I Have A Mental Illness... Can I Still Become A Monk?

[@hannah1234xo]

"This life produces mental illness" so true. I have experience of mental illness and was a carer for a mother with mental illness.

[@CostaB19]

God Bless you Father

[@rinwesley3092]

Perfect response, father!

[@medina4600]

Thank you Fr. Peter 🙏 My grandmother had a book on her shelf on the monastic life in which I came across St. Benedict and his influence on western monasticism. I’m currently reading the works of St. Issac the Syrian and he also speaks on silence and solitude but more importantly on humility, which you mentioned. I pray that the Lord allows me too grow these capacities.

[@Monica_in_Alberta]

Fr. bless, what a beautiful answer this seems to me! We all need the Great Physician, and this includes for mental wellness.

[@YoungPenitent]

I think this question has to be considered on a case by case basis, because it really depends on how serious the mental illness is. The bishops I am under held a consultation and decided that my mental illness precluded me from becoming a monk.

[@etcwhatever]

Can you assist Church in any other way? Since you wish to serve God, did you receive guidance on what to do?

[@YoungPenitent]

Lately I've been very busy with my KZbin channel. @@etcwhatever

[@acekoala457]

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov in the Arena also lists reasons to not be a Monastic. One thing is that you shouldn't have been "Wounded of Heart".

[@MrBrimbles]

What does that mean?

[@Stan_Castan]

​@@MrBrimblesi think the reason you want to become should not be driven by some sort of broken heart, not one from romantic love necessarly

[@maggienwillbyhigh]

Turning into a monk will not cure me of sheer rage and hatred. I have an irreparable broken heart, and I will not find peace that way.

[@nahomaberra9192]

@@maggienwillbyhigh I get you Maggie, I guess that’s the story we all find ourselves in. One is consumed by one passion like an unending appetite, and with psychological roots many times in childhood, and the other is confined like a prison by another passion. It’s so hard. I find myself so tempted to give up sometimes because of my own struggles with addiction, generational trauma, and anxiety but one thing that’s encouraged me is that if I continue to press into my relationship with Jesus Christ, I get to live forever with someone who loves me like Him in a place like the Kingdom of Heaven. May the Lord help you my dear, I want and am praying for your victory!!!

[@acekoala457]

@@Stan_Castan I spoke to the Priest that helped Dcn Kotar with the English Translation and he said it could absolutely be considered a heart broken of "romance" which at it's root is pride and envy. Monastic Life is not an escape from that. It would be better for them to be healed and find a spouse.

[@Georgia-d3o]

“This life produces mental illness”… on hearing this I now realise I’m ok.

[@peachylivingmusic1838]

Father, are you ever planning on visiting the UK? You’ve got plenty of fans here among laymen and clergy alike!

[@OrthodoxGB]

Indeed he does, where in the uk are you from?

[@pah9730]

And many brothers and sisters there are very dear to me! I would love to come for a visit, even have a UMP conference there, sometime soon. May it be blessed.

[@pah9730]

@@OrthodoxGBPerhaps you all can begin to get to know one another and we can create a group there and have a zoom-like session sometime?

[@OrthodoxGB]

@@pah9730 maybe

[@Melancholian]

I have autism and schizotypal and I am 18 from England and want to become a monk

[@LostenPyramid]

I have autism and im Brazilian, i live in Ireland, sometimes is hard even to understand myself 😅😂

[@taylorfranks2403]

I’m schizophrenic and I want to be a nun. May God lead you to where you ought to be!

[@St.Raphael...]

Amen

[@GuitarTunings33]

Sin and oppression under the burden of a government of fear and hate. Let's pray Yeshua comes to power soon

[@LadyMaria]

Are you Orthodox?

[@Yakov_EPH-6.12]

❤❤❤

[@orthovision3296]

Father Heers can you speak regarding hermitage? I am really interested on this.

[@ChristAliveForevermore]

I have over $60,000 in federal student loan debt. Will this keep me from becoming tontured?

[@TheByzAmericanWizard]

Ive been told due to my own mental issues. I am not to become a monastic. Im ok with this. I honestly dont want to be a monk anymore. I dont want to be married either. Im just happy being in the world as a vagabond, ronin, whatever you want to call it. To die to myself. Its difficult but the only time i find joy in life is body building and the slow victories i have over passions. “The Way of the Samurai is found in death… If by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way" - Musashi Miyamoto

[@BecomeAnOrthodoxChristian]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you are.

[@pah9730]

Do you have a spiritual father? Do you attend Divine Liturgy often? These are essential for real life here and unto eternity.

[@pah9730]

@@BecomeAnOrthodoxChristian It is fine to be an outcast, but for CHRIST’S sake. . . Not due to our will or passions or having given up on communion with the brethren due to sin.

[@TheByzAmericanWizard]

​@@pah9730I do go to Divine Liturgy as often as I can. I do not have a spiritual father. And I was told by the priestmonk at St Anthony's monastery that I cannot become a monk.

[@BecomeAnOrthodoxChristian]

@@pah9730 Father Bless! That's a good point.

[@wahwahqalandar]

I know the intention of my servants before they create them. In some place they call me "skitzo".

[@Georgia-d3o]

Can somebody please tell me which video is this excerpt from. Thank you

[@xza5687]

Hello, i have a question. I'm new to Orthodoxy ☦️. My uncle is Jehovah's Witness, very often we have debates, one of his questions that i couldnt answer is why we pray to Jesus, Mary and other Saints if it is written in the Bible that we must pray to God in the name of Jesus and no one else. The second question is icons, i told him we don't pray to the icon but to who is in the icon. Then he said that icons are wrong, because in the Bible it says “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind *or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.* You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods." so what i understood is that this is saying that icons are wrong. i couldn't reply to this. Could someone give me an answer?

[@velvettblue157]

First, read him letter to the Hebrews. Then Samuel, God glorifying people doesn't take away from His Glory. Then make it clear that if you believe in the resurrection of the dead, and it's God's will we pray for eachother, knowing the Saints are in heaven, there's no wrong in this. We don't pray TO the holy Theotokos and the saints, we ask them to pray FOR us.

[@johnm.7621]

I have mental illnesses and i hear voices and the Christians on the internet told me i have sinful pride in the worst way. lol. I don't wanna become a monk but do you orthodox guys have an idea how to humble down a bit so the society does not recognize my overflowing pride anymore? The people are shocked when they see me, i am really emenating pride like a nuclear power plant. I just wanna live easily and without drawing attention to me, i just wanna be unassuming but I'm really a torch of the light of lucifer. What can you advice to me to lower my pride? I tried it with Christianity but i don't know... i can't really develop a relationship with christ, seem not to work for me.

[@orthodox1717]

Pursue Orthodoxy. Visit a local Orthodox Church. Pray to God for guidance.

[@-kyrieeleison]

Visit an Orthodox Church, speak to the Priest, attend the services, pray, and have faith in Christ. God bless you. 🙏

[@nr7701]

Talk to an Orthodox priest, pray to God, and do your best to live an Orthodox life.

[@Stan_Castan]

Don't worry brother. Any sin or harmful behaviour can be cleaned. Among the first steps, you could try to have your mind constantly self conscious about pride, and praying as often as possible to Christ to humble you. Also, try to listen to your neighbour, not only hear him. Coming from a prideful young lad.

[@medina4600]

Seek the Lord and pray for forgiveness. I am also a sinner and reading Psalm 51 and praying The Jesus Prayer has helped me. I pray that it helps you as well on your journey in life.

[@hs-srb6335]

Hello what is the song from the end of the video

[@shaunmulligan8717]

“Axion Estin / Άξιον Εστί”.

[@hs-srb6335]

but who sings

[@shaunmulligan8717]

Monastics of Koutloumousiou.

[@sigmanocopyrightmusic8737]

What about mount athos. I have heard that most monks there are hypocrites and live like devil's.

[@FransiscoMatamoros]

From who ?.

[@frontcenterbelowfathor]

did the lord not say thethisquote theyou should have done without not doing thethat quotedo quotemeaning theyou do rightly in putting theus the place the first thewhatbut bout the neighbour theself theyour quotedo gainonce meaning a wife aor husband

[@jozitro4554]

For mental illness I would say to invite the Holy spirit to correct you on how to better identify as a follower in Christ.. Do not live under a condition you may have... It is a composure of our qualities that we must ask to be revealed and adopted as in marriage to our holy creator and to selflessly serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

[@LadyMaria]

We must ask our spiritual father how to proceed.