Respectfully, I am not orthodox. Remorsefully, I am not yet married. Yet there is an orthodox prayer book of which I own gladly. Therein, a prayer for those seeking a spouse, for the greater glory of God, indeed I have committed myself to read nightly. Over and over and over again until by His grace, I get things right and am found with a beautiful, endearing and above all faithful wife. Lord, gave mercy on me a sinner. Mother Mary and all the saints, pray for me continuously, for in my way weary nature, I know, the world don't like me and I get things wrong constantly enough. God bless you all who do so read these ramblings of a mad man late in the evening as I try again to thank our beloved almighty for all He has indeed provided so lovingly for me.
Father, bless. I am lebanese, born greek orthodox. I recently discovered your channel and am very glad i found you. Your videos are inspirational. In our country mixte marriages between orthodox and catholics is a common practice. We married 24 years ago, now I am 55. She is maronite (a rite under the catholic church). We are very much in love and God has given us a daughter and a son. Since the beginning she refused to come to my church and become orthodox so i was the one who made the compromises to accompany her to her church from time to time because i know how important it is for a married couple to pray together. A father confessor once told me that I have like a broken foundation in my family. This hurt me a lot. We both love our family but pray and go each one seperately to his/her church now. It is very frustrating that we cannot pray the same prayers together. What do you think? Pray for me, and if you have any advise i would be greatfull. God bless.
Thank you father, love doesn't envy love doesn't expect to receive, love is not pridefull. We love because God loved us first. Been married for 15 years and just by always reminding myself the devil wants our marriage and wants to divide our family with that said, Jesus has our head there is no place for the devil nor desire for him to be victorious.
Father, this video finds me in a very difficult situation, as the quote you've read describes my “dream state” that seems to be unreachable. I am an Orthodox reader, referred by the clergy of our church for deaconate. My wife is a devout evangelical christian. Our bishop expects her to convert before I can be ordained. She would not like to do this and I'm accepting it. On the other hand we're expecting our first child and beforehand we agreed that the children will be raised orthodox. Yesterday she told me that she won't be able to attend our church with the baby, she needs to keep going to her chosen evangelical community. Of course as I am serving, this would mean that before the child can take care of him/herself throughout liturgy, I won't be able to have my child at our service. I am being criticised for arrogance for not communing with heterodox and "thinking that we are better", even though I have respect for my wife's prayerful friends at her community. I probably went into this marriage with a naive idea that she will see the truth of Orthodoxy as she gets to know it but yesterday she told me that after attending our church for several months and praying that God reveals himself there to her, she did not find God at the Orthodox church. I am heartbroken that our unity in faith as a family will likely not become reality and I am concerned for our children and how they might get doubts about their christian path. She says she looks at me as "the priest of our home" but I cannot act that out with a good heart when I know that part of my prayers is being denied & despised by my spouse. I see that this can be an opportunity to become a truly devoted Orthodox christian and lead by example but I don't like the idea of such competition within the family. Your thoughts would be appreciated, thank you.
In the beginning of 2019 i was a Roman catholic, i have dreams that i findout being that become truth i ask my mom for help with family history of maybe prophets in the family. And she said yes but we are kept very quiet for # of reasons, the reason that i asked my mom is because i saw covid before it happened , no people on the steeets, people seeing from there home windows. I have a very clear dream which is already at work and what you are endouring its how that dreams comes,people are finding orthodoxy and people like your wife is already and orthodox but she just doesn't know it , pride most likely of going to something new or leaving everything behind, but is just God you cant say no to God . God will return everything back to how it had to be, for his glory. Just talk to God and say show her what you shown me. Eyes are opening.
Fr. Josiah, I've been recently reading on the patristic opinion of sexual relationship in the marriage. Would you also say that every such act must be of explicit intent of creating another life (i.e. it being prohibited during non fertile periods)? I know that on the Catholic side a document like the Humanae Vitae has a different take on this matter.
@@savinggift158 NO, but a fact that I see around me and from other people. Most women are divorcing and half are not getting married. Many people both men and women are not having any relationships and will end up single and alone all thier lives. The culture IS degrading.
What about those that aren't to get married or see no possibility of marriage, but also are told to not become monastics? Why are these people always neglected by Orthodox speakers? There is no encouragement for them to continue the struggle. Theres no comfort for them to understand that they are ok. Marriage seems to be an idol to many orthodox. As if its the only way to salvation. Which we ALL know it is not. Especially in these turbulent and hard times. Its very concerning to me.
@@ming3036 I was told by a priest monk at a very well known monastery and I even traveled out of the country to try and be a monk and it just didn't work out. So again. My question still stands. Some are not called to monasticism or marriage. What about them?
@@TheCelticSlav Well I am not qualified to answer, surely this question is for a priest. From my understanding, there are only two paths to salvation, and neither are easy or guaranteed or roses and rainbows. Monasticism and marriage. Monastics serve their monastery, and marriage serves their spouse. As a single person your life purpose is to... serve yourself? Alone with all the temptations of the world imposed on you? From my understanding monks had to achieve a very high degree of asceticism to be allowed to be hermits, because of the dangers of being alone.
@@ming3036maybe at this point I don't wish to become a monastic. Maybe I feel called to live in the world. But still don't feel called to marriage. My point is that maybe there aren't just TWO paths. Maybe there's more paths that people don't typically explore.
Received my copy yesterday! After 38 years of marriage, it’s going to be good as we’re empty nesters and it’s a huge adjustment😊
Respectfully, I am not orthodox.
Remorsefully, I am not yet married.
Yet there is an orthodox prayer book of which I own gladly. Therein, a prayer for those seeking a spouse, for the greater glory of God, indeed I have committed myself to read nightly. Over and over and over again until by His grace, I get things right and am found with a beautiful, endearing and above all faithful wife. Lord, gave mercy on me a sinner. Mother Mary and all the saints, pray for me continuously, for in my way weary nature, I know, the world don't like me and I get things wrong constantly enough. God bless you all who do so read these ramblings of a mad man late in the evening as I try again to thank our beloved almighty for all He has indeed provided so lovingly for me.
Thank you Father Josiah for everything you are doing!
Father, bless.
I am lebanese, born greek orthodox. I recently discovered your channel and am very glad i found you. Your videos are inspirational.
In our country mixte marriages between orthodox and catholics is a common practice. We married 24 years ago, now I am 55. She is maronite (a rite under the catholic church).
We are very much in love and God has given us a daughter and a son. Since the beginning she refused to come to my church and become orthodox so i was the one who made the compromises to accompany her to her church from time to time because i know how important it is for a married couple to pray together. A father confessor once told me that I have like a broken foundation in my family. This hurt me a lot.
We both love our family but pray and go each one seperately to his/her church now. It is very frustrating that we cannot pray the same prayers together. What do you think? Pray for me, and if you have any advise i would be greatfull.
God bless.
Goooosh!… mercy my Jesus! 🔥
Ordered mine yesterday.
Thanks for this Father Josiah. May our Almighty God give you strength!
Father Josiah, thank you for these videos! Could you perhaps make a video on being married to an unbeliever for Orthodox converts?
Thank you father, love doesn't envy love doesn't expect to receive, love is not pridefull. We love because God loved us first. Been married for 15 years and just by always reminding myself the devil wants our marriage and wants to divide our family with that said, Jesus has our head there is no place for the devil nor desire for him to be victorious.
I am going to propose soon thank you father
Father, this video finds me in a very difficult situation, as the quote you've read describes my “dream state” that seems to be unreachable.
I am an Orthodox reader, referred by the clergy of our church for deaconate.
My wife is a devout evangelical christian. Our bishop expects her to convert before I can be ordained.
She would not like to do this and I'm accepting it.
On the other hand we're expecting our first child and beforehand we agreed that the children will be raised orthodox.
Yesterday she told me that she won't be able to attend our church with the baby, she needs to keep going to her chosen evangelical community.
Of course as I am serving, this would mean that before the child can take care of him/herself throughout liturgy, I won't be able to have my child at our service.
I am being criticised for arrogance for not communing with heterodox and "thinking that we are better", even though I have respect for my wife's prayerful friends at her community.
I probably went into this marriage with a naive idea that she will see the truth of Orthodoxy as she gets to know it but yesterday she told me that after attending our church for several months and praying that God reveals himself there to her, she did not find God at the Orthodox church.
I am heartbroken that our unity in faith as a family will likely not become reality and I am concerned for our children and how they might get doubts about their christian path.
She says she looks at me as "the priest of our home" but I cannot act that out with a good heart when I know that part of my prayers is being denied & despised by my spouse.
I see that this can be an opportunity to become a truly devoted Orthodox christian and lead by example but I don't like the idea of such competition within the family.
Your thoughts would be appreciated, thank you.
In the beginning of 2019 i was a Roman catholic, i have dreams that i findout being that become truth i ask my mom for help with family history of maybe prophets in the family. And she said yes but we are kept very quiet for # of reasons, the reason that i asked my mom is because i saw covid before it happened , no people on the steeets, people seeing from there home windows. I have a very clear dream which is already at work and what you are endouring its how that dreams comes,people are finding orthodoxy and people like your wife is already and orthodox but she just doesn't know it , pride most likely of going to something new or leaving everything behind, but is just God you cant say no to God . God will return everything back to how it had to be, for his glory. Just talk to God and say show her what you shown me. Eyes are opening.
Women suck
Fr. Josiah, I've been recently reading on the patristic opinion of sexual relationship in the marriage. Would you also say that every such act must be of explicit intent of creating another life (i.e. it being prohibited during non fertile periods)? I know that on the Catholic side a document like the Humanae Vitae has a different take on this matter.
I dunno, did God design humans with very clear and obvious signs that we are in our fertile period?
marriage is coming to an end in the west and so is any male to female relations.
That is your opinion you can fall into your own pit
@@savinggift158 NO, but a fact that I see around me and from other people. Most women are divorcing and half are not getting married. Many people both men and women are not having any relationships and will end up single and alone all thier lives. The culture IS degrading.
Unfortunately you are correct. We can thank the years of propaganda on both sides for this.
It's up to us to fix it
What about those that aren't to get married or see no possibility of marriage, but also are told to not become monastics?
Why are these people always neglected by Orthodox speakers?
There is no encouragement for them to continue the struggle. Theres no comfort for them to understand that they are ok.
Marriage seems to be an idol to many orthodox. As if its the only way to salvation. Which we ALL know it is not. Especially in these turbulent and hard times.
Its very concerning to me.
who is telling you not to be a monastic?
@@ming3036 I was told by a priest monk at a very well known monastery and I even traveled out of the country to try and be a monk and it just didn't work out.
So again. My question still stands. Some are not called to monasticism or marriage.
What about them?
@@TheCelticSlav Well I am not qualified to answer, surely this question is for a priest. From my understanding, there are only two paths to salvation, and neither are easy or guaranteed or roses and rainbows. Monasticism and marriage. Monastics serve their monastery, and marriage serves their spouse. As a single person your life purpose is to... serve yourself? Alone with all the temptations of the world imposed on you? From my understanding monks had to achieve a very high degree of asceticism to be allowed to be hermits, because of the dangers of being alone.
@@TheCelticSlav perhaps you should try with another monastery, or communicate with another priest
@@ming3036maybe at this point I don't wish to become a monastic.
Maybe I feel called to live in the world. But still don't feel called to marriage.
My point is that maybe there aren't just TWO paths. Maybe there's more paths that people don't typically explore.