Jewish Roots of Ancient Christian Mysticism - Archbishop Alexander Golitzin

In this episode Archbishop Alexander Golitzin discusses the Jewish roots of ancient Christian mysticism.
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This is the third episode from my interview with His Eminence Archbishop Alexander, formerly Professor of Patristics at Marquette University, and currently the OCA's Archbishop of Dallas, the South, and the Bulgarian Diocese.
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[@ProtectingVeil]

📙 FREE eBOOK on the wisdom of modern Orthodox Christian elders: social.protectingveil.com/freebook1 *To provide some context: One of His Eminence's scholarly focuses was to show that patristic theology is the natural continuation of OT and NT revelation, which is why he was interested in early Jewish mysticism. This was an effort to respond to Protestant criticisms of patristic theology as being neoplatonic.

[@transfiguredword7892]

Archbishop Alexander Golitzin’s conclusion in this video is brilliant: “But this was the image of a yet greater mystery, when the soul itself becomes the chariot throne of God”. An interiorized apocalypse (unveiling) of God in man! Yes!!

[@frankignatius2507]

@@transfiguredword7892 In short, Deification or Theosis!

[@the-metaphorian]

The Archbishop did not conflate the anti-Christian themes in medieval Lurianic Kabbalah with Early Christian mysticism, if that's what folks are afraid of. Rather, he clearly stated in the timeline that he could clearly trace from second temple Judaism (200 BCE to 200 CE) literature that Jewish Mystical themes from BEFORE the medieval Kabbalistic period were already present in the writings of Dionysius the Areopagite and St. Ephrem the Syrian. To support his thesis, he cites the work of Israeli historian and philosopher, Gershom Scholem, on his inquiries into the thematic relationship between Early Christian mysticism and medieval Kabbalism, seeing the root as being the Qumran scrolls and the Chariot Mysticism in the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, not in Lurianic or Sabbatean Kabbalism. There is a fine line there that we need not cross if we are careful to listen before reacting. People need to listen carefully and discern and not misrepresent what the Archbishop said. This man is neither rash nor ignorant nor base. He is very refined and careful, so we must listen with a refined and careful mind as well.

[@zoethegreatfish]

These recordings are such a gift. Thank you for posting. His Eminence Archbishop Alexander speaks with wisdom. I am so lucky to live in a time when I can just go on KZbin and hear scholars talk about what they know. Thank you for continuing to compile these videos in the collective wisdom project. They are a fantastic resource.

[@dannykyle8607]

I hope you know how much a blessing this channel is! God bless you good brother

[@ProtectingVeil]

Thanks to God...glad you found it, brother!

[@jamescorbin5638]

The sound of his voice and it’s reverberation give weight to the words spoken. Setting and place are crucial. I love listening to him.

[@igorg.8624]

Wow, thank you for this explanation. I am researching Hesychasm, and wanted to know it's roots, and now I see better.

[@RobertDHosken]

Wonderful! We met him when he was a professor at Marquette. He visited our St. Ignatius Church in Madison, WI a few times.

[@mdb60]

Fascinating subject matter, and presented impeccably. Thank You so much .... 🙏

[@acarouselofantics]

I enjoyed this video! It is always good to hear the history to see how things connect to now.

[@ProtectingVeil]

Thanks to God...glad you found it interesting, Jerome!

[@mega8621]

Thank you, Your Eminence. Bill Hodge ~ Hebrew Catholics ~ New Zealand

[@BertilAdania]

Great!

[@peachy_talisman]

Thank you for such a blessing of an informative video brother ☦️🙏 Glory be to God

[@bonnie_gail]

Mind blown !

[@ChaimYosefMariateguiLeviPhD]

I hope that Vladyka Alexander could make a series on this topic.

[@fr.gregblevins9825]

Wisdom! Let us attend!

[@eliambugi6609]

Great

[@SeriouslyAwesome]

Mind blown

[@deppo_zweifler9029]

"Jewish Roots" does NOT mean "rabbinic-jewish roots".

[@stelioskatsampadimas1693]

The new Israel of charity is the Orthodox Christian Church

[@lucreciaferrara7389]

Ohh f off I live in Greece lol. Art bs. They still worship THEY S GODS. NEVER HEARD ZOHAR CABAL ..GREECE IS ORTHODOX N MAJOR KOTOLIKS. FUCK SO WHAT WE ALL BECAME JEWS ... NO WAY

[@lucreciaferrara7389]

What? U lost u mind . That's my religion ... oh my GOD

[@user-tj5mi5bb9m]

@@stelioskatsampadimas1693 The Jews are Israel!old and new!

[@tinttiakka2028]

@@user-tj5mi5bb9m modern israel is not a biblical prophecy rabbi

[@juliabartlam3878]

I loved this interview. Mainly because our Church is founded by a Jewish carpenter and there is so much that ties back to this! I love learning more about that aspect of our church, the roots.

[@lornadoone8887]

lxmzhg Obviously, this is referring to His human nature, born from a Jewish Mother, the Virgin Mary, in the Incarnation.

[@juliabartlam3878]

@@lornadoone8887 Thank you!

[@katherinegeorge2400]

Our Church is founded by Christ

[@tfan2222]

@@katherinegeorge2400 …who was a Jewish carpenter because of his human nature.

[@katherinegeorge2400]

@@tfan2222 A Jewish carpenter and also God, who gave us a NEW Covenant, this is why we are Christians and NOT Jews.

[@jameshutchins3396]

Thank you very much for this interview.

[@rosariocanaval8424]

Thanks! Muy interesante !

[@thomasa2821]

For goodness sake, he didn’t give credence to Kabbalah. His Imminence simply referred to a Jewish scholar that studies Kabbalah and a bit of the research that the guy did. This isn’t hard to follow, just pay attention before going off the deep-end people. Archbishop’s I.q. is substantially higher than that of most people so you may have to trust him and the Holy Synod if you are unable to follow his point. He’s not a heretic, rather, a very scholarly Archbishop.

[@daniel8728]

Thomas A his tacit approval of Jewish mysticism is the problem. I didn’t accuse him of heresy. His highfalutin rambling leaves more questions than answers, and can lead people to want to study the Kabbalah and Zohar.

[@lornadoone8887]

Daniel Just a cursory overview of Jewish Kabbalah shows the obvious connections between historic Jewish and Christian tradition, eg., various levels of the interpretation of Scripture, eg, literal, moral, allegorical, etc. I’m guessing the understanding of the hierarchical structure of the hermeneutics of Scripture fits in here, too. Istm noting scholarly historical connection does not equal approval of the modern or historic occult interpretation and use of the satanic Kabbalists, nor any anti-Christ interpretations. That perhaps ought to be a given as context to what our bishops say. I don’t think it’s healthy to approach others (especially our own) by beginning automatically with a hermeneutic of suspicion. Such a hermeneutic of others is not something we see in our holiest members. Kabbalah means “tradition”. Judaism has a “traditioned” hermeneutic of Scripture, so does Christianity. The difference is Christ is our ultimate hermeneutic of the Scriptures, while that of the post-Christ Judaeans is at least potentially anti-Christ. It is a reasonable question to ask for clarification of how Jewish and Christian tradition both do *and do not* correspond. Perhaps PV will do a follow-up video with Bp. Alexander to clarify some of this.

[@eduardovalentin9416]

thank you for saying this! People are freaking out because they paid no attention to his eminence's talk. Insane how these "very orthodox" "defenders of the faith" jump to conclusions that his eminence is spouting heresy and blasphemy. The internet brings out the worst among the faithful

[@eduardovalentin9416]

@@lornadoone8887 Wow thank you for this. I'm shocked beyond belief at how narrow minded and quick to judge people are!

[@haroldhughes1338]

there are a number pf parallels between jewish mysticism, kabbalah and Christianity. all or most of the basic Christian concepts were foreshadowed by 2nd temple Judaism.

[@prayunceasingly2029]

I feel like this talk was just the beginning, like just an introduction to a more in depth explanation.

[@Thomasyouareclearandbeau-td4ox]

What wakeful from the bishop apsolut legend

[@bensirach3586]

May I suggest making subtitles for your videos? Sometimes I'm not sure what the interviewees are saying.

[@bensirach3586]

@Preverbal Oh, I just didn't see subtitles on this video, only auto-generated subtitles. Do you make them?

[@arthurholmes-brown7104]

@@bensirach3586 press the "cc" button in the video

[@josephjude1290]

Great videos; any further links for this topic?

[@giovanni545]

Revelation 14:12 King James Version 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

[@truBador2]

There is clearly a category error in conflating Divine incarnation and human culture.

[@VictorLepanto]

What do you mean? How else will we live out the reality of the incarnation in our lives except as the Holy Tradition as lived out amongst us & how can that be experienced except as a culture? The Orthodox Jews define their way of life as "Yidishkeit," that means Jewish culture. We live out the reality of "God with us" not only in how we worship God in the liturgy but in every way we live out the Gospel in our lives. The whole Christian Civilization, Christendom, is how we truly experience the incarnation. God has given in our day that we experience the fullness of God's presence in the Holy Eucharist, the Jews up to the time of Jesus experienced the fullness of God's presence in the Temple. This was God's decree not our human invention. Both Jewish culture (as originally experienced in the Temple & now as we worship God in our Christendom liturgy & manner of living are the incarnation in our lives.

[@letsreasontogether9520]

Wonder if his Eminence ever read: George Gemistos Plethon: The Last of the Hellenes by C.M. Woodhouse or The Philosophy of Gemistos Plethon: Platonism in Late Byzantium, between Hellenism and Orthodoxy 1st Edition by Vojtech Hladký

[@stelioskatsampadimas1693]

blah blah blah

[@johnnyd2383]

What a Roman Catholic Church dreams, Vojtech writes...

[@sophrapsune]

Plethon was a closet pagan. What is the relevance here?

[@gscarpentryhandyman3993]

Is fr. Alexander a descendant of a noble russian family made famous by knyaz V. Golitzin in 17th century? If that’s so, i am amazed how russian aristocracy in immigration after revolution was able to preserve orthodox faith!

[@hz3917]

Yes, he is

[@gscarpentryhandyman3993]

h z hmmm... interesting why Bolgarian and not Russian church? That would be logical?

[@hz3917]

@@gscarpentryhandyman3993 he is a bishop of the Orthodox Church in America which has Russian roots. He is in charge of two dioceses, one which is historically Bulgarian

[@gscarpentryhandyman3993]

h z now I got it:) Thank you for your explanation.

[@hz3917]

@@gscarpentryhandyman3993 you're welcome!

[@anthonyfranchina1114]

Enthralling!

[@paulmorin1286]

READ THE TALMUD, SO PROFOUND AND SO MYSTICAL...OPEN THIS GORGEOUS BOOK AND LOOK HOW THE NON JEWS ARE CONSIDER TO BE INFERIOR TO ANIMALS...OPEN THIS BOOK AND OPEN YOUR EYES SPECIALLY...

[@Ganymede40]

Did he equate Old Calendarists with those who are "crazy as loons"?

[@monolith94]

He did indeed. Lord have mercy

[@brianbaldelli8055]

He’s quite liberal in actuality. I see it more now that he’s my bishop. I hope my simple mind isn’t passing judgment but I fear non simpleminded bishops leading us. God forgive me.

[@nikolaibreckenridge2287]

Old Calendarists are schismatics, who are devoid of any salvation. Even the blood of martyrdom cannot save them.

[@elenihelenmelb]

I disagree - why are you placing judgement here? Mount Athos - AGIO OROS also follow the old calander pre 1923? Can I ask why such a hard judgement ? IX

[@robertwaguespack9414]

Didn't this bishop just say that the Holy Spirit emanates from the Father and the Son?

[@katherine3486]

Hi Robert. I can see why you would say that but, no, sent does not mean proceeding.

[@thestraightroad305]

@@katherine3486 Thank you for that distinction, it is helpful. As someone newly studying Orthodoxy, I would really appreciate an elaboration.

[@elenihelenmelb]

The Creed was written at the First Ecumenical Council in 325 AD and amended in Second Ecumenical Council in 381 AD. It was agreed to never change it and it remains unchanged in the Orthodox Tradition. The Creed is as follows: I believe in one (1) God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one (1) Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-be-gotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all Ages. Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became Man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and He suffered and was buried. And He rose on the third day according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; And He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead; His kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son, is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke through the Prophets. I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess One Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the Age to come. IX

[@prayunceasingly2029]

@@thestraightroad305 I'm no expert but theologically I believe this proceeding vs sent means the origin of the holy spirit is found in the father just like the origin of the Son is the father. The son in scripture says he will send the holy spirit but the original procession of the holy spirit is the father, not the son. I think this is why the filioque is so important to the orthodox church because of it's theological significance. This is my novice attempt to explain the theological issue which I may have not done successfully. Experienced theologians will be able to say whether or not I am accurate in the description.

[@Cam-dz5sj]

Why does this already have dislikes?

[@julieanderson-smith1692]

Because it's not available NOW NOW NOW, perhaps?!

[@ProtectingVeil]

Haters gonna hate? Happily, likers are going to like...and there are more of them(!)

[@susieford3954]

@@julieanderson-smith1692 Patience is a much needed virtue in our world.

[@robertattaway3119]

Thanks, Herman, for sharing his Eminence's comments and teaching. It's always good to hear from our Pastor. Our Church is the Church that goes all the way back to the beginning.

[@SymeonPhronema]

My guess is it's the people claiming some of the Jewish writings such as the Kabbalah are satanic. I personally don't know anything about it, or if it's satanic. That said I trust His Eminence, and so I highly doubt these accusations are true.

[@ggmo3664]

Get thee behind me !!

[@arminyousefi5282]

??

[@OrthodoxLife]

Making a connection between the Zohar and Holy Orthodoxy? Blasphemy! This is shameful.

[@nthdegree1269]

Here is a quote from the Zohar, one can't help but see some resemblance to the Trinity Zohar "Hear, O Israel, Adonai Eloheinu Adonai is one. These three are one. How can the three Names be one? Only through the perception of faith; in the vision of the Holy Spirit, in the beholding of the hidden eye alone.…So it is with the mystery of the threefold Divine manifestations designated by Adonai Eloheinu Adonai-three modes which yet form one unity.”

[@dondon3341]

Agreed Krynauw... HORRIBLE. Lord have mercy

[@sophrapsune]

Establishing a connection is not blasphemy. Observing that Arians also read the gospel does not make one a heretic, nor does observing a common tradition in Second Temple mystical theology make one blasphemous. He is not endorsing Kabbalism, and has not said anything inconsistent with Orthodoxy. Lord have mercy.

[@AbdulRahman-bi1nu]

You immediately jump and condemn a bishop are you insane who are you

[@dondon3341]

Dark days. Lord have mercy on us and save us from these so-called "scholars" of blasphemy!

[@johnbeal7846]

Don Don you need to give Vladyka a further listen to see how deeply Orthodox his speech really is.

[@dondon3341]

@@johnbeal7846 I watched it all the way through... blasphemy.

[@johnbeal7846]

Don Don There is never any point in appealing to authority on the Internet because of rife anarchic cyber hyper Orthodoxy like your baseless and ignorant accusations. But anyhow: Why don’t you call Vladyka out and see if the Holy Synod will start an ecclesiastical trial of his ‘blasphemy’, if you are so certain of your absurd claims. To make scant mention of Talmudic correspondence with Orthodox doctrine down amount in any way to adoption of of Talmud as Orthodox Christian teaching, you ridiculous pretentious and foolish person!

[@dondon3341]

If he was quoting the Satanic Bible would you be concerned? Or would that just be “hyper-Orthodox”?

[@eh3345]

If he is a supporter of ecumenism then he would qualify as an heretic. Ecumenism is said to be the heresy of heresies. I think he does because he is connected to the World Council of Churches.

[@hivesalon4397]

What “Archbishop” has the right to attack His Brother (he knows what I’m talking about.) Shame on this Archbishop... Let me end with this Quote for you....The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."