Catechism 8: The Holy Mysteries (2022)

[@Rockwillliveon-lu1tk]

Hello Fr. Paul, I’d like to take this moment to thank you for the impact you made on my journey to Orthodoxy! Your appearance on the Ten Minute Bible Hour was my first real exposure to Orthodox Christianity, following a period of immense curiosity after reading some of the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, and learning about the Eastern Roman Empire in my history class! Now I am a catechumen under the guidance of my spiritual Father Mark Fenn at Holy Transfiguration Church in Boise, Idaho. I did visit Sts. Peter and Paul about 3 months ago and talked with you a bit before matins, though unfortunately I was not able to stay and express this gratitude to you in person. As I said before, I cannot thank you enough for the humble eloquence with which you explain Orthodox Theology, and may God bless you, your parish, the Antiochian Archdiocese, and the entire one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic church!

[@frpaul]

Thank you for your very kind message and encouragement! Please greet Fr Mark for me! May Christ be with you on your journey!!! And stop by again any time!

[@donovanbriant1350]

Thank you so much for blessing us all Father Paul, you have answered so much and helped me so much, thank you for helping us all 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@kristenhertzler4386]

My husband and I put in place a rule we live by, even before we were married. We decided that if something bothers me, "I" will clean it up. If something bothers him, "he" will take care of it. This way we will not harbor resentment because of silent expectations we are putting on each other. We have lived by this for 7 years and, it still works extremely well.

[@philipeconomou7039]

Thank you Father Paul!

[@DRiceArizona]

About to be made a catechumen in a few weeks after beginning the journey in 2019. Your explanation of Communion was very educational and very clear. This entire series is very illuminating.

[@GMAXVERDUZCO]

I AM BECOMING AN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC. I AM LEAVING THE CHURCH OF ROME. I DO NOT BELIEVE IN A POPE AND THE CHURCH OF ROME IS EVIL. I HAVE LOVE FOR EVERYONE AND I WAS FAITHFUL SINCE BAPTISM. NOW I HAVE FOUND THE FIRST ANCIENT HOLY CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH. IAM LEARNING SO MUCH FROM YOU. I WILL ENROLL IN CATECHISIS CLASSES

[@mitchelljimeno3564]

Praise the Lord Jesus

[@jbpeltier]

Gradually making my way through this entire series. God bless you, Father Paul. Your role in my Orthodox education cannot be overstated. When I first came across your online presence, likely close to two years ago, I was kind of a pluralist watching a lot of videos contrasting denominations. I had come to a fork in the road: If Christ's church is only spiritual, as protestants claim, then there really is no basis for going to a distinct congregation, and I can just stay home (which was a pretty sweet deal, as far as I was concerned). Yet, if the Church truly has a physical and historical "center," then I best figure out where that is (if for no other reason than greater assurance of my salvation). In one video, I can't quite remember which (one you did with Matt Whitman), you spoke beautifully about the mysteries and significance of the church. From then on, Orthodoxy was the only church to which I was willing to give "the benefit of the doubt" regarding authority, so to speak. Since then, I've continued to watch you and other Orthodox people speak. As well, I bought an OSB and read the majority of the Old Testament, the gospels, and the majority of the rest of the New Testament for the first time in my life. I feel that in Orthodoxy, the Christian life is REAL-ized, in the sense that doctrines, descriptions of reality, and a relationship with Christ are not ABSTRACT. They're not propositional, or moralistic, or arbitrary, or just poetic descriptions for which there is no concrete, flesh and bone, observable, practical account. My impulse toward God has always been most greatly expressed in an aesthetic and experiential manner, and it always drove me nuts how my protestant friends would talk in such grandiose religious language about our relationship with God, but when pressed, they could not, for the life of them, give a descriptive account of what was actually occurring in processes like glorification. In no small way, you are responsible for introducing me to a reality in which faith in Christ isn't just the acceptance of a truth claim, followed by "Well, I guess I'll just be a nice and studious guy now." I've now determined to join the Orthodox church. Again, God bless you Father Paul.

[@jackkaminski8146]

Wow, your story is mine, right on down to Matt Whitman's video with Fr. Paul being my first exposure to the Orthodox Church. I've been a catechumen since Pascha (my first attended service). Thank God for Fr. Paul! Bless you brother in Christ!

[@jbpeltier]

@@jackkaminski8146 Bless you!

[@gizle-ll3ev]

16:50

[@x60mmx]

What is the name of the martyred Priest ~53 minutes?

[@mpkropf5062]

Father Paul, Catholic Church when they baptize infants, they do anointing right away, they do NOT give them Communion as infants. They will be confirmed at age7 where they then will receive Communion.

[@midnightmcguire9897]

This is a sincere question Why does the church baptize babies, but then not baptized adults until they’ve been a catechumen for someone’s years?

[@frpaul]

Adults already have a life and understanding separated from the Church and thus must be integrated in. That takes much time.

[@midnightmcguire9897]

@@frpaul thank you father

[@jacobshepard654]

kinda unrelated but not really 41:02 Eusebius records as follows “2. And that he was still alive at that time my be established by the testimony of two witnesses. They should be trustworthy who have maintained orthodoxy of the Church (Ekklesia); and such indeed were Irenæus and Clement of Alexandria. 3. The former in the second book of his work ‘Against Heresies’ writes as follows: And all the elders that associated with John the desciple of our Lord in Asia bear witness that John delivered it to them. For he remained among them until the time of Trajan. 4. And in the third book of the same work he attests the same thing in the following words; But the Ekklesia in Ephesus also, which was founded by Paul, and where John remained until the time of Trajan, is a faithful witness of the apostlic tradition.” Book III, Church History Chapt. 23:2-4

[@dustinwatkins7843]

Admittedly frustrating that the Lord gave every man and woman genitalia, and a reasonable urge to procreate, and properly experience acceptance and love of the opposite sex - yet marriage isn't meant for everyone. I suppose it's just built in suffering for some, made to be contended with as a means of achieving grace and salvation. As modern culture becomes increasingly degenerate, and marriage, for reasons of the economy as well, becomes increasingly impossible for many, especially men, is this then Divine providence? That marriage increasingly becomes only for those who have been blessed via capitalism and its increasing polarization of wealth, with the opportunity? I can't exactly see the distinction between the free will of man and the corruption of the world stemming from it causes people to have no chance to marry, versus God deciding marriage is not right for these people. While it is difficult, as one such person myself, I try not to ask these questions despairingly, but in genuinely seeking understanding.

[@steelfalconx2000]

I'm not sure why you're assuming marriage is not possible due to the economy?