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This is precisely why I simply tell other that I am "Orthodox" with no prefix. This was amazing as always, father!

From Serbian Orthodox: We are all one! I think that America needs American Orthodox Church with American Patriarch who knows american mental code and we all other Orthodox need to help to you. Glory to Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Archbishop Dmitri of blessed memory worked very hard to unify orthodoxy in the south. His funeral was an excellent example of the work he had done as several churches were in attendance.

Wow. This honest and powerful answer is courageous.

Fr. Trenham. Though I agree that the Orthodox need to unite for several reasons, I believe the biggest challenge for the Orthodox is having courage facing the secular world that is encroaching upon our faith. Our local Orthodox divisions have varied on the lock down from completely locked down to almost completely open. But they do need to unite for the sake of advocacy.

As a Greek, I 'd like to set forth my view on the subject. Being independent, is a core value of the ancient Greek spirit. As the Greeks invitably became the first European Christians, gradually formed the Church that has become the initial Orthodox Church, that created all the other Orthodox churches in other cultures. The Greeks never tried to impose their culture on others. This is key to Greek mindset, and philosophy. They just carried their manners wherever they went, and people around them appreciated their culture and followed or copied. In all the colonies they created long before Christ, they never tried to convert by force the local population. I do not know of any testament against that. And the Romans came and conquered, and turned Greek eventually, so much. That Greek population, created the initial Orthodox church, incorporating values as this, of their pre-Christian past, as the Greek version of Christianity. It is natural, as the Germans eventually created their version of Christianity accomodating their culture, the English also. And when Greeks brought Christianity in Ethiopia, they even created icons with Black Jesus, in order to make the faith more relevant to the locals. After that, they brought Orthodoxy in Eastern Europe, in non Greek speaking nations. Again, they never tried to impose their language and culture on them, and even created an alphabet for them. Following the unmistakable laws of nature that made the Greek culture and philosophy so acceptable and eternal around the world, Greeks understood that local non Greek speakers would eventually create their version of Orthodoxy as well, and even enabled them to do so. This is the difference of Greeks vs barbarians... Orthodoxy vs globalist Catholicism, Islam, or any other rite that aims to grow globally under a single power center. Greeks historically focused to conquer the spirit of people, not the people themselves. So much Orthodoxy, the Church they initially created. The Orthodox rite, has also a long tradition of respecting independence of local Churches. In stark contrast to the Catholic church. We should not try to become like the Catholic Church, in case you imply something like that. In that respect, I agree with the comment of the Serbian brother here. You should aim to create an independent American Orthodox Church, to accomodate the needs of all American Orthodox brothers, no matter their ethnic background. This American Orthodox Church should of course respect and acknowledge the historic primacy of the Constantinople Patriarchate, but be independent, as all other Patriarchates are, and do. It was evolutionally unavoidable for America to pass the stage of ethnic and fragmented Orthodoxy, but I think that the time has come for all, to accept the creation of the independent American Orthodox church... This will also solve the problem of Russia trying to influence the Orthodox world for you Americans. Having secret services and diplomacy trying to divide Orthodoxy between Russian influenced Orthodox churches and all the rest, will not do the trick... The aim should be for local/national Orthodox churches to be in full communion. Not to create one global Church... This is not natural. This is not Greek... Nevertheless, in case you do not know, for a Greek, Greece, is the whole universe...

Herman - I would also like to suggest that you bring more of our Hierarchy onto your channel and have them explain how we get to unity. This could be our biggest opportunity if we fix this!

Fr. Josiah Trenham is my favourite priest. Greetings from Australia.

Time in The Church runs slowly... much slower than outside of it. This situation is inherited due to the historical immigration from the Orthodox lands. It can't be solved over night especially if one jurisdiction claims rights over others. Pray to God that solution is found.!

Truth ! Father as a catechumen who lives in a smaller community. I found it very difficult to find a parish. Three cities in my area are only supported by a revolving door of changing diocese. I bless those fathers that travel to minister when they can. I travel 240 miles twice a week and am grateful that the Greek Orthodox in Las Vegas ( St John the Baptist)has lovingly embraced me. I have received most of my teachings through you and others on AFR, and PV like Fr Hopko. This division, I humbly believe has restricted brothers and sisters to find salvation in towns and cities with populations under 50,000. (how I distress that my loving children and grandchildren in Idaho Falls) can not receive our Lord through Church. Thank you for your prayers and blessings for us "out in the desert.

Preach Father!!! As a catechumen it is an issue for me, but I’m leaving Episcopalianism which is in shambles so there’s that.

This type of thing reminds me of my family. I wasn't told that my brother had died for 10 years! I found out by accident when talking to one of my aunts. Everybody just assumed that I knew or was told. The church needs more cohesiveness, and I'm not even Orthodox yet. I was brought to it by a year and have an interest in monasticism. Even as a non-member yet, I still see his point. May God guide the leadership and bring peace to this issue.

Honestly, for a year now I've felt a desire to return to the Church, but not the Protestant Churches I knew growing up. I've had an inexplicable draw towards Orthodoxy ever since I found out about it. I remember driving past some of the Greek Orthodox churches when I was a teenager and wondering about them but never gave them much thought beyond that instant. I think people like myself are craving meaning, order and structure as much as they are craving a spiritual life in Christ. More over, Orthodoxy has none of the baggage associated with Protestantism or Catholicism.

Let us as The Church pray for unity daily. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.

You are exactly right! I am just getting into the faith now, and the sorting through of all the divisions here in the US was discouraging. Fortunately, I am determined , but many might be more easily turned off by this. Lord have mercy!! Thanks for sharing this with us.

The fractured orthodox nationalities in the west makes it SO HARD for native converts. I was so close to choosing catholic on that issue and I know many who have made that choice just because it’s easier! Can you believe it’s easier to convert to a church of pedophiles rather than our orthodoxy!!? And yet if anyone says “why can’t we have an American/British/french patriarch?” WE are accused of nationalism!

The unity of the Orth Churches could certainly bring more catechumens who are sitting on the sidelines waiting, and also save denominations that are in serious trouble and searching. People would be reluctant to coming to the Orth Church if they have just come from or are stuck in a denomination which already suffers from divisions, quarrels and corruption to top it off. Yes, we need to show as true Christians, Orthodoxy has the love of a true Christian and come together. Language is the issue as I see it and there is a balancing act in some parishes to accommodate both and yet many of the people attending now, only speak one language - English. ?? We need your help Fr Josiah....God bless!

I don’t concern myself with the unity of the church because I’m too busy trying to improve my unity with Christ. In my opinion this should come first, worry about the “politics” never.

Kudos Father Josiah! As an Orthodox Convert for 16 years, I could not agree more with your words. Our problem is bishops (old men) fighting over power and jurisdictions. It is so very sad.

THIS IS THE ORTHODOX MOMENT: All of the former Episcopalians, and other Protestant groups who have left churches that are no longer Biblical are desperate for a Biblical church. This is the time to , as the Bible says, "Ask for the ancient paths; ask where the good way is, and walk in it" . This statement alone drew me to Orthodoxy once I understood what it truly was: the 2,000 year old church of Christ, not a bunch of ethnic cults that keep to themselves! This is so very true; although I grew up Episcopalian, I lived in an ethnically diverse area. I had many friends who were Russian, Yugoslavian, etc. who were Orthodox. All we knew was that their cross was different, and they celebrated holidays on a different day. When I would ask my friends about this, the impression I always was given was that you had to be Russian to go to Russian Orthodox church, and the Eastern Orthodox people were also divided by nationality. My sister broke her engagement to an eastern Orthodox boy whose parents wouldn't accept her because she was not the right nationality. The thing is, upon investigation, our beliefs were really the same as the Orthodox. If we had understood that, if we had been invited to go, we probably would have converted to Orthodox 30 years ago. Orthodox people need to be more open, and explain that they are the original Christian church. Instead, when you approach them, the attitude is more that it is a Christian ethnic cult that only those of that nationality can ever join. This is what I was raised to believe and basically told by Orthodox friends as far back as grammar school and I am in my fifties. I wish people who no longer want to be Catholic because of all of the abuses and nonagreement with an infallible pope, could be made to understand that Orthodox faith is Christian faith..the faith in Jesus Christ, not Russian or greek faith.

Most of Orthodoxy's converts come from Protestantism (as did I). Protestantism has THOUSANDS of divisions/sects which vary in practice and doctrine. Orthodoxy has UNITY of practice and doctrine across the churches of various countries. It is hypocritical for a Protestant to point a finger at Orthodoxy for disunity, and it is a great sin for an Orthodox to accept that spurious charge. Sure we have our little spats about territories, and we have our little differences in hymns, tones, and most revered saints--this is part of the richness of our faith and its ability to equally encompass people of all nations. America is an amalgamation of races and nations which is reflected in the variety of national churches that exist here. Calling this a great sin is overreach, and ungrateful in the extreme. God brought Orthodoxy to the Americas and maintains it through these ancient Patriarchates. Through this diversity, God has provided Americans with choice, and He puts a check on any one Patriarchate becoming the dictator--great blessings in this age of false ecumenism.

This needed to be said ! Thank You Father Josiah ☦🙏

I agree with this sentiment. I'm a convert to Orthodoxy, but my conversion was helped along by my partial familiarity with Orthodoxy as someone of Russian/Ukrainian heritage. I imagine the process of getting involved with the Church is often much more challenging to those who encounter a "Greek/Russian/Serbian etc. Orthodox Church" as an outsider to all of those ethnic/cultural groups.

You are exactly correct. I see much in Orthodoxy that is attractive and true and much that is missing or forgotten in the Catholic Church. But I also see a Protestant-style disunity that is holding back the Orthodox church from spreading its message and teaching its understanding of union with God. Here is where the Catholic Church hierarchy including the papacy would be useful to the Orthodox church.

Well said Father Josiah.Very timely indeed.May Gods blessings continue to be with you.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FATHER!! MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU ON THIS JOURNEY OF REUNITING OUR ORTHODOX CHURCHS!!!

God bless you Fr. Trenham. May God bless us with unity through the Holy Spirit. Let us be one of the sources of bridge building and community connections throughout the Church, our Cities, States, Country and throughout the world. One of the most impactful teachings I have growing up in the Church is how welcoming our culture is to visitors. We being just as curious about them as they are of us without feeling pressure or obligated to convert them. I believe God converts us, even those of us born into the faith.

I am thankful that when the Greek Church locked its doors in the face of social and governmental pressures in my area that the Russian Churches either stayed open or reopened quickly. Perhaps if we were all under one jurisdiction there would be more strength to oppose the forces that are trying to keep the Churches closed all together.

Thank you Fr Josiah for calling it out. It’s time.

Thank you Father for addressing the Elephant in the Room!

I agree entirely. I have had this argument for over 20 years myself.

Amen.

I'm just a regular believer (no special denomination) and it seems to me like you love Christ, so I am for you.

Thank you for your honestly. Fr. Josiah, your videos and podcast have been a blessing to me on my journey into Orthodoxy. Bless you for doing the Lord's work and doing so with courage and boldness.

Thank you FrJosigh for calling it out. It’s time

Use your nationally known platform Father..just like this. Combine with others like you and let's get this drive to unity done in our lifetime!

Thank you Father for speaking truth!

This was one of my biggest problems when considering Orthodoxy.

I’m a “cradle Orthodox”, as they say. I grew up in a steel town with a Russian, a Greek and a Serbian Church. I was very young when the autocephalous OCA came into existence. At that time all services were English with some special things like Paschal greetings in Church Slavonic, English, etc. I was mystified why the Serbian and Greek churches did not join with us because it makes such complete sense. I was told that each wanted to keep their familiar ethnicity. At that time, all churches actually had some members who were from the “old country.” There really were no converts to the faith at that time except for those who married into the Church, and I understand why. We are all Americans and it is time for all of us to be one Orthodox Church. I have lived in several cities since that time. In Dallas we joined the Antiochian Orthodox Church because the Russian Orthodox Church was for the current Russian immigrants and no English was spoken. We attended liturgy there once and no one even spoke to us. I’m in Florida now and there in no OCA church near me, but we do have a Greek, a Coptic and an Antiochian Church, We go to the Antiochian Church which has many converts from various Protestant backgrounds. Our Orthodox members are Greek, Russian, etc, but all services are in English and everyone is welcome here. We enjoy visitors to our church. We have an ethnic food festival every year where wonderful foods from our different backgrounds are served. It’s very popular in our local community as well. I agree that if all the ethnic Orthodox churches would combine, we could make a much bigger impact and I’m sure would have even more converts. We are called to let others know about Christ’s Holy Orthodox Church. We must never let ethnicity divide us. There is strength in unity. Fr. Trenham, is there any progress being made in this regard? ☦️

Absolutely agree! This has got to stop. Love you Father Josiah! ❤️

Fr. Josiah Trenham is so correct! Not only does this diocesan, ethnic, separation have to end on an ecclesiastical level, it also has to end on a lay level. Personally, these diocesan separations make no sense. Too many churches hold too tight to the "ethnic labels" of their churches. Not that this is inherently bad,, but this does, sadly, turn many away because they don't feel welcome. Evangelism is something we Orthodox could do much better at as well. Pray on this. Lord have mercy!

Profoundly blessed

I wholeheartedly agree with everything Father said. Prior to converting to Orthodoxy as an Evangelical Protestant, it was a huge turn-off for me, finding out that the Orthodox Church was no different from Protestant churches with its many divisions. When I brought this up, the reply was that it has always been this way, that this is the way it is, and it is better to have all these divisions. This is unacceptable. What is worse is the leaders of the various Orthodox jurisdictions seem to not care. The lay people are calling for unity, but it seems to fall on deaf ears.

Pray the LORD. FR. JOSIAH thank for you hard work may the LORD keep you . may the LORD give you wisdom. And keep the church with the spiritual word of the LORD . AMEN AMEN.

Perhaps the real concern is where there is little faith, there is little unity. By your fruits you will be known.

Fr. Trenham spittin' fire! Go!

This is true and refreshing. Father talks about the problems that are taboo to speak of. We need unity within the Church. There shall be no division. Yes... I was a Latin that found my home in Orthodoxy. father couldn't be more right. Amen Father. Thank you!

Amen. And I'm thankful to be part of a parish with a priest who regularly speaks out against this, as well (and has a popular AF podcast to speak from -- Fr. Evan Armatas, host of Orthodoxy Live and Transforming Our Lives in Christ, speaks on this regularly).

True! This Father is amazing!

This is a man of God. Listen to him. ☦️

Armenian Orthodox here. Thank ypu, Father.

Well said father,love your teaching

You are right, FATHER

Powerful!!

We are CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX first and foremost, and then if asked, I can specify whether Greek or Romanian depending of ones country origin. If not, as a convert I identify myself as a Christian Orthodox.

Very surprised by Fr Josiah’s comment, someone with whom I usually agree. In contrast in truth Abp Dmitri, Met Isaiah and Bp Basil unified and strengthened Pan Orthodox bonds in the Midwest jurisdictions and the resulting PanOrthodox unity was beautiful and the diversity within like different parts of the same body honoring one another and appreciating differences. I went round to the Antiochian Church and loved the people and different mode of Chant, to ROCOR and loved the gravity and the Greek for the brightByzantine, etc. To this day priests of all jurisdictions here may ask to be on the email lists of other parishes in different jurisdictions and stay in touch daily and there is a common PanOrthodox organization for good works and seminars which is another simple timely communication path. I am stunned that Fr Josiah would not have asked to be on the email list of the Church he loves and mentions. Or that he would have been refused if he had! Perhaps Texas and the midwest or the Heartland are truly friendlier than California?

Thank you Fr. Josiah. Your absolutely right that Orthodox unity is our greatest challenge and opportunity. It is a sin and we need to repent and correct it. I suggest we have a national day and hour for prayer for Orthodox canonical unity in the USA. God bless you Father for being courageous for bringing this opportunity front and center. I pray god gives you the energy and will to make this unity happen! Michael Zelesnik

Yes! Never mind the barriers, past pain, hurt, etc. Unify first and let the Holy Spirit do the work.

I agree 100% !

How do we change this? Orthodoxy needs to spread in America.

3:48 Reminds me of the hesitation I felt when I was going to visit a Macedonian Orthodox Church. I'm not Macedonian I thought to myself. Would people there think I'm lost? Reminded me of the diversity center at University during undergrad. There was the Pacific Islander center, African-American center, Latin American Center, Etc...I didn't want to be part of any of those because I felt it was self segregation because those groups hardly intermingled. I once went into one of the center's that did not match my ethnicity to use the printer, it felt like people were looking at me as if I was lost. Never went back. Thank you Fr. Josiah

You've perfectly expressed what has been bothering me immensely for a long time. However, good luck trying to express this on any Orthodox message board. Everyone likes to pretend there is no problem.

The thief on the cross is greater than I, and I am unworthy. America has been weighed in the balance.

I agree 100%

I agree and think this is a huge stumbling block for many who would otherwise be interested in the faith. It takes quite a bit of courage for someone to walk into a church they've never been inside on a Sunday morning, and even more so into one which appears as an ethnic enclave. Just the other day I was sharing my recent conversion with a friend, and the first thing he said was, "I thought that was for Russians."

For many years, I assumed that if something was "Greek Orthodox", "Russian Orthodox", etc, that it was really meant for people of that cultural background only. This year, when I've looked into Orthodox Christianity more (I'm currently without a church, and was raised in the Evangelical Free Church), I've finally learned that those labels aren't supposed to matter so much...but the different cultures is absolutely something which previously had kept me from becoming more interested in Orthodoxy, and still does make me hesitant to want to become a part of those communities.

So sad and true. As a Romanian living in Romania, I wish our Patriarchy would encourage people in the USA to attend the Orthodox Church in America services, and collaborate with the OCA to find solutions for the recent immigrants who perhaps don't have very good English skills or need some help with transitioning to another type of service, or anything that they might have trouble adapting to. I'm sure they could find solutions - providing translations of liturgy, induction sessions, or whatever other help they might think of. We are organized by nation for various practical reasons, and for the same practical reasons it makes sense that the Orthodox Church in America should be the one to administer and serve the faith in the US. Having a division by nation in the world makes sense, having such divisions within ONE country makes zero sense.

Amen

Many Christians like myself who are looking to become a member of the Orthodox Church have trouble finding one in our communities that doesn't cater to one ethnic group. I live in a mid-size city that only has a Greek Orthodox Church and a Bulgarian Orthodox Church, that's it. I was raised a Lutheran but the church I grew up going to belonged to one of the three denominations that joined together to form the ELCA in 1987, which I do not consider a true Lutheran church. I believe many want the same thing I do, to find a good traditional denomination. After years of researching from time to time I finally decided on Eastern Orthodoxy. With the Covid-19 pandemic it doesn't seem possible to start the process until there is a treatment and/or vaccine. Anyway, thanks for posting the comments from Father Trenham. He's one of the ones I enjoy listening to. Watched it late yesterday evening.

Glory to Jesus Christ! I've been saying this for close to 30 years now as well & it's something Frank Schaeffer & no doubt a whole lot of other converts have been pointing out as well, but so far, this message has been falling on deaf ears. If there has historically been issues with Jews & Gentiles in the same body, what hope is there for all of the national divisions - with new 'nations' insisting on having their own church almost daily. Deplorable indeed. And let's not forget those Orthodox who 'separate' from one another over the calendar issue.

As a catechumen (for several years waiting in a parish that lacked the resources for my catechesis), I do not draw any distinction or division. I moved recently and went from a GOArch parish to an AOCANA parish. My parish is an interesting case study in this, because it is an incorporated former EOC parish, operated by AOCANA, but the cantor (son of the old Priest) is the head of the OCA Hermitage down the street from the Parish Church, and the metropolitans are in on this arrangement, and one of the deacons is from a Greek monastery. I am a bit concerned, and maybe I should ask the bishop when he visits next week, that the Hermitage to the south seeks to build a chapel despite the Parish Church being there rather than resolve the issue to unity at the level of this town.

God have mercy on us!❤

Thank you, Fr. Trenham! I am an Orthodox inquirer and this was one of the first questions I had...is there a differences between Greek, Russian, and Antiochian Orthodoxy. It was a point I was breifly confused about, and I was unsure if different texts/practices were observed by these branches. Unity within God's Holy Church is surely His intention!

This message has only gained in importance over the past year. I am a convert from Roman Catholicism to Orthodoxy. I converted due to the influence of a Greek Orthodox Parish near my Church. In my parish the Pastor is not Greek, the Cantor is not Greek and most of the Parish Council and all the latest Converts are not Greek. The youth come to Church on holidays and special vacation. What is most of the time

Its something I've been wondering about and the sole thing that seems out of place to me for the last 8 months I've been going to church and reading. My girlfriends dad is a ROCOR priest. We just moved to a new city and I suggested a Greek church, you would've thought I'd suggested a mosque by her response! I can understand preferring one type of choir over another, but the Orthodox church, is the Orthodox church. I would LOVE to see unity in the church, the Orthodox church in America, needs to be the Orthodox church of America. If the Orthodox church in America is self governing, than it must be united.

Greetings from Perú!

I feel like a complete outsider at orthodox churches not only because I’m African American but the whole culture is so different and how they speak different languages makes it pretty difficult. And in Protestant churches I feel more welcomed though I may not agree with the beliefs it’s nice to see people like me and other races ofc. They need to accept the fact that they’re in someone else’s country as well…and yeah we shouldn’t be divided just because we have different ethnic backgrounds

I did... recover. Auckland 2003?? Went to a Coptic priest from Egypt. Radiation on me, physically weak, and exposed to demons. Got stronger and stronger ;;;) Repeated in Perth....

The jurisdictional divide is a grave sin that is not necessary in the US. Our bishops need to get over their petty arguments and become the spiritual leaders the church needs, especially right now. If they don’t wake up I fear they are carving their way into the lake of fire and dragging us the faithful down with them

Greetings from Greece

As a 34 year old Protestant who got his masters in divinity I didn't know that Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox were the same group of believers. I thought it was equivalent to Baptists and Methodists.

Lord have mercy on us. I still believe that Jesus' prayer that we be one will be answered, one way or the other. I doubt any other religion has followers that have the capacity to be so candidly self-critiquing of it's institutions. That is a very good sign for Christianity.

Adding my voice to many here. I am an American of Northern European and Protestant descent. I have become interested in the Orthodox Church, and my initial feelings in my first encounters were of not belonging because I have no Greek blood or background. It's been frustrating and honestly a bit intimidating. Agree with the Father here that the faith would reach the hearts of Americans MUCH more easily as a unified American Orthodox Church. Or even just the "Orthodox Church" in America.

I checked in the Philippines and three seperate Orthodox Churches have Parishes here: Russian, Antioch & Greek (through SE Asian Hong Kong). None are on Palawan Island where I am.

I am NOT being sarcastic here, but as an educator, it looks like you guys need to create some Google Groups to keep larger communities in touch with the touch of a button. I am an American who was baptized in a Russian Orthodox Church in Yalta, Crimea and I do not divide myself from other Orthodox, I don't engage with Catholics in debate, and I consider evangelicals (trinitarian) my brothers and sisters in Christ. Christ said that if they are not against us, they are with us.

I agree with you. We must be united. As for the Greek Orthodox though and so on, I do not think it was used to as a separation fact but rather as to which Church I.e. Patriarch he/she "belongs" to. Growing up I never felt that Russian Orthodox are different than us, it just meant that they are most likely Russians. In today's world though where globalization wants to rule supreme and circular life intrudes into religion I can see that this can cause confusion to the new convert. I for one feel as brother with all Orthodox people. The bigger issue is the "fight" between the heads of the Church. You should not have them. It's not an earthly power struggle is it? We do not want to become Catholics I.e. the power hungry Pope and the schism. The ones that want to destroy our Church put labels like fundamentalists or traditionalists but the truth is one. Do not yield to circular world. You cannot be homosexual and Christian for example, you cannot give your church buildings, the house of God to muslims to perform their service as their god is not our God hence you are defiling the sanctum. Etc etc.

Totally agree, it is like some twisted kind of denominationalism has taken hold of Orthodoxy in America.

How can the problem with the multiple bishops be solved? This is a tough situation. Pride will not let people leave their high seats.

Im Anglican and I agree with this message.

Fr is totally correct in what he is saying. As a Catholic, I am a big fan of KZfaqr site Bible Illustrated Hands. Boyan is a reader and adherent with the Serbian Orthodox Church , but constantly speaks about the Russian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Greek orthodoxy as adversaries... as those people...

Please father _ try to bring as together _

My 2 cents in a most touchy issue. Whenever this is brought up, stone throwing seems to start, and for me, a lot of this goes back 100 years. Calendar 'adjustment'. Right now, some are fasting, some are done. It so reminds me of the Pascha dispute of Victor's time, which was finally ended by a non baptized Emperor. Maybe we should go all of the way back to then? Maybe I am heretical in some way, but I observe that very old way for myself, and don't share unless asked. It grieves me that we don't all observe The Nativity on the same day, and this is now over 100 years old. Where did this come from? What is coming from this 'jurisdiction' now with candle services with actual heretics at the Vatican? Yes, I am an Old Calendar person. I tolerate this division, but I see no reason, except secular partying, that promotes it. It kind of forces people to be 'in the world' in some way, IMHO. Tomorrow is the Feast of The Nativity for The Baptist -- for some! But it was two weeks ago for others. No wonder there is division. Love to All!

I'm looking into the orthodox church but it's hard to want to join when it feels like the souls of Americans are less important than the ethnicity of Greeks, Russians, Serbians, Bulgarians, etc. people in the church will complain about how corrupt the American sense of good, and evil is while not evangelizing, not teaching, not fixing it's jurisdictional issues, not helping the poor, not helping the sick, and then instead of using it's resources for any of that it will have classes, celebrations, etc. to preserve ethnic heritage.

I personally don't see what the problem would be in forming a single, corporate body of worship in all non-Orthodox countries any more, other than bishops wanting to dominate over all others, along with issues concerning ecumenism. What else?

Interesting. I didn't know this. My major problems are 1) Orthodox churches are very spread apart. There are zero in my city, and I would be expected to travel quite far to get to the nearest one. 2) No pews. Americans have a strong aversion to standing for long periods.

I wish there was a generic Orthodox Church. I’d join tomorrow. The ethnic/national/cultural attachments are a barrier. I have to say the Catholics worked this out better.

Father do you have an email address i want to send you a few questions and comments to long to post?

I am having a protestant basically all my life start I got a Baptist by then converted to a Penecostal and you were saying in this video that you were grieved by the division in the Orthodox Church but from what I have learned whether you’re Russian or Greek or Serbian, you’re basically have the same belief it’s like when I was a Penecostal I was assembly of God but if I was visiting a foursquare church, there is very little difference with Anyh so I don’t see why there is a big deal when you believe the same thing maybe I’m over simplifying it I want to find a way to get to Orthodox Church everything that I have heard so far I like I’m even gotten to the point of seeing why Marie is so elevated and praying to the Saints I already believe in all the other doctrines. I haven’t heard anything other than those two things that I would’ve disagreed with before I want to find a way to get to it Orthodox Church, I guess all I’m saying is that the differences and disagreements would not be a hindrance to me I also have come to the point where is she white tradition and teachings of the father is is elevated so high. I really hope I get a chance to get to an Orthodox church, I really think I could find a home there if you’re interested why am I even was looking I had a stroke and I was in a nursing home for a while. I’m now in assisted-living I’m trying to find a way out but nobody from my church bothered to come and see me and I got disillusioned and I know this is gonna sound weird to a Orthodox but I felt like God spoke to me and said look at orthodoxy and really that is not even been on my radar even in Bible school, and I just started investigating orthodoxy and I like what I hear should I just go to the nearest orthodox church near me and how do I know what one is a good Orthodox Church and what one is not, I hope I didn’t get too windy with my message. God bless you.

Thank you🙏🙏unity Greetings from Greece 💝