Eastern Orthodox Exorcisms

[Suzannah]

Since people here seem interested in the subject of exorcism, and you didn't already have some video footage of Orthodox ones, I thought I would share these links with you.  I hope you get something out of them.  Remember that even if you do not believe in demons, these people are suffering.  And they are suffering from SOMETHING and that at the very least deserves our attention and compassion.

http://revver.com/video/807187/exorcism-in-greece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEjUMmgEjaI (This is an audio file of a woman possessed.  The language is Greek. The "demon" is shouting that it hates the Virgin Mary for bringing salvation (Christ)  into the world.)

This is a video of Fr. Makari Yunan, an Egyptian Orthodox Christian priest of the Coptic Church of Alexandria in Egypt.
He routinely performs exorcisms in his church every weekend.  Many people who come to him are Muslims, not Christians.  They are often depressed, physically sick, and generally in bad shape, in addition to being "possessed".  In one of the videos, you can hear someone say in Arabic "There is no help in the mosque."  Presumably, they believe that although they are Muslims, only a Christian priest can help them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6TEqL3mmw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxA1BhAGV3k

Although what you are seeing here may seem like a "one time" event, in the Orthodox and Catholic world, such things have to be repeated over a long time to affect any change.  Many of the people you see in these videos are probably undergoing such rites of exorcism weekly, if not more often. 

[dwalters]

Very interesting videos. I can certainly see why people do not believe....shoot, they look fake to me for crying out loud. How can anyone prove to anyone else that they have captured actual evidence? It's so hard.

[johnny]

This seems similar to the evangelical following in the states and some of the hands on healing practiced.

[Suzannah]

They may seem similar indeed, mainly because these just happened to take place in a congregational setting.  This is actually not the norm in the Orthodox world.  It just happens that these three particular priests seem to have a "plague" among them.  There is another priest in Serbia that seems to encounter this too, but there is no footage available of his congregation.  There is footage of a Russian priest , but I didn't post those, simply because I didn't want "spam" the board.

There are numerous differences however between the Orthodox and evangelical world with regard to thier views, and their practice.
1.  In evangelical cases, the minister/pastor is not following a  set rite of exorcism - the Catholics and the Orthodox do strictly adhere to a rite.  The Catholic rite came about in the 1st century and revised several times, last in 1999.  The Anglicans (historically and theologically  are actually old-rite Catholics, not Protestants---whole 'nother subject)  didn't formally do it until the 1970's although they did retain their Catholic rite from the 16th century.  The Orthodox take their rite of exorcism from the 1st century and have not revised it, but generally, they use the prayers of St. Basil the Great in addition to commanding the demons.  In each of these videos, that is the prayer you are hearing, in Greek and Arabic. 

2. Because the evangelicals do not follow the rite, and are spontaneous (for lack of a better word) in their prayers, never knowing what they themselves are going to say, the responses from the "victim" are more prone to run the gamut of conversation.  The Orthodox and Catholic method is more of an interrogation of the demon itself followed by commands (in no uncertain terms) to depart the victim and not return,  and the responses are generally along a more uniform line. 

3.  In the Orthodox world, "speaking in tongues" is generally considered at the very least, a sign of spiritual sickness, and at worst, a sign of possession, particularly when the "language" seems to unintelligible or a "non earthly" language.    In the evangelical world, no one seems to blink at this --- I remember an article with Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the head of the Vatican's exorcist team.  He mentioned that he speaks to the Devil in Latin and that most of the time, the Devil answers in Italian, whether the "victim" speaks Italian or not.

There are many other differences but in all, things are not what they might seem.  When it comes to demons, they never are.

[Suzannah]

Very interesting videos. I can certainly see why people do not believe....shoot, they look fake to me for crying out loud. How can anyone prove to anyone else that they have captured actual evidence? It's so hard.

The problem is compounded by several things, in my opinion.  Disclaimer: i do not wish to be seen as making general sweeping statements, HOWEVER:

Firstly, in the west, there is a prevailing attitude of disbelief among westerners that is born out of post modern materialism and nihilism.  If a person is conditioned with that (as most in the west are) then there is NO evidence that will EVER be good enough for them.  For them, it's all bunk and there's nothing to talk about.  This attitude has yet to be taken up as a cloak by the east, and therefore, the east is still fertile ground for research.

I think the reason it "looks" fake, is this:  we do not encounter this in every day life.  To the people that are experiencing it first hand it is very real.  Also, we're used to people on the screen being actors ---I think subconsciously we're waiting for some spectacular Hollywood special effect, and when it doesn't come, we say "well, it's just fake anyway". 

Sun Tzu said it best:  "Hide in plain sight".

[ttjoon]

3.  In the Orthodox world, "speaking in tongues" is generally considered at the very least, a sign of spiritual sickness, and at worst, a sign of possession, particularly when the "language" seems to unintelligible or a "non earthly" language.    In the evangelical world, no one seems to blink at this --- I remember an article with Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the head of the Vatican's exorcist team.  He mentioned that he speaks to the Devil in Latin and that most of the time, the Devil answers in Italian, whether the "victim" speaks Italian or not.

There are many other differences but in all, things are not what they might seem.  When it comes to demons, they never are.

According to the bible, The Speaking of Tongues is strictly reserved for angels.  Anyone else trying to do so or claiming to (i.e.: certain religious groups) are attempting to appear as bona fide, but are in fact, false. 

[Suzannah]

According to the bible, The Speaking of Tongues is strictly reserved for angels.  Anyone else trying to do so or claiming to (i.e.: certain religious groups) are attempting to appear as bona fide, but are in fact, false. 

This is correct and the Catholic and Orthodox churches agree with this statement.  The one exception would be the apostolic event known as Pentecost.  And even then, this has never been believed as being anything other than earthly languages (glossalia) , used to "spread the Gospel".  It is (with a very few notable exceptions, mainly the "charismatic" Catholic movement) only certain groups within the evangelical world that accept it as being "godly" or a sign of the "gift of the Holy Spirit".  The "Toronto Blessing", first experienced by members of the Vineyard Church in Toronto, is now a widespread movement and it's symptoms are disturbing to say the least, from a theological point of view.  From a paranormal investigator's viewpoint, it is an interesting study to further one's knowlege of angelology and demonology, as well as the supposed phenomena of "faith healing" ---
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Blessing

A traditional Catholic or Orthodox view such things as the Toronto Blessing as demonic activity in need of exorcism. 

[johnny]

In the interview with Ryan Buell from Paranormal State (who is a devout Catholic) claims he was surprised by how difficult it was to get clergy to come out to some locations and that he didn't feel right as he did protection and blessings on a home that the clients requested.   I thought it was worth a listen because like the Beyone Reality Radio by TAPS, they do dig in and ask some tough questions.  darn it i forget where i posted it... ah well 

[Suzannah]

In the interview with Ryan Buell from Paranormal State (who is a devout Catholic) claims he was surprised by how difficult it was to get clergy to come out to some locations and that he didn't feel right as he did protection and blessings on a home that the clients requested.   I thought it was worth a listen because like the Beyone Reality Radio by TAPS, they do dig in and ask some tough questions.  darn it i forget where i posted it... ah well 

I would love to hear that interview.  Darn it! If you come across it, send me a link will you?

As for Ryan, well, he needs to bone up on his Catholic theology.  Technically speaking, he is allowed to perform a "mini" exorcism since he is a baptized Catholic.  Although he might not feel comfortable doing it, he should know that he's "allowed" to....he would just need to "call for back up"....LOL!

[PPI Brian]

According to the bible, The Speaking of Tongues is strictly reserved for angels.  Anyone else trying to do so or claiming to (i.e.: certain religious groups) are attempting to appear as bona fide, but are in fact, false. 

This is correct and the Catholic and Orthodox churches agree with this statement.  The one exception would be the apostolic event known as Pentecost.  And even then, this has never been believed as being anything other than earthly languages (glossalia) , used to "spread the Gospel".  It is (with a very few notable exceptions, mainly the "charismatic" Catholic movement) only certain groups within the evangelical world that accept it as being "godly" or a sign of the "gift of the Holy Spirit".  The "Toronto Blessing", first experienced by members of the Vineyard Church in Toronto, is now a widespread movement and it's symptoms are disturbing to say the least, from a theological point of view.  From a paranormal investigator's viewpoint, it is an interesting study to further one's knowlege of angelology and demonology, as well as the supposed phenomena of "faith healing" ---
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Blessing

A traditional Catholic or Orthodox view such things as the Toronto Blessing as demonic activity in need of exorcism. 

Hi Suzannah,

Thanks for sharing this with us. The TACF case sounds like a regular Southern Baptist revival to me.   

I have to wonder if there may be some environmental cause for the type of behavior exhibited in the TACF case. I've read some case studies that indicate high EMF levels can cause psychological effects, including deeply profound spiritual experiences. One report that comes to mind discussed using pulsed EMF signals to heal or incapacitate people: http://www.cleanenergyspace.com/psychsoc.htm  Perhaps a natural environmental geomagnetic anomaly is responsible for the healing and the epiphany that people experience there...

Just my two cents.

[PPI Brian]

Although this clip is purely fiction, I always thought this clip was cool...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvBE9rWfZ_Y

[PPI Tim]

I always liked that movie.

[johnny]

In the interview with Ryan Buell from Paranormal State (who is a devout Catholic) claims he was surprised by how difficult it was to get clergy to come out to some locations and that he didn't feel right as he did protection and blessings on a home that the clients requested.   I thought it was worth a listen because like the Beyone Reality Radio by TAPS, they do dig in and ask some tough questions.  darn it i forget where i posted it... ah well 

I would love to hear that interview.  Darn it! If you come across it, send me a link will you?

As for Ryan, well, he needs to bone up on his Catholic theology.  Technically speaking, he is allowed to perform a "mini" exorcism since he is a baptized Catholic.  Although he might not feel comfortable doing it, he should know that he's "allowed" to....he would just need to "call for back up"....LOL!

Here's the TAPS Beyond Reality Radio myspace page

http://www.myspace.com/beyondrealityradio

I think it's the Goodbye For Summer radio show. If you click on that show title in the little applet on the page it should begin playing.