A WOMAN ABOVE THE ANGELS

The feast of The Dormition calls Orthodox faithful to rejoice in the woman elevated to above the angels.

[@FatherSpyridonROCOR]

My book "THE UFO DECEPTION" and other titles can be seen here: www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AFather+Spyridon+Bailey&s=relevancerank&text=Father+Spyridon+Bailey&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

[@davidmaligo5647]

John the Baptist must be greater than Mother Mary in terms of holiness because Jesus Christ said that the greatest human being that has ever lived was John the Baptist in Matthew chapter 11.

[@lulabella9249]

@@davidmaligo5647 Mary is the Immaculate Conception free of any stain of sin, so, no, John the Baptist was not greater than the Mother of God.

[@davidmaligo5647]

@@lulabella9249 Oh that's a Roman Catholic heresy. "Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." -Jesus Christ

[@davidmaligo5647]

@@lulabella9249 Unless, of course, Jesus Christ was just talking about the prophets and I misunderstood the verse.

[@davidmaligo5647]

@@AAna_Stasiaa The Lord Jesus Christ was referring to how John the Baptist lived his life here on Earth. The most sinful person in the history of the world, or the future Antichrist, who will be least in the Kingdom of Heaven, will live a better life than John the Baptist here on Earth.

[@backtothealtarofGod]

I’ve been a protestant all my life. I never understood why they never talk about Mary. I’m converting to orthodoxy. Praise God for you father

[@Snowfall26]

just be a Catholic… a lot about Mary.

[@Alxis8]

​@@Snowfall26 no to heresy

[@Alxis8]

@@Bear-88 From the Eastern Orthodox Christian perspective, the statement you provided misinterprets Matthew 23:9. In this verse, Jesus is not prohibiting the use of the term "father" in all contexts but is addressing the issue of pride and self-exaltation among religious leaders. He is cautioning against elevating any earthly authority to the level of God the Father, who is in heaven. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, calling priests "father" is not meant to usurp God's authority but rather to acknowledge their role as spiritual fathers and guides within the Christian community. It is a term of respect and recognition for their pastoral care, guidance, and teaching. This practice is rooted in the apostolic tradition and has been passed down through the Church's history. Furthermore, it's important to note that the Apostle Paul did use the term "father" in a spiritual sense when referring to himself and other leaders in the early Christian community. For example, in 1 Corinthians 4:15, Paul writes, "For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel." This demonstrates that the use of "father" as a term of respect for spiritual leaders is not contrary to the teachings of the New Testament. In summary, from the Eastern Orthodox perspective, Matthew 23:9 is about avoiding the elevation of human authorities to the level of God, not a prohibition against using the term "father" to address spiritual leaders within the Church. This practice is deeply rooted in the apostolic tradition and does not contradict the teachings of the Bible when understood in its proper context.

[@WetruNIKA]

@@Bear-88 what is the point of bringing out scripture without understanding it?

[@WetruNIKA]

@@Bear-88 Act all prideful, it doesn't bother me. How do you call your dad tho?

[@MO51MARRIED6yrAISHA]

This channel is severely underrated!!

[@phoenicia1313]

Agreed. Will remain that way, sadly, in these end times.

[@H3c171]

Not underrated, just a testament for how lost God's people are in the end times.

[@agedinthesun6689]

So is Jesus, go figure.

[@jamesbancroft2467]

@@RobKoch1962 he is not an Elder

[@alejandroduenas1828]

Heeeey it's you!!!

[@DaisyAnnabelle6]

More honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious than the Seraphim, who a Virgin gave birth to God the Word, Truly , The Theotokos we Magnify.☦️

[@csa7189]

Amen 🙏

[@kiriaioulia]

More Honored than the Cherubim, and more Glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim!!!!

[@user-ji2on8eg3l]

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

[@SarahBaer-wd7iq]

There was also that saint who literally saw her say NO I WiLl not give you my mercy

[@CindySathiady]

Praise God for this channel !

[@orthodox1717]

Most Holy Theotokos save us!! Bless Father.

[@Jaden_Downs]

Only Jesus can save you. Mary is just a vessel in which Christ was born. She is in no way divine. you are practicing idolatry.

[@LarrySanger]

Only God can save you. Mary is blessed but she is not God.

[@George-ur8ow]

​@@LarrySanger"There is no Salvation but through the Theotokos" do you know what this actually means?

[@LarrySanger]

@@George-ur8ow if it means anything not deeply heretical, all it *can* mean is that she bore the incarnate body of the only true savior of the world (who preexisted her and created her).

[@George-ur8ow]

@@LarrySanger "There is no salvation but through the Theotokos" What is meant by this? I had to find out more when I first read it, I was actually shocked and a little upset reading that quote when I came across it as a Protestant before entering into Holy Orthodoxy. It is centrally about Christ, not Mary. In Orthodoxy, our theology concerning the Theotokos is a subset of Christology (Christology: meaning "Who, exactly is Christ? What does "The Son of God" actually mean?). We hold as an extremely important & required belief that Christ is fully God and fully Man. Mary was not "just an incubator", Christ's very flesh was taken from his Mother. If Christ did not assume actual human flesh and blood, then the incarnation is meaningless and we cannot be saved. This is what is meant by "There is no salvation but through the Theotokos". If God did not assume from her His actual human flesh and blood, then the crucifixion means nothing. As a "guy just reading the Bible" and loosely attending a Baptist Church for years, I had never heard or thought of such things. I certainly see the importance now. Straying from this Orthodox belief leads to a very strange, psuedo-Christianity. Some Protestant denominations are are little more than replayed arminian or nestorian, or gnostic views of Christ (as you probably know, there are heresies that were stamped out by the early Church - e.g., the belief that Christ did not assume real, actual human flesh, or, the opposite - that Jesus, a man, was born only as a man, who later became Divine). Sadly there are significant amounts of Protestant groups that either regurgitate or slightly modify these beliefs today ("Oneness Pentacostals", for example). A little more on the incarnation: that Christ fully took on real and actual human flesh from his Mother, Mary, is the means by which you and I will be raised on the last day at the bodily resurrection of all mankind. We hold that the incarnation is cosmic in its scope: at the moment of the incarnation into human flesh in the mystery of the Divine hypostasis, Christ connected himself to every person who has ever lived and will ever live. It is by this means that all men will be resurrected on the last day. I hope you can see how our love and blessing of the Theotokos is very important in Orthodoxy. Essentially, getting it right about Mary is to get it right about Christ. Everything Mary did was for the Lord, she points us to him. As the Orthodox Fathers unequivocally stated, (paraphrasing here) "If Mary is not the Mother of our Lord and God, then to whom did she give birth to? Just a man? Just God? If it is only either of the above, then we cannot be saved. She gave birth to Fully man and fully God". Lastly, there are some unorthodox developments in Roman Catholicism concerning the Mother of our Lord that happened after they left Orthodoxy in 1054 A.D., (such as the "Immaculate Conception" or belief that Mary herself was born without being subject to the ancestral sin of Adam & Eve's fall). The Theotokos needed to be saved, just like all of us, and indeed was. I love the Mother of our Lord and am happy to think of her, to bless her and to venerate her. This is why we say during every Divine Luturgy "Theotokos, it is truly right and meet to bless thee" (Luke 1:48). Our Lord chose her, of all women who had ever lived, to take His flesh and blood from. What a great honor - to have the incarnate Lord's flesh taken from that of your own.

[@user-df7uj8cf2s]

I'm a former protestant. When I think of Jesus teaching, I think of the Orthodox Church. Talking and teaching calmly and quietly. I hope to one day convert...

[@jamesdownes3284]

This father is a legend 🙌

[@antonkirani2758]

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. Thank you for your words Father.

[@CountofHazelview]

Amen!!! From your Catholic brother, I love God always first (Holy Trinity), and then my Most Blessed Mother and Queen, Mary.

[@csa7189]

O Theotokos you are the gate of heaven🙏🙏🙏

[@fightthegoodfightoffaithmi8676]

✟ When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 (KJV)

[@johnchornyTheOnly]

Beautifully put #GoArch

[@bobbobb4804]

⁠@@johnchornyTheOnlyeverything in king James is beautifully written

[@johnchornyTheOnly]

@@bobbobb4804 blah blah blah - bob loblaw

[@bobbobb4804]

@@johnchornyTheOnly 🤨

[@johnchornyTheOnly]

@@bobbobb4804 ;P maintaing composure in trying times. #GoArch

[@jeremyconrad3696]

Wonderful! Thank you Father. From Illinois, USA.

[@giorgoskilkis]

Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε σώσον ημάς

[@bryanwilliams6032]

Salvation only comes though JESUS.

[@giorgoskilkis]

@@bryanwilliams6032 just gonna quote a priest : There is not so many prayers, if any, that i know of that say to the Mother of God, "Have mercy on me", because that's almost always understood as the grace of God, the mercy of God that's visited to us. We do say "Save me" and we mean it both temporally and eternally. We don't mean that she is "The Savior" but we mean that by her prayers and by her intercessions and by her help she will save us be instrumental in our salvation. She already has been instrumental in everyone's salvation through her "Yes" to the Archangel. Through her love, through her purity, through her struggle, through her prayers. Everything about her life is instrumental for everyone's salvation. So we are already being saved in part of her contribution and that's the synergy of God and man. That's what it means the incarnation. So we say "Save me" both from imminent temporal harm by your prayers and from eternal separation by your prayers, always by her intercessions, her care for us and her great boldness before God.

[@OrthoChi20]

Father Bless and thank you 🙏🏼 for your encouraging messages that i always look forward to ☦️ Have A Blessed Feast Day!

[@BMC867]

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

[@jamesbancroft2467]

yeah He’s saying the real reason she’s blessed is because she obeyed God

[@BMC867]

@@jamesbancroft2467 Was the message that she is just blessed? Or was it more?

[@jamesbancroft2467]

@@BMC867 by showing her to be blessed because of her obedience, He indicates an example for us to follow; she is the archetype of perfect obedience to God and redeemed humanity

[@reba5679]

She was blessed because if her perfect obedience. She is FULL of grace.

[@reba5679]

So, what do you think of the Fatima apparition?

[@earthangelofGod]

Hail Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners. Thank you Father. I am Anglican Catholic open minded and accept all in Jesus Christ. Bless you. Love Light and Peace ✝️🙏💖💖💖🕊️🦋🐬

[@fmayer1507]

The Bible backs up how special the Theotokos is in fact. This is a great video that privides the details. At the marriage feast The Blessed Mother asks Christ to help the couple and He does it as His first miracle even though it is clear Our Lord was not wanting to do the miracle but He did it. That alone speaks volumes of how Our Lady is unique among the saints.

[@omarsfitnessworld3213]

@@GigiGhiba-dl7tg being a Marian is heretical . Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is who created all , and is above all. God does not share His throne with anyone , For heaven is His abode and earth is His footstool. Tho Mary is blessed above all women , she was also a human who needed saving from human sin.

[@omarsfitnessworld3213]

@@GigiGhiba-dl7tg I’m not blaspheming or mocking g nothing I said is a lie . The verse you used just cemented my comment God doesn’t share His throne since Jesus is God of course God would share His throne with Himself

[@emmap1159]

​@@omarsfitnessworld3213I think you may have a reading comprehension problem. Those who overcome, like Christ, shall have a place in God's throne. You do realize that is what you yourself long for, or am I wrong? So how can you argue then that Mary, described in Luke by the angels as "Full of Grace" should be denied this level of divinity? She, who was the first disciple and ever faithful to our Lord deserves honor and gratitude for her complete obedience to God's will. And be mindful that Jesus will not take kindly to slander against his mother.

[@lulabella9249]

@@kristuswaffendivision Mary is the Immaculate Conception free of the stain of sin.

[@lulabella9249]

@@omarsfitnessworld3213 blaphemy! Mary was free of human sin which is precisely why she became the mother of our Savior, the Immaculate Conception!

[@marlongreeb831]

Virgin mary is the mother of God.She is our mother too.Her love will naver end.PRAY FOR US O MOTHER OF GOD ❤❤❤

[@julianfernandez1337]

Repent and turn to Jesus Christ

[@lulabella9249]

@@julianfernandez1337 Lord have mercy on all these blasphemous comments against your Blessed Mother!

[@RS-db2en]

@@julianfernandez1337Do you know why Jesus performed his first miracle before it’s due time? Because Mary told him to do so. She is his mother and is to be respected and loved, as Christ respected and loved her. May her intercession be with us all.

[@robbierobinson5101]

You are need reading and studying the Holy scriptures...you are listening to "MANS" words. Jesus Christ is the way, truth, and the life

[@borrowedtruths6955]

Mary was born in sin, she needed a Saviour the same as all do. She is never elevated in the Scriptures, save for Luke. 1:28. Mary the mother of Jesus was a godly and blessed woman, but she was not without sin. Jesus was the only human without sin. Jesus “had no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “In him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). Nothing of the sort is ever said of Mary or anyone else. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10). The “we” in this passage includes Mary, the mother of Jesus. To claim Mary is without sin is an example of “deceit.” In Mary’s praise-filled, humble prayer in Luke 1, she says, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (verse 47). If she were sinless, she would not have needed a “Savior.” Mary receives a gentle rebuke from Jesus in John 2:4, which hardly seems fitting if she were sinless.

[@user-ji2on8eg3l]

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Oh clement, oh loving, oh sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us oh Holy Mother of God, that we be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

[@godsaveskyrieeleison5859]

Glory to God for the mother of Christ, her obedience and holiness so well pleasing to Him. She was given the honor of carrying her creator and bringing salvation into this fallen world. Through the prayers of our Lady theotokos, the glorious martyrs, the rightly guided apostles and all the saints. Lord have mercy on us sinners ☦️🙏

[@godsaveskyrieeleison5859]

@@KallyKafritsas clown

[@longriderxx]

Thanks Father

[@longriderxx]

@@KallyKafritsas 🤣🤣🤣

[@Music-Visually]

I am new to Orthodox faith - may the Lord bless you Father 🙏🙏🙏

[@adonatdemiss3902]

The biggest love to god we know is a mother's love

[@dimitrioskladouchos4876]

Dear father Spyridon: May Her intercessions and Her abundant Love to always accompany you in your great work. The unworthy from Las Vegas

[@LadyMaria]

Hey neighbor!

[@dimitrioskladouchos4876]

@@LadyMaria Hi there... Are you a Vegan as well?

[@orthodoxos1971]

Las Vegas also 🙂. All Saints

[@hendersonshuntinglodge1207]

A precious feast in the life of the Church, Greetings to all,

[@didihrpro3499]

Greater in honor than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim, undefiled you gave birth to God the Word: truly the Mother of God, we magnify you. ☦️🙏🏼❤️

[@danilogbg4560]

☦️☦️🫂🫂☦️☦️ love you brothers in Christ

[@sengulakkusoz9579]

And also sisters...

[@marshajones8685]

Thank you Father.

[@olgapedinski6115]

Thank you. Happy feast to all!

[@LadyMaria]

C праздником! 🎉 ☦︎

[@DonRA33]

Found ya after I was asking fo clarity woah 🥂🌎

[@dimitriosefstratiadis5117]

Thank you father, always listening from Australia, Mary Mother bless us all here. ❤

[@toxicwhiteGermanmale]

*god

[@jesus_is_kingforever5909]

Thank you, I am currently considering Orthodoxy and I reflect on who Mary was and her important role in our traditions as Christians. I fear giving her too much notice but, I want to submit to the Church and her teachings. 🙏 (from newage to pentocostalism, to baptist to Orthodox observer all in 4 years since receiving revelation in the form of a gift of grace from God!) Please say a prayer for me! -Sara

[@user-yh4jc5wq4f]

We join the angels in the heaven to celebrate your admission to our church. I am a cradle orthodox from Ethiopia. According to Timothy 3:15 as you mentioned the Church is a pillar of truth and our Lord in Matthew 28:20 promised to be with the apostles all the time. We believe in the tradition of Acts 15:28 so our fathers inspired by the Holy Spirit decide the appropriate veneration our Lady deserves .I do understand given the background you come from you developed some hesitation. May the intercession of OurLady guide you through your faith journey!

[@RS-db2en]

I used to be against showing Mary veneration, but I prayed to God and Jesus showed me who his Mother is. Welcome 🫶🏼

[@HomoEucharistica]

Of course you don't NEED to give her any attention or ask her intercessions if it feels uncomfortable. But that possibility exists. What I found helpful was to think how I would act if Virgin Mary (and other saints of God) were alive. Wouldn't I ask Mary to pray for me? Wouldn't I bless her and love her like I love my own mother? Of course. Now, if we take the Bible seriously, the situation is not much different even when these people are physically dead, because they are alive in Christ. We are still one body in Christ, tied with bandages of love. May our Lord and God Jesus Christ pour His abundant mercy on you and give you His peace, Sara!

[@RS-db2en]

@@KallyKafritsas Sure, whatever you say. I love Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ our GOD and you think that’s demonic.

[@LarrySanger]

Whoever is the mother of someone brought him into being. God obviously has no mother in that sense and it is deep blasphemy to suppose otherwise. The incarnation of God was borne by Mary. But since the human body of Jesus was the incarnation of **God**, she couldn’t have brought him (I.e., God!) into being. (But he brought her, and all of us, into being.) For brevity and respect we say Mary was mother of Jesus. But Jesus preexisted his birth, and Mary, and the world. And this matters. And we do blaspheme if we elevate a mere woman at the expense of his dignity. I have no desire to offend my Orthodox brothers and sisters, but this is God’s truth in Holy Scripture. God is holy and dignifying a woman as **God’s** mother is a slander on his holiness.

[@sm3756]

Thank you Father

[@alucard2477]

As soon as I saw the title I already knew it was mother Mary a perfect reflection of The Father who never second guessed anything god asked her she is perfect in every way

[@michaelsollars5890]

What a blessing your channel is! And, btw, your microphone always sounds great and does your voice justice. Thanks

[@thedarkmoonman]

Holy Mary, mother of God.

[@everythingeverything7672]

Merry the Queen of Heaven

[@TByronK]

Thank you once again for another imoportant message Fr. Spyridon, your teachings have been a great blessing to me for some time now and I have enjoyed your books as well. ☦

[@TByronK]

@@KallyKafritsas Please read an article by the Orthodox Church regarding your concerns, it is titled Call No Man Father by a Priest named Lawrence Farley. 🌠

[@spartangates836]

Thank you for the words Father. Save and help us all holy Virgin!

[@spartangates836]

@@KallyKafritsas Friend I’m afraid you have no idea what you are saying. This skull in my profile picture is a reminder of death as that is important in Orthodoxy and something the Fathers told us to remember. A rememberance of death can stop us from sinning. This Skull has nothing to do with evil Freemason imagery.

[@WORKOUTSOLUTIONS]

❤️🙏☦️ GOD BLESS ☦️🙏❤️

[@prasai0031]

Jesus is Lord 👑

[@claudiuprodana1448]

and His birth was possible because of Mary`s holiness that transcends all created beings from angels to humans!!!

[@fjfjfjjdjdjdjj]

@@claudiuprodana1448made possible because He is God and Mary was a sinner like the rest of us

[@claudiuprodana1448]

@@fjfjfjjdjdjdjj if she was a sinner than your God is satan cause the Light has no business with darkness. This was never said to any other woman before or after And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. To be honest I have no clue what your business is on this channel, go talk your heresy with your other brothers from the other over 2000 pseudo christian branches with less than 200 years historical existence.

[@robbierobinson5101]

Amen!!

[@LadyMaria]

​​@@fjfjfjjdjdjdjjShe was chosen for her humility, Faith, resisting the inclination to sin with His grace, and love of God. That is more than any of us. None of us are "full of grace" and will be "called blessed in every generation".

[@user-vu2cq1mf7b]

GOD BLESS YOU, BROTHER !!!

[@Chrisc-sn6uh]

Glory to God 🙏

[@AbrahamH11]

Father i'm from Ethiopian nobody is benefited from this channel like me. Thankyou❤

[@LarrySanger]

I appreciate most of your videos.

[@Retheraq]

Thank you!

[@kathleankeesler1639]

Thank you.

[@lindsaypeek63]

I have been wanting to convert to Orthodoxy however this is the one thing I simply don’t feel peace about. Praying to saints and Mary. I know Jesus opened the door to pray to him directly and he is our mediator so I don’t truly understand why we would do anything else. The Orthodox Church seems so real and true and I ask God for understanding

[@lulabella9249]

Catholics ask for the Saints and our Blessed Mother to intercede for us we do not, I repeat do not worship and pray to them in a manner that lends itself to worshipping them.

[@1406Pictures]

I have the exact same problem 🙏🏽

[@one_step_sideways]

We pray to saints because saints told us they would help if we pray to them by directing our prayers to God and, most importantly, praying for us, because God listens to His saints and does what they pray for Him to do - that's not to say that we can ask for anything from God and His saints (who direct our prayers to God), because sometimes people ask for an equivalent of a pot of boiling water to be dropped on us. Some saints can help with some things that they themselves have done during their time in the world - and we are called to read about their lives and emulate them, as how they emulated Christ (what Saint Paul said). If you want to be healed or for others to be healed - you pray to the saints who were healers and doctors like Saint Panteleimon and Saint Luke of Crimea. If you want to get a job or have good business - you pray to Saint Spyridon of Trimiphunt and others. And you can accomplish this with repentance and fasting. It's not something I can fully explain in just one comment on the internet - there was a whole Ecumenical Council that was called to reinstate icons and praying to saints and to anathemize the iconoclasts, so you need to study it in detail. But one thing is for sure, praying to saints is certainly not idolatry. God would not have permitted it otherwise.

[@ouzoandchester]

When we unite ourselves in Christ we become a member of his body. We’re not saved as individuals but by our mystical union with ones living but also the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before, recognized saints alive in Christ. If we ask those near to us for their prayers why not ask righteous ones who are with Christ? In this way the whole body is strengthened and by their prayers we are strengthened in our union with Him

[@nelsongllrd]

I'm am actually making the decision to go back to the ancient church in order to worship my Lord. Pray for me as its been very hard for me to actually change over. As I love my current church and my fellow brothers and sisters.

[@rosuadonis8562]

Thank you brother for sharing your wisdom with us.

[@jenniferneugin1228]

Thank you, Father!❤️

[@byrnedegrandpre8884]

Thank you so very much Father for this incredibly inspirational homily.

[@AlexLawable]

Пресвятая Богородица, спаси нас!

[@chrisrobinson1671]

Thank you

[@NJP9036]

I agree completely. Amen and thank you for this message Fr. Spyridon.

[@michaelemmanuelhutagalung-948]

PANAGIA THEOTOKOS SOZO NI MA...MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS SAVE US........AMEN.

[@Mikeyballs]

there is a woman above the angels, that is Virgin Mary, and then there is a man above everyone, Jesus Christ!

[@seraphim1833]

Most Holy Theotokos, save us!

[@Jaden_Downs]

Only Jesus can save you. Mary is just a vessel in which Christ was born. She is in no way divine. you are practicing idolatry.

[@Uriel.45AC]

You and Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel are the best, I only really listen to you two

[@justian1772]

Holy Theotokos, please pray for us to your son and our God!

[@justian1772]

@@KallyKafritsas didn't expect this but perhaps I should have. So. There is a great cloud of witnesses... and we're all alive in Christ. AND God is outside of time, being its creator. So if we're in Christ when we leave this world and we depart from time itself are we still in our grave at the time when we're outside of time? Now a woman which is pure perfection who followed the Will of God during her earthly life is indubitably in Christ. The bad news is that all are resurrected, even those who are not in Christ. Thus I will not repent. I will glorify and praise the Theotokos. Our Bogoroditze. She prays FOR us, on our behalf to the ONE MEDIATOR. God bless you.

[@WinnieDaou]

Holy Theotokos pray for us ☦️☦️☦️

[@Zendogg702]

I am a Roman Catholic. I am very much appreciating this channel, imbibing all of the sermons, and I love the Orthodox Church. I had this very question about the apparitions of the Blessed Mother that we are taught of in our Roman Catholic Church. Is it the case that none of the apparitions & messages acknowledged by our Church are acknowledged by the Orthodox Church? Many of our people are very devoted to the Blessed Mother in the Roman Catholic tradition. She has assisted many, saved, and interceded on account of our devotion to Christ. We cannot conceive that our Church is altogether wrong; but like in most Churches, there has been corruption and confusion. I’m just wondering if you think it possible that there are exceptions to the notion of heresy among those who turn to the Blessed Mother within the Roman Catholic tradition?

[@lulabella9249]

The corruption and confusion has nothing to do with our Lord and His Blessed Mother ❤hold steadfast and true to the one true faith, the Catholic faith 🙏

[@godsaveskyrieeleison5859]

Every apparition and dogma around the theotokos that is not Orthodox will be disregarded. In your Roman Catholic case that would be 90% of things we would consider to be heresy and nonsense. Goes to show how much the Roman Catholics have innovated (so called improved and developed the already perfect teachings of God) and gotten lost because of it over the centuries. Not to say that Roman Catholic people don't honestly love God or believe in Christ, but they do have the wrong idea about who He is and what he promised. Not irreparable by any means, simply drop all things not Orthodox and keep what is and you will be home again. God bless ☦️🙏

[@anonsidious358]

For me The Holy Mother represents the female energy of God's great creation. A woman, bore our bridge to salvation.

[@orthodox1717]

The devil can appear as an Angel of Light.

[@lulabella9249]

@@orthodox1717 Lord have mercy!!!! This comment is blasphemous against our Blessed Mother!

[@a_lil_bit]

Thank your for this information Father 🙏@1:04- 1:20

[@SRBOMBONICA86]

Богородице најдража Мајко ,ко те не воли , није нормалан Волим Те Најдража Мајко

[@DaisyAnnabelle6]

Truth! ☦️

[@DaisyAnnabelle6]

I love and Glorify The Theotokos! ❤️

[@Jaden_Downs]

Only Jesus can save you. Mary is just a vessel in which Christ was born. She is in no way divine. you are practicing idolatry.

[@Ella_1994]

No Matter what call to your mother's name and surely she will hear!

[@joannagrimeki7415]

John 19:26-27 Then He said to His disciple, “Behold, your mother!”❤

[@HungryManticore]

The Marian doctrines of Roman Catholic Church were one of the things that made me doubt that Church. I currently attend an Anglican church (my wife is an Anglican) where Mary is almost never mentioned. Still trying to figure out the truth. And to be honest, it's quite scary - Roman Catholics say there's no salvation outside their church, Protestants say venerating Mary is idolatry, Anglicans are somewhere in-between, depending on which church you attend. In the end, I don't think I'll be able to figure this out myself. I pray Jesus guides my way, so that ultimately me and my wife are both saved. Please remember me and my wife in your prayers, Father.

[@TinaHyde]

Prayer is definitely the way to go. God will reveal the truth to you.

[@AShley-un1yi]

If I can help a little, Luther (first protestant), Believed in the post partum virginity of Mary The protestants saying that venerating Mary is idolatry, maybe they should be more specific on their definition of idolatry & sadly most of Them all have favorite movie actors, tv shows, etc.

[@dschmid8845]

@HungryManticore... I recommend you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It offers a clear explanation. You can also consult Catholic Answers, which is an excellent resource. In regard to Mary, Catholics NEVER worship her. We venerate (respect) her holiness.

[@HungryManticore]

​@@dschmid8845 I understand the Catholic doctrines, and the difference between worship and veneration, I just doubt that they are correct - especially considering the fact that they were formally declared by the Church only recently. For example, the dogma of Assumption was formally declared only in 1950. You didn't have to believe in that prior to 1950 and you'd still be considered a good Catholic, but now it's apparently necessary to believe in that or else you're a heretic. Another problem I had with Mary veneration is that in my home country, this veneration has grown a lot, and there are even some Church services dedicated specifically to Mary. When I attended such service, it seemed like God was put aside for a moment. I didn't have a problem asking Mary for intercession, and admiring her devotion to God and how much trust she put in Him, but to have a whole 30 minutes service of singing hymns dedicated to her and barely even mentioning Jesus didn't seem right to me.

[@SRBOMBONICA86]

​@@HungryManticorethis is Eastern Orthodox channel man ,why are you here ??

[@lansingmanor]

Finally! An encouragement! Praise Mary!

[@zendude123]

I knew this video was going to be good already just from the title 🙂

[@Garycooperthestrongsilenttype]

Amen

[@clubinski1]

Fr. Spyridon may Christ be with you! I always learn deep truths of spiritual matter from your videos. I am Roman Catholic, the church of Christ that flourished thru the suffering and martyrdom of Sts Peter and Paul and three centuries of martyrs in Rome. I agree with you that the world should recognize the honor and holiness of Theotokos, the mother of God. The mother of God, the Queen of Angels has allegedly appeared at certain times in history with particular messages of warnings, prayer and repentance from evil. . Angel means messenger of God, The Theotokos is The Queen of Angels who only appears to the most lowly and holy persons often uneducated children. I invite you to research unexplained miracles and prophetic warnings from a few scrutinized apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe that was instrumental in freely converting 10 million Miyan natives to Christianity, when some Spanards often tried to force conversions as I learned. I also suggest learning about Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima with more current messages for our times and predicting WWII, the spread of communist atheism and the many that our perishing and lasting after the flesh. God bless you and I always give you a big thumbs up for spreading the truths of Christ even if we don't completely agree with the great apparitions of the Mother of God 🙏

[@RobynG70]

Father can you please tell me where the Tradition comes from that the apostles opened our Ladys tomb and she wasnt there and she was taken up to heaven? Thank you so much

[@JonathanAult-oj7ke]

Salve Regina, madre di Misericordia

[@shannon6708]

Amen. I am so grateful for this. Holiness, humility and wisdom. I am confused about original sin. Was Mary conceived without sin? I was raised Roman Catholic, and I am not sure if this was true or not.

[@daylight44ful]

When the Angel Greeted The Blessed Virgin Mary for the very first time at the "annunciation" he used the word "HAIL MARY " because he recognized her royalty from her Son the King of Kings our Saviour Jesus Christ. Queen of Heaven (Latin: Regina Caeli) is one of many Queen titles used for Mary, mother of Jesus. The title derived in part from the ancient Catholic teaching that Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was bodily and spiritually assumed into heaven and that she is there honored as Queen. Pius XII explained the theological reasons for her title of Queen in a radio message to Fatima on May 13, 1946, Bendito seja: He, the Son of God, reflects on His heavenly Mother the glory, the majesty, and the dominion of His kingship, for, having been associated to the King of Martyrs in the ... work of human Redemption as Mother and cooperator, she remains forever associated to Him, with practically unlimited power, in the distribution of the graces which flow from the Redemption. Jesus is King throughout all eternity by nature and by right of conquest: through Him, with Him, and subordinate to Him, Mary is Queen by grace, by divine relationship, by right of conquest, and by singular choice [of the Father In his 1954 encyclical Ad caeli Regina ("To the Queen of Heaven"), Pius XII asserts that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus' redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection and because of her intercessory power.[Ad caeli reginam states that the main principle on which the royal dignity of Mary rests is her Divine Motherhood ... So with complete justice St. John Damascene could write: "When she became Mother of the Creator, she truly became Queen of every creature." Biblical basis A statue of Mary crowned with 12 stars, a reference to Revelation 12. Statue by Attard, Malta. In the Hebrew Bible some Davidic kings had in their court a gebirah ("Great Lady") who was often their mother and held great power as his advisor and an advocate to him. In 1 Kings 2:20, Solomon said to his mother Bathsheba, seated on a throne at his right, "Make your request, Mother, for I will not refuse you." William G. Most see here a sort of type of Mary. In the New Testament, the title has several biblical sources. At the Annunciation, the archangel Gabriel announces that [Jesus] "... will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. He will rule over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will be without end."(Luke 1:32) The biblical precedent in ancient Israel is that the mother of the king becomes the queen's mother. Mary's queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship. Historical practice Fra Angelico, c. 1434-35 The Catholic Church from the earliest times venerated the Queen of Heaven, according to Pius XII: From the earliest ages of the Catholic Church a Christian people, whether in times of triumph or more especially in times of crisis, has addressed prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to the Queen of Heaven, and never has that hope wavered which they placed in the Mother of the Divine King, Jesus Christ; nor has that faith ever failed by which we are taught that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with a mother's solicitude over the entire world, just as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a Queen. In the first three centuries of Christianity, Mary's queenship was popularized by the Transitus literature, which, according to Stephen Shoemaker, had its origins before the Council of Nicaea. Origen of Alexandria called Mary "my Lady", in his Hom VII in Lucam (PG 13:1902D), which is a royal title. In the fourth century, St. Ephrem called Mary "Lady" and "Queen". Later Church fathers and doctors continued to use the title. The same did St. Gregory of Nyssa in his Sermo de Annuntiatione (PG 62: 766), calling the Virgin "Lady" (δέσποιναν). This title also appears in many other early writers, e.g., Jerome, and Peter Chrysologus. The first Mariological definition and basis for the title of Mary Queen of Heaven developed at the Council of Ephesus, where Mary was defined to be the Mother of God. The Council fathers specifically approved this version against the opinion, that Mary is "only" the mother of Jesus. Nobody had participated in the life of her son more, than Mary, who gave birth to the Son of God. The word "Queen" is common during and after the sixth century. Hymns of the 11th to 13th centuries address Mary as queen: “Hail, Holy Queen,” “Hail, Queen of Heaven,” and “Queen of Heaven”. The Dominican rosary and the Franciscan crown, as well as numerous invocations in Mary’s litany, celebrate her queenship. For centuries she has been invoked as the Queen of Heaven. During the English Reformation, the title "Queen of Heaven", while eliminated from the state-approved liturgy, became a symbol of resistance.

[@jojow8416]

As I am relearning all that I can after a near-death accident that erased most of my memories due to a traumatic brain injury and was raised Catholic where we pray to the Virgin Mary, I am confused. After reading the bible many times, I have not yet found any mention of praying to Mary as I was taught. When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, in Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus instructs the disciples to pray to God, asking for His kingdom to come and His will to be done in earth as it is in heaven. He also asks for daily bread, forgiveness of debts, and deliverance from evil. No where does He mention praying to His mother, or that He prayed to His mother. I want so much to show Him honor for the miracle that saved my life and miracles throughout my recovery and to filter through false teachings. I have discovered that most Christian faiths do not pray to Mary. I posted under your comment because your spirit glows with the Lord's radiant light in your explanation. As I read your comment a couple of times, I find myself still confused and only want to honor God's wishes for His children.

[@LadyMaria]

The ancient teaching is the Dormition, that the Theotokos passed peacefully and her body was translated to paradise with her Son. The Assumption came about because the Roman Catholic dogma of original sin (Augustinian; each person is born with the guilt and stain of the original sin) wouldn't permit the Theotokos to have died because she was immaculately conceived to preserve her from original sin and death wasn't introduced until after the original sin. In Holy Orthodoxy, we don't have the dogma of original sin but instead ancestral sin (the inclination to sin passed generation to generation because of the original sin of Adam and Eve which transmits no guilt or stain). So no one is born with the guilt and stain of the original sin, thus the Holy Theotokos wasn't immaculately conceived as there was no purpose for that. Instead, she was able to not act on the inclination to sin because she is full of Grace. One of our hymns in the Divine Liturgy before holy communion is, "O My Most Blessed Queen". If Christ is the King of All, then the Panagia would be the Queen Mother, or, just Queen.

[@TinaHyde]

@@LadyMariaThank you for explaining this in a way I could finally understand! And boy, Orthodoxy is beautiful.

[@dschmid8845]

@daylight44ful - a very long but good explanation.

[@dschmid8845]

@@LadyMaria what you are referring to I think is concupiscence. It is the result of the fall of Adam and Eve. We also believe this in the Catholic Church. Also keep in mind the jews who were baptized by John the Baptist. Should not that give one a clue about original sin?

[@RobynG70]

As a Roman Catholic if youre referring to Medjugoria, I dont believe in what those people are saying either....anyone who does is being deceived

[@hi_hello00]

🙏

[@hadlebjrkhaug1613]

Only through the grace of Jesus Christ can a man be saved. No man's action will get him an inch closer to the gates of heaven, without Jesus by his side he will face sepperation. No saint nor theotokox can do anything except to preach(deceive)

[@davidhill3939]

In the spirit of the Bereans, with all readiness of mind, I request that Father Spyridon or any other orthodox believer direct me to those passages in the Holy Scriptures where I might search them to see whether these things are so (e.g., the theotokos living a sinless life, her incorruption, her ascension, her intercessory activities in heaven, etc.).

[@George-ur8ow]

You're asking the wrong question. It is the Church that is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, not your own individual interpretation of scripture. If individual interpretation were the true standard of theology, there would not be 10,000 protestant sects, all of course claiming to be guided by the same One Holy Spirit, yet in contradiction with one another. Is God the author of confusion? Surely not. Orthodox Christology & Orthodox Ecclesiology come first. Start there. The answer will be given to you, but you will have to put some work in.

[@davidhill3939]

⁠@@George-ur8owTell me you are a gnostic without telling me you are a gnostic. Bereans were commended for the very thing you deride. All scripture is given by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.

[@George-ur8ow]

@@davidhill3939 Quite literally quoted scripture - the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth. The Church is not "me and my Bible", and how you personally interpret scripture. This is why there are thousands and thousands of Protestant sects. Each once claiming to have the correct interpretation & guided by the Holy Spirit, despite being in contradiction with one another. Is God the author of confusion? Surely not (some more scripture there for ya!). Christ left us the Church, not a completed set of scriptures. The New Testament canon was not even gathered and formalized until the 6th century A.D. Again, you are asking the wrong question. The question you should be asking is "What, exactly, is the Church?", for the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth. You're going to have to put some work in.

[@NNicoTheGlitch]

Most based KZbin channel

[@David-bq5br]

Hi youre an orthodox priest and what do you think about catholiks like me i think that orthodox and catholism are the true way to heaven but i am a really good beliver and followrr of christ but a sinner but god bless you you have good wisdom

[@rezuc4826]

I'm just wondering where in the bible he's getting his information. Could someone give me the passages so that I can get an understanding? God Bless

[@shaunsteele6926]

as a lifelong Protestant trying to understand the Orthodox church... what is it about Mary that makes her "elevated above the angels"? I honestly would like to understand where this idea comes from, because I don't see it in scripture. I understand it's an honor to be chosen to birth the Son of God, but once that was completed was she not still just an ordinary woman? There are many things I love about the Orthodox church, but this is one major stumbling block I have that prevents me from pursuing it.

[@PhoebeK]

It is through her humility and her yes to God which allowed the incarnation that she became more honored than any other. How could it be otherwise since she is the living throne of God? It is also right for the messiah as the King in the line of David to give his mother the position of the Queen Mother in the throne room of God just as her foremothers held the human image of the position in the Kingdom of Judea. It can take time to accept the place our Lady Theotokos has and it often helps to ask her to help us understand in both mind and heart.

[@johnnytass2111]

Angels are created beings. Our Holy Virgin Mary Mother of God, being human, is also a created being. She is full of grace and humility, which is why God chose her and she willingly accepted to be the Ark of the New Covenant to help bring salvation into the fallen world through the Incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ. This is why Our Holy Mary Mother of God transcends all created beings, even above all the Saints and the Angels. Christ's first miracle at the marriage feast was because his mother Mary interceded for the couple, to have Christ bless them joined as "one" that they may bring joy and new life into the world as future parents. Be blessed on your journey.

[@shaunsteele6926]

@@nikusja5864 the people in her life had no idea she was a virgin, they would've had to take her word for it. It's not like God sent an angel to tell all her friends and family His plan. Only Joseph was told what was going on.

[@shaunsteele6926]

@@johnnytass2111 I understand the Ark of the Covenant analogy, but was it not only 9 months she carried Christ inside of her? I don't understand how this makes her elevated above any other woman in history. It's an honor for sure, but she was just a vessel as many of us are to carry out God's plan.

[@johnnytass2111]

@@shaunsteele6926 Our Holy Virgin Mary Mother of God is above all created beings, not just above women but also above all the Saints and Angels, because she is the Mother of the Incarnate Son of God, full of grace who never sinned, who willingly accepted and obeyed God's Will. You can look up many historic Orthodox sources who can better and in more depth explain this to anyone interested in learning. As for the rest of us, we are called to carry our Cross, follow Christ to overcome our passions that lead us to sin against God and our neighbors.

[@michaelisangeluskaiser556]

Master Rabbi thank you for the message

[@gladiator7926]

Need explanation on this one : Luke 7:28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

[@josephgagaridis9504]

❤❤❤

[@HubertofLiege]

Where did England find a Douglas fir to plant behind you?

[@FatherSpyridonROCOR]

Filmed in Wales.

[@HubertofLiege]

@@FatherSpyridonROCOR I don’t think they’re native to wales? They’re in the PNW

[@julielancaster3644]

Could you tell me where in the bible it says Mary is above the Angel's, in Luke it says she is blessed, all other sayings are man made GOD first,then jesus,then the holy spirit, everyone else is one in christ .

[@ivansince91]

Glory to God! Theotokos, save us!

[@judeugwu4987]

Hello Father. I’m a Catholic but I love listening to your videos. Why is it that the Orthodox Church doesn’t recognise Mary’s appearances through history? Like the case at Fatima being a common example?

[@LadyMaria]

We don't believe that she would point to the Papal Communion nor endorse the heresy of the immaculate conception. We have our own visitations of the Theotokos since even the 1st millennium and they are not like the RCC's so called apparitions which only took place after Rome's schism.

[@dschmid8845]

The immaculate conception is not a heresy. According to Fr. Casimir Kucharek in his work "The Byzantine-Slav Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom" (1971; Alleluia Press, pp. 355-357) there is clear evidence that the early Byzantine Church believed in and commemorated the Immaculate Conception of the Theotokos. He writes: ... from end to end of the Byzantine world, both Catholic and Orthodox greet the Mother of God as "archrantos", "the immaculate, spotless one," no less than eight times in the Divine Liturgy alone. But especially on the feast of her conception (December 9 in the Byzantine Church) is her immaculateness stressed: "This day, O faithful, from saintly parents begins to take being the spotless lamb, the most pure tabernacle, Mary..."; "She is conceived...the only immaculate one"; "or "Having conceived the most pure dove, Anne filled...." [References: From the Office of Matins, the Third Ode of the Canon for the feast; From the Office of Matins, the Stanzas during the Seating, for the same feast; From the Office of Matins, the Sixth Ode of the Canon for the same feast.]

[@dschmid8845]

Byzantine theologians such as Patriarch Photius, George of Nicomedia, Patriarch Euthymius of Constantinople, and many others, who lived between the ninth and thirteenth centuries, wrote homilies that show that the Orthodox church believed in the immaculate conception. Some even rebuked Thomas Aquinas, because he did not believe in the immaculate conception. It was only in the fifteenth century that many theologians started switching to the idea that the Mother of God became immaculate at the moment of the Annunciation.

[@dschmid8845]

Why do Roman Catholic apparitions have to be identical to the ones in the Orthodox tradition? Doesn’t the Mother of God decide what she wants to say?

[@jamesbancroft2467]

@@dschmid8845did you actually read them? Sure they could use that phraseology, but how do you know they mean the same thing as the modern RCC?

[@daboxer181]

Fatima happened. It's undeniable

[@razoredge6130]

Ayo guys i just fall into repeated sin Please pray for me 🙏

[@KirstinReese-iw8fr]

☦️

[@GPBAMB]

Is there a reference in the Bible to which you speak?

[@walrusbig1441]

Father, I haven't been baptised yet. Can I still join Lord Jesus Christ when I'm not baptised?

[@FatherSpyridonROCOR]

It is baptism that unites us to Christ’s Body. Until we are baptised we cannot receive Holy Communion, and Jesus told us that unless we eat His body and drink His blood His life is not in us. God’s grace works in us, drawing us to Christ, none of us would become Orthodox if this were not so, but this is only the beginning. Salvation is found within the Church.

[@walrusbig1441]

@@FatherSpyridonROCOR Does this mean I can still go to heaven without baptism?

[@hovhannesyesayants8879]

Father I have a question. If i was baptized around the age of 2 then I became an atheist but for the last 6 months I have repented started praying and reading The Bible and started having faith in God do I have to baptize again?

[@FatherSpyridonROCOR]

St Cyprian wrote a book called “The Lapsed” which was a response to those Christians who had denied their faith during persecution, but sought to return to the Church when it was safe to do so. His instruction is directly applicable to you, I encourage you to seek it out. But no, a second baptism is not what you should want: repentance and mourning will be the medicines your confessor advises you to use. Got to confession and follow his instruction as closely as you are able,and trust in God’s mercy. God bless you.

[@hovhannesyesayants8879]

@@FatherSpyridonROCOR Thank you father for the advise I will read the book God bless you.