George Instagram 18 hours ago

Spiritual father refuses monastic rhythm at home, directs man to family

George decided to adopt a monastic rhythm at home with more prayer, more silence, and more time with God. He sat down with his spiritual father and told him everything about this decision. The spiritual father did not give his blessing and explained that George is not a monk because he has a family and his time belongs to them.

The spiritual father said it is good to pray morning and night but not to overdo it because that is also a temptation where the enemy can pull George down until he overwhelms himself. George realized that through making videos he receives many messages and questions, and without noticing he started feeling he needs to pray more, say more, and become more.

This drive was causing him to lose the time he should give to his own family, which he could not see himself but his spiritual father could. George grew up without his father in the picture and nobody ever told him "no, don't do that," so he never thought twice about his actions. The spiritual father's refusal was the first time someone put a break on him not to control him but because he wants what is best for George, and George calls it one of the most loving things anyone has said to him. He explains that a true spiritual father sees us when we cannot see ourselves.

Key moments

George decided to become a monk at home with more prayer, more silence, more time with God, following a monastic rhythm.
He sat down with his spiritual father and told him everything about this decision.
The spiritual father did not give his blessing and explained that George is not a monk because he has a family and his time belongs to them.
The spiritual father said it is good to pray morning and night but not to overdo it because that is also a temptation where the enemy can pull George down until he overwhelms himself.
George realized that through making videos he receives many messages and questions, and without noticing he started feeling he needs to pray more, say more, and become more.
This drive was causing him to lose the time he should give to his own family, which he could not see himself but his spiritual father could.
George grew up without his father in the picture and nobody ever told him "no, don't do that," so he never thought twice about his actions.
The spiritual father's refusal was the first time someone put a break on him not to control him but because he wants what is best for George, and George calls it one of the most loving things anyone has said to him.

13 opinions in the discussion 13 participants, 4 replies to each other The opinion with the most support Hello, I'm not orthodox yet but can I still follow orthodox ways? Read the discussion

38 comments at the source Original on Instagram

Discussion · 13

Opinions are anonymous retellings of real comments from the original discussion. The same colour marks the same participant.

opinion#2592 22 likes at the source
Hello, I'm not orthodox yet but can I still follow orthodox ways?
- opinion#2593 13 likes at the source
  
  Yes, but consider converting once you've already been doing it for like 1 to 2 months.
- opinion#2594 2 likes at the source
  
  You can follow whatever ways you fancy, and the more you prepare, the better you enter Orthodoxy as a catechumen. But without baptism, confession and communion there is no salvation, you'd be missing out on a lot.
- opinion#2595
  
  What's your take on my question Amelia?
- opinion#2596 1 likes at the source
  
  I think it's a start ❤️ and a good one. The Bible talks about fasting, incense, use of candles, prostrations, confessions, Eucharist etc.
opinion#2590 11 likes at the source

Yes, my late father said no, a heart like mine would suffer in the confinement of the church. I could do God's work, I didn't need a uniform for it. My late aunty on my father's side was a nun and a qualified doctor who cared for the elderly, the poor and the unwell in Argos. She was my mentor toward becoming a nun, but God had other plans for me. She will always be my mentor, even in Heaven ☦️☦️
opinion#2591 4 likes at the source

He is 100% right, your call is your family and yourself first, then if you still love what you do and enjoy spreading the word of Christ you can carry on, but no pressure or obligation Gorge ☦️
opinion#2586 3 likes at the source

Your spiritual father is wise. Religious concerns have to fit into the whole of one's life, and for you that means loving and caring for your beautiful family. When you care for them, you *are* loving Christ our God, who dwells in them.
opinion#2587 1 likes at the source

Listen to your spirit father George, the same thing happened to me and I nearly lost my marriage. There are two paths to Christ our Lord Jesus and both are blessed. Wanting to go alone is egoistic if you are married.
opinion#2588 1 likes at the source

There are only two options in Orthodoxy: family life or monasticism. You can't combine the two. But you have great zeal, so seriously consider becoming a married priest. It would be your job, you'd have an income and you'd be expected to participate more and learn more about church life.
opinion#2589 1 likes at the source

Glory to God 🙏 I also grew up without a father, and I was basically "My own Boss" all my life. Even after getting married, I thought fixing problems and leading the family was my job, so I was mostly acting on my own. Then glory to God, He gave me a spiritual father who started pulling the brakes on me, same as with the first spiritual father and this one too. What I learned is there's more blessing when a spiritual father, and often parents, says "no" than when he says "yes". At least that's my experience. On the other side, my daughter used to have a spiritual father who was full of love and said "yes" to everything just out of love, because he felt sorry for her, and for other people I know that almost ended deadly. May God and his mother be with you and your family always.
opinion#2584

Let me share something, because I feel you're making this journey on behalf of all of us Orthodox Christians and I really enjoy your videos. My own father, a deeply religious man who had a very personal bond with God from a young age, decided in his early twenties to go to the Monastery Hilandar on Mount Athos. He stayed two or three months and was seriously thinking of giving his life to God. But at that time he was with my mother, and his spiritual father knew his life and personality. When my father told him he wanted to change his whole life and serve God, his spiritual father said: go home, marry your love and save your souls together. Until recently my father didn't fully grasp what that meant, but when my mother got Alzheimer's, that journey with her illness showed him his mission and the Cross he had to carry. He says he is blessed, and caring for my mother has a much deeper meaning, so what his spiritual father told him almost 50 years ago makes perfect sense now. So my parents are still saving their souls together ☦️❤️🙏
opinion#2585

My father died when I was seven. My godfather and his family were there for me and my mother, treating us like their own family. I was given spiritual guidance and practical inspiration too. Your spiritual father sounds like a man of God who is pointing you in the right direction.