Orthodox Confess to Priests and Eucharist Changes Mysteriously. Why? 

What reassurance! I was Protestant for decades. Everytime I asked for forgiveness I always felt some kind of doubt. But with Orthodox confession, I receive that blessed assurance that I have been and am forgiven and that God does indeed still love me. I go from the experience having something I never got in Protestantism.

Clear proof Orthodox has the fullness of teaching and faith.

As a Protestant studying these doctrines, I find that I love his responses. I have been considering in many ways the same things that he has been saying about the sacraments. I wish that (we) took confession more seriously, as well as the other sacraments. It pierces my heart having studied the ECF and seen the sacraments taken so lightly.

The power on confession is indeed powerful. I feel uplifted and glad I have someone to guide me towards the path of repentance.

what is always missing in these "discussions" with the older, original christian churches is that they have a different understanding of what the church on earth is. The church, the communities of believers joined through baptism, is the visible Body of Christ. Christ has established a group of followers in which he has directly entrusted a sanctified priesthood. The church is a actual visible, identifiable, physical presence of the Body of Jesus Christ on earth.

We must ask God for forgiveness, but confession returns us to communion with the Church.

Wish you didn’t interrupt the priest.

From what I know this is the Orthodox Church Position (not mine) 1. The Confession is a Sacrament, a Holy Sacrament, founded by our God, Jesus Christ on the evening of the resurrection. 2. A Sacrament is not a symbolisation or an earthly thing. Is a service/process given by God that can only be carried out by a priest. 3. No priest no Sacrament, confessing in your room is fine but this can only be considered as a communication and not a replacement/substitute of the Sacrament of Confession 4. Sacraments are given by God, and they serve a purpose in a Devine / mysterious way which we cannot see or understand. For example the contact of a man with a woman, does always cause harm to the soul, this way of reproduction is not the original will of God. Is an after fall thing. In order for God to stop this harm, God established the Sacrament of marriage (ideally between two virgins, man and woman). Through this Sacrament the flesh contact is blessed and its harm is stopped. 5. Same like marriage, the Confession is a Sacrament. the Confession is not just telling your sins. What’s the point!? God already knows your sins and the degree of your repentance. You don’t even need to confess at your room if you think this way. The confession is a healing process accomplished by the intervention of God who speaks through the priest. Since God established it let’s leave it alone 6. Confessing in your room means that none knows what you did, all is kept in dark. The very fact that you humble yourself and confess to a priest means that light is thrown on your sins, this very fact is a key issue. Often times a sin stops only by being revealed/discovered 7. Confessing in your room leaves no room for guidance, this would throw us into a lot of demonic deception

After confession I feel like flying!....literally.

The one who understands this profound sacramental mystery becomes blessed here on earth and in heaven ( if at all there's)... I'm Catholic and so happy of being that... If protestants and other Christian denominations understand this they would either join orthodoxy or Catholism....

HAPPY SAINT ANDREW DAY FOR ALL THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember that mysterious book Luther published before he died: The Jews and their lies, yup, paved the way for some interesting movement a few years later.

This priest is saying two different things. First he says the person is confessing to a priest carrying the priesthood of Christ, forgiving the person on behalf of Christ. (That is a mediator). Then he goes on to say the priest is not acting as a mediator.

If there are any who would like to financially support our kickstarter account with Father Justin, that would be such a blessing. We have many series that will be develop to inform many on Eastern Orthodoxy. Please Donate. Blessings. www.kickstarter.com/projects/1312925165/walking-the-way-with-father-justin-an-orthodox-pri?ref=nav_search

Mr Bartosiewicz if you really want to become 100% orthodox christian in your heart YOU MUST MAKE A PILGRAMAGE TO MOUNT ATHOS and talk with them..there is the heart of orthodoxism,....with respect Lawrence

Thank you, Dave May the Lord bless your ministry. May 3rd, 2018: Christ is risen! indeed he is risen.

Love your video and love you for don't fights with the tru but just smile and happy with it 🙏🙏🙏❤️

I'm interested to know Deacon John's take on substance abuse(drug addiction), how do I destroy this sin in my life? Until it ceases, I'm a dead man walking, is my grace spent?

Hello there, Im very curious about confession in the Orthodox church. What is the usual way to start confessing to a priest in Orthodoxy? For example in Catholic church we approach the priest after after the priest makes the sign of the cross, we say "bless me Father for I have sinned" then we tell the priest how long its been since our last confession, then I usually say "and I accuse myself of all the following sins", then I start listing my sins. Also what is the normal way to end confession, for example after listing all sins, the normal ending is "for these sins and for all the sins of my past life especially those which I can not now remember I humbly ask pardon from God and penance and absolution from you Father". Any help would be appreciated especially from those in the Ukrainian orthodox church

Note the deacon called the Eucharist a "mystery". It was mentioned that the Roman Catholic Church called the Eucharist a sacrament which is made a True Presence via transubstantiation. Note the Deacon said both Orthodoxy and Catholics believe the Body and Blood is Jesus Christ. Why did the deacon refuse to explain more thoroughly what the Eucharist is other than to quote scripture. Because the Orthodox churches actively discourage discussion and speculation of the sacraments and certain truths about who God is. In contrast, the Catholics do allow discussion of what the sacraments are and who God is. For this reason, the Catholic Church has a vast, extensive theology which orthodoxy does not. This is what Orthodoxy means. What was once agreed is the Truth of God and his works, there can be no discussion or alteration without an official gathering of the bishops of Orthodoxy. the last gathering of the Orthodox bishops to decide on matters of faith was over 1000 years ago. It has not changed in how it does things. The Orthodox Church will actively stifle change.

Dear Protestants, Orthodox Christians confess to God the Priest is their witness, he gives advice on ways to improve. Absolution is from God’s Church to the member with apostolic permission! Read the Bible! ❤️☦️❤️

Read Hebrews 7:25 , Roman's 8:34 Jesus is currently at the right hand of the Faather ,making intercession for the believers he does not inhabit the eucharist ,

6:57 Matter matters.

All believers are priests!

1 john 1:9 says different, revelation 5:10 says every believer is a king and priest , 1 Peter 2:9 says we are priest 1john2 :1-2 says different the only person I am confessing my sins 2 is Jesus 1tim2:5 says Jesus is the only mediator read Hebrews 10 :1 -21 , please read these scripture references if u want 2 b set free by Jesus , believe the scriptures not your church traditions

1Cor 11:24 ...do this in remembrance of me.

I believe in Jesus Christ and the KJV Bible. Grew up in the Assembly of God and a attend Baptist church. This is the fifth video of your Orthodox church that I have watched and I am hooked. I do believe the priest here is related to Kenny Rogers.

Greek Orthodox is Roman Catholic lite.

@DaveB. I have followed your channel for a long time now, I think I've seen almost every video you've done since leaving Mormonism, but this video breaks my heart because of you trusting this man, over the Holy Word, I urge you to please search the scriptures where anyone other than Jesus Christ was given title of High Priest, let alone a priest position within HIS Church(actually the more correct term would be congregation).....Also what do you say regarding the pictures and idols in the building your sitting in this video? Those images are strictly prohibited.

We as Calvinists don't believe eucharist is just a symbol. Christ is present in a special way, through His Spirit through faith. However the bread stays bread and the wine stays wine. I can understand why many American evangelicals (like Baptists) convert to the Orthodox church, especially because there is so much shallowness and confusion amongst American evangelicals. I myself love my brothers and sisters in the Orthodox communities. However Americans should be warned. What they experience in their western Orthodox communities is not the norm in countries like Greece, Serbia and Russia. There Orthodoxy is deeply involved in narrow nationalism, superstition and consists in many cases of nothing more than empty ritualism. Very little of the Gospel is found in many places, although there are off course some wonderful exceptions! I am so happy to have Jesus Christ as my sole Mediator and Highpriest… He is enough for me and I don’t miss relics, candles and incense!

All Christians are priests! Here you are wrong brother!1 Peter 2:9,10 The great truth that Martin Luther taught us!

Hey, Dave, you should watch this RU-vid video by Dr. Scott Hahn called the 4th Cup. I think it will be helpful to you.

The veil tore Now not Christ is our mediator to confess sins to and repent not anymore between priests like the old covenant

Yeres

No, he has to pray to Mary and ask her first. Catholic and Orthodox just make up their own doctrines as they go along thru the centuries. A lot of it is man made. I went to Catholic church for around 1 year. Most of the people do not read the Bible for themselves. The choirs are very pretty and have good music as in most churches.

Priests do not hold christ’s Priesthood. No more earthly priesthood.

No, no, no! Without the priest, man cannot be fully reconciled to God, because he has to also be reconciled to the church through the priest? No matter how they try to spin it, if the priest has the "authority" to come between the sinner and Jesus Christ, the Priest then becomes the mediator between God and man!

This is so unbiblical. Confess to each other the Bible says. No different from Roman Catholicism. Why they even split up is the real mystery. James 5:16New International Version (NIV) 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Besides each Christian is a priest through Christ. 1 Peter 2:5Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) 5 You also are like living stones, and God is using you to build a spiritual house.[a] You are to serve God in this house as holy priests, offering him spiritual sacrifices that he will accept because of Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:6Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) 6 He made us his kingdom and priests who serve God his Father. To Jesus be glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

The bread of life discourse in John 6 starts at v26. You can't ignore the context and make it about communion. The people seeking him were not seeking Jesus for the right reasons. They were seeking more bread. Jesus had just fed the 5000. John 6:26-29 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” So he tells them to work for the food which endures to eternal life. And that the work of God is to *believe* in him who he has sent. Immediately they show they don't believe as they want a sign. John 6:30-31 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” Next Jesus corrects then and says God gave them the bread and identifies himself as the bread from heaven in v33 John 6:32-33 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Jesus now even more clearly identifies himself as this bread. At the same time he says those who *come will never hunger* and those who *believe will never thirst* Jesus has already established what eating and drinking mean. Coming and believing! John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. Jesus then explains why they aren't believing John 6:36-37 But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. So immediately after saying they don't believe he discusses that all that the Father gives him will come to him. Why would he say this right after? He is explaining their unbelief. He continues John 6:38-40 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” Who will have eternal life and be raised up on the last day? *Those who believe.* We will see this same phrase later. Next they grumble over his words. Let's see why. John 6:41-42 Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” Are they grumbling because he is telling them to literally eat his flesh? No. They don't believe that he is come from heaven. They don't believe. Jesus once again says why they don't believe. John 6:43-45 Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. Why can't they come? The Father has not drawn them. Notice he is referring back to v37-40. Not the last time we will see this. Next we see again believing and eternal life John 6:47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. So after saying believing is eternal life he then calls himself the bread of life and that if you eat of him you will never die. John 6:48-50 I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. So after saying believing is eternal life does he suddenly switch to talking about communion in verse 50? Could it be that eating of this bread means believing? The context certainly indicates so. Next we see it again saying he who eats this bread will live forever. Sounds like eternal life which was just said to be received by believing. John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” Next we see them grumbling again and not understanding John 6:52-53 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. Pay close attention to what Jesus says next John 6:54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. Where have we seen these words before? Back in verse 40 John 6:40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” In v54 who will he raise up on the last day? Those who eat his flesh and drink his blood. In v40 who will he raise up on the last day? Those who believe? Could it possibly be that eating and drinking mean believing???? He continues speaking of himself as the bread of life John 6:55-58 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.” Given the context is this really talking about communion? Next there is more grumbling John 6:60-61 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? There next verse I think makes it clear that the grumbling here has once again to do with believing that Jesus came down from heaven. Because Jesus discussed his ascension in response John 6:62 What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? He then describes his words as spiritual and that the spirit gives life John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. And we again see that there are some who are unbelieving John 6:64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. Jesus once again explains why they can't come John 6:65-66 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So according to v66 as a result of what did his disciples withdraw from him? The answer is v65. Jesus was saying to them why they couldn't believe. Jesus already established coming and believing satiates hungering and thirsting in v35. You can't ignore this context and start reading at the end of the discourse. He says those who believe he will raise up on the last day and uses the same language of those who eat his flesh. We see repeatedly eternal life connected to believing. That's what John 6 is about. Believing on the one who has come down from heaven. You don't get communion out of it unless you ignore the context.

Speaking a different doctrine.