Fantastic discussion! I’m hunting for an English version of the book that was mentioned “Contra Mundum”. Does it exist yet? If not, are there plans for an English version?
I came to Romania to destroy Orthodoxy as a Protestant Missionary. Today, by God's grace, my family and I are baptized Orthodox! Glory to God in all things!
@@kotchstevens2321, THE PROTESTANT CHURCHES ARE NOT THE CHURCH JESUS CHRIST CREATED, THEY SPLIT FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AFTER FIGHTING WITH THE POPE, ALL OF THE PROTESTANT CHURCHES ARE HERETICAL, GOD IS NOT THERE, IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
@@kotchstevens2321 ,THE PROTESTANT CHURCHES ARE NOT THE CHURCH JESUS CHRIST CREATED, THEY SPLIT FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AFTER FIGHTING WITH THE POPE, GOD IS NOT THERE, HE IS ONLY INSIDE THE ORTHODOX CHURCH BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY CHURCH HE CREATED, STUDY WHAT HAPPENED IN 1054(THE GREAT SCHISMA)
@@kotchstevens2321 you know, it wasn't really an issue with Protestantism that led me to leave it and look into orthodoxy. I had been gathering and collecting the best teachings in the protestant circles that I could find and picking up and setting down what didn't seem to work. My issue against orthodoxy was that I consider them to be more pagan Catholics and, where I come from, we were taught to despise the Catholic faith. But, my beliefs kept becoming more and more scandalous to protestants as I researched and looked for the truth. Mainly that the Bible speaks of spiritual beings ruling certain aspects of our calendars and natural elements and geographic locations. Eventually, I began praying and asking God for faith I could put my hands on and specifically I was desperately looking for a spiritual father. Nobody wanted to deal with my issues and nobody ever had any answers. I simply came to the bottom of the Protestant well and realize that there was no healing for me and that my only goal was just die and hope I made it to heaven. Around that time a friend of mine invited me to an orthodox service. I was trying to convert him out of orthodoxy so I went with it thinking it would be a good way to reminisce about my time in Romania, grab what I could gather intellectually, and come up with counter points. However, five minutes into the service, I felt the sudden dread of realizing that I screwed up. I saw everything that I ever wanted and couldn't find in prostatism staring at me in the face. I was in a "Oh shoot! Oh shoot! Oh shoot! I've screwed up! I have it all wrong!" Panic. I suddenly craved confession and a chance of being healed. What I found in orthodoxy was everything that protestants promised, but could not deliver. As time has gone on my relation to my protestant past has changed. Sometimes I'm frustrated and angry at all the ways I have been lied to by people. Other times I'm grateful for the earnest seekers who had provided me beautiful moments that ultimately led me to orthodoxy. Sometimes I'm heartbroken because I want all the Protestants to become orthodox as well. Sometimes I forget about them altogether. I guess it's all part of my deprogramming. Does that make sense?
I’m an ex-Muslim from Bosnia. I started in the Protestant church and was baptized in the Protestant church, am now an inquirer in Eastern Orthodoxy. Glory be to God and I am so grateful the Lord has shown me such grace and mercy. 🥲💗🙏🏼
I went to Romania in 2014 from California.. and was offended and haughty but thinking I was right and they were confused. Today, I am now in LOVE with Jesus and I wish to be baptized and part of Eastern Orthodoxy. I wish I could return to Romanian and repent to all. And I repent to my Father in heaven. I am so humbled and thankful.
I first encountered Orthodoxy in Romania as an American Evangelical missionary just over 20 years ago. I've now been Orthodox for just over 10 years. Romania holds a special place in my heart. I wish I could go back now that I'm an Orthodox Christian so I could more fully appreciate the rich heritage of the Faith there. I'm inspired by a number of the Romanian martyrs and confessors of the Faith during the reign of Communism, particularly Fr. Arsenie Papacioc and Valeriu Gafencu.
Were you a self-funded missionary, or did you have financial supporters? That must have been a tough announcement to declare to your Protestant sponsors that you had converted! Also, what do you think of Protestants who actually (albeit imperfectly) follow Jesus? What I mean by that is, do you think there may be some faithful Protestants counted among the sheep on that Great Day? And what of those in the Latin church? My own view on this has to do with what I find to be prescient language in Luke 23:38 and Mat13:33 >
@@AnHebrewChild I had supporters. With regard to Protestants, I heard a priest once say, “some Jesus is better than no Jesus”. I don’t resent my upbringing as a Protestant, but give thanks for being raised with faith and learning from an early age to love God. It was undoubtedly a foundation that prepared me for Orthodoxy. I suspect on that great day, we’ll be surprised who’s there and who isn’t. Mainly trying to focus on my own need for continued repentance.
Welcome to România father Josiah, I'm following you for a few years now and you made me change my mind about Christianity in United States. You shame us, the ones that were born Christians, because we don't know our belief like you and other converted Christians. God bless you, your parishioners and all Christians! Btw: my name is Andrew, same as the Saint protecting your Church.
As a fellow American who converted to Orthodoxy on 5 march 2023, this was edifying to my soul. Doamne ajuta Father Joisah Trenham! I left the cult of protestantism and am beyond blessed to be among such genuine men. Lord have mercy!
@@progmanmike any belief outside of pure materialism is a cult? Bro u cant even trust ur brain because its just the result of chemical reactions. try again boomer.
After years of being disillusioned with Protestantism and utter despondency over the state of the Roman Catholic Church, a dear friend of mine suggested that I investigate Orthodoxy. I was awestruck, and truth be told, I felt as if my presence in such a reverent Body would taint it. However, glory to God, my entire family and I were baptized into the Body of Christ this past Holy Saturday. I still don't feel worthy to be there, but I quickly realized that, after witnessing the true fulfillment of Christianity, anything else would be glaringly inauthentic.
I live near the Rives Junction monastery in Michigan, that Father Josiah speaks of. The head Priest there has helped me greatly in my spiritual journey!
When I watch all these interviews and talks, different men speaking with Father Josiah, I watch their faces when he speaks and they are always so still and focused on his words. He really has a power to articulate to people the truth that exists in the history and teachings of the Church. It is a phenomenon I have noticed
Unde este parintele? A avut o conferinta aici in Romania? Doamne, cine are posibilitatea sa participe la un astfel de eveniment, sa nu rateze! Probabil peste ani, il vom cinsti ca Ioan Gura de Aur al acestui secol! Un model de preotie , cum mai sunt foarte putini azi in lume! Am invatat enorm de la acest om. Cumparati conferinte ale sale, pe Patristic Nectar Publication, merita! Cel mai bun om pe domeniul de cateheza despre viata de familie si casatorie, din lume. God bless you father! ❤
What a wonderful talk ! Glory to God . Fr Josiah has become a great apologist for our Holy Orthodox Church . We pray for diving strength and protection for our faithful Orthodox leadership and faithful . The interviewer is superb . Glory to God
Fr. Josiah seems on the surface to be heavily western in his geopolitics and with his Calvinist background is at risk of westernizing orthodoxy from the inside out. He is a several generation Los Angeles resident. I would be concerned about cultural californication
The Eucharist during Covid was a phenomenal litmus test for us in God’s wisdom. People afraid of Communion…man. I pray they took stock of what they were declaiming with that fear. God forgive them ☦️🙏🏻
I would like to send a special "Buna ziua" to all of my Romanian friends. I have never met a Romanian person on RU-vid before. God willing, I will visit your beautiful cathedral in Bucharest once it is built.
Minunat dialog! Modul în care vorbește Părintele despre cruce, despre suferinta, despre moarte, despre ortodoxie, despre Hristos m-a impresionat foarte tare. Credeam ca despre ortodoxie nu se poate vorbi în engleza, dar Father Josiah ne dovedește ca acolo unde se vorbește în limbajul Iubirii, acolo este Dumnezeu. Tot în pandemie, m-am întors și eu spre biserica, era locul cel mai plin de speranța și de bucurie a comuniunii în acele triste timpuri in care se propovăduia distanțarea între oameni.
What language is that? Romanian? If so, I find it interesting that I can (partly) read it with understanding. I speak English and Spanish. I was also surprised at this video's opening monologue: it actually sounded quite a lot like Spanish!
I am a Gen Z ex Protestant from Washington State. Fr. Josiah has been very instrumental in my conversion to Orthodoxy. The odds were against me even being a Church Attendee, let alone an Orthodox Christian.
@@isabs8616 The Orthodox church is the Church of Christ and the Apostles from the very beginning. The Orthodox church is the living body of Christ here on earth, it exists no place else, every offshoot is a heresy.
@@isabs8616 Yes. Protestantism preaches a different Christ to He that is found in Scripture. The Protestant Christ lacks a visible body, is ever changing with the times and isn't always God. The Orthodox Christ is Unchanging and His Body is Unchanging and He is Always God.
@@orion9k Yes. Protestantism has always been used by the Powers that be to push forward Agendas, the German Princes in the HRE becoming Lutheran to weaken the Austrian and Bohemian Nobility, the Temperance Movement in late 1800s- early 1900s, modern evangelicalism being used to push "Christian Zionism".
I appreciate this conversation. It makes so much sense and speaks to hearts. Our God in Christ holds us in His hands. I appreciate that what’s happening in the world is addressed ispirifually. 🙏🏼✝️
I include you in prayers every morning father..... Except some mornings when I've been lazy. I got baptised last Sept.... God protect those who teach His precious Way. God help us all
Multumim tuturor celor care au facut posibila venirea pr.Josiah Trenham in Romania. Se vede din plin: cine traieste stie ce vorbeste. Nu din carti ca multi teologi vorbologi de-ai nostri,ci ca cei care au experimentat trairea ortodoxa. Sunt si la noi.Dar la capitolul traire ortodoxa mai suntem multi corijenti. Credinta cu fapta se dovedeste.
I have difficulty understanding certain speakers no matter if they are priests, government officials, and medical professionals. Father Josiah is very articulate , speaks clearly with conviction. Being highly educated and intelligent, he can distilled very complicated and complex information in a way that people can understand. That is a sign that one is an expert in the subject matter in which they speak. I am saddened that anyone would judge Father Josiah on whether or not he has the “ correct “ accent from his birthplace. With love and prayers
Recomand cu caldura cartea "Stanca si nisip" scrisa de Pr. Josiah Trenham aparuta in limba romana la editura doxologia. O carte de apologetica foarte bine scrisa, usor de citit pentru orice doritor care vrea sa aprofundeze si sa inteleaga mai bine contextul aparitiei diferitelor confesiuni si cine au fost fondatorii lor, foarte obiectiv si in acelasi timp foarte la subiect.
One of the most current reasons that more and more people are becoming Orthodox is directly because the worldly drama one is constantly accosted with in the American Evangelical church. When they experience one Orthodox Liturgy they are immediately attracted to the holiness and instantly are called to repentance.
Wonder why those who grow up as orthodox are not attracted to holiness and instantly called to repentance. A lot is just a matter of what you are used to. For us in the east this many times boring and depending on each ones experience it can be associated with less pleasant experiences about eastern Orthodoxy. I mean, I can understand the curiosity of some american in this regard since is something quite new to him...
@@stefang.9763 SUNT SIGUR CĂ TU NU IEI PARTE LA SFÂNTA EVANGHELIE...SAU DACĂ MERGI VREODATĂ LA BISERICĂ, NU FACI PARTE DIN BISERICĂ, NU SIMȚI NIMIC.....EȘTI IMUN....ÎN BISERICA NOASTRĂ TOȚI PARTICIPĂM, TOȚI NE RUGĂM, TOȚI ÎI CÂNTĂM SLAVĂ LUI IISUS HRISTOS ȘI SFINTEI FECIOARE....SUNTEM PARTE A BISERICII....VINO ÎN SATUL MEU ȘI AI SĂ TE CONVINGI...SUDIȚI-GHERĂSENI , BUZĂU, RUMÂNIA....AVEM O AMĂRÅTĂ DE BISERICĂ DAR SUTEM FERICIȚI CÂND INTRĂM ÎN EA...AMIN.
Excellent interview gentlemen! I always appreciate civil and deep discussion. 👍 God protect Romania, the United States, the Catholic ✝️ and Orthodox ☦ Church.
'To have your relationship with God, with Christ Himself, is the most important thing'. I am on my personal journey - by God's grace this is a universal, world journey, of which I am so blessed to be a part. Thank you Father 🙏🙏🙏
Excellent interview. Kind of him to say God Bless America, but I think that ship has sailed. I check the weather each morning to see if it is raining brimstone.
@@williamcordasco945O Lord Jesus Christ our God, forgive our iniquities. Through the intercessions of Thy most pure Mother, save the suffering American people from the yoke of the godless authority. Amen. I know we deserve our future, but we can repent.
I tend to agree, but am reminded of the words of the Lord by Jeremy the prophet, At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
God bless you Fr. Josiah. I pray that Christianity can fully become one under our Lord Jesus Christ. He will do that I believe in His own way and time.
Orthodoxy has the Scriptural devotion which a Protestant would love and the Apostolic Tradition and antiquity which a Catholic (me) would love... because it is the One Holy Church! Come home! I went to a Greek Orthodox Church today and while I struggle with my autistic personality and talking to people, I ultimately did with parishioners and a deacon, got an Orthodox Study Bible, and I pray to God am coming home! This is the only true Christianity, by that I mean all others are just lifeless and dead by comparison!
Every Romanian needs to read The Saint of the Prisons and about all the recent Holy Elders like Fr George Calciu, Elder Arsenie Papacioc, Elder Justin Parvu, Elder Cleopa, etc etc
Hristos a Inviat!😢 Imi pare tare rau ca nu traduceti,nu toti cei care au facut scoala pe timpul comunismului au invatat engleza,ar trebui sa va ganditi ca suntem multi care nu stiu engleza...Este o pierdere pentru cei mai multi Romani ca nu inteleg😢
Protestant or Orthodoxy, Yeshua defeated death through his resurrection and offered Salvation to us all ushering in the 2nd Covenant God promised theough his prophets.
Bai `romanilor`, exista traducere automata care functioneaza. Trebuie insa sa intrati de pe laptop.desktop, nu de pe mobil. Oricum, cei care nu stiu limba engleza, n-au pierdut nimic, Interviul nu e rau, dar nimic stralucit. Toti convertitii au anumite `sechele` care ii insotesc pana la moarte, in ce priveste asumarea, atitudinea in `noua` ortodoxie. Dreptcredinciosii nascuti in zone traditional ortodoxe, sa faca bine si sa puna mana sa citeasca acele carti care au importanta cu adevarat, nu vrajeala de asta `nou-protestanta`. Asta e pentru mediul lor. Dar cum avem atatia ortodocsi `protestanti` care doar superficial cunosc ortodoxia, interviurile de acest gen, prind.
Ar trebui sa ia exemplu si ierarhii nostri de la parintele Josiah Trenham,în loc sa fim un exemplu pentru cei conevertiti ei sunt din ce în ce mai ecumenisti si iubitori de relativizare a dreptei credinte ortodoxe...cu capul descoperit se face erezia din ianuarie a așa-zisei "rugăciuni" în comun cu "heterodocșii"...trist
The sin of ethnocentricity is a problem in Orthodoxy here in America, with that mostly among the Greek and Romanian parishes (I am a convert to Orthodoxy, and can more easily see this tendency). Like any faith, there are many who do not delve deeper into Biblical or other sacred writings, but that is something that parish education must address, so we know why we believe what we believe, which enhances worship.
@@shobudski6776 Maybe worded poorly, but Philotism (spelling) is viewed negatively in the Church and perhaps even is a heresy. Ask your priest about it. Not a problem in most parishes, but certain parishes have a reputation for giving the cold shoulder, if you aren't Greek, for example
@@shobudski6776 Ethnophyletism is a Heresy. Many of these people still view the Church as a Servant to the Ethnic Ghettos first and a Mission second. The Saints of the 20th Century do not share this view at all.
@shobudski6776 There is not such think like ethnicentrism in orthodoxy it is just that the holy fathers of are our church are from orthodox countries. Greetings from Greece brother.
Wow. I was listening to this as a believer in Jesus but not a church goer, and I was thinking about covid, and how they stopped unjabbed people like me from attending. And I was thinking I bet this guy is full of shit because I bet he went along with all that stuff, but he didn't. It's right there around 34 minutes. He saw it all, he sees it all. God bless him.
You know, I was struck that the individual who made the snide remark about Fr. Josiah being inauthentic based his conclusion on the supposed “fact” that he is “from L.A.” when, in the above interview, he explicitly talks about his upbringing in Santa Barbara, a coastal city located some 95 miles northwest of L.A., a drive of over two hours. Moreover, Fr. Josiah’s parish is located east of L.A. in Riverside County. To the best of my recollection, Fr. Josiah has never mentioned living in L.A. I suppose the critic was too fixated on the sound of Fr. Josiah’s voice to listen closely to what he was saying!
You’re referring to me. I’m a woman. I wasn’t being snide. I’m 5th gen Californian, was born in LA and reside in Ventura/Santa Barbara. It’s all one dialect here. In an interview he said he was born and raised in the Los Angeles area as were his parents. All these coastal communities are one larger metropolitan area. Sometimes his accent changes within a single sentence. My original comment was pointing out inauthenticity in adopting the accent of his spiritual teachers and mentors. It happens all the time in spiritual lineages. To me, it is a shame because I like this person very much but require authenticity and a degree of Christian perfection from my teachers. An adopted accent shows he’s not as far along the path as he portrays. It’s fine. I was stating my opinion as a 54-year old woman who has practiced the actual Presence of God for a good long time and was interested in this man’s work. Thank you for your kindness.
And again, I’m sorry, but a white person who grew up in this area, and whose parents did as well, does not speak like that. His native speech pattern shows itself within a single sentence where the rest of the sentence is spoken in the adopted pattern. When he was growing up here in this area, there’s no way he spoke that way. I imagine he adopted it when he was 18 or 19 and began attending Orthodox parishes with his wife’s brothers.
@@jro6979 “White” people don’t speak “that way?” I haven’t met such an expert on “Whiteness” since I had an in-depth discussion with a Klansman in Arkansas during the 1970s!
@@jro6979 I have known Fr. Josiah for 14 years and have never noticed an “accent.” What sort of accent do you believe that he has? Arabic? Spanish? Russian? Could you please clarify. By the way, unless you haven’t been in Ventura County in many years, you will notice many accents since people from around the world have settled there, including many you would consider “White.”
@@terencefrazier8998 I’m making the point that, yes, there are many people here in this area whose first language is not English BUT for multi-generational Southern California whites like Fr. Josiah and myself, we don’t speak with the accent he has adopted. I’m sorry you are having such a hard time with this.
What I would like to ask Fr. Trenham is this: there is a moment in each Christian's life when he turns/is turned by God from darkness to light. When did he do that/when did it happen to him? Before, or after he embraced Eastern Orthodoxy?
Christ called us to follow Him and to love one another and/so we'll be called His disciples.....the rest are just opinions....! Blessings to all Orthodocs, protestants and whatever other Christian name you have!
The host mentioned about the russian agression and the political leaders who claim to be orthodox. Seems he does not know that father Josiah has a different opinion on this matter. Well and so many people who do not consume the modern media.
A lot of eatern Europeans simply hate russians. It's historical, it's not all but everywhere when you mix with eastern europeans... it completely blinds them to an objective point of view
