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Our Jerusalem Patriarchate was driven out by Antiochian priests jealous of Palestinian people who would desert them for their Mother Church. Sorry, plain facts of their "marketing" problems. So the Greek Orthodox brought Jerusalem parishes into a "vicariate" (latin term) meaning we're a "sub-set" of lesser parishes who remain virtually unknown to most Greeks except our wonderful Archbishop Demetrios, may he live many more years. So that's our history - a sad one but at least we're allowed to give the message of His Truths as we can.

Yes, I've not read Pashkovsky the philosopher? Could you give a reference for this concept in his works? Thank you so much for your insights. With loving prayer, Matushka Irene

Dear Catherine in Christ! Good to hear from you! I've purposefully entitled the "original Nicene Creed as including "Constantinople" so that the Filioque problem would be assigned to those stealing "Nicene"... now, of course, they cover themselves by using both cities to pretend this was the Creed from the Beginning. Thank you for alerting me to this, and I'll search again.. still its best to include the city-name of the Seat of the Empire approving the 1st Council (and 2nd) completing this statement of Faith in Orthodox Christianity. Our Prayers are with you as you prepare for Baptism, Grace abounds Catherine! Love in Christ "Matushka" Irene with Fr. James' Blessing!

Have you been to a variety of Protestant churches? Have you been to (2 as I have been) Protestant Seminaries? Are you charismatic, reformed, or evangelical? All of these venues and teaching bodies differ in many ways: this discussion relates to the UNDERLYING premise of salvation by "Christ paying the price of His Blood to His Father Whose "wrath" against Mankind for sinning needed to be assuaged - "placated". This premise blasphemes Who God Is - "God is Love" according to our Holy Gospel of John - and that He added on our Human Nature (to His Divine Nature) to become a 2nd Adam - Obedient to the Father in living a perfect Human Life unlike Adam - and to pour out His Life on our behalf, go into Hades to rescue Adam His beloved, and to Raise all the dead along with Him in His Resurrection (Matt 27: 51-53). Introducing to you now the fullness of our Redemption from the Apostles who lived through and understood His salvation and our participation in it through His Life in us (Orthodox Baptism, Communion, etc) in Love of God in Christ and of our brothers and sisters in His Family of believers.

@@JudithMatta Wow! that's a lengthy reply. I appreciate the time you took to respond. I am a confessional Lutheran. I grew up in a Pentecostal home with Baptist radio and preaching always finding away to permeate my walk of faith even when I held charismatic views. I have many friends who are OCA and ROCOR background. For the past two or so years I've been in a pre-Sem program at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and have been attending vesper services at an Eastern church close by where I was constantly fed EO theology. Starting your argument with an ad hominem is a very ineffective way to defend articles of the faith especially considering that as Christians we are taught that God uses asses and children to reveal His kingdom for He resists the proud but gives more grace to the humble.

@@JudithMatta Also I would like to have a conversation on this but I'd rather do it through email than in the youtube comment section 😅

You've "sampled" everything under the sun, and my experience in depth of the RC seminary and Protestant seminaries gives the framework of their teachings and thus, allows us to rationally respond. Hardly ad hominem. Experience, "my dear Watson" experience (Sherlock Holmes has invaluable quotes)! My email is jamatta@aol.com and I'll be happy to correspond but not argue. Your obstacles are important to coming into the Holy Faith, and grace abounds here, so we tread on holy ground. With prayer, Matushka Irene

No, the Fathers did NOT teach this - they teach repentance to Christ our God and our triumph in Christ over demonic forces and satan. Why else would we - myself included - be empowered to drive out demons with the Holy Spirit? They have no power over us unless we give it to them. (Col. 2). "The Lord has not given a spirit of fear, but of POWER, Love and a Sound Mind." (2 Tim 1:7)

Dear friend; Come in - speak with the parish priest to make certain none of this is accepted..Greek Orthodox usually are free of this myth nonsense. If not find a truly Orthodox parish with a priest and people who know the Joy of Salvation in Christ Jesus, and deliverance from these demonic beings. (See Colossians 1-2)

@@JudithMatta thank you for replying, Sister. I looked at the Orthodoxwiki site and they confirmed a lot of Church Fathers’ teaching on it. However, Fr. Thomas Hopko said something to the effect of it not being something to really fear. How is one to know? The church seems to be all over the place on it.

Orthodoxwiki is "manned" by those in favor of Seraphim Rose. They have MISTRANSLATED FATHERS like "Macarios" and others to make them conform to this heresy. Period. Demons are not given power over CHRISTIAN SOULS at Death. It contradicts many, many Scriptures: You who receive My Body and Blood shall not die but Live." I am with you always even unto the end of the worlds" (Jn 14-17 teachings). "My sheep know My voice..." (Jn 10) My expertise is in the Gnostic Heresies; that's what my Masters Thesis is on: the exposing of Gnostic heresies in Charismatic and Now added to this, Orthodox teachings like this exalting satan over Christ. This is a Heresy and is perverted. There IS a battle for our soul at the end of life, this may be what is referred to as far as testing, but when we are with the Lord after breathing our last breath, there is NO - repeat NO possibility of satanic testing. We belong to Christ and are His. "We look for the Resurrection of the dead and the Life of the Age to come"! Satan is defeated (Col 1:13) we are "transferred from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of His dear Son".. Gnostics believe that the Soul alone is important, so that we must suffer spiritually and rely on satanic judgements - from those who are "LIARS" as the Lord Jesus tells us. Sorry, True Church Fathers are of one Voice in excoriating this kind of nonsense (Irenaeus "Against Heresies" Bks IV and V).

the Truth is not "all over the place"...the Fathers follow Scriptures if they are true Elders, if they follow Seraphim Rose and other Gnostic ideas and myths, they are not. You must choose - it is YOUR choice. Father Hopko as is well -known, was a diplomate not a theologian as he would readily admit, giving way to Dr Pomazansky and Irenaeus along with the early fathers. Yours is the choice, not to hide behind ignorance since we know that references are to trials before death, as we are all (who follow Christ) are unfortunately all too aware. Trials and tempting get intensified when we're older, this the Elders tell us and we have experienced. God keep you in His Truth of the Holy Spirit. You may look up "Basil the New and toll-house myths" in other writings to elucidate on these myths and gnostic dreams involving "payment for sin" ..a ludicrous idea since the Blood of Christ has reconciled in full our debts as St Paul so wonderfully writes, along with other apostles.

God keep you close to His Will we pray.. so much more there is to learn! Alleluia!

Fr Rose was a convert from Chinese esoteric religions: his mind was not stayed on Christ and His salvation, but on the "do-it-yourself" religion of fasts, rules, and in this case Demons and their power. ...If Christ is not Central as Savior and Lord, nothing is enough to fill in the heart except pride in knowing "secrets" of spiritual power (I.E GNOSTICISM !) See St Irenaios of Lyon "Against Heresies")

@@JudithMatta Why do you think he's so influential on the internet? Have any higher ups in the Orthodox Church (like Patriarchs) condemned him?

@@silassmith5348 Our email is "jamatta@aol.com" - we'd be glad to give you more about Seraphim Rose. The world is filled with "False Mystics" - and people love those giving esoteric unusual teachings... just as in the beginning of the Church when the Gnostic thrived from Simon the Magician (Acts 8).

jamatta@aol.com

jamatta@aol.com

No thank you ! our favorite is the Icon by Romanian artist Murariu...an incredible spiritual insight. Should be online. The Renaissance was largely an intellectual scholastic move back to pagan philosophy: Augustine in Latin Frankish Church and not appearing clearly on the walls of the Vatican and churches in Italy. Replacing the Holy Scriptures and Christ the Incarnate God! God keep you we pray, Matushka Irene

Yes, absolutely right! Thank you - title taken from Vladyka Tikhon Shevkunov's "Fall of an Empire.." on TH-cam

Thank you for your comments; I experienced 8 years of non-sensical refusal from the OCA bishop in west (mentally "challenged") -a blessed time to learn, so the Lord knew best - and was refused the Baptismal service after all that. "Only Chrismation" I was told... this began my research into the influences quietly exerted on our Clergy not to "re-baptize" - when there is NO Baptism other than that of Orthodoxy. I've seen all the others and grace from the Holy Spirit is there for those who are sincerely baptized, but not anything like that Spirit of God that fills us with grace and Holiness to prepare for Communion with our Saving Lord Jesus! Thank you again and keep us in your prayer, as you are in ours now. in Christ, Presb Irene

Why not just be received as anyone coming into Orthodoxy from denominations? Missing the Holy Mysteries is so painful - surely there is Baptism available since RC Church merely "sprinkles" or "pours" and there is the problem of "Filioque" error in their understanding of Holy Scripture and Christ's own words "I will send the Holy Spirit From the Father.."! Please hasten to the fountain of Life we pray!

The Crusades were the sign that a new "papacy" had taken over Bishop of Rome that had been Orthodox since 100 ad.. 949 ad the Frankish rulers put their own appointee in place, unelected, and who brought Charlamagne's plan of 2 roles into this position: secular ruler ("above every king") and "religious" ruler ("head of every religion") is proclaimed when the Pope is "crowned"! (That Crown alone is ridiculous for apostles of Christ!) . Nothing to do with Orthodoxy. In fact that's when the BREAK came (officially from them in 1054 ad) and Augustine's platonic philosophy with "purgatories" indulgences from Temporal punishments, "magic sacraments" (just say the words from priest and God must obey) with NO Faith required began. Also, The forced conversions with threats of death, "inquisitions" etc ALL began then. Therefore, Another Religious institution came into being, making war (like Islam by force) against the Holy Orthodox Faith of the Apostles which remained steady in spite of terrible persecutions from both Papacy and Islamic warrior religions. Dr Romanides articles on the "Frankish Church" with his scholarship (romanity.org) gives more detail although he is difficult to follow since his writings were mostly from Class notes of his students on that site! ORIGINALLY, ALL NATIONS IN EUROPE AND BEYOND WERE PLANTED BY THE APOSTLES WITH THE HOLY FAITH IN CHRIST. So YES they were all one until 8th century when Charlamagne began maligning the "Greeks" ("pagans"). NOW the spiritual war is ongoing against Holy Faith in the God-Man Jesus Christ vs automatic philosophical "god" of the "man-god" pope.

All Orthodox Nations' churches were united in a "synod of Patriarchates" so they were united in the Faith though using other languages and cultures. They met in Councils at Nicea, etc the Last at the Palamite Council in 13th century. We have a Conciliar Church united as brothers in Christ.

Historic comparisons are in Oxford historian Ian Wilson's "The Shroud of Turin: the Burial cloth of Jesus?" 1978 - excellent sources from eyewitness accounts of the Shroud brought into Constantinople from Edessa with great reverence and processions 946 ad!

"Hate" certainly isn't. in operation at this site: having Roman Catholic background, family and friends that are Catholic, they're suffering under this sham papacy - a Marxist interloper placed in Rome forcing the retirement of another more conservative Benedict. Benedict began to cleanse the homosexual and predatory elements out of Rome and America/European churches, but Pope Francis (are you wondering?) STOPPED the clean-up and recinded the regulations requiring dismissal of miscreants.

Oh please remember St Thomas - it's Thomas Sunday. Open thy heart - without fear since He is near... M. Irene

Oh yes it is: there was only one or two hours to ready the Body: It was wrapped an undergarment, and Jewish Tefillin - the Jewish prayer "boxes" on forehead.. all this discovered. Scientists have verified its authenticity - read the papers from STRUP and other groups of investigative scientists. You've heard old news - the devil's busy gossiping- but the hemoglobin tests pollen tests of flowers from Jerusalem, and linen cloth dating are all within first 100 years. More specific are coins over Jesus' eyes: dating from Pontius Pilate's reign from 29-33 ad in use in Israel at the time. VERY specific time period. He's Risen! and gives us Evidence clearly in photographic time-lapse only available from last 5 years or so.

The people - merchants - wanted their trade in their own hands, not those of foreigners. Not right at all, but a secular reaction to trade agreements unfavorable to Constantinople businessmen. Note: the separation of Papacy took place 1054 ad with a rude gesture interrupting Divine Liturgy at the Altar! Didn't "win friends" for the Latins no doubt!

@@JudithMatta Thank you for your answer. I'm Orthodox and just wanted some clarification because the Catholics are coming at us with this when we bring up the 4th Crusade. And they won't listen to how their church is actually the Frankish Church, while we are the real Roman Catholics. Like you, I was Catholic at one time.

Predestination is not "or" Foreknowledge! It's either One or the Other. Foreknowledge means God knows - as all-knowing - what the ultimate choices and outcome are, without interference because He gifted us with Free Will. Predestination denies this gift of God and makes us robots without choices. That's false and a convenient tool of Augustine for problems with his philosophical outcomes.

You're welcome - we pray that you are on your journey into the Holy Faith? God keep you close to Him, M. Irene

You'll note in then New Testament epistles, the Apostle Paul asks for his converts to pray for his ministry, - this was commonplace. Book of Hebrews 12:1 speaks of the "cloud of witnesses" who are praying for us as we are in the arena of struggling against the enemies of our souls and bodies- visible and invisible. Too many others to note. You're in the 3 world concept that you need to change to understand real world surrounding us: 3-world is that Heaven, Earth with "natural law" , and hell where demons dwell (Hades) are separated from one another. The papacy teaches this, and many Protestants who derive their teachings from them. Orthodox "Original" Christianity is scriptural and in both Old and New testaments, Holy Angels help us, (book of Acts) saints are helping one another - no such thing as "natural law" when miracles happen, and the Incarnate Son of God is born of a Virgin Mother! Also, Christ was tempted by Satan (He allowed this) to show us how to respond to the Enemy's snares that he lays down for us. Welcome to the Real World of living saints, here and with Christ Who is "everywhere filling all things"! Come into the Kingdom of Heaven as it is present on earth in its nascent form."from glory to Glory"!

History is vital to realize that God dwelt among us, and He was Incarnate, with a ministry of healing and restoring the human nature wounded by Adam's sin. Historical facts are given in New Testament Scriptures so that those who want to "make up" a "myth" can be refuted easily by the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate's reign, Herod's rule, all establish the veracity of the Person of Jesus Christ and His Identity as God and Man.

John 6:53 ff. The Lord says "you shall not have life within you" unless you "eat of My Body and Drink My Blood". These are shared through the Bread and Wine/water of the Holy Eucharist from the Earliest days in Acts "Breaking of the Bread" after the Holy Spirit's arrival at Pentecost! The infusion of the Risen Body (with the Blood signifying a Living Person) is brought about by the Holy Spirit's Blessing upon the Gifts in which Christ the Only Begotten Son (Divine) and Lamb of God (His humanity) are shared with believers. "Ask and you shall receive" the teachings from Apostles and Christ Himself in His Gospels.

I believe that I mention his work as my comment above, in the video here: the most excellent overview of the reason and origins of the RC Church in Europe by Charlemagne. Dr JS Romanides on the "Frankish Church" (www.romanity.org/ contents") is the primary source historically also.

It is serious spiritually to take Holy Communion without preparation (1 Cor 11: as St Paul says). It is not a casual thing to take the Divine Christ Jesus into your heart without repentance and a reverent humble heart that is willing to learn the Holy Faith before "crashing the gates" into the fellowship of believers. We each affect one another - if we bring sinful and unconfessed sinful actions into the Holy Communion of believers, we can infect them. Ask the priest kindly to help you learn the Faith as a catechumen, and do this the correct way through Orthodox Baptism. This is the only Baptism which is grace-giving to you, in which you renounce Satan and all the errors in the other churches that you have shared in.. We pray you honesty and truthful searching for the Lord Jesus Christ and His Truth , not just requiring others to "let you in" no matter what you believe. In Christ, M Irene

PS you're inventing belief in a "Byzantine Emperor"required somehow? This makes me question your sincerity unfortunately.

When you take communion the historical belief is that you affirm the beliefs of the Church that you commune at. I think you have some misconceptions about what we believe but i imagine you don't subscribe to all Orthodox christian belief and do not affirm it being the true church so you have not become Orthodox. If you don't affirm our beliefs why would you want to commune with us? If you sincerely want to take communion at a Orthodox church then become a Orthodox Christian 👍

Greek was still present in Early England; Pascha is the Greek word for "Passover" of Christ from Death to Life. His translators and copyists may have denigrated his words - be careful of rewrites to make it friendly to Latin Papist audience.

@JudithMatta st bede honored the pope in his writings though? I don't think the east west distinction was very strong yet in bede's time? However you're right it could have been the translators, as his writings were put into English as well (that's how I can read them). part of his writings included some doctrinal conflicts over the dates and times of Easter/pascha.

@@prayunceasingly2029 Rome already trying to control all the outlying countries with Bishops; part of that was forcing the Irish monks (St Columba etc) to adhere to Rome's Pascha dates. The saintly Irish did agree out of humility but were not convinced, and it caused resentment. Abbots are supposed to be in charge of their own monasteries, not Bishops, especially those in far away Rome. Today, Bishops taking authority over monasteries is more and more the case unfortunately but necessary in others (in our country especially)!