Overstepping Hierarchs and the Secular Tyranny That is Trying to Attack the Church

[@rhondab9792]

I was attending Vespers at a monastery in Fort Myers, Florida, when Belya swept in as an alleged "archimandrite." Just a month before he had been a lowly priest at St Matrona's on Florida's east coast. He swept in that evening in full monastic regalia, including enormous, noisy, pleated cape dragging on the floor which he swirled about with enthusiasm. (Keep in mind the church is puny, just a house.) Most disturbing was his beard which was short and trimmed into an immitation of the depictions you see of antichrist. He was literally glaring at me and probably I at him as well, as though we both recognized each other as opposites and enemies. A few months later Metropolitan Hilarion ordered an audit of the monastery and Belya fled to Bartholomew.

[@living_orthodox]

Wow. Lord have mercy

[@agiasf7330]

​@@living_orthodox Father, you recommended a Fr Andrew. I wasn't able to catch his last name. What is it?

[@HarryAzidis-l2s]

You were face to face with one of Lucifers minions God bless you for standing your ground mate

[@NickOvchinnikov]

Think about this... People in my Parish want me to go to seminary. What if become like the priest you just described or maybe worse, where I despise my own family. I may only have 1 demon tempting me now, and I'm failing. what happens if I have a few or more? We need prayers, not accusations. We the laity are part of the church, clergy are ministers to us first, and in turn we support and pray for them

[@LeutherGreengager-ip1uw]

Your spiritual stamina can only be God- inspired. God strengthen you all the same, dear Father.

[@HappySerafim]

Bishop Irenei spoke with me recently, he advised me with regard to something I was struggling with. Such humility and kindness cannot be overstated.

[@mariedolianitis5144]

They have already joined the papist. They just haven’t announced it….. Action speak louder than words .

[@living_orthodox]

Totally agree. I’ve heard some Greek Archdiocese priests have been pushing “Catholic” dogmas in their parishes.

[@mariedolianitis5144]

@@living_orthodox do we know what he is pushing? So do we stop attending Greek archdiocese churches?

[@LadyMaria]

​@@mariedolianitis5144There were many of us who fled from GOARCH from 2020 to now. Over 20+ people from my old GOARCH Parish went to ROCOR.

[@orthodox1717]

@@mariedolianitis5144 GOARCH is still canonical(for now). There are good Priests in every jurisdiction. Some more than others. There is still grace in GOARCH. Fr. Peter Heers once told me, “don’t look at the big picture(jurisdictions), find a GOOD Priest and stick with him”. FYI, I’m Antiochian, which has its problems, but I have a wonderful traditional Priest. Side note, the MP is not without major fault as well. Most people are unaware. As Gregory Decapolite says, the Church is not with the EP or MP, it’s with the pious remnant of the local canonical churches. To be clear, there is absolutely nothing wrong switching jurisdictions, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. If God wills, there will be a council in the future to settle all this.

[@OrthodoxReview]

God bless you, father. I'm so glad you said this.

[@acekoala457]

Please keep Fr. Andrew and Kh. Belinda in your Prayers as Fr. Andrew has received a cancer Diagnosis. He is my Spiritual Father's Father in Law.

[@Vartholomeos.]

Christ keep you well Father, for we need Priests like you in the battle against the enemy. Your blessings.

[@LeutherGreengager-ip1uw]

I always felt that Benjamin Cabe was really a Roman Catholic masking as an Orthodox "apologist"; and he's not the only one online to give that impression.

[@OrthodoxReview]

Folks like him are the reason no one trusts SVS anymore.

[@LadyMaria]

That makes sense. And he would be a liberal Roman Catholic at that.

[@LeutherGreengager-ip1uw]

@@LadyMaria you sensed it also. It's sad, but I kept giving him the benefit of the doubt. First his replies, then it was the rosaries, etc. What do you do? "We're living in a pluralistic society" one says, "Be charitable" one thinks. And then what happens? An all-out attack on Fr. Heers on Michael Lofton's show, that's what! And not only Fr. Heers but "all his supporters inordinately made up of (angry?) young men" - "me"! Like, we're social media's Orthodox equivalent to the Croat Catholic hooliganism currently trashing Athens, Greece! Sometimes it's better to go with the gut instinct .. that inbuilt BS monitor so prosaicly put nowadays.

[@JulianLife81]

​@@LeutherGreengager-ip1uwexcuse me, but his rosary video seems to be more about what St. Seraphim of Sarov taught people and the fact the 150 Angelic Salutations was a practice that originated in the East.

[@eldermillennial8330]

@@JulianLife81 I’m Western Rite Orthodox, and while our Ideal would be to get back to the ancient Pater Nostar beads, the older versions of the Rosary are acceptable; these are still primarily a Western tradition. I occasionally pray the Jesus Prayer Rope, but more often the Rosary, especially as my mother is more accustomed to the Rosary.

[@JoBlakeLisbon]

You speak with such conviction and reverence. Always a joy to listen.

[@LeutherGreengager-ip1uw]

I'm ethnically Greek-Australian and I for one have hoped to see a Greek Vicariate in ROCOR even + G"W, with our own bishop under ROCOR/Moscow to counterbalance the Russian Vicariate in the Australian EP jurisdiction in Melbourne. Amin.

[@acekoala457]

The issue with this is it makes the Bishops look Hypocritical. They are fighting these little sub-Churches in these enclaves. What ROCOR should do is allow for Greek Style Missions and Churches within the current Dioceses. I will be asking my Bishop if I can open a Arab Style Mission in my hometown.

[@LeutherGreengager-ip1uw]

@@acekoala457 while it is commonly held that God does not call the Shepherds alone to discernment, but also the rational sheep, it is also true that rebellion is every bit as dangerous as episcopolatry - of zeal not according to knowledge.

[@LadyMaria]

​@@acekoala457It may very well happen if the EP and Pope unite.

[@acekoala457]

@@LadyMaria Ethnic Vicarates as means to protect local Expressions of Faith is a noble goal but is it what really should be done? Is it necessary? ROCOR already allows for more Greek Parishes to exist within itself so why would it be necessary to create a special category?

[@improvisedchaos8904]

​@@LeutherGreengager-ip1uwif the sheep did not have discernment - then they could not follow the shepherd; there would also be no priests, as they too are sheep in the flock. You made a great point.

[@lovinNBA]

Father, thank you for what you are doing and congratulations on the new position. Glory to God! For recommendations, if I may, let's not forget about Priestmonk Kosmas of Orthodox Talks, top-tier content.

[@living_orthodox]

One of the very best. Orthodox Talks is replete with wisdom and sound teaching

[@adamrosner7736]

Father Mikhail has recommended his podcast before, and yes! It is top notch

[@allenbauman2202]

God bless you Father. Greetings from Serbia.

[@Stephen-uz8dm]

We have a lovely greek priest who now has a byzantine english and greek language parish under rocor in Vancouver. It was the c-19 madness that pushed many greeks to the russian parishes here but things have improved a bit amongst the greeks here from what I hear. Thank God.

[@adambenedict6155]

Fr. Bless, Hopefully you will cross paths with His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago ( ROCOR) some day. He served with St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco in his formative years. He is very fatherly and is well regarded by Bishops in the Serbian and OCA jurisdictions. Also, I very much appreciate how you pointed out the errors of those in GOARCH and Roman Catholicism with the accompanying directive to pray for them! Thank You. Kissing Your Right Hand, Adam Benedict

[@LTzEz03z]

Rainbow Tyranny is well coined. Ty

[@slowboywhiteboardv5]

Congratulations on getting over 7k subscribers! Thank you for your excellent content 🙏🏻☦️ We understand your lack of time to dedicate to KZbin. We just appreciate all that you are able to do!

[@bobbobb4804]

Well said. Thank you father for speaking on this.

[@alexpanagiotis4706]

Depose these apostates!

[@stevensonrf]

Keep speaking the truth!

[@kianis1206]

Father what do you think is going to happen if the EP United with The Romans? How will the rest of orthodoxy re organize if this happens..I’m sure the monks in Mount athos won’t accept it and many Greeks won’t either.. I would appreciate if you make a video on this ..Thanks

[@hildahilpert5018]

I,m Catholic and not aware of this issue.Howevet why does the EP need to join to Rome.I know reached out to the Lutherans about maybe joining back to Rome.Then the Church reached out to the Waldenses,who the Church called heretics in the Middle Ages.Everubody has gone nuts.

[@LadyMaria]

We in ROCOR will reject it as we are not in communion with the EP even now. I imagine a good portion of Holy Orthodoxy will cut communion with the EP too and he will be yet another Patriarchate that was pruned from the Tree.

[@Kinjiro]

Progressivism cuts the branch it sits on and calls it pruning.

[@Im_No_Expert_72]

Thank you Father, God bless ☦️

[@HarryAzidis-l2s]

I love the fact that you speak the truth sir May Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always xxx

[@ezdeezytube]

Passionate defense of the church is what we are starving for. Love to hear when I see strength behinds words. Who may I listen to who is energetically speaking against the SoS?

[@living_orthodox]

What do you mean by the SoS?

[@ezdeezytube]

@@living_orthodox I was trying to be discrete because of youtube censors. Refers to Synagogue of Satan. Certainly the central issue to the degradation of our culture, countries, and assault on the Church. I'm not aware of modern energetic defenders in the way of Saints Chrysostom, Athanasius, Ambrose, or even Popes Innocent III, Pius V, Gregory VII. The list goes on and on. Of course, such passionate defense would get one labelled an antisemite immediately by the SoS-controlled media. Sometimes I wonder if anyone is still fighting at all, because the enemy is still waging war without pause. You can even sense the hubris/arrogance on their part now because no one is even bold enough to name them now.

[@justian1772]

Thank you, Father! Just wanted to point out that your new posting is just above Montana. Serving with Fr Dcn Ananias will be a much more realistic prospect after you move.

[@jameslkiii]

The warning against wolves in sheep's clothing is called to mind here. You truly will know them by their fruits. Praying for a safe journey.

[@Kickboxingikaros0994]

Father you see things very clear and we need you even here in greece where many priests are begining to say strange and paradox things even here at an orthodox country

[@Nebulous_Encounter]

Thanks for the summary on whats going on with Belya. The money stealing situation reminds me of Judas.

[@matthewadamkeil]

I really like that "by the bishop alone." If you would like the exact Latin for that, it would be "Solo episcopo."

[@Joshua-ch2ij]

Whenever I think Ben Cabe can’t say anything more insane and heretical he surprises me. IDK if it’s prelest or he’s aware of what he’s doing but either way we need to pray for him.

[@Pilgrim22]

Im not too familiar with all this. What did he say that was heretical exactly?

[@Joshua-ch2ij]

@@Pilgrim22 he attacked fr Josiah for criticizing the Filioque heresy and tried to refute it by linking people to Michael Loftons channel who is a papist. This is just one of the many heresy’s that Ben Cabe has pushed online.

[@LadyMaria]

I thought Cabe was sincere at first glance awhile ago but I notice under the veil of "care" he is teaching obvious heresies, backing the Papalists and telling people they don't need to be baptized or even have their marriage blessed in the Church! That façade of care and sugar coating things is what lures people in. I am worried about people who don't know any better, those new to Orthodoxy, thinking that channel is a real source for Orthodox teaching. Allegedly he even has his Bishop's blessing to teach his ideas. And now he picks on Fr. Josiah as well as Fr. Peter for just teaching the Faith without opinion.. Very malicious. Lord have mercy. ☦

[@LadyMaria]

​​​@@Pilgrim22He is down low pro-LGBT+, ecumenist, against basic things of Orthodoxy. He is against baptism for converts, against having marriages blessed (saying it isn't necessary) in the Church, etc. His channel and blog are dangerous. Whoever his Bishop is who allegedly approved it needs to really think about things.

[@Pilgrim22]

@@LadyMaria Can you link examples? Truly curious. I got a lot out of the series he posted called "welcome to the Orthodox Church" and it seemed legit to me so I want to understand where the heretical stuff is coming from.

[@ΆγιοςΙερώνυμος-χ2γ]

Wouldn’t Belya’s episcopal ‘consecration’ be automatically invalid even if Elpidophoros actually consecrates him a bishop? His case seems not unlike the current head of the schismatic OCU, the archlayman Sergei Dumenko who was consecrated I believe by a former defrocked bishop of the MP.

[@living_orthodox]

That would be correct. One cannot be reordaiend after being defrocked and especially not by another hierarch

[@acekoala457]

Dumenko was "Ordained" by a Defrocked Bishop and just welcomed into Communion with Greece at the behest of the CIA

[@sofijaantzaras4970]

Great video Father! What is a vicariate?

[@living_orthodox]

Thank you! A vicariate is like a small sub-community/dioceses for a specific group of people within another jurisdiction

[@Astyrian-Grimm]

I apologize if this has been asked and answered before, but what is the name of the song in your intro?

[@living_orthodox]

Psalm 135. It’s actually on this channel (full version) in the videos section.

[@Astyrian-Grimm]

​​@@living_orthodoxbless you Father!

[@Toomuchproud]

I am concerned, my baptism is coming soon into GOarch. Should I proceed?

[@living_orthodox]

Yes. They still have grace. From there, ask for God’s guidance and seek out a spiritual father. Keep in mind not all confessors are spiritual fathers and this is something that is entered into with the understanding of being a spiritual child of the father in question.

[@KM15Athletics]

@@living_orthodox Father my situation is similar. I am going to be baptized into Goarch soon but I am also moving after that. Would I be able to start attending a ROCOR parish even if I get baptized into Goarch??? I disagree with a lot of the politics within the Greek Church so this has been a concern of mine recently

[@Joshua-ch2ij]

@@KM15AthleticsI know I’m not a priest but I will just say that as long as it’s a canonical Orthodox Church it doesn’t matter what jurisdiction it’s under. You can take communion at any of them.

[@ffivguy1990]

@@Joshua-ch2ijnot if they’re not in communion

[@Joshua-ch2ij]

@@ffivguy1990 that’s why I said canonical. If they aren’t In communion they aren’t canonical

[@Chrisc-sn6uh]

God bless you father, just wanted to know your opinion on fr tryphons page. It was very helpful to hear your thoughts on bible illustrated on a previous video. Your blessings father.

[@living_orthodox]

I have no issue with Fr Tryphon. There’s been some errors but overall, I think there’s good explanations for them. He’s sweet, knowledgeable and a good hieromonk. If people like Cabe demonize someone, that’s usually a glowing endorsement

[@acekoala457]

@@living_orthodox I think we need to hold the Lower Orders accountable for what they declare publicly. Cabe should be defrocked

[@Chrisc-sn6uh]

@@living_orthodox thank you for taking the time to answer my question father. Glory to God.

[@francescadraghi5041]

Qual'é la differenza sostanziale zra voi e i cattolici?

[@Kickboxingikaros0994]

Wolves in sheep cover

[@majorian4897]

2025 world religion like Alice Bailey "predicted"?

[@living_orthodox]

Don’t know who Alice Bailey is. Deductive reasoning doesn’t equal prophetic prediction.

[@Joshua-ch2ij]

@@living_orthodoxI believe if I remember correctly Fr Spyridon Bailey mentioned her in his book orthodoxy and the kingdom of satan.

[@living_orthodox]

@@Joshua-ch2ij I haven’t read his book so I wouldn’t know.

[@Joshua-ch2ij]

@@living_orthodoxdefinitely one that’s worth reading it was one of the first books I read when I became orthodox and it really woke me up to the demonic state that the world is in right now and how we got to where we are at. Definitely worth a read if you’re a fan of Fr Spyridons work.

[@Ioannikios174]

​@@living_orthodoxOrthodoxy and the Kingdom of Satan is a very good book that brings to light various conspiracies and machinations wrought about by Satan. It's written by Fr. Spyridon (Bailey).

[@JoBlakeLisbon]

😊❤

[@WolfgangBoscobel]

Dear Mikhail We know about Elphidophoros and Belya they are crazy we know .. but why never talked about the monstrosity that happened in Ukraine? how about those who are Murdered, Killed and Annihilated by Their Russian Orthodox Brothers??? I think this is MORE important than elpidophors craziness .. right FATHER??

[@living_orthodox]

I have talked about this. For you, having more of a mind for things of men, of course it is. But if you had your mind far less tied to the earth and more on the things of God, you would see what a threat this is to the souls of many people. So don’t come on here and pull some CNN nonsense. This is the Church I am talking about. The Church isn’t responsible for what is happening in Ukraine. The evil schismatic church under Dumenko certainly isn’t helping anyone. But you going and accusing the whole of the Russian Church shows you aren’t taking a healthy look at things.

[@acekoala457]

Here's the thing, the problems in Ukraine are directly connected to what is going on in the US. The EP is Facilitating Schismatics and Uniates to take over the Canonical Church in Ukraine. And now GOARCH is continuing that by attempting a takeover of the Canonical Russian Orthodox Church here in America. All of this is at the behest of the US Government, which sadly will most likely force ROCOR to rescind the defrocking of Belya on the grounds of "Improper Termination of Employ". As for the Political Conflict in Ukraine, it has been going on longer than the US' War on Terror lasted. 2004 is when the Ukrainian government started to commit genocide on the Eastern Ukrainian people for being "Too Russian". The escalating of the Conflict is entirely the fault of the US putting Nazis in power in Ukraine and the propping up of a false church to support said Nazis. War is Hell and is not what mankind is meant for. But blaming the Russian Orthodox Church for it is not in any way proper.

[@billybenson3834]

I agree whole heartily that the EP and AB overstep their authority. But I also don't believe these videos are problematic for the church and those who are inquiring because it shifts the focus away from Christ and the faith. To look at jurisdictions and blanket condemnations is not of God, but of man. The church is local, this is where we live, pray, commune, and worship. Jurisdictionional issues are secondary to our lives, there has always been unfaithful bishops since the beginning of the church. God will judge them and us if we add to schism. Let the saints take care of our guidance.

[@living_orthodox]

The fact you’re commenting on this proves it isn’t merely local. That’s a very Baptists perspective which isn’t Orthodox. The Church is universal and it is better they get a perspective like this, rather than being scandalized with no one to provide a voice or insight on the matter. Be careful to not be an ostrich.

[@DeannaBrown-yz6vz]

I am Catholic. I love watching certain Orthydox teachers on here. Pray for Pope Francis he is not being led by the Holy Spirt, but by the Spirit of the world. It also seems as these Bishops are being lead by that same spirit. I will pray for them. I believe that as Brother and Sisters in Chirst's it's not about what church you attend, but imatating Jesus in your life. God Bless You.

[@living_orthodox]

The Popes have not been led by the Holy Spirit since just prior to schism. One also cannot hope to imitate Christ by being taught false doctrines and belonging to any other Church than the one He established. No matter how convincing, a counterfeit is worthless because it is unbacked.

[@kimfab1973]

Ut unum sint! East and West churches should seek unity!

[@living_orthodox]

The west needs to shed some of its innovations and heresies before that can ever happen. Not only would the union be worldly and politically motivated, but insincere. Unless we agree on ecclesiology and theology in which we become unified, then the union is false and nothing more than another political land grab by the Papacy.

[@artifexdei3671]

@@living_orthodox what innovations and heresies? any examples? common theme among the orthodox to accuse catholics of innovations. being outside of papacy, is an act of rebellion. there's an element of pride in it.

[@jacobwoods6153]

Dude they don't want union lol it's going to take a serious miracle. Rome is not going to change its dogmas and the more trad Orthos aren't going to change their view on the filioque and especially their view on the Papacy being first amongst equals as well as other issues.

[@LadyMaria]

The Orthodox Catholic Church kept the door open for Rome to come back into communion after its rebellion, and repent but it never did. Instead, Rome persecuted the Church for nearly 1,000 years. Then last century it decided it wanted unity after it evolved into the mess it did. We're not going to compromise the Truth for Rome's innovations. That is worldly unity, not godly unity.

[@Stephen-uz8dm]

A corpse can not be wed to a living person