How to be a Woman: Pride & Vanity-Mother Anna talks about how to overcome various pitfalls.

[@living_orthodox]

Next video will have better mic quality. The start was a little fuzzy.

[@ivanazappe4213]

you need to agust camera ,u two look like 2 fishes in a bowl

[@Кивис-ч3й]

I love how she just looks at you the whole time when she's not talking to the camera 🤣😂🤣

[@mariadedinszky5707]

Yes. So lovely❤

[@sureiajergman6408]

😂

[@vladvlad11299]

Your wife is really charismatic, I'm glad you've brought her for the video

[@fujikokun]

Becoming Orthodox, and also pregnant, has really helped my vanity. I’ve never worn makeup because I felt like I was prettier without it, but I used to do my hair every single time I would go to church, and always want to look as beautiful as possible. Now because I’m pregnant and uncomfortable and I cover my head, I just want to be presentable and I don’t need to do my hair. So both of things have helped a lot.

[@jennyhohmann4384]

I recently attended an orthodox church and it was so nice not to have to fuss with my hair, just tie on a headscarf and good to go. And the ladies there were very sweet and welcoming.

[@psyche8187]

Being pregnant is definitely a reality check and helps me prioritize what’s really helpful and necessary. 😅

[@TalkShowKelly]

I work very much in the public eye, in sales. I’m a top producer for my company, nationwide. Some days I don’t wear any makeup, sometimes I wear more. I can do my whole makeup routine in about 5-10 minutes. If a lady wants just a hint of enhancement, the best minimal makeup is mascara and blush. Frame the eyes and make the face look a little rosy, not overly and in a natural placement. I went through a phase of NO makeup at all because of the vanity of it, but I’ve relented and now it’s a healthy balance. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

[@seeker2219]

As a man who has watched the redpill movement vs satans feminism. I would say that this is a very timely pod to make. It is of utmost importance that there are actual christian women/wifes representing women so as to not let other extremes dictate what is not for us to define. God defines women. Not our human insanity and sins.

[@strawberrypri19]

Thank you for this there’s not a lot of content for women in this community that I can find☺😄

[@living_orthodox]

Keep your eyes peeled! We will likely be dropping another talk in this series either this weekend or middle of next week!

[@chantellexu4096]

Thank you for this! ☺️ Please pray for me, I just started attending an Orthodox Church (coming from Protestantism) and I felt very self-conscious attending the Divine Liturgy for the first time. Lots of great reminders in this video.

[@Diff_angle]

I can relate to that so so much. Now I know that I’m battling pietism. It’s so draining to judge especially when it runs before every normal thought

[@living_orthodox]

It’s really hard to catch our behaviours. Especially when we fix them to aspects of our identity. The good news is once you’re aware of it, you can start working on changing it :)

[@gobnatav]

Can't wait to see both of you talk together more.

[@nikkilengyel]

Thank you both, it's an excellent video! Very informative! I realize I have a lot to work on, even if I've come a long way since my conversation. I will also keep you and your family in my prayers!

[@renatemocza7195]

Hope You get well soon. Very good to hear You talking about this topic, which puts a lot of pressure to especially young girls and women.

[@Kyriakyriaki-onlyaservant]

Congratulations Fr. Mikhail and Matushka. ❤

[@MC-ze8wj]

Thank you so much ❤ I have often wondered where to draw the line on being dressed appropriately but not either showing off or on the other hand being slovenly. It is difficult. This helped.

[@SerephinaNadet]

Thank you for this. Also looking forward to what you mentioned about Facebook. My husband and I keep going back and forth about getting off it but love the comradely of orthodox groups.

[@jollygoodgordon5580]

Very good video. Vanity is something especially many young orthodox are suffering from/with. On social media especially. Your beauty is a gift from God, but should not be used to build up your ego. Pray for the sisters.🤍🙏🏾☦️

[@mariebo7491]

Fantastic and balanced view on this topic. And she’s so relatable. Beautiful pair ❤

[@damachinen]

Great conversation, very lovely. I Pray you get better and a healthy pregnancy for your wife, as well as work. Look forward to the next one.

[@angelikigoumenis]

Great broadcast

[@christinacash-kramarevsky4458]

I've also gone done a similar path from spending too much time/$$ on makeup/clothes to becoming more modest to then realizing that it became more about laziness eventually and caring too little about how I look so I'm on a path of trying to change those habits.

[@Catkat-xz8tx]

I really liked how Presbytera was totally honest. It was a very down to earth, helpful and interesting talk. Thank you. Ive been Orthodox for 12 years now but fell into these same problems more than once ! I came from a traditional Catholic background and the false piety / pride issue has been harder to resolve than in your case. So Im happy to hear you touching on this common subject and dismantling it so well. Thank you!!!!

[@psyche8187]

I hope and pray y’all feel better soon. So many people are sick right now!

[@anya7014]

Thank you both for making this despite being sick 🙏🏻❤

[@therealmiles453]

Thank you both, super helpful!

[@maria-eugeniabrotsis6463]

Very helpful video

[@living_orthodox]

Thank you! We filmed another video this week that will be coming out either tonight or Monday :)

[@OrthodoxFrancisBoulle]

The society that puts so much pressure on women but also on men now. Setting the unrealistic standards have had detrimental consequences on all the youth. Thank you for this Father and your wife. 🙏☦️

[@dabarefootbombshell]

Blessings Father. The message was right on time.

[@Avaeredmond]

God bless y’all. This is exactly what I needed to hear and I am so thankful❤️

[@James.Iskander]

Thank you for this video! Really appreciate your channel Father🙏☦️

[@elenalugos4477]

A gift from God, we as orthodox considering to be able to discerning on all aspects of life. God bless you both ❤️🙏

[@greek-orthodoxy]

Really enjoyed this video, Father Mikael. Very beautiful couple. I hope you do more spiritual talks together.

[@Blessedmomma12]

Prayers for healing headed your way

[@sergeauclair9175]

Thank you for your video; you both did well especially considering you are sick. When it comes to going to both extremes, I see it as normal to find the godly middle. I now see the words humility and lucidity as almost interchangeable. I understand pride and vanity as extremes of the self-esteem spectrum where humility is in the middle. I see vanity as a manifestation of low self-esteem and pride a manifestation of too much self-esteem just like the temperature of the human body; too much is fever, and too little is hypothermia. And this comparison makes me wonder if there is not only a single dynamic in life? What I mean by this is that when it comes to our spiritual or moral or psychological or physical dimensions there is only one set of laws for lack of a better word. We have limited freedom in what we can do in two ways; we obviously don’t have the freedom to do what we are incapable of doing and, secondly, what we have the freedom to do is also limited since the consequences of our behaviours are automatically determined for better or worse. Sorry about the rambling, and to conclude on a lighter note; there’s only one thing I don’t like about humility, and it is that you can’t brag about it. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Cheers from Montreal and God bless.

[@orthodoxphronesis]

Your blessing, and hello to matushka

[@elisharichards7987]

Thank you

[@Кивис-ч3й]

Great video, Father. I'm not a female but I think a lot of stuff you talked about could be pretty useful. ☦️❤

[@jollygoodgordon5580]

Yes we men can appreciate this video cus many orthodox woman are vain. I think it has to do with social media. So it’s not to condemn them, but I do find it unattractive in a woman, but we should pray for our sisters in Christ.🤍🙏🏾☦️

[@cblank777]

Your wife is so relatable and funny! I loved this video

[@OrthodoxFamilyLife]

great video!

[@RichardBurdi-rs5bp]

a joy to see this beautiful couple 🤗

[@cosmiccomrade3108]

Happy to see she has a Celtic Cross!

[@jollygoodgordon5580]

Why?

[@Cobruh_Commander]

It's not as common ​@@jollygoodgordon5580

[@miemie3034]

Thank you father for this wonderful video i think many including me needed to watch this video, may the Lord bless you both 🫶 Can you also make a video or a series on how to know if a person should pursue marriage or monasticism?

[@jollygoodgordon5580]

Father Mikael. I haven’t watch one of your videos in a while so this is my first time seeing You again after a long time. You seem to have lost a lot of weight, you look like 5-10 years younger. When you came into fram in the beginning of the video I almost didn’t recognise you. I ope you recover from your eardrums and God bless you and your family.☦️🤍

[@johnvanderschuit]

Thanks for the video. Check your audio levels, Fr

[@agiasf7330]

I know many people who don't wear ANY makeup who aren't judgemental of others. It just doesn't interest them. Or that's not something they ever did in their family. They don't like it. They don't think it looks good. They don't think it's good for the health. Or whatever.

[@living_orthodox]

That’s not really the point of this video and it isn’t really something anyone should be offended by. I always tell people to listen closely to context and to assess why they might be projecting a defensive response.

[@MissssGurl]

Hi! I found this very relatable as modesty was one of the first things I became convicted of as I converted from secularism to Christianity. I have been watching Orthodox fathers online for 3 years now but there are not any orthodox churches located near me. I find myself stuck in “piety”, as you say, when I attend churches available to me in my area very because they are very westernized and mix in secular norms (no dress code, emotional displays, mimicking secular music, etc…) I’m in North Carolina and closest Orthodox Church is hour + away and I’m without a car so I’ve just been walking to churches in my area (there are many! Baptist& Protestant mainly) Any advice for someone in a situation as me who desires to convert but it’s just not available to me right now? I pray to God about it. Thank you for reading this! Bless you my brother & sister in Christ! 🩷☦️🩷

[@stuntman083]

you could take an uber once a month if you wanted to go, there were plenty of times where me and my wife would travel 1+ hour to go to Orthodox church

[@MissssGurl]

@ finances are tight - but this is an option I never considered! I’ll ask if my husband can spare the expense! (He works Sundays with our vehicle, we just relocated for his work, i got laid off, sold my car) but when things turn around that’s an excellent suggestion! 🥰 peace be with you

[@BM_100]

There is a Serbian Orthodox church outside of Charlotte. If you can even drive once a month, that would be something you could do

[@MissssGurl]

@ closest one is All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church Raleigh, NC, this has been really great encouragement to hear a church might accept me into the conversion process just attending once a month! 🥰

[@living_orthodox]

You can also call the priest (highly recommend), and see if he can take some time to talk to you, your husband and begin teaching you about the faith. Priests will sometimes drive to talk to people or help them with their inquiries.

[@psyche8187]

I like to ask myself whether my hygiene/self-care routines and dress are respectful to myself and my beauty, my husband, and others. I feel like that mindset usually leads me to a healthy place without overthinking (which can itself become vanity).

[@romanmelodia]

Father Bless, could you change a setting on your microphone? The audio quality was a bit bad, and I don't think it's necessarily the fault of your microphone, but I could be wrong.

[@living_orthodox]

@romanmelodia not really sure.

[@BM_100]

It's the mixing. The microphone is fine but the audio isn't as crisp as it could be.

[@Kyriakyriaki-onlyaservant]

We're all God's children and he made us all beautiful. We make ourselves ugly when we fall and stray from the Royal Path. Lord have mercy on us!

[@ReformedOrthodoxy-t8i]

Can you do one on martyrs?

[@luxar.1998]

💛🧡❤️🩷💚🩵💙

[@vladvlad11299]

3:07 what is wrong with wanting to be in shape and muscular? im confused

[@living_orthodox]

@@vladvlad11299 nothing! The point is not becoming obsessed and vain. Hence why I said the pressure to look like a body builder (typically enhanced), or superhero. Men should absolutely exercise and get strong, build up muscle to prevent injury and support a good metabolism, but not for vanity.

[@vladvlad11299]

@living_orthodox tbf, the actors that play superheroes usually take steroids and overall dont have a normal lifestyle, like Chris Evans or The Rock, so I get what youre trying to say. Also thank you for the response. I'll pray for you since youve got that ear infection

[@WithinandThroughout]

They really threw all the communist and soviet re-education tactics at you Father. You endure. God bless you.

[@living_orthodox]

@@WithinandThroughout I really don’t know what you mean by this.

[@WithinandThroughout]

@@living_orthodox All hail Rocor-MP

[@living_orthodox]

All hail Dunning Kruger nonsense. Protestants LARPing as Orthodox really don’t need to go pushing their opinions

[@WithinandThroughout]

@@living_orthodox True Orthodoxy. I refuse to insult you as you've done me.

[@living_orthodox]

You’ve insulted me and yourself by your conduct Protestant. I have no need nor desire to hide behind a mask of pietism. Be thankful that I am honest enough to let you know where we stand.

[@CreationSGame01]

You are luck he saw you for you and not the makeup you were.

[@living_orthodox]

@@CreationSGame01 she wasn’t heavy on the makeup when I met her to begin with. She was also always a very kind and caring woman :)

[@eddiehanson2738]

Lovely and inspiring couple. Had me laughing in places. It's true - it's a wide line between exercise-wear and sheer exhibitionism, and it's not real exercise to be jumping that line!

[@belladahl6105]

Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been searching and searching for something like this❤️‍🩹