Orthodox Christian Reacts to Michael Knowles’ Debate on Halloween | Should Christians REPENT? | Ep 108
In my latest episode, I respond to Michael Knowles’ debate video where he sits down with Angela Scafidi, Mary Morgan, and Natalya Toryanski to tackle the question: Should Christians celebrate Halloween? The conversation touched on fear, fun, cultural roots, and whether participating in Halloween is harmless or spiritually dangerous.
While the panel offered Protestant and Catholic perspectives, one angle was missing entirely: an Orthodox Christian view. So in this video, I share some Orthodox Christian approaches to Halloween, drawing from Scripture, Tradition, and also the insights of Orthodox priest Fr. Moses McPherson, who released a video titled “The Definitive Orthodox Opinion on Halloween.”
Many Christians who reject Halloween do so because of horror aesthetics, occult symbolism, and testimonies from ex-Satanists who declare any level of participation is involving yourself in a Satanic ritual. And many Orthodox Christians reject it simply because it is not a part of our liturgical calendar—which is fair enough!
If your spiritual father said not to participate, I of course would not argue that, but if you are an Orthodox Christian denouncing it merely because of what heretical online Christians and ex-Satanists are saying, I’m curious why you would look to them as your spiritual authority? Knowing spiritual prelest is a very real thing, could it not be that the visions given to these ex-Satanists about Halloween were from demons, trying to undermine Christ’s victory and make them feel as though they had more spiritual authority than they really did?
Visuals of death are also not inherently demonic, and can in fact be fruitful for remembering our time on Earth is short and our focus should be on Christ. And stepping foot outside on October 31st doesn’t inherently mean you are engaging in witchcraft, which is as Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick would say, magical thinking.
It’s true that unlike Western Christians, the Orthodox Church does not attach Halloween to All Saints Day. Our All Saints feast is celebrated the Sunday after Pentecost, but if you do recognize All Hallow’s Eve on October 31st (which is reasonable for most Americans), it would make sense to recognize All Saint’s Day on November 1st as well. Perhaps that is a part of our baptizing the event.
Because Halloween has no direct liturgical importance for us though, the Church does not officially condemn or endorse the holiday. Could it just have become another American tradition such the 4th of July? At any rate, the ambiguity leaves room for pastoral guidance and family discernment.
When you try to get to the roots of Halloween, you may come up with multiple cultural practices and mixed origins. But whether it started out as a pagan or Roman Catholic custom shouldn’t much matter, as the Church is no stranger to baptizing what can be baptized. Fr. Moses gives an example of this in his video with the origins of Patron Saints.
That said, there are lines Orthodox Christians should avoid crossing: demonic and promiscuous costumes, haunted houses, scary movies, occult activities, secular parties, and anything that glamorizes evil or opens spiritual doors. Whatever you wouldn’t do any other day of the year, obviously shouldn’t be excused just because it is October 31st.
But when approached with sobriety and joy, Halloween can be a time of community, hospitality, and family memories. Families can dress innocently, enjoy their neighborhoods, pass out candy generously, and use the season to teach their children about bravery, the saints, and Christ’s victory over darkness.
Ultimately, there is not a dogmatic Orthodox view on Halloween. You're not more holy for avoiding it completely, and you’re not less Christian for participating in an innocent way. The key is discernment, intention, and keeping Christ at the center of everything we do.
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