I'm not Orthodox but it been a joy hearing and seeing the passion these priest have for Jesus and wanting to share that with the world. Pretty eye opening to get to see.
Fr Andrew is amazing. Exactly as you see him here is how he is in person. Of all the priests featured on this channel I’ve met Fathers John Bethancourt, James Coles, Josiah Trenham, Andrew Cuneo, and John Mafous who will be on the upcoming video. They are all excellent wonderful men and I’ve been so blessed to get to know them all.
God promised where he would be. His Word and His sacraments. He's there whether you feel it or not. My worry with "feeling holy presence", not that I don't think it's possible, is that if you don't FEEL it one day, it could make you think it's gone. That's not how God said he would work.
@@athenarockabilly6245 Fr, here, just said NOT primarily about 'feelings', 'emotions' , 'a vibe', etc and NOT about 'rational argument', 'acquiring knowledge', 'who knows the most', etc
Since becoming Orthodox and watching many priests speak ( Father Spyridon, Father Josiah Trenham, Father Stephen De Young etc) I’ve noticed something in their eyes. Something holy, kind, trustworthy, good and RIGHT. When I used to be involved with Freemasonry I noticed the polar opposite in their eyes. They were cold, dark, distant, suspicious, shady, shifty, WRONG. It’s interesting 🧐 the eyes really are the window to the soul. This priest here has the right eyes. I trust him completely ☦️
Hey friend, I would just encourage you, that’s a very subjective and untrustworthy criterion to judge someone’s credibility by. The devil masquerades as an angel of light. We shouldn’t judge by appearances. (I’m not trying to say anything about Orthodox priests or this speaker in this video, I just say this in general about all people.) Grace and peace to you, friend.
@@tjkhan4541 Yes, of course. I agree wholeheartedly. I should clarify that this is absolutely not my sole criterion. Having said that, it can be quite obvious when one is so filled with God’s Spirit that He radiates from that person. Likewise when someone is filled with something toxic ( too much alcohol for example ) it can be “written all over his face”. I also ask the saints to pray regularly for my ability to discern between spirits 🙏🏻
You're Absolutely Right That I Didn't Want To Live On A Bridge, So On Christmas Day, Monday, December 25th, 2023 @ 10 AM EST, I Converted From Latin Rite Roman Catholicism Via The Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Church To The Tier One and Only, Holy, Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church That I'm A Member Of Here In My Hometown of Anderson ( Anderson County), South Carolina And I Thank Almighty God For The Great Escape From Rome, Coming Home To Orthodox Christianity. AXIOS ☦️ ‼️
@tomjarrett2477 : I Attend Divine Liturgy @ Christ The Saviour [ Antiochian] ☦️⛪️ @ 604 North Fant Street, Anderson ( Anderson County), South Carolina , Directly Across The Street From The Emergency Room of AnMed Main Campus 🏥. If, You're Ever In Town, Stop By And Let's Worship The Lord Jesus Christ, Together.
I went to an orthodox service for the first time on Easter (Catholic calendar) and was blown away. It felt holy. It was holy. I’ve wanted to go for a while. And every priest I see and meet speaks a similar language. Jesus is the Word. It makes sense the one true Church would reflect this. Thanks for your content.
Yes. And the Church will pray for you at every Divine Liturgy. Take it personally. We mean it..Many of us have been in your place before. Blessed PASCHA! I don't know if you have experienced one before, but it is a beautiful and holy night. ☦📿💝📿☦
As a Catholic who is discerning the Orthodox Faith, I thought this interview was excellent. I appreciated the good questions presented to Fr Andrew, and I found his answers very helpful. I've been reading a lot about the history of the Roman and Eastern Churches and their increasingly strained relationship during the first millennium. I appreciated Fr Andrew's honesty in acknowledging that the bishop of Rome was in fact seen as an "elder brother" - if you read some of the early Church fathers like Tertullian, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus, Cyprian, John Chrysostom, all hold Rome in high regard and speak of its prestigious reputation- but one who did NOT command universal obedience or claim ex-cathedra infallibility which, contrary to what some Catholic apologists claim, is an accretion. Anyway, thanks for the wonderful interview!
Why Orthodox Christianity Rejects the Doctrine of Purgatory: A Commitment to the Historic Deposit of Faith The Orthodox Christian stance on Rome's development of the doctrine of Purgatory is not rooted in division or hostility. Rather, it reflects our deeper commitment to the Historic Deposit of Faith, preserved from the earliest centuries of Christianity. While Orthodox and Roman Catholic teachings both address the purification of the soul after death, they differ significantly. Orthodox theology emphasizes healing and the soul’s journey toward God, while Roman Catholicism developed the concept of Purgatory as a state of penal purification. This article explores the patristic foundations for Orthodox beliefs and why they diverge from the later developments in Western Christianity. Our position centers on teachings from early Christian figures like Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen. These voices, though sometimes referenced in defense of Purgatory, actually reflect a different understanding-one focused on divine love’s transformative power, not a temporary state of suffering. By examining their writings, we uncover the original beliefs that continue to shape Orthodox views today. 1. St. Gregory of Nyssa: Divine Love as Transformation Gregory of Nyssa, one of the great Cappadocian Fathers, spoke about purification in the afterlife, especially in his work On the Soul and the Resurrection. He described the soul’s purification as a process where divine love gradually frees it from attachments to sin, enabling it to be united with God. Although Gregory uses the metaphor of fire, he does so to illustrate God’s transformative love, not as a description of penal suffering. For Gregory, this "fire" represents divine love’s purifying power, which renews and sanctifies the soul without punishment. This aligns with the Orthodox understanding of Theosis-the soul’s ongoing transformation in the likeness of God. This process, healing and redemptive, differs greatly from the later Western concept of Purgatory as a temporary state of penal cleansing. 2. St. Augustine of Hippo: Early Western Reflections Augustine of Hippo, a foundational figure in Western Christianity, touches on post-mortem purification in his works Confessions and City of God. He suggests that the souls of the departed might benefit from the prayers of the Church, especially those needing additional purification due to lesser, unrepented sins. While his reflections contributed to the Western understanding of Purgatory, he did not describe it as a state of punishment. Instead, he trusted in God’s mercy and the power of intercession to bring about purification. In the Orthodox tradition, Augustine’s ideas are seen as part of a loving journey toward God rather than a punitive phase between earth and Heaven. The Orthodox Church respects Augustine’s contributions, interpreting his vision as reflecting divine mercy rather than retribution. 3. St. Clement of Alexandria: Purification as Education, Not Suffering Clement of Alexandria presents the soul’s post-mortem purification as a continuation of spiritual growth. In his Stromata, he describes the afterlife as a kind of spiritual school where souls are enlightened and educated in virtue. He saw purification as divine instruction, not punishment, with the soul being gently prepared for unity with God. For Clement, purification is a preparatory and educative process. This understanding resonates with Orthodox views, which emphasize God’s love and healing rather than a punitive cleansing process. Clement’s teachings support the belief that post-mortem purification is transformative and directed by divine love, not suffering. 4. Origen: Purification through Divine Love Origen of Alexandria, often cited in discussions on purification, wrote about apokatastasis, or universal restoration, where all souls would ultimately be reconciled with God. He viewed divine love as a continual, purifying force, guiding the soul ever closer to God. While Origen’s views were later deemed speculative and even heretical in some aspects, his focus on divine love reflects a shared belief in healing and transformation rather than penal suffering. Orthodox theology shares this emphasis, focusing on God’s love rather than punishment, seeing purification as an act of God’s mercy and a natural part of the soul’s journey. Latin church Development of the Doctrine of Purgatory The Roman Catholic doctrine of Purgatory emerged from a variety of theological and cultural developments. By the 12th and 13th centuries, thinkers like Thomas Aquinas and other Scholastics defined Purgatory as a state of suffering for the expiation of venial sins. This formalization continued through the Councils of Lyon (1274), Florence (1439), and Trent (1545-63). For Orthodox Christians, however, the Historic Deposit of Faith does not contain a doctrinal basis for Purgatory as a defined punitive state. Instead, Orthodoxy has preserved an early Christian understanding of post-mortem purification as a process of healing and sanctification. We hold that while souls may indeed be purified after death, this occurs through the merciful love of God and the prayers of the Church. Theological Objections to Purgatory in Orthodox Christianity God’s Justice and Mercy: Orthodox theology emphasizes that God’s justice is always united with His mercy. The concept of Purgatory introduces a juridical view that is inconsistent with the Orthodox view of God’s merciful nature. For the Orthodox, post-mortem purification is a merciful transformation rather than a punishment to satisfy divine justice. Christ’s All-Sufficient Sacrifice: Orthodox teaching holds that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was fully sufficient for the salvation and purification of humanity. Purgatory implies that further satisfaction is required for sins, which Orthodox theology views as a misunderstanding of Christ’s atoning work. Prayers for the Dead as Expressions of Love: The Orthodox Church’s prayers for the dead are acts of intercession and love. We pray for the departed, asking for God’s mercy rather than attempting to alleviate a state of penal suffering. These prayers reflect our faith in God’s mercy, trusting that His love is greater than any attachment to sin. Consistency with Early Christian Teachings: Finally, we note that a temporary place or state of punishment was not part of the earliest Christian teachings. The writings of the Church Fathers, in discussing purification, consistently emphasize healing and transformation. By upholding these ancient teachings, Orthodoxy preserves an early Christian understanding of salvation grounded in God’s mercy and love. Conclusion: A Commitment to Ancient Faith, Not Opposition The Orthodox rejection of Purgatory is not a condemnation of Roman Catholic teaching but a faithful adherence to the Historic Deposit of Faith. Our theological worldview is based on God’s healing, love, and transformation, rather than on punitive purification. The writings of Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen all reflect purification as a merciful journey toward Theosis rather than a temporary punishment. Orthodox Christianity’s vision of the afterlife emphasizes healing and sanctification through God’s love. Our commitment to the teachings of the Apostles and Church Fathers upholds a vision of salvation where God’s mercy guides us in life, death, and into eternal union. Far from being a stance against Rome, our view is an affirmation of our commitment to preserve the timeless truths of the Historic Faith. @everyone www.icxc.ca
I‘m so happy that this channel exists. It‘s exactly what we need right now. God bless you for your work and courage! 🙏 Can‘t wait for new content! ☦️❤️🔥
@@lindaphillips4646 Well its a reference to the holy trinity as well as the tree of life. Its often ralso referred to the Antiochian cross. It is usually called the maronite cross and it represents the maronite church. They often emphasize that the cross also symbolizes the allegiance between them and the pope, since they are catholic. For me thats not an issue. I love my Maronite brothers even tho I‘m orthodox. There is a lot more to that cross. The long horizontal cross represents gods church. The middle one represents all peope and the last one is literally the ‘highest‘, in that case jesus or god. So the chirch carries all people in order to bring them to the highest. As I said there are more explanations and I really like the symbolism of it. 😌🙏
Orthodoxy is "Mere Christianity" to use a CS Lewis title. It is the worship and the way Christ taught. If there is less, something was taken away. If there is more, something was added, but Orthodoxy is simply, merely, "Christianity."
Orthodoxy is the complete toolkit. I am a very bad Christian, I need all the help I can get. I cannot grow in my faith with a minimal toolkit, I need all the help I can get.
Friends, with real respect, Icon veneration is something added in the sixth to seventh century. Christ and the apostles did not teach this. Neither did the Fathers.
throwing Church history out with the Roman idolatry and abuses was a mistake of the Protestants. But, they were no protesting the Orthodox Church--they were protesting the Roman Church, so there is some logic in their decisions. While I am not going to abandon Sola Scriptura, I see the value in understanding the historical context of the church as the Orthodox do and that includes SOME of the iconography surrounding the saints.
Orthodoxy doesn’t fall short in any intellectual or Scriptural debate. Yes Orthodoxy brings much more of humanity into our worship than the typical Protestant. Protestants have to approach their inquiry in those terms as that is how they learned from their legalistic Catholic origin.
Friend, with real respect, icon veneration is one debate where Orthodoxy just falls short. It is a development from the sixth to seventh century. Neither Christ or the apostles or the fathers taught this.
Dear brother in Christ as you correctly said we venerate the icons and not worship them. That we put in the church and in our homes icons of martyrs and Saints who gave their lives for the love of Christ it shows respect for their courage to sacrifice their own lives and not denied their faith. It is respect for the depicted person and not for the item itself. In those difficult times that we all face in our lives in the moments we feel weak or disappointed we see the faces of the Saints and we feel stronger thinking that also they were humans common women, men even children and no superheroes but they remained strong in their fath. That gives us strength to go on and not to give up. It is so simple! The question if we have the right to dipict God the answer is that we have the right to dipict Jesus who became human in order to save us. I hope that you can understand what I mean and that it has nothing to do with idolatry . I wish you all the best Katerina
@@KaterinaGogou-y9c sister Katerina, thank you for your comment: it helps me understand better your position. While I still think the Orthodox position is not biblical and a later historical development, I do understand that you and many others practice this with no ill intentions and with respect and joy. I also have respect and love for Orthodox brothers and sisters; I just say what I say because I don’t think this is something God wants us to do. And I really do wish grace and peace to you. 🙏🏻
I love all the videos about Protestants and Catholics finding Orthodoxy, but I would like to see more videos for those who have converted. A video for people at like the six or twelfth months after conversion to keep that initial excitement flowing would be great. I know I struggled at times with all the feasts and big changes in church attendance.
I’m not religious at all, but looking to know Jesus better- and I keep coming back to this channel. It’s so relatable & everything they say really speaks to me.
I'm a non-denominational Christian, looking into Orthodoxy and I just wanted to tell you: The most beautiful thing to remember is that Jesus is also looking to know you! And if you come to Him, He will take you with open arms :)
I am a roman catholic and I love my faith including all its tradition in teaching and liturgy, and I worry for my church because of the politics going on today - so I really embrace your critics about what is going on since Vatican II, and especially since the past 10 years. Thank you so much for your words!
Do you have any plans to visit Father John Whiteford? I think an interview with him on Sacred Scripture would be amazing! Additionally, I’d love to see an interview of Father Paul Baba? Since he is a spiritual son of Father Seraphim Rose, I think it would be amazing for people to get a chance to see his recollections!
@@acekoala457 Indeed! And he’s such a good speaker! He would fit this channel so well! The way he recounts the miracles he’s experienced and the LIFE he’s received from Christ through these holy men is truly moving…
Orthodox here, if someone is interested in Orthodoxy and has questions, feel free to ask. The best thing is though, to ask your toughest questions to your priest in the closest Orthodox parish. Because im not a theologian, just a wretched sinner.
Actually I’ve got a few questions! What do you all think about the trinity? How does orthodoxy view Mary (Regina Caeli) commonly? What is a service like in the Orthodox Church?
@@zachary1417 Greetings ! We Orthodox worship the Holy Trinity because Christ Himself said in Matthew 28:19 : " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". Also the voice of the Father was heard when our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descended in the shape of a dove. We call the Virgin Mary - the Holy Theotokos (Godbearer) and we greatly honor and revere her. We do not worship her as God but revere and honor her and ask for her intercessions and prayers. As for how is an Orthodox service, I would strongly advise you to visit your closest Orthodox church and see for yourself.
Confessional Lutheran (OG Lutheran) Does our difference on the Filioque result in us believing in different God's? Or has one of us just made a mistake on a detail about God?
@@bigniftydude Hello. I didn't know Lutherans recite the creed with the filioque. Heresy doesn't mean believing in a different god other than the Living God but it means a wrong teaching. That wrong teaching can have a domino effect on the souls of many Christians putting their Salvation at risk.
@voievod9260 I've spoke with orthodox who say we believe in different gods altogether. Just wondering if this is universal. A follow up and more straightforward question is would you say those outside the orthodox church are outside of the church catholic and therefore salvation?
Thank you so much for all these videos. My wife and I are currently non-denominational and I've been intrigued and eating up everything I can about the the Orthodox Church. If someone can please help me though, there's a matter I have not found a clear answer for and that's the matter of Salvation. Obviously Protestants believe in Salvation in Faith alone, and Catholics believe in Faith+Works. Where does the Orthodox Church stand and how does it relate to Theosis? Thank you very much!
Orthodox and Catholic hold the same beliefs in terms of salvation. It is through faith (via baptism into the church) and works…and through a constant effort within these 2 things we can achieve theosis (or divinization as the Catholics call it).
@pandemix19: I converted 34 years ago and am still learning about this. Having been raised Methodost and then charismatic, Lutheran and finally Episcopalian we found our spiritual home in the Antiochian Orthodox Church here in the USA. We have heard this said: I was saved, (Christ’s incarnation, sacrifice, resurrection and ascension) I am being saved (daily practice of prayer, sacrifice, repentance, working out my salvation, as the apostle says) and in Gods mercy, I will be saved at the last day. This is a simple way of saying that our salvation is an ongoing process, not a once and done.
We should not divide faith and works, but works and works. Mere works of any variety versus the works instructed of us by the Lord Jesus, which is not seperate from our faith but is a part of one whole with it. In this way, even when we say faith and works, it is not works, but faith truly.
In practice, theosis=salvation. And let's be clear here: neither Orthodoxy or Catholicism teach that a person could EARN salvation by his works - that's a heresy called Pelagianism. Rather, for us being full of faith is very much same as being faithful (as it is in Greek and Hebrew too), it's the way of life, while in Protestantism 'faith' appears to be quite epistemological or mental phenomenon for many. But obedience, trust and knowledge walk hand in hand and they are produced by love, and thus they cannot be separated. God will not save you more than you are willing to be saved. God pours abundantly His mercy upon us, and we answer to His call to get closer to Him and become more like Him, and thus we can receive more and more His mercy since we can also carry more... It is said that God takes 100 steps towards us, and He takes that final step with us.
❤❤❤❤i love the idea of humility, love, service and not emotion and intelligence such as is the Western View. I am Lutheran but have been drawn to Orthodox infuences even before I knew they existed. Just letting God work on my heart.Love to all in the family of God.
Looking at the life of Jesus is the most marvelous way to encounter what love looks like and what it should look like in our lives. The Gospel was Christ so to walk like him learn how he walked ♥️♥️♥️
Didn't Jesus say, when the apostles were complaining about those not of their group who were praying and casting out demons, "He who is not against me is for me"? Or "with me"?
Well said. Father Paul of Utah more or less agrees with your approach in terms not letting your pride and ego get ahead of you when talking Orthodox dogma with other Christian denominations. The motive is certainly not to polarize, but to engage with a civil tounge, especially when reading the stories of those very humble Mount Athos Saints who though they had the ability of discernment and clairvoyancy they were very discreet as to not fall into pride and ego. Some saints even prayed to the Lord to rid themselves of their abilities as to not fall into pride. What really transformed me was the book Wounded by love by Saint Porphyrios, including Saint Paisios the Athenite. In addition the beautiful quotes of the Philokalia, the way of the Pilgrim, and the homilies of Saint Issac the Syrian, including the writings of Gregory Palamas on energy and essence, and my very favourite Maximus the Confessor.
Right on. Everyone who follows Jesus Christ is bound to arrive there in a different way, by different means, through different encounters and experiences. Many are born into different denominations, cultures and families and we are all just doing the best we know how to do as far as disciples following Jesus. So we really need to work on the issue of hating our brothers and sisters who follow Jesus differently than we do. They are still the body of Christ and they're very likely doing it the best way they know how. If Jesus has actually changed their heart, he's going to lead them in their purpose and the way they should go. We should always seek out what brings us closer to God and what helps us grow in holiness and righteousness and purity, but if we go around looking for reasons to cut off other followers of Jesus because they're not the same deni.i action we are, then we're just hating the different parts of the body of Christ, and that absolutely grieves the Holy Spirit. It's a biblical fact. It's scriptural. We may not all have the same gifts, the same purpose, the same approach or the same culture or the same denominational churches available to us where we are, but we're all hopefully doing the best with what's available to us in our walk with Christ. So, we all need to think about that! Are we loving all of our brothers and sisters in Christ or just the ones we feel like loving?
One thing nobody talks about is how someone can convert to Eastern Orthodoxy if they live hundreds of miles from the nearest Orthodox Church. What is the Orthodox view on this? Where I live is extremely rural, if not remote, and everyone is Catholic, Lutheran, or Baptist. The nearest Orthodox Church is three hours away. During the winter, when blizzards can be seen literally everyday for weeks at a time, the travel time one way is closer to 5-10 hours.
What do you all think of 1 John 2:26-27? 26 These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 And as for you, the anointing whom you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as He has taught you, abide in Him.
If someone has already been baptised in his former church(catholic or protestant) has to get baptised again to enter the orthodox church? Because as i know the teachings of the apostle Paul, we get baptised only once, so, if we have to get baptised again, wouldn't it be dangerous? I'm struggling with that question, because i want to be sure about that, the day i would be at 100% sure to become orthodox, and i don't want God to be upset with me because i did a mistake, so, can somebody tell me?
It really depends how you were baptized. Generally if baptism was done in the name of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit, you don’t get baptized again, because it was done correctly. You only get christmated, which is being sealed in the Holy Spirit, kind of like confirmation. I was Lutheran and my priest just chrismated me and 3 others last Holy Saturday. Only one of the catechumens was baptized, because he was not previously baptized
@@yvoennsche i have been baptised only in the name of the Lord Jesus, not in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as the Lord told us to do, unfortunately. I've been baptised in an evangelical church, and i'm still evangelical for the moment. I'm attracted to orthodoxy since a few years, and now that i know that protestants are heretics, and that orthodoxy is the truth, i've been thinking about being orthodox, but i still have some things to understand, but i hope i'll understand. The way i was baptised worries me, but i know that the Lord will do what's necessary for my salvation.
I'm a Protestant (Lutheran), and some of my best friends are Oriental Orthodox. I respect the Orthodox communities, because they have maintained a liturgical style of worship, good architectural traditions, and (unlike the Roman Catholic church) still believe in Biblical infallibility/inerrancy, and don't place their own church above the Bible. I think we are a bit closer to Oriental Orthodox than Eastern, but I respect both even though we might not agree on everything.
To people who have never been tradcats, the level of mind screwery that happens is next level. I do not say this condescendingly, but as someone who is in the process of breaking free from it. It is absolutely miserable.
The baptism thing is hard for me. I remember mine and it was a very special time but it wasn't orthodox. I feel if I were to be rebates that it would be saying that before meant nothing when I know God did so much in my life through it. It's still a far off question but it makes me wonder.
In that kind of issues, it's important to do what your confessor/spiritual father and local bishop are saying about baptism etc. There are many good points both for and against "re-baptizing", and it's under the discretion of bishops and priests how different canons of the Church are adapted in practise... All neophytes are chrismated in either case anyway.
Question. Which "Orthodox" church are these priest from? Eastern etc. Here in Knoxville, there is a Greek, Coptic and...🤔can't remember the other one. What is difference? Is it set up like "Denominations"?
The country in front of Orthodox merely denotes the Bishop and country of origin. For instance, a Greek Orthodox church simply means it is under the Greek bBishop and Patriarch. In practice and theology, it will not differ from a Serbian Orthodox church. The OCA stands for Orthodox Church in America, and you may or may not have one local to you. However, any Orthodox church will have the same theology and liturgical practices. Hope this helps!
Coptic is different and not in communion with the Orthodox church. There are many jurisdictions (not denominations) in the Orthodox church that have made their way to America through various immigrant communities over time (Greek, Antiochian, Serbian, Russian, etc)
I’m Ethiopian and Coptic Orthodox. I respect the Eastern Orthodox Christian but we should united as one Orthodox Christian like the beginning time. There is only one religion and teachings which is the early Orthodox Christian religion. United Orthodox Christian religion! 🙌🏽💒🙏🏽
Probably not the place to do this, short & sharp ☦️ Lord, have mercy on me. Born Protestant, Lutheran/Presbyterian to Ind. Baptist Lib🇦🇺/(Rp'cns🇺🇲) Conservative. 46 I ask the Lord...48..and a half, I walk into a Greek Orthodox Church 👎 went to another 👍 Holy Fire 🤕 got sick 🥴🤒😵💫 unattended church, re-attend church(s) attended (English only) GOC and a RussianOC. My connection is with St Spyridon GOC, thus I remain. As the only converter to Orthodoxy in my Protestant/Anti-(Roman) Catholic sphere of influence, I brought the Church into great disrepute especially my loved ones. At first my wife was coming on board, I ended up burying that with my passions of self-destructive behaviour. It's been a long road, the Lord sees my hypocrisy so I've had to walk this way straight, and not because I have to. If I can't want to then having to becomes a meer empty religious action serving only my pride & ego. Good deads toward people because we are all made in God's image, so to want to do good to man because he is God's human despite and/or in spite of behaviours of anti-good intentions, is close to perfection. Who can do that? The Orthodox Church in essence the Church holds the Confession of Faith of all the Apostles and Fathers and Saints and Martyres. Word & Tradition, pure yet with the ethnic flavour of the Church's geographical foundations. Anyhow, don't ask how I was convinced, I was shown by Truth, the historical way. Greek through eyes of an angry Latin. Needless to say Catacumin ism(?) is a little further away than before. 'You will find Me if you seek Me with all your heart, mind, & strength.' Jer29v13 He keeps His promise. Also, Dr Nathan Jacobs helped me understand East/West worldviews and how they don't mix.
Unfortunately he is incorrect. Jesus prayed that we be one. Before schism, we were one church under the authority pope (which means father) who is under the authority of Christ Himself. Schism is the reason we are not one, not the pope.
I have long had the impression that in both Protestantism and Catholicism the genuine suprarational contact with God has been largely replaced by purely human rationalist thought, on the one hand, and purely human unhealthy emotional exaltation. Thus, real life in Christ is to a great extent replaced by human fantasies on Christian themes.
Only amongst some. Only Catholics talk about the Catholic Church with a focus on 'church.'. There is no such thing as a Protestant church as their is no hierarch Protestants who are true believers and devout in their faith call them selves Christians first. Maybe a denomination second.our church is the universal Church consisting of all true believers regardless of denomination. And includes Roman Catholics, Orthodox, sedavacantists, Coptic, etc.. Christ is the head of His church whom he elected regardless of nation, color, race, ethnicity, or institutional church hierarchy.
I think it’s about time the Orthodox go after those who have no experience with Jesus Christ. The early church went after those who didn’t know the Lord and helped train those that were not accurate in doctrine.
One thing I always question between the 2 Apostolic Churches is that Roman or Orthodox never really honor the Saints from either side. Or I should say quote the others honored Saints. God spoke to these Saints for the glory of Christ and to firmly establish the Church and both should listen to these honored Christians from the early days as examples. I love reading about the Saints in the East and am happy that their fortitude in the faith was as strong as the Latin brothers. We should honor what unites us and debate without anger our differences. In the end praise be to the Lord.
The Filioque controversy was just one (though theologically most important) factor in the Great Schism... but regarding the Filioque specifically, the standpoint of Orthodoxy has not been changed over these years: the Spirit proceeds hypostatically from the Father alone, and to the mankind He is proceeded through the Son.
@HomoEucharistica Thank you. I am Protestant. I have observed many Christian beliefs/faiths over the years. I have many Roman Catholic friends. However; Catholicism, for me, makes very little sense. Several decades ago, I attended a Greek Orthodox wedding, the only Orthodox observance/celebration I've attended. I routinely order products from Mt. Athos in Greece. My knowledge of Orthodoxy is rudimentary, even with the several books on Orthodoxy that I possess.
@@shanehaire7633 That's very interesting, and I pray that the Lord will guide you deeper into the faith of divine mysteries... If I were you, I would try to contact an Orthodox priest from the parish closest to you (even if it was on the other side of the country) and discuss what to do next. If you seek you will find some things "independently", but in the end of days all of us must follow what Apostle Philip said to Apostle Nathanael, "Come and see" (John 1:46). Orthodoxy is not just one faith among many but it is about being and becoming a living part in the body of Christ; Orthodoxy is the way of life. If one wants truly understand it, he will enter ecclesiastic life and fellowship of Orthodox Christians at some point of time (even if he does not have intentions to convert, and that's fully okay). But if immediate "participant observing" is not possible, luckily there are many excellent books and TH-cam channels that can help and compensate things... What kind of books on Orthodoxy do you have already read?
@@shanehaire7633 That's very interesting, and I pray that the Lord will guide you deeper into the faith of divine mysteries... Just being curious: What kind of books on Orthodoxy do you have already read?
@@HomoEucharistica The Watchful Mind by a Monk of Mount Athos and The Historic Church, an Orthodox View of Christian History by Archpriest John W. Morris.
This father doesn't know the hierarchy of the Church, we have Patriarchs, who are not infallible and are first among equals. Big difference with the Roman Catholic pipe who Roman Catholics see as infallible.
I am a Protestant non denominational.. definitely not Calvanist or pentecostal. If I had a choice between Catholic and Orthodox I would choose Orthodox but my heart breaks for Catholics and Orthodox as they are so steeped in legalism. It's sad when their tradition Trumps the word of God.
Orthodox here. Our Holy Tradition trumps your personal understanding of the word of God. If you ever decide to take off your hat with inscription "pope", and humble yourself before the Lord's Bride, we will be here for you. Cheers.!
@@johnnyd2383 Orthodox Priests virtually all deny the Immaculate Conception of Theotokos despite God's evidence. Nevertheless, as a Catholic I still recommend protestants to become either Catholic or Orthodox. Why do you think this is johnnyd?
@@Chris-fv3um Eastern Orthodox reject all your heresies including the one so called "immaculate conception". Lies you believe in have nothing to do with the God. They are imputed to heretical Latins by the chief liar. You know sub-consciously that Eastern Orthodoxy keeps original unaltered Christian Faith.
@@Chris-fv3um both replies lost me. As a Protestant tradition and Mary are huge stumbling blocks. Both of you claim to be the one true church. No Protestant ever claims to be in the one true church because the church is not a hierarchal institution We belong to the only one true church which is the universal Church of all those who believe in the Jesus of the NT who said "my yolk is easy and my burden is light." We focus on Him, not the church
@@DPK5201 The Church is a hierarchical institution headed by God - "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." The protestant reformation 1500's was nothing short of a deformation because it took away the Sacrament of Holy Communion and the intercession of Mother Mary amongst others. And these amongst others depends on which protestant denomination one belongs to and even then there are differences. Please take some time to research "Church approved Marian apparitions" and "eucharistic miracles Scientific proof" on youtube. God bless you
I belong to the Italo-Greek Byzantine Catholic Church which was one of the two Eastern Churches who were not part of the Great Schism. The Italo-Greeks are as they always were, right from the beginning. So why should we change? Also, I don't feel the Byzantine Catholics should serve as a mediator between the Romans and the Orthodox. Surely, the two titans can workout their differences, without a third party. Leave the Eastern Catholics out of it. We're not a bridge.
Nothing to work out. Rome left and so if it wants unity, has to change its innovations and come back otherwise, it stays as is. A good many of the Uniates hurt and k1lled Orthodox Christians.
Protestant here. This was very enlightening and well presented. I agreed with much of what was said, but am not persuaded on many levels from becoming Orthodox. The tone of presentation was most welcome. In the end, EVERYTHING comes down to authority. What is your authority. Which chirch has true apostolic suçcession? It cannot be both! Which Traditions are correct? It cannot be both! It is so much more fulfilling to be focused on Christ and Scripture and not a human and fallible institutions for all their contradictory claims.
That is easily deducted.. Here is the confession of the Latin heretics: "These [orthodox] churches have an authentic doctrine, but it is static, petrified as it were. They remain faithful to the tradition of the first Christian millennium, but they reject later developments" - Benedict XVI
How can one interpret scripture on their own terms? You say the issue is that there are two options that could be valid but then you choose the third one?
@@costa328 The difference being that the Orthodox know the path with Christ and must endure to the end; if so they will be saved in the end. Those outside, perhaps in their unwillful ignorance, not knowing the path some might be saved. We don't know how frequent it is. But I'd rather not gamble.
@LadyMaria What a joke. So because you are Orthodox, you guys are the enlighten ones and more likely to be saved than others who are " taking a risk." My advice to you is to open your Bible. Read it for yourself toss out all your EO institution folklore and follow Jesus, not traditions
Purity comes from knowing the truth, not from empire related “traditions”. In arguing against having the best argument, you engage in the very same practice.
As an Orthodox inquirer from a Protestant background, I see how the Orthodox church leans into the mystery and does not emphasize the rationalism. But hear me out: As someone who has been studying the early church fathers for over 10 years, apologetics and rational discourse were part and parcel of the early church. I see this leaning hard on the mystery to be a more modern phenomenon. It should be Both/And, not Either/Or. First, not only from the history, but Orthodoxy has great apologetic strength. Second, one of the greatest failures I have found in Orthodoxy is that average people cannot tell you why they believe things. This causes them to be very weak when confronted by the world, unbelievers, or other non-Orthodox Christians. I spent a year in an "Ask an Orthodox" Facebook group with 20k members that could almost never adequately answer a reasonable question, including priests. Mystery is very important, I am not disparaging it at all, but our mystery and reason must be hypostatically united. That being said - I am heading toward Orthodoxy, in no small part because of the apologetics of the early church and my own research.
Reunification of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches is a nonstarter. The Pope, who is the Bishop, or patriarch of Rome has to accept that has no different authority than say the other patriarch, say of the Antioch Church, etc. So they should just stop these talks unless the Pope acknowledges that. If he does then they can proceed to discuss theological and other issues.
Unfortunately Fr sometimes 'codes' his remarks/critiques without naming the critiques directly. But then sometimes comments about 'traditions' - like 'its a sin to eat flesh - other than fish - on Friday' - without saying if Orthodoxy imposes these beliefs and sanctions these sins, or not. And - perhaps the interviewer wasn't probing enough - doesn't address essential questions: e.g. can a priest be married/have children? SHOULD a priest be married? SHOULD a priest have children? many children? How does the Orthodox theology of 'theosis' differ - if it does - from Protestant 'Word of Faith' theology that claims - from scriptural exploration - that believers can experience and do the miracles performed by the Apostles?
Former Catholic and Jesuit seminarian here, now Orthodox. The ancient Church founded by Christ and the Apostles in 33 AD was the Orthodox Church. The Latin church belonged to this ancient Church from apostolic times to 1054 AD, at which time it went into schism. The Latin church stands outside the boundaries of Christ's continuing Church to this day.
The beauty of Orthodoxy is that it does not change in noticeable ways. The downside is that it often seems like the attitude of the Orthodox is that "we're the only way to do things" or something like that. On the brotherhood of the Patriarchs: Maybe a good way to incorporate the Orthodox/Eastern idea of the hierarchical church as a family is to view the Pope as the big brother in charge will the father is away. Christ is, has been, and always will be the Head of His Church. Just as a man is the head of his family. When the head leaves the house, someone needs to care for the family while also having a certain primacy of authority. The more I learn about the Orthodox view of the papacy, the more I realize the concern and hesitancy of having full universal authority of all the church. But we can take a step back and remind ourselves that the authority unique to the Pope is not from him, but from Christ, and in a special way. The Patriarchs and Bishops of Christ's Church all have the authority Christ gave to his Apostles. With the Pope (in Rome, I know other autocephalous churches call their head the pope) he has the unique authority given only to St. Peter in Matthew 16, mirroring the prime minister of the Davidic palace, who, when the king was away, had authority over the other minsters of the palace. And the Pope in Rome as the successor to St. Peter also has this authority. Unless for some reason we want to be like some Protestants (and even Mormons) who believe that the unique authority of St. Peter was not handed on to his successor. And if we want to believe that, why should we trust that any Apostle was able to hand on his authority. And, it seems like Orthodox believe Catholics hold an ultramontanistic of the Papacy. This was an idea that basically anything the Pope said was always authoritative and always binding. But the Catholic Church condemned that as heresy. And in regards to troublesome Papal documents: There's no excuse for them. Since Vatican II, there has been an odd trend in promulgating documents that always seem to beat around the bush with vague language. The fortunate thing about this is that there's always wiggle room to interpret these documents in light of more clear and definitive documents. The unfortunate thing is that there are always those who take these documents and twist them to support their own ideology. Fr. James Martin, the super gay guy, does this all the time. The bishops of Germany are doing this as well. And one last thing (if you've made it this far). I feel like the bridge analogy wasn't handled correctly. Maybe we can use the language of a meeting place between Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox to describe the Eastern Catholics. And I'm saying this as a Ukrainian Catholic. Every Catholic wants union with the Orthodox, no one more than Eastern Catholics. The Eastern Catholics grew from the Orthodox heritage, and the West didn't. So there's a spiritual language barrier between Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox that the Eastern Catholics can break. Maybe the Eastern Catholics are bridge for union, not a bridge to go from A to B (like what is literally the case for Protestants going from Anglicanism to Catholicism).
No one needs big brother to hold the fort in Christ’s absence, because our Lord never left us (Mat 28:19-20). Repent and return to the true brotherhood of Christ.
It is not the Way of Jesus: there is only one Way that leadeth unto life. I agree. But denominations / sects αἵρεσις _is_ a Christian idea which originated in the first century. These things are not the same. This is not playing games with words either. I believe it is drawing out an important truth.
Jesus Christ built His Church on Peter the rock and sole key holder, way before the later development of the orthodox Church! Peace always in Jesus Christ our Great and Kind God and Savior, He whose Flesh is true food and Blood true drink and His Queen Mother, the Immaculate Conception!
So? are you trying to tell us that the Pope has more authority than other patriarchs? simple question. If he did have that authorty, then why didn't they just ask him to come up with the Nicene Creed? But they didnt, they all gathered and during the proceedings he was jut one of them. Can you see it? the idea that he has more authority was fabricated much later by the other Popes
@user-tg3tj2nq6v most inaccurate, as Jesus Christ promised Peter alone the keys of the Kingdom. The office of sole key is one of succession Biblically! Jesus Christ gave Peter alone the command over all the flock of God! Was Moses one of many equals?🤔 Jesus Christ built His Church on Peter the rock, way before the later development of the orthodox Church! Peace always in Jesus Christ our Great and Kind God and Savior, He whose Flesh is true food and Blood true drink!
@shanehaire7633 most inaccurate, as Jesus Christ renamed Simon as Cephas, which is Aramaic for rock, as Jesus Christ promised Peter alone the keys of the Kingdom! Even many Protestant scholars attest that Peter is the rock on whom Jesus built His Church! Yet, for those like you who claim Scripture ALONE, you can never know with infallible certitude if you are reading Holy Scripture correctly, as Scripture ALONE is infallible, thus making all your interpretations, FALLIBLE! Peace always in Jesus Christ our Great and Kind God and Savior, He whose Flesh is true food and Blood true drink!
IT IS NOT OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD YEHOVAH THE MOST HIGH If it is not according to the law of God Yehovah If it is not seeking the law of God Yehovah If it is breaking the law of God Yehovah If it has voided the law of God Yehovah If it has forsaken the law of God Yehovah If it has wandered away from the law of God Yehovah If it is far from the law of God Yehovah If it far from the salvation of God Yehovah If it is far from God Yehovah. IT IS AGAINST THE COVENANT OF LORD GOD YEHOVAH THE COVENANT LAWGIVER Psalm 119:21,53,85,115,118-119,126,136,139,150,155,158 ASV Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, That do wander from thy commandments. [53] Hot indignation hath taken hold upon me, Because of the wicked that forsake thy law. [85] The proud have digged pits for me, Who are not according to thy law. [115] Depart from me, ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God. [118] Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes; For their deceit is falsehood. [119] Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: Therefore I love thy testimonies. [126] It is time for Jehovah to work; For they have made void thy law. [136] Streams of water run down mine eyes, Because they observe not thy law. [139] My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words. [150] They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; They are far from thy law. [155] Salvation is far from the wicked; For they seek not thy statutes. [158] I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved, Because they observe not thy word. Proverbs 14:34 ASV Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people. Jeremiah 23:18,35-37 ASV For who hath stood in the council of Jehovah, that he should perceive and hear his word? who hath marked my word, and heard it? [35] Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, What hath Jehovah answered? and, What hath Jehovah spoken? [36] And the burden of Jehovah shall ye mention no more: for every man's own word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of Jehovah of hosts our God. [37] Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath Jehovah answered thee? and, What hath Jehovah spoken? Deuteronomy 26:16-19 ASV This day Jehovah thy God commandeth thee to do these statutes and ordinances: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul. [17] Thou hast avouched Jehovah this day to be thy God, and that thou wouldest walk in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and hearken unto his voice: [18] and Jehovah hath avouched thee this day to be a people for his own possession, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; [19] and to make thee high above all nations that he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou mayest be a holy people unto Jehovah thy God, as he hath spoken. Jeremiah 31:31-34 ASV Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith Jehovah. [33] But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.
@@thieph did you ever read what Jesus said about the traditions of men as for doctrine making Gods word NO GOOD. He said this to his leaders the high priests. Paul also warned his new testament churches.
@@melonyrobinson9944 technically? The catholic church thinks they are the only true church. When Men and Organizations follow traditions of men you get Religion. When men and organizations follow the Holy spirit and scripture they have relationship with God the father. BIG difference
Father, much respect from this Catholic. I feel the problem with Orthodoxy is It tries really hard to be contrary. Despite nearly identical beliefs with the Catholic Church In basic theology they will claim something as heresy simply because Catholics have given it a name or defined it. Yet, there have been many Orthodox patriarchs, even patriarchs of constantinople who have promoted outright heresy comments such as Cyril who was refuted at the Synod of Jerusalem in I believe 1672. Most of the eastern Catholic churches do not recite the filioque. Furthermore, it was accepted almost completely by the east for use in the Roman church before the schism. There has been much argument that it perhaps even is correct, especially given the farewell dialogs in John. Yet even if not, there is more that binds us than divides us. Some things that Catholics have defined as dogma many or most eastern Orthodox believe but don't believe it should be defined as dogma. There are other differences that are not essential to salvation and could be overcome. Similarly according to Catholics there are problems on the Orthodox side. Allowing divorce, rebaptizing, lack of leadership, calling things they also believe heresy if Catholics give it a name (ex. Purgatory), highly emotional, anti-intellectual In the guise of mysticism, refusing to accept their own tradition (ex. St. Maximus the Confessor on the primacy of the Roman Church). Not every disagreement is heresy. It's like two children trying to tell their mother why they had a fight and arguing their case when they are 99 per cent in agreement. Think about the inability of the Orthodox Church to organize an ecumenical council. This is an extreme deficiency. The current schism between the ecumenical patriarch and the patriarch of Russia . Yes each and every Orthodox Church has a beautiful liturgy. Also, the eastern Catholic churches have a beautiful liturgy. The traditional Latin Mass is beautiful. The Novus Ordo can also be done beautifully. Reverently, with great sanctity. The fact that it often isn't is not an argument against the Catholic Church. There are abuses that go on in the Orthodox Church also. Archbishop Elpidophoros performed a very public baptism for the child of a gay couple. While I agree that the child should not be penalized because of the sins of the parents, this was certainly scandalous. I agree that we have seen a specific proclamation by the current pope that is very distressing, And I disagree with its issuance. We have a pope who is not sufficiently intellectual and likely not sufficiently spiritual. However, there have been bad patriarchs and bad popes. The document does not call for the blessing of the union of the homosexuals. The pope has continued to express that homosexual acts are sinful. He is hoping for conversion of these people but it is distressing. When there are abuses in an Orthodox Church it is not attributed to the entire Orthodox Faith. Furthermore, the current schism between the ecumenical patriarch of constantinople and the Russian patriarch show that an effectively headless church doesn't work either. The only correct solution is reunification of the Eastern Church and the Western Church. We should all do everything we can to see that that happens so that the good in the West can be useful to the East and the good in the East can be useful to the West and we can help each other steer a proper path. I feel also that the eastern churches forget some of the writings of the church fathers . St. Maximus the Confessor, Died: August 13, 662 AD, when commenting on the manner in which Pyrrhus, a former Bishop of Constantinople and heretic, should return to the unity of the Church, said this about him: “…Let him [Pyrrhus] hasten before all else to to satisfy the Roman See, for if it is satisfied all will agree in calling him pious and orthodox…, That Apostolic See which has received universal and supreme dominion, authority, and power of binding and loosing over all the holy churches of God throughout the world, from the incarnate Son of God Himself and also by all holy councils” (Migne PG 91:114; taken from Eastern Orthodoxy’s Witness This does not mean that a reunification Should mean that the pope would have absolute authority over the eastern churches. This could all be worked out. The lack of moderation by the eastern churches has made whatever excesses occur in the Western Church more harmful. The lack of the Western Church has made the faults of the eastern churches more pronounced. The only way forward is together. Even though a person is just as much of a person if he loses a leg, no matter what attempt he makes he will still limp. Much more so will that person be impaired or dysfunctional or dead losing half of himself.
The first point of this comment is just clearly ridiculous. You need to look into orthodoxt before commenting on how similar it is to RCism. It just isn't. Nothing alike at all. Not the theology, chrostology, ecclesiology etc etc etc
@@reverendcoffinsotherson5807 Except; Christology, Theology, Ecclesiology, Anthropology, proper prayer... I could go on but Rome is not the Faith of the 1st Millennium.
@@acekoala457 Catholicism is the faith of the first century, as evidenced by history. Plus. No. The differences aren't that great, as different wording might be used in some instances, but belief is basically the same. I know the Orthodox like to pretend that they are completely different, but they are not, especially seeing how Western Rite Orthodox parishes are using an Anglican prayer book for their liturgies, which I find amazing, so what are gonna tell me next? That Anglicanism and Catotholism are super different, which makes it ok for the Western Rite Orthodox to use said book, or....are you gonna tell me those Western Rite parishes aren't in communion with the rest of the Orthodox?
My problem with Orthodoxy is that there is no unity, and no way to call a major ecumenical council since the end of the Roman Empire. There is no living magisterium, and as far as scope, it is not really universal (especially historically), but moreso regional. There are other problems as well, but these are some of the ones which weigh on my mind the most
Do you think you might have a conceived notion of what these things should look like, likely due to your (I assume) Roman Catholic upbringing? Could it be that Orthodoxy has these things, but not in the way you are used to or would expect to see? Food for thought. God bless you and yours.
@@nathankirwan2565 I was raised Evangelical, and I’m looking at the Apostolic traditions for conversion. Right now, Cathololcism is more convincing, for the aforementioned reasons. There is unity in the West, but not in the East, there is not even a mechanism for it. Take the current ongoing Orthodox schism for instance. Patriarch Cyril says sins will be forgiven if soldiers fight in Ukraine. While others say the Greek Patriarch is the one who is at fault in the Russian Greek schism. This is chaos with no mechanism for reconciliation, because there is no top authority in the East, only “first among equals” with no Emperor to move the Church as was the case early on.
@@nathankirwan2565 so in your opinion are the Russians in error, or not? Some say one or the other side is in error, I think I’ve seen a few people say both are in error. What is the way to reconcile this issue? Isn’t it usually the case that when a bishopric is in error, it must be renewed, free of error. How can this happen when the Orthodox world can’t agree who is in error?
That's odd, since according to my research the Eastern Orthodox church is much more united than Catholicism - perhaps not administratively, but by dogmas and praxis and phronema. Summoning councils is not bound to the existence of Roman Empire (the actual problem would be the fact that the patriarchate of Rome fell away from the unity of the Church), and there have actually been many other authoritative councils after AD 1453 that have made their way to "the canonical understanding" of the Church...... And based on these canons, and on the writings of the Church Fathers, and on the Holy Scriptures, the Church is more than able to determine what is the truth and what is a heresy (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit). Patriarch Cyril is wrong because the Church has not taught that one could gain remission of sins by fighting, and all other patriarchates and jurisdictions (even ROCOR of America) reject what Cyril is saying. This is how the Church has always solved Her problems, beginning with Acts 15, not by seeking judgment of the see of St Peter, but by the agreement of all the Apostles and the elders.
“if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee” That's also a commandment is it not? Why not take this one as seriously? “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” -John 8:56 Uh oh, Jesus you weren't supposed to call any man “father”, according to Protestants.. “father Abraham” “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 4:15 😱😱😱!!! SAINT PAUL!?!? Did you just call yourself a father? Don't you know Jesus said not to do that!? 😱😱😱!!... Oh you!!!
One verse does not do anything for you. Mind you St. Paul exhorts his sheep as fathers in more than one place. St. Jerome and others exegetes it quite well. You would be enlightened to seek it out.
I tried Orthodoxy once for quite some time. There are many wonderful things about Orthodoxy However I finally left. There were several reasons. A lot ethnicism, a kack of emphasis on evangelization. But the were 2 reasons that caused me to leave. First the issue of the Authority of Scripture vs Tradition. And while tradition is a real help in sundry ways Its mot as rreliable as Scripture,neither does it inspire the same confidence I mean Jesus Himself tellus My Word is truth. John on 20.30-31 tells us that os Scripture is our guid tl let us now how to be saved and I Corinthians 4.6 warns us not to go beyond Scripture. The sevon reason os that O bevame convinced, yhat alyhough officiallu andfrom the pulpit, Maru is d not taught as beingboir savior on practice Hymns trsching Mary as Savior are both dung and allowed Plus while the Concept of the Teotokps csn be deen more as the carrier pr beater of Gof than Mother asin Toman Catholicism. The fact remains that Mary os a creatire snd no creature can be fully the Mother of God. She is yhe mother of Jesus whos is the Logos Oncarnate but Hod , the Yriune God os eternal snd donceary is not, O just font believe she is or can be the mother of sn Rternal God
It's hard to read through the plethora of typos. Sola Scriptura is not a very good way to go as it has led to thousands of divisions in the Protestant sect. It ultimately relies on what a person feels something in Holy Scripture should mean. That is not a very good system to use. Holy Tradition is passed generation to generation as a holy framework of interpretation. Holy Scripture was compiled from Holy Tradition after all. They go hand in hand, inseparable. When you lose one or the other, there is corruption. I'm in the Russian tradition and that applies to the language of the services which is Russian and English. We're a Mission Parish and have grown so much in the last few years. If Mother Mary's Son is fully God then she is Mother of God. It doesn't mean she created God, it means the incarnate Logos was born of her. Christ has two natures, God and man fully without separation or mingling. Mother Mary gave birth to a divine Person that has two natures, she did give birth just to natures or to two Persons. You cannot separate the two natures or mingle them. This was all covered in the first two Ecumenical Councils (Nicaea AD 325 and Constantinople AD 381). If you do not accept the decrees of these councils inspired of the Holy Spirit then you do not accept the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. Even early Protestantism knew what Mother of God means and accepted it.
Tradition is the interpretation of scripture, not altogether seperate from it. Also that Mary is the mother of Jesus as God is not disputed in Protestantism as far as I can tell. He's fully God and fully man from the annunciation (his conception) onward
there is no old or modern, there is only Orthodoxy, this is why it is THE Church. We keep to the teachings and tradition of the Apostles, without changing anything in the dogma from the decisions of the Ecumenical Synods. We still keep the spiritual practice from the early Church, this is why there are a lot of modern ascetic Saints today.
@@konstantinoszeimpekis9874 The strawmanning and caricatures that Orthodoxy uses is certainly a modern phenomena. Historically, theological doctrines were the issue (eg. The Filioque, papacy, the Protestant solas, etc). Now, we’ve constructed at metanarrative that seeks to collapse Protestantism and Catholicism into a single, simplistic paradigm at odds with the “Orthodox” paradigm. Your zealous rhetoric is simply beside the point.
@@Crystal_Falcon Orthodoxy has always had to deal with the heresies of the age. Modern protestantism did not exist in the past, so arguing against it was not really possible.
@@Crystal_Falcon You clearly don't know what you are talking about. i am giving you facts and you just go forward with insults. Stay to your heresy. We are done.
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Im converting to Orthodoxy rn and youre channel is great!
May God Bless you and your loved ones! Glory to God in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit! Amen! 🕊️
I'm not Orthodox but it been a joy hearing and seeing the passion these priest have for Jesus and wanting to share that with the world. Pretty eye opening to get to see.
Fr Andrew is amazing. Exactly as you see him here is how he is in person. Of all the priests featured on this channel I’ve met Fathers John Bethancourt, James Coles, Josiah Trenham, Andrew Cuneo, and John Mafous who will be on the upcoming video. They are all excellent wonderful men and I’ve been so blessed to get to know them all.
Orthodoxy is the only place that ever felt holy presence and that I was in a holy place no other place ever did
God promised where he would be. His Word and His sacraments. He's there whether you feel it or not.
My worry with "feeling holy presence", not that I don't think it's possible, is that if you don't FEEL it one day, it could make you think it's gone. That's not how God said he would work.
It's not about feelings
you sound like a protestant....
@@Kitiwakeit is about feelings
@@athenarockabilly6245 Fr, here, just said NOT primarily about 'feelings', 'emotions' , 'a vibe', etc and NOT about 'rational argument', 'acquiring knowledge', 'who knows the most', etc
Since becoming Orthodox and watching many priests speak ( Father Spyridon, Father Josiah Trenham, Father Stephen De Young etc) I’ve noticed something in their eyes. Something holy, kind, trustworthy, good and RIGHT. When I used to be involved with Freemasonry I noticed the polar opposite in their eyes. They were cold, dark, distant, suspicious, shady, shifty, WRONG. It’s interesting 🧐 the eyes really are the window to the soul. This priest here has the right eyes. I trust him completely ☦️
Hey friend, I would just encourage you, that’s a very subjective and untrustworthy criterion to judge someone’s credibility by. The devil masquerades as an angel of light. We shouldn’t judge by appearances. (I’m not trying to say anything about Orthodox priests or this speaker in this video, I just say this in general about all people.) Grace and peace to you, friend.
@@tjkhan4541 Yes, of course. I agree wholeheartedly. I should clarify that this is absolutely not my sole criterion. Having said that, it can be quite obvious when one is so filled with God’s Spirit that He radiates from that person. Likewise when someone is filled with something toxic ( too much alcohol for example ) it can be “written all over his face”. I also ask the saints to pray regularly for my ability to discern between spirits 🙏🏻
@@tjkhan4541 Amen
Amen!
I've noticed the same thing in the voice. It's quite amazing
You're Absolutely Right That I Didn't Want To Live On A Bridge, So On Christmas Day, Monday, December 25th, 2023 @ 10 AM EST, I Converted From Latin Rite Roman Catholicism Via The Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Church To The Tier One and Only, Holy, Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church That I'm A Member Of Here In My Hometown of Anderson ( Anderson County), South Carolina And I Thank Almighty God For The Great Escape From Rome, Coming Home To Orthodox Christianity. AXIOS ☦️ ‼️
☦️
Amen my brother 🙏🏻☦️
Welcome home Marty. I just celebrated 10 yrs as an Orthodox Christian. I was born and raised in Anderson.
I’m a Former TLM Catholic who is now a Catechumen in the Orthodox Church
@tomjarrett2477 : I Attend Divine Liturgy @ Christ The Saviour [ Antiochian] ☦️⛪️ @ 604 North Fant Street, Anderson ( Anderson County), South Carolina , Directly Across The Street From The Emergency Room of AnMed Main Campus 🏥. If, You're Ever In Town, Stop By And Let's Worship The Lord Jesus Christ, Together.
I went to an orthodox service for the first time on Easter (Catholic calendar) and was blown away. It felt holy. It was holy. I’ve wanted to go for a while. And every priest I see and meet speaks a similar language. Jesus is the Word. It makes sense the one true Church would reflect this. Thanks for your content.
You didn't receive communion.
@@Kitiwake No they told me I couldn’t as I’d not converted yet.
I’ve been made an Orthodox Catechumen!!! ❤ pray for me ❤
Yes. And the Church will pray for you at every Divine Liturgy. Take it personally.
We mean it..Many of us have been in your place before.
Blessed PASCHA!
I don't know if you have experienced one before, but it is a beautiful and holy night. ☦📿💝📿☦
@@lindaphillips4646 - '....catechumens bow your heads...'
Be still and know God
may God bless you and strengthen you in your path ☦️🙏🏽
Was just prompted to see this again. Did you get to see Pascha?.
Christ is risen.!
That’s my priest! A holy and amazing spiritual father ☦️☦️☦️
He looks creepy. Like a misogynist.
Wow. Your statement directly contradicts the Bible
Wow. Your statement does not contradict the Bible.
@@majorD01 you’re allowed to read it no matter what they tell you. Go ‘head
As a Catholic who is discerning the Orthodox Faith, I thought this interview was excellent. I appreciated the good questions presented to Fr Andrew, and I found his answers very helpful. I've been reading a lot about the history of the Roman and Eastern Churches and their increasingly strained relationship during the first millennium. I appreciated Fr Andrew's honesty in acknowledging that the bishop of Rome was in fact seen as an "elder brother" - if you read some of the early Church fathers like Tertullian, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus, Cyprian, John Chrysostom, all hold Rome in high regard and speak of its prestigious reputation- but one who did NOT command universal obedience or claim ex-cathedra infallibility which, contrary to what some Catholic apologists claim, is an accretion. Anyway, thanks for the wonderful interview!
Why Orthodox Christianity Rejects the Doctrine of Purgatory:
A Commitment to the Historic Deposit of Faith
The Orthodox Christian stance on Rome's development of the doctrine of Purgatory is not rooted in division or hostility. Rather, it reflects our deeper commitment to the Historic Deposit of Faith, preserved from the earliest centuries of Christianity. While Orthodox and Roman Catholic teachings both address the purification of the soul after death, they differ significantly. Orthodox theology emphasizes healing and the soul’s journey toward God, while Roman Catholicism developed the concept of Purgatory as a state of penal purification. This article explores the patristic foundations for Orthodox beliefs and why they diverge from the later developments in Western Christianity.
Our position centers on teachings from early Christian figures like Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen. These voices, though sometimes referenced in defense of Purgatory, actually reflect a different understanding-one focused on divine love’s transformative power, not a temporary state of suffering. By examining their writings, we uncover the original beliefs that continue to shape Orthodox views today.
1. St. Gregory of Nyssa: Divine Love as Transformation
Gregory of Nyssa, one of the great Cappadocian Fathers, spoke about purification in the afterlife, especially in his work On the Soul and the Resurrection. He described the soul’s purification as a process where divine love gradually frees it from attachments to sin, enabling it to be united with God. Although Gregory uses the metaphor of fire, he does so to illustrate God’s transformative love, not as a description of penal suffering.
For Gregory, this "fire" represents divine love’s purifying power, which renews and sanctifies the soul without punishment. This aligns with the Orthodox understanding of Theosis-the soul’s ongoing transformation in the likeness of God. This process, healing and redemptive, differs greatly from the later Western concept of Purgatory as a temporary state of penal cleansing.
2. St. Augustine of Hippo: Early Western Reflections
Augustine of Hippo, a foundational figure in Western Christianity, touches on post-mortem purification in his works Confessions and City of God. He suggests that the souls of the departed might benefit from the prayers of the Church, especially those needing additional purification due to lesser, unrepented sins. While his reflections contributed to the Western understanding of Purgatory, he did not describe it as a state of punishment. Instead, he trusted in God’s mercy and the power of intercession to bring about purification.
In the Orthodox tradition, Augustine’s ideas are seen as part of a loving journey toward God rather than a punitive phase between earth and Heaven. The Orthodox Church respects Augustine’s contributions, interpreting his vision as reflecting divine mercy rather than retribution.
3. St. Clement of Alexandria: Purification as Education, Not Suffering
Clement of Alexandria presents the soul’s post-mortem purification as a continuation of spiritual growth. In his Stromata, he describes the afterlife as a kind of spiritual school where souls are enlightened and educated in virtue. He saw purification as divine instruction, not punishment, with the soul being gently prepared for unity with God.
For Clement, purification is a preparatory and educative process. This understanding resonates with Orthodox views, which emphasize God’s love and healing rather than a punitive cleansing process. Clement’s teachings support the belief that post-mortem purification is transformative and directed by divine love, not suffering.
4. Origen: Purification through Divine Love
Origen of Alexandria, often cited in discussions on purification, wrote about apokatastasis, or universal restoration, where all souls would ultimately be reconciled with God. He viewed divine love as a continual, purifying force, guiding the soul ever closer to God.
While Origen’s views were later deemed speculative and even heretical in some aspects, his focus on divine love reflects a shared belief in healing and transformation rather than penal suffering. Orthodox theology shares this emphasis, focusing on God’s love rather than punishment, seeing purification as an act of God’s mercy and a natural part of the soul’s journey.
Latin church Development of the Doctrine of Purgatory
The Roman Catholic doctrine of Purgatory emerged from a variety of theological and cultural developments. By the 12th and 13th centuries, thinkers like Thomas Aquinas and other Scholastics defined Purgatory as a state of suffering for the expiation of venial sins. This formalization continued through the Councils of Lyon (1274), Florence (1439), and Trent (1545-63).
For Orthodox Christians, however, the Historic Deposit of Faith does not contain a doctrinal basis for Purgatory as a defined punitive state. Instead, Orthodoxy has preserved an early Christian understanding of post-mortem purification as a process of healing and sanctification. We hold that while souls may indeed be purified after death, this occurs through the merciful love of God and the prayers of the Church.
Theological Objections to Purgatory in Orthodox Christianity
God’s Justice and Mercy: Orthodox theology emphasizes that God’s justice is always united with His mercy. The concept of Purgatory introduces a juridical view that is inconsistent with the Orthodox view of God’s merciful nature. For the Orthodox, post-mortem purification is a merciful transformation rather than a punishment to satisfy divine justice.
Christ’s All-Sufficient Sacrifice: Orthodox teaching holds that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was fully sufficient for the salvation and purification of humanity. Purgatory implies that further satisfaction is required for sins, which Orthodox theology views as a misunderstanding of Christ’s atoning work.
Prayers for the Dead as Expressions of Love: The Orthodox Church’s prayers for the dead are acts of intercession and love. We pray for the departed, asking for God’s mercy rather than attempting to alleviate a state of penal suffering. These prayers reflect our faith in God’s mercy, trusting that His love is greater than any attachment to sin.
Consistency with Early Christian Teachings: Finally, we note that a temporary place or state of punishment was not part of the earliest Christian teachings. The writings of the Church Fathers, in discussing purification, consistently emphasize healing and transformation. By upholding these ancient teachings, Orthodoxy preserves an early Christian understanding of salvation grounded in God’s mercy and love.
Conclusion: A Commitment to Ancient Faith, Not Opposition
The Orthodox rejection of Purgatory is not a condemnation of Roman Catholic teaching but a faithful adherence to the Historic Deposit of Faith. Our theological worldview is based on God’s healing, love, and transformation, rather than on punitive purification. The writings of Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen all reflect purification as a merciful journey toward Theosis rather than a temporary punishment.
Orthodox Christianity’s vision of the afterlife emphasizes healing and sanctification through God’s love. Our commitment to the teachings of the Apostles and Church Fathers upholds a vision of salvation where God’s mercy guides us in life, death, and into eternal union. Far from being a stance against Rome, our view is an affirmation of our commitment to preserve the timeless truths of the Historic Faith.
@everyone
www.icxc.ca
I‘m so happy that this channel exists. It‘s exactly what we need right now. God bless you for your work and courage! 🙏 Can‘t wait for new content! ☦️❤️🔥
Says the one with a Maronite Cross as his DP.
So? I‘m orthodox and I like the symbolism of the maronite cross. I‘m Lebanese as well. I don‘t understand why that should be a problem
@@CanaaniteConifercan you tell me about that cross. Never noticed one before..
(I like you username.)
@@lindaphillips4646 Well its a reference to the holy trinity as well as the tree of life. Its often ralso referred to the Antiochian cross. It is usually called the maronite cross and it represents the maronite church. They often emphasize that the cross also symbolizes the allegiance between them and the pope, since they are catholic. For me thats not an issue. I love my Maronite brothers even tho I‘m orthodox. There is a lot more to that cross. The long horizontal cross represents gods church. The middle one represents all peope and the last one is literally the ‘highest‘, in that case jesus or god. So the chirch carries all people in order to bring them to the highest. As I said there are more explanations and I really like the symbolism of it. 😌🙏
@@CanaaniteConifer thank you. I didn't know any of that.
I loved this! I always felt like I was going back and forth between a mental ascent and the emotion. I appreciated this.
Orthodoxy is "Mere Christianity" to use a CS Lewis title. It is the worship and the way Christ taught. If there is less, something was taken away. If there is more, something was added, but Orthodoxy is simply, merely, "Christianity."
Orthodoxy is the complete toolkit. I am a very bad Christian, I need all the help I can get. I cannot grow in my faith with a minimal toolkit, I need all the help I can get.
Friends, with real respect, Icon veneration is something added in the sixth to seventh century. Christ and the apostles did not teach this. Neither did the Fathers.
@@tjkhan4541false. The Bible contains icon veneration.
@@bad_covfefe which passage(s) do you have in mind?
@@tjkhan4541 you keep reading the passages...
Excellent editing and videography in all of your videos.
Thank you!! ☦️
God bless you Father and God bless you Roots of Orthodoxy!
After watching, I am going to find an orthodox church in my area. The holiness is missing in alot of churches.
throwing Church history out with the Roman idolatry and abuses was a mistake of the Protestants. But, they were no protesting the Orthodox Church--they were protesting the Roman Church, so there is some logic in their decisions. While I am not going to abandon Sola Scriptura, I see the value in understanding the historical context of the church as the Orthodox do and that includes SOME of the iconography surrounding the saints.
Most of them
Blessed he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Did you find the Church you were looking for?
Always Thank&Praise God! Keep up the Orthodox Church around the world. The original Church stemming from The Christ, our Church
Orthodoxy doesn’t fall short in any intellectual or Scriptural debate. Yes Orthodoxy brings much more of humanity into our worship than the typical Protestant. Protestants have to approach their inquiry in those terms as that is how they learned from their legalistic Catholic origin.
Friend, with real respect, icon veneration is one debate where Orthodoxy just falls short. It is a development from the sixth to seventh century. Neither Christ or the apostles or the fathers taught this.
@@tjkhan4541false. Icon veneratioj is in the Bible.
@@bad_covfefe which passage(s) do you have in mind?
Dear brother in Christ as you correctly said we venerate the icons and not worship them. That we put in the church and in our homes icons of martyrs and Saints who gave their lives for the love of Christ it shows respect for their courage to sacrifice their own lives and not denied their faith. It is respect for the depicted person and not for the item itself. In those difficult times that we all face in our lives in the moments we feel weak or disappointed we see the faces of the Saints and we feel stronger thinking that also they were humans common women, men even children and no superheroes but they remained strong in their fath. That gives us strength to go on and not to give up. It is so simple! The question if we have the right to dipict God the answer is that we have the right to dipict Jesus who became human in order to save us. I hope that you can understand what I mean and that it has nothing to do with idolatry .
I wish you all the best
Katerina
@@KaterinaGogou-y9c sister Katerina, thank you for your comment: it helps me understand better your position. While I still think the Orthodox position is not biblical and a later historical development, I do understand that you and many others practice this with no ill intentions and with respect and joy. I also have respect and love for Orthodox brothers and sisters; I just say what I say because I don’t think this is something God wants us to do. And I really do wish grace and peace to you. 🙏🏻
I love all the videos about Protestants and Catholics finding Orthodoxy, but I would like to see more videos for those who have converted. A video for people at like the six or twelfth months after conversion to keep that initial excitement flowing would be great. I know I struggled at times with all the feasts and big changes in church attendance.
Father Andrews liturgy is soul healing🙏🥰🙏🥰thank you Father🙏🥰it’s Barb
As the saying goes in the spiritual life, the longest distance in the world is often the 18 inches between the head and the heart ..🙏
I’m not religious at all, but looking to know Jesus better- and I keep coming back to this channel. It’s so relatable & everything they say really speaks to me.
I'm a non-denominational Christian, looking into Orthodoxy and I just wanted to tell you: The most beautiful thing to remember is that Jesus is also looking to know you! And if you come to Him, He will take you with open arms :)
May God help you in your journey
Welcome home brother
Come in person 😁
God bless you and the holy spirit is showing you the way ❤
I hope you'll find out that orthodoxy is not a denomination. It's the trunk.
I am a roman catholic and I love my faith including all its tradition in teaching and liturgy, and I worry for my church because of the politics going on today - so I really embrace your critics about what is going on since Vatican II, and especially since the past 10 years. Thank you so much for your words!
Do you have any plans to visit Father John Whiteford? I think an interview with him on Sacred Scripture would be amazing!
Additionally, I’d love to see an interview of Father Paul Baba? Since he is a spiritual son of Father Seraphim Rose, I think it would be amazing for people to get a chance to see his recollections!
Not only a Spiritual Son of Fr. Seraphim, but also a follower of our very own St. John the Wonderworker.
@@acekoala457 Indeed! And he’s such a good speaker! He would fit this channel so well! The way he recounts the miracles he’s experienced and the LIFE he’s received from Christ through these holy men is truly moving…
Hello from Eritrean Orthodox Church in Africa
Love Fr. Andrew!
❤❤ Holiness and Love ,,Wow thsts just great.
This was awesome. What an awesome priest! I feel his love
Hello there from Sydney Australia
Thank you for saying that about Anglicanism, your bang on. I just need to figure out whether I'm supposed to live on the bridge or cross it.
Pray the Lord and he will help you solve your dilemma.
Orthodox here, if someone is interested in Orthodoxy and has questions, feel free to ask.
The best thing is though, to ask your toughest questions to your priest in the closest Orthodox parish.
Because im not a theologian, just a wretched sinner.
Actually I’ve got a few questions! What do you all think about the trinity? How does orthodoxy view Mary (Regina Caeli) commonly? What is a service like in the Orthodox Church?
@@zachary1417 Greetings !
We Orthodox worship the Holy Trinity because Christ Himself said in Matthew 28:19 : " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".
Also the voice of the Father was heard when our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descended in the shape of a dove.
We call the Virgin Mary - the Holy Theotokos (Godbearer) and we greatly honor and revere her.
We do not worship her as God but revere and honor her and ask for her intercessions and prayers.
As for how is an Orthodox service, I would strongly advise you to visit your closest Orthodox church and see for yourself.
Confessional Lutheran (OG Lutheran)
Does our difference on the Filioque result in us believing in different God's? Or has one of us just made a mistake on a detail about God?
@@bigniftydude Hello.
I didn't know Lutherans recite the creed with the filioque.
Heresy doesn't mean believing in a different god other than the Living God but it means a wrong teaching. That wrong teaching can have a domino effect on the souls of many Christians putting their Salvation at risk.
@voievod9260 I've spoke with orthodox who say we believe in different gods altogether. Just wondering if this is universal.
A follow up and more straightforward question is would you say those outside the orthodox church are outside of the church catholic and therefore salvation?
Great interview!
Wonderful video
Thank you so much for all these videos. My wife and I are currently non-denominational and I've been intrigued and eating up everything I can about the the Orthodox Church. If someone can please help me though, there's a matter I have not found a clear answer for and that's the matter of Salvation. Obviously Protestants believe in Salvation in Faith alone, and Catholics believe in Faith+Works. Where does the Orthodox Church stand and how does it relate to Theosis? Thank you very much!
Orthodox and Catholic hold the same beliefs in terms of salvation. It is through faith (via baptism into the church) and works…and through a constant effort within these 2 things we can achieve theosis (or divinization as the Catholics call it).
@pandemix19: I converted 34 years ago and am still learning about this. Having been raised Methodost and then charismatic, Lutheran and finally Episcopalian we found our spiritual home in the Antiochian Orthodox Church here in the USA. We have heard this said: I was saved, (Christ’s incarnation, sacrifice, resurrection and ascension) I am being saved (daily practice of prayer, sacrifice, repentance, working out my salvation, as the apostle says) and in Gods mercy, I will be saved at the last day. This is a simple way of saying that our salvation is an ongoing process, not a once and done.
We should not divide faith and works, but works and works. Mere works of any variety versus the works instructed of us by the Lord Jesus, which is not seperate from our faith but is a part of one whole with it. In this way, even when we say faith and works, it is not works, but faith truly.
In practice, theosis=salvation. And let's be clear here: neither Orthodoxy or Catholicism teach that a person could EARN salvation by his works - that's a heresy called Pelagianism. Rather, for us being full of faith is very much same as being faithful (as it is in Greek and Hebrew too), it's the way of life, while in Protestantism 'faith' appears to be quite epistemological or mental phenomenon for many. But obedience, trust and knowledge walk hand in hand and they are produced by love, and thus they cannot be separated. God will not save you more than you are willing to be saved. God pours abundantly His mercy upon us, and we answer to His call to get closer to Him and become more like Him, and thus we can receive more and more His mercy since we can also carry more... It is said that God takes 100 steps towards us, and He takes that final step with us.
throughthegraceofgodorthodoxchristianity.wordpress.com/father-seraphim-rose-the-proper-view-of-non-orthodox-christians/
Amen God bless every one
❤❤❤❤i love the idea of humility, love, service and not emotion and intelligence such as is the Western View. I am Lutheran but have been drawn to Orthodox infuences even before I knew they existed. Just letting God work on my heart.Love to all in the family of God.
Well, the Gospel is nothing but 'orthodox influences' in written form.
All true things are Orthodox.
Great channel! Would love if you interviewed someone from the Western Rite ❤
Good explanation, very helpful.
Looking at the life of Jesus is the most marvelous way to encounter what love looks like and what it should look like in our lives. The Gospel was Christ so to walk like him learn how he walked ♥️♥️♥️
Didn't Jesus say, when the apostles were complaining about those not of their group who were praying and casting out demons, "He who is not against me is for me"? Or "with me"?
Another great video ☦️
Loved the last part bc I’m interested in knowing if my baptism was valid
Well said. Father Paul of Utah more or less agrees with your approach in terms not letting your pride and ego get ahead of you when talking Orthodox dogma with other Christian denominations. The motive is certainly not to polarize, but to engage with a civil tounge, especially when reading the stories of those very humble Mount Athos Saints who though they had the ability of discernment and clairvoyancy they were very discreet as to not fall into pride and ego. Some saints even prayed to the Lord to rid themselves of their abilities as to not fall into pride. What really transformed me was the book Wounded by love by Saint Porphyrios, including Saint Paisios the Athenite. In addition the beautiful quotes of the Philokalia, the way of the Pilgrim, and the homilies of Saint Issac the Syrian, including the writings of Gregory Palamas on energy and essence, and my very favourite Maximus the Confessor.
Right on. Everyone who follows Jesus Christ is bound to arrive there in a different way, by different means, through different encounters and experiences. Many are born into different denominations, cultures and families and we are all just doing the best we know how to do as far as disciples following Jesus. So we really need to work on the issue of hating our brothers and sisters who follow Jesus differently than we do. They are still the body of Christ and they're very likely doing it the best way they know how. If Jesus has actually changed their heart, he's going to lead them in their purpose and the way they should go. We should always seek out what brings us closer to God and what helps us grow in holiness and righteousness and purity, but if we go around looking for reasons to cut off other followers of Jesus because they're not the same deni.i action we are, then we're just hating the different parts of the body of Christ, and that absolutely grieves the Holy Spirit. It's a biblical fact. It's scriptural. We may not all have the same gifts, the same purpose, the same approach or the same culture or the same denominational churches available to us where we are, but we're all hopefully doing the best with what's available to us in our walk with Christ. So, we all need to think about that! Are we loving all of our brothers and sisters in Christ or just the ones we feel like loving?
One thing nobody talks about is how someone can convert to Eastern Orthodoxy if they live hundreds of miles from the nearest Orthodox Church. What is the Orthodox view on this? Where I live is extremely rural, if not remote, and everyone is Catholic, Lutheran, or Baptist. The nearest Orthodox Church is three hours away. During the winter, when blizzards can be seen literally everyday for weeks at a time, the travel time one way is closer to 5-10 hours.
The Obedience of Faith (Rom 1:5)
As an observant Catholic, I wish I had a priest like him.
Simple enough : Convert to orthodoxy.
Love this priest. Somehow, his voice reminds me of Matthew "McConaugheyhahehoooha". Awesome man that guy as well.
Carlsbad? I been there. Loved it
What do you all think of 1 John 2:26-27?
26 These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
27 And as for you, the anointing whom you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as He has taught you, abide in Him.
If someone has already been baptised in his former church(catholic or protestant) has to get baptised again to enter the orthodox church? Because as i know the teachings of the apostle Paul, we get baptised only once, so, if we have to get baptised again, wouldn't it be dangerous? I'm struggling with that question, because i want to be sure about that, the day i would be at 100% sure to become orthodox, and i don't want God to be upset with me because i did a mistake, so, can somebody tell me?
You’ll get different answers based upon which synod you go to, what bishop you have, and what priest catechizes you.
It really depends how you were baptized. Generally if baptism was done in the name of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit, you don’t get baptized again, because it was done correctly. You only get christmated, which is being sealed in the Holy Spirit, kind of like confirmation. I was Lutheran and my priest just chrismated me and 3 others last Holy Saturday. Only one of the catechumens was baptized, because he was not previously baptized
@@yvoennsche i have been baptised only in the name of the Lord Jesus, not in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as the Lord told us to do, unfortunately. I've been baptised in an evangelical church, and i'm still evangelical for the moment. I'm attracted to orthodoxy since a few years, and now that i know that protestants are heretics, and that orthodoxy is the truth, i've been thinking about being orthodox, but i still have some things to understand, but i hope i'll understand. The way i was baptised worries me, but i know that the Lord will do what's necessary for my salvation.
@@kingdm3387I was baptized only in Jesus's name as a Pentecostal. I was baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity when entering the Orthodox Church.
I'm a Protestant (Lutheran), and some of my best friends are Oriental Orthodox. I respect the Orthodox communities, because they have maintained a liturgical style of worship, good architectural traditions, and (unlike the Roman Catholic church) still believe in Biblical infallibility/inerrancy, and don't place their own church above the Bible. I think we are a bit closer to Oriental Orthodox than Eastern, but I respect both even though we might not agree on everything.
Can someone tell me where to get that particular icon of the Last Supper in the thumbnail photo? I'm researching Orthodoxy, so I'm new at this.
I wish there were Spanish subtitles so I can share it with my family members
I have ONE question to you. Do believe and practice Mark 16:16 the way that Saint Basile the Great talks about in his book On the Baptism?
To people who have never been tradcats, the level of mind screwery that happens is next level. I do not say this condescendingly, but as someone who is in the process of breaking free from it. It is absolutely miserable.
The baptism thing is hard for me. I remember mine and it was a very special time but it wasn't orthodox. I feel if I were to be rebates that it would be saying that before meant nothing when I know God did so much in my life through it. It's still a far off question but it makes me wonder.
In that kind of issues, it's important to do what your confessor/spiritual father and local bishop are saying about baptism etc. There are many good points both for and against "re-baptizing", and it's under the discretion of bishops and priests how different canons of the Church are adapted in practise... All neophytes are chrismated in either case anyway.
@@HomoEucharistica There's only re-baptizing when one was previously baptized in the Orthodox Church. Otherwise it's just baptism.
Question. Which "Orthodox" church are these priest from? Eastern etc. Here in Knoxville, there is a Greek, Coptic and...🤔can't remember the other one. What is difference? Is it set up like "Denominations"?
Orthodox Church in America
The country in front of Orthodox merely denotes the Bishop and country of origin. For instance, a Greek Orthodox church simply means it is under the Greek bBishop and Patriarch. In practice and theology, it will not differ from a Serbian Orthodox church. The OCA stands for Orthodox Church in America, and you may or may not have one local to you. However, any Orthodox church will have the same theology and liturgical practices. Hope this helps!
Coptic is different and not in communion with the Orthodox church. There are many jurisdictions (not denominations) in the Orthodox church that have made their way to America through various immigrant communities over time (Greek, Antiochian, Serbian, Russian, etc)
Thank you.@@Emily-pl9tg
Thank you.@@BaikalTii
☦☦☦
Obedience...
I’m Ethiopian and Coptic Orthodox. I respect the Eastern Orthodox Christian but we should united as one Orthodox Christian like the beginning time. There is only one religion and teachings which is the early Orthodox Christian religion. United Orthodox Christian religion! 🙌🏽💒🙏🏽
Yes, the Eastern Orthodox Way.
Too many differences to be one. The Oriental churches left us.
Find out why you are not United there is a reason
Probably not the place to do this, short & sharp ☦️ Lord, have mercy on me.
Born Protestant, Lutheran/Presbyterian to Ind. Baptist Lib🇦🇺/(Rp'cns🇺🇲) Conservative. 46 I ask the Lord...48..and a half, I walk into a Greek Orthodox Church 👎 went to another 👍 Holy Fire 🤕 got sick 🥴🤒😵💫 unattended church, re-attend church(s) attended (English only) GOC and a RussianOC. My connection is with St Spyridon GOC, thus I remain. As the only converter to Orthodoxy in my Protestant/Anti-(Roman) Catholic sphere of influence, I brought the Church into great disrepute especially my loved ones. At first my wife was coming on board, I ended up burying that with my passions of self-destructive behaviour. It's been a long road, the Lord sees my hypocrisy so I've had to walk this way straight, and not because I have to. If I can't want to then having to becomes a meer empty religious action serving only my pride & ego. Good deads toward people because we are all made in God's image, so to want to do good to man because he is God's human despite and/or in spite of behaviours of anti-good intentions, is close to perfection. Who can do that? The Orthodox Church in essence the Church holds the Confession of Faith of all the Apostles and Fathers and Saints and Martyres. Word & Tradition, pure yet with the ethnic flavour of the Church's geographical foundations. Anyhow, don't ask how I was convinced, I was shown by Truth, the historical way. Greek through eyes of an angry Latin. Needless to say Catacumin ism(?) is a little further away than before.
'You will find Me if you seek Me with all your heart, mind, & strength.'
Jer29v13
He keeps His promise.
Also, Dr Nathan Jacobs helped me understand East/West worldviews and how they don't mix.
4:35 can I get an AMEN!
🙏🧡⛪
Unfortunately he is incorrect. Jesus prayed that we be one. Before schism, we were one church under the authority pope (which means father) who is under the authority of Christ Himself. Schism is the reason we are not one, not the pope.
1:10 "any form of love" ....
He’s assuming you know what true, godly love is. I think.
God bless you. Thanks for sharing this. I pray for all my brothers and sisters in Christ to move closer towards holiness. Thank you 🙏
I have long had the impression that in both Protestantism and Catholicism the genuine suprarational contact with God has been largely replaced by purely human rationalist thought, on the one hand, and purely human unhealthy emotional exaltation. Thus, real life in Christ is to a great extent replaced by human fantasies on Christian themes.
Only amongst some. Only Catholics talk about the Catholic Church with a focus on 'church.'. There is no such thing as a Protestant church as their is no hierarch
Protestants who are true believers and devout in their faith call them selves Christians first. Maybe a denomination second.our church is the universal Church consisting of all true believers regardless of denomination. And includes Roman Catholics, Orthodox, sedavacantists, Coptic, etc.. Christ is the head of His church whom he elected regardless of nation, color, race, ethnicity, or institutional church hierarchy.
I think it’s about time the Orthodox go after those who have no experience with Jesus Christ. The early church went after those who didn’t know the Lord and helped train those that were not accurate in doctrine.
And of course they were not just making converts but disciples.
Ancient Catechism Diache look it up. Holy Spirit Jesus have Mercy ,show us the truth in Jesus name. Amen
He skips the fact that before the split they did recognize the pope
No, primacy of honor for the Bishop of Rome. Pope wasn't a term used for the Bishop of Rome alone until the 11th century.
No, no, no. Look at the proceedings of the Nicaea council and other Councils.He was NEVER above the others. Check it out.
One thing I always question between the 2 Apostolic Churches is that Roman or Orthodox never really honor the Saints from either side. Or I should say quote the others honored Saints. God spoke to these Saints for the glory of Christ and to firmly establish the Church and both should listen to these honored Christians from the early days as examples. I love reading about the Saints in the East and am happy that their fortitude in the faith was as strong as the Latin brothers. We should honor what unites us and debate without anger our differences. In the end praise be to the Lord.
My oca orthodox church just chrysmates those who have been baptized in Protestant churches..
Image the Church 5000 years from now 😮😅😊
So, the schism, the Filoque, how does Orthodoxy view this today?
The Filioque controversy was just one (though theologically most important) factor in the Great Schism... but regarding the Filioque specifically, the standpoint of Orthodoxy has not been changed over these years: the Spirit proceeds hypostatically from the Father alone, and to the mankind He is proceeded through the Son.
@HomoEucharistica Thank you. I am Protestant. I have observed many Christian beliefs/faiths over the years. I have many Roman Catholic friends. However; Catholicism, for me, makes very little sense. Several decades ago, I attended a Greek Orthodox wedding, the only Orthodox observance/celebration I've attended.
I routinely order products from Mt. Athos in Greece. My knowledge of Orthodoxy is rudimentary, even with the several books on Orthodoxy that I possess.
@@shanehaire7633 That's very interesting, and I pray that the Lord will guide you deeper into the faith of divine mysteries... If I were you, I would try to contact an Orthodox priest from the parish closest to you (even if it was on the other side of the country) and discuss what to do next. If you seek you will find some things "independently", but in the end of days all of us must follow what Apostle Philip said to Apostle Nathanael, "Come and see" (John 1:46). Orthodoxy is not just one faith among many but it is about being and becoming a living part in the body of Christ; Orthodoxy is the way of life. If one wants truly understand it, he will enter ecclesiastic life and fellowship of Orthodox Christians at some point of time (even if he does not have intentions to convert, and that's fully okay).
But if immediate "participant observing" is not possible, luckily there are many excellent books and TH-cam channels that can help and compensate things... What kind of books on Orthodoxy do you have already read?
@@shanehaire7633 That's very interesting, and I pray that the Lord will guide you deeper into the faith of divine mysteries... Just being curious: What kind of books on Orthodoxy do you have already read?
@@HomoEucharistica The Watchful Mind by a Monk of Mount Athos and The Historic Church, an Orthodox View of Christian History by Archpriest John W. Morris.
This father doesn't know the hierarchy of the Church, we have Patriarchs, who are not infallible and are first among equals. Big difference with the Roman Catholic pipe who Roman Catholics see as infallible.
I am a Protestant non denominational.. definitely not Calvanist or pentecostal. If I had a choice between Catholic and Orthodox I would choose Orthodox but my heart breaks for Catholics and Orthodox as they are so steeped in legalism. It's sad when their tradition Trumps the word of God.
Orthodox here. Our Holy Tradition trumps your personal understanding of the word of God. If you ever decide to take off your hat with inscription "pope", and humble yourself before the Lord's Bride, we will be here for you. Cheers.!
@@johnnyd2383 Orthodox Priests virtually all deny the Immaculate Conception of Theotokos despite God's evidence. Nevertheless, as a Catholic I still recommend protestants to become either Catholic or Orthodox. Why do you think this is johnnyd?
@@Chris-fv3um Eastern Orthodox reject all your heresies including the one so called "immaculate conception". Lies you believe in have nothing to do with the God. They are imputed to heretical Latins by the chief liar. You know sub-consciously that Eastern Orthodoxy keeps original unaltered Christian Faith.
@@Chris-fv3um both replies lost me. As a Protestant tradition and Mary are huge stumbling blocks. Both of you claim to be the one true church. No Protestant ever claims to be in the one true church because the church is not a hierarchal institution
We belong to the only one true church which is the universal Church of all those who believe in the Jesus of the NT who said "my yolk is easy and my burden is light." We focus on Him, not the church
@@DPK5201 The Church is a hierarchical institution headed by God - "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." The protestant reformation 1500's was nothing short of a deformation because it took away the Sacrament of Holy Communion and the intercession of Mother Mary amongst others. And these amongst others depends on which protestant denomination one belongs to and even then there are differences. Please take some time to research "Church approved Marian apparitions" and "eucharistic miracles Scientific proof" on youtube.
God bless you
I belong to the Italo-Greek Byzantine Catholic Church which was one of the two Eastern Churches who were not part of the Great Schism. The Italo-Greeks are as they always were, right from the beginning. So why should we change? Also, I don't feel the Byzantine Catholics should serve as a mediator between the Romans and the Orthodox. Surely, the two titans can workout their differences, without a third party. Leave the Eastern Catholics out of it. We're not a bridge.
Honest question, what is Italo-Greek Byzantine Eastern Orthodox?
Nothing to work out. Rome left and so if it wants unity, has to change its innovations and come back otherwise, it stays as is.
A good many of the Uniates hurt and k1lled Orthodox Christians.
@@user-tg3tj2nq6v I almost became one but decided on Holy Orthodoxy instead. It's one of 22 flavors of the "Eastern" part of the Papal institution.
@@LadyMariaI see. Thank you.
Protestant here. This was very enlightening and well presented. I agreed with much of what was said, but am not persuaded on many levels from becoming Orthodox. The tone of presentation was most welcome. In the end, EVERYTHING comes down to authority. What is your authority. Which chirch has true apostolic suçcession? It cannot be both! Which Traditions are correct? It cannot be both! It is so much more fulfilling to be focused on Christ and Scripture and not a human and fallible institutions for all their contradictory claims.
That is easily deducted.. Here is the confession of the Latin heretics: "These [orthodox] churches have an authentic doctrine, but it is static, petrified as it were. They remain faithful to the tradition of the first Christian millennium, but they reject later developments" - Benedict XVI
How can one interpret scripture on their own terms? You say the issue is that there are two options that could be valid but then you choose the third one?
Matt 10:2 Now the names of the apostles are these, first Peter.....
MANY apostles.... but only ONE GOD and ONE CHURCH!! 😉😊
@@joannagrimeki7415 John1:42...You are Simon the son of John you will be called Cephas (which means Peter).
Are Protestants saved ?
하나님께 물어보세요. 우리는 그렇게 믿으며 확신은 (아슈란스) 우리에게 매우 중요합니다. 만약 전통적인
고독교인들이 옳다면 우리는 매일
땀을 흘려야 하고 아마도 죽을
때까지 확신할 수 없을 것입니다. 두 가지 견하를 모두 알고 있는 것이
좋습니다.
Only God knows if they will be in the end.
@LadyMaria same for the Orthodox right
@@costa328 The difference being that the Orthodox know the path with Christ and must endure to the end; if so they will be saved in the end. Those outside, perhaps in their unwillful ignorance, not knowing the path some might be saved. We don't know how frequent it is. But I'd rather not gamble.
@LadyMaria What a joke. So because you are Orthodox, you guys are the enlighten ones and more likely to be saved than others who are " taking a risk." My advice to you is to open your Bible. Read it for yourself toss out all your EO institution folklore and follow Jesus, not traditions
Purity comes from knowing the truth, not from empire related “traditions”. In arguing against having the best argument, you engage in the very same practice.
What is the protestant basis for knowing the truth?
Ice packs and aloe vers.
What does Orthodox teach about abortion?
It is not permissable in any circumstance.
As an Orthodox inquirer from a Protestant background, I see how the Orthodox church leans into the mystery and does not emphasize the rationalism. But hear me out: As someone who has been studying the early church fathers for over 10 years, apologetics and rational discourse were part and parcel of the early church. I see this leaning hard on the mystery to be a more modern phenomenon. It should be Both/And, not Either/Or. First, not only from the history, but Orthodoxy has great apologetic strength. Second, one of the greatest failures I have found in Orthodoxy is that average people cannot tell you why they believe things. This causes them to be very weak when confronted by the world, unbelievers, or other non-Orthodox Christians. I spent a year in an "Ask an Orthodox" Facebook group with 20k members that could almost never adequately answer a reasonable question, including priests. Mystery is very important, I am not disparaging it at all, but our mystery and reason must be hypostatically united. That being said - I am heading toward Orthodoxy, in no small part because of the apologetics of the early church and my own research.
The Bible says, come let us reason together. God is logical. People are emotional.
Reunification of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches is a nonstarter. The Pope, who is the Bishop, or patriarch of Rome has to accept that has no different authority than say the other patriarch, say of the Antioch Church, etc. So they should just stop these talks unless the Pope acknowledges that. If he does then they can proceed to discuss theological and other issues.
Unfortunately Fr sometimes 'codes' his remarks/critiques without naming the critiques directly. But then sometimes comments about 'traditions' - like 'its a sin to eat flesh - other than fish - on Friday' - without saying if Orthodoxy imposes these beliefs and sanctions these sins, or not. And - perhaps the interviewer wasn't probing enough - doesn't address essential questions: e.g. can a priest be married/have children? SHOULD a priest be married? SHOULD a priest have children? many children? How does the Orthodox theology of 'theosis' differ - if it does - from Protestant 'Word of Faith' theology that claims - from scriptural exploration - that believers can experience and do the miracles performed by the Apostles?
All these questions and more can likely be answered by your local orthodox priest
there is only one church found by Jesus, is the catholic church.
Former Catholic and Jesuit seminarian here, now Orthodox. The ancient Church founded by Christ and the Apostles in 33 AD was the Orthodox Church. The Latin church belonged to this ancient Church from apostolic times to 1054 AD, at which time it went into schism. The Latin church stands outside the boundaries of Christ's continuing Church to this day.
Western Rite Orthodox
The beauty of Orthodoxy is that it does not change in noticeable ways. The downside is that it often seems like the attitude of the Orthodox is that "we're the only way to do things" or something like that.
On the brotherhood of the Patriarchs:
Maybe a good way to incorporate the Orthodox/Eastern idea of the hierarchical church as a family is to view the Pope as the big brother in charge will the father is away. Christ is, has been, and always will be the Head of His Church. Just as a man is the head of his family. When the head leaves the house, someone needs to care for the family while also having a certain primacy of authority.
The more I learn about the Orthodox view of the papacy, the more I realize the concern and hesitancy of having full universal authority of all the church. But we can take a step back and remind ourselves that the authority unique to the Pope is not from him, but from Christ, and in a special way.
The Patriarchs and Bishops of Christ's Church all have the authority Christ gave to his Apostles. With the Pope (in Rome, I know other autocephalous churches call their head the pope) he has the unique authority given only to St. Peter in Matthew 16, mirroring the prime minister of the Davidic palace, who, when the king was away, had authority over the other minsters of the palace.
And the Pope in Rome as the successor to St. Peter also has this authority. Unless for some reason we want to be like some Protestants (and even Mormons) who believe that the unique authority of St. Peter was not handed on to his successor. And if we want to believe that, why should we trust that any Apostle was able to hand on his authority.
And, it seems like Orthodox believe Catholics hold an ultramontanistic of the Papacy. This was an idea that basically anything the Pope said was always authoritative and always binding. But the Catholic Church condemned that as heresy.
And in regards to troublesome Papal documents:
There's no excuse for them. Since Vatican II, there has been an odd trend in promulgating documents that always seem to beat around the bush with vague language. The fortunate thing about this is that there's always wiggle room to interpret these documents in light of more clear and definitive documents. The unfortunate thing is that there are always those who take these documents and twist them to support their own ideology. Fr. James Martin, the super gay guy, does this all the time. The bishops of Germany are doing this as well.
And one last thing (if you've made it this far).
I feel like the bridge analogy wasn't handled correctly. Maybe we can use the language of a meeting place between Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox to describe the Eastern Catholics. And I'm saying this as a Ukrainian Catholic.
Every Catholic wants union with the Orthodox, no one more than Eastern Catholics. The Eastern Catholics grew from the Orthodox heritage, and the West didn't. So there's a spiritual language barrier between Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox that the Eastern Catholics can break.
Maybe the Eastern Catholics are bridge for union, not a bridge to go from A to B (like what is literally the case for Protestants going from Anglicanism to Catholicism).
No one needs big brother to hold the fort in Christ’s absence, because our Lord never left us (Mat 28:19-20). Repent and return to the true brotherhood of Christ.
There is no bridge or meeting place.
Who made you judge?
The money point for Catholics.. options vs central elements of the faith… the Catholic Church is so optioned out….
The idea of denominations in Christianity is not a Christian idea.
It is not the Way of Jesus: there is only one Way that leadeth unto life. I agree. But denominations / sects αἵρεσις _is_ a Christian idea which originated in the first century.
These things are not the same.
This is not playing games with words either. I believe it is drawing out an important truth.
@@AnHebrewChild The idea of denominations in Christianity is not just not a Christian idea - it is an anti-Christian idea.
Holy Orthodoxy is before all of the denominations, so not a denomination. Agreed.
Jesus Christ built His Church on Peter the rock and sole key holder, way before the later development of the orthodox Church! Peace always in Jesus Christ our Great and Kind God and Savior, He whose Flesh is true food and Blood true drink and His Queen Mother, the Immaculate Conception!
The Orthodox was never established. It was the original Church.
If we read scripture correctly, Jesus built HIS Church on the proclamation of Peter...not Peter himself.
So? are you trying to tell us that the Pope has more authority than other patriarchs? simple question. If he did have that authorty, then why didn't they just ask him to come up with the Nicene Creed? But they didnt, they all gathered and during the proceedings he was jut one of them. Can you see it? the idea that he has more authority was fabricated much later by the other Popes
@user-tg3tj2nq6v most inaccurate, as Jesus Christ promised Peter alone the keys of the Kingdom. The office of sole key is one of succession Biblically! Jesus Christ gave Peter alone the command over all the flock of God! Was Moses one of many equals?🤔 Jesus Christ built His Church on Peter the rock, way before the later development of the orthodox Church! Peace always in Jesus Christ our Great and Kind God and Savior, He whose Flesh is true food and Blood true drink!
@shanehaire7633 most inaccurate, as Jesus Christ renamed Simon as Cephas, which is Aramaic for rock, as Jesus Christ promised Peter alone the keys of the Kingdom! Even many Protestant scholars attest that Peter is the rock on whom Jesus built His Church! Yet, for those like you who claim Scripture ALONE, you can never know with infallible certitude if you are reading Holy Scripture correctly, as Scripture ALONE is infallible, thus making all your interpretations, FALLIBLE! Peace always in Jesus Christ our Great and Kind God and Savior, He whose Flesh is true food and Blood true drink!
IT IS NOT OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD YEHOVAH THE MOST HIGH
If it is not according to the law of God Yehovah
If it is not seeking the law of God Yehovah
If it is breaking the law of God Yehovah
If it has voided the law of God Yehovah
If it has forsaken the law of God Yehovah
If it has wandered away from the law of God Yehovah
If it is far from the law of God Yehovah
If it far from the salvation of God Yehovah
If it is far from God Yehovah.
IT IS AGAINST THE COVENANT OF LORD GOD YEHOVAH THE COVENANT LAWGIVER
Psalm 119:21,53,85,115,118-119,126,136,139,150,155,158 ASV
Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, That do wander from thy commandments. [53] Hot indignation hath taken hold upon me, Because of the wicked that forsake thy law. [85] The proud have digged pits for me, Who are not according to thy law. [115] Depart from me, ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God. [118] Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes; For their deceit is falsehood. [119] Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: Therefore I love thy testimonies. [126] It is time for Jehovah to work; For they have made void thy law. [136] Streams of water run down mine eyes, Because they observe not thy law. [139] My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words. [150] They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; They are far from thy law. [155] Salvation is far from the wicked; For they seek not thy statutes. [158] I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved, Because they observe not thy word.
Proverbs 14:34 ASV
Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.
Jeremiah 23:18,35-37 ASV
For who hath stood in the council of Jehovah, that he should perceive and hear his word? who hath marked my word, and heard it? [35] Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, What hath Jehovah answered? and, What hath Jehovah spoken? [36] And the burden of Jehovah shall ye mention no more: for every man's own word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of Jehovah of hosts our God. [37] Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath Jehovah answered thee? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?
Deuteronomy 26:16-19 ASV
This day Jehovah thy God commandeth thee to do these statutes and ordinances: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul. [17] Thou hast avouched Jehovah this day to be thy God, and that thou wouldest walk in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and hearken unto his voice: [18] and Jehovah hath avouched thee this day to be a people for his own possession, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; [19] and to make thee high above all nations that he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou mayest be a holy people unto Jehovah thy God, as he hath spoken.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 ASV
Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith Jehovah. [33] But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.
Denominations are NOT of God. Paul warned about this and said it is from following men and shows how carnal people are.
Holy Orthodoxy existed before denominations, so can't be counted among them. You yourself are Protestant.
Do you even know what orthodoxy means? Lol, is the tradition itself.
@@thieph did you ever read what Jesus said about the traditions of men as for doctrine making Gods word NO GOOD. He said this to his leaders the high priests. Paul also warned his new testament churches.
Orthodoxy is not technically a denomination. The term wasn't even invented until the protestant reformation
@@melonyrobinson9944 technically? The catholic church thinks they are the only true church. When Men and Organizations follow traditions of men you get Religion. When men and organizations follow the Holy spirit and scripture they have relationship with God the father. BIG difference
Father, much respect from this Catholic. I feel the problem with Orthodoxy is It tries really hard to be contrary. Despite nearly identical beliefs with the Catholic Church In basic theology they will claim something as heresy simply because Catholics have given it a name or defined it. Yet, there have been many Orthodox patriarchs, even patriarchs of constantinople who have promoted outright heresy comments such as Cyril who was refuted at the Synod of Jerusalem in I believe 1672.
Most of the eastern Catholic churches do not recite the filioque. Furthermore, it was accepted almost completely by the east for use in the Roman church before the schism. There has been much argument that it perhaps even is correct, especially given the farewell dialogs in John. Yet even if not, there is more that binds us than divides us. Some things that Catholics have defined as dogma many or most eastern Orthodox believe but don't believe it should be defined as dogma. There are other differences that are not essential to salvation and could be overcome. Similarly according to Catholics there are problems on the Orthodox side. Allowing divorce, rebaptizing, lack of leadership, calling things they also believe heresy if Catholics give it a name (ex. Purgatory), highly emotional, anti-intellectual In the guise of mysticism, refusing to accept their own tradition (ex. St. Maximus the Confessor on the primacy of the Roman Church).
Not every disagreement is heresy. It's like two children trying to tell their mother why they had a fight and arguing their case when they are 99 per cent in agreement. Think about the inability of the Orthodox Church to organize an ecumenical council. This is an extreme deficiency. The current schism between the ecumenical patriarch and the patriarch of Russia . Yes each and every Orthodox Church has a beautiful liturgy. Also, the eastern Catholic churches have a beautiful liturgy. The traditional Latin Mass is beautiful. The Novus Ordo can also be done beautifully. Reverently, with great sanctity. The fact that it often isn't is not an argument against the Catholic Church.
There are abuses that go on in the Orthodox Church also. Archbishop Elpidophoros performed a very public baptism for the child of a gay couple. While I agree that the child should not be penalized because of the sins of the parents, this was certainly scandalous. I agree that we have seen a specific proclamation by the current pope that is very distressing, And I disagree with its issuance. We have a pope who is not sufficiently intellectual and likely not sufficiently spiritual. However, there have been bad patriarchs and bad popes. The document does not call for the blessing of the union of the homosexuals. The pope has continued to express that homosexual acts are sinful. He is hoping for conversion of these people but it is distressing.
When there are abuses in an Orthodox Church it is not attributed to the entire Orthodox Faith. Furthermore, the current schism between the ecumenical patriarch of constantinople and the Russian patriarch show that an effectively headless church doesn't work either. The only correct solution is reunification of the Eastern Church and the Western Church. We should all do everything we can to see that that happens so that the good in the West can be useful to the East and the good in the East can be useful to the West and we can help each other steer a proper path.
I feel also that the eastern churches forget some of the writings of the church fathers . St. Maximus the Confessor, Died: August 13, 662 AD, when commenting on the manner in which Pyrrhus, a former Bishop of Constantinople and heretic, should return to the unity of the Church, said this about him:
“…Let him [Pyrrhus] hasten before all else to to satisfy the Roman See, for if it is satisfied all will agree in calling him pious and orthodox…, That Apostolic See which has received universal and supreme dominion, authority, and power of binding and loosing over all the holy churches of God throughout the world, from the incarnate Son of God Himself and also by all holy councils” (Migne PG 91:114; taken from Eastern Orthodoxy’s Witness
This does not mean that a reunification Should mean that the pope would have absolute authority over the eastern churches. This could all be worked out. The lack of moderation by the eastern churches has made whatever excesses occur in the Western Church more harmful. The lack of the Western Church has made the faults of the eastern churches more pronounced. The only way forward is together. Even though a person is just as much of a person if he loses a leg, no matter what attempt he makes he will still limp. Much more so will that person be impaired or dysfunctional or dead losing half of himself.
The first point of this comment is just clearly ridiculous. You need to look into orthodoxt before commenting on how similar it is to RCism. It just isn't. Nothing alike at all. Not the theology, chrostology, ecclesiology etc etc etc
@@josephsaab7208 No, it wasn't ridiculous. Catholics and Orthodox agree on the vast majority of almost everything, you don't need to cope, bro.
@@reverendcoffinsotherson5807
Except; Christology, Theology, Ecclesiology, Anthropology, proper prayer...
I could go on but Rome is not the Faith of the 1st Millennium.
@@acekoala457 Catholicism is the faith of the first century, as evidenced by history. Plus. No. The differences aren't that great, as different wording might be used in some instances, but belief is basically the same. I know the Orthodox like to pretend that they are completely different, but they are not, especially seeing how Western Rite Orthodox parishes are using an Anglican prayer book for their liturgies, which I find amazing, so what are gonna tell me next? That Anglicanism and Catotholism are super different, which makes it ok for the Western Rite Orthodox to use said book, or....are you gonna tell me those Western Rite parishes aren't in communion with the rest of the Orthodox?
@@reverendcoffinsotherson5807 they absolutely do NOT.
My problem with Orthodoxy is that there is no unity, and no way to call a major ecumenical council since the end of the Roman Empire. There is no living magisterium, and as far as scope, it is not really universal (especially historically), but moreso regional. There are other problems as well, but these are some of the ones which weigh on my mind the most
Do you think you might have a conceived notion of what these things should look like, likely due to your (I assume) Roman Catholic upbringing?
Could it be that Orthodoxy has these things, but not in the way you are used to or would expect to see?
Food for thought.
God bless you and yours.
@@nathankirwan2565 I was raised Evangelical, and I’m looking at the Apostolic traditions for conversion. Right now, Cathololcism is more convincing, for the aforementioned reasons. There is unity in the West, but not in the East, there is not even a mechanism for it. Take the current ongoing Orthodox schism for instance. Patriarch Cyril says sins will be forgiven if soldiers fight in Ukraine. While others say the Greek Patriarch is the one who is at fault in the Russian Greek schism. This is chaos with no mechanism for reconciliation, because there is no top authority in the East, only “first among equals” with no Emperor to move the Church as was the case early on.
@@dr.j5642 Do you really want to follow a guy who says that priests can bless same sex unions? The pope is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
@@nathankirwan2565 so in your opinion are the Russians in error, or not? Some say one or the other side is in error, I think I’ve seen a few people say both are in error. What is the way to reconcile this issue? Isn’t it usually the case that when a bishopric is in error, it must be renewed, free of error. How can this happen when the Orthodox world can’t agree who is in error?
That's odd, since according to my research the Eastern Orthodox church is much more united than Catholicism - perhaps not administratively, but by dogmas and praxis and phronema. Summoning councils is not bound to the existence of Roman Empire (the actual problem would be the fact that the patriarchate of Rome fell away from the unity of the Church), and there have actually been many other authoritative councils after AD 1453 that have made their way to "the canonical understanding" of the Church......
And based on these canons, and on the writings of the Church Fathers, and on the Holy Scriptures, the Church is more than able to determine what is the truth and what is a heresy (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit). Patriarch Cyril is wrong because the Church has not taught that one could gain remission of sins by fighting, and all other patriarchates and jurisdictions (even ROCOR of America) reject what Cyril is saying. This is how the Church has always solved Her problems, beginning with Acts 15, not by seeking judgment of the see of St Peter, but by the agreement of all the Apostles and the elders.
Call no man father on earth. Jesus commandment
“if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee”
That's also a commandment is it not? Why not take this one as seriously?
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” -John 8:56
Uh oh, Jesus you weren't supposed to call any man “father”, according to Protestants.. “father Abraham”
“For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 4:15
😱😱😱!!! SAINT PAUL!?!? Did you just call yourself a father? Don't you know Jesus said not to do that!? 😱😱😱!!... Oh you!!!
@@Cup0Coffee who is our true father , when we call out ABBA ABBA.
@@Cup0Coffee you don't take it literally thats for sure
One verse does not do anything for you. Mind you St. Paul exhorts his sheep as fathers in more than one place. St. Jerome and others exegetes it quite well. You would be enlightened to seek it out.
@@TopLobster9975whom is apostle Paul referring to in Galatians chapter 4 v 6 as Abba ( father).
I tried Orthodoxy once for quite some time. There are many wonderful things about Orthodoxy However I finally left. There were several reasons. A lot ethnicism, a kack of emphasis on evangelization. But the were 2 reasons that caused me to leave. First the issue of the Authority of Scripture vs Tradition. And while tradition is a real help in sundry ways Its mot as rreliable as Scripture,neither does it inspire the same confidence I mean Jesus Himself tellus My Word is truth. John on 20.30-31 tells us that os Scripture is our guid tl let us now how to be saved and I Corinthians 4.6 warns us not to go beyond Scripture. The sevon reason os that O bevame convinced, yhat alyhough officiallu andfrom the pulpit, Maru is d not taught as beingboir savior on practice Hymns trsching Mary as Savior are both dung and allowed
Plus while the Concept of the Teotokps csn be deen more as the carrier pr beater of Gof than Mother asin Toman Catholicism. The fact remains that Mary os a creatire snd no creature can be fully the Mother of God. She is yhe mother of Jesus whos is the Logos Oncarnate but Hod , the Yriune God os eternal snd donceary is not, O just font believe she is or can be the mother of sn Rternal God
It's hard to read through the plethora of typos.
Sola Scriptura is not a very good way to go as it has led to thousands of divisions in the Protestant sect. It ultimately relies on what a person feels something in Holy Scripture should mean. That is not a very good system to use.
Holy Tradition is passed generation to generation as a holy framework of interpretation. Holy Scripture was compiled from Holy Tradition after all. They go hand in hand, inseparable. When you lose one or the other, there is corruption.
I'm in the Russian tradition and that applies to the language of the services which is Russian and English. We're a Mission Parish and have grown so much in the last few years.
If Mother Mary's Son is fully God then she is Mother of God. It doesn't mean she created God, it means the incarnate Logos was born of her. Christ has two natures, God and man fully without separation or mingling. Mother Mary gave birth to a divine Person that has two natures, she did give birth just to natures or to two Persons. You cannot separate the two natures or mingle them.
This was all covered in the first two Ecumenical Councils (Nicaea AD 325 and Constantinople AD 381). If you do not accept the decrees of these councils inspired of the Holy Spirit then you do not accept the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed.
Even early Protestantism knew what Mother of God means and accepted it.
Tradition is the interpretation of scripture, not altogether seperate from it. Also that Mary is the mother of Jesus as God is not disputed in Protestantism as far as I can tell. He's fully God and fully man from the annunciation (his conception) onward
I wonder if modern Orthodox will ever tire of the over-simplified “Western Christian” stereotypes we’ve invented.
there is no old or modern, there is only Orthodoxy, this is why it is THE Church. We keep to the teachings and tradition of the Apostles, without changing anything in the dogma from the decisions of the Ecumenical Synods. We still keep the spiritual practice from the early Church, this is why there are a lot of modern ascetic Saints today.
@@konstantinoszeimpekis9874 The strawmanning and caricatures that Orthodoxy uses is certainly a modern phenomena. Historically, theological doctrines were the issue (eg. The Filioque, papacy, the Protestant solas, etc). Now, we’ve constructed at metanarrative that seeks to collapse Protestantism and Catholicism into a single, simplistic paradigm at odds with the “Orthodox” paradigm.
Your zealous rhetoric is simply beside the point.
@@Crystal_Falcon Orthodoxy has always had to deal with the heresies of the age. Modern protestantism did not exist in the past, so arguing against it was not really possible.
@@Crystal_Falcon You clearly don't know what you are talking about. i am giving you facts and you just go forward with insults. Stay to your heresy. We are done.
@@konstantinoszeimpekis9874 Ok.
No cheat code. You want to be worshipped. Stop.