First Time at Greek Orthodox Church! --- Skeptic Sunday #3

[@DebbieDarakdjian]

As a recent convert from Protestant non denominational to Eastern Orthodox, All I have to say is that Orthodox Christianity is like the pearl hidden in the field to which everything is sold to obtain (referencing Jesus’ parable from the Gospels) It feels as though I’ve landed on an entirely new continent and am stepping hundreds or even thousands of years back into the historical traditions of the Christian Faith. This is just my testimony though, the real joy is in discovering this beauty inside of your own heart! I wish you well on your journey🙏🏼☦️❤️

[@CF-of7qf]

What a beautiful way to put it. I completely agree! Also non denominational Protestant converting to Orthodoxy. Being Chrismated on the 5th😊

[@hannahbaker3080]

Yes, I agree, sell all you have and buy the field. It’s been one year since I first stepped foot in an Orthodox Church, and I never left. I’ve been a full member for almost 7 months, glory to God!

[@avlieox]

God bless you!

[@RockinRaffisHomeCooking]

I converted as well back in 2010 as an Armenian we had Orthodox in our roots as an Oriental Orthodox but did not find understanding or peace until I became Eastern Orthodox. Glory to God for all things. Congratulations on being in the faith.

[@starrynight8007]

@@hannahbaker3080 ☦️☦️☦️ Sister Hannah

[@JamieHughes-s7w]

I am a parishioner of the church you attended, and I am very glad you had an overall positive experience. I was raised Protestant as well but converted to Orthodoxy officially in 2024. No worries that you didn't understand everything. I always tell people the first visits are simply meant for people to "taste and see." Divine Liturgy is something you experience with all your senses. The rest comes in time. There's no need to rush! Best of luck as you continue your exploration of various faith traditions.

[@KillerofGods]

How common is that liturgical book? The old priest at our parish helped make it, I just thought it was something we made for ourselves.

[@billjones4547]

Καλά Χριστούγεννα σε όλους ο Χριστός να σώσει όλη την οικουμένη

[@avrilkokordatos8714]

Αμήν

[@nephilimslayer]

IC XC NI KA

[@SPIRUNI]

Χριστός ετέχθη ❣

[@spartanastas]

Δοξάσατε!

[@Hope_Boat]

IC XC NI KA

[@fr.johnwhiteford6194]

The meal after the Liturgy is really a continuation of the Liturgy. If you go again, you should participate. No one will be offended that you are not a member of the Church.

[@MrTerkoizzz]

The agape meal!

[@microcolonel]

Seconded, this is important.

[@TheRomanOrthodox]

It's not a continuation of the liturgy at all. But you should still feel free to join!

[@fr.johnwhiteford6194]

@TheRomanOrthodox it actually is. Read about the love feast in the New Testament. It wasn't just the Eucharist. It ended with a meal.

[@Observer-g6m]

@@TheRomanOrthodoxDepends on what you mean by “continuation”. Is love shared? If so, then yes, it is a continuation.

[@eleniasimop]

I am an Orthodox Christian from Greece and I was surprised there was someone in the entrance asking you about yourself and your back round. Normally noone talks to you. You may just come in and attend.

[@Patreas1971]

Καθαρή "αμερικανιά". Στην Ελλάδα ΚΑΝΕΝΑΣ δεν θα την ρωτούσε τίποτα. Κανείς δεν θα ρωτούσε να μάθει ποιος είσαι και από που έρχεσαι. Αρκεί να σέβεσαι τον χώρο και την τελετή, όπως θα πρέπει να κάνει κάποιος σε κάθε ιερό χώρο καθε θρησκείας.

[@skoy21]

Same. And all the leaflets and info, it seems commercialized, just like anything else in the US...

[@gregorygant4242]

Yes that was weird seemed very commercialized very American

[@vasiliosroutsolias4760]

Yes ,that’s right.

[@anonymous1821a]

I understand where you're coming from. While it might seem commercialized, it's important to consider that many people from various religious backgrounds attend the Divine Liturgy as observers. Greeters, which are not common in Greece, might be more prevalent abroad to help new entrants and introduce them to the basic rituals. As the presenter mentioned, someone who is not baptized cannot receive communion. They could easily follow others and receive communion, which is not allowed for those who are not baptized or have not fasted either.

[@thewolf3530]

I am Orthodoxi live in USA I am from Jordan in Middle East and I'm so proud.

[@ΕυάγγελοςΤζουτζούκης]

You have Byzantine origin and culture. Do you know that?

[@starrynight8007]

Love 💓 Jordan 🇯🇴 🇬🇷

[@thewolf3530]

@@starrynight8007 thank you so much and I love you and love everything about you u are so amazing God bless you and your family 👪 👪 🙏🙏🙏❤❤

[@icxcnika2037]

As someone that has come fully into orthodoxy 4 years ago, i can tell you that the more you attend and immerse yourself, the more you see that it is truly the one true church that has the fullness of faith. It is absolutely life changing and having been both protestant and catholic, i can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, and this is something youll hear very often from many converts from both, you think your faith was strong before orthodoxy and that you had a strong spiritual life but it doesnt even come close to compare. The grace and change you experience takes the bible to a whole new level and makes it truly come alive and you understand an entire new dimension of the gospels which only make sense within the orthodox theological paradigm, for example, when Peter says we are now partaker of the divine nature. This makes no sense within any other theology than orthodox theosis. The power coming out of Jesus and healing the bleeding woman = uncreated energy. (essence energy distinction) Relics such qs the handkerchief of st paul healing and exorcizing demons, makes no sense under any theology but orthodox theoology on uncreated energy. May our Lord guide you and bless your journey! ❤

[@Damascene749]

As an Orthodox Christian, you did a great job describing our Faith. I’d like to point out a couple of things for your future consideration if you ever decide to come back. 1- 95% of Churches don’t have greeters, there might be one person responsible for candles and selling stuff as you walk in but we don’t have this concept of a greeter, typically you can just walk without talking to anyone. 2- the morning services in the Greek/Antiochian tradition of Orthodoxy is to do Matins, which is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, then liturgy which is another hour typically, most families don’t go to matins unless they are very serious about their faith. In the Russian/Slavic tradition in Orthodoxy, the matins portion is done the previous night attached with a short vespers (aka night prayer) Age of the parishioners will depend the church being convert heavy vs ethnic cradle (born Orthodox) heavy. My Church is 90% converts and it’s mostly young people under 30, because we are an English only parish. 3- Singing during the services varies widely, in Greek churches, some people will chant along in a low voice, Russians will loudly chant the “our Father”, Arabs won’t really sing, Romanians are similar to Greeks etc. but God will guide you if you choose to decide to seriously consider the Church.

[@petercarmody4897]

Love your comment ❤️

[@geeksandfilms4118]

I live in the Portland area (Greek Archdiocese) and every Greek Parish (and Antiochian) has a greeter there (they either are convert majority or have a sizable convert populace), the OCA ones not as much, funnily enough. Maybe it depends on city.

[@anastasiafriar1808]

Matins is 1-1.5 hours and liturgy is usually 1.5 - 2 hours from my experience.

[@katerina5450]

Hi! I'm an orthodox as well and I was about to say the same thing. You explained it perfectly. Also something else she mentioned and surprised me is that the priest was sharing a personal story of his father or that he would greet you publicly. I've never seen that happen before. And as for the latecomers although I dont agree with them (I think that every single one of us should try spending more time with God ifc that doesn't just mean going to church but it's an important part) I think that they do it because as you said it takes long and for the most part they repeat the same thing every single time so they might not feel like they losing something important. Finally as they say better late than never

[@DaCaldwell]

As an Orthodox Christian, listening to you shows me that you have great instincts. Orthodoxy and Protestantism (I was Baptist) are very different. Great video!

[@vassilios_21]

As a Greek Orthodox thank you for attending! You seem a very kind and thoughtful person! Everyone is welcomed in our churches always! As for the matter of the Eucharist it is not about you not being welcomed, as it is a matter of orthodoxy to You making the choice to believe in the Christ and follow all the rituals of the faith…especially Baptism first and foremost…❤

[@katerina5450]

Exactly! After all what's the point in participating if you don't believe that at that moment you consuming the flesh and the blood of your savior. Also you have to be appropriately prepared for participating by fasting etc and after you should be careful to not dishonor God

[@makanaima]

I'm a Greek Orthodox, convert (but I'm not Greek, I'm Asian.) Lateness does seem to be a bit of a thing. There are different "sections" to the liturgy,. The first part is more oriented towards teaching/catechumens i.e. those studying to convert and is called the LIturgy of the Catechumens. It contains the gospel readings, homily, etc), The second part is called the Liturgy of the Faithful and is oriented towards baptized/chrismated members. It's focus is on the eucharist, the creed, etc. The great entrance marks the beginning of the Liturgy of the Faithful. You'll also hear a Decon say "the doors, the doors" because in the early days, catechumens (inquirers) were not allowed to attend the second part and the doors to the nave were closed. (This was also for security in the days of religious persecution.) I think that many cradle (those born into the faith) orthodox skip the first part and really just show up for the eucharist and then they tend to disappear after that happens. We also see a lot more people on Christmas/Easter than normal. I did think it a bit odd and it does still come across as maybe a bit insincere to me, but who am I to judge? Generally, the other converts I know are there early for Orthros and stay for the whole thing. The Eucharist is not the only goal. It is a major goal, but like I said, there are (from a layperson's perspective) 2 major parts of the liturgy, education and eucharist. That style of art is Byzantine, the depictions are typically called icons, and the artists are called iconographers. Generally, the entire congregation participates in the liturgy, in singing, praying and all the parts labeled as for the people. The Liturgy means the "work of the people," so technically, all people should participate. The role of the priest is to help lead the people in the worship service and call down the holy spirit to transform the Eucharist. Unlike the Latins (roman catholic) the priest is not an intermediary, he faces forward towards the altar because he's a part of the congregation and helps lead and guide them, but is not standing in their way. Latin priests face the congregation, and ours face the altar. There are different perspectives. My father is a Latin (RC), and he very much prefers the priest to face the people. I'm the opposite. He does, however, feel that the liturgy is more spiritual than the mass. (I agree.) Our opinion regarding the scriptures - we are not a bible based church (as a protestant might understand it). We are the church that the bible is based on. That said, the bible is very central and venerated, and lots of what we do is entirely based on scripture. Some homilies are better than others and some priests are more dynamic than others. They also have good days and bad days. Maybe he was really tired and not as prepared as normal. There is no lay priesthood like in Mormonism or other protestant groups that believe in a priesthood, so if the parish is large, there is a lot on his shoulders, and priests are extremely busy. I typically try to give priests of large parishes a lot of grace. If you are interested in doctrine, there is some in the homily and readings (but it's not explicitly called out as you might find in a protestant church) If you are really interested in that you should join their catechism class - they go into it in much more detail there. There is also a good book called "Know the Faith by father Michael Shanbour." Don't expect a lot of theological instruction to be given at a Greek festival btw. That's mostly just a good time and often one of the largest fundraising events for the church in the year. They don't focus on tithing like protestants so they raise money in different ways. Wrt to the age of the parishioners - my parish has a lot of younger people and a lot of families with young children. I think it varies and depends on where you are. The first time I attended the liturgy I was completely lost, but I kept going back and fully participated in the responses, singing, etc. all of the parts for the people. In a couple of months, I had most of it memorized, but for the first few weeks I was glued to the red liturgy book and even got permission to take one home to read/study during the week. If you participate fully, read along in the book and sing with the canters, you'll make sense of it much faster. Just an FYI, in parts where they repeat, most parishes that use both Greek and English will alternate between the two while they are repeating a part. Keep going; you'll get the hang of it, and once you do, it's the most amazing worship/spiritual experience you will likely ever have (just my opinion, of course.)

[@makanaima]

We reiterate it b/c many protestant groups have an open communion because for them it's only symbolic. For us, it is not symbolic, it is the literal body and blood of Christ and so we hold it very sacred. There are layers and layers of symbolism in the orthodox church and the liturgy, that can take some time to figure out. One of the goals of the liturgy is to take the participants out of the world and put them into a more heavenly setting. THere is a bunch of symbolism regarding the iconostasis that separates the altar from the nave, and the altar servers and acolytes representing the hosts of heaven, even the deacons - they represent the angels and how they use their stole (Orarion) represents the angels using their wings - before the blessing of the eucharist you'll see the deacon refitting their Orarion so that it crosses across their back - symbolic of the angels folding their wings in reverence. THere is so much going on. BTW: YOu didn't feel God there -but that was my first experience ever in my life of feeling God and God's spirit. So I guess to each their own. The more. familiar you are with what's going on and the more you understand it, the more/stronger you'll feel the presence of the Lord IMO. So I'd encourage you to go back a few more times.

[@gtavplayer15]

Hiii! Do you have an insta to send you a dm??! I’m an orthodox but I want to ask you something! Thank you my sister in Christ!!!

[@odos_]

You described it very well, my brother!

[@skibidi.G]

Great info ❤

[@SPIRUNI]

Χριστός ετέχθη αδελφοί ❣

[@LONGINVS_XXXIII]

Αληθώς Ετέχθη!

[@crissiannj]

I am an Orthodox Christian convert from Protestantism, and I found your thoughts very kind and insightful.

[@RosaLubbers]

Hello! I'm a member of this church and it really warms my heart to hear all this positive feedback from a visitor. My family and I converted from Evangelical/Protestant to Orthodox when I was young, but I only recently started attending Holy Transfiguration a few years ago, and the culture there is very distinct from other churches. I found a very diverse congregation from various faith backgrounds, with people who not only welcomed newcomers but were genuinely excited to get to know them and bring them into the fold. You may not have been able to witness it during your visit, but we actually have one of the most thriving young adult programs in the state with members ranging from new college students to new parents all within their 20's-30's. Its a strong mix of cradles (those born into the faith), converts, and visitors from other faiths. We mainly get together every second sunday of the month after communion for socializing and group discussions, with the all important Post Liturgy Brunch afterwards lol. I know you mentioned that you may not return, but I do hope you do because I would love to meet you and chat sometime! I love a good theological yap session :)

[@Emach76]

As a born Greek American who has been Orthodox since my 40th day on earth(baptism), I feel almost a renewal in my faith reading all these beautiful comments from people who converted to the faith. I will say as far as the points made in the video, I've always felt that the main reason to go to church with our community is to praise God. Communion is another part of that but not the goal of Sunday mass. We are all looking to get closer to God and accepting the body and blood of Jesus is a part of communing with God.

[@ceciliaakins132]

It actually is the central act of our worship, the most important thing we do on this earth is to partake of the body and blood of Christ so he can become apart of us, and we can become apart of him. So it is what it's all about during the liturgy. You can't reduce this to just another part. (John 6:53-58)

[@ΜαριάνθηΠαπαλάμπρου]

Η Δοξολογία προς τον Κύριο κορυφώνεται/ολοκληρώνεται με την Μετάληψη των Τιμίων Δώρων Του, του Σώματος και του Αίματος. Επομένως αυτός είναι και ο σκοπός της συμμετοχής των πιστών στη Θεία Λειτουργία, η θεία Μετάληψη.

[@vivianlimberatos3747]

@@ceciliaakins132correct! It is the pinnacle of the faith… our participation (the body… the bride of the church) uniting with the bridegroom.

[@ΚωνσταντίνοςΠαπαδόπουλος-ω1υ]

Greek Christian Orthodox here.This is a part of your puzzle coming to faith.I think that you just received a HUGE blessing from God.Keep seeking God,because God is already doing it-i think.Glory to the Trinity.

[@John_Six]

I'm not Orthodox, but I admire your honesty and pursuit of truth. Peace of Christ from a Latin rite catholic.

[@aklt4923]

This is my parish! It was so nice to come across this review. Thank you so much for visiting and I do hope you change your mind and come back to visit one day. You most certainly can come to coffee hour afterwards! 😊 It is a time for EVERYONE to fellowship and an opportunity for you to speak with the priests as well. I am a recent convert from protestantism and I feel you have great instincts on your assessment of the Liturgy being "separate". It is indeed a time that is holy or set apart from everything else. Heaven and earth meet and we join with the angels and Saints in worship of the Holy Trinity. BTW, we have over 400 children 15 and under between the parish and the small hybrid school and LOTS of young families. The metropolis has an active young adult ministry that meets every month, also. It is a thriving and growing parish that I am blessed to be a part of. May I suggest you come back for Pascha (Easter)? We do a vigil that begins at 11pm and ends around 2 to 2:30am. Yes, it is long, lol, but it is glorious and the feast of feasts. It is what the whole liturgical calendar builds up to and culminates in. It is not just standing and hearing readings. There are processions outside and a re-presentation of Christ's harrowing of Hades. Then afterward we break the lenten fast and all feast together. We Orthodox don't do anything small! 😅 You would be most welcome!

[@LukianLuna]

I, like you, had a hobby of going around and visiting religious places and dialoging with different regions. But Orthodoxy, overtime, really won my heart. And now I am an Eastern Orthodox convert. It’s more amazing than what is seen on the surface. Great video!

[@BunsBooks]

I highly recommend attending the midnight Paschal service (easter) in a church that does it in English, such as OCA or Antiochian. Even my atheist friends love coming to that service because it is so beautiful, and then we party in the fellowship hall till 4am

[@DaCaldwell]

Paschal is so wonderful! I'm looking forward to the Nativity Vigil tonight as a foretaste of Pascha! Christ is born!

[@DennisBonich]

Party ??

[@jadeninja9jadeninja9]

She doesn’t mean party in that way. It’s just the community eating together and talking

[@nattiejanes]

@@DennisBonichcelebrate- Easter is a joyous time and Orthodox Christians fast pretty seriously during lent, so, yes, I’d call it something akin to a party.

[@nattiejanes]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH2sZ415iZ6qmM0si=h0_emKOV087BUdVE

[@osammenegatti]

As a Roman Catholic priest, I appreciated your videos and descriptions, including this one.

[@LaserrSharp]

Catholic Church needs to go back to Latin mass.

[@psyche8187]

As an Orthodox coming from a baptist background. 11:58 Yeah. Most Orthodox priests aren’t strong orators. The homily isn’t the main thing in the service. In the Baptist church the sermon is the main thing. Baptists choose their churches largely based on the preaching.

[@makanaima]

although, thankfully, in my parish, our lead priest gives powerful homilies and is a great speaker. I think it's hit and miss but you are correct, it's not the main thing we hang our hats on.

[@stevepa999]

In Orthodoxy, a good priest is not a good orator but rather a good spiritual father, someone who can guide their parishioners to grow spiritually.

[@arthura777]

I understand that Baptist church is the predominant church from USA's foundation, but is not the most accurate in teachings and doctrine. Unfortunately the same goes for my nation where is Greek Orthodox...

[@dsofos]

@@arthura777 Unfortunately secularism is widely prevalent in Greece. If an American Orthodox convert comes to Greece , he will be greately disappointed by the state of the Orthodox Church . The spiritual situation of the most priests and metropolitans is low and all they care about is the exhibition of "miracle icons" and "miracle relics" just to collect money...

[@dr.joannaeleftheriou8525]

I had a Protestant housemate and she'd always ask how church was. I was perplexed and finally I was like "the liturgy is exactly the same every single sunday - why do you keep asking?" She explained that in protestantism the homily is assessed and it really matters how "good" it is.

[@ethaneichelberger1717]

Thank you for exploring Orthodoxy, and I’m glad to hear you had a positive experience. Orthodoxy is currently experiencing an interesting historical moment here in the United States. Most Orthodox churches in the US were brought over by different immigrant groups who viewed their church as a way of maintaining their language and culture in a foreign land. As immigration from traditionally Orthodox countries has declined and the children of immigrants have culturally assimilated, American Orthodoxy has faced somewhat of an identity crisis. Only in the last 30 years or so have many Orthodox churches switched to primarily English liturgies, and thus Orthodoxy has only recently began to embrace an American, outward-looking missionary character. The situation differs around the country, but by in large parishes that stick to the old ways and continue to emphasize their ethnic heritage are stagnating or declining. Parishes that embrace English language “American Orthodoxy” have (in many cases) been seeing unbelievable explosive growth in the last 4 years. I personally go to a Greek Orthodox parish, though I am not of Greek Heritage myself. Probably about half our congregation is of Greek heritage but with a very small minority of actual fluent Greek speakers. Many have called Orthodoxy “America’s Best Kept Secret”. Despite it being the second largest Christian denomination, often when I tell people I am Orthodox they assume I am Jewish. As all Protestant faiths stem from the intellectual heritage of Western Christianity (Roman Catholicism), which diverged from Orthodoxy close to a millenia ago, Orthodoxy remains deeply foreign to the American mind. Orthodox Christians not only physically express their faith differently (as you saw in the Divine Liturgy) and have different theology, but at a deeper level Orthodox Christians think about faith dramatically differently than both Protestants and Roman Catholics. Dr. Eugenia Constantinou talks about this at length in her terrific book “Thinking Orthodox”. Thank you for your respectful inquiry into Orthodoxy and for your continued commitment to thinking critically about religion.

[@makanaima]

We receive well over a hundred catechumens into the church every year. When I was baptized, there were 30 people baptized with me and many more received by chrismation. Many protestants are coming into Orthodoxy. The growth has been very strong - our church is packed and we will need to expand soon.

[@petercarmody4897]

​@makanaima that is good news!

[@petercarmody4897]

Great news!

[@diodotosbactrianos131]

I don't know if there's such a thing as American Orthodoxy. To the best of my knowledge as a Grek Orthodox immigrant living in the neighborhood with the highest concentration of Greek Immigrants in the USA, which is Astoria, New York, I agree with you that as the immigrants are dying off, their descendants prefer liturgy in English. Correct, but not as much as you think. Here in NYC, there are churches where the liturgy is only in Greek and the rest of the churches are bilingual, the liturgy is in both English and Greek. In the Philadelphia area, all churches are bilingual. I guess some churches, in smaller states, have liturgy in English only. But all churches are Greek Orthodox, not American Orthodox. The same is true of other Orthodox ethnic churches, where the liturgy more less is like our churches. You have, for example, Russian Orthodox, Romanian, Serbian, Bulgarian etc. In places where there aren't ethnic churches, a believer will attend the Orthodox church closer to him. For example a Russian or Bulgarian can attend a Greek or Serbian church is closer to him. I think we all try to maintain our culture and language through our churches. Even in churches where liturgy is in English only and only a few parishioners speak Greek, their descendants try to maintain the Greek Orthodox, (or Russian, etc) traditions of their forefathers and they guard the name of the church.

[@ethaneichelberger1717]

@@diodotosbactrianos131 The Antiochian and OCA jurisdictions are composed almost exclusively of parishes that celebrate English-only liturgies, tend to be overwhelmingly composed of converts, and are seeing enormous growth right now.

[@dianagumas3777]

Every Saint has a special day when they are remembered. St. Dionysios of Zakinthos is Dec 17th. People with that baptismal name also celebrate that day and other people will wish them “Many Years”. My baptismal name is Dionysia and so I celebrate my name day on Dec 17.

[@tomjarrett2477]

Christ is Born ! Glorify Him!

[@michaellopez4358]

Hey! There are more Orthodox Christians here than I thought! I came to say that there is only one thing that you *can't* participate in as a "non-memeber," and that's the eucharist. Everything else is completely open! Go to coffee hour, or luncheon, or whatever that particular parish calls it. That's there to introduce you to the actual church-the people! God bless everyone on their journey. May he keep and guide you, and may the truth be ignited in your hearts. Merry Christmas!

[@angelwings3128]

There are approximately 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide… ✝️

[@Submission2Orthodoxy]

I have left Protestantism about 6 months ago. Excellent choice, God help you on your journey!☦️❤️

[@sakisathan9176]

They are strong in their words, as you said, because they want to sell you the idea of donating. The Orthodox priest, on the other hand, is peaceful and doesn't want to sell you anything. Now, regarding advertisements in the Orthodox Church, they are not allowed simply because it is the house of God, not Walmart

[@sathlasdalaraynidridlendar6875]

Yeah I find that many of our priests when speaking can be very simple, humble, and not trying to be overly rousing/ charismatic. I have been to some where the priest giving the homily was more charismatic and passionate, but it's definitely not something that's super important.

[@karatyson8234]

Truth is free!

[@Pan472]

As a Greek Orthodox Christian, thank you for providing an insight into my faith. Happy holidays to you and I wish you a happy new year.

[@kevindlIlly]

Thanks for coming by our church and making the video. I appreciate the perspective and feedback. I’m a member and converted from Protestantism (Methodist) 30+ years ago. As the white boy from The Big Fat Greek Wedding, I can relate to a lot of your comments. I laughed about the 1:45 long service and you also said you wondered why people show up late. It turns out that different priests at different churches have very different timeframes for the service. I find it long as well and it’s Priest specific. I think I have a very unique perspective about Orthodoxy and Protestantism. I’d be happy to chat with you about it if you’d like. As one of our members said “we have the best product and the worst marketing”. Not knocking us other than to say that Orthodoxy is much more concerned with the faith than it is in Marketing the faith.

[@tclearytcleary]

In contrast to Protestant "seeker-friendly" churches, the more devout Orthodox parishes I would term almost seeker-hostile. The perspective is that you're not doing anyone any favors by watering down the faith.

[@taki2003]

well done video! As a Greek Orthodox since birth, I truly appreciate your insight and experience. Thank you for sharing!

[@SimplySkeptical22]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danimilea]

Regarding your question at the 17 minute. There is an Orthodox Calendar and each day we have a few saints celebrated. Some are marked with a black cross, some with a red one. Those are the major ones and also the major holidays are marked with a red. I love your fairness in sharing your story, attending a few more Liturgies will surely benefit you. Orthodoxy is way deeper than many other belief systems and one can go a step deeper with each visit. All the best from Romania, may Christ bless your heart and soul. Merry Christmas!

[@firmbiz000]

12:27 on the homily, the strong part is supposed to be the prayers. The Homily while important is not placed at the level of importance as in Protestant traditions. The Eucharist is the importance of the liturgy and the prayers all lead us to this moment in the worship.

[@hannahbaker3080]

This was a very interesting video, I saw your first one a few weeks ago and hoped you would attend an Orthodox Church. I grew up Protestant/Baptist, then attended a branch from Calvary Chapel and looked into orthodoxy, and simply never left. What my kids instantly noticed was the level of reverence, they were more eager than me in the beginning, I had some mind walls up, but meeting with the priest helped give clarity. Also, many orthodox don’t have robust website because 1) they want you to “come and see” the liturgy and 2) you can learn better from talking to a priest than just reading theology books. As a theology nerd, this was something I had to get my mind around, orthodoxy is a way of life more than doctrine, it was first called “The Way”. You live the life, learning is a bonus, but the life is where it’s at. I wonder if it’s because of your town or there are other orthodox churches nearby that there aren’t many young people there. My church is more than half young families and young single people. At my church we have a week that we make lunch, we make it expecting their will be visitors and cherish the time talking with them. Thanks for the lovely video!

[@innocente7795]

I was chuckling when you noticed how it filled up by the end of the service. This happens every Sunday at the Greek Cathedral we attend. I think it’s kind of an Orthodox thing but my wife and I always try to get there early. One time in Huntsville at the Serbian Orthodox Church we showed up a few minutes early and we were confused as to where was everybody and then the priest pulled in the lot and we walked in with him. This punctual instinct is probably a throwback to former Protestant legalistic ways of thinking. There is much more freedom in Holy Orthodoxy. C. S. Lewis actually commented on this aspect of Orthodoxy when he visited a Greek Church with Joy. Keep coming back. Christ God be with you☦️

[@PeacefulSavageKS]

I was born, baptized and raised in Greece so I was an Orthodox Christian by chance not by choice. I became an apostate, I looked into different religions and philosophies, looked for God everywhere and He was right in front of me the whole time. I've been an Orthodox Christian by choice for a few months now after some "weird incident" I experienced and even my depression has subsided significantly....I really can't understand why I did myself so dirty all these years, looking the other way, turning my back to what I could have had sll along BUT in a sense I'm glad I did because comong bacl by choice feels so good.

[@angelwings3128]

Welcome back…God Bless ✝️

[@fr.johnwhiteford6194]

You may want to attend an Orthodox Liturgy at a parish that does it all in English.

[@andys3035]

Hi Fr. John. I hope you and your family have a great Christmas!

[@psyche8187]

I’m Orthodox and I really appreciate your reflections. As foreign as it might have been to you, you definitely painted a really accurate picture of the Divine Liturgy.

[@Hemi7156]

As an Orthodox Catechumen who is younger coming from an Agnostic background. Good video I pray you will continue to explore the faith, the Liturgy has been described as a perfume shop where even if you don’t believe you still come out smelling like perfume. God Bless ☦️

[@usagitsukino3638]

Really interesting take on Greek Orthodoxy. The liturgy is not supposed to be about the priest, but about the people. Some priests are stronger orators than others; however they are not there to preach, but to listen to you and be a vessel of god. The wall and entrance are there because the holy items are behind that wall and the priest has to incense the path for the evangelion and the body of Christ to come out. Physical possessions are not important for us, that’s why a church that is true to the faith will not focus on donations and business. Lateness is not a faux-pass in Greek Orthodoxy, we prefer to be flexible and open to everyone. I hope you get to experience a Greek Orthodox Church in Greece next time, it’s a really interesting experience even for non believers.

[@stamatelavagia4944]

Lateness is not acceptable. Late are usually people who do not understand tbe liturgy or the meaning of the liturgy.

[@observer8477]

@@stamatelavagia4944 i agree,first time i went at 7:00 in the morning and people came 8:00-8:15 till 10-11.i didnt agree on this cause you should stand at the whole liturgy,shows that you are not taking it seriously...its like you acting like a lukewarm christian and thats not good but today people growing in faith and others are not...its a reality,its a personal thing so what to do...the church is there and important for the ones that love Christ and what He did for us...

[@mariageorgiadou8595]

Regarding "lateness" to the Divine Liturgy, or to the Faith, let me quote the Paschal homily or sermon (also known in Greek as Hieratikon or as the Catechetical Homily) of St. John Chrysostom (died 407) is read aloud at Paschal matins, the service that begins Easter, in Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches. The Homily Translation from the website of Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Washington, D.C.)[1] If any be devout and God-loving, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumph. If any be a good and wise servant, let him enter rejoicing into the joy of his Lord. If any be weary of fasting, let him now receive his reward. If any have labored from the first hour, let him receive today his rightful due. If any have come at the third hour, let him feast with thankfulness. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him in no wise be in doubt, for in no wise shall he suffer loss. If any be delayed even until the ninth hour, let him draw near, doubting nothing, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him not be fearful on account of his lateness; for the Master, Who is jealous of His honor, receiveth the last even as the first. He giveth rest to him that cometh at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that hath labored from the first hour; and to the last He is merciful, and the first He pleaseth; to the one He giveth, and to the other He bestoweth; and He receiveth the works, and welcometh the intention; and the deed He honoureth, and the offering He praiseth. Wherefore, then, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord; both the first and the second, receive ye your reward. Ye rich and ye poor, with one another exult. Ye sober and ye slothful, honor the day. Ye that have kept the fast and ye that have not, be glad today. The table is full-laden, delight ye all. The calf is fatted; let none go forth hungry. Let all enjoy the feast of faith, receive all ye the riches of goodness. Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom hath been revealed. Let no one weep for his transgressions, for forgiveness hath dawned from the tomb. Let no one fear death, for the death of the Saviour hath set us free. He hath quench by it, He hath led hades captive, He Who descended into hades. He embittered it, when it tasted of His flesh. And foretelling this, Isaiah cried: "Hades," he saith, "was embittered when it encountered Thee below." It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered. It received a body and encountered God. It received earth, and met heaven. It received that which it saw, and fell to what it did not see. O death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy victory? Christ is risen, and thou art cast down. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life flourisheth. Christ is risen, and there is none dead in the tombs. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of them that have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto the ages of ages. Amen.

[@dimzer99]

An honest objective video. In fact a Greek Orhodox Church gives an intense sence of the divine. Actually, every kind of faith, or aspect of faith (the second reffers to the different christian doctrines) reflects the habits, the way of living and thinking of each nation or nations that have been influenced by an initial idea or faith. All the above mentioned nations were members of the Byzantine commonwealth, which placed a strong affect to them. Finaly, the word "dome" in Greek means "Θόλος", but the exact word is "Τρούλλος". Greetings! Δημήτριος Ρωμανός Historian

[@emmahenderson6259]

I am a teenager who is a Protestant Christian as of now, but I love watching your videos on all of these different denominations. I love hearing your perspective and your honesty. Thanks for sharing!

[@nikostheater]

Hello from Crete, Greece! Merry Christmas, happy holidays to all. I will not comment on the specifics, because in general orthodoxy as a cradle orthodox in an orthodox country were orthodoxy is the default I suppose feels different than in a country we’re orthodoxy is relatively new or unknown, I’m fascinated though about your perspective. I liked the fact that you did your homework and you presented our faith as accurately as you could and thank you for that. Keep exploring and God willing you’ll come back to Orthodoxy as a believer! 😊 Again, congratulations for the good work and greetings from Crete!

[@sallylafaille7688]

13:23 I am a newly Chrismated Orthodox Christian in an Antiochian church. Our priest will often say something to us personally when we go up to kiss the Gospels or get blessed bread. He will also greet the visitors he sees during Orthros, which we have before Divine Liturgy. God bless you on your journey. I cane from a Protestant background. I was most recently Lutheran but had come a long way - baptized and raised in an Associate Reformed Presbyterian church, attended a fundamental Baptist school through 5th grade, re-baptized in Church of Christ as an adult, then baptized as a Baptist, then back to a Reformed Presbyterian, then Lutheran (LCMS), and now my final home as Orthodox! Hopefully, you won't need as many steps as I did!😊

[@OrthodoxPhilip]

You correctly identified that the Orthodox preserve the original Christian iconography. The iconography is a witness to the care that the Orthodox have in preserving original Christianity, but it doesn't stop there. The theology, liturgy, faith and gospel are all an unbroken continuation of the original Christianity when it was one church. It's not a coincidence that the vast majority of the thousands of Christian denomations all come from the west originating in the Catholic Church. Many ex-Protestants such as myself are finding this out and converting to the Orthodox Church to participate in authentic and historic Christianity. The most beautiful thing about the Orthodox faith is that its continuity is a witness to the truth of the gospel - that God has not abandoned this world and has made himself available through his Son and offers victory over death. The liturgy is a response to God for this love and hope and the "Eucharist" (lit. "thanksgiving") is our thanks offering to him.

[@aristonacademy2626]

Thank You for visiting my church. I thoroughly enjoyed your video and, as a greeter at this particular church, I learned something new today. Personally, I would not have spent a lot of time on telling you not to partake of the Eucharist but understand why they did. I have a few comments, if you indulge me, based on some of the things your mentioned (these are from memory and in no particular order or priority) 1) 1:45 minutes is long, but for the Orthodox it is customary. There is a lot of redundancy of prayer/petition during the liturgy, but it is what it is. 2) Something you may not know from your research is that the Orthodox church looks at the liturgy as joining in on the eternal worship service going on in Heaven. Having a Protestant background you have probably heard many sermons where it is mentioned that the angels of heaven are always singing "Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come". The Divine Liturgy is seen as us, here on earth, joining in on that worship of God even as we prepare to receive His greatest gift, the gift of Himself in the form of the Eucharist 3) You mentioned the Great Entrance. If you noticed, when the Priest completed the turn through the congregation and stood before the altar, his back was to the congregation. That is because he IS one of the congregation making petitions and praises before God. 4) I think I know which priest was giving the homily/sermon that day. He is very good in smaller settings, but less of a public speaker. 5) Thank You so much for attending. I sincerely hope you find what will no longer make you skeptical. I started out as Orthodox, explored other faiths, considered Atheism, but found my way back to Orthodoxy. God Bless You!

[@AndryThrasyvoulou-i6g]

I was born Christian Orthodox , I live in Cyprus, and I praise God for this blessing. Through the mysteries of our church, the confession, the holy communion Lord is in with us and along with the help of our mother Virgin Mary and our beloved saints we gain strength and learn how to live in God's love and will. God bless you all

[@hammingdad1]

I have not had the pleasure of attending a Greek Orthodox Church, so thank you for taking the pains to post this. It was really interesting. As for the use of the word 'ritual' it is not a problem. When Jesus performed miracles there was almost always a ritual. So there is nothing disrespectful about using that word. It can describe something ordinary or something miraculous... it merely delineates that there is an order and sequence.

[@SimplySkeptical22]

Thank you! And on ritual, I got some pushback for using that term before. Can't please everyone!

[@DaCaldwell]

Ritual is an appropriate socio-religious word for what the liturgy and associated sacraments are. Like you said, you can't please everyone. Love the video!

[@Querymonger]

@@SimplySkeptical22 Whoever got upset might have assumed that by "ritual" you meant it in the derogatory way that some Protestants do, when they say we Orthodox have "empty rituals." But the liturgy is a ritual, it's just not "empty" lol.

[@chrysantus]

7:40 Just as an aside, the artist doesn't "mimic" the style. There is a very strict hermeneutic (ερμινεια) of Byzantine church painting and church architecture that defines the aesthetic. Byzantine paiting has certain definite rules, just like Byzantine chanting. For example, let's say St. Ignatius of Antioch would be painted in every church in a similar, although original, manner. In that sense, Hagia Sophia and a church built in 2010 are the same, one is not a replica of another. Because the painting and the church building are afterwards consecrated, so that they become living things full of the grace of God. The same is done with every icon after it is finished. Or with the altar, which is consecrated in a more complex manner and built upon the relics of certain saints. So, in the end, the 2010 church is just as original as any other. Moreover, actually, the modern church is consecrated, while Hagia Sophia was desecrated, which is the only thing that makes it liviing. Without this it's only a building, rocks and mortar.

[@suzankontoulis4631]

I'm glad you visited the Orthodox Church. May your search for the one true faith be blessed. There are many converts to the faith and I'm also one and formerly Protestant. It seems you learned a lot and had an accurate overview of the Liturgy. A few comments from your video: - December 17th is the date of the Feast of St. Dionysios of Zakynthos so that is probably near to the date you visited the church. Saints are not worshipped but revered and honored and their lives are remembered so that Christians can be encouraged in their faith journey. - The word "Liturgy" can mean the work of the people, so everyone is invited and encouraged to participate in singing the responses and hymns. - It's common for people to arrive or leave services at different times. The worship of God in heaven is continuous and God wants us to join in with heaven and participate as often as we can. Once someone told me that while I'm in church judging people's tardiness, the late comers may have been humbly praying for me and the church at home! -The liturgy is not a "performance" as in the Protestant church, and the priest is not a performer but the leader of worship. He is to represent Christ and is therefore humble and loving and not overbearing like an actor on a stage. (also why the homily may be simple and brief and not the highlight of a service.) The priest faces the altar just as the people do as he is joining in worshipping with the parish. He only faces the congregation to bless or to give the homily. -The "paintings" are actually icons. The Byzantine style is generally used and the icons are symbolic of an event in Christ's life or a reminder of a faithful Christian's (Saint's) life. Iconography is part of the worship of God. The icons are often called windows into heaven as we see them. For us, all 5 of the senses are to be involved in Orthodox worship. - Everyone would be invited to the free lunch/coffee hour- hospitality is a wonderful blessing of Greek Orthodox people. You are always welcomed.

[@steveirineou4914]

Articulate, intellectually honest , intelligent , obviously well educated, and attractive. You very much remind me of my daughter , I was very impressed with your presentation .

[@Jacob-ky4vk]

I love seeing outsiders’ perspective on our faith, so thank you for the video! It’s interesting that you commented on the difficulty in following along with the liturgy, as it’s something that I never thought about because I grew up in the faith, but my girlfriend who is a catechumen from a Protestant background expressed similar difficulties. I like being able to get an outside look to understand some of our church’s strengths and weaknesses!

[@lornadoone8887]

Thanks for sharing. I think you did a good job. I’m from a Protestant background and joined the Orthodox Church about 17 years ago. I have attended OCA and Antiochian parishes, but no Greek. My current parish has greeters, too, and we welcome all visitors to coffee hour (usually a light lunch) after the Liturgy. It is our way of offering hospitality, and we really want people to come. Today many (especially non-denominational) Protestants see The Lord’s Supper as merely symbolic and as a way of showing hospitality to visitors (or at least professing Christian visitors). This is a bit different than when I was growing up in the 1960s when even many or most Protestant churches invited only members to communion (and that was expected by most visitors). Orthodox practice retains the earlier understanding and is different because the Church takes very literally and seriously the teachings in John 6:51ff, especially vs. 53 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-33. I attend a parish of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and services will be in English, sometimes with an occasional bit of Church Slavonic thrown in to which Orthodox in Russia and other slavic countries are accustomed. I hope you will considering visiting another Orthodox Church, maybe one in the more Russian/Slavic tradition. God bless!

[@JulianaAndersson]

I’ve been Greek Orthodox for almost 18 years now. I converted in 2007. It’s so beautiful. Everything in the Orthodox Church is doctrinal. Like in the physical church itself. Specially the iconography. Let alone the readings, saints and gospels chosen each day and for each liturgy. There is a greater church calendar that contains saints commemorated and feasts that have literal and symbolic meanings that point to Christs life. Layers and layers and layers of meaning in everything all pointing to Christ. Orthodoxy is also not proselytizers. You have to make an effort to learn it.. sometimes they make it difficult.. being orthodox is intense…lol.. it’s not for the faint of heart

[@jaroslavkyprianpolak]

Your observation is spot on!! I am Orthodox from the Czech Republic and all the strengths and weaknesses (late arrivals of believers, bad website) are here in Europe too. The sermon is not the key feature in Orthodoxy and I have met very learned priests who have had even a half hour homily with reference to the Church Fathers etc, and priests who have only had a sermon for a few minutes. As for doctrine, that cannot be read in books and only intellectually understood. There is the dogmatic component, but Orthodoxy focuses on reaching people through all the senses. One is psychophysically involved and by participating in the liturgy and communion with others, one acquires a certain unique mindset. Otherwise, it is not common in Orthodoxy to use cultural events and other things we organize for active indoctrination. As for eating together after the liturgy, be sure to come next time! You will certainly be welcome. There is certainly a collection box in the church. If you want, put some money in it. But we don't actively encourage people to pay. Everyone will contribute according to their ability and God will provide the rest 🙂 As for the warning that the unbaptized are not to receive the Eucharist: We believe that the bread and wine are the real body and blood of Christ, the God Himself is present in them, and if they are received unworthily, i.e. by a person who is not ready, it could do that person great harm. We do not protect the Eucharist from unbelievers, we protect unbelievers from the Eucharist! But everyone is welcome to take the antidoron, i.e. the consecrated but not transformed bread that is distributed after the liturgy. It is for everyone! Another thing about Holy Communion: many believers do not receive it every Sunday because the preparation for communion involves lots of prayers and other domestic rituals, one must not eat or drink anything from midnight onwards, abstain from marital intercourse etc. All the conditions are not met everytime, but even without participaton on eucharist it is great blessing to be there. The liturgy is indeed long and demanding. In the West, Christians just keep simplifying it to their detriment. We think of it as training for the spiritual wrestler, according to St. Paul 🙂 . If you will come next time, do not use any booklets etc. Just participate without struggling to understand.

[@robra70]

Hi, I'm a catechumen in the Antiochian Orthodox Church down here in Texas. Our priest jokes about the fact that Orthodox folks aren't really into being punctual. Also, try to attend a vespers service on Wed or Saturday evening. They are my favorite services. Also, the Orthodox priests that I have met have been probably the most humble people that I have ever met.

[@andrewchrisostomou2625]

An excellent analysis of what you saw during your visit to a Greek Orthodox church. I would be very interested at some point of time after you have reviewed the various other faiths that you can do a video as to why you or other people have not been convinced. Particularly focusing on why you are a non believer and why so many others share the same view and what do you believe in?

[@annavretou8721]

Good evening from Greece. On December 18, Saint Dionysios of Zakynthos celebrates. Because you went and attended the liturgy, near or on the day of His feast day, I believe that is why they gave you the icon of this particular Saint. I wish everyone, including you, a happy new year with health and happiness.

[@markjz2011]

HAVE A MERRY HOLY CHRISTMAS! 🙏🏼

[@breddygud6890]

So glad everybody was welcoming when you visited. Yes being less punctual, operating on "Greek time," a cultural thing, although it still is preferred and encouraged to be at the Divine Liturgy on time. Indeed the Divine Liturgy is so beautiful (and long! But I honestly lose track of time) At my Greek Orthodox parish at least you would have been very welcome to eat with us and have fellowship, I can't speak for that one but you'd very likely be welcome then as well. Thanks for your honest thoughts.

[@Horeuoyiatinellada]

Yeah Greek time is yeah

[@georgekallides2145]

Merry Christmas! I wish everyone reaching the harbor of faith!

[@jonf4287]

Lateness is very normal in the Orthodox Church. Its also very common, though frowned upon, for people to show up just for the Eucharist and then leave. There is also a subsect of people who only show up on Christmas, Pascha, and Pentecost.

[@karpoezi]

and some others just for their baptism and funeral

[@johnalexis8284]

unfortunately, there's another reason for the lateness that nobody will say out loud.

[@Horeuoyiatinellada]

Yeahhhh

[@echondo7637]

I think you would benefit greatly from watching Matt Whitman's videos on him visiting an Orthodox Church. Fr. Truebenbach does an amazing job answering his questions and showing him around the church.

[@amayasasaki2848]

@RootsofOrthodoxy is another great channel to check out. The channel holder is Roman Catholic, but he is exploring Orthodoxy and his content is just interviewing Orthodox priests.

[@SimplySkeptical22]

Actually watched his video before attending!

[@kgpaschalidis8176]

The Greek scripture is not modern spoken Greek but the original Greek spoken at the time the New Testament was written, in its original language.

[@chancericketts2988]

Really enjoyed your initial observations of the Church. My wife and I are currently catechumen in the Greek Orthodox Church we were both previously Protestants. I think you hit the nail on the head in the fact that the service is entirely about the Eucharist. I would also say that is one reason that the liturgy might have felt a bit off compared to a Protestant service. I honestly enjoy that aspect the most, I’m not attending a TED talk when I go to liturgy, I’m contemplating, praying, and witnessing the presence of Christ. In short, I believe the main take away for a Protestant or non-Christian is the service is not for you. You won’t find a Starbucks in the lobby, they won’t have a contemporary service and traditional service, they won’t have a long talk about how the Gospels relate to your experiences in social media. For us at least, it has been incredibly refreshing to get out of the western mindset and learning the way the East sees Christianity and ultimately how the Apostles would have wanted us to be worshiping our savior today. Hope Greek Fest goes well, appreciate your videos, and taking the time to see what’s up! Second thing, every church is different for how much it speaks in whatever language their roots are based in. In my experience the Antiochian church tends to have the most English within the service. Just for any watchers that would like to attend, but are intimidated by the language barrier.

[@Kinotaurus]

Well of course English will be the predominant language in Antiochian churches; there aren't many native Aramaic speakers left! Especially after the recent "democracy advances" in Syria.

[@chancericketts2988]

@ exactly!

[@ErisstheGoddessofmanhwas]

As Greek/Georgian and Orthodox fron both sides ,church for me is a place of peace and happiness I even hide sometimes inside the church. It's so peaceful and beautiful.

[@FL-AH12]

Appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on your visit to one of our Greek Orthodox churches. Everyone, regardless of background, is welcome at an Orthodox Church! I am sharing some feedback to you and the readers as a layman. The Orthodox Holy Liturgy, (the prayers and worship that are read and chanted each Sunday by the priest / chantor / choir / church-attendees), was written by Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Basil. Each Sunday and on holidays the same Liturgy is celebrated at all Orthodox churches around the world. One will hear the same epistle reading, the same gospel reading, the same prayers. The Liturgy given on Sunday follows the life and teachings of Jesus and is intended to give the faithful a message/teaching. The Epistle reading and the Gospel reading changes each Sunday and Holiday, but repeats each year. The books at each pews are intended to help the people follow along and participate in the Liturgy. Orthodox churches are dedicated to Jesus, Panagia (Mary the mother of Jesus), the Holy Spirit, Saints, etc. and the name of the church reflects to whom the church is dedicated. The dedication is just an intent to honor the Saint and should not in any way be taken as being a sect. The Layout of all Orthodox churches is the same everywhere in the world and has meaning, though the building itself may look slightly different. all churches face to the Holy Land (birth place of Jesus). The icons on the walls and the dome are intended to remind the people of God and the sacrifices that the saints went through to save us. Certain icons will be found at all Orthodox church, Jesus, Panagia (mother of Jesus), the Archangels, the twelve Apostles, and certain saints. Communion is reserved only for Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared themselves (fasting, prayers, etc), but the Antidoron (holy bread) is offered to all. Priests must attend an Orthodox seminary and must graduate and then be ordained before they can be assigned to a parish. All Orthodox clergy can trace their ordination to the twelve apostles. While the priests know the faith, they are not necessarily great speakers or orators, so some may not communicate the message as well as others to the faithful. Most Orthodox churches give a handout which has information about the Saint or specific religious celebration at that given Sunday or Holiday, and also information about the church. For various reasons many people tend to come late at the Liturgy, even though they should come at the beginning. However, as the gospel at Easter Sunday said, the Lord welcomes those who came late as he does those who came on time. Most Greek Orthodox churches have a social gathering after Liturgy at the community center where EVERYONE is invited and welcome. VISITORS are encouraged to come to get a chance to meet members of the community and ask questions if they like. It is FREE and offered by the community. There are NO EXPECTATION from anyone. Festivals are generally a fundraiser by the members of the church to raise money for the church expenses, and also share the Greek heritage with visitors. Most Greek Orthodox churches also have church tours during festivals to explain what the Orthodox faith is about. Finally, in many communities such as the rust belt states, because jobs are scares, younger people move to other cities or states and for that reason, one would see more elderly people, and few younger people in many communities, especially in the north and midwest.

[@anastasiafriar1808]

My name is Anastasia and I have been Orthodox for a long time if you have any questions :). I am really glad you had a wonderful experience. Liturgy means the work of the people so its definitely wonderful to have participation and personal prayer from each person. As people learn the words and music more they are more then welcome to sing, it's really beautiful when the whole parish sings together. Especially during the Nicene Creed and Jesus prayer everyone's participation is encouraged. Byzantine chant is definitely more of an individual style, but four part harmony can be learned by other people. (Byzantine is generally in Greek parishes while 4 part is in Slavic ones). You touched on the fact that many people were late to church. It's really sad to see but definitely prominent in many parishes, which I believe stems from cultural Orthodoxy. Cultural Orthodoxy is going to church as a tie to culture instead of a genuine expression of faith, so some people just come to church for communion to check off the box. However there is definitely a diversity of people who practice to greater or lesser extents among cradle-Orthodox and converts. Also since Orthodoxy is definitely a more traditional faith the demographic of people is largely older however depending on the parish you may get a group of college students and young converts. It depends on where you live and the culture of the parish.

[@SpyridoulaPol]

I am Greek and an Orthodox Christian. Orthodoxy sets you in front of your responsibilities as a child of God and at the same time it gives you endless freedom. Also , it glorifies woman through Mother Mary as well as other female figures from the Old and New Testament

[@tallgirlhappyme]

*Great job! Appreciate your attention to detail, while being concise. You are a great presenter!* 😊

[@ANTONIOSPAPAEFTHYMIOU]

I do not know if anyone has answered your question “Why were you not allowed to participate in Holy Communion - 19:40 ”. You should know that according to our Orthodox faith, in Holy Communion we take within us the Body and Blood of our God Jesus Christ and at the same time we also enter into the body of God and are Deified. Because during the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Spirit descends and transforms the wine and bread that are on the Holy Altar into the Real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ... the same that suffered during the Crucifixion of our Lord. As you understand, someone who does not believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only God, who created Heaven and Earth, and is not determined to unite with him… is not possible for him to be allowed to participate in Holy Communion. The proof of our decision to unite with God is our Orthodox Baptism. This is commanded by the “Teaching of the Apostles”: “Let no one eat or drink of your Holy Communion, except those who have been baptized in the name of the Lord.”

[@froarvanitis360]

The orthodox church is a bit weird on communion. All Christian faiths have baptimal rights, but the orthodox church does not recognise them

[@ANTONIOSPAPAEFTHYMIOU]

@@froarvanitis360 No wonder... We are baptized into the Holy Trinity where the Father is Equal to the Son Christ and Equal to the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ for us is the Creator of the earth and the sky and all that exists, along of course with the rest of the Holy Trinity. While you put them on scales... The father above.. the son below and other strange things. Some even say that Christ is a man.. and other strange things. We do not believe in the same God... That is why your baptism is invalid for us. Think about this: God is Perfect.. the Father is Perfect.. the Son is Perfect.. the Holy Spirit is Perfect... How can they be unequal.. there is a higher Perfect and a lower Perfect.. certainly not.. think and understand. May the Virgin Mary always protect you

[@devynrowe7492]

You’re doing a great job at laying out as many factual points as you can. I wanted to emphasis that Greek, Russian, Romanian, Serbian, Antiochian, etc are all the same branch of Eastern Orthodoxy. We are not separate branches. We are in communion with each other (there is a thing with the Russian patriarch but it is still very new and will likely resolve). Just so people understand we are all one Orthodoxy. Dogmatically we are the same. It’s a matter of cultural differences. Hope that helps.

[@georgeellinas2147]

Just discovered your channel. I was born Greek Orthodox, as my parents, grandparents, etc. going back were all from Greece, and were/are adherents to this religion. I attended liturgies at many churches growing up in New York and New Jersey, but at around the beginning of my teen years, I began to question religion in general. Although the Greek Orthodox religion is steeped in deep faith, and beautiful traditions and churches, I could never accept true faith as defined by religions, in a world filled with so much heartache, suffering, and angst. There were many many factors that made me the agnostic (probably atheist is more like it) that I am today. Perhaps the strongest reasons I parted ways with religion and á belief in a god, was living with and witnessing the day to day life altering heartache, suffering, and challenges of my autistic brother, then autistic daughter. I thought to myself, ¨what all powerful, all knowing, all encompassing god would allow autistic humans to exist, and to experience all the challenges and pain that comes with this condition?¨ And for us caring family members to have to suffer with them too! And letś not even discuss children dying of cancer, or suffering in war! Then I got into Philosophy too. My favorite quote is by the great Erich Fromm - ¨Love is the only satisfactory answer to the question of manś existence.¨ I try to live by that, because it has the most meaning and effect.

[@annaz6479]

and God is Love, so let Him into your life. He'll stand there and wait until you open the door.

[@strugglingathome]

Bless you! Welcome to the Orthodox Church! ☦

[@munkee59]

There's so much to talk about here, but I'll just pick out one thing that I think you might find interesting. The length of the service clocked in at an hour and 45 minutes, this is about right for most Orthodox parishes, usually closer to 2-1/2 hours if you attend Orthros and Divine Liturgy. However, the service at the parish level is shortened quite a bit. If you attend the same services at a monastery they can last 4-5 hours. I'm glad you visited and got a taste of the Orthodox faith. I had a religious philosophy professor in college, who was certainly not Orthodox, but he gave generous extra credit for anyone who visited an Orthodox service. When I asked why specifically an Orthodox service he responded, "If you want to see Christianity in its most ancient form, you have to visit the Orthodox."

[@SmoodFamilyPets-uc9zq]

I am greek Orthodox. Thank you for your insights. Im glad your experience was overall positive. Yes, the services are long (we Orthodox love that!), and yes, it is very normal for most of the Church to be empty for the start of the service. It is not our ideal, but things in Orthodox Churches are rarely done on "human time", usually things are done on "God's time." For example, if you were to be invited to a baptism a 2pm and you arrive at 1:35pm the church may be empty and locked and you have beat the priest there, or you may be there for the end of an entirely different service. The baptism may end up starting at 2:25 p.m., and nobody there will find that weird or out of place at all. 😂 I truly hope you go back! Please check out a Vespers service.❤

[@tompappas3]

Thank you for your video! May God help you in what you are seeking. The orthodox faith is truly a living one. Please read about the sanctification of people in our times such as Saint Paisios and many others. God bless you!

[@GeorgesChannel]

Great video! I am greek orthodox living in another western country. The genuity, simplicity and welcoming you felt, is part of greek culture. The church in general is all about community with people and God, our first home if you want. I could write much more, but i leave you with your own impressions, which say more then 1000 words :) I encourage you to go the greek festival, you will have a great time there. A small correction: Doksa means Glory (not believe). Its about giving Glory to God in the right way (not to ourself). Wish you a Merry Christmas and to finally find what you are seeking :)

[@ineofotistos]

I’m a US-born Greek and enjoyed your video. I’m also appreciating the comments especially about the role of the priest and bible and agree with the fully sensory experience of services. Also, welcome to Greek time! 😂 Hope you enjoy the festival and report back.

[@thedjhoneybear4368]

As a fellow Protestant-raised kid who also left the faith (after studying at an Evangelical Bible college), I truly appreciate what you're doing here. Got a sub out of me. I'll also say that I eventually converted to Eastern Orthodoxy after exploring spirituality from various world religions. If you ever have questions from a kindred spirit, feel free to reach out.

[@christappan]

I recognized the particular church you attended. Their Greek Fest is indeed great, so make sure to go. If you want to try another Orthodox Church at some point, I'm at the nearby OCA and there's a lovely ROCOR parish nearby. Both are almost entirely in English and welcoming. Same liturgy, but different feel, and the Russian music in ROCOR and OCA is beautiful in a different way than Byzantine. God bless.

[@georgelaskaris1682]

I am a Greek orthodox in Greece. I think as a non believer you presented a very respectfull and open minded video. Keep up the good work. I find it interesting you mentioned the priest's dressing. I was under the impression that the American orthodox church dressed a little more casual than thier European counterparts. Saint Dionysios (Aa-Yee-Os Thi-O-Nee-Sios greeklish pronunciation) Is the patron saint of the island of Zakynthos so maybe the church you attended was dedicated to him and is celebrated on December 17th . Every place has a patron saint and a church dedicated to them .From the smallest village which is usually the largest or most central church to the largest city. As orthodox we celebrate our birthday much less and more on our name day. The day a patron saint is celebrated that we are named after. If you do decide to visit the orthodox church again, a great experience would be on Holy week (the week before easter) Especially on good Friday evening with the epitafios (epitaph) or Saturday at midnight anastasi (resurection of crist)

[@ΔημήτρηςΘεμελης-ο8ζ]

Καλά Χριστούγεννα καλή χρονιά ο Ιησούς Χριστός σώζε με την βοήθεια της Μεγαλόχαρης Παναγιάς ελπίζω ο κόσμος όλο να καταλάβει ότι πάμε κατά διαόλου και να αλλάξουμε ρωτά ωραίο video 🇬🇷✝️❤️

[@phantomlord3280]

I love that you went to a Divine Liturgy! I’m am in the process of becoming a catechumen in the rocor church and am coming from a completely atheist background I gotta say it as nothing like ever thought. Christ is truly alive in the traditions of the church and he is kept alive in the things he taught us. The priest also as the head of his flock must know all his sheep by name which is why so much care is gone into making new ones feel truly known and welcome because like Christ as The Good Shepherd knows every one of us by name so must the Priest. I highly encourage you to go back from time to time. Absolutely join in on the choir singing if you’re able! Most people don’t cause they can’t sing very well lol but even myself someone who is not baptized into the faith I still sing as many of the hymns as I know because I am there to worship my Lord and God with my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. May God bless you on your journey!

[@phantomlord3280]

I also encourage you to ask as many questions as you’d like to the priest EVERY SINGLE LITTLE THING DOWN TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL has a reason to it and it is all to point us towards Christ :)

[@ctitek]

A great video, keep on doing these, be honest. If this was our parish these are invaluable insights. I picked up a couple items for my church (which is also greek orthodox)😊

[@myrkat]

LoL. As most every Orthodox Christian (especially ethnic cradle-to-grave ones) chuckles at the "no one was there on time" comment. Yep. As a Baptist-convert friend of mine once told me, "Orthodoxy is definitely the deep end of the pool!" Oh yeah. There's a serious commitment and inward journey needed. Most modern people are not ready or willing to do this.

[@StavrosSachtouris]

About the fact that many people were late: it happens in Greece as well. The church door is open and you can enter the liturgy at any time, no one will demand from the faithful to be punctual. You can come and go as you please. This is something I would take for granted until your video. I 've just realized how it might look strange to some people.

[@mmaakkiinn]

☦️ true Faith the true Church...more than 2,000 years of tradition....

[@Kinotaurus]

Regarding "latecomers", usually the eucharistical service follows a shorter service of "hours", which is typically 30 mins. Some people attend both but the majority rock up towards the end of "hours" and beginning of the liturgy proper.

[@lowellhuesers5366]

After watching your Catholic Church video, I'm glad you made it to an Orthodox Church. I think you had some great insights that point to why Orthodoxy is so special. As a recent convert to Orthodoxy, I wasn't surprised by many of your observations. First, the beauty of the church and the liturgy. That's Orthodoxy! This is a place of worship and everything is oriented toward that goal. The chanting, the icons, the incense are all working to make God's place a beautiful place. Orthodox sermon's aren't emphasized as much as in protestant churches.For me, I'm there to worship God. It's ok if I don't hear a great sermon. As for websites, I can only say that Orthodoxy isn't as evangelical as your typical protestant church. Orthodoxy isn't a user friendly church that you can figure out easily. Maybe they should do more but maybe they wouldn't be the ancient church for long. This is a pre-Enlightenment faith. Things we assume a church should do in the modern world don't necessarily make sense to Orthodox. Thanks for your video!

[@StevenYates-lw7sn]

This was very interesting. I thought she was pretty fair and her descriptions were mostly respectful and sounded honest. I’d love to chat with her for just a few minutes to clarify a few things, like why she was told more than once about not receiving Holy Communion. As a former Methodist myself, I recall that church used to declare that their Communion was an "open Communion" and that all Christians were welcome to partake. The Orthodox just wanted to make sure their beliefs were honored in their church and that no one incorrectly assumed the same "open Communion" was practiced there. I’d also love to have her read my latest book as it describes how I was raised Protestant, then spent 20 years as a “none” and then found the Greek Orthodox Church.

[@doriskosmos6087]

You should go to the festival and see if they are doing church tours. The head cantor at our church does tours during our festival and it is very informal. He explains a lot of the things that you were unsure about plus open Q&A.

[@marvinmartinez3818]

Hi Simply Skeptical, just a thought from a catholic: on your point on the eloquence of the priest, while it would be ideal that the priest's words be compelling, it is not as essential as the priest's life being compelling. A common saying is the Catholic Church is, evangelize at all times, and if necessary use words. Also, from what I've heard about our Orthobros, they put a hugher emphasis on the mysticism of God (the unfathomable mysteries of God, who is infinitly more than what our minds can grasp) and theosis (becoming divine as God, not by our own power, but by letting God grace transform us). It certainly is a perspective complimentary to catholicism which can be more rational (explaining sound doctrine and grasping to understand as much as possible the essence of God) and really shows how Catholicism and Orthodoxy are the two lungs of the Church. By the way, in the Catholic Church, the Latin Church is the most common rite, but we also have many eastern rites, such as the Greek Catholic Church, which are basically the same as the Orthodox counterparts but in communion with the pope, even the same Orthodox practices and rituals.

[@patrickbarnes9874]

We have the Western Rite Vicariate which is the opposite. They are parishes within the Russian and Antiochian jurisdictions where they operate with essentially pre-Vatican II Catholic practices.

[@TheTwoheadedEagle]

I'm Orthodox and I was going to write the same thing about the eloquence of the priest. We don't attend church to listen to the priest give a speech, we're there to join the body of Christ. If the priest gives a beautiful homily though, all the better. Merry Christmas!

[@gregcoogan8270]

Orthodoxy is the fullness of the original Apostolic Christian faith. There's no need for complimentaries as that implies something lacking. Roman Catholicism is lacking because it broke away from the rest of the apostlic churches, which are now called Orthodox. Why not attend a local Orthodox church in your area and inquire into becoming a catechumen?

[@sathlasdalaraynidridlendar6875]

I don't think the Orthodox put higher emphasis on the unfathomable mystery that God is. We have lots of emphasis on logical explanations, concepts, theology around our understanding of God, but it is important especially to remind our newcomers, that all that studying and explanation only gets us to a certain point and that is to understand what has been revealed to us by God and that the important answer is to follow Christ. We don't have to search and grasp for other reasoning so much that we keep going in circles, we can only know about God what God has revealed to us, anything else is not our place to explore. So, long story short I think our emphasis on the "rational" understanding of God and our teaching is the same, because the mysticism isn't something we can grasp anyway, we cannot find God sitting under a tree but in his word and in Christ. I can kind of see what you mean with the theosis kind of teachings, but this is kind of a newer movement probably with people converting after experience with different "spirituality" practices like meditation now finding home in the church. Love and respect all my Catholic brothers and sisters

[@anonymos5726]

Others talk about the faith, we live the faith.

[@odos_]

Although Greek, I was born into Jehovah's Witnesses and considered the Orthodox Church to be a fallacy. At the age of 24, I was expelled from my father's religion because I asked for clarification on a basic doctrine that was documented as historically wrong, and I created my own religion with believers from various Protestant groups mainly, but without knowing what the Orthodox Church believed. After 2 years of study, a friend informed us that what we believed as a religion, and which we had found by studying the Holy Bible, was the same as what the Orthodox Church had believed for 2000 years. That is why I dissolved the religion I had created and became Orthodox. I was baptized an Orthodox Christian after first reexamining everything I had believed until then, as an agnostic. I started with: "if there is a God", and if Christianity was indeed true, or if the Bible was true or a myth. In all of this, the Orthodox Church's approach (in its officially formulated Synodal dogmas), was the only one that completely agreed with both history and logic and Science. And the only Church where you can find its dogmas to be the SAME as everything that has been written by Christians, for 2000 years until today. Thank you for this video, which shows me how people with different backgrounds approach interfaith research. It was very interesting. (The translation was done automatically, because I don't speak English. Sorry for possible translation errors).

[@GustavoJenkins]

Enjoyed your videos so far. As you walk along this journey, please keep considering how we perceive God. As a former skeptic, I kept searching for God in the hope that I should experience Him only to find that He had been there all along and was transforming me each step of the way. I just couldn't perceive Him because of my own sinfulness and attachment to my subjective feelings and reason. It just didn't happen after one visit to an Orthodox Church ... It happened over time as I followed the rhythm of the church calendar and the teachings about the spiritual life. Regardless of where your journey may lead, I recommend reading "Mountain of Silence" by Kyriacos Markides as it delves into things such as this. Best wishes on your journey!

[@orthochristos]

Merry Christmas. God bless you and your family.

[@giuseppelogiurato5718]

Regarding lateness: She probably arrived during "Orthros", which is the Orthodox equivalent to Latin "Matins". (It's like a preparatory prayer service, often flowing seamlessly into the liturgy proper.) Yes, some people will wander in and out throughout the entire service, but others stand in one spot for the whole thing. The liturgy is thought of as "joining the saints and angels in their eternal heavenly worship", so it's kind of like something that happens with or without you... No Orthodox priest would ever make an issue out of punctuality, unless you were a deacon/cantor/reader/acolyte or otherwise responsible for serving in a particular capacity. Most parishioners won't notice or care either. It's not like some protestant churches where everyone turns around and looks at you if you show up after the service has begun. Personally, I think it's kind of rude to wander in right before Eucharist, but that's just me.

[@BaronoftheBrick]

Hi Simply, I grew up in the town this church is located in! I did not grow up in a religious household, but my family used to attend the Greek festival every year when my sister and I were younger. I have gone back once as an adult, and they offer an excellent tour of the church. Your tour guide will walk you through the whole church, explaining the symbolism behind the church's physical structure, its features, and its many icons. For a future video, I recommend you visit the Krishna Life temple in Atlanta. It is located on Sylvan road. I have been a few times, and I know it will be a learning experience, especially if you have only attended Christian services. There is also a free meal which I highly encourage you to stick around for, some of the best vegetarian food I have ever had.

[@RockinRaffisHomeCooking]

First of all, I want to congratulate you on being able to go to Greek Orthodox Church. Me myself I am not Greek but I go to Greek Orthodox Monastery, and prior to that I went to an OCA which stands for Orthodox Church in America. It is done in english and you will be able to understand it better. As far as the luncheon do not feel like you are not welcomed. you are indeed welcomed to partake in the luncheon with open arms. Think of your own mother inviting you for lunch as she has prepared a meal for you and you say no... How will your mother feel? Regardless of that, she still loves you and understands you have other obligations, but for us to be invited, it's the same token as seeing you are being invited by the holy mother of God to partake in a luncheon in respect for her.