I just want to vent out here because I feel like I have no place else to vent out. I'm 22M, and a catechumen. Porn and masturbation has been my habitual sin for a long time. Admittedly, my porn addiction was worse when I was a teen. Then a few years ago, when I started to take my Christian faith more seriously, I wanted to quit. But once in a while, I kept relapsing. And sometimes, my addiction had occasional flare-ups.

This week has been really rough and stressful that I started masturbating to porn. I tried praying, making the sign of the cross, reading Scripture and the Church Fathers, fasting (with my priest's guidance), but all of this don't seem to work for me.

I feel disgusting about myself. I just don't understand why this battle feels endless. Every time I fall, I feel ashamed and despondent to come before God and pray for His mercy. I feel like I don't deserve His forgiveness because I have asked too much. Not only have I betrayed Christ by committing this sin, but I have betrayed whoever might be my future wife because I've looked at other women with lust and commited adultery with them in my heart. I hate myself. I feel unworthy. I feel dirty.

Please pray for me as I am going through this.

PS: I have spoken to my priest about this struggle before. His advice was basically to keep fighting it and know that my sin is very common and not unique especially for guys my age.

Hello,

Something I thought of some time ago when wondering about the early Catholic church before the Great Schism. From what I understand, there was no Orthodox Christianity before the schism, basically all of European Christianity fell under the umbrella of the Catholic Church. If this is the case, what is the Orthodox Church's position of the early Popes for the first thousand years of Christianity? It's likely a misunderstanding on my part, but it's a large point of contention between modern Catholicism and Orthodoxy.

I was talking to a friend (who is Catholic) and he brought up the 6th council (3rd council of Constantinople) as a proof that the church believed in Papal supremacy or Papal infallibility before the schism but I haven’t really read about this council as much so I can’t really say something back, so did they really teach that in the council?

Today, I am making icon boards for Saints Spyridon and Nicodemus, the prosphora bakers of the Kiev Caves Monastery.

But these are not ordinary boards!

I am using an old red western cedar from the old iconostasis of our St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church.

Few years ago we built a new iconostasis and reused as much as possible of the old wood, but some pieces remained. I thought it would be wonderful to give them a new life. For many years, it was part of our church, and now it will become the foundation for new icons.

Do you like this idea ?

Hi everyone!

I'm a young Serbian Orthodox woman (24F), and I've been trying to find more Orthodox Christian content creators around my age, particularly women.

I really enjoy watching creators like Ally Yost and Emy Moore, but neither of them is Orthodox. I'd love to find Orthodox women who make similar content about faith, everyday life, femininity, and navigating your life/twenties as a Christian.

I'm not necessarily looking for channels dedicated entirely to theology or Orthodox teachings (but those are welcome too), but more so young women who incorporate their Orthodox faith into their everyday content.

Does anyone have any recommendations? YouTubers, TikTokers, Instagram accounts, etc. are all welcome!

Thank you! :) God bless! <3

Hey y’all! I was raised a catholic, but I’m wanting to explore the orthodox community and mass. I was wondering if there’s anyone in here in the OKC/Edmond area that would be willing to be my buddy and attend a liturgy with me? I’m just anxious and don’t want to go alone 😅 I also looked up churches near me and they all say something different and I have no idea which one to choose.

Hell isn't necessarily a literal pit of fire. The "fires of hell" in the Bible is really just the best way to describe a spiritual reality to simple people who can't comprehend it until they see it. If you need a way to convey the nature of what spiritual torment looks like, fire seems like as good as a description as any if you're describing their soul being eternally tormented and destroyed by the light of God, and Hades itself, not the lake of fire, is described as a place of darkness and a prison at many points

I'm not ruling out physical fire entirely, but the fire is something that refers to the lake of fire, or the second death, whereas Hades is the place damned souls currently reside, and it wouldn't make sense to claim that a Spirit is literally burning anyway, since they don't have any flesh to be burned. If the lake of fire is literal, then it only comes into play with the resurrection of everyone back into their physical bodies, where everyone is granted eternal life, and the damned are tormented with their bodies intact forever. Personally, I don't think it's necessarily a physical torment, church fathers have different perspectives, but a spiritual one, though it really isn't any better, it's just more fitting to the message in the Bible.

When it comes to the current hell, gehenna, or Hades, not everyone in that hell is necessarily damned forever, as Jesus himself descended into it to rescue many lost souls, and it's very possible that many of them will be rescued from it again in the final judgement if they weren't already during the death and resurrection of Jesus, as that is what the church has believed for thousands of years, and this idea existed before the Roman Catholic idea of purgatory, and before the more literal protestant heaven/hell, where it's completely literal, and anyone in hell now has no chance of salvation once sent there after death. Doesn't explain why prayers for the dead exist in the book of Maccabees, so they just ignore it.

I think that is in part why we all have our names read from the book of our life, and the book of all life, to see what the final judgement of all people will be. It's very possible that there are some who will believed they are damned, who died long ago, who find themselves saved by Christ for their good heart, and because they never heard his name, but lived their lives for him, just as we know there will be many Christians who pridefully believed they were automatically saved, to whom he will say, depart from me I never knew you.

As Christians, it's important that we examine our souls and oriente them towards Christ so that we not be found in that number, and it is best for all that they hear of him, so they have the best opportunity to live their lives like him.

An evil man who hurt others and lived selfishly will not be able to claim that he just never heard of Christ and so did not know to be good, for if a man hasn't heard of him, the early church believed, and the Orthodox church still widely believes that in these instances, people don't get a free pass, but they are judged on their heart.

At the end of the day, that's what we are all judged on, it's just that knowing of Christ in this life, and following him accordingly is our best chance for living in paradise with him. Otherwise our souls will be corrupted, and will have no desire for him or heaven. CS Lewis's the great divorce goes into this in great detail it's really fantastic highly recommend it.

It's an English Latin liturgy that was developed around the 11th Century. Do we use it or is it a no?

You guys have kind of talked a few times. But she's not giving it to you personally, she's having the deacon do it because she's moving to a different church and she's unable to be there in person. She is the same age as you.

F25. I've been orthodox for about 5 years, and, even though the orthodox faith has brought tremendous joy and meaning in my life, I feel pretty lonely, in the sense that, although I'm from an orthodox eastern european country (Romania), I have no orthodox friends (even though I have 2-3 friends that are not orthodox), and I don't feel a strong sense of community. And by orthodox friends I mean people who really consciously embrace the orthodox way of thinking and living (not just baptized orthodox), with whom you could potentially share some of your insights and feelings regarding the faith and the spiritual war, or other aspects that you may be reluctant to talk about with non-believers.

Even though almost 90% of Romania's population identifies as orthodox, most people here are not really involved in the life of the Church in a conscious and authentic way, and do not attend church, or at least not regularly. They are not interested in the theology behind everything they see in church and the impact that living in Christ has for the human soul.
Nobody in my family (besides my mom) is orthodox in the sense of actually living an authentic christian life and has any interest in learning more about it.

Even though the churches ar full here (big city), people don't realy talk much with eachother after the service is done, everybody just goes home (and I forgot to say that in most parishes most people are over 45 yo) and I just feel like there are not enough oportunities to meet new people, or even a potential partner (beacause dating as a young orthodox woman in a big city nowadays is a really serious problem in itself; guys - orthodox or non-orthodox - just don't even dare to approach girls in person anymore, even if they are visibly interested, and inside the church they are even more reluctant to approach the woman because maybe they think it's inappropriate - sad times we live in).

There are simply no (socializing or dicussion-based) events organised by the Romanian church/ parishes in which you could potentially engage in natural conversations with other christians and maybe just expand your social circle a little bit, parishes do not arrange any meetups of any kind (it could be something about discussing various aspects of the faith, Bible passages, anything) – I did a lot of searching on social media and in peron at parishes before I came to that conclusion. And I feel that there is not much done in order for us young adult orthodox christians to get to meet and know eachother. For example, I heard that, in other western countries including USA, there is more effort put into bringing orthodox people together, through meetups and events such as coffee hour, sigle's reatreats and others as such.

I don't know, it's getting pretty discouraging. Meeting someone (friend, potential partner) orthodox is pretty impossible due to the reasons I listed above, and where else are you supposed to find someone if not in church, in an orthodox majority country? (Yes, I meet enough people in many other social contexts and I have many acquaintances, but these are people that I simply cannot have the connection I want with).

I prayed about this and I will continue to pray. But what can God do if we as people give him nothing to work with?

That’s all. What worked for you? What might help me? I believe in god. I love Jesus. I have no issue with praying to him. I just get hung up on stuff like the resurrection and the miracles like healing and such that are mentioned in the Bible. I want to have full, true faith in Jesus. Anything I can read or do to increase the faith, please let me know. Will you pray for me please?

FWIW, I am an inquirer - and I asked my priest! I’m here looking for your experience with faith.

So I'm currently a cathecumen to the orthodox church (protestant background, considered catholism aswell), and I've been learning a lot from the fathers of the church and overall about historic faith. I'm starting to be more and more convinced that the salvation is found in the orthodox church. But this realization gives me anxiety since I'm still a cathecumen and can't partake of the mysteries yet. I understand the idea of a cathecumenate period but at the same time I think if people's eternal destiny is at stake, why does it have to be such a long process? Why can't I just be recieved and after that learn along the way? I'm honestly so weary on my ecclesial journey and just want to be fully united to my Lord and Master. Any thoughts?

Hi. So this has been happening a lot lately to me, but Let's say today I am having a busy day (which quite frankly all days fall into the busy category), and it's evening, but the thought of the evening rule and how "long" it is, and how tired and fatigued I am work together to get me to bed with minimal prayer prior.

How do you deal with this tiredness and do the rule consistently?

Hi everyone, God bless all of you I’m trying to find a small icon the same size and style of my icons I already have (I’m Serbian orthodox) and I can’t seem to find the right one my church don’t have it in stock and can’t find the one with the same background as my icons can someone please tell me where i can get a Jesus icon please I want to put it in the top middle where the gold cross is. Thank you.

My husband is a recovering addict and is working on finding his way back to Christ. He has become fully invested in moving to Texas to join a non-denominational church in Dallas run by Josh Hutcherson because he wants to partake in their addiction recovery groups after he did some research on it. He is not orthodox, I am. I have always told him I would support him on his journey back to Christ whether he chose orthodoxy or not. I just want him to have that relationship with God again. I know there are orthodox churches in Dallas I could go to but I dont want to move there. We have no job prospects there, no housing prospects and know absolutely no-one thats there, plus from what research Ive done while Texas overall is affordable it doesnt have much of a job market and city living in incredibly expensive. I believe us moving there would be a terrible idea, but he also believes going there would be a good step in his recovery and rebuilding his relationship. We already decided that we do need to move due to his history and contacts in his hometown. Im trying to tell him Texas is a bad idea but im also worried im standing in his way on him bettering himself. I would really appreciate an outside perspective and if more info is needed just let me know. I know that if we get through this God will do the most amazing things with him and I dont want to be in the way but I also have a string gut feeling Texas is not the answer.

The Icon of the Mother of God, the “Multiplier of Wheat”, was painted at the blessing of the Elder Ambrose (October 10) of the Visitation Optina wilderness monastery. Saint Ambrose, a great Russian ascetic of the nineteenth century, was ardent with a childlike faith towards the Mother of God. In particular, he revered all the Feastdays of the Mother of God, and on these days he redoubled his prayer. With the icon, “Multiplier of Wheat,” Saint Ambrose blessed the Shamordino women’s monastery established in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, which he had founded not far from the Optina monastery.

On this icon, the Mother of God is depicted sitting upon the clouds, and Her hands are extended in blessing. Beneath her is a compressed field, and on it amidst the grass and flowers stand and lay sheaves of rye. Elder Ambrose himself decreed the day of celebration, October 15, and called the icon “Multiplier of Wheat”, indicating by this, that the Most Holy Theotokos “is a Helper for people in their labors for the acquiring of their daily bread.”

Before his blessed repose, Saint Ambrose ordered many copies of this icon and sent them to his spiritual children. For the Akathist to this icon, the Elder composed a particular response, “Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with You! Grant unto us unworthy ones the dew of Your grace and the showing forth of Your mercy!”

Saint Ambrose’s burial took place on October 15, the Feastday of the icon. The first miracle from the holy icon was witnessed in 1891, when throughout Russia there was a famine because of crop failure. In the Kaluga district and on the fields of the Shamordino monastery, however, grain was produced. In 1892, already after the death of Saint Ambrose, his attendant John Cherepanov sent a copy of the icon to the Pyatnitsa women’s monastery in Voronezh district. In this locale there was a threat of drought and famine, but soon after a Molieben was celebrated before the icon “The Multiplier of Wheat," rain fell and ended the drought.

SOURCE: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2020/10/15/102979-multiplier-of-wheat-icon-of-the-mother-of-god

Hi! I heard this beautiful chant while visiting the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade and would love to find it again.

It was three male voices singing together. I recorded this clip on 2 October 2026, in the late afternoon/early evening, possibly during an evening service.

Does anyone recognise the chant or know where I could find a recording? I’d also love to know what the words mean. I was very touched.

Thank you!

Saint Magdalena was born on November 22, 1895 (Old Style), the day after the Feast of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple, into a devout Christian family in the village of Šćiubic. Her father, Milenko Ilić, was of Serbian origin, and her mother, Milca, a Romanian from the old Cătălinici family that had come from Transylvania. At her Baptism, performed on 3/16 December, she received the name Magdalena, a sign of her calling to a life of humility and service.

From her earliest childhood, she showed a love for prayer and for the Church. Although in those times girls were not encouraged to study, she learned to read and write, receiving from God the gift of wisdom and steadfast faith.

At the age of nineteen, on the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord (2 February 1914), she was married in the nearby Romanian village of Malajnica. Yet the will of the Lord was otherwise: her husband Miloš fell in the First World War, leaving her a widow with a small child. Then Saint Magdalena strengthened her faith, often saying, “God sees.” This phrase became the seal of her soul.

During the Bulgarian occupation (1915–1918), the priests were arrested and killed, and the church in Šćiubic was left without shepherds. Then Saint Magdalena, by the grace of Christ, kept the chanter’s stand of the church, preserving the flame of faith. In times of spiritual darkness, when many went astray to soothsayers because they could not understand the liturgical language, she, being fluent in both Romanian and Serbian, became a bridge between peoples and a comfort to the faithful. Thus she made herself also a bridge between earth and heaven, as one chosen by God and intercessor before His Heavenly Throne.

Through frost, storm, and heat, she would walk five kilometres on foot to the church, tirelessly reading and singing at the services. Seeing her humility and zeal, the bishops granted her the blessing to enter the altar—a most uncommon privilege for women in those days.

Living as a nun in the world, she fasted continually, prayed by night, and guided people in the ways of God. Many did not know when the feasts or fasts were, but she would gently explain to them, always saying, “God sees.”

When she watched over the sheep, she would recite passages from the Holy Books, and the place where she prayed was later chosen for the building of a monastery—a sign that God accepted her labour of love.

On October 15, 1962 (Old Style: 2 October), with a candle in her hand and making the Sign of the Cross until her last breath, Saint Magdalena passed to the Lord. Her face shone brightly, as though she beheld Christ coming for her soul.

Her funeral service was celebrated in the cathedral of Negotin by many priests and monks, and the people bore witness, saying: “She was a saint! None like her has been born again!”

Her holy relics are kept today in the church of Malajnica Monastery, venerated with devotion by both Romanian and Serbian faithful.

On the very place where she once tended her sheep and prayed, a monastery was built. The children who used to hide in the bushes to see her walking to church kept in their hearts the memory of her ceaseless prayers.

She once dreamt that she flew to Jerusalem, and God fulfilled her desire, taking her spirit to the Tomb of the Saviour.

SOURCE: https://basilica.ro/en/orthodox-calendar-october-15/

I first posted this in the Catholic sub, but I thought it might beneficial to share it here too, since it might be of use to you guys as well.

Many of us know about the passages by St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Justin Martyr et al, but as I was looking into a lesser-known ancient, fragmentary text we have by author Macarius Magnes, written c. 400, I found a very interesting passage where the author, replying to a pagan's objection on John 6:54, not only explicitly rebukes the idea that the Eucharist is mere symbol, but uses language that reads very close to what we use, as it talks about how those partaking in the Eucharist really eat and drink the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ that are inseparably present in the bread and wine, yet those are not used up due to that inexhaustible nature, and cannot be divided from it. This language seems much closer to Catholic and Orthodox doctrine than protestant formulations of the Real Presence.

[...] He said, "This is my body and my blood." It is no mere symbol of body nor symbol of blood, as some have protested in the hardness of their mind, but in very truth the body and blood of Christ [...] "Therefore I give the bread and the cup, having sealed it as a result of the union wherein I the Holy One was linked with that which is earthly, declaring that this is my flesh and blood."

But the common bread which is tilled on the earth, even though it be the flesh of the earth, has no promise that it contains eternal life, but it only grants those who eat it a temporary satisfaction, and soon vanishes, as being without share of divine spirit. But the bread that is tilled in the blessed land of Christ, being joined with the power of the Holy Spirit, at one taste gives a man immortality. For the mystic bread that hath inseparably acquired the Saviour's Name, bestowed upon His body and His blood, joins him who eats it to the body of Christ, and makes him a member of the Saviour.

We conclude then that the Saviour's flesh is not wasted, neither is His blood used up by being drunk, but while he that eats it arrives at an increase of heavenly powers, that which is eaten is not exhausted, since it is akin to the nature which is inexhaustible, and cannot be divided from it.

Hello everyone. I've been wanting to attend my first divine liturgy, but I keep putting it off due to not knowing the etiquette, not knowing anyone there, etc. Last week I decided to email the priest to ask some questions to hopefully make me less nervous to attend. He didn't reply so now I feel even more awkward!

I think that logically, he probably just doesn't check that email very often, so it's not like he's ignoring me on purpose. However I still don't know if I should bring a head covering or if I'll be able to understand the service (the website says they do services in Romanian and English but has no further info about this). Should I just suck it up and go on Sunday, even if I end up sticking out like a sore thumb? I know this might be a silly thing to worry about but I can't help but feel like I'll be invading a church where I'm not wanted.

Ho fatto un breve ragionamento, molto semplice. Non mi fiderei di una religione nata “troppo tardi”, così escluso i testimoni di Geova (fine 1900). Stessa cosa per Lutero e gli anglicani.

In finale ci arrivano i cattolici e gli ortodossi. Documentandomi su Internet ho notato che i cattolici hanno avuto molti miracoli eucaristici, e molti di essi sono andati in laboratorio con esito identico per tutte le ostie. Non ho trovato nulla riguardo gli ortodossi. Insomma niente andato in laboratorio a combattere anche contro la scienza.

Idem per l’Islam, induisti, Buddhisti: nessun fatto esaminato anche dalla scienza.

Mi viene da pensare che sia quella corretta (seppure qualche sacramento ortodosso è riconosciuto anche dai cattolici).

Cosa ne pensate?

Does the Greek Orthodox Christmas and if so, why since this isn't the birthdate of Jesus?

A friend of mine often sees things—or rather, people—that aren’t actually there. I’ve believed him from the very beginning; he doesn’t talk about it to others because he’s embarrassed, and, frankly, it’s a very uncomfortable experience for him. At first, he would see them in his car—sitting in the back—or out on the road, either along the side or right in the middle. He sees people he’s never met before, with eyes that are completely black; they are strangely calm presences that don’t really do much. Some just watch him, while others go about their "lives" as if they were truly part of this world. The situation became more concerning recently when he saw a man in a classroom, standing right next to our professor. We’ve begun to seriously consider that this might be something significant—not just a product of his imagination or simple illusions. We want to talk to someone about it—perhaps a priest or a similar figure—but we aren’t sure how to proceed. We are Christians and believe in God, so turning to other types of spiritual practices isn’t for us; we believe this is a spiritual matter, but we don’t know what our next step should be.

This had been a common occurrence as of recently.
I have no church community right now. Recently my wife and I left a high-control ministry (who I was with for 5 years) who fired me specifically for asking too many questions and going against the grain.

It started with me speaking about my politics. I’ve changed over the last year, and they could tell. I finally opened up about it and was met with “you can’t be Christian and vote this or that way”.
Then I opened up about my experience as a POC in America, as an indigenous person. These “friends” of mine began throwing very racist rhetoric at me, saying I should be grateful I was conquered. This was one of the last straws for me. Slowly but surely they began to show how they really felt about me. I guess the flood gates were cracked. Little words began reaching me through them about “should women have the right to vote” and overlooking certain people’s sins for the sake of their argument.

Eventually I was fired. It’s been almost 4 months now, but for some reason they have rooted themselves in my head. I wake up reliving those conversations I had with these people, with my friends…
I didn’t even tell you all the details, just the very broad over arching topics that came up. The conversations we had were disgusting and left me feeling dirty and hurt and depressed. Nowadays I see these same people twisting scripture for their own personal agenda whether it be politics, arguments, or whatever. I ask that you would please pray for me, for my mind to be at peace and to help me forgive others.

Hi All,

Full disclosure i am a protestant (Anglican). But Orthodoxy has always fascinated me and perhaps one day I will convert. I was having a chat with someone on Facebook, and I will briefly post what was said:

- Him: Saint Luke painted the first icon.

- Me: How do you know this?

- Him: The Church, which also tells you the Gospel of Luke is divinely inspired scripture.

- Me: If the Church's recognition of the biblical canon establishes that every historical tradition preserved by the Church is equally reliable, what is the basis for that conclusion? And how do you distinguish an authoritative apostolic tradition from a later tradition that may have developed over time?

He never got a chance to respond. I assume he got busy. It happens. I was wondering if anyone here could help me understand better.

I appreciate it