Hope this helps, and hope that your journey to Orthodoxy is filled with every blessing. (Of course, for every person insisting that there were no differences, there was another person asking me to explain the differences. Not that every churchgoer is following that path, not that the church administration is perfect, but that the path still existedthats what amazed me. Even more obnoxious, though, must be the tendency to reject hospitality. Toggle signature There is not going to be a restored "Celtic" Orthodoxy or "Anglo-Saxon" Orthodoxy. The Spirit of God himself, realizing the sacramental presence of Christ in the church, speaks to us in tradition. The percentage of foreign born Orthodox Christians is no larger than the percentage in the population at large. I can remember that, after Id been Orthodox a few years, developing an increasing sense of tension or frustration. What steps would I take to become an Orthodox Christian? John 17:14.16). However, I do think that there are certain factors that influence and even cause these abandonments and apostasies from the one, true Church. Scripture and tradition. Orthodoxy has always affirmed that Peter was the "first among equals" (primus inter pares) ; but unlike Roman Catholics, the Orthodox have always denied that he held any "primacy of power" (primatus potestatis). Geoff. Sad, very sad. In 1993 I was chrismated and joined the Eastern Orthodox Church, but only lately has it dawned on me that I must have strained friendships over the years, due to my vocal enthusiasm for my adopted church. Why Would A Protestant Christian Convert to Eastern Orthodox - YouTube In the Orthodox calendar, the first Sunday of Lent celebrates the Triumph of Orthodoxy, a commemoration of the final triumph of icons in the long and bitter battle with the iconoclasts (literally, "image-smashers") on March 11, 843. Through the centuries, theological, geopolitical, cultural, and linguistic factors have combined to differentiate the Orthodox ethos from Western patterns of Christianity. Because we confess and believe in the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church, this means we are not looking for a Church that fits our own preferences and ideals, but rather one that teaches us what our preferences should be. This gives strength and spiritual joy to her members, true to the Lords words, Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Mt. What they objected to was the elevation of tradition to the status of Scripture. Wynona doesn't indicate why the parish priest has done this, but it would appear from the context that the priest objects to her marrying an . And during those years of discovery, my mind was constantly cranking away as I laboured to absorb new ideas and excise stubborn old ones. Orthodoxy, advocates suggest, reveals and corrects evangelical reductionism and superficiality. Home / Thus, when an Orthodox believer once asked why his church did not do more doctrinal teaching, his priest responded, "Icons teach us all that we need to know." Affectionate attempts to obscure this quest feel suffocating. A priest can provide guidance and support to help converts discern whether the religion is right for them. The late Orthodox theologian John Meyendorff once remarked that the ultimate conflict between the Orthodox East and the Latin West, both Catholic and Protestant, resided in two different ideas about tradition. A Aristocles Merarches Joined Apr 23, 2003 Messages 10,031 Reaction score 1 Points 0 Location Pittsburgh Aug 5, 2006 #4 Matthew777 said: Rather, for Orthodoxy the whole people of God is the protector of apostolic tradition. The numbers are staggering! These are worthy pursuits that can be fulfilled in the Orthodox Church. Another danger is converting to Orthodoxy simply because it is beautiful. Do we mean essential for salvation? Sign up to receive a regular email newsletter from Fr. Vladimir I and Christianization | Western Civilization - Lumen Learning Thatwould be interesting. Jerusalem, 260,000 She stands firm on her dogmatic and moral teachings. The Orthodox Church in America, with roots in Moscow and about 85,000 adherents . Christimates 1 day ago. This has some truth to it, but is mostly false. The collapse of the Roman Empire created a power vacuum that was increasingly filled by the growing power of the Roman papacy. At one level, I was close in heart and mind to my Orthodox sisters and brothers in Christ; but on another level, I agreed with many of my atheist friends' criticisms of Russian Orthodoxy. Becoming an Orthodox Christian is not easy, nor does it promise great happiness or success in this life. If you have a specific question about Orthodox Christianity or the Orthodox Church in America, Thus, while the Protestant principle of sola scriptura places Scripture above tradition, for Orthodoxy the two are complementary means of one organic whole through which the Spirit of God speaks. T he Orthodox Church in the United States has problems. Assuming that, after subsequent visits, you grow into the conviction that Orthodox Christianity is the fullness of Truth as revealed by Jesus Christ and discern your desire to embrace faith in Our Lord in its fullness, make your desire known to the parish priest, who will initiate the period of instruction and spiritual formation that eventually would lead to your reception into the Church. But the claim to be Christ's one, true church remains the clear Orthodox position. I kept finding myself in conversations with nice people who wanted to assure me that this very thing I was so excited about in Orthodoxy is something they have in their church as well. They conceded a special honor to the Western papacy but insisted that the bishop of Rome was only the first among equals. Indeed, in a letter of 865, Pope Nicholas made it clear that he intended to extend the power of the papacy "over all the earth, that is, over every church." There is a myth in Orthodoxy that people only became Eastern Catholics under force by Catholic kings. John A. Peck, The Apostolic Mission of Journey To Orthodoxy, Armenian Muslims Living in Turkey are Returning to Christianity, Devotion to Orthodox History leads Malaysian Priest to Mount Carmel. I responded by writing back: "Because I am committed to key distinctives of the Protestant evangelical tradition.". While Protestant evangelicals have never agreed on the precise meaning or mode of the sacraments, they have historically emphasized two related truths that diverge from the Orthodox understanding of the sacraments. "Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." Turning to Jesus brings you to God, and you begin to understand His plan of salvation. Orthodox Priest Explains Why Many People in the West are Converting to Orthodox Christianity. Why Converts to Christian Orthodoxy can be Obnoxious Liturgically, the Orthodox ethos of a formal worship setting will attract some Christians, but to many other vibrant movements within evangelicalism it will have little if any appeal. The last reason Orthodox converts are obnoxious resembles the reason adolescents are obnoxious. Other times it is a youth group or Bible study group inspiring and educating. In this Orthodox view, Scripture stands within rather than above the church, and to distinguish its authority from that of the church is a mistake of method. At times it can be a healing group especially during the Liturgical services in particular the Eucharist and the Holy Prayer Oil services. There are other problems as well: overlapping jurisdictions, lack of communication across jurisdictional lines, and a tendency to isolate ourselves from communities in which we live. Oden, for example, who delights in referring to his theological method as "paleo-orthodox," is now working on a comprehensive patristic commentary on the whole Bible to be published by InterVarsity Press. Inherent in this claim, of course, is the charge that both Catholics and Protestants have lapsed from the true faith into error, if not outright heresy. It doesnt matter how long they have served, or how extensive their education. I love the Church, and so I find it difficult to understand how a person could not see the beauty in our faith, leaving it all behind. For example, I know someone that spent over a year studying almost every aspect of Orthodoxy, including many fathers of the Church and practically every nuance of both doctrine and history. There are two accounts of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. The genius of this principle is that it allows us to disagree with other believers, even vehemently so, yet in an edifying fashion with a degree of theological modesty and a perspective that seeks a deeper consensus within the bounds of true faith. Heres a clue to a third possibility. . Before long, in Reformation churches the sermon had replaced the Eucharist as the defining moment of the liturgy. There are no doubt some ways that he is the same person he will always be, and there are ways Orthodoxy and every other church has significant points in common, not least that we love the same Lord. While this exclusivism is not unique to Orthodoxy, with this self-understanding it is easy to see why the Orthodox Church in countries such as Russia is extremely unhappy about Western, Protestant missionary incursions. There is an organic quality here, and the thing itself is inexpressibly alive. They are the efficacious means by which God transmits his salvific and sanctifying grace to us. When celebrating the Eucharist, Catholics mixed the wine with water, while the Orthodox did not. I do not wish to antagonize anyone and if there is a place online where I might go to better have my questions answered, please. There are many basic beliefs that Orthodoxy and evangelicalism hold in common: the inspiration of Scripture; the two natures of Christ, the finality and uniqueness of Christ's death on the cross, the resurrection, and our future hope of eternal life. Originally the creed read that the Holy Spirit proceeded "from the Father"; a later Western interpolation (why, where, and by whom are not known), ratified at the Council of Toledo (589), added filioque to indicate that the Spirit proceeded from the Father "and the Son." The Orthodox Church is indelibly marked by the One who is its origin and source. Georgia, 3 million She is conscious of being the true Church founded by Christ. For me it was due to the fact that papal supremacy is a later doctrine, yet I could not become a Protestant because the writings of the Fathers do not agree with Protestantism. But the human warts of where they are at and continuing searching within causes them to look elsewhere. Here is an overview of the steps you can take to convert to Orthodox Christianity: Talk With an Orthodox Priest. As the Body of Christ, the Church is a Divine-human organism, just as with the Person of Jesus Christ, the God-Man. Andrey brings us the news about Orthodox Christianity (the form of Christianity . The theological objections evangelicals have traditionally had with Rome on these two points rightly apply to Orthodoxy. On June 16, 1054, Pope Leo IX's legate, Cardinal Humbert, delivered a Bull of Excommunication to the Orthodox Patriarch Michael Cerularius on the altar of the Church of the Holy Wisdom at Constantinople while the patriarch prepared to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, condemning him and his court. Are Orthodox Christians "Bible believing?". She is conscious of being the true Church founded by Christ. Different Orthodox theories exist as to what, exactly, this means. Her name is right belief. Holy Orders are a mystery (sacrament) of the Church, and the Spirit blows where it will. The Orthodox Church does not fit into the paradigms of modernity; it is not a wholly rational faith. This icon, Wedding Icon of The Mother Of God True, Luther and some other Protestants have not viewed baptismal regeneration and justification by faith as mutually exclusive. Why would a Protestant Christian convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? Your email address will not be published. Persons wishing to become Orthodox of their own free volition, without any direct or indirect pressure from anyone, should firstly meet with a Priest of the Church. Converting to Orthodoxy | St Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church And for Orthodoxy, this argument from holy tradition is of great significance. It is precisely this view that elevates Scripture above the church and actually encourages private interpretation that the Orthodox theologian Georges Florovsky once called "the sin of the Reformation.". She is not the endshe is the way. Although she is in this world, she is not of this world (cf. For taking Communion together? Second, whatever failings Western missionaries might bring to their work, and whether Orthodoxy likes to admit it, many Russians are responding very positively to a clear, contemporary presentation of the gospel by Protestant missionaries. (Of course, for every person insisting that there were no differences, there was another person asking me to explain the differences. It depends on where you put the emphasis. Before you start the process of converting, you will want to speak with a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. When Martin Luther burned the books of Catholic canon law at Wittenberg's Elster Gate on December 10, 1520, he symbolized an important Protestant distinctive. They push it down the road that they will be able to transition to that in their new group eventually. It merits our attention for several reasons. Russian Baptists, Adventists, and Pentecostals feel persecuted. 3:15). Vladimir agreed, in exchange for a marital tie; he also agreed to accept Christianity as his religion and bring his people to the new faith. The blog includes recent news and ministry updates of the Convent, as well as other information about Orthodox Christianity that may be useful to those who are either making their first steps in church or want to learn something new about our faith. We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no such splendor or beauty anywhere upon earth. This conception lessens the validity and value of the Holy Scriptures as the primary source of Christian dogma." * This book cover is made to order i, Hand-painted Icon of Christ the Pantocrator (acryl. Serbia, 8 million Along with Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity is one of the world's three major Christian traditions. Telegram | In addition, a new convert must undergo a formal process of initiation. But this really begs another question: "Essential" for what? Well, was it so? Kate Forbes Is Done (or Why an Orthodox Christian Can Never Lead a The West used unleavened bread, the East did not. Interesting comments. Today 23 percent of all Orthodox Christians in the United Statesabout one in fourare converts, as are 30 percent of the clergy and 43 percent of seminarians. But perhaps our theology of the church is too "low," much lower than our Protestant forebears would have it. From the Orthodox perspective, both Catholics and Protestants seek to ground theological authority in an external norm. But one insightful reader asked a penetrating question: "Your book does a fine job comparing the two traditions; why have you not converted to Orthodoxy?" The East allowed some priests to marry, while the West required celibacy. Nicholas reversed the decision, reinstating Ignatius and deposing Photius. Since then, Western and Eastern Christianity developed separately, under very different social and cultural conditions. The more familiar I became with Orthodoxy by serving in a local parish, on a parish council, and as an altar assistant, the more I saw others approach the Church, test the waters, and walk back out the narthex door. John 6 Comments Cole Knight, a former Anglican, got Baptized in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. Granny and Pops and Uncle Pete love the little guy, and theyre going to be kindly and patient with him because hes going through a phase. Two points that have been hallmarks of evangelical identity deserve special scrutiny: the relationship between Scripture and tradition, and the relationship between Scripture and the church. The final declaration of the Second Ecumenical Council of Nicea (787) that ratified the use of icons appealed to the "written and unwritten" tradition of the early church. Religion became a state of the Roman Empire, and Christianity became an enormous and influential religion nationwide. My ideas havent changed, and Im always glad for a good discussion, but maybe Im past the need to belabour them. Thats just a fraction of a thorough march through what happened at the first Council of Nicaea, and why it was important (including Arius unpleasant death from digestive indisposition: his bowels were torn by a divine hookin a repulsive manner his soul came out). Others are already involved in a Jewish community. The Orthodox Church is the ancient Church that Christ and the Apostles established. Shortly after the beginning of our own catechumenate as a family, we saw friendsand their familiesbegin journeys towards the East. No new dogmas of faith spring out of the blue in her life. Orthodoxy is true to the Lord, to herself and to her past. (2 Pet. Anxious to avoid the siege of his capital, Basil II turned to the Rus' for assistance, even though they were considered enemies at that time. After being dunked in this sea of hymnography for a few years I began to recognize an underlying unity among all the elements of Orthodoxythe worship, the fasting, the exhortations to humility, the companionship of the saints, all of it. After being dunked in this sea of hymnography for a few years I began to recognise an underlying unity among all the elements of Orthodoxy the worship, the fasting, the exhortations to humility, the companionship of the saints, all of it. A Christian representation of Vladimir I, who was the first Rus' leader to officially bring Christianity to the region. Can you explain why some former clergy (from non-orthodox backgrounds) can enter without formal orthodox seminary education, while other former clergy (again, from non-orthodox backgrounds) are kept away even after the bishop (he who has the control and power) makes a statement that none may come to the clergy with our formal orthodox seminary? It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. This is not just an explanation but an apology, and even an appreciation for the perseverance of friendship in the face of truly annoying behaviour. If anyone is unwilling or not ready to submit to the Church in all areas of life, they should stay awayuntil or unless they are ready to do so. Intellectuals, like one of my students at Moscow University, often disdain Orthodoxy as a "medieval mentality." Rather, they are a source of revelation. Upon joining the Orthodox Church, converts vow to "accept and understand Holy Scripture in accordance with the interpretation which was and is held by the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church of the East, our Mother." The first is by Lactantius, a tutor to Constantine's son and a good authority. This is no archaic, dusty doctrine, either. In the East the local parish priest could administer the sacrament of confirmation; in the West only the bishop could. Bauxite mining would threaten birds, plants, and clean water. Yeah, I think Ive gotten it out of my system. It was electrifying. Many times, inquirers approach the Orthodox Church as a safe haven from controversy and scandal, believing that the Orthodox Churchas the one, true Churchis immune to such things. Why do Orthodox Christians keep a vigil at the Tomb of Christ? I hope so. There are no doubt some ways that he is the same person he will always be, and there are ways Orthodoxy and every other church has significant points in common, not least that we love the same Lord. While the Church is certainly Divine in one respect, She is also comprised of human beingshuman beings that can, and do, err. For the past year or so I have been considering conversion to Orthodox Christianity. In 999, Leif, the son of Erik, was converted to Christianity by Olaf Tryggvason. Orthodox Christians were more inclined to appeal to the ecumenical councils than to a single bishop to settle theological matters. What Do I Need to Do to Become Greek Orthodox? - Greek Boston Tom Hanks Legion Media The famous Hollywood actor converted to Orthodox Christianity as an adult. Icons. John A. Peck, The Apostolic Mission of Journey To Orthodoxy, On the Path of Love: From Islam to Christianity, Madagascar: Church Opens Huge Complex with Church, Schools, Orphanage, Old Folks Home, Australia: Orthodoxy Fastest Growing Church amidst General Christian Decline. It is not always easy to advance strong arguments for these conversions. Take Russia as an example: First, the majority of Russians are non-Christian and unevangelized. For any convert, it's a spiritual, intense, and private process,. Roman Emperor Constantine's Conversion to Christianity - Classic History Why Converts to Christian Orthodoxy Are So Obnoxious by Frederica Orthodoxy looked like taking that escalator up one more floor; plenty of ceremony and beauty, but without the mainline churches affection for keeping up-to-date. Fr. Converts to Orthodoxy usually precede their decision with voluminous reading and research, so their friends must endure agitated lectures on church history, ancient heresies, and what words mean in Greek. Why Convert to Orthodox Christianity? However, this is a mistaken viewpoint and can lead to the destruction of a persons faith. For me, the one and only valid, core reason is because a person desires to be part of the one, true Body of Christ. Why should we welcome that? One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. My ideas havent changed, and Im always glad for a good discussion, but maybe Im past the need to belabor them. Converting to Orthodox Christianity : r/OrthodoxChristianity - reddit This may be to some extent true but it is much more than that. Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to Christianity. It also must be noted that embracing the faith involves a running to Christ and His Church as the Ark of Salvation, rather than a running away from somethingother than sin. Submitted by Fr. The Biblical Basis for Holy Tradition., On the Path of Love: From Islam to Christianity, Madagascar: Church Opens Huge Complex with Church, Schools, Orphanage, Old Folks Home, Australia: Orthodoxy Fastest Growing Church amidst General Christian Decline. Similar differences and disputes existed within early Christianity, but disputes within Christianity extended also to the place of Mosaic Law or Old Covenant in general in Christianity. Its not something you can figure out by studying the Church Fathers. This perspective presupposes a defective Christologyone that fails to account for the anthropos of the theanthropic (Divine-human) Church. It takes awhile to get it, because its gotten by a process of immersion, by soaking in a context of worship. The Orthodox Church has suffered throughout her history. During my four years as a visiting professor at Moscow State University (1991-95) I often felt schizophrenic. You can make an appointment to talk to our parish priest Fr Athanasios by contacting him at (03) 9387 7693. Why Would a Protestant Convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? Forgetting early on that Orthodox worship is liturgical and cyclical (i.e. Early on in the life of the Christian church, the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West began to diverge. I will always remember my first visit to an Orthodox church in Russia. Orthodoxy in America Has a Convert Problem Are you sure you heard the Meaning of Christmas? So they begin the process of "converting.". How to Become an Orthodox Christian? ", Icons are not merely sacred art. I cant be the only one to have done this. This woode, Christ (Wedding Icon in Textile Oklad) The Actual Conversion to Judaism: Conversion to Judaism has a few components, which are undertaken under the supervision of an established beit din: Accepting the yoke of the commandments. We are looking forward to our journey in the church. He made the decision to convert following his second marriage to actress Rita Wilson in. Those who were clergy in a former denomination have no guarantees they will become clergy in the Orthodox Church. Women and men who marry into the Orthodox Jewish faith are required to convertand both genders follow an identical process. The so-called Photian Schism brought this matter to a head. In the history and theology of Orthodoxy it is startling to observe the nearly complete absence of any mention of the doctrine of justification by faith.
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