Deacon Toby John serves as the Youth Minister of St. Mary Malankara Orthodox Church, General Secretary for the MGOCSM of the Diocese of South-West America, and Prisoner Spiritual Support Manager for Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00 - Intro & Prayer00:45 - What is the Orthodox Understanding of Intercession?04:04 - Intercession in the Early Church06:42 - What is a Saint? 08:22 - The Church's teaching on lowercase-s saints09:49 - Isn't praying to God enough? 14:29 - Difference between venerating a saint and worshipping God17:01 - Is venerating a saint prayer? 17:55 - How are we allowed to pray to those that are dead?22:30 - Bodily Resurrection23:55 - If the saints are human, how are they physically able to listen to our prayers? 27:06 - Can we ask non-canonized departed to pray for us?29:07 - Why do we pray for the departed? Is their fate not already sealed?32:24 - Is praying to saints essential in our prayer life?34:38 - Do different saints have different roles? 36:19 - How do we keep our prayer life Christ-centered while praying to saints? 41:43 - How did you come to the ministry?43:25 - Deacon's experience as a prison minister46:09 - Outro & Prayer

Rev. Fr. Jake Kurian serves as the Vicar of St. Stephen Orthodox Church Houston, Texas and Assistant Vicar of Christ the Good Shepherd Orthodox Church Houston, Texas

Orthodox Prayer for a Spouse

O All-Good Lord, I know that any lasting happiness in my life depends upon loving You with all my soul and with all my heart, and upon acting according to Your Holy Will in all things. Direct my soul, O my God, and fill my heart; I want to please You alone, for You are my Creator and God. Preserve me from pride and self-love; may reason, modesty, and chastity adorn me. Idleness is hateful to You and breeds vice; give me the inclination to perform fruitful labor and bless my work. Since Your law commands people to live in chaste matrimonial union, lead me, Holy Father, to this blessed calling, not for the satisfaction of my passions, but for the fulfillment of Your commandment. For You have said: It is not good that man should be alone, and, having created a woman as a helper, blessed them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen. 1:28; 2:18). Hear my humble prayer which I send up to You from the depths of my heart. Give me a spouse who is honest and pious, so that we, through our love and harmony, can praise You, the Compassionate God; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, forever and ever. Amin.

Translation from video:

Achen - FatherSyros - Members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

Marthos - Members of the Marthoma Church

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An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro & Prayer

(00:34) What is the Purpose of Marriage?

(01:48) Orthodox View of Dating

(03:14) Being Self-Aware

(05:17) Living Together before Marriage

(08:06) How an ideal relationship looks like before marriage?

(9:39) Signs of being marriage-ready

(15:24) Why is pre-marital sex wrong?

(20:47) Does every marriage need to produce kids?

(23:45) Birth Control

(26:53) Being open to kids

(29:31) Your Spouse is the Biggest Decision You Make & Qualities to Look for and Build

(35:12) Importance of Family, Friends, and Spiritual Father for a Relationship

(37:56) Being Equally Yoked & Relationship of people from different faiths

(45:22) Next Steps After Finding a Partner

(46:46) Steps After Marriage & Spiritual Father

(52:15) Divorce

(53:42) Does everyone need to get married?

(56:32) Outro & Prayer

In Episode 3, Teji Achen talks about the Orthodox understanding of faith and works. Teji Achen is an Assistant Vicar of St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Cathedral Houston, Texas--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An official podcast of the Diocese of South-West America.This channel shares conversations, reflections, and teachings from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The purpose of the podcast is not only to help the faithful grow in their knowledge of the Orthodox faith, remain rooted in the apostolic tradition, and stay connected to the life of the Church, but also to be a witness to Christ in the world. We seek to spread the Gospel beyond the Church walls, inviting others to encounter the ancient faith, while encouraging the faithful to live out and share Orthodoxy in their daily lives.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Find all links here: linktr.ee/divineascent.orthodoxy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00 - Intro & Prayer00:44 - Faith-based and Work-based Salvation4:06 - Faithfulness over Faith5:37 - Thief on the Cross7:37 - Ephesians 2 and James 215:26 - Works and Repentance are Essential for Salvation27:04 - Jesus' Saving Work is Ongoing30:14 - Holy Spirit Working Outside of the Church41:03 - Believing in Jesus or Being Faithful?1:03:40 - Christ talked about Works-Based Salvation1:08:45 - Legalism is Paganism1:18:12 - Outro & Prayer

In Episode 2, Jake Achen talks about worship in the Malankara Orthodox Church. Jake Achen is the Vicar of St. Stephen Orthodox Church Houston and Assistant Vicar of Christ the Good Shepherd Church Houston.

We're joined by Rev. Fr. Christopher Mathew for episode 1 of the Divine Ascent Podcast! He is the Vicar of Christ the Good Shepherd Orthodox Church Houston, and Assistant Vicar of St. John the Baptist Indian Orthodox Church North Houston. We navigate through who Jesus Christ is in this episode!