- 1 day ago
Acts 15:21-22
21 For from ancient generations Moses has had his preachers in every town, for he is read [aloud] every Sabbath in the synagogues.
22 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, resolved to select men from among their number and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, [both] leading men among the brethren, and sent them.
21 For from ancient generations Moses has had his preachers in every town, for he is read [aloud] every Sabbath in the synagogues.
22 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, resolved to select men from among their number and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, [both] leading men among the brethren, and sent them.
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LearningTranscript
00:26In this reflection,
00:30I have titled this one,
00:32Why are so many people in America
00:34turning to the ancient faith of Orthodox Christianity?
00:39But before we get started,
00:41I would like to clarify, as I usually do,
00:43I am not a spokesman for the Orthodox Church,
00:46but I am merely a recent convert
00:49who has been surprised by the love of God in my journey
00:52when he opened my spiritual eyes to see and know
00:56that what I was learning in this most ancient faith
00:59called Orthodoxy was a living reality of a church
01:03that had her beginning at Pentecost 29 AD
01:06and a timeline that had full continuity
01:10of her practice up until this present day.
01:14You see, coming from a background
01:16of being a cradle Catholic, Protestant,
01:19and former charismatic
01:20who taught the Word of God for over 28 years,
01:24It is now my desire to share
01:27in the most simplistic way in every reflection
01:30I call a piece of the big puzzle
01:33in each of these reflections
01:35that have captured my heart
01:37and began my personal journey of conversion,
01:40which actually began with the timeline of the church,
01:44the patristic fathers,
01:45and mostly the deep reverential worship
01:49found in divine liturgy.
01:51I was ignorant of the fact
01:53that many of these early fathers
01:55actually learned and labored alongside the apostles.
02:00These men were filled with the Holy Spirit
02:02and were notable theologians
02:05whose writing helped shape the foundations
02:08of the Christian doctrines.
02:10Numerous were martyred
02:12and others underwent horrible suffering
02:15to defend the truth and faith
02:17because of their love for Jesus Christ
02:20and for the sake of defending the truth
02:22of this most ancient faith
02:24in her holy tradition.
02:27This truly impressed me
02:29and made a great impact on my life.
02:31I'm sorry to say
02:33that I was totally unaware
02:35and ignorant of the history
02:37of this ancient faith
02:39as it was not a part
02:40of the Protestant realm of history
02:43that presented historical Christianity
02:45in her early years
02:47which began at Pentecost 29 AD
02:50and has her history of continuity
02:53up until this present day.
02:55My resources,
02:57which centered almost exclusively
02:59on the Bible
03:00and Protestant commentators,
03:03did not offer the rich
03:05and abundant materials
03:06preserved in the many writings
03:09of the early fathers,
03:11the liturgical traditions,
03:13and the unbroken continuity
03:15of the ancient church.
03:18So, as I prefaced
03:20at the beginning of this reflection,
03:22the title is called
03:23Why Are So Many People in America
03:27Turning to the Ancient Faith
03:29of Orthodox Christianity?
03:32Well, dear listener and followers,
03:35I am pleased to say
03:36that I was one whom
03:38the good Lord opened up
03:40a wellspring of desire
03:41to investigate
03:42the historical roots
03:44of Christianity
03:45after being invited
03:46to attend my first
03:48Orthodox Christian service.
03:51I, like so many people
03:53with a denominational background
03:55of mainly Protestantism
03:57and being charismatic,
03:59caused lingering doubts
04:01and questions
04:02about inconsistencies
04:04of my former denominational background,
04:07which were always changing
04:09in doctrine
04:09and theological traditions.
04:11The changes seemed
04:13to be formed
04:13to mainly appeal
04:15to the masses
04:16in order to keep people
04:18interested
04:18to draw new parishioners.
04:20It is not a secret
04:22that hundreds of people
04:23are coming to Orthodoxy.
04:25Even the New York Times
04:27and other leading
04:28secular news sources
04:30are reporting
04:31this major change
04:32in the influx
04:34of large numbers
04:35of denominational
04:36and non-denominational churches
04:38making their journey
04:40into the ancient faith
04:42of Orthodoxy.
04:44The Internet
04:44has certainly changed
04:46and accelerated
04:47the momentum
04:48of change
04:49with the many channels
04:51and podcasts
04:52by making
04:53the ancient faith
04:54of Orthodoxy
04:55accessible
04:56to people
04:56all over the world.
04:58It has been noted
04:59that at first
05:01this influx
05:02of many converts
05:03coming to Orthodoxy
05:05were young men,
05:06but now it seems
05:08to be reaching
05:09more younger families
05:10and even
05:11a wider range
05:13of ages,
05:14including the older generation.
05:16My husband Lee
05:18and I
05:18are some of these
05:20that fit into
05:20the older generation.
05:22And I'm happy
05:24to add as well,
05:25since we ourselves
05:26have been baptized
05:28into this most
05:29ancient faith,
05:30we have seen
05:31a number of older
05:33brothers and sisters
05:34who have been baptized
05:35either just before us,
05:37some baptized
05:38at the same time
05:39we were,
05:40and now
05:41even after us.
05:43It seems
05:44that many
05:44of those
05:45that do come
05:46to Orthodoxy
05:47and make the change,
05:49that is,
05:49they are converted,
05:51are leaving
05:51their previous churches
05:53due to the many
05:54differences
05:54of new
05:55and changing
05:56doctrines
05:57and differences
05:58in political opinions
05:59and cultural issues,
06:01which all brought
06:03problems
06:03and difficulties
06:04of spiritual unrest.
06:07It seems
06:08all the various
06:09changes
06:10caused
06:10or provoked
06:12thought
06:12and challenges
06:13of instability
06:15and thus
06:16led them
06:17to investigate
06:18and find
06:18something that
06:19offered
06:19unchanging
06:20historical roots,
06:22which are grounded
06:23in truth
06:24and resistant
06:25to change.
06:27During the pandemic,
06:29many churches
06:30closed their doors
06:31out of fear,
06:32while others
06:33held virtual service
06:34in effort
06:34to stay connected.
06:36Yet over time,
06:38countless believers
06:39found themselves
06:40looking elsewhere,
06:41but because
06:42the online experience
06:44could not offer
06:45what the gathering
06:47in a church
06:48uniquely provides
06:49and satisfies
06:50or replaces
06:51in the warm
06:52fellowship
06:53and spiritual
06:54encouragement
06:54that comes
06:55from being present
06:56with one another
06:57in the house
06:58of God.
06:59It was during
07:00this time
07:01in our local
07:02church
07:02called
07:03St. Mary
07:04of Egypt
07:05in Roswell,
07:06Georgia,
07:06which started
07:07over 30 years
07:08ago
07:09with the faithful
07:11servant of God,
07:12Father John Thompson.
07:14St. Mary's
07:15saw her greatest
07:17growth,
07:17which has not
07:18let up
07:19since the time
07:20of the pandemic.
07:21Father John
07:22refused to close
07:23the doors
07:24to God's church.
07:26It was just
07:27recently
07:28that there
07:29was a baptismal
07:30number of 30
07:31or more people
07:32who made the
07:33commitment
07:34to become
07:34Orthodox,
07:35and already
07:36there is another
07:37number of over
07:3830 people
07:39who are
07:40catechumens
07:41who are learning
07:42and preparing
07:43for baptism.
07:44St. Mary
07:45of Egypt's
07:46growth
07:47has grown
07:48so much
07:49and is
07:50at this
07:51time
07:51planning
07:52to have
07:52two church
07:53services
07:54instead of
07:54one
07:55because the
07:56size of the
07:56church is not
07:57able to
07:58accommodate
07:59the growing
07:59number of
08:00members.
08:01Dear listener
08:02and followers,
08:03this and a
08:04larger number
08:05are being
08:06reported all
08:07across the
08:08United States
08:09in the
08:10Orthodox churches
08:11that were
08:12built for
08:12around 100
08:13people,
08:14now are
08:15bursting at
08:16the seams
08:16with 300
08:17or more
08:18people.
08:19It is
08:20reported
08:21that many
08:22hundreds of
08:22people are
08:23converting to
08:24the Orthodox
08:25faith because
08:26they are
08:27searching for
08:27something that
08:28is unchanging,
08:29uncompromising,
08:31and anchored
08:32in historical
08:33Christianity.
08:35Today,
08:35in our world,
08:37we live in a
08:38time of
08:39profound cultural
08:40upheaval,
08:41and it is
08:42precisely in
08:43this type of
08:44change and
08:45instability that
08:46many who
08:47come to the
08:48Orthodox church
08:49recognize
08:50something they
08:51can no longer
08:52find anywhere
08:53else.
08:54They see that
08:55she remains
08:56anchored in
08:58solid,
08:59unbending,
09:00and unchanging
09:01traditions,
09:02and guards
09:03the meticulous
09:04liturgical life
09:05and upholds
09:06clear,
09:07faithful,
09:08moral boundaries.
09:09This cultural
09:11disorder in our
09:12world today
09:12includes wars,
09:15economic
09:15instability,
09:16and political
09:17crises which
09:18forces society
09:20to rethink
09:21their values
09:22and norms,
09:23and this is
09:24precisely what
09:25is causing
09:25unrest in the
09:27hearts and
09:27souls of
09:28people all
09:29over the
09:30world.
09:31These all
09:32stand in
09:33stark contrast
09:34to the
09:35modern ideals
09:36now shaping
09:37much of the
09:38contemporary
09:39Catholic and
09:40Protestant life
09:41where doctrines
09:42often shift
09:44with cultural
09:45and ethical
09:45trends leaving
09:47many feelings
09:48spiritually unanchored.
09:51In turning to
09:52Orthodoxy,
09:53these inquirers
09:54are not merely
09:55rejecting
09:56instability,
09:57they are embracing
09:58a faith that
09:59has preserved
10:00its integrity,
10:01depth,
10:02and clarity
10:02across centuries
10:04up until this
10:05present time.
10:07And also,
10:08in choosing to
10:09convert to
10:09Orthodoxy,
10:11these seekers
10:12are not simply
10:13reacting to
10:14the uncertainty
10:15and division
10:16that they see
10:17around them,
10:18they are choosing
10:19a tradition
10:20that has
10:21maintained a
10:22consistent faith
10:23that has
10:24preserved its
10:24integrity,
10:25depth,
10:26and clarity,
10:27and continuous
10:28spiritual heritage
10:30and liturgical
10:31life from the
10:32early church
10:33to this present
10:34day.
10:35All of this,
10:36dear listener
10:36and followers,
10:37has made
10:38great impact
10:39on my own
10:40experience as
10:41I went to
10:42my first
10:43Orthodox church
10:44and service
10:45at St. Mary
10:46of Egypt's
10:47church in
10:49Roswell,
10:49Georgia.
10:50It was
10:51astoundingly
10:52beautiful in
10:53the beauty,
10:53not only of
10:54the colors and
10:55ornate icons
10:56that ordained
10:58the walls of
10:58the church
10:59and the
11:00beautiful
11:00vestments of
11:01the priests,
11:02but above all,
11:04the reverent and
11:05holy liturgy
11:06itself.
11:07When the choir
11:08reached its
11:09crescendo in
11:10the cherubic
11:11hymn,
11:12ushering in
11:13the moment
11:13before partaking
11:14of communion,
11:15I was deeply
11:16touched and
11:17moved in the
11:18very depth
11:19of my spirit
11:20and soul.
11:20Being a
11:21former cradle
11:23Catholic girl
11:24in my younger
11:25years,
11:26I had never
11:27experienced or
11:28known the
11:29holiness or
11:30reverence and
11:31deep worship
11:32that awakened
11:33something long
11:34asleep within
11:35my soul.
11:37Now today,
11:38as I research
11:39to find reasons
11:40why this great
11:42increase is
11:42happening in
11:43the Eastern
11:44Orthodox Church,
11:45I found and
11:47concurred with
11:48three main
11:49reasons why
11:50this influx
11:52into this
11:53ancient faith
11:53is happening
11:55not only for
11:56young men,
11:56but for people
11:57of all ages,
11:59but because
12:00these reasons
12:01also made
12:02great impact
12:03on my own
12:04decisions to
12:05convert to
12:06Orthodoxy.
12:08The first
12:08reason is
12:09people are
12:11drawn to
12:12the Eastern
12:13Orthodox Church
12:14in her
12:14unwavering
12:15tradition or
12:16established
12:17practices.
12:18Many converts,
12:20many those who
12:21were former
12:22Protestants and
12:22Catholics,
12:23are seeking a
12:24Christianity with
12:25a belief that
12:27has deep
12:27historical roots
12:28and unbending
12:30liturgical
12:31structures which
12:32are sacramental
12:33and formal.
12:35All of these
12:36dear ones
12:37come with
12:38frequent
12:39confession,
12:40an outline
12:41of established
12:42prayers,
12:43and other
12:44practices unique
12:45to Orthodoxy,
12:46which offer
12:47solid and
12:48definite
12:49discipline.
12:50These practices
12:51have been
12:52established and
12:53preserved since
12:54the birth of
12:55the Church of
12:55Pentecost 29
12:56AD,
12:57and this
12:58again made
12:59great impact
13:00on my
13:01decision to
13:02convert to
13:03this most
13:03ancient faith.
13:05She has been
13:06unwavering in
13:08her continuity
13:08and faithfulness
13:09in her
13:10progression
13:10forward up
13:11until this
13:12present day.
13:13This is very
13:14impressive to
13:15those who have
13:16never known
13:16the history
13:17of the early
13:18Church and
13:19the steadfastness
13:20of her
13:20foundational early
13:21fathers who
13:23stood in the
13:23face of
13:24every adversary
13:25obstacle that
13:27endeavored to
13:28thwart the
13:28spread of
13:29the wonderful
13:30and glorious
13:31truth of the
13:31Orthodox faith.
13:33I believe one
13:34of the most
13:35outstanding examples
13:37of an
13:38individual who
13:39made conversion
13:40to Orthodoxy,
13:42who is recently
13:43being considered
13:44to be made a
13:46saint.
13:46His name is
13:48Father Seraphim
13:49Rose, and I
13:50highly recommend
13:51reading about his
13:52life, his
13:53struggle, and
13:54finally, his
13:56outstanding
13:56contribution to
13:58the Orthodox
13:59Church.
14:00In reading
14:01about his
14:02experience, one
14:03of his direct
14:04quotes the
14:05moment he
14:06entered his
14:06first experience
14:07in an Orthodox
14:09Church was,
14:10I knew that
14:12here was the
14:13truth I had
14:14been seeking.
14:16This was his
14:17reaction after
14:18stepping into the
14:20Russian Orthodox
14:21Cathedral in
14:22San Francisco
14:23for the first
14:24time.
14:25You see, before
14:27becoming Father
14:28Seraphim, his
14:30name was Eugene
14:31Rose.
14:32He lived for
14:33years in a state
14:34of deep spiritual
14:35turmoil.
14:36He was raised in a
14:37Protestant home, but
14:38he rejected what he
14:39saw as superficial in
14:41American Christianity
14:43and plunged into a
14:45period of intense
14:46atheism.
14:48Yet beneath this
14:49atheism was a
14:50profound longing
14:52for meaning.
14:53His brilliant
14:54mind drove him
14:55into the study of
14:57Chinese philosophy,
14:59Taoism, Buddhism,
15:01Hinduism.
15:01And for more than
15:03a decade, he
15:04immersed himself
15:05in Eastern
15:06religions, mastering
15:08languages and
15:09practicing meditation,
15:11but eventually
15:12found these
15:13systems
15:14intellectually
15:15stimulating, but
15:17spiritually hollow,
15:18unable to answer
15:20the deepest
15:20questions of the
15:22human heart to
15:23provide personal
15:24encounter with
15:25truth.
15:26Then, in his
15:28astonishing encounter
15:29with Orthodoxy, his
15:31conversion began
15:32quietly, but
15:33decisively, when he
15:35stepped first into
15:36the Russian Orthodox
15:37Church in San
15:38Francisco.
15:40Though he
15:41understood nothing in
15:42the Slavic service,
15:43he later said he
15:44felt instantly at
15:46home, as if he
15:47stepped into a world
15:48he had always been
15:50seeking, the beauty,
15:52reverence, and what
15:53seemed to belong to
15:54another world, which
15:56was found in the
15:57depth of Orthodox
15:58worship, awakened
16:00something in him that
16:02philosophy never had
16:03or could do.
16:04Over the next
16:05several years, he
16:07was drawn more
16:08deeply into a life of
16:10the Church, especially
16:11through the influence
16:12of John
16:13Makumovic, whose
16:15holiness shattered
16:16Eugene's atheism
16:18and showed him
16:19that sanctity or
16:21holiness was not
16:22an idea, but a
16:24living reality.
16:26The turning point
16:27came during
16:28Pascha, or
16:29Easter, in
16:301962, when the
16:32radiant joy of
16:34the celebration of
16:35the resurrection
16:35overwhelmed him
16:37and revealed
16:38Christ, not as an
16:39abstract concept,
16:41but as a living
16:42truth.
16:43That same year
16:44on Sunday of
16:46the Prodigal
16:47Son, he was
16:48received into the
16:49Orthodox Church,
16:50marking the end
16:52of his long
16:52spiritual wandering
16:54and the beginning
16:55of a life totally
16:56devoted to
16:57asceticism, prayer,
16:59and the defense
16:59of the ancient
17:00faith and her
17:01unwavering
17:02traditions, which
17:03are steadfast and
17:04unchanging.
17:06His lifelong
17:07journey of finding
17:08Christ as Savior
17:09and the true
17:10love found in
17:12him, Mark
17:13Seraphim rose to
17:14be considered to
17:16be canonized a
17:17saint on May
17:184, 2026, but
17:21the canonization
17:22has not been
17:23officially proclaimed.
17:25Now, the second
17:27reason people are
17:28drawn is the
17:30rejection of
17:31modern practices
17:32of Protestant
17:34and even with
17:35changing doctrines
17:37and practices in
17:38Catholicism.
17:39You see, this
17:41significant draw of
17:42converts is said
17:44to be a desire to
17:45be closely connected
17:47to cultural roots
17:48which bring stability
17:50and are
17:51traditional.
17:53This significant
17:54draw of converts
17:55is said to be a
17:56desire to be
17:57closely connected
17:59to what is called
18:00cultural roots
18:01or that which
18:03relates to shared
18:04knowledge and
18:05values that is
18:06driven by the
18:07deep longing for
18:08something that
18:09brings stability
18:10and is traditional
18:11and that which
18:13is long established
18:14and historical.
18:15One convert said,
18:18I needed to know
18:19that what I
18:20believed on Sunday
18:22would still be
18:23true on Monday
18:24and would have
18:25been true a
18:26hundred years ago
18:27and Orthodox
18:28Christianity
18:29offered that
18:31certainty.
18:32You see, many of
18:34these new converts
18:35have expressed in
18:36their search for
18:38the historic
18:39Christian church.
18:40They speak about
18:42discovering the
18:43unbroken apostolic
18:45succession that
18:47is found in
18:47Orthodox Christianity.
18:49They found in
18:51tracing this ancient
18:52history, the
18:53church's bishops
18:54and clergy went
18:55back to the
18:56twelve apostles
18:57themselves.
18:58I know that for
19:00me, this was
19:02probably one of the
19:03several profound
19:04reasons for my
19:05own conversions
19:06into the ancient
19:08faith of
19:09Orthodoxy.
19:10And the more I
19:11learned about the
19:12truth of the
19:13church fathers, the
19:14struggle and
19:15development of
19:16Christian doctrine
19:17and the holy
19:17traditions that
19:18were passed down
19:19before the Bible
19:20itself was even
19:21considered, was
19:23evidence enough
19:24that I needed to
19:25make the change
19:26because of what
19:27the Holy Spirit
19:28was impressing upon
19:30my heart and
19:30soul as truth.
19:32In 2 Thessalonians
19:34chapter 2, verse
19:3615, Apostle Paul
19:38gives a command
19:38saying, therefore
19:40brethren, stand
19:41fast and hold the
19:43traditions you were
19:44taught, whether by
19:46word or our
19:47epistle.
19:48In the New
19:49Testament church, we
19:51read that there are
19:51two traditions, the
19:53tradition of men, which
19:55is absolutely
19:56condemned by Christ
19:57himself, and the
19:59tradition that Paul is
20:00talking about here,
20:01which is called
20:02holy tradition, or
20:03sometimes called the
20:05tradition of the
20:06apostles, which they
20:08taught to the church
20:09under the inspiration
20:10of the Holy Spirit, and
20:12is preserved by the
20:13church because God is
20:15its source.
20:16In 2 Thessalonians
20:18chapter 3, verse 6,
20:20Apostle Paul treats
20:22apostolic tradition as a
20:24standard of Christian
20:26life when he instructs
20:27by saying, withdraw
20:29from every brother
20:30who walks disorderly,
20:32and not according to
20:34the tradition which he
20:35received from us.
20:37And in 1 Corinthians
20:39chapter 11, verse 2,
20:41Paul praises the
20:42Corinthians for keeping
20:44the traditions he
20:45handed down by
20:46declaring, now I
20:48praise you, brethren,
20:50that you remember me
20:51in all things and keep
20:53the traditions just as
20:55I have delivered them
20:56to you.
20:58Like so many of
21:00these people, this
21:01discovery for me
21:03resonated so
21:04powerfully because
21:05in my over 28 years
21:08of teaching and
21:08preaching the word of
21:10God and being
21:11invited to many
21:12denominations and
21:14non-denominational
21:15churches, the
21:16doctrinal beliefs were
21:18far apart with what I
21:20have now learned in
21:22the unbroken continuity
21:23of the Eastern
21:25Orthodox Church and
21:26her practices and
21:28the many traditions
21:30since the time of
21:31her conception, which
21:32I say again, began at
21:34Pentecost 29 AD.
21:36I have learned that
21:37the rise of converts
21:39like myself is
21:41closely tied to
21:42cultural desire for
21:44stability and
21:45traditional virtues
21:46with the distinction
21:48between good and
21:49evil and right
21:50conduct, right
21:51principles of
21:52human conduct.
21:54In essence, many
21:56believers are
21:56distancing themselves
21:58from the
21:59increasingly
22:00superficial and
22:01ever-changing
22:02doctrines of
22:03Western
22:04secularized
22:05churches, longing
22:07instead for the
22:08unbroken tradition
22:09and moral clarity
22:10preserved in the
22:12Orthodox Church.
22:13And now we come to
22:15the third reason
22:15people are drawn to
22:16the Orthodox Church
22:18is the moral
22:19aspect which
22:21determine a
22:21person's action
22:22or right behavior
22:24in the right
22:25standard, which
22:26are outlined in
22:27the Book of Life
22:28called the Bible
22:29and the Holy
22:30Traditions of the
22:31Orthodox Church.
22:32The Orthodox
22:33ancient faith is
22:35widely noted for
22:37being particularly
22:38conservative and
22:39firm in its
22:40theology, which
22:42attracts those who
22:43are searching for
22:44meticulous and
22:45precise standards for
22:47their spiritual
22:48lives.
22:49And this would
22:50include a major
22:50reason that
22:52draws people to
22:53the Orthodox
22:54Church.
22:55It is a desire
22:56for true and
22:58genuine worship
22:58rather than
22:59entertainment.
23:01This my husband
23:02Lee and I have
23:03seen over the
23:0428 years as we
23:05were invited in
23:06many of the
23:07various churches
23:08we went to.
23:09Looking back in
23:11many of these
23:11settings, the
23:12focus of worship
23:13seemed to rest on
23:15the lead singer
23:16who is often
23:17treated as a
23:18kind of star
23:19and is supported
23:20by a team of
23:21performers.
23:22The music was
23:23contemporary and
23:25the overall
23:25atmosphere reflected
23:27a performance
23:28oriented approach
23:29rather than a
23:31liturgical or a
23:32prayerful one.
23:34And this includes
23:35the primary reason
23:36that many are
23:38drawn to the
23:39Orthodox Church.
23:40There is a
23:41desire for worship
23:42that is true and
23:44reverent and God
23:45centered rather
23:46than entertainment
23:47driven.
23:49And I found in
23:50my search where a
23:51young father of
23:52three said,
23:54Sunday morning
23:55shouldn't feel like
23:56going to a
23:56concert or a
23:58motivational seminar.
23:59We want our
24:01children to
24:01experience the
24:03transcendent to
24:04understand that
24:05worship is about
24:06approaching the
24:07divine with awe
24:09and reverence.
24:10Dear listener and
24:12followers, it is in
24:14the Orthodox
24:15Divine Liturgy
24:17where worship of
24:18God is something
24:19extremely different
24:20and the focus is
24:22solely on Christ
24:23and is most
24:24reverent and far
24:25from entertainment
24:26and contemporary
24:27Christianity.
24:29This has and is
24:31still deeply,
24:31profoundly and
24:33spiritually transforming
24:34my life beyond
24:35words.
24:37The Divine Liturgy
24:38is the highest form
24:39of worship where
24:41the believer reverently
24:42embraces the fact
24:43that what Jesus
24:44left as a command
24:46the night before
24:47he was going to be
24:48crucified on behalf
24:50of all men for the
24:51forgiveness of their
24:52sins was to destroy
24:54death by death.
24:55When he descended
24:56into Hades,
24:57gave the command as
24:59he was offering
25:00himself up once
25:01and for all in the
25:02gifts of the bread
25:03and wine by saying
25:04in Luke chapter 22
25:07verse 19,
25:08Do this in remembrance
25:10of me.
25:11And in verse 21,
25:13This cup is the
25:15new covenant in my
25:16blood which is shed
25:17for you.
25:19You see,
25:20for Orthodox Christians,
25:22this is the heart
25:23of our worship and
25:24salvation, dear
25:25listener and followers.
25:27The Greek word
25:28theosis means
25:29partaking of the
25:30nature of God.
25:32And this is not a
25:33metaphor, but it is
25:35real participation
25:36in the life of
25:38Jesus Christ.
25:39In 2 Peter chapter
25:411 verse 4,
25:42the word instructs,
25:44By which have been
25:46given to us exceedingly
25:47great and promised
25:48and precious promises
25:50that through these
25:52you may be partakers
25:53of the divine nature,
25:55having escaped the
25:56corruption that is in
25:58the world through lust.
26:00You see,
26:01this participation in
26:03knowing our Christ
26:04is not just about
26:06having information,
26:07but it means that we
26:08share in his life
26:10by receiving the
26:11Holy Eucharist
26:12that has been passed
26:13down from the time
26:15of the birth of the
26:15church in Pentecost
26:1729 A.D.
26:19This is true worship
26:21as a New Testament
26:23Christian.
26:24We don't just receive
26:26concepts or impressions,
26:28but rather our very
26:30existence is united
26:31to God through Christ
26:33in the Holy Spirit.
26:35The Holy Spirit
26:36makes this union
26:37real in knowing
26:39that the Father's
26:40love is possible
26:41because the precious
26:42Holy Spirit dwells
26:44in us,
26:44transforming our
26:45being into sons
26:47and daughters
26:48by adoption.
26:50And I have learned
26:51that the Orthodox
26:52Church never treats
26:53the Eucharist
26:54as a symbol alone,
26:56but as a real life
26:58giving body and blood
26:59of Christ,
27:00just as the Holy
27:02Fathers in the early
27:03years proclaimed.
27:05St. Justin Martyr
27:07lived and testified
27:08in the second century,
27:10which was 100 to 165 A.D.,
27:13saying that the church
27:14does not receive
27:15the Eucharist
27:16as common bread
27:17and drink,
27:18but as flesh and blood
27:21of that Jesus
27:22who was made flesh.
27:25And St. Cyril of Jerusalem,
27:27who lived in 313
27:29to 386 A.D.,
27:32taught the newly
27:33baptized people
27:34that when Christ said,
27:36this is my body,
27:38no one should dare
27:39doubt it,
27:40for he himself
27:42has declared it
27:43and you must believe
27:44his word.
27:46Just as I truly
27:47embrace the fact
27:48that in Orthodoxy
27:50this ancient faith
27:51is not an idea,
27:52but a living reality,
27:54I have and am
27:56still learning
27:57that many of the
27:59converts coming
28:00into Orthodoxy
28:02are experiencing
28:03this same understanding
28:04and participation
28:06for themselves
28:07as they too
28:08partake of the
28:09Holy Eucharist.
28:11It is truly
28:12a moment
28:13when heaven
28:14and earth meet,
28:15when Christ
28:16offers himself
28:17not to us
28:18as a memory,
28:19but as true life.
28:21The Divine Liturgy
28:23is unchanged
28:24for over 2,000 years
28:26and emphasizes
28:27reverence,
28:28mystery,
28:29and participation
28:30that is something
28:31greater than oneself.
28:33The service
28:34includes ancient
28:35chants
28:36and psalms
28:37and incense
28:38and icons
28:39and a heavenly choir
28:41and traditional
28:42movements
28:42which engaged
28:44all the physical
28:45senses
28:45while maintaining
28:47a focus
28:47on the reverential
28:48and holy
28:49rather than
28:51on the spectacular
28:52or entertaining.
28:55Dear ones,
28:56this is truly
28:57a journey
28:58into the ancient
29:00form of worship
29:01in partaking
29:02of the divine
29:03nature of Jesus
29:04Christ,
29:05the Son of God.
29:06Recalling the sentiment
29:08of the wise
29:09young father
29:10with small children
29:11who said,
29:12Sunday morning
29:13shouldn't feel
29:14like going to a concert
29:15or a motivational
29:16seminar.
29:17we wanted
29:18our children
29:19to experience
29:20the transcendent
29:21to understand
29:22that worship
29:22is about
29:23approaching the divine
29:25with awe
29:25and reverence.
29:27His desire
29:28for his own children
29:29reflects a broader
29:30change among
29:31many Americans
29:33who are seeking
29:34more traditional
29:35and liturgical
29:36forms of worship
29:37as an alternative
29:39to increasingly
29:40casual
29:41and entertainment
29:42driven services
29:43that use
29:44theatrical elements
29:45or artificial smoke
29:47to evoke
29:49the presence
29:50of God
29:50in place
29:51of genuine
29:52sacred awe
29:53and the true
29:54presence of the
29:55Lord himself
29:55and the holy angels
29:57that though unseen
29:59are truly present
30:00and experienced
30:01by those
30:02whose hearts
30:03are prepared.
30:04St. John
30:06of Shanghai
30:07and San Francisco
30:09said,
30:09when the divine
30:10liturgy
30:11is celebrated
30:12the entire
30:13church
30:13heavenly and earthly
30:15becomes present
30:16angels serve
30:17with the priests
30:18and Christ himself
30:19is invisibly
30:20present among us.
30:22St. John
30:23Christosom
30:24who was born
30:25in 347
30:26to 407
30:28A.D.
30:28declared
30:29the altar
30:30is surrounded
30:31by angels
30:32the king
30:33of heaven
30:33himself
30:34is present.
30:36The church
30:37has used
30:37St. John's
30:38homilies
30:39to teach
30:39that the
30:40Eucharist
30:40is literally
30:41the joining
30:42of heaven
30:43and earth
30:43because angels
30:45and the heavenly
30:46king are present
30:47on the earthly
30:48altar.
30:49I see
30:50like myself
30:51this is why
30:52so many people
30:53in the United
30:54States of America
30:55young and old
30:56alike
30:57is one of the
30:58main reasons
30:59for the great
30:59influx
31:00of converts
31:01who are seeking
31:02something that is
31:03real and genuine
31:04which truly
31:05brings people
31:06into communion
31:07with God
31:08and dear ones
31:09I emphasize again
31:11it is through
31:12the Holy Eucharist
31:13which is celebrated
31:14during the divine
31:15liturgy
31:16that brings heaven
31:17to earth
31:18and this is truly
31:19the sacrament
31:20of sacraments.
31:22The Eucharist
31:23is a Greek word
31:24meaning thanksgiving.
31:26The Eucharist
31:27designates
31:27Holy Communion
31:28as the central
31:30act of Christian
31:31worship.
31:32At the Last Supper
31:33Christ gave
31:35thanks and
31:35embodied in
31:37the Holy
31:37Communion
31:38service
31:38is our
31:39own
31:40thanksgiving
31:40and to show
31:42you how far
31:42back this word
31:43came into being
31:44when it appeared
31:45in the first
31:46late century
31:47document
31:48called
31:49the Didacti
31:50which was
31:51roughly
31:5150 to
31:53120 AD
31:54placing it
31:55firmly in the
31:56area of the
31:57apostolic fathers
31:58and the very
31:59earliest
32:00post new
32:01Christian
32:01period.
32:02The word
32:03Eucharist
32:04is also
32:04found in the
32:05letters of
32:06Saint Ignatius
32:07of Antioch
32:08which was
32:08written in
32:09107 AD
32:10and this as
32:12well
32:12made great
32:13impact on
32:14my decision
32:15to convert
32:16after the
32:17truths of
32:17truths was
32:18discovered
32:18in this
32:19mystery of
32:20the ancient
32:20faith.
32:22The Orthodox
32:22Church has
32:23preserved this
32:24unbroken
32:25understanding
32:26showing that
32:27the sacrament
32:28of Holy
32:28Communion
32:29or the
32:30Eucharist
32:30is not
32:31an addition
32:32to the
32:32faith
32:33but is
32:33the very
32:34heart of
32:34God's
32:35plan from
32:35the beginning.
32:37It is
32:37truly the
32:38highest form
32:38of worship
32:39where it
32:40brings us
32:41into partaking
32:42of the
32:42divine nature
32:43of God
32:44and this
32:45is why
32:45each one
32:46of us
32:46were created
32:47to be
32:49united
32:49with Jesus
32:50Christ
32:51God's
32:51own Son.
32:52All of
32:53these truths
32:54are first
32:55and foremost
32:56which take
32:57us into
32:57an encounter
32:58with our
32:58living and
32:59personal God
33:00whose boundaries
33:02love knows
33:03no end
33:04and who
33:05embraces
33:06all of
33:06mankind
33:07and calls
33:08each one
33:09of us
33:10into deep
33:10fellowship
33:11with himself.
33:12This has
33:13been my
33:14own personal
33:14journey
33:15and experience
33:16dear one
33:17and I am
33:18still growing
33:20in as to
33:21the comprehension
33:22and profound
33:23depth of
33:24Christ's
33:25sacrifice and
33:26love for me
33:26personally.
33:28Orthodoxy does
33:29not offer an
33:30escape from
33:31the world
33:31but a way
33:33of living that
33:33restores meaning
33:34and purpose
33:35and fullness
33:36in the hearts
33:37of young
33:38and old
33:39people of
33:39all ages
33:40who are
33:41sincerely
33:41reaching for
33:42something deeper
33:43something true
33:44and meaningful
33:45and unchanging
33:47in their quest
33:48to find and
33:49know Jesus
33:50Christ their
33:50Savior.
33:52I encourage
33:52you dear
33:53listener and
33:53followers to
33:55find an
33:55Eastern Orthodox
33:56church near
33:57you and
33:58discover for
33:59yourself the
34:00ancient faith
34:01of Orthodoxy
34:02and her
34:03historical roots
34:04and unchanging
34:05practices which
34:07began her birth
34:08at Pentecost
34:0929 A.D.
34:11May God the
34:12Holy Spirit
34:13touch you deeply
34:14to see and
34:15know that this
34:16is truly what
34:17he has been
34:17calling you to
34:18and this is to
34:20come home and
34:21see and taste for
34:22yourself that
34:23he is good
34:24and loves you
34:25with an infinite
34:26love that knows
34:27no bounds
34:28and you too
34:30like me
34:31may be surprised
34:32by the love
34:33of our eternal
34:34creator
34:35in your journey
34:37of personal
34:38conversion.
34:38of our