At least in Greece, they receive a salary from the state so they're some how semi-autonomous in their relationship with a own bishops... What's your thoughts about the old type of Orthodox deacon/Deaconess? Do you think that it is a good idea to reintroduce them to the Orthodox word?
As a Serb, I totally understand what you said about bishops. From what I heard there is infighting in our church, with several bishops sort of cutting ties because of spiritual impurities within the Patriarchy. This doesn't concern me that much, and I still go to church from time to time. I leave the church issues to be solved by the church, it is not my call to judge or to take sides.
LOL In America, the OCA, Orthodox Church of America has two seminaries one in Alaska and one in Continental USA both of these seminaries include women in the courses, of course not to become Priests, but they train them in other studies to serve the Orthodox communities they come from; this is especially true in Alaska. Thank you for sharing, absolutely love your channels Glory to Jesus Christ!
Sue Holy Cross in Boston (Greek Orthodox) has female students. One MDiv female graduate is in my Parish 👍🏻 (oh there’s a guy MDiv in my Parish too, and my Priest...all Holy Cross alumni’s). These are not the only women and men who are seminarians in a largely Convert Parish.
I love going to our little church because the interior design is very modest, people sing despite their terrible voices and everyone’s financial situation is very bad. Nevertheless, there is something so magical in the liturgy that I always walk away from my church in a complete state of bliss and love for my community. We have lost our beloved priest to cancer and I can tell you that every person did their best to help him as much as possible. It is two way street and the amount of love you inject will always find you back and surprise you when you least expect it. Frankly, I love my church so much that it is the only thing I would miss if I had to live in EU again. Our priest had chemotherapy and worked until his last breath. To this day we pray for him and I can tell you that many people survived tough times in their lives thanks to his support. So I hope I don’t hurt your feelings but it is good you did not pursue priesthood. It is a massive responsibility to be a priest and I am very impressed by your honesty and understanding of your own shortcomings. It takes courage to see your own faults and I admire such quality. Good luck 😉 and love from 🇷🇸
This is what Church is for me also. Home. I love to be in such a Holy place with humble people that truly love God and each other. My Priest is as dear as a son to me but still...I’m an old woman blessed to be under his spiritual guidance and care.
Bonnie Johnstone I am very glad we share the same sentiments towards our churches and it is very beautiful that you care for your priest as if he were your son. Your comment made me really happy. Love from 🇷🇸
Ja te prosto obozavam, svaki put se slatko ismejem i uzivam u svakom videu. Mislim da na predivan nacin predstavljas Pravoslavlje i samo ovako nastavi!:)
Oh man. If you do that, you'll NEVER get ordained here. Jobs are very difficult to come by, and priests 'having other jobs' means, to the bishop, that you're secure financially and that anyone else has priority over you getting ordained. I personally know a deacon who's been a deacon for a very long time (and still is) just on the account of finishing two faculties and getting secular job. In addition, some of the bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church are EXTREMELY adamant that the priest's wife should not work.
@@BanterWithBojan Not possible at all in America sadly. Canonically the Bishop should be supporting the Parish in paying the Priesthood. I know 1 Priest that for sure doesn't have a job outside his Parish. The rest have secular work or the Kh. works to support them both. St. Paul made tents.
Fantastically said i live in Perth Western Australia and our wonderful parish priest who works so tirelessly who is from Macedonia experiences the same hardships as you mentioned. Once again congratulations on all your hard work Bojan. I really enjoy listening to you PS love the accent.
Everything he says in this video is 100% correct. My Serbian priest went thru this medieval seminary for five years, from 13-18. It was a boarding school for boys, very strict, corporal punishment often. Even mild misbehavior could result in complete dismissal and a waste of all that time. And consecration to the episcopate as a reversal of baptism? Yes, sadly, I have seen the same thing with some American bishops.
That's pretty interesting. In the Roman Church, Priests get a regular salary paid by the Diocese. I'm currently discerning my vocation as well, I'm not that concerned about the Bishops, since I'm a pretty meek person, but I really wanna have a wife and kids.
I personally don't think I could be both a husband and a Father, I'd have to make a choice. Although I have been interested in the Maronites, Syriacs and Chaldeans, but because of their liturgy.
Most of them are rather unimpressive. I say this about my own bishops. Except for mine, Bishop Steven Lopes of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. He's terrific.
@@HolyKhaaaaan I've got bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, he is a very good shepherd. He also recognized me, so I think I've left a good impression on him
Goodness, it's pretty intense! But, if you had the calling, you gotta do what you gotta do. But seriously, this is why I appreciate the work of priests- they are almost like our collective father! I know that at the church my family attends, our pastor(what priests are usually called in Lutheranism) has to work at 2 churches. And this is also why priesthood should always be taken as a calling.
I could never be a priest myself bcs I'm an introvert, way too emotional, don't agree 100% with all the church teaching... and I've considered it. So nice to hear Bojan's reasons. Plus I've learned quite a few things about ordination I'd never think happen. But hey at least you get powers; you can make Holy water for example. 😏 In all seriousness though, ppl in the Serbian Orthodox church seem to be way too dependent on their "spititual father" and seek blessings and absolutions for the silliest of things. Its almost like religious anxiety lol. I try my best not to do that. Tnx for sharing B
It wouldn't work for me. I'd basically have to end my internet ministry. More importantly, I couldn't leave my family and friends behind, and I don't like the concept of taking a new name. even if it sounds cool and arcane.
@@BanterWithBojan pun intended? Lol. I've always associated martyrdom with death, so I just had this image of every time someone confesses their sins a priest dies a little bit inside; such a slow and painful death! All jokes aside, thank you so much for all of your videos! You really are doing holy work!
@@jred7 Physical Martyrdom is what's generally referred to when people mention 'Martyrdom'. Spiritual Martyrdom is something we should also strive for. Placing our Will Below God's Will. All of the main Sacraments evoke Martyrdom in a sense. Marriage, Ordination and Tonsure are the most open forms of Spiritual Martyrdom.
lol Thank you for your concern! In fact, this is rather typical of me, it is just that I share it on the channel for the first time. But yes, I can use all the prayer I can get!
Cool video, my friend. I am a Catholic and I love your videos, and I see myself in a similar situation, since I don't pursue the priesthood as well. But since I am very much into theology and this things, many of my family members and friends use to ask "are you becoming a priest" "nope" but my reasons would be a little different, I would simply say "I didn't receive that call" I thong that if God wanted for me the preisthood I would feel him calling just as Samuel when he served with Eli, since is not the case, I remain a layman. On the pther hand, and thanks God is not my case in my diocese, I do understand the part of the bishops, a priest is subject to everithing, as a layman I can remain 'independent' to criticize the hiererchy without the fear of being shut up.
I don't think any Catholic who's been listening to the news the past six months would challenge your assessment of the bishops. Anyone since Nicaea I would surely agree.
Kinda comparable reasons for a Catholic like me... minus the pressure of marrying before getting a job, plus studying theology being more than just for priests but also for lay (academic) theologians and pastoral workers. Oh! And I don't have a problem with my diocesan bishop. My diocese is very lucky to have him -- freshly consecrated in 2020... I still don't yet know enough about our new Vicar General, though...
@@BanterWithBojan You will apologize me for my vocabulary in English is currently really low. Well, when we are speaking about priests, bishops and clergy in total, we have to understand that it is in an institution established by Christ itself and his Apostles. From the Holy Bible we see that first bishops were 70 students (followers) of Christ, then the priests and deacons were there helpers. After that Church has established readers etc. Anyways, I forgot which, but I think that many holy fathers have said, that anything on Earth is the symbol of Heaven. Hierarchy is one of them. Even Jordan Peterson is noticing that everything in nature form crabs to apes is living in some sort of hierarchy. In that meaning I think that we should obey and respect hierarchy and pray for our bishops, because they are the church itself which head is Christ. Now, bishops are people just like we are, and knowing that we Serbs aren't best people in the world, we can't expect them to be more then they are. Looking how evil we as a people are, we haven't deserved anything better. St. Patriarch Pavle was a true blessing from God, and truly believe that he was sent to recover us from 50 years of atheistic flood. But now is time to prove God that we are true children of Him. To love everyone and everything and to respect our Clergy and our Holy Church which saved true teaching of Christ trough history. Now, if we do something, like missionaring (still I think that you are doing a great job, and I've learned many things from you) without a blessing of our spiritual father or Bishop, we are easily to become victims of pride - truly disgusting to God (St. John Climacus). Now I do hope that you have blessing from the bishop of your Eparchy (maybe I just haven't found it) but if you don't have, ask for that or contact some priest that is open for new ways of communication. Vladika Porfirije, Nenad Ilić, maybe our clergy in North America. Be careful my brother, even the most beautiful soul like Tolstoy fall in the prison of Pride, which made Dostoevsky cry over him. Don't let me cry over you (yea, I like identifying with great minds, WARNING: Pride), and God bless you my brother! Hristos Voskrese - Hristos Anesti - Christ is Risen! :-D
@@ArCityPotokSt yes he is not opposing the existence of the office of bishops, but he is talking against how many bishops (especially those in his Serbian church experience) act
What sins can can prevent you from receiving communion? I've never really gone to confession, because my mother doesn't like it, and I've heard you can be denied communion for certain things. I'm concerned because I've never gone to confession, do not have a spiritual father, and have been taking communion. I've been trying to wiggle my way into a new Church community since I've moved but I haven't had much luck. Anny suggestions?
Talk to the Priest. This is the general and best advice. There are small booklets on confession that help prepare. Check on Ancient Faith Publishing. There are Podcasts on the media tab saintspyridon.church about confession and receiving the Eucharist.
Maybe the people who confess to the three things you mention are more to be pitied than condemned if they need to rely on such things to get through the day. So, perhaps you could provide a "pre-confession service where you could mention a few more ideas for their consideration just to brighten up the poor priest's day sir.
“I’m sure that episcopal consecration is the reversal of baptism.” Explains a great deal. And that doesn’t matter whether addressing Orthodox or Catholic.
Bishops need much prayer... Much prayer. It is attributed to St John Chrysostom as saying "The road to Hell is paved with the bones of priests and monks, and the skulls of bishops are the lamp posts that light the path."
Boyan, Hello! Question for you: What is the state of the Serbian Orthodox bishopric that seems so terrible? I am curious, not because I want to cause scandal or any such negative thing. All my encounters with bishops have been positive here in the US, so I wonder how it could be so negative in Orthodox countries versus here. My thanks! From Texas: Subcn. Lazarus
I think the only criteria necessary for Bishops is that they need vertebrae. One doesn't need to like them or agree with them. I personally think the Serbian Bishops have a lot of backbone, more so than most. It makes the church edgy and uncomfortable, which is good. My co-workers talk about nothing but gossip, overeating and masturbation, is this part of being "the priesthood of all believers"?
@@BanterWithBojan I am glad you are still with us (of course) but if you ever do become a priest and then eventually a bishop you may have to regret the feelings you express today haha!
I am never inconsiderate!. :-) I am well inconsiderate to those who I don't think deserve consideration I am almost never inconsiderate and especially not at church or to my priest.
Yes, being a priest is a martyrdom. What you unfortunately don't talk about and obviously haven't reflected on and observed is the incredible blessing from ordination. I have experienced twice how much more beautiful a man becomes after ordination! Then you celebrate the most important thing of all. Even the angels and saints bow to the priest in the altar room, so great is this mystery. I could marry you and take care of your upkeep, but I don't earn very much money :) Okay, I think I'm too old :/
Well, on one side, they tend to lack backbone big time when it comes to secular authorities, and they're rather poor at dealing with scandals - on times even causing scandals due to petty egos. However, sometimes, they can surprise you just how much backbone they have, they're not all bad. :-)
It will sound like weird, maybe greedy comment but it is not ment to be, do you get paid as priest of maybe your wife leaves or passes away or do you get kicked out of priest hood?
Aaron Dyckman most priests are paid a little. It’s very hard to raise a family on the pay, so a married parish priest’s wife will take a job outside the home. This also comes with difficulties, since very often she is a kind of unpaid church employee. Her duties are not liturgical, of course, but she has a leadership role among the women as organizer and role model. Her life is hard. May God bless all of the priestwives! If, God forbid, she dies early then the priest remains unmarried for the rest of his life. He may even have the little children to raise on his own. May God help such priests! On the other hand, seeing a three year old beginning to make the sign of the cross or hearing the confession of the old and saintly or blessing the wedding of a beautiful couple or baptizing a baby or bringing a troubled sinner into the Body of Christ … or just looking at His people as they eat together … A man is called to be a priest or he is not. If he is not, then it will be a hard and bitter life. But if he is truly called, then it is sweet! Even the hardest times can reveal the glory of God.
@@BanterWithBojan glasses in christ ftw! And i saw an article about a serbian bishop and one of the people who was interviewed was named bojan. Btw while i have you here, i've been thinking of doing my own little drawing channel for christians but I've been kinda freaked out by the amount of work it would involve any advice/tips for a beginner?
Ne smes ovako govoriti! Ne mozes suditi svim buskupima kad ih ne znas pojedino. Slazem se s'tobom da je zivot svestenika veoma tezak ali mislim da si preterao u svojoj kritici. Seti se onih o kojima je ceo svet mislio da su zlobni i ludi a na kraju se ispostavilo da su sluzitelji bozlji. To je samo moje misljenje. Imaj prijatan i lep dan.
Znaš kako... Kada ceo sinod biskupa ni rečju ne osudi pedofilsko ponašanje svojih članova (a vrlo vidno utiču na pravosudni sistem da se ti slučajevi ne rešavaju) onda bih rekao da je moja kritika ovde bila preblaga.
