In his book "Orthodoxy and the religion of future" Fr. Seraphim Rose has notably adressed this issue as well as fiercely exposed the danger of ecumenical movement, protestant revivalism and eastern spiritualities.
Indeed he does, especially in the introduction. Fr. Seraphim also correctly touches on the falsehood of Zen, Transcendental meditation, the New age movement, and the effect of the so called Toronto blessing. It's a great book.
I was raised a Protestant but have been interested in orthodoxy for some years. In the past year I have begun watching your channel and have read some of your books. I am feeling more and more compelled to follow the Orthodox path. How do I do so? I have considered myself Christian for many years but fear I may be living in apostasy! I have in the last few months been doing my best to spend time in prayer using the Jesus Prayer how should I proceed father? Please advise and pray for me!
Hello Dan, it is good to take it slowly, don't feel pressured to rush things. Look up your local Orthodox churches on the internet - find one that worships in your language. Go along and start worshipping. Introduce yourself by email to the priest and explain your position -ask if you can meet to ask any questions you have. If the parish doesn't suit you, don't be afraid to try another one - it's important to feel comfortable. God bless you Dan, I will pray for you at this Sunday's Divine Liturgy.
Dan, please do as Father suggests. My family and I converted in 2006 from Lutheranism, Divine Liturgy and Ortho, Matins, especially teaches you, explain to you what you need to learn/know. May the Lord bless your journey.
Hello Dan, the most important step is approaching a local parish and talking to the the priest there. It normally takes at least six months to be prepared for chrismation. God bless you.
I am an Ethiopian orthodox and; these new age movement ideas are all around us bombarding us with these fancy ideas and leading as stray; i must say thank you father for not keeping silent and watch this madness while children of God are lost in vein.we need more people like you my God give you long life and health.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church anti-ecumenists tend to hate us Oriental Orthodox. They think they’re fighting heresy, ignoring God’s commandment to love one another, the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the fact that we believe pretty much the exact same things anyway
@@tomkunnel411 No, friend that's completely wrong. The only ones that speak about same faith either don't know what the other side believes or are just ignoring the differences on purpose. Have a look at the Orthodox Theologians like (Maximus the Confessor and John of Damascus) and then have a look at Severus (who is not a theologian but a philosopher like Arius) and you'll understand that the fundamentals are completely different. That's why Orthodox Saints were completely opposed to any kind of union with the Monophysites, because we don't have the same faith.
No, friend you are wrong here. There is no consesus between the Orthodox Church and Monophysites. There is only consesus between Ecumenists and Monophysites, not Orthodox. Every single Orthodox Saint is clear in this, the Orthodox Faith is completely different to the faith of the Monophysites. There can be no union with heretics except if they return to Orthodoxy, that's the Orthodox Consesus Patrum. Whatever the Orthodox hierarchy claims, it has zero value, if it is against the Consesus Patrum of the Orthodox Saints and the Ecumenical Councils.
I thank God everyday for making me part of such a genuine body of believers in His Church! I absolutely love our bishop and our priests for their wholehearted commitment in keeping our Holy Faith pure! Praises and glory to our God forever! Thank you Fr. Spyridon! 🙏
You speak the truth so eloquently, God love you Father Spyridon, I absolutely love your orthodox teachings that we are one church as such from the apostles.
Father bless. Thank you for the exposing us to the wisdom of the Church Lord Jesus Christ the son of God have mercy on the Orthodox Christians everywhere. Thomas a sinner.
Thank you Father. Amen! Unity can only be achieved if it's foundation is the solid and absolute TRUTH of the pure, unpolluted, ORTHODOX FAITH once delivered! ☺🙏
Thank you so much, Fr. Spyidon, for this particular video. I was having a discussion about ecumenism with a Protestant friend of mine and I couldn't have answered his questions as well as you did in this video. May the Lord continue to bless you and your ministry of making these great videos of instruction and learning!
@@kylebrogmus8847 Im baptist as a Orthodox but I don’t believe in what you just said, Jesus is the Way almost every church agree on who he was, the rest is just different ways of worship. I was filled with the hope and Love from God and I became really religious and started to learn more and repent but the second I started thinking and focus on what Church was right or wrong that Hope was not in my heart. I believe unity is the way brother. We are to call ourselves followers of Christ not divide ourselfs in groups and saying theyre wrong. Jesus said he is the way the truth and the Life and when I focus on God my relationship becomes real and strong. God Bless❤️
Aloha from Hawai'i. Christ is Risen!! Thank you Father for your assessment and defence of the Orthodox Faith and His Church. What I find lamentable, among other things, is that during the Pandemic the Church led by Her Hierarches bowed to the secular authorities and suspended the Holy Mysteries, or with Innovation, disguised as health concerns changed the reception of the above. Baptism, Charismation, Marriages, and worst of all, if I can say it, demanded change in the Divine Liturgy by interjecting the aspect of fear and trepidation at coming to the Chalice/Poterion. These same Hierarches hobnobed, and worse, prayed with the Papists, Protestants, and in some cases with other exotic religions. As a convert to Orthodoxy from the Anglicans I have not experienced this so blatantly till now. In the "Church of England" ecumenism is common, as you know. I blindly followed it. Now, how do Orthodox priests react and respond to their Hierarches directives? I do really want your thoughts and guidance on this horrible matter. Mahalo nui loa.
This is excellent, Father. It is so critical in our times to deal head on with the modern day brood of vipers, clothed in a form of religion but spouting lies and living hypocrisy... preparing for the welcoming of a false christ, a false reign, and a false kingdom.
As a priest I pray every day that the heresy of the ecumenical movement will disappeare. And yet it gains strength every day even among bishops. I recently saw a video in which Callistos Ware said that union with Rome is sure to happen eventually and that the only one who can lead a unified church is the pope. How.sick and depressing is that! Such people are doing the Devil's work while believing themselves to be Christians.
Bravo Father, it is wise of you to discern the danger of ecumenism and one-world-religion. I personally do not believe that being a part of any institution (call it church if you want) is necessary for salvation, but then again my doctrine is sola scriptura. Keep the videos coming, this non-denominational Christian (Acts 11:26) appreciates your Orthodox teachings!
Great book ''Orthodoxy and the kingdom of satan''. Father Spyridon thank you for teaching us the truth with such clarity and wisdom. I truly loved your book and always looking forward to hearing you when l get home from work. God love you.
This video is very relevant in these pre-apocalyptic times. Satan's heresies against Christ's Orthodox Church have attacked the tenets of the Creed in almost the same exact order in which they appear. In this final onslaught the attack is against the words "I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church." Through ecumenism Satan is inviting every last heresy to honor itself in place of the Church, so it's hell's most virulent heresy to date. It's been stated that once the one-world government is ushered in, anyone who speaks against ecumenism will be imprisoned.
Great message 👍. When The Lord saved me, almost 5 years now.. yes The" Lord " and baptized me and sealed me with His Holy Spirit and called me beloved, I knew whom I belonged to for eternity. I guess here is my point and question. I first went to an orthodox priest when I was saved, and he said he was a former Catholic priest, he said either the Orthodox or Catholic Church are pretty much the same? So I went to the Catholic Church simply because it was closer to my home. However, after going through all there training and being confirmed the Lord chastened me and showed me that there is something sinister about that church as a whole (not the people). To be honest I believe there is a demonic entity running things in that system. Ecuminism is evil. I agree and that is exactly what the black pope is promoting. I turned to scripture alone because of what the Lord showed me, very scary stuff. I feel alone and fearful because of the high level of deceit that is going on. Catholic (behind scenes) Protestant and Evangelical churches in America are a joke. With homosexuality being accepted as good and right. However, in there defense I believe there is a biological reason for this. A different topic. It is appearing the Lord is bringing me full circle. So my friend and brother in Christ, is the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church equal and the same? If they are not, can you recommend a book, or something to describe those differences. I agree that the Bible says Antioch is where we are first called Christians, and that is probably the only reason I'm even considering looking at the Orthodox faith again. I am no scholar but can hold my on with scripture, specifically The King James Bible. What is your advice and recommendation?
Blessings to you Father Spyridon👏❤ Lord is with you always. One question, if the churches are closed, how can I have holy bread? Can I make my own at home?
It is from Ethiopia. Orthodox church always in temptation from the inside out and under the strong pressure of the world systems. Our church is also going through a lot. I wish the Orthodox church of the world must work together keep the Christian people from this kind of worldly thoughts and get stronger to bear the pressure and to be influential.
Friendship i would put outside of the church because to found a friend means to find someone with simmilar interests what can be outside of the church. More important that echimenical council is what relationship do you have with Christ. Do you live every day trying to be more like him? When you open yourself to the Christ, Holy Spirit will lead you to the truth and he may show you the way you should be going.
My heart is saddened. Eccumanism has poisoned the Church. With good reason the books of eccumanists were condemned as heretical burned by a bishop in Russia. With sorrow we should grieve that the rest of the Church has not followed the bishop's example and those on Mount Athos. Instead we have itching ears, and have build parishes and seminaries on the doctines of men; a foundation of heresy. These shepard's will have to give an account to God. Let us pray for mercy, for the illumination of their hearts and minds as well as our own, that the Light of Christ will wake us up from slumber.
Fr. Greetings from the Bronx N.Y., I have a major problem and I need some advice as I have a whole hearted respect fo you and the way you teach the Orthodox faith. I have been faithful to the Greek Orthodox church since I was baptized in 1959, however it appears my church and most other Greek Orthodox churches are ecumenical churches, including the new archbishop of America and the patriarch of Constantinople. I'm a believer of the old calendar and NOT a subscriber of the ecumenical movement and my question to you is since I can't find any non ecumenical Greek Orthodox churches, I'm seriously considering going to and converting to Russian Orthodoxy, what would I have to do to make this transition possible.
Hi Fr Spyridon. Thank you for all your videos i find them very insightful. I would disagree with you only on two points the Filoque and about Peter not being the Rock. Peter clearly was not perfect in the New Testament or in even in modern times, but his authority is very clearly outlined as the apostles and St Paul respected his judgment. Though they did challenge him they did not deny the Albiete. Just like David did not kill Saul when he had a chance in the cave, he only challenged him until Gods favor shifted to him. Ultimately Christ is King, but he is building a kingdom on earth in his churches. Not a one with imperfections but one with pure joy and love. The greatest weakness of any tradition is the sinfulness of its members. And this sinfulness has led to many divisions. Yet by faith, in the end we know Christ brings heaven to earth in the last judgement. God’s many gifts can be found in each of us but our divisions in teaching are simply not possible. I think on this point we would agree. Fortunately God is far greater than us and so is Christ’s physical testament to our Father at this point... as billions of people know Jesus and his words about the Father. Thanks be to God for our mission to keep sharing this good news. No one is greater than the master, but through forgiveness we are friends. In the past I was a great sinner, Fr Spyridon and by God’s grace and mercy I have started to see the light so to speak and change my heart. I come from multiple traditions and I find tradition hard at times. My mission is more like John the Baptist a calling to repentance perhaps. I’m not sure yet. But I do know that this Spirit we each have, we do somehow share, and it proceeds from the Father and in the incarnation, the Son. If I did not know Christ I wouldn’t be able to truly comprehend our Father. The Father is best for sure but a true Father wants everything He has to be His Son’s and His Daughter’s. And All Her Children to the ends of the earth. We each are somehow uniquely important, especially the most wounded. I think all we can do as a church is go lower Fr Spyridon, this is what Ecumenism means to me. And as our crosses rise together we can be confident in the great humbling that is coming upon the world. Christ’s final victory. Keep challenging Peter to go lower, but don’t deny the Albiete. I pray that the Orthodox churches maybe able to call a council and more powerfully unify their traditions throughout the world. And may God’s favor rest upon you. A fisherman with two strong lungs is always best. I like to think that I’m named after a strong man who proclaimed the Christ and got no authority at all except to serve the Lord and share in his bread. But even when he died on a cross too he knew that he had picked up his younger brother and threw him into service of the Lord with the modern day goliaths’ to bring them both as low as they could go.
Father Spyridon, I am a former demoniac, five years ago the name of Jesus liberated me. I am not of any church. An orthodox monk has told me that he can set up a meeting between a "clairvoyant cleric" and myself. I should go meet this man, yes?
Spend time repenting of sins as in deuteronomy and commandments that moses gave and rest of time in Matthew, mark, Luke, and John ( gospels of new testament) reading how Jesus forgave your sins on the cross. That will break the devil's power. Seek to know GOD every day
@@melanieclinkston9114 I have read the entirety of the scriptures four times since 2015. I have not been inhabited or attacked by unclean spirits since I called on the name of the Lord in 2015. However, my eyes percieve spiritual things still from time to time and I am often aware of the presence of spiritual beings even if I cannot see them. I have had these experiences since I was a child and I have been searching for years for a fellow Christian who understands these things better than I do. Instead I am constantly met with fear or trepidation because people who hear my testimony are frightened that I will infect them somehow. Church keeps telling me its behind me. But I'm not content sitting in there listening to short soundbites that focus on a particular passage and then try to apply it to American life. I want to be around like minded Christian's who have at least some understanding of what I went through so that we can help people who struggle with demonic attacks.
Hi father, if you have time at some point can you please recommend me which is the most accurate English translation (old or new English) just after accuracy over ease of reading 😊.. also is it true the 1611 King James Bible is the most faithful translation of the NT in English
The Orthodox Study Bible is really good. Fr John Whiteford recommends the Ancient Faith edition rather than the standard Thomas Nelson edition (though I own the latter 😆)
I wish you could speak with Pope Francis and his Curia...you have a wonderful demeanor. So sad how the See of St Peter has been entangled in so many problems.
Is it okay for the Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christians to pray together? I'm not Orthodox, but frequently pray and worship with my Orthodox brother and sisters in Christ.
I just listened to a sermon claiming to be Russian Orthodox saying that when Jesus was born that he was separate from the Holy Spirit and that he was separate from God. He seemed to be trying to differentiate between the triune but didn’t seem to understand that the Trinity is eternally One. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him;
Dear Father Spyridon, thank you for your wonderful lecture, Could you, please, make a video on how dangerous are the so-called positive affirmations, visualizations, manifestations, etc, that the New Age movements intend to promote? I think there is some influence of Buddhism, of popular psychology, and other more contemporary teachings? Could you say something on how the Orthodox Church is far much better in its teachings than all this? Thank you, God bless you and warm regards from Serbia.
Hello Father Spyridon, I'm sorry if this question misses the nuances of this talk, but I feel a need for clarity, so, to be blunt, do you view Catholics as part of the one church?
Cutting of ecclesiastical communion with the heretic archbishops(or walling if im not mistaken, I'm not very familiar with the term in English) and having communion only with priests who have done the same is the only correct reaction,as the 15th canon of the First-Second council of 861 stated
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and we come to the Father through Him. We may have some differences in minor doctrine, but that does not make any one church the true church. If we get hung up on such things we will loose the most important thing, which is faith that comes by hearing by the word of God, and the fruits of the Spirit that come to us as we seek the Lord in prayer, fasting and other spiritual disciplines. Also without the Protestants and their focus on taking the Great Commission seriously, and taking the gospel to the darkest corners of the Earth, many countries would have never heard the gospel and never received Christ. In my humble opinion, the OC saying they are the only true church makes them Pharisaic and also you seem to look dowm at other Christians.
Would like to hear what the Fr. thinks about primitive Christian groups who adhere to orthodoxy in the doctrinal sense, but not Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Protestant traditions. Those doctrines in the Apostles Creed let's say, and New Testament style, credo baptism. Without getting specific, I 'belong' to one of these.
Father how I do become a member of the Orthodox church I pray everyday and read the Bible and listen to gods signs how do I become a legit member I just started in my faith in Christ because I grew up so confused and lead astray please hear me
my brother, there is no such thing as the "Genuine Orthodox Church", it is a group of schismatic pseudo-zealots who have cut themselves off from the true vine and are plagued by further financial/moral scandals and schisms. They broke away because of a calendar change, or rather calendar fix, (inappropriate as it was), which most of the Orthodox have not adopted. They claim they are the only ones with Grace, when they themselves constantly break into more and more groups and anathematize each other. They display completely unchristianlike behavior, with one of their "bishops" slapping a fellow Orthodox Priest in a church. They are outside the church and themselves graceless, having what many call zeal without knowledge. Put yourself far away from them my friend lest they lure you in with their vague accusations of heresy. God willing, they will be back soon, as the ROCOR has already.
Panayiotis Xenakis talk to one, and then form your opinion. I do believe that we will reunite soon. Please work in your community to fight ecumenism, and soon, we will be able to come back. Any day, we could come back, but morally, cannot.
@@Православл My friend, your intentions are pure and your thoughts correct, however, Schism is as great as any heresy. When the Orthodox world fell under the temptation of Florence, did Saint Mark Ephesus form his own church? No, he worked inside the one with Apostolic Succession to rid it of its illness. Today, we face an equally scary yet different temptation, ecumenism. We must not separate ourselves from the true vine or the consequences could be bad. That being said, I have spoken to old calendarists, most of them are nice people, but many lacking any knowledge of their own history and how the church works. The GOC has split into 10s of competing groups all anathematizing each other and saying they are the only true Orthodox. All I know is the Holy Fire still goes off every year in Jerusalem. God bless
Panayiotis Xenakis but are we schismatic? Do we not have the exact same faith? Which one of us changed? The ROCOR lifted an anathema, placed by the church fathers, we stuck by it. Who is schismatic?
Православље Maxboy50 it was not an anathema to the current Orthodox Church, it was one to ecumenism, which is hard to identify specifically. And furthermore, the “GOC” wasn’t founded on anti ecumenist ideals, but only the calendar issue. They only added it when convenient for them in the 70s. Blessed Seraphim Rose believed in grace in “worldwide orthodoxy” and even the renovationists, and now the ROCOR is in full communion with the Russian Church who is led by a Holy Hierarchs. And yes, they broke away from the canonical church if Greece and stopped commemorating canonical bishops who can trace back to the Apostles, marking a schism.
Not to disagree so much as seek clarification, but when you dismiss this branch theory on the basis that making divisions in the church is blasphemy, I think you could look at it instead as recognising different parts of one body, which Paul talks about. I'd be interested in how you might parse ecumenism with this in mind.
As long as Christ is preached! But what of the 'grape juice drinkers', ordination of women, trans, openly gay, blessing gay marriage, etc. Are there any limits? How do we judge heresy, as we ourselves would be judged? Just some issues that make me wonder. Oh, and that rapture thing. Love!
@@noway165 I know, yes - there has to be some boundary of the body. I would point out though, that like Paul explains in Romans 2, their own standards are more than enough to damn them. Sola scriptura, most of those things (not sure about unfermented grape juice being a serious lapse lol) put them beyond that boundary. For sure, Christ might be preached by the selfish men Paul mentions in Philippians 1 but there's a good chance those who listen will be let in while those preachers will be told "I never knew you." Only God knows the heart, and it might not be that many who are willing in these churches are yet established, but I cannot help seeing the gifts of the Spirit in many. I could be wrong but I see the groups of "those who..." embody certain gifts more expressed in some denominations than others and I suspect we are supposed to gather them into the fullness of the faith so that we also can be a fully embodied church, if that makes sense? If so, it will be and in God's eyes has already come to pass but I would worry if from our perspective we might ourselves slip away should we do nothing to love them even now while they are lapsed, just as Jesus died for us when we were at our worst.
"New age" Doesnt this come from Blavatsky? Isn't she an apostate from the Church? She wrote about "lucifer" as our savior and wrote about uniting with lucifer's energy. The bible teaches that there are demonic energies, Blavatsky's teachings seemed to be a mirror inversion of Orthodoxy combined with sethian gnosticism, kabala and a little vedanta. If you listen to the newagers they sound very much like us when they talk about energy. I would find it all niave but harmless if i was not aware of Blavatsky's writings and influence.
There is a school of Protestantism that follows exactly what you have stated, however, these would not be ecumenical in desire or in practice. At the very heart of the true protestant lays two propositions. The first is the idea of reform, that the Church needed and still needs to be reformed in certain practices and ideas that are largely cultural and not theological. Within the reformation, there is also a serious discussion upon the subject of the miraculous and other subjects and upon the use of magic. The second idea is this notion of Christian militarism in the conquest of the world and the building of this very earthly paradise that is criticized in this presentation. In addition to the pursuit of the earthy paradise, you might include the invasion of the heavens and misuse of science to create an illusion of mystical reality, and a growing tyranny such has never been conceived. It is difficult these days for all us and it always our hope to please Our Lord, however, what is never recognized within the organized portions of the faith is that these protestant realizations ever find any acceptance for even discussion, only dismissal is the reaction. The effect upon the organized protestants has been negative to such a degree the very notions of reform have become buried in heresies or just stupidities. This brutal assault centuries now long have left the Protestants clownish and ridiculous. Reform is not possible within the Schismatic Church.
Orthodoxy it self is not united. Scattered and very often tightly coupled to nationalism. Just as protestantism, it's separated from Roman Catholic Church, but still it retained almost all of Church's original teachings and most importantly, the sacraments. Peter is the rock, not unity of faith as mentioned at the end of the video. One authority, one faith, one baptism, one body of Christ. I believe that one day Catholic Chruc and Eastern will unite.
There is only one Church, the Orthodox. Ours is the Church founded by our Lord. There is no other. In nearby Exeter I'm often confronted by the statue of Richard Hooker who propounded the "branch" theory. This man was a heretic, his ideas were heretical. We can never accept a substitute for the one, true, Holy and Apostolic Church ☦
Well Father with all respect, the members of WCC is nearly to the brim filled with the Patriarchs and Bishops of the Church. One should not follow false Hierarachs
This is absolutely correct. The Holy Spirit baptizes membership in the church of Christ. It's not by saying the right words or attending the right ceremony. God decides and He baptizes membership via direct communion with His Holy Spirit. There are "members" of the catholic and orthodox churches who have never truly received the Holy Spirit. And there are protestants who have absolutely received Christ and been baptized by the Holy Spirit. Also, go read what Jesus said to his disciples who wanted to reprimand the "non-Christians" who were healing and casting out demons in the name of Jesus. Read what the Lord God Jesus Christ spoke in response about those who are not against us. Trying to be a "gatekeeper" of salvation is absurd. Christ alone is the gatekeeper and the gate. Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life. It's not the pope, not a specific priest, and not a specific sect or denomination. It isnt through the right ceremony or incantation or spashing of oil. It is through Jesus Christ alone.
Oh boy is that right, the church cannot be divided . Pope John Paul II said the Western and Eastern are like two lungs. You cannot breathe without both lungs..
