What I've learnt about spirituality from the Celtic Saints

[@mullmonastery]

To support our Monasteries on Mull and Iona, join our Online Community here mullmonastery.com/our-online-community/ May God bless us all!

[@FrJohnBrownSJ]

From a Catholic brother who believes and embraces all that you have said in this video, Christ's peace to you! When you began speaking about the robust concern for obedience, it reminded me why I am Catholic. I say it again, Christ's peace, brother!

[@seranonable]

as a protestant I'm very grateful that the wisdom of our Orthodox friends is available for us to learn from... I hope to become Orthodox some day but if I cannot then I at least want to learn as much as I can from the ancient church of the apostles.

[@Marcosnationalistos]

Hopefully one day we all reunite and become one Church again🙏✝️

[@truuluvv]

I thank God for leading me to Orthodoxy when I was fifty.

[@lesandbonnyboybilbo]

Years before I became a follower of Christ I was on holiday on Mull and went to Iona on a visit. We took the ferry across the narrow part of water. As soon as I stepped off that ferry I felt such peace and serenity it was palpable. I had a God experience, in the small chapel at the entrance to the Abbey. But at the time I didn't really realise the significance of these experiences. A few years later I was in Wales on holiday again and was staying in part of the owns home. I went wandering up in the hills, nothing but me the scenery and sheep. I was so amazed at the beauty of the outlook I said out loud " wow, this is so beautiful" and a passing sheep said "isn't it just" I was astonishing but again I didn't realise the significance. A few years on and I eventually met Him at just the right time in a strange place for me, a church. He set me free if so much I can't mention here. He has blessed me so much ever since. Our God is an amazing God. Amen ❤️🔥🙏

[@carlanderson6205]

I lived for two years as a younger man in Scotland. I will never forget the sound of a a hundred sheep bedding down for the night on the side of a large steep hill and each one softly baaing. It was almost musical. What a beautiful sound. Also, the sweet smell of the heather or something on a cool spring day or at dusk. So soothing for the soul. Your words are so inspiring. Thanks for your teaching. God bless you.

[@patredman3733]

Thank you for waking us up to our Celtic saints. Embarrassingly somewhere in the past I’ve picked up the idea that they combined pagan and Christian practices so never enquired any further! You’ve set me off enquiring into their lives. I am, uncomfortably, one of those protestants, but, by the grace of God, learning and longing to come home to Orthodoxy in all its fullness and life giving practices. May God draw us all to His Truth.

[@AshleyHorjus]

What a beautiful back drop and I appreciate this rich history lesson. Thank you. Anyone else want to disappear to this beautiful place for 40 days?🙏❤

[@mullmonastery]

Iona is this incredible place in the middle of nowhere - it can be painfully beautiful, but it can also suddenly turn very dark and oppressive. One has to give oneself entirely to its 'moods' and embrace them all, so one does not lose one's peace. May we all be blessed, dear one

[@feeble_stirrings]

"He who chooses himself as a spiritual guide has chosen a blind man and a fool." - Fr. Thomas Hopko

[@michaelcarney5936]

I remember him saying it a little more like this: "He who has himself as a spiritual father has a fool for a disciple."

[@hattie-thebatty-2486]

Oh Father Seraphim what a beautiful smile & what peace in nature, the scenery & the lambs who just love to bounce showing the joy of life

[@thanasistama3943]

You hit it squarely on the head. We adapt the tradition to where we are without damaging the core Faith handed down from Our Lord Jesus Christ thru his apostles and disciples. New practices for the Faith but never wavering from the Gospel message. I have said the same thing many times to friends when they think that their protestant denomination is the end all. Where did you think you got the faith if not from those who preserved the 2000 years? Have a good fast!

[@thanasistama3943]

Recently, I nearly choked when a leader in my monastic community stated that Hades (Sheol) never existed! Revisionist poop.

[@riseandshinejp]

Your words support me, they are appreciated. I wish I had the courage to live like the desert fathers.

[@pilgrimcarolee7294]

Don't forget the desert Mother's of which I am one! I live in the So. Cal. Desert as a Hermit for 8yrs. Now! 😊

[@mullmonastery]

I feel the same, dear one. Their faith and the manners in which they manifested that faith are so much stronger, so undiluted compared to mine.

[@pilgrimcarolee7294]

You have to be called! What you could do is find one who needs your financial help! You would be blessed For that loving offering! And offerings!

[@pilgrimcarolee7294]

@mullmonastery I wasn't referring to you Father! I very much miss your video,'s when you take a break !

[@eternalbattle1438]

I've been suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome from more than a year now. Please, pray for my health. Be blessed all of you!☦️

[@pilgrimcarolee7294]

Yes! Am very familiar with that illness! I too suffer with the same problem. I use my Down time praying and looking for any new Saint I have not studied yet! On the internet!

[@pilgrimcarolee7294]

Oh! I become aware of having that illness in the 1980's I don't remember exactly!

[@hattie-thebatty-2486]

🙇‍♀️

[@ritakevorkian2649]

Thank you Father. May the Lord bless you❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤. I love you so much father❤❤❤❤❤

[@mullmonastery]

May we all be blessed, dear one, and may we all be held in Christ's love.

[@user-mq9co4tl1w]

From Ontario Canada,..Happy Good Friday! ...happy, as you know because of Our Lord's sacrifice. There is no Easter Sunday without Good Friday. God bless...

[@donaldcatton4028]

Thank you..

[@remahunt4277]

Father is so articulate when speaking I could listen all day without growing restless. I understand and have thought about exactly what you are teaching. Orthodoxy is deep and holy and mystical to me. After all, listening to you we can get a taste of it, as you have emerged from it. So lovely it is, once again, to see you so joyful. You are just shining today. I am praying every day for you and all of your community. I am trying to push love over the big big ocean towards you. God Bless you.

[@jayc9940]

Thank you Father for this blessed video! If you could please pray for an Orthodox church to be established on the island of Guam! I will keep you in my prayers as well!

[@julietplatt9763]

I feel so blessed to have met you today Father Seraphim on the day you filmed this video! Iona was truly beautiful today and after our short chat I walked to St Columba's Bay. Your words surely help to open the universe of the Church to my heart.

[@kiriaioulia]

Blessed Lent, Father!!!

[@crystalbarnard3905]

I appreciate you so much, Father. God bless you and your work. We are all in such need of true spiritual guidance.

[@marinayassa3464]

I really pray that you can make a book of what you have learned from the mystical life of the Celtic saints and their hidden stories.

[@ThomasCampbell-y5i]

Hey I'm from the Town of Derry Our Patron St of this town is St Columbia or Doire Comcille and Donegal

[@DebbieYoungArt]

My husband and I hope to visit Mull and Iona monasteries this fall, Lord willing. Thanks you.

[@Chrisc-sn6uh]

I have been reading about the Celtic saints, they have left me in awe.

[@mkeenan1955]

Yes, the Celtic Saints loved to rove, especially Columba (Colum-Cille). When he arrived at Iona it was called Hy and then Iova before being called Iona.

[@STMukr]

Nice smile father. Hello to you from Bassarabia. Thks for your thoughts and video ❤ Lord have mercy on us.❤ Long time ago I've been in the Cambletown and Dandi. Scotland = Freedom. Nice nature. God bless this land❤

[@mullmonastery]

May Christ bless us all, dear one, wherever we may be. Bassarabia is an immensely beautiful part of the world, as well, with some of the kindest people I know.

[@jamesbelden8337]

God bless you father, and thank you for your wisdom. Please pray for me as I search for an Orthodox Church in my area to begin the process of my conversion from the Episcopal Church.

[@jovanblom7742]

God bless you, father

[@Change4Good333]

Happy Easter! dear father Seraphim. Thank you so much for your profound teachings. God bless you! 🌟✝️🌟

[@dschmid8845]

Thank you Fr. Seraphim for your reflection and lesson on tradition. This is one of the best I’ve heard.

[@kade966]

Thank you, Father for sharing these Truths from a heart overflowing with Christ Love!!! You can feel His Presence as you are speaking. Many Blessings to you and your community🙏❤️🦋

[@AlexanderP901]

Very powerful video, Father - your blessing!

[@Blissful.Awareness]

Wow... everything, all the different points and the perspective you share here, just hits the mark perfectly. Amazing. Thank you.

[@irinabojescu7140]

Glory to God you're smiling, father!😊

[@dschmid8845]

2 Thessalonians 2:15 says “Therefore, brothers, stand firm. Hold on to the traditions you received from us, either by our word or by letter.”

[@A-man-in-the-box]

🙏🏽❤️

[@HolyAssumptionKenaiAK]

Thank you, Father Seraphim. Good to see you after the years since our road trip from Manton, Ca.

[@JamesMasterPlaster]

Here again Father, you spoke to me.☦️🏋️‍♀️🤺☦️

[@reuben2684]

Amazing. Blessed are you. The history of what you described is amazing and sounds wonderful😊

[@stylist62]

It’s very beautiful there, thank you for showing us🙏🙏🌺very well put, Christ’s church goes all the way back to Christ, tradition , obedience, is a connection to our roots🙏🥰🌺

[@AgrYpn1a]

Hello father! First of all I'd like to thank you for all your inspiring videos, they've been very helpful to myself and some of my friends. I would like to ask, can you recommend me some books that cover the lives of the Celtic saints? I am especially interested in those stories about sailing and floating monasteries, because I am in love with sailing and I tend to look at it from the ascetic perspective, so this is very interesting to me.

[@danielmanalo7198]

Amen, thank you my dear friend for your kind message..

[@anthonylingenfelter3186]

I love you my brother wish I live d on the island with you!!

[@xenia302]

Amen! And thank you, the timing could not have been more providential ! 😢 Time for me to ask forgiveness yet again.🙏🌻

[@gretagarbo1119]

Thank You!I should love to be ingulfed in Your prayer,joy,Light,Love;we all do!It s so much needed!I so love the Saints could and can be creative,original,true artists,in my opinion.Much love to You,too,Fr.!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@mcorte2224]

Your videos make my heart a little warmer, thank you.

[@OrthoSky]

God bless you father, and pray that the lord will guide me. If the lord guides me to orthodoxy I’d hope to join you on the beautiful isle in your monastery, or at least meet you. God bless you and your online mission

[@ruthshivani]

🙏🏽🙏🏽Thanku

[@IN-pr3lw]

Thank you for my prayer rope 🙏

[@mullmonastery]

Please remember us when you use it, dear one. May we all be blessed through everyone else's prayer

[@Joey-w6m]

Thank Again father/Brother have been following you since Covid 👁️You speak the truth and are worth following God Bless You. As a Roman Catholic Our Easter is Sunday early this year. 🙏✨🙏My faith has become very important to me. And I say the Rosary everyday,yet also pray on prayer beads . Living in Greece for 1and half years. I have Great Respect for Eastern Orthodox faith 🙏and find it to be very similar.🕊Because of the Holy Spirit ,I Attend Mass every Sunday,The Jesus prayer, is very important to me and I find myself saying when I can,The Devine Mercy I say everyday on line . Also the western Celtic Orthodox Church I have been following Father Paul from Australia 🙏How can I explain to you why I need these weapons and shields I can not 👁️ But because of many I am Grateful🙏✨❤️🍀 Thank You And GodBless you Always. Amen,Amen,Amen 🙏💠🛡⚔️🔱🛡💠🙏🕊St Joseph was there for Jesus Christ in the beginning and at the End of his Human life 2 different saints yet both important. 🙏✨All Glory and Honor is yours Almighty God for Ever and Ever 🕊✨Amen, Amen, Amen.🛡💠🛡💠🛡💠🛡💠

[@paulthompson4332]

What a beautiful message. I love and praise the Lord Jesus Christ My background, on my mother's side, are the McTavish's I would love to go on a pilgrimage to Scotland to your area...perhaps one day Also, don't be fooled by that skull logo/picture I have there. For me, it simply reminds me of my mortality, how life is short, how Christ is so important God's blessings through Christ my brother

[@elliemunro3165]

Grandma from New Zealand..your videos are inspiring..i love them..thank you

[@Linki-nz]

There are some Orthodox Churches in New Zealand

[@donaldcatton4028]

K Clark started his Civilization series on Iona…long ago

[@PaulTheHermit77]

Saint Brendan the Navigator is someone I admire greatly. Saint Cuthbert too. Both emersed in nature and at one with it. Amazing men. Today as a Catholic I celebrated my first Good Friday. Yesterday, maunday Thursday I got my feet washed Infront of the church by the Priest. I really felt part of a tradition going back to the first head of the Church Jesus. I'm learning alot. Your channel has been a big part of my journey. If there was a orthodox Celtic church on the island I live on then I probably would of joined it. But I'm learning to follow what I'm taught and told by who is here to teach me. I was trying to go it on my own as a Christian for a year, making my own choices but I realised I was starting to chose my own path too much. Videos you made helped me see this. I'm a sinner and from past experiences makes too many mistakes. There is a Benedictine monastery near me that I feel a deep connection to. I'm considering trying to form a closer relationship with them, maybe oblation. I'm a follower of Christ and God willing not my flawed ego. God Bless you Father. I admire the way of life you and the other Brothers and sisters live there.

[@mullmonastery]

May God continue to strengthen and guide you towards His Truth, my dear one. Have a joyous Pascha and may Christ's Light and Truth find a dwelling in your heart. Go deep, so as deep as you can in your faith, and Christ will slowly (but with strength) guide you forward.

[@bethdrummond5763]

Father - you have put into words the exact thing I now know but had no vocabulary for. It is self idolatry- but it is not just alive and well in the Protestant church but in the Catholic as well. I know this from first hand experience - after close to 25 years in a variety of evangelical churches they began to morph into organizations I no longer recognized - the prosperity gospel and the word faith movement have no place in the gospel. So I began to search for the “true” church and ended up spending another 20+ years in the Catholic Church (as you can guess I am not a spring chicken) believing what they claimed - to be the ancient church. While they had much more depth than my previous church experience- it was highly legalistic- very cerebral and had also become a “choose your own adventure” religious experience. Lent? You could give something up or add something extra to do - I suppose you could fast - but why would you do that? In the end it was as empty and spiritually dead as it sounds. And then - thanks be to God - He brought me to the Orthodox Church a year and a half ago - and I have finally found the true church and the path to God - should He grant me the grace and the time for repentance. So I am a first hand witness to the death and self idolatry that lives in the schismatic churches - and the life that resides in orthodoxy. And there is something truly amazing happening in North America right now - young people are discovering orthodoxy. The spirit is leading unchurched “kids” into our doors - more everyday - although we now need a miracle of more space! Pascha is this weekend and I doubt our little building will be able to hold us all. I know it must be exhausting- running the monastery - the visitors and the KZbin videos but please know they have great value. Here in my little corner of Canada all those new young people who keep coming in - they love and watch them - often discussing a point you made at after liturgy coffee. So be of good cheer - the lord is blessing the seeds you sow and the harvest is growing. May God keep and strengthen you 😄!

[@cosminstanescu8534]

So happy God led you home ! May He bless you with repentance and spiritual gifts !

[@RuachEden]

The thin red line! Wisdom indeed! Thank you

[@colmcille9669]

Thank you father I've been reading all the saints in St Oengus' martyrology since last autumn and I can see exactly what you mean about that. If I may be so bold, I believe it is very relevant today at least for the internal debates for Orthodoxy online - it seems important to remember that there are two directions we can stray off the narrow path and when we focus on moving away from one error we move in the direction of the opposite error. If a brother points out one error and another brother points out the other, they do not necessarily disagree even if we are encouraged to think so. Anyway, it's wonderful to hear more about Orthodox saints of these lands. Thank you for coming here and venerating them long before I was in the Church, and for your prayers.

[@lc9902]

Father Seraphim, it makes tremendous sense. Your explanation of our faith cannot be more clear and truthful. God bless you!

[@nomenklatakura]

thank you friend

[@colmcille9669]

I haven't watched yet but I wanted to ask you about the icons you paint. I have four of them and as time goes on and I learn more about Orthodoxy I've seen different styles of icon but yours remain unique to my experience. And I attend the Romanian Church in Ireland. In a recent video you mentioned Romanian Peasant icons and I could see some similarities but they were still very different in style. So I'm curious to learn more about my icons. Maybe you have time to tell me or maybe it would make a good video. I know you are busy though so I'm just throwing this out there in case. Thank you for everything father!

[@hattie-thebatty-2486]

I would love to see that too

[@1KevinsFamousChili1]

A beautiful and thought provoking video, Father. I wondered if you might make a video talking about Corneliu Codreanu and his Iron Guard since you are Romanian. I know it is a difficult topic to discuss in modern times so I don't blame you for not wanting to speak on it at length but I have always been curious of your thoughts on him. In any case, God bless you and thank you for the video.

[@gillianc6514]

Greetings from Romania. The Iron Guard was a political movement and a stain on Romania. May good men and priests were taken in by them, but no good came of the movement, it is truly un-Orthodox and ironically has more similarities to the ideas of Zionism than Christianity. It took the Communists to turn members of the Legion into saints. God's bounty is unfathomable. The ways of the Legion are not the ways of Christ. God rules in the midst of His enemies, and that is where we belong whilst on Earth.

[@MB-sb5vh]

Hi, I grew up protestant. Never heard of Orthodoxy until my mid 30's. But ive been inquiring for 3 yrs now. I live in AU and there are orthodox churches here but my family isnt Greek/ or Serbian or Russian. And dont speak the language of the church. We always felt like outsiders 😢. My husband and son have ADHD and struggled sitting through services. I do believe this is the church. But its been almost impossible to join. Please pray for us.

[@gillianc6514]

Hi. May I suggest you find a church meets these two conditions (1) that does not have seats and where the congregation is standing, as it traditionally does. In Orthodox countries, people zone in and zone out of the Liturgy, if you need to leave and sit outside for a bit, you leave and sit outside. You can wander around, you don't need to be fixed to one spot. Once you are a member, if you need Communion before the end of the service, you can have Communion before the end of the service (provided you meet the conditions of fasting and confession and there is more than one priest on the altar). (2) a church which provides an agape meal after the liturgy. This is a simple meal for the congregation, people will be friendly and it is a great way to get to know everyone and make friends. Priests are priests, some are great, others less so, but if you have the backing of people in the congregation, the priest will be more amenable to you and glad of their help. Many prayers.

[@deirdrelewis1454]

This is why I could never leave the Catholic Church…Eucharist, liturgy and tradition.

[@user-ec2mn8wc7f]

Hello, thank you for your videos that introduced convincingly the orthodox faith. I went fraily infront of a church in Paris yesterday but because of my unwellness and the aspect of thé crowd in front , of higher economic status and dressed so squarely I could say I felt too much too much out of place to enter the church this time. I have a question to after listening to you : is the invitation and method to dance, called theokinesis, freely available on the internet, a contemporary work around Butoh and thé Christian faith, what you would call the work of the antichrist? Have a good day, Alyosha

[@kikikaakau-delizo8152]

It's beautiful, Father! Which Orthodox tradition is Mull Monastery? I was in touch with a Celtic Orthodox Bisop back in 2004/5, who told me that their Bishops are married and the wives wear monastic habits. I was happily amazed!

[@Linki-nz]

Mull Monastery is apart of the The Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe. Sadly I think the Celtic orthodox you are talking about are a schismatic group, that aren’t actually Orthodox, they aren’t apart of the Canonical Orthodox Churches.

[@KelliCoalburner]

Thank you, Father! Do you have any links or information as to how the Celtic saints came to be, such as St Aidan?

[@drjman2356]

Can you elaborate on a video on the "traditions" that we should follow to prevent self-idolatry?

[@BlackHermit]

What do you mean by Wikipedia? Which page should we read?

[@pilgrimcarolee7294]

Why has it been sooo long since you have sent a message???

[@timmccarty8111]

Embrace the ascetics as a tool only and but do not worship the act of asceticism itself.

[@ArchangelIcon]

"Start with Wikipedia"... then find the nearest Orthodox church to you and attend one of the services and see. You can read as much as you like, and even become an expert on Orthodoxy. But, the Orthodox faith is only really understood by experiencing it.

[@sharakirkby2744]

The Catholic Church teachings are opening the doors to apostasy which alarmingly contradicts the past and punishes those who practice and adhere to the true apostolic beliefs. Wandering souls are seeking something more stable in truth. So the children of God are seeking a way to further their understanding and seek holiness. Thus the question asked. That’s what I see in any event. Blessings to you and your spiritual family.💖