Thanks guys! I will soon be baptised into the Orthodox church in a few weeks time. Thank you Steve as well! Your videos helped me a tons in my journey to Orthodoxy.
On point. I 'd also like to mention these things: 1. Jesus, upon ascending into Heaven, gave his authority to his Apostles. Not just anyone. Not even a future "Book". The Holy Spirit would guide the Apostles into all truth, through Holy Tradition. 2. The early Christians were explicitly mentioned as learning the "teachings of the apostles". The Protestants interpret this as the Bible. But the NT was not completed yet. What did they speak of, if not their direct experience with Jesus and their homilies on the OT? 3. St Paul explicitly exhorts us to keep the traditions that he received. that there are things that were not written that he mentioned 4. Virtually ALL Churches that trace their lineage directly to the Apostles never believed in "Sola Scriptura". This "Bible only" mindset is also flawed for three other reasons: 1. It assumes that the meaning of the bible is "clear". Yeah. All 20K Protestant Churches who severely bicker with each other think that. 2. It ignores the fact that the early Christians NEVER had this mindset. Ever. 3. Who knows how to interpret the Bible more than Christ? And who knew Jesus and his mindset and interpretations of Scripture more than the Apostles? And who knew them more more than their successors? Are these good points?
perfect timing! I'm a 20yo Romanian Christian orthodox and I've been orthodox my whole life but I'm only discovering the bible and the scriptures now and sometimes it's hard to understand what I'm reading. thank you!
Diana, The Bible is not an easy book to read. It requires lots of discipline and determination, along with reading skills. Everything is important in Bible, verbs, prepositions, etc... Everything we need to know is in the book, like the two dispensations one of the Law, the other of Grace. People read other books that distract them from reading the Sacred book. The revelation is in it.
Thanks Steven for the excellent work you've put into Bee the Bee. Great thing about TH-cam is that the episodes are always there to go back to and help new generations. Christ be with you on the new project! You have my eyes and support
I wish I'd known about Orthodoxy back when I was a teenager and searching. Love these videos Yahweh ' s blessings from a former evangelical fundamentalist.
Really looking forward to the new series! It seems like it's going to line up perfectly with where I am on my journey and getting to know Christ in the fuller context of an Orthodox walk!
(Oh, and this vid was great, too :) Interestingly enough, I was having a convo with a friend this afternoon about how there can be a marked difference between what the Bible says, and what I *think* it says. Well done as always!)
Sorry to hear that the series is ending, but looking forward to the next one! Thanks for all your work- hearing these videos is very internally refreshing
I am Roman Catholic, and I have really enjoyed your video series. I purchased the Orthodox prayer app. I enjoy the morning and evening prayers. It's made my understanding more complete. Thank you for your ministry.✝️
Atheist like to ignore this advice. They like to quote verses where women are told to submit and respect their husbands (Ephesians 5: 22-24) but they like to ignore the verses where husband is told to love his wife as himself (Ephesians 5:25-33) and that he has no right to be harsh with her (Colossians 3:19). Only shows what kind of people they are. I found one article that condemns Bible for sexism and quotes these verses. Unfortunately for them, Christians read the Bible and I knew all the context around the verses they quoted (I also knew that just one verse later husbands are told to love their wives). That article was trying to deceive un-informed Christians. Unfortunately for them, informed Christians also exist.
Thanks for the recommendation! We're still working on the format for the new series: I'm not sure if we're going to cover the weekly Gospel readings or do something on the many books of the Bible. What do you think?
Doesn't the NT say that Paul worked independently to start churches and then he finally met up with Peter and was glad that they both had the same message? Doesn't that mean that the churches he started weren't apostolic in origin? Maybe I'm misunderstanding that scripture.
6:07 "Neither Peter nor Paul were infallible..." Indeed. So why is it then that when a group of mere mortals "in communion with the church" meet together, then somehow their consensus has to be infallible? And why is it then that if this group of individuals is not in communion with the remaining of the Pentarchy, then somehow their consensus is not infallible? (for example the consensus of Rome)
It kinda does, except why then, for example, when the Roman Catholics (RCC) or the Oriental Orthodox (OO) gather together in love and humility and speak, why then does the Holy Spirit not choose to speak through them? Of course this probably comes down to the Eastern Orthodox (EO) belief that they are "the Church" and that the RCC and the OO are not. So naturally this leads me to my next question: Any reason why I should believe that the EO is the "One True Church" and the RCC, OO, Church of the East etc are not?
Wow, thanks for watching so many! We covered this in episode 1: th-cam.com/video/i60S6r_sf8o/w-d-xo.html We also made an updated intro in episode 47: th-cam.com/video/KvHrnSKPOQo/w-d-xo.html I hope that helps!
Oh no, we definitely should! Yet we should also know that, even when we read the Scripture by ourselves, we're never reading it alone. It should always be done prayerfully, in the context of the Church and the Church's teaching, rather than according to our own understanding. St John Chrysostom, for example, encouraged people to read the Scripture as much as they could, especially the readings that they would later hear in the services. Does that make sense?
The key is to have a solid Study Bible to help with interpretation through notes, summaries, maps, and glossaries, as we are not qualified to interpret scripture on our own.. I bought the Orthodox Study Bible last year and I can't begin to speak about how helpful and instructional it has been. If you have an Orthodox Church not far away that has a summer church festival (ie Greek festival), you can probably buy one there. If not there, then it is available on Amazon. Make sure it contains both Old and New Testaments, as I believe there is a version that only contains the New.
I don’t understand what this video is saying? What is the “key” Jesus is giving to the apostles? That doesnt help me understand scripture. I gave up understanding it a long time ago.
The "Key" isn't a literal, physical key. It's Jesus Himself. We understand Scripture by understanding about Him. For example, when Jonah was in the belly of the beast for three days, that was a "type" or "prefiguring" of Jesus being in the tomb for three days. When Moses led Israel across the Red Sea to escape slavery in Egpyt, that was a "type" of how Jesus leads us to salvation through the waters of baptism. Does that make sense?
@@stevenchristoforou1667 If you don't mind, what bible do you use and how could I learn about your doctrines and beliefs. It seems that the Orthodox Church prides iteself as being true to the early ancient church, which I find very attractive given my extreme concern with western American fundamentalist beliefs that are common, such as eternal hell that builds fear and coercion. I live in the Pacific Northwest so there is no real community out here that is orthodox but I want to get familiar with this refreshing new take on scripture.
@@Italianstallion-v2f I'd suggest you get a copy of the Orthodox Study Bible. It has some helpful footnotes to explain the Scripture. We have quite a few communities in the Pacific Northwest (though it depends on where exactly you are). This link can help you see which community is closest to you. Even if you can't physically visit, I'd suggest calling and speaking to the priest, let him know what's on your mind. He can help. www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/parishes Also, if you'd like to learn more about the Church, this playlist can be a nice place to start: th-cam.com/play/PLbyQMR-_r8bKi4G0BuSgjHqwaU0tp3uku.html God bless you!
I think the KEY to understanding Gods Word/s is The Holy Spirit, and praying for Him to reveal the TRUTH in scripture. The Orthodox CHRISTIAN Church is fine, all good, got nothing against it, other than the pagan associations, remnant of dubious stuff left from their previous union and association of the ORTHODOX church to the CATHOLIC "church" at one time in hisory, and their attempts to bring in the pagans of the day...by assimilating their PAGAN traditions, (festivals/celebrations, like of nature worship, solstices etc..) For eg. the naming of the saints, or more so RE-NAMING them for Christian saints, as those original pagan ones that the Catholics introduced, and other things like SYMBOLIC stuff and icons with easter and christmas, which was their attempt to try to pull in the pagan population, and never changed but renamed or CHRISTIANISED PAGAN BELIEFS... No reflection on the actual ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH, other than some slight issues of their past association, primarily the veneration of the saints mostly for one main thing.... And, since learning early on after going to "ENGLISH" or in my case american styled english CHURCHES, wrong as they may be in some of their false teachings, knowing it is not going to do anything to help you, I wont kiss or pray to icons of/or of/in the names of passed followers, (which made one priest we visited with an uncle and aunty very mad! And they flipped out too.) Or to worship Mary, anyone other than God and Christ! I Truly personally dont think that the dead have any power of intercession now as the Catholics teach and at least my orthodox churches here in Australia -mine being the Serbian Orthodox- that seem to expect is some kind of magic formula...! It is idolatry at best. At worst it is grounded in something more sinister... I hope that the Church makes it clean & sanctifies it though, like to have the paintings of those renamed saints as they are, or rather were in life and in the holy book, the actual apostles. Especially Since the art is a big part of the decoration ((which I am used to, and do think is pretty and unique.)) The other thing is that in the early Christian times THE CHURCH was basically small home group gatherings of believers, which made up the BODY OF CHRISTS, HIS PEOPLE, the people themselves. There was persecution at the time and this was the safe way also I think....Im not the best aaitf History, not my STRONG SUITE BY ANY MEANS...! Actually, I dont really exactly know how the Orthodox came about excep t that they split from catholicism and maybe was around already prior to PREDATING Christianity?? which is POSSIBLY what makes it the ancient "Original" and "first," & TRUE church of God -which people, my people the Serbs (I was born in Australia but parents both from former Yugoslavia) and Orthodox believers say is the PROPER RIGHT and ONLY way, and church, esp. Over Catholicism, but I could be wrong about that... And nd that they JOINED catholicism, they could have started together and joined, then split, but doesnt seem right... I heard of the schism thing and all... But all I do know is that SLAVA that Serbs celebrate, which means PRAISE [God if you also say God] AND it is a Saints Day families and individuals have to CELEBRATE GOD, through a CHOSEN CHRISTIAN SAINT (or the equivalent in Greek would be a NAME DAY) not necessarilly a biblical saint. And, apparently it PREDATED CHRISTIANITY, I found out not long ago, so there must have been something before Christianity if not all entirely pagan. Hope not. Anyway my mum has chosen St Nicholas, SVETI NIKOLA, in Dec for herself, her own personal one, (as independant now from our dad who had SVETI JOVAN St John, because they divorced but normally it follows the fathers as head of household, traditional family "patriarch".) So what they had BEFORE is anyones guess... But like I do have a feeling, for that reason that the Orthodox was around prior to Christianity, like a jewish Orthodox but celebrating God only, not jewish itself as my mum mistakenly thinksjewish and serbian orthodox is the same thing but jewish is jewish and therefore different from non jewish ORTHODOX, (meaning the proper or traditional correct way...) Im not completely or fully sure about this though, and need to investigate further but it had to have been around to be able to UNITE or JOIN with Catholicism, to be with and not end up a BREAKAWAY church, not just a branch of OFFSHOOT of catholics, (like branches of protestantism, and many offshoots or denominations) (And) who then wanted to distinguish themselves as apart from Catholicism by their own personal style. I think it is theologically not the same either, ((but for some of the few things I mentioned earlier.)) Please if you can enlighten us on this if you know anything to shed light on the Orthodox Churches beginnings. I have read and know of the scripture about Peter as the rock which is quoted by Catholics, but never understood the meaning, not well or that familiar but it is the basis for Catholics saying and believing thet THEY, not The Othodox OR ANY OTHER CHURCH is right -the ONE TRUE and TRUE/correct CHURCH (which it is not, it is the invention of man and corrupt, many say is the babylonian whore too, and has basis in paganism and ground in babylonianism.) I believe there are the true faithful in all Christian religions, inc that organisation, but the RC church itself is corrupt, and the papacy, ((the rampant scandals and child sexual abuse and even more the covering over and protection of child abuse by molesterer priests does NOT help))
This is a lot. Let's break this down: 1. You're getting your history very wrong. There are no pagan gods that were renamed as Christian saints. 2. Pagan beliefs were never Christianized. That's impossible: paganism is ultimately idolatrous. 3. Icons originate with Israel, not pagans. 4. What do you have against celebrating the birth of Jesus (Christmas) and His Resurrection (Pascha)? 5. I've covered veneration of saints in a different thread. 6. If you believe the dead are dead, then who appeared with Jesus at the Transfiguration? 7. Your history is wrong again, Orthodoxy never split off from Catholicism. The Orthodox Church continues to preach the same Gospel and continue the same worship as the early Church. It's others who split off from us as they changed practices and beliefs. 8. Slavas didn't predate Christianity. The whole point of a Slava is to honor a saint that a family is close to. 9. Christianity is the continuation of the religion of the Old Testament. What we call Judaism today is very, very different that what we see in the Scripture. 10. As for the verse in Matthew 16 about the rock: Be the Bee #92 | Be Not Afraid th-cam.com/video/_ZXZBZXpUZI/w-d-xo.html
Steven Christoforou Ok good to know, Im glad, THANKS & yes I saw the other vid. Until now I was thinking you took most things as criticism and defensively but you have good apologetics and I am happy to know my beliefs were not for naught and kept me on the path with God despite many bad english and funny other church experiences. I only say that Slava predates Christianity because I researched it and read up on it to find that it was celebrated before Christian saints came into effect. And you gave answered some of my questions on another vid. Thanks bud, God Bless
The eastern orthodox church has many false doctrines and no longer represents true christianity. Here are just some of the many false practices of the church: prayer to the saints, salvation by faith + works, relying on the 7 sacraments, confessing sins to a priest, bowing/kissing idols, worshipping Mary, infant baptism, extra books in the bible, and making the bible and tradition have equal authority...
Thanks for writing! Though I think you misunderstands some important points: 1. There's nothing wrong with asking the saints for their prayers, any more than it's wrong for me to ask you to pray for me. We see the saints praying in, for example, 2 Maccabees 15 and Revelation 5. The saints are alive in Christ, of course they pray for us. Why wouldn't we ask for their prayers? 2. We read in Scripture that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). Works won't earn us salvation, that's a free gift. But we do ourselves a great disservice if we think that the hard work of the spiritual life (prayer, fasting, giving alms, etc) is something we should avoid. This is the witness of the Church in Acts: the Christians engaged in the work of Christian life. Be the Bee #129 | Saved by Faith Alone? th-cam.com/video/-vOazie1ZOk/w-d-xo.html 3. Leaving aside your misunderstanding of sacramental theology (we don't believe in 7 sacraments as such), Jesus Himself tells us to participate in the sacraments: to eat His Body and drink His Blood, to baptize new believers, etc. The Church was obedient to this in the Book of Acts. Somehow contemporary Christians see fit to disobey Jesus here. Be the Bee #119 | What is a Sacrament? th-cam.com/video/JN20cpM6zpQ/w-d-xo.html 4. We don't confess sins to a priest. The priest joins us in the sacrament, but it is Christ who forgives. Be the Bee #36 | Confession th-cam.com/video/hDrcKX1mpqs/w-d-xo.html 5. We don't bow or kiss idols. Icons aren't idols. Be the Bee #53 | Venerating Icons th-cam.com/video/o8iFOgppS6Y/w-d-xo.html 6. We don't worship Mary. We honor her as we read in Scripture: "Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name." (Luke 1:48-49) Be the Bee #41 | God's Mother, Our Mother th-cam.com/video/U3B8bZcpPU0/w-d-xo.html 7. Baptism unites us to the Body of Christ, why wouldn't be baptize infants (as the early Church did, and as we read in Acts when we see that "entire households" joined the Church)? 8. What extra books are there in the Bible? You do realize that Protestants removed books from the Bible, right? 9. There's no divide between the Bible and tradition. They are both expressions of the life of the Church. The Church wrote the Bible, compiled the books of the Bible, and is the only authority in correctly interpreting the Bible.
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Coming from a protestant on the way to Orthodoxy, really looking forward to the new series!
Welcome +sakor88!
And God bless your journey Jeremy!
Thanks guys! I will soon be baptised into the Orthodox church in a few weeks time. Thank you Steve as well! Your videos helped me a tons in my journey to Orthodoxy.
welcome brother, may Christ bless you
Glory to God. AXIOS! (be worthy)
me too
As an Egyptian Coptic Orthodox , I find your channel and episodes amazing and satisfactory
God bless you brother
Greetings from Egypt
On point. I 'd also like to mention these things:
1. Jesus, upon ascending into Heaven, gave his authority to his Apostles. Not just anyone. Not even a future "Book". The Holy Spirit would guide the Apostles into all truth, through Holy Tradition.
2. The early Christians were explicitly mentioned as learning the "teachings of the apostles". The Protestants interpret this as the Bible. But the NT was not completed yet. What did they speak of, if not their direct experience with Jesus and their homilies on the OT?
3. St Paul explicitly exhorts us to keep the traditions that he received. that there are things that were not written that he mentioned
4. Virtually ALL Churches that trace their lineage directly to the Apostles never believed in "Sola Scriptura".
This "Bible only" mindset is also flawed for three other reasons:
1. It assumes that the meaning of the bible is "clear". Yeah. All 20K Protestant Churches who severely bicker with each other think that.
2. It ignores the fact that the early Christians NEVER had this mindset. Ever.
3. Who knows how to interpret the Bible more than Christ? And who knew Jesus and his mindset and interpretations of Scripture more than the Apostles? And who knew them more more than their successors?
Are these good points?
The Hermitage you raise some great points here that I had never thought about!
This is an excellent answer. It's very clear and to the point.
Well said buddy
Wrong...
There are over 30K Protestant Churches :)
God bless
I became Orthodox just last year, and this series has been *critical* to my growth in the Church. I look forward to the next series!
That's amazing to hear, thank God!
I enjoy watching your videos on my way to Orthodoxy, very helpful and inspiring. Glory to God!🙌🙌
Just found this channel , wow great !
Glory to God!
May God Bless Your Father's Soul, Amen☦️❤️✝️
☦📲 Amen. Reading the Orthodox Bible each day is so empowering. It makes me a whole new person, and it sets the start of my week just right ❤.
God bless your brother from ethiopia
perfect timing! I'm a 20yo Romanian Christian orthodox and I've been orthodox my whole life but I'm only discovering the bible and the scriptures now and sometimes it's hard to understand what I'm reading.
thank you!
I hope the new series will be very helpful for you!
Diana, The Bible is not an easy book to read. It requires lots of discipline and determination, along with reading skills. Everything is important in Bible, verbs, prepositions, etc... Everything we need to know is in the book, like the two dispensations one of the Law, the other of Grace. People read other books that distract them from reading the Sacred book. The revelation is in it.
My family has been watching these bc we started going to a Greek Orthodox church and they have been extremely helpful so far. Thank you :]
Thanks Steven for the excellent work you've put into Bee the Bee. Great thing about TH-cam is that the episodes are always there to go back to and help new generations.
Christ be with you on the new project! You have my eyes and support
Thanks Evan, pray for us!
God Bless this man!
As someone who was brought up Catholic, This man helps to bolster my faith as a Christian person!
+
Thank God!
I wish I'd known about Orthodoxy back when I was a teenager and searching. Love these videos Yahweh ' s blessings from a former evangelical fundamentalist.
Better late than never!
God bless you!
Really looking forward to the new series! It seems like it's going to line up perfectly with where I am on my journey and getting to know Christ in the fuller context of an Orthodox walk!
(Oh, and this vid was great, too :) Interestingly enough, I was having a convo with a friend this afternoon about how there can be a marked difference between what the Bible says, and what I *think* it says. Well done as always!)
Thanks, glory to God!
May God Bless You And Your Family, Amen☦️❤️✝️
So glad to here your coming back in September of reading of.the scriptures😇
Oh yeah, we're not done making videos yet!
Sorry to hear that the series is ending, but looking forward to the next one! Thanks for all your work- hearing these videos is very internally refreshing
Thank you, pray for us!
I am Roman Catholic, and I have really enjoyed your video series. I purchased the Orthodox prayer app. I enjoy the morning and evening prayers. It's made my understanding more complete. Thank you for your ministry.✝️
Glory to God!
Thanks for the video! Can't wait for the new series :)
Thanks! Pray for us!
Looking forward to the new series!
Thanks! I'm excited, it should be a fun project.
Sounds like you're planning a very useful series for viewers of all ages.
I hope so!
Well done. Nice imagery as well.
Thanks, I hope it all made sense!
Thank you for these great videos!
Thanks very much, pray for us!
Atheist like to ignore this advice.
They like to quote verses where women are told to submit and respect their husbands (Ephesians 5: 22-24) but they like to ignore the verses where husband is told to love his wife as himself (Ephesians 5:25-33) and that he has no right to be harsh with her (Colossians 3:19).
Only shows what kind of people they are. I found one article that condemns Bible for sexism and quotes these verses. Unfortunately for them, Christians read the Bible and I knew all the context around the verses they quoted (I also knew that just one verse later husbands are told to love their wives).
That article was trying to deceive un-informed Christians. Unfortunately for them, informed Christians also exist.
Great points. More reasons why our educations as Christians is so important!
I hope the Patriarchate of Istanbul repents of its neopapist errors and does not fall away from the Church as it is doing right now!
4:36-4:43 key answer to key question on what divides many Christians.
The lack or absence of unity is not of Christ.
The lack of love
Indifference
Coldness, etc... This is not of Christ
Thank you!
please touch on 3 Maccabees when you do your new series! i have a hard time finding resources on the book but i enjoy reading it as scripture!
Thanks for the recommendation! We're still working on the format for the new series: I'm not sure if we're going to cover the weekly Gospel readings or do something on the many books of the Bible. What do you think?
Amen☦️❤️✝️
This is great!
Nice prayer rope
Thank you Father for the wonderful gift, and for your prayers! Please pass on our thanks to Geronta as well.
Doesn't the NT say that Paul worked independently to start churches and then he finally met up with Peter and was glad that they both had the same message? Doesn't that mean that the churches he started weren't apostolic in origin? Maybe I'm misunderstanding that scripture.
Χριστός ανέστη! Με το καλό !!
Αλήθως Ανέστη!
But it's not Easter
Is it true that the Orthodox don't think Paul was infallible like you said? Does that mean you wouldn't view his letters in the NT as infallible?
sola scriptura doesn't work you need orthodox tradition for certainty in biblical interpretation
6:07 "Neither Peter nor Paul were infallible..."
Indeed. So why is it then that when a group of mere mortals "in communion with the church" meet together, then somehow their consensus has to be infallible?
And why is it then that if this group of individuals is not in communion with the remaining of the Pentarchy, then somehow their consensus is not infallible? (for example the consensus of Rome)
It kinda does, except why then, for example, when the Roman Catholics (RCC) or the Oriental Orthodox (OO) gather together in love and humility and speak, why then does the Holy Spirit not choose to speak through them?
Of course this probably comes down to the Eastern Orthodox (EO) belief that they are "the Church" and that the RCC and the OO are not.
So naturally this leads me to my next question: Any reason why I should believe that the EO is the "One True Church" and the RCC, OO, Church of the East etc are not?
Okay, I've probably watched 20 or more videos today and still have no idea what the Bee is all about. Please explain?
Wow, thanks for watching so many!
We covered this in episode 1:
th-cam.com/video/i60S6r_sf8o/w-d-xo.html
We also made an updated intro in episode 47:
th-cam.com/video/KvHrnSKPOQo/w-d-xo.html
I hope that helps!
Hey, why Serbian flags when mentioning queen of Ethiopia? :)
Haha, good eye! It was more for the royal staircase than the flags.
So I'm confused. I'm new to all of this. Should we not read scripture by are self?
Oh no, we definitely should! Yet we should also know that, even when we read the Scripture by ourselves, we're never reading it alone. It should always be done prayerfully, in the context of the Church and the Church's teaching, rather than according to our own understanding.
St John Chrysostom, for example, encouraged people to read the Scripture as much as they could, especially the readings that they would later hear in the services.
Does that make sense?
The key is to have a solid Study Bible to help with interpretation through notes, summaries, maps, and glossaries, as we are not qualified to interpret scripture on our own.. I bought the Orthodox Study Bible last year and I can't begin to speak about how helpful and instructional it has been. If you have an Orthodox Church not far away that has a summer church festival (ie Greek festival), you can probably buy one there. If not there, then it is available on Amazon. Make sure it contains both Old and New Testaments, as I believe there is a version that only contains the New.
Don't read it by yourself. You run the risk of becoming an atheist if you do.
I don’t understand what this video is saying? What is the “key” Jesus is giving to the apostles? That doesnt help me understand scripture. I gave up understanding it a long time ago.
The "Key" isn't a literal, physical key. It's Jesus Himself. We understand Scripture by understanding about Him.
For example, when Jonah was in the belly of the beast for three days, that was a "type" or "prefiguring" of Jesus being in the tomb for three days.
When Moses led Israel across the Red Sea to escape slavery in Egpyt, that was a "type" of how Jesus leads us to salvation through the waters of baptism.
Does that make sense?
Oh my, yes. Thanks. I never thought of it that way. How beautiful. Jesus is the key to scriptures!
@@stevenchristoforou1667 If you don't mind, what bible do you use and how could I learn about your doctrines and beliefs. It seems that the Orthodox Church prides iteself as being true to the early ancient church, which I find very attractive given my extreme concern with western American fundamentalist beliefs that are common, such as eternal hell that builds fear and coercion. I live in the Pacific Northwest so there is no real community out here that is orthodox but I want to get familiar with this refreshing new take on scripture.
@@Italianstallion-v2f I'd suggest you get a copy of the Orthodox Study Bible. It has some helpful footnotes to explain the Scripture.
We have quite a few communities in the Pacific Northwest (though it depends on where exactly you are). This link can help you see which community is closest to you. Even if you can't physically visit, I'd suggest calling and speaking to the priest, let him know what's on your mind. He can help.
www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/parishes
Also, if you'd like to learn more about the Church, this playlist can be a nice place to start:
th-cam.com/play/PLbyQMR-_r8bKi4G0BuSgjHqwaU0tp3uku.html
God bless you!
I think the KEY to understanding Gods Word/s is The Holy Spirit, and praying for Him to reveal the TRUTH in scripture.
The Orthodox CHRISTIAN Church is fine, all good, got nothing against it, other than the pagan associations, remnant of dubious stuff left from their previous union and association of the ORTHODOX church to the CATHOLIC "church" at one time in hisory, and their attempts to bring in the pagans of the day...by assimilating their PAGAN traditions, (festivals/celebrations, like of nature worship, solstices etc..)
For eg. the naming of the saints, or more so RE-NAMING them for Christian saints, as those original pagan ones that the Catholics introduced, and other things like SYMBOLIC stuff and icons with easter and christmas, which was their attempt to try to pull in the pagan population, and never changed but renamed or CHRISTIANISED PAGAN BELIEFS...
No reflection on the actual ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH, other than some slight issues of their past association, primarily the veneration of the saints mostly for one main thing....
And, since learning early on after going to "ENGLISH" or in my case american styled english CHURCHES, wrong as they may be in some of their false teachings, knowing it is not going to do anything to help you, I wont kiss or pray to icons of/or of/in the names of passed followers, (which made one priest we visited with an uncle and aunty very mad! And they flipped out too.)
Or to worship Mary, anyone other than God and Christ!
I Truly personally dont think that the dead have any power of intercession now as the Catholics teach and at least my orthodox churches here in Australia -mine being the Serbian Orthodox- that seem to expect is some kind of magic formula...! It is idolatry at best. At worst it is grounded in something more sinister... I hope that the Church makes it clean & sanctifies it though, like to have the paintings of those renamed saints as they are, or rather were in life and in the holy book, the actual apostles. Especially Since the art is a big part of the decoration ((which I am used to, and do think is pretty and unique.))
The other thing is that in the early Christian times THE CHURCH was basically small home group gatherings of believers, which made up the BODY OF CHRISTS, HIS PEOPLE, the people themselves. There was persecution at the time and this was the safe way also I think....Im not the best aaitf History, not my STRONG SUITE BY ANY MEANS...!
Actually, I dont really exactly know how the Orthodox came about excep t that they split from catholicism and maybe was around already prior to PREDATING Christianity?? which is POSSIBLY what makes it the ancient "Original" and "first," & TRUE church of God -which people, my people the Serbs (I was born in Australia but parents both from former Yugoslavia) and Orthodox believers say is the PROPER RIGHT and ONLY way, and church, esp. Over Catholicism, but I could be wrong about that... And nd that they JOINED catholicism, they could have started together and joined, then split, but doesnt seem right... I heard of the schism thing and all...
But all I do know is that SLAVA that Serbs celebrate, which means PRAISE [God if you also say God] AND it is a Saints Day families and individuals have to CELEBRATE GOD, through a CHOSEN CHRISTIAN SAINT (or the equivalent in Greek would be a NAME DAY) not necessarilly a biblical saint. And, apparently it PREDATED CHRISTIANITY, I found out not long ago, so there must have been something before Christianity if not all entirely pagan. Hope not.
Anyway my mum has chosen St Nicholas, SVETI NIKOLA, in Dec for herself, her own personal one, (as independant now from our dad who had SVETI JOVAN St John, because they divorced but normally it follows the fathers as head of household, traditional family "patriarch".) So what they had BEFORE is anyones guess... But like I do have a feeling, for that reason that the Orthodox was around prior to Christianity, like a jewish Orthodox but celebrating God only, not jewish itself as my mum mistakenly thinksjewish and serbian orthodox is the same thing but jewish is jewish and therefore different from non jewish ORTHODOX, (meaning the proper or traditional correct way...)
Im not completely or fully sure about this though, and need to investigate further but it had to have been around to be able to UNITE or JOIN with Catholicism, to be with and not end up a BREAKAWAY church, not just a branch of OFFSHOOT of catholics, (like branches of protestantism, and many offshoots or denominations)
(And) who then wanted to distinguish themselves as apart from Catholicism by their own personal style. I think it is theologically not the same either, ((but for some of the few things I mentioned earlier.))
Please if you can enlighten us on this if you know anything to shed light on the Orthodox Churches beginnings. I have read and know of the scripture about Peter as the rock which is quoted by Catholics, but never understood the meaning, not well or that familiar but it is the basis for Catholics saying and believing thet THEY, not The Othodox OR ANY OTHER CHURCH is right -the ONE TRUE and TRUE/correct CHURCH (which it is not, it is the invention of man and corrupt, many say is the babylonian whore too, and has basis in paganism and ground in babylonianism.)
I believe there are the true faithful in all Christian religions, inc that organisation, but the RC church itself is corrupt, and the papacy, ((the rampant scandals and child sexual abuse and even more the covering over and protection of child abuse by molesterer priests does NOT help))
This is a lot. Let's break this down:
1. You're getting your history very wrong. There are no pagan gods that were renamed as Christian saints.
2. Pagan beliefs were never Christianized. That's impossible: paganism is ultimately idolatrous.
3. Icons originate with Israel, not pagans.
4. What do you have against celebrating the birth of Jesus (Christmas) and His Resurrection (Pascha)?
5. I've covered veneration of saints in a different thread.
6. If you believe the dead are dead, then who appeared with Jesus at the Transfiguration?
7. Your history is wrong again, Orthodoxy never split off from Catholicism. The Orthodox Church continues to preach the same Gospel and continue the same worship as the early Church. It's others who split off from us as they changed practices and beliefs.
8. Slavas didn't predate Christianity. The whole point of a Slava is to honor a saint that a family is close to.
9. Christianity is the continuation of the religion of the Old Testament. What we call Judaism today is very, very different that what we see in the Scripture.
10. As for the verse in Matthew 16 about the rock:
Be the Bee #92 | Be Not Afraid
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Steven Christoforou Ok good to know, Im glad, THANKS & yes I saw the other vid. Until now I was thinking you took most things as criticism and defensively but you have good apologetics and I am happy to know my beliefs were not for naught and kept me on the path with God despite many bad english and funny other church experiences. I only say that Slava predates Christianity because I researched it and read up on it to find that it was celebrated before Christian saints came into effect. And you gave answered some of my questions on another vid. Thanks bud, God Bless
The eastern orthodox church has many false doctrines and no longer represents true christianity. Here are just some of the many false practices of the church: prayer to the saints, salvation by faith + works, relying on the 7 sacraments, confessing sins to a priest, bowing/kissing idols, worshipping Mary, infant baptism, extra books in the bible, and making the bible and tradition have equal authority...
Thanks for writing! Though I think you misunderstands some important points:
1. There's nothing wrong with asking the saints for their prayers, any more than it's wrong for me to ask you to pray for me. We see the saints praying in, for example, 2 Maccabees 15 and Revelation 5. The saints are alive in Christ, of course they pray for us. Why wouldn't we ask for their prayers?
2. We read in Scripture that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). Works won't earn us salvation, that's a free gift. But we do ourselves a great disservice if we think that the hard work of the spiritual life (prayer, fasting, giving alms, etc) is something we should avoid. This is the witness of the Church in Acts: the Christians engaged in the work of Christian life.
Be the Bee #129 | Saved by Faith Alone?
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3. Leaving aside your misunderstanding of sacramental theology (we don't believe in 7 sacraments as such), Jesus Himself tells us to participate in the sacraments: to eat His Body and drink His Blood, to baptize new believers, etc. The Church was obedient to this in the Book of Acts. Somehow contemporary Christians see fit to disobey Jesus here.
Be the Bee #119 | What is a Sacrament?
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4. We don't confess sins to a priest. The priest joins us in the sacrament, but it is Christ who forgives.
Be the Bee #36 | Confession
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5. We don't bow or kiss idols. Icons aren't idols.
Be the Bee #53 | Venerating Icons
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6. We don't worship Mary. We honor her as we read in Scripture: "Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name." (Luke 1:48-49)
Be the Bee #41 | God's Mother, Our Mother
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7. Baptism unites us to the Body of Christ, why wouldn't be baptize infants (as the early Church did, and as we read in Acts when we see that "entire households" joined the Church)?
8. What extra books are there in the Bible? You do realize that Protestants removed books from the Bible, right?
9. There's no divide between the Bible and tradition. They are both expressions of the life of the Church. The Church wrote the Bible, compiled the books of the Bible, and is the only authority in correctly interpreting the Bible.
@@stevenchristoforou1667 thanks for your response, I will try to put my personal beliefs aside and do more research.
wow, you are so ignorant, what you said was dogma from the begining.