There's the story of the Georgian clairvoyant Saint Gabriel Urgebadze (Гаврии́л Самтаври́йский), very loved in Russia, and the suicidal alcoholic which is somewhat related to this video. In the 1980's, a Georgian man was having a messy life for many years and due to this he became an alcoholic. Eventually, he decided he would take his own life. He wrote a suicide note, put it in his shirt's pocket, and he headed off to the bar for one last drink before his planned final act. He was at the bar's counter staring at the wall when he heard what he thought to be a tall, robust rebel behind him, loudly asking the bartender for as much alcohol as he could buy. Then, this "rebel" began to sing a Georgian folk song with such an astounding and resounding voice that the alcoholic turned his head, only to see a stumpy little monk. This was our lovely Gabriel. Singing some more, he approached the alcoholic and pointed at his shirt's pocket, and told him, "Go and burn what you have in your pocket." Then he made hastily the Sign of the Cross over the man, so hastily that no one except the alcoholic in the bar noticed him do it. Gabriel promptly left and the man was left in tears. He would return to the Georgian Orthodox Church, searching for Gabriel to thank him for turning his life around. The man found Gabriel after his death, at his grave. This initially disappointed him, but the picture of Gabriel beside the gravestone winked at him, which comforted the man. Anyways, I would like to tell you that I have watched nearly all your videos in the last week and I really enjoy them. They have given me a lot of comfort as I have been under a lot of mental distress recently. Your channel's small size and especially the channel music give me TH-cam's equivalent of walking next to a small lake. I noticed many people complain about the music; it is completely uncalled for! I love it. There are a few mistakes I notice which are minor, and I have a few disagreements with one or two of your opinions, which I think comes from our different worldviews. I like your appreciation of the Russian Orthodox faith despite your secular beliefs and the many flaws of her believers/leaders, as well as your generally neutral approach discussing controversial topics (war in Ukraine, scandals in the Church, etc.) What else can I say more? I highly appreciate your videos. May God bless you and your family, and I hope you have a wonderful day, week, month, year and life. ❤❤❤ Source for the story of St. Gabriel: th-cam.com/video/rOVB-6st9TU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=vyq9LlBLDoPOAqgM at 47:12
@@russianchristianityI forgot to mention - your voice and accent give me the vibe of a chill friend from abroad! It definitely helps in keeping a calm and peaceful environment for me to relax in. Thanks! :)))
It strikes me that one of the difficulties recovering alcohol or drug addicts must have after ending a rehabilitation programme is returning to their community, where former enabler friends and family are living. Perhaps one important function of churches would be to welcome recovering addicts into their social communities. (Did you examine this in your dissertation?)
I agree, it is. Actually, the churches do their best to go on and help recovering addicts with their further socialization. Sadly, they don't always have enough resources. Yet, the Baptist Church that I worked with basically give them a new extended family, a community of like-minded and understanding people.
One point that could be made is that predominantly Protestant countries have had drug epidemics since far before the 80s, so had more time and reason to develop such programs. I think AA/NA has the best success rate? Interestingly, the founders were inspired by psilocybin, which is currently used more directly in the treatment of addiction.
I don't think it's necessary about the denomination. Russia has an ugly drug epidemic since the 80s and I don't think it has much to do with Christianity at all
@@russianchristianityany country that has had a disastrous economic downturn where people lose hope leads to people using drugs to destroy themselves. Drug use has increased in America since the country has progressively de-industrialized since the 1970s. May God have mercy and save His people 🙏🏻☦ The TH-camr Peter Santenello has a recent video on the largest open air drug market in Kensington, Philadelphia USA️. It's absolutely heart breaking how these people have been destroyed and driven to the abyss and turned into the walking dead.
As I understand the level of using drugs is related to the overall phsycic health, which itself is connected to how many have experienced wartime. Post-afghanistan soldiers and now post-ukrainain will sadly self medicate from the hell their President and their Patriarch blessed them with.
Sadly, you're 100% right. There is already a huge number of cases when ex-convicts recruited by the Russian army are coming back home just to commit terrible crimes again. People online call them "The New Elite" sarcastically. PTSD is no joke and both Russians and Ukrainians are already learning of it and will learn more quite soon.
There's the story of the Georgian clairvoyant Saint Gabriel Urgebadze (Гаврии́л Самтаври́йский), very loved in Russia, and the suicidal alcoholic which is somewhat related to this video.
In the 1980's, a Georgian man was having a messy life for many years and due to this he became an alcoholic. Eventually, he decided he would take his own life. He wrote a suicide note, put it in his shirt's pocket, and he headed off to the bar for one last drink before his planned final act. He was at the bar's counter staring at the wall when he heard what he thought to be a tall, robust rebel behind him, loudly asking the bartender for as much alcohol as he could buy. Then, this "rebel" began to sing a Georgian folk song with such an astounding and resounding voice that the alcoholic turned his head, only to see a stumpy little monk. This was our lovely Gabriel. Singing some more, he approached the alcoholic and pointed at his shirt's pocket, and told him, "Go and burn what you have in your pocket." Then he made hastily the Sign of the Cross over the man, so hastily that no one except the alcoholic in the bar noticed him do it. Gabriel promptly left and the man was left in tears. He would return to the Georgian Orthodox Church, searching for Gabriel to thank him for turning his life around. The man found Gabriel after his death, at his grave. This initially disappointed him, but the picture of Gabriel beside the gravestone winked at him, which comforted the man.
Anyways, I would like to tell you that I have watched nearly all your videos in the last week and I really enjoy them. They have given me a lot of comfort as I have been under a lot of mental distress recently. Your channel's small size and especially the channel music give me TH-cam's equivalent of walking next to a small lake. I noticed many people complain about the music; it is completely uncalled for! I love it.
There are a few mistakes I notice which are minor, and I have a few disagreements with one or two of your opinions, which I think comes from our different worldviews. I like your appreciation of the Russian Orthodox faith despite your secular beliefs and the many flaws of her believers/leaders, as well as your generally neutral approach discussing controversial topics (war in Ukraine, scandals in the Church, etc.) What else can I say more? I highly appreciate your videos. May God bless you and your family, and I hope you have a wonderful day, week, month, year and life. ❤❤❤
Source for the story of St. Gabriel: th-cam.com/video/rOVB-6st9TU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=vyq9LlBLDoPOAqgM at 47:12
Thank you so very much, my friend, for your kind words. They mean a world to me
@@russianchristianityI forgot to mention - your voice and accent give me the vibe of a chill friend from abroad! It definitely helps in keeping a calm and peaceful environment for me to relax in. Thanks! :)))
@@CzarLazar1389 Thank you, sir. I'm glad you like my work
It strikes me that one of the difficulties recovering alcohol or drug addicts must have after ending a rehabilitation programme is returning to their community, where former enabler friends and family are living. Perhaps one important function of churches would be to welcome recovering addicts into their social communities. (Did you examine this in your dissertation?)
I agree, it is. Actually, the churches do their best to go on and help recovering addicts with their further socialization. Sadly, they don't always have enough resources. Yet, the Baptist Church that I worked with basically give them a new extended family, a community of like-minded and understanding people.
One point that could be made is that predominantly Protestant countries have had drug epidemics since far before the 80s, so had more time and reason to develop such programs. I think AA/NA has the best success rate? Interestingly, the founders were inspired by psilocybin, which is currently used more directly in the treatment of addiction.
I don't think it's necessary about the denomination. Russia has an ugly drug epidemic since the 80s and I don't think it has much to do with Christianity at all
@@russianchristianityany country that has had a disastrous economic downturn where people lose hope leads to people using drugs to destroy themselves. Drug use has increased in America since the country has progressively de-industrialized since the 1970s. May God have mercy and save His people 🙏🏻☦
The TH-camr Peter Santenello has a recent video on the largest open air drug market in Kensington, Philadelphia USA️. It's absolutely heart breaking how these people have been destroyed and driven to the abyss and turned into the walking dead.
@@NavelOrangeGazer Yes, you're right. And Peter has a great channel, I enjoy his videos very much
@@russianchristianity didn't imply that, just that those protestants have had more decades to develop a response
As I understand the level of using drugs is related to the overall phsycic health, which itself is connected to how many have experienced wartime. Post-afghanistan soldiers and now post-ukrainain will sadly self medicate from the hell their President and their Patriarch blessed them with.
Sadly, you're 100% right. There is already a huge number of cases when ex-convicts recruited by the Russian army are coming back home just to commit terrible crimes again. People online call them "The New Elite" sarcastically.
PTSD is no joke and both Russians and Ukrainians are already learning of it and will learn more quite soon.