As a Protestant inquirer I’ve really come to admire the monastic order in orthodoxy and orthodoxy as a whole. It’s a branch of Christianity that seems to bare real fruit
I was able to work on Mt Athos for 2 weeks with a group where we cleared the footpaths and put up signs that help direct pilgrims. (FOMA, Friends of Mt Athos). Staying for 2 weeks was an incredible experience.
I went to mount Athos once and stayed for a few nights, it's truly amazing, You wake up rush to pray in the church for 3 hours every morning receive the holy Communion, then do work (make beds clean dishes) then go to church, for "esperinon" then sleep, the best was the liturgy at night called "agrypnia" that means sleepless. We prayed from 7pm to 4 am! I loved it! The way I see it, Christianity is like an organic body, monasteries are the fertilizer, we are the wheat.. Protestants are planting seeds, etc etc etc..
There’s a good analogy I came up on recently which said that Orthodoxy is already eating the meal while Protestantism is still reading the menu… charming and cute but oh so true
I find it amazing that there are basically zero monasteries in the Protestant community. Why did they ignore this? Or is this just another case of Protestants doing something to be less catholic and not for any real reason?
@@elKarlo it’s pretty easy to see, they want to attain the world and worldly things… we want SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT aka heaven Heaven, even hell for that matter, is nothing more than a state of being. Heaven is the state of pure love, hell is state of fear and insecurity
I'm in the USA and Mt. Athos is a shining light about Godly men. I LOVE knowing that there are men focused on pleasing Jesus. Not allowing women there is wise as it would cause way too many problems as one can imagine. From my own experiences in life, loving and focusing on Christ's ways are the only way to really LIVE healthfully and FULLY. I lived another life before calling out to Jesus at almost 30 yo. Night and day difference. I thank Jesus all day long for saving me and healing me. I am His. Thank you so much for this wonderful enriching video.😊
At some monasteries people attend it like regular church and receive a sermon/ lecture by a priest or abbot there. One of my heroes, Abbot Raphael of Podmaine Monastery in Budva Montenegro is a perfect example, Father Arsenije from Ribnica Monastery in Serbia is another. Both record their lectures and upload them on TH-cam and they are my go to Funny this video has been uploaded since I’ve been considering giving up on normal life to take up monastic life at a monastery. Montenegro is my families ancestral home and I’ve been thinking of visiting and staying there for a while since my priest is from Serbia and knows Abbot Raphael personally ( and Serbo-Croatian is my first language ) My soul definitely needs that kind of rest but to give up on the idea of ever getting married since all I ever wanted to be since I was a boy was to become a husband is very daunting Love the content, please keep it coming. Much brotherly love 💚💚💚
This is how things should be for Mission in America. People come to these Monasteries to be equipped to serve as lay leaders in founding Parishes nearby.
Me too 😂I seriously have almost an allergic reaction to that kind of small talk where you're expected to answer in a certain way, whether it's truthful or not. I should have been a monk 😂
The way he lit up when talking about the restaurants with huge portions and large beers. Sounds like such an amazing experience. I really have been drawn to Orthodox Christianity, just the beautiful level of dedicated worship to our Lord. This gives me such joy to just watch.
Love it! I would love to visit a monastery, and take a week or more to watch, listen, pray, worship, converse, serve, help, and participate as appropriate for a Christian that is not of the Eastern Orthodox tradition!
I quite enjoyed Father James talk on Mount Athos, and would love to hear his thoughts on the importance of the Optina monastery and the monastery of Valaam in relation to the life and spirituality of the Orthodox Church.
I wanna send money to my Greek brothers, it is a miracle Mount Athos survive the bloody Turkish islamic invation wich destroyed Constantinople and Anatolia , one day Constantinople will be Greek and Christian again as Mount Athos already is ☦
Hello! I have been interested in orthodoxy for a little while now and I wondered if you could answer some questions I have about it, between my own research and some other things I feel as though I’ve only dipped my toe in the water so to speak and I would love to know more
Just visit some liturgies, othodoxy is very simple, it's just direct implementation of the entirety of the Bible, no contradictions, it's mission is to preserve the truest form of worship Like it will be in heaven, but without icons in heaven because we will see them in reality Here we do it symbolically Othon = correct doxia= worship It's like in the old testament in terms of practices Protestantism is serving another role.. Orthodox are all about worshiping the Lord with every breath and movement of the body
@@jamespong6588 thank you, your response is much appreciated, I will definitely look into going to some liturgies and hopefully talk to a priest, hopefully that will settle some of the remaining questions I have, again, thank you for your response
This is really interesting. Is Mt Athos for orthodox christians only or other denominations? Does one need to petition for a visit there, or is visiting on a kind of lottery system? I wish I could visit there, but I understand its men only, and I respect that.
Not at all, they even allow “heathens/ unbelievers” in ( in lesser quantity of course ) so I imagine anyone else wanting to visit is more than happy to do so
I know someone that visited Mt Athos as a Protestant and left with a slip of paper with an American Priestmonk's number to continue his Catechism and the next time he went to Athos he was Baptised by the Priestmonks there.
Stayed in a monastery for 3 days. Some of the worst, arrogant and most condescending and hateful people I ever met. Also, monasticism isn't in the Old Testament. All saints in the OT were married. If beeing celibate is the holiest way to God there would be saints in Israel who were monks. God made Adam and Eve husband and wife, and his first commandment was for them to multiply. He didn't make them monks. Orthodoxy is more about asceticism than beeing a good man. Monks don't even get to do good works because they are secluded. It's all about tormenting yourself as much as possible and calling it holy. This is not what Christ taught.
You are extremely misinformed and full of hatred in your heart, rethink what you are saying because God is the one who will judge you in the afterlife, if you just research what you are spouting you will find the answers.
Biblical models that inspired monasticism include prophet Elijah, the Essenes, St. John the Baptist, Jesus’ own celibacy and sojourn in the wilderness, St. Paul’s seeming support of celibacy or widowhood, and the approach to life in community described in Acts.
As a Protestant inquirer I’ve really come to admire the monastic order in orthodoxy and orthodoxy as a whole. It’s a branch of Christianity that seems to bare real fruit
As a orthodox, I love me some protestant music 🙏🙏🙏
Orthodoxy isnt branch, it is original and authentic and One Holy Catolic and Apostolic Church..there is no other Church
@@vladimirmarkovic8578 I know what I practice man, take it easy bud
@@vladimirmarkovic8578 I’m beginning to realize that. Having to sift through a lot of Protestant bias and theology
@@grizzlyyork649 he was addressing me
you can read about monasticism. But the real movement of the soul is when we spend at least 2-3 days in the monastery.
A week is more accurate. 2-3 days won’t give you much of a taste of that life.
I was able to work on Mt Athos for 2 weeks with a group where we cleared the footpaths and put up signs that help direct pilgrims. (FOMA, Friends of Mt Athos). Staying for 2 weeks was an incredible experience.
I went to mount Athos once and stayed for a few nights, it's truly amazing,
You wake up rush to pray in the church for 3 hours every morning receive the holy Communion, then do work (make beds clean dishes) then go to church, for "esperinon" then sleep, the best was the liturgy at night called "agrypnia" that means sleepless. We prayed from 7pm to 4 am!
I loved it!
The way I see it, Christianity is like an organic body, monasteries are the fertilizer, we are the wheat.. Protestants are planting seeds, etc etc etc..
There’s a good analogy I came up on recently which said that Orthodoxy is already eating the meal while Protestantism is still reading the menu… charming and cute but oh so true
I find it amazing that there are basically zero monasteries in the Protestant community. Why did they ignore this? Or is this just another case of Protestants doing something to be less catholic and not for any real reason?
@@elKarlo it’s pretty easy to see, they want to attain the world and worldly things… we want SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT aka heaven
Heaven, even hell for that matter, is nothing more than a state of being. Heaven is the state of pure love, hell is state of fear and insecurity
I went last year to Mount Athos. An indescribable experience, I recommend all Orthodox Christians to visit
I'm in the USA and Mt. Athos is a shining light about Godly men. I LOVE knowing that there are men focused on pleasing Jesus. Not allowing women there is wise as it would cause way too many problems as one can imagine. From my own experiences in life, loving and focusing on Christ's ways are the only way to really LIVE healthfully and FULLY. I lived another life before calling out to Jesus at almost 30 yo. Night and day difference. I thank Jesus all day long for saving me and healing me. I am His. Thank you so much for this wonderful enriching video.😊
Thank you, Panagia.
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.
At some monasteries people attend it like regular church and receive a sermon/ lecture by a priest or abbot there. One of my heroes, Abbot Raphael of Podmaine Monastery in Budva Montenegro is a perfect example, Father Arsenije from Ribnica Monastery in Serbia is another. Both record their lectures and upload them on TH-cam and they are my go to
Funny this video has been uploaded since I’ve been considering giving up on normal life to take up monastic life at a monastery. Montenegro is my families ancestral home and I’ve been thinking of visiting and staying there for a while since my priest is from Serbia and knows Abbot Raphael personally ( and Serbo-Croatian is my first language )
My soul definitely needs that kind of rest but to give up on the idea of ever getting married since all I ever wanted to be since I was a boy was to become a husband is very daunting
Love the content, please keep it coming. Much brotherly love
💚💚💚
This is how things should be for Mission in America. People come to these Monasteries to be equipped to serve as lay leaders in founding Parishes nearby.
"i hate that question" 😂😂😂😂 gosh i feel the same way as him about that one
Me too 😂I seriously have almost an allergic reaction to that kind of small talk where you're expected to answer in a certain way, whether it's truthful or not. I should have been a monk 😂
The way he lit up when talking about the restaurants with huge portions and large beers. Sounds like such an amazing experience. I really have been drawn to Orthodox Christianity, just the beautiful level of dedicated worship to our Lord. This gives me such joy to just watch.
What a beautiful video and man. I appreciate this channel- the Lord used this man awhile back to open my heart to Orthodoxy
My goal is to visit Greece in 2025, and would love to visit Mt Athos. I pray that I’m accepted there to visit.
There are some fantastic documentaries about Mt. Athos here on TH-cam, such an interesting and (for me) alluring place.
Thank you!!🥰☦️💙
Love it! I would love to visit a monastery, and take a week or more to watch, listen, pray, worship, converse, serve, help, and participate as appropriate for a Christian that is not of the Eastern Orthodox tradition!
Love the point made about the question "How it's gooing". If we take the time to hear someone out, it's a important question..
I quite enjoyed Father James talk on Mount Athos, and would love to hear his thoughts on the importance of the Optina monastery and the monastery of Valaam in relation to the life and spirituality of the Orthodox Church.
I have never visited a monastery, but I sure wish to!
I'll be making a trip to my local vihara very soon!
We do have Benedictine monks in the United States. ☦️
💜
Unrelated, but you guys need a professional logo asap. This channel is taking off 🚀
We do have Benedictine monks in the United States
I wanna send money to my Greek brothers, it is a miracle Mount Athos survive the bloody Turkish islamic invation wich destroyed Constantinople and Anatolia , one day Constantinople will be Greek and Christian again as Mount Athos already is ☦
Hello! I have been interested in orthodoxy for a little while now and I wondered if you could answer some questions I have about it, between my own research and some other things I feel as though I’ve only dipped my toe in the water so to speak and I would love to know more
You can visit a parish and become a catechuman. The priest will answer your questions
God bless you
@@Kauahdhdhd thank you, God bless you too
Just visit some liturgies, othodoxy is very simple, it's just direct implementation of the entirety of the Bible, no contradictions, it's mission is to preserve the truest form of worship Like it will be in heaven, but without icons in heaven because we will see them in reality
Here we do it symbolically
Othon = correct doxia= worship
It's like in the old testament in terms of practices
Protestantism is serving another role..
Orthodox are all about worshiping the Lord with every breath and movement of the body
@@jamespong6588 thank you, your response is much appreciated, I will definitely look into going to some liturgies and hopefully talk to a priest, hopefully that will settle some of the remaining questions I have, again, thank you for your response
This is really interesting. Is Mt Athos for orthodox christians only or other denominations? Does one need to petition for a visit there, or is visiting on a kind of lottery system? I wish I could visit there, but I understand its men only, and I respect that.
Not at all, they even allow “heathens/ unbelievers” in ( in lesser quantity of course ) so I imagine anyone else wanting to visit is more than happy to do so
I know someone that visited Mt Athos as a Protestant and left with a slip of paper with an American Priestmonk's number to continue his Catechism and the next time he went to Athos he was Baptised by the Priestmonks there.
St sophrony's monastery is a 40 monute drive from me, and i think there are women and men there?
Go.
Is there a female version of Mt Athos?
Meteora is a community of monasteries that women can visit too and it's also sooo so beautiful all these monasteries on the rocks!
No. Because you can't have a Monastery without Priests, even if they are just visiting to serve Liturgy for the Nuns.
@@acekoala457 Monasteries are for monks, not priests.
Wait did he say beer ?
Yes beer
@averagemanhempgars502 oh okay but I'm confused, and enlighten me on this. , aren't we Not supposed to be drinking ?
Orthodox aren't Baptist. The big issue is drunkenness, not drinking in the first place.
@@grizzlyyork649In scripture, Paul and Christ speak about us drinking wine, it’s allowed in moderation.
@@mariorizkallah5383 and Marijuana?
hermits trying the escape the world.
Monasticism is not an escape
Stayed in a monastery for 3 days. Some of the worst, arrogant and most condescending and hateful people I ever met.
Also, monasticism isn't in the Old Testament. All saints in the OT were married. If beeing celibate is the holiest way to God there would be saints in Israel who were monks. God made Adam and Eve husband and wife, and his first commandment was for them to multiply. He didn't make them monks.
Orthodoxy is more about asceticism than beeing a good man. Monks don't even get to do good works because they are secluded. It's all about tormenting yourself as much as possible and calling it holy.
This is not what Christ taught.
You are extremely misinformed and full of hatred in your heart, rethink what you are saying because God is the one who will judge you in the afterlife, if you just research what you are spouting you will find the answers.
Biblical models that inspired monasticism include prophet Elijah, the Essenes, St. John the Baptist, Jesus’ own celibacy and sojourn in the wilderness, St. Paul’s seeming support of celibacy or widowhood, and the approach to life in community described in Acts.