Orthodoxy and Mental Health w/ Father Zach Varghese

Fr. Zach Varghese is Vicar (Priest) of Saint Thomas Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Parish in Austin, Texas and a part of the larger circle of the Oriental Orthodox Church. Outside of his duties as a shepherd to his flock and as a father to a daughter and son, he is cofounder and Chief Medical Officer at MAVA Partners. For more background information on Father Zach and his parish visit: https://stthomastexas.org/our-clergy/ We have based our discussion on spiritual health and mental health on his foundational talk on Mental Health here:    • OCCM Webinar: Mental Wellness-The Connecti...   +++ Follow us: Instagram:   / tewahedo_today   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0M7v9dX... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 03:06 - The Climate in Austin and the English Iindian Orthodox Churches in Dallas 08:11 - Balancing Cultural and Historic Connections in the Church 11:18 - The Importance of Mental Health in the Orthodox Faith 25:00 - Understanding a Functional Person and a Functional Christian 31:47 - The DSM-5 and the Perception of Mental Illness 38:58 - The Difference Between Mental Health Issues and Spiritual Experiences 40:29 - The Role of Priests and Therapists in Providing Healing and Support 48:51 - The Importance of the Church in Providing Holistic Healing 01:05:30 - The Intersection of Mental Health and Spirituality