The SURGE Into the Orthodox Church
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- The past few years have seen an undeniable and, for many parishes, unprecedented surge of inquirers, catechumens, and converts to the Orthodox Church.
What is going on? How do we understand this? Did we do something to make this happen? And what do we do next?
I've been tracking this phenomenon for a few years now. You can read an article I wrote about it in 2021: blogs.ancientfaith.com/asd/20...
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Thanks for all your interesting comments. To further expand on what I said in the video, I'll say that I don't think that the pandemic is a sole cause, but rather it functioned as a catalyst. The key IMO is disenchantment, and what the pandemic experience did quite suddenly was to accelerate that.
The world has become disenchanted in numerous ways, and the pandemic severely stifled what I sometimes have referred to as "the last enchantment," which is people simply being with each other. There is something about people being together that includes a transcendence that is palpable and which is detrimental when removed, especially suddenly.
I've been tracking this phenomenon for a few years now. You can read an article I wrote about it in 2021: blogs.ancientfaith.com/asd/2021/09/29/the-sudden-influx-into-orthodox-churches/
Hello Father, to what extent do you see seekers coming in (or people leaving) as a consequence of a cultural shift such that one’s community may now be constructed by the individual, as opposed to being received from one’s family or culture? Also, do you know of any catechetical material for already Orthodox adults in English? I made a separate comment below about what the Orthodox Church in France is doing through a TH-cam channel set up for this purpose. You probably won’t be surprised that it was set up during the pandemic. Father, bless
If you are familiar with the pattern of religious revivals in the US, they occur every 80 years, give or take, and our next one is due in the 2040s. These don't come out of no-where, they are preluded by a couple decades of exponential growth that start small but to those on the outside seem to suddenly appear on the scene and then shine for 20 years, and then the gradual decline in religiosity returns until the next revival. It's very similar to what one sees in the book of Judges.
If this cycle is the same as the past ones, America in 2050 is going to look very different than now, but I hope that Eastern Orthodoxy will become widely a known part of the American life.
father Andrew??????? but surely you have read and understood the commandments of the lord????? Matthew 23:8-9 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
I started listening to your Spotify Podcast: Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy and binged it all. Now on your Lord of the Rings podcast. Crazy to finally see you “in person”. I really love the way you explain the Orthodox Church and Orthodox theology. I’ve been a catechumen for around 7 months now. You’re truly a great teacher!
Nebraska, 63 yrs old, on a journey from Protestantism for 1 1/2 years now.
Leaving because of Idiologies. I finally woke up and smelled the frankincense and myrrh. Let’s break Protestantism down: NO central objective normative authority (Protestants will say “well, the Holy Spirit”-ding, ding, ding-that doesn’t count because EVERY protestant will say the same thing to validate their brand of Christian belief and/or heresy),- that’s why there are thousands of denominations.
NO, understanding of church history or of the the apostle mix fathers or church fathers. If they did, they would be flooding the Orthodox Church door in wholesale masses. Absolutely NO sense of humility to step back and say let me hear what is said and figure it out. The Protestants like DYI worship like Nadab and Abihu (and we know what that got them). They love their Sola Scriptura heresy. I ask them “Which sola scriptura, JW, Mormon,Copland, McCarthers Pentecostal, Lutheran?” They look confused. I ask them, is Christianity a western or eastern religion….was Jesus an Easterner or westerner and what did He think like, a westerner or Easterner? I could go on and on.
I was a lifelong protestant (charismatic). I'm being baptized into the Orthodox church in a week. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner.
God be with you ❤
Welcome Back God Bless. With Love In Christ 🙏☦️🙏❤️
Thanks for sharing. If I may ask when you refer to charismatic do you mean speaking in tongues, and moving and or using the gifts of the Holy Spirit ?
@@jimvlahos1320 Yes.
Almost there! Come home to Rome!
Why all the young men? There are very few places in western society where young men are not only welcomed but encouraged. It's one of the last safe harbors. Don't ever change, Orthodoxy!
It'll be the reason such a Church will survive(as Christ promised), It has an active impulse
Yep
It’s just another denomination. This one just happens to be older like the Catholics.
Look up the definition of Denomination. Orthodox Church is not a denomination.
@@RomualdianHermitage
“A church denomination, or Christian confession, is a distinct religious body within Christianity. Denominations are identified by their history, organization, name, leadership, doutrina teológica, style of worship, and sometimes a founder.”
of course it is. You are one church among many other Christian expressions. There is not one Christianity rather there are Christianities and EO is just another. Yes it’s old but it’s still one among many that people can choose from.
People are STARVING for a spiritual framework in these dark times
I was Baptised and Chrismated today, I was a protestant. Glory to God.
Glory to God! Welcome to the true church! ☦️
Welcome home!!!
Many years!
💜☦️☦️☦️💜
Glory to God ❤
I am a Covid convert also. I was RC and deep into my faith, I live in Romania. The lockdowns happened and we were all stuck in our apartments forbidden from attending church. The Patriarch insisted all the bells were rung whilst the priests celebrated their liturgies alone (apart from their families). I felt such blessings from those bells, they were truly sacramental, they touched my heart. I felt an intimacy with the Orthodox church I can not describe, I started to pray the liturgy in my apartment listening out for the bells. During Pascha of that year, as the police were in a sinister and yet comical manner shouting from the tannoys telling everyone to stay indoors, I could hear the disobedience of the faithful, the liturgies were blasted over soundsystems, I could hear the joyful singing of the Easter troparion and proclamation and I could hear extremely loud bells which could blast asunder the gates of Hell! Then with difficulty, I found a priest willing to take me under his wing, indeed it proved so difficult that I just knew I was meant to become Orthodox! And now here I am, 4 years later, literally saved by the bells!!! Thank you Patriarch Daniel!
WONDERFUL! SAVED BY THE BELLS, INDEED!
They ring to call all of us to the Lord's CHURCH!
☦📿💝📿☦
God bless your heart.
I visited Moldova last summer on pilgrimage. It was wonderful! I traveled from America. I have been Orthodox since '05. The surge in my Macon, Georgia parish is dramatic. Young families and many young men being led by the Holy Spirit. I think that generation is tired of the perpetual and often negative changes in society. They are looking for a stable form of Christianity. We welcome them genuinely. Hope they all stay!
Hristos a inviat, si tu esti inviat!
JUST REREAD THIS. I see something new every time.
Beautiful story. Beautifully told. Beautiful TRUTH!
☦💝📿💝☦
The Holy Spirit lead my 15-year-old son to Antiochian Orthodox Church. I went with him because he is a minor, and I did not feel comfortable, dropping him off at a church I was unfamiliar with by himself. He wanted to take the inquiries class. Again, I went with him simply to watch over him not to convert. But something changed in me during inquiry class, and I became a catechumen along with my son. Also, his youngest brother, who is eight. We will be chrismated this summer & my children will be baptized. My son was unchurched. I grew up protestant but left the church. The Holy Spirit is drawing people to the orthodox church.
My son had a Bible, I don’t know where he got it, but he told me he was going to read it and pick a church. I figured that would never happen because the Bible is a long read. But he read it fairly quickly within a couple of months or less, and then asked me to take him to the Orthodox Church. he interviewed Catholics, Protestants and so on and decided that the orthodox church was the true church and that’s why he asked to go there. this took place in 2023.
That’s truly Spirit-led !
I promise you in a few years you’d be amazed how you were able to do this ! Hold on to that first given grace for as long as you can!
We are seeing this phenomenon in our parish as well, in the past year or so (St. Herman of Alaska, Langley); 14 & 15 year old boys (mostly, though recently a 15yr old girl started to come), some of them bringing their families with them. A few years ago, we had a surge of university students who wanted to convert.
When I first started coming to the OC seven years ago, there were no catechumens, now there are usually a dozen or so who go forward every Sunday during the prayer for the catechumens (there are more, but not everyone shows up every Sunday).
As an ex-muslim, ex-atheist in a muslim country, I don't even know if I'm Orthodox or Catholic yet but I know one thing, he is calling. I get goosebumps every time I see his iconas. I loved reading the New Testament.
God bless your journey dear one. May I humbly suggest you listen to (TH-cam) audio book The Way of a Pilgrim . Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on me a sinner. 💖🙏🇦🇺
✝️🙏🏻
The present Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches were the SAME CHURCH for the first 1,000 years of Christianity.
God bless you! I also dabbled in Islam and am so thankful for the church.
The Western Roman Catholics and the Easternorthodox were the same Church for the first 1 000 years of Christianity !!!!!!!
I just started attending an Orthodox Church. I had stopped attending church and out of nowhere God called me back to him. When I was researching a church to attend here came orthodox out of nowhere. I had never heard of it before. What attracted me was there has been no change.
@@eabm1984 I mainly meant the service is consistent. No worship bands no conforming to what modern people expect out of church. When I first attended I will admit it was a little weird and I had a hard time because it was so different to what American church has become.
definitely sounds like the work of the Holy Spirit!
@@travis5134Congratulations! Stay strong and don't let anyone discourage you from learning about Orthodoxy. It is a beautiful spiritual Christian religion. The traditions and theology are from time of the disciples. The Eucharist is wine and bread, not grape juice. The lighting of candles for the living praying for good health and the lighting of candles for the dead praying for their souls. The icons are not worshipped but the visual writings of the Gospel. The images tell stories from the Bible. Also different icons for different prayers... also the images of The Virgin Mary give a different meaning depending on if she is holding the Baby Jesus or not, plus the position of her hands for different prayers. The chanting and singing are prayers worshipping God. There is fasting and the food made for easter. Just a beautiful way to worship God! 💜 ⛪️
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. Glory to God! ☦️
May God Bless you and your Loved Ones! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit! Amen! 🕊️
@@eabm1984like what?
@@eabm1984could you elaborate into which areas a person might want to inquire ? What has the Orthodox Church changed in recent years ?
I left Pentecostalism a year ago and on Lazarus Saturday I will be baptized and chrismated!
Glory be to God! I was baptized last Lazarus Saturday!
@@katienelles5758 Thank God!
Welcome home!!!
@@lifeiscomplikated Thank God ☦️
☦ dear Paisios, i believe i know who your patron saint will be! 💝💝
I was received on Lazarus Saturday.
A beautiful day..
☦📿💝📿☦
Im getting Baptized on Pascha! Thank God I (finally) found Holy Orthodoxy. Im in BC Canada.
Glory to God! Many years ☦️
You act like you found the answers to the riddle of life.
Me too!!!
✝️🙏🏻💗
I’m also in BC attending St Herman’s of Alaska..What Church do you go to?..👍🏽
I am a Bulgarian and live in Bulgaria. I've been raised protestant, only recently started attending an Orthodox Church. There's no doubt in my mind that I'm getting into it.
Sadly, the catechumenate practice is largely forgotten here, people get baptized whenever they want. It's a common practice to get baptized for becoming a best man or woman.
And even so... Staunch atheists are getting into the Church. Pagan leaning friends as welk. With all its troubles, flaws and faults the Bulgarian Orthodox Church seems go be growing in actual involved parishioners. Communism did a lot of harm, but that's starting to turn around it seems.
Glory be to God, and may Christ have mercy on us, sinners!
I am Bulgarian and there are still catechuman practicase, you just need to find one. It is not often but there are just depends where you are from in Bulgaria.
If you can't find look in TH-cam for An Orthodox Christian Catechism (2022)
If you can't find a catechumenate program in your city, maybe you could visit a monastery for a week or so. The monks will be able to guide you, answer your questions.
If you are in Sofia, go to St. George Rotunda. If Fr. John is still there (haven't been to Bulgaria for 5 years even though I live next door), he will help you.
i didn't even know there was any protestants in bulgaria
because it's next to greece/bizantium and turkey so i assume it's mostly orthodox and some muslims
@@YouNoob573 I'd be willing to bet there are more protestants than devout Orthodox, sadly. Protestantism has been a thing here since the 19th century because of missionaries. It had its positives (they did a lot during our liberation from Ottoman rule). The majority of protestants went heavily under the radar during communism, but with its death a lot of sects popped up. Not only here though, the former USSR states had it even harder. Now we have Russian-led protestant circles, very weird. It's on the charismatic and pentecostal side, so I don't have much to say (I've been mainly part of Baptist and reformed Baptist circles). They even have their own tv channel that seems more funded than anything coming from the Orthodox side. But the Bulgarian Church is waking up more and more, so that's nice.
I'm part of the surge. People are starving for meaning and the Church, through Christ, provides just that. Personally I've been wounded so deeply by the secular world that I am seeking the healing that only Christ can provide. Thank God. This is the solution to all of our woes.
We have about 50 catechumens in our parish. We received 55 people into our parish last year. We're going to be receiving 10-12 on Holy Saturday, and every week we make 1-3 more catechumens. We're already too big for our space so only God knows how we'll move forward, but it's a blessing to be witnessing the miracle of our times. I'm in Salt Lake City, Utah. A lot of ex-Mormons are joining, but it's also former occult and atheists.
Glory to God!
about the only downside to the growth is that tithes aren't growing as fast as the congregations are, and construction costs are way up. I changed parishes because mine became comically overcrowded
As an ex mormon whos family is still Mormon this is good to hear I hope to visit the orthodox commu ity in utah someday
@@VloggingCastles Come visit us at Sts. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in downtown SLC. We'd love to see you!
I drive past many protestant billboards with LED screens flashing all manner of cheeky slogans.
Our Orthodox Church sign hasn't changed in years:
"Divine liturgy Sunday at 930 AM, Vespers Saturday at 5 pm"
100+ Enquirer's since COVID started
“Do you know what’s missing from chch?…..UR!”
😂 this was my favorite recently
People want stability, no cheeky slogans.
I'm Baptist & I Am Interested In Joining The Eastern Orthodox Church......THE REAL & TRUE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH!!!
former baptist here ......God bless your journey
Amen, glory to God!!!☦️ IlDont hesitate to ask questions in your catechism lessons ☦️🩵
Come on! Attending for 1 year, studied my whole life-God has drawn us to Orthodoxy. Don't hesitate.
Same situation. Took me forever but found the truth
What state are you in?
I was an Atheist born and raised. I didn't like any aspect of religion-- especially Christianity.
2 years ago, I felt compelled to read the Qu'ran because I know many Muslims. It was through Islam that I started understanding Jesus, and my heart became very attached to Him.
So I studied Christ for about 2 years as a non-believer. It got to the point that I couldn't deny the Lord any longer, and I knew Christianity was where I needed to place my faith.
Of course, with a basic understanding of Church history, and through reading scripture, Orthodoxy was the only true way. It helps that my personal beliefs align with the church teachings.
The pandemic had zero influence on this journey I started.
I was raised Catholic and was protestant for a long time and i always felt i was missing something... until i experienced the fullness of the Orthodox Liturgy. Thank you Father. ☦️ As a westerner i feel Orthodoxy was hidden from me. I am learning so much!
Ha! I commented way before you talked about the most common thing people say!
Yes, what has been hidden in plain sight. Yes. ☦📿💝📿☦
God has me learning about Orthodoxies, Im 75 and African American find mystery draw to the idea of piety, purity and love. The Holy Spirit is moving. I believe God is calling His people,, period
Welcome, my brother. I too am African American, 70, and female. My conversation was about 20 something years ago...brought in by my adult son. My parish has witness this growth as well as the Fellowship of St. Moses the Black which is nationwide. I said it from the beginning, the Orthodox church is a First Century church where community, active love, and fellowhip abounds. An amazing place where I've grown tremendously. The explanation from my view point is that I've been praying for my people (and all people) and the Lord is bringing in the harvest. May I be ready to receive. Humble and compassionate.
Lord have mercy on me.
I'm black and came into the Orthodox Church in '05. Have not regretted it--and never will.
God bless you!
✝️🙏🏻
Wow,that’s why I’m attracted- my Catholic Church is changing so much I don’t recognize it. “The Orthodox Church does not need to be changed.” I feel like I need to be changed through repentance.
💖🙏
Welcome home!
South Korea here. Our Parish isn't exploding with growth, but it is growing steadily and it is very diverse group a lot of age ranges.
I'm coming back to korea for summer break. I plan on doing my best to convince my parents to take me to Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral. It's gonna be difficult because they are both protestants and the cathedral is an hour and 30 minutes of driving from us.
@@stephenlee1664 Depending where you are their are many actually. I attend the Russian parish near Samgakji station.
We have greek parish in Jeonju as well. A small mission in Sadang (also russians, but is focused on evangelism of Koreans so the service is mostly Korean.)
I was a Protestant for 24 years and became an Orthodox Christian in July 2023. I’m in New Jersey. The Lord opened my mind enabling me to see outside the box, find the church fathers, learn church history in the first 1,000 years, then stumbled into Orthodoxy, visited, and bam. Wow, just wow. It’s life transforming, it’s true, it’s family, and sacred. There’s so much to say. It’s faith lived out and experienced. Meanwhile my former Calvinism and Evangelicalism was purely rational.
Same. I live in the Southwest. Protestantville. Rationalism. So thankful I was awakened. I’m the most unlikely convert
Same here. Have reached out to my local parish, will be attending soon! Praise God!
I am suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Please, pray for my health and recovery.
Praying for you my dear one
Praying 🙏 for you ❤
Prayers here too. Look into nutrition. Possible correction to your issues. See proper human diet on TH-cam. Learn about how the body works and decide what you want to try. Bikman “why we get sick” is one. Fung, Berry, Lustig. Slightly varying takes. General agreement on gaining proper health eating proper food. Prayers are first. An awful lot of health issues are skyrocketing because of bad food. We’ve improved our well being this way🙏
So am I, I feel your pain❣️🙏🙏🙏
So am I. 12 years now. In the past years, I have found help from a clinic founded by recovered CFSers. If you are interested, I can post a link. In any case, I will pray for you. Please pray for me too
I converted to Catholicism, from being Protestant, over 20 years ago. I actually didn't know about the EO Church until about 5 years ago as there are very few in my country (New Zealand). Some Catholic doctrines always troubled me such as Papal infallibility and especially purgatory. I found the answers to these doubts online, in the Orthodox Church and spent months learning more. I will be attending my first Divine Liturgy and driving 7 hours to do so - next month. Please pray for me and my wife.
BLESS YOU! ☦📿💝📿☦
@@bytellingyouthetruth good idea!
God bless you. I'm ex-Catholic, now Orthodox 20+years. I'm across the pond in Tas. Will pray for you. 💖🙏🇦🇺
@@mrsnkg7904 Bless you too :)
@clivejames5058 Thank you. May I ask for your wife's name so I can pray for her? Yes try to get to Holy Pascha (Saturday night to Sunday 4-5th May this year). Very long service. You can find bilingual service texts if you google Ages Initiative Digital Chant Stand (GK Orth diocese of US). In the last 2yr I've briefly spoken w Bp George (Russian) & Bp Silouan (Serbian). They're both v conscious of their flocks in NZ (& Tas) & felt great pain of separation during covid years. Nicola 💖🙏
Living in Tennessee, I knew nothing about the Orthodox...until 4 years ago. Then I found the Sayings of the Desert Fathers and became obsessed with reading them and with listening to the audio. I have heard them hundreds of times. Then I began to read the old prayers of the early Church Fathers and could not help but weep all the time. Something was happening. Unexpectedly, I had to suddenly move to Eastern Europe from the US for family reasons. I became a catechumen for a year at my local cathedral and was baptized/chrismated. Now Orthodoxy is part of my daily life. That's my story.
Old prayers of early church fathers - could you tell me where can I look for it? Online or is it a book? Thank you.
@@OnlyOneName Just google "Ancient Christian Prayers" -- YT won't let me put a link here. Be blessed!
@@OnlyOneName
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers can be found on AFR's website, Fr. Andrew's online ministry page, for a decent price.
Reading it straight through is beneficial but I prefer to open the book and read the first thing I see on the page. Generally it is something I need to hear by God's Grace.
@@acekoala457 Thank you very much.
❤❤❤
I feel like Orthodox Church has been hidden from me. I guess I’m a Protestant and I have been clinging to the gospels, praying and becoming stronger in my faith so much more than I have ever been. The one thing I’ve asked The Lord is to reveal to me the truth. God’s truth. Not a Pastor’s interpretation, not the Catholic Church or Mormon Church, etc. I feel something is missing and have been feeling this way for years. It’s been so strong now since I’ve dedicated my life more to Christ. As I’ve been researching Catholicism, suddenly I see something called Orthodox and it’s very much appealing. Why am I considering leaving Protestantism? Respect… I feel, the culture has taken a turn. It’s one foot of the world and one foot in the world. If you get what I mean. The lack of Holy reverence, the lack of history and connection it, the way Protestant churches look like a Disney commercial, tue fog machine, concert lights, cool guy pastors, lack of masculinity and men being true leaders. Too much compromise. This is all just a touch of what I feel… like I said, I’m just feeling like something is missing in church, a connection, respect/reverence. My faith and love for Christ is strong, just need a church that reflects it. Hard to explain.
The direction that the Roman Catholic church is going made me find Orthodoxy and thank God for it. Being received next week.
🎻😭@@drjanitor3747
@drjanitor3747
Your church is the one that split away and is responsible for the existence of EVERY Protestant church. They split away from YOUR CHURCH, not Orthodoxy.
I started visiting out of necessity, because my son converted senior year in college. As a long time Presbyterian, I had to figure out if Orthodoxy was a true expression of Christianity or not. I learned that Orthodoxy's Divine Liturgy is the oldest form of Sunday worship of any Christian group in the world, largely unchanged since the 4th century. Ironically, at the same time I had been very frustrated by recent innovations during Sunday worship at my own Presbyterian church. I found the theological answers from the Church Fathers on the atonement, iconography, veneration and other doctrines were far more sound than in Reformed Theology. After 10 months of intense study, I converted and was chrismated at Pascha in 2023. I wish I'd found Orthodoxy decades a go. To study the history of Christ's Church is to study Orthodoxy.
I have been duped by protestantism for too long. I have attended three divine liturgies. Now, my wife doesn't want me to go back. She refused to go with me to any. Need a miracle. Please pray for us. My wife is Cathy. God bless you all. 🙏 ☦️🙏
I’m with you Daniel. Prayers!
Which type of Protestants?
Oh, daniel. I had thought you were already Orthodox. [EDIT: I remembered later that of course you are not. I should have said that i had thought you had been to more services than the three Divine Liturgies. You are an example of many who only experience one or a very few Divine Liturgies and after that have no desire to be anywhere else..]
Do what you must do before the Lord. I dare not offer any other advice..
☦📿💝📿☦
@@lindaphillips4646 I understand. I am old and partially disabled. I don't know what to do, except pray and be humble.
@@danielgaley9676oh, yes, Daniel. Thank you for telling us.
I don't know what to suggest and i knew it was better to just pray that the Lord lead you.
This is a troubling situation.
I would hope you just call the priest and try to talk to him. Which i expect you already want to do..
But hesitate because of the situation in which you live.
May ALL THE SAINTS who most understand your situation in every way be especially aware of you and pray for you and help you as only they can..
☦📿💝📿☦
THE LORD is very much aware of your situation.
I do not think that you should fear for your salvation because the Lord is compassionate in our struggles with what we can not do.
[I do NOT want to say anything that is not Orthodox here. But the Church strongly believes that He honors our intentions. ]
REMEMBER the Theotokos..
DO NOT hesitate to ask for Her prayers.
She has great power that the Lord has given Her.
You do need our prayers..
☦📿💝📿☦
I turned 66 last month, and I was born into evangelical Protestantism. Late in life I had my fill of it, walked away, was received into the Orthodox Church ☦️, and never looked back.
My little Antiochian parish is growing exponentially with young families, but especially with young men, including high school age men.
I entered the church last December. I found the church by reading history. I was under the impression that the entire church fell away in the first century. Wow, was I wrong.
Our (greek) Orthodox parish in the Netherlands is also seeing a massive growth. Church attendance is still mainly greek but there are many new dutch catechumens coming in. My priest had to open a new class to accomodate for the increase in catechumens. Every Divine Liturgy the church is filled to the entrance, shoulder to shoulder
Same with our church. North Texas
I just visited an Orthodox Church last Sunday. First time ever walking into a Orthodox Church, It was their 4th day of Lent, if I understand the practice right, and as soon as I walked through those doors and they started their service, I was filled with this joy I cannot describe. All week I’ve been thinking about it, I cannot wait for this Sunday, I’ve invited my friend and even my aunt said she wouldn’t mind coming. I was raised Baptist, and so was my aunt. But this has really been so much different in my spiritual journey
Wow! What a blessing! God be with you and your family. :)
@@LightnLife3 thank you. It has been a very joyful weekend I felt like I wanted to share
It was the fourth Sunday of Great Lent, not the fourth day of the season in general-meaning four weeks into Lent.
@@nuzzi6620 I see, sorry for the misunderstanding. Next week is “Pascha” which I also hope to attend
Try to go to the midnight service if you can! Its an incredible experience!!@DiscipleoftheOne12
I'm an ex-atheist who converted about 1.5 years ago and was baptised into the Church 3 months ago, and I attend a small church in Chile. Since I started going to church, about 5 new people have come and they are very serious about it. All of them are ex-atheists or ex-Roman Catholics who haven't practised their religion for decades.
We are still less than 20 people on Sunday, but I'm so happy to see new faces.
Personally, God has used Jonathan Pageau, Lord of Spirits (thank you Father) and Jay Dyer. First, Pageau showed me the symbolic interpretation of reality, Jay Dyer convinced my "rational" mind that was opposing the idea, and Lord of Spirits made me love the Orthodox faith.
This process began in response to protests in my country. It was so obvious that a 'spirit' was moving this. It was so strange. I was into Jung at the time, so this interpretation wasn't Christian, but I wanted to understand what was happening in the world. I was missing something to understand how things work and it was showing up in my life, I was making terrible choices. In the pandemic, my search was focused on Christianity.
God bless you and your church.
Johnathan Pageau singlehandedly changed the entire way I viewed the world and helped show me meaning in the things around me.
Truly a great man.
We are seeing an unprecedented growth at our parish as well. We are even making plans to build a whole new parish hall for coffee hour 😅 Our attendance has gone up from 70 per Sunday to 170 per Sunday in 2 years!
wow!
I went from Reformed Presbyterian to LCMS Lutheran during the pandemic, but now I have started visiting an Orthodox church.
I am a former calvinist and then lcms also
Serious church hopping going on with you.
@@jupiterinaries6150 If you are Protestant, "Church hopping" isn't that much of an issue. The "true Church" is made up of believers across all denominations, right? So whilst they might be trying out different visible expressions of the 'Church", so long as they are part of "The Invisible Church", it makes no difference. Right?
@@TheB1nary I am not a church hopper. I have always tried to find the church with the most correct doctrine. I thought it was the Reformed. There were a few doctrines that I struggled with, though, such as baptism being seen as only a symbol. When I was introduced to Lutheranism, it was the solution to all those points I struggled with. Now I have started looking into Orthodoxy, but it is a struggle because it is teaching things that seem foreign to my understanding. I embraced Lutheranism with joy, and it was an easy step, but Orthodoxy has such a different way of explaining the Bible plus all of the other teachings that come from the church fathers that have been passed down. Now I don't know what to think about anything, and I don't know if I can ever rest believing I am in the right place either way I go
@@jupiterinaries6150He’s seeking truth which is not found in Protestantism
I’m going to the Greek Orthodox Church for the first time this Saturday. I’m honestly nervous, cause my mom has drilled in my brain Pentecostal is the true church and scares me but all I know is I’ve prayed, I’ve asked God for wisdom, I’ve studied really hard for the truth. Something is drawing me to the Orthodox Church. I am scared because if this church is true, it means I have to unlearn everything I was ever taught. And then, have to pray for my family.. because they’re still doing those same things.
How old are you? I am 19 and my dad drills into my head that the "invisible church" is the true church. This invisible church is supposedly zionist and believes in a rapture. Went to my first liturgy yesterday while they were out of town, I'll tell you this: God was there. In terms of unlearning heretical beliefs and learning the true orthodox beliefs, TAKE YOUR TIME. This is what I have been told by every orthodox I met yesterday. Christ is with you, never forget that. Talk to a priest and go to liturgy if you can, whenever your skeptical family is out of town or something lol
@@Aaron.T2005 I’m older but yea I get what you mean. I keep hearing that the Orthodox Church is the true church I just need the courage to go.
A lot of Orthodox clergy are hard on the internet, and I get it, but if it wasn't for youtube (especially Jordan Peterson and Jonathan Pageau), I never would have even heard of Orthodoxy, let alone tracked it down and joined, along with my family. Glory to God for all things!
Same for me
I’ve been with the Orthodox Faith for decades and haven’t looked back. God bless. ✝️🙏🏻
🙋♀️ Nebraska here! We are part of the surge into the Church. 9-10 of us will be brought in on Holy Saturday! 12 days to go!!!
Its exciting. God is truly working in the midst. Praise be to Him.
Blessings from Tripoli, Lebanon, Father.
✝️🙏🏻
I am a Greek orthodox baptized as a baby. What i am seeing is nothing less than a miracle from God. I lived through the 80s when the flame of orthodoxy was all but extinguished in the Communist East. To see this is just unfathomable
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I was baptized as Greek Orthodox but wasn’t raised with it, left to find my own way. I returned to the church a little over a year ago and my life hasn’t been the same since - for the better!!! It hasn’t been easy but I so love this faith and how it stands true on the ever shifting sands of modernity.
@@jennifergalardi ✝️🙏🏻
My Chrismation was on Dec 6, ‘23.
I’m 38
Bolivian living in Panama
I read into Orthodoxy for 5 years before stepping foot in an Orthodox Church.
I’m part of the surge. From a Roman Catholic background, I realized the Romans were deeply committed to the New World Disorder and the Pandemonium sealed the deal. My wife refuses to convert with me so it is a very process, between us and our five small children. Prayers needed and appreciated.
You may need to stay strong and alone for the rest of your life but remember the husband is saved by the wife and the wife by the husband and may Saint Monica protect you and give you comfort in your self sacrifice. Love conquers all, do not push at all.
Keep striving! My husband won't come--only a few times a year for him. I attend nearly every Sunday though I work every other weekend. I've done this since '05. Orthodoxy teaches us to live as true Christians. It is NOT easy, but well worth the struggle. I've found healing from past hurts by remaining faithful to Christ. Jesus will help you. Prayers from America!
You are the head of the household and spiritual head of the household, she needs to follow your lead. You're making a mistake in leaving though. The Catholic Church is not going off the rails. There are many of us who hold to the one true faith inside the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Glory to God! The Catholic Church is a shadow of what it was before Vatican II, the nearly complete surrender to modernity. Pope Francis has been pushing to eradicate the remnants - Tridentine Latin Mass, devout orders of nuns and monks, faithful bishops, and so on. If someone was considering a typical American Catholic parish and a typical Eastern Orthodox parish these days with a fairly open mind, the contrast would be stark. It would be instructive for that person to also consider a mainline Protestant parish (Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian) for comparison. The weekly touchstone and key to any liturgical church is the weekly luturgy. That seeker would find little difference between the post Vatican II Mass ("Novus Ordo") and the mainline Protestant services. The Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy is a stark contrast with its ancient roots and over a millenium of consistency of practice. Likewise, the EO church buildings have retained a consistent architecture for over a millenium. It is a faith firmly rooted in its monastics who guide the church as opposed to the Roman Catholic church which has been guided by a wild variety of men who are created with immense power. That power has led to the RC church careening from equal power sharing with the East (up to 800 A. D. and the crowning of Charlemagne as a second Holy Roman Emperor in opposition to Byzantium's Holy Roman Emperor). Once the the Great Schism of 1054 A. D. had occurred, the Papal "reforms" began with the RC church swerving left and right down the highway of history. One of the first reforms was the appointment of all other RC bishops by the Bishop of Rome, making them functionaries who serve at the Pope's pleasure (see the recent ousting of the Bishop of Tyler Texas). Soon after, the married RC priests were ordered to dump their families in order to keep their jobs. The doctrine of Purgatory was then added. Thomas Aquinas then took on the outrageous task of a man defining God, a heretical practice that continues to the present in the RC church. Purgatory led to indulgences and then the second Protestant division of the universal church as Luther, Calvin, et al began sowing heresies. The RC church response was declarations of an eternal liturgy and there was no salvation outside of the Catholic Church. Eventually the Modernists Popes of the 20th Century (St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI, and St. John Paul II), essentially eradicated all the Council of Trent's eternal dogmas, leaving another mainline Protestant church denomination with some historical documents read and waved around by Trads who are waiting for people in power to respect and use again. It's all so sad.
My wife, youngest daughter, and I were chrismated into the Orthodox Church in America in early 2023. Our parish is rapidly outgrowing the gorgeous temple so we are expanding the mission in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to allow room for Birmingham to continue its explosive growth. Megachurch pastors and Pope Francis are our best recruiters.
Your wife is likely deeply connected with Catholic moms and fears her and the five children being ostracized of they become "apostates." Funny that RC German bishops are ignoring Rome daily yet continue to wear their mitres and are not official "apostates."
Bolster your apologia brother. Defend your decision and teach with love and long suffering.
I left jehovahs witnesses for the orthodox faith. They change as frequently as the wind blows in their doctrine, but threaten to steal your family away if you change your mind.
The priest we have at our church is truly a holy man who I can only describe as having a heart full of christlike love. Covid helped wake me up. And in my church we are almost doubling in one year. Many feel like what was described as realizing something was missing.
I now prouly wear a cross (which jws denounce) that was hard won through the loss of most of our family abandoning us as jws require to be done of anyone who questions their authority. Many prayers needed.
I’m in northern Indiana and made the decision to go to Inquirer’s Class about a year or so ago, now, as a catechumen, I keep seeing more and more inquirer’s come to join us. A lot of young men (17-25 years old), but also families. Mainly former atheists/agnostics and protestants. Glory to God.
✝️🙏🏻
Father, Bless. I’ve been a catechumen for almost a year. Being Chrismated on Lazarus Saturday! Praise God! Please pray for me and my family. 🙏🏻
I live in Alberta, Canada. I never knew about the Orthodox Church until later in life. Then when I got up the courage to attend a service, it took me a long time to get over the shock of it, as it felt like I had gone back in time at least a thousand years. The church I attended shut down during Covid, and there wasn't much contact, so I ended up finding another one to attend. Long story short, I was finally baptized about seven years after my initial visit.
I travel across USA for work, and I have visited parishes all over the South and East. Every church has grown exponentially in the past 3-4 years. ☦
Have u been to the church in Mobile, AL?? That’s my church
@@stephv6299 Not yet! I usually only go as far East as Louisiana. Visited a very nice Antiochian church in Lafayette earlier this year. Archangel Gabriel, I believe. Another gem was the very old St Helen and Constantine in Galveston, Texas.
CHRIST IS RISEN!! ☦
Jordan Peterson > Jonathan Pageau > Father Saraphim Cordoza on TH-cam to my local parish. They didn't shut down for the pandemic after the first few months so it was a small part of sanity in an insane world. There I learned the richness of the faith in the hospital for my soul, the Orthodox Church. Thank you Saint John for praying for me and brining me to the church.
Rest in peace fr seraphim
Also part of my conversion
I think covid caused an awakening of sorts. I was a Protestant for 20 years and me and my wife were just baptized last year at a Greek Orthodox parish. It's been life changing.
So happy to hear that… I am also of the Greek Orthodox Faith. God bless. ✝️🙏🏻
Father, we need those people to come here to Northern Mexico to evangelize, where orthodoxy is almost virtually non existent.
Pray the Lord and He will answer. Kyrie eleison.
Here in Wyoming too!!
There is a push in Southern Mexico by the Greeks. Maybe it'll move North.
A lot of the problems in Northern Mexico probably concern the Bishops, it shouldn't.
@@irrok79especially in southwestern Wyoming, where I retired to 3 years ago.
You can watch many Orthodox Services online & hopefully one day, God willing, Mexico sees an Orthodox Church. God bless. ✝️🙏🏻
Very interesting observations, Fr Andrew.
I'm a reader/cantor in a rural town in the UK. It began as a very small parish in the 1980s, and we have a very small ancient church. The parish has gradually grown since it began, with mainly Cypriot and Greek members. Over the past 10 years or so, the influx of converts has grown year by year, with 2 catecumen classes each year. Now, the numbers attending each week are about 100-130, with a few Romanian families, but about half the congregation is made up of English converts.
New enquirers do turn up almost weekly, and the building can't hold the numbers (fortunately we don't have rows of seats, so everyone stands throughout). We are now aquiring a large Anglican church in the centre of the town where we hold the Sunday Matins and Liturgy, keeping the original church for midweek and Saturday services.
This Pasha we are receiving 10 catecumens, comprising of mainly former atheists and Anglicans. One of them is a lovely lady who was an ordained Anglican (Episcopal) priest.
@@czuw2967 She obviously now believes it was wrong, now she's turned to the Orthodox Church.
Beautiful to hear ✝️🙏🏻
As a millennial, it's incredibly refreshing to find some place that's not trying to advertise at you. What's attracting people is faithfulness: not changing, in fact trying not to change. The rate of change in everything, (especially the theology of various protestant churches) has been speeding up for a long time.
Fr. Andrew thanks for this video. At our Parish ( St. John of The Ladder in Greenville South Carolina) we have 38 Catachumens being received on Holy Saturday, Lord willing. It's a good problem to have. Most of them are young men or young families. We are blessed by God. It's all good. The Most Blessed Holy Spirit is bringing these people. We had 342 in attendance last Sunday. I love it. Thanks again Father.
My interest in it was piqued over a decade ago because of a story I was writing requiring research into Byzantium and the Orthodox Church to represent the beliefs accurately. It was then that I decided if I ever converted away from atheism, it would be to Orthodoxy. It took until last October to finally begin my inquiry.
Former Evangelical Protestant from the US here! Our local Parish has grown rapidly! Glory to God! ☦️
I became an Orthodox Christian in 2016.. M 3:09 y husband followed this past June and we had 12 new members last year and have 8 as catechmuns. God is calling and people are listening.
This is happening in Australia as well. I've been born Orthodox and for decade I've never seen other than Orthodox born people attending Orthodox churches. In the last 3-4 years I have seen many people of different cultures and backgrounds joining and baptising into the Orthodox churches, and most interesting many of these people are young. I feel a joy to see such change. Slava Tie Doamne!! Iisuse mantuieste-ne pe noi pacatosii!!!!
Part of the surge! My daughter and son too !! Glory to Jesus Christ !!
As an Orthodox Catechist i tell my Catechumen that Jesus knocked on their door and they answered that knock and when he said that i am mot here where you are I am over here and you followed where Jesus is. Therefore you are special people to Jesus.
Glory to God! American Orthodoxy is looking bright for the future!
"Father" has never been such a lovely word to me before I met my church fathers. Now I have a Godfather, and six priests who I can call my father. Before I really didn't have someone I could go to for council, but now... maybe I get a bit too much advice but I am glad for it. I didn't know what I lacked until I had a spiritual father. And I think that's what is bringing people into the church. One third of zoomers did not have their dad in their lives, this may be why Orthodoxy, with having a mostly married priesthood, is filling a void for so many?
Scheduled to be baptized Lazarus Saturday, God willing! ☦️
Thanks Father. I am in Oregon where our parish has doubled. I have heard people give various reasons to why this is occurring. There doesn’t seem to be one reason at all as the people I have talked to vary drastically in background and path. This surprised me at first, but showed me that Orthodoxy truly is the fullness of the faith speaking to all people in all places.
All I can say is Glory to God.
Rhode Island present. 8-10 catechumens being received this Pascha at our Antiochian parish. I myself was a convert from RC a couple years back.
Been attending Orthodox Church here in Tennessee for a couple of months. I enjoy it very much and I am former Protestant 👍🏻
I am one of these statistics. 35yr male seeking truth and finding Orthodox Church has so much history and Holy Spirit present in the room
I am so grateful that Christ led me into His Holy Church. I grew up a Confessional Lutheran. Very glad I grew up in such a way and am glad for what Truth I was given.
But now I am trully in Christ's Church. I am so grateful for His mercy as I am trully a sinner. But He brought me home anyways. Tearing up thinking about it.
I am an 84-year od lawyer and therefore a little education. You do have, Father, a touch of the Divine. I have heard you quite a few times and your grasp of the Faith motivates me toward Jesus.
It's God!! He is working His Holy ways to enlighten people all over the world, to bring them, us, home to His Glory and His Holy mercy and forgiveness. He wants us to live in His light, to walk with Him all the remaining days of our lives. I was a Catechumen for 14 months and have just been baptised into the Holy Orthodox Church ROCOR. All praise and glory to the Almighty God of love compassion and mercy. Speaking only for myself, I have fallen totally in love with the Lord Jesus Christ and all his teachings. This is the meaning of my life, the only meaning. Please all enquirers, keep going towards God and His Holy Son. This is clearly the one and only original Holy Catholic and apostolic Church. I bow before God every moment of my life in thankfulness in praise and in honour of His Glory.
peace from Orthodox Syrian
Suria!!
✝️🙏🏻
A few months ago, I was able to attend a three-day retreat for priests (which was open to laity) and all of them were saying this about a huge influx of people, which just keeps increasing. Some have doubled their membership in just the last couple of years. Some are having to enlarge their buildings. And then there's the issue of lots of people who discover Orthodoxy through the internet (like me) but they don't have an Orthodox church in their area. [EDIT for clarification: Like me, lots of people have discovered Orthodoxy through the internet, but many don't have Orthodox churches nearby, as I am blessed to have.]
so sorry there aren't any Orthodox Churches in your area. Praying a mission pops up around you!
@@LightnLife3 I'm sorry, I meant that many people have discovered the church through the internet, like me, but they don't have Orthodox churches near them. Fortunately I do, but pray for the many many people who don't.
There are weekly Orthodox liturgies online that you can see, beamed live on TH-cam. If you miss it live, you can always view the recording afterwards. God bless. ✝️🙏🏻
I'm part of the surge.
It was a long time coming really with A LOT of mistakes along the way. I came to the broader church when I was 16 and was pretty firmly planted in the Pentecostal side of things. I'm autistic and have a need for everything to be internally consistent. I cannot abide cognitive dissonance. Even relatively minor things will keep me up. Enter dispensationalism and modern eschatology... very long story short, I had some encounter with John Crowder who did introduce some of the church fathers and planted the seed and I eventually started what would now be called deconstructing and with some hurts from various churches was on my own for a while, I was not at all being faithful, and ended up in some of the more "conservative" (for lack of a better term) forms of universalism. That seemed consistent in a lot of ways with what I understood of scripture.
Got married to an atheist who shared political positions and values (socially conservative anarcho-capitalist [I said I was autistic and needed consistency, is it any surprise?]). We had a couple good years and then the lockdowns happened and all the cracks started to form and there were federal subpoenas that cost a small fortune to navigate and with our second pregnancy we found out at the c-section that we had twins but one of the twins, Charity (named because even though we never knew her, we loved her all the same), was an acardiac twin who had died early on (and if she hadn't then Sophia almost certainly would have died as well).
Through all of that I had some measure of repentance and my wife came to Christ as well (I mentioned that she should try praying just to see since nothing else was helping and she ended up praying and telling God that if she opened up to anything relevant she'd give it a try. She closed her eyes, let it fall open, and put her finger down right at the beginning of Psalm 91). We were attending a good non-denominational charismatic church and still go to some small group get together sort of things. But my wife started teaching herself Greek to try to really dig into the Bible and as we talked theology and I brought up things that the Orthodox do from what I had come across it just dawned on both of us that we should check out a liturgy one Sunday and so we did.
As soon as I walked into that little church... the atmosphere was so different. There was just a weight to it. Not physically but I had some sensation spiritually like gravity being stronger. Heaven was there in a far more real way than even the most spiritually charged moments in my 23 years in some form of Pentecostal/Charismatic church.
We knew immediately that this was the truth and have been digging in as much as we can. Currently at a Greek church here in Southern New Hampshire but right after we started attending the Lord blessed us with a house that we own outright so we're going to be moving up North in a few months. I've been to the small OCA church there while fixing the house up on the weekends and it's going to be good. It's a small but very tight and welcoming community that we'll fit into very well. I'm so thankful to be learning asceticism and the true faith and how to really be faithful to the Lord and I can't wait (well I have to and it's good that I have to) to recieve communion for the first time (we're holding off catechesis since we'll be moving and changing jurisdictions and all).
Sorry, I rambled a bit but God has been very very good to me even through the pain and my faithlessness.
And I should add that I'm no longer a convinced universalist. Thanks in large part to Fr. De Young.
@@Lechteron Fr. Stephen De young is an incredible wealth of knowledge
Can I ask which parish? There is a lovely OCA church in Berlin. I enjoy going there when we vacation in New Hampshire.
@@tatyanalarkin7648 Holy Resurrection. Exactly the one you're talking about with Fr. Zachary.
I think a big factor in the surge of attendance that I didn’t hear mentioned is the prolific online/physical media that is specifically targeted at inquirers. So in that sense the Church has done something to cause this growth. Maybe not an organized hierarchical effort but definitely an effort from the faithful.
I agree.
Hard to say how organized or not it was, but it mostly seems to pick up around 2021. Videos on Orthodoxy from, say, 2010-2015 have a very different feel than what's available now, namely what's made now clearly has a narrow target audience as you said. And while you could say that 2010 is worlds away and content in general has gone through dozens of different feels since then (though with films it doesn't seem nearly as drastic), older videos don't connect aspects of the faith to modern issues, specifically those plaguing mostly 30-somethings. I've been to a few services and where there were more younger people the priest clearly had his ear to the ground. The connection doesn't even have to be spectacular; people are ready to receive and imbue it with meaning. Services at very small churches or on weekdays were a little different, more routine... but not so different, in honesty.
I'm a 21 year old woman who is interested in converting and I can tell you what made me want to convert to orthodoxy: simply learning about it.
Growing up, my only knowledge of Christianity was from Catholicism and protestantism, and both of those always seemed to be fundamentally lacking something and so I was on the side of their critics. But when I learned about the Orthodox church (from people online who had converted) there were really no flaws I could find with its teachings. It's the only church that I believe has stayed the same since the very beginning and in a world of constantly changing viewpoints and ethical dogmas, it was very refreshing to see that. The more I learn about Orthodoxy, the more I'm convinced it's the truth.
Have you seen Jasmyn Theodora's YT channel? She's a young woman who converted to the Orthodox Church, and talks about her experience. She explains many of the things she has learned along her journey.
Indeed it is the truth… God bless. ✝️🙏🏻
Love this! We are catechumens in the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Wichita. I’m a clean slate with Rosicrucian Fellowship in California as my back ground (only as a child in the home) and my finance is converting from Catholicism. Our class is apparently fairly big comparatively in addition to other classes (bible study and orthodox on tap). Orthodoxy is Americas best kept secret. If you are considering please go to Divine Liturgy! The first one we went to brought us to tears of joy. The presence of God is immense in this Faith and all those involved. We were in awe and still are! We love everything about Orthodoxy. Everything! Unto the ages of ages Amen. 💚
Which one is this, I am in the area and very curious of visiting
My mom and I have been talking about looking more into orthodoxy for years (20 or so). Last year we started attending one, and last month we both became catachumens. I am 44, my mom is 65.
That’s wonderful… God bless. ✝️🙏🏻
I am bringing my wife and 4 daughters to the Serbian church from a non-denominational Protestant church in Northern California. We are attending services through Pascha before joining the Catechumen process. There are no boundaries or elders to limit the "self-interpretation" of the Bible, which leads to all forms of sin.
I am a revert not a convert. Fell away decades ago. I wasn’t really properly catechized as a kid. Been back in communion for five days. Wish I had come back sooner. I didn’t know what I was missing.
I went to my first liturgy 2 Sundays ago and have met with my priest about becoming a catechumen:). I wish to join the one truth Catholic and apostolic church. Praise God!
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Same thing here in my parish in Brazil, I got in right after covid. We have a retired priest from Greece who was at the service when 12 or so of us were received and he got very emotional, saying he had never seen such a thing in his life. Since then the same pattern of lots of inquirers and catechumens, mostly young men, but also some young couples and families.
I’m 32 and for a few years now I have been on a search for a church to call home for my family and I. I’ve never tried visiting any churches I’ve just done a ton of research. I am not and was not driven by political views or ideological views. I was raised Baptist and Pentecostal and I haven’t been to a church since I was 13. Something about Orthodoxy called out to me or maybe the Holy Spirit has compelled me but I actually went to a Divine Liturgy for the very first time of going to any church since 13 and I felt filled. My heart was no longer empty. My soul sparked back to life in reverence to the Lord. God bless Orthodoxy.
You support killing gays and slavery? There is zero evidence for God
So I can only speak for myself. I grew up baptist and any time I went to church it felt like something inside me was filled with a very strong desire to leave. There were women fake crying and making a show for themselves, things of that nature. I found orthodoxy by a video called death to the world. I commented "this looks like a horror movie" and clicked off. But then more orthodox videos popped up. Some with teachers saying things that I not only agreed with but seemed to energize my spirit as well. At that point I was pulled like a magnet to it. Went to a liturgy nearby, and now I am going to become a catechumen. The holy spirit is what is calling us home. Honestly I think the pandemic had little to do with it (for me at least).
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Every catechumen I've talked to points to internet personalities as a main reason Orthodoxy has hit their radar. I know Orthodoxy wasn't on my radar because I thought it was an ethnic-focused brand on Christianity. I was considering Roman Catholicism until I listened to a debate between a n Orthodox person and a Reformed Christian.
I had no idea about the Orthodox Church until a young friend of mine converted. Then Hank Hanegraff converted who I’ve listened to for 35 years. Now I’m reading Ware’s book. I’m excited and scared at the same time from what I’m learning. I’ve been Protestant (AG) for 35 years but many of the questions I’ve had regarding my churches history and theology have been answered in Orthodoxy. Where have you been in my life? If I’d have known orthodoxy even existed I would have been with you years ago. Stay firm. Don’t change please.
Feel the same!
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God has put in the hearts of men the desire for Orthodoxy
Thank you for an enlightening reminder to all of Orthodox Christians! I continiue to pray to be firmly planted.
Welcome to Holy Orthodoxy!! Many years to all new converts!
I've been at my parish in Arizona for less than a year and it's now bursting at the seams, with future plans to build a new church. Our priest is a bit overwhelmed. People keep coming.....and they stay! I'm hoping people come here to seek Christ, but our church is also very friendly and welcoming to newcomers. So I'm sure that definitely helps in bringing in new people as well. :)
I'll also add another thing. About a couple of months ago, our priest called up one of his brother priest in California(a pretty popular priest on TH-cam), and told him that more and more people are showing up on Sundays and he has more baptisms, inquirers and catechumens than ever before. What should he do?? And the other priest responded by saying the first thing to do is rejoice! Lol! So, yup, a bigger church is in the plans for this parish. I think it's so cool!
Our parish is growing crazy!! Busting our the doors! Great video!
Fr., I’m a new convert to the Orthodox Church. I’m a PK and life-long Christian. This video is fantastic! May God bless you.
I converted to Orthodoxy in 2016. All I did was Google Traditional Catholic Churches and I was directed to an Orthodox Church. I went to one liturgy and I never left. My conversion has been life changing and I’m so grateful
That’s amazing! Welcome home to the truth.
So glad to hear that… God bless. ✝️🙏🏻
@@irenevass6581- indeed the truth. God bless. ✝️🙏🏻
I am born Orthodox. My cultural upbringing is Orthodox. Unfortunately I do not attend church regularly but God is on my mind constantly.
One thing I don't understand is that we expect converts to be 100% committed, when born orthodox are not. I think we should be accepting of any person who who comes to Orthodoxy and understand that it is a lifelong journey, there will setbacks along the way, help them learn and guide them.
We expect us to be no less committed than the converts. We accept that both them and us won't be. But we don't excuse it.
I'm in North Port, Florida. We have a huge Eastern European/ Russian community here. I have many Orthodox churches in my town and I have been writing them all. I will be going to my first orthodox church service this weekend.
I’ll be Chrismated along with four others into the Church this Saturday! It’s beautiful to see the Church I have come to love growing!
If you want to double or quadruple the church, simply open up more mission outreach centers, bookstores, missionary parishes. Wherever an Orthodox presence opens, people flock to it. People are STARVING for something that isn't changing, that is real. Many middle sized cities (IE St Joseph Mo, Leavenworth KS, and smaller cities Atchison KS, Nebraska City) have no orthodox parish, yet there are Orthodox there, who have just gone quite because it is over an hour drive to the nearest parish. We need more clergy, we need more feet on the ground, we need to send missionaries into our own country. Yes, I live in the NE Kansas/Western Missouri, SE Nebraska area.
This is the Holy Spirit at work. Pray, pray, pray for God to continue His work!
I like something about this Church Surge, it makes me feel happy and confident about a better tomorrow! 😊