Overcoming Obstacles to Become Orthodox

Father Josiah Trenham

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Our Newest Lecture Series:
Demonology: Understanding & Winning the Spiritual Battle

The study of the Church’s demonology is a part of basic catechism and Christian instruction. The Scriptures are replete with teaching on the dark powers. Additionally, it is impossible to appreciate the magnitude of the saving deeds of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, without understanding how He, and He alone, has conquered Satan and destroyed his works. Lastly, Christians are called to fight and win in the spiritual war, and for this reason, it is essential that believers understand their enemies and their tactics. Toward this end, Father Josiah presents in these lectures in-depth studies of the Scriptures, Divine Services, and pedagogy of great saints and teachers on the subject of Satan and spiritual battle.

Lecture titles include:

Lecture #1 Jesus and Satan

Lecture #2 Demonology in the Baptismal Rite and the Divine Liturgy

Lecture #3 Gaining Mastery of Satan: The Life of St. Anthony the Great

Lecture #4 How to Win the Spiritual Battle according to St. John of the Ladder

Lecture #5 Engaging the Unseen Warfare: Fr. Lorenzo Scupoli and St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain

Lecture #6 C. S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters and Demonic Warfare in the 21st Century Falling West

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[katedevoy]

I am in southern western Australia and there is only one Priest for the whole of western Australia south of Perth. I drive 4+ hrs once a month to go to Vespers, matins and the Holy Liturgy. Im a catechumen and will be Baptised sometime around December or January. The Priest allows me to sleep in a swag on the floor of the adjoining building which is used for gatherings etc. There is no way I will not become a member of the Holy Blessed Orthodox Church, as no matter the obstacles, it is truly God's will which I hear and obey. I am 75 years old and this is the best thing that has ever happened for me. It has given a tremendous meaning to my life, and I no longer have much interest in this world and to find this at my age is a miracle. The obstacles may be there to test you and your commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and his Holy Church. Fight for what you want, because this is what God wants for you.

[SomePeopleCallMeWulfman]

I started attending a Russion Orthodox church here in Norway, and I'm the only one not speaking any Russian. The service is in church Slavonik which I also do not understand. Thankfully, they all have been very welcoming, and the priest has even given me a list of books to read in order to get a better understanding of Orthodoxy.

[stingra]

💯 answer to prayer! I live in Sydney, Australia and Father just spoke exactly to my situation. I started researching Orthodoxy two weeks ago and already it is clear my Protestant spirituality has been 2D. So many Bible verses that were previously illogical suddenly make perfect sense. I visited a Greek Orthodox Church last week and was not welcomed when I arrived. I didn't understand much of the service and felt quite embarrassed. But now, I will go back and I will take my family. God willing, we will follow Christ there.

[Octavivs]

I found the Orthodox Church after my 30's. The closest temple is almost 100 miles from my city, I was chrismated and I was about to get married to my Catholic wife and the priest sugested to make an ecumenical marriage in my local Catholic church because she and her family wouldn't accept the marriage to take place in other city and other religion. I know an ecumenical marriage would be against the Church rules, and I ended marrying in Catholic church. After that, I never came back to the Orthodoxy again. But inside I regretted to abandon my faith and every day from the last ten years I am brooding over it. I really want to go back but don't know where to start. Give a light, father. Greetings from Brazil.

[calb]

The Greeks are extremely warm, comforting and welcoming into their church. My personal experience. God bless

[kiriaioulia]

As a Greek American Child, first born generation in the United States, I will state that our Church is very welcoming to non-Greeks and embrace the struggle of the heart that converts had to go through to come to The Church.
Perhaps this is God testing both the Greeks in that church in the UK, and the potential convert - where they both need to walk a path that is somewhat uncomfortable to them so that they may grow in their faith... God's ways are mysterious and wonderous - all glory be to God!

[jaredclark]

Currently attending the Osaka Orthodox Church in Japan. Other than the Lord’s Prayer, the whole of the service is Japanese. 😂
It’s a beautiful experience.

[persephonelewis]

This was the perfect video for me to hear. The closest Orthodox Church near me is an hour away. Also it’s a Russian Orthodox Church that is also not English speaking… I also have two young children under the age of five to take with me and I have been putting it off because of the language barrier. After listening to this I’m going to go in. I had been planning on going to a Catholic Church that is near me instead until, I don’t know what, until I could find an English speaking one that I could go to once a month or something. The English speaking one is about 3 hours away. I’ve been drawn in to the Orthodox Church from listening to the Pageau brothers and you. I had never heard the Christian faith explained before, honestly I didn’t know anything about the Orthodox faith until a couple months ago. Anyway thank you from Northern California!!

[winterland]

I found a small english-speaking OCA near me and attended it for the first time last sunday. I feel very fortunate

[rachelsbj]

Father, your videos have been one of the greatest blessings in my life and I thank God for them. For the last year I have been studying the Orthodox Church- the beautiful theology, the rich history and the raw truth in the words of the Saints- and with every thing I have found, I have become further convinced that the Orthodox Church is the Church of Christ.
The words you spoke about how encountering the Church changes the seeking heart were beautiful. 1:44
As a woman who was raised by two very Protestant parents, learning I know nothing was a somewhat difficult process. As you can imagine.
But your videos have always, always spoken to the issues of my life in perfect timing.
Just today I was thinking of all the (apparent) obstacles in my life that prevent me from becoming Orthodox, and I open YouTube and see this video first thing, posted 33 seconds ago with no views. Repeatedly, God has proven to me the place to go to seek His face and repeatedly, I remain surprised by the lengths He has gone to get me where I need to be.
I have put becoming Orthodox off for a while, I am ashamed to admit I have been afraid to open myself and my life up to more spiritual attacks.
I ask simply that you, and anyone else who feels led to do so, would pray for me to surrender that fear to God so that I may take that necessary first step without worry.
Have a blessed night, Father.

[GuitarTunings]

I went to an Orthodox Church last Sunday for the first time. It was a Greek Church. Very beautiful. The first Christian church I've ever been inside. Lovely experience, excited to go back. Excited to see the Monastery in Florence. I'm a mutt, though, not Greek.

[DanicusRex-mm]

We were so fortunate to find a local orthodox church that does its service in English. They sometimes chant in Slavic, but it's always proceeded by English. I was also fortunate that they called themselves a church of converts. About 70 percent came from outside the church, so many were welcoming to us and could relate to our background (former protestant charismatics). At first, the priest was a bit distant, but as we showed up week after week, he opened up and we have established a great connection with him. My wife and I are now catechumen and are so blessed to have found our church. I pray for all seekers to find a welcoming church like the one we have ❤ ☦

[waterbeefly]

Couple years ago one Iranian guy joined our Orthodox church, got baptised and went to liturgy every sunday and participated in mysteries. Didn't speak a word in russian, very little English, but his agreed that his soul understood everything! In Orthodoxy presence is the most important, the mind then catches on.

[monvici]

I love Russian Orthodox Church. I'm on my way there. Former Lutheran. Was completly wrong one to me, but my parents were both them.

[johnstdm]

To all of you searching, 18 months ago, I could have been William (and had written and called Fr. Josiah with essentially the same question) and did join the Church in June 2022. If your heart is calling you home to the Father, God bless you and give you strength for your journey ahead.

[mrxmtroom]

thank you for this video. pray for orthodoxy in latin america and brazil🙏

[henrybnar]

Our local Orthodox parishes in Gothenburg are Serbian and Orthodox, plus a developing Swedish one. They are quite welcoming and use a bit of Swedish and Greek. Newcomers tend to pick up other languages after a while. It is a plus, as are the exotic calorie bombs and other exotic foods served after the litugy.

A lot of people commute between Sweden and the home country.

[JulioJustiniano]

As someone who has been an immigrant all my life, in one country or another, never underestimate the embrace a foreign country or people may have with you. Which is what essentially I see going into a church of roots foreign to my own. Also, to overcome this I look at it from the perspective that I am witnessing something ancient. Little by little with what you read you’ll start to understand what’s going on. And the parish will also help as you go further. Also, from what I’ve talk with the parish, they have a lot of inquirers who show a lot of promise at first and then vanish. So there’s also some let down I can understand they might be a little tired of. However, once they know you are all in there is a noticeable change and a warmer embrace. Also, in my case I’ve even started learning Greek, which is not necessary or mandatory, but I accepted the offer and now I’m finding the beauty in being able to slowly learn to read the icons on the walls, granted they are Byzantine and there’s differences I’m also learning, but it’s been a pleasure.

[RodrigoSilva-ggvl]

I am from Brazil and in my state there are just 3 orthodox churches! And all of Theses do the liturgy in a foreign language - Russian, Ucranian and Greek...

[NavelOrangeGazer]

I first began attending an Orthodox Church shortly before the pandemic began. I was about the ask the priest to become a catechumen.
Before the next service the entire world had shut down. It delayed my coming into the church by many months but it was providential and I wouldn't have it any other way.