Welcome back!

What a rollercoaster 😁 congratulations and welcome back!

Sorry but nobody's born a Christian.

Some times people have to learn I started prot and went orthodox

@NMN truely He has!

Love your username! Many years to you! Same here, btw!

Nobody's born a Christian.

Same here

Make that 3! Amen.

I think that, the man means that he was born in a Orthodox family and was Baptist orthodox, but found the way back. I'm on a similar path. Sometimes you just don't see, until the time is right, God is waiting and forgiving, and some of us just need time to find the truth. God bless you my dear brother.

@@nickgeorgiades4681 This is how I read the original post as well. This is what happened to me. I re-joined the church earlier this year. I cannot believe that I was born into what I was looking for this entire time. I suppose it was pride that prevented me from doing so. God's mercy and love led me back. Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on all of us!

God bless your journey and walk back to a complete Grace of His Church.

My prayers are with you, I am a former Roman Catholic. My Childhood education was Catholic, I went to a Protestant University and attended the many flavored denominations. Ultimately I went back to the RC Church and finally found the True Ancient Church. my prayers are with you. God bless you.

You’re on a wonderful journey my friend! Keep it up you won’t be disappointed! Once you see all the truth and facts you won’t be able to ignore it. I am Ex RC and Ex Protestant (Ex pastor myself too), and so happy to finally be home! Christ is Risen! Christos Anesti!

This was some of my story! For the Protestants I found church history only really starts at the reformation, most things before that are viewed through Protestant eyes also! 🙏☦️

Also only wish you the best on your journey, I am amazed how many people are turning to orthodoxy. It's certainly not the easiest path to take. The more we struggle the greater the end result. In most cases people choose the easiest way.

But protestantism leads to atheism.

It's notable that you place the importance on feelings. Mormons do the same. It appears some things may not have changed for you. If the feelings fade I hope you will trust in the facts of God's word instead. Attending many churches does not correspond to theological depth. But at least EO is a lot closer to the bible than Mormonism. No comparison there.

@@Gottespunk logically the orthodox have a much greater claim to legitimacy than a reformationist or restorationist church. Logos is all fine and good but with matters of the spirit intuition is important as well.

@@AndreyKarlovich interesting observation

BPCougar8000, That is not logical, but rather seems to beg the question by assuming that legitimacy is based on EO standards of legitimacy. I would say that Reformation theology has greater legitimacy because it is based entirely on scripture (Sola Scriptura). That extends to doctrine, practice, the qualifications for church elders, etc. Whereas EO waffles on what constitutes scripture, and has become bloated with aesthetic showmanship, long robes and fancy hats etc. When I read this: 1Ti 2:9" likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire," I am reminded of how the EO use gold and jewels and stuff to decorate their icons and everything else, even icons of women. A caricature of Protestantism may lead to atheism. But that is not a fair assessment of Protestantism. One could just as easily say that EO leads to paganism with idolatry and necromancy.

Thank you! What did you think of the worship? Any questions? Blessings.

@@DaveBartosiewicz I felt very awkward, humbled and at the same time strangely refreshed. But it's my first step so it was huge for me. Thanks for offering to answer questions. I'll let you know.

DreamSideOut same here, brother! I went to vespers first and attended my first liturgy this past Sunday! God bless you and I will pray for you on your journey!

@@IAMFISH92 Thank you!

Fundamentalist evangelicals tend to over-intellectualise their theology, but in trying to explain the naturally impossible (or supernatural) logically, it becomes almost laughable how it can splinter one's faith.

I wish you well, to your point Orthodox was the first protesters to rome west.

D. lee yes, I like orthodox Christianity a lot. I’ve gone to a few services, to small little orthodox enclave in this rural Texan town. I worried it would be a lot of foreigners and I wouldn’t fit in but their were a lot of converts and the Greeks there were really friendly people. It has the best of both world, we need the traditions like the old hymns, the sacraments, and the stories of the saints to keep us connected with our roots. However, we don’t need a pope, indulgences, or purgatory those are all heresies created by the Catholics as a scam.

@@jbhrs well said.

I may need to better clarify, though we protested rome's deviations from Orthodox faith we didn't separate from them they broke from us. They claim to be the church that never changes yet that's all they're done.

We've never needed a Reformation..that was a big selling point to me when I was a Roman Catholic Candidate in RCIA who just couldn't digest certain added dogmas of the RCC. And whether they admit it or not the Eastern Uniates have to embrace the dogmas on paper at the very least (although the Melkites flatly refuse but there's no Melkite church here, though I wouldn't have converted there anyway because the Pope is still supreme whether they wanna acknowledge it or not). Whenever we had issues, we convened an ecumenical council and the Church was corrected. When other problems happened, correction came swiftly although some Westernization creeped in and it took centuries to purge. The Pan-Orthodox Council of Crete (2016) that would be analogous to Vatican II fell through because the Holy Spirit protects His Church.

James Armstrong Welcome home! I converted to EO from Lutheranism and it was the best decision I have ever made.

Welcome home! I'm a new convert from Protestantism. The last church I attended before delving into the Orthodox Church was the Episcopal Church. I loved the traditional liturgy, but when I was met with the decision to be received into the church officially, I couldn't do it. My heart still longed for a Church that truly believed in Christ. There aren't many of those in the EC anymore sadly. I wanted the Church that Christ Himself established. That is when I began my journey. I was received this Pascha and all three of my children were baptised last Saturday. Even my husband who is Buddhist is researching the Orthodox Church and reading a book that is helping him further his study of the faith from a former practitioner of an Eastern religious tradition. I say all of that to say that we all have our journey, but eventually we all find that little humble trail that leads us back home. Once again I say, Welcome Home.

@Darin Bracy Those are the primary reasons why I had to leave the Episcopal Church. Becoming politically correct was in total disagreement with what I had learned. Having found The Orthodox Church, has been a blessing. I only regret that I hadn't found it sooner than I did.

And filioque,

AXIOS! IC XC NI KA I m very proud of you,my brother in Christ

"Tudor Popescu: Christ Reformed His Soul Former Priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church | Berean Beacon" bereanbeacon.org/tudor-popescu-christ-reformed-his-soul-former-priest-of-the-romanian-orthodox-church/

The way to Jesus is faith, repentance and convertion.

Saying "_______ church is the true way to Jesus" is not Biblical.

The revealed Word is the way to him as he lives in it!

No becaouse Merry dont mamaled

yeah, yall keep praying to Mary. Jesus says He is the way, not Mary or the saints. Hope you repent.

@DJ NV There are not "three branches", this is an Anglican heresy. There is only the Church and not church, the Orthodox (right worshipping, correct believing, true worshipping) and the heterodox (other than Orthodox). There is ONE God, there is one correct understanding of God, and that is in and from the Orthodox Church.

@@mblaydoe - I would say the "three branch theory" is heterodox, but not heretical. Anyway, since the novelty of women priests and bishops (at least to Roman Catholics), it has more-or-less died. Who speaks of it anymore?

Peter Olson All I can say is I’ve been born into orthodoxy and through 45 years of my life I had never considered another denomination. I attend church every week and nothing compares to the Devine liturgy. To me nothing is more true and holy than orthodoxy. Being the ancient church it’s not popular with the people today because churches adapt to the current worldly views, gay marriage, etc. orthodoxy is again all this garbage. But attending the Orthodox Church will not be like going to a night club (Hillsong) thump thump music and heresy teaching.

Richie Rich Except it IS also backed by facts. I know being an ex long time die hard catholic who did take it very seriously. And Not to bash them, bc there are tons of great things about the RC and I still love them and the RC church. But I just can’t agree with all the constant changes, heresies, issues, scandals, corruption, etc. etc. this is one of the things that finally led me home to Orthodoxy. But I get what your saying and you are right about that too. Many Catholics don’t know or understand or fully even practice their faiths correctly. And YES that does happen in every church too.

orthodox is the ancient ant true church of god

Alithos Anesti!

Alithos Anesti ☦️

@@oj6919 God bless you!

Praise God. So happy to hear!

We Orthodox believe that all who can profess belief in the triune God and Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed and are baptized are indeed Christian however are outside of the Church as we believe in the visible Church as did our forefathers all the way back to the Apostles.

@@LadyMaria Well I'm relieved I count as a Christian under your definition. :-)

Listen to some Jay Dyer on KZfaq before you decide. Blessings.

We all hope and wish so, but we should mention that it was, it is and it will always be a blasphemy to believe that a man (any man) is infallible! Infallibility is God's attribute! Of course the whole Church, the mystical body of Christ is infallible, because Jesus Christ is infallible! For this reason Orthodoxy is expressed and declared in Ecumenical Councils!

Sadly as much as we ALL want that. I really don’t see it happening at all. There’s no way. But I hope and pray by some miracle that it can somehow happen someday. Don’t see it in my lifetime tho.. imho. Especially now, the RC continues to go further and further away from truth in these last days..sadly.

Protestants need to get over their ignorance and come back home too. I have on guy named t.k. on Facebook telling me he is non trinitarian believes theirs the father son and holy spirit and also says he is apostolic. He also says Augustine was used by constantine to push trinitarianism based on mithraic cults. Anyone with even a basic understanding of church history and roman history would see how much is wrong in this mans ideals. Oh yes he also said in the post he thinks saint nicholas and the easter bunny are pagan. Last time I checked peter cotton tail originated from a play.

As an American (I don't know where you are) I had many choices of Orthodox Churches to go to. I found a Greek Church that spoke English and went through the classes to become Orthodox. It was the best decision I made 15 years ago now. I grew up as a Christian at Calvary Chapel and then a detour into messianic Judaism. Once I started going the Orthodox Church I saw how Biblical the Church was. Does is have problems, Oh yes, but I have found it to be a great place of worship and fellowship.

Oh, I'm sorry that you got this impression. Orthodox Church is for every nation, color, position, age etc. It's just that this particular film is done in Russia with Russians. But when they speak about the Church they mean the ecumenical Church founded by our Lord Jesus, not some sort of a national Russian church. You will find Orthodox Church all over the world and when you visit a service, you will see no difference (except for using national languages and some local traditions such as sitting or standing during services and so on). Whether it's Greek, Russian, Serbian or a parish of your own country near by you, you can come and experience the same Orthodoxy. We are all united in one body of Christ and Holy Communion runs through Its veins).

I go to a Greek church that has a lot of Greek stuff going on but they are very friendly and inclusive and adopted us non-Greeks as Greeks. :-D It's cool. I'll add in edit that we have an Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Parish which is American Orthodoxy where many converts feel at home as the services are in all English. I just fell in love with the Greek Parish that is very friendly to all and wants to welcome all. We have even Ethiopian Orthodox that come, Russian, Romanian, etc. Our Parishes and clergy no matter nationality are friendly too. We've had other Priests from other jurisdictions con-celebrate when our Priest was away. Orthodoxy is beyond all nationalities!

ok but Orthodox are not Roman Catholics...

But the problem is which one? They all teach different gospels but claim to follow “the Bible “. Or the “Holy Spirit” or “Christ”. Is God confused? No God isn’t about confusion. So did I. I converted from Rome to Protestant (Baptist) in 1990. Later, even became a “on fire” zealous ordained Pentecostal minister; and later an evangelical pastor, missionary and evangelist for two decades. I traveled the world pastoring and preaching Christ and Him crucified. Healed the sick, casted out demons, it was awesome. But as of A few years ago I converted to the One True Holy Church...Eastern Orthodox. (Long story) It’s most beautiful, powerful , and complete divine holy faith I’ve ever seen, experienced and became part of. Praise God! Christ is In our Midst!!

Amen!

The Eastern Orthodox Holy Archdiocese of Aksum has in its jurisdiction the areas Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia and its see is in Addis-Ababa - Ethiopia! They may provide you with the necessary assistance! P. O. Box 571, Addis-Ababa, ETHIOPIA Tel.: +201090854603, +251-111226459 email: archbishop.aksum@gmail.com

So you are already Orthodox (Ethiopian)?? One thing I would say to you , the Ethiopian Tewadeho liturgy and beliefs are slightly different than other Eastern Orthodox. Do your research completely. Yes, it is still technically Orthodox too, but they aren’t in communion with the rest of Orthodoxy. There’s reasons for that. I won’t get into the long discussion and debate here but do your research and find out why. (They only accepted the first four councils). But Make your own informed decisions, fast and pray and let God and Holy Spirit guide you to the truth. For me it was easy! 😉

Jo Fraser my Orthodox Church has people of all races and kids running around lol. You sound bitter Jo. Sounds like it was a parish issue or jurisdictional issue rather than a Church issue

@@joseph5521 I have a friend who attended a different Orthodox church, and he (mixed-race) had no problems, and was more than welcomed. Unfortunately for me.. I had already moved out of the area when he told me. - Also, keep in mind.. What I experienced was back in the late 60s early 70s. A very different time era for the older generations at that time.

I'm sorry you experienced this. I was raised Lutheran and converted to Orthodoxy and every parish I have been in has had mixed races. I can tell you that in the 60s and 70s my Lutheran church was also "too Germanic" and gave the stink eye to those who looked or dressed differently. I even remember hearing sermons about how it was wrong to do so.

I am in the flesh an African/Native American woman of color. Our family converted to Orthodoxy almost six years ago. It is VERY challenging. There can be bias and racism in any flawed human community but I find that because a number of Orthodox Churches in America served as a means for immigrants to not only express their faith but to maintain their cultural identity it can be very alienating. Though I love icons they are EXTREMELY Eurocentric, even if from an eastern European perspective. It is not always historically accurate depictions of biblical figures and Saints. If others speak on these issues we get an icon of St. Moses the Ethiopian lol. As if in the over 2,000 history of the Church, that started in the east very close to Africa we have only one icon of a person who isn't white. Some would say "this is being divisive, why must you bring race into it" but "if" we are one true Church. We should be one, no racial divisions based on cultural biases. I was blessed to be in friendship with a Romanian monk since I was a child. He warned me of these issues and more as I was being catechized, yet he cautioned me to not let this deter me and to keep my mind in Christ. He said "you are not there for the people but for Jesus Christ, the Liturgy and the Sacraments". I strive to stay faithful to his teaching but it is difficult with the way "some" act at various Churches we visit and many times at our own parish. If we are one body than all the members of this body should show care and concern for the rest of the body. For many years I never shared this struggle but a good friend and hiermonk I know said that God wants me to share this struggle so others might be aware. I mean know offense in anything I shared but this is my families experience and unfortunately that of many other people of color I know studying and/or converts to the faith. in Christ Jesus. Hannah

I am a convert TO orthodoxy FROM Protestantism. As an ex Pastor and Minister myself. And while yes!... I do agree there is a bit of racism, and LOTS of Ethnocentrism which almost pushed me back ..away from EO. And I have a black wife and she was given those looks to and treated differently to the point that she has never gone back. Which made it even more difficult to convert. I agree this NEEDS to change within Orthodoxy. And they ARE trying to change this in most parishes. But that problem comes from individuals...and the fallen mindset of man...Which is why we are in church to be redeemed from. Lol So You can’t throw out the baby with the bath water. There’s a lot of reasons NOT to convert to orthodoxy ...or to any faith for that matter and that would be one of them. So I guess what I’m getting at is are there for God and the TRUTH?? Or to feel good and be comfortable?? Sorry to sound harsh or non politically correct. ..But this is the mentality that is anti Christian as well and destroying Christianity. But if u wanna go to church and feel good then yes!!... u are definitely at the right place as a Protestant! However if u want to truly follow Christ and truth. Then u should be in HIS BODY! The one started from the beginning. I had to face those same demons and almost gave up. But it came down to do I want truth and to feel good and be liked and welcomed ....or do I want to follow God and Truth?? So I picked God. It’s hasn’t been easy. It’s been difficult and rough. Especially an outsider. Everything was absolutely foreign to me as a westerner coming into Orthodoxy and they even said mean things to me. But I didn’t let that keep me from THE TRUTH. THE BODY! As far as kids running around. I actually had the OPPOSITE experience. It seemed in Protestant churches they want the kids to be quiet and sit in silence and not interrupt. I used to even get spanked by my parents in church just for turning bible pages!!! But the beauty of Orthodoxy. They allow the kids to run around and be kids. No one cares. No one looks at them mean or says anything. Tho yes it can also be annoying at times. Ha. But I love how EO is lenient on that. Totally different attitude from the holier than thou Protestant churches I’ve been in for decades even as a pastor! hope this helps.

Just did, thanks

d s Yes, he’s an Orthodox Christian!

YOU must be protestant

Here you go: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pa9mddJ31d7NpWw.html

Dave Bartosiewicz Spacibo! ☦️

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nrybdqaDtq_dmmQ.html

2 Thessalonians 2:15

I did and HE led me to the truth! I finally converted TO orthodoxy FROM Evangelical church. ...Christ is Risen!!

I was born again at 19...became a Mormon at 24, stayed in it for 25 years. Left, was an evangelical non-denominational believer for 9 years. Started a serious search of traditions, the ancient church in the Bible and it led me to the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.

@@DaveBartosiewicz you meant one holy Catholic Orthodox church

​@@merytek698 The "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church" is Orthodoxy.

@@acekoala457 yes of course.

I believe so.

Bro,the canons are saying that those are dying in heretic religions,knowing the True Orthodox Church is the faith of salvation and are ignoring this Church are going to hell

@@RyanGosling5176 And how are you qualifying heresy? Specifically in rejoinder to the above question?

Yes of course he does!! How can he judge u or anyone on what they don’t know? He’s not an evil unfair God. He wants all to be saved. But once u know the truth..things are different. Key phrase there ...”Once You Know” which many don’t.

Alex Anghel The key word there u missed is “knowing the true faith”. Most don’t know about it. I knew and still know I was going to heaven as a Protestant minister. But I didn’t know anything else and thought it was the most correct faith at the time. Now I know better. So now that I know better I must be orthodox.. to remain “saved” (which I am now).

@@JustinMorgan105kg Check out some of the videos Jay Dyer has about Orthodoxy. He was born a Baptist, then Reformed, then Roman Catholic...finally Orthodox. One must have a love of Truth to find it. Grace and Peace.

Sooner or later you'll find out that those who are absent from the body but present with the Lord, actually pray and commune with God's gifts! Asking for their prayers is the manifestation of our living communion with the Heavenly Church! Such a communion is based on the oneness of the whole Church, because Church is the wholeness of a mystical body whose Head is the incarnated Son of God! I hope that you will realise the significance of believing in the oneness of the whole Church, before ending up at an impasse because of your misunderstanding!

@Richie Rich Amen, brother! Welcome! Lml if you have any questions or need support.

YOU must be protestant

@@keneanseyfaw-assefa7054 where I was born there is no Protestants at all. No one in my family is or ever was Protestant.

I’ve been a Catholic for a year and I’m finding certain practices very disturbing.. too much Marian devotion, obsession with Marian apparition, focus on tradition more than the word of God... etc. I think I converted in a haste...

@@angelbaby78 Interesting. Devotion to Mary is one of the most important things that brought me to Catholicism, invluding the apparitions in Fatima and Medjugorje. The tradition is also appealing to me, especially early Church fathers. Too much individual human interpretation of the Bible in Protestantism.

Both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism have a theology based on the beliefs of one individual who is either the Pope or the protestant believer! In the Orthodox Church, we entirely trust in the living experience of the Whole Church! Church is Jesus Christ's mystical body where He feed us on His own Flesh and we quench our thirst for life with His precious Blood! We could never join Him out of His mystical body which is the Church ! Of course as there is only one Lord so there is only one Church, the ancient one that was founded by Christ Himself and keeps the Orthodox faith!!! Infallibility is a gift that was bestowed on the oneness of the whole Church, because Church is the wholeness of a mystical body whose Head is the only infallible Son of man Who is the incarnated Son of God! For this very reason Orthodoxy is expressed and declared in Ecumenical Councils! On the other hand, the presumption that the Scripture could be infallibly interpreted out of the Oneness of the Whole Church is a spiritual quicksand! Thousands of different interpretations of the Bible cause a spiritual confusion and a constant state of uncertainty. Anyway you are always welcomed to experience the fullness of Christ's mystery in the Orthodox Church!

Living the Orthodox Church isn't about finding a religion! The Orthodox Church is about joining Jesus Christ's mystical body, by participating in His Mystical Supper! Our bodies are literally implanted with His resurrected body! His precious Blood is literally transfused to our veins! Our souls are literally united with His soul! His Divinity is literally infused into us! This way we partake of His Uncreated Divine Energy that is of His Father and of His Spirit! Church is where we are trully connected with each other by uniting ourselves with Christ the Son of God! Thus we experience the Uncreatedness of the Eternal Love and Life by God's Will, in His Son's Grace through His Spirit's Communion! May God's Life be your Life, so that you may experience Life that is Life to the full! God bless you and Live for real, my friend! I wish you Love for your Life!

Cafeteria of Christianity ?Are you serious?The founder of Orthodox faith is Jesus Christ not Calvin,not Luther,not Muhammad who were humans!The one and only truth of Jesus is not a cafeteria!

@@katerinakaterinaki9143 I was talking specifically about Protestant "denominations." I'm only interested in the Apostolic Church which Christ founded. I do mean Eastern Orthodoxy.

Both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism have a theology based on the beliefs of one individual who is either the Pope or the protestant believer! In the Orthodox Church, we entirely trust in the living experience of the Whole Church! Church is Jesus Christ's mystical body where He feed us on His own Flesh and we quench our thirst for life with His precious Blood! We could never join Him out of His mystical body which is the Church ! Of course as there is only one Lord so there is only one Church, the ancient one that was founded by Christ Himself and keeps the Orthodox faith!!! Infallibility is a gift that was bestowed on the oneness of the whole Church, because Church is the wholeness of a mystical body whose Head is the only infallible Son of man Who is the incarnated Son of God! For this very reason Orthodoxy is expressed and declared in Ecumenical Councils! On the other hand, the presumption that the Scripture could be infallibly interpreted out of the Oneness of the Whole Church is a spiritual quicksand! Thousands of different interpretations of the Bible cause a spiritual confusion and a constant state of uncertainty. Anyway you are always welcomed to experience the fullness of Christ's mystery in the Orthodox Church!

By denying apostolic succession and supporting apostasy of the Church, you misrepresent the Bible where is written that Christ will build His church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) By supporting that Church had stopped existing in history for a certain period of time, you contradict our Lord! That's an antinomy! At the same time the presence of the Church in history could never be an abstract idea, because our Lord's teachings presuppose the existence of a community of the believers! For where two or three gather in His name, there He is with them. (Matthew 18:20) In the Church we certainly know that Christ is in our midst! He was and is and ever shall be.

All the local Eastern Orthodox Churches share precisely the same faith and they use exactly the same rite! This unity of faith and worship is a true miracle, given that there is no central administrative authority!

AMEN!!! Christo ANESTI!!

I'm not sure why people are arguing about denominations they just sound so religious like Muslims. The true church is composed of followers of Christ those who walk in the Spirit.

Wow. Well stated !! I was in the exact same boat. It was overwhelming, frustrating and confusing to me as to why I was left trying to constantly “figure it out” or “reinvent the wheel” when Christ, the apostles, church fathers and saints have already done that for us for over 2,000 years! It is also beautiful, divine and THE TRUTH! Once u find it, it can’t be ignored! Glad to be home finally. I fasted and prayed for years to find such a church. I thank God daily for showing me it finally!! The only difference was I was Evangelical Charismatic Pentacostal and Nondenominational for decades. Though it made me very spiritually strong and grounded and I thank God for what I saw, learned, and witnessed there, but it was just preparing me for this. I’m glad to be out of that and in the true ancient faith!

Christ is the Head of the Church Period. Mary is the mother of God. Not the same. We ask for those who are saints to pray for us just like I would ask a believer to pray for me.

The Orthodox Church is ALL ABOUT CHRIST. Try going to an Orthodox Church and see how many times Christ is mentioned in our prayers. The center of the Divine Liturgy is the Eucharist, which is the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus. The reason we give honor to Mary is because she is the mother of Jesus Christ, and for no other reason. She herself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said all nations would call her blessed, because she was chosen to be the Mother of the Christ. Do you not respect and honor your mother?

More focused on Mary than Jesus Christ? No we are not. The suggestion is absurd to anyone inside the church. But you are on the outside. You should attend a liturgy and see or at least read the text of the liturgy. Read a prayer book to.

We call mary the mother of God as a christological title for christ because jesus is God

Our main focus is on Christ or the Holy Trinity! But we also don’t ignore Mary (the Theotokos) either. She is a very important part of the equation. She was Jesus mother (aka the Christ bearer) and also the first saint! She’s above all others. So we place her exactly where she’s supposed to be. Not equal or over Christ/God. But we don’t place her equally as Roman Catholics do, nor ignore her either! She’s the next very important one! We aren’t praying to her per se, but THROUGH her and more of asking her to pray for us. Big difference.

Ramanath Das because the title of the video is orthodox to Protestant to orthodox so it was their stories which did not include Catholicism. But those stories are out there too even on KZfaq

Kate, what I would say is that, investigate, don't assume you know so much. Search the beginning of how the early Church was established by the Apostles. The Ancient Church, with the Apostles who founded it, is not Mormonism. Give it some research and please if you do, you'll see it is the Church that was founded by Christ through the Apostles. If you truly desire to search, you'll see it. I love Jesus with all my heart. He is my Lord, my King, my Savior and He is the head of the Church. I believe you'll see what truly the Ancient Church is if you just don't assume it's rotten. God Bless You. Christ is Risen!

Dave Bartosiewicz Indeed He is Risen! 🙏🏻☦️🙏🏻

There were a few points which completely contrast with what Mormons would argue. For example, disagreement over the important issue of the chalice is a serious critique of Protestantism. Also the critique of the Protestant view of history, that God only started working in the world 100, or 500 years ago.

I totally agree. You have summed it up beautifully!

Is it an impulse to explore the truth? Come and see! Orthodox Christianity is a living faith, and you get it from living persons by being connected to a local, living parish! Have a glance at the orthodox side of Christianity! Welcome to the Orthodox Church!

You’re on a wonderful journey! I encourage you to Visit, pray and study with both faiths (as I did). That’s the only way you will get complete unbiased facts. Also, Read books from both sides. You will soon see where the complete fullness lies. Pray and fast and let God and Holy Spirit guide you. I did this for several years and the truth was obvious. Well, sometimes not so much ...but in the end I went with Orthodoxy and it’s wonderful! Either way though, I don’t believe in bashing other faiths. They all have elements of the truth and do great wonderful things and each can help you grow closer to God and be a better spiritual holy person.

Many would claim that all you need to do to be saved is to say the "sinners' prayer." I know that because I was one of them, but try finding the "sinners' prayer" in the bible - good luck with that.

EXACTLY!!! U hit the nail on the head my friend!! I am an ex lifelong “On fire” world traveling evangelist and minister and I approve this message!! 👍🏼😁

Why would Jesus's Church need to be reformed? You don't take His word what He stated in Matthew 16:18?

@@DaveBartosiewicz The Church has many times needed reform. The OT Church fell into many errors, heresies, and apostate practices in which it took God raising up men, by the power of His Holy Spirit to bring the changes that were necessary to bring the people of God back into conformity to that which was Scriptural. Reformation is really something that is on going. The Church many times begins to focus on one thing too much and thus neglects other things. False teachings creep in, and may persist for long periods of time, but God is faithful in His appointed time to cleanse the Church to preserve a remnant for Himself, as He did during Reformation times. And so, even today, even amongst the Protestant Church, there is a great deal of reform that is still needed. The visible Church is not perfect, partly due to the remaining corruption of believers, and partly due to unregenerate membership. Concerning the words of Our Lord in Matthew 16:18, the gates of hell have never prevailed against the true Church for it is the mystical body of Christ from all ages and nations, none of whom, by the grace of God, have been lost and entered through hell's gates. WCF Chapter XXV. Of the Church. I. The catholic or universal Church which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.(a) (a) Eph. 1:10, 22, 23; Eph. 5:23, 27, 32; Col. 1:18. II. The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel (not confined to one nation as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion;(b) and of their children:(c) and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,(d) the house and family of God,(e) out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.(f) (b) I Cor. 1:2; I Cor. 12:12, 13; Ps. 2:8; Rev. 7:9; Rom. 15:9, 10, 11, 12. (c) I Cor. 7:14; Acts 2:39; Ezek. 16:20, 21; Rom. 11:16; Gen. 3:15; Gen. 17:7. (d) Matt. 13:47; Isa. 9:7. (e) Eph. 2:19; Eph. 3:15. (f) Acts 2:47. III. Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth by His own presence and Spirit, according to His promise, make them effectual thereunto.(g) (g) I Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11, 12, 13; Matt. 28:19, 20; Isa. 59:21. IV. This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.(h) And particular Churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.(i) (h) Rom. 11:3, 4; Rev. 12:6, 14. (i) Rev. 2 and 3; I Cor. 5:6, 7. V. The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error:(k) and some have so degenerated, as to become no Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan.(l) Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth, to worship God according to His will.(m)

@@ChristopherJones-ho8ej The problem I see is that you do not have any Apostolic Succession as the RCC and the Orthodox churches. They validate it, it all. How can you validate or prove to me your church is Apostolic from the succession of the Apostles through the laying on of hands?

@@DaveBartosiewicz As you most likely know, Presbyterianism takes ordination very seriously and practices the laying on of hands by the presbytery for all overseers(bishops) 1 Timothy 4:14. The Church of Scotland can be traced back to St. Columba who is connected apostolically to St. John the Apostle. We believe there was a well established Celtic Church before their later union with Rome, which union ended in 1560 where most in the Church in Scotland embraced presbyterian polity and reformed it's doctrine. We would consider the breaking off from Rome not to break our succession to the Apostles, since they already had it before their union with Rome and since Rome was to be blamed for the schism due to it's errors. The schism was necessary to maintain truth and therefore under God's blessing. And so presbyteries in the United States today have the apostolic authority to ordain Elders in the Church because each member of the presbytery had hands laid on them by a presbytery going all the way back to the Church of Scotland or other church bodies from Europe such as the Dutch reformed Church. We would consider the Church of England to also have maintained apostolic succession since they broke fellowship with Rome, not to grow more apostate, but to adopt a more reformed dogma and so God's blessing was upon them also. But our ultimate authority to Apostolic succession is our adherence to the New Testament teachings of the Apostles themselves, as well as the Holy Spirit which calls men to be presbyters and thus the authority remains in tact even in communions who may have started independently such as the vast majority of Baptist churches did so long as these independent churches are fundamentally in doctrinal harmony with the Bible and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ as Head of the Church.

@Dave Bartosiewicz And Saint Peter created the Church of Rome ! Thank you Dave !!! Have a Good day !!

The Ancient Church is not a denomination, it's pre denominational.

Orthodoxy is not a denomination. It is the practical faith which the direct lineage of Christ’s apostles established for mankind to live by. As Dave said, it’s pre-denominational. You have to observe the historical context of Christ’s resurrection and the Orthodox Church in order to see that this is the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.

@@otisdreading Pre-denominational is a primitive Christian. So your belief is no different than any other religion. Thus you have no claim to this ridiculous made up word of Dave's or yours "pre-denominational."

@@OmegaMan28 so, in your opinion any Christian before the Great Schism was a primitive? Because only after 1054 the Church split in two, and only after Martin Luther the denominations appeared. You call a lot of people primitives, don't you think?

I think you define "biblical" as "whatever sounds good to me".

I'll go shop for a protestant denomination that agrees with you. BRB.

Lol

Yes they are. Everything from Orthodox worship references Temple and Synagogue rituals which are laid out in the Bible. The rock-concert comedy show of Protestantism is not Biblical. The Bible mentions having elders anointing the sick with oil. This is the sacrament of holy unction, which Protestants do not do because you are not Biblical.

May you too be drawn into the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. The Word of God is a person, and His body is The Church.

the Apostle James who wrote the Book of James denies Sola Fide. James 2:24 "a person is not justified by faith alone." (ESV)

Odyc Mboden do you think Lord lie when He promised His disciple wi’ll be whit them for age to come ? Do you think for 1500 years He just forgot about His Church, He was wetting for Luther to establish his one church? How ironic devil foolish you 😫

Athan, you misquoted the verse in your attempt to promote what Paul might call heresy. You left out the first part.. James 2 speaks of mans justification before other men. Romans 4 speaks of mans justification before God. James does not deny Sola Fide, he is addressing a different topic with a different kind of justification than the one Paul speaks of. James 2:24 ****You**** see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. James 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show ****me**** your faith apart from your works, and I will show ****you**** my faith by my works. 1st Samuel 16:7b "...man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." Romans 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, ****but not before God****. Romans 4:5 And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, Romans 4:9 -10 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Galatians 2:21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Galatians 5:4 "You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. " (sounds like Paul is calling it heresy) There is no contradiction between Paul and James, they are speaking about different kinds of justification. Follow the context, look at the beginning of James 2, it's all about mans view of man, not God's view of man. Sola Scriptura + Tota Scriptura = Sola Fide EO rejects Sola Scriptura, that is where the problems begin. They elevate their oral traditions and lessen the authority of Scripture to the level of tradition, so that their traditions have more weight than they ought. There is a fine line between oral tradition and fables. Titus 1:14 "Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. " 2Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 1Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: [so do]. It is notable how the EO focus on a kind of genealogy of church fathers, when the bible teaches apostolic succession of doctrine rather than apostolic succession of leadership(see. Gal 1:8). Succession of leadership is not one of the requirements for elders listed in the bible.

Elena, you think that Luther is the first Christian to hold to the doctrines of protestants? There have been many before him. You can look at pre-reformation protestants like Huss, or the Waldensians, and so on. A lot of early church fathers echoed the teachings of the reformers as well(see "holy scripture by David T. King and William Webster), but more importantly, scripture itself supports reformation theology, because it's based entirely on Scripture (Sola Scriptura) rather than on traditions of men mixed with fables. There has always been a remnant. There are probably a lot of saved people within EO and Catholicism(which is not what it used to be), but they are saved "despite" the teachings of those churches rather than because of them. I knew an EO guy who for example did not hold the EO belief that Mary was sinless( Mary calls God her savior in Luke 1:47, savior from what?). He seemed to have a protestant understanding of the bible and the gospel despite being EO his whole life, and I think it's because he paid more attention to the Bible than to fables of men in his church.

@@Gottespunk lol why are you loving Luther so much