This has helped me alot!!!! Its hard being an Orthodox Christian in N.Ireland especially if you're the only one in your family. Now I have only been in the church (Baptised and Chrismated) for two years now and its great to know that I asked Jesus for this and he showed me the way. I came from a Catholic/Protestant family so it was a shock for them when they found out. I decided to not really share my faith because I felt that I was shoving it in their face so i decide to keep it on the down low... This video has showed me that I can still share my faith with my family by just showing love and that I should approach my family with an "Open mind and heart". All I can say is thank you. God Bless :)
brother may God bless you and prayers to you stay strong for your suffering will be rewarded in heaven Its just amazing to hear there are people In Ireland who see the truth in the right way of celebrating Our lord and saviour Jesus Christ . much love and peace
how do you discovered othodoxy? for you a video made also about an irish man who descovered orthodoxy: ruclips.net/video/ywDHSpVui8o/видео.html and dont forgete you have strong saints in your land! they dont sleep, they pray and protect you!
Helpful tip even for the non Orthodox Christians. I feel the same way as a practicing Catholic. Majority or all of my friends are Protestants and most of my family no longer practice. God grant you many years.
Until couple of months ago I always argued with non religious or non orthodox people how they are wrong and should turn from their ways and so on,yes I would win the argument but I would not win over their soul,then one morning it dawned on me...it is not my task to show the world that they are wrong,my task is to love them and thru that love lead them to the Truth and altough sometimes it is really hard to love someone,much more harder than arguing we must always give our best and purify our hearts of hate and anger so we would not judge others and accept them as brothers.Our world was nade because of love,our Lord was crucified for us because He loves us,our existance is based on love so only by loving others can we show them the Truth.God bless you for making these videos brothers,keep on with your projects!
How do I convert to Orthodoxy? My family is Muslim back before the Ottoman Empire took over my country, we were Orthodox. I feel so connected to the Orthodox Church and it feels right. I have been studying Christianity and Orthodoxy for over two years now. I finally found a church here in my city and I would like to convert. I just don’t know how I do so. Please help! God bless.
Thanks for writing! Have you had a chance to visit that church yet? Attend a parish, introduce yourself to the priest. He can help you with next steps. God bless you!
I am too (I ja sam). I am from Republic of Srpska, the Serbian part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If u live here, well religiously it's not hard, but life like job and other things, is really hard.
I do feel alone know one in my family it orthodox think I'm crazy for fasting ,praying front of Icons very easy for me to get off track to the world's way.I keep on prying fasting try to learn more about orthodox😇
Lord have mercy! Remember, even when it's hard, that you're not alone. You have saints and angels praying for you, not to mention all of us in Church and at our prayer corners. God bless you!
Today a crisis would’ve stunned me. My mother is in a state where she could die. She is in the hospital for having a stroke a few weeks ago, I found out just this Friday she had a stroke again. Originally May 13th was going to be the day I converted to Orthodox Christianity. But I knew now that this was God calling me. That this very event is what called me to the Lord because like always he knew if I repent and accepted Jesus Christ and the Gospel in my heart once and for all that he could truly fill my life with a joy nothing including myself could fill. I laid on my bed, trying so hard to accept Christ. Eyes closed, arms reached in the air. Suddenly, as if he had been waiting for me. I felt a tap on my head and light exploded in my eyelids, light so intense I jolted back up, breathing heavily. Since that moment I see things in a bright undertone compared to a darker undertone I saw just a few minutes ago. I feel lighter. I’m an Orthodox Christian, thanks to this channel. God Bless everyone here, God bless you Steve and God bless everyone and everything in the universe.
Lord have mercy! God bless your mother, and grant you comfort. Have you connected with a local parish? If you're interested in joining the Church, a priest can help you with next steps. If you live in the US, you can use this link to find a parish near you: www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/parishes
Your user name caught my attention so I clicked on it and saw a few of your subscriptions. I'm guessing you're red pilled on JQ? Stay away from that black sun, siege, accelerationist, neo-pagan Alt-Right crap, because it's run by you know who. If you want to know about the future of Europe and her people, I've got a few PDF books I can send you.
Oh, and subscribe to the Inspiring Philosophy channel and check out all the videos. The guy behind it all is Orthodox and they tear apart atheism, cultural Marxism etc.
I'm new to being Orthodox, but I've found it to be very fulfilling. Having previously been essentially a cradle Episcopalian, I'm soon to be Chrismated.
@@stevenchristoforou1667 he also has a very calming voice that makes him seem very inviting because Orthodox priests always looked so stern & scary to me before!
I felt I was the only one drawn to Orthodox Christianity in my Country. Iive in Sweden and mosr people are Protestants ( but very few religious, and the Church itself has become very liberal) even if we have quite alot of "freechurches" such as Babtists and Pentacostals. We might found a Catholic Churches in most bigget Cities but hardly an Orthodox. I checked out the Catholic Church as forst since there were one in my City. I googled Orthodox but didn't find any nearby. Just short after I passed by a small chapel I live near snd sometimes visit. I stopped to check if it was written something about a Sermpn, since there havn't been alot because of covid. Out came this man suddenly and asked if he could help me. We talked a bit, he invited me to light a candle and told me he was an orthodox Priest and that they were planning on starting a small community in the chapel. Just near my home, what are the chanses? And remember a Swedish person today hardly even knows what the Protestant of less the Catholic Church is. The Orthodox Church is something even less likely since there are so few. He took my number. A couple of days ago I got a message about the liturgi today and I went to mt first one in Sweden. I felt so welcome and I had a deep spiritual feeling even though most of it were in greek and I was unfamiliar with the cermoni. I was invited again tomorrow. And I had to search for it on youtube as I came home. Thats how I found this chanel.
You are doing such a great job!! Keep going like this!! I am from Greece and it's lovely to see that more and more people are getting to know the Orthodox Church. We have the original Truth and we must be grateful for that. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, ελέησον ημάς. I just want to make you a question, the Divine Liturgy is only in English or there are Greek parts too? Sorry, if there is any spelling or grammar mistake.☺😉
Thank you so much, pray for us! It depends. In NY and some other places, many parishes use mostly (sometimes only) the Greek language. In other places, the services are only in English. And no worries, your English is very good. Thank you for the question!
That's a major bummer, I'm sorry to hear that! This link can help you watch services even when you can't be there in person: www.goarch.org/live-broadcasts Even if you can't visit, I'd strongly suggest calling a parish and talking to the priest to start building a connection that way. The priest can help you determine next steps. God bless you!
I'm a Filipino catechumen, yes, same thing here in the Philippines. It saddens me sometimes that heretics/heterodox spreads easily here like INC and MCGI, who were newly estaboished protestant churches yet gained so much followers in millions, while Orthodoxy only makes less than 1% of the population. We dont even have an Orthodox Church in my home province 😢😢😢😢
Hey Steve just wanted to apologize for being rude in a different video. I actually am starting to go to an Orthodox Church and might become a Catechumen! God bless.
Hi. Can you do a video explaining the view of the Orthodox church about the doctrine of the "propitiation"? This doctrine consists in Jesus receiving on the cross the wrath of God in our behalf, and so God imputing to us the righteousness of Christ to justify us freely through faith. I'm approaching the Orthodox faith and I'm having a hard time to refute this doctrine, especially with Isaiah 53 in mind. Thank you. I love your videos.
I actually grew up within a large Greek community. We actually have a church in my city. St. George’s, in the city of Downey. Thinking about converting.
I’m a orthodox living in the Netherlands and everyone always says thinks like: do are you a catholic protestant? So you are a Christian? Isn’t orthodox some kind of food? Is there a church for that? Do you believe in Jesus? So are you Russian? That’s not even a religion!
I'm from Indonesia and i'm Calvinist . I think i want to convert to Orthodox . I find it very interesting and i think i will be closer to God through Orthodoxy way :)
@@stevenchristoforou1667 hey, finally i find my perfect place in Russian Orthodox . Thank you so much for your videos. I'm a cathecumen now, still learning the Orthodoxy faith and waiting to get baptized 🙏🏻
I am curious as to why the Orthodox church has never missionized and promoted their church similar to the ways that other churches and denominations have? I'm glad that you all are starting to change this ( as with these videos) but why did it take you so long?
Me ...once again! I have noticed that there isn’t much of an orthodox presence around the world like the Catholics and Protestants do...is that due to lack of evangelicalism? Honest question. Hope this doesn’t come across as rude 😳. I’m still learning about Orthodoxy and really enjoy it and see we have a lot more in common then I thought. Also I’m not sure if it is a necessary step for me to join? I see that there is big communal family with God at the center (obviously lol) and I love that. What was the tipping point that made me look into orthodoxy deeper is when I visited the catacombs about a month ago. Anyway thanks for always answering my questions with understanding! Sorry for the rambling 😂
No, you're not being rude. It's a good question! There is a significant Orthodox Christian presence around the world. However, many of these places have been historically under oppressive rule (for example, the Middle East and Eastern part of the Mediterranean was under Ottoman and other Muslim rule for centuries, Russian was controlled by communists for a century, etc). When Christianity was illegal at home, it became very hard for Orthodox to evangelize to other areas. Thank God, that's changing. As for joining, it's what we see in the Book of Acts: baptism and chrismation (receiving the Holy Spirit). An Orthodox priest in your area can help you figure out next steps. God bless you!
I was raised Orthodox Christian and I'm happy with that... But let's say I have friends who are Protestant or Catholic (but still devout Christians)... Should I try to get them to convert to Orthodoxy? (I'm thinking that if Jesus is truly inside their hearts then probably not). Also.. can I discuss the Bible with non-Orthodox Christians (who are not televangelists)?
I'll reference my response to another of your comments: if we know this is the sure path, we try to get as many people onto it as possible. We do that first and foremost by embodying the love of Christ in our lives. More than anything we can say, we have to be living witnesses to Christ. It's not about convincing people of something, or simply getting them to join a group. It's about welcoming people into a deeper relationship with Christ: a relationship in His mystical Body, which is the Church.
@@stevenchristoforou1667 So, let's say I do that but the other person decides he/she wants to remain Protestant or Catholic because it's a "family thing"... Can we still say grace together before a meal if we're sitting at the same table? Also, as an Orthodox Christian, am I even supposed to refer to it as "saying grace" instead of "saying a prayer" or "λέγοντας μια προσευχή"? (An fellow Greek Orthodox friend of mine, who happens to be very active in the Greek Orthodox Church, once kindly corrected me when I inadvertently referred to the "liturgy (λειτουργία) as "mass"... It was because in Anglophone society, we are often exposed to the term "Holy Mass" through television and books rather than "Divine Liturgy (Θεία Λειτουργία)"... I don't think God really minds what we refer to it as as long as we're good Christians but it's still a good idea to use the correct terminology when conversing with people from the Orthodox Community). Anyway, I appreciate your response. 🙂❤️👍
@@cpnut99-ic2yl Yes, it's always good to pray with people! I say prayers with my Catholic and Protestant friends whenever we share a meal, it's good to offer thanks. There's nothing wrong with calling a prayer before a meal "grace," it's just the word people have used to describe that prayer.
I want to become a raw vegan to follow the Orthodox fasting, but I don't have enough strength and knowledge. Please help me, brothers and sisters in Christ, through your prayers. And, God help us. ✝️
Can reason and faith be compatible with each other? I feel I'm being pulled both ways. I'm more and more fascinated by the Orthodox Church. I almost feel drawn to it. I also have reason. I love learning many things and think about them. There is an Eastern Orthodox church just over twenty miles from where I live. I want to go and attend at least once, but I also feel that it is not yet time to do so. I don't know why. I know that these sentences are un related to each other, but I feel confused right now and don't know what to do.
This video might help: Be the Bee #76 | Is Orthodoxy Anti-Intellectual? ruclips.net/video/OK9WlWoq70U/видео.html Reason and curiosity have an important place in our lives. I'd suggest visiting the community, attending the service, talking to a priest. Let us know how it goes. God bless you!
# 1 says get to know Christ . I saw an Orthodox monk say to not learn about Christ but to learn Christ which I think he means to try to be like Christ not to just learn about him
Copying what Fr Andrew said in the video: "As Steve has mentioned time and time again, our goal as Christians isn’t simply to think about God, to learn abstract ideas about God. Our goal is to truly know God and be known by Him." So yes, what you heard from the monk and what we said in the video are in agreement.
we are created to live in communities. GOD himself is a community (3 in 1). But being an orthodox christian mean to walk alone in the faith. means to be hated, marginalized. You have to count the cost of solitude. but not everyone can stand that. at some point i even start to think what's wrong with me, why do others hate me, despite not being bad (from a human perspective) and even desiring others' salvation. why is it so hard?? that's not fair.
Wow just read your post and just had to reach out. Hope you are well. No being orthodox should never mean we are alone, yet I know what your saying. As the true church we are suppose too be as God, we are too love, and help. Be well and reach out if feeling that lonely, we need each other.
Also... If you're a good Christian and a decent human being, does it matter to God if you are Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox? I mean... Do not all good Christians go to the same Heaven?
Great question. Salvation isn't something any of us can earn by being "decent." It's a gift that comes from our union with Christ. We know that the Church is the path of salvation. Does that mean that people who aren't Orthodox Christians won't find salvation? Or that all Orthodox Christians will? No, we can't say that. And yet, we know this is the path of salvation. We know this is the Body of Christ. So we invite as many people into it as possible. Imagine you're in the woods and there's a path that will lead you to safety. Sure, you may stumble blindly through the woods and reach safety. But wouldn't you want to direct as many people to the sure path as possible?
@@stevenchristoforou1667 But what if I come across other people who've also found a path to safety but it's just a different path which passes through a different part of the forest? Should I tell them... No, take this path, it's faster (or surer or more scenic or better marked and maintained or just plain nicer or all of the above)? If they insist on taking their own path, can we at least agree to meet up again at the place of safety? In other words, is it okay if we can at least compromise? (The last thing I'd want to do is to lead them away from Christianity altogether).
@@cpnut99-ic2yl I'm not sure "compromise" is the right word here. That said, it's also not your job to tell other people they're wrong. It's not your job to cut people off because they're genuinely seeking Christ and are currently finding Him in a different way at the moment. With your love and prayers, who knows where they'll be in the future? I'd suggest talking with your spiritual father / priest about what exactly this looks like in your life, with your friends.
That's ok! It can take time (and the support of others in our lives who can help us figure out God's call). May God help you see what He's calling you to do and be!
@@stevenchristoforou1667 All I know is that I went from being an agnostic with no interest in religion for all of my life to sending an email to the priest of the closest Greek Orthodox church on Christmas Day. .....to now feeling seriously bothered that I won't be able to make it to all of the Great Compline services this week. People at the church ask me where I came from....am I visitor from another parish....am I converting from some other church....I just tell them that I came from nowhere...because I really did. All I know is that I'm supposed to be there, but I can't explain why.
@@Maine-Life Glory to God! It's ok if you can't explain it. If that where you're supposed to be, then be there! And if you can't make it to all the services, that's ok. Just do your best!
That's a good question. And hard to answer. We process these things in community with people who love us and who can help guide us spiritually: a spiritual father, pious friends, etc. It's not something that's easy to discern in isolation.
Eastern Orthodox is different from ORTHODOX Christianity. I was raised Orthodox, but have embraced God and Christ now dispensing with religious ceremonialism. I have now also found out after many years, on this path/long long journey and difficult road of life, that there are differences with the Orthodox ((compared to mainstream or other protestant or non catholic)) theology as far as salvation doctrine or belief... & I dont know what to make of it. Christ was a living sacrifice, the passover lamb of God -from Jewish tradition, and who died for our sins, took the full wrath of God in our place he paid the debt (for the wages of sin is death) and died as a substitutionary offering dying in our place so we may live. I dont feel I put christ there, yes people turned on him, ((well yes His own people who welcomed him at first, and the plot by the ruling authorities who believe he blasphemed by making himself equal with God, though he spoke mainly in parables to keep some mystery from them, but spoke plainly when asked directly if they could comprehend he was actually the son of God but also God incaenate, God come to earth as flesh which insensed them)) but sin did put Christ in a place of a sin offering ((abrahams offering of His son to God when asked to sacrifice his son Isaac was a type of Christ)) and we are all sinners until we come to confess Christ as our Lord and Saviour. The resurrection proves that Christ arose to eternal life which we also recieve after we become Christian, showing us the glorified state and body we will have in eternity, not the power of the act itself brings salvation, all that was completed on the cross. His going to the depths to get the keys means he overcame Satan and got back the scepter of authority *FROM HELL, of the rule and throne/dominion usurped by the devil when adam and eve sinned in the garden and lost the everlasting life, (which also we still would have if not for their disobedience) which also brought sin and death upon them and all who follow, corrupting Gods perfect world and plan *& bringing with it SICKNESS DISEASE AND DEATH BOTH PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL, SEPARATION FROM GOD... So by one man sin came into the world, & by one sin was taken out of it -to those who choose to believe in Jesus Christ, that He WAS The one and only begotten son of GOD. HALLELUJAH praise the Lord, to our mighty wonderful gracious merciful God and Lord who stands at the right hand of the Father, and is equal to Him. And for the Holy Spirit. Blessings in the name of ALL THREE, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit
This is in response to some of what Ive learned about from a couple of videos with people visiting Orthodox churches and talking to a Greek orthodox priest about salbation... redemptive theology I.think.he called it, or what he said catholic and protestants believe, but I dont gel with what they said or elsewhere that I saw something about the theology, so my learning is based in the bible, although I did go to some "english" type churches earlier on, but some were detrimental like AOG tupe. I think baptist seems like the closest apart from being brought up.Orthodox and thinking till now that most of the important doctrines were the same... now I understand why mum is so anti changing or moving away from Orthodox tradition... people have to.live BY THE TRUTH, only THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE. So I still pray they will come to a SAVING knowledge of God, not just a feel good ethnic community oriented we do it to belong with our people group.type of belief. I never felt a belonging beyond my childhood and going with my parents to our Serbian.Orthodox church with a wonderful priest who was truly man of God. Not that I can say I.understood much, just did as I was told to please my.mum when she said light candles and stuff for passed relatives, then standing to hear stuff I barely understood even in our language, until I was a lot older and became more interested in the things of God and the bible
@@jujujewel2172 I'm glad you're taking steps to better know Christ! I'm curious what you mean about "dispensing with religious ceremonialism." Could you explain? And I'm curious how your "learning is based in the bible" alone? Even in the Bible we don't see that.
@@stevenchristoforou1667 Oh hey from Australia mate! No I didnt say the bible alone, but the bible as the main tool, the text Gods words, the theology I learned by reading the bible about Christ and salvation in the new testament but also went to some english churches, some bad ones which a priest told me was a "secta" sect, which I didnt understand because they taught about God from His word, but they do have some strange ideas and practices, and religious dogma with the confirming of faith by tongue speaking and spiritual gifts, being an AOG PENTECOSTAL type. That was earlier on. Later found better, and have been to bible college for a few courses some years ago. It took a long time, long process and still learning, and UN LEARNING wrong stuff which is akin or maybe just was religious abuse. There I said it, AOG in Australia put me off pentecostals and those who believe in certain gifts like the glossalia that is not the known languages of the tongues spoken at the day of Pentecost
@@jujujewel2172 Hi from the USA! Yeah, I think it's important that we learn how to understand the Bible. The question is: who can teach us? We made a video on this: Be the Bee #128 | How to Read the Bible ruclips.net/video/zFmov78GdBQ/видео.html
Former Eastern Orthodox Christian, now agnostic. One of the main reasons I left was the sheer loneliness of being the only Orthodox convert in my home town.
![Oscar Maydon x Fuerza Regida - Tu Boda [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_ymicn0_GYc/mqdefault.jpg)
Im Christian Orthodox my husband was Methodist now he is orthodox amazing
Glory to God!
What helped him to convert?
Beautiful! I’m not Orthodox yet, Non-Denom. but my husband is an atheist and former Christian :(
@@beestitches8121 God bless you and your husband, and bring you both closer to Him!
Have you had a chance to visit an Orthodox community near you?
i am Orthodox Christian there are more than 40% orthodox Christians in Ethiopia ur not alone God bless you
Greatings from Serbia!
Yep am proud to be Ethiopian and orthodox.
Recently left a non denom protestant church and became orthodox. I love it. I feel closer to Christ. We are a small parish.
Glory to God may he Bless you and your family my brother
A group of my friends and I also left our non denom church and we're becoming orthodox. God bless.
Glory to God! Welcome!
Happy yo hear that people are becoming orthodox! This is the true real path
May your numbers multiply. God Bless.
This has helped me alot!!!!
Its hard being an Orthodox Christian in N.Ireland especially if you're the only one in your family. Now I have only been in the church (Baptised and Chrismated) for two years now and its great to know that I asked Jesus for this and he showed me the way. I came from a Catholic/Protestant family so it was a shock for them when they found out. I decided to not really share my faith because I felt that I was shoving it in their face so i decide to keep it on the down low...
This video has showed me that I can still share my faith with my family by just showing love and that I should approach my family with an "Open mind and heart".
All I can say is thank you.
God Bless :)
You're very welcome. Glory to God!
May the Lord continue to give you courage, humility, and gentleness.
brother may God bless you and prayers to you stay strong for your suffering will be rewarded in heaven Its just amazing to hear there are people In Ireland who see the truth in the right way of celebrating Our lord and saviour Jesus Christ . much love and peace
how do you discovered othodoxy?
for you a video made also about an irish man who descovered orthodoxy:
ruclips.net/video/ywDHSpVui8o/видео.html
and dont forgete you have strong saints in your land! they dont sleep, they pray and protect you!
Helpful tip even for the non Orthodox Christians. I feel the same way as a practicing Catholic. Majority or all of my friends are Protestants and most of my family no longer practice. God grant you many years.
Bao Duong God bless you brother in Christ
I became Orthodox and it's been such a blessing. My husband is now a catechumen and I am praying for him to enter the church soon.
I wish the Catholic Church would revert to Orthodoxy. So close it seems, yet so far
Until couple of months ago I always argued with non religious or non orthodox people how they are wrong and should turn from their ways and so on,yes I would win the argument but I would not win over their soul,then one morning it dawned on me...it is not my task to show the world that they are wrong,my task is to love them and thru that love lead them to the Truth and altough sometimes it is really hard to love someone,much more harder than arguing we must always give our best and purify our hearts of hate and anger so we would not judge others and accept them as brothers.Our world was nade because of love,our Lord was crucified for us because He loves us,our existance is based on love so only by loving others can we show them the Truth.God bless you for making these videos brothers,keep on with your projects!
Thank you, pray for us!
How do I convert to Orthodoxy? My family is Muslim back before the Ottoman Empire took over my country, we were Orthodox. I feel so connected to the Orthodox Church and it feels right. I have been studying Christianity and Orthodoxy for over two years now. I finally found a church here in my city and I would like to convert. I just don’t know how I do so. Please help! God bless.
Thanks for writing!
Have you had a chance to visit that church yet? Attend a parish, introduce yourself to the priest. He can help you with next steps.
God bless you!
I read your post and I hope you got into orthodoxy, best wishes and prayers.
What country are you from?
@@predragjo5977 probably Turkey haha
Man, you are amazing!!!! You have no idea how much your channel is helping me, my Orthodox brother!
I needed this episode so much. Thank you so much Steve. Be the Bee has helped me on my path to Orthodoxy, so much.
Nathan Hedges This - your reply - is encouraging as I am growing to understand the Orthodox Church to see if I will become a catechumen.
Glory to God!
I pray you're doing well, Jerome!
Steven Christoforou Thank you, brother! I think of you often.
Thank You and God Bless You!
i am orthodoxian from bosnia
Is life hard there?
I am too (I ja sam). I am from Republic of Srpska, the Serbian part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If u live here, well religiously it's not hard, but life like job and other things, is really hard.
May the Lord bless all the Christians
Amen!
Ortodoxia este adevărul mântuitor și este veșnică de la Domnul Dumnezeu Sfânta Treime!
I do feel alone know one in my family it orthodox think I'm crazy for fasting ,praying front of Icons very easy for me to get off track to the world's way.I keep on prying fasting try to learn more about orthodox😇
Lord have mercy!
Remember, even when it's hard, that you're not alone. You have saints and angels praying for you, not to mention all of us in Church and at our prayer corners.
God bless you!
You're not alone. Well done
but i am fasting with you and the all church do the same, so youare not alone! :-)
how did you discovered the orthodoxy?
Today a crisis would’ve stunned me. My mother is in a state where she could die. She is in the hospital for having a stroke a few weeks ago, I found out just this Friday she had a stroke again.
Originally May 13th was going to be the day I converted to Orthodox Christianity. But I knew now that this was God calling me. That this very event is what called me to the Lord because like always he knew if I repent and accepted Jesus Christ and the Gospel in my heart once and for all that he could truly fill my life with a joy nothing including myself could fill.
I laid on my bed, trying so hard to accept Christ. Eyes closed, arms reached in the air. Suddenly, as if he had been waiting for me.
I felt a tap on my head and light exploded in my eyelids, light so intense I jolted back up, breathing heavily. Since that moment I see things in a bright undertone compared to a darker undertone I saw just a few minutes ago. I feel lighter. I’m an Orthodox Christian, thanks to this channel. God Bless everyone here, God bless you Steve and God bless everyone and everything in the universe.
Lord have mercy! God bless your mother, and grant you comfort.
Have you connected with a local parish? If you're interested in joining the Church, a priest can help you with next steps.
If you live in the US, you can use this link to find a parish near you:
www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/parishes
Your user name caught my attention so I clicked on it and saw a few of your subscriptions. I'm guessing you're red pilled on JQ? Stay away from that black sun, siege, accelerationist, neo-pagan Alt-Right crap, because it's run by you know who. If you want to know about the future of Europe and her people, I've got a few PDF books I can send you.
Oh, and subscribe to the Inspiring Philosophy channel and check out all the videos. The guy behind it all is Orthodox and they tear apart atheism, cultural Marxism etc.
Thank you :).
are u turkish?
I'm new to being Orthodox, but I've found it to be very fulfilling. Having previously been essentially a cradle Episcopalian, I'm soon to be Chrismated.
Glory to God!
May the Lord bless your every step!
How long did it take to be chrismated?
Excellent, as always! Thank you so much for these messages.
This is probably one of the first priests that I actually liked & agreed with what they said
Father Andrew is wonderful.
@@stevenchristoforou1667 he also has a very calming voice that makes him seem very inviting because Orthodox priests always looked so stern & scary to me before!
I love my religion ortodox
Thank you, you are doing a great Job! God bless you!
Thank you, pray for us!
great video, exactly what I needed! thank you !!
you are the ultimate apostle
Wonderful episode. Thank you!
I felt I was the only one drawn to Orthodox Christianity in my Country. Iive in Sweden and mosr people are Protestants ( but very few religious, and the Church itself has become very liberal) even if we have quite alot of "freechurches" such as Babtists and Pentacostals. We might found a Catholic Churches in most bigget Cities but hardly an Orthodox. I checked out the Catholic Church as forst since there were one in my City. I googled Orthodox but didn't find any nearby. Just short after I passed by a small chapel I live near snd sometimes visit. I stopped to check if it was written something about a Sermpn, since there havn't been alot because of covid. Out came this man suddenly and asked if he could help me. We talked a bit, he invited me to light a candle and told me he was an orthodox Priest and that they were planning on starting a small community in the chapel. Just near my home, what are the chanses? And remember a Swedish person today hardly even knows what the Protestant of less the Catholic Church is. The Orthodox Church is something even less likely since there are so few. He took my number. A couple of days ago I got a message about the liturgi today and I went to mt first one in Sweden. I felt so welcome and I had a deep spiritual feeling even though most of it were in greek and I was unfamiliar with the cermoni. I was invited again tomorrow. And I had to search for it on youtube as I came home. Thats how I found this chanel.
God bless you!
You are doing such a great job!! Keep going like this!! I am from Greece and it's lovely to see that more and more people are getting to know the Orthodox Church.
We have the original Truth and we must be grateful for that.
Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, ελέησον ημάς.
I just want to make you a question, the Divine Liturgy is only in English or there are Greek parts too?
Sorry, if there is any spelling or grammar mistake.☺😉
Thank you so much, pray for us!
It depends. In NY and some other places, many parishes use mostly (sometimes only) the Greek language. In other places, the services are only in English.
And no worries, your English is very good. Thank you for the question!
There are no Orthodox churches even remotely close to me, wish there were :(
That's a major bummer, I'm sorry to hear that!
This link can help you watch services even when you can't be there in person:
www.goarch.org/live-broadcasts
Even if you can't visit, I'd strongly suggest calling a parish and talking to the priest to start building a connection that way. The priest can help you determine next steps.
God bless you!
thank you so much Steve...i really appreciate it.
I also pray the Lord gives you the ability to move closer to a church as well.
youtube has a lot of orthodox orthros and Holy Liturgy and some vespers some are segments some are entire services.
where are you from?
I'm a Filipino catechumen, yes, same thing here in the Philippines.
It saddens me sometimes that heretics/heterodox spreads easily here like INC and MCGI, who were newly estaboished protestant churches yet gained so much followers in millions, while Orthodoxy only makes less than 1% of the population. We dont even have an Orthodox Church in my home province 😢😢😢😢
Hey Steve just wanted to apologize for being rude in a different video. I actually am starting to go to an Orthodox Church and might become a Catechumen! God bless.
Don't worry about it, I didn't even interpret it as rude.
Thanks for being courageous enough to apologize, though. God bless you!
Naruto is that you?
Takes a lot of courage to admit you're wrong
The universe and everything in it is God
Are you God?
Well said, Steven!. We all miss you here in Richmond VA!.
love it!
Excellent video
Hi. Can you do a video explaining the view of the Orthodox church about the doctrine of the "propitiation"? This doctrine consists in Jesus receiving on the cross the wrath of God in our behalf, and so God imputing to us the righteousness of Christ to justify us freely through faith. I'm approaching the Orthodox faith and I'm having a hard time to refute this doctrine, especially with Isaiah 53 in mind.
Thank you. I love your videos.
I actually grew up within a large Greek community. We actually have a church in my city. St. George’s, in the city of Downey. Thinking about converting.
I hope you have a chance to connect with that community! Maybe even attend a service sometime soon, God willing.
I’m on my journey to convert to orthodox Christianity don’t know anyone who is but I hope I meet people in this journey
God bless you!
Have you connected with a community near you?
I don’t know if you consider me Orthodox but love from the Copts
God bless you! It's been a joy to meet a lot of Coptic brothers and sisters in my travels.
Why would he not consider you? You are definitely Orthodox
I’m a orthodox living in the Netherlands and everyone always says thinks like: do are you a catholic protestant? So you are a Christian? Isn’t orthodox some kind of food? Is there a church for that? Do you believe in Jesus? So are you Russian? That’s not even a religion!
you must help not djude! last week i so a lady from Holand interest in orthodoxy and didnt knwo were to sent her!
Doesn't most Dutch people look down upon Christians in Netherlands?
I'm from Indonesia and i'm Calvinist . I think i want to convert to Orthodox . I find it very interesting and i think i will be closer to God through Orthodoxy way :)
I hope the other videos on our channel help. God bless you!
@@stevenchristoforou1667 hey, finally i find my perfect place in Russian Orthodox . Thank you so much for your videos. I'm a cathecumen now, still learning the Orthodoxy faith and waiting to get baptized 🙏🏻
@@bellavania216 Glory to God!
I am curious as to why the Orthodox church has never missionized and promoted their church similar to the ways that other churches and denominations have? I'm glad that you all are starting to change this ( as with these videos) but why did it take you so long?
Me ...once again! I have noticed that there isn’t much of an orthodox presence around the world like the Catholics and Protestants do...is that due to lack of evangelicalism? Honest question. Hope this doesn’t come across as rude 😳. I’m still learning about Orthodoxy and really enjoy it and see we have a lot more in common then I thought. Also I’m not sure if it is a necessary step for me to join? I see that there is big communal family with God at the center (obviously lol) and I love that. What was the tipping point that made me look into orthodoxy deeper is when I visited the catacombs about a month ago. Anyway thanks for always answering my questions with understanding! Sorry for the rambling 😂
No, you're not being rude. It's a good question!
There is a significant Orthodox Christian presence around the world. However, many of these places have been historically under oppressive rule (for example, the Middle East and Eastern part of the Mediterranean was under Ottoman and other Muslim rule for centuries, Russian was controlled by communists for a century, etc). When Christianity was illegal at home, it became very hard for Orthodox to evangelize to other areas.
Thank God, that's changing.
As for joining, it's what we see in the Book of Acts: baptism and chrismation (receiving the Holy Spirit). An Orthodox priest in your area can help you figure out next steps.
God bless you!
A large, percentage of people I know have never heard of Orthodox Christianity
I was raised Orthodox Christian and I'm happy with that... But let's say I have friends who are Protestant or Catholic (but still devout Christians)... Should I try to get them to convert to Orthodoxy? (I'm thinking that if Jesus is truly inside their hearts then probably not). Also.. can I discuss the Bible with non-Orthodox Christians (who are not televangelists)?
I'll reference my response to another of your comments: if we know this is the sure path, we try to get as many people onto it as possible.
We do that first and foremost by embodying the love of Christ in our lives. More than anything we can say, we have to be living witnesses to Christ. It's not about convincing people of something, or simply getting them to join a group. It's about welcoming people into a deeper relationship with Christ: a relationship in His mystical Body, which is the Church.
@@stevenchristoforou1667 So, let's say I do that but the other person decides he/she wants to remain Protestant or Catholic because it's a "family thing"... Can we still say grace together before a meal if we're sitting at the same table? Also, as an Orthodox Christian, am I even supposed to refer to it as "saying grace" instead of "saying a prayer" or "λέγοντας μια προσευχή"? (An fellow Greek Orthodox friend of mine, who happens to be very active in the Greek Orthodox Church, once kindly corrected me when I inadvertently referred to the "liturgy (λειτουργία) as "mass"... It was because in Anglophone society, we are often exposed to the term "Holy Mass" through television and books rather than "Divine Liturgy (Θεία Λειτουργία)"... I don't think God really minds what we refer to it as as long as we're good Christians but it's still a good idea to use the correct terminology when conversing with people from the Orthodox Community). Anyway, I appreciate your response. 🙂❤️👍
@@cpnut99-ic2yl Yes, it's always good to pray with people! I say prayers with my Catholic and Protestant friends whenever we share a meal, it's good to offer thanks.
There's nothing wrong with calling a prayer before a meal "grace," it's just the word people have used to describe that prayer.
I want to become a raw vegan to follow the Orthodox fasting, but I don't have enough strength and knowledge. Please help me, brothers and sisters in Christ, through your prayers. And, God help us. ✝️
It can be difficult to fully fast. It's best to talk to your local priest and ask for your guidance about what you can do at this time.
Am guessing the father was a heterodox Christian before he became an orthodox Christian
Can reason and faith be compatible with each other? I feel I'm being pulled both ways. I'm more and more fascinated by the Orthodox Church. I almost feel drawn to it. I also have reason. I love learning many things and think about them. There is an Eastern Orthodox church just over twenty miles from where I live. I want to go and attend at least once, but I also feel that it is not yet time to do so. I don't know why. I know that these sentences are un related to each other, but I feel confused right now and don't know what to do.
This video might help:
Be the Bee #76 | Is Orthodoxy Anti-Intellectual?
ruclips.net/video/OK9WlWoq70U/видео.html
Reason and curiosity have an important place in our lives.
I'd suggest visiting the community, attending the service, talking to a priest.
Let us know how it goes.
God bless you!
What does be the bee 🐝 mean? Somewhat New to channel
You Should come to Ethiopia you will learn more more more
Love the video but PLEASE lose the distracting background music. Ugh!
Which Church do you support in recent conflict in Ukraine?
Orthodox
Ukraine and russia are both orthodox. There are other conflicts there
# 1 says get to know Christ . I saw an Orthodox monk say to not learn about Christ but to learn Christ which I think he means to try to be like Christ not to just learn about him
Copying what Fr Andrew said in the video:
"As Steve has mentioned time and time again, our goal as Christians isn’t simply to think about God, to learn abstract ideas about God. Our goal is to truly know God and be known by Him."
So yes, what you heard from the monk and what we said in the video are in agreement.
we are created to live in communities. GOD himself is a community (3 in 1). But being an orthodox christian mean to walk alone in the faith. means to be hated, marginalized. You have to count the cost of solitude. but not everyone can stand that. at some point i even start to think what's wrong with me, why do others hate me, despite not being bad (from a human perspective) and even desiring others' salvation. why is it so hard?? that's not fair.
I'm so sorry that you've had such bad experiences. Lord have mercy.
Is there a priest you can reach out to? A local community/parish you can visit?
no. but i'll try to resist as much as possible before letting everything go. thank you for your interest. Enjoy your time!!
Wow just read your post and just had to reach out. Hope you are well. No being orthodox should never mean we are alone, yet I know what your saying. As the true church we are suppose too be as God, we are too love, and help. Be well and reach out if feeling that lonely, we need each other.
Also... If you're a good Christian and a decent human being, does it matter to God if you are Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox? I mean... Do not all good Christians go to the same Heaven?
Great question. Salvation isn't something any of us can earn by being "decent." It's a gift that comes from our union with Christ.
We know that the Church is the path of salvation. Does that mean that people who aren't Orthodox Christians won't find salvation? Or that all Orthodox Christians will? No, we can't say that.
And yet, we know this is the path of salvation. We know this is the Body of Christ. So we invite as many people into it as possible.
Imagine you're in the woods and there's a path that will lead you to safety. Sure, you may stumble blindly through the woods and reach safety. But wouldn't you want to direct as many people to the sure path as possible?
@@stevenchristoforou1667 But what if I come across other people who've also found a path to safety but it's just a different path which passes through a different part of the forest? Should I tell them... No, take this path, it's faster (or surer or more scenic or better marked and maintained or just plain nicer or all of the above)? If they insist on taking their own path, can we at least agree to meet up again at the place of safety? In other words, is it okay if we can at least compromise? (The last thing I'd want to do is to lead them away from Christianity altogether).
@@cpnut99-ic2yl I'm not sure "compromise" is the right word here.
That said, it's also not your job to tell other people they're wrong. It's not your job to cut people off because they're genuinely seeking Christ and are currently finding Him in a different way at the moment. With your love and prayers, who knows where they'll be in the future?
I'd suggest talking with your spiritual father / priest about what exactly this looks like in your life, with your friends.
@@stevenchristoforou1667 I actually agree with you 100%... I guess I just wanted confirmation. Thank you for your reply. God bless you. ❤️
God's calling me to something.....but I can't quite figure out what the heck it is yet.
That's ok! It can take time (and the support of others in our lives who can help us figure out God's call).
May God help you see what He's calling you to do and be!
@@stevenchristoforou1667 All I know is that I went from being an agnostic with no interest in religion for all of my life to sending an email to the priest of the closest Greek Orthodox church on Christmas Day. .....to now feeling seriously bothered that I won't be able to make it to all of the Great Compline services this week.
People at the church ask me where I came from....am I visitor from another parish....am I converting from some other church....I just tell them that I came from nowhere...because I really did.
All I know is that I'm supposed to be there, but I can't explain why.
@@Maine-Life Glory to God! It's ok if you can't explain it. If that where you're supposed to be, then be there!
And if you can't make it to all the services, that's ok. Just do your best!
You're from Astoria?? Also that's a pick of Sunnyside, not Astoria, lol.
Stock footage is hard to come by. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
how would you know that God is calling you?
That's a good question. And hard to answer.
We process these things in community with people who love us and who can help guide us spiritually: a spiritual father, pious friends, etc.
It's not something that's easy to discern in isolation.
Eastern Orthodox is different from ORTHODOX Christianity. I was raised Orthodox, but have embraced God and Christ now dispensing with religious ceremonialism. I have now also found out after many years, on this path/long long journey and difficult road of life, that there are differences with the Orthodox ((compared to mainstream or other protestant or non catholic)) theology as far as salvation doctrine or belief...
& I dont know what to make of it.
Christ was a living sacrifice, the passover lamb of God -from Jewish tradition, and who died for our sins, took the full wrath of God in our place he paid the debt (for the wages of sin is death) and died as a substitutionary offering dying in our place so we may live. I dont feel I put christ there, yes people turned on him, ((well yes His own people who welcomed him at first, and the plot by the ruling authorities who believe he blasphemed by making himself equal with God, though he spoke mainly in parables to keep some mystery from them, but spoke plainly when asked directly if they could comprehend he was actually the son of God but also God incaenate, God come to earth as flesh which insensed them)) but sin did put Christ in a place of a sin offering ((abrahams offering of His son to God when asked to sacrifice his son Isaac was a type of Christ)) and we are all sinners until we come to confess Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
The resurrection proves that Christ arose to eternal life which we also recieve after we become Christian, showing us the glorified state and body we will have in eternity, not the power of the act itself brings salvation, all that was completed on the cross. His going to the depths to get the keys means he overcame Satan and got back the scepter of authority *FROM HELL, of the rule and throne/dominion usurped by the devil when adam and eve sinned in the garden and lost the everlasting life, (which also we still would have if not for their disobedience) which also brought sin and death upon them and all who follow, corrupting Gods perfect world and plan *& bringing with it SICKNESS DISEASE AND DEATH BOTH PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL, SEPARATION FROM GOD...
So by one man sin came into the world, & by one sin was taken out of it -to those who choose to believe in Jesus Christ, that He WAS The one and only begotten son of GOD. HALLELUJAH praise the Lord, to our mighty wonderful gracious merciful God and Lord who stands at the right hand of the Father, and is equal to Him. And for the Holy Spirit. Blessings in the name of ALL THREE, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit
This is in response to some of what Ive learned about from a couple of videos with people visiting Orthodox churches and talking to a Greek orthodox priest about salbation... redemptive theology I.think.he called it, or what he said catholic and protestants believe, but I dont gel with what they said or elsewhere that I saw something about the theology, so my learning is based in the bible, although I did go to some "english" type churches earlier on, but some were detrimental like AOG tupe. I think baptist seems like the closest apart from being brought up.Orthodox and thinking till now that most of the important doctrines were the same... now I understand why mum is so anti changing or moving away from Orthodox tradition... people have to.live BY THE TRUTH, only THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE. So I still pray they will come to a SAVING knowledge of God, not just a feel good ethnic community oriented we do it to belong with our people group.type of belief. I never felt a belonging beyond my childhood and going with my parents to our Serbian.Orthodox church with a wonderful priest who was truly man of God. Not that I can say I.understood much, just did as I was told to please my.mum when she said light candles and stuff for passed relatives, then standing to hear stuff I barely understood even in our language, until I was a lot older and became more interested in the things of God and the bible
@@jujujewel2172 I'm glad you're taking steps to better know Christ!
I'm curious what you mean about "dispensing with religious ceremonialism." Could you explain?
And I'm curious how your "learning is based in the bible" alone? Even in the Bible we don't see that.
@@stevenchristoforou1667 Oh hey from Australia mate! No I didnt say the bible alone, but the bible as the main tool, the text Gods words, the theology I learned by reading the bible about Christ and salvation in the new testament but also went to some english churches, some bad ones which a priest told me was a "secta" sect, which I didnt understand because they taught about God from His word, but they do have some strange ideas and practices, and religious dogma with the confirming of faith by tongue speaking and spiritual gifts, being an AOG PENTECOSTAL type. That was earlier on. Later found better, and have been to bible college for a few courses some years ago. It took a long time, long process and still learning, and UN LEARNING wrong stuff which is akin or maybe just was religious abuse. There I said it, AOG in Australia put me off pentecostals and those who believe in certain gifts like the glossalia that is not the known languages of the tongues spoken at the day of Pentecost
@@stevenchristoforou1667 I will answer the rest later, getting late here now, but thanks for the reply and being interested enough to reply :)
@@jujujewel2172 Hi from the USA!
Yeah, I think it's important that we learn how to understand the Bible. The question is: who can teach us?
We made a video on this:
Be the Bee #128 | How to Read the Bible
ruclips.net/video/zFmov78GdBQ/видео.html
#129 is missing?
do, do, do, do
do, do, do, do
The Twilight Zone o.O
Yeah, there's some glitch with RUclips that marked it as a deleted duplicate video. We've contacted RUclips to bring the video back.
what happened to episode 129?
It disappeared for a while because of a RUclips glitch, but it's back now!
Former Eastern Orthodox Christian, now agnostic. One of the main reasons I left was the sheer loneliness of being the only Orthodox convert in my home town.
I'm so sorry to hear this!
Was there no Orthodox community in your home town?
: (
I am an Orthodox Christian and there are more than 40% Orthodox Christians ur not anlone