Blind Obedience is Not Orthodox

[@szudy76]

As a Roman Catholic, I attended my first Orthodox Divine Liturgy yesterday. What a breath of fresh air. I plan on converting. Thank you Fr. Peter for your videos and leadership. God Bless.

[@STMukr]

God bless you❤

[@matthewadamkeil]

Welcome home ❤

[@petarvukic09]

May God bless you in your journey to Truth, to Him, to His Body - The Orthodox Church ☦️❤️

[@areyoutheregoditsmedave]

b a s e d

[@STMukr]

@@matthewadamkeil I said the same after my coming back to Orthodox Church. Leaving after confession I said to myself: " I'm finally home".

[@jameskendrick573]

Fr peter heers thank you so much for your patience and explanations went Sunday was asked to come more and I'm excited to learn starting Saturday for vespers God bless fr

[@STMukr]

Fr Peter many thanks. For your spiritual work. With warm heart from Ukraine UOC❤. My metropolitan is a blessed Onuphriy. Doxo to Theo.

[@thecourier9290]

Stay strong in the UOC-MP

[@AugustasKunc]

@@thecourier9290 I think Ukraine was never supposed to be MP

[@LadyMaria]

​@@AugustasKuncIt wasn't meant to be EP for sure..

[@STMukr]

@@LadyMaria what do you mean EP? Что это значит? Спс

[@LadyMaria]

@@STMukr Извините, это английская аббревиатура от «Вселенский Патриарх», относящаяся к Константинопольскому Патриарху Варфоломею.

[@moonstruck336]

With God all is possible! I was struggling with this topic recently but yesterday had some conversations with my fellow Orthodox Christians and I was so in search for the correct answer because I've noticed that the Devil really gives you multiple wrong options, and now I click on this video and there is the answer! God bless ! " Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you "

[@TW-fs3fj]

Thank you for this reflection, father. Christ is King ✝️

[@androsphelos]

Lord have Mercy

[@COUNTERCOM]

It's like the U.S. Airforce, I must follow the orders of the president and the officers above me unless they order me to violate the Constitution of the United States, it's my duty and standing orders as an American Airman to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

[@danielgaley9676]

My wife threatened divorce, rather than let me convert to Orthodoxy. Please pray for us 🙏 Thank you all.

[@CJohn33]

My priest says to new catechumens, "Be prepared, the devil is going to attack. You may lose your job, get a divorce, get sick and on and on." The Orthodox Christian path is a path of suffering. We have to suffer just like Christ. For those of us who are already orthodox, we are constantly attacked also. But rejoice, for Christ will be with you on your journey. This life is just a grain of sand on the beach compared to eternity. May God bless and be with you. Say the Jesus prayer as much as you can.

[@godsaveskyrieeleison5859]

You should convert none the less and let her be where she is. Through your new life in Christ in Orthodoxy she will see that in you and eventually she will follow. Do not be afraid. Threats are not part of marriage, holding the family hostage is not part of marriage. She will convert or she will divorce you, either way you will have revealed the demons at the time. God bless you and stay firm and stay the course.

[@Aquaticphilosophia]

Get out of jail free card

[@accordiongeorge7886]

Leave her and become a monk.

[@danielgaley9676]

Father Spyridon recommended that I stay and keep praying. My physical health is not good either.

[@ThaElMongo]

This was so needed

[@paulk8072]

I hope Orthodox Seminaries teach Irenaeus' "Against Heresies"!

[@johngrener183]

Father Peter, Please bless. What about the faithful Orthodox Churches that are communing with churches that are promoting ecumenism?

[@TranslatedAssumption]

I was involved for 6 years with a uniate religious community in Catholicism that is heavily involved in ecumenism. In my experience with the Orthodox it is not necessarily specific jurisdictions that are involved with ecumenism but rather individuals involved within certain jurisdictions.

[@oscarnektarios]

A bishop being ecumenical doesn't mean the Church/jurisdiction loses its apostolic validity

[@jonathanbritt6418]

"Concerning the whole Church situation which faces us, we had two interesting and indicative encounters this week. On Friday we [were] visited by Fr. Theodoritos, and what joy there was in meeting and praying with this true Athonite zealot. We were only confirmed in our judgment that, if the Greeks look to our Synod bishops for confirmation of their stand for true Orthodoxy, we in the Synod look to you zealot Greeks for inspiration in true and unbending Orthodoxy. Then, a few hours after Fr. Theodoritos left, we were visited by Hieromonk Theodore, newly moved to S. F. (surname Hoeins, not the one who was tonsured by Fr. Panteleimon)-and it turns out that he fully recognizes Athenagoras “until he preaches a heresy” (long since!), and is against the Old Calendarists and views the Athonite zealots as fanatics who will end in priestless sectarianism. I fear his views are all too close to the “organizational view” that prevails among many of our priests, and, one fears, even higher." - Fr Seraphim Rose, Letter 95 To Father Neketas, Aug. 31/Sept. 13, 1971

[@vasiliossmith2616]

Amen❤

[@paulmelonas7263]

My concern isn't about Roman Catholicism or Protestantism. I want to get back to Orthodoxy, but my concern is about Orthodoxy. IF the Archbishops of Constantinople, Moscow, Kiev, and America are all anathema then where do I turn?

[@LadyMaria]

The Patriarchs of Constantinople and Moscow are canonical. The Metropolitan of the OCA is too as is Met. Onufriy of the UOC (Kiev). The only one that isn't canonical is the OCU "Metropolitan" Epifany under the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

[@paulmelonas7263]

@@LadyMaria You consider Bartholomew canonical? Also what is the difference between a Patriarch and a Metropolitan? It seems to me each side within Orthdoxy accuses the other side of being what each accuses the other of being. Everyone thinks the other guy is wrong. IOW a confused Religion... I know Protestantism and Catholicism have both missed the point. I'm still not too sure Orthodoxy has found it.

[@LadyMaria]

@@paulmelonas7263 Yeah, he's canonical until a council deposes him or he leaves communion completely like the Bishop of Rome did 1,000 years ago. A Patriarch is the leader of an autocephalos church in the Church. A Metropolitan can oversee an autonomous church (self-governing church within an autocephalos church) or an Archdiocese. They can also be referred to as Primates. These are administrative titles as they're all Bishops. There are no sides, it's an internal matter. If you think men are to be perfect in this life then you are very mistaken and you will miss finding the Church of Christ. The Orthodox Church has Christ as Head only. That's the only way it's survived this long despite everything that's gone on. Protestantism is not one body but thousands, Roman Catholicism has only one point of unity, a man. Holy Orthodoxy has one Faith in Christ, one baptism, one Lord and God of all.

[@cristiani.lepindea8676]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ2Xcpdjfdt1fNEsi=dfvoy-_HDXZTFBBy Short history of Christianity: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6vYio2fbJlsea8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIWQp2aIiZ1pbZosi=yyA9MqlAaTjg0eIo Finding and learning about the Christian Orthodox Church: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnachXeOlMmkhdE kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYGzgXSnd96GftE kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ_If5dvitt2lck The Holy Fire: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apy9pmttqd6kgJY kzbin.infof7pPHngZ5Gc?feature=share See "Religion of the Apostles" by Father Dr. Stephen De Young, the books of Michael Whelton, Father Seraphim Rose, and those of Jaroslav Jan Pelikan Jr., a former famous American Lutheran pastor who converted to Orthodoxy and the testimony of the famous bioethics prof., Hugo Tristram Engelhardt Jr., former Roman Catholic: journeytoorthodoxy.com/2011/03/herman-tristram-engelhardt-how-i-became-orthodox/ , The Patristic Writings, The writings of the Holy Fathers, Philokalia, Patericon and of course, The History of Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church appeared only 1000 years ago. In the first millennium, Rome was the same as Constantinople, then Rome decided that wanted to be Caesar over everyone, they introduced the Filioque heresy and that's how the Great Schism happened! And since then Rome has changed so many things that it is fundamentally different from what it was in the first millennium! So it can no longer proclaim that it was founded by Jesus Christ! If the Filioque and the Papal Primacy (which did not exist in the first millennium, when only ecumenical councils made dogmatic decisions and the Pope, meaning the Patriarch, of Rome was only first among equals, not Caesar!) are true, then Jesus and the Apostles and the Christians of the first millennium were all heretics! If you want to know what the Catholic church was like in the first millennium, study Orthodox Christianity! Christian Orthodoxy is the true way! The Holy Eucharist can only be received in the Orthodox Church! In any other church there are only surrogates (Pringles)!Also, the Holy Fire that only comes for the Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem for Easter, is a sign by which God wants to show the world that here, in Orthodox Christianity, His revelation has been preserved unaltered! As a Catholic, converting to Orthodoxy means returning to the Church of Rome from the first millennium, the one founded by the holy apostles Peter and Paul! And as a Protestant, it means going back to the early church! .

[@Ymirson999]

@@LadyMaria As someone seeking to convert to Orthodoxy, that was very helpful and thank you.

[@dystopian-future]

At 10:54 you state that the antichrist involves those "who have denied the philanthropic nature of Jesus Christ OR OF HIS CHURCH" and that there is "a grave heresy in our day which denies the one church". This is what has been giving me intense denomination anxiety for the past few years as I am still unsure of which church to go to. I am so terrified of choosing the wrong church and going to hell. Here as an Orthodox priest, you are stating that anyone who is not in your church is a heretic and follower of the antichrist. If I step into a Catholic church, the priest there will tell me that the Orthodox is full of many heresies. If I step into a Protestant church, the pastor will tell me both Catholic and Orthodox are worshipping idols and icons and that this is disgusting in the eyes of God. So what am I to do???? Feels like no matter what church I go to, I will always be filled with an intense fear that if I have chosen the wrong one, God will burn me in hell for all eternity. And yet in each denomination, whether Orthodox, Catholic or Protestant there are genuine loving Christians - so those will burn in hell too if they are not in the "right church"? It should not be this confusing? God says he is NOT the God of confusion and yet here I am absolutely confused, anxious and depressed. What am I to do? Most days I get so anxious over this I just end up thinking, easier to just stop believing in a God altogether because either way I am most probably doomed to hell.

[@LetoTheSecond0]

I had the same problem during my conversion, having to choose between Orthodoxy or Catholicism. Ultimately I prayed to God to take over my life and lead me to the church He wanted me to join and am now Orthodox. The more Orthodox I become the more assured I am that this is His church. I'm not sure what you should do but I suggest praying continually and then maybe simply just picking one, I've heard plenty of people's story where they first became protestant then after some time went Catholic then eventually settled into Orthodoxy. Just don't give up on God, try to be humble and believe He will lead you into the truth because He actually wants to save and heal you, not punish you.

[@LysanderL.]

The time has not come yet you're still alive and you can still work on not for your salvation but to stop denying the free gift that Christ offered to you, dont be afraid friend ask God for help, "Call upon me in a day of trouble then i will deliver you"

[@LadyMaria]

The answer is the true Church. But how do we know? There was the Church (Ekklesia, the People of God) in the beginning, the continuation of the Second Temple era and before transfigured through Christ in the New and Everlasting Covenant. It was called simply "the Way". Groups that went against what was established as true belief (orthos doxa in Greek, or orthodoxia/orthodoxy) were cut off, Ecumenical Councils called to cement what was already believed as true belief like at the first and second Ecumenical Councils with the Arians who taught that Christ was a created being who ascended to godhood, a lesser god than the Father. That right there is against the belief in one uncreated God of all. At the 4th Ecumenical Council a group of churches split off of the whole Church rather than understand the two natures of Christ (God and man) in His one divine Person. Later on there were other groups teaching wrong doctrines that were split off, including in the 11th century the church of Rome who promptly started creating a parallel communion of churches to replace the already existing Church of Christ, an antiChurch (meaning "in the place of the Church"). But still despite these wrong doctrines popping up, the Orthodox Church remained unmoved when limbs were pruned to keep the whole in right belief of God, protecting the Faith once delivered to the Apostles. Realizing all of that with prayer sealed it for me and I converted.

[@jaanabanana7048]

I pray you don’t lose your hope and faith in God through this difficulty.. This life is long and arduous but going life without Him is much more, without any doubt, because God alone is true and good... I can’t encourage you onto any specific path (I am also waiting on God for answers to the same questions), but if I can do anything to exhort you not to loose your hope through all the confusion, and to keep your trust with God, I hope I can. You spoke a lot about burning in hell. I’m someone who has also often felt the heavy burden of judgment.. but it’s only by the renewing of our minds, through reading God’s word, that we can come to understand how abundantly above and beyond God loves us, is for us, does not condemn us or want us to perish, and how He has all along and continues to support and carry us to our finish line. Firstly remember, John 14:1 (NKJV) "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. Secondly, don’t doubt that God has also given to us His Holy Spirit, the Comforter: John 14:17-18 (NKJV) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. [18] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. And finally, if I may, I will also link to you this collection of verses.. The Lord used these verses yesterday night to strengthen and encourage my heart. I hope that it can help comfort you as it also comforted me. Maybe there are verses that will speak to your need in this too. TouchPoint: Support What are some of the ways God supports me? tbibles.com/v2ZX Many of the initial verses were very comforting, but I feel Psalm 55:22 (NKJV) Sums it up best.. I know God will bring you to the right place and the right truth, as long as you continue to place your trust, faith, and strength in Him. God bless you and your journey 🙏🏻

[@dystopian-future]

thank you so much, you have provided great comfort in my distress. I will look at everything you have referenced here. God bless you xo@@jaanabanana7048

[@SuperGogetem]

The Patriarchy of Constantinople.

[@Trivdgun-]

I have a thesis I would love to be tested and weighed. If the root is holy, are the branches thereof also holy, furthermore are the leaves full of sour grapes? Come and give you your thoughts brothers. Ecclesia in carne revelata est Corpus Christi Mysticum: 1 Corinthians 10:17 (KJV):"For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." Romans 12:4-5 (KJV):"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So, we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (KJV):"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV):"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." Colossians 1:18 (KJV):"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." Colossians 2:19 (KJV):"And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God." Ephesians 1:22-23 (KJV):"And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Ephesians 4:15-16 (KJV):"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Ephesians 5:30 (KJV):"For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." Ephesians 2:19-22 (KJV):"Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." I would love feedback. :)

[@pj_ytmt-123]

Eh, sour grapes ARE grapes. 😁

[@fusion9619]

"blind obedience is not Orthodox" That's the least Orthodox statement I can think of. Based on my encounters with Orthodox online, mostly here on KZbin, blind obedience is required, and critical thinking is met with accusations of "you're not a Christian" - that's a message I received the day before yesterday. And as much as I value channels like this, these encounters have shown me that Orthodoxy is not the form of Christianity I want to participate in.

[@bad_covfefe]

Why would you think that youtube commenters are representative? Sounds like you are spending tok much time online.

[@s.d.berquist6866]

Ah! I beg you to go to an actual canonical Orthodox Church and begin attending services, praying with an Orthodox prayer book, and read your scriptures of the day every day and read the lives of the saints for each day. Get to know some on the ground, actual people who love Christ and humble themselves before each other. You will find the Truth and the Truth will set you free.

[@fusion9619]

@@bad_covfefe I am definitely spending too much time online

[@fusion9619]

@@s.d.berquist6866 I'd like to do that. Hopefully soon.

[@bad_covfefe]

@fusion9619 we all struggle with that, brother. What I recommend doing is only allowing yourself to get on it during a certain period of time during the day. It will be hard to stay off of it because you are used to relieving boredom by hopping online, which gives you a short attention span. You will have to develop the self control to resist that desire. It's good to oractice self control in other things too, to make it easier for you to engage self control on stronger temptations such as the desire to get on your phone or PC. One way to do it is by fasting, going to the gym, etc. In effect, it is never a bad thing to intentionally deprive yourself of something you really want so as to grow the self-control ability.

[@Skd92g]

Why, then, the blind obedience to heretical leaders? MP/EP/Antiochians etc

[@Skd92g]

@@LouisStravinsky Just two days ago Antiochian patriarch attended an ecumenism music festival with coptics and papists. All the Antiochian bishops are part of the heretical and apostate “WWC” And for decades now, Antiochian “bishops” have declared that monophysite priests can come to YOUR parish and serve liturgy/wedding/baptism etc. and they frequently commune Monophysites. In fact, Antioch is officially in eucharistic communion with monophysites. None of this stuff is a secret. It has been going on for decades now.

[@ORTHODOXrecluse]

​@Skd92g what is the wwc?

[@Skd92g]

@@ORTHODOXrecluse An apostate institution- “World council of churches”

[@Skd92g]

@@LouisStravinsky the MP is the legal and spiritual continuation of the Renovatinist/schismatic and secular “Living Church”, the creation of Stalin. This is the witness that millions of Christians have died for. In 2007, the MP (for geopolitical reasons) forced the genuine Russian Church in exile (ROCOR) under the threat of violence to be consumed by the MP. Few right-believing bishops rejected and joined other synods like the Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece. This is all a matter of public record. Don’t let Fr Peter Heers or other figures force you into mindgames that trap you into being in communion with heretics. Learn the true history

[@s.d.berquist6866]

There is no “blind obedience” in the true faith. God created man with a free will.