When I was a child I was told this story: Some clergymen went to an island that only had one inhabitant who they knew was Christian. After talking to him for a while they asked him if he knew how to pray. He only knew a few short words like "have mercy on me o God" and how to make the sign of the cross. So they taught him to pray, most likely the Lord's Prayer. As they went he sat down to pray, but in despair realized that he had forgotten some words and went running back to the clergymen's boat, running on the surface of the water. When they saw how he had walked on water like our Lord to receive teaching, they told him to go back and pray however he knew best, for he was a stronger believer than any of them. This video reminded me of this story from my childhood.
This is a really famous story - the version that's more widespread has three old men on an island praying "Three of you above, three of us down below, have mercy on us!" They get taught by a bishop to pray better (I don't think that the prayers were specified), and then the three of them run to him across water because they forgot the words. :-) It is a lovely story!
@@BanterWithBojan I believe that's a short story by the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. When I read it, it seemed to me that it stood for Tolstoy's quasi-Protestant anti-establishment Christianity, but perhaps it has a noble, Orthodox origin that I am unaware of and my heart was hardened to the more simple possible meaning.
When I told my decision to convert into Orthodoxy to my family, they protested at my decision. I barely no one accept my decision. Hope God give them right time to accept my decision.
Last year we had a rare tornado in Ottawa that caused no small deal of damage. In its path was St. Stefan Serbian Orthodox Church. As the church women were preparing a meal in the parish hall, they heard rumbling and one popped out to see what was happening. She saw an industrial-sized freezer spinning in the sky. She went back inside and the women prayed. The tornado wrecked the house next door to the church. The owner of this property had previously attempted to block the parish in court from constructing their church building. The twister stopped before touching any part of the church's property - just feet away from the parking lot. When I visited the parish during Pan-Orthodox Vespers this past Lent, just outside the property line I could see several tall tree trunks standing up like over-sized toothpicks - their top halves having been snapped off and carried away by the storm.
I really like the idea of archiving your communications with Fr D. There’s bound to be treasures to glean and to share with the world. I read his obituary on the OCA website, and he struck me as being a wonderful, godly, and grace-filled priest, a truly dear man. Memory Eternal ☦️
Oh he is! Here is a pic of him where he smiles :-) bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/victoriaadvocate.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/9d/79d97aea-254c-5988-bf39-e9f4f84323fd/5a8f821713dce.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C805
Not true in my household growing up. We freely discussed religion and when I decided to become Catholic I thought my father was going to be upset because his mother used to spit out the word papist often. My dad said if that's what makes you happy then do it he said it wasn't up to him to give me permission. They are now deceased along with the rest of my family and I'm not an old woman but now I am going to be or going to have my first confirmation in the Orthodox Church this coming pasca.
Yes, you should, but it is okay if you are unable to get them blessed. If you take them to Liturgy, the priest will place it on the altar before the liturgy starts and then bless it afterwards.
The tornado story actually reminded me of something that happened here in America. There was a Native American activist and actor, Russell Means, who said something along the lines of “when I die, I will come back as a storm, and you’ll know which one it is.” The very day he died a hurricane touched down in Maryland (which for the non-Americans reading is where Washington DC is) and actually did some damage to a monument or two in Washington. Edit: I found the actual quote: “When I die, I’m coming back as lightning. When it zaps the White House, they’ll know it’s me.”
Haha... I feel similarly about earthquakes. I want to experience one... just once. Every time I travel to the dark and unholy land of CA, I hope for a minor earthquake. About 10 years ago there was one in my home state, but dang it!, I was at work and the building's foundation was strong.
We had one today in N.E. Ohio. It was not like the 5.2 we had here in 86. That one was scarey because I experience an Aftershock of the 71 quake in LA which was also about a 5.2. I went running, screaming from a JC Penney into the parking lot with all the cars bouncing up and down and the light poles swaying while an elderly lady calmly walked to the store that I had just panicked in. She took one look at me and said: You're not from around here, are ya! Where ya from? When I said Ohio, she shrieked and said: What do you do in those tornadoes? I said: I take shelter! Where the F do you go in an earthquake? I was in the Army at the time.
You go under a desk or table or in a doorway because it's reinforced. Stay away from windows and never get into the elevator! I've been in enough earthquakes in the Bay Area (I'm 71) to duck under a desk/table!
I wonder if the commenter tried to talk to them yet. On average, atheists are pretty knowledgeable of religions. Some atheists are even part of a religion that doesn’t require belief in a god. Maybe if you try to frame discussion in a philosophical, rather than conversion type of way, they would be willing to talk. I know that I have led an atheist Bible study, Mahabharata study, and Tao Te Ching study with my Secular Student Alliance group. Even so, I often get annoyed when a Christian gives me books to read without showing any interest in what I do or don’t believe. Maybe it would help if you offered to read an atheist book that they find intriguing in exchange for them reading a piece of literature that you find interesting. Tell them that you’re interested in becoming more acquainted with their beliefs and for them being more acquainted with yours. Follow up with a respectful discussion about the themes in each book. Just make sure that you treat them with respect while also making sure that you are being respected as well.
I love how 'Western' this comment is - assuming that atheists are very knowledgeable of religion and interested in philosophy. Majority of Balkans atheists aren't. They simply don't believe in God, and that's it. It is not common for them to organize groups of any kind (there are some, but they're very small). :-)
I’m willing to bet that you don’t know that some people you know are Atheists. In my group, for instance, I have a no photo policy, and I won’t disclose my members’ names. This is because most are still in the closet about it. They’re pretending to be some form of Christian because they’re afraid of what will happen if people know they’re Atheists. Often, they won’t even say they’re Atheists in front of me, preferring softer terms like “agnostic” or “humanist.” The truth is that these Balkans Atheists just may not feel comfortable discussing their beliefs with you, a devout Christian. They may still be very philosophical and intellectual. I’m not as familiar with the Balkans as I probably should be, but if they aren’t very well organized, as you say, then I’m guessing there’s a reason, like social stigma. I can’t speak to studies that have been done on religious knowledge in the Balkans, but in the US, Pew found that atheists and agnostics scored highest in their religious knowledge test, even after adjusting for differing levels of education. This isn’t surprising to me. When you’re a minority viewpoint in a particular society, it seems reasonable that one would know what other groups believe. I’ll make an effort to find studies about religion in the Balkans, though. Pew Study: www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/
@@BSR-zy2so Again, a whole host of presumptions based on projecting Western view of atheism onto Balkans. I know a lot of atheists. Literally no one cares if you're atheist here (Serbia was officially atheist for 50+ years). Nothing would happen to them if anyone found out that they're atheists. Again, not saying that they're not intellectual, just that Balkans atheists don't devote their time to atheism (something I wholeheartedly support that - kinda silly to devote your time to absence of something). People in Balkans are generally ill informed about religions in general (again, this really depends from group to group - Catholics, for example, are much better informed on Catholicism than Orthodox are informed on Orthodoxy, owing to far better catechism).
I don’t think that devoting time to building a group for atheists is silly at all. No more so than building a group for Orthodox members or other Christians. Like any group, we want representation and community. What’s nice about being in an atheist group is that no one will ever prop up an idea as being the only correct answer because they believe that’s what their deity commands or endorses. Moreover, my group does more than sit around talking about the absence of a god. That would be silly because we all already agree. We want to show the world that we are good people, even as Atheists. To that end, we do extensive community service. We want to work together to address issues that uniquely affect Atheists, like the exclusion of Atheists from holding public office still being written in many state constitutions. We try to challenge each other’s beliefs through debate and discussion. It’s more complex than simply being devoted to the absence of something. You may be partially right about Serbia, though. I can’t really say for sure without being there. I will say, though, that Serbia is overwhelmingly orthodox. You mentioned in your video that some Protestant groups kick their children out of their home for being Orthodox, the majority group. I imagine that if that happens to the majority group, then it would happen to minority religious groups as well. I found a pretty detailed study which examines discrimination in Serbia of various groups. Although discrimination of religious minorities is on the decline, there still seems to be a degree of perceived social distance toward people of minority religions. I know that this does not directly correlate to Atheism, but it’s the closest I could find. Atheists seem to make up around 1% of the population, so that’s likely why there aren’t so many Atheist groups, not that an individual Atheist wouldn’t have an interest in one.
When I was a child I was told this story: Some clergymen went to an island that only had one inhabitant who they knew was Christian. After talking to him for a while they asked him if he knew how to pray. He only knew a few short words like "have mercy on me o God" and how to make the sign of the cross. So they taught him to pray, most likely the Lord's Prayer. As they went he sat down to pray, but in despair realized that he had forgotten some words and went running back to the clergymen's boat, running on the surface of the water. When they saw how he had walked on water like our Lord to receive teaching, they told him to go back and pray however he knew best, for he was a stronger believer than any of them. This video reminded me of this story from my childhood.
This is a really famous story - the version that's more widespread has three old men on an island praying "Three of you above, three of us down below, have mercy on us!" They get taught by a bishop to pray better (I don't think that the prayers were specified), and then the three of them run to him across water because they forgot the words. :-) It is a lovely story!
@@BanterWithBojan I believe that's a short story by the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. When I read it, it seemed to me that it stood for Tolstoy's quasi-Protestant anti-establishment Christianity, but perhaps it has a noble, Orthodox origin that I am unaware of and my heart was hardened to the more simple possible meaning.
When I told my decision to convert into Orthodoxy to my family, they protested at my decision. I barely no one accept my decision. Hope God give them right time to accept my decision.
I told my mom I was converting to Orthodoxy and she said "Russian Orthodox? They're Jewish right?"
...I...um.....what.....**sigh**
lol Such a typical comment when Orthodoxy is mentioned, and always gives me a laugh :-)
I told someone that I was going to an Orthodox Church and they said “so you aren’t a Christian anymore?”
Last year we had a rare tornado in Ottawa that caused no small deal of damage. In its path was St. Stefan Serbian Orthodox Church. As the church women were preparing a meal in the parish hall, they heard rumbling and one popped out to see what was happening. She saw an industrial-sized freezer spinning in the sky. She went back inside and the women prayed.
The tornado wrecked the house next door to the church. The owner of this property had previously attempted to block the parish in court from constructing their church building. The twister stopped before touching any part of the church's property - just feet away from the parking lot.
When I visited the parish during Pan-Orthodox Vespers this past Lent, just outside the property line I could see several tall tree trunks standing up like over-sized toothpicks - their top halves having been snapped off and carried away by the storm.
WOW!
As Fr. Dimitri used to say, "Coincidences are God's way of preserving anonymity." B-)
Thank you for this story!
My parents are atheists, and we get along great. I don't live with them anymore, but even when I did, religion rarely caused contention between us.
So glad to know that! :-) Your parents aren't far from Christ!
@@BanterWithBojan Thank you, that's very reassuring. I hope to see them in Heaven.
Happy to hear you again Bojan. You're videos are a real relief for me!!
Glad you like them, Paul! :-)
My parents still think I will grow out of this religion nonsense and I am 50!
lol Keep them waiting :-D
I really like the idea of archiving your communications with Fr D. There’s bound to be treasures to glean and to share with the world. I read his obituary on the OCA website, and he struck me as being a wonderful, godly, and grace-filled priest, a truly dear man. Memory Eternal ☦️
Oh he is! Here is a pic of him where he smiles :-)
bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/victoriaadvocate.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/9d/79d97aea-254c-5988-bf39-e9f4f84323fd/5a8f821713dce.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C805
Glad to hear from you again Bojan
Thank you! ^o^
Great to hear from you again, Bojan
Thank you, Jason! :-)
Not true in my household growing up. We freely discussed religion and when I decided to become Catholic I thought my father was going to be upset because his mother used to spit out the word papist often. My dad said if that's what makes you happy then do it he said it wasn't up to him to give me permission. They are now deceased along with the rest of my family and I'm not an old woman but now I am going to be or going to have my first confirmation in the Orthodox Church this coming pasca.
Question: Do you have to bless an icon before you use it for religious purposes?
Yes, you should, but it is okay if you are unable to get them blessed. If you take them to Liturgy, the priest will place it on the altar before the liturgy starts and then bless it afterwards.
Carlton Poindexter Thank you!
Will answer :-)
Did u made any video's on how to draw like that? I want to learn that!
The tornado story actually reminded me of something that happened here in America. There was a Native American activist and actor, Russell Means, who said something along the lines of “when I die, I will come back as a storm, and you’ll know which one it is.” The very day he died a hurricane touched down in Maryland (which for the non-Americans reading is where Washington DC is) and actually did some damage to a monument or two in Washington.
Edit: I found the actual quote: “When I die, I’m coming back as lightning. When it zaps the White House, they’ll know it’s me.”
LOL Wow, amazing! Such a story!
Haha... I feel similarly about earthquakes. I want to experience one... just once. Every time I travel to the dark and unholy land of CA, I hope for a minor earthquake. About 10 years ago there was one in my home state, but dang it!, I was at work and the building's foundation was strong.
I've been in dozens here in CA, and it's probably San Andreas' Fault you didn't get one when you were here.
We had one today in N.E. Ohio. It was not like the 5.2 we had here in 86. That one was scarey because I experience an Aftershock of the 71 quake in LA which was also about a 5.2. I went running, screaming from a JC Penney into the parking lot with all the cars bouncing up and down and the light poles swaying while an elderly lady calmly walked to the store that I had just panicked in. She took one look at me and said: You're not from around here, are ya! Where ya from? When I said Ohio, she shrieked and said: What do you do in those tornadoes? I said: I take shelter! Where the F do you go in an earthquake? I was in the Army at the time.
You go under a desk or table or in a doorway because it's reinforced. Stay away from windows and never get into the elevator!
I've been in enough earthquakes in the Bay Area (I'm 71) to duck under a desk/table!
Been in one. Just a lot of shaking with plates making rumbling sounds in cupboards :-)
Hey Boki today is the day that the bogoslovi are getting written in school.
May we get many holy priests! :-)
@@BanterWithBojan Well Boki o wanted to share the news with i enrolled in firsr grade od bogoslovi ja.
If you're interested in tornadoes, you need to come to Oklahoma in May
Hah, I dream of seeing one, from far far away :-)
@@BanterWithBojan I have been through a couple. They're better seen from afar :-)
Sounds like a tornado to me, having been in three of them.
Do share!!!
I wonder if the commenter tried to talk to them yet. On average, atheists are pretty knowledgeable of religions. Some atheists are even part of a religion that doesn’t require belief in a god. Maybe if you try to frame discussion in a philosophical, rather than conversion type of way, they would be willing to talk. I know that I have led an atheist Bible study, Mahabharata study, and Tao Te Ching study with my Secular Student Alliance group. Even so, I often get annoyed when a Christian gives me books to read without showing any interest in what I do or don’t believe. Maybe it would help if you offered to read an atheist book that they find intriguing in exchange for them reading a piece of literature that you find interesting. Tell them that you’re interested in becoming more acquainted with their beliefs and for them being more acquainted with yours. Follow up with a respectful discussion about the themes in each book. Just make sure that you treat them with respect while also making sure that you are being respected as well.
I love how 'Western' this comment is - assuming that atheists are very knowledgeable of religion and interested in philosophy. Majority of Balkans atheists aren't. They simply don't believe in God, and that's it. It is not common for them to organize groups of any kind (there are some, but they're very small). :-)
I’m willing to bet that you don’t know that some people you know are Atheists. In my group, for instance, I have a no photo policy, and I won’t disclose my members’ names. This is because most are still in the closet about it. They’re pretending to be some form of Christian because they’re afraid of what will happen if people know they’re Atheists. Often, they won’t even say they’re Atheists in front of me, preferring softer terms like “agnostic” or “humanist.” The truth is that these Balkans Atheists just may not feel comfortable discussing their beliefs with you, a devout Christian. They may still be very philosophical and intellectual. I’m not as familiar with the Balkans as I probably should be, but if they aren’t very well organized, as you say, then I’m guessing there’s a reason, like social stigma. I can’t speak to studies that have been done on religious knowledge in the Balkans, but in the US, Pew found that atheists and agnostics scored highest in their religious knowledge test, even after adjusting for differing levels of education. This isn’t surprising to me. When you’re a minority viewpoint in a particular society, it seems reasonable that one would know what other groups believe. I’ll make an effort to find studies about religion in the Balkans, though.
Pew Study: www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/
@@BSR-zy2so Again, a whole host of presumptions based on projecting Western view of atheism onto Balkans.
I know a lot of atheists. Literally no one cares if you're atheist here (Serbia was officially atheist for 50+ years). Nothing would happen to them if anyone found out that they're atheists. Again, not saying that they're not intellectual, just that Balkans atheists don't devote their time to atheism (something I wholeheartedly support that - kinda silly to devote your time to absence of something). People in Balkans are generally ill informed about religions in general (again, this really depends from group to group - Catholics, for example, are much better informed on Catholicism than Orthodox are informed on Orthodoxy, owing to far better catechism).
I don’t think that devoting time to building a group for atheists is silly at all. No more so than building a group for Orthodox members or other Christians. Like any group, we want representation and community. What’s nice about being in an atheist group is that no one will ever prop up an idea as being the only correct answer because they believe that’s what their deity commands or endorses. Moreover, my group does more than sit around talking about the absence of a god. That would be silly because we all already agree. We want to show the world that we are good people, even as Atheists. To that end, we do extensive community service. We want to work together to address issues that uniquely affect Atheists, like the exclusion of Atheists from holding public office still being written in many state constitutions. We try to challenge each other’s beliefs through debate and discussion. It’s more complex than simply being devoted to the absence of something.
You may be partially right about Serbia, though. I can’t really say for sure without being there. I will say, though, that Serbia is overwhelmingly orthodox. You mentioned in your video that some Protestant groups kick their children out of their home for being Orthodox, the majority group. I imagine that if that happens to the majority group, then it would happen to minority religious groups as well. I found a pretty detailed study which examines discrimination in Serbia of various groups. Although discrimination of religious minorities is on the decline, there still seems to be a degree of perceived social distance toward people of minority religions. I know that this does not directly correlate to Atheism, but it’s the closest I could find. Atheists seem to make up around 1% of the population, so that’s likely why there aren’t so many Atheist groups, not that an individual Atheist wouldn’t have an interest in one.
Sorry, forgot to include this!
www.undp.org/content/dam/serbia/Publications%20and%20reports/English/UNDP_SRB_AD%20survey_2013.pdf