Fr.TEDTalks — Instagram

Fr.TEDTalks Instagram 18 hours ago

The Church Is a Hospital: Why We Go When We Are Sick

A speaker in a clip from Fr. Ted Talks, streaming on Logos Cinema, compares the church to a spiritual hospital. He begins with the way hospitals work: people go to a hospital when they are sick, not when they are well, and no one seeks advice from a doctor, nurse or paramedic unless something is wrong. In the same way, we go to the church and relate to a spiritual father because all of us are spiritually sick. He stresses that we do not go to a…

A speaker in a clip from Fr. Ted Talks, streaming on Logos Cinema, compares the church to a spiritual hospital. He begins with the way hospitals work: people go to a hospital when they are sick, not when they are well, and no one seeks advice from a doctor, nurse or paramedic unless something is wrong. In the same way, we go to the church and relate to a spiritual father because all of us are spiritually sick.

He stresses that we do not go to a hospital to stay there forever, and the goal in the spiritual life should not be that we remain sick but that we get better. He then describes the process a patient goes through: at a hospital a person is triaged, diagnosed, given the proper medication, and discharged when they get better. The clip is presented as a short promotional post inviting viewers to comment to receive where to watch.

The church is a spiritual hospital, and people go to a hospital when they are sick, not when they are well.
No one seeks advice from a doctor, nurse or paramedic unless something is wrong.
We go to the church and relate to a spiritual father because all of us are spiritually sick.
The goal should not be that we remain sick but that we get better.
At a hospital a person is triaged, diagnosed, given the proper medication, and discharged when they get better.

Key moments

The church is a spiritual hospital, and people go to a hospital when they are sick, not when they are well.
We do not go to the hospital to stay forever, and we do not seek advice from a doctor, nurse or paramedic unless something is wrong.
We go to the church and relate to a spiritual father because all of us are spiritually sick.
The goal should not be that we remain sick but that we get better.
At the hospital a person is triaged, diagnosed, given the proper medication, and discharged when they get better.

Fr.TEDTalks Instagram 2 days ago

Archbishop Apostolos visits parish, tonsures nineteen servers and readers

The parish community welcomed His Eminence Archbishop Apostolos for his hierarchical pastoral visit. The Archbishop presided over the Divine Liturgy and offered his blessing to the parish community. A significant moment occurred when His Eminence tonsured sixteen altar servers and three readers, blessing them as they continue their service to the Church. The parish expresses gratitude to God for the Archbishop's presence among them and describes…

The parish community welcomed His Eminence Archbishop Apostolos for his hierarchical pastoral visit. The Archbishop presided over the Divine Liturgy and offered his blessing to the parish community. A significant moment occurred when His Eminence tonsured sixteen altar servers and three readers, blessing them as they continue their service to the Church.

The parish expresses gratitude to God for the Archbishop's presence among them and describes the day as beautiful and memorable, one they will remember for years to come. The post concludes with a prayer that God grant His Eminence many years of health, strength, and faithful service to His Church, followed by the traditional Greek acclamation meaning many years, Master.

Archbishop Apostolos made a hierarchical pastoral visit to the parish
He presided over the Divine Liturgy
Sixteen altar servers were tonsured
Three readers were tonsured
The parish prayed for the Archbishop's many years of health and service

Key moments

Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord; praise and exalt him to all ages.
Bless the Lord, angels of the Lord; heavens of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, all waters above the heavens; all powers of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon; stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness; nights and days, bless the Lord.

Fr.TEDTalks Instagram 2 days ago

Archbishop Apostolos Preaches Forgiveness at Prophet Elias Church

Archbishop Apostolos visited the Church of Prophet Elias for the Divine Liturgy, marking his first visit to the parish. In his sermon he preached on the Gospel of Luke, citing the command to love enemies and to do to others as you wish done to yourself. He explained that loving only those who love you brings no credit, since even sinners do that, and that the core of the Gospel is forgiving enemies as Christ did on the cross when He said,…

Archbishop Apostolos visited the Church of Prophet Elias for the Divine Liturgy, marking his first visit to the parish. In his sermon he preached on the Gospel of Luke, citing the command to love enemies and to do to others as you wish done to yourself. He explained that loving only those who love you brings no credit, since even sinners do that, and that the core of the Gospel is forgiving enemies as Christ did on the cross when He said, "Father, forgive them," calling us to imitate Him.

The archbishop pointed to the thief on the cross who asked forgiveness and heard Jesus say, "today you will be with me in paradise," presenting forgiveness as the key to salvation and the door to paradise. He quoted the call to be merciful as the Father is merciful and recounted denying communion to those who refuse to forgive family members, because we cannot expect God's mercy if we withhold our own mercy.

The archbishop described the Church as hierarchical with bishops as successors of the apostles, noting the Ecumenical Patriarch succeeds Saint John Chrysostom and the Apostle Andrew, that Constantinople was the first Christian state, and that the Gospel has been kept unchanged for centuries. He called the young people present the present and future of the Church, identifying them as leaders, teachers, parents, and supporters of Sunday school and Greek education, and urged unity, support for ministries, and opening family doors to Christ so the Church continues its mission for coming generations.

The archbishop also noted that the prophet Elias connects the Old and New Testaments, and that the Gospel gives directions on how believers should behave toward all people, requiring generosity toward everyone when we have the ability, and emphasized that the Church, established by Christ's blood on the cross, is unshakeable.

Archbishop Apostolos made his first visit to Prophet Elias Church and preached on forgiveness from Luke's Gospel
He taught that loving only those who love you earns no credit; the core of the Gospel is forgiving enemies as Christ did on the cross
He cited the thief on the cross who received paradise through forgiveness, calling it the key to salvation
He recounted denying communion to those who refuse to forgive family members, because we cannot expect God's mercy if we withhold our own
He described the Church as hierarchical with bishops as successors of the apostles, called young people the present and future of the Church, and urged unity and support for ministries

Key moments

0:00 First visit to Church of Prophet Elias; Prophet Elias connects Old and New Testament; Gospel gives directions on how believers should behave toward all people
0:41 Gospel of Luke: "As you wish men would do to you, do so to them", the Lord's clear direction on communication and behavior
1:21 Loving only those who love you brings no credit; even sinners do that; we must be generous to everyone when we have the ability
2:06 Core message: love your enemies; Christ on the cross said "Father, forgive them," calling us to imitate Him; forgiveness opens the door to paradise
3:34 The thief on the cross asked forgiveness and Jesus said "today you will be with me in paradise", forgiveness is the key of salvation
4:47 "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful"; archbishop refused communion to those who would not forgive family members, because we cannot expect God's mercy if we withhold our own
7:00 Young people are the present and future of the Church; the Church needs them as leaders, teachers, parents, and supporters of Sunday school and Greek education
9:13 The Church is hierarchical with bishops as successors of the apostles; the Ecumenical Patriarch succeeds Saint John Chrysostom and the Apostle Andrew; Constantinople was the first Christian state; the Gospel has been kept unchanged for centuries

Fr.TEDTalks Instagram 3 days ago

Competence Is Not Maturity: Why You Need to Be Bad at Something

The speaker argues that many adults confuse competence with maturity. We get good at our jobs, learn the vocabulary, collect credentials, and build routines that work. Along the way, we also learn to avoid correction: we avoid rooms where somebody might correct us, mute the person who disagrees, choose hobbies we already excel at, explain away losses, and rename discomfort as misalignment, correction as toxicity, and being exposed as bad energy.…

The speaker argues that many adults confuse competence with maturity. We get good at our jobs, learn the vocabulary, collect credentials, and build routines that work. Along the way, we also learn to avoid correction: we avoid rooms where somebody might correct us, mute the person who disagrees, choose hobbies we already excel at, explain away losses, and rename discomfort as misalignment, correction as toxicity, and being exposed as bad energy.

The result, he says, is an impressively competent life that never requires saying I was wrong, he got me, or show me. That, in his words, is not spiritual maturity. Orthodox Christianity, he argues, gives nowhere to hide from this: we confess, we fast, we bow, we repent, and we submit to practices that keep reminding us that expertise has never made anybody self-sufficient.

He closes with the advice to become excellent, but to make sure excellence has not become the armor used to stay uncorrectable. The post promotes Episode 80 of the Orthodox Health Podcast, titled Why You Need to Be Bad at Something: The Humility of Being a Beginner. Readers who comment BEGINNER are offered the full episode. The post carries hashtags on Orthodox Christianity, humility, Christian living, and repentance.

Competence and maturity are not the same thing; adults often confuse them.
People avoid correction by muting critics, choosing hobbies they already excel at, and renaming discomfort as misalignment or toxicity.
A competent life can avoid ever saying I was wrong, he got me, or show me.
Orthodox practices such as confession, fasting, bowing, and repentance remind us that expertise has never made anybody self-sufficient.
The post promotes Episode 80 of the Orthodox Health Podcast: Why You Need to Be Bad at Something: The Humility of Being a Beginner.

Fr.TEDTalks Instagram 9 days ago

Archbishop Apostolos of Canada: Christ Is Found in the Church, Not in Technology

Archbishop Apostolos of Canada speaks about where a person can truly come to know Christ. He notes that someone can ask an AI what Christ is and receive an answer drawn from texts posted on the internet. Such an answer exists, but he warns against expecting any technology to give real knowledge and education about Christ. The church, he says, is the place that provides the truth and, most importantly, communion with Christ. This communion is…

Archbishop Apostolos of Canada speaks about where a person can truly come to know Christ. He notes that someone can ask an AI what Christ is and receive an answer drawn from texts posted on the internet. Such an answer exists, but he warns against expecting any technology to give real knowledge and education about Christ.

The church, he says, is the place that provides the truth and, most importantly, communion with Christ. This communion is received through participation in the holy sacraments of the church. In the sacraments the Holy Spirit illumines the heart and soul, connecting a person with Christ.

The archbishop's words, shared with the hashtags on Orthodoxy, the church, truth and Christ, set the church against the tools of the internet age: information can be gathered from posted texts, but communion with Christ is given in the sacramental life of the church. The post presents this as a reminder that the only place to find Christ is in the Church.

An AI can answer the question 'what is Christ' using texts posted on the internet.
No technology can provide real knowledge and education about Christ.
The church is the place that provides the truth and communion with Christ.
Communion with Christ comes through participation in the holy sacraments of the church.
The Holy Spirit illumines our heart and soul to be connected with Christ.

Key moments

An AI can answer the question 'what is Christ' using texts posted on the internet.
No technology can provide real knowledge and education about Christ.
The church is the real place that provides the truth and communion with Christ.
Communion with Christ comes through receiving communion and participating in the holy sacraments of the church.
The Holy Spirit illumines our heart and soul to be connected with Christ.

Fr.TEDTalks Instagram 9 days ago

Fr. Ted teaches children home incense use

Fr. Ted speaks to the Prophet Elias Sunday School about burning incense at home. He shows the children a small brass censer, called a thymiaton or livanisteri, and explains the difference between the large censer with bells used by the priest in the liturgy and the smaller brass, silver, or gold censers families use at home. He identifies the two components: charcoal, which represents the world, and incense (thymiama), which represents prayers…

Fr. Ted speaks to the Prophet Elias Sunday School about burning incense at home. He shows the children a small brass censer, called a thymiaton or livanisteri, and explains the difference between the large censer with bells used by the priest in the liturgy and the smaller brass, silver, or gold censers families use at home. He identifies the two components: charcoal, which represents the world, and incense (thymiama), which represents prayers rising to God as a sweet fragrance.

He demonstrates lighting the charcoal on top of the flame rather than upside down, warning the children not to touch the hot charcoal. He stresses waiting for the charcoal to heat completely before adding incense, because too much incense too early will extinguish the charcoal. Only one or two pieces of incense are needed, and he advises opening a window to avoid setting off smoke detectors.

He then walks through the house making the sign of the cross before icons while saying the Lord's Prayer or the Trisagion. He recommends burning incense on Saturday nights at sundown, when the liturgical day begins, and on major feast days or name days.

Fr. Ted shows a small brass home censer (thymiaton/livanisteri) and contrasts it with the priest's large censer with bells.
Charcoal represents the world; incense (thymiama) represents prayers rising to God as sweet fragrance.
He demonstrates lighting charcoal on top of the flame, waiting for full heat before adding one or two pieces of incense.
Too much incense too early extinguishes the charcoal; open a window to avoid smoke detectors.
Walk through the house crossing before icons while saying the Lord's Prayer or Trisagion; best times are Saturday night at sundown and feast days or name days.

Key moments

0:00 The speaker introduces a small censer (θυμιατό/λιβανιστήρι) made of brass, used at home for burning incense.
1:00 In the liturgy the priest uses a large censer with bells; at home families use small ones of brass, silver, or gold.
2:34 Charcoal and incense (θυμίαμα) are the two components; charcoal represents the world, incense represents prayers rising to God.
4:41 Demonstrates lighting charcoal on top of the flame, not upside down, and warns against touching the hot charcoal.
5:44 Wait for the charcoal to heat completely before adding incense; too much incense too early will extinguish the charcoal.
6:48 Only one or two pieces of incense are needed; open a window to avoid setting off smoke detectors.
7:20 Walk through the house making the sign of the cross before icons, saying the Lord's Prayer or the Trisagion.
8:27 Best times: Saturday night at sundown (start of Sunday) and on major feast days or name days.

Fr.TEDTalks Instagram 12 days ago

Three Faithful Actions for When Life Collapses

The post recounts how Carollynn Xavier, after her life fell apart, turned to Fr. Ted's book Bunker Jiu Jitsu and asked him for a concrete set of rules. Fr. Ted replied with three directives: go to church, take care of your son, move your body. Carollynn followed these for nearly a year. She found that the combination of spiritual practice, family responsibility, and physical activity pulled her out of despair, not because they fixed everything…

The post recounts how Carollynn Xavier, after her life fell apart, turned to Fr. Ted's book Bunker Jiu Jitsu and asked him for a concrete set of rules. Fr. Ted replied with three directives: go to church, take care of your son, move your body. Carollynn followed these for nearly a year. She found that the combination of spiritual practice, family responsibility, and physical activity pulled her out of despair, not because they fixed everything overnight, but because they remained true actions when she felt unclear, unmotivated, or weak.

The post contrasts this simplicity with Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life and credits the Orthodox Health Podcast episode 79, "Why Do We Laugh When Life Is Hard?" featuring Carollynn Xavier, as the source of the conversation. The framework comes from Fr. Ted's book Bunker Jiu Jitsu: Faith, Friendship & Fortitude on the Mats.

Carollynn Xavier asked Fr. Ted for a bunker, a clear set of rules, after her life collapsed.
Fr. Ted gave three directives: go to church, take care of your son, move your body.
She practiced these three for nearly a year.
The combination of spiritual life, family duty, and physical movement pulled her from despair.
The account is from Orthodox Health Podcast episode 79 with Carollynn Xavier, based on Fr. Ted's book Bunker Jiu Jitsu.

Key moments

Finances are destroyed, no career, absolutely nothing; the speaker says he needs a bunker, a set of rules to orient his life.
He does not do ambiguity well and asks to be told exactly what to do.
The response: go to church, take care of your son, and move your body.
Those three things are identified as the only things to worry about.
He follows the advice: goes to work, goes to church, moves his body for almost a whole year.
After a year he states that the combination of spiritual, family community, and moving the body are the basic tenets to pull out of the pit of despair.
He notes that moving the body is in equal peace with the other two elements.