@@koppite9600 it’s Orthodox Church. As opposed to the Papal Protestants and their Protestant offspring. There’s only one Orthodox Church. Despite what those who use weak Papist Polemics try to say. They try to argue with us by making statements similar to this about our ecclesiology, when they’ve never studied our ecclesiology. They’re literally arguing for the sake of arguing, and it’s as weak an argument as the whole “Catholics worship Mary” polemic the Protestants use.
@@living_orthodox what are the 'papal protestants' protesting? From what I know, The Pope excommunicated the Orthodox, it's as if he expected them to be under his authority. To excommunicate the Pope, one would need to be higher than him... I don't know anyone who could claim to be above the See of St Peter in Rome. The Orthodox used fake powers to excommunicate Rome.
Fr Michail Can you please show me one document from tradition or from the Ecumenical councils where the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church ever identified itself as the *Ανατολική Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία*
I am attending a local Romanian OCA church Divine Liturgy on Sunday.... For The second time. The first time a few weeks ago was nerve wracking but once inside the Holiness calms all anxiety. The website states they are part of the Alaskan missionary work that Russia started in the 1700s. Are Romanian people friendly to outsiders? I'm Canadian born, ethnicity is Icelandic and Metis. May the Most Holy Theotokos save us. Lord have mercy Lord have mercy Lord have mercy. Glory to the Father the Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.
@@mik569 anxiety calms because Christ come in Church,i can also tell you the moment is happening,when the Priest makes the transformation of bread and wine into blood and flesh of Christ,i was having pain and anxiety before because of my sickness and i can tell same thing like you was happening to me,i was feeling same like you the only difference i was having pain,the feeling is like surrounded of dark,dark toughts and suddenly a light come and all gone,you feel light,dark goes.sorry my english I am romanian!
@@eliseinikolas3592 I understood that perfect 👍 good English. You were completely right. I just went to the Divine Liturgy today with my young son. Even though we're not baptized we were able to stand in communion line to ask the Father for a blessing..... He made the sign of the cross and touched our hair (we bowed) and it felt real. For the first time it felt real. The charismatic Pastor at the Pentecostal church has prayed over me at altar call by laying hands along with another church member and starts praying normal English....but then speaks in "Tongues" and switches between the two. Very unsettling. None of the prayers helped. I never felt what I felt today. During the worship songs people dance, put hands in the air....,speak tongues, faint from the"Holy Spirit" pouring out..... saw miracle healing, pain disappearing, ecstatic behavior, chaos, and the communion was grape juice and a paper cracker. So thankful for finding the true Christian church. They sold me a icon of Jesus Christ and a cross icon for very very cheap. God bless the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Lord have mercy on me a sinner
@@mik569 "Are Romanian people friendly to outsiders?" They are too friendly that's the problem! Sometimes I think they care more about people from other countries then they care about their own!
As a cradle raised 62 year old pious Orthodox, I still say that every day! I always say God's timing is perfect every time and in everything. He loves us so much that He reveals himself to us to help us get closer to him in our salvational walk.
@@diananoonen2262 Sir you are in a cult. If you mean eastern orthodox. That is an unorthodox, unbiblical cult. I was sent to call you out of her. 1 Timothy 4 New International Version 4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
Ngl I had reservations going into an Orthodox Church being African American, from a charismatic evangelical church. I opened up the door and the first ppl I saw were black(not that it matters, necessarily). Digging into church history completely changed my perspective on truth. I’ve been attending the Orthodox Church since about last October, catechumen since last week☦️
That’s awesome Jon, ya I wish we had more black saints. I definitely feel more cultured then ever learning other languages and looking at orthodoxy around the world. Orthodox Meme Squad is good for that. They have African Orthidox chant playlist as well as lots from around the world. I live in BC Canada and it’s really white here but still have black people there. I’m glad your coming it’ll make it easier for the next person. But at least we have a brown Jesus I. Orthodoxy and not white Italian haha. God bless you
In Apostolic Ortodox Church we are all one Christian nation and race regardless of what part of the world we were born, or what shade is our skin, eyes, hair color... God bless you brother.🙏
Orthodoxy truly involves all the peoples of the world, and we find saints of all the world in it. What I find so edifying about Orthodoxy is that there is no need to get caught up in the worldly nonsense of race; all that fades away in the presence of cloud of witnesses of the holy saints that surround us as we worship our merciful God together. ☦
I’m being baptized as Orthodox this Saturday after what has basically been a 17 year journey as an inquirer and a year-long catechism. Welcome to the true faith, brother! Glory to God!
Glory to God! I converted to Orthodoxy two years ago. I was pretty deep into occultism when Christ appeared in my life, pulled me out of that deep pit and brought me to Holy Orthodoxy.
Im a former eastern catholic and im coming home to Orthodoxy as well. God is calling back so many of His lost sheep, it’s wonderful ❤ God bless you on your journey!
I was raised by the secular schools but I always worshipped truth so it forced me to become a catechumen, the truth will set you free, sadly people that didn't grow up with any church I would argue are very difficult and apathetic people like myself, the virus of the modernist nihilistic tendencies still seem to be apart of my vices
@Matthew Porcelli So what? I left Rome 35 years ago and found the Pearl of Great Price...Holy Orthodoxy. Even "St" John Paul II clamped down on the Eastern Rites with his new "Code of Canon Law for Eastern Catholics" while only making "token examples" of a few kooky liberals while kissing Qurans. All Rome has anymore is globalist syncretic ecumenism and pederasts/ pedophiles. ☦️Lord have mercy and enlighten all pious Catholics to love the Lord more than the Papacy. The Papacy isn't the Church.
Do not excommunicate yourself brother. This is a very very grave matter. Stop and think very carefully about what you are doing. There is never a good reason to leave the Catholic Church. You will be leaving truth behind and taking up error.
Can you please show me from any early Church document where the One,Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church ever referred to itself as the EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH? I am waiting for your response.
@@SAHOVNICU Eastern denotes the historical backdrop it developed. Orthodoxy denotes the for understanding of what we are which is right believing. Church denotes the right believing Church
@joseonwalking8666 Please show me one document from the early Church where the One,Holy,Catholic and Apostolic Church ever referred to itself as the EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH. If it's not found in scripture nor in tradition then it's *NOT* Apostolic. Many sects claim to be the One,Holy,Catholic and Apostolic Church, like the Anglicans, Lutherans, Baptists etc, but the early Church had never identified itself as Lutheran, Anglican etc. Show me a document from any council or from the Patristics where the EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH is mentioned.
@@SAHOVNICU We are the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. After the schism with Latins we attached the word "Orthodox", which basically means "correct" (used for example in the title of St John Damascene 6th century book "Exact Disposition of the *Orthodox* Faith"), referring to ourselves as the "Orthodox Catholic" Church. Both the word "Orthodox" and the word "Catholic" are Greek. But the Monophysites also called themselves "Orthodox Catholic", thus we attached the word "Eastern" and they attached the word "Oriental". You say: "Many sects claim to be the One,Holy,Catholic and Apostolic Church..." Reply: EXACTLY!!! Thus referring to ourselves as merely "One,Holy,Catholic and Apostolic" will not do. Because all sorts of sects call themselves that. No matter in which "sect" you belong to, why the heck would you expect to find an early church document that uses a term such as "Eastern Orthodox," or "Anglican," or "Roman Catholic," or "Eastern Catholic," or "Oriental Orthodox"? There weren't such divisions back then. We refer to ourselves as the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, for short "Eastern Orthodox," but frankly, we usually just call ourselves "Orthodox." And there is no need to procure an ancient document that calls us such. In fact, the demand is absurd.
Assyrian here and I too am coming home to Holy Orthodoxy (Antiochian Orthodox Catechumen) and my girlfriend left Roman Catholicism and is too coming home
My daughter has been in the hospital for the last 7mo and driving to and from my house gave me a lot of time to invest into studying church history, and I am now converting to Orthodoxy. All of my conversations with Protestant family members, friends, and pastors has only showed me the void that is at the heart of Protestantism. Thank you for your story!
I lost pretty much every single friend I had becoming Orthodox. They became vicious and spiteful, or always argumentative. Half of them don't even go to Church💀 It's sad but, I feel very happy being Orthodox and I love my Church.
Welcome home, brother! I, too, am leaving Protestantism for Orthodoxy. I am currently a catechumen. This makes me deeply happy because I know exactly the feeling of what it's like to "come home" to the fullness of the Truth . . . it's a beautiful, invigorating, and terrifying thing. I have personally experienced extreme rejection and violence for my choices. I wanted to encourage you to keep strong in the faith, even if everyone is telling you you're wrong. Even if there's no voice of encouragement from anyone else in your life, here I am to be that voice. Honestly, the only thing I had to hold onto in my lonely walk was simply persevering and following God blindly even when I was terrified. Several times I wanted to give up . . . I had no one in my life, except one friend, to keep me going. I am now so happy and glad I made the choice to stand firm! God bless your journey, brother.
My Father is catholic, my Mother is orthodox Christian. My Mother raised me primary catholic, probably because we live in Southern Germany. But she baptized me in a russian-orthodox Church and I did not care that much about Orthodox Christianity but always have believed in God, I attended Catholic Ceremonies and my communion there as well. Around 1 year ago I found to the Orthodox Church by learning more about european history for instance the Byzantine Empire or the Russian Empire, additionally I learned more about the history of the Church and I found out that the Orthodox Church is the true Church of Christ and I pray one day the Catholic Church will recognize this and we will be together again. Nice to see people finding to the Orthodox Church ☦ God bless you all and your loved ones 🙏❤
Thank you so much for putting this on you tube. I'm a Roman Catholic and becoming an Orthodox. It helps me to see that my husband is not loosing his mind. He's found the Truth, and now I believe it too. It helps to see that you, a former Protestant came to know the Truth. When we seek the Truth in all sincerety, God reveals it to us. God bless you! We keep you in our prayers, please pray for us too. Joanne
As a former Baptist preacher, I noticed how the Bible just opened up and dots I couldn’t connect before come together like gears now that I’m Orthodox.
@@xavierp863 it can be difficult but I have to drive 50 minutes to the Orthodox Church I attend and it is definitely worth the trip. We’ll all carry a cross as Christians. Don’t give up, you won’t regret it. May God bless you ☦️🙏
By the grace of God and His mercy I was brought into Holy Orthodoxy 26 years ago. Converting to Orthodoxy is actually converting to Christianity. Welcome brother, to the fullness of Christ. Be prepared for the inner battle. Prayer, repentance, fasting, giving arms, receiving the Holy sacraments, vigils, spiritual reading, love, long suffering: These are our weapons for salvation, transfiguration and Deification. ☦️☦️☦️
The Eastern Heterodox Church are anathematized heretics as per canon 110 of the council of Carthage 419 AD, for denying that Original sin must be removed by the laver of regeneration (baptism). The sect you belong too teaches that man only inherits Ancestral sin, or a fractured human nature. You cannot remove a fractured human nature from someone, but only the guilt (Original Sin) Repent
My wife, first born daughter, and I were all baptized on December 19th of 2021. Funnily enough, it was the same exact day - exactly four years prior that my wife and I first started dating, AND it took place on the Feast day of St. Nicholas - which was also the first day I ever sat foot in an Orthodox Church. Interesting how it all shapes out. Welcome home, my brother. Many years to you and yours. ☦️
AND St Nicholas is a patron saint for travelers and one of the bigest saints in orthodoxy. Also hes my familys patron saint and protector and i carry his name
Amazing! I’m happy for you! May the Orthodox Church continue to grow. There was lots oh hard things to work through to become catechumen and go all in. Just because it is so different from what I was doing. But now every thing we just live. We’ve got great solid friends, I’ve grown closer to God with my family, leading about saints. The bible just lit up, so many things I had to skip over finally make sense. So ya our family is very happy to be Orthodox and in the true church. And very grateful for Gods grace 😀
Welcome home brother! Christ is Risen! I have been a Orthodox Christian for 8 years. When my best friend took me to vespers I never knew it would lead to baptism, going to most church services, faithfully serving in the altar every Sunday and the blessings that God has given to me known and unknown.
Keep pumping these videos out Brother, awesome testimony. I've converted prom paganism to Orthodoxy about a year and a half ago. it was the single most transformative experience I've ever had, or will.
Amen. God Bless you. The Holy Spirit is on the move. Pray for America to repent and for Christ-loving Protestants to have their eyes and their hearts opened to the fullness of the faith! ☦️☦️☦️
We also just left protestant for Holy Orthodoxy. Praise God for His keeping His word and upholding His church! I pray all are drawn to the true church. God be with you. ❤
Well, you got the beard for it. Before Orthodoxy the Bible was very esoteric, reading the bible after becoming Orthodox was like taking the blinders off.
"esoteric" to describe the Bible is extremely dishonest. "Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing." John 18:20 KJV
@@boofdaclown7866 The bible is pretty esoteric, and even is said to be in scripture. And that is completely fine and probably is a good thing. It's not dishonest whatsoever. Orthodoxy "took the blinders off" because it actually connects the missing links and context that is missing when you grow up in a modernist-materialist and protestant lifestyle.
@@boofdaclown7866 You're missing the point. The Bible could have been easily read by any literate person 1500-2000 years ago. The reason that is esoteric to us is because we are living in a Modern society and naturally have Modernist presuppositions.
your journey toward EO is very very similar to mine. I am 60 yrs old and just starting as a catechumen after going to about 125 churches over my lifetime
Welcome home brother ☦️ I have a similar story. It is only by the grace of God that He chose me to be Orthodox. I'm in my 2nd year of catechesis now. I've experienced more healing in 1 year as a Catechumen than in 30 years as a Protestant
Me and my brother are trying to convert right. Now. Please pray that we can find a Church and a good parish in our area. I was a Protestant for over 13 years back around June-October of 2021 I started taking my faith seriously. I studied almost every form of Protestantism, and Catholicism. Before finding Orthodoxy.
Sure I’ll pray for you! Hope you can find a good priest. And if it’s not a great church, you going can be the one who makes it easier for the next guy by welcoming him! God bless
Matthew 23:8 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.
Study harder. Study the Bible! It boggles my mind, unless as a "Protestant" you fell victim to a false religion like Calvinism, that you could look at Eastern Orthodoxy and even consider it biblical Christianity. They are blatant about rejecting the Word of God. Here are a few blatant traditions of men that should stick out like a sore thumb to anyone who knows Christ: 1.) Their priests like to be called "Father", "Holy Father"... - Just like the Pharisees Jesus rebuked. Jesus says that we have but one Father, and everyone in His Church are brethren. Jesus rebuked religious titles in His Church. 2.) The Eastern Orthodox Church preaches that you should pray to a figure called "Theotokos", "Queen of Heaven", etc and equate that unbiblical figure to Mary, Jesus's mother. --- in reality, Theotokos means "Mother of God". BOTH titles are of a pagan goddess named Asherah. --- Jesus says He has many mothers! "Whosoever does the will of my Father, is the same as my brother, sister and MOTHER". The "Mary" of Eastern Orthodoxy is NOT the actual mother of Jesus Christ as revealed by Scripture. Jesus also taught us how to pray and Who to pray to EVERYTIME we pray in Matthew 6. We are to pray to our Father in heaven that can see in secret, and that knows what we need of before we ask Him. The Apostles also teach that we have an intercessor for our prayers, the Holy Spirit ITSELF intercedes for the prayers of the saints, because we know not what we should pray for as we ought. There is literally NO excuse to pray to Mary or anyone else. ---- Those are a few things, the list can go on. Veneration of graven images, infant baptism is the same as being born again, etc... on and on. The Eastern Orthodox church is a false apostate church the Apostles warned against.
Really enjoyed your story. My wife and I are also converting to Orthodoxy. We love it for the same reasons you mention and also feel like we are home. You are an excellent teacher.
Congrats and God bless. My husband and I are going to be baptized in the Church Pascha 2023. Conversion to the True Church is such a unique experience!
I am thinking of going to the Orthodox Church. I grew up a daughter of a Methodist minister. I used to be on drugs and alcohol, but I have been healed for a long time. Thank you for sharing your testimony.
God is calling his flock Home. My wife, and kids have been catechumen for almost 2 years, we should be received this Holy Saturday, God willing. Fascinating to hear people testimony. Good strength on your journey brother!
this is really educational and blew my mind some. I had no idea it had gotten that bad. Thank you for sharing. Currently attending a charismatic church and know things are wrong, am deeply drawn to the Orthodox faith and considering steps forward, and I know doing so will change everything. May God bless you and thank you.
Orthodoxy is not always easy and it's not always perfect. But it's lead by Christ. We have some in perfect leaders and some bad Bishops but the church stands
@@stephanieburns4560 Thank you ! Our faith and our church is what has kept us through all these years. Our country is 1400 years old and that is only when the great powers acknowledged us as a country. We were enslaved under the ottoman empire for 500 years and with Gods grace we managed to keep our faith , language and culture.
Keep on going through the journey brother! Once you enter baptism, you’re thrown in the arena and it is a hard battle but one that is worth everything we can give. I’ve been a convert for almost a year now. It’s been a struggle but Christ, the Theotokos, his holy saints and holy angels encourage us to fight the good fight. God bless you my friend! ☦️🔥
Thanks brother. I have been studying orthodoxy for two years and will be making a change as well. When learning about the early church and desert fathers I was amazed that I had never been taught about these. I can’t get enough of their sayings. I now understand the message and meaning behind the Icons and traditions. It’s like a breath of rejuvenating fresh air. Thanks also for so eloquently explaining what I have experienced.
Well said!!! Welcome Home to the Church. You are not alone in this Journey, I converted two years ago and have never been more blessed! Many others are coming leaving the chaos of Western Christianity.
Our family was chrismated last August after a long journey of fundamental Baptist and then reformed Calvinist churches. We got weary of the constant reinventing of the wheel. That was just one aspect of our journey. Every day I’m soooo grateful to be where we are now! God is so good.
Thanks for sharing your story. My wife and I wandered in and out of many different denominations looking for the truth for MANY years, and it was spiritually exhausting. Thankfully, God led us to the Orthodox Church in 2017, and it's transformed our lives. The church tradition has answered an endless list of theological questions that no amount of Sola Scriptura could answer with authority or clarity. Welcome to Christ's Church!
Congrats and welcome! I can relate to a lot of what you're saying - I came from atheism to evangelical Lutheran church about 14 years ago. Discovered Orthodoxy when researching denominations in preparation for attending a seminary (which never happened). "How come I never knew this before" was the question I was asking over and over again.
Austin, God bless you, my brother. You are a breath of fresh air. I went through much of what you went through, only for decades. I went the full spectrum from Jehovah's Witnesses to the Occult, to Witchcraft, to Hinduism, Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, The Episcopal Church, etc. etc. And I only stumbled upon Orthodoxy one year ago And as you say, I just KNEW that I was home because it has an authenticity and a reverence and a devotedness to scripture, prayer, morality, fasting, almsgiving or sharing with others less fortunate....it is just early Christianity in all of it's freshness and fullness! Many, many genuine souls who truly love God and righteousness, are fleeing from other "so called Christian churches" that are failing to keep God's commandments and both allowing and welcoming into their midst every kind of corruption and immorality and spiritual heresies. And of course, Our Lord, Jesus, warned that this would happen and to be cautions and wary of "false Christs". And while, Yes, Jesus forgave sins, but he enjoined those who he healed and forgave to "go now and sin no more.". Jesus never condoned sin as many churches do today. I wish you God's richest blessing in your continuing journey in His Church ! And God bless so many others that I see on here with similar experiences and comments....many who have converted to Orthodoxy orare catechumens. God bless you all in your individual journeys ! A fellow convert....Bob in Connecticut.
Hey! Thats great! Former Anglican clergy here (and Bethel church stock before that) and now Orthodox. You wont regret it. There's mess here too but its qualitatively different than the theological mess I found in Protestant circles. The journey is real! Welcome in!
I went to many different Protestant groups including Pentecostal, but one day I stopped going and this lasted for 5-6 years. I started to listen to Jay Dyer, Brother Augustine, Fr. Peter Heers, and Fr. Josiah Trenham, and purchased his book "Rock and Sand" became convinced that Orthodox was the true Church and eventually began attending a Greek Orthodox Church. Now a catechumen at 65 years old. The Bible makes more sense when it is joined to and interpreted by Holy Tradition. Orthodox worship is reverent and centered around God and the Eucharist. Jesus established and empowered His Church. Orthodoxy maintained this authority throughout history. Protestantism largely spreads by division (e.g., church splits). Interestingly, Martin Luther actually wanted to remove the Book of James from the Canon as it conflicted with his theology!!! Luther was talked out it. Marcion though, created his own canon to suit his own theology. Check out the Didache which is the earliest extant catechism (50 AD to 100 AD) written to aid pagans transitioning to Christianity. Christianity was not some kind of free form worship. It was ordered and organized by the Apostles and early disciples as it spread through the world. Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide are simply wrong. They Early Church never taught them but were innovated about 500 years ago.
God grant you many years, brother. My wife and I are catechumens at present. Discovered Orthodoxy a couple years ago when I, too, was sort of worn out with "American Christianity." It has truly been a breath of fresh air. And spot on saying it's the ultimate red pill. It is the "Christ Pill," not to be irreverent.☦
I felt nothing in any church - Protestant, Catholic, Baptist - until I moved to Eastern Europe and encountered the beauty and mystery of the Orthodox church. I was an atheist for 37 years until I encountered real Christianity for the first time. Within six months I comverted to Orthodoxy.
@@koppite9600 The emotional reaction is due to being in the presence of the truth and God. It is so obvious when you encounter the Orthodox church that it is palpable. When I went back to the UK and spoke to Protestants, they all ask a million questions, as if their reason has any ability to discern the mystery of God. Yet I see nothing within them other than a kind of confused philosophical nerd. It doesn't surprise me that in my country Protestantism is dying/dead amongst the native population. It's a sterile simulacrum of real Christianity.
This is awesome. More people really need to hear this. Thanks for sharing, I'll definitely have to post this on my Facebook. Hope your journey into Orthodoxy goes well! 🙏
Welcome to all newcomers to Orthodoxy. Above all I believe that it's closest to Jesus teachings. No focus on money and power. I have experienced love and spiritual peace. God bless us all xxxxxxxx
That’s great ya I spend like 2 hours a day for months watching videos and bindging content. Attending Services and meeting people. Before deciding to go for it, are you catechumen or are you still inquiring?
@Austin Furgason yup. Same thing. It felt like an existential crisis and it was the same time I quit drinking so I was still getting my sanity back. Last Sunday I talked to my priest about starting catechism classes. My wife has been a lot slower to come around because she had no problems with her traditional Baptist upbringing. But she trusts me so she's been attending and so have my two kids (4MO and 2 1/2 YO). She's still skeptical but I can tell something is changing. I'm only wondering if I should become a catechumen without my wife being ready to yet.
@Austin Furgason also, I work 2nd shift at a factory so I don't know when I could make it to weekday services or even the classes he has. He said he may be able to do zoom calls but I wouldn't prefer that.
@@parkermize women are slower then men, it is more truth based then experience based. Although you will have great experiences! It is more masculine then feminine I would say. Which was different from what I’d seen before. My friend was in the same situation, when he started looking into it. I asked her what changed her mind and she said the Rock and Sand series on UA-cam by Josiah Trenham. That’s all the advice I could share. But your right to talk to the priest about complicated personal situations. Mine has been really helpful with that. I hope Gods will for your life brother!! 😀
Hey bro. Great video. I'm considering converting and went to an Orthodox Church (St.Michaels) today for the first time. I appreciate you sharing this video because it is helping me to put some things together.
May God bless you and your family! Congratulations on making this step for your faith. My fiancé and I were baptised into the Orthodox Church just last week. It's such a beautiful place to be. The more we've learnt over the past couple of years looking into the Church the more we've come to see Orthodoxy as the fullness of Christianity. Our love and prayers to you!
Austin, I really appreciate your testimony--especially the honesty and vulnerability of it. Glory be to our almighty King and God, Jesus Christ, for seeing your longing for the truth and leading you to His true Church! I just celebrated the 27th anniversary of my baptism into the Faith and it never ceases to amaze me what a bottomless source of "living water" it is. May God continue to bless you and your family!
May the Lord bless you and your family. We became Orthodox in 2015 and make no mistake it's amazing and wonderful and the greatest thing God ever did in our life. But it's also the greatest challenge that lays ahead. Do your best to read the odds of the Saints everyday and every time you fall get back up
Glory to Thee our God,glory to Thee. Christ is in our midst. Welcome to the church. I myself found Orthodoxy about 8 months ago and it has been a true blessing. As we approach Pascha,may you and your family have a blessed feast day,as we celebrate Christ's triumph over death and his resurrection. God bless.
Blessed Lent, brother. I’m “coming home” as well, and hopefully will be baptized this year at some point. It’s been a long journey, and thank God I discovered Orthodoxy before it was too late.
If the Lord sees fit, my wife and I will be baptized after this lent. I am glad to say that we will be brothers in faith, and it is inspiring to see so many people taking the same path here in this comment section.
I am so happy for you. I am a german catholic but been wanting to convert to orthodoxy for a while. It seems so much closer to the roots of our believ than any other institution.
I had originally just posted this video for friends and family on Facebook but now see that it’s getting lots of traffic, Glory to Jesus Christ!. I’ve re-watched the video and just want to clarify that not only was the origins of Pentecostalism fake in a sense of snake oil salesman but also demonic in its manifestations and are very close to Hindu practices and manifestations. Like the ones mentioned in video especially in Toronto Blessing and done by many charismatic/Pentecostal mainline churches. Hopefully was implied but many of my friends on Facebook were charismatic and I didn’t want to be a huge jerk. Since then I have read St. Seraphim Rose’s “Orthodoxy and Religion of the Future.” Where he expressly teaches the manifestations are demonic and those seeking experience open themselves to being mediums for demonic activity. Even in the 5th edition epilogue it has section on the Toronto Blessing. Besides that I think mostly what I said is a good summary of Orthodoxy and Protestantism. I appreciate all the love and people sharing stories and advise in the comment sections. God bless you! And God bless the Orthodox Church!
Thank you for sharing your testimony! Praise God. I relate to this a lot as I came into Christianity three years ago after leaving the new age/occult and was always drawn to charismatic and Pentecostal denominations. Lots of scary things happened and I finally found Eastern Orthodoxy a few months ago. Reading Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future explained exactly what I had experienced in Christianity up until this point and it’s quite shocking to see how accurate Fr. Seraphim Rose’s prophecies have come to pass in these modern times. Eternally thankful to have found the true Church. 🙏🏼
@@danielpeterson2770 I love Mission, I bought my truck there at Pioneer Dodge! I’m attending a missionary Parish in Kelowna headed by Fr Micheal @ Holy Resurrection in Vancouver (Russian) and Fr Marco at St Sava (Serbian)
While it's my understanding that the church technically believes in "speaking in tongues", it's seen as a lower spiritual gift and one that is easy to fake. If a real spirit driven pentecostal awakening were to happen, you would also see the other spiritual gifts of prophecy, healing, miracles, knowledge, faith, etc. The fact that tongues are so prevalent but the other gifts are non-existent tells us everything we need to know about the authenticity of what's going on.
@@steelfalconx2000 ya saint piasos the modern one spoke in tonques. People could hear him without interpretation. What charasmatics do is demonic according to my interpretation of Seraphims writings and what I seen, while for many it is just gibberish. You can see Stacy Campbell at Toronto Blessing shaking head back and forth insanely and that is more a manifestation of what I think Seraphim refered to as “channeling” she continues the same routine and is a local where I live. I recommend watching “Toronto Blessing Chaos” on UA-cam
Glory to God! Welcome home, brother. Please be aware that you are in for a great challenge in the months/years ahead. My wife and I have been catechumens for roughly 1.5 years and will be baptized next month. Unfortunately, no one really prepared us for just how difficult this year and a half would be. However, I will say that it has been worth all the struggle. I’m still a very sick man, but I’ve experienced actual healing in the Church. This brings such hope, faith, and peace, and sadly those things were not to be found in a lasting way in my Protestant and Roman Catholic upbringing. Reading the Lives of Saints allowed me to finally start understanding the Bible and the Gospel. The Saints are full of the Holy Spirit and are such beautiful examples of what life in our Lord, Jesus Christ, can be. The Saints are elementary school and the Gospel is high school. In today’s inverted world of propaganda and lies, it’s essential to know their witness so that we can see Christ’s teaching and healing in action. Sadly and unsurprisingly, Protestants are allergic to Saints. If they only knew how much uncorrupted translations of Scripture referred to His saints. We were made to be divine creatures that even the angels stand in awe of, yet most of my life I’ve behaved worse than a beast! Fortunately, like the father of the prodigal son, Christ is always waiting lovingly for me to return in humility. We will keep you and your family in our prayers. We all stumble. Do not be discouraged and keep getting back up. Christ is with you always!
“Protestants are allergic to saints” lol this is so true. I cry reading the saints it’s all so encouraging and uplifting. I hope I can be like them and like Christ 😀
Thank you for sharing this. I am going through a similar awakening. When people ask me, what brought me to Orthodoxy I always get uncomfortable because I don't want to bash my former church (pentecostal), and I don't want to bash protestantism in general. After all, I overcame a lifetime of alcoholism and drug abuse in the pentecostal church. Protestantism was part of my journey and were it not for protestantism I would not have found Orthodoxy. Blessings on your journey, brother.
I think that’s important what you said. Don’t bash the denomination that lead you to Christ. I come from a Mennonite background. I was not born into that Church family, but I lived near the church in that community and through my Mennonite friends I eventually excepted Jesus. I respect and love those people and still to this day I remember an old Mennonite guy that just loved to council people in the Lord. He was the most pure holy example that I ever met. So I will love my brother and sisters from whatever denominations. Is Protestantism the most correct or pure form of Christianity? Probably not..But I respect what I learned from various Protestants through the years. I am very interested in learning about the Orthodox Church tho as my journey continues..👍🏽🙏🏽❤️🩹
So encouraging to hear this. I remember you from the viral Ronald McDonald video. My wife, kids and I also just became catechumens this last Sunday. Learning church history and reading the early church fathers changed everything. Now we have the fullness of Christ!
Wow, I am currently on the same path as you, going to get catechized at either the Greek Orthodox or Ukrainian Orthodox Church and then chrismated later. Orthodoxy is by far among the most consistent and solid in its foundations of doctrine and practice.
Welcome to the Church!
-Fr. Mikhail
Thanks a bunch I love your channel!
Orthodox churches or orthodox church?
@@koppite9600 it’s Orthodox Church. As opposed to the Papal Protestants and their Protestant offspring. There’s only one Orthodox Church. Despite what those who use weak Papist Polemics try to say. They try to argue with us by making statements similar to this about our ecclesiology, when they’ve never studied our ecclesiology. They’re literally arguing for the sake of arguing, and it’s as weak an argument as the whole “Catholics worship Mary” polemic the Protestants use.
@@living_orthodox what are the 'papal protestants' protesting? From what I know, The Pope excommunicated the Orthodox, it's as if he expected them to be under his authority. To excommunicate the Pope, one would need to be higher than him... I don't know anyone who could claim to be above the See of St Peter in Rome. The Orthodox used fake powers to excommunicate Rome.
Fr Michail
Can you please show me one document from tradition or from the Ecumenical councils where the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church ever identified itself as the
*Ανατολική Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία*
I am a retired evangelical minister, I am currently converting to Orthodoxy. It is quite a journey so far
لماذا تركت الانجيليه البروتستانتيه
Welcome! God bless!
لأنني أراه "سقوط" ، فقد بدأ في قبول نمط حياة LGBTQ
@@user-mohmed2-q9y
All Glory to God
Congratulations and glory to God!
To everyone who is converting to eastern orthodoxy, welcome to the holy family. You will be loved and accepted. I am proud of all of you.☦️☦️☦️
❤❤❤
No they will not
Everyone who believes and gives their life to Jesus are part of the body of christ
Orthodoxy is the true faith
@@PhillipOnWater true faith is in Jesus,not in denominations.
I am an Orthodox from Romania and I have to say i am amazed by the number of conversions in US!
Amin!
I am attending a local Romanian OCA church Divine Liturgy on Sunday.... For The second time. The first time a few weeks ago was nerve wracking but once inside the Holiness calms all anxiety.
The website states they are part of the Alaskan missionary work that Russia started in the 1700s.
Are Romanian people friendly to outsiders? I'm Canadian born, ethnicity is Icelandic and Metis.
May the Most Holy Theotokos save us. Lord have mercy Lord have mercy Lord have mercy. Glory to the Father the Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.
@@mik569 anxiety calms because Christ come in Church,i can also tell you the moment is happening,when the Priest makes the transformation of bread and wine into blood and flesh of Christ,i was having pain and anxiety before because of my sickness and i can tell same thing like you was happening to me,i was feeling same like you the only difference i was having pain,the feeling is like surrounded of dark,dark toughts and suddenly a light come and all gone,you feel light,dark goes.sorry my english I am romanian!
@@eliseinikolas3592 I understood that perfect 👍 good English.
You were completely right. I just went to the Divine Liturgy today with my young son. Even though we're not baptized we were able to stand in communion line to ask the Father for a blessing..... He made the sign of the cross and touched our hair (we bowed) and it felt real.
For the first time it felt real. The charismatic Pastor at the Pentecostal church has prayed over me at altar call by laying hands along with another church member and starts praying normal English....but then speaks in "Tongues" and switches between the two. Very unsettling.
None of the prayers helped. I never felt what I felt today.
During the worship songs people dance, put hands in the air....,speak tongues, faint from the"Holy Spirit" pouring out..... saw miracle healing, pain disappearing, ecstatic behavior, chaos, and the communion was grape juice and a paper cracker.
So thankful for finding the true Christian church. They sold me a icon of Jesus Christ and a cross icon for very very cheap. God bless the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Lord have mercy on me a sinner
@@mik569 "Are Romanian people friendly to outsiders?"
They are too friendly that's the problem! Sometimes I think they care more about people from other countries then they care about their own!
I remember when I was studying Orthodoxy, every 5 min I was like, "What?! How did I not know any of this?!"
How were you studying Orthodoxy?
@@joelzkh I think he means reading about it, but theres a lot of ways of doing it of course
Such as?
As a cradle raised 62 year old pious Orthodox, I still say that every day!
I always say God's timing is perfect every time and in everything. He loves us so much that He reveals himself to us to help us get closer to him in our salvational walk.
@@diananoonen2262
Sir you are in a cult. If you mean eastern orthodox. That is an unorthodox, unbiblical cult.
I was sent to call you out of her.
1 Timothy 4
New International Version
4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
Ngl I had reservations going into an Orthodox Church being African American, from a charismatic evangelical church. I opened up the door and the first ppl I saw were black(not that it matters, necessarily). Digging into church history completely changed my perspective on truth. I’ve been attending the Orthodox Church since about last October, catechumen since last week☦️
That’s awesome Jon, ya I wish we had more black saints. I definitely feel more cultured then ever learning other languages and looking at orthodoxy around the world. Orthodox Meme Squad is good for that. They have African Orthidox chant playlist as well as lots from around the world. I live in BC Canada and it’s really white here but still have black people there. I’m glad your coming it’ll make it easier for the next person. But at least we have a brown Jesus I. Orthodoxy and not white Italian haha. God bless you
Welcome. If you haven’t yet come across Fr Paul Abernathy, St Moses the Black Orthodox Church, check him out.
In Apostolic Ortodox Church we are all one Christian nation and race regardless of what part of the world we were born, or what shade is our skin, eyes, hair color...
God bless you brother.🙏
Orthodoxy truly involves all the peoples of the world, and we find saints of all the world in it. What I find so edifying about Orthodoxy is that there is no need to get caught up in the worldly nonsense of race; all that fades away in the presence of cloud of witnesses of the holy saints that surround us as we worship our merciful God together. ☦
@@American-Jello Yes, in Ortodoxy we are one Christian race.
I’m being baptized as Orthodox this Saturday after what has basically been a 17 year journey as an inquirer and a year-long catechism. Welcome to the true faith, brother! Glory to God!
Glory to God! I converted to Orthodoxy two years ago. I was pretty deep into occultism when Christ appeared in my life, pulled me out of that deep pit and brought me to Holy Orthodoxy.
Glory to God. Please share your testimony if you will❤️ God bless you.
Welcome Holy orthodox Brother's and sister in Chrisrt. Father God bless you all.
❤❤❤⛪️ welcome 🤗
Same here I was a former Protestant who became a satanist and I discovered orthodoxy
Welcome home! I am a convert from Judaism and Eastern Catholicism. Orthodoxy is awesome!
❤
Im a former eastern catholic and im coming home to Orthodoxy as well. God is calling back so many of His lost sheep, it’s wonderful ❤ God bless you on your journey!
I was raised by the secular schools but I always worshipped truth so it forced me to become a catechumen, the truth will set you free, sadly people that didn't grow up with any church I would argue are very difficult and apathetic people like myself, the virus of the modernist nihilistic tendencies still seem to be apart of my vices
That’s great, my close friend from our parish was a Byzantine Catholic convert. I’m happy for you! 😀
Its formal schism for a Catholic to become EO.
@Matthew Porcelli
So what? I left Rome 35 years ago and found the Pearl of Great Price...Holy Orthodoxy. Even "St" John Paul II clamped down on the Eastern Rites with his new "Code of Canon Law for Eastern Catholics" while only making "token examples" of a few kooky liberals while kissing Qurans. All Rome has anymore is globalist syncretic ecumenism and pederasts/ pedophiles. ☦️Lord have mercy and enlighten all pious Catholics to love the Lord more than the Papacy. The Papacy isn't the Church.
Do not excommunicate yourself brother. This is a very very grave matter. Stop and think very carefully about what you are doing. There is never a good reason to leave the Catholic Church. You will be leaving truth behind and taking up error.
Glory to God my brother. I literally left the Protestant church for the same reasons!!! I am getting baptized 4/15/23 ☦️
It's coming up soon congrats!
Congratulations!!
Congratulations on your baptism!!
Welcome to Christ and the true House of God!
@@eliseinikolas3592 So you are in and I am out?
I left Evangelicalism and joined the Orthodox church!
I have also said that Orthodoxy is the whole of the pieces of genuine Christian truth we discover. Congratulations and glory to God.
Awesome user name. Glory to God!
Can you please show me from any early Church document where the One,Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church ever referred to itself as the EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH?
I am waiting for your response.
@@SAHOVNICU Eastern denotes the historical backdrop it developed. Orthodoxy denotes the for understanding of what we are which is right believing. Church denotes the right believing Church
@joseonwalking8666
Please show me one document from the early Church where the One,Holy,Catholic and Apostolic Church ever referred to itself as the EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH.
If it's not found in scripture nor in tradition then it's *NOT* Apostolic.
Many sects claim to be the One,Holy,Catholic and Apostolic Church, like the Anglicans, Lutherans, Baptists etc, but the early Church had never identified itself as Lutheran, Anglican etc.
Show me a document from any council or from the Patristics where the EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH is mentioned.
@@SAHOVNICU We are the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
After the schism with Latins we attached the word "Orthodox", which basically means "correct" (used for example in the title of St John Damascene 6th century book "Exact Disposition of the *Orthodox* Faith"), referring to ourselves as the "Orthodox Catholic" Church. Both the word "Orthodox" and the word "Catholic" are Greek.
But the Monophysites also called themselves "Orthodox Catholic", thus we attached the word "Eastern" and they attached the word "Oriental".
You say: "Many sects claim to be the One,Holy,Catholic and Apostolic Church..."
Reply: EXACTLY!!! Thus referring to ourselves as merely "One,Holy,Catholic and Apostolic" will not do. Because all sorts of sects call themselves that.
No matter in which "sect" you belong to, why the heck would you expect to find an early church document that uses a term such as "Eastern Orthodox," or "Anglican," or "Roman Catholic," or "Eastern Catholic," or "Oriental Orthodox"? There weren't such divisions back then.
We refer to ourselves as the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, for short "Eastern Orthodox," but frankly, we usually just call ourselves "Orthodox."
And there is no need to procure an ancient document that calls us such. In fact, the demand is absurd.
Former Lutheran turned Pentecostal/Charismatic here. Became Orthodox 10 years ago along with my wife and three adult children. Have never looked back.
My husband and I were baptized into Orthodoxy January 2022. It was a blessing. May God be with you on your journey. ☦️🙏☦️
ua-cam.com/video/Ft4p2h6fTOM/v-deo.html
congrats!
Welcome home!
Wonderful. We did in January 2019.
@@anamariaaraya5060 what about the icons and images in the Orthodox Church.
Assyrian here and I too am coming home to Holy Orthodoxy (Antiochian Orthodox Catechumen) and my girlfriend left Roman Catholicism and is too coming home
God bless you brother.🙏
Добро дошли драги наши, поздрав из Србије ❤
God Bless You All the way from Ethiopian Orthodox❤
My daughter has been in the hospital for the last 7mo and driving to and from my house gave me a lot of time to invest into studying church history, and I am now converting to Orthodoxy. All of my conversations with Protestant family members, friends, and pastors has only showed me the void that is at the heart of Protestantism. Thank you for your story!
Amazing this was our story, we must have so much in common. May God bless you on your journey!
I lost pretty much every single friend I had becoming Orthodox. They became vicious and spiteful, or always argumentative. Half of them don't even go to Church💀
It's sad but, I feel very happy being Orthodox and I love my Church.
@@Cup0CoffeeGlory to God! You are suffering a type of martyrdom for Christ! Glory be to God for all things!
It is Martyrdom... but don't let it get to your head. Keep following the teachings of Christ and you may see a martyrdom crown.
Welcome home, brother! I, too, am leaving Protestantism for Orthodoxy. I am currently a catechumen. This makes me deeply happy because I know exactly the feeling of what it's like to "come home" to the fullness of the Truth . . . it's a beautiful, invigorating, and terrifying thing. I have personally experienced extreme rejection and violence for my choices. I wanted to encourage you to keep strong in the faith, even if everyone is telling you you're wrong. Even if there's no voice of encouragement from anyone else in your life, here I am to be that voice. Honestly, the only thing I had to hold onto in my lonely walk was simply persevering and following God blindly even when I was terrified. Several times I wanted to give up . . . I had no one in my life, except one friend, to keep me going. I am now so happy and glad I made the choice to stand firm! God bless your journey, brother.
Glory to God! ☦
My Father is catholic, my Mother is orthodox Christian. My Mother raised me primary catholic, probably because we live in Southern Germany. But she baptized me in a russian-orthodox Church and I did not care that much about Orthodox Christianity but always have believed in God, I attended Catholic Ceremonies and my communion there as well. Around 1 year ago I found to the Orthodox Church by learning more about european history for instance the Byzantine Empire or the Russian Empire, additionally I learned more about the history of the Church and I found out that the Orthodox Church is the true Church of Christ and I pray one day the Catholic Church will recognize this and we will be together again. Nice to see people finding to the Orthodox Church ☦ God bless you all and your loved ones 🙏❤
Thank you so much for putting this on you tube. I'm a Roman Catholic and becoming an Orthodox. It helps me to see that my husband is not loosing his mind. He's found the Truth, and now I believe it too. It helps to see that you, a former Protestant came to know the Truth. When we seek the Truth in all sincerety, God reveals it to us.
God bless you! We keep you in our prayers, please pray for us too.
Joanne
I recommend you dont leave the Roman Catholic Church or return if you already have
@@rass4609I recommend you leave the roman church and come home to the Eastern Orthodox church
As a former Baptist preacher, I noticed how the Bible just opened up and dots I couldn’t connect before come together like gears now that I’m Orthodox.
How as being a long time protestant to veneration of saints and Mary how did u change what’s very ingrained in you could u help me out?
I’m having a hard time to with only one Greek Orthodox Church 20+ miles away but there is a Catholic Church like down the street
@@xavierp863 it can be difficult but I have to drive 50 minutes to the Orthodox Church I attend and it is definitely worth the trip. We’ll all carry a cross as Christians. Don’t give up, you won’t regret it. May God bless you ☦️🙏
By the grace of God and His mercy I was brought into Holy Orthodoxy 26 years ago. Converting to Orthodoxy is actually converting to Christianity. Welcome brother, to the fullness of Christ. Be prepared for the inner battle. Prayer, repentance, fasting, giving arms, receiving the Holy sacraments, vigils, spiritual reading, love, long suffering: These are our weapons for salvation, transfiguration and Deification. ☦️☦️☦️
The Eastern Heterodox Church are anathematized heretics as per canon 110 of the council of Carthage 419 AD, for denying that Original sin must be removed by the laver of regeneration (baptism).
The sect you belong too teaches that man only inherits Ancestral sin, or a fractured human nature. You cannot remove a fractured human nature from someone, but only the guilt (Original Sin)
Repent
Same, brother, same! Will be baptized this Holy Saturday. 33 years devout Protestant and I'm finally home in the Orthodox Church.
My wife, first born daughter, and I were all baptized on December 19th of 2021. Funnily enough, it was the same exact day - exactly four years prior that my wife and I first started dating, AND it took place on the Feast day of St. Nicholas - which was also the first day I ever sat foot in an Orthodox Church. Interesting how it all shapes out.
Welcome home, my brother. Many years to you and yours. ☦️
ua-cam.com/video/Ft4p2h6fTOM/v-deo.html
AND St Nicholas is a patron saint for travelers and one of the bigest saints in orthodoxy. Also hes my familys patron saint and protector and i carry his name
Congrats. I just became a catechumen myself
Amazing! I’m happy for you! May the Orthodox Church continue to grow. There was lots oh hard things to work through to become catechumen and go all in. Just because it is so different from what I was doing. But now every thing we just live. We’ve got great solid friends, I’ve grown closer to God with my family, leading about saints. The bible just lit up, so many things I had to skip over finally make sense. So ya our family is very happy to be Orthodox and in the true church. And very grateful for Gods grace 😀
Welcome home brother! Christ is Risen! I have been a Orthodox Christian for 8 years. When my best friend took me to vespers I never knew it would lead to baptism, going to most church services, faithfully serving in the altar every Sunday and the blessings that God has given to me known and unknown.
Truly He is Risen++++
Glory to God! Welcome home. My 9 years anniversary of my conversion to Orthodoxy was last Friday! May God keep us all!
Keep pumping these videos out Brother, awesome testimony. I've converted prom paganism to Orthodoxy about a year and a half ago. it was the single most transformative experience I've ever had, or will.
Thanks for the encouragement brother
The Catholic religion, in whatever form, is simply Paganism in disguise.
Welcome home brother.
Orthodoxy truly does feel like the final red pill. Very good way to put it, brother.
This is where heavy research and humbleness ultimately leads us
...Yes. And then I hit the Protestant wall of objections in my own mind --- and I've been doing this for around 10 years!!!!
I’ll be baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church on April 8th!!!
Glory to God!
I will also be baptized April 8th Glory to God
God bless you my brother
Amen. God Bless you. The Holy Spirit is on the move. Pray for America to repent and for Christ-loving Protestants to have their eyes and their hearts opened to the fullness of the faith! ☦️☦️☦️
They truly are useful 1d10ts for there schismatic banking masters, sad
They truly are useful 1d10ts for there schismatic banking masters, sad
I was raised Pentecostal. God grant you many years. ☦️
Welcome brother, greetings from Serbia. Orthodoxy is a never ending path of Christ. Stay strong!
We also just left protestant for Holy Orthodoxy. Praise God for His keeping His word and upholding His church! I pray all are drawn to the true church.
God be with you. ❤
@@naturesorder7106 Amen, God be with you too
Well, you got the beard for it. Before Orthodoxy the Bible was very esoteric, reading the bible after becoming Orthodox was like taking the blinders off.
"esoteric" to describe the Bible is extremely dishonest.
"Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing." John 18:20 KJV
@@boofdaclown7866 The bible is pretty esoteric, and even is said to be in scripture. And that is completely fine and probably is a good thing. It's not dishonest whatsoever. Orthodoxy "took the blinders off" because it actually connects the missing links and context that is missing when you grow up in a modernist-materialist and protestant lifestyle.
Couldn’t agree more, the bible has never been so clear and nothing is cut out to fit my beliefs now.
@@drooskie9525 where does the Bible call itself esoteric?
@@boofdaclown7866 You're missing the point. The Bible could have been easily read by any literate person 1500-2000 years ago. The reason that is esoteric to us is because we are living in a Modern society and naturally have Modernist presuppositions.
your journey toward EO is very very similar to mine. I am 60 yrs old and just starting as a catechumen after going to about 125 churches over my lifetime
You're not doing something 'incredibly weird', what you're doing is incredibly inspiring. I have massive respect for you. 🙏🙏
I'm a Catholic but I love my Orthodox brethren. Congrats on your awakening!
Come back home to the Coptic or Other oriental orthodox church’s , god bless you
Glory to God in the highest! ☦️
And peace to people of good will .
Glory for ever!
Welcome home brother ☦️ I have a similar story. It is only by the grace of God that He chose me to be Orthodox. I'm in my 2nd year of catechesis now. I've experienced more healing in 1 year as a Catechumen than in 30 years as a Protestant
Me and my brother are trying to convert right. Now. Please pray that we can find a Church and a good parish in our area. I was a Protestant for over 13 years back around June-October of 2021 I started taking my faith seriously. I studied almost every form of Protestantism, and Catholicism. Before finding Orthodoxy.
Sure I’ll pray for you! Hope you can find a good priest. And if it’s not a great church, you going can be the one who makes it easier for the next guy by welcoming him! God bless
My family converted we have about a 2 hour drive but are beginning a mission in our town.
God bless you brother.🙏
Matthew 23:8
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.
Study harder. Study the Bible! It boggles my mind, unless as a "Protestant" you fell victim to a false religion like Calvinism, that you could look at Eastern Orthodoxy and even consider it biblical Christianity. They are blatant about rejecting the Word of God.
Here are a few blatant traditions of men that should stick out like a sore thumb to anyone who knows Christ:
1.) Their priests like to be called "Father", "Holy Father"... - Just like the Pharisees Jesus rebuked. Jesus says that we have but one Father, and everyone in His Church are brethren. Jesus rebuked religious titles in His Church.
2.) The Eastern Orthodox Church preaches that you should pray to a figure called "Theotokos", "Queen of Heaven", etc and equate that unbiblical figure to Mary, Jesus's mother. --- in reality, Theotokos means "Mother of God". BOTH titles are of a pagan goddess named Asherah. --- Jesus says He has many mothers! "Whosoever does the will of my Father, is the same as my brother, sister and MOTHER". The "Mary" of Eastern Orthodoxy is NOT the actual mother of Jesus Christ as revealed by Scripture.
Jesus also taught us how to pray and Who to pray to EVERYTIME we pray in Matthew 6. We are to pray to our Father in heaven that can see in secret, and that knows what we need of before we ask Him.
The Apostles also teach that we have an intercessor for our prayers, the Holy Spirit ITSELF intercedes for the prayers of the saints, because we know not what we should pray for as we ought.
There is literally NO excuse to pray to Mary or anyone else.
---- Those are a few things, the list can go on. Veneration of graven images, infant baptism is the same as being born again, etc... on and on.
The Eastern Orthodox church is a false apostate church the Apostles warned against.
Really enjoyed your story. My wife and I are also converting to Orthodoxy. We love it for the same reasons you mention and also feel like we are home. You are an excellent teacher.
Congrats and God bless. My husband and I are going to be baptized in the Church Pascha 2023. Conversion to the True Church is such a unique experience!
I am thinking of going to the Orthodox Church. I grew up a daughter of a Methodist minister. I used to be on drugs and alcohol, but I have been healed for a long time. Thank you for sharing your testimony.
Go sister, our Lord awaits your return.
God is calling his flock Home. My wife, and kids have been catechumen for almost 2 years, we should be received this Holy Saturday, God willing. Fascinating to hear people testimony. Good strength on your journey brother!
this is really educational and blew my mind some. I had no idea it had gotten that bad. Thank you for sharing. Currently attending a charismatic church and know things are wrong, am deeply drawn to the Orthodox faith and considering steps forward, and I know doing so will change everything. May God bless you and thank you.
Orthodoxy is not always easy and it's not always perfect. But it's lead by Christ. We have some in perfect leaders and some bad Bishops but the church stands
God speed and blessings for a simple Romanian Orthodox.
I am a former 7th day Adventist, former non denominational, former Roman Catholic.
Welcome home brother. May God save us.
IC XC
Welcome brother, from orthodox Bulgaria :) pray to God that we are all strong in these dark times
I visited Bulgaria & found the faith so deep and much part of life. Bulgaria is an incredible country.
@@stephanieburns4560 Thank you ! Our faith and our church is what has kept us through all these years. Our country is 1400 years old and that is only when the great powers acknowledged us as a country. We were enslaved under the ottoman empire for 500 years and with Gods grace we managed to keep our faith , language and culture.
Keep on going through the journey brother! Once you enter baptism, you’re thrown in the arena and it is a hard battle but one that is worth everything we can give. I’ve been a convert for almost a year now. It’s been a struggle but Christ, the Theotokos, his holy saints and holy angels encourage us to fight the good fight. God bless you my friend! ☦️🔥
Can you please explain "Once you enter baptism you are thrown into arena ...of struggle "? I read other similar comments. 🙏
Thanks brother. I have been studying orthodoxy for two years and will be making a change as well. When learning about the early church and desert fathers I was amazed that I had never been taught about these. I can’t get enough of their sayings. I now understand the message and meaning behind the Icons and traditions. It’s like a breath of rejuvenating fresh air. Thanks also for so eloquently explaining what I have experienced.
Well said!!! Welcome Home to the Church. You are not alone in this Journey, I converted two years ago and have never been more blessed! Many others are coming leaving the chaos of Western Christianity.
Our family was chrismated last August after a long journey of fundamental Baptist and then reformed Calvinist churches. We got weary of the constant reinventing of the wheel. That was just one aspect of our journey. Every day I’m soooo grateful to be where we are now! God is so good.
Thanks for sharing your story. My wife and I wandered in and out of many different denominations looking for the truth for MANY years, and it was spiritually exhausting. Thankfully, God led us to the Orthodox Church in 2017, and it's transformed our lives. The church tradition has answered an endless list of theological questions that no amount of Sola Scriptura could answer with authority or clarity. Welcome to Christ's Church!
Congrats and welcome! I can relate to a lot of what you're saying - I came from atheism to evangelical Lutheran church about 14 years ago. Discovered Orthodoxy when researching denominations in preparation for attending a seminary (which never happened). "How come I never knew this before" was the question I was asking over and over again.
All Glory be to God+++
God truly knows each of us individually and allows our free will …
ICXC NIKA
Glory to God! Your journey is now going deeper! May God bless you and your family!
I am a pentecostal and I have come to this very conclusion. I will be going to my local orthodox parish (a Russian Orthodox Church) on Sunday.
Austin, God bless you, my brother. You are a breath of fresh air. I went through much of what you went through, only for decades. I went the full spectrum from Jehovah's Witnesses to the Occult, to Witchcraft, to Hinduism, Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, The Episcopal Church, etc. etc. And I only stumbled upon Orthodoxy one year ago And as you say, I just KNEW that I was home because it has an authenticity and a reverence and a devotedness to scripture, prayer, morality, fasting, almsgiving or sharing with others less fortunate....it is just early Christianity in all of it's freshness and fullness! Many, many genuine souls who truly love God and righteousness, are fleeing from other "so called Christian churches" that are failing to keep God's commandments and both allowing and welcoming into their midst every kind of corruption and immorality and spiritual heresies. And of course, Our Lord, Jesus, warned that this would happen and to be cautions and wary of "false Christs". And while, Yes, Jesus forgave sins, but he enjoined those who he healed and forgave to "go now and sin no more.". Jesus never condoned sin as many churches do today. I wish you God's richest blessing in your continuing journey in His Church ! And God bless so many others that I see on here with similar experiences and comments....many who have converted to Orthodoxy orare catechumens. God bless you all in your individual journeys ! A fellow convert....Bob in Connecticut.
Hey! Thats great! Former Anglican clergy here (and Bethel church stock before that) and now Orthodox. You wont regret it. There's mess here too but its qualitatively different than the theological mess I found in Protestant circles. The journey is real! Welcome in!
I went to many different Protestant groups including Pentecostal, but one day I stopped going and this lasted for 5-6 years. I started to listen to Jay Dyer, Brother Augustine, Fr. Peter Heers, and Fr. Josiah Trenham, and purchased his book "Rock and Sand" became convinced that Orthodox was the true Church and eventually began attending a Greek Orthodox Church. Now a catechumen at 65 years old. The Bible makes more sense when it is joined to and interpreted by Holy Tradition. Orthodox worship is reverent and centered around God and the Eucharist. Jesus established and empowered His Church. Orthodoxy maintained this authority throughout history.
Protestantism largely spreads by division (e.g., church splits).
Interestingly, Martin Luther actually wanted to remove the Book of James from the Canon as it conflicted with his theology!!! Luther was talked out it. Marcion though, created his own canon to suit his own theology.
Check out the Didache which is the earliest extant catechism (50 AD to 100 AD) written to aid pagans transitioning to Christianity. Christianity was not some kind of free form worship. It was ordered and organized by the Apostles and early disciples as it spread through the world.
Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide are simply wrong. They Early Church never taught them but were innovated about 500 years ago.
Couldn’t agree more, god bless you 😀
@@austinfurgason3634 Ditto!
@@austinfurgason3634 God bless you as well and thank you for the blessing!
WELCOME BROTHER!!! Best decision ever!
Welcome home! May God grant you many years!
God grant you many years, brother. My wife and I are catechumens at present. Discovered Orthodoxy a couple years ago when I, too, was sort of worn out with "American Christianity." It has truly been a breath of fresh air. And spot on saying it's the ultimate red pill. It is the "Christ Pill," not to be irreverent.☦
Glory to God! A very very similar journey as mine. May God grant you many years, and welcome home!
I am a fellow Catechumen on this journey! Welcome brother.
I felt nothing in any church - Protestant, Catholic, Baptist - until I moved to Eastern Europe and encountered the beauty and mystery of the Orthodox church.
I was an atheist for 37 years until I encountered real Christianity for the first time. Within six months I comverted to Orthodoxy.
Thanks for sharing your story!
Thank your feelings then?
@@koppite9600 The emotional reaction is due to being in the presence of the truth and God. It is so obvious when you encounter the Orthodox church that it is palpable.
When I went back to the UK and spoke to Protestants, they all ask a million questions, as if their reason has any ability to discern the mystery of God. Yet I see nothing within them other than a kind of confused philosophical nerd. It doesn't surprise me that in my country Protestantism is dying/dead amongst the native population. It's a sterile simulacrum of real Christianity.
All glory be to God++++
My son's journey through cancer also brought me to God! Hope he is OK. God bless your family!
This is awesome. More people really need to hear this. Thanks for sharing, I'll definitely have to post this on my Facebook. Hope your journey into Orthodoxy goes well! 🙏
My beloved brother in Christ, congratulations! May the Lord our God continue to keep you under His protection.
Welcome to the ancient faith brother. I am Orthodox, a converted back in 2020. You are making the right choice.
Welcome to all newcomers to Orthodoxy. Above all I believe that it's closest to Jesus teachings. No focus on money and power. I have experienced love and spiritual peace. God bless us all xxxxxxxx
This is really encouraging. I'm on the same journey with my family.
That’s great ya I spend like 2 hours a day for months watching videos and bindging content. Attending Services and meeting people. Before deciding to go for it, are you catechumen or are you still inquiring?
@Austin Furgason yup. Same thing. It felt like an existential crisis and it was the same time I quit drinking so I was still getting my sanity back. Last Sunday I talked to my priest about starting catechism classes. My wife has been a lot slower to come around because she had no problems with her traditional Baptist upbringing. But she trusts me so she's been attending and so have my two kids (4MO and 2 1/2 YO). She's still skeptical but I can tell something is changing. I'm only wondering if I should become a catechumen without my wife being ready to yet.
@Austin Furgason also, I work 2nd shift at a factory so I don't know when I could make it to weekday services or even the classes he has. He said he may be able to do zoom calls but I wouldn't prefer that.
@@parkermize women are slower then men, it is more truth based then experience based. Although you will have great experiences! It is more masculine then feminine I would say. Which was different from what I’d seen before. My friend was in the same situation, when he started looking into it. I asked her what changed her mind and she said the Rock and Sand series on UA-cam by Josiah Trenham. That’s all the advice I could share. But your right to talk to the priest about complicated personal situations. Mine has been really helpful with that. I hope Gods will for your life brother!! 😀
@@austinfurgason3634 thank you!
I'm converting to Orthodoxy from atheism.
Let all Glory be to God+++
Good for you! I was baptized a little over a year ago it's been amazing. Still learning and trying to grow, but I have no regrets.
Hey bro. Great video. I'm considering converting and went to an Orthodox Church (St.Michaels) today for the first time.
I appreciate you sharing this video because it is helping me to put some things together.
May God bless you and your family! Congratulations on making this step for your faith. My fiancé and I were baptised into the Orthodox Church just last week. It's such a beautiful place to be. The more we've learnt over the past couple of years looking into the Church the more we've come to see Orthodoxy as the fullness of Christianity. Our love and prayers to you!
Austin, I really appreciate your testimony--especially the honesty and vulnerability of it. Glory be to our almighty King and God, Jesus Christ, for seeing your longing for the truth and leading you to His true Church! I just celebrated the 27th anniversary of my baptism into the Faith and it never ceases to amaze me what a bottomless source of "living water" it is. May God continue to bless you and your family!
May the Lord bless you and your family. We became Orthodox in 2015 and make no mistake it's amazing and wonderful and the greatest thing God ever did in our life. But it's also the greatest challenge that lays ahead. Do your best to read the odds of the Saints everyday and every time you fall get back up
As my priest would say, "Thank God!" Welcome home, brother, and God grant you many years.
Congratulations, brother! Welcome home. May your journey the rest of your life be filled with God's grace, and the love of those around you.
Glory to Thee our God,glory to Thee. Christ is in our midst.
Welcome to the church. I myself found Orthodoxy about 8 months ago and it has been a true blessing. As we approach Pascha,may you and your family have a blessed feast day,as we celebrate Christ's triumph over death and his resurrection. God bless.
May Orthodoxy continue to flourish. It is our blessed inheritance. God bless & thanks for sharing your incredible message
Welcome to the family! 🙏🌺☦️🌺🙏
Blessed Lent, brother. I’m “coming home” as well, and hopefully will be baptized this year at some point. It’s been a long journey, and thank God I discovered Orthodoxy before it was too late.
A very, very thoughtful exposition. Well done!
God bless you abundantly, welcome home!
If the Lord sees fit, my wife and I will be baptized after this lent. I am glad to say that we will be brothers in faith, and it is inspiring to see so many people taking the same path here in this comment section.
Congrats brother the battle starts now
Thank you for sharing your story! A lot I can relate to, glory to God and welcome home!
I am so happy for you. I am a german catholic but been wanting to convert to orthodoxy for a while. It seems so much closer to the roots of our believ than any other institution.
"its the final red pill" you nailed it there. thanks for sharing.
Yup the white pill is the orthodox god pill essentially if you care about truth that is
Same im Leaving Anglicanism and Becoming Orthodox
Glory be to the Lord!! Welcome and wish lots of joy. Great decission.
I had originally just posted this video for friends and family on Facebook but now see that it’s getting lots of traffic, Glory to Jesus Christ!. I’ve re-watched the video and just want to clarify that not only was the origins of Pentecostalism fake in a sense of snake oil salesman but also demonic in its manifestations and are very close to Hindu practices and manifestations. Like the ones mentioned in video especially in Toronto Blessing and done by many charismatic/Pentecostal mainline churches. Hopefully was implied but many of my friends on Facebook were charismatic and I didn’t want to be a huge jerk. Since then I have read St. Seraphim Rose’s “Orthodoxy and Religion of the Future.” Where he expressly teaches the manifestations are demonic and those seeking experience open themselves to being mediums for demonic activity. Even in the 5th edition epilogue it has section on the Toronto Blessing.
Besides that I think mostly what I said is a good summary of Orthodoxy and Protestantism. I appreciate all the love and people sharing stories and advise in the comment sections. God bless you! And God bless the Orthodox Church!
Thank you for sharing your testimony! Praise God. I relate to this a lot as I came into Christianity three years ago after leaving the new age/occult and was always drawn to charismatic and Pentecostal denominations. Lots of scary things happened and I finally found Eastern Orthodoxy a few months ago. Reading Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future explained exactly what I had experienced in Christianity up until this point and it’s quite shocking to see how accurate Fr. Seraphim Rose’s prophecies have come to pass in these modern times. Eternally thankful to have found the true Church. 🙏🏼
Fellow Orthodox from Mission, BC here. Encouraging to see more people finding the Church. Which church are you attending currently?
@@danielpeterson2770 I love Mission, I bought my truck there at Pioneer Dodge! I’m attending a missionary Parish in Kelowna headed by Fr Micheal @ Holy Resurrection in Vancouver (Russian) and Fr Marco at St Sava (Serbian)
While it's my understanding that the church technically believes in "speaking in tongues", it's seen as a lower spiritual gift and one that is easy to fake. If a real spirit driven pentecostal awakening were to happen, you would also see the other spiritual gifts of prophecy, healing, miracles, knowledge, faith, etc. The fact that tongues are so prevalent but the other gifts are non-existent tells us everything we need to know about the authenticity of what's going on.
@@steelfalconx2000 ya saint piasos the modern one spoke in tonques. People could hear him without interpretation. What charasmatics do is demonic according to my interpretation of Seraphims writings and what I seen, while for many it is just gibberish. You can see Stacy Campbell at Toronto Blessing shaking head back and forth insanely and that is more a manifestation of what I think Seraphim refered to as “channeling” she continues the same routine and is a local where I live. I recommend watching “Toronto Blessing Chaos” on UA-cam
Glory to God! Welcome home, brother.
Please be aware that you are in for a great challenge in the months/years ahead. My wife and I have been catechumens for roughly 1.5 years and will be baptized next month. Unfortunately, no one really prepared us for just how difficult this year and a half would be. However, I will say that it has been worth all the struggle. I’m still a very sick man, but I’ve experienced actual healing in the Church. This brings such hope, faith, and peace, and sadly those things were not to be found in a lasting way in my Protestant and Roman Catholic upbringing.
Reading the Lives of Saints allowed me to finally start understanding the Bible and the Gospel. The Saints are full of the Holy Spirit and are such beautiful examples of what life in our Lord, Jesus Christ, can be. The Saints are elementary school and the Gospel is high school. In today’s inverted world of propaganda and lies, it’s essential to know their witness so that we can see Christ’s teaching and healing in action. Sadly and unsurprisingly, Protestants are allergic to Saints. If they only knew how much uncorrupted translations of Scripture referred to His saints. We were made to be divine creatures that even the angels stand in awe of, yet most of my life I’ve behaved worse than a beast! Fortunately, like the father of the prodigal son, Christ is always waiting lovingly for me to return in humility.
We will keep you and your family in our prayers. We all stumble. Do not be discouraged and keep getting back up. Christ is with you always!
“Protestants are allergic to saints” lol this is so true. I cry reading the saints it’s all so encouraging and uplifting. I hope I can be like them and like Christ 😀
God bless you brother 🙏
@@austinfurgason3634 How can PROTESTANTS be allergic to SAINTS if my parents are not CATHOLIC and have been SPIRITUALLY born again Saints since 1975?
@@TriciaRP…..what
Thank you for sharing this. I am going through a similar awakening. When people ask me, what brought me to Orthodoxy I always get uncomfortable because I don't want to bash my former church (pentecostal), and I don't want to bash protestantism in general. After all, I overcame a lifetime of alcoholism and drug abuse in the pentecostal church. Protestantism was part of my journey and were it not for protestantism I would not have found Orthodoxy. Blessings on your journey, brother.
I think that’s important what you said. Don’t bash the denomination that lead you to Christ. I come from a Mennonite background. I was not born into that Church family, but I lived near the church in that community and through my Mennonite friends I eventually excepted Jesus. I respect and love those people and still to this day I remember an old Mennonite guy that just loved to council people in the Lord. He was the most pure holy example that I ever met. So I will love my brother and sisters from whatever denominations. Is Protestantism the most correct or pure form of Christianity? Probably not..But I respect what I learned from various Protestants through the years.
I am very interested in learning about the Orthodox Church tho as my journey continues..👍🏽🙏🏽❤️🩹
All Glory be to God+++
So encouraging to hear this. I remember you from the viral Ronald McDonald video. My wife, kids and I also just became catechumens this last Sunday. Learning church history and reading the early church fathers changed everything. Now we have the fullness of Christ!
Wow, I am currently on the same path as you, going to get catechized at either the Greek Orthodox or Ukrainian Orthodox Church and then chrismated later. Orthodoxy is by far among the most consistent and solid in its foundations of doctrine and practice.
Current catechumen here . Being received into the church on holy Saturday