i’m a 20 year old catechumen - i am the only person my age in my parish, but there are others that are about 10-15 years older than me (who i can relate to pretty well) and they have young children. our little parish is growing, thank God. please pray for us
Greetings from Romania. Here the parishes are full and full of people of all ages, thanks be to God, we do not deserve this blessing. Whilst crying children are not well tolerated, Communion is usually available throughout the Liturgy, if there is more than one priest serving. Therefore, families bringing very young children do not need to stay for the whole Liturgy. Also the liturgy is often broadcast over loudspeakers and many people (not just those with young children) spend most of the Liturgy outside in the grounds of the temple. Our priest has a junior choir for the pre-teens to help them grow in understanding of the Liturgy and one of our readers is from this choir. I suppose it is easier here, where the dominant culture is Orthodox and you can walk on foot from one end of the parish to the next. But culturally I have noticed, the West is far more obsessed with rules and rubrics, out here people pray as they can. And nobody bats an eyelid if someone's expression of piety is different from the rest. Some adults spend the whole liturgy curled up in a ball on the floor, some insist on kissing every icon they can reach on the iconostasis, some bring their children for 5 minutes then leave, some stay outside the entire Liturgy. Children can run around as much as they like provided they make little noise. It is much more organic and I think that is what keeps it healthy.
Thank you father! I am due with my fourth baby; a boy after three girls. The oldest is four and the current youngest is 14 months. Liturgy is truly exhausting! It feels like I ran a marathon by the end. I come from a small mission and my husband serves in various different ways. Sometimes the lie that we would all get more out of liturgy if I just stay home and listen live creeps in. I am thankful that other people in the parish help me but often they are more tolerant of certain behaviors then myself or my husband. I would love to observe your wife with all the children for a week.
Would you please do a video on how to navigate Halloween with children. My children see the decorations or death monuments as most of them actually are. I hate to drive around with my kids and let them see the pure evil. When they ask questions about what they see I don’t really know what to say about it. My children understand death more then most kids because we kill and process most of our own meat and they have also been to funerals. They just started pretending to kill each other a couple days ago. Also some of the decorations in my area are satanic. There is one on the way to my sisters house that depicts human sacrifice and other that look like some type of tribute to abortion. There is a pretty large group of people involved in witchcraft in our area.
@@elizabethrose6853I read your comment with interest as our parish confronted the Halloween issue several years ago. We have had an annual Archangel Michael’s Party on Oct. 31st for over five years now specifically tailored to our children. We have the kids dress up as one of our many saints, then have them try to stump a panel of adult judges who must figure out the saint’s name. Parishioners donate candy and game prizes. This has become a much-anticipated event and gives parents a faith-teaching opportunity to contrast with the worldly culture.
It’s very hard for me to shed tears especially in regard to my Faith, I feel as though I am in a season of trial in my faith where I don’t feel Gods presence and I don’t feel the zeal I should, Lord God have mercy on me.
I am there with you. Although I do take solice in the warnings from our fathers not to chase a feeling. Zeal, however, I should have more. It is hard to escape the rationalistic and comfort culture I was steeped in for 25-30 years.
Same here too. Pray to god to change your heart and make you truly sorry for what you’ve done, and live a life of repentance. I’ve been praying that I may mourn for what I’ve done and he’s begun to answer my prayers.
The children in our church are currently out-numbering the adults, are choir director directs with one hand quite a bit so he can hold his baby son, and a 2 year-old daughter of our sub deacon holds the sheet for him when he reads "of thy mystical supper" in Russian.
Thank you for your faithful explication of God’s word and the truth of what this life is. I so often get deceived into believing the worlds lies that this life is to be lived for itself. Judgement is not coming. Don’t think about death, just live for now. May the Almighty convict us every day of this wicked deception and draw us near to himself. May we walk confidently to our sufferings to be purged and purified of all unrighteousness.
I'm 38 Cradle Orthodox and I'm still considered "Young" at my Parish... Would like to see more people younger than me (or at least around my age). They all show up for Christmas & Easter though... so they exist.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 We are all called to be runners like John and finish our races and receive our Heavenly Rewards. Everyone just got really good at convincing themselves there was no race and no crown despite clearly existing/suffering in a fight. Humanity baffles me with its self-sophistic paradoxes... and the smug nihilistic glib excuses to "check out" spiritually. Like once you know the Truth, you have a responsibility to serve the Truth; else it's putting Christ on the Cross again as these people drag down His Kingdom.
@@alexpetrovich85 I heavily agree, It is like the people around my age do not want to know anything as if ignorance is an excuse and a way out. I'm 22 and I'm seeing more and more people around my age enter the Church, bless them, I will begin catechism this Sunday most likely. I believe the strength that a Church has is how much it appeals to the youth without changing its core doctrine.
God Bless you @@mingus445_gaming; Shine so that others like us know where the Path is. May your First Sip of Immortality be Monumentous at the time your Spiritual Father knows you are ready. 🙏 Many Years!
I come from a very rural area in the Midwest and even though I grew up in the church, there were no other kids except for my siblings. Fast forward to today, I’m still in the same area only married with my own little ones. We are still the only family and it can be very hard sometimes. We can’t move for a few reasons, although I would love to. Sometimes we are able to go to a bigger parish that is a little less than 2 hours away. Please pray for us.☦️
I feel his words on these matters could comfort and influence so many as well ❤ I’m enjoying wholeheartedly the wisdom this channel has brought to my mind and life.
Father Josiah TEACH THE CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX PEOPLE DO THEIR CROSS IN THEIR CSHEST CORRECTLY, WE HAVE A VERY BIG TROUBLE WITH THIS CRITICAL ISSUE HERE IN HOLY GREECE..THANK YOU
You have no idea if your children will stay in the church. Everyone admired my children and our life on the farm and going to literally year after year at a nearby monastery and people envied our life Home schooling our children on the farm and working with our amish neighbors. But then they got cell phones at 16 and cars and they went off the cliff and into deep darkness. 4 more years have passed and I have very little hope. There is a difference between strong hope and Faith and wishful thinking, But when your children come home pregnant and with tattoos how can you not despair.
Father, my fiancee is unable to have children as she had to have hysterectomy. I wish greatly for us to be married under the wonderful embrace of the Holy Orthodoxy. Is that still possible? Since our relations will bear no fruit, physically. Is it a sin then to lay with her after marriage since reproduction is off the table? I'm lost on this topic and your words always bring me comfort.
I have no words for you in regards to laying with your wife after marriage, however, the marriage of a man and woman is accepted even when there will be no children born to them. I highly recommend you read the life of Saint Theodora of Sihla. The blessing of children is not the only fruit that can or should manifest itself between the union of man and woman in holy matrimony. I would also do some research on the Orthodox understanding on adoption and see about the fruits that may be born from that pursuit. God bless you both. Christ is in our midst! ☦️
Scripture provides great freedom in the bedroom for a husband and wife. As long as a married couple’s sexual practices are God-honoring, exclusive, loving, other-oriented, unifying, and mutually agreed upon, they carry God’s blessing. 1 Corinthians 7: 2-5
@@bevybanks Thank you so much for the response. It has been heavy on my mind and other than all my prayer, contemplating and reading it's reassuring to get answers to this.
Father, sounded like you are saying that at some point we old grey ladies drive younger people away. Would you prefer that we oldies just stay hidden at home and send money?
Lovingly surround your brothers and sisters in Christ that are in the season of young children, offer to walk their toddler around to look at icons, offer to hold their baby, smile and tell them they’re doing a wonderful job.
That's not at all what he said, or meant, and you know it. There are ways to encourage younger families and invite them into an aged parish... but a petty mentality like the comment you left should probably stay out of the nave if you want a healthy parish!
Even if he said that, of course "oldies" shouldn't stay hidden (the least at homes). Rather, we "younglings" should live more ascetic life and be more visible in the life of the Church.
Maybe set an example to all as the best God Mother to one, a few or ALL of the kids in your parish ?? And yes I as a younger (63) NOT of this ethnicity, have been made very unwelcome in my only local Church within 80 miles... pick up your Bible and show them the way.. I bet you'd be an awesome Matushka to them..
I think the new modern Orthodox Christians are more devoted with attaining materialistic possessions and living like Kings. They Believe by attending church once in a while, mostly for a memorial, baptism, wedding or a funeral paying respect to ones family is a joke. Kissing Icons and lighting candle isn't enough. How about respecting our Father in heaven. You must want to be in the house of the Lord, hear his words, ask for forgiveness and take the holy sacraments. We cant live for once a week or a month but live every day for our Lord. When you see others around you living in hardship or are homeless or sick, remember how you are living and what are you sacrificing today or your life for others in need. Its up to every one to read the Bible and be inspired and live Christ Like. But think for a minute by being present in a church for respect for your parents, family or friends eyes you're not going to be saved.
Likely he is advertising their products (I mean, he has not wore a prayer rope before so that's likely for advertisement)... But what I've heard is that one is not allowed to wear a prayer rope as an aesthetic pendant, meaning that one could wear a prayer rope as long as it's not displayed and it reminds about praying and commitment to God. But in the name of honesty, I've been an Orthodox just for several months, so it is unlikely that I would know about these things
3 is a large family? 😂 my brother in Christ, I'm the middle child of a 3 boy family unit. We are the smallest clan on both parents side, with my dad's siblings having no less than 5 and as great as... tbh I lost count after the Zimm's eighth. And I think, that was their daughter and they had another son soon thereafter. 😅
If you ask many parents of two kids, they think 3 is a lot.😂 But Fr. Josiah knows what a lot of kids is - I believe he and his wife have 9 children, themselves.
I think he was speaking to the current standards today where to most people three is a lot and if you have more then four you are considered to be ignorant of the way things work. I have eight siblings and the things people said to my parents were truly awful and demonic.
I hate such stories of people saddened over blessings and seeking darkness trouble bad weather dying animals. That is phony spirituality. Otherwise we would pray every week for all the reverse of what we do pray for, good weather good harvest health protection for my enemies. If you're consistent start praying for all the negative that you may count that as a blessing.
i’m a 20 year old catechumen - i am the only person my age in my parish, but there are others that are about 10-15 years older than me (who i can relate to pretty well) and they have young children. our little parish is growing, thank God. please pray for us
Thank you father, Likely today my wife will be giving birth to our first bub, please pray for us and our son
Praise to God! My son is due this December, and my wife and I will both become catechumens at the next liturgy.
-using my wife’s YT account
Glory to God
🙏
The Enclave did nothing wrong.
Glory to God!
Something about Fr. Josiah I find very captivating. I feel peace when I listen to him. I trust him. Thank God.
I agree, may God help him and keep him in his ministry
he is just very naturally charismatic as a man and speaker. But the gift of God makes it even more captivating
Greetings from Romania. Here the parishes are full and full of people of all ages, thanks be to God, we do not deserve this blessing. Whilst crying children are not well tolerated, Communion is usually available throughout the Liturgy, if there is more than one priest serving. Therefore, families bringing very young children do not need to stay for the whole Liturgy. Also the liturgy is often broadcast over loudspeakers and many people (not just those with young children) spend most of the Liturgy outside in the grounds of the temple. Our priest has a junior choir for the pre-teens to help them grow in understanding of the Liturgy and one of our readers is from this choir.
I suppose it is easier here, where the dominant culture is Orthodox and you can walk on foot from one end of the parish to the next. But culturally I have noticed, the West is far more obsessed with rules and rubrics, out here people pray as they can. And nobody bats an eyelid if someone's expression of piety is different from the rest. Some adults spend the whole liturgy curled up in a ball on the floor, some insist on kissing every icon they can reach on the iconostasis, some bring their children for 5 minutes then leave, some stay outside the entire Liturgy. Children can run around as much as they like provided they make little noise. It is much more organic and I think that is what keeps it healthy.
Thank you father! I am due with my fourth baby; a boy after three girls. The oldest is four and the current youngest is 14 months. Liturgy is truly exhausting! It feels like I ran a marathon by the end. I come from a small mission and my husband serves in various different ways. Sometimes the lie that we would all get more out of liturgy if I just stay home and listen live creeps in. I am thankful that other people in the parish help me but often they are more tolerant of certain behaviors then myself or my husband. I would love to observe your wife with all the children for a week.
Would you please do a video on how to navigate Halloween with children. My children see the decorations or death monuments as most of them actually are. I hate to drive around with my kids and let them see the pure evil. When they ask questions about what they see I don’t really know what to say about it. My children understand death more then most kids because we kill and process most of our own meat and they have also been to funerals. They just started pretending to kill each other a couple days ago. Also some of the decorations in my area are satanic. There is one on the way to my sisters house that depicts human sacrifice and other that look like some type of tribute to abortion. There is a pretty large group of people involved in witchcraft in our area.
@@elizabethrose6853I read your comment with interest as our parish confronted the Halloween issue several years ago. We have had an annual Archangel Michael’s Party on Oct. 31st for over five years now specifically tailored to our children. We have the kids dress up as one of our many saints, then have them try to stump a panel of adult judges who must figure out the saint’s name. Parishioners donate candy and game prizes. This has become a much-anticipated event and gives parents a faith-teaching opportunity to contrast with the worldly culture.
It’s very hard for me to shed tears especially in regard to my Faith, I feel as though I am in a season of trial in my faith where I don’t feel Gods presence and I don’t feel the zeal I should, Lord God have mercy on me.
I am there with you. Although I do take solice in the warnings from our fathers not to chase a feeling. Zeal, however, I should have more. It is hard to escape the rationalistic and comfort culture I was steeped in for 25-30 years.
Here with you! But remind myself of God’s silence for 400 years, and wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. He was still there.
Same here too. Pray to god to change your heart and make you truly sorry for what you’ve done, and live a life of repentance. I’ve been praying that I may mourn for what I’ve done and he’s begun to answer my prayers.
The children in our church are currently out-numbering the adults, are choir director directs with one hand quite a bit so he can hold his baby son, and a 2 year-old daughter of our sub deacon holds the sheet for him when he reads "of thy mystical supper" in Russian.
Thank you for your faithful explication of God’s word and the truth of what this life is. I so often get deceived into believing the worlds lies that this life is to be lived for itself. Judgement is not coming. Don’t think about death, just live for now. May the Almighty convict us every day of this wicked deception and draw us near to himself. May we walk confidently to our sufferings to be purged and purified of all unrighteousness.
I'm 38 Cradle Orthodox and I'm still considered "Young" at my Parish...
Would like to see more people younger than me (or at least around my age).
They all show up for Christmas & Easter though... so they exist.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
We are all called to be runners like John and finish our races and receive our Heavenly Rewards. Everyone just got really good at convincing themselves there was no race and no crown despite clearly existing/suffering in a fight.
Humanity baffles me with its self-sophistic paradoxes... and the smug nihilistic glib excuses to "check out" spiritually. Like once you know the Truth, you have a responsibility to serve the Truth; else it's putting Christ on the Cross again as these people drag down His Kingdom.
@@alexpetrovich85 I heavily agree, It is like the people around my age do not want to know anything as if ignorance is an excuse and a way out. I'm 22 and I'm seeing more and more people around my age enter the Church, bless them, I will begin catechism this Sunday most likely. I believe the strength that a Church has is how much it appeals to the youth without changing its core doctrine.
God Bless you @@mingus445_gaming; Shine so that others like us know where the Path is. May your First Sip of Immortality be Monumentous at the time your Spiritual Father knows you are ready.
🙏
Many Years!
@@alexpetrovich85 God bless you as well, kyrie eleison!
Father my Wife is going to have a miscarriage. Please pray for Lacie to the Lord.
God bless you and be with you brother.
I come from a very rural area in the Midwest and even though I grew up in the church, there were no other kids except for my siblings. Fast forward to today, I’m still in the same area only married with my own little ones. We are still the only family and it can be very hard sometimes. We can’t move for a few reasons, although I would love to. Sometimes we are able to go to a bigger parish that is a little less than 2 hours away. Please pray for us.☦️
As always, love your videos and you are such a good teacher. God bless you!
if i had a church like yours when i needed it/need it
You are a wonderfull man!! A man of God! God bless you.
Thank you, Father! Much appreciated.
hey father my sister passed away and she wasn't baptized shall i pray for her soul
We should pray for the departed, Orthodox or not.
Hello father, could u do a talk on suicide, hopelessness, and insecurity? Thank you
🙏🏻❤️
Look for the lesson about unforgivable sin, if I remember.
Videos
Suicidal thoughts
ruclips.net/video/cEhnogSYxak/видео.htmlsi=8rC1m1DOWeAhYnnq
ruclips.net/video/sCBLsmZylUM/видео.htmlsi=HUGGlFtrlRMA5dwf
Hopelessness
ruclips.net/video/bQ7PtAloPRU/видео.htmlsi=wQXJfDZYrrvKdNt-
ruclips.net/video/l4TldC7_qN0/видео.htmlsi=GobU2PDztuejgZaS
ruclips.net/video/-Xom2PMd1zo/видео.htmlsi=RfI37xSlJ8d5QVEc
ruclips.net/video/M-85xELMzmw/видео.htmlsi=iUU8GFMzV1XRY5xb
Anxiety
ruclips.net/video/Ve68dbw8N_c/видео.htmlsi=A_As1csk1wf0e16P
Insecurity
ruclips.net/video/HEQVLdEAkKk/видео.htmlsi=vUTS42pvzN6Uuemh
I feel his words on these matters could comfort and influence so many as well ❤ I’m enjoying wholeheartedly the wisdom this channel has brought to my mind and life.
@@PetarOrthodox could u expound more on the severity of suicide? I would appreciate it
Father Josiah TEACH THE CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX PEOPLE DO THEIR CROSS IN THEIR CSHEST CORRECTLY, WE HAVE A VERY BIG TROUBLE WITH THIS CRITICAL ISSUE HERE IN HOLY GREECE..THANK YOU
Great video
You have no idea if your children will stay in the church. Everyone admired my children and our life on the farm and going to literally year after year at a nearby monastery and people envied our life Home schooling our children on the farm and working with our amish neighbors. But then they got cell phones at 16 and cars and they went off the cliff and into deep darkness. 4 more years have passed and I have very little hope. There is a difference between strong hope and Faith and wishful thinking, But when your children come home pregnant and with tattoos how can you not despair.
Father, my fiancee is unable to have children as she had to have hysterectomy. I wish greatly for us to be married under the wonderful embrace of the Holy Orthodoxy. Is that still possible? Since our relations will bear no fruit, physically. Is it a sin then to lay with her after marriage since reproduction is off the table? I'm lost on this topic and your words always bring me comfort.
Don't be so hard on yourself. Love each other. Think about adoption.
I have no words for you in regards to laying with your wife after marriage, however, the marriage of a man and woman is accepted even when there will be no children born to them. I highly recommend you read the life of Saint Theodora of Sihla. The blessing of children is not the only fruit that can or should manifest itself between the union of man and woman in holy matrimony. I would also do some research on the Orthodox understanding on adoption and see about the fruits that may be born from that pursuit.
God bless you both.
Christ is in our midst! ☦️
Thank you all so much 🙏
Scripture provides great freedom in the bedroom for a husband and wife. As long as a married couple’s sexual practices are God-honoring, exclusive, loving, other-oriented, unifying, and mutually agreed upon, they carry God’s blessing.
1 Corinthians 7: 2-5
@@bevybanks Thank you so much for the response. It has been heavy on my mind and other than all my prayer, contemplating and reading it's reassuring to get answers to this.
Father, sounded like you are saying that at some point we old grey ladies drive younger people away. Would you prefer that we oldies just stay hidden at home and send money?
Lovingly surround your brothers and sisters in Christ that are in the season of young children, offer to walk their toddler around to look at icons, offer to hold their baby, smile and tell them they’re doing a wonderful job.
That's not at all what he said, or meant, and you know it. There are ways to encourage younger families and invite them into an aged parish... but a petty mentality like the comment you left should probably stay out of the nave if you want a healthy parish!
Even if he said that, of course "oldies" shouldn't stay hidden (the least at homes). Rather, we "younglings" should live more ascetic life and be more visible in the life of the Church.
Maybe set an example to all as the best God Mother to one, a few or ALL of the kids in your parish ?? And yes I as a younger (63) NOT of this ethnicity, have been made very unwelcome in my only local Church within 80 miles... pick up your Bible and show them the way.. I bet you'd be an awesome Matushka to them..
Can you stand the case i'm driving ahead and i'm gonna keep going to be, can you wait in the one minute
I think the new modern Orthodox Christians are more devoted with attaining materialistic possessions and living like Kings. They Believe by attending church once in a while, mostly for a memorial, baptism, wedding or a funeral paying respect to ones family is a joke. Kissing Icons and lighting candle isn't enough. How about respecting our Father in heaven. You must want to be in the house of the Lord, hear his words, ask for forgiveness and take the holy sacraments. We cant live for once a week or a month but live every day for our Lord. When you see others around you living in hardship or are homeless or sick, remember how you are living and what are you sacrificing today or your life for others in need. Its up to every one to read the Bible and be inspired and live Christ Like. But think for a minute by being present in a church for respect for your parents, family or friends eyes you're not going to be saved.
uuuhhh.. where is that prayer rope sold??
Love your content. But I am wondering why you are wearing a prayer rope. I heard that is not allowed.
Likely he is advertising their products (I mean, he has not wore a prayer rope before so that's likely for advertisement)... But what I've heard is that one is not allowed to wear a prayer rope as an aesthetic pendant, meaning that one could wear a prayer rope as long as it's not displayed and it reminds about praying and commitment to God. But in the name of honesty, I've been an Orthodox just for several months, so it is unlikely that I would know about these things
I've seen photos of Gerondissa Makrina wearing prayer rope before
Algorithm boost.
Confession may be repentance ;;)
3 is a large family?
😂 my brother in Christ, I'm the middle child of a 3 boy family unit. We are the smallest clan on both parents side, with my dad's siblings having no less than 5 and as great as... tbh I lost count after the Zimm's eighth. And I think, that was their daughter and they had another son soon thereafter. 😅
If you ask many parents of two kids, they think 3 is a lot.😂
But Fr. Josiah knows what a lot of kids is - I believe he and his wife have 9 children, themselves.
I think he was speaking to the current standards today where to most people three is a lot and if you have more then four you are considered to be ignorant of the way things work. I have eight siblings and the things people said to my parents were truly awful and demonic.
aye
I hate such stories of people saddened over blessings and seeking darkness trouble bad weather dying animals. That is phony spirituality. Otherwise we would pray every week for all the reverse of what we do pray for, good weather good harvest health protection for my enemies. If you're consistent start praying for all the negative that you may count that as a blessing.