How to Explore Orthodoxy: Guidance for Seekers, Inquirers, Visitors and Catechumens

(Excerpted from a interview of Fr. Peter Heers by Michael Sisco, November 2020)
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[@stavrouladeessegloria]

Come and see the Christ in His Banquette of salvation ☦️♥️ May we all have your blessings Father Peter ☦️

[@TranslatedAssumption]

On monasticism: As I type this I am a catechumen and I cannot stress and emphasize enough my agreement with what Father Peter said about finding a proper monastery. Someone I trusted directed me to a place that advertises itself as an orthodox Monastery but in reality is actually a religious order within Catholicism that that has its members dress up as orthodox monastics that effectively offer counterfeit Orthodoxy and counterfeit monasticism in the service of ecumenism. After my experience there I never want to have anything to do with anything like that ever again.

[@Troy-Moses]

I think exploring Orthodoxy is firstly an act of repentance... One has to be willing to admit that he was wrong; whether from living in carnal sin or doctrinal sin. To enter the bosom of Christ one must first repent. Next, one has to be willing to persevere -- which is impossible to accomplish without patience and discipleship. As my confession father once told me: Every Christian must have a spiritual father, a spiritual rule and a spiritual place; which are all necessary for spiritual maturation.

[@anastasiatsatsakouli6181]

Pray for me Father that a way be found for me to come into the Faith and be able to visit a church, according to the Will of God. Lord have mercy on me and save me. 🙏

[@benipet]

Your answer is one of the best Fr Peter! Thank you, and I share this video

[@maximusatlas9377]

I pray that an Orthodox Church opens in Puerto Rico. We only have 2. Not even kidding. I want to attend an Orthodox Church. I am Orthodox in Spirit and love of God but my mission is to attend a physical Orthodox Church. Christos anesti!

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Have you been to one of the two?

[@maximusatlas9377]

@@OrthodoxEthos Sadly no. I tried to go to the closest one but it wasn't open due to Covid and the second is 6 hours from my home. I plan to visit it next week even if I have to stay in a motel but I'd like to faithfuly attend one. I wouldn't like to treat the Church and the faith as a mere tourist visit.

[@nuzzi6620]

@@maximusatlas9377 God bless you, friend. Hang in there!

[@TedBruckner]

if it opens and you see the Eucharist being served with separate spoons, RUN!

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Ted Bruckner: Run...yes... and, yet, the poor man only has two options ... alas. God help him!! O Lord, save the pious!!

[@jonathankelly2655]

This is beautiful

[@chuckhough]

What a great and inspiring answer.

[@OrthodoxEthos]

FYI: If you did not know, or are not already enrolled, I wanted to let you know that we are offering to you, and all those interested, to join us in our online courses which will address these matters. The next course - starting in two weeks on Tuesday the 19th and lasting 10 weeks, until Holy Week - will cover the topic of ecclesiology and the religion of the future (#5 course). All lectures are held live (live-streamed) and recorded on Tuesday evenings (9 PM EST), and can be viewed at any time thereafter. We will also have a Q&A session every Thursday evening (9 PM EST) for 2+ hours. We have already done four classes - all available for viewing on demand, online, totaling over 125 hours of lectures and Q&A sessions: 1. The Orthodox Survival Course 2. The Truth of our Faith 3. Fr. Seraphim Rose’s Orthodox Survival Course (a closer look at his lectures) 4. On the Divine Liturgy We will also offer two more classes in late Spring and Summer (after #5 on Ecclesiology & Ecumenism): 6. On the New Martyrs of Russia: A Type of the End Times 7. On the Book of Revelation through the Eyes of the Holy Fathers and Elder Athanasius Mitilianaios We’d love to have you and your family and friends join us, if you are interested. Here is the link: patreon.com/frpeterheers. The cost to you: a cup of coffee, or a monthly donation of whatever amount you like. GOD BLESS YOU!

[@chuckhough]

@@OrthodoxEthos ​ @The Orthodox Ethos I did not know! This is incredible, Father. Thanks for your hard work. I will provide your value with value! Thanks and blessings.

[@ryrocks9487]

Thanks Father!

[@hokulani8]

If someone is wanting to learn about orthodoxy and to be baptized can the Monastery teach you and baptize you, for example at the St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox in Florence, AZ can they do this?

[@spikestoyou]

Hi Mike

[@Jordan-hz1wr]

I have a question. Forgive me if it's a dumb question because I am coming from a Baptist evangelical background. I grew up being taught that baptism is essentially the mechanism that activates salvation. From the moment someone "accepted Christ" they immediately went down to the creek and got Baptized. I always found that odd because I wondered what would happen if someone died of a heart attack before reaching the water. But from the orthodox perspective, you aren't baptized until AFTER the Catechumen process. So since it can be put off until after initiation, that means baptism is NOT what activates salvation, correct?

[@jakeruprecht9746]

how does one say yes to God when ones heart seems to be not being able to say yes truly? Like.. I want my heart to say yes through and through except for this selfish part that wants to say no and doesnt want it. I don't know how to change that one part that doesn't.

[@pah9730]

Pray: O Lord, I want to want to love you with my whole heart; help me who am helpless! Inspire me who am beleaguered by my love of self! Save me who am despairing! Enlighten me who am darkened! Purify me who am defiled! Chasten me who am slothful and lusful! Cleanse me who am stained! Teach me who am dumb! Accept me who am unacceptable! O Lord, rescue me from lukewarmness! Implant within me zeal for the Kingdom, the Truth, Thyself!

[@d0g_0f_Christ0s]

Thank you Fr. Peter Heers. I'm in Australia (South Australia) do you know of any major issues straight up to watch out for?

[@eotceotc]

- 30 differences between COPTIC & EOTC - Purpose: This was written to educate and give Ethiopian believers a BETTER understanding of the origin of their faith, history and tradition and answer why the EOTC is quite different from other orthodoxies. This should not to be interpreted in the wrong way, unity is important but so is transparency. Author: As an Ethiopian Orthodox servant and having attended several Coptic liturgies, and from theological research on both churches, I can tell you we the EOTC have SO MANY differences. ✅ ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED! *Dogma Differences* 1. We believe that Saint Mary was born without original sin 2. We believe that Saint Mary has NO fallen nature no sin or nature to sin after birth as well *Jewish Practices* Matt 5:17 - “I did not come to abolish the Law” 1. We have Ark Processions year-round 2. We abstain from all unclean food (Halal, pork, shrimp, crab, etc) 3. We do no enter church if we are unclean (men and women) 4. We wear all white shawls (Netelas) as a symbol of Christ’s Resurrection and spiritual purity 5. We have a shoeless entry (not just during communion) 6. We abstain from any modern instruments (piano, guitar, etc) 7. We have 81 books in the Bible (Coptics have 74) 8. We go of Halachic Jewish Time (Fasting entry and exits are based of our sun and star movements (Twilight) and our hours are reversed (12=6, 9=3) 9. We observe Friday evening and Saturday as the Sabbath (in addition to Sunday) 10. Women after giving birth have to wait 40 days or 80 days to enter church. ( Lev 12) *EOTC Belief System* 1. We abstain from any fish on fasting days (It is a meat - 1 Cor 15:39) 2. We eat starting at 3pm on fasting days 3. We fast 292 days of the year (including Tsige & Pagume Fast) 4. Women are not allowed to wear pants only ankle length dresses (Deut 22:5) 5. We never imprint (wear) icons of saints on clergical or any other clothes 6. We have a 2 or more priest liturgy system (Coptics have 1) 7. We close curtains during significant moments 8. To be a Deacon you must be a unmarried virgin 9. We have 14 liturgies (Coptics have 3) 10. We celebrate all 33 feasts for Saint Mary and all 18 feasts of Jesus with millions in attendance year round 11. We have Hymnaries (Mahlet) 4-10 hours short version and 24-48 hours long on Epiphany and Horologions (Sa’tat) 12. We perform year- round Subae’s (7 days of no food or water) 13. Believers have (Full Body - Holy Water) services year round for healing and forgiveness of sin 14. We do not eat bread inside church 15. Only men can pour Holy Water 16. The Holy Trinity Icon is always depicted (Coptics use mostly Jesus and the 4 creatures of the Gospel) 17. We have to fast 18 hours to take communion (3 days of no intercourse) 18. We prohibit any use of contraceptives or birth control (Genesis 38:6-11) *Explanation:* While we didn’t establish a church prior to Coptics, Ethiopia was and is historically known as the First Christian Kingdom and Civilization (Reference: Prophecy Psalms 72: 9-10 along with multiple Church sources shows that one of the three wise man has been confirmed Ethiopian, Acts 8 shows Christianity teaching existed in Ethiopia and Aksum Kingdom predates back to BC showing traces of Christianity prior to Armenian Church). And so while we the EOTC are labeled “oriental” with our sister churches, we are the only orthodox nation who incorporate 4000 year old Jewish customs (Judeo-Christianity) and Jewish forms of worship and tradition into our faith. The reason for this is because we were the only Orthodox country to convert from Christianity’s former faith so we hold very sacred information or the “original link” that drives our Christian faith to be more conservative or allows us to have more divine levels of worship (Ark Processions year round, Hymnaries (Mahlet), (Horologions (Sa’tat), Subae (7 days of no food or water), Year round Full Body Holy Water Services, all white clothing, shoeless entry, restraining from unclean meat and 292 days of fasting to name a few all makes our orthodoxy unique different and special in every way compared to all other oriental and eastern orthodoxies but most importantly and evidently seen is our love of Saint Mary. Ethiopia is in fact called the Land of Mary. Thank you have a nice day. Blessings in Christ Sources: 1. EOTC Sunday School Department Immaculate Conception - eotcmk.org/e/the-birth-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-2/ 2. M/r RODAS kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5qadYijgdCFlZpn. 3. MAHBER KIDUSAN kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWTck4KhptiAZ6s 4. Dersane Gabriel Tahsas Ch. 21-22 5. Ethiopia’s 4000 year history m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppWUe5JrZ5x2rs0 6. Lika Likawnt Ezra - Promised Land Saint Mary kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGnZc5Rtbdmpg6s 7. Holy Synod’s published document titled “The Doctrine and Foreign Relations of the EOTC” 8. No Fish on Fasting Day (EOTC) kzbin.info/www/bejne/omK0Y3asgsqVqrM 9. Fetha Negest 10. Mesafe Kebur 11. Kebra Negest 12. The Didache Ch 6

[@eotceotc]

@@banhammer3904 1. Queen Saba of Ethiopia journeyed to Israel to meet King Solomon. 2. They had a child named Menilek 3. Menilek was told by God to take the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia. So we have the Ark of the Covenant.

[@eotceotc]

@@banhammer3904 So it has been in Ethiopia and gudered by a single chosen monk there for thousands of years I want to say about 4000 years. This happened in BC (Before Christ) Era. No one has touched it and not even our Patriarch is allowed inside that church (temple) only a Godly selected monk. This monk who is selected by God and announced to other holy monks, then relocates and never leaves the temple or the Ark, he is with the Ark at all times and until he dies. No other can dare touch the Ark. 1 Chronicles 13:9-10 “9 And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God”

[@eotceotc]

@@banhammer3904 Also we have so many historical and empirical evidence that the Ark of the Covenant relocated to Ethiopia. The only problem for skeptics and histories is they are not allowed to see the Original Ark of the Covenant, not even our Patriarch like I said can.

[@eotceotc]

@@banhammer3904 The same reason why Jesus chose 4 different people to write 4 similar gospels. There are several ancient cross writings that match each other in reference to this relocation (each thousand of years ago and from different authors) Ancient text is a empirical evidence that is scientifically observable and historically respectable as well. After several analysis from from countless archeologists, historians and theologians, the location is confidently stated to be in Ethiopia.

[@eotceotc]

@@banhammer3904 Even so, many theologians still affirm to the location of the Ark because of the connection with Queen Sheba in 1 Kings and with *multiple matching* ancient texts from the same period stating this occurred. All 3 ancient faiths (Jewish, Christian and Islamic) attest to this marriage and child). When a King and Queen get married and have a child that does not pass without being historically documented. But for future reference on other topics, not everything is going to be written in the Bible in fact not every information about God and Heaven is for everyone. Matthew 13 10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because IT HAS been given to you to know the *mysteries of the kingdom of heaven* but to them *it has NOT been given*