The Orthodox Spiritual Life (w/ Fr. Seraphim Aldea)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ธ.ค. 2020
- Wow, all I can say is I was blessed by this interview, and I hope you are too. Fr. Seraphim Aldea of Mull Monastery in the Scottish Hebrides was kind enough to take the time to introduce me to the Orthodox Spiritual life, and we discussed prayer, fasting, and asceticism and how they help us navigate the paradox between nothingness and God-likeness. I found it to be absolutely fascinating, and deeply spiritually enriching. I hope you enjoy it even half as much as I did.
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About me:
Hey! My name is Austin, and I'm a 21 year old guy with a passion for people. I believe the good news is that God is better than we could've ever hoped, and I love sharing this message of grace and love with anyone that will listen. I'm the former Digital Marketing and Video Production Coordinator at a large, evangelical church in Frederick, MD, and I'm currently a student at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. When I'm not writing papers or making TH-cam videos, I do freelance work as a Wedding Photographer/Videographer and social media consultant. On any given day you can find me with my nose in a book or a guitar in my hands. Want to get to know me more? Follow me and say hi on Instagram at: @austin.suggs
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Austin Suggs
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Video Stuff:
Camera: Canon 80d
Lens: Sigma 17-50 F2.8
Edited in FCPX
Music:
Bowmans Root - Isaac Joel
"A naked man on a cross being killed by his own nation for whom he came in order to save them, that in worldly words is the biggest loser of everyone, but in spiritual terms that is God himself" this brought tears to my eyes, wise words from our orthodox brother. Greetings from a Serbian orthodox, never be ashamed of your faith. IC XC NIKA!
Powerful stuff! Glad it was moving for you
That was some way to end the conversation! So profound!
Before I converted from Buddhism to Holy Orthodoxy, I had assumed the oldest active monasteries in the world were Buddhist. I was astonished to discover that they are actually Christian. The monasteries of St Anthony (Coptic) and St Catherine (Orthodox) are two of the oldest.
And the Great Cave monastery, also, established at 362 AD
Fascinating stuff!
Bless You!!!
@Davin Sean It would have been more concise for me to say “continuously active monasteries” rather than just “active”.
A number of ancient Buddhist religious sites, which predate many Christians sites, have been restored and are in use again for different purposes, and not many as actual monasteries, but these are recent in comparison to the Christian monasteries previously mentioned.
So far, the information I’ve found about the “Hanging Monastery” and it being a continuously active monastery is vague.
The oldest continuously active Buddhist monastery appears to be Tabo Chos-Khor Monastery. It’s a Tibetan monastery established in India around 996 CE.
@@davidbuckley3623
Christian come from Jewish religion, which is the oldest.
I'm a romanian orthodox christian and i'm so happy for this interview. God bless you both🙏❤️
Glad you enjoyed it!
Romanian too here... The interview was awesome! God bless you all!
Same here! 🇷🇴 Thank God!!
@@Ana-eb4qz God bless you! Sarbatori fericite!
Romanian here too !
Wonderful. I am a Catholic priest and this interview is so authentic. God bless you Austin.
Wow, thanks so much for the encouraging feedback! God bless you too
God bless you father for seeing the beauty of God’s grace and wisdom in this person’s soul who does not belong to your Catholic faith. Most priests both Catholic and Orthodox do not have that kind of humility. I feel the same way, I feel overwhelmed by peoples humility and the divine wisdom that they are gifted with like this wonderful monk. It takes a lot of prayer and hard work to reach this level of spiritual maturity and wisdom with God’s grace of course. I would like to tell you about this book called True Life in God which is a compilation of messages given to this Greek Orthodox lady called Vassula Ryden by Jesus and the Blessed Mother. You can go to the website at tlig. org. May God bless you. ✝️😇
@@margokupelian344 I’ve met a lot of priest who carry this peace and humility. I haven’t met any orthodox priest.
i am ex muslim i got baptized in 2018.. i have gone through so much spiritual warefare... but i am in a much better place now.. God is most loving most patient and lord jesus has never left me or forsaken me.... you are here moving in our midst i worship you.. i worship you.. you are here working in this place i worship you i worship you way maker miracle worker promise keeper light in the darkness my God that is who you are
I absolutley love orthodox christianity and father serphim is such a radiant soul shining with the light of lord jesus his videos have really blessed me!!!!
please everyone keep me in your prayers i grow more stronger spiritually and get even closer to lord jesus.. because i do not like who i am when im not praying or feeling close to God Sin lies at the door happy new year everyone
Praise God for your baptism!
May The Lord Bless you fully and perpetually my brother.
🔥
🧡
There's a good monk right there. He helped me out of a dark place. Thank you for doing these Austin.
My pleasure!
I think Austin is going through what I did before starting my conversion. Studying to be a Pentacostal minister (AG) I started reading “The Orthodox Church” and made my way to visit various Orthodox churches and read avidly anything liturgical from East or West. This was mixed with Church History as well. I converted to Catholicism 7 years ago and fell in love with liturgy and a more reverant and formal Mass and Pope Benedict. Through all of this, I still felt a yearning, a calling or a pulling from
God to form a deeper relationship and understood that was with the Orthodox Church. This move has been years in the making and I knew it, felt it and prayed upon it. After realizing the wholeness of God in Orthodoxy, I closed my mind to outside theological notions, not out of arrogance but out of focus. I wanted full spiritual nutrition and to not be pulled away as I have reached home. Now when I read protestant or other theology it is purely out of an endeavor to see where others like me back them may be in their walk and know how to relate to them.
I love you Austin, love your work and your heart and hope to one day see you in Orthodoxy one day celebrating together. God love you, all Christians and those struggling with finding the full truth.
God bless you brother... Absolutely moving your story and testimony. For Orthodoxy is the true Church of Christ... The home for all searching protestants and Roman Catholics
@@evans3922 Thank you for the warmth of your response! It is truly heartwarming, encouraging and empowering. God bless you and yours!
Welcome Home!
I was a Pentecostal preacher and am now seriously considering orthodoxy.
My wife and I were Rhema grads, and I spent a few years as a pastor of a satellite church that my wife and I had spent our 20’s in. God revealed to us the Orthodox Church in 2014, and we were baptized and chrismated in 2019. It seems to us as though we have found the Faith that is big enough for the God of the Universe.
I'm catholic trying to beautify my soul for Christ. I simply love and adore Fr. Seraphim. This man can explain answers to lifelong questions no one else can. He is a very blessed man...a true treasure from God. Wow!
Wonderful!
His explanation of icons was absolutely beautiful and eye-opening.
Glad you enjoyed it!
He seems like such a beautiful soul. You can almost see Christ in him.
Amen
Christ has not only soul but spirit, too
I wholeheartedly agree
@@pstathopulos Closeness is not usual in clouds. Seraphim's head is in clouds but the legs run the land
I have listened to a million Christian speakers over the years and I can honestly say this monk has blown me away with his deep and profound understanding and explanation of prayer and Christ in us. Thank you for sharing this. No matter which denomination we stream from, I feel all Christians can go deeper in their walk with God by listening to this :-)
I love Fr. Seraphim, he is filled with Christ's wisdom.
Truly
Like rejecting the warrior saints?
Think so? Think again. He openly supports globalism, liberalism, and LGBT. He also rejects numerous warrior saints. Not Orthodox as far as we’re concerned.
@@charlesmaximus9161 Where can I check to see if what you are claiming is true?
@@mvj1153 It's rubbish. The poster is an 'orthobro' and doesn't understand Orthodox Christian theology. Fr Aldea is sound and extremely well educated and experienced.
I am so grateful that people such as this man exist.
Amen
“Christ has died for this icon to become like him” woah. Thank you Austin and Fr Seraphim for sharing this beautiful wisdom.
Our pleasure!
Oh yes! And He rose from the grave just to complete His work for us. He Truly is the Lover of mankind!
Our monastics and monasteries are our sacred treasure. We are still alive through their prayers, and we must also pray for them to stay strong. 🇷🇴 ☦️
God bless the angelic life!
Amen
Met an Orthodox monk once. He's just like Fr. Seraphim here. Calm, generous, humble, very cautious about everything he's gonna say, friendly, discipline, & overall positive vibe.
That's wonderful!
The Lord Jesus has been so good to lead my husband and I to Orthodoxy within the last month. This interview was so touching, I couldn’t help but to cry. Lord have mercy on me a sinner.
God bless you❤❤❤❤
This interview felt very different to many of your others about Orthodoxy, Austin. That's not to say I haven't also loved the others, but this conversation seemed to somehow get to the heart of Orthodoxy - no bells and whistles, no comparisons - just the heart. Fr. Seraphim's short description of how the monastery came to be was so moving.
I've learned so much today, and I will definitely be rewatching the video to be able to dwell on more of the wisdom that was shared here. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It was nice to focus less on apologetics/our differences and just get to learn from him about following Jesus
@@GospelSimplicity What I love about the interview is just talking to him and his love of christ. You see the purpose of monks and nuns in the church. Theu give themselves to G-d so turn they can help us get closer to him.
How wonderful it is to listen to the mind of an Orthodox monk, the depth and the peacefulness.
Austin, I can almost see the Greek yiayias and papous of previous generations squeezing your cheeks and calling you a 'good boy'. High praise, my friend. High praise. ;-)
Thanks!
"I look around in the world and I see the saints in the process of becoming"... Christ is in you Fr. Seraphim. Greetings from Romania, blessings from the homeland!
So beautifully said
Dear Fr. Seraphim, pray to God for us.
Amen
Dear Fr. Barnabas, may God bless all of us. Please remember me and the Monastery in your prayers.
@@mullmonastery Of course, dear father. May God watch between us.
Father Spyridon is an excellent monastic to interview as well!
Thanks!
Yes
Fr. Spyridon is an excellent resource
Many years to Fr. Seraphim and Mull Monastery! God bless! I'm really enjoying all the Orthodox content lately.
Amen!
I am student in Georgia (the country) and am currently inquiring into Orthodoxy. I was listening to this interview during my bus ride home and had to keep the tears at bay the entire way. God bless Fr. Seraphim and may He continue to bless him with the Gift of humility and wisdom🌸❤️🙏!
I'm so glad you reached out to Fr.Seraphim ☦️ In a world where truth and love are relative, it's such a joy to see people seeking out the Truth in Love. Yet, as an Orthodox believer, I desire all to truly Taste and See God's Love in the blessed sacraments. God didn't come to save just our minds. He came to give us Sonship. Unto ages of ages. And that can't be discussed. It must be experienced. ☦️ Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!
It was my pleasure! Hope you enjoy it
Theosis. Theosis. Theosis. God help me do that which is "most needful"!
Austin, I have watched several of your videos and I have enjoyed all of them so far immensely. This however, is the best interview I have ever watched. I could listen to Fr. Seraphim for hours and never get bored. He is like a fountain of knowledge and holiness that you want to soak in everything possible. That you for your positive contribution to what is typically a hostile and unpleasant environment. Your work is a breath of fresh air!
Wow, thank you so much!!
What an incredible, humble, man of God.
Indeed
Look at therealmedwhite 's video on this munk
I'm Catholic and really enjoyed this conversation with Fr. Seraphim. God bless him and his vocation.
So glad to hear that!
As a blessed Greek Orthodox Christian who is relatively new to your channel, I really love your content. It is especially nice to see more Orthodox content. Keep up the good work, and God bless you! ☦️☦️☦️
Welcome to the channel! Glad to have you here. God bless!
This is sweeter than honey Austin! Fr Seraphim is man full of Grace and overflowing love of Christ but you also have the gift of listening and meekness. May God bless your ministry!
So glad you enjoyed it!
I appreciate the channels of dialogue that are being opened up by your videos. May they do much good! I would love to see Abbot Tryphon on here.
Glad you're enjoying it! I'll see what I can do!
I would love to see you interview Abbot Tryphon. He is such an amazing monk and the way he talks about service and loving others when I have heard him speak is really inspirational.
Sounds like someone I’d enjoy!
@@GospelSimplicity You totally would from what I have gotten to know of you on your channel. :)
Very true.
Beautiful interview, Austin. You have the rare gift of being able to honestly listen and honestly react in this kind of exchange. Fr. Seraphim's gentle nature is like honey to the seeking soul. May God bless you and may we all meet some day in Mull.
Wow, thank you so much! Yes it is
!!
Let's go to Mull Monastery on Pilgrimage
I was Evangelical protestant in Russia but I became Orthodox Christian in America! Go figure!
Thank God I found true Church of Christ, doesn't matter in what country or continent.. Thank you for this amazing interview! ☦🛐
How interesting!
@@GospelSimplicity Yes, very unusual case! 🙂
Loved this video - Fr. Seraphim is great, I really appreciate his channel.
An idea for an interview:
Father Sava is an American banker who found his way to Oasa Monastery (in Romania) and became an orthodox monk more than 10 years ago. He lived at Mount Athos for a while and then, as directed by his spiritual father there, went to Romania. I think it would be great to learn how and why someone from the West converted to orthodoxy.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the recommendation!
@@GospelSimplicitycommenting to remind you of this great idea ♥️
The wonderful logic of Orthodoxy comes so naturally through in this excellent interviiew. Thank you so much.
My pleasure!
One thing I love about how you interview Austin is that you never interrupt the person that is been interview. You always let them finish what they are saying before asking another question. This never happens.
Thanks! It was something that bothered me in podcasts I listened to so I wanted to try to do it differently once I got the chance to interview people
This was one of your best interviews.
Thank you so much!
@@GospelSimplicity You're welcome. I want to show you some more Orthodox Channels / Priests that might help you : FR. PANAYIOTIS PAPAGEORGIOU, Ph.D. and Trisagion Films th-cam.com/video/LNO29Q4ppXk/w-d-xo.html. Fr. David Smith th-cam.com/channels/S-09S_AEqBHebx1vDXM8RA.htmlvideos. And Fr. Seraphim th-cam.com/video/r4FaqRa1KFE/w-d-xo.html&feature=emb_title
So thrilled to see this interview, Fr. Seraphim is so dear and a true vessel of Christ. Thank you for making this interview happen! Another wonderful Orthodox person you might enjoy is Fr. Stephen Freeman, he is a priest in the US and runs a blog called Glory to God for All Things (along with a podcast, Glory to God, on Ancient Faith Radio). I believe he spent his first 20 or so years as a Protestant-he provides wonderful insights on the Orthodox faith!
That sounds like it would be a fun interview! Thanks for the recommendation!
God bless you all. Greetings from Serbia. IC XC ~ NI KA!
God bless you too!
God bless Serbia. Greeting from a serbian orthodox from Switzerland.
God bless from a Greek American Orthodox girl in NY
I learn something really important every time I listen to Fr. Seraphim. -- Discover who you are.
I am from Oriental orthodox faith. It was such an amazing and very insightful interview. May God bless us all and may the blessing of Father seraphim be with us
So glad you enjoyed it!
This has been one of the best interviews I’ve seen. Thank you both!
Wow, thank you so much!
Thank you so much, Austin, for conducting this interview with Fr. Seraphim. I am a baptized Catholic raised a protestant who married a Catholic girl 44 years ago. We raised 4 children and found the Orthodox faith after our nest was empty primarily because we had been exposed to Greek food as young school teachers in Australia in the 1970's. I confess the Orthodox Clergy that I saw many years ago seemed too foreign to me and while I learned about Greek food I learned nothing about the Orthodox faith. Our Orthodox priest has encouraged us to visit monasteries and visit with the monastics. You opened the doors to a wonderful interview that revealed so much more of this faith I have been pursuing. God Bless You.
So glad that you enjoyed it!
What a lovely interview! Really appreciate his heart
He’s wonderful
Wonderful stuff Austin! Keep this up, you’re doing great and again it’s refreshing to se how fair and amiable you’ve been to us Orthodox. God bless you, you’re in mine and my wife’s prayers.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for your prayers as well! God bless you both
Such a precious conversation in His presence,. You are both a great gift to this world, : Christ in you, the hope of Glory! Thank you!
My pleasure!
Well done Austin for getting an interview with Seraphim. I'm really looking forward to it!
I had so much fun with this one
Enjoyed this so much! Thank you, Austin, for your genuine inquiry and wonderful interview. I always love Fr Seraphim’s teachings.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so very much for this, Austin. I have followed your channel for a few months now and have been richly blessed by your travels, the insights of a number of your guests, and your gentleness of spirit. Fr Seraphim is doing a great work here in the UK, and I also follow him for spiritual nourishment. So this conversation between you and him was truly a blessing to watch.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you’re enjoying the channel
Thank you Austin for taking this initiative and interview Father Seraphim from Mull Monastery. Thank you both for taking 55 min from your own precious time, and for sharing this great interview on this YT channel. God bless you !
Glad you enjoyed it!
Glory be to God! A beautiful Thanksgiving surprise. Fr. Seraphim has been a loving and guiding light to me and many of us EO's. Kindness personified. Truth exemplified. I dream of visiting Mull Monastery one day. So looking forward to this interview!
He was a true delight to interview
Well done Austin. I am already so blessed by Father Aldea's channel but you really tapped into his wisdom so well because you yourself are an honest and open seeker of God and I thank you for that. It was a lovely moment when he invited us to see you both and ourselves as icons of the image of God. God bless you.
Thank you so much! It was truly my pleasure
Loved this - I follow Father Seraphim already and he exemplifies God’s unconditional love for all us no matter how sinful we are. He has a way of knowing what is weighing on my Soul and I always feel he is speaking only to me . God bless Father Seraphim always and his Monastic Community on Mull . Thank you for sharing 🙏❤️
Thank you so much for your kind, humble and honest interview. Thank you also Fr. Seraphim for your humble, open honest response. I have benefitted and will by God's grace.
It's my pleasure!
This is so so beautiful. Thank you Austin and Fr. Seraphim!
It’s our pleasure!
This video was so incredibly deep , I wish I would of been writing notes ! Truly incredible, May God continue to bless your channel Austin
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This was truly a beautiful blessing. So encouraging and enlightening to my faith.
I’m so glad to hear that!
Congratulations, Gospel Simplicity,. One of the deepest spiritual interviews you've had so far, especially regarding prayer and understanding yourself. Did not want the interview to end.
Yess, so happy for this video i really like father Seraphim, thak you for interviewing him
It was my pleasure!
This is so cool because I love both your channels! Epic crossover! 🙏🏻✝️🕊⛪️
Hope you enjoy it!
Wow, it is awesome that you interviewed Fr Aldea. I am Catholic but I love listening to the wisdom he shares on Mull monastery utube. I also like your t-shirt Love across the lines. I will definitely order. Such an important message. My husband is Calvinist and I returned to my Catholic Faith after 25 yrs. It definitely caused turmoil in our marriage but love across the lines is so important. I love watching your utube videos. Thank you for your ministry.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for your support. God bless!
Thank you so much for bringing this interview to us. Father Seraphim is so warm and deep and thought provoking. Lord God please help me to attain the image you intended me to be. 🙏🏻
My pleasure!
I have watched this twice now and I know I am not yet finished with it. It is not so much that the ideas are terribly new to me but Fr. Seraphim expresses them so clearly and with such humble sincerity that I recognize that it is not meant for me to be a source of information but a challenge to my heart. Thank you, Austin, for being so genuine ,and thank you, Fr. Seraphim for being so transparent (I can see the image of Christ imprinted on you).
I'm so glad that you're enjoying it!
This is going to be a cool one! Can't wait!!
I love that you are bringing on real Orthodox clergy and monastics! This is 100% the way to do it! I also see people recommending Jay Dyer. He is brilliant, knowledgeable yet very controversial. I would wait to interview him until you have more knowledge under your belt about Catholicism and Orthodoxy. He was more helpful when I was trying to really hone in on complex theological differences.
Thanks! Yeah, his tone doesn't quite match the rest of the channel. Perhaps one day, but not yet
Jay Dyer is a terrible representative for Orthodoxy. Please don't have him on.
Jonathan Pageau would be a much better choice.
Plus one for Pageau! Very charitable, more knowledgeable than he lets on, and always very interesting!
@@user-ji3mn5fu8q Dude, I always see you going off on Jay in your comments. You seem to have a real bone to pick with him. Maybe check out the log in your own eye before obsessing over every speck in his?
I'd sit down at Seraphim's feet to listen to him all day - he is such a simple, humble man with deep spiritual experience.
This has blessed me and others so much. What a wonderful exchange. By far my favorite interview to date. Excellent, excellent, excellent!
Fr. Seraphim is so sweet! ❤
Absolutely LOVED talking with him. When the pandemic is over, I hope I can go see him
I am really loving watching Mull Monastery's videos
They're great!
I’ve been watching Fr. Seraphim on the Mull Monastery channel, I’m so pleased with this interview. I became an orthodox Catechumen about a month ago, and I find orthodoxy so wholesome, so historical, and those I have spoken to are very level-headed and humble. Orthodoxy is such a wonderful community.
Multumim Austin pentru interviul frumos si folositor .Parintele Serafim reuseste sa ne atinga de fiecare data sufletul!Imbratisari in Hristos ,din România🤗🦋🙏
I am blessed by listening to this interview .
I’m so glad to hear that!
Thank you Austin. You have such a warm way of talking to people. May God bless Your ministry.
It’s my pleasure! Thank you so much
I am an Orthodox Deacon from the Cleveland area. I know Fr. John from Chicago well. Your bringing to light the similarities between Christians is very well done.
Thank you for this interview video. It answered so many questions which I had/have about how we can properly interact with Fr. Seraphim and ask him about his work. He comes through the Lord Jesus Christ and i feel welcome to learn very deep spiritual existence at my own level of ability. This is a blessing. Thank you so much. Right now I am experiencing the Grace from God filling my entire being. Thank you.
It’s my pleasure!
Love Fr. Seraphim. I've been watching his videos and listening to his podcasts for several years, and now I am introduced to you! Looking forward to exploring your channel!
He's wonderful. Welcome to the channel! Glad to have you here. God bless!
I was raised Irish Catholic but transitioning to orthodoxy so Fr Aldea is like the best of both worlds for me haha
nice!
@@GospelSimplicity Also a great interview would be Hieromonk Gabriel
Wow..such a powerful talk, I got tears... Thank you and God Bless you all!
Wow! God bless you
We were truly blessed by this interview, too, and have shared it with several others. Thank you, and God bless you both.
Well done. Thanks so much. I am orthodox and have been watching and benefiting from Fr Seraphim’s videos for a couple of months .. I learned so much / even more about him today and from him with your very good interview . Thanks 🙏
Glad it was helpful!
You are beautiful human Austin, just true truth seeker. Fr. Seraphim is truly something different and authentic, true Christ special forces here on earth ❤️
Wow, thank you so much
@@GospelSimplicity ❤️🙏🏻
Only about 25 minutes in right now but I must thank you for this video. I am an Orthodox Christian convert from a protestant background and you have reminded me that Protestants are not all "rabid" about the older traditions. You were very polite and pleasant to listen to during the interview. May God be with you friend.
Wow! And Amazing! This video was such a blessing that I cannot begin to thank both Father Aldea and Austin of Gospel Simplicity. Two men with hearts on fire for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Edifying!
I'm so glad you found it helpful! God bless!
One of the most beautiful conversations between Christians of different denominations I've ever listened to. Thanks to both of you for the respectful way of speaking to each other: it felt Christ-like to me. God bless both of you. Greetings from Germany.
Wow, thank you so much!
Nice video Austin, I’ve been super excited or this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this Austin. I've been atheist for my whole life and discovering the Protestant Church changed my life. I was told to read the Gospel and I don't know why or how, my life changed forever. Now I''ve been Christian for 3 years and it's the best that has happened to me, ever. Your devotion to truth is awasome, I'm a big fan of your show and I learn a lot from your insight. Let me tell you, when I discovered orthodoxy (through his excellency Kalistos Ware) I just couldn't stop it, the Jesus Prayer became so important to me, I still cry when I pray it with true devotion. I'm still a "no-denomination" Christian, but I'm about to be baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, because of a personal need of "breathing with two lungs". Regardless of your outcome I think you are doing a great job for Christ and his Church, which is all of us, and I'm really considering joining your patreon. We need bridges among us brothers not walls, and you make that possible; as Pope Benedict XVI said, one start being a Christian because of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, saviour of all. Thank you for supporting my faith and for being a good example for us all. Most blessings for you.
PD. Sorry for my bad writing, I'm actually from South America.
Matias, the real question is whether there is an authentic Christianity besides the Orthodox Christianity!
The mystery of God is the mystery of the Uncreated Eternal Life Who is Ecstatic Love!
Christianity isn't meant to be about a distant transaction between us and God! It is a transformational fullness of Life!
It is about experiencing the fullness of Christ's mystery! Such an experience is really crucial in order to truly Know the Uncreated God!
Only the Uncreated is Immortal and the cause of life and immortality!
It follows that isolating anything created from its Creator causes the process of its erosion! That process is reversible which means redeemable only by communing with God's Uncreated energies!
It's about Theosis in the Orthodox Theology! It's about a transcendental transformation by experiencing God's Uncreated energies.
The protestant and roman catholic theology denies that the created may commune with the Uncreated God by denying God's Uncreated energies!
However, our life cries out for fullness! We won't experience Life that is Life to the full, unless we experience the Eternal!
Experiencing the Eternal is not about daydreaming! Experiencing the Eternal is about living for real by experiencing God Who is Life to the full!
Of course, we could never commune with God's essence but we may commune with God's Uncreated energies by experiencing the Divine and human person of Christ!
This way we may partake of His Life and live for real! His Life becomes our Life! He literally is our Resurrection!
You are always welcomed to experience the mystery of God's Love in the Orthodox Church!
May God's Life be your Life, so that you may experience Life that is Life to the full!
God bless you and Live for real!
Your writing was wonderful and I really appreciate you sharing your story!
@@dimitrispeiraias thanks for your thoughtful answer. I wouldn't be into be baptized in the Catholic Church if it wouldn't be able for me to embrace distinctive Orthodox teachings. Speaking with Eastern Catholics I came to realize they believed Essece / Energy distinction too, and Theosis (As well as some great Lutherans like Dr. Cooper). Nevertheless I haven't seen the same opneness in orthodoxy about distinctive latin teachings. That sense of "breathing with two lungs" is so powerful to me than when I had to make a choice, the Roman Catholic Church won my heart, because I wasn't even told to chose. I really think His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew was right when he said that our differences are not dogmatic. This, along with Pope JP II asking Eastern Catholics to please return to their traditions makes it clear, we are One, and not being able to sit togheter in the table to partake in the Eucharist is one if not the most sad thing in the world. Imagine your chlidren being so angry about each other that they can't even eat togheter.
This is why I think Austin's work is so great, from his point of view. Baptism makes us brothers and sisters, we should fight to reunite the Church, and the first thing we need to do is love each other, listen to each other, and even being open to learn from each other. Austin with his videos teach us all that we both have a lot to learn, and of course, from protestants too, put Faith first, put Grace first, love Scripture, put Christ in the center at all times. Their focus on this things is wonderful, what if we could return to what the Orthodox Catholic Church once was? Learing from the best of each other, and striving to sainthood togheter, not looking at the brother's sin, but our first.
Matias, if Roman Catholicism is wrong about that certain dogma of distinction between Uncreated essence and Uncreated energies, then papal infallibility is profoundly a false doctrine!
If papal infallibility is a false doctrine, then it is also a blasphemous dogma, given that infallibility is God's attribute!
"It is impossible to recall peace without dissolving the cause of the schism-the primacy of the Pope exalting himself equal to God." (St Mark of Ephesus)
There is a certain difference in the Orthodox view of Theology! Both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism have a theology based on the beliefs of one individual who is either the Pope or the protestant believer!
In the Orthodox Church, we entirely trust in the living experience of the Whole Church!
Infallibility is a gift that was bestowed on the oneness of the whole Church, because Church is the wholeness of a mystical body whose Head is the only infallible Son of man Who is the incarnated Son of God!
For this very reason Orthodoxy is expressed by the whole body of the Church, which also includes the laymen!
A true dogma is apprehended through the living experience of the One Holy Church, in accordance with the the criteria of universality, antiquity and consensus!
Church is Jesus Christ's mystical body where He feed us on His own Flesh and we quench our thirst for life with His precious Blood!
We could never join Him out of His mystical body which is the Church !
Of course as there is only one Lord so there is only one Church, the ancient one that was founded by Christ Himself and keeps the Orthodox faith!!!
On the other hand, the presumption that the true faith could be infallibly apprehended out of the Oneness of the Whole Church is a spiritual quicksand!
Thousands of different heretical views cause a spiritual confusion and a constant state of uncertainty.
Anyway you are always welcomed to experience the fullness of Christ's mystery in the Orthodox Church!
@@dimitrispeiraias I don't think essence energy distintion has been rejected in a dogmatic way. Eastern Catholics believe it and lots of Latin Catholics like myself too. We also recognize Saints in the orthodox Church even after the Schism, Theosis, the Jesus Prayer, etc. Why would the Pope asked us to return to those traditions and to breathe with both if it had been denied? I think you are wrong in believing Protestants and Catholics have a one-man based faith. I know many Lutherans who base their faith in the Seven Ecumencial Councils, and us Catholics only have a few dogmatic teachings from the magisterium that are infalible doctrine, which are also part of your tradition as well, maybe in some other terms. I don't think I have to convert to Eastern Orthodoxy for the sake of Orthodox theology, I already have that. Our Patriarch of Rome made that freedom posible.
I have recently come across your channel, and I absolutely love your interviews with so many great guests like Fr. Seraphim. I have learned a lot. May God grant you many blessed years, and may He keep blessing the rest of your walk with Him
I think this is now my favorite of your interviews. Fr. Seraphim is so articulate in spiritual things. I think we in Orthodoxy have a tendency (especially in the West) to focus our conversations on apologetics that we lose sight of the spiritual truth we have. It's this spiritual truth that brought me to the Orthodox Church and it's what keeps me here.
Glad to hear that! It’s one of my personal favorites
I am a Moody grad interested in ancient Christianity, and I absolutely LOVED the practical emphasis on growing in relationship with Jesus in this video! And I walked away with a clearer understanding of Orthodox Christianity to boot. Please do more interviews like this one Austin!
So glad you enjoyed it!
YAAAS Austin! Can't wait. Also second others' suggestions of Fr. Spyridon Bailey (he was really my introduction to orthodoxy) and Heiromonk Kosmas. If you haven't heard anything from Fr. Moses Berry DEFINITELY look him up! Such a wonderful humble Christ-follower.
Thanks for the recommendations!
Literally the best interview of all your series Austin!
The humility of this man, I'm awed. I wish I had someone I could reach out to and speak with like him, I know it's probably selfish to say, but I've never known anyone like this, and I'm so very desperate to find someone to help guide me properly. Thank you for this interview, truly.
Hi Austin, I just found your channel through a link that was on Father's channel, and I'm so glad I did. That was a wonderful interview. You have a gentle/calmness about you that made the interview very enjoyable and peaceful. I search you tube all the time for new teachings and again, so glad I found your channel. God Bless you and wishing a Merry Christmas.
Wow, I’m so glad you found the channel! Grateful to have you as a part of the community here at Gospel Simplicity. God bless!
Well done Fr Seraphim, thanks so much!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Spiritual gems and so much love, honesty and encouragement. I’m blessed again for having heard this discussion. Truly. Thank you both from the depth of my heart and soul. God bless you.
Fantastic interview. Greatly appreciated. I received a lot from it. Helping me to see and learn more about Orthodoxy. This continues to resonate within me deeper and deeper.
God bless
Austin is legitimately bringing Christians together. Love to see it. God bless you 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Wow, thank you!
@@GospelSimplicity No, no. Thank YOU!
I hope this is a pattern for the future!!!
Christians uniting together.....both of you are such a blessing🙂.
Thanks for this! A quick note on that first section where you guys discuss the truth that those mundane, every day jobs and tasks are real (spiritually significant): I heartily recommend the film Of Gods and Men, the true story of French monks living in Algeria during the civil war there in the 90s. I'm Orthodox, and I thank my Roman Catholic brothers and sisters for the truths and love of the monks in the film, and indeed for the the film itself, which is masterfully done!
Thanks for the recommendation!
I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. It was so full of humble wisdom and quite moving as well. Thank you, keep up the good work. 🙏🏼
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Wow Austin. You are such a fantastic interviewer, in every way! You ask the perfect questions and listen in such a respectful way you can tell your guests really enjoy talking to you. Keep up the good work! And God bless you 🙏
Thank you so much for the kind words! God bless