The Protestant Reformation and the Orthodox Christian East

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On the occasion of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, Fr. Panayiotis Papageorgiou, Ph.D., was invited to Lutherstadt-Wittenburg in Germany, Ground Zero of the Protestant Reformation, to offer a paper on the relationship of the Reformers with the Orthodox Church in the 16th century at a Conference "Reformation Institute" organized under the auspices of Ambrose University of Calgary, Canada. Father presented his paper on Monday, May 8, 2017, to a group of Protestants.

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[AIDAHAR]

I was born muslim, then became atheist, then became Christian in a protestant church. And now I'm really interested in and leaning towards Orthodoxy, and would like to learn more

[jacfalcon]

Protestant Bible College graduate who converted to Orthodoxy after studying Christian history and witnessing the work of the teachings of the Elders and Fathers in my heart. It is not JUST that it is the fullness of Christianity that Christ taught, it is that Orthodoxy will truly transform you.

[KekristenanTimur]

I am a convert from Lutheran to Charismatic, to Evangelicalism, to Pentecostalism and finally to One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, Orthodox Church of Jesus Christ since 33 AD. Glory to God in all things!

[maryaigler]

The difference between Eastern Orthodoxy and western expressions of Christianity is that Orthodoxy expresses a Way of life: an actual transformation of your self into being closer to Jesus. We call this “theosis” and it is part of the process of sanctification by the Holy Spirit. The whole practice of Orthodoxy is to get you “into it”— by prayer discipline, controlling your passions (impulses), and community experience of the Holy Mysteries. All to get you out of your head and on the path to God.

[jeredhanna]

I was raised in a Pentecostal church and was never able to find answers for a lot of questions that I had. After 2 close friends introduced me to the orthodox church I can say that I am now an Inquirer and hope to be accepted into the church soon. Trisagion Films films on the orthodox saints have helped me tremendously!

[EnderElohim]

Hello there brothers and sisters, much love from turkey as a convert turkish christian from islam. God bless you all.

[maximusatlas]

I am late to reply but I was an atheist for 10 years but now I am a convert to Orthodoxy. If Protestants were Orthodox we would have a more proper world with God's Grace.

[lornadoone]

My childhood formation was in the Methodist Church. I became Orthodox when I was 46 after sojourn through several Evangelical or Pentecostal traditions. No wonder I was restless until I gained my true spiritual home in the Orthodox Church.

[TheDonovanMcCormick]

It says quite a bit that the Orthodox had no such reformation. The West lost its way long ago and the results are plain for all to see today. I foresee many Protestants converting to Orthodoxy in the future. Frankly it just hasn’t been known to us, and I think all many of us have ever wanted is to worship the way the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles laid out for us, yet we’ve known the papacy is not that way. May we all find our way back to the mother church. Glory to God.

[resumacast]

I come from a Protestant tradition an I’ve been away from church from many years. I’ve been in touch with orthodox literature for a while and I found why I’ve always felt something was quite not right about my notions on salvation and all the main topics of my faith. Unfortunately where I live there is not an orthodox community. As I live in Japan the nearest Orthodox Church is in Tokyo but I’m willing to travel weekly to find my way through as soon as possible. I finally have found the real Christ’s church.

[nicholas]

I have had the honor to have known him and his family. This man is as humble and down to earth as he is knowledgeable. Have always enjoyed speaking with him. His son is a great guy as well.

[alexpeace]

Joined the Orthodox Church 11 years ago after 18 years in the Watchtower organization (Jehovah's Witnesses). Never regretted.

[theangryslav]

I am a protestant from atheist. Slowly leaning toward orthodoxy because its symbolism matching so much the one in the Bible. I cannot accept full dogma still but im a big fan. May the Orthodox church stay strong.

[tidvrlarvt]

Convert From Charismatic Protestant to Eastern Orthodox.

[whitemakesright]

If only the Reformers had become Orthodox instead, we would be living in a better world today.

[matungatia]

Aspiring catechumen here, seeking to one day become Eastern Orthodox. Going through the lectures and books as well as through prayer gives me more reason and hope that I will one day become Eastern Orthodox

[ontologicallysteve]

As a 20 year Protestant minister and writer (AKA: Ex-Heretic)---- and 2500+ books later... I studied my way out of Protestantism and into Orthodoxy. I'm in the beginning stages of the conversion process. To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant. That is, so long as you have the integrity and ability to forsake falsehoods that you've ignorantly accepted as truth. I didn't intend to be swayed by Orthodoxy, it just happened. This was a ten year process (that's still underway). You'd be hard pressed to objectively study church history and NOT end up converting to Orthodoxy. The only reason many don't, is because they fear the backlash (from family and fellow protestants). Either that, or they're too prideful to admit they've been wrong for so many years.

As one who loves the truth, I have no problem admitting that I'm wrong. I like being right, therefore; I'm quick to admit when I'm wrong. So many people pridefully steep themselves in a falsehood that they flippantly refer to as "truth". At that point on, it becomes self deception.

When your self-deluded preference (of how you prefer the truth to be) is fully embraced as truth...the actual truth will appear to be a self-deluded deception.

To save face, many people will consciously remain in falsehood. This causes them to run headlong into a vast array of unconscious heresy. This causes me to quake...to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling. I'm humbled to the core of my being that the Lord has saved me from Protestantism. I see all of the little individual facets of Protestantism as being the daughters of the harlot (that Revelation speaks of). So many protestants feel superior because they're not Catholic. Little do they know they are mere portable expressions of their mother, the harlot. All of their pastors are mini-wannabe popes. I have such sympathy for those who have yet to come out of her. Many don't even know there's a third option (orthodoxy). Orthodoxy is the best kept secret in the west. In these last days, I hope that changes.

I do believe I'm in a time of testing and temptation. Selling out to Protestantism can provide me A LOT of security (in my finances, ego and personal relevance). And, when money is involved, it's amazing what the human mind can pass off as "truth". The very thing I once accepted as truth, is now what I consider to be deception (according to the light that's been given unto me). It's this deception that has now become a temptation to return to...a deception that has the name of God upon it. It feels like I'm engaged in spiritual mind games (from the enemy). When all you once believed is required to be placed upon the altar of sacrifice: it'll then become apparent as to who it is you really serve. Thus my present attack from the forces of darkness. 

In all honesty (as painful as it is): I feel insurmountably blessed to have the Lord providing me such crystal clear distinctions within the lines of the sand that is my life. Now, it's up to me to decide what I'll do with the poignantly-distinctive conviction that's been etched and burnt upon my soul. Even though I know I have a free-will choice: there is only one choice I can make. I serve the Lord Jesus Christ from the depths of my conscience. Christ said to take up your cross and follow Him. But I never really thought that the practical application of fulfilling that decree would lead to an all-out forsaking of what I once clung to (so as to forsake the world). Yes, the forsaking of what isn't of God is the very thing that I once clung to AS God. This is what I meant by "spiritual mind games". It's it's glorious and beautiful just the same. Praise the Lord for the ever-increasing light that progressively reveals more and more of what's hidden in the dark. I thought that all that was hidden was already revealed. Not so! A Divine revealing/stripping is underway...and how humbling it is. 

I want to thank you for this video. It has been instrumental in the process described in the above paragraphs. I still struggle with a few of the tenants of Orthodoxy (mainly icons) but I'm willing to submit my understanding and interpretation to the authority of the church. I mean, what's the alternative? Yet more anarchy from the disaster that is Sola Scriptura? No. I just can't. I'm burnt out. I'll sacrifice my interpretation (that I used to mistake as "infallible-scripture") upon the altar of 2000 years worth of tradition before I'll EVER return to the failed experiment of Protestantism. With that said, if it wasn't for Justin Martyr's blatant rejection of images/icons, I wouldn't struggle with the late addition of iconography. If it was accepted at a much earlier date, I wouldn't have ANY trouble accepting it. If anyone can offer some instruction, I'm more than open.

[thepolyglotdude]

Born Roman Catholic, became pentecostal, then evangelical now I am very interested in Eastern Orthodoxy

[dg_f_Christs]

Thank you for this upload. I'm a Protestant looking to the Orthodox Church for answers. How are we connected? Why is there disunity amongst God's children? Now is the time to call upon our Lord, our precious Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God, have mercy on us for our stiff-necked pride. We must lay it down, our Husband is coming, the world watches us and doesn't want God. We must love one another, we must love our Lord & God, WE MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER, WE MUST! So that the world will know that God sent Jesus to reconcile His creation to Himself. Why can't we lay it down? Why can't we love. Thank you for this post, God bless & keep you Fr. Panayiotis Papageorgiou, thank you for speaking sense. Amen. All glory to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, forever & ever. Amen.

[sometimesicryinthebasement]

I was a Protestant for almost my whole life, and I have not once found god in a Protestant church. In the Orthodox Church, however, is filled with the love and glory and grace of god.