A Protestant Visits a Greek Orthodox Shrine

What is the purpose of a Shrine? How is it different than a normal church? What do people do there? What is an outsider supposed to do or feel when they visit one of these?
I went to St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine and talked with Polly Hillier (the director of the Shrine) to find out.
Videos like this exist because some of you support the program at / tmbh - Thanks for that!

[@tonybaloney5877]

If it’s the same God and it’s so unifying, then why not become Eastern Orthodox and start on the path of salvation with your brothers and sisters all around the world?

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

I'm already a Christian by the saving work of Christ through the cross and the resurrection. This scriptures say in Romans 10 that "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” I confess that Jesus is Lord. I believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. I am justified and forgiven by God through Christ. There is no distinction between me and any other confessing believer in Jesus (who is fully God, fully man, the Christ, the Messiah and the Promised King who will reign forever). I am transformed from an enemy and outsider of his Kingdom to a child and an heir by his grace, and as one who calls on the name of the Lord, I am saved. I respect your tradition, Tony, but I don't have to go to your church to be a Christian.

[@tonybaloney5877]

@@MattWhitmanTMBH true, only if you want to be joined to the body of Christ. There’s only one Lord, Jesus! Thanks for the video!

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

You bet Tony. Thanks for watching and commenting. To your point though, I'm already joined to the body of Christ by merit of my being a Christian. The scriptures say in 1 Corinthians 12, "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body."

[@tonybaloney5877]

@@MattWhitmanTMBH nice try, that didn’t work for the first 1500 years or Christendom and it doesn’t work now. Wake up and see that you are a part of the problem, even though you mean well. I like your haircut! I have the same one! lol 😂

[@alexiachimciuc3199]

​@@tonybaloney5877 how can someone convert to orthodoxy? Presuming that the person is already a christian believing that Jesus died for our sins and got resurrected after?

[@brianfrederick9799]

I’ve been here. It’s very beautiful. I ended up converting to Orthodoxy so this wonderful shrine evangelized me.

[@nebojsaciric4656]

☦❤☦

[@diedertspijkerboer]

If you liked this shrine, I hope that you will be able to visit orthodox monasteries and churches in Europe some day. From. what I can see in this vid, this shrine looks pretty nice, but some of the orthodox churches and monasteries I've visited here in Europe are stunning with many having that calming effect. I believe that speaking to one's heart and feelings directly is what orthodoxy is incredibly good at.

[@johnnyd2383]

[@cthulhupr]

I have come to realize that Matt is actually doing something called symbolic theology with his recorded visits. Reflection and comprehension of the faith by narration and symbols. It is a very vivid and ecumenical way to approach the contents of our common christian faith. It incites commentary rather than refutation, leaving enough space for dissent and contrast without confrontation. Bravo for you, Matt Whitman. Great job.

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Thank you for understanding me.

[@Daddy0os]

Well said. Orthodoxy is integration and transfiguration, not the antagonism that internet commenters represent. May the Truth speak for Himself and call us all home.

[@tylerkessler4021]

@@MattWhitmanTMBHjoin the Catholic Church Matt, you would shine so bright and would be accepted so warmly

[@IVIuggle]

​@tylerkessler4021 as a Protestant, I can't let you take Matt away from us, we need him to help the rest of us love our catholic brothers and sisters better!

[@tylerkessler4021]

@@IVIuggle aww well we love you too, and he’s doing an excellent job making these videos! I grew up Baptist and recently joined the Catholic Church and I’m just so happy to talk to brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere. God Bless you !🕊️✝️

[@andys3035]

I converted to Eastern Orthodoxy a year ago and the journey has been such a blessing. I love the connection to the history of the ancient church. Thanks for sharing this video with us new Orthodox.

[@kingconstantinusthesadisti133]

You convert to paganism. that images & idols symbol dont bother you?

[@mitrovdan]

@@kingconstantinusthesadisti133 you are wrong

[@triggered8556]

@@kingconstantinusthesadisti133where is the paganism and idolatry?

[@kingconstantinusthesadisti133]

@@triggered8556 You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, nor any manner of likeness of anything that is in heaven above, that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

[@kingconstantinusthesadisti133]

@@mitrovdan read second Ten Commandments, you pagan.

[@philipabraham4613]

It's Great Lent in Orthodoxy now Pascha/ Easter is late this year on May 5th) and i've attended weekday evening services with Orthodox family 😊-- the Jesus Prayer for 30 mins, followed by Orthodox Compline. Have been reminded what an immediate relief it is to enter the small church. Candles, icons everywhere. And for an hour or so, just Holy Scripture or tradition based in Scripture, pronounced. An hour of absolute Truth with none of the extraneous silliness that accompanies worship and fellowship in other churches i've attended over the years.

[@joshuamiller9853]

I’m Ortho-curious and went a couple years ago around Christmas, while visiting Saint Augustine with my in-laws. It’s definitely a beautiful place and well worth the visit.

[@DanielKrsiak]

Hello from Czech Republic - Moravia region 🇨🇿 Metioned at 11:33 "Saints Cyril and Methodius" ✝ they are the main patrons of Moravia. The "Day of the Slavic Evangelists Cyril and Methodius" is commemorated every year on July 5 as national public holiday protected by law.

[@zoomer_zveno]

They however had nothing to do with the Christianisation and the introduction of Slavic liturgy in the Kievan Rus' which occurred a century after their deaths. The saintly brothers (who were sons of a Thessaloniki official with probable Slavic descent on their mother's side, I wasn't aware of any claims about their familial relation to Photius) themselves were active as preachers, translators and educators in Greater Moravia and Pannonia while subsequently their disciples (St. Clement of Ohrid, St. Nahum of Preslav etc.) established religious literary centres in the Bulgarian Empire.

[@patriciamathews5975]

Beautiful. 🌹

[@carlose4314]

In the Catholic Church, a shrine can either be a personal devotional space, a section of a church, or a church meant to commemorate a saint. National Shrines are more like Basilicas, but established by a group of bishops. The pope can designate minor basilicas, which are usually historic churches. There are only four major basilicas.

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

This is an excellent and informative comment. Thank you.

[@carlose4314]

@@MattWhitmanTMBH Also, right down the road from the Eastern Orthodox National Shrine is a Catholic National Shrine.

[@philipabraham4613]

Baptists are absolutely non-creedal. Check it out. Baptists believe in something somebody called, "Soul Competency". There has been movement toward something like a creed since 1980 in the Southern Bapt Convention but that is really a change from hundreds of years of Baptist tradition.

[@philipabraham4613]

Obviously an Orthodox shrine is not precisely defined in Orthodoxy as it has been in the Roman Church. I'm from DC and we have the (minor) Basilica of the Immaculate Conception which itself is called a shrine, a moral informal term.

[@pkmcnett5649]

Ste. Anne in Detroit is a minor basilica.

[@OrthodoxJourney359]

Matt I’m telling you now, if I ever meet you personally I will give you a big hug 🙏☦️

[@jessenagy9302]

Thank you for once again exploring Orthodoxy for the beauty it is. PLEASE go see the jewel of the Desert, Saint Anthony monastery in Arizona. Home of some of the truest people you’ll ever meet. The grounds are a miracle of existence.

[@therealmiles453]

💯

[@joshuaharmening7750]

Amen!

[@Demetra719]

Yes, and if you need a tour guide at the monastery, you can reach out to Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Chandler, AZ, and let them know you want to visit the monastery with someone who knows it well and see if they can find someone who will show you around! (I would find it easier that way if I was a non-Orthodox, speaking as someone who grew up Protestant but is now Orthodox).

[@ErnestoIbarra]

As a Catholic, I admire and respect the way you explore Catholic and Orthodox history and theological aspects. Thank you! May God bless you.

[@user-rt5yh4wy5b]

Me too..

[@chuckthompson5724]

My, Polly is so wonderful and passionate about her faith and the history of the church.

[@OrthoBro92]

Absolutely love your content. A few of your videos w Fr Paul Truebenbach a while back were actually one of the biggest catalysts for me to become Orthodox and return back to Christianity. Albeit our churches may not be exactly the same, our love for Christ unites us. God bless you

[@bobbiefluffy]

Polly is wonderful! I bought a cross at the gift store and she heard me whistling a church tune and she immediately recognized it and sparked a delightful conversation. Thank you Matt for giving the Orthodox some air time. Orthodoxy is so beautiful and has changed my life for the better in so many ways. God bless ☦

[@donnafletcher5386]

Oh, Saint Photios Shrine! Please pray for us Saint Photios.

[@patriciamathews5975]

Beautiful!! I've had the privilege of being at the St. Photios Shrine. It is truly a spiritual treasure. The Icons are Stunning. Our first City of St. Augustine was dedicated to God by the Spanish settlers in 1513. This date was a full century before the English landed on Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts in 1620. Christ's Nativity Icon shows the Ox & the Donkey close to the manger for a reason. The animals are representative that Christ has been born to be Savior of all Peoples. The Ox represents the Hebrew people & the Donkey represent the Gentile nations. Imagine the Spanish settlers & their joy of bringing Christ to the New Land. The Orthodox Christians also share this joy in the New World. 🙏

[@0akshadow]

I remember visiting this shrine with my father when we visited St. Augustine in 2022. I didn't quite have as much of a framework of knowledge about Orthodoxy as I do now, but I was still taken aback by its beauty. What's really interesting was how I was visiting from New Smyrna, which is our family vacation destination every year--before this, I'd had no idea about the sobering history of the town name. Small world.

[@jasonreese4573]

I've lived in St Augustine since 1986. Was baptized on St George Street in the Cathedral on 2002. Glad you liked our city.

[@Sphrerikal]

I saw this video and immediately said IVE BEEN THERE! 😂 it was so beautiful, although im not Orthodox or even christian, I still enjoyed experiencing a taste of the orthodox heritage all the way in Florida ❤☦️

[@Reese268]

I appreciate your videos so much. Every time someone asks me how I became Orthodox, you get a mention. You were integral in that process, and for that I am forever indebted to you. You are in my prayers and I hope you will continue doing what you do!

[@tcl5853]

Matt, you have done more to help various Christian denominations see each other as allies in our quest to share the Good News, rather than finding ways to distance ourselves from one another.

[@patriciamathews5975]

Yes, Agree. So many Christians do not know the great depth of the Faith through the Centuries. What treasures have been passed on to us from the Apostles, Church Fathers & evangelists. We do not have to know about St. Photios or even know that the Spanish were the first to bring the knowledge of Christ to the new world, but what joy there is in this extra knowledge. It's beautiful to know there is such a great cloud of witnesses worshiping Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

[@AndyU3]

Great stuff, Matt. I love the dichotomy between the outside hustle and bustle and the serenity on the inside.

[@Muself2]

Saint Photios wrote to Saint Nicholas, “Nothing is dearer that the Truth.” In the same letter he noted, “It is truly necessary that we observe all things, but above all, that which pertains to matters of Faith, in which but a small deviation represents a deadly sin.”. Good afternoon everyone

[@angrynas9668]

Its true buy saint great photios(fotios)lived ay 500 years after saint nickolas

[@Orthodoxy33-wo7rt]

Holy Orthodoxy - The fullness of the faith, and absolutely transformative. Not a mere decision, not an intellectual exercise or theology, not a subjective experience based on feelings, but an objective reality made manifest and experienced in the Liturgy and through the sacraments. Life isn't the same without an Apostolic priesthood and sacramental reality that Christ left us and promised to be present in and through. I am glad you are continuing to explore Orthodoxy in your excellent series of visiting other churches (I have followed since the beginning). Check out the Lord of Spirits podcast episode "The Saints Will Judge the World" to get a grasp of the role we play in the afterlife. It's what made the intercession of the saints (arguably the biggest stumbling block for Protestants) finally click for me. My life has never been the same.

[@johna3322]

You know Matt, you really do a great service to Christendom. You're extremely respectful when you visit other churches and you definitely listen more than you speak. Thank you for taking us on your journey with you. God bless you 🙏

[@LoveinDC]

I just learned about this shrine on my deep dive into Greek Orthodoxy this week. Thank you for this video!

[@BrockSamson18]

I visited this lovely shrine many years ago. It is a lovely space. May God bless my Greek Orthodox Brothers and may He heal the wounds that separate us.

[@hammerheadms]

What a lovely lady, and a beautiful shrine! You know, it's funny. I'm Byzantine Catholic in the Ruthenian church, the very church that was evangelized by St. Photios, and the language of the church, Slavonic, was written by our great Saints Cyril and Methodius. I wonder if she realizes that we share them as common saints? St. Photios may not be a Latin Church saint, but he is a Ruthenian Church saint. As are Ss. Cyril and Methoius, who are also recognized in the Western Church. And the Filioque also, it seems, is not as much of a sticking point as many Orthodox believe. I recite an identical version of the Nicene Creed as Polly does, in the Ruthenian Church, without the Filioque. There are other more sticky issues that we all need to work through, but I'm hopeful that God's grace will heal our rifts in time, and that healing would most certainly be for the betterment of all parties.

[@troyhavok8605]

It will be for the betterment of all parties, inside and outside of the Church.

[@patriciamathews5975]

I pray often for the healing of the rifts within the beautiful, traditional Christian Churches. May the Faith remain true to our Christ, King of Truth. 🙏

[@caseycardenas1668]

Latin Catholics in predominantly Orthodox countries also recite the Creed without the Filioque.

[@hammerheadms]

@@caseycardenas1668 wow, no kidding? I never knew that. I was actually surprised to hear that Latin Catholics are allowed to have churches in Russia because Byzantine Catholics are not. I think it has to do with the fact that Latin Rite doesn't share a common form of the liturgy with the Russian Church. I don't think they like the fact that we look like them, but are in communion with Rome.

[@caseycardenas1668]

@@hammerheadms yes exactly, it's more of a threat from their pov because in their mind it's possible for a church utilizing the Byzantine Liturgy to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. Meanwhile, the Latin Church is vastly different liturgically and artistically so there's no one that will be fooled by outward appearance.

[@noeticmech]

A quick note: The ox and donkey in the Nativity icon _are_ from Scripture, just not from the nativity accounts in the Gospels. They are in reference to the opening lines of Isaiah: "The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand."

[@lyndachristou4708]

Thank you Matt.Really enjoyed this video. God Bless you.😊❤

[@tgleo1]

I love all the big-picture, start-from-scratch questions you ask when you visit churches (and in this case a shrine). It's one of the best things about your wonderful channel!

[@Melvin_Thoma]

About 8:00 min mark. Speaking in regards to us in the East Syriac Rite tradition, our creed is slightly different. The one used in our liturgy. I just found out recently. The Churches in this tradition include the non-Catholic Assyrian Church of the East & Ancient Church of the East along with the two Eastern Catholic churches, the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. So our creed employed in the liturgy is based of the creed confirmed at the Council of Seleucia-Ctesiphon in 410 AD by the Church of the East bssed in the Persian Empire. This 410 council affirmed the first 2 councils that happened in the Roman empire. But it's slightly a little different from the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. ~ Source: I'm a Syro-Malabar Catholic.

[@johnsambo9379]

We know. The Oriental Orthodox art not Eastern Orthodox. They refuse to recognize the Council of Chalcedon.

[@Melvin_Thoma]

​@@johnsambo9379 the Persian Church never belonged to either the Oriental Orthodox group or the Eastern Orthodox.

[@stephensheets1172]

Was not expecting to stumble across something like this when I visited St Augustine two years ago but was quite please that I did. Very beautiful.

[@toddwert4979]

Very Beautiful! Thank you for this tour.

[@Vladimirarchonaditusaperti]

Patriarch Photius send Cyril and Methodius as missionaries to evangelize Slavs in Great Moravia, so they translated the Gospels, the Psalms, and essential liturgical books into Slavic languange, in in 862/863, and that is a great historical achievement. Премудрость твоя святая и жития святаго твоего свет богоглаголивый множайших приведе ко Христу, во мраце ереси сидящих. Сего ради светлости твоей дивящеся, взываем: Радуйся, светильниче омраченных. Радуйся, светило заблуждших. Радуйся, благочестия великий учителю. Радуйся, апостолов святых приемниче. Радуйся, уста богодвижимая спасительного учения. Радуйся, око безмятежное светлосиянныя души. Радуйся, яко источаеши сладость спасения. Радуйся, яко изсушаеши яд злобы. Радуйся, образе пастырей богоизваянный. Радуйся, правило святыя кротости. Радуйся, Христа ревнителю и служителю. Радуйся, света небеснаго зрителю. Радуйся, всемудре Фотие! ❤

[@Tesseract1887]

The Shrine is so wonderful I am from Florida whenever I am in Florida I try to visit the Shrine it has a very good shop for devotional supplies

[@WesYarber]

Polly is delightful and I so appreciate her perspective and the way she values and promotes unity. She seems determined to not let ideology and secondary/tertiary issues get in the way of the saving gospel that we all fall under together. I of course also appreciate these things about you Matt! I don't comment that often, but thank you for how you make these videos. I appreciate the way you do not feel the need to tell your viewers how "this is what they believe, but here is why it isn't right and isn't what I believe," but you allow the best version of it to be presented, value it for what it is, and trust those watching to make of it what they will. I'm learning and valuing a lot about church history and feeling even more unified with my brothers and sisters in Christ because of these videos! And seeing great manners modeled for interactions with other brothers and sisters that believe differently from me!

[@AndyWitmyer]

Matt, have you ever seriously considered making a journey to ancient, Orthodox monasteries of Mt. Athos to speak to, if not the monks themselves, those who function as visitors' guides? I think it would make for a very compelling video. The instrinsically awe-inspiring majesty of the mountainous imagery itself would, in and of itself, be an incredible sight to see. To include with it the divine beauty of the faith that emanates from those men who dwelleth upon it - who, having retreated from worldly passions, now dedicate their lives fully to ceaseless prayer and the adoration for God - would be just an incredible thing to see - not just for you, but for all of us who watch your videos. Keep up the great work, Matt ☦

[@ralphchamberlain1272]

That was a great tour, thank you for sharing it

[@steveb6984]

What a great informative and spiritually uplifting video!

[@sebastian95398]

Hi Matt! I love your videos and how you both tour and discuss theology and history with different Christian expressions. I particularly love the St Augustine church videos since this is one of may favorite places to visit. In fact stayed there during our honeymoon and try to get there at least annually. Have toured a lot of the churches there. Hopeful that you release more St Augustine church videos!

[@Patrichor777]

Thank you for uploading this ❤

[@moniquelemaire5333]

What a most beautiful tour in Florida!!! The hand painted Iconography is truly amazing and truly deserve to be venerated....each Saint portrayed is what I always pray that Christians today would be: Faithful, Brave and On a Mission from God!!!! Your tour guide was lovely, gracious and full of the Spirit of gentleness and tremendous faith. Thank you for an awesome time learning about the Eastern church.... more American Christians need to be taught about Christian History, especially about other nations and cultures. (It's not about huge mega churches which are completely lacking in true Holy Spirit gifting, but an inner joy of the Spirit working within them as exemplified by the tour guide.) May God Bless you and your family 😇💞, Miss Monique

[@ericoshea9382]

Outstanding video as always!

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Thank you!

[@gwan_git]

Well done Polly. Thank you for explaining our faith so beautifully

[@ttaibe]

Beautiful I so miss these kinds of videos

[@jasonreese4573]

I've lived in St Augustine since 1986. I got Baptized on this street, down the road, in the Cathedral-Basilica of St Augustine in 2002. But I love the Eastern Orthodox Shrine, beautiful and inspirational!

[@tr1084]

Great memory visiting here. My wife and I were on honeymoon. The usual afternoon June downpour began so we ran for cover to the nearest door. It was the entrance to the shrine. We are Catholic, but I had spent some time visiting Orthodox liturgies before becoming Catholic, so I was pleasantly surprised. Beautiful shrine. We bought a few prayer ropes and a book on the Jesus Prayer before leaving.

[@Juznik1389]

Wonderful video! Thank you for this!

[@CanadianAnglican]

Yay thanks for this great video. Absolutely amazing.

[@ZZZELCH]

Excellent visit and video as usual. St. Photius, please pray for us.

[@cmillivol98]

Matt, I was literally there on Friday!! Beautiful place with a ton of history.

[@matthewweston643]

How beautiful ❤️ Polly Matt And the Christian Joy they exude.

[@AwakeningAfrica]

This was really enlightening. I have never been to an Eastern Orthodox shrine. Very interesting!

[@TheGhost13512]

I am Egyptian and I love the Greek Orthodox church 😊☦️✝️☦️

[@originalmatrixescapee]

Did you see the relics? I think there's a piece of bone from Paul maybe? It's been years since I've been there, but the bones were very incredible to me when I saw them.

[@saintphotios2635]

Forgive me for not mentioning the relics (bone fragments) from 18 saints of the early church including Paul, Peter, Nicholas, Savvas, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, and others. This reliquary was received from V. Rev. Eugene Pappas from Three Hierarchs Orthodox Church in Brooklyn, NY. He received it from the Vatican purposely for the Shrine,

[@troyhavok8605]

The respect you show to other Christians gives me hope that one day the Church can once again be truly undivided. Thank you.

[@TBland-ir8kl]

I see the Icons serving the same purpose as stain glass windows.

[@spiderb3367]

Holy Patriarch Photios pray for us!

[@LlywellynOBrien]

As a Catholic seeing this makea me mourn our seperation. We are benefiting from our Eastern sisters and brothers more and more every day bot via Eastern Catholics and ecuminism but we have a long way to go!

[@heironymousb9661]

Great video Thomas

[@CandiceGoddard]

The preservation of history is one of the unique aspects of Christianity that was inherited via Judaism from Ancient Egyptian religion (from which came the first monotheism). We don't realise but other religions do not have the same level of historical preservation. People just take for granted that they do.

[@bendixon8704]

We were there just last weekend. I went many times when working in Jacksonville in 2021-2023

[@Shane_9590]

My family and I visited this shrine just a few years ago. It’s a wonderful place to visit. It’s a small spiritual oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of old town St. Augustine.

[@erikvogt2293]

I love the glimpses you provide into other traditions and the mission behind your content. You've covered a quite a swath of Christian expression but I've got to ask...why no love for the anabaptists! Thanks for all you do. Erik

[@James-fv8vs]

Seeing a lot of nasty comments from Orthodox here, Lord have mercy. As an Orthodox convert myself of over 9 years now, I apologize for the nasty comments. I've always enjoyed your videos and seeing that you visited St. Photios made me so happy! I'm a born n raise Floridian and used to drive up very early to St. Augustine once a month by myself just to be at the shrine :') Wonderful video!

[@rmb10]

That was one of the best videos!

[@DarthVeers2]

I’ve been to St. Augustine many times but only on my most recent visit did I check out the shrine. I am an Eastern Catholic & I took delight in the beauty & history at this shrine. It was great to venerate the icons & the many relics.

[@LlywellynOBrien]

I am sure you know this Matt, but trivia for others. The donkey and ox come from Isaiah 1:3 "The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand."

[@dimitriosvlissides5781]

Thank you for all these information about the Hellenic ,Greek diaspora I was moved to see New Smyrna settlement in florida I am a citizen of Nea Smyrna in Athens Greece another settlement from 1923 Treaty of Lausane All greek orthodox refugees that came from Anatolia ,Asia Minor, Created in Greece the NEA ..SMYRNA ,NEA Philadelphia ,Nea Ionia etc etc

[@dimitritriantafyllides682]

Kinda funny that New Smyrna in Athens is a couple of hundred years younger than New Smyrna in FL...

[@greekorthodoxy]

If you’re still in the area, you should visit St John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Jacksonville for Holy Week. (Apr 28 - May 5)

[@TwisterTornado]

What is Holy Week? Lapsed Orthodox...no fam contact, getting interested, on my own.

[@greekorthodoxy]

@@TwisterTornado Holy Week is the “week” leading up to Pascha (Easter) it starts on Saturday of Lazarus (this year on April 27) and ends on Easter (this year on May 5). I’ll just do a simple over look on the services but if you want I can go more in depth. Saturday: Lazarus Saturday- Normal Divine Liturgy commemorating Christ raising Lazarus from the dead Sunday Morning: Palm Sunday: Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem Sunday Night - Tuesday: Bridegroom services (look up icon of the Bridegroom) each night is a bit different but all in all the same. Sunday night has the great procession with the icon Wednesday Morning: Some parishes may do a Liturgy Wednesday Night: Holy Unction - Anointing Servixe Thursday morning: Liturgy commemorating the Last Supper Thursday Night: Passion: During the service the priest will process with the cross with the crucified Christ on it. Friday Morning: Psalms and Hymns are changed to Christ(still on the cross from last night) Friday Afternoon: We take the body of Christ off of the Cross and anoint it and bury it in white cloth (will get put back on the cross for Pentecost) Friday Night: Lamentations: This is essentially the funeral service for Christ. We process around the outside church with his Epitaphio Sat Morning: Divinr Liturgy Sat Night/Sun Morning: Servixe starts at around 11pm. Chants and such are read till about 11:45 and then everyone receives the light and we proclaim Christ is Risen! After that we have a normal divine Liturgy that ends at about 2am. Sun Afternoon: Agape (Love) Vespers proclaiming the resurrection I encourage you to go to the nearest Eastern Orthodox Church to experience as many of these as you can. If you live close my home Parish is St John the Divine in Jacksonville, FL. Let me know if you have any further question I would be happy to answer. And if you follow my instagram @gre.ekorthodoxy I will be keeping up with the services! God Bless

[@stephanie1586]

@@TwisterTornado The week before Pascha (Orthodox word for Easter).

[@TwisterTornado]

@@stephanie1586 Thank you!

[@MayTheForceBeWithYou858]

Thank you. God bless you.

[@JeffreyShott]

I’m a Catholic convert, but this is one of my favorite shrines! My wife and I got engaged in St. Augustine and we always visit this shrine when we return.

[@Vinsue96]

I loved that tour! I learn so much watching your vids!!! Quick question…I am a Catholic and I was wondering what r other faiths beliefs on Praying for the dead and having the dead help them?? I know u always ask about Saints and our relationship to them..but I wonder what other faiths believe about praying for the dead??

[@pkmcnett5649]

Mormons.

[@zoejay]

There is no dead in Christ. God is the God of the living.

[@jonaspittman6059]

My mom has visited the st. Photios shrine!

[@nonameronin1]

This is one of my favorite places in St. Augustine ❤

[@margokupelian344]

Thank you Matt for doing this. Believe me if I tell you that the three denominations don’t know much, if nothing at all, about each other’s faith and here you are, doing the job. Once I met an old Protestant friend from school at a dinner party and she asked me what church I go to, and when I told her that I attend the Catholic Church she looked like she was bitten by a snake and she said to me, but they are a cult! That was so shocking to me.

[@diedertspijkerboer]

I would have liked it if you had explored the non-rational aspects of this shrine more. What I like about orthodoxy is that it doesn't just speak to our minds, it speaks to our hearts and feelings directly. Your host described this beautifully, illustrating how many guests experience a moment of calm when entering the shrine. I've had several such experiences myself visiting orthodox churches and monasteries in Europe and it's typically a very intentional aspect. I'm from a protestant background and I've never experienced this calming effect in any protestant church and sometimes the opposite. I think the non-rational, the non-verbal and how places feel are subjects that protestants need to talk and think about more.

[@RGabeDavis]

I’ve been there! I’ll probably go back this year not that I know more.

[@XiHamORTHOCN]

Also, error in the video, St. Photios is now canonized (recognized as a saint) by the Catholic church and is venerated highly by about a dozen of the sui iuris churches within the Catholic communion. Which, yes, provokes contradiction.

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

I don't see any list of Catholic saints that includes Photios. Could you share your source with me on that?

[@TheAncientEmo]

Went here with my family yesterday and got the ladder of divine ascent icon, the shrine was absolutely incredible though as soon as I saw the candles lit and walked into it I could just feel the presence of God within that place. I was with my mother who isn’t Christian for Mother’s Day and we had some light argument earlier in the day that had left me a little frustrated, however. All that frustration and annoyance was shaken off the moment I walked into the shrine I just felt nothing but amazement and peace.

[@HippocratesGarden]

As someone raised Southern Baptist, but converted to Orthodoxy, I think a couple of the biggest differences between the Orthodox, and non-Orthodox (and I include the Roman Catholic church, simply based on very recent behavior) is.. innovation and compromising. The Orthodox do not innovate, and they do not compromise on the basic truths. In the Protestant world, innovation and often compromising is foundational. That's why there are so many denominations, and now non-denominational "churches", where names, services, costumes etc are constantly changing to "remain relevant" and the like.

[@dougmoore8314]

My goodness it is a place to pray for orthodox believers.

[@vickih5405]

I'm going to post this on both of your most recent videos, what is the likelihood of getting a Matt Whitman and Mike Winger colab video?

[@annb9029]

Great video

[@ismailaeyoussef]

God bless you brother, from a fellow believe in Christ. 😊

[@DFMoray]

What I always ask Protestants to ask themselves in regard to Holy Orthodoxy, “What have you to protest?”

[@pkmcnett5649]

How long do you have?

[@ruralsquirrel5158]

The word is in their name: "protest". They are born of rebellion.

[@Akrafena]

We have no qualms with the Orthodox Church, we protest against the Catholics on 95 reasons (now shortened after Trent)

[@DFMoray]

@@pkmcnett5649 go ahead, we’re all listening…

[@IIS-HS-NI-KA]

Hy Matt! Maybe you could take some time to dive into the Holy Light miracle topic?

[@TheNinjaInConverse]

Beautiful icons.

[@ScootyB525]

I think of a Shrine, like someone being "enshrined" in the NFL Football Hall of Fame. It's there to serve as a memory of of the greatness.

[@Apophatic]

Oh yeah, time to watch another tour.

[@Eunacis]

WOO HOMETOWN!

[@georgebashour4333]

God bless you ☦️

[@carmenanico2786]

As a Catholic, I think this beautiful and instructive

[@williampotter1004]

The Ox and the Donkey are in scripture, but it's in old testament prophesy rather than in the nativity narrative proper. "The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand" Isiah 1:3

[@saintphotios2635]

Thank you, yes, they are not mentioned at the time of the Nativity in the New Testament but represent the Gentiles and Jews of Isaiah.

[@peterpapoutsis496]

Tarpon Springs, Florida St. Michael, the Archangel Greek Orthodox Shrine is MUCH MORE authentic. Right there on Hope Street. You HAVE to go there!!!

[@demetrilambros2631]

You didn't mention the relics in the shrine!

[@wauliepalnuts6134]

Nice of you to actually visit this shrine and ask questions instead of just looking stuff up on the Internet. If you ever go to Greece, you'll see roadside shrines. Not as big and complex as this one.

[@swordforjustice]

Don’t be embarrassed if you didn’t know what a shrine is. No one knows everything. You went, and you learned something.

[@dlingfasin6826]

I live in Greece and ive never heard of this lmao

[@saintphotios2635]

And many Greek Americans have not heard of St. Photios. Ministry of Parliament Mr. Terrence Quick came in 2012 and placed a wreath at the gravesite of one of the descendants of the Greek colonists in the National Cemetery. In 2020 we collaborated with staff from the Benaki Museum to bring an exhibit to St. Augustine. God willing you can visit as well one day.

[@JoshuaCookLibertyIsRising]

Been there twice . ❤️