I am in catechism now, and will be participating in my first ever lent. May God strengthen me, so that I can maintain obedience. I am excited and nervous at the same time, because I know how weak I am. I have spent the past many years cleansing myself of my many addictions, since I was a heroin addict who also used other hard drugs. My last few I struggle with is nicotine and food, so I hope I can get control over these also. I am just grateful to be alive, and in the process of joining the Body of Christ. May He have mercy upon me, and strengthen me during my first great lent.
My first Great Lent was last year, and this year we (my wife and I) will be received into the Church on Holy Saturday--Glory to God! My humble advice is to embrace the nervousness and excitement. Fast as you can, increase prayers as possible, attend as many of the services as possible and strive to spend as much time dwelling in Gods presence as possible. It's not easy. It's a real struggle, especially in our culture and with so many things pulling at us. So don't stress over not being able to become super-Orthodox right away. Christ loves you and will present opportunities for growth and progress, and what is more, is He tailors it to each one of us as we are able and with our own issues, passions and struggles. Always remember that He loves you, and this is all medicine/therapy to heal you from the darkness you have communed with prior. I know this from my own walk with the darkness that lasted 57 years. If you stumble and fall, do not be shocked and never allow for despair. The Church is a hospital for the soul. Remember Christ's unfathomable love for you and keep going. God bless you brother! My prayer is for a profitable Great Lenten season for you; for healing, repentance and progress. 🙏☦
I’m just new to orthodoxy, I haven’t been catechism, hope to attend my first mass soon but have started with a study bible and am participating in lent by not eating meat on Wednesdays and fridays, I hope to fast next year, I’m just taking it slow, but these videos have been great and bring me some hope and hopefully guidance and more self control which I really need after losing my little brother who was 23 almost a year ago 😢. I am confirmed, etc in the Catholic Church for years now since I was small but orthodoxy seems more appealing to me. Cheers and happy lent
It's called liturgy dear friend welcome welcome to the faith have patience and never ever rush get yourself a spiritual father (who's a priest in charge of advising you spiritually can't have more than one) and he will also catechize you blessed journey stranger can't wait for you to be called brother in faith
I did what I could last year as a cachumate it was difficult. It was not complete and I failed as much but I kept after it (southern colloquialism) My priest stated that I could participate in the pre-sanctitified gifts and he said it was our life support to keep the fast. He was so right. I can say that this first week I found that with readings the prayers with the gifts I was able to be sustained. Truly God cares for us and sustains us when we are in places to hear him. May you all be sustained by the gifts of God in this season of repentance.
I'm doing it right now as a catechumen and so far it has been exceptionally easy, I got some stern lessons in helplessness before this so instead of trying to simply do what I can instead I just pray. Has been working wonders, both on the simple fasting front and also on the internal front.
One of the things that I have to remind myself of, especially as a recovering fundamentalist Baptist (not saying all are legalistic, just that I was), is to keep my eyes on my own plate. Does someone eat cheese or eggs during Lent, whether or not they have a blessing to do so? None of my business. They are likely strong in areas where I am weak.
My female friends and I would like to petition for your wife to come on as a guest speaker to share tips on keeping the lenten fast while pregnant or breastfeeding 😁
Fasting is my ascesis. Speaking for my wife, being pregnant and breastfeeding was her ascesis. She began fasting from food again only after breastfeeding.
Sorry, I should've been more clear with the question. Yes, our spiritual fathers exempted us from fasting. But for us it's really easy to slip into ignoring the fast altogether once the food aspect is gone. For example, indulging needlessly in food, not praying more, decreasing phone usage, etc. I suppose we want to hear thoughts from experienced women how new and expectant mothers can grow spiritually during the Lenten season.
Fr Josiah, Orthodox Christian from Bulgaria. Appreciate this video; I needed this video two weeks ago once I started my fast. The first week was rigorous, but this week, unfortunately, I've slipped up and eaten cooked, oiled food... Lenten Fast is a bit different because the Serbian church allows fish through your fast (to my knowledge). Our patriarchy allows (after the first week) oil through Lent. Appreciate it!
People always ask when they find themselves in true major distress. "What is Divine Intervention...?" I dare to say all we need is Hope, Faith and Charity. May the Lord stay over here.
Not in pure week yet, Catechumen about to start the week of the publican. Ive noticed a real struggle of keeping my prayer rule in fact I haven’t thus week, is that because the enemy is attacking us more this time of the year?
It is not easy to be Orthodox Christian... prepare yourself, guard yourself from the attacks by calling the God to help you. Overpower and ignore the thoughts that are dragging you away from the prayer rule, fasting, etc. You are about to make a "big splash" and you are on the radar of the evil forces now. May God be with you and help you in any way necessary to keep you on the narrow path you are prepping yourself to start walking. God bless you brother.! 🙏
I'm age 14, an unbaptized Orthodox Christian, trying to participate in Lent 2024
Im not baptised either, I'm 19 though, trying to participate may God help and strengthen us.
@@billz9852 Amin
Awesome, God bless you
May God bless you and strengthen you!
❤☦🕊🙏
I am currently a Catechumen going through my first Great Lent. Thank you for the wise words!
I am in catechism now, and will be participating in my first ever lent. May God strengthen me, so that I can maintain obedience. I am excited and nervous at the same time, because I know how weak I am. I have spent the past many years cleansing myself of my many addictions, since I was a heroin addict who also used other hard drugs. My last few I struggle with is nicotine and food, so I hope I can get control over these also. I am just grateful to be alive, and in the process of joining the Body of Christ. May He have mercy upon me, and strengthen me during my first great lent.
My first Great Lent was last year, and this year we (my wife and I) will be received into the Church on Holy Saturday--Glory to God! My humble advice is to embrace the nervousness and excitement. Fast as you can, increase prayers as possible, attend as many of the services as possible and strive to spend as much time dwelling in Gods presence as possible. It's not easy. It's a real struggle, especially in our culture and with so many things pulling at us. So don't stress over not being able to become super-Orthodox right away. Christ loves you and will present opportunities for growth and progress, and what is more, is He tailors it to each one of us as we are able and with our own issues, passions and struggles. Always remember that He loves you, and this is all medicine/therapy to heal you from the darkness you have communed with prior. I know this from my own walk with the darkness that lasted 57 years. If you stumble and fall, do not be shocked and never allow for despair. The Church is a hospital for the soul. Remember Christ's unfathomable love for you and keep going. God bless you brother! My prayer is for a profitable Great Lenten season for you; for healing, repentance and progress. 🙏☦
Your story sounds much like mine. Would be nice if we could talk!
I’m just new to orthodoxy, I haven’t been catechism, hope to attend my first mass soon but have started with a study bible and am participating in lent by not eating meat on Wednesdays and fridays, I hope to fast next year, I’m just taking it slow, but these videos have been great and bring me some hope and hopefully guidance and more self control which I really need after losing my little brother who was 23 almost a year ago 😢. I am confirmed, etc in the Catholic Church for years now since I was small but orthodoxy seems more appealing to me. Cheers and happy lent
It's called liturgy dear friend welcome welcome to the faith have patience and never ever rush get yourself a spiritual father (who's a priest in charge of advising you spiritually can't have more than one) and he will also catechize you blessed journey stranger can't wait for you to be called brother in faith
God bless you! I pray you grow in the faith. Blessed lent to you.
For the Western Rite - it is indeed called the ' Mass'.
A year has passed how are you doing? Have you been able to attend an Orthodox Church and meet with a Priest?
I did what I could last year as a cachumate it was difficult. It was not complete and I failed as much but I kept after it (southern colloquialism) My priest stated that I could participate in the pre-sanctitified gifts and he said it was our life support to keep the fast. He was so right. I can say that this first week I found that with readings the prayers with the gifts I was able to be sustained. Truly God cares for us and sustains us when we are in places to hear him. May you all be sustained by the gifts of God in this season of repentance.
I'm doing it right now as a catechumen and so far it has been exceptionally easy, I got some stern lessons in helplessness before this so instead of trying to simply do what I can instead I just pray. Has been working wonders, both on the simple fasting front and also on the internal front.
One of the things that I have to remind myself of, especially as a recovering fundamentalist Baptist (not saying all are legalistic, just that I was), is to keep my eyes on my own plate. Does someone eat cheese or eggs during Lent, whether or not they have a blessing to do so? None of my business. They are likely strong in areas where I am weak.
Beautiful and we’ll said father. ☦️❤️ αφκαριστο
Father Josiah this is extremely useful to have the correct mindset
My female friends and I would like to petition for your wife to come on as a guest speaker to share tips on keeping the lenten fast while pregnant or breastfeeding 😁
Fasting is my ascesis. Speaking for my wife, being pregnant and breastfeeding was her ascesis. She began fasting from food again only after breastfeeding.
Unless I'm mistaken, pregnant women are 100% exempt from fasting!
I think in the early days, pregnant or nursing women were even forbidden from fasting (at least that's what I read somewhere)
Sorry, I should've been more clear with the question. Yes, our spiritual fathers exempted us from fasting. But for us it's really easy to slip into ignoring the fast altogether once the food aspect is gone. For example, indulging needlessly in food, not praying more, decreasing phone usage, etc. I suppose we want to hear thoughts from experienced women how new and expectant mothers can grow spiritually during the Lenten season.
@@sofiaprizemin8340 This is huge. Yes, I will ask Presbytera if she has any info to share!
Thank you for speaking on this topic, Father! I very much appreciate it!
Fr Josiah, Orthodox Christian from Bulgaria.
Appreciate this video; I needed this video two weeks ago once I started my fast. The first week was rigorous, but this week, unfortunately, I've slipped up and eaten cooked, oiled food...
Lenten Fast is a bit different because the Serbian church allows fish through your fast (to my knowledge). Our patriarchy allows (after the first week) oil through Lent.
Appreciate it!
Fr Josiah, thank you. Exactly what I needed to hear🙏
Thank you Father for your guidance. I will push harder!
May God help us all.
Amen
Thank you for this.
Thank you Father
thank God your PB was "stolen"....what a BLESSING!!
Catholic from Canada. Thank you for the video, I am having trouble with my Lenten fasting.
People always ask when they find themselves in true major distress. "What is Divine Intervention...?" I dare to say all we need is Hope, Faith and Charity. May the Lord stay over here.
Not in pure week yet, Catechumen about to start the week of the publican. Ive noticed a real struggle of keeping my prayer rule in fact I haven’t thus week, is that because the enemy is attacking us more this time of the year?
It is not easy to be Orthodox Christian... prepare yourself, guard yourself from the attacks by calling the God to help you. Overpower and ignore the thoughts that are dragging you away from the prayer rule, fasting, etc. You are about to make a "big splash" and you are on the radar of the evil forces now. May God be with you and help you in any way necessary to keep you on the narrow path you are prepping yourself to start walking. God bless you brother.! 🙏
Should I only eat at night?
That's Islam, dear.
I think some monks will do that, but it's not expected of laity :)