4 thoughts on “Abbot Tryphon’s latest YouTube video (click to watch)”
Excellent words of wisdom. In the 19 years I served as a Deacon, I consumed the holy gifts without ever getting sick. Same thing, nearly, as a Priest. No second thoughts on same spoon or consuming but I have been mentally critical of those who lacked the strength of faith so that they would wait for the Priest to “dump” the Holy gifts from the spoon into their mouths or stay away. Your approach is much more understanding, thank you. I remember completing two years of study for Catechism every Saturday and sitting in the front pew every Sunday (Lutheran, like you) and then receiving my first communion worried that I would be struck by lightening and simply keel over because of unworthiness! I now would prefer and end like that of which you spoke, the Paschal Liturgy would be preferable but immediately after Holy Communion isn’t a bad second choice either.
Protonica Mary Anne and I went to Port Townsend and Coupeville for two weeks to find a new home in the rain shadow area. We had planned on a visit to All-Merciful Saviour Monastery but decided that uprooting ourselves at this time was not a good idea. WA is about the same as CA when it comes to the C- people under the dome (In the government) that give us such idiocy in governance. At least WA doesn’t have state income tax but in the long run, it doesn’t matter that much and it gives me something to complain about. We hope to get up to Vashon island this spring or summer, depending on conditions. May God bless you and your work. Please do not stop, you are quite helpful and inspiring.
I want to thank you for posting your most recent video today. I’ve been battling through depression for several months now and your words were an encouragement to me. I am so sorry, however, to hear that you couldn’t celebrate Divine Liturgy today due to your own health concerns. That makes me so sad and I can only imagine how sad it must make you feel. Please know that I pray for you and your brother monks every night.
Once again, thank you for the video. Please take care of yourself!
Dear Reverend,
Thank you for your words. They are encouraging on so many levels. As a catechumen I can’t receive the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist yet. I have never looked forward to something on such a deep level, and yet… there is a growing fear about receiving. Not about COVID, but that my own complete and utter sinfulness (the ever present virus) will destroy me after receiving. So it’s joy mixed with fear. In some ways I am grateful to be a catechumen.
But I still have my struggles regarding attending services. I live with my elderly grandmother (she is not Orthodox, or of any denomination) and desire to be in services as often as possible, but I get so confused at what I should be doing. I attend virtually on Sundays when I know the crowds are thick and attend in person during the week when I know there will be few present. Praise God for the Orthodox Church and it’s services throughout the week. I attended this Christmas Eve only to see some folks behaving in ways that were alarming to me despite the Fathers’ great efforts at ensuring certain protocols were being well met… there’s only so much they can co trol and they do a wonderful job with what they can control. But as for those folks, I can’t tell if it’s just the strength of their faith that God is with them and will keep them safe or just plain ignorance and lack of care, and surely it is not for me to judge at all, though I do and Lord please have mercy on me.
I am reminded of the passage where Jesus is being tempted in the desert and the devil tells him to throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple, but Jesus rebukes him with “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” And so I don’t know what to do. Am I tempting God by just showing up to Divine Liturgy on Sundays? Or is it that my faith is flimsy plastic? Am I using this scripture correctly or am I doing exactly what the devil did in the previous verse where the devil tried using scripture to convince Jesus to tempt God? These questions are rhetorical and highlight the tip of the confusion iceberg that stands so cold within me.
Meanwhile I am learning to pray and so I pray: Lord let these time be a furnace within which my prayer can be more purified and made stronger. Let it bring me to my knees and teach me to welcome this situation as a strange gift from You which places death ever before me, thus revealing the need which has always been there, but now can no longer hide under swarming and consuming convenience, which is the need for repentance as if my life depends on it, for surely it does.
Thank you again so much Very Reverend Tryphon. You and words are such a gift and blessing.
Excellent words of wisdom. In the 19 years I served as a Deacon, I consumed the holy gifts without ever getting sick. Same thing, nearly, as a Priest. No second thoughts on same spoon or consuming but I have been mentally critical of those who lacked the strength of faith so that they would wait for the Priest to “dump” the Holy gifts from the spoon into their mouths or stay away. Your approach is much more understanding, thank you. I remember completing two years of study for Catechism every Saturday and sitting in the front pew every Sunday (Lutheran, like you) and then receiving my first communion worried that I would be struck by lightening and simply keel over because of unworthiness! I now would prefer and end like that of which you spoke, the Paschal Liturgy would be preferable but immediately after Holy Communion isn’t a bad second choice either.
Protonica Mary Anne and I went to Port Townsend and Coupeville for two weeks to find a new home in the rain shadow area. We had planned on a visit to All-Merciful Saviour Monastery but decided that uprooting ourselves at this time was not a good idea. WA is about the same as CA when it comes to the C- people under the dome (In the government) that give us such idiocy in governance. At least WA doesn’t have state income tax but in the long run, it doesn’t matter that much and it gives me something to complain about. We hope to get up to Vashon island this spring or summer, depending on conditions. May God bless you and your work. Please do not stop, you are quite helpful and inspiring.
I would welcome your visit the next time you are in the area. Thank you for your kind words.
Dear Abbot Tryphon,
I want to thank you for posting your most recent video today. I’ve been battling through depression for several months now and your words were an encouragement to me. I am so sorry, however, to hear that you couldn’t celebrate Divine Liturgy today due to your own health concerns. That makes me so sad and I can only imagine how sad it must make you feel. Please know that I pray for you and your brother monks every night.
Once again, thank you for the video. Please take care of yourself!
Sincerely,
Michael
Dear Reverend,
Thank you for your words. They are encouraging on so many levels. As a catechumen I can’t receive the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist yet. I have never looked forward to something on such a deep level, and yet… there is a growing fear about receiving. Not about COVID, but that my own complete and utter sinfulness (the ever present virus) will destroy me after receiving. So it’s joy mixed with fear. In some ways I am grateful to be a catechumen.
But I still have my struggles regarding attending services. I live with my elderly grandmother (she is not Orthodox, or of any denomination) and desire to be in services as often as possible, but I get so confused at what I should be doing. I attend virtually on Sundays when I know the crowds are thick and attend in person during the week when I know there will be few present. Praise God for the Orthodox Church and it’s services throughout the week. I attended this Christmas Eve only to see some folks behaving in ways that were alarming to me despite the Fathers’ great efforts at ensuring certain protocols were being well met… there’s only so much they can co trol and they do a wonderful job with what they can control. But as for those folks, I can’t tell if it’s just the strength of their faith that God is with them and will keep them safe or just plain ignorance and lack of care, and surely it is not for me to judge at all, though I do and Lord please have mercy on me.
I am reminded of the passage where Jesus is being tempted in the desert and the devil tells him to throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple, but Jesus rebukes him with “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” And so I don’t know what to do. Am I tempting God by just showing up to Divine Liturgy on Sundays? Or is it that my faith is flimsy plastic? Am I using this scripture correctly or am I doing exactly what the devil did in the previous verse where the devil tried using scripture to convince Jesus to tempt God? These questions are rhetorical and highlight the tip of the confusion iceberg that stands so cold within me.
Meanwhile I am learning to pray and so I pray: Lord let these time be a furnace within which my prayer can be more purified and made stronger. Let it bring me to my knees and teach me to welcome this situation as a strange gift from You which places death ever before me, thus revealing the need which has always been there, but now can no longer hide under swarming and consuming convenience, which is the need for repentance as if my life depends on it, for surely it does.
Thank you again so much Very Reverend Tryphon. You and words are such a gift and blessing.
In Christ,
Chris