‘Protestant Orthodoxy’ and its demons

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The video ‘ “Protestant Orthodoxy” and its demons’ was recorded by Fr Seraphim (Aldea) at Iona Monastery (The Orthodox Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God and All Saints of Iona), on the Isle of Iona.

[fr.seraphim]

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May God bless us all!

[wake]

Father, please pray for us converts that we may come to the full faith and forego the things you have mentioned. Your words pierce deeply and truthfully❤

[Ettoredipugnar]

I think what father Seraphim is addressing is what in America are called “ Ortho Bros “.

[nathanasios]

Fr. Seraphim, thank you so much for this video. It is so necessary. When I became Orthodox, I was unable to give up my political past, and I thought that Orthodoxy was more "open" to accepting the movements I belonged to. In truth, those movements prevented me from giving myself wholly to Christ and His Church. I am truly embarrassed by the many years I spent upset with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who "disagreed with me." And I can attest to the fact that I started to attend church less and less over time. I believe now that political ferver may have consumed me were it not for 2020 and Covid. Something about that year opened my eyes to the madness of which I remained a part and enabled me to return to Christ and His Church, to utterly abandon the madness of politics. I see that I never "arrived" in Orthodoxy, still have not "arrived" - there is only repentance until my last breath. Lord, have mercy. Thank you, Father. Glory to God!

[Hewakurdo]

As an former muslim and a believer of Jesus Christ here in Iraq... I truly understand you father ... I feel the light of Lord Jesus Christ in me when i listening to you every time .. may the light of Christ dwells in all of us forever.

God bless you father

[MrAndre]

I am a convert from protestantism. I think when converts say they feel they can rest in Orthodoxy, they dont mean rest on their laurels. Personally, when I say I can rest in Orthodoxy, what I mean is that I can fully trust the church and fully submit to her. And genuine submission to the church is a foreign concept to most protestants. I think that submission, for many of us, is very liberating and feels like a great weight has been lifted. I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone. I think it's something that may be difficult to explain to the cradle orthodox.

[elumy]

This is hard to grasp sometimes, as I’m still an inquirer leaving my non-denominational church. A lot of the traditional practices and beliefs of Orthodoxy were appealing when I first started out, but the more I speak with my local priests and go to classes, the more I realize this is such a major change from protestantism that requires a total realignment of my heart and mind. Thank you for these reminders, and thank you for the mercy that you and the priests at my local parishes have for newer converts like me. You are such a blessing!

[yecksd]

thank you Father. i fear, as a young western convert, that a lot of my Orthodox friends and the inquirers i meet are seeking a culture-conserving religion and not Christ. i fear i myself have a streak of that very same kind in my own heart.

[James-pxhp]

One of the first things my Priest explained to me in Church was that society and politics is “out there” as in not in the Church. It is a powerful statement.

[claesvanoldenphatt]

Fr’s anguish about our lack of repentance is heartbreaking. May God help me to actually convert to Christ!

[liiviiosa]

i wandered into an orthodox church that was filled with ideas like these where politics held so much power. after two years when i realized what it was, it discouraged me so much and caused so much pain seeing the lack of love and patience for people. i've struggled for years with trying to heal myself and my faith from the damage it all did, hearing you say this felt like i could finally breathe. it's such a powerful medicine to me

[juliesheard]

I have just joined an Orthodox parish. I love Christ BECAUSE he is gentle and loving. The Father is good and there are many different nations there. Father says 16 different nations including Russians, Ukranians and Americans. I am studying The Long Catechism by St. Philoret and I am so joyful to find such clear explanations of The Creed, Faith, Hope and Love.
I am disturbed by the creeping politics of money snd greed coming into UK but I trust and have faith that Christ has the power, to Him is the glory, not politicians or racists. They may triumph "apparently" as worldly power seemed to win when it crucified Christ but it didn't win. Inside the action of violence is written its failure. For does it say, "He wjo lives by the sword [or gun], will die by the sword [or gun]".

[reginasynodinos]

Thank you Father for shining some light on this elephant in the room. We all need to pray, with a contrite and humbled heart, for the renewal of our minds, by Christ daily; so that our Lord will rescue our minds from conforming to the corrupted mindset of this world and to enable us to truly start living for Him. ❤🙏

[stylist]

We have around 30 to 40 in church on Sunday and around 1k on Easter and Christmas
Protentism taught me to put up with abuse, to love, killed my value and life.
I have gone back to Orthodoxy after covid and my parents death, it was the only place I could find peace. Living in abuse I just got preached at, the Bible is in me
I am a cradle Orthodox, for many years I could not find a holy Priest.😢 please pray for me, to provide for myself and heal from lies and abuse it got in my soul

[TheBrynoch]

I hear the concern and pain in your voice in speaking on this issue. Thank you for doing so.

[EverydayJordan]

I think I needed this more than I know.

[FiremanKevin]

This path is more narrow than we can comprehend and we have a traffic jam of people trying to force their way through a needles eye. I’m guilty myself.
But I never saw the Church as a ‘powerful Church’ because it is Christ. And Christ NEVER exercised His Power in a domineering manner on this world. I see it as the only Hospital that can heal me of my own violence through Her temperance and weakness
Thank you and God bless you, father ☦️❤️

[AlaskaPilot]

Thank you!!! Radical "Internet Orthodoxy" stuff was an alarming obstacle when I first began investigating Orthodoxy, but thanks to messages like this that set the record straight and rebuke the nonsense I was able to get past that and discover the beauty and profundity of the ancient faith. I appreciate your clarity.

[fepatter]

Thank you. This is a real problem. The first time I saw the term “Death to the World” was when I converted to Orthodoxy in the 90’s and it was the name of the zine aimed at the youth in California. I always took it to mean OUR death to the world, not wishing death upon the world. However, it is entirely possible that has been twisted to mean something else entirely these days. As for Christian nationalism, I agree it is a very terrible heresy and a big problem here in the US. However, many people look to the Patriarch of Moscow’s blessing of the war in Ukraine as an example to be emulated. That has exacerbated the problem a great deal.

[processandbeing]

As a protestant, you are 100% correct. Much love for Orthodoxy.