Popular Protestant Apologist ‘Cleave to Antiquity’ Is Converting to Eastern Orthodoxy
Popular protestant apologist “Cleave to Antiquity” has announced that he is becoming an Orthodox Christian, catching many of his recent collaborators by surprise.
“Cleave to Antiquity” is the moniker of Pastor Benjamin Merritt, who serves at a non-denominational church in Holiday, Florida. There, Merritt leads apologetics classes “Defend the Faith,” which cover topics ranging from refuting Seventh-day Adventism to addressing Freemasonry and Catholicism.
Notably, pastor Ben started his YouTube channel specifically to respond to claims of Eastern Orthodoxy and has been active in the apologetics circuit since then, laying down show after show exposing the errors of their beliefs. And not just years ago, but recently, making his conversion very sudden.
Four months ago, he appeared on Ruslan’s channel for the episode “Before You Convert from Protestant to Orthodox, Watch This,” where he specifically argued against converting to the Orthodox Church. Three months ago, he appeared on the “YourCalvinist” podcast, arguing that Eastern Orthodoxy has problematic views on justification. Two months ago, he joined Gavin Ortlund’s “Truth Unites” to defend the Protestant canon against Eastern Orthodoxy.
In a short span of time, he has made a complete 180, announcing that he is converting to the very faith he spent years arguing and debating against. He shared on the Orthodox Ethos channel that he ultimately made the decision after grappling over the issue of praying to the saints, resulting in having a mystical experience after praying to Mary.
Popular Protestant pastor and apologist 'Cleave to Antiquity' announces he's becoming an Eastern Orthodox- the very thing he spent years arguing against- after having a mystical experience praying to Mary.
— Protestia (@Protestia) September 16, 2025
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“…resulting in having a mystical experience after praying to Mary.” …..They went out from among us because they were not of us – 1 John 2:19