Orthodox Talks in English - No. 14: Are We Seeking Salvation or Are We Deceiving Ourselves and Others?

Many Orthodox Christians participate in the life of the Church—praying, fasting, confessing, communing, singing, etc. But how many of these people are genuinely seeking their salvation? The purpose of life on earth is the salvation of one's soul. Christians need to seek out those who are struggling for their salvation and do likewise.

Bringing into focus the neglected subject of spiritual life and the struggle for salvation, Fr. Kosmas addresses a variety of questions: What is the sign of true love? Why is there so little apparent difference between the Orthodox and non-Orthodox of today? What are the three main problems facing Orthodox Christians? Why is spiritual activity so difficult in our times? Can today's Christians pray without ceasing? Is compromise ever permissible? Is it wrong to love a non-Christian? Is it right to force someone to repent? Who is a true theologian? Why can trying to understand church canons be dangerous? Do anathemas apply to those outside the Church? Do saints make mistakes? Can they fall into pride? Who told Saint Anthony to mind his own business? Who was Rasputin? Can we judge those who lived through communism? What's wrong with adultery?

Also included in this talk are discussions about the dangerous effects of worldly distractions, the benefit of close contact with monasteries, the devil's attitude toward those who seek salvation, converting others through prayer, the proper understanding of church canons, humility—an antidote to pride, the Church—not always black and white, fanaticism in the Church, and prophecies regarding Christians and the last times.

Talk Duration: 182 minutes

With the blessing of His Eminence Hilarion
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

The content of this talk does not necessarily
reflect the official position of ROCOR.