I, after some time, have come to the conclusion that the Orthodox faith is indeed the original church of Christ. Sadly, none are near me. In fact, the area is devoid of any good churches. Watching online has helped, but that is becoming not enough.
Consider the struggle and environmental factors the Jews endured for God. Consider that God is gathering his gentiles to specific areas just as a shepherd protects his flock. The church’s may be beacons for us to move towards.
Try to contact the specific Archdiocese thst you would be under depending on your area, perhaps they can assist in setting up a mission for your area, until then pray and endure, many have been in your situation, think of the "God-fearers" (Romans who would pay tribute to the God of Israel, most of whom would become the first major group of Gentile Christians after Christ came) who would stand outside of the Temple and Synagogue, be patient, and trust that God will give you a path towards His Church
@@PatronSaintSpyridon Are you a Christian Zionists? the Jews endured for God but you don't mention the first Christians or the Christians who currently live in places like Bethlehem and Gaza?
This is interesting. I'm a religious Jew, but have discussed with my son which type of Christianity we'd gravitate towards if we were Christian. We both said "Orthodox".
I was an unbeliever a decade ago and gradually found my faith in Christ. Wanting a connection and path Christ didnt seem clear until I discovered orthodoxy, it's beautiful and ornate, ancient and rich in tradition. I love its history and I really think if more people knew of orthodoxy in the west it would take over and look forward to its future
I just finished „Arise, O God“ - what a wonferfull book! I seem to be on a similar journey as yourself and I want to thank you for this video and especially your recommendations at the end. Half of the books I read already so I just knew I would love the ones I did not yet! Thank you!
good video i am an orthodox Christian from Ethiopia. our church has been around ever since the beginning. orthodox contains most things that are found in Protestantism and so much more. which means an orthodox has everything protestants have , but not the other way around. our church is not reformed , we stay true to the gospel and Jesus , we also have the same belief through out the world. orthodox is like Christ , humble filled with humility , strict and with a higher quality. im sure the more you understand things the more you will love it.
ROCOR (The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) Synod unanimously issued the 1983 Anathema Against Ecumenism, which all World Orthodox Churches (members of the World Council of Churches and/or praying with any WCC member churches), fell under.
Does one have to bow/kiss an icon? Or is simply having them up and in an icon corner enough as respect and veneration towards the them(the saints and Mary)??
@@isaac941. I would say both are considered veneration to varying degrees. But when someone says they “venerated an icon,” they mean they kissed the icon and showed the saint depicted within reverence.
@@Ignis.lex.ignis.gratia nice! that's part of it. did you remember to keep the Sabbath Holy from friday evening until the next evening? did you attend church as Christians do -- Lev 23:3, Luke 4:16 ?? remember, friend -- the system which tampered with God's Holy Command, they even admit to doing this apostasy.
@@Ignis.lex.ignis.gratia but if it's contradictory to God's Word, there is no truth in it -- Isaiah 8:20 and Christians are not to add to God's doctrine -- Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, Revelation 22:18 again, catholicism is not Christianity, but a pagan counterfeit.
Scripture verses refuting Solafide 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 2 Corinthians 7:10 Matthew 7:21 Matthew 24:9-14 Matthew 25:31-43 Philippians 2:12-13 2 Corinthians 6:1 James 2:14-24 Matthew 7:13-14 1 Peter 5:11
1) Early chapters of Matthew are Jesus before crucifiction teaching the lost JEWS. In Matthew 10:5 Jesus excludes Gentiles from the Gospel temporarily. 2) James is not the Gospel. Galatians 2:13 clearly shows that James - men in his company - and Peter were in error and were rebuked by Paul. James is a communal book. 3) 1. and 2. Corinthians is not about Sin in faith but Sin outside of faith that leads to condemnation. Discern between sin in Christ/sin outside of Christ "that leads to death". 4) 1 Peter is the Gospel of Christ unto the circumcision which is the same Gospel but a different target audience than the uncircumcision (Galatians 2:7). The peculiar laguage of both Peter and Paul was missunderstood by the "Judaizers" (see 2 Peter 3:16) who taught people to "work out" their salvation by adhering to God's law (like catholics an orthodox do). Verses that prove Sola Fide. Romans 4:4-5: >Christians who are "asebes" (a wicked slothful servant = ungodly) are saved by faith in the one who declares them righteous despite their wickedness as passive recipients of a positve divine judgment and purification< Romans 10:9: >if you confess [...] "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that he was raised by God you will be saved< Romans 8:39 >by no means can a man lose their salvation and the love that Christ has for them< Ephesians 2:8 >believers are SEALED by the Holy Spirit. Belief and Salvation is NOT of your own; you are the passive recipient of the Sealing of the Spirit< Anyone who teaches that faith needs works confusing James to be Gospel against the book of Galatians 3:16; is dragging people to hell and is a pharisee (Matthew 23:13)...
@@untoages that’s the point, if you are truly saved you will have works. So your faith and God’s grace saves you, and proof of that salvation is in your works
I listened to your reasonings behind your change in beliefs regarding sola scriptura, sola fide, ect. It seems like you really just touched the tip of the iceberg with those topics considering your reasons are all carbon copy line-by-line arguments that are easily challenged by any theologically educated non-EO/non-RC. Many protestants don't believe that faith is just a mental ascension and that tradition complements the scriptures. It sounds like the protestant doctrines you grew up with were shallow theologically. People like Gavin Ortlund and "the other Paul" are resources that have good perspectives on these topics that I'm sure you've heard of already but I figured id give examples. I hope the Eastern Orthodox church brings you closer to God but I would just caution falling into the trap of placing your faith in an institution rather than Jesus himself.
I’m familiar with Gavin’s work and I’m not particularly compelled by it personally. He seems to discount historical context and presumes Protestant dogma from the start, which I think is clearly an innovation that the early Christians didn’t believe. I appreciate your concern, but the Church is not simply a human institution. It is God-ordained and Jesus Himself promised the gates of hell would not prevail against it. The issue with considering the Church “just a human institution” is it writes off much of the New Testament and belittles God and His promise to preserve His body.
You follow Luther more than Christ if protestant. Luther just took away books from scripture. So what stops anybody from taking away or adding any books to scripture? Who decides? Prots are basically their own God, or idolaters, as in the end, the most authoritative guidance for every prot is himself. Orthodox Christians have for 2000 years split unto 3 churches. Prots split unto 40 000 churches in a span of 500 years.
Ha! I appreciate that. Merch isn’t out of the question, but I’d need to grow the channel a bit more and increase demand to justify that investment. Maybe one day!
46:21 you are saying Christ is equal to God. Therefore, that triangle where God is first and Jesus and the Holy spirit are inferior, is kinda...unnecessary, to say the least. Liked the video though
48:12 also, why doesn't the church need a head? If the women need men to be their head, and men need Jesus as their head. Why would it be wrong for the church to have a head on this earth? Meaning, actual authority.
56:00 we, Catholics, also call Mary the mother of God on many occasions. On our most popular prayer about Mary, that is what we say. It is the Ave Maria, and we literally call her "mother of God", at least in Spanish. I don't know if that prayer varies from language to language.
@@sol_di_14 I’m saying Jesus has a divine nature and is part of the Godhead. He reveals this in various ways in the gospels. I’m not sure where you got the idea of me believing the other two members are inferior.
@@untoagesPeter was the head of the church in the beginning, I am talking about this plane, this earth. Why would it be wrong for the church to have a physical head and authority? Having multiple authorities is like having multiple presidents, or each state of a country being totally autonomous, to me at least.
I am sympathetic. But regarding Roman Catholicism I smell a little protestantism still there? I am undecided but I get a bit hesitant as I see some Western Orthos prottish dislike of Catholicism. I'm very sympathetic to other Orthos though
@@heinoschaapman1584 Protestants and Orthodox actually agree on a lot of things when it comes to Catholicism. But my criticism of Catholicism is largely the same as Protestantism - they evolved, innovated, and strayed from the faith that was handed down to them. You’re free to investigate Catholicism for yourself, this was just my assessment of it.
1:22:33 - faith as faithfulness- I need help understanding how this works. I don't see any reason to systematically import faithfulness into faith, instead of using faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" as an internal definition from Hebrews 11, and faith as "shown by what I do" from James. Why not see faith as an exercise of the will, distinct from law-works, but known by faith-fruits to others, even while internally a convinced hopeful assurance of unseen things, particularly the righteousness of Christ in our place?
You can’t separate the two aspects. If Abraham believed God but didn’t obey him, then he didn’t have faith. Alternatively, it’s not clear how Abraham would have obeyed God but not believed him. So the obedience is the clear sign of faith. And lack of obedience is a clear sign of lack of faith. So I don’t see how you can say faith is just a mental exercise? If you read Romans 4:16-22, you see that Abraham being convinced of God’s ability to perform is the reason for faith being accounted as righteousness. But think about what this means, if I tell you to give me $5 and I will invest it and give you $100 tomorrow, and you don’t give me the $5, surely you don’t believe that I’m going to do that? And so Abraham being convinced meant that he actually followed through with action. If he didn’t follow through with action and just “mentally believed” it would not be accounted to him for righteousness. That’s the sense of replacing faith with faithfulness, but I think as modern people we separate the two ideas too much, there’s a reason Greek uses one word for both, they’re absolutely inseparable.
Respectfully, this is another testimony of a Protestant leaving the faith without a good understanding of it ! But at least you stayed Christian…. So God Speed to ya brother !
Raised Baptist, spent my adult life in a Calvary Chapel nondenominational church, newly illumined communicant. My catechism path has ended and orthodox journey has commenced! Glory to God!
Greetings from Colombia 🇨🇴 in south america I also became Orthodox last year ☦️ i use to be roman catholic. We are an small comunity but is growing so fast All glory to Christ
After researching the church history I am too going towards orthodox Christianity for sure. I believe this is the true church and I need to find a church near me that is orthodox
Very similar story. I was southern Baptist in Alabama but watched on RUclips the Josiah Trenham rock and sand interview. After watching I walked around my neighborhood in stunned silence for over an hour in complete shock thinking I had to know more. Eventually concluded the Orthodox Church was the church Christ established at Pentecost
@@sethjackson3078 when I told my wife about this she initially cried and had to go to therapy so it was not a great start haha. But the biggest thing has been not solely making historical or logical arguments but also living it out. If I had to guess the reaction will be negative but if you are living it out they’ll see the change in you and wonder what it’s all about.
I want to say, wonderful video. I've been looking into Orthodoxy for a while and out of all the videos nothing has gotten me closer to converting and accepting Orthodoxy than this video. this video may have been the absolute last push I needed to get me to Orthodoxy and for that I thank you dearly, may God have mercy on you brother.
Well done, young man, well done! I was born and raised in Savannah, GA. Growing up I had Greek friends and even played basketball for their Parish. Alas being Episcopalian at the time, I just viewed them as nothing more than a Greek Country Club. How wrong I was, right? Fast forward 50 years and it finds me in another deeply Southern City, baptized and chrisimated for two years now. I've never been happier! And here I was thinking that I was the only theological schizophrenic! New subscriber because of your upload!
After escaping the claws of the devil and breaking free from the prison of atheism I took a hard look at religions and in my opinion Orthodox Christianity is the closest to Jesus Christ and his teachings ☦️
Thank you so much, I forwarded this to my sister and Brother who are protestants and prideful. And I can'ttalk to them because they really intimidate me.. thank you
my protestant/baptist family lacks understanding because they don't have an ear for it. They think intercession is idol worship , and that Orthodox are going to hell...
Read the epistle of James to them. And tell them that intercession is like them praying for someone. And that condemning others is a sin and shows pride and wrath. Hope that'll help you, it's really sad that there's such a devide in your family.
@@orthoclips2k24 i recently came across the "it's like paying for somebody" notion- and it appears to be the actual disposition of the Orthodox. You are asking brothers and sisters in Christ to ALSO appeal to Christ for/with you. I do not see the Catholics as carrying the same disposition - especially when it comes to "Mommy Mary".
This is so well explained and sussinct. All of it describes the reasons I became an Orthodox Christian. May it be Blessed and Gods will be done! All glory to God!
@@untoages does orthodox believe and keep Exodus 20:8-11, the 7th day Sabbath, as the Bible shows us? or does it bow to the papacy and pretend the 1st day is the Lord's day? sincere question. thanks for your time, Sir.
The Orthodox Church does not bow to the papacy; Rome is not in Communion with us, and we do not recognize the Pope's self-appointed "authority" over all other bishops. For the first 1,054 years of Christianity, there were no "denominations," only the Church, and all bishops had authority within their own sees, or areas of influence. The bishop of Rome, now referred to by Roman Papists as the Pope, was simply considered a position of honor--the first among equals. There was no historical precedent for the bishop of Rome having "authority" over any other bishops, as the structure of the Church was collegiate. The Orthodox still consider the Sabbath to be civil calendar Saturday, but our liturgical life revolves around the Divine Liturgy, which is the mini-Easter celebrated every first day (every Sunday), as it is truly a foretaste of the Kingdom in the age to come which will have no end.
@@evanrico3244 'easter' is pagan, Sir -- created by catholicism. and nothing in Scripture directs us to follow the papacy in pretending the 1st day is the Lord's day. in fact, Jesus resurrected and ascended and the NT was written decades later -- there is absolutely zero support for anyone pretending the Sabbath Command has changed. does this church at least keep the 7th day Holy?
@@evanrico3244 you also stated that , 'there were no 'denominations', only the Church...' -- i agree. yet that church has specific criteria -- see 1 Tim 3:15 and John 14:15 -- can't be His church if you're not following these. no sunday church follows these, Sir. and as for a 'foretaste of the kingdom' to come, see Isaiah 66:22-23 we will still be keeping Holy the 7th day Sabbath in God's Kingdom.
Stories of Saints Praise God for all of Eternity!!!❤️🔥👑🪽 ruclips.net/p/PL0AwxAWi5VQ3gHLr7oqFHfSKWS9l-LfvP&si=ZWAGR40W7Wi6gIIS Oh Heavenly Father hallowed be thy name, we come to you today in repentance of our sins. We have seen the error of our ways and how sin leads us to seperation from you and our true selves. We ask for deliverance from the evil one, and the wisdom to see the traps that are set for us. Guide us closer to purity so we may reside in your grace in this life, and so we may join you in the eternal realms and not be turned away because of our unclean souls. Make us clean again, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the name of Jesus Christ, for he opened up the gates of heaven so we may be made worthy and come home. I love you more than anything Father!!!!Jesus have mercy on our souls!!!! Amen!!!!❤️🔥👑🪽 HALLELUJAH!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!
I have been experiencing a very similar journey. From non-denominational to an Orthodox inquirer. A desire to better understand my theological positions became a full-on deep dive into Church history and theology. As someone from the South, I used to think there was only Protestantism and Catholicism. All glory to God in allowing me to find the true apostolic faith.
9:36 The Great Schism happened between Rome and Constantinople/Alexandria/Antioch/Jerusalem + GEORGIA (Georgia was already autocephalous in 1054 AD and its head bishop was called Catholicos-Patriarch since 1010 AD).
My friend attended the same church when we were at Fort Gordon together. He's the one who opened me up to orthodoxy, and I bought a book called Saint silouan, the athonite. Life changing.
Grew up nondenom protestant, and as a result became agnostic in my teen and early adult years. Politically leaned heavily into anarchy and punk culture. Eventually learned about Death to the World, Justin Marler and his journey, John Valadez, and soon started to seek why so many just like me, seemingly so sudden-like, were pulled to Orthodoxy. I hadn't known of Orthodoxy except that it was very common in Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union satellite states. Having done much research of general fascination and curiosity, my lack of faith started to recede and a small blossom has taken it's place. We have visited two churches, and have two more to try before we fully leap in. But I'm sold on it. Orthodox goers are truly blessed and authentic followers of Christ which was something I could feel a lack of in Protestantism. Glory to God!
I’d also like to add; yes, we know Christ is the only way to the Father. No, we don’t have to ask for Intercession. We know this. We do it because we each have our favourite Saints whom we have a connection with and it feels nice to pray with them. We know we don’t have to do that, but it feels good to pray with someone who is a flawed sinner just like us and reminds us that even the biggest sinners can repent and it’s part of our tradition going back thousands of years
I am a catechumen and really feel zero connection to the saints. I want to fit in but for example, kissing the icons. I kiss them, but it just feels odd to me. I hope I'm able to conform because I do appreciate orthodoxy.
@@clbaird40 Beloved, first thing I’d say to you is you’re trying too hard. These things come naturally with time. Nobody expects you to have a Patron Saint except yourself. Christianity is lifelong commitment, so sit tight and avoid burning yourself out. Second: Relax, breathe. It’s ok, you don’t have to “fit in” in the way that it sounds like you want to. Third: read about the lives of the Saints. There are so many resources available for you to look into. Eventually, you’ll come across one that is a spitting image of you and that is likely to be the Saint you most connect with. Start with the Beloved Theotokos. She’s my favourite. Ask her to bring your prayers to her Son and our God. Welcome, beloved. It’s a journey, and be patient with yourself. Christ walks with you always. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
@@clbaird40 The Saints are with us at every Divine Liturgy. The empty spaces in the Nave are filled with them. Read the life of St. Spirydon of Trimethus.
@@clbaird40i was born orthodox and felt this way too before I had the chance and time to grow in my faith (I still consider myself immature in that sense). It helps reading about them, and understanding that these are real people that lived and went through all the temptations you did, and struggled even, but that they loved Christ more that themselves. I highly recommend the book Confessions of Saint Augustine- for me it feels like having a companion, someone dear to my heart that I look up to.
A couple years ago, before I became orthodox, I was reading this “Bible” written by some man who claimed to have the Spirit, and doing edibles. Long story short I got possessed, saw this powerful light who I believed was Jesus, and knew immediately that calling yourself “saved” meant you believe your works here warrant your place next to that light. I knew it would be impossible to even come close to that. Shortly after this experience, I found Jay dyer and fr spyridon talking about prelest. Which then led to orthodoxy and the answers to all my questions regarding church and faith. Converting from pentecostal and knowing there’s a church who’s teaching I can submit to was easy tbh. I’ve learned more in two years than my entire life (granted the Lord gave me desire to know truth), but the hard part is my gf/family do not see what I see. But I get why all the kids I grew up with in Protestant churches are atheists now. Apostolic teaching, traditions, reverence, everything is lost. Imo, To claim grape juice and crackers being just a symbol has had consequences that can’t even be quantified bc nothing has actual significance
Wow, that’s an incredible and wild story. Thank you for sharing! Continue to pray for your girlfriend and family and show forth fruits of repentance. Perhaps they will come and see in time.
Ive been inquiring for a while and the more I am learning I find it heartbreaking realizing how truly distorted the perception of Christinaity is . Thanks for this wonderful video. Lord jesus have mercy on us all .
I’m grateful for my time in a Methodist church and the many great people I’ve met and the guidance they’ve given me but my heart is so stirred by orthodoxy. The lives of the saints are such incredible evidence of the God’s presence. I just want to seek Christ in his fullness
The specific point I brought up about Protestants being at Vatican II was pulled from Kyle’s very first video. However, he goes through a lot very quickly in that video and only briefly addresses the fact that non-Catholics were invited to Vatican II. That’s all I have off the top of my head unfortunately, but perhaps others will have some suggestions as well.
Thank you. My son is Orthodox and has been helping me unlearn my Protestant belief system. I knew there was something more, as my husband and I parted from the Protestant church, several of them actually, because of contradictory and heretical teachings. We began to see even unholy behavior and started seeking Truth. There are two Orthodox churches near me; one Russian, the other Greek, my son attend the Russian. I go with him about once a month, and want to go more. There are many things I still don't understand but I truly believe I'm on the right path. This video helped me allot, so thank you! ☺️
You mentioned around the 30 minute mark that what you believe affects how you live. I think that that is actually backwards and part if the problem that protestants have. I truly think action comes first then belief. The Protestant that believes they can do what they want and not lose their salvation believes so because they already do what they want.
Good video brother and I love Orthodoxy. But determining which is the most accurate isn’t easy. I’m an ex pastor myself with many degrees in theology. I later became an Ortho catechumen and was for 5 long years just to make sure. But during those years, I also studied Roman Catholicism and took their catechism. Eventually, I saw their way as more accurate or making more sense to me. So I became Roman Catholic. After a couple of years, I regretted it and because of further studies, I came back to the east and ended up becoming Eastern Orthodox. I loved Orthodoxy and the orthodox liturgy all seemed so amazing. After many years, as an orthodox and working my way up as a warden, and then parish councilman to a reader and subdeacon while studying orthodox theology for many years, I started seeing holes and cracks in their claims. I saw where several Eastern Saints and patriarchs even modern ones now pointed towards Rome and the pope and stated how he was very important and needed. After seeing all this proof, it was undeniable and hard to get around, among many other claims the orthodox make that I found holes in that wasn’t actually true. So after Going back and reading the Saints and councils all the way back to the beginning everything actually pointed to Rome. So eventually I had no choice, but to go back to Catholicism. I Have now been Roman Catholic for a couple of years again and now working on another masters in Roman Catholic Theology. I just came across your video today. I enjoyed it, though everything you mentioned was but the very, very basics of what you learn in catechism classes. I wished that Orthodoxy was true and i loved it, but I don’t see how. Thanks for your videos and sharing everything. At the end of the day, I believe there are very good holy Christians and saints in both. So it’s all good. 👍 Blessings brother.
I will be converting as well. With that said, this is one of the best videos I’ve listened to on this topic. Your speaking skills are great and your work/production into creating this is very appreciated.
How can we learn ? What’s the way through the uneducated church masses I’m so uneducated in this stuff and it appears my fairy like brain causes ear pain to any around. I’m attracted to the search of green orthodox and watched a utube video about it. I’m a chaotic mess at my best so while I’m trying to heal the dot point dos and don’t s keep some ptsd issues away from Our Lord Im extremely curious and I don’t understand why it’s on my mind everyday since a man told me at the petrol station after my church hunting. Everyday I think of green orthodox in the language Assyrian. If I’m wrong in this comment please forgive me I’m the error
The only problem I have with Orthodox which I would like to join, is the Second council of Nicaea where they anathema those who do not venerate icons. This seems absurd to me, my mother and grandmother have such an immense faith in Christ that I could never hope to achieve and yet they are Baptist I know them by their fruits as they have always given to those less fortunate even when we did not have enough for ourselves. How can women as good as this be anathema to hell. This seems a completely arbitrary rule. I could accept all other tenets of orthodoxy except this one.
Your mother and grandmother are not Orthodox so nobody condemns them to hell.Talk to a Orthodox priest and he will clarify this and your other concerns better than anyone on the internet.
Nobody condemns your mother or grandmother to hell. Please find an Orthodox priest and he will explain this and other concerns better than anyone on the internet.
I'm happy to hear you are open to finding the truth! I came from a very traditional Catholic background and have never looked back for the last 13 years since converting to Orthodoxy. I was pleasantly surprised on many levels. I went to a Greek Orthodox monastery for vespers while Catholic and I was apologizing to a monk that I wasn't Orthodox. He said, don't worry, you have an even better chance of making it to heaven . He was very sincere and humble . I didn't believe what he said because I could see it came from his humility but it did soften me. 3 years later, I was Orthodox.
Anathemas are given as a correction to heresy and a warning to others. That being said, God is gracious and accounts for human ignorance in His judgement. It’s not your fault that you or others didn’t know about this council before; but now you do. We are all fallen and no one is given the perfect guideline to the spiritual life. We can trust that God loves those whom love Him. And yes, as the other commenter said, speak more about this with a priest.
What a beautiful story. Very familiar to my own, but it wasn't until around 30 where God literally caused miraculous occurrences, on top of my historical and biblical searching, that finally brought me to Holy Orthodoxy. I cant wait to watch the rest of this. But it's awesome to hear others go through such a similar walk as I. God bless you! Welcome home, my brother in Christ Jesus! I'd love to ask you some questions about your situation with your family or friends, as this was/is a very difficult issue for me.
Thank you! Most of my family has been accepting of my conversion (thankfully). I’ve even sent this series to them and it has led to fruitful conversations. In part, that’s why I made it. Same with friends - some may ask questions, but none have been particularly antagonistic about my conversion. But I understand it can be difficult in certain situations - I’ve heard the horror stories from some of my other Orthodox convert friends.
Welcome to The Orthodox faith. Just guard the church from being co-opted by evil , self serving men with political aspirations. Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. Render unto God that which is God's.
I have been researching and studying the Bible for three years as a non-denominational Christian. The more I learn the more I feel drawn to Orthodoxy. My husband, however, has found videos online about a fire that lights every year somewhere in Jerusalem? Or something? And people claim the fire doesn't burn them and all sorts of other things. Well, he cannot find one single video of someone holding the flames to themselves for more than an instant and as a man who has done his fair share of hunting, camping, and playing with fire, he knows that he can do the same thing with any flame and it doesn't burn.... Because of this he doesn't trust Orthodox Christianity at all. He thinks it's bogus. Can anyone help me with this?
@@HopeUnknown I haven’t personally heard that the holy fire doesn’t burn people, but that doesn’t mean that it does or it doesn’t - I’m just unaware of that. I would advise him not to rule out Orthodoxy simply because it doesn’t meet his particular evidentiary standards. This can be fallacious reasoning, argument from silence or personal incredulity. Orthodoxy isn’t about “you” per se, it’s about submitting your will to Christ’s. I had a lot of pride to overcome in coming to Orthodoxy. Instead, I would recommend going to church. “Come and see” is the best evidence for Orthodoxy.
I understand your concern. My son, a recent convert to Orthodoxy, shared with me the videos of what you referenced. The claims seem bogus to me too, especially since this magical lighting is done out of the view of the parishioners. Fortunately, believing in the veracity of these claims isn't part of what an Orthodox christian must believe to be part of the church. It is disturbing though that even a single priest, much less all involved, would take part in something that they know to be fraudulent. Of course, this is my knee-jerk skeptical view, which is NOT well-informed.
I was very anti-christian for years. I started studying different religions more thoroughly the last couple of years. I have to admit that Orthodox Christianity seems interesting, but I still don't believe in the trinity. It doesn't make sense.
@@ag-88802 I will say Orthodoxy is the most properly-Trinitarian Christian body out there. We’re constantly invoking the name of the Trinity throughout the services, making the sign of the cross, etc. I’d recommend speaking to a priest about it. While the Trinity is certainly a very complex topic, it is also a mystery that has been revealed to us. We don’t feel at liberty to say more than we know about God.
I, after some time, have come to the conclusion that the Orthodox faith is indeed the original church of Christ. Sadly, none are near me. In fact, the area is devoid of any good churches. Watching online has helped, but that is becoming not enough.
Yes
Consider the struggle and environmental factors the Jews endured for God. Consider that God is gathering his gentiles to specific areas just as a shepherd protects his flock. The church’s may be beacons for us to move towards.
Try to contact the specific Archdiocese thst you would be under depending on your area, perhaps they can assist in setting up a mission for your area, until then pray and endure, many have been in your situation, think of the "God-fearers" (Romans who would pay tribute to the God of Israel, most of whom would become the first major group of Gentile Christians after Christ came) who would stand outside of the Temple and Synagogue, be patient, and trust that God will give you a path towards His Church
Consider making a trip sometime, even if it’s far away! God bless your journey 🙏🏻
@@PatronSaintSpyridon Are you a Christian Zionists? the Jews endured for God but you don't mention the first Christians or the Christians who currently live in places like Bethlehem and Gaza?
This is interesting. I'm a religious Jew, but have discussed with my son which type of Christianity we'd gravitate towards if we were Christian. We both said "Orthodox".
Christos Anesti! Greetings from Greece!
Alithos Anesti! I just left Greece this morning after visiting Mt. Athos for the first time. I love how faithful your people are in Greece!
I was an unbeliever a decade ago and gradually found my faith in Christ. Wanting a connection and path Christ didnt seem clear until I discovered orthodoxy, it's beautiful and ornate, ancient and rich in tradition. I love its history and I really think if more people knew of orthodoxy in the west it would take over and look forward to its future
I was a seven day advent I almost lost my way due to the atheist of this world this video is helping me understand a lot about the christian world
Thank you for this. I recently have stumbled on to orthodoxy and things make so much more sense
I just finished „Arise, O God“ - what a wonferfull book!
I seem to be on a similar journey as yourself and I want to thank you for this video and especially your recommendations at the end. Half of the books I read already so I just knew I would love the ones I did not yet! Thank you!
Glory to God!
Dude. 5 stars. Thanks for this effort
Very similar to my experience. I love your channel it's been a big part of my journey.
good video i am an orthodox Christian from Ethiopia. our church has been around ever since the beginning. orthodox contains most things that are found in Protestantism and so much more. which means an orthodox has everything protestants have , but not the other way around. our church is not reformed , we stay true to the gospel and Jesus , we also have the same belief through out the world. orthodox is like Christ , humble filled with humility , strict and with a higher quality. im sure the more you understand things the more you will love it.
This is very high quality stuff.
ROCOR (The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) Synod unanimously issued the 1983 Anathema Against Ecumenism, which all World Orthodox Churches (members of the World Council of Churches and/or praying with any WCC member churches), fell under.
Glory to God ❤
Does one have to bow/kiss an icon? Or is simply having them up and in an icon corner enough as respect and veneration towards the them(the saints and Mary)??
@@isaac941. I would say both are considered veneration to varying degrees. But when someone says they “venerated an icon,” they mean they kissed the icon and showed the saint depicted within reverence.
Attended my first Divine Liturgy on Sunday. Changed my life forever❤
why not on Sabbath -- the Lord's day?
@@tony1685 I rested after work on Friday evening.
@@Ignis.lex.ignis.gratia nice! that's part of it. did you remember to keep the Sabbath Holy from friday evening until the next evening?
did you attend church as Christians do -- Lev 23:3, Luke 4:16 ??
remember, friend -- the system which tampered with God's Holy Command, they even admit to doing this apostasy.
@@tony1685 My dear friend, there is much more to read in the Christian faith.
@@Ignis.lex.ignis.gratia but if it's contradictory to God's Word, there is no truth in it -- Isaiah 8:20
and Christians are not to add to God's doctrine -- Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, Revelation 22:18
again, catholicism is not Christianity, but a pagan counterfeit.
In this Church Christ is living for ages. God Bless you all my Brothers!
I'm a former baptist too hoping to become orthodox I'm glad i'm not the only one
Scripture verses refuting Solafide
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
2 Corinthians 7:10
Matthew 7:21
Matthew 24:9-14
Matthew 25:31-43
Philippians 2:12-13
2 Corinthians 6:1
James 2:14-24
Matthew 7:13-14
1 Peter 5:11
1) Early chapters of Matthew are Jesus before crucifiction teaching the lost JEWS. In Matthew 10:5 Jesus excludes Gentiles from the Gospel temporarily.
2) James is not the Gospel. Galatians 2:13 clearly shows that James - men in his company - and Peter were in error and were rebuked by Paul. James is a communal book.
3) 1. and 2. Corinthians is not about Sin in faith but Sin outside of faith that leads to condemnation. Discern between sin in Christ/sin outside of Christ "that leads to death".
4) 1 Peter is the Gospel of Christ unto the circumcision which is the same Gospel but a different target audience than the uncircumcision (Galatians 2:7). The peculiar laguage of both Peter and Paul was missunderstood by the "Judaizers" (see 2 Peter 3:16) who taught people to "work out" their salvation by adhering to God's law (like catholics an orthodox do).
Verses that prove Sola Fide.
Romans 4:4-5: >Christians who are "asebes" (a wicked slothful servant = ungodly) are saved by faith in the one who declares them righteous despite their wickedness as passive recipients of a positve divine judgment and purification<
Romans 10:9: >if you confess [...] "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that he was raised by God you will be saved<
Romans 8:39 >by no means can a man lose their salvation and the love that Christ has for them<
Ephesians 2:8 >believers are SEALED by the Holy Spirit. Belief and Salvation is NOT of your own; you are the passive recipient of the Sealing of the Spirit<
Anyone who teaches that faith needs works confusing James to be Gospel against the book of Galatians 3:16; is dragging people to hell and is a pharisee (Matthew 23:13)...
1:00 "How I left the love of my youth" or "How I left the true faith to worship idols".
This is a valuable resource to refer people to.
Thank you! I pray it has been and will continue to be edifying for people 🙏🏻
🕊️♥️🔥
Is it necessary to do good to get salvation, or is true salvation shown through doing good?
God determines the Canon of the Bible, he led the councils to choose the right books. The councils didn’t have the authority without God.
@@dreamzone4427 It’s both and. You’re thinking too much about the process in a legalistic way. If you have faith, you will also have works.
@@untoages that’s the point, if you are truly saved you will have works. So your faith and God’s grace saves you, and proof of that salvation is in your works
I listened to your reasonings behind your change in beliefs regarding sola scriptura, sola fide, ect. It seems like you really just touched the tip of the iceberg with those topics considering your reasons are all carbon copy line-by-line arguments that are easily challenged by any theologically educated non-EO/non-RC. Many protestants don't believe that faith is just a mental ascension and that tradition complements the scriptures. It sounds like the protestant doctrines you grew up with were shallow theologically. People like Gavin Ortlund and "the other Paul" are resources that have good perspectives on these topics that I'm sure you've heard of already but I figured id give examples. I hope the Eastern Orthodox church brings you closer to God but I would just caution falling into the trap of placing your faith in an institution rather than Jesus himself.
I’m familiar with Gavin’s work and I’m not particularly compelled by it personally. He seems to discount historical context and presumes Protestant dogma from the start, which I think is clearly an innovation that the early Christians didn’t believe. I appreciate your concern, but the Church is not simply a human institution. It is God-ordained and Jesus Himself promised the gates of hell would not prevail against it. The issue with considering the Church “just a human institution” is it writes off much of the New Testament and belittles God and His promise to preserve His body.
You follow Luther more than Christ if protestant. Luther just took away books from scripture. So what stops anybody from taking away or adding any books to scripture? Who decides? Prots are basically their own God, or idolaters, as in the end, the most authoritative guidance for every prot is himself. Orthodox Christians have for 2000 years split unto 3 churches. Prots split unto 40 000 churches in a span of 500 years.
Please make t-shirts with your channel logo
Ha! I appreciate that. Merch isn’t out of the question, but I’d need to grow the channel a bit more and increase demand to justify that investment. Maybe one day!
🫵😂
46:21 you are saying Christ is equal to God. Therefore, that triangle where God is first and Jesus and the Holy spirit are inferior, is kinda...unnecessary, to say the least.
Liked the video though
48:12 also, why doesn't the church need a head? If the women need men to be their head, and men need Jesus as their head. Why would it be wrong for the church to have a head on this earth? Meaning, actual authority.
56:00 we, Catholics, also call Mary the mother of God on many occasions. On our most popular prayer about Mary, that is what we say. It is the Ave Maria, and we literally call her "mother of God", at least in Spanish. I don't know if that prayer varies from language to language.
@@sol_di_14 I’m saying Jesus has a divine nature and is part of the Godhead. He reveals this in various ways in the gospels. I’m not sure where you got the idea of me believing the other two members are inferior.
@@sol_di_14 The Church does have a head. It is Christ.
@@untoagesPeter was the head of the church in the beginning, I am talking about this plane, this earth. Why would it be wrong for the church to have a physical head and authority?
Having multiple authorities is like having multiple presidents, or each state of a country being totally autonomous, to me at least.
I love how you said "you're not greek, why are you here?" With a russian accent 😂😂
This is how bad my Greek impression is 😅
@@untoages it was cute 😉
I am sympathetic. But regarding Roman Catholicism I smell a little protestantism still there? I am undecided but I get a bit hesitant as I see some Western Orthos prottish dislike of Catholicism. I'm very sympathetic to other Orthos though
@@heinoschaapman1584 Protestants and Orthodox actually agree on a lot of things when it comes to Catholicism. But my criticism of Catholicism is largely the same as Protestantism - they evolved, innovated, and strayed from the faith that was handed down to them. You’re free to investigate Catholicism for yourself, this was just my assessment of it.
1:22:33 - faith as faithfulness- I need help understanding how this works. I don't see any reason to systematically import faithfulness into faith, instead of using faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" as an internal definition from Hebrews 11, and faith as "shown by what I do" from James.
Why not see faith as an exercise of the will, distinct from law-works, but known by faith-fruits to others, even while internally a convinced hopeful assurance of unseen things, particularly the righteousness of Christ in our place?
You can’t separate the two aspects. If Abraham believed God but didn’t obey him, then he didn’t have faith. Alternatively, it’s not clear how Abraham would have obeyed God but not believed him. So the obedience is the clear sign of faith. And lack of obedience is a clear sign of lack of faith. So I don’t see how you can say faith is just a mental exercise?
If you read Romans 4:16-22, you see that Abraham being convinced of God’s ability to perform is the reason for faith being accounted as righteousness. But think about what this means, if I tell you to give me $5 and I will invest it and give you $100 tomorrow, and you don’t give me the $5, surely you don’t believe that I’m going to do that? And so Abraham being convinced meant that he actually followed through with action. If he didn’t follow through with action and just “mentally believed” it would not be accounted to him for righteousness. That’s the sense of replacing faith with faithfulness, but I think as modern people we separate the two ideas too much, there’s a reason Greek uses one word for both, they’re absolutely inseparable.
Respectfully, this is another testimony of a Protestant leaving the faith without a good understanding of it ! But at least you stayed Christian…. So God Speed to ya brother !
Raised Baptist, spent my adult life in a Calvary Chapel nondenominational church, newly illumined communicant. My catechism path has ended and orthodox journey has commenced! Glory to God!
Greetings from Colombia 🇨🇴 in south america
I also became Orthodox last year ☦️ i use to be roman catholic.
We are an small comunity but is growing so fast
All glory to Christ
I am in Medellín, Colombia. Do you know any Orthodox churches here?
Former American Protestant turned Orthodox Christian here ☦️🙌
Christos ANESTI
ALITHOS ANESTI+++
ALITHOS ANESTI
After researching the church history I am too going towards orthodox Christianity for sure. I believe this is the true church and I need to find a church near me that is orthodox
Very similar story. I was southern Baptist in Alabama but watched on RUclips the Josiah Trenham rock and sand interview. After watching I walked around my neighborhood in stunned silence for over an hour in complete shock thinking I had to know more. Eventually concluded the Orthodox Church was the church Christ established at Pentecost
Rock and sand changed everything for me
Same with me, had to ask myself some hard questions after watching Rock and Sand and his other videos
Glory to God ❤
It's crazy I am currently a southern Baptist from Alabama looking to join the Orthodox Church but i am worried about telling my family any tips?
@@sethjackson3078 when I told my wife about this she initially cried and had to go to therapy so it was not a great start haha. But the biggest thing has been not solely making historical or logical arguments but also living it out. If I had to guess the reaction will be negative but if you are living it out they’ll see the change in you and wonder what it’s all about.
The protestantism has left my body
@@PoopDynamyx lol
Former Roman Catholic here, I became an Orthodox Christian ☦🙏
Me too, i´m Colombian now Orthodox
Former Roman Catholic, I also converted to the Eastern Orthodox church
Hi! I am currently deciding whether to become Orthodox. What made you renounce the papacy and filioque? 1:19
May God have mercy on your soul.
@@bigmonkee639 please do not, remain Catholic
I want to say, wonderful video. I've been looking into Orthodoxy for a while and out of all the videos nothing has gotten me closer to converting and accepting Orthodoxy than this video. this video may have been the absolute last push I needed to get me to Orthodoxy and for that I thank you dearly, may God have mercy on you brother.
@@kekultur Wow, glory to God! Thank you for this comment. Now go to church!
@@untoagesCould you please show which video you recommend
Former Baptist to Orthodox. Loving Christ and His glory
Great video man, my journey was very similar to yours. I am now a catechumen in hopes of being baptized sometime next year ☦️☦️☦️
Glory to God!
Glory to God!
Just the concept of a “catechumen” is unbiblical.
{Acts 8:26-40}
Heard gospel > believed > got dunked . . .
Christ Has Risen! ❤️☦️
Ваистину воскресе!
Well done, young man, well done! I was born and raised in Savannah, GA. Growing up I had Greek friends and even played basketball for their Parish. Alas being Episcopalian at the time, I just viewed them as nothing more than a Greek Country Club. How wrong I was, right? Fast forward 50 years and it finds me in another deeply Southern City, baptized and chrisimated for two years now. I've never been happier! And here I was thinking that I was the only theological schizophrenic! New subscriber because of your upload!
Glory to God! I used to live not far from Savannah, actually. I’m happy to hear you’ve found the Church as well!
@untoages
if you were in a military town outside of savannah where to go?
thank you for putting the fear of God back into my life
This is an awesome compliment, thank you! The goal is to point to Christ & His Church with everything on this channel ☦️
So many around the world are now turning to Orthodoxy as the true path to Jesus' teachings and a true community of Christians sharing a common value.
After escaping the claws of the devil and breaking free from the prison of atheism I took a hard look at religions and in my opinion Orthodox Christianity is the closest to Jesus Christ and his teachings ☦️
Thank you so much, I forwarded this to my sister and Brother who are protestants and prideful. And I can'ttalk to them because they really intimidate me.. thank you
Of course! I hope this will foster better discussions between you guys. God bless!
my protestant/baptist family lacks understanding because they don't have an ear for it.
They think intercession is idol worship , and that Orthodox are going to hell...
Read the epistle of James to them. And tell them that intercession is like them praying for someone.
And that condemning others is a sin and shows pride and wrath.
Hope that'll help you, it's really sad that there's such a devide in your family.
@@orthoclips2k24 i recently came across the "it's like paying for somebody" notion- and it appears to be the actual disposition of the Orthodox. You are asking brothers and sisters in Christ to ALSO appeal to Christ for/with you.
I do not see the Catholics as carrying the same disposition - especially when it comes to "Mommy Mary".
So much of this was my own experience and journey to Orthodoxy. Thank you for producing this. It will be shared widely. Glory to God!
This is so well explained and sussinct. All of it describes the reasons I became an Orthodox Christian. May it be Blessed and Gods will be done!
All glory to God!
Greetings from Orthodox Serbia, brother!❤💙🤍☦
Христос Васкрсе!☦
I am Catholic and willing to convert to Orthodox
Glory to God! If you haven’t already, definitely make yourself known at your local Orthodox parish and talk to the priest.
@@untoages does orthodox believe and keep Exodus 20:8-11, the 7th day Sabbath, as the Bible shows us?
or does it bow to the papacy and pretend the 1st day is the Lord's day?
sincere question.
thanks for your time, Sir.
The Orthodox Church does not bow to the papacy; Rome is not in Communion with us, and we do not recognize the Pope's self-appointed "authority" over all other bishops. For the first 1,054 years of Christianity, there were no "denominations," only the Church, and all bishops had authority within their own sees, or areas of influence. The bishop of Rome, now referred to by Roman Papists as the Pope, was simply considered a position of honor--the first among equals. There was no historical precedent for the bishop of Rome having "authority" over any other bishops, as the structure of the Church was collegiate. The Orthodox still consider the Sabbath to be civil calendar Saturday, but our liturgical life revolves around the Divine Liturgy, which is the mini-Easter celebrated every first day (every Sunday), as it is truly a foretaste of the Kingdom in the age to come which will have no end.
@@evanrico3244 'easter' is pagan, Sir -- created by catholicism. and nothing in Scripture directs us to follow the papacy in pretending the 1st day is the Lord's day. in fact, Jesus resurrected and ascended and the NT was written decades later -- there is absolutely zero support for anyone pretending the Sabbath Command has changed.
does this church at least keep the 7th day Holy?
@@evanrico3244 you also stated that , 'there were no 'denominations', only the Church...' -- i agree. yet that church has specific criteria -- see 1 Tim 3:15 and John 14:15 -- can't be His church if you're not following these.
no sunday church follows these, Sir. and as for a 'foretaste of the kingdom' to come, see Isaiah 66:22-23
we will still be keeping Holy the 7th day Sabbath in God's Kingdom.
Stories of Saints
Praise God for all of Eternity!!!❤️🔥👑🪽
ruclips.net/p/PL0AwxAWi5VQ3gHLr7oqFHfSKWS9l-LfvP&si=ZWAGR40W7Wi6gIIS
Oh Heavenly Father hallowed be thy name, we come to you today in repentance of our sins. We have seen the error of our ways and how sin leads us to seperation from you and our true selves. We ask for deliverance from the evil one, and the wisdom to see the traps that are set for us. Guide us closer to purity so we may reside in your grace in this life, and so we may join you in the eternal realms and not be turned away because of our unclean souls. Make us clean again, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the name of Jesus Christ, for he opened up the gates of heaven so we may be made worthy and come home. I love you more than anything Father!!!!Jesus have mercy on our souls!!!! Amen!!!!❤️🔥👑🪽 HALLELUJAH!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!
I am a Muslim eho love Christians but in my opinion orthodox seems the most logical and religious
Excellent video. Keep up the good work brother.! ☦☦☦
I have been experiencing a very similar journey. From non-denominational to an Orthodox inquirer. A desire to better understand my theological positions became a full-on deep dive into Church history and theology. As someone from the South, I used to think there was only Protestantism and Catholicism. All glory to God in allowing me to find the true apostolic faith.
What an awesome explanation brother , God bless you again and again
9:36 The Great Schism happened between Rome and Constantinople/Alexandria/Antioch/Jerusalem + GEORGIA (Georgia was already autocephalous in 1054 AD and its head bishop was called Catholicos-Patriarch since 1010 AD).
Thank you for your testimony.
My friend attended the same church when we were at Fort Gordon together. He's the one who opened me up to orthodoxy, and I bought a book called Saint silouan, the athonite. Life changing.
Grew up nondenom protestant, and as a result became agnostic in my teen and early adult years. Politically leaned heavily into anarchy and punk culture. Eventually learned about Death to the World, Justin Marler and his journey, John Valadez, and soon started to seek why so many just like me, seemingly so sudden-like, were pulled to Orthodoxy. I hadn't known of Orthodoxy except that it was very common in Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union satellite states. Having done much research of general fascination and curiosity, my lack of faith started to recede and a small blossom has taken it's place. We have visited two churches, and have two more to try before we fully leap in. But I'm sold on it. Orthodox goers are truly blessed and authentic followers of Christ which was something I could feel a lack of in Protestantism. Glory to God!
The Orthodox Churches were also invited to attend Vatican II. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) did send observers.
I’d also like to add; yes, we know Christ is the only way to the Father. No, we don’t have to ask for Intercession. We know this. We do it because we each have our favourite Saints whom we have a connection with and it feels nice to pray with them. We know we don’t have to do that, but it feels good to pray with someone who is a flawed sinner just like us and reminds us that even the biggest sinners can repent and it’s part of our tradition going back thousands of years
I am a catechumen and really feel zero connection to the saints. I want to fit in but for example, kissing the icons. I kiss them, but it just feels odd to me. I hope I'm able to conform because I do appreciate orthodoxy.
@@clbaird40 Beloved, first thing I’d say to you is you’re trying too hard. These things come naturally with time. Nobody expects you to have a Patron Saint except yourself. Christianity is lifelong commitment, so sit tight and avoid burning yourself out.
Second: Relax, breathe. It’s ok, you don’t have to “fit in” in the way that it sounds like you want to.
Third: read about the lives of the Saints. There are so many resources available for you to look into. Eventually, you’ll come across one that is a spitting image of you and that is likely to be the Saint you most connect with.
Start with the Beloved Theotokos. She’s my favourite. Ask her to bring your prayers to her Son and our God.
Welcome, beloved. It’s a journey, and be patient with yourself. Christ walks with you always. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
@@clbaird40
The Saints are with us at every Divine Liturgy.
The empty spaces in the Nave are filled with them.
Read the life of St. Spirydon of Trimethus.
@@clbaird40i was born orthodox and felt this way too before I had the chance and time to grow in my faith (I still consider myself immature in that sense). It helps reading about them, and understanding that these are real people that lived and went through all the temptations you did, and struggled even, but that they loved Christ more that themselves. I highly recommend the book Confessions of Saint Augustine- for me it feels like having a companion, someone dear to my heart that I look up to.
You obviously put a lot of time and energy into this video. Excellent production.
Excellent presentation of the main differences between Orthodoxy and the rest
A couple years ago, before I became orthodox, I was reading this “Bible” written by some man who claimed to have the Spirit, and doing edibles. Long story short I got possessed, saw this powerful light who I believed was Jesus, and knew immediately that calling yourself “saved” meant you believe your works here warrant your place next to that light. I knew it would be impossible to even come close to that. Shortly after this experience, I found Jay dyer and fr spyridon talking about prelest. Which then led to orthodoxy and the answers to all my questions regarding church and faith. Converting from pentecostal and knowing there’s a church who’s teaching I can submit to was easy tbh. I’ve learned more in two years than my entire life (granted the Lord gave me desire to know truth), but the hard part is my gf/family do not see what I see. But I get why all the kids I grew up with in Protestant churches are atheists now. Apostolic teaching, traditions, reverence, everything is lost.
Imo, To claim grape juice and crackers being just a symbol has had consequences that can’t even be quantified bc nothing has actual significance
Wow, that’s an incredible and wild story. Thank you for sharing! Continue to pray for your girlfriend and family and show forth fruits of repentance. Perhaps they will come and see in time.
Many Many Thanks !!!!!!!
Ive been inquiring for a while and the more I am learning I find it heartbreaking realizing how truly distorted the perception of Christinaity is . Thanks for this wonderful video. Lord jesus have mercy on us all .
I’m grateful for my time in a Methodist church and the many great people I’ve met and the guidance they’ve given me but my heart is so stirred by orthodoxy. The lives of the saints are such incredible evidence of the God’s presence. I just want to seek Christ in his fullness
@@MichaelJones-vb3lk Visit a liturgy if you haven’t already!
Glory to God for all things!
In this Church Christ is living for ages. God Bless you all my Brothers!
Glory to God! 🙏🏿☦️
This was absolutely amazing and insightful. Clear and concise. I’m currently a reformed Baptist(?) but I am searching…thank you for this. ✨🙏🏽
Thank you for doing this.
It sucks that in my country Catholic and Protestant Churches are the most common there are barely any Orthodox Church.
@@nox22119 I totally hear you! I grew up in an area where Orthodoxy was completely unheard of.
May God bless your professor
im glad to hear for you!!! im still on my journey☦️
Thank you for this.
Former Roman Catholic pushing towards Greek Orthodox but still unsure and remaining non-denominational
Fantastic, I was hoping you'd put all these together in one video.
Thank you, this was an excellent synthesis of all of your videos
Thank YOU for tuning in!
As an Anglican who has felt the pull of Orthodoxy for a few years now, this was very well done and further persuades me
Glory to God!
Become Anglo-Catholic my friend. But in not the Orthodox Church is great too. Pax Christi,
* if not
So many turned away from the faith, yet now, so many come to the faith too. Isn’t it like it was prophesied by Jesus?
I would love to have more information about the protestants and orthodox who were at vatican 2 if you have some links.
The specific point I brought up about Protestants being at Vatican II was pulled from Kyle’s very first video. However, he goes through a lot very quickly in that video and only briefly addresses the fact that non-Catholics were invited to Vatican II. That’s all I have off the top of my head unfortunately, but perhaps others will have some suggestions as well.
Thank you. My son is Orthodox and has been helping me unlearn my Protestant belief system. I knew there was something more, as my husband and I parted from the Protestant church, several of them actually, because of contradictory and heretical teachings. We began to see even unholy behavior and started seeking Truth. There are two Orthodox churches near me; one Russian, the other Greek, my son attend the Russian. I go with him about once a month, and want to go more. There are many things I still don't understand but I truly believe I'm on the right path. This video helped me allot, so thank you! ☺️
@@yvonnegettel1278 Glory to God! Keep seeking!
Glory to God!
You mentioned around the 30 minute mark that what you believe affects how you live.
I think that that is actually backwards and part if the problem that protestants have. I truly think action comes first then belief. The Protestant that believes they can do what they want and not lose their salvation believes so because they already do what they want.
Good video brother and I love Orthodoxy. But determining which is the most accurate isn’t easy. I’m an ex pastor myself with many degrees in theology. I later became an Ortho catechumen and was for 5 long years just to make sure. But during those years, I also studied Roman Catholicism and took their catechism. Eventually, I saw their way as more accurate or making more sense to me. So I became Roman Catholic.
After a couple of years, I regretted it and because of further studies, I came back to the east and ended up becoming Eastern Orthodox.
I loved Orthodoxy and the orthodox liturgy all seemed so amazing. After many years, as an orthodox and working my way up as a warden, and then parish councilman to a reader and subdeacon while studying orthodox theology for many years, I started seeing holes and cracks in their claims. I saw where several Eastern Saints and patriarchs even modern ones now pointed towards Rome and the pope and stated how he was very important and needed.
After seeing all this proof, it was undeniable and hard to get around, among many other claims the orthodox make that I found holes in that wasn’t actually true. So after Going back and reading the Saints and councils all the way back to the beginning everything actually pointed to Rome. So eventually I had no choice, but to go back to Catholicism. I Have now been Roman Catholic for a couple of years again and now working on another masters in Roman Catholic Theology. I just came across your video today. I enjoyed it, though everything you mentioned was but the very, very basics of what you learn in catechism classes.
I wished that Orthodoxy was true and i loved it, but I don’t see how.
Thanks for your videos and sharing everything. At the end of the day, I believe there are very good holy Christians and saints in both. So it’s all good. 👍
Blessings brother.
Amen.
I will be converting as well.
With that said, this is one of the best videos I’ve listened to on this topic. Your speaking skills are great and your work/production into creating this is very appreciated.
☦️☦️☦️
I’m RC but love my orthodox family. I left Protestantism and never looked back.
How can we learn ?
What’s the way through the uneducated church masses
I’m so uneducated in this stuff and it appears my fairy like brain causes ear pain to any around.
I’m attracted to the search of green orthodox and watched a utube video about it.
I’m a chaotic mess at my best so while I’m trying to heal the dot point dos and don’t s keep some ptsd issues away from
Our Lord
Im extremely curious and I don’t understand why it’s on my mind everyday since a man told me at the petrol station after my church hunting.
Everyday I think of green orthodox in the language Assyrian.
If I’m wrong in this comment please forgive me I’m the error
The only problem I have with Orthodox which I would like to join, is the Second council of Nicaea where they anathema those who do not venerate icons. This seems absurd to me, my mother and grandmother have such an immense faith in Christ that I could never hope to achieve and yet they are Baptist I know them by their fruits as they have always given to those less fortunate even when we did not have enough for ourselves.
How can women as good as this be anathema to hell. This seems a completely arbitrary rule. I could accept all other tenets of orthodoxy except this one.
Your mother and grandmother are not Orthodox so nobody condemns them to hell.Talk to a Orthodox priest and he will clarify this and your other concerns better than anyone on the internet.
Nobody condemns your mother or grandmother to hell. Please find an Orthodox priest and he will explain this and other concerns better than anyone on the internet.
@@Catkat-xz8tx I need to do that. perhaps I misunderstood the last eccumenical council 2nd Nicaea. It just seemed very upfront about this
I'm happy to hear you are open to finding the truth! I came from a very traditional Catholic background and have never looked back for the last 13 years since converting to Orthodoxy. I was pleasantly surprised on many levels. I went to a Greek Orthodox monastery for vespers while Catholic and I was apologizing to a monk that I wasn't Orthodox. He said, don't worry, you have an even better chance of making it to heaven . He was very sincere and humble . I didn't believe what he said because I could see it came from his humility but it did soften me. 3 years later, I was Orthodox.
Anathemas are given as a correction to heresy and a warning to others. That being said, God is gracious and accounts for human ignorance in His judgement. It’s not your fault that you or others didn’t know about this council before; but now you do. We are all fallen and no one is given the perfect guideline to the spiritual life. We can trust that God loves those whom love Him. And yes, as the other commenter said, speak more about this with a priest.
Jones Timothy Martin Edward Davis Ruth
What a beautiful story. Very familiar to my own, but it wasn't until around 30 where God literally caused miraculous occurrences, on top of my historical and biblical searching, that finally brought me to Holy Orthodoxy.
I cant wait to watch the rest of this. But it's awesome to hear others go through such a similar walk as I.
God bless you! Welcome home, my brother in Christ Jesus! I'd love to ask you some questions about your situation with your family or friends, as this was/is a very difficult issue for me.
Thank you! Most of my family has been accepting of my conversion (thankfully). I’ve even sent this series to them and it has led to fruitful conversations. In part, that’s why I made it. Same with friends - some may ask questions, but none have been particularly antagonistic about my conversion. But I understand it can be difficult in certain situations - I’ve heard the horror stories from some of my other Orthodox convert friends.
@@untoages well I am sure glad they have been open to you! Keep it up, man.
orthodox church actually worship Mary, but not as God or Godess. In the right place.
@@kgmic We don’t worship her, worship is due to God alone. We do highly venerate Mary though.
@@untoages ok we say the same thing. ur just stuck in a word, maybe i translate it differently as english not my mother language. read what i said.
@@kgmic No I understand what you meant - I just wanted to clarify because those words mean something different in English.
@@untoages yeah i mean we still believe and pray to her and has high rank among saints
Welcome to The Orthodox faith. Just guard the church from being co-opted by evil , self serving men with political aspirations. Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. Render unto God that which is God's.
I have been researching and studying the Bible for three years as a non-denominational Christian. The more I learn the more I feel drawn to Orthodoxy. My husband, however, has found videos online about a fire that lights every year somewhere in Jerusalem? Or something? And people claim the fire doesn't burn them and all sorts of other things. Well, he cannot find one single video of someone holding the flames to themselves for more than an instant and as a man who has done his fair share of hunting, camping, and playing with fire, he knows that he can do the same thing with any flame and it doesn't burn....
Because of this he doesn't trust Orthodox Christianity at all. He thinks it's bogus. Can anyone help me with this?
@@HopeUnknown I haven’t personally heard that the holy fire doesn’t burn people, but that doesn’t mean that it does or it doesn’t - I’m just unaware of that. I would advise him not to rule out Orthodoxy simply because it doesn’t meet his particular evidentiary standards. This can be fallacious reasoning, argument from silence or personal incredulity. Orthodoxy isn’t about “you” per se, it’s about submitting your will to Christ’s. I had a lot of pride to overcome in coming to Orthodoxy. Instead, I would recommend going to church. “Come and see” is the best evidence for Orthodoxy.
I understand your concern. My son, a recent convert to Orthodoxy, shared with me the videos of what you referenced. The claims seem bogus to me too, especially since this magical lighting is done out of the view of the parishioners. Fortunately, believing in the veracity of these claims isn't part of what an Orthodox christian must believe to be part of the church. It is disturbing though that even a single priest, much less all involved, would take part in something that they know to be fraudulent. Of course, this is my knee-jerk skeptical view, which is NOT well-informed.
So far very appreciative of this, hopefully something to share with westerner’s! Only 30 mins in so far.
Beautifuly Done Brother ☦️☦️❤️🙏
Thank you,God bless!
I was very anti-christian for years. I started studying different religions more thoroughly the last couple of years. I have to admit that Orthodox Christianity seems interesting, but I still don't believe in the trinity. It doesn't make sense.
@@ag-88802 I will say Orthodoxy is the most properly-Trinitarian Christian body out there. We’re constantly invoking the name of the Trinity throughout the services, making the sign of the cross, etc. I’d recommend speaking to a priest about it. While the Trinity is certainly a very complex topic, it is also a mystery that has been revealed to us. We don’t feel at liberty to say more than we know about God.