Video by - A Hard Promise to keep - / @ahardpromisetokeep956 Today a priest of the Orthodox Church in America, Father Moses Berry tells his story how God invited him to join and serve the Orthodox Church, the Garden of Saints.
Black African Ethiopians are one of the earliest Christians. They were Christians way way before Christianity reached Europe. Orthodox Church is universal; there's no differentiation from Greek, Russian, Serbian, Ethiopian etc. However each church is mainly composed of their respective nationality/ethnicity. But, I guess I'm trying to say, you may have a higher sense of 'belonging' if you joined the Ethiopian Church.
Even though I’m from Russia, we Tatars in majority are muslims. And even when I realized who Jesus was, and I was planning to go to the church to get baptized, I was still hesitant. Just because I knew no one like me doing it. And I prayed to God to guide me in this decision because somewhere subconsciously I did feel like I was betraying my ancestors. It’s irrational I know but converts will understand me I’m sure. So right the next day after that prayer very randomly in a video on a completely different topic I learned about one Tatar Saint- Abraham Bolgarskiy. And his remains were preserved in the same exact town where I wanted to travel to get baptized - Vladimir. That’s how God strengthened me! My heart was rejoicing. Never since that moment I hesitated in my belief. So I do feel whatever is said in this video 💛
As a Catholic I grown up with this mantra: Orthodox is the original one; Protestantism is a philosophy. So I salute the orthodox Christians as the original one! Peace ✌️
I am an ukranian of Russia and I am born-orthodox. I was with charismatics, baptists and evangelicals, but turn againg to my home Russian mother Orthodox church. I believe that Orthodox is the only true, the best and highest religion in the World. I am proud to be slavic russian speaking Orthodox christian!
I am Russian Orthodox attending a Russian Orthodox church in the US. The deacon of our church was a Black American man, he recently passed away, in September. May Deacon Michael finally be at peace, God bless his soul. Watching this reminded me of him and brought tears to my eyes and chills down my spine. "We are all flowers in God's garden" what a beautiful beautiful analogy, I will be saying that from now on.
The Orthodox Church flourished in Africa for the first 300 years of Christianity. The only thing remarkable is that some find this remarkable. Glory to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I'm a Roman Catholic but for the last few years, it's like God is calling me into the Orthodoxy. As I've seen a few mass and o how my heart was moved by the sacredness of it. So powerful and beautiful. Now today this was shared with me... maybe it's God's way to tell me it's time to join the first church.
One of the first videos that I watched before coming into the Orthodox Church. Fr. Moses gave me the courage to enter the church despite the racial differences between me and other parishioners. Thank you, Father. May his memory be eternal.
God Bless you Father! I was Chrismated in the Orthodox Church in 2010. I was a Lutheran for 50 years. I felt as though scales had fallen from my eyes. Every problem I had with western Christianity (both in practice and theology) was answered in Orthodoxy. I realized it was the true, original church. the church of love, tolerance and worship of the creator. When I get a chance to talk to African Americans about the church, I point out that north Africans were among the first Christians and played a pivitol role in the early Church. I travel; I find Ethiopians, Copts, & Eritreans at the various churches I attend.
I am amazed people are not educated to know the Coptic and Orthodox Churches have been in Africa for hundreds of years as well as in the mid east. Thank you Fr. for mentioning the Saint from the Aleutians. He was murdered/martyred on a Spanish ship, by the Captain, sailing to Calif because he refused to convert to Roman Catholic. The Aleutians are part of Alaska and the Island were populated by various indigenous people known as the Aleut. During WWII the Island were depopulated for the most part due to the Japanese occupation, and retaking of the Aleutian Chain. There are several black Saints, and Native American Saints for those who do not know. Please research and educate yourself.
It pleased me to hear mention of St. Peter the Aleut as, being Aleutian, he was of a people who were brought the news of Christ through my own saint, Innocent of Alaska. It provides a nice example of cause-and-effect to me, for without the work of St. Innocent of Alaska, we would not have the holy martyr that is St. Peter the Aleut, who demonstrated the strength of his faith even against immense physical pain. This is, of course, but one of many instances of cause-and-effect. Virtually every saint that has ever been has become one either through the direct or indirect influence of prior saints, and even in my own life, I have been blessed enough to help lead people toward God, and then those people would lead more people toward God, and on and on. Ah, but forgive me for my ramble. I hope everyone reading this has a blessed day and remembers that, at least at the time I post this, Christ is Risen.
I'm Bulgarian born, to a Tanzanian father, and after 27 years of being non denominational I have come to Orthodoxy and my 1st born is born in the church. We thank God.
Im Assyrian and we are Orthodox!! Although our Churches tend to cater to one ethnicity like Assyrian church of the east, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox etc we welcome anyone of any ethnicity to our churches. We are one!!!
I've been an Orthodox Christian all my life...62 years. I am blessed to be part of the Orthodox faith. I have been blessed to witness so many miracles in my life. I pray that more people come to Christ through the blessings of the Orthodox church.
I am a Greek blessed to be born into orthodoxy. My cup overflows to see so many other “Flowers of God’s Garden” join the Greek Orthodox Church! WELCOME BROTHERS AND SISTERS! WELCOME! You just brightened His beautiful bouquet.
We Serbs have suffered for freedom and to protect our country,now they stole Kosovo from us and destroyed churchs and killed everyone and they blame Serbs for all.Please God forgive us and forgive them cuz they dont know what they do!!!😓😔
How can anyone give this man a thumbs down. This was one of the most heartfelt beautiful, inspirational stories I've ever heard. I was so moved by this story and such that I'm fully convinced Orthodoxy is the way to go...
Fr. Moses is a very humble and joyful priest. May God grant him many years and may the Church always be blessed to have priests like Fr. Moses serving it.
I had very similar feelings when I first started going to the perish I go to now, and that was on January of this year, but I knew that there was a presence, a holy and divine presence within this church, and I had to keep going. I started to realize that I was seeing something change within me, and it happened the more I went to this church, and then came the Pascha Candle Light Vigil, and out of every Easter service I've ever been to, none truly moved me like this, and at that moment I opened my eyes, and now I am absolutely convinced, I will convert as soon as I've gone through the Liturgical Year, the hour drive every Sunday morning is worth it, my salvation depends on it, and I look forward to being in full communion with Christ our God. Pray for me as I journey to the Eastern Orthodox Church and to the only one who can cure me of my ailment which is sin.
I came from a Serbian Orthodox family growing up in America. Last year when I visited santa rosa California, I wonder into an American Orthodox Church. American. Wow. Their were Africans and races from all over the world during their yearly celebration. The orthodox church does not have a pope. They have tradition and the true message of Christianity. After all, It is the church mentioned in Acts in the bible. It is the first church. Maybe its time for it to bring all the people together in this world
I'm Russian Orthodox. Been since birth...long history here. My great nephew Zachary just got churched this week ,privetly due to the virus. 4/7/20. And today was in his father's arms at a private Palm Sunday service. 4/12/20 .My nephew Eric is a Reader at church. So very proud. My Dad smiling down from Heaven 😇 ,and so proud!!! May God Grant You All Many Many Years!!!☦️☦️☦️
I was born into the Greek Orthodox Faith and I have never looked back. At 51, my experience with this Faith has only ever been positive! What I appreciate most of all... is that the Orthodox Faith never shifted from the original doctrine and teachings, which still practices the same way today, as it did in the early days of Christianity. All are welcome into this beautiful Faith no matter race or colour! We are all one! God bless... 🙏🏻
Отче, слава Господу за всякое слово во Имя Его на каждом языке! Нет ни иудея, ни эллина, ни женщины, ни мужчины, ни черного, ни белого перед Господом! Сердца у всех людей одинаковы!
For all of you watching, keep Fr. Moses in your prayers. I will quote a status update regarding Fr. Moses by Abbot Tryphon of the All-Merciful Saviour Monastery of Vashon Island, Washington. "Please remember my dear friend and brother, Archpriest Moses Berry, in your holy prayers. Father Moses has been in the hospital for a number of months, even coming close to death. He is scheduled to have his second leg amputated on Tuesday [December 14, 2021]. He and Matushka Magdalena have suffered, together, for some time, and are both worthy of our prayers and our love."
We are all Gods creation, and separation has no place in Orthodox Christianity, which in turn is the original, and most traditional form of Christianity.
Many people do not realise that quite a few of the early saints and martyrs of the church were black. You will find icons of them in many Orthodox churches. We are very blessed to have their likes watching over us.
Ethiopian and Coptic Orthodox Churches are as old as you can get and established themselves from the beginning. Ethiopia was never conquered by the European colonial superpowers and Orthodoxy united the Ethiopians to fight for their faith , country and freedom . They always forget to mention that in history books and portrait black people as slaves and uneducated people but guess what black people in Ethiopia were more educated more intelligent and managed to defeat colonial powers even if they did not had the latest weaponry and God helped them to do that !
God Bless You Father. God must have loved you very much to have chosen you to become an Orthodox priest. You are a true blessing to so many. I should know because my uncle is an Orthodox priest and he has helped so many. God Bless Orthodoxy and may people convert back to the true religion of Christ.🥰
Father Moses, your description of different colors in God's garden was so beautiful and inspirational, I believe they were not your words but those of the Holy spirit in you. You Father Moses are as humble and authentic as any person of God that I ever met. Your journey to Orthodoxy was amazing indeed; as is the museum you built. You are truly a man of God as I am very touched by your story. If I'm ever in your area I would be honored to attend one of your sermons and visit your historic museum. God love you Father......
To all those who feel shy and out of place because of such differences - there is a rich tradition of Orthodox Christianity in the Levant and Africa. There are many saintly paragons you might chose to follow together in Christ among those great men and women. None of them were white. Following Christ is not about race and ethnicity and it never was. We are all made in the image of God.
Father, you are so amazing, greets from Poland. When I watching on you I see man of God. You look so familiar for me despite you are diffrent race. Glory to God!
May god bless you fr. moses i have been attending my local Russian orthodox church here in buffalo n.y. and soon i will be baptized one of the first saints i learned about in my studying was st. Moses of Ethiopia
People I love you, thanks God for all of you. I am so happy when I see orthodox in all languages and orthodox love in all nations ❤❤❤ much love from Serbian brother!
