This is a wonderful testimony thank you

+madison krezzymon God bless you on your journey! Come home!!!

Truly he has risen!

Protestant, But That's What Gives u And I Eternal Life, Christ And Him Crucified.

Arthur Frentzel Allithos Anesti!

Arthur Frentzel Indeed he has!

Hi Alexandra. You could look for a Greek Catholic church (also known as Melkite or Ukranian Catholic). The use the same liturgy (Byzantine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom) as the Orthodox.

You should as the muslim women do at the mosque cover as soon as you enter God bless

Sebastian Moya Where do you think Muslims got that practice? They copied us.

O K ..... so true.

Many women dress impure now a days in church, very sad

No organs either. You are not Catholics or Anglicans.

+マスター禅 then as the "one church" you made very terrible job trying to evangelize the world and bring the good news of christ to the lands where wasn't traditionally orthodox before your church left the Catholic Faith. Catholicism is spread in every continent right now. And there are many lands where we evangelized far before you even though Orthodox churches were literally sharing borders with those lands. Roman Church is the One True Apostolic and Catholic Church. Bishop of Rome is the one who Jesus built his Church on.

マスター禅 we all believe in the same Triune God that exists as 3 persons. Catholics, orthodoxy, Protestant are all Christian. I personally am Protestant. Hope to see you all in Heaven :)

I've read Matthew 25 and as far as works go, the Roman Catholic Church has way more charitable organizations than the Orthodox Churches. Even Protestants do more to help those in need. The RCC runs Caritas Internationalis, Catholic Charities and many other organizations that are considered to be among the most charitable in the world.

greeks are not communists idiot

Communism invented by jews and was antichristianic

☦🛐✝️✡🙏🙏🙏

Yes, thank you, it's because the evil and instability of our times calls us back to ancient and true traditions that give us foundation.

That happened in Traditional Latin Mass this week (I’m converting to Catholicism), it truly does unite all churches

Not the Protestant churches. They didn't have any kids, and if they did, their kids are childless millennials who left the church.

Laguero Unification of all churches is heretical Ecumenism.

​@@TheRealRealOK rigorist nonsense

@@wiglafthegrnlander4757 Lol ouch bro. As a Protestant (seeping out of it), it's true. Protestants hate kids. Well, it's starting to get better but Sunday school needs to go. We need to get back to the preacher being able to preach over the crying of a literal "child" of God. If you ever get a chance, look up "Lutheran satire- childrens church" hilarious.

CrabMate Guy Orthodoxy by its theology and liturgy definitely did change also. It is just that Orthodox people like to pretend it didn’t.

Ertan Yiğit Özkaloğlu that’s because it hasn’t changed. We still follow the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.

Was it like a pro beta version Islam?

What kinds of people were in attendance? Young and old? Were the genders separated on two sides of the Church like in some Orthodox religions I have heard of?

@@Gravitywalker20 lol, where have you heard this?

@@wheelfan100 that was before islam

Mohamad: He is a simple priest. A patriarch is a major bishop. I'm not sure what the closest equivalent in Islam is, possibly an emir?

I believe an Imam would be more appropriate. An emir is analogous to a sovereign prince.

I don't know, I feel like an Imam is closer to a parish priest. Maybe Islam doesn't have a true equivalent to a bishop, or at least not mainstream Sunni Islam.

You're correct; an Imam is more local in Sunni Islam. Perhaps a mullah is close, but that term more applies to someone educated in Islamic theology and law. Islam doesn't really have a hierarchy similar to the Apostolic Christian Churches.

Mohamad it’s so better for you to convert to crstos church in orthodox,life is only in crstos eyosus.b/c Jesus by himself said the one who believe in me,even if he dies he have ever lasting life.jesus open your heart

You do know we Orthodox have a different creed right? The whole filioque issue?

Been there. Took a trip into atheism that ended up in nihilism and nearly took my life. Finally figured out that the Nicene Creed is Ontology, not epistemology. It’s grounding. You don’t take a jackhammer to your foundation. If you do, you’ll quickly find your life crumbling around your ears and experience the frightening, destructive experience of catapulting into the abyss. First hand experience of that here. Ontological propositions are those propositions that cannot be empirically demonstrated in a scientific sense, and for which epistemic warrant might be difficult to achieve, but without which we cannot proceed in life with flourishing. Grounding. Ontology. The Nicene Creed is as good as any other set of grounding propositions and is better than most, if not all. Settle it, my friend. Nail it down. And then build your life on the Solid Rock and never look back. Will be praying for you.

I took a trip into agnosticism/atheism. Then my father suffered a serious illness. This was the root of my conversion to my father's Catholic faith. My father's grandfather was a Russian Orthodox priest. And my father's father was Russian Orthodox. His mother was Catholic. So when I converted to the Catholic faith I found I also leaned Orthodox.

Me too!

You could always check out an Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy! Eastern Catholics have exactly the same Liturgy as the Orthodox, but are in full communion with Rome!

Settling down in Ireland, marrying in Othodoxy, and living a quiet life...

I don't know how to do any of the traditions lol

+Bobby Guy so Protestants can't get to heaven? Says who, you?

+WinningEdge101 you're not making a fool of yourself :) you're always welcome into the Original Church anytime. So what if your friend protestants think that but you inside yourself will be brighter than anyone else because you'll emerge victorious and come back to the right path!

***** so in essence you are basically saying that your religion says all that all that are not part of your religion are going to hell? And on top of that you suggest I convert to your religion? a bit of hypocrisy?

+Bobby Guy then why is it that you say "being a Protestant you cannot enter (heaven) ? You're being judgmental. And now you say "it's up to God". Very good...

+Tom Bombadil Well, speaking strictly of numbers, there are many more Catholics in the U.S. than Orthodox, so they're going to be over-represented in an anecdotal comparison. Orthodoxy in America has become much more accessible in the last half-century to those who are not from traditional Orthodox languages & cultures, due to the increase in (at least partly) English-speaking parishes, a shift (for many, not all) away from a strictly immigrant culture-preservation mindset, many foreign-language Orthodox print works that have been recently made available in English, as well as many publications written by English-speaking authors. And then there's also the Internet, with sites such as Ancient Faith Radio that are able to share Orthodox teaching with anyone who a has a connection. So to many (including myself, about three years ago), this ancient faith is something quite new that we hardly even knew existed. And it is indeed beautiful. There are warts as well, and anyone who has joined the Orthodox Church comes face-to-face with those sooner or later. But from my perspective, they are problems with individuals (myself included) and not the faith of the Church. I could say the same about the Catholic church as well--that many, perhaps most, of her problems are mundane and not with the Catholic Faith. But then there are those doctrinal (but also practical) disagreements that keep us from reunification, and many Catholics (and Protestants, such as myself) find Orthodoxy compelling.

+Bobby Guy who made you judge of the Catholics? why isn't orthodoxy just as dead in it's repeated ritual? do you not know that both churches share most of the same beliefs, differing in small matters here and there? your last sentence though was correct, for 'what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says,“Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”' Romans 10:8-13. where is it listed that petty ritual matters? do you believe as the Scriptures say, or as men in different types of gilded robes say? enough with your divisions and cliques! 1Cor 3:2-4 'And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?' Titus 3:9-11 'But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.'

+Sonja Smith Hope you keep us posted here. It appears there are problems within any religion, but I like that Orthodoxy has married priests. This seems good and natural, at least to me.

+Tim Oscarsson One does not unite with heretics like the Catholics, uniting with them means accepting their status quo as the Papacy the supreme ruler of the church. No you need to understand the whole history of both churches and see. As for the wicked priests they will be judge by God not by us, sooner or later God will deliver to the a true judgement. But there are those priest who truly serve with faith and piety those we need to seek. "If salvation is by grace, someone will say, "Why is that we are all saved?" Because you did not will it. For grace, even though it be grace, saves (only) the willing, not those who are not willing, not those are not willing and turn away from it and constantly fight against it and oppose themselves to it."St. John Chrysostom (+407) The Orthodox Church was founded on the Day of Holy Pentecost in Jerusalem in 33 AD, fifty days after the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ our true God. It has preserved the original teachings of Jesus Christ and His Apostles form that time until the present. The first major Bishops of the Church (known as Patriarchs) have remained Orthodox up to the present. They are the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople. Later onwards other Patriarchs also began to develop within the Orthodox Church: Russia, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Albanian.

+Sonja Smith orthodoxinfo.com/general/

Proof?

I have seen this time and again, where individuals promote themselves, and feel as if they alone possess the "Real Truth". They disrupt unity at every turn. Driven by a refusal to submit to God's established order, and usually Ego driven, their whole purpose and mission is to criticize and condemn things that they usually just do not understand.

Chris Jerrod Wright incorrect. This is based on the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.

Chris Jerrod Wright I mean, considering that the Liturgy is completely forged from exact words used within the New and Old Testaments, I would say that is your evidence.

Chris Jerrod Wright a majority of the service is prayer, Bible reading, and direct quotes that Jesus Himself said.

@@mootie9115 yeah but the well known tradition of the church which is the women wear scarf or veil as their hair cover .There are missing traditions in this church , they even use organs . I mean , i agree this church still use the real liturgical text , etc .

@@jeremias4244 Absolutley right! People are afraid to keep traditions, because they have fear what others are gonna think about veil or beard

praying for you Robert, your mind may have left for a little bit, but God wants you back and to protect your soul :)

Christian Badura The Orthodox church around here bought their building from a Baptist Church. Perhaps this is the same situation, and the organ was built-in?

I don’t see how it could be an Orthodox organ...

Western harmony (chordal diatonic as opposed to modal) and use of the organ was not allowed in the Orthodox Church until the 19th century, the organ to be used ONLY to help the choir with pitch. In my opinion, they are both overly used and improperly used in most Orthodox churches in the U.S.. They ruin the ethos (spiritual mood) of the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, again, in my opinion. Try to listen to, or better yet attend the celebration of an Orthodox liturgy with an authentic Byzantine choir singing the hymns and responses unaccompanied (a capella), and you'll understand exactly what I mean.

Since when are Fathers bare faced as well?

I’m not Orthodox, but hope to be someday. There’s 5-6 Orthodox churches near me and 3 of them do not speak English. To my knowledge there isn’t too much different between Orthodox churches even though they may speak in different languages. If there are Orthodox churches near you try and email them to see if they can clarify anything for you. When I contacted the churches in my area to see if any of them weren’t at maximum capacity due to covid and they were so kind and welcoming.

Are you insane, this is nothing like a Baptist church. This video shows True Liturgical Worship, something that most Protestants lack.

The armenian church doesnt use the western style at all despite the organ

I greatly appreciate your input, even as a non-believer. It is wonderful to see an atheist who doesn't see the need to degrade and ridicule.

I pretty much adopt everything NoName said. I'm not religious and I don't believe in God (there is no scientific rationale for his existence), but I do enjoy choral/church music and the ritual of liturgies like this and its Catholic equivalent

Read “Being as Communion “ by Zizoulias And “The Eucharist “ by Schmeman! 2 powerful books that changed all my perspective towards life, the Church and The Liturgy including the “Heavenly Banquet”! God Bless! It is sooo much deeper than the topical rituals we observe!!

NoName Actually, the whole service takes the place of animal sacrifice, because Christians offer themselves as a living sacrifice. The bread and wine are only part of living their entire lives as living sacrifices. But they needed theater or the former pagans would get restless, so that’s why the Eucharist, which is a reminder of Jesus’s self-sacrifice, has so much elaborate ritual around it.

warden phil hi, this might help: ww1.antiochian.org/content/first-visit-orthodox-church-twelve-things-i-wish-id-known

@Lonnie We liked it, the people were friendly.

@Lonnie Yes and No. Near the end of the service, one of my daughters experienced a personal problem which precluded us from staying as long as we otherwise would. Another factor was that this church was out in the middle of nowhere, a long way from home, and a winter blizzard was going on all that morning. We narrowly avoided a MVA both coming and going. Overall, I would have to say it was a negative and stressful experience, although not the fault of the church or its members.

FSSP is the option I, as a traditional Catholic, prefer.

Milan Kokovic, Amen, Protestants really lack "Reverence" for God

As a Protestant, we don't have any depth. It's mostly intellectual bible talk. I am really interested in Orthodoxy.

I went to an apostolic church and I am Greek Orthodox, and I thought the speaking in tongues was quite different! Haha

+Matthew Shannon You should try it again lol, I visited different churches and for me, (not knocking any church) I felt closer to God in the Apostolic church than anywhere, so much freedom and I felt the weight of sin leave me when I understood the plan of salvation. God bless

+Eric Richardson Keep doing your homework, and eventually I'll see you taking communion at Church. The Lord's gifts are waiting for you.

I was born and raised Apostolic and I have many issues with the church. For one, the examples given in the Bible for speaking in tongues were actual languages that people understood. Its purpose was obviously to spread the Gospel to people of other nations and to prove to the world that Christ was indeed the Messiah. The gibberish we call speaking in tongues now is not any language at all, and is meaningless to everyone. The Bible warns us to shun vain babblings... I think that advice is applicable here. Apostolics place their trust in an unruly member of their body to save them instead of in God alone. It's shameful to watch the wild worship services, which give glory to emotions. Vain babblings do lead to more ungodliness! I pray daily for my family to see how false the Apostolic church is. They have twisted the Bible so much it makes me sick.

Is it your Church that believes both the Father and Son are actually Jesus? If so, I hope to not come off as rude but it is a very serious heresy.

Auzeos I've only been to two and it was half English and half Greek. Just depends on the parish there may be some all English Greek churches. I have been an Antiochian and a Russian Orthodox and it was all in English

you dont need to be greek

I attend a Ukrainian Orthodox church in Canada and is mostly in English. I have been to some that are half English, half Ukrainian, or Church Slavonic. It really depends, but I would say most Orthodox Churches in North America have at least some English.

The Parish I go to speaks Greek half of the time.

kristeen Hello! I live in Tucson, AZ and there is an Anthocian Orthodox Church called Holy Resurrection which has English services.

Yes in America from all of the Orthodox Christian churches Ive seen, all speak English. Mine; Greek Orthodoxy, is under the Greek Arch. Of America. Its officially in English, so meaning all Greek Orthodox churches should have English services as the main one. Greek is also mainly spoken with maybe an optional local large minority language. Like in my case, Spanish is the local minority language, so its done in Spanish too. The liturgy lasts way longer due to the 3 languages being done in the same service lol. But yes all should be doing English.

Mark Mamdouh coptics are schismatics and heretical

Nick G. Why did you say Coptics are schismatic and heretical?

What makes them not Orthodox?

they do not teach about bible. evil church

Watchmen Andrew I used to feel like you, but, without Sacred traditions, there is a lack of respect, and sense of Holiness. Without Clerical Mentoring, there is Chaos, disunity, and false doctrine abounds.

It's the third Antiphon. The first two are "Through the prayers of the Theotokos", and "Save us o Son of God". All three should have psalm verses chanted between the refrain.

Richard, This is the Trisagion ("Thrice-Holy Hymn") sung in Greek: "Ayios O Theos, Ayios Ishiros, Ayios Athanatos, eleison imas." "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us." This is the end of the Great Doxology, the hymn that concludes the Matins service before the Divine Liturgy begins. This particular arrangement is by Christos Vrionides, preceding another version at 3:20 by Frank Desby.

Ted Hoffman since his hands have the ability to convert wine and bread into the body and blood of Christ. We venerate that power

Teddy Theodoris the power doesn't come from his hands tho... it comes from God

Kitty Renee Psalm 18 yes you are right it comes from the Holy Spirit, which the priest receives at ordination so it is not his blessing but rather the blessing of God himself

I am orthodox and i dislike this practice too. I don't do it and nobody really cares.

In kissing his hand, the faithful acknowledge the venerable power of God that has been bestowed upon that hand. I'm not a huge fan of the practice in itself, but it does have its reason.

Proud Bulgarian, it’s only found in America and then only in the Church of Greece. It is unfortunate as the musical scale of the organ developed in the West and is incompatible with Byzantine Chant. I’m Antiochian and found this curious as well brother.

Robert Whatley Thanks for information :)

I'm a bit late, but the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America allows organ as a musical aid to choirs and the congregation because most choirs are volunteers and aren't formally trained. I don't think churches have to have them, but many do.

noah strange It's the Troparion Of Ressurrection in the 1st Tone

Their voices.

It is a Greek Orthodox Church, and this particular one is named after St. John The Baptist. It is not a "Baptist Greek Orthodox Church" :)

Nick G. they are not accepting our Holly ecumenical councils . they don't se Jesus as we , i think they belive He was only a simple person , nothink Holly with Him

huh? ?All see Jesus as fully divine and fully human, Coprtic think the union of natures divine and human produced a third kind of mixed nature, EO and RC do not think this but RC introduc3ed the filioque into the Creed against a prior pope's orders and against an ecumenical council's orders prior, and RC went into schism from EO. Also RC has an inadequate understanding of the Holy as Mystery because of its scholasticism which exalts human reason to be able to comprehend everything. then invented papal infallibility and immaculate conception of mary and earlier had started exalting pope from primacy of honor to primacy of power one of the things created trouble with the rest of the Orthodox Patriarchates before AD 1054

+Andi Secula This is 100% wrong. Coptic Church believe in Deity of Christ and Humanity of him. They believe Jesus is true Man and true God as every Christian Church. Their perception st doing that is the only thing that is different. They believe in Miaphysitism which is not heresy according to many Church Fathers. The difference was more about the terminology. They don't accept the ecumenical councils. So they are schismatics. (I am a Catholic)

beard is just tradition, not rule

Oh I know, they just seem so...right...

+David Star500 It is not for you to judge as it was said in the bible from Matthew: Do not judge so that you will not be judged. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.…

No! Please, don't mistake me. I'm not judging! Dad gum, I really didn't intend to judge anyone! I've only attended one orthodox service and am still (regrettably) outside this great church until I can drive! I was only pointing out that most Orthodox wear beards, and that I thought this was a great tradition to keep, in that it set apart the Orthodox. However, I, of all people, am not judging the condition of this priest. He's IN the Church now, after all, a position I am not yet. Please, don't confuse me for those trolls who criticize every outward deviance. I am absolutely in no position to judge! Forgive me if that was the impression I made!

David Star500 maybe I judge people to harsh but there are some people that wake up in this world thinking that all priests must have beards if not all traditions are broken... maybe there are priests that can't grow hair.. but that doesn't make them break traditions. People should go ask them instead of commenting on their backs it's a bit bad though.