An Orthodox Survival Course: Understanding the Modern World - by Fr. Seraphim Rose

[@Codreanu_Prezent]

At last! Long have I waited for our blessed Seraphim Rose's works to be seen more in the Church.

[@AJ0223]

I am a catechumen in an OCA parish. I won't name my preist but he's a distinguished person and the son/grandson of two prominent figures, I love, admire, and respect this man immensely. I'm so grateful for his guidance and insights. I love the parish and the church, the way I came to it was providential, I know it in my bones, I am supposed to be here. But the broader scandals I guess or concerns I have about the OCA are clouding my path and I don't know what to do. Of course I want to be baptized, but since I was baptized RC as a baby and went to church in RC maybe 6 times over 30 years I am told I won't be. The seemingly coordinated efforts against Fr Peter and Jay Dyer are also disturbing to me, as is the general ethos of ecumenism and modernism, and the aparent acquiescence to the spirit of the age in many clergy and especially in St Vladamir's. My preist, who I've resolved to accept as my spiritual father, has a bad taste for Fr Peter and we've discussed it at length. From what I said about him in the first paragraph, it's not unreasonable to assume he's a modern man and has some very liberal dispositions and takes, this causes some division in my heart and it's keeping me in this static conflict where I am hesitant to join the Church and receive the Sacraments because of it. But ultimately I am a sinner, I am in grave sin. I am so broken and in such despair. I have rage and sadness and so many vises and passions. I want to be healed and to grow, how much does any of this matter? Does anyone here have similar experiences or insights they might share? Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

[@riapresley5446]

@AJ223 Lord have Mercy on you! Some catechumens are blessed with trials....maybe severe trials right from the beginning. I am newly baptized...kinda sorta... I love that we pray for the catechumens specifically in our services. I would like to say something more...but am refraining....I don't know your name but I will put you on my personal prayer list

[@riapresley5446]

@AJO223 how you speak about....not really having a choice in who your spiritual Father is....and....he is not gonna baptize you!!!!! Of course....pray...pray...pray....and maybe go to him and tell him that you do not think he is right for you as your spiritual Father....or whatever words God gives you to express.....visit other Parish's....visit and speak to the Father's in our Orthodox monestary.....Don't let all the love and niceties spewing from the people in the parish to distract you from these very serious matters that have to do with your salvation....and that are preventing you from receiving the basic foundation and blessings of you being a catechumen

[@AJ0223]

@riapresley5446 thank you! I didn't mean for that to come of as if I feel I don't have a choice in my spiritual father or in my path. I'm fortunate enough to have abundance of choice: there are about 2 dozen Orthodox churches within a 50 mile radius of my home, several different jurisdictions. Without spilling too much of my guts on the internet, I really have to say that God's grace was at work during the decisions that led me to the church that I attend. I set my face against it for so long and in so many ways, the way it all happened, it's just. Glory to Jesus Christ, I couldn't have done it on my own. It's a small parish, and my cathechesis has been informal: Father and I meet once or twice a month and sometimes its more like counseling than education (intellectual pursuit is something I was already inclined to, and so there are other times when the two of us sit and speak tangentially like kindred spirits). I've been going there about 9 months, in all that time I've never attended a service anywhere else. I love Father, I'm grateful, and in those 8 or 9 months I've opened myself up completely to him, all my secrets and failures are known to him. Do I really start that process all over again with someone else, because I find it's now getting uncomfortable? Is that for the benefit of my soul? I don't know. Part of me feels as though my indecision and doubts are sent from demons to barr me from Communion, that these issues are just part of life and that I'm too proud and should get over myself... then I listen to Fr Peter, Fr John Whiteford, Fr. Turbo, whatever. I think of this damned modernism, this liberalism. I really do think it's the spirit of the age and its wrong. Cancelling services for a week because of an "exposure" to covid, even now, all this time later, disparaging literal interpretations of Genesis and Revelation, rebuking people who keep traditions that modern society has deemed archaic. And of course, zooming out from Father and myself, this is the OCA in general, right? His father and grandfather were prominent figures, this is his disposition. He's bullet proof on most things but when I hear that whisper of ecumenism my stomach turns. This is a man I intend to make myself totally obedient toward it's like... can I really do that, knowing he does and believes certain things that I think are wrong and put knots and my stomach? What happens down the road if these contentions grow, what I resent being recieved by chrismation? But.... who am I to question the Church, do I not believe in the Sacraments? Of course I do, is it not the Lord's economia that may fill the gaps in my salvation because I was chrismated not baptized? I've discussed all of this with my preist, if you're wondering. I would resort straight to the internet lol not without talking to him first. I've written some letters to some preists and bishops as well. I'm just very confused being honest, thinking out loud I guess. He has encouraged me to visit other parishes as well. Maybe I should have done it a long time ago. Thank you so much, God bless you friend.

[@OrthodoxEthos]

The saints all advise that we must be very careful who to choose as a spiritual father because we are entrusting to him the responsibility to guide our souls to purification, illumination, and theosis. It is essential to have a spiritual father who follows the teachings of the saints and Fathers and is capable of guiding you in the application of the teachings of those whom God has glorified. If a priest is not following the teachings of the saints and Fathers but instead is following the fashionable teachings of modern professors and writers that are at odds with the saints, such a priest who isn’t himself trying to follow the saints cannot help a person become a saint. Regarding jurisdictions, there are no perfect parishes or jurisdictions and one will find various problems, temptations and trials everywhere. The main priority is to have a spiritual father who strives to live patristically and then attend whatever parish seems to support you best along the way of salvation. It isn’t necessary for a person to have a parish priest as a spiritual father nor to only attend services where one’s spiritual father is. Neither is it the case that a person must stay at one parish and never attend services elsewhere. We do need stability in the spiritual life but this comes primarily from choosing wisely a spiritual father and obeying him regardless of what parish you attend. On the question of baptism and reception, the book “On the Reception of the Heterodox into the Orthodox Church: The Patristic Consensus and Criteria” clearly demonstrates what the saints and Fathers have taught from Apostolic times to today. It is important for this book to be read and shared with those who seem confused about this topic.

[@AJ0223]

@@OrthodoxEthos I'm about halfway through the book now. To be totally honest, it has only caused more confusion and confliction. Thank you very much for your insights 🙏 I will continue to pray and endevour to visit different churches these coming weeks, and continue to stress these issues with Father ****

[@carolflower9672]

Fr. Peter Heers Thank you So Much

[@marieegypt7091]

I had no idea that they called into question all these great Saints! I knew after Vat II they removed most of the earlier Saints in favor of the newer ones. When I was with the Missionaries of Charity we read from Butler's Lives of the Saints at breakfast. Often there were days with no saints! And the stories were so short. When I became Orthodox I was so angry at the CC when I learned about the amazing lives of so many pre-schism Saints I had missed out on. We are so blessed to have the full set of the Synaxarion where each day there are so many Saints that we can't even read them all!!

[@realroman1]

Incredible video. Thank you 🙏

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Glad it was helpful! GLORY TO GOD>

[@huntsidway]

I had hoped to attend this retreat, but wasn't able to make the trip. So very thankful this has been uploaded! Thank you to Fr Gregory at St Michael's in Huntsville, and to Fr Peter for relating these teachings!

[@JoseTorres-np2nk]

Great! your blessing

[@Artchopin]

Danke!

[@Im_No_Expert_72]

Very good thank you

[@dropsofink1336]

Wonderful! Thank you for putting this together! This is illuminating, accurate, and concise.

[@byzantinephilosopher]

Father without a doubt you should educate your parishioners on the topic of the debates with Barlaam and Acindynus, headed by the Great Saint Gregory Palamas in the 9th Ecumenical Councils against the cold rational scholasticism which effectively did away with theosis. This is the root of rationalism, materialism, atheism, empiricism and ultimately nihilism.

[@viralviolin9468]

This is a really interesting comment- where can I read about this? :)

[@jelenanuhanovic2855]

Interesting topic ❤ thank you

[@joylarson9040]

Thank you Father. ☦

[@justian1772]

An excellent lecture, very helpful. Have the book on my shelf, have yet to read it.

[@godrilla5549]

If you try to live away from evil, evil will be knocking on your door everyone morning and on your window every night.

[@DCWoodWorking]

I listened to the full course recently. So much knowledge and very important to understand the state the world is in.

[@slowboywhiteboardv4]

24:24 exactly!

[@nbinghi]

Thank you Father Peter,! Will the other three lectures be released as well?

[@philotheasbliss]

FR. SERAPHIM PRAY FOR ME

[@paulk8072]

That is absolutely astonishing that Vatican II put into question the Lives of the Saints. Never knew about that.

[@whollybraille7043]

Cultivating the externals - imaginings and illustrations - you've just nailed the whole optics and visual-oriented culture to the wall. How often I've said to people - the WORD, read, use your brain, think, reflect, write. But no, they only want images and visuals. Memes. Things we forget seconds after we've viewed them because they fail to engage our real thinking mechanisms. Our sense of smell and taste are more long-lasting and reliable than want goes through our eyeballs.

[@whollybraille7043]

@raymond7427 How did the church miss that: the WORD of God, not the image, except that Christ is the very image of His Father. I've gained so much by studying these Orthodox folks. Seems like there's a resurgence of orthodoxy now. Seraphim, wow. What a perceptive man. I'm still not onboard with some of their practices, but I am grateful for all they do. All our culture's images - junk that bypasses the frontals and goes straight to the hippocampus and limbic system. Feelz. That's all that matters. It's gonna get nasty. But His own know His voice! Have a blessed day, fren.

[@philotheasbliss]

❤❤❤

[@Codreanu_Prezent]

Father Peter, what jurisdiction are you part of? What are your thoughts on the Antiochian jurisdiction? They are the closest to me in my state.

[@garrettbar2212]

They are all Orthodox and in communion

[@FirstnameLastname-py3bc]

Seek good spiritual father without looking at jurisdiction (unless those are schismatic groups claiming title of Orthodox)

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Go and see.

[@WORKOUTSOLUTIONS]

We are not alone, God is with us ☦🙏💪❤ ❤‍🔥🔥❄😍🎉🥂🎆💥✌👩‍❤‍👨🦾🕊🙏✝HAPPY NEW YEAR ☦️🙏💒🌟👨‍👩‍👧‍👦☃🫶🎄🥇🎊🚨🙌💯❤

[@hayatmakhoul4319]

🙏♥️🌷

[@leapoecile5318]

If we are not supposed to hold an image in our mind during prayer, then what is the purpose of icons? I thought that they are created so that we may behold an image during prayer....?

[@tangchieh]

Dear brother Thank you for bringing up important topic. Following is my understanding as a layman ,correct me if I’m wrong,and consult legit priest for further information . From Orthodox perspective,icons are more of a reminder for us to holy things and also served as a teaching tools for gospel in ancient time when books were not that available. So the technics, structure and art of images themselves from the personal preferences of a painter are not that important a thing. That’s why in Orthodoxy ,icons are 2D / flat ,and look similar everywhere ,to include the correct faith, where every color used and items on an icon have exact theological meaning. That’s why iconographers “write” icons rather than “draw “ icons. There are beautiful religious statues and 3D artworks which depict vividly on gospel stories in the west ,created by big name artists ,especially after Renaissance era ,but the Orthodox iconography refused to accept this kind of practice for theological concerns as mentioned above. We use holy art to remind repeatedly ourselves the correct faith ,and we worship God and honor His saints through venerating icons which remind us of holy things and biblical stories. So back to why elders always tell us don’t hold an image in our mind when praying,because if someone imagines a picture so hard in his mind,he is easily fall preys to fake revelations from the enemy,for it’s easy for the enemy to give a person a very vivid picture in his mind, to convince him to do this or do that,which finally leads to destruction. Sure,there are many stories in orthodoxy that saints or Virgin Mary or God revealed to the believers in dreams or a vivid image. but we don’t rely on it,and we resort to experienced elders ,spiritual fathers or through confession to figure out these kinds of experiences are solid or not.

[@Ac-ip5hd]

[@vasiliossmith2616]

Father seraphim Has the time come to up hold the 15 cannon of the second synod of Saint Fotios the great.

[@SalGargini]

I want to attend an Orthodox church but I'm worried about being an outsider since I'm not Russian or Greek. Anybody else have this issue?

[@Csay12]

I can only speak to my experience, but the Greek Orthodox parish we visited was very warm and welcoming. My family was accepted into the Church and today it's mostly made up of American converts with more and more people attending and showing interest. If you're in the U.S. chances are you're likely to find other converts in the local parishes near you that you can connect with. I recommend attending a few services and speaking with the priest as well as other members of the church at the agape meal (coffee hour) after the divine liturgy. You'll be able to make a decision from there. On the other hand (the more extreme end), I've heard stories of certain individuals not wanting outsiders to join "their" church. This type of mentality should be exposed because it's not the attitude of a Christian. It's Christ's Church, and all are welcome. Best of luck, God bless!

[@SalGargini]

@@Csay12 thank you

[@czuw2967]

I thought this book is out of print? Where can I find it?

[@milanradulovic9784]

Catholics canonized alojz stepinac who gave blessings to brutal killers (croats) of Orthodox Chtistans(Serbs) in fascists concentrations camps during wwii in croatia.

[@David-ml1be]

Is he referring to any specific book by Rose? Or is this an overview of his whole works?

[@nicolaj622]

he refers to "The Orthodox Survival Course", which were at first talks Father Seraphim held at a university, I believe, and which where written down from recordings on tape. If you are lucky you may be able to dig out here or there such a treasure, I have one from Samidat (Underground) Press.

[@JamesCrocker-b6z]

Protestantism with a response to the heresy of the Catholic Church, not necessarily to improve on it, but to restore it

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Improve it = restore it. It is not being received, passed down, in any case, and therefore is not considered the Faith Once Delivered. But if it is not this Faith, neither is that which is attempting to restore or improve it. Only that Faith, that Church, which is the same yesterday, today and forever is Christ/The One Church.

[@Cal-ge8vl]

AXIOS! @@OrthodoxEthos

[@Spookyjordan]

When I look at Russian history it’s a lot of serfdom and near starvation. The more I hear the more I have a hard time advocating for a Christian monarchy. Is there a chance that maybe the west got some stuff right?

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Historically, in all countries life was very difficult and death and starvation were common. The Industrial Revolution with modern medicine, electricity, refrigeration, and “super markets” has made life more comfortable but consequently fewer people struggle to live for God. The Lord said it is difficult for the wealthy enter the kingdom of heaven because people are more likely to turn to God of life is difficult and death is a regular encounter. An Orthodox monarch helps maintain the unity of a country in one Faith. Of course, some monarchs historically abandoned the Faith, became heretics, and persecuted the Church. Despite this fact, it is still ideal to have an Orthodox monarch who helps establish laws safeguarding the Orthodox Faith as the foundation of the life of a nation, the foundation of law, with national holidays aligned with Church Feast Days. Without such a foundation, indifference to truth, nihilism, despair, and anarchy prevail; not to mention spiritual and moral degeneracy.

[@Spookyjordan]

@@OrthodoxEthos so it wasn’t because of the Monarchy that people lived in near starvation? It was more just a common thing for that time and place? I understand the benefits of poverty (Though I am an American, and probably live better than most kings in history) but That doesn’t mean policy should be geared towards impoverishing the citizens for the sake of their salvation. We are called to love one another and care for eachother, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc. How much more so should that be expected of our leaders? Who are to be an example to all the laymen. Part of me also wonders if a lot of this is based on location. Idk. I see your point. Maybe a modern Orthodox Monarchy would maintain the benefits of the industrial age while protecting us from the soul destroying elements.

[@AeneasReborn]

I agree with you on the actual roots of this revolution, but demonizing the west and its civilizations as a whole is not the way. For the most part, the pre-enlightenment western civilizations would agree with most of your views. Furthermore, this is somewhat petty: but the Roman description of the west is based on ethnic descent and location, not government. The east was truly the Roman empire, but her ethnic descendants were still present in the west. In chronicles of the crusades, frankish writers call some fellow western crusaders Romans. Italians, Occitans, Spaniards etc. The identity wasnt unfounded. We do after all speak a latin language. But I feel that arguing over these topics misses the point, we shouldnt go after eachothers cultural identity, rather we should focus on the spiritual truths we uphold. In fact, charlegmagne himself was of half gallo-roman blood. The west may have birthed the fall of Christianity, but we also did many great things in our history. As a man hailing from the southwest Mediterranean, I admit that the east has kept her Christianity better. Thats enough to comment on in these divisions.

[@landfound]

Science disproves itself, the point of science 15:33. Thank God for science. Keep it up. What's your first name Fr.? My name is Olivier Pita-Romero. He will delete my comment, yet, he called people spiritual baboons (13:17), oh, you, didn't, you merely cited, right!

[@OrthodoxEthos]

My first name? … Father Peter …. Hello Olivier. Fr Seraphim uses the term spiritual baboons. Yes. Your question is?

[@Southlander1000]

Japan and China both had a Mediaeval period, just not in a Christian sense.

[@pah9730]

Not in the Western sense, right - a transition from ancient to the peculiar western outlook which can only be characterized as a fall, a second fall, from God, the Christian Revelation.

[@Southlander1000]

@@pah9730 You have to have that Christian revelation before you can fall from it. They didn't fall from it in their medieval periods.

[@RichardBurdi-rs5bp]

To be honest this is informative but boring, while Father Seraphim Rose lectures are captivating

[@mollyfisher1724]

Canonization requires three miracles not one as you claim. You said John Paul II was canonized after a decade. Untrue. Also, John Locke’s had less to do with the Founding than you imagine.

[@mollyfisher1724]

Forgive me Father but you are no historian much less a master of the tools of historiography and historical research. I am an Orthodox historian and teacher and have studied recent scholarship and historiography regarding the founding of the United States. Contrary to prevalent interpretations,, the Scottish Enlightenment, not the French Enlightenment was the major, highly Christian origin of the best of American institutions for which millions have risked life and limb to come here. (Can you give us an example of a better founding and founding documents? ) Naturally, Presbyterianism is lacking in many ways but it is still a major source of Christian ideals that formed American intellectual history that resulted in our political ideals and institutions. Maybe you could take the Civics Seal of Excellence course ( presented by the best history scholars across the country) commissioned by Ron DeSantis for better information regarding your shocking claim about the founding of the U.S. You can always go back to Greece.

[@susanpower-q5q]

Many of your Founding Fathers were Masons and their Iconoclast Foundation of USA First Officially Antichrist State