An American Experience of Romanian Hesychasm

Documentary produced by John Farina, Professor of Religious Studies at George Mason University, USA, and The Institute for The Study of Values and Spirituality from Iasi, Romania
Translation by Oana Cogeanu

[@veziculorile]

I met Părintele Proclu in 2016 and he told me the story about hearing a chicken speaking Romanian and how the Holy Spirit spoke to him on how to become a monk. I am American by nationality but am Romanian at heart. I learned the language very well, adapted to the culture. I feel more at home in Romania and don't consider myself American at all. I'm proud of Romania.

[@orthogainz]

Ma bucur sa aud asa ceva, tare ma bucur, Domnul sa va binecuvintize!!

[@user-vy2yt6yf4b]

Сочувствую

[@vadermasktruth]

There's a Romanian Orthodox office/headquarters right here, just outside of Detroit (Michigan). I wrote to them several years ago and they sent me a box of books and icons! Such generous people.

[@vadermasktruth]

@The Matrix I'll send you the Septuagint if you send me some of Prabhupada's books. In case you're unaware, he is one of the greatest spiritual giants of our time, founding ISKCON and the Hare Krishna movement!

[@walterandy7050]

i dont mean to be so off topic but does any of you know a tool to log back into an instagram account?? I was stupid forgot the account password. I appreciate any help you can offer me

[@omariryder8434]

@Walter Andy Instablaster =)

[@walterandy7050]

@Omari Ryder I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@walterandy7050]

@Omari Ryder it worked and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my account !

[@feeble_stirrings]

Beautiful, thank you for sharing this. Romania was the first place I encountered Orthodoxy as an American Evangelical missionary. Changed the entire course of my life. Lord, teach us to pray!

[@ecaterinapopa9684]

Dragul nostru părinte Proclu, creștin ortodox.

[@johane4764]

I'm not Christian, but I'm truly inspired by the faith and peace that these men have achieved for themselves.

[@SlavaBogu7]

Orthodoxy is very good

[@karollakazan1225]

What is stopping you to become christian and achieve that peace your self?

[@MrRickkramer]

How about now? Most people who are interested in these videos are on a path…

[@ChristosAnesti33]

Being inspired isn’t going to do you much good. Start on this path and see how it will change you, otherwise what is the point of you seeing this video, if you will just let the truth slip through your fingers, and move on to some other “exciting” new age religion? May God help you brother 👊☦️

[@bibicu19a]

I'm very happy that you like Romania and I hope others will recognise this region

[@ekgaetan7]

Professor John Farina offers an excellent introduction to a way of life, held and embodied by the Romanian Orthodox Church, that thrives today and is the best explanation for how the Romanian people weathered the dark Communist period -- faith and the Holy Spirit, Sfantul Duh.

[@nojoo9241]

hello is it possible to tell me what monastery or city is mentioned from 12.00 - i cant hear or decipher it properly... i would like to meet hesychast father or hermit in Romania . thank you very much if u can help

[@eremite2693]

@@nojoo9241 It might be Măgura. Google map it... I'm not sure though

[@nojoo9241]

@@eremite2693 thanky you but it comes to my mind that without romanian speaker i have no chance ... anyway thanks for answer and warm greetings

[@rvpiasicenter8227]

@@nojoo9241 Sorry for late reply, indeed is Magura Monastry in Bacau County. Father Proclu lived as a hermit in a different area.

[@Rares_Andrei_orthodox]

​@@nojoo9241The Proclu father was left us in 2017 ..... He was a probably a saint.

[@aliakhtar6079]

An amazing short documentary. I will surely visit these holy places and people one day. From your Muslim spirit brother 🙏

[@elenihelenmelb]

Ali Akhtar Glory be to God for all things+

[@markwhite6033]

Become Orthodox.

[@wilsonstrong5597]

@Andrew Romeo lol

[@T_dog1]

If you want to study true Christianity, study Roman Catholicism

[@mostee77]

I am a Moslem too and I love God and all faithful Christians who love God ~ thank you for this documentary

[@psjasker]

This is beautiful - thank you.

[@billsaunders37]

A superb film, and very beautiful. A wonderful introduction for the Westerner to Orthodox spirituality.

[@captal6187]

You mean Eastern Orthodox

[@irinavasile2559]

Capt ανδρεία Andreia Al there is not correct to name it “Eastern Orthodoxy”. ortho in old greek means “right” or “correct”. The orthodoxy is the primary church of Christ and the only one valid and universal faith

[@captal6187]

Irina Vasile didn’t East separate from the West owing to theological schism.

[@T_dog1]

@@irinavasile2559 Matthew 16:18

[@dty6831]

I met him couple years ago god bless him

[@pe3429]

Thank you. Simply Beautiful.

[@Lamb_chop_]

Interesting video ! keep it up

[@matei3880]

God bless, friends!

[@lidiavarga5367]

awesome really awesome:-))

[@eric_wood]

Is his opening statement a promotion of universalism? I’m a bit confused on what he is attempting to convey.

[@ecaterinapopa9684]

De ce nu traduceți în limba română ?

[@chrystianrevelles]

is the Heart Prayer synonymous with Hesychasm? Is there a clear boundary between [1] simple prayer of the heart, following the instructions to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to "close the door" (Matthew 6:6 - in the sense of withdrawing inwardly) - and [2] the Hesychasm of the saints, mystics etc? Can/should the first [1] be practiced by all Christians? or should it also be avoided by non-monks? Is it possible to practice [1] without extrapolating to [2]? should we, then, be careful not to follow all the advices of the saints, Filokalia, etc., since we are not prepared to?

[@T_dog1]

Hesychasm is pagan and unbiblical

[@imushrooms5388]

@@T_dog1 christian when they get burned scream in agony but omes who united with god in silence stay firm and calm...that alone shows you who knows god is behind him

[@elgebarstar5275]

Hesychasm can be practiced by anyone, as long as they understand the purpose of this prayer correctly and do not have a serious mental illness. There are many ways to practice the Prayer of the Heart or the Prayer of Jesus (it has many names, even the "prayer of the mind"). In the books of the holy fathers who practiced hesychasm, several methods are described: Prayer is done sitting on a chair and the mind is focused on the heart area. Some say it can be coordinated with breathing. It is very useful to use rosary. It is important that the mind does not pay attention to thoughts and focus on prayer. Prayer can also be done in a less ascetic and meditative way, by saying the prayer even when we are working something manually or walking down the street (obviously, done in thought). This method is mentioned in the book "The Russian Pilgrim". It does not have the power of the first variant, but it is useful anyway as long as the mind is purified by repeating a prayer and the thoughts do not run away without meaning. The long version of the prayer is: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, the sinner" or only "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me". For the contemplative version (sitting on a chair) it is recommended to follow an approximate schedule. For example: Morning, 20-30 minutes or night before bed. After a while of practice, the mind begins to calm down, to react less to anger and the feeling of compassion for others is amplified. If we are sensitive, we feel some warm energy around the heart and in the palms, but it can be felt all over the spine to the top of the head ... depending on how advanced we are. Practice with confidence, there is nothing contraindicated in this prayer. It can also improve your health if it is practiced daily. The only contraindication is pride, not to think that we are mystical if we feel something or we have made little progress in this way. Sorry for the language, I'm not a native English speaker.

[@johnedward3637]

@@elgebarstar5275 what a beautiful explanation. Thank you very much. John Farina

[@ritchienegrea5779]

Yea you can say orthodox old fashioned. Because we are the oldest Christianity. Orthodox gd people. Romania. E bun. Corruption it’s a big deal. But the people r gd people

[@T_dog1]

No, Roman Catholicism is the oldest Christianity. The Orthodox Church wasn't founded until 1054.

@@T_dog1 then how comes hagia sophia which was built centuries before 1054 has orthodox art style ? how comes there are thousands of orthodox churches monasteries built before 1054? catholic church separated from orthodox church when they followed their pope centuries prior to 1054

[@machiavelliq8758]

@@T_dog1 Roman Catholic Church was founded in the same year lol.That's the year the christian church divided into Catholic and Orthodox

[@PARADOXtheDEANS]

​@@T_dog1 wrong way around

[@cicerogsuphoesdown7723]

@@T_dog1 While 1054 is the date of the great schism- it’s probably fair to say Roman Catholicism and orthodoxy are both very ancient and grew further and further apart during the first millennium as they ‘developed’. They had different customs long before they officially split. But they’re about as old as each other. If you wanted to split hairs you’d say orthodoxy is older considering Athens and Antioch are closer to Jerusalem and the original New Testament gospels and epistles were all written in koine Greek. There’s apostolic activity in Antioch, and Athens, and definitely rome in the epistles. A loose network of early churches that grew and grew into the traditions they’d become. Both sides are schismatics to the other, but they’re just about equally ancient. The only thing I’d say is, orthodoxy is largely unchanged. The orthodoxy practiced today would be recognizable to someone from the early first millennium. While Roman Catholicism is very different than early Christianity, which (to some) might suggest they’ve greatly departed from the original meaning and teachings of the apostles.

[@milojames5593]

Great video. But really shouldn’t say the word “Mass” or the concept of “pray a Mass” for so and so. That’s Roman. Not the ancient Orthodox faith.

[@ritchienegrea5779]

Hmm. Funny guy.

[@johndee3301]

That hermit dude is haunting. I believe he really has seen some shit, even if it's only in his own mind.

[@lidiavarga5367]

little demons with big heads. rings a bell?:-)) imagine someone who doesn.t watch tv or movies describing these creatures

[@TheRealSyrett]

@@lidiavarga5367 aliens?

[@TheRealSyrett]

@@Bb-pw1zi lol

[@mymysworld2691]

@@lidiavarga5367 greys

[@soare5182]

@@lidiavarga5367 how can you be sure? What if greys are not what you think? And how come they don't bother with people like you?

[@janettedavis6627]

I met people that lived in Moldova under Communism and they said they were better off under the Communists.

[@somevids4187]

People in the countryside were poor under communism and they are poor now, except then they had more peace and “stability” because of the way the system was implemented. Nothing changed, everyone had a home and a job, but that was about it. People starved under communism, people were killed and tortured in prison or in forced labor. The world as a whole has fallen since the ‘90s, so thinking that communism was some kind of relief is an illusion. There are many facets to anything and many opinions based on people’s particular circumstances at the time. It was am empire of lies and treason towards your own fellow humans, and it still is, but at least you can say it now.

[@janettedavis6627]

@@somevids4187 yes many died under Stalin and Khrushchev but later got better. The younger ones lived better. The Nazis were evil too. Organised religions are trouble and another form of control over the people. Still today it causes division and in reality separates people. There is corruption in the west too. Today we vote in Politicians but, its the banks and corporations that control us. Look at America Biden cant even get gun laws changed. In Australia Govt cant control prices of goods and services or interest rates.

[@amyrenee1361]

​​@@somevids4187 There's tons of poor people in the United States under Capitalism, isn't there? I just saw a documentary on Youngstown yesterday. Detroit Michigan. A lot of towns in the Midwest and South are completely impoverished. And the amount of violence in our country - inner cities are overrun with gangs and crime.

[@vladvalo]

*fed comment*

[@user-lf6rn7ci5n]

because they did. a lot of people had better lives under communism in romania. in part because the regime had some good things implemented and in part because the people who rose to power in the aftermath are so terrible and corrupt

[@bastait]

that voice threw me off man.

[@janettedavis6627]

I have a Samsung phone and its totally incapable of translating any video intelligently into English. For what I paid 299dollars the phone is rubbish.

[@TheGuiltsOfUs]

Hesychast is just jalandhara bandha. The origins of this syncretist practice, possibly 14th-century influences from the Sufis who were in turn influenced (around the 9th? century) by yogis.

[@Bundpataka]

Sufism developed in Iraq so it’s unlikely that they were influenced by Yogis, rather it developed in the context of earlier mystical traditions in the near East that happened to share many similarities with South Asian spiritual practices

[@ppn194]

NO WAY !

[@Bundpataka]

@Gigi Ghiba orthodoxy has strong Neoplatonic influence. But I consider that a good thing as I agree with orthodox practices a lot more than western Christians and especially not Protestants

[@Bundpataka]

@Gigi Ghiba You’re basically saying that Pseudo-Dionysius both did not greatly influence the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, and that he did not have Neoplatonic influences. That’s incorrect I would say it’s also inaccurate and dumb to write off Neoplatonism as just “pagan barbarism” too, it’s a beautiful philosophy that’s quite compatible with Christianity and it’s influence on Christianity is both undeniable and inseparable from Christianity itself, it’s just that Neoplatonism and platonism in general first developed in non Christian contexts

[@somevids4187]

@@Bundpataka False. Neoplatonism and Christianity are not compatible. Look up "Jay dyer takes down E Michael Jones w/ arguments on claims orthodoxy is neo platonism & emanationism". Go forward from that if interested.

[@T_dog1]

Barlaam was right.

[@user-ge3gq2rx9p]

Enjoy your filioque

[@T_dog1]

@@tinttiakka2028 Yes. Many pre-V2 theologians considered Palamas to be a heretic.

[@T_dog1]

This sounds like something from Hinduism. This isn't taught by the Bible or the Church Fathers.

[@degompaung6520]

R u protestant?

[@T_dog1]

@@degompaung6520 No, I'm Roman Catholic. Part of the Church founded by Jesus.

[@diegoftw6719]

@@T_dog1 Matthew 23:25-28

[@pushimikurac2774]

@@T_dog1 the one that seceded it's connection with the apostolic church only to play politics and sell redemptions to the rich ? Awesome sauce. Now get back before the end times otherwise..

[@roberthegwood3031]

Of course it is in scripture. Do you not recall the passage that says, be still and know that I Am God. Hesychasm means stillness/quietness. Do you think this is an easy skill to learn, or without grace to approach or attain. Have you not read the passage about shutting the door to ones prayer closest…do you imagine this is merely materialistic terms. Enter into the tightest space you can fit into and pray…how quickly your mind leaps elsewhere. You…not just your body must enter in…again hardly a skill gained on a sunny afternoon. Hesychasm is the practice of these things with lifelong intensity and dedication. Do you think those who do it learned nothing about it in nearly 2000 years? That they hoarded all they learned so that each generation had to rediscover it all anew? That seems unlikely. Finally have you not read the passage that says wisdom is justified of her children. Show me any other tradition of prayer that produces better fruit than hesychasm? You might as well compare sand dunes to the Himalayas.