I'm a new catechumen in the Orthodox Church and attended my first Holy Friday vespers this year. I'll never forget how much I cried after hearing this at my Church. It was one of the most moving things I've ever experienced!
Welcome Home! Cradle Orthodox here. The Good Friday 3pm service is one of the most beautiful ones. Since I was a child this hymn got to me as an adult- I need more tissues. As I get older the more emotional I get during this.
I miss my church... I still love my church. But ever since a priest wrongfully excommunicated myself and most of my siblings save for 2, a brother and a sister... I have felt withdrawn and fully disconnected to my church. I grew up Russian Orthodox. I was baptized in the original St. Michael's Cathedral in Sitka in 1956. Now I drift aimlessly almost, disconnected and displaced from and by the very church I had known and loved my whole life. Sadly, watching this video, if only for a moment, I was moved and felt like I was ebbing on the verge of tears. Then, the distancing returned and all emotional ties to the church vanished again. This hymn "The Nobel Joseph," is one of my absolute favorite songs to hear and to sing. But the reminder of how I am no longer a part of the body took me away again, and I feel fully disconnected from the church once more. The emotions are calm and withstanding, and the tears have dissipated and vanished, much like the connection to the church dissipated and vanished. My heart aches because I miss my Parents, Matushka Anna & Father Michael... who are both in blessed repose. I am indeed, heartbroken that the church, the bishops and the metropolitan never saw fit to discredit, rebuke and reverse the decision by a priest who should never have been ordained into orthodoxy. He is a convert. For a brief time he was defrocked and excommunicated from the church. But like any good snake, he somehow found a way to slither his way back into the church, and convinced the church to reverse his excommunication and to return his cassock and robes to him, and he is yet again, an active priest in the church. He is the same man who along with several other perish members, had mocked, shunned and chastised my Dad and openly attacked and abused him right there in the church. I know that this is true because I witnessed it firsthand with my own eyes... I saw and witnessed the abuse and the condemnation they wrought against my father. I will not recant nor will I rescind a single vowel or syllable of anything I wrote here... ever. One of those among the people who condemned and attacked my dad is a practicing homosexual. He lied to the priests who came to investigate this claim and vehemently told the investigating clergy that he had rebuked and renounced his homosexual life. And then he told them that the man living with him in his home is is adopted brother. But the truth of the matter is, the man living with him is not only "Not Orthodox," he is also his live-in homosexual lover. Other facts that I know are absolutely true. The Investigators sent by the Metropolitan to investigate these claims took him at his word and left and have never been back. And that man who attacked my father along with his own mother and 2 others, is still an active tonsured reader, wearing a reader's stichar robe of one who was tonsured. He has no right serving and has no business in the church. There is so much more to this, but I will abstain. I know that no one of importance will ever read this, so it does not really matter. But that final act by the church to reinstate and reverse the priests condemnation of being defrocked, only served to sever any and all remaining ties I had with the church. After a final Divine Liturgy over 2 years ago, I withdrew before communion commenced and have not been back since. If the time comes and I am able to... only on the day of my death will I try to return to the church and ask for my final confession and last communion before taking my last breath. As one excommunicated, that is the only time I will ever be allowed to take communion for the rest of my life. That is what excommunication is according to Church Canon Law as I understand it. I did not conclude watching this video as much as I enjoyed and loved hearing that piece of music again. I am not worthy, and I have no place with the church, even just listening to the music that I once loved so much. I am not worthy and cannot and will not participate in any level, form or shape because I am excommunicated. So-be-it, and so shall it always be to my final hours.
I am so sorry for your loss! I too had found myself ostracized by my church. It took me years to realize that Jesus would not have suffered ostracism, torture and death at the hands of a hidebound religious hierarchy and tyrannical government just to turn around ane establish another hidebound religious hierarchy. For me, the "church" is that invisible body of men and women who really are in tune with who Jesus was and what he was trying to teach us: things like, "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you". When I was not able to approach the chalice, I began to practice spiritual communion, praying to Jesus to mold me the way He wants me to be. Being connected with Him is more important than being connected to any organized religious body. But, i agree, the Orthodox liturgy is beautiful and inspiring. I've been humming and singing The Noble Joseph all morning!
@Kyril J No, there are no other churches nearby that I care to attend. My heart and my love for the church is completely soured and my ties are severed to the church. I have no wish nor desire to return now, or at anytime in the foreseeable future. Oddly enough, I have actually become far more spiritual and more mindful to prayer than before leaving the church altogether. It was a worthwhile trade I think. I say prayers daily and often now, not out of a sense of spiritual obligation, but because of a quiet desire to pray. I thank you Kyril J. for your kind thoughts and concern. Please don't worry about me. We've never met, and I am certain that you have so much more to be concerned about now. I think about the parable of when Christ asked his disciples "who do they say that I am?," and after several different answers, he asked them directly, "Who do you say that I am? His disciples discussed it at length and gave what they thought were reasonable answers. Peter who was always most impressionable and the most impulsive suddenly jumped to his feet and loudly proclaimed "You are the Christ!!! The Son of the Living God!!!" to which Christ immediately exclaimed in response "Bless you Peter, for you are the Rock upon which I shall build my house." In the original texts of the Old Testament, the translation clearly stated "House," and not "Church" as is commonly used in bibles today. But by that proclamation, Christ told his disciples to go forth into the world to spread his word. He made no mention of building churches, or synagogs and only mentioned "House" that one time. I firmly believe now, that Christ never intended for us to build churches and grandiose cathedrals in his name. His instructions to his disciples was simple and straight forward. His instructions to them, was to carry his teachings and his word to the people of every nation. Never once did he mention to build churches. And so after his crucifixion, death and resurrection, the disciples set about and began spreading his word as he had commanded them to. Never once did his disciples retain or claim anything for their own and kept or harbored any wealth of any kind. They followed his word to the best of their abilities. In telling Peter, "Bless you Peter, for you are the rock upon which I shall build my House, the disciples began spreading his word far and wide, thus laying the foundation of Christianity for the whole world. Because Christ wasn't referring to a Church, or synagog, or other physical manifestation when he spoke those words to Peter. He was referring to the world, because it was his wish and goal for the world to become his house to which he would judge us or shower us with salvation... And today we are realizing the fruition of that statement to Peter when he said "Bless you Peter, you are the Rock upon which I shall build my house." Because everywhere you go, everything you see stemming from this Covid-19, Coronavirus, you see all manner of people in their homes, in their houses, and they are all praying. Indeed, the world has now become the House of Christ, the House of God. The cathedrals and the churches are only empty buildings of worship to the egos of the men who designed and created them, and is NOT the spiritual house that Christ intended. I saw someone write about satan saying, "See what I've done, I have closed all your churches and cathedrals, to which christ replied, "but I have you beaten because I have opened thousands of more churches that is in every home and house." It was intended to be humorous, but speaks a great deal of truth. Kyril, please do not worry about me. Bless you for your kind words and thoughts and peace be with you always.
JW, this all sounds pretty sordid, but if is any consolation, I could tell you about some of my experiences with Roman Catholicism. Now, not all of my experiences were horrible; There were some that fondly recall. Our Lord Jesus has seen fit to grant us spiritual fathers who are good and who will help us through the End Times. May the Theotokos intervene before her Divine Son on your behalf.
What in the world? That's not what excommunication is at all. Did you ever have a catechism? You're throwing your life away based on basic misunderstandings. Find an Orthodox church and find someone at least slightly knowledgeable to talk to. Deathbed? What in the world are you even talking about?
@@cyriljorge986 His father is a priest, so don't be scornful of his experience. He is most likely much, much better catechized than you are. My father is also an Orthodox priest and was similarly mistreated. You have no idea how painful it is to be slandered and mistreated by the very clergy that are supposed to be helping you to become closer to God. One of the great Church Fathers, St John Chrysostom?, said that being slandered is one of the worst kinds of pain to be experienced. I am so, so sorry that someone else has had the same bizarre experience that my family has suffered so much from.
Actually, it's , or "Great Friday". But in normal English both "Good Friday", and "Holy Friday" are fine. "Good" in this sense is a synonym for "Holy".
I'm a new catechumen in the Orthodox Church and attended my first Holy Friday vespers this year. I'll never forget how much I cried after hearing this at my Church. It was one of the most moving things I've ever experienced!
Welcome Home!
Cradle Orthodox here. The Good Friday 3pm service is one of the most beautiful ones. Since I was a child this hymn got to me as an adult- I need more tissues. As I get older the more emotional I get during this.
Beautiful
Coming to that time of year again...
And again
@@shekov60 and again
@@joanhughes7742 and again
@@annmariekassel3009 and again
Beautiful ❤
Ο ευσχημων Ιωσηφ απο του ξυλου καθελων το αχραντο σου σωμα....Greetings to our Russian Orthodox brothers.
I miss my church... I still love my church. But ever since a priest wrongfully excommunicated myself and most of my siblings save for 2, a brother and a sister... I have felt withdrawn and fully disconnected to my church. I grew up Russian Orthodox. I was baptized in the original St. Michael's Cathedral in Sitka in 1956. Now I drift aimlessly almost, disconnected and displaced from and by the very church I had known and loved my whole life.
Sadly, watching this video, if only for a moment, I was moved and felt like I was ebbing on the verge of tears. Then, the distancing returned and all emotional ties to the church vanished again. This hymn "The Nobel Joseph," is one of my absolute favorite songs to hear and to sing. But the reminder of how I am no longer a part of the body took me away again, and I feel fully disconnected from the church once more. The emotions are calm and withstanding, and the tears have dissipated and vanished, much like the connection to the church dissipated and vanished.
My heart aches because I miss my Parents, Matushka Anna & Father Michael... who are both in blessed repose. I am indeed, heartbroken that the church, the bishops and the metropolitan never saw fit to discredit, rebuke and reverse the decision by a priest who should never have been ordained into orthodoxy. He is a convert.
For a brief time he was defrocked and excommunicated from the church. But like any good snake, he somehow found a way to slither his way back into the church, and convinced the church to reverse his excommunication and to return his cassock and robes to him, and he is yet again, an active priest in the church. He is the same man who along with several other perish members, had mocked, shunned and chastised my Dad and openly attacked and abused him right there in the church. I know that this is true because I witnessed it firsthand with my own eyes... I saw and witnessed the abuse and the condemnation they wrought against my father. I will not recant nor will I rescind a single vowel or syllable of anything I wrote here... ever. One of those among the people who condemned and attacked my dad is a practicing homosexual. He lied to the priests who came to investigate this claim and vehemently told the investigating clergy that he had rebuked and renounced his homosexual life. And then he told them that the man living with him in his home is is adopted brother. But the truth of the matter is, the man living with him is not only "Not Orthodox," he is also his live-in homosexual lover. Other facts that I know are absolutely true. The Investigators sent by the Metropolitan to investigate these claims took him at his word and left and have never been back. And that man who attacked my father along with his own mother and 2 others, is still an active tonsured reader, wearing a reader's stichar robe of one who was tonsured. He has no right serving and has no business in the church. There is so much more to this, but I will abstain. I know that no one of importance will ever read this, so it does not really matter.
But that final act by the church to reinstate and reverse the priests condemnation of being defrocked, only served to sever any and all remaining ties I had with the church. After a final Divine Liturgy over 2 years ago, I withdrew before communion commenced and have not been back since. If the time comes and I am able to... only on the day of my death will I try to return to the church and ask for my final confession and last communion before taking my last breath. As one excommunicated, that is the only time I will ever be allowed to take communion for the rest of my life. That is what excommunication is according to Church Canon Law as I understand it.
I did not conclude watching this video as much as I enjoyed and loved hearing that piece of music again. I am not worthy, and I have no place with the church, even just listening to the music that I once loved so much. I am not worthy and cannot and will not participate in any level, form or shape because I am excommunicated. So-be-it, and so shall it always be to my final hours.
I am so sorry for your loss! I too had found myself ostracized by my church. It took me years to realize that Jesus would not have suffered ostracism, torture and death at the hands of a hidebound religious hierarchy and tyrannical government just to turn around ane establish another hidebound religious hierarchy. For me, the "church" is that invisible body of men and women who really are in tune with who Jesus was and what he was trying to teach us: things like, "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you". When I was not able to approach the chalice, I began to practice spiritual communion, praying to Jesus to mold me the way He wants me to be. Being connected with Him is more important than being connected to any organized religious body. But, i agree, the Orthodox liturgy is beautiful and inspiring. I've been humming and singing The Noble Joseph all morning!
@Kyril J No, there are no other churches nearby that I care to attend. My heart and my love for the church is completely soured and my ties are severed to the church. I have no wish nor desire to return now, or at anytime in the foreseeable future.
Oddly enough, I have actually become far more spiritual and more mindful to prayer than before leaving the church altogether. It was a worthwhile trade I think. I say prayers daily and often now, not out of a sense of spiritual obligation, but because of a quiet desire to pray. I thank you Kyril J. for your kind thoughts and concern. Please don't worry about me. We've never met, and I am certain that you have so much more to be concerned about now.
I think about the parable of when Christ asked his disciples "who do they say that I am?," and after several different answers, he asked them directly, "Who do you say that I am? His disciples discussed it at length and gave what they thought were reasonable answers. Peter who was always most impressionable and the most impulsive suddenly jumped to his feet and loudly proclaimed "You are the Christ!!! The Son of the Living God!!!" to which Christ immediately exclaimed in response "Bless you Peter, for you are the Rock upon which I shall build my house." In the original texts of the Old Testament, the translation clearly stated "House," and not "Church" as is commonly used in bibles today.
But by that proclamation, Christ told his disciples to go forth into the world to spread his word. He made no mention of building churches, or synagogs and only mentioned "House" that one time. I firmly believe now, that Christ never intended for us to build churches and grandiose cathedrals in his name. His instructions to his disciples was simple and straight forward. His instructions to them, was to carry his teachings and his word to the people of every nation.
Never once did he mention to build churches. And so after his crucifixion, death and resurrection, the disciples set about and began spreading his word as he had commanded them to. Never once did his disciples retain or claim anything for their own and kept or harbored any wealth of any kind. They followed his word to the best of their abilities.
In telling Peter, "Bless you Peter, for you are the rock upon which I shall build my House, the disciples began spreading his word far and wide, thus laying the foundation of Christianity for the whole world. Because Christ wasn't referring to a Church, or synagog, or other physical manifestation when he spoke those words to Peter. He was referring to the world, because it was his wish and goal for the world to become his house to which he would judge us or shower us with salvation...
And today we are realizing the fruition of that statement to Peter when he said "Bless you Peter, you are the Rock upon which I shall build my house." Because everywhere you go, everything you see stemming from this Covid-19, Coronavirus, you see all manner of people in their homes, in their houses, and they are all praying. Indeed, the world has now become the House of Christ, the House of God. The cathedrals and the churches are only empty buildings of worship to the egos of the men who designed and created them, and is NOT the spiritual house that Christ intended.
I saw someone write about satan saying, "See what I've done, I have closed all your churches and cathedrals, to which christ replied, "but I have you beaten because I have opened thousands of more churches that is in every home and house." It was intended to be humorous, but speaks a great deal of truth.
Kyril, please do not worry about me. Bless you for your kind words and thoughts and peace be with you always.
JW, this all sounds pretty sordid, but if is any consolation, I could tell you about some of my experiences with Roman Catholicism. Now, not all of my experiences were horrible; There were some that fondly recall. Our Lord Jesus has seen fit to grant us spiritual fathers who are good and who will help us through the End Times. May the Theotokos intervene before her Divine Son on your behalf.
What in the world? That's not what excommunication is at all. Did you ever have a catechism? You're throwing your life away based on basic misunderstandings. Find an Orthodox church and find someone at least slightly knowledgeable to talk to. Deathbed? What in the world are you even talking about?
@@cyriljorge986 His father is a priest, so don't be scornful of his experience. He is most likely much, much better catechized than you are.
My father is also an Orthodox priest and was similarly mistreated. You have no idea how painful it is to be slandered and mistreated by the very clergy that are supposed to be helping you to become closer to God. One of the great Church Fathers, St John Chrysostom?, said that being slandered is one of the worst kinds of pain to be experienced.
I am so, so sorry that someone else has had the same bizarre experience that my family has suffered so much from.
where is this Church?
It is part of the monastery.
Read the description?
What jurisdiction?
@@Luke-op1gc Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Jordanville N.Y.
Good Friday? Orthodox call it Holy Friday
Actually, it's , or "Great Friday". But in normal English both "Good Friday", and "Holy Friday" are fine. "Good" in this sense is a synonym for "Holy".
As Russian, I can say we call it Great Friday (literally translating from russian). But translator translets it as Good Friday and Great Friday too.
Stop splitting hairs. What we call it has no bearing on our salvation
Who cares? The actual events matter not what we call it in English. Great means good or vice versa in English
beautiful