To support our Monasteries on Mull and Iona, join our Online Community here mullmonastery.com/our-online-community/ Sign up for our 2025 Summer Pilgrimages to the Celtic Isles here mullmonastery.com/the-celtic-islands-pilgrimage/ Sign up for our 2025 Pilgrimage to Romania here shop.mullmonastery.com/product/pilgrimage-to-romania-2025/ To make a donation, click here mullmonastery.com/donation/ May God bless us all!
May Christ be even more present with you in your hibernation. May He carefully guard your health and safety and that of all your companions. He has truly risen, dear Father, and will soon return to gather His children. I send you love and light and I thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
You have just answered such a pressing question for me, that I was asking the Lord to clarify. Thank you so much. I now understand there is an important distinction between proud honesty and humble honesty....So LIFE-saving for my heart to understand this. May God keep you alive within Him forever!
Glory be to God, dear one. There is always a difference between the surface of a thing (a question, a word, an attitude) and the power behind it, its 'engine', and very frequently the engine can poison an apparently good attitude. This is why it is such a dangerous and spiritually paralysing thing to judge others, because we never know the engine of their actions. Most frequently, they themselves don't know it.
@@mullmonastery Thank you, Father. This also applies to me, I so need to look closely at the engine behind my choices. I tried for a while to react like the 'perfect Christian' in social interactions, but I realize the engine was vainglory (the need for 'validation' in contemporary terms), so what I did was very forced and fake (pretending to be in point B, when I was in point A). Then I turned to 'honesty', but soon realized I was becoming brutal in my self-expression, but I realize the engine was pride, alongside excessive trust in my own thoughts (showing I am in point A with the feeling of 'so good to be in A'). I now see 'humble honesty' as such an illuminating solution ('I am only in point A, my Lord, but please get me to point B, the way You know is best for me'). Thank you so much for taking the time to clarfiy all this for us. May the Lord answer all your deep questions and prayers with the same patience you showed to us!
One of your videos on The Jesus Prayer was my first introduction to Orthodoxy over four years ago. Our family is now coming up on the two year anniversary of our reception next month. Thank you
hello Fr Seraphim, i just received your prayer rope along with the extra of an icon of st tryphon prayer card. thank you for this video. its reassuring to find a priest willing to be more genuine on youtube. May God be with you Fr!
You sound like a fairy tale 😊. A tale of a bear who is overcome by his love of winter and slowly finds his way to his beloved cave. After a long rest he emerges as the superhero otherwise known as the reverse bee! Thank you for spreading the honey you collect. It is very much appreciated and helpful. Please do take care of yourself…sending extra love to all of you at the monasteries ❤️.
Spending the winter in the peaceful solitude of Iona would be a dream to me. 🤍 May God grant you and all the monastics a peaceful and fortifying “hibernation”, Father. 💜☦️
Very few people are taught things like this, either when they are (re)turning to faith and Church (as I did, as a born Orthodox) , or when they become catechumens. And many do fall into an apogetic zeal and enthusiasm (as I did), which they think is proper and God given, but which actually hurts them and others, and puts them away from God.
Thank you Father, your words are full of wisdom as always. I'm just beginning to take my first steps in the Orthodox church and your teachings give me guidance in this season. I truly appreciate it. God bless.
Beautiful, reassuring and calming advice which I take to heart for those areas I have a bit of struggle, 10 years after being chrismated. ❤. Thank you.
Thank you Father,its good to see you arrived back safe,you must be the only person i know who looks forward forward to our dreich scottish winters God bless you.
it is a necessary lesson to remind people that it is not them who is orthodox but the Church, and that by entering into the Church we are not immediately endowed with all its wisdom but that it does grant us access to the Church's wisdom (if only we could get out of our own way)
Been watching you since covid or so, was good to hear your voice I even saw your approach in my pastor, only recognized that now he wasnt explaining overly to a woman with unorthodox views, he saw her as a child most likely and Mother Church would eventually sort her out❤
Father good luck this winter in getting your cell in order. You are so busy and do need a place to retreat and relax free from administrative distractions.
Thanku Father for your ever deepening homilies 🙏🏽truly your depths of REALNESS and AUTHENTICITY is felt 🙏🏽 you spoke a while back, about ‘TRUE’ meeting of another : My heart feeling is that u open yourself fully and meet us 💜- trusting the space , sharing your own depth of humanness , whilst at the same time being a powerful and holy teacher and IN-SPIRE-ation - thankYOU🙏🏽🙏🏽
Yes, you are right, thank you for correcting that, dear one. It's a typical thing for a brain affected by migraines, we tend to replace words with either their 'match' (such as bride and bridegroom) or with their opposite (such as cold and warm). May we all be blessed
Thank you Father. I especially like the part about not being anyone’s teacher. It’s a struggle in humility to acknowledge when we are infants in the Faith, just barely born. Infant comes from the Latin infans- unable to speak. So we should keep that in mind whenever there is something we can’t quite grasp or bring ourselves to fully believe, instead of challenging it openly to our peers or our priest. Zechariah was struck mute by his unbelief, so should we willingly make ourselves mute because of our unbelief. Of course asking in humility when we need clarification is another thing, as our Blessed Mother did when confronted by the same truth. I often get overwhelmed when I talk about spiritual things to people, my heart races, my chest gets tight, I get worked up, even writing a comment! I wonder if that is the Lord telling me to keep silent even now.
Fr Seraphim, have you ever been overwhelmed by a passion wherein for a short while you give up to it? I only ask because that happened to me today and I feel defeated. I have been doing so well then this.
Father, it might be a stupid question, but, Will God ever get tired of my constant failing or will He stop forgiving me after some time for committing the same sin over and over again? My small "victories" don't last long and I fear that God will become so disappointed in me. I feel like I'm constantly betraying Him with my small and insignificant promises... I'm so happy when I don't repeat those sins, but I cannot maintain it for a longer period of time and I always end up falling again...
Friend, you can reverse this if you read up on noetic warfare. It works. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen. It is the core of Orthodox Spirituality and it’s an unrivaled tool
Forgive 7 times 70. If I say God can’t forgive you, that would be limiting God. He has worked miracles, and nothing is “too hard” for God. Don’t give up. God has never ever given up on me and I know I’m not perfect
“Allow yourself to be a babe in your faith… the church is your mother allow she will rejoice in your being relaxed in the reality of needing her to lead you to Truth Himself, Christ” Amen thank you father please pray for me
Dear Father, how do I rest in the womb of the church and grow and be silent when our previous Presbyterian church session is asking us our belief on The Gospel of Jesus and asking how does one end up in heaven? I am such a babe, Father. I feel so mentally beaten. I feel as if I have found Christ in His fullness in the Orthodox Church. But having people I love tell me I am in dangerous sin and on my way to hell. And to repent and turn away from this false Christ. It breaks my heart.
Very few people are taught things like this, either when they are (re)turning to faith and Church (as I did few years ago), or when they become catechumens. And many do fall into a zeal and apologetic enthusiasm (as I did), which they think is proper and God given, but which actually hurts them and others, and puts them away from God.
I know that, dear one, and it is increasingly obvious to me that this uncontrolled zeal is hurting not only them, but the Church Herself. May God bless and protect us all.
To support our Monasteries on Mull and Iona, join our Online Community here mullmonastery.com/our-online-community/
Sign up for our 2025 Summer Pilgrimages to the Celtic Isles here mullmonastery.com/the-celtic-islands-pilgrimage/
Sign up for our 2025 Pilgrimage to Romania here shop.mullmonastery.com/product/pilgrimage-to-romania-2025/
To make a donation, click here mullmonastery.com/donation/
May God bless us all!
May Christ be even more present with you in your hibernation. May He carefully guard your health and safety and that of all your companions. He has truly risen, dear Father, and will soon return to gather His children. I send you love and light and I thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
May God bless you, dear one - for your love and for your prayers for our community. May Hid Love embrace and protect us all.
“None of us is fully Orthodox”. Truth. Humble honesty.
I love winter. It is a time for rest, renewal and reflection, deep contemplation.
You have just answered such a pressing question for me, that I was asking the Lord to clarify. Thank you so much. I now understand there is an important distinction between proud honesty and humble honesty....So LIFE-saving for my heart to understand this. May God keep you alive within Him forever!
Glory be to God, dear one. There is always a difference between the surface of a thing (a question, a word, an attitude) and the power behind it, its 'engine', and very frequently the engine can poison an apparently good attitude. This is why it is such a dangerous and spiritually paralysing thing to judge others, because we never know the engine of their actions. Most frequently, they themselves don't know it.
@@mullmonastery Thank you, Father. This also applies to me, I so need to look closely at the engine behind my choices. I tried for a while to react like the 'perfect Christian' in social interactions, but I realize the engine was vainglory (the need for 'validation' in contemporary terms), so what I did was very forced and fake (pretending to be in point B, when I was in point A). Then I turned to 'honesty', but soon realized I was becoming brutal in my self-expression, but I realize the engine was pride, alongside excessive trust in my own thoughts (showing I am in point A with the feeling of 'so good to be in A'). I now see 'humble honesty' as such an illuminating solution ('I am only in point A, my Lord, but please get me to point B, the way You know is best for me'). Thank you so much for taking the time to clarfiy all this for us. May the Lord answer all your deep questions and prayers with the same patience you showed to us!
Oh God, cleanse me, a sinner.
One of your videos on The Jesus Prayer was my first introduction to Orthodoxy over four years ago. Our family is now coming up on the two year anniversary of our reception next month. Thank you
☦️☦️☦️
hello Fr Seraphim, i just received your prayer rope along with the extra of an icon of st tryphon prayer card. thank you for this video. its reassuring to find a priest willing to be more genuine on youtube. May God be with you Fr!
You sound like a fairy tale 😊. A tale of a bear who is overcome by his love of winter and slowly finds his way to his beloved cave. After a long rest he emerges as the superhero otherwise known as the reverse bee!
Thank you for spreading the honey you collect. It is very much appreciated and helpful. Please do take care of yourself…sending extra love to all of you at the monasteries ❤️.
Spending the winter in the peaceful solitude of Iona would be a dream to me. 🤍 May God grant you and all the monastics a peaceful and fortifying “hibernation”, Father. 💜☦️
Blessed Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross!
Thank You very much,Dear Fr.!Very soothing listening to You!Much love!🥰🤗🙏🫶❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Glory be to God, dear one. May God bless and protect us all.
Thank you Father Seraphim. Please pray for us🛐☦️
This is exactly what I needed to hear today and didn’t even realize it. Thank you Father, and blessings on you all on Iona and Mull.
Very few people are taught things like this, either when they are (re)turning to faith and Church (as I did, as a born Orthodox) , or when they become catechumens. And many do fall into an apogetic zeal and enthusiasm (as I did), which they think is proper and God given, but which actually hurts them and others, and puts them away from God.
Thank you Father, your words are full of wisdom as always. I'm just beginning to take my first steps in the Orthodox church and your teachings give me guidance in this season. I truly appreciate it. God bless.
Beautiful, reassuring and calming advice which I take to heart for those areas I have a bit of struggle, 10 years after being chrismated. ❤. Thank you.
God bless you Father. This is very helpful.
Thank you father 😊
I needed this.
Glory be to God, dear one.
I have been Orthodox for 32 years and i still struggle with making time to .pray.
Illuminating words. Thank you.
Thank you Father,its good to see you arrived back safe,you must be the only person i know who looks forward forward to our dreich scottish winters God bless you.
it is a necessary lesson to remind people that it is not them who is orthodox but the Church, and that by entering into the Church we are not immediately endowed with all its wisdom but that it does grant us access to the Church's wisdom (if only we could get out of our own way)
❤
Glory be to God! Thank you Father this reflection has truly been a blessing.
Been watching you since covid or so, was good to hear your voice
I even saw your approach in my pastor, only recognized that now he wasnt explaining overly to a woman with unorthodox views, he saw her as a child most likely and Mother Church would eventually sort her out❤
Father good luck this winter in getting your cell in order. You are so busy and do need a place to retreat and relax free from administrative distractions.
God gives us exactly what we need, and I cannot tell you how timely this video is for me. Thank you so much, Father, and God bless you!
Father, thank you so much for these words! You spoke directly to my heart. God bless you ♥️
Such a beautiful talk. Thank you!
Holy holy holy veneration to OUR blessed and awesome Divine Mother 🙏🏽
Thanku Father for your ever deepening homilies 🙏🏽truly your depths of REALNESS and AUTHENTICITY is felt 🙏🏽 you spoke a while back, about ‘TRUE’ meeting of another : My heart feeling is that u open yourself fully and meet us 💜- trusting the space , sharing your own depth of humanness , whilst at the same time being a powerful and holy teacher and IN-SPIRE-ation - thankYOU🙏🏽🙏🏽
Father bless, I weep to become a monk ☦️⛪️😊
*the Groom of our Church :) (Christ is the Groom, the Church is His Bride)
God bless
Yes, you are right, thank you for correcting that, dear one. It's a typical thing for a brain affected by migraines, we tend to replace words with either their 'match' (such as bride and bridegroom) or with their opposite (such as cold and warm). May we all be blessed
we are cut from the same cloth, Father! I love the cold and damp, and do not do well in the heat and humidity of summer.
Thank you
Glory be to God, dear one.
Thank you Father. I especially like the part about not being anyone’s teacher. It’s a struggle in humility to acknowledge when we are infants in the Faith, just barely born. Infant comes from the Latin infans- unable to speak. So we should keep that in mind whenever there is something we can’t quite grasp or bring ourselves to fully believe, instead of challenging it openly to our peers or our priest. Zechariah was struck mute by his unbelief, so should we willingly make ourselves mute because of our unbelief. Of course asking in humility when we need clarification is another thing, as our Blessed Mother did when confronted by the same truth. I often get overwhelmed when I talk about spiritual things to people, my heart races, my chest gets tight, I get worked up, even writing a comment! I wonder if that is the Lord telling me to keep silent even now.
Fr Seraphim, have you ever been overwhelmed by a passion wherein for a short while you give up to it? I only ask because that happened to me today and I feel defeated. I have been doing so well then this.
Christ is Risen but Christ is also Reason (the Logos)
Father, it might be a stupid question, but, Will God ever get tired of my constant failing or will He stop forgiving me after some time for committing the same sin over and over again? My small "victories" don't last long and I fear that God will become so disappointed in me. I feel like I'm constantly betraying Him with my small and insignificant promises... I'm so happy when I don't repeat those sins, but I cannot maintain it for a longer period of time and I always end up falling again...
Friend, you can reverse this if you read up on noetic warfare. It works. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen. It is the core of Orthodox Spirituality and it’s an unrivaled tool
Forgive 7 times 70. If I say God can’t forgive you, that would be limiting God. He has worked miracles, and nothing is “too hard” for God. Don’t give up. God has never ever given up on me and I know I’m not perfect
“Allow yourself to be a babe in your faith… the church is your mother allow she will rejoice in your being relaxed in the reality of needing her to lead you to Truth Himself, Christ”
Amen thank you father please pray for me
Can you talk about Orthodox schismatic group, about people who believe they are only true Orthodox christians, but we are a future Catholics?
Some people say we should not say to god forgive me be they say that we are already forgiven what do you think about this?
Quick question, is the monastary eastern or oriental orthodox?
Dear Father, how do I rest in the womb of the church and grow and be silent when our previous Presbyterian church session is asking us our belief on The Gospel of Jesus and asking how does one end up in heaven?
I am such a babe, Father. I feel so mentally beaten. I feel as if I have found Christ in His fullness in the Orthodox Church. But having people I love tell me I am in dangerous sin and on my way to hell. And to repent and turn away from this false Christ. It breaks my heart.
This is exactly what I needed to hear today and didn’t even realize it. Thank you Father, and blessings on you all on Iona and Mull.
Very few people are taught things like this, either when they are (re)turning to faith and Church (as I did few years ago), or when they become catechumens. And many do fall into a zeal and apologetic enthusiasm (as I did), which they think is proper and God given, but which actually hurts them and others, and puts them away from God.
I know that, dear one, and it is increasingly obvious to me that this uncontrolled zeal is hurting not only them, but the Church Herself. May God bless and protect us all.
❤