthodox and non-orthodox alike, in relation to their proximity to the cup.
For example, in preparing holy communion, during the service called the proskemedia [offering], the priest says prayers of blessing for non-orthodox, non christians, and Orthodox christians alike. They are all represented symbolically on the loaf of bread that itself represents the lamb of God. A symbol of christ is at the center of that loaf, and symbols representing Orthodox christian Hierarchs, saints, and laity are all represented. Also represented are those who are not Orthodox Christians. The priest, through the liturgical prayers, re-enacts the crucifixion, using a knife-like instrument shaped like a spear. It is the part of the loaf representing christ that is mixed with the wine, which is served as communion. The bread that represents non-orthodox people is prayed over and blessed. This is what is distributed at the end of the service, and is called "blessed Bread". The bread that represents orthodox Christians, after everyone has taken communion and it is complete, is mixed with the wine and the bread that represents christ, thus representing the reality that these Orthodox Christians that took communion today are now "In Communion", literally. They are "in Christ" by virtue of their participation in the eating of Christ's body. The priest or deacon then consumes this mixture.
Thus, communion in this way doesn't paper over differences as if they don't matter, but it likewise doesn't scorn those who cannot partake, but rather acknowledges where people are actually at. And from that place of sober acknowledgement, it doesn't gloat over its exalted status as "in-communion", but uses it as a way of understanding where people are and praying for them and blessing them from that place. Go to an orthodox liturgy and you will be showered with "Blessed Bread". These little pieces of bread are the physical embodiment of prayers said for you, and of the longing for you to enter the church so that you, too can be, quite literally, placed in the communion cup. Til then, know that you are blessed and prayed for every sunday by Orthodox Christians all over the world.
@@consciousstream5036 thank you.
@@consciousstream5036 i became a catechumen last halloween 2021. I have another question if you dont mind. In the book of acts when people believed, they were immediately baptized along with their whole family. If baptism is for the remission of sins, why is there a waiting period to be baptized? This has caused some major anxiety for me seeing as how i am coming from protestantism. Thank you.
No problem! You should probably ask your priest about these things, as I am definitely not an expert. He will likely be able to offer a better explanation.
That acknowledged, I am pretty sure that death is considered a baptism in-of-itself, such that if you die before your baptism and chrismation, if you are a catechumen, your death is considered your baptism.
@@consciousstream5036 thank you for the reply
So much straw men in the comment section by people who probably learned about Orthodoxy through their local baptist pastor or John MacArthur lol
The practice of hesychasm in the Orthodox church, as well as contemplative prayer in Catholicism, really gives me much hesitation in becoming a part of their particular brand of church.
I've admired ancient Orthodox and Catholic hymns, and I do listen to them sometimes while in prayer if I'm having a particularly unpleasant time. They are quite beautiful, inspired, and soothing. Also, the traditional iconography is stunning and mesmerizing. They really make you feel as though you are approaching something holy.
However... my hesitation comes from my background in mysticism and the occult. From my perspective, there seems to be no essential difference between these practices and Buddhist, Hindu, Wiccan, Neo-Pagan, New Age, Hermetic, Kabbalistic, gnostic, or even dare I say Satanist forms of prayer, meditation, or yoga.
In my experience, none of these practices, which are all essentially variations on the same overall theme, can lead one to induce a true experience of God. Only God can give you a genuine experience of His presence... and when God does come, He cuts right through all of that stuff, cuts right through reality itself, with no effort or intentionality on our part, by His Will alone... and when He does, I warn that even the most well intentioned meditative practices can and will turn profoundly bitter quite rapidly.
I wish I was wrong about that, because I am just about the most impatient guy you can find, and I would love to have at my disposal some sort of rituals or mantras which are able to force God to respond or induce visions of holy things to give me some sort of immediately tangible comfort... but patience is what I've had to learn. Truly having faith in what God is doing and has done and will do means letting go of all control mechanisms, and resting in His Spirit alone.
While these ancient traditions are quite inspired and seductive in that way, capturing the eyes, the ears, the body, the mind, and the spirit in their mysteries, I fear that they may well be the most glorious ruse of Lucifer himself. I fear that they capture us in our impatience, and they seduce us into a sense of ritualistic control over our spiritual life.
My realization, after God touched me and converted me to His Way (not my own, not the way of the traditions of ancient men, however well-meaning they may have been), was that we as natural men, have no spiritual life. We certainly have the look and the feel and even the internal experience of something we perceive in our natural ignorance as spirituality, but when all is said and done, we're only experiencing our lack of true Spirit by filling it with some other "spirit", and that other "spirit" may well be the wide path to destruction.
Being a one-time friend of the devil, I was taught in his ways, and I saw into his mind. Do you believe the devil cannot sit in the place where God should be and appear even to be God?
I wish this judgment had not come, for it is very painful, and there are precious few who truly understand, and it is incredibly lonely and alienating, having no religious home in this world to lay our heads and to congregate as we should...
It's disheartening to be reminded of this... but I believe wholeheartedly that this is the Truth, and that scripture attests to it, that Christ's very being both while here on earth and now in heaven and in Spirit attests to it, that logic and reason attest to it, that history attests to it, and that even creation itself attests to it.
It's a bummer... but the truth of the world rarely is anything but...
God bless you,
Andrew M.
Thank you for your comment! As you say, "From my perspective, there seems to be no essential difference..." I assure you that there is a difference...and in time, God willing, you will understand it. All humans were made for communion with God...it is only natural that humans everywhere would seek God in a similar way. The difference is that at the heart of hesychasm is union with the God-man Jesus Christ. Is it a dangerous path, fraught with perils? Yes, which is why one shouldn't attempt to walk it on their own. St. Paul's experience of God during three years in the desert (Galatians 1:11-19) attest to the validity of the path...and his understanding of the need for spiritual direction (1 Corinthians 4:15) provides the beginning of the Orthodox understanding of the path of hesychasm.
Have you seen materials about the scientific examinations and analysis of the brain activity during the Orthodox prayers and Pagan meditations.? Perhaps that may help you in understanding the differences...
@@johnnyd2383 That's interesting. I'd like to read more about that.
Perhaps my fears are in error, but I do need more information, and I actually have been trying to contact some Orthodox priests with some questions, but so far none have responded. It's only been a few days, though.
If I err, I'm erring on the side of caution, so please forgive me.
Also, for some weird reason, it's been hard getting relevant results in any search engines about things of this nature the past few years. It's like someone has been sanitizing the whole internet.
@Protecting Veil Upon further reading, I have come to the same conclusion I originally had, as I've realized that I've read and deeply considered most of it before.
I'll start off by pointing to Simon Magus, when he asked Paul on how he could "buy" the Holy Spirit. Money is a physical representation of a physical or intellectual action one can take to gain something. In essence, it is something the mind or the body does to gain something according to one's own will.
Of course, Paul told Simon Magus that the Holy Spirit could not be bought. Meaning that there is no act of the self-will which could attain the Holy Spirit. Simply put, the Holy Spirit is a gift from God which is according to His own Will, and not the will of the person asking.
Another Pauline example would be his journey on the road to Damascus. Paul was not asking God for anything, nor was he practicing anything which would merit God's favor. As a matter of fact, he was on his way to Damascus to arrest the Christians there. Hardly an act of one who was set to receive a vision of Our Lord, let alone to later receive the Holy Spirit.
The point of these examples was to illustrate that God alone holds discretion on who receives the gift of his Grace and who does not. It is not something that can be attained or realized or invoked or bargained with, and it is not something which any tradition holds a monopoly over.
Thus, my fear for many people of all traditions, including Pagan ones, is that they are actively participating in a great (the greatest, in fact) spiritual forgery.
I must ask the honest practitioner of the Orthodox or Catholic faith that, aside from tradition and the teachings of "Church Fathers", how one is able to recognize the Holy Spirit from some other deceiving spirit which appears as holy?
Because it is written that Satan appears as an angel of light, and that his ministers appear as ministers of righteousness, and that he sits in the holy place of God, and makes himself to appear as God. It seems that Satan is not afraid of using the name of Christ, using scripture, or surrounding his traditions with Christianized icons.
How, apart from God's willful intercession, is one to discern genuine Truth from a convincing counterfeit?
Another teaching of the Orthodox church (and to a somewhat more obfuscated degree, the Catholic Church, as well) is that God is wholly transcendent in a way which makes him entirely unknowable. Yet we read countless times in scripture that God makes Himself knowable, and the knowability of God is exemplified most profoundly in the Incarnation. God condescends to the level of Man, and makes Himself a servant of Man, even unto death.
He came to His people and they knew Him not. His own people rejected Him, and instead, over the years, descended into the same sort of "irrational" mysticism and seemingly absurd abstraction that Catholicism and Orthodoxy seem to have adopted. So, it seems that the oldest Christian traditions, apart from the original Christians of scripture and maybe the earliest church fathers who were in direct succession from the Apostolic fathers, have made the same error. Replacing a genuine transmission of the Holy Spirit by God's Grace through God's Will, with traditional rituals and practices and hierarchies created by men to serve men in a manner which, as Paul puts it, has all of the appearance of religion, but denies the power therein.
Then, there's the issue of the so-called "Tabor Light", said to be the Light witnessed at the Transfiguration by the disciples on Mount Tabor. This is central Orthodox theology, and yet it is in essence indistinguishable from the "Uncreated Light" of other mystical religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism. In fact, in Freemasonic Tradition, the whole ritual of initiation is about receiving the "light" of Freemasonry... and quite a few high level Freemasons have described this light as noneother than the light of Lucifer, and that it was Lucifer who is God, not the God of the Bible. Yet,in the eyes of Masonry, any icon one wishes to use is equally sufficient.
How is one to discern the difference? How is one to tell whether this is of God or of Lucifer? Let me state that Freemasonry does not make scruples about which "god" or tradition you surround your internal structure with, but only that you believe in a Supreme Being. Many mystics and occultists describe the ritual and dogma of ceremonial "higher magic" (that is, the practice of "divine union", and the basis of Freemasonic tradition) as the "divine science"... the SCIENCE of uniting oneself with the divine. While the abstractions may vary according to one's personal predilections, the essential practices remain rather consistent, and strikingly similar, with no difference other than one focuses on a certain icon over another for certain outcomes over others.
Since Freemasonry especially does not distinguish between one religion or another, or one prayer/mantra from another, or one god/absolute from another, it would be safe to say that one could be a Freemason (or a mystic in general) AND a practicing Orthodox or Catholic, and one would "receive" this light in a fashion which would seem to be completely in line with their tradition, and the outcome would resemble what one might expect from said tradition. (That doesn't mean these traditions point to different things, but rather that the "thing" being pointed to is superficially very multi-faceted, and can produce a specific "cause" in any one individual which would result in a desired effect. Lucifer is not an impersonal force, after all. He's God's former Angel-in-Chief... on par with St. Michael the Archangel.)
None of the disciples of Jesus were doing these things. They were just your average everyday Jews of that time, going about their normal business (Matthew we know was probably not particularly religious, as he was a tax collector, and publicans were counted as sinners by the more religious Jews), when Jesus shows up and completely upends their entire lives.
Enter the day of the Pentecost, 50 days after the Resurrection. Apart from being told by Christ to congregate on a certain day in a certain building, these people were doing nothing in particular, when suddenly the Holy Spirit dramatically descended upon the room and fell upon everyone in it. They started speaking in languages foreign to them, and they could perfectly understand each other, even though they came from different areas and spoke different languages, and other extraordinary things. Yet, when they left, they did not speak of meditative prayer or emptying their minds. They simply said to each other, "We have seen strange things today!"
It was as if they were caught up by Holy Spirit in a very unexpected manner!
All of this happened not because of intensive practices, ritualized monastic living, or saying the right words in the right way. It happened, by no self-directed efforts of the disciples, but rather by the Will of God.
I don't intend to condemn either the Catholic or Orthodox church, or to judge their members, but I am merely suggesting that its members and its clergy are engaging in deceptive practices. The fact that these practices have been described as perilous and dangerous without proper training under the tutelage of ordained elders tells me that these "divine experiences" have been occulted and are far out of the reach of the laity... and that itself is in direct violation of Christ's teachings. One should not hide one's light under a basket, but one should be as a shining city on a hilltop for all to see. Christ did not come for the righteous, but for sinners. He did not come to congratulate and make whole the Pharisees, but instead, he came to the lowly people, the outcasts, and the rejects of society.
And what about the Sermon on the Mount? Does this describe the priesthood? Does this describe those mentally and/or physically capable of the complex and involved practices of the Catholic and Orthodox mysteries?
It is the Sermon on the Mount which is the most detrimental to Orthodox and Catholic mystical traditions.
Because he was not addressing one who should become these things. He is addressing those who ARE these things.
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, so for men, it is an impossibility. Yet for God, all things are possible.
Again, unless your righteousness EXCEEDS the righteousness of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, you will in no way inherit the Kingdom of God. Were the Pharisees and the Saducees much different from the clergy or earnest practitioners of the Orthodox and Catholic traditions? Were they not performing rituals, reciting repetitive prayers, and practicing contemplative exercises of their own? I think so. Later Jewish tradition reflects that they were doing those same things and passing on those traditions which have become a part of Judaism as it is known today.
So who is more righteous than those who in deed are accomplishing righteousness by virtue of their acts? Nobody. Therefore... once again, for men, it is impossible.
So either it is God alone, by way of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross, who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit... or it is nothing, and all of our efforts are fruitless, and all of our experiences are equally valid delusions... meaning that they are ultimately meaningless, no matter how we judge them, by whatever traditional means we shape them.
We were not given the ability to reason, only to abandon it in favor of chasing ineffable absurdity.
I want join orthodox monastery from nepal
Love orthodoxy.God Bless Your mission Fr.
💒⛪💒⛪💒
me too....it's almost as good as Catholicism (well Traditional Catholicism) and we've also got the Byzantine Catholic Church
Romans 8:5-8
[5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [6] For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (ESV)
Is there instances or reasons where the orthodox church would prevent someone from joining?
Hello, im just a simple Orthodox and not a priest. If you want, I can inquire for you to my spiritual father for the question you have.
If I can help you with other questions, I am here.
Would it be possible to reupload without the scratch effects? I found them distracting from Fr John's words.
Alas, UA-cam does not allow direct reuploads...it would have to be put up as a completely new video...
living i Norway, do not know about an ortodoks church nearby..
What if you don’t live close to a church?
🙏
@Michael Elmore. Too bad, wrong address, Sir! Jesus tells us “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6, The Orthodox Study Bible version). A Protestant church, an Orthodox church, a Catholic one and so forth, are people’s churches by definition, men’s, flesh’s. Of course, they ALL go bankruptcy - only Jesus’ Church will last eternally.
Do you want a spiritual church? First of all, and everything else, you MUST become spiritual yourself, by the process that Jesus calls it being born again (John 3, verses 3 and 5). No matter who you are. You can be like Nicodemus, a ruler in the chosen people on Earth, blood relative with Jesus - if you are not born again of the spirit, you can NOT be part of a spiritual Church, you can’t find a “spiritual home” one, as you call it, because, not being born again, you do NOT belong to it.
You, I and the entire humanity that descend from the sinner, fleshly Adam, we ALL are flesh by our natural birth. And what is born of flesh, is flesh - as Jesus said it, and you can’t join what is spiritual. We ALL, you, I and everybody else, are “conceived in transgressions, and in sins our mother bore us” [Psalm 50(51):7]. And in this state, you and I cannot see, neither enter the spiritual Kingdom of God. Jesus made it absolutely clear talking about the necessity of being born of the Spirit two times in a row here in John 3 verses 3 and 5. You can be a Protestant, can be an Orthodox, can be either one of the tens of thousands fleshly denominations on Earth - you can be one of all of them at once, who cares? They are ALL fleshly and what is flesh, cannot be spiritual.
Do you want a “spiritual home” Church? Become part of Jesus’ Church that He Himself built it. And you can become part of it by being born again. Jesus Himself, the God-man Jesus was born of the Spirit (Matthew 1:20). There is no other way for you. Do you want to become His brother? Listen to Hebrews 2:11: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.”
In closing this message, I call your specific attention to two facts:
1) By quoting you all the Bible verses above I just submitted to the order of Father John Behr who started his message to us (minute 1:25) by saying “But above all, start reading the Scripture”. So I just followed the instruction of the Orthodox priest.
2) And, secondly, as I mentioned already, all the quotes are from The Orthodox Study Bible.
God bless you!
Leave theology aside and start learning getting some basic language skills. All these Chruches you mentioned claim to be "the" Church. None of them claims to be only what the adjective in front of the word Church describes.
Your argument about it is so off place that i don't even feel that there is any need as an Orthodox to answer with theological arguments. Just learn to read and speak.
@@eleftheriosmas Empty words. Show me state, is the Missourian saying. Prove me being wrong by showing me what is the right thing putting it face to face to my, supposedly, wrong. The manner that you use is the ancient Phariseeic style. When they ran out of arguments grabbed stones and threw them at Jesus.
@@eotpatriarchs lol, answer to what? You didnt say anything.
The first one that Orthodox/Protestant/Catholic are not Church's and the only Church is Jesus's Church is no argument, since all of them claim to be Jesus's Church. Want an actual answer? Alright, the Church of Christ is the one that was establised during the Pentecost as everyone knows. The true Church is the one who bears (so no Protestants) a valid (so not Roman Catholics) Apostolic Succesion till back to that day. Orthodox as even an english speaking person knows means "correct" and calling the Church Orthodox is simply saying that is the one who keeps being correct while other people deviated from it. The official name of the Orthodox Church as stated in the Nicene Creed is the One Holy Catholic (καθολικός means "of everyone/everything") and Apostolic Church. So your first statement wasn't even sth that needed a theological answer.
The second about the flesh... well, ehm, i dont know, CHRIST WAS BORN IN FLESH in this earthly world to save us, but i guess you and your random throwing of bible passages here and there knows better.
God i cant understand for a minute how the hell the first Protestants bought the crap of Luther about the truth of the Church being found individually by everyone that opens and reads it! I want to keep a screenshot of your comment to use it against any Evagelical that dares to say that again to me😂😂😂
@@chanting_germ. Whosoever REALLY desires to have a fellowship with Jesus and be part of HIS Church, MUST know that, according to His own sayings, namely Jesus’ words from John 12:48, the judgement will be done according to “the word that I have spoken.”
Now, when it comes about denominations and THE Church, there is ONE Church, born and built by Him through His Holly blood at Golgotha, consisting of ALL the children of God born of God (John 1:11-13), born from the Same Father with Jesus (Hebrews 2:11).
so many churches are waving the LGBT flag and other cooky ideas, many of have come looking for the true, unchanging church, and I believe Orthodoxy is it. Here I am
not for me, my mind wonders all the time.
I need advice from a priest.
Christ alone through the shedding of HIS blood, Not rituals
I’m skeptical about going to these churches as a dark skinned person
I am a mixed woman so my experiences might be different than yours, but I had no trouble. And I was wearing my curly hair out at the time.
Haha lol. The four ancient Patriarchates which are still Orthodox are in Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria. What do you expect us Orthodox people from this areas to be, milky white like the AngloProtestants?!
Stop thinking about such irrelevamt stuff and start thinking about the only thing that matters which is the Truth of the Church.
How about becaming a Christian?
You do realize Orthodoxy is a denomination of Christianity
Orthodox means "correct". Orthodox Christianity is what we call the correct Christianity and heteredox Christianity the various deviations like roman-catholicism, protestantist denominations etc.
Is orthodox equivalents to islam wahabi?
Saad Bin Masud really, i didn't know that..
Saad Bin Masud so what is orthodox equivalents to?
@@jackdolah2031
To True Christianity
repent for the kingdom of God is at hand the last days we are living in Jesus is returning turn from sin to the light trust in Jesus before it is toL8
Is Orthodox Catholic???
Yes, but not Roman Catholic or papist.
The day the church restores the teaching about reincarnation (the real deal teaching, not the new age disney version) and the rightful throne of Miryam of Magdala in EVERY aspect - then orthodoxy will live by its name.
You are proposing Gnostic crap that The Church rejected and condemned in the first centuries. Ain't gonna happen I guarantee you.
@@johnnyd2383 It IS happening actually.
If you had the nobility of soul to study stuff unbiased you would not talk to me with such fear as you are disposing now.
@@johnnyd2383 I know both reincarnated templars and cathars. They almost never talk about it, with few exceptions when guidance tell otherwise.
If you really put truth first I think you should talk with real gnostic christians. What they have to say is way deeper than theories, dogma and blind faith.
In fact, they cherish much of the orthodox churches and pay respect for them in prayers and thought.
@@M-i-k-a-e-l Gnosticism is Satanism in disguise. We have nothing to talk about. Sayonara.
@@johnnyd2383 You are one projection-happy dude for sure!
I just asked you for honest study. Is that satanism I wonder what strange world this is then 😄
All the best
man am I glad I'm not religious. whew. Dodged a bullet there
Christianity is more than a religion, its about having a close relationship with Christ.
Why are Orthodox clerics dressed like from an other world? Why are having all beards?
God created man with the beard. Out of respect, all men should wear beards. Or perhaps we know better how men should look like.?
@@johnnyd2383 all men? Tell that to my Filipino friend. Does not need to shave.
@@thebluedan Rules are not derived out of exceptions. Your comment reveals lack of wisdom.
@@johnnyd2383 did you just judge my intelligence? Judge not... especially when you know nothing about me or my minds intellectual experience. Many many men of various people groups do not have facial hair. So who’s the dumb dumb? Your comment reveals you pride and arrogance.
@@thebluedan Can we all try to care more about the actual truth here and not to act smart, pls?😛
The Orthodox priests are required not to have beards... they are required not to cut them off😛. The reason for this is that a man of Christ should not care about cosmetics and taking care of his outer apperance. Of course for priests who live out in the world, they are allowed to do as ordinary men do withing decent limits with their appearance, including trimming their beard, but they are not allowed to completely shave it just as a symbolism and a reminder of what being a priest means in their daily life.
People like your Philippino friend who grow no beards fall exactly under this category and they dont need to do anything about it.
As for the robes they are from another world because they are from another world. They are from the 1st century AD world😛. They wear robes because tight/slimfit clothes do not go well with a priest's role, and they keep their body figures unexaminable by prying eyes. Well ofc many of them are too old for anyone to care, but the truth of the symbolism is still therr regardless😛
I come here to find out how, and the first thing you do is call a man “father”.
If you need an entire page on a website to explain why something isn’t wrong, or blatantly violating the words in the Bible, you’re probably in the wrong.
Matthew 23:8-12
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Jesus is condemning the prideful desire to be these things for the sake of being called these titles.
A few verses later Christ then says in Matthew 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and TEACHING them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” | What do you call someone who teaches?
In Acts 7:2-4 Stephen when referring to ancestors says:
2 To this, he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia before he lived in Harran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’ 4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. | The same happens in Psalm 44 talks about "our fathers."
Specifically to the title of "father" (spiritual father, father in the faith) we have a few verses:
- 1 Corinthians 4:14-15
14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many FATHERS, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
- Philippians 2:22
22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his FATHER he has served with me in the work of the gospel. (Paul is Timothy's spiritual father.)
- Philemon 10
10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus,[a] whose FATHER I became in my imprisonment.
- 1 Peter 5:13
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. (Mark is referred to as Peter's "son" what does that make Peter?)
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (Paul likens himself as a father to his spiritual children.)
- 2 Corinthians 12:14
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. (Paul likens himself as a father to his spiritual children.)
There are many more.
In this case how do you present your father to your friends (if you ever had any), because we have only one Father in Heaven. "This is my mother, Jenny, he is his husband", like that?
@@MegaVIDEOGAMEVIDS INCREDIBLE answer... Thanks, already knew most of it, but it is absolutely good to see them gathered. Loud and clear your answer is! Bless you.
@@eetuerrenor5757 I believe there are many more in the NT and certainly the OT.
@@MegaVIDEOGAMEVIDS Sure, but thanks again brother in Christ!
Just remember that the ecclesiastical politics of the Orthodox Church is horrible, truly horrible.
Politics are universally horrible, I think...I'm not sure that Orthodox ecclesiastical politics are any worse (though, indeed, they should be better...and perhaps they are? I wouldn't know how to judge, however!) They may appear particularly bad because they're so starkly contrasted to the fullness of Christian life found in Orthodoxy? Regardless, we're talking about a very small number of actually bad characters...most, I believe, are just flawed humans trying their best to do what's right...often unsuccessfully...
@@ProtectingVeil I am not sure that one can say that about the Patriarch of Constantinople, especially in view of the schism occasioned by uncanonical actions of the Patriarch
@Son of a Bob It is true that the Orthodox Church is not "liberal" or "politically correct" but then again neither is the Roman Catholic Church. Why not look into both? Every Church, in so far as it is an institution governed by fallible human beings, is going to have a certain amount of corruption in it. The Orthodox Church has its problems, like any other. The schism recently between the Russian Orthodox Patriarch and the Patriarch of Constantinople is particularly atrocious; you might want to look into that. You should only become Orthodox if you agree with the fundamentals of Orthodox theology, which in some respects are very different from the West.
Michael Lee. Rome isn’t Truth, it’s heretical.
JJ Timmo99 You cannot escape problems in a fallen world. The Church is Truth because it’s the Body of Christ. Politics will never go away. It’s silly not to join the True Church because of that. Honestly, where else are you going to go? Are you willing to settle for partial truth or none at all? Protestantism, Rome, and non-canonical churches are false.
repent for the kingdom of God is at hand the last days we are living in Jesus is returning turn from sin to the light trust in Jesus before it is toL8