Thank you very much for the part on Canada in the beginning. As somebody who also lives in Alberta it alarms me that we are having these new corrupt policies and bills from Justin Trudeau. Christ will win! Thank you Father. ☦

Thank you for standing up for the Truth of Christ and the Church in a Godly, Fatherly manner. As you know, there are still many of us who are standing for the truth of God. This latest crop who trouble the Church will not succeed. They are like the chaff. and the grass of the field.

@Kuzumeayate

2 ай бұрын

Imnot orthodox but probably soon to be, I have a question how do i fast the right way on Wednesday&Fridays?

Thank you for speaking the truth of the faith, Father. Prayers for you and your family. Your blessing.

Father I appreciate your directness. We need more people to say it like it is; not pandering to what people want to hear. Otherwise there is no truth and without truth no reality, only confusion. God bless.

@Kuzumeayate

2 ай бұрын

Imnot orthodox but probably soon to be, I have a question how do i fast the right way on Wednesday&Fridays?

Hang in there Father ❤.

Please pray for me father. I have become a catechumen right before great lent. I am struggling to sin less. The conviction to follow the fast is heavy.

@Desertfox21

2 ай бұрын

This is the struggles of a catechumen. The demons don't want you baptized.

@ChristianWario

2 ай бұрын

I’ll pray for you too

Shine the light on them Father.

@twaho

2 ай бұрын

I agree and we should be, unified in doing so by following the example of clergy

I'm always very saddened when I see childish behavior especially from priests. But Lord forgive him... Thanks for puting this out, father.

I'd argue that the way we dress does effect how we think. Or at least convey how we think outwardly.

Thank you for this message Father. Thank you for encouraging us to pray for them or anyone else whom we feel some kind of aversion to because they have wronged us or have strayed or mocked the faith. This is true Orthodoxy, this is a command from Christ himself.

Thank you for speaking the Truth in love on this sin. I know all too well how pervasive and difficult it is. Please pray for people like me.

Love th sinner, hate th sin! Lord have mercy on us.

@mainer97

2 ай бұрын

god hates individuals too lol. Romans 9:13 KJV - As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Malachi 1:3 KJV - And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

@AFizz-cw3on

2 ай бұрын

@@mainer97 if God is love, how can He hate? I think ur just a troll.

@mainer97

2 ай бұрын

@@AFizz-cw3on so you deny the scriptures and call god a liar ok. you think god loved the people in sodom and gomorrah?

@mainer97

2 ай бұрын

@@AFizz-cw3on read more.

Father Mikhail, may God continue to bless you and grant you a peaceful and spiritually profitable Great Lent !!! You are always remembered in my prayers, and may God bless you and grant you many years!!

Andrew here from London, you may have forgotten me but I will never forget you. Father bless.

@living_orthodox

2 ай бұрын

God bless you Andrew! I haven’t forgotten:)

Lord have mercy.

Thank you very much for this video, Fr. Mikhail. That priest loves poking and prodding so called Orthobros on Twitter and then playing the victim when people respond or call him out.🙏☦️

@icxcnika2037

2 ай бұрын

is he an orthodox priest?

@TheRealRealOK

2 ай бұрын

@@icxcnika2037. The man Fr Mikhail is talking about? Yes, he’s a priest in GOARCH.

@Cobruh_Commander

2 ай бұрын

​@@icxcnika2037He's a Greek Orthodox priest, but a lot dress like Catholic priests however.

@JulianLife81

2 ай бұрын

⁠@@Cobruh_Commandera lot do not. The older generation was used to since the time of Archbishop Iakovos who mandated the collar. In NYC, publicly the priests are mandated to but many in their own parishes do not. It’s more nuanced than you may think.

@acekoala457

2 ай бұрын

@@JulianLife81 I had an older Greek Priest complain about it to me when I was first coming to Orthodoxy.

Thank you for this firm but measured message. It is a model for how we should react in these situations.

If a truth that is harshly told gets people to react to it with angre towards it, then i would say that such a truth was perfectly delivered and hit its mark. If a softly delivered truth miss it's mark, then have the deliverer not fail the one it was ment to awake to the reality of his/her missdeeds? Do not be spiteful or arrogant ofc, but sometimes a truth is best delivered along with the true feelings the deliverer felt from the missdeed of the reciever. So that the reciever might experience just how bad his/her missdeed was.

I thought this was going to be about fighting temptations during great lent. Maybe we could devote our prayers to the Christians being under threat in war zones. Glory to God.

I found Orthodoxy to get away from "the woke" agenda I found the faith and church so beautiful. This would break my heart if this truly traditional church now caved to it.

@lewisbitcoin5841

2 ай бұрын

@@Gigi-ho2qk I see the pope embracing this agenda. I pray you are right for I would give up any church that is an affront to God and rather live the life of the desert father's staying true to my saviour the teachings rather then defile his true church my heart.

@Metascetic

2 ай бұрын

It’s the Greeks. They’ve been a problem for a long time because of their connections with the state department and CIA. And that’s what is beautiful about orthodoxy - individuals and even jurisdictions can fall prey to heresy, but it does not move the church as a whole.

Thank your Father for being Orthodox

God bless you always, Father. I strive for humility and repentance every day.

Thank you for the update. God bless you!

May our dear Jesus comfort and strengthen you, father and may the prayers of the Mother of God support and protect you! 🥰☦️🙏

Amen Father!

My Lenten Struggle is harboring feelings for someone I care deeply about. These feelings are wrong due to my inability to act properly on them. It breaks my heart to take actions to move on but it must be done.

@angeleyes7401

2 ай бұрын

this is very honest, and brave

@acekoala457

2 ай бұрын

​@@angeleyes7401 I only pray she would understand why I must go down this path.

@angeleyes7401

2 ай бұрын

@@acekoala457 God is Great my brother. When you pray, you move the hand, that moves the world.

@AnastasiaTheConvert

2 ай бұрын

We all are given crosses to carry and this seems to be yours. I relate as I experience this years ago, too and as matter fact, it is what brought me back to Christ. May your struggle be conquered.

Very good father, thank you 🙏☦️

Excellent video Father

God bless you, Father!

Fr. What is your advice for fasting in the Military? The Chowhall and MRE's rarely have food adequate for an Orthodox fast.

@living_orthodox

2 ай бұрын

Send me an email and we can talk about it :) fr.mikhail.baleka@gmail.com. There’s lots to figure out that would go into figuring that out

@COUNTERCOM

2 ай бұрын

@@living_orthodox yes Fr.

@johngarza124

2 ай бұрын

Do what you can. If you’re eating MREs you’re in the field and shouldn’t be fasting. More alms and more prayer and more charity.

@NMemone

2 ай бұрын

Apologies if you already know this but each branch of the U.S. military has several Orthodox chaplains. If you look up "Orthodox military chaplains" you'll find the OCA has compiled a complete list. I'd suggest emailing whichever one oversees your area. I know one of them and he is always thrilled to hear from new Orthodox service members!

A small side point about the clerical collar: it was developed as a sign of clergy in the United States during the westward expansion. It's still a far cry from the business suit or the skinny jeans of the protestant pastors, and in my opinion it's one of the few bits of American culture that is worthy of assumption into a truly American expression of the Orthodox Church. Never to the exclusion of the cassock of course. Our parish priest and deacon both wear clerical collars underneath the Orthodox cassock, and they are faithful men of God who I am honored to call my father and my brother. Clothes don't make the man, though I will concede I've seen some correlation between dressing like a Jesuit and talking like a Jesuit. Of course, my opinion doesn't mean a whole lot on things like this as a layman, and when (Lord willing) I become a priest, I'll submit to whatever the bishop says on the matter.

@acekoala457

2 ай бұрын

It's from Anglicanism. It's not Orthodox and I think trying to make it Orthodox has been a mistake.

Missed opportunity on the title: "How to clean your Lent traps"

@zylophone4840

2 ай бұрын

😂

100% agree with you father.

I need some advice. I am 18 and raised in Lutheranism, but I have done research on church history to conclude that the Eastern Orthodox Church is the closest to the apostolic founding of the church. Thus meaning, I want to convert. I’ll probably attend my local Serbian parish, since my family are Slovak Lutherans that fled to Serbia from the Catholics centuries ago. Serbia is in my heritage. One huge problem: My family, especially my dad who holds strongly to many wild dispensationalist doctrines, would be PISSED. He has already condemned the orthodox numerous times for “not supporting Israel” and for the “blood on their hands” in Kosovo and Ukraine such. How can I refute such claims? Let’s assume there was unjust blood on the hands of leaders of the church, that wouldn’t refute the theology? I love my dad very much and want him to experience the fullness of God’s mercy for eternity as well, but some of his dispensationalist doctrines are… funky. How can I juggle a conversion while respecting and loving my family along the way?

@Desertfox21

2 ай бұрын

Don't debate your parents. Explain your faith to him if he asks, do your own actual research into what happened in Serbia and what is happening in Ukraine and you'll see he is severely misled. But if he gets pissed, he gets pissed. Christ is more important as he makes clear himself in the gospels. Also yeah if an orthodox person or even an orthodox bishop does something wrong, they're still people we dont see them as infallible. It's not an argument, every group has people who do things wrong. I mean what about luther and Lutherans going and slaughtering anabaptists? Oh but let's not talk about that.

Be blessed in the Holy One!

Father, on your Q&A thing a few nights ago, at the end you said a few things about the ecumenical patriarch and a possible union with Rome, I believe this could prove to be extremely disastrous to the Greek Orthodox Church and not to mention disastrous to my personal conversion, where I am at there is only 4 orthodox churches and all 4 are Greek, I’m not even sure how far I would have to look for anything but Greek, so a union with Rome would put me at a complete standstill so it’s very troubling to say the least. I’ve asked some other people and the resounding answer that I’ve heard is it’s just talk and the EP has more to lose by this union. I’m sorry for the long message but I said all that to ask, what’s your opinion? What do I do? And in the hypothetical scenario that the union is made, what do I do? Attend a Russian Orthodox Church online? I am very troubled and confused so any guidance/advice would be much appreciated. P.S. I love the channel, God bless and keep up the good work ☦️ Another P.S. after finishing your video my concern has grown considerably, should I completely refrain from the Greek Orthodox Church?

@Desertfox21

2 ай бұрын

There would be a schism in the Greek church, not every Greek bishop would follow the EP, it would come down to your individual bishops or maybe even the priests of the church's around you. No do not stop going to the Greek church, they are still canonical and Christ is in the eucharist even if judas is at the table. If all the church's around you go into schism, yes you would be forced to stop going to them. Do not fear, Christ sees your heart, keep your focus on him.

@user-dj1kl4sv6k

2 ай бұрын

@@Desertfox21 thank you for taking the time to reply, I greatly appreciate it. I will do exactly as you said, keep my focus on Christ, and I will see what the future holds. I will pray for the EP and GOARCH that they do not stray any further, but, in the meantime I will keep going to the beautiful church that Christ established. Again words cannot express how grateful I am for your response, thank you and may God bless you ☦️

@Desertfox21

2 ай бұрын

@@user-dj1kl4sv6k No problem ☦️

Pray for the GOARCH to return to Christ and for the leaders to come to their senses. The faithful know they have been controlled by masons for a long time now. Lord Jesus Christ son of god pray for us sinner ☦️

Hi Father , love the channel and your good work. Unfortunately, my reading has fallen off in favor of KZread sermons !

Thank you for the video, father. I just wanted to point out to you so you that the other fathers name is father Evagoras, you switched o and a -> Evagaros. God bless.

The End is Near, The Great falling away is Starting 2 Thesalonian 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

👏👏👏

1 Corinthians 6:9-20 9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 12"Everything is permissible for me"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"-but I will not be mastered by anything. 13"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"-but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Could you guys please do a video on Sergianism? there are not a lot of varried sources on youtube and I think a video would be invaluable to Catechumens like myself. Thanks

Father bless: Did I see an announcement a few days ago that I can't seem to find now about the differences between the old rite and the new rite with Father Phillip, and the future of this in the Church? Thank you for all your efforts father.

@living_orthodox

2 ай бұрын

Yep! Live tomorrow. Check the community tab

@Sebastian-ct5ek

2 ай бұрын

​@@living_orthodoxAs a Russian Orthodox Christian, respectfully, take your videos on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel down.

hey brother that's a Cardioid Mic. you'll get better mic quality is you use it face forward and not have the top facing you. just a little tip.

Hello Father Mikhail, I have one question: How can one gain humbleness? Maybe you want to do a video on this topic :)

@markpatterson2517

2 ай бұрын

You can be humble by having a proportionate self-esteem. Regard yourself as basically no superior than others around you, that is not superior to them in personhood. If you accomplish something, don't exaggerate its importance out of proportion to what it really is. Feel good about good things you do, but proportionately. If you do some little good, feel a little good about yourself instead of feeling great or superior about yourself. If you do something great, then you can feel better about yourself, but keep in mind God gave you that ability. Give him credit. Keep in mind that when you accomplish something good or great, that doesn't mean you are a superior person to others. Don't look down on others in order to feel good or better about yourself. Pride is when you feel lofty about yourself when you haven't done something proportionately good. A proud person has an unjustified superior sense of self over others he regards as his inferiors for no other reason than he thinks he is better than others. Even when he doesn't have the accomplishments to match, he still feels superior. He exaggerates his little accomplishments. It's an intrinsic arrogance in his character. He doesn't give credit to God when he does accomplish something good. Often his accomplishments are impressive looking but vain in that they look good but aren't really good. He's into beauty, brawn, sexual prowess, power, money, material possessions, and the like instead of character or virtue development. When developing a good character, humbleness keeps you in proportion or at the mean between the extremes or temperate.

Father, what are your thoughts on the recent Serbian Patriarchs comments on Eid al-Fitr?

@Desertfox21

2 ай бұрын

What did he say and who is Eid al-Fitr

@TheRealRealOK

2 ай бұрын

@@Desertfox21. It’s an Islamic holiday. He wished a happy holiday to Muslims. Why? I don’t know.

@Desertfox21

2 ай бұрын

@@TheRealRealOK yes I just saw that a little bit ago after asking. Lord have mercy. Its not the first time.

@living_orthodox

2 ай бұрын

It’s a grave mistake. The Muslims are not our brothers and do not believe in the same God we do. Ours is a personal God, in that He is three persons. Not some force or disembodied nature. As St Photos the great said. We worship three divine persons, not a nature

I have a question how do i fast the right way on Wednesday&Fridays?

@living_orthodox

2 ай бұрын

Just check the fasting guide on the Church calendar app. Ideally;l, avoid meat, dairy, eggs, olive oil.

@Kuzumeayate

2 ай бұрын

@@living_orthodox I’m not orthodox but I’m going to my first holy liturgy, I’m just normal Christian is it okay to wear a white tunika to church? It’s just all white no symbol or sth. I wanna wear it but idk how the people gonna react in the Orthodox Church

@Kuzumeayate

2 ай бұрын

@@living_orthodox what’s the name of the app?

Glory to God and than you for pushing back against the darkness!

What happened to your Mar Mari video?

@living_orthodox

2 ай бұрын

See the community posts.

Did you hear the news about Mari Mari Emmanuel ?

@living_orthodox

2 ай бұрын

I did. Lord have mercy. Very sad and disturbing

No need to ask for forgiveness, just preach the truth , even if patriarchs contradict you

3:35 a phone call is an 'attack and harassment' ? It seems like people are going to have to be confronted in person in a group of witnesses so they can't make false accusations.

Thank you Father. Fr. Evagoras has been long overdue for a correction. He’s unfortunately leading many astray. He needs to stop quoting Nestorians like mar mari, and read the holy fathers. It’s embarrassing how having no spine has lead him to out rank his own family members in the clergy. IV alumni will know why you mustn’t cough around Fr. Ev. He will yell at you due to his pride. He’s truly an embarrassment to the Orthodox church and must repent as we all must do.☦️

Dear Father Mikhail, brother in Christ, unfortunately it's very difficult to bring them back to right path of Salvation trough our Lord Jesus Christos, because it's not about their stupidity, they know what they do, but they have chosen evil, they have chosen anti-christ, maybe they believe in apocatastasis, who knows

Trump 2024 is coming and vote conservatives Pierre Poilièvre !

@Desertfox21

2 ай бұрын

What's going on in the west is so far beyond Republicans vs democrats, all these politicians have their plans they promise until the men in the black suits show up and tell them how its really going to work. There isn't any choice in a "democracy" or a "republic". Both parties are owned by the same people.

Father (or anyone) do you know any good English speaking churches I can recommend to my friend who lives in toronto? Anyone know if Canada has a listing of English speaking orthodox churches