Interview with Bishop Luke of Syracuse and Jordanville on The Orthodox Ethos and Church Life Today

This interview took place in conjunction with the Uncut Mountain Press Conference. View more interviews, the entire set of lectures and question and answer sessions at www.orthodoxethos.com!
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~ Bishop Luke (Murianka) was born on November 10, 1951 in Philadelphia, PA to an Orthodox Rusyn family of émigrés from Carpatho-Russia. In his childhood he attended the church of Archangel Michael in Philadelphia, belonging at the time to the North American Metropolia. During his studies at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY (graduated in 1973), he frequented Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville. During this time, he decided to become a monastic, and with the consent of his parents, entered Holy Trinity Theological Seminary in Jordanville. Upon entering the monastery, he submitted a petition to be accepted to the monastery brethren. In 1976, the feast of St. Moses the Hungarian, the monastery rector, Bishop Laurus (Škurla) of Manhattan tonsured him a novice, fulfilling his obedience in the book-binding and icon painting workshops.
In 1980, Archbishop Laurus tonsured him into the Lesser Schema and given the name Luke in honor of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke. On July 12, 1981, he was ordained a hieromonk. In 1978, he graduated from Holy Trinity Seminary. From 1979, he taught apologetics, the New Testament, creed and comparative theology. He held the post of inspector of the seminary, and later - its dean. In 1981 he graduated from the University of Syracuse (New York State). He worked on a doctoral degree at the University of New York at Albany. In the Holy Trinity Monastery for several years he performed the obedience of the dean, and later became the spiritual father of the monastery.
He was a member of the commission on negotiations with the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and a delegate to the IV All-Diaspora Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (May 2006), where he spoke on the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. By the decision of the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR from April 18-20, 2007, was included in the official delegation sent at the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion.
In 2007, he entered the scientific and editorial board created by the Moscow Theological Academy and the Institute of General History of the Russian Academy of Sciences to work on the fundamental research "History of the Russian Orthodox Diaspora." On May 21, 2008, he was elected abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery; on September 6 of that year, by the decision of the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR, he was appointed rector of Holy Trinity Seminary. In January 2009, he was a delegate to the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church representing the monastics of the Eastern American Diocese. On May 5, 2009, by the decision of the Council of Bishops, he was included in the commission formed at the same time, on dialogue with the Orthodox Church in America.
On December 6, 2018, by the decision of the Synod of Bishops he was elected Bishop of Syracuse, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese. On December 28, this decision was approved at a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (Journal No. 116).
He was nominated a bishop on February 11, 2019, and consecrated on February 12 during the divine services in Holy Trinity Monastery led by Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York..
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[@OrthodoxEthos]

Do you have questions for the OE Team? Have you seen the latest publications from Uncut Mountain Press? Have you signed up for the mailing lists at orthodoxethos.com and uncutmountainpress.com? Head over there today and join the community to learn more!

[@OrthodoxEthos]

AT 45 minutes: the Prophetic utterances are from St. Theophan the Recluse. Listen!

[@zekedog1990]

Through the prayers St Theophan the Recluse, oh Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and save us.

[@user-tp7wi4lt2b]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1369">22:49</a> "If you love me keep my commandments." Love is not about a gushy feeling. It's about a way of life. Very powerful and concise reminder to me. Thank you Fathers.

[@AustimosPrime]

As an Orthodox inquirer I just want to say thank you so much for the content you provide. I can’t get enough of these and all the other videos put out by the online Orthodox community. They’ve helped me reconcile a lot of confusion and contradictions in the beliefs I’ve held my entire life as a Protestant.

[@georgyporgy5539]

Seriously this plandemic has been an absolute eye opener to say the least. I’ve been so flummoxed at the level of delusion the world was (and still is) in. I am so grateful to God for opening my eyes and giving me the strength to trust Him. I thank my late father who taught me as a kid to be faithful to God always regardless of the consequences. May the Lord have mercy on his soul. And thank you to this Chanel for being courageous in telling the truth and supporting us through this chaos. May God continue to bless all of you and your work.

[@thevonschmittousvonschmitt8839]

This was a much needed admonition for all “Orthodox Christians.” “The righteous man shall correct me With mercy, and he shall reprove me; But let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head, For my prayer shall be intense in the presence of their pleasures.” Psalm 1<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2405">40:5</a> Orthodox Study Bible

[@Cal-ge8vl]

Bishop Luke is a wonderful man. He is the Real Deal. Axios! I pray for him every night. Slava Bogy.

[@rustybeltway2373]

How lucky we, how blessed we are to be able to hear a bishop speak candidly in a relaxed respectful setting. Glory to God. "Disinfecting the sacred". Well said Vladyka! Thank you and Fr Peter for taking a stand for the unpopular opinion.

[@mayahristova9036]

Άξιος! Άξιος! Άξιος! May God grant him strength and many years!

[@innocente7795]

Orthodoxy has to be everything to you… how wonderful was this talk by this apostolic successor! Such a blessing and encouragement. Thank you Fr. Peter for sharing this edifying talk with his Grace Bishop Luke

[@pgancedo9299]

I admire the immense faith of these men. There’s still hope for me! Thank you fathers and God bless you both!

[@theshigingaijin1985]

This interview helps a lot with trying to be Orthodox in Japan. Especially as an American.

[@Brad-RB]

Great conversation. The Amish communities in our area put the rest of our local churches to shame with their faith to continue meeting through Covid. My wife and I even went to a meeting with them.

[@EsmeeLaFleur]

The discussion on how the Jordanville monastery and surrounding churches responded to "Covidism" which begins at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1770">29:30</a> mins is really excellent to hear. Glory to God that some of our hierarchs understand!

[@vanessac.7040]

This was a wonderful interview. Glory to God! ☦️💕

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Edifying discussion/ interview, thank you. Pray for us, Father!

[@georgyporgy5539]

Wow the ending is so powerful. Re people no longer interested in discerning the truth. God therefore will send down delusion (which is our own fault) in order to believe lies. I really needed to hear this.

[@niki3773]

This interview is such a blessing, glory to our Lord and thank you so much Father & Vladyka.

[@boldcut5163]

Glory to God for this interview!

[@juliepet6314]

Thank you and Thank God for you All Unfortunately in Melbourne Australia our beautiful orthodox church/faith/religion is on a rocky road God willing Orthodoxy will be just that Orthodox Christian. Blessed is He Who comes in The Name Of Our Lord And Saviour Jesus Christ ☦️

[@jenjenny5035]

Thank you and God bless you both fathers for upholding and speaking the truth of our faith!!!

[@TByronK]

Thank you for another informative video Fr. Heers and Bishop Luke, what a blessing The Orthodox Ethos is ☦

[@buzzard777]

I am so saddened that we don't have bishops like this in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

[@buzzard777]

@billy bob He definitely comes to mind in comparison to the others but his stance on reception of converts by chrismation only shows where he stands on one of the very important issues and for me is a litmus test that he fails.

[@orthodoxpilgrim6311]

Vladyka Luke is my bishop! So blessed to have him as a steady hand at the helm and steering us in the right direction and away from the cult of coofidism and ecumenism. May God grant him many years! Thank you for sharing this video, OE team! 🙏♥️☦️

[@suzanamalavasic4237]

Praise and thanks be to the LORD for this excellent witness to the Truths of our Faith. Bishop Luke explained so clearly the challenges that we face today in a world so opposed to these Truths. I was baptized at Holy Trinity Monastery on Pentecost (Holy Trinity Sunday) in 2016. As a child, our family attended the local Methodist Church, where I was baptized. I remember very little about that experience. When in 2002, I converted to Catholicism, the Church recognized my Methodist baptism. Later, when a dear Catholic friend of mine learned that I had become a catechumen at Holy Trinity in 2013, he disapproved of my intention of being baptized, quoting St Paul, "One, Lord, One Faith, One Baptism." In my heart I knew that I wanted to fully enter the Orthodox Faith and to do so would require the experience of a Sacramental baptism. Unlike my "Methodist baptism", which consisted of being sprinkled with water three times and lasted only about 10 minutes, the entire Orthodox rite took a full hour. The baptism by immersion was just as the Jerusalem Catechism explains: "...you were plunged into the water and three times you rose again.... It was like night for you and you could not see, but when you rose again it was like coming into broad daylight. In the same instant you died and were born again; the saving water was both your tomb and your mother." Later, when my friend learned that I had indeed been baptized, he was very negative, to say the least. To his remarks, I had my defense. At the beginning of the 5th century, St Augustine wrote in his treatise, Against the Donatists: "That baptism exists in the Catholic Church, we assert and they deny. That it is rightly received in the Catholic Church, we assert and they deny. That it is not rightly received in the schism of Donatus, we assert and they deny. As, therefore he that is the more ready to believe what we alone assert should be believed, so let him be the more ready to do what we alone declare should be done."

[@theodoremarinis5583]

Many years, Vladyka! ☦️❤️📿 This was such a wonderful conversation. Very edifying.

[@adambenedict6155]

Was glad for the opportunity to listen to Vladyka Luke speak. I had not heard him speak before.

[@marianistazos5185]

"Orthodoxy" is "A Way of Life!"

[@paulpeter2869]

Great interview Father Peter! I've always been curious to know of you can show us briefly your background with the beautiful icons and library of yours and whatever else you have there like a mini tour. God bless your work!

[@rebeccadavis1668]

Fantastic!

[@heatherlong1235]

Thank you for this. It can get confusing as a catechumen reading that salvation is the Church and there is no salvation outside of the Church and others say we can’t know what happens to those outside. I feel sorrowful for my protestant family, and especially for my 94 yo grandpa. What do I do? Do I attempt to explain Orthodoxy to him? He was a hospital chaplain his whole life and is the sweetest man I know. He does not understand my decision to become Orthodox. Lord have mercy on my family.

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Insofar as the door is open by their wills and good disposition, speak. In so far as it is closed, remain silent, respecting their freedom. Show them by your love and spiritual labor, by your prayers and acquisition of the virtues first and foremost. Pray for them and know that the Lord is infinitely more concerned about their salvation than you and or anyone else. But also, even as you know this, struggle spiritually and when God allows act clearly to communicate the Gospel and Truth of the Church to them.

[@olgathehandmaid]

This pain of heart is very good for us as Orthodox as it teaches us how to truly pray. Remember we pray to an all-merciful God who desires their salvation more than anything else, this should refresh us and allow Christ's joy and consolation after our prayer for them, don't despair.

[@heatherlong1235]

@@OrthodoxEthos this is so very helpful! I am going to keep this response close to me and continue to pray and struggle for all of our salvation. Glory to thee our God glory to thee. Thank you, Father.

[@heatherlong1235]

@@olgathehandmaid indeed, thank you, this means so much.

[@acekoala457]

@@theTavis01 There is no Church outside the Orthodox Church. Those outside are Brothers only in Anthropology not in Christ. Invisible Church Ecclesiology is a Gnostic Ecclesiology that has been disproven and anathematized. You whine and whinge about wanting reconciliation but refuse to Reconcile yourself to Christ out of pride or demonic influence.

[@Orthodoxi]

Forgive me dear Father Peter but I hope I do not misunderstand this and if I do may I have forgiveness! I am not with God in piety. I am there in His pure love I never knew existed. Piety to denial of God is what the world demands and always demanded of me. I can recall it all through my life! The death of it upon me! Still being shed through Gods hand in His mercy alone after the Holy Spirit and finally within the embrace of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. The feeling growing in me is beyond sturdy and great and beautiful and it is none other than His love. The greatest love ever given freely. And freely taken and freely to be given back to those around us. Glory to God!

[@WoodchuckNorris.8o]

It is so reassuring to hear vladyka speak these things. So much for it being "internet orthodoxy".

[@hayatmakhoul4319]

Glory to the lord Jesus Christ

[@marianistazos5185]

It's a blessing to listen to this interview! For all the centuries no one has ever proven to be ill other by taking Holy Eucharist! God have mercy on all humanity, Amen!

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Yes, no one has been shown to become ill by communing of the Mysteries! Far from it! Yes.

[@kinoian]

Father, bless! Thank you for yet another example of your edifying and very timely work. For anyone curious, the reference His Grace Vladyka Luke makes to St Paul identifying the steps required prior to Antichrist coming is found in 2 Thessalonians <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="121">2:1</a>-12: 1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,[a] 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness[b] is revealed, the son of destruction,[c] 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. And the reference Vladyka makes to St Theophan the Recluse is here: "The Tsar’s authority, having in its hands the means of restraining the movements of the people and relying on Christian principles itself, does not allow the people to fall away from them, but will restrain it. And since the main work of the Antichrist will be to turn everyone away from Christ, he will not appear as long as the Tsar is in power. The latter’s authority will not let him show himself, but will prevent him from acting in his own spirit. That is what “he that restraineth” is [2 Thes. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="127">2:7</a>]. When the Tsar’s authority falls, and the peoples everywhere acquire self-government (republics, democracies), then the Antichrist will have room to maneuver. It will not be difficult for Satan to train voices urging apostasy from Christ, as experience showed in the time of the French Revolution. Nobody will give a powerful ‘veto’ to this. A humble declaration of faith will not be tolerated. And so, when these arrangements have been made everywhere, arrangements which are favourable to the exposure of antichristian aims, then the Antichrist will also appear. Until that time he waits, and is restrained." (V. Moss, An Essay in Universal History - Part 4: The Age of Empire [1861-1914], p. 134)

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Would you be so kind as to take this from St. Theophan and send it to OE in an email? [e-mail] . Thank you, if possible!

[@olgathehandmaid]

Thank you for sharing this with us!!

[@kinoian]

@@OrthodoxEthos Will do!

[@kinoian]

@@olgathehandmaid You're most welcome! Glory to God!

[@agiasf7330]

Kinoian, thank you so much h for sharing this with us!

[@petergunn9149]

Glory to God and all things☦️☦️☦️

[@LukeGarrow]

I really liked what Vladyka said about taking on the cultural flavour of Orthodox Churches. I realised that this was something I was missing at my convert parish after reading the life of Fr Seraphim Rose and why we moved to a Greek parish. Even if we can't understand the words of the service as much, you can feel the deep roots of the Orthodoxy, as opposed to convert parishes, where it often feels like we're picking and choosing from books.

[@georgeofthehut9398]

Excellent 👍

[@autisticheadscarf]

This was AMAZING 🙏🏻🔥

[@chrystalc]

Thank you and God Bless!

[@stalkek]

That was excellent, thanks.

[@almedhamorton4369]

Jesus, our LORD and Christ is my King. To the glory of God , the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[@williamphillips3330]

THANK YOU....

[@jvspires]

Simple. Straightforward. Clear.

[@frricklawrenceangaleria7942]

As Orthodox we have to live the Orthodoxy way of life the Ethos of Orthodoxy. Most clergy discourage those who open the possibility of become monastics.

[@ivansince91]

Many years!

[@MarcusBarnabassisSystersSonne]

Glory to God

[@lionheart5078]

the early church decided baptism if done with water and in the name of the three Persons of the Trinity then it is a valid baptism. This doesnt mean the boudaries of the church are blurred it just means they go further than the visible lines of the church. the Chrism oil has to be blessed by the Bishop, it cant be blessed by a priest but every priest can consecrate the Eucharist. one sacrament is only valid when blessed by a bishop and the other when done by bishops and priests.The Church in the early church by its authority decided that baptism even done by non valid preists or heretics was valid if done properly (with water and the Trinity). To repabtise people in many ways is to lack faith in the authority of the Church and even in God. If someome is baptised validly it should not be done again.

[@pg618]

I was in a Protestant group that converted to Orthodoxy and early on some of the people wanted to create their own eight tones and their excuse was that the Russians did it so we need to do it also. My answer to that was let's do it the way the Russians did it, they imported everything from Greece for a couple of centuries and they became Graecophile and they died into the life and then eight tones authentically resonated from there being from their life in the church that was their own but continued the historical life and ethos of the church not from their brain and their Macintosh computer.

[@dimitraxenakis585]

❤

[@garrettboyum4070]

For those wondering what verses His Grace mentions at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2616">43:36</a> The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. - 2 Thessalonians <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="129">2:9</a>-12

[@kimsmithih]

How does one approach the lives of the Saints? It can be intimidating because of their world class spiritual athleticism. Some may give up before even trying because they see the true cost.

[@OrthodoxEthos]

They are our examples - not exceptions.

[@palikariatl]

Which movie/video is Vladyka referring to when he mentions the priest who communed the lepers?

[@shaunmulligan8717]

Video position 35:19 / Go to KZbin and enter search words: The last inhabitant of Spinalonga.

[@conformingtotheson]

Can someone link Vl. Luke's homily he mentions "Disinfecting the Sacred"?

[@shaunmulligan8717]

Video position 30:00 / Google the following text: “Do Not Sterilize the Sacred - Orthodox Life”.

[@jofuf]

Does anyone have a link to the “famous video of a Greek priest in a leper colony” that’s mentioned at about <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2122">35:22</a>?

[@xenosmann831]

Obviously if we did Holy Orthodoxy as historically then by now we'd have a North & South American Patriarch

[@petergunn9149]

☦️☦️☦️

[@almedhamorton4369]

Matthew <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="435">7:15</a>-20.

[@NGSeven]

Thank you for this video father! Off topic, but I want to ask; is it right when converts don't use their baptismal name and go by their old one?

[@OrthodoxEthos]

No. Not good for them. The name MEANS A GREAT DEAL and it is a sing of their new life.

[@NGSeven]

@@OrthodoxEthos could you please do a short explaining this? A lot of people take this very lightly

[@acekoala457]

No one at my new Parish knows my Legal Name

[@juliepet6314]

Disinfecting The Sacrament?! May God forgive us all☦️

[@coryrobert7305]

Father, I came across something that was rather alarming the other day about the Climate Change Conference coming up. Apparently many different beliefs are coming together to promote what seems like a one world religion. What should we think about this? Are there any Orthodox leaders attending this meeting as well? I'm just kind of freaked out by the whole situation. Thank you for your videos, god bless.

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Yes, signs of the times.

[@jamesbailand4311]

Unfortunately I can't hear the conversation.

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Should be OK. Maybe something is wrong on your device?

[@hunter9273]

I totally agree with adopting the Orthodox culture/ mindset of other countries, however, I despise linguistic imperialism. I'm not learning Russian, Church Slavonic, Greek or whatever other language as an Orthodox Christian. When orthodox immigrants come to America, or any nation for that matter, they need to learn English or said language.

[@Orthodoxi]

Dear Father Peter, I was recently distressed over my lack of prayer know how and in praying in the wretched state of that it seemed God wants me to focus on living my day out in a cycle of general prayerful remembrance of His whole life here on earth. Forgive me for my ever lack of clarity! I have a question for you and the OE team; Does this make sense to you and what would that look like in life through a day for a Catechumen? God bless you if you have the time to help. I really have no one else to ask. God forgive me!

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Generally the goal is to remember God continually, of course, and it is good to reflect upon his life and sufferings and resurrection and ascension and second coming. However, the Holy Fathers have given us a short prayer which keeps us in the ever-remembrance of God and it has within it all of the theology and power that we seek in prayer because it has the name of Jesus Christ: Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me

[@Orthodoxi]

@@OrthodoxEthos thank you OE team and or Father Peter. I will continue to do this. God bless you!

[@markeedeep]

I can see fr Josiah disagreeing with the bishop on the ethnic barriers issue, but I honestly think that American Orthodoxy can work much like historical Russian Orthodoxy, with introduction of new languages to the liturgy. For a start, I've been advocating a return of the use of old English to the liturgy, free from all modern reforms and one which is more in tune with the original vernacular Logoi (did I just make this phrase up not at all knowing what I've said? Please feel free to correct me!) So to my mind, even pre Shakespearean English would be appropriate, because for one you could tie together in a liturgical sense, all the major Germanic languages of today. But the same can be done with all other languages akin to the north American plateau, be it a common Amerindian tongue (a lot easier than bringing the already well established Germanic languages together, I'd imagine), local Spanish, local French, Creole?

[@theshigingaijin1985]

Japan is not a Christian culture at all but there are so many things in Japanese culture that could be adapted to articulate the faith. But first I need to work on getting closer to Christ. I'm way way off.

[@Ioannikios174]

Glad to see that you also follow this channel.

[@coldjello8436]

Algorithm boost.

[@Pb-nutts]

I’d like to hear more on the union of Rocor with Moscow (Soviet church).

[@OrthodoxEthos]

You may also want to know more about the Russian New Martyrs and Catacomb Church: See our lecture series on this on this channel.

[@Pb-nutts]

I have watched the lectures and am currently reading The Russias Catacomb saints, so I think that is enough, hence why I want to hear more about this “union”.

[@LukeGarrow]

Vladyka discusses this in his Q&A video which is on the Orthodox Ethos website

[@Pb-nutts]

@@LukeGarrow I can’t seem to find the QandA. Perhaps you can help on where to find it?

[@Orthodoxi]

Forgive me dear Father Peter but I hope I do not misunderstand this and if I do may I have forgiveness! I am not with God in piety. I am there in His pure love I never knew existed. Piety to denial of God is what the world demands and always demanded of me. I can recall it all through my life! The death of it upon me! Still being shed through Gods hand in His mercy alone after the Holy Spirit and finally within the embrace of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. The feeling growing in me is beyond sturdy and great and beautiful and it is none other than His love. The greatest love ever given freely. And freely taken and freely to be given back to those around us. Did the Churches of God forget somewhat? Are they in captivity now to the world spirit!? Let us work tirelessly now to make sure we remain alert. May we all remember to go the way He left for us this year as we prepare to enter into Pashca! Dear St. Paisios pray for us!