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@gabrielmaldonado1903
Жыл бұрын
The Bible was Written in Greek 🇬🇷☦️
@jmscaray-ul9kd
Жыл бұрын
Since there are no original copies of New Testament writings, no one can truly say; however, there is a letter written in 110 which references the Gospel of Matthew as being written in Hebrew
@patrickbarnes9874
11 ай бұрын
The Orthodox church is exploding in growth. All across America Orthodox churches are seeing an unprecedented level of interest in joining.
@maryebr6198
11 ай бұрын
@@gabrielmaldonado1903 Not all Bible's. There are Bible's from the Ancient Eastern Text which went through Aramaic. I have one of them because I don't like all the extra translations as the Bible made its way through Europe.
@greenacresorganics7922
Жыл бұрын
Before 2017, my city had no Orthodox Church. A priest came from Romania to serve as a mission priest for 3 small cities. I first met him at an Anglican Church, he was using the chapel for liturgy. There was only 12 people in attendance. In 2020, the parish purchased an old church building and renovated it. Today we had a service with 90 people. Every week we see new faces. We have basically outgrown the building and have only had it for 3 years.
@joseonwalking8666
Жыл бұрын
2020 really was the turning point
@imimpo9316
Жыл бұрын
Let's goooo! God is good)
@VladVlad-ul1io
Жыл бұрын
Are there romanians in your area?
@greenacresorganics7922
Жыл бұрын
@@VladVlad-ul1ioYes. About a third of the church is Romanian. Another third are slavs, and the rest are converts.
@Ettoredipugnar
Жыл бұрын
If Bergolio pursues the insanity of ordaining woman as priestess you will see many more converts praise God ☦️🙏🏻❤️
@miamidolphinsfan
Жыл бұрын
I was raised as a Southern Baptist, but became non religious as a teen. When I got married in 1982, my Greek father-in-law mandated that I be Chrismated into Orthodoxy....to this day I ptactice Orthodoxy and plan to die a ptacticing Orthodox Christian, even though I've been a widower for more than 30 years and my Father & Mother in Law have been gone for 10+ years....I am Orthodox and I love the Church.
@ednisjeanty6748
Жыл бұрын
If I may have permission to ask.. what attracted you to Orthodoxy outside of your father-in-law mandating it? Was it the doctrine? Their worship? Or some combination in between?
@Linwinky
Жыл бұрын
I'm sorry for your loss
@shobudski6776
Жыл бұрын
@@Linwinky I am happy with his gain.
@mariannacoomes1094
Жыл бұрын
Glory to God!
@JaguwarSims
Жыл бұрын
Memory eternal.
@jamesparson
Жыл бұрын
This is a brave channel. I am impressed that the presenter asks such questions. I don't think Christians in general look at why they are in decline. So to ask the question is unusual.
@dylanarmour6727
Жыл бұрын
Especially for being a Protestant yes it’s bold honest and respectful
@Kommunist_Kittens
Жыл бұрын
I'm in the process of trying to convert, I am a very skeptical man, yet Orthodoxy consistently just makes sense. I've met so many Orthodox priests that make you feel so welcome and enlightened it's otherworldly, and they're so grounded in reality most the time, love Orthodoxy. Orthodoxy is proper religion.
@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs
Жыл бұрын
Glory to God!
@souljaboytellem888
Жыл бұрын
Come home to Rome
@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs
Жыл бұрын
@@souljaboytellem888 sounds cute.
@RPlavo
Жыл бұрын
Not my experience, they like to play church more than Catholics do
@countryboyred
Жыл бұрын
@@souljaboytellem888no thanks. You can keep your heretical “pope”.
@OrthodoxInquirer
Жыл бұрын
I would be so interested to see what happened to the Orthodox numbers because of Covid. That's when I found Orthodoxy online. Every couple of weeks we have new Catechumens. We came from a Southern Baptist background and my family is becoming Greek Orthodox.
@MrKneeV
Жыл бұрын
Yeah, the timing of that census was unfortunate and is very likely a statistical outlier compared to previous ones. Post-Covid is its own animal now, and I have anecdotally seen a greater rate of interest from people post-Covid.
@iamkevinmccarthy
Жыл бұрын
@@MrKneeVTiming was unfortunate, but it will be that much sweeter when the 2030 census comes out (should the Orthodox faith continue to grow).
@lizvu3266
10 ай бұрын
My whole family was just received into the Holy Orthodox Church this weekend. Glory To Jesus Christ!!!!
@andrew3734
Жыл бұрын
I was a associate pastor at a baptist evangelical church. I left recently to pursue orthodoxy. I am going to a local parish and feel so fulfilled. I feel more connected to the Lord. Having icons of Christ in my home have also been so fulfilling. I longed for sound doctrine that was divorced from American socio political hegemony. I longed for worship that didn’t sound like a love song . I longed for leadership that can grace itself back to the apostles. I long for the Eucharist. I start my classes soon and can’t wait to be confirmed. I can’t wait to use my talents to help the church.
@JonathonSeaborn
Жыл бұрын
Welcome home! May God continue to bless your journey.
@machinotaur
Жыл бұрын
My Orthodox parish is bursting at the seams, legitimately wondering how we'll all squeeze in come Pascha, haha! Nearly all adults are converts; but there are loads of kids, had a triple baptism just last weekend. Is my church an outlier? Don't know, but I'm happy to be here.
@thesampo
Жыл бұрын
Same at my parish. Booming
@BunsBooks
Жыл бұрын
My Antiochian parish too. My cousin and I had a private baptism this year but otherwise our priest is baptizing up to 7 at a time. He did baptize up to 14 at a time when the numbers really increased in 2020-2021 but he’s opted for just doing them more frequently as the services would get so long. The parish has gone from about 350 before the pandemic to almost 650 with conversions and births (Father churches a baby about twice a month I’d say), and we have recently been blessed with a second priest. We have a ton of catechumens right now and we average 6 new faces a week. Glory to God
@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs
Жыл бұрын
Glory to God!
@laughingseagull000
Жыл бұрын
Same at my parish.
@MrKneeV
Жыл бұрын
Mine has the same "problem".
@fujikokun
Жыл бұрын
Praying for growth in the Orthodox Church. Be fruitful and multiply!
@perrylc8812
Жыл бұрын
Back in the early nineties I only knew one thing about the Orthodox Church when I walked in, which was something I had learned back in college and that was at some point in the service they said "the doors the doors let us attend the doors" and at that point all non Orthodox were to leave the church. So I did at that time, I learned afterwards that leaving was no longer required. Even though I didn’t know Arabic which was mostly spoken in the service I knew without a doubt I was home.
@kayedal-haddad
Жыл бұрын
I’ve heard the opposite especially, amongst evangelicals flocking to Eastern Orthodoxy!
@MrMustang13
Жыл бұрын
And even more so to Catholicism. The question is how many people are being polled? Because I never have been nor anyone that I know.
@reach483
Жыл бұрын
@@MrMustang13the OCA had a poll for converts this spring. I think there were only a few hundred responders, but the numbers I think were representational of things. I forgot to respond to it myself. I'm sure you can find it somewhere online. Most converts last year were young men from Evangelical backgrounds
@gregcoogan8270
Жыл бұрын
@@MrMustang13 After they experience the mockery of the Mass going to post Vatican II masses they'll leave!
@xpictos777
Жыл бұрын
The point he is making is that converts are flocking to Orthodoxy but the numbers can look bad overall because the nominals in the ethnic parishes are declining (i.e. their children aren't attending). Protestantism is nearly dead, eventually Orthodoxy will all that will be left because it is Christ's true church.
@fr.davidbibeau621
Жыл бұрын
I try to explain this to people all the time. They think we are exploding. We are not.
@AmericanwrCymraeg
Жыл бұрын
Fr David (good to see you here!), I think that the numbers will look quite a bit different in a few years. I know many of our parishes have seen large influxes of people in the past few years, to an extremely noticeable extent. I baptized 27 people last year, at our relatively small parish. Something has changed in the last few years. Granted, many of the people coming in are coming as refugees from the culture or different Christian groups that have proved to be unstable and are coming in with some inherited instability and in some cases anger at their past, and there are some times rough edges to be smoothed out. But I see a lot of that happening, too. People coming in hurt and unstable, and stabilizing. I do think that the video is right in that Orthodoxy that is merely a part of an ethnic identity is declining sharply at the same time that a lot of new people are coming in. The composition of the Church may look a lot different in a few years, but I'm seeing significant signs of growth. Anyways, good serving with you in Phoenix!
@fr.davidbibeau621
Жыл бұрын
@@AmericanwrCymraeg I'm assuming you are an Orthodox priest. Yes, I have baptized many as well. We are also small but have been growing like crazy. I have hope. Especially since so many young men are coming. But the numbers of converts don't come close to the amount of children leaving. It isn't just an ethnic issue either. The children of converts are also leaving in droves.
@lufhopespeacefully2037
Жыл бұрын
,jesus is the main central figure of bible,didn`t agree with me we have find a bible with his name,where does jesus talked about trinity.
@millier.206
Жыл бұрын
My son and I converted earlier this year ❤we were definitely trying to get to the trunk of the tree and we found it!
@TheMOV13
5 ай бұрын
Excellent analysis, thank you - all clergy should watch this.
@sampotter4455
Жыл бұрын
Excellent episode! Thanks for the great research.
@traceyedson9652
Жыл бұрын
Such excellent content & well-presented. Active EO believer here.
@kpend1001
4 ай бұрын
We have had 5 new Orthodox parishes open in the last 8 years in my state and all of them are full of children. Full at some to the point we are going to require two more churches soon.
@orangecobraEU
4 ай бұрын
Bravo, but what i guess, is that 99% are eastern european origins poeples, i was in Nice (french city) first time entered an orthodoxe church, They were all russians
@_KEN_guru
Ай бұрын
@@orangecobraEU The author showed a statistical table in the video, 51% of parishioners in the Orthodox Church of America in 2020 were ‘converts’ (people who were not born in Orthodox Christian families). Those are usually local-born U.S. residents not related to Eastern Europe. Perhaps the picture changed after 24 February 2022, the invasion of Ukraine. Many people, both Ukrainian refugees and anti-war/anti-Putin Russians fled to the U.S.
@intergalactichumanempire9759
Жыл бұрын
Despite my disagreements with Eastern Orthodoxy, I’m happy to seee some Christian churches finding growth in our atheist era.
@rustbeltpipes
2 ай бұрын
Orthodoxy's goal isn't to be a large church - it is to be THE Church. There are surely some things that could change structurally, but this isn't a crisis. The historical Church will live on.
@claesvanoldenphatt9972
Жыл бұрын
Krindatch conducted a survey previously that counted man-hours in worship. OCA parishioners outdid Greek Orthodox by some huge margin, like 4 to 1. The recent massive decline in Greek church attendance is due to the fact that so many claiming membership were only nominal. Covid gave them a reason to quit coming and they are happy to lose their loose affiliation to churches they felt connected to by ties of guilt. They were not parishioners who were enthusiastic by any description. To my experience, GOA church life is a pale beige version of orthodoxy adapted extensively to suburban white upper-middle class America offering very little to converts who don’t resemble the description to which assimilating Greek Americans have aspired. Their in-group pride and extroverted shallowness repulses many who seek a more intimate and intense experience of traditional faith in the Orthodox manner. Large beige churches filled with pews (often fairly empty) may present a familiar picture to newcomers, successfully mitigating the inherent otherness of Orthodox worship as compared to Protestantism, but it doesn’t play to the strengths of the Tradition. The problem with Greek churches lies in their efforts to overcome their foreignness while maintaining foreign orientation. They sacrifice their ability to go beyond themselves in mission for the sake of Americans to a idol of Hellenism and the support of their Head in Istanbul’s Fener district. They own large temples built for glorious liturgy but don’t really care much for it, since it was incomprehensible to most until recently translated into (stilted unlovely) English. The conventionality of much of Greek church life is uninspired and uninspiring. The Greek Archdiocese is coming to a brink it it’s viability. Most Greek Orthodox parishioners no matter how wealthy contribute some $12/week and their large expensive temple complexes require funding from labor-intensive Greek Food Festivals which saps the spiritual energy of parishes, who don’t seem to enjoy much worship anyhow. Very few Greek parishes offer Saturday vespers and requisite Orthros services before Liturgy Sundays have two or three attendees who understand the Greek in which they are typically chanted. The energy of the central administration is consumed in fund-raising for its own centers and that of the Phanar in hostile Istanbul. The model of Greek parish here is a large basilica fitting hundreds, most of whom only attend twice a year for Christmas and Pascha. Energy redirected away from worship only attains worldly ends and converts can smell the vapidity of such parish life. In time fewer people, even among cradle Greek Orthodox are willing to settle for this weak sauce. One more thing most people will never learn about. Fully half of Greek Archdiocese clergy, according to a survey by Alexei Krindatch would prefer to serve in a Local Autocephalous Church, over the current foreign-run satrapy. Of course they won’t quit the GOA and join the OCA and their desire will never be fulfilled, but it says a lot about their own feelings and how the leadership will not hear them. I pity Greek priests for this.
@whitemakesright2177
3 ай бұрын
I was Orthodox for 5 years and left the Church (and Christianity as a whole) recently. It's hard to get good stats on this, but my impression is that most converts don't last. My parish had dozens of new converts, but only a handful of converts who had been Orthodox longer than 10 years. We know that retention of "cradle" Orthodox (those born into the faith) is very poor, among the worst of all Christian denominations, around 50%. I suspect that the retention rate for converts is similarly poor, maybe even worse. Based on my experience, I would estimate that only 50% of converts make it to the 5 year mark, and only 25% make it to 10 years. This means that the average Orthodox family would need to have 4 children just to maintain the same number of adherents over time, or else make up the difference with converts. Assuming the average Orthodox family has 3 children (which is being generous based on what I saw), a parish would need to bring in converts amounting to 25% of its current population just to replace the children leaving. But because the converts don't stay, either, let's bump that requirement up to 50% of the current number of parishioners. But there's another problem - these Orthodox converts skew heavily male - roughly 75% of the converts are male, and only 25% female. Most of the women are converting with their husbands. Many of the men converting are either single or converting without their wives. There is an overabundance of single men and a dearth of single women, meaning that most of these single men will never marry an Orthodox woman, whether they remain single or marry outside the Church. Either way, the children of these men (and of the married men who convert without their wives) will almost certainly not remain Orthodox (if they are ever even baptized in the first place). And even the children of two Orthodox parents will still have the same abysmal 50% retention rate. So, taking all that into account, you're looking at a parish potentially needing to bring in converts amounting to 100% of its existing number of adherents, every generation, just maintain its population. That certainly is not happening, which tells me that the Eastern Orthodox Church in America is almost certainly shrinking, and will continue to shrink, into it can manage to retain its members. But that will never happen, because the Orthodox Church simply doesn't have the goods. They talk a big game, but in reality its just another merely human institution filled with empty rituals and empty promises.
@elijahzetye7582
Жыл бұрын
Could you PLEASE do a video on the neocatechumenal way in the catholic church? I am a member and it is wonderful!
@adamziccardi2578
Жыл бұрын
can you break down the converts? are the converts from other churches, or from no religion? That would be a good video to make, talking about rates of converts in different churches and by region if possible
@Dahn.Baern.
2 ай бұрын
Fascinating video man. New to the channel. Really well done and very informative!
@Grrrrtt
Жыл бұрын
I think the retention angle is a great point. But I think this also has to do with evangelism. This is totally anecdotal but in my experience the Orthodox I have met are much more interested in converting Protestants and Catholics than evangelizing non-Christians. I think the American Orthodox Church has depended too much on receiving converts from other Christian traditions. This is unsustainable as Christianity in the west is on the decline. I am Anglican (ACNA) and we are experiencing a similar surge from other Protestant groups. If we just keep sticking to converting other Christians we essentially are just taking slices from an ever shrinking pie. Christians of all stripes need to make evangelism a priority.
@KnoxEmDown
Жыл бұрын
Your point is valid, though in my anecdotal experience I know catechumen coming from non-Christian backgrounds.
@acekoala457
Жыл бұрын
One of my Chanters was a Bhuddist prior to being Baptised and one of my Friends currently in the Catechumate is an Ex-Muslim. I think the skew towards Protestants and Catholics just has to do with demographics in America being what they are. (Though I Personally think that it is because many of the Orthodox are now Converts from Heterodox sects and want to bring those they love to Christ.)
@command_unit7792
10 ай бұрын
The memory of Orthodox churches being oppressed by muslims and communists that punished proselytizing are a factor also(There are some outliers but generally the orthodox proselytize much less then other christian groups)
@tnyw872621h8474h9
Жыл бұрын
I understand when studying the inter orthodox Church stats it makes sense to split them by jurisdiction, but when comparing them to other churches in American it doesn’t make sense to split them by jurisdiction. We have closed communion, but I who was baptized in ROCOR can commune at any of the other canonical Churches. So they are all one Church, the “greek” or “russian” is more an indication of what language (alongside English) the liturgy will be in
@frennynikki2447
Жыл бұрын
While we hear a growing trend of people converting to Eastern Orthodoxy for reasons of being drawn to its "ancient" beauty and mystery. The other side must never be ignored as well because there has been also a handful of people who left the EOC for Protestantism in America. Make no mistake though because they're also not the kind of Eastern Orthodox people who had spent their lives as members for only a few months but years before eventually leaving it. As for me, I'm a Protestant, though I'm Asian and I already had been aware of the Eastern Orthodox Church at roughly the age of 12, thanks to Encarta. My mentor later confirmed their existence. Having known some of their doctrines, I used to have an entire section in my writings dedicated to my positive views on EO. I am of course in awe of its rich history and some of its hymns I actually sing or listen to in my private devotions such as Psalm 135 in Greek. So what's stopping me from a possibility of conversion: 1. Protestantism have some beliefs and practices that are already held and sometimes are practiced further than the EO itself allows. 2. The EO holds similar if not the same doctrinal accretions with the RC especially towards image (icon) veneration, prayers to saints, the Marian dogmas, and that both Sacred Scriptures and Tradition as having equal authority. 3. The unique doctrine of Theosis, the rejection of original sin and the Filioque. 4. It's history is so rich, so ancient that there were actually times it had considered icon veneration as a violation of Sacred Scripture (8th-9th century) and the time when it could have reformed itself under Patriarch Cyril Lucaris (17th century) but got rejected. Both of these possibilities are absorbed into Protestantism that there's actually no need for me to convert because we already have such Orthodox practices. Hence have I always said to my opponents that I am Catholic but not Roman, Orthodox but not Eastern. Thank you for your patience and God bless you.
@miketacos9034
10 ай бұрын
Very interesting ending insight, which also makes sense given the OCA is bigger than other groups. There really is the potential for growth, we just need to cultivate it. Everyone has a role to play.
@Roman-Pregolin
Жыл бұрын
Converts often retain their old mental structure, giving it an Orthodox color, rather than free falling into the expansive room for interpretation and acceptance of mystery that orthodoxy is. Too many just want a shortcut to dogmatic, social-media-polemic certainty and imperiousness. New American orthodoxy is a thing unto itself.
@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs
Жыл бұрын
Many American Orthodox Christians I talk to fight against this tendency, and much of what is coming out from Orthodox clergy and intellectuals call the church members to be transformed by the Church, not try to change the Church to conform to them. The church polity and Sacred Tradition do not make such mental stagnation feasible or allow it to flourish.
@Christophoros-it1qt
Жыл бұрын
I like that you are both correct and update! However, I need some more practice in listening to your " speed", but I am improving, so I will come back to you soon! Thank you!
@kilogramofwhat830
Жыл бұрын
I’ve been attending some Orthodox masses, I’ve learned more about the history and doctrines of the first millennium of the church and it has pushed me toward Orthodoxy, away from Catholicism.
@Ggdivhjkjl
Жыл бұрын
Have you spoken with any of the Eastern Catholic Churches about these things?
@hippios
Жыл бұрын
@@GgdivhjkjlUniates have wrong theology
@MrMustang13
Жыл бұрын
Why would it push you towards orthodoxy? If anything the deeper look into church history, it inevitably leads to Catholicism. If it’s the orthodox tradition that’s attractive to you, look towards the orthodox churches that have reunited with Rome, ie the Eastern Catholic Churches. Catholic Churches arnt uniting with the break away orthodox churches, it’s orthodox churches that are reuniting with Rome.
@pj_ytmt-123
8 ай бұрын
The United States is all about liberty (at face value, at least); while Orthodoxy is all about restraining liberty (denying oneself, eg. fasting ~100 days/year). The Lord's parable of the sower explains it best.
@tomnola7204
Жыл бұрын
Another great video. Thank you!
@ammazer1229
Жыл бұрын
I’m generally pretty optimistic about Orthodoxy in the future. In most online Christian circles I’ve seen a very vocal and growing convert community myself being one of them.
@MrKneeV
Жыл бұрын
Good video. There are some additional factors to consider. For example, at what point in the year was that 2020 census of Orthodox Christians conducted? Many people weren't attending church during that year, and among those who weren't attending, some percentage has decided never to return, at least so far. That drop in numbers starting in 2020 would not have followed historical statistical norms. But that aside, while we are seeing an over all decline in numbers, what I believe we are REALLY seeing is the decline of the GOA more than anything else. Unfortunately, many children raised in the GOA were raised in a Greek culture club and museum. That is of course not true for EVERY Greek parish, and it is not limited to just the Greeks (I have seen this in ethnic Serbian and Arabic parishes, for example, but their numbers are smaller and not affecting the whole as much as the Greek numbers are). But it is significant with the Greeks simply due to their numbers. What I think is happening with Orthodoxy in America is that it is undergoing a shift, from being a church of immigrants to a church of "home-grown" parishioners. The parishes that fail to be accessible to the broader American culture are dying off, as the "Greek culture" (or Serbian culture, or Arabic culture, or Russian culture, or what have you) that they found in church as kids is not enough to keep them motivated to wake up early on a Sunday morning. During this shift, those for whom the faith is nothing more than nostalgia are (sadly) leaving, which, at least in the interim, is driving the numbers down. The smaller, growing parishes will catch up soon. The OCA and Antiochians (and some others) have planted small seeds all over the country, and they are sprouting and growing. It is only a matter of time before we see the trees that they grow into.
@nathanieltoci6349
2 ай бұрын
Bruh had me shooketh when he grew 2 inches of hair in one second at 2:16!
@remnant-hearts
Жыл бұрын
I was expecting a frog of the week at the end of this video!
@evang7252
Жыл бұрын
my understanding is. ROCOR and Antioch are growing the most and GOA is declineing the most
@triggered8556
4 ай бұрын
In my opinion, the 2nd and 3rd generation families of immigrants are leaving the church that their grandparents brought to America, just like other denominations. Despite this, there is a large increase in converts to Orthodoxy in America and the west. So while it may look like Orthodoxy is declining, I think it's just reflecting how nominal christians are leaving the Church and is not a true reflection of the Church. Orthodoxy is also relatively new to America, and as it becomes more mainstream and seen less immigrant/ethnic centered, it will reach even more people.
@loridepenau1129
Жыл бұрын
I certainly hope not. I have just been baptized into the Holy Orthodox Church (OCA) and I am so happy and grateful. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!
@MrSergio608
20 күн бұрын
At 41 I’m converting from the chaos of the world to Eastern Orthodox. Wasn’t raised religious at all, I just know this is where I belong.
@Captain_Titus3867
Жыл бұрын
I became orthodox over my love of history. I’ve mostly been raised by Muslims but I’ve been a protestant Christian all my life because my grandparents looked after me when I was young while my mom got her life together. My family didn’t have the same fascination of history as I did so when I went to an Orthodox Church and got to learn and talk with them it felt like I had found my true family. Don’t get me wrong I love my blood family to death but my church family was way more interesting to have conversations on literally anything. I’ve been trying to bring some of my friends to orthodoxy and have been a bit more bold with my beliefs and have at least convinced a couple people to reevaluate their beliefs and how they should practice faith. Thanks to the church I finally feel like I’m following in the footsteps of the saints.
@user-ex2bo6ub4g
7 ай бұрын
We are doubling at our parish many young adults
@tonybaloney5877
Жыл бұрын
So happy I converted to Holy Orthodoxy from Protestantism…only wish I knew about it earlier! The true Church!
@jojonokimyonabouken7615
Жыл бұрын
Very curious to see a parallel video like this for oriental orthodoxy in America
@steveAllen0112
Жыл бұрын
Much of the retention issue (53% is abysmal) in the last century has been due to "cradles" not passing the religion on down. However, I would love to see retention numbers for convert children specifically. (Converts coming in any serious numbers being a relatively recent phenomenon, these data may not yet be available, but if they are, I'd love to see if there is a difference.)
@mahatmarandy5977
22 күн бұрын
I’m an evangelical Christian, though I’m highly critical of our movement. Prior to the present political polarization crisis, the biggest problem in our movement was that it just didn’t fill the spiritual or psychological needs of a significant segment of our members. We sit in fairly minimalist churches that look less and less like actual churches by the decade (getting rid of pews for folding chairs, installing coffee bars, a minimum of decoration, etc) we eschew most rituals excepting Baptism and Communion, and many churches even demystify that, and we listen to threadbare sermons that are not very challenging and not very inspiring. With the addition of lame cover bands - excuse me, ‘praise bands’ - and the end of choirs and communal singing, and the increasing politicization of services, and this bullcrap “prosperity gospel” heresy….I mean, it’s become too much even for me. But even before things went completely off the rails in the 1990s, back when church *was* still really a traditional church, there was a degree of minimalism that didn’t fill some people’s needs. I mean, it worked for me: I want as few distractions between God and myself as possible (though shallow sermons have always been a problem) but some people need more. And, hey, that’s fine. If all people were supposed to need/want/like the same things, then why have more than one person, right? So these people need something more numinous, a quality that is almost entirely lacking in evangelicism. My friends from Bible college who converted were responding to this more obviously magical and artistic quality. And the unexpected end of the cold war made the Russian form of Orthodoxy more intriguing than the Greek form, and a bit countercultural and trendy as well. And in the 2010s when modern evangelical megachurches hit their current level of always-reactionary social and political fearmongering (“Pokemon is evil! Kirk Cameron is the only good actor in hollywood because he doesn’t kiss other actresses! Harry Potter is satanic recruiting! Throw out your psychiatric meds and just trust God to cure you of your schizoaffective disorder!”) that’s driven more and more people away. Orthodoxy had the advantage of more reverential razzle dazzle, which fills those people’s needs. As I’ve said, that doesn’t work for me, but it works for them. That said, Orthodoxy in the US and in the world in general is declining. In the US attendance has gone down something like 15% in the last ten years. Orthodoxy in my area anyway (which has a very large community) has come down solidly on the side of Russia in the Ukraine war, which seems to have driven away a lot of people in a short time. In essence, they’re attracting evangelicals who are right wing, but losing old timers who feel politics has little place in church
@brodybarcus6366
Жыл бұрын
The problem with this data is that the cutoff is 2020. Our parish has doubled in the last year.
@longforgotten4823
Жыл бұрын
My academic mentor in European history, history of science, and the history of Christianity is Eastern Orthodox from the Serbian church. Even as an agnostic that grew up in Lutheran and Methodist background, I have never felt closer to the early church fathers than when I was taking his college courses. The best deconstruction of a lot of the nonsense in western theology.
@chrisray9653
Жыл бұрын
Are Orthodox converts in the United States mostly men?
@Burgermeister1836
Жыл бұрын
Yes, on the order of about 75%.
@chrisray9653
Жыл бұрын
@@Burgermeister1836 There's the problem.
@blade7506
Жыл бұрын
@@Burgermeister1836source?
@Burgermeister1836
Жыл бұрын
@@blade7506 The OCA Convert Survey results. 75% of respondents who converted since 2019 were men.
@slackjaw4270
Жыл бұрын
Its this way in every pew across US.
@FATHOLLYWOODB123
Жыл бұрын
Orthodoxy had small numbers to begin with in America. America is the homeland or Protestantism, extremely traditional ones like Amish and Mennonites, and extremely liberal ones like Episcopalians or Presbyterians. You can find small communities of Amish around the country who live a traditional lifestyle, without modern inventions, no crime, drugs, or broken families, and high birth rates, and you can find reformist ones like Episcopalians with pride flags hanging off the Church, women pastors, and who bless same sex marriage. It's very varied, but America has always been the homeland of protestantism, in all its variations, whether Christian or ideological.
@AlejandroJMA
Жыл бұрын
Interesting, as a Mexican I plan on joining an Orthodox church close to me in the future.
@OrthodoxChristianTreasures
11 ай бұрын
Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker (+ 1966) has been instrumental in the conversion of many people to Orthodoxy.
@BrendaHaggai
Жыл бұрын
The wee Antiochian Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma has almost as many catchumenens as faithful and the church in OKC is add so many new people, it's difficult to embrace them all. Statistics are dry. The churches that do not produce fruit will be pruned but the Church will not die. It is attached to the One Living Vine.
@JesusLeadershipTraining
Жыл бұрын
can you share the links you have spoken about the research...thanks greg
@stephenwright4973
Жыл бұрын
Orthodoxy is not the oldest form of Christianity. The current form of the church originated in the Byzantine political intrigues of the 8th and 9th centuries, and was significantly shaped later by patriarchs who were approved or removed at the whims of the Ottoman sultans. Icon veneration, for example, was imposed by Empress Irene and her handpicked patriarch at the 2nd Council of Nicaea in AD 787, and restored by Empress Theodora after she deposed an iconoclast patriarch. This is not a church shaped by the early Church Fathers, still less by the infallible Scriptures of the Apostles and prophets.
@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs
Жыл бұрын
Icons were present and venerated prior to the Second Council of Nicaea.
@stephenwright4973
Жыл бұрын
@@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs Yes. Controversially so, yes. But 2nd Nicaea imposed the practice on all dissenters, under pain of anathema.
@jeffkardosjr.3825
Жыл бұрын
The Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite seem to be doing fine around here.
@jmscaray-ul9kd
Жыл бұрын
The problem is being solved by the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Bishop of Rome by reunification…already Constantinople has signed a document giving up his title as “first among equals” and acknowledging the Bishop of Rome as the real “first among equals”…next beginning in 2025 we all celebrate under one calendar, no longer will there be 2 different Easter celebrations …and finally all those converts to Orthodoxy who wanted nothing to do with the Catholic Church, will find themselves belonging to a Catholic Orthodox Church, of which there will be several to choose from, all with English speaking priests…how will we choose our parish?…naturally, by which one has the best water slide or summer camp or pot luck supper and so on…pray for the Church…it will need all prayers
@longfellowmarketing4192
Жыл бұрын
I have no idea where you’re getting your info, but if this were to happen it would only affect church bodies under Constantinople (GOA, ACROD, Ukrainians). And if something like this we’re to happen, there would be major turmoil in those groups, with many (most?) faithful exiting, along with many priests and even bishops. Constantinople can do whatever it wants … few will follow.
@jmscaray-ul9kd
Жыл бұрын
Longfellow, thanks for your response…3 Documents tell the story….Ravenna in 2007, Chieti in 2016 and Alexandria in 2023….ALL the Orthodox Churches except Bulgaria signed off on accepting the Bishop of Rome as the true “first among equals”…the first unification move is the calendar in 2025, marking the 1700 anniversary of the Council of Nicaea…the pockets of resistance is in some of the Eastern European churches with individual priests, the establishment church is 100% in favor…
@longfellowmarketing4192
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your response, JMS. To be honest, this is rubbish. Constantinople couldn’t get all the autocephalous churches for the Council on Crete in 2016 and you’re telling me they have now somehow agreed to union with Rome? Nope. No way. I assume you’re RC? No one who knows the Orthodox Church would believe this. And even if it were true, it would be overwhelmingly rejected by the laity, just like happened at the Council of Florence. Constantinople can play whatever games it wants. It has no authority. No one will follow.
@jmscaray-ul9kd
Жыл бұрын
Sorry, but what is true, is true…it is true, he couldn’t get all of them to show up at Crete, but he has had no problems since then….read the documents yourself…all the orthodox churches have signed including the OCA, just not the Bulgarians…I have been collecting many documents and news articles on this issue and am giving thought about setting up a blog on all of this…as for me, 100% Orthodox, born and bred, have had the opportunity to serve on national Orthodoxcommittees for many years…I have been following this unification issue for the past ten years…at first, I did not believe it, but I believe it now because the Church is not playing nice about it…the calendar will be so easy to sell in America because we have many many converts who are not able to celebrate Easter with their families…now, we have found a way in which that can happen…one calendar for everybody…Americans like things that are convenient, an easy sell…the problem is going to be with the churches in Europe that are 95% ethnic Orthodox…no converts there…very few intermarriages there
@longfellowmarketing4192
Жыл бұрын
@@jmscaray-ul9kd Would love to see your blog, if you launch it! I still really don’t buy it; but if this did happen there would be a massive exodus in the US, for sure. Maybe some cradle-borns would welcome it for family reasons, but most of the converts would take a hike. There would be a new church, for sure. And, yes, this wouldn’t fly in Europe, just like Phanar’s “church” isn’t taking off in Ukraine. Blessings! ☦️
@josephconnole4222
Жыл бұрын
Well done. Although I am not an Orthodox Christian, I want to offer some insight. If you look at the decline in mainline Protestant Churches, you can ask why people are leaving mainline Protestantism? A documentary I watched several years ago on Netflix attempted to show that many of these mainline Protestants are converting to full-on Calvinism. This isn't surprising when you look at the number of Protestant Churches-mainline or evangelical, who owe their existence to Calvin or Calvinistic Protestantism. That brings us to the question of Orthodoxy. There is a myth that Protestantism and Orthodoxy share much in common- their reputation of Roman Catholicism. But that's where it ends. If we look at which churches are closer in theology to the Eastern Orthodox community, we have to look at Roman Catholicism and Oriental Orthodoxy. When we do that, we realize that those are the three churches that can show a connection to the historic Universal Christian Church. There is a lot of Catholic bashing in Protestant Churches, using an asterisk when the word "catholic" appears in the Nicene Creed, for example, because some Protestants wouldn't say the creed if that explanation wasn't there. But one only needs to watch your videos or the videos Max does on usefulcharts to realize Protestantism owes its existence to Catholicism. Protestantism is a rejection of Catholicism. So, if you are a Protestant wanting to convert to Orthodoxy, you have to first understand this main point. As much as it is a rejection of Catholicism, your faith has more in common with Catholicism than Orthodoxy. If you grew up believing that the Bible is the only authoritative teaching, you will be horribly lost in Orthodoxy, which greatly emphasizes the Church Fathers and whose service resembles something more akin to a high Catholic Mass than the rock concert many Protestant churches employ to keep young people.
@lufhopespeacefully2037
Жыл бұрын
,jesus is the main central figure of bible,didn`t agree with me we have find a bible with his name,where does jesus talked about trinity.
@blair2798
Жыл бұрын
Churches are not the problem with current downsizing. The problem is people just don't believe in religion that much anymore.
@living_orthodox
Жыл бұрын
You forgot ROCOR (Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia), it’s in communion with all the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
@ReadyToHarvest
Жыл бұрын
No, I mentioned them.
@living_orthodox
Жыл бұрын
@@ReadyToHarvest must’ve missed it. Thanks! Sincerely a ROCOR priest.
@gabrielmaldonado1903
Жыл бұрын
THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN IN GREEK 🇬🇷 CRISTO IS A GREEK WORD 🇬🇷 all first Christian spoke Greek not latin not germanic dialects. Even Turks destroyed Constantinople and murdered millions of Greek Orthodox the Church survived and still alive ✊🏻🇬🇷☦️
@oliveri9407
Жыл бұрын
They’re schismatics, convert to the one true faith ✝️🇻🇦
@MaximusOrthodox
Жыл бұрын
You are the schismatic. Your pope separated from us almost 1,000 years ago because of his pride.
@oliveri9407
Жыл бұрын
@@MaximusOrthodox You are schismatics, God punished you by allowing the Muslims to conquer you and take your women and children.
@news_internationale2035
Жыл бұрын
@@oliveri9407That's not good information.
@magnobraga4619
Жыл бұрын
It is a ethnic church and americanism is a jealoous relgion.
@sameash3153
Жыл бұрын
This. Converting to orthodoxy is disrespectful. The only time I can see it being respectful is if you marry into an orthodox family.
@AdrianJaime-uf8db
Жыл бұрын
@@sameash3153 Converting to Orthodoxy is the opposite of disrespectful. Even the "ethnic" Church I attend has converts who are fully welcomed into the life of the Church. Seeing new people in the Church from different backgrounds is a breath of fresh air. The Church wants new people, it seeks people who will come and praise our Lord. Converting is a sign of respect, not only of the Church, but to God Himself. Orthodoxy is not just for Serbs, Russians, Romanians etc., for "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatian 3:28). There are Orthodox Churches globally, with the fastest growing Churches in Uganda, Central America and Australia. Orthodoxy is a religion for all, no matter who they are.
@sameash3153
Жыл бұрын
@AdrianJaime-uf8db It is disrespectful, they're just desperate for members right now, they wouldn't have done that 100 or 200 years ago. It's wrong to take advantage of them laxening their ethnic rules.
@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs
Жыл бұрын
Converting to Orthodoxy is disrespectful? How so? Are you conflating Orthodox Christianity with Orthodox Judaism?
@magnobraga4619
Жыл бұрын
@@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs are you a convert?
@isaiahkerstetter3142
Жыл бұрын
Those there for ethnic reasons are leaving while those there for the Faith stay.
@theodorejohnson3459
Жыл бұрын
"Seeking Mystery" means they want a "mystery" religion. Back to Babylon
@bobdinkytown
Жыл бұрын
concept-word fallacy much
@bigultrafunny9751
Жыл бұрын
Your misunderstanding of terminology and history doesn't make it fact lol
@sdnlawrence5640
Жыл бұрын
God exists. That's a Mystery. God works in Mystery. All that He does is a Mystery. How does God Save, Heal or Create? All are Mysteries. God is ineffable. A god tiny humans can understand is no god.
@intergalactichumanempire9759
Жыл бұрын
Please get your theology somewhere other than Chick Tracts.
@bobdinkytown
Жыл бұрын
@@intergalactichumanempire9759 or alexander hislop
@thewheyoflife3548
6 ай бұрын
It seems Orthodoxy is growining to me
@orangecobraEU
4 ай бұрын
Isnt it says before the end, christianity will have a rise? Orthodoxe is the only rising christianity
@danfsteeple
Жыл бұрын
The sheep are being separated from the goats. “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of my Father! Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world! For I was hungry and you gave me food to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ The King will answer them, ‘Amen, I tell you: as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will also say to those on his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me no food; I was thirsty and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not receive me; naked, and you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ Then they will answer him: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not help you?’ Then he will answer them, saying: ‘Amen, I tell you: as much as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ These [ones on the left] will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46, EOB)
@samuelstreeter5780
10 ай бұрын
God meant well when he put our kids before us to tell us the story, but high praise to the previous international crew, whom came across so we'll and we're very interesting and inviting to me. Their fair and style is yet to be beat. So kids good luck, you're where you want to be!🧔
@JesseDLC
Жыл бұрын
Depressing. I'm leery of the sentiment that the Internet is not reality, but with Orthodoxy it seems to be the cAse.
@francisvalentinemixes5277
Жыл бұрын
One of my close friends has an interesting background. Her mother is Jewish, having run away from an Orthodox community. Her stepdad was raised Orthodox Christian. But as a family, theyre all religious nones. That is to say, they've completely distanced themselves from any religion, not just Christianity or Judaism. Their background is quite interesting.
@YokaiSamurai
Жыл бұрын
In my city they just build a new Orthodox Church but your right on it being not known in the west
@notashorty134
Жыл бұрын
I am a convert to a Greek Parish for almost about a year now my church has experienced a lot of growth these are some thoughts I have this is pretty much just corroborating what he said 1. to my knowledge most of the Orthodox churches are centered in big cities like Los Angeles San Diego Austin New York etc. I think it's easy to lose faith in a giant City you're surrounded by so many things that would go against your beliefs or people who are simply not affiliated with any religion the belief that these large cities often hold are not usually compatible with Orthodoxy (just my opinion) I grew up in a small town and now I live in a small City most of the people at my church have either lived in this small City their whole lives or have come from small towns 2. I think the church has a problem with politics I will provide two examples the Greek Church: the head of the Greek Church in Constantinople is not viewed positively by quite a few Orthodox people I've met especially from different churches they view him as to "liberal" or "woke" controversies with him being involved with the Catholics and the fear that he will sacrifice the traditions of Orthodoxy and something about an LGBT couple the Russian Church: the exact opposite problem and is seen as to "right" or "conservative" this is a little controversial but in my time I spent with Russian parishes there's been a lot of people sympathetic to Russia and it's War and I'm pretty tolerant but even some things they say go a little too far personally I don't like the idea of church and politics being so intertwined I want to go there because I like the tradition and I like liturgy I hold the idea that you should go as far into Politics as your faith demands of you and I understand that there are some things that are just not avoidable I regret a lot of the political beliefs I had and I always try to remember to love everybody 3. I believe there is a lack of Youth in the church I converted because of the tradition and theology I went to the closest church near me I feel like a lot of mainstream churches have lost touch with their roots and I felt lost until I found Orthodoxy it has a very strong theology and provides the foundations of how to live a authentic Christian Life I actually believe the church is doing pretty good on this part and they seem to be picking up a lot of people who feel the same way people seeking out who want an actual Christian experience 4. I forget who said it but I think the best way to summarize it is the quote The Church Must be conservative on preserving its traditions and liberal on defending the faith I believe the church should not get too involved in politics but not bend the knee to political movements they should stay focused on warship and being involved in their communities I believe the best thing they can do is to be peaceful do not let your words speak for the church but your actions show them what kind of life can be gained by being holy know what you believe in read your Bible and have integrity and love do not use harmful words towards anyone who might spite you or hate you
@TRUTHANDCONSEQUENCESWILLNEVER
Жыл бұрын
They are serious about their devotion to God, that is what sends people to Orthodoxy. Has nothing to do with mysticism.
@dagansiepert5090
Жыл бұрын
Notice, nowhere on that list was "teach the Faith." All the other issues aside, at the heart of the problem in any denomination is a failure to teach the faith. If you don't teach it, they won't live it. I'm a young Lutheran pastor but what has been made painfully clear to me is people don't even know what we mean by "I believe in the resurrection of the body." Seriously. We THINK we do. It's the greatest scandal of our time. Believe in the resurrection, you'll believe in the Eucharist; believe in the Eucharist, you'll believe in Theosis; believe in Theosis, you'll believe in the Liturgy; believe in the liturgy, you'll believe in the scriptures. We must do better, God help us!
@Nitsua2828
Жыл бұрын
What about the Russian Orthodox Church’s in America?
@Ggdivhjkjl
Жыл бұрын
He mentioned them.
@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs
Жыл бұрын
Are you referring to the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA)?
@donhaddix3770
6 ай бұрын
Orthodox Christianity in the 21st Century Over the last century, the Orthodox Christian population around the world has more than doubled and now stands at nearly 260 million. In Russia alone, it has surpassed 100 million, a sharp resurgence after the fall of the Soviet Union. Yet despite these increases in absolute numbers, Orthodox Christians have been declining as a share of the overall Christian population - and the global population - due to far faster growth among Protestants, Catholics and non-Christians. Today, just 12% of Christians around the world are Orthodox, compared with an estimated 20% a century ago. And 4% of the total global population is Orthodox, compared with an estimated 7% in 1910. Second National Census of American Orthodox Christian Churches Orthodox Christian Churches in the USA: What Happened Between 2010 and 2020? This Power Point presentation saved in PDF format was prepared for the 2022 annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and Religious Research Association. Based on US Religion Census, it offers data on geography, congregations, membership and worship attendance in American Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches. Overall, the US Religion Census gathered data on 24 national Orthodox Christian Church bodies. Compared with previous (2010) Census, the newly released data show significant changes in Orthodox Christian Church presence in the USA.
@leannewheeler5351
Жыл бұрын
How come the data doesnt include Ethiopian Orthodox? Is that not included under the Orthodox doctorine?
@ReadyToHarvest
Жыл бұрын
This video is about Eastern Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox is a Oriental Orthodox church. I have an upcoming video on Oriental Orthodox statistics.
@leannewheeler5351
11 ай бұрын
@@ReadyToHarvestthank you 😊
@millerk115
4 ай бұрын
Alot of your stats are a little dated. I think that alot has changed in the last 10 years. More specifically the entire world underwent a huge shift thanks to COVID (clarification: government response to COVID). Id be interested to see some newer stats on this topic. Still interesting video
@ReadyToHarvest
4 ай бұрын
These are the most up to date stats available, just released in the last 2 years. No new ones will be available until 2031-2032. Religious polling is time consuming, slow, and expensive.
@jcroobug
Жыл бұрын
You left out the Russian Orthodox Outside of Russia, the Serbian Orthodox, Romanian, etc.
@ReadyToHarvest
Жыл бұрын
No, they are all in here. Serbians mentioned at 7:05 for example. ROCOR immediately after.
@chuckironsight3914
2 ай бұрын
on the right of my screen the next video from you is how its growing , up 67 percent past 10 years...what is this, they are 2 months apart
@ReadyToHarvest
2 ай бұрын
Watch the video and you'll know the answer!
@_KEN_guru
Ай бұрын
It’s a kind of Magic ✨
@paulr5246
Жыл бұрын
all this data is 3 years old, does not take into account the demographic change and explosion in membership.
@cuffeemia2108
Жыл бұрын
Seems like decline is children born to orthodoxy and born into a ethnic-associated affiliation with orthodoxy. Seems like all the new American converts are people not traditionally associated with ethnicity such as greek or russian. We are seeing it as something we’ve been missing and didn’t know existed. While unfortunately many times when you’re raised in with your religion connected to your ethnicity, it can make it seem more like a cultural thing than a religious think. My hypothesis. 🤷🏿♂️☦️
@Magnificat42
Жыл бұрын
4:00 or so - massive statement
@user-hm4od3wu1z
Жыл бұрын
My eighth grade middle school teacher is an Orthodox Christian she even had an icon painting of Jesus on her wall
@simmat6419
Жыл бұрын
did it show the right sign of the cross?
@user-hm4od3wu1z
Жыл бұрын
@@simmat6419 yeah
@simmat6419
Жыл бұрын
@@user-hm4od3wu1z So it has the index finger extended and middle finger bent to meet the the index with the ring, pinky and thumb fingers meeting?
@user-hm4od3wu1z
Жыл бұрын
@@simmat6419 yeah. For some reason she called herself a Catholic but my other teacher told me she calls herself a Catholic because it means universal
@duckmeat4674
Жыл бұрын
@@user-hm4od3wu1zthat's because the name of the church is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church
@MaximusAugustusOrthodox
Жыл бұрын
I became an Orthodox „revert“ at the age of 15 last year, Glory be to God ☦️ Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪
@CalebPreach4245
Жыл бұрын
So sorry to hear that
@Evaggelos1
Жыл бұрын
☦☦☦
@PhysicstIsaac
7 ай бұрын
@@CalebPreach4245 We pray for people like you
@RebirthRavenIX
5 ай бұрын
@@PhysicstIsaacthat's all we can do, brother ☦️
@Melancholian
2 ай бұрын
@@CalebPreach4245 bro shush
@DiMacky24
Жыл бұрын
The growth is largely converts from ethnicities that don't have Orthodox heritage. Also the growth won't be seen until next census. Here in Texas, in Christmas 2021, the attendance at many OCA churches swelled at 2 to 4 times the normal size. The odd thing was, after the holidays, attendance didn't shrink back down. My local parishes have been baptizing dozens of converts and inquirer classes are 30 to 40 strong. Alot of ethic Orthodox such as Ethiopians and Russians have switched to English parishes since their children are more fluent in English and identify with it more than the immigrant catering churches, and it seems to have helped retain more of the youth as they turn to adults.
@DiMacky24
Жыл бұрын
Also, nice to see a photo of the parish I was catchized at. I grew up Baptist but saw a lot of the traditions and reverence be replaced with modern marketing tactics that ultimately failed to retain youths and always appealed more to boomers. Becoming Orthodox felt more like returning to that little fervent baptist church in the woods that I remembered than finding something new.
@albertito77
Жыл бұрын
This is significant
@basedgod6016
Жыл бұрын
yeah i massively agree with this, i'm a catechumen at an orthodox church in Yorkshire, North England, and our class has had new members joining ever week or two. We've had a lot of people like myself, locals who were raised atheist or protestant and wanted something more, but interestingly we also have a few people from Oriental Orthodox denominations converting and, like you said, lots of people from orthodox ethnic groups moving to our english speaking parish because it's much more lively and involved
@azurephoenix9546
Жыл бұрын
Dude, for real. Just arguing about Christian history, I accidentally turn people on to orthodoxy, but I'm just trying to be honest about the history. I'm not even Christian or anything, but I have a high respect for history and being honest about history. Maybe eventually I'll come to some kind of belief, I'm not opposed to it, but if I was going to be a Christian, I could only ever be orthodox
@KnoxEmDown
Жыл бұрын
As a fellow Texan Orthodox Christian and young catechumen, agreed! My church has about a dozen catechumen altogether, with new inquirers attending the liturgy and having conversations with us about the faith at coffee hour every Sunday. Even in my short time attending, I've had the blessing of seeing several inquirers I've shared meals with become catechumen. It's an amazing feeling going to church because you want to rather than because mother dearest said so (God bless her she meant well). It's also amazing getting to ask meaningful questions that are taken seriously, so seriously in fact that you aren't even considered a fully-fledged member of the faith until you've asked them and affirmed the answer via sacrament. I say this because in my old baptist church (happily raised baptist), for the Lord's supper all you had to do was claim you were a Christian and His body and blood (in proper baptist form of unleavened wafer and grape juice) were yours. In contrast proper Orthodoxy demands, well, orthodoxy before you can even think of partaking from the chalice. That was a huge meaningful difference for me, a legitimate seriousness and reverence for something that is our God via the mysteries. No beef to the baptists as people though, overall they were a God-fearing folk that started me on the right path, I just needed more depth than they could offer.
@mykolasauciur8738
Жыл бұрын
As young Orthodox Christian, I can’t understate the importance of having youth in the church. It is hard to be motivated to attend liturgy unless there are other people around your own age.
@AmericanwrCymraeg
Жыл бұрын
One thing that has been very encouraging to me at our parish is the level of engagement from the teens and people in their early 20s. Our parish is very peaceful, without gossiping or cliques, but a place where people honestly love Christ and each other, and the teens comment on that. We have very little in the way of any ministry specifically targeted towards teens or young adults, but they are well integrated into the parish. When their parents are sick, they'll call each other up and find rides to come to Church on their own. They push their parents to get there earlier on in Matins, to go to more Holy Week services. Vespers is full of people in their teens through mid-30s. It's a blessing to see them all there, not because anyone is making them come, but because they love it and want to be there.
@KnoxEmDown
Жыл бұрын
Personally I enjoy talking with the old heads as much as the new heads, but I understand completely. It's always nice to have people you can directly relate to.
@mariannacoomes1094
Жыл бұрын
Wow, this is impressive! My parish is growing, but youth involvement is low. @@AmericanwrCymraeg
@JaguwarSims
Жыл бұрын
Our church has suddenly exploded. From barely 30 people at our last yearly meeting, we now have right 100 people, including 20 people under 30 NOT COUNTING THE CHILDREN . Our choir went from more or less 5-8 regular participants to a solid 14. We're growing, in a ridiculously small town. It's beautiful.
@AmericanwrCymraeg
Жыл бұрын
@@JaguwarSims What area?
@Ammo08
Жыл бұрын
My son is Antiochian Orthodox,,,,for whatever reasons he was disenchanted with the Roman Catholic Church and became Orthodox. He really enjoys going there, so it must be working for him.
@michaelciccone2194
Жыл бұрын
Probably the girl friend !
@IlluminatiCheckerboardflooring
Жыл бұрын
You should go with him sometime too Liturgy!
@arethmaran1279
Жыл бұрын
Did he not know about the Chaldean or Byzantine Rites? All the flavor of Orthodoxy without the Schism
@IlluminatiCheckerboardflooring
Жыл бұрын
@@arethmaran1279 hey bud your pope said it was a grave sin to convert the orthodox, so why would you not want to see them go? According to Vatican 2 we Orthodox have Christ in the Eucharist, so if we have Christ, why on earth would we need a pope?
@Ammo08
Жыл бұрын
We live in a very rural area. He drives a little over an hour for services. @@arethmaran1279
@RomingAroundTown
Жыл бұрын
Southern Baptist my whole life, 28 years. Becoming Orthodox next year. Hopefully my wife joins me and our 5 little ones.
@mikebastiat
Жыл бұрын
Next year? After you complete the cults year long catechumen process? Gotta love how no one is save right away with the Orthodox cult, only when the priest decides. That's how power and cults work. Leave the cult before they dip you in their holy water and declare the holy spirit is NOW with you.
@Ggdivhjkjl
Жыл бұрын
@@mikebastiatSalvation is a process which never happens in a moment. The Holy Ghost, as God, is everywhere present and fills everyone, yet there are different ways in which the Spirit may dwell in a man. One of those comes through unction as the Holy Bible says.
@hippios
Жыл бұрын
@@mikebastiatyou sound like a cultist yourself
@AmericanwrCymraeg
Жыл бұрын
@@mikebastiatWhat an odd criticism. We're a cult because we don't rush people through the process and baptize them right away, but actually teach them first?
@JimStream939
Жыл бұрын
@@mikebastiatCalling the oldest form of Christianity a 'cult' is really funny. Not to mention that in Orthodoxy priests, actually, refrain from telling anybody anytime that he/she is 'saved'. We leave that to our Lord and the Judgment day. On the other hand, we don't mind that our Protestant 'brothers' think that they are saved when they decide to become confirmed/ when they 'accept Jesus as as saviour'. But, I need to say, it's a pretty poor marketing technique. Only God can save, through his only begotten son. The rest is advertising/ funding Protestant campaign.
@stephenbailey9969
Жыл бұрын
John Wesley pointed this out several hundred years ago in the Anglican Church: Every generation must find real faith for itself. It cannot simply be inherited. In the modern world, mere social conformity does not satisfy. Preaching and persuading that focuses on true conversion is necessary. Also, once a person converts, it takes a faith community's commitment to true discipling to help that person walk through the struggles of this life. While a glance at numbers might make one feel hopeless about the future, we must remember that the power of God is still moving in this world. Revival and conversion happen on his terms, by the empowerment of the Spirit. There are many young people who walk away from 'religion' but who later in life find real faith. That was my story.
@azurephoenix9546
Жыл бұрын
Amen, amen! It's like most churches totally forgot what discipling people means. They're just happy to get you dunked and see ya later. There is so much more lifestyle adjustment and perspective adjustment, but people seem like they don't have time for other people.
@johnfisher8401
6 ай бұрын
well said man, I really like this take
@TheAmericanCeasar
Жыл бұрын
I'm not orthodox myself, but an orthodox friend invited me to a service in his small church and it was packed with a surprising amount of young adults and young kids. My friend said that when he first converted s few years back, it had only 20 people, but now has 200. I think what will make or break not just the Orthodox church but Christianity in the west in general is whether those with fire in their bellies can take control and take back the culture.
@KnoxEmDown
Жыл бұрын
Even if the culture cannot be easily recovered and we must deal with the consequences of our forefathers sins and mistakes, we shall still live faithful Christian lives, working and loving and praying truly to mitigate the errors of our own generations. That's what it's all about baby, being better by grace of the Spirit despite all trials and longsuffering!
@Compulsive-Elk7103
Жыл бұрын
It is not a "service" like the Protestants but it is called Divine Liturgy in the East. I'm a Catholic but have a lot of love and respect for our Eastern Orthodox brothers and sisters Glory to Jesus Christ 🙏☦️❤️
@acekoala457
Жыл бұрын
@@Compulsive-Elk7103 "Service" is a perfectly Orthodox Word for what happens at Parish every Sunday. Though I would advise putting "Divine" on the front of it. Us in the west have a Spiritual Inheritance that has been co-opted by Schismatics and Heretics. We should reclaim it.
@Compulsive-Elk7103
Жыл бұрын
@@acekoala457 not true
@olmaned3795
Жыл бұрын
@@Compulsive-Elk7103 yeah it is. Service refers to the general program of a church while the Divine Liturgy is something specific from it. So feel free to use "service" and "Divine Liturgy" but with respect to context.
@patrickblanchette4337
Жыл бұрын
I pray that this current period of decline in all of Christendom is followed by a good period of growth.
@quinnjohnson9750
Жыл бұрын
While Christianity will be a minority in the West by the end of the century, it is expected to be a majority in both Western and Central Africa and Southeast Asia by the end of the century as well from what I have heard.
@ArthurWuYeah211
Жыл бұрын
The West has had its favor from God. Westerners are by-and-large not faithful people anymore. Christianity is spreading rapidly in Africa and Asia and is making limited inroads in the middle east.
@achaeanmapping4408
Жыл бұрын
That's how it goes. The Victorian era known for its arch conservatism was preceded by one of the greatest eras of irreligiosity and debauchery, with brothels and syphilis along side them thriving and secular ideology dominant.
@InvestmentJoy
Жыл бұрын
Christianity is only on the decline in the West. In the East it is on fire and for everybody that leaves the face in the west there's nearly two who joined the faith
@gearbear4530
Жыл бұрын
@@achaeanmapping4408 Virgin
@IlluminatiCheckerboardflooring
Жыл бұрын
As an anecdote, I am a convert that attends an OCA parish in Seacoast New England. Today at Divine Liturgy there were many crying babies among the families, which always brings my heart great joy. Many such cases! I suspect the polling number will look quite different in 15-20 years
@obiwankenobi6871
Жыл бұрын
I can say the same in my experience. Most of these babies are often from converts as well, not from “ethnic” orthodox
@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs
Жыл бұрын
Ditto at my OCA parish. Most of us are "converts."
@highviewbarbell
Жыл бұрын
Same here, northern NJ OCA
@krusader33
Жыл бұрын
Down here in SC you almost can't walk with how many little kids are running around on a Sunday morning!
@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs
Жыл бұрын
@@krusader33 beautiful!
@micahbre12
Жыл бұрын
As an orthodox christian deacon and seminarian. We too looked at this study and I think your comment on the end was spot on; " dying part and growing part of the church at the same time" unfortunately most of your video focused on the timeframe and study from 2010 to 2020 but I'd be willing to be these numbers would be different if looked at pre, during and post pandemic 2020 to 2023. There was a couple of articles made on this, I think one was new york times and there are others to look into for this last 3 ro 4 years growth.
@Snails888
Жыл бұрын
The COVID Jay-Dyerite “converts” not being mentioned in this video immediately made me think he’s not looking at the actual trends in Orthodoxy.
@joseonwalking8666
Жыл бұрын
@@Snails888 using dyerite makes you look silly. What doctrinal difference does Jay advocate out of line with Orthodoxy. I will wait
@Snails888
Жыл бұрын
@@joseonwalking8666 he’s a nasty person, and I don’t engage with his disciples.
@St.MartinofToursPrayToGodForUs
Жыл бұрын
Hello! Are you a former parishioner at Holy Resurrection, and current seminarian at St. Tikhon's? I think I watched a video of you interviewing our priest from a few years ago on one of your other YT channels. Very impactful to me! Happy to hear you were ordained to the diaconate! God be with you and your family!
@mitchellcolvin2028
Жыл бұрын
A lot has changed. When I became Orthodox in 2006, the OCA still had a "diet Russian" sort of character but now she's finding more of her own identity. They're also starting to actually realize the importance of youth events that I wish we had in Tacoma growing up. If only the OCA and Antiochians could merge, we'd really see some growth and maybe better retention too!
@Music-ny2hx
Жыл бұрын
In my small parish we had a baptism of twelve young adults this easter, all non-greeks. There is a retired priest from Greece who attended who said he never saw such a thing before. This is in South America.
@jimzeller3747
Жыл бұрын
I am a Greek Orthodox convert from the '90s in a medium-sized church in the Midwest. We are gaining converts regularly, but losing the kids of Boomer Greeks. In short the parish is becoming less and less ethnically Greek. I keep trying to learn a little Modern Greek, but no one else seems interested (in the old days the Greek-American kids went to Greek School twice a week). Interestingly, Biblical Greek has never been rigorously taught, even though the liturgy used to be entirely in Greek and we still use it about 30% in services.
@microcolonel
11 ай бұрын
A Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom entirely in Koine Greek would be absolutely unreal, for those willing to learn.
@jimzeller3747
11 ай бұрын
On an infrequent weekday liturgy the amount of Greek goes way up, it not to 100%. Our priest usually reads the Gospel in Greek (also in English) on Sundays even though he knows almost no one can follow it.@@microcolonel
@dewd9327
5 ай бұрын
@@microcolonel koine is pretty much identical to modern greek so if you'd like to see it your best bet is to travel to Greece
@wolliveryoutube
Жыл бұрын
My experience regarding Orthodox demographics at our parish level: Conversion rate is very high. There are lots of Millennial converts who are now having many children (often four or five). These children are around ten years old at the eldest, so we do not know how the Anglo-American cradle Orthodox will turn out when they grow up. Weddings are rare, as most of these converts were married couples who joined the church together. There is a large and growing number of male Gen Z converts, and a not insignificant but relatively very small number of female Gen Z converts. There is a growing gender imbalance, as there are many young men who only want to marry Orthodox women, yet very few Orthodox women can be found. I have only witnessed one Orthodox wedding in the five years I have been attending Orthodox churches, but I have seen many baptisms and chrismations. Lastly, there are the ethnic cradles. These are the Greeks, Russians, Lebanese, and other immigrant communities that used to make up the vast majority of the church and are now less and less prevalent. Compared to the Millennial converts, their birth rates are very low, often only one or two children. A small core of the ethnic cradle children are staying Orthodox, but the vast majority leave the faith at adulthood. Foreign immigration helps keep the ethnic cradle numbers above zero, but it is not sustainable. All three of these groups have some means of growth, but all of them also have challenges to overcome. The Millennials must raise their children to remain Orthodox; the Gen Zers must manage to find wives so they can have children at all; the immigrants must retain their identity or pave the way for American converts to succeed them.
@obiwankenobi6871
Жыл бұрын
Identical to what I’ve seen on the East Coast when I attend
@acekoala457
Жыл бұрын
The Orthodox Church has never seen downward growth as an absolute Goal. Yes it is important to Raise your children in the Faith but much of the Early History was facedowns against Pagans when one wasn't facing God. The young Gen Z men, I am one of them, represents a lateral growth that is just as necessary as Vertical Growth. As long as we don't fall into despair.
@Procopius464
Жыл бұрын
It seems to me that the internet is what's driving these millennials and Gen Z to Orthodoxy, and there is certainly a strong presence of Orthodox people active online. Also, I think that the communist/globalist left is inadvertently driving people towards Orthodoxy as well. By this I mean, they have stigmatized displaying or having pride in one's European heritage, as well as pride in the country and patriotism. I think that the ethnic and cultural components of Orthodoxy are actually part of the draw for young people, who want to participate in a greater historical and ethnic heritage, but either feel they cannot or do not know how to because of the climate of stigmatization that Democrats have created. What do you think about that?
@Music-ny2hx
Жыл бұрын
Similar thing in Brazil, lots of young gen z and millennials, close to no young women.
@ByzantineCalvinist
Жыл бұрын
As someone with paternal Orthodox roots, I am persuaded that in many churches ethnic solidarity outweighs fidelity to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and there is little if any effort to bring the gospel to unbelievers. I believe this insularity is a recipe for losing the young who will find few reasons to stay with a faith so bound up with an old world culture in North America. I love spanakopita, moussaka, and baklava, but I don’t need to go to church to find them.
@Jayce_Alexander
Жыл бұрын
I love those too. But I love salvation more, and that's why I am glad I found my way to Holy Orthodoxy.
@stefanspinu434
Жыл бұрын
The problem is that most people aren't interested. There are many orthodox youtubers who try to present the orthodox faith in America and it's differences in comparison. Fr josiah trenham is doing an orthodox catechism along with multiple courses. It's the fact that many have protestant and catholic preconception and don't see the differences as something big and are comfy where they are.
@MrMustang13
Жыл бұрын
That’s the great problem of orthodoxy. It’s too nationalistic/ethnic oriented. Catholicisms universalism is superior in the attraction of converts.
@stefanspinu434
Жыл бұрын
@@MrMustang13 not really. Catholics use latin, a dead language, in their mass in EVERY COUNTRY. This makes the average person unable to understand anything from it, this including the citizens of the country you are trying to convert. Orthodox translate into the native tongue their chants, hymns, songs, prayers, liturgy along with multiple religious texts besides the scriptures of course, since we want the potential converts to feel like they are part of it. This is similar to St Methodius and Cyril converting slavic people into christianity, even being responsible for the cyrillian alphabet. We want them to feel like it's their religion just as much as theirs, using elements in their traditions to structure a community while still maintaining the gospel. Also, Rome has a "supreme" leader that's always chosen and lives in the Vatican, a city state, orthodox are decentralised in structure, with patriarchs of equal authority leading their country's jurisdiction, with the patriarch of constantinopole just being first among equals since he represents the church as a whole. Also, considering the way the kevel of religiousity among catholics along with their presence is falling as a multicultural mindset is instilled, nationalism is unironically the least of their problem. Father Dumitru Staniloaie, an important orthodox priest who translated the Philokalia, even said that nationalism can be both good or bad, it only really being good as a way to transmit the christian message, it being the important part, however he pointed out that antinationalism is worse since it goes against the natural way.
@MrMustang13
Жыл бұрын
@@stefanspinu434 I mean that hasn’t been the case since they’ve used vernacular in mass and if you’ve ever been to a catholic mass there is nothing no body doesn’t understand. There maybe be one or two prayers in Latin if that. The Latin tradition is just that, the tradition. But there’s no ethnically Latin element to the faith. There’s certain Catholic Churches that attract certain ethnic groups, for example there’s a Catholic Church near me that has a lot of Vietnamese people that go to it, but i as a non vietnamese person wouldn’t feel out of place there at all because there is no ethnic element to the mass. Where as a Ukrainian would be out of their element at a Greek Orthodox Church. Or I as an American wouldn’t feel comfortable at a Romanian Orthodox Church, as I’m not Romanian. You can say that that the tradition doesn’t get in the way of the message but that really isn’t the case at orthodox churches. They’re ethnic clubs.
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