0. Let us know if corrections need to be made. It is not about rules and regulations but rather guide posts to make choices to transition to what we were designed to become. He senses that its something much more profound than that, as he is turning into a different person, the adult he is destined to be. Orthodox Sep 9, 2019 #1 For those who converted like myself, why did you? Over coffee one day I asked an Orthodox priest whether I, as a Protestant theologian, might be considered a true Christian. 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. Further, the Orthodox reject the idea of inherited guilt; we are guilty only for our own sins rather than for the inborn consequences of Adam's fall. 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. 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. Further, they identify themselves by reference to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), the "new Rome" of Emperor Constantine, and to the first seven ecumenical councils of the church. that freedom of practice for faith groups should be "defended" in Holyrood's proposed ban on conversion practices and that she believes a trans woman is a "biological male who identifies as a . Why I Didn't Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy Conciliar Post The Catalog of Good Deeds is the official blog of the Catalogue of St. Elisabeth Convent. The ex clergy thing I think is very real. Russian priest explains why westerners are converting to Orthodox You can make an appointment to talk to our parish priest Fr Athanasios by contacting him at (03) 9387 7693. Intellectuals, like one of my students at Moscow University, often disdain Orthodoxy as a "medieval mentality." The basic framework of services like the Divine Liturgy or Vespers doesnt change much, but every day of the liturgical year provides prayers for saints and feasts that can be added to that framework. Differences over clerical beards, the tonsure, and fasting also exacerbated the growing deterioration of East-West unity. Affectionate attempts to obscure this quest feel suffocating. already I have lost many people I thought were friends but so be it! In the first place, Christians believed Jesus to be the true God rather than a semi-god. That is, Orthodoxy's commitment to "right belief" provides a natural link to evangelical concerns. 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. Home / Contact | Bauxite mining would threaten birds, plants, and clean water. Whether you decided to do so because you are marrying someone who is a member of the church, or you simply decide to convert on your own, you might be overwhelmed as to where to start. Why would a Protestant Christian convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? I hope so. The move was far more than geographic. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. 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? Many non-Jews become "Jews by choice" because they're spiritual seekers. Orthodox Christians believe you must be converted every day- every day - and everyone must start with this step if they desire to make spiritual progress and be saved. 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 . At the 1996 meeting of sseoe, Orthodox representative Stanley Harakas said that the Orthodox, who have lived for 70 years in Russia under Communist oppression, are in a state of weakness, unable to rebuild churches and barely able to educate their parishioners. Do we mean essential for salvation? My husband had been an Episcopal priest for 16 years, and we had gradually moved from evangelical-style "low church" to the more liturgically-fancy "high church." It is often wrongly assumed that Orthodoxy . In the end, they concocted a list of reasons for not converting. YouTube | I think people just dont believe me, and I hardly provide a good personal example. Conversion means belief and acceptance in Jesus Christ, the God-man, as the Savior of the world. It merits our attention for several reasons. For them the fundamental schism occurred 500 years earlierin the year 1054 (more about that below). Those who approach Orthodoxy looking for all their questions to be answered in a neat-and-tidy manner will be deeply disappointed, left rejecting the faith to which theyve only been shortly exposed. How did Vladimir's conversion to Christianity affect Kiev? The other forms of tradition include the first seven ecumenical councils, which are acknowledged as normative and, by some, even infallible; patristic writings, especially those of the first four centuries; later councils; the Liturgy; canon law; and icons. How do you convert to Greek Orthodox Christianity? - Short-Fact Young teens go through a few years when they are trying to understand their own unique identity, and trying to establish it in the face of well, it would be one thing if they had to establish it in the face of hostility, because, even though that would be hard, it would be bracing and clarifying. Yeah, I think Ive gotten it out of my system. After his marriage Vladimir I officially changed the state religion to Orthodox Christianity and destroyed pagan temples and icons. This simple change of dress symbolized a radical shift that has characterized the Protestant West ever since: that the knowledge of God is mediated primarily through the written Word. Excellent comment Kosmas, I totally concur. We have challenges here in Africa to find such information for, So glorious+++ Most Holy Theotokos save us, Pectoral Cross In addition, a new convert must undergo a formal process of initiation. This absorbed my attention so much that I was apt to expound my current level of comprehension to anyone who stood still in my vicinity. Her name is right belief. It depends on where you put the emphasis. Vladimir I and Christianization | Western Civilization - Lumen Learning Orthodox Christians believe you must be converted every day- every day - and everyone must start with this step if they desire to make spiritual progress and be saved. As Philip said to Nathaniel, Come and see [John 1:46]. How Christianity Came to Ukraine and Russia | Christian History I will always remember my first visit to an Orthodox church in Russia. She is the Church of martyrs. Schisms had already occurred in the Christian church, and others would occur later, but the Great Schism was the first of such major consequence. Why Would A Protestant Christian Convert to Eastern Orthodox - YouTube If you have a specific question about Orthodox Christianity or the Orthodox Church in America, And while it's true that my involvement with Judaism began with a Jewish boyfriend now my husband of 28 years and the father of our two children as Reform Jews, I would not have had to convert to participate in Jewish life and raise Jewish children. With Gossip of the Gospel, the Church Grows in Nepal, After Pushing for UMC Unity, Former Bishop Joins New Denomination, Christian Conservationists Sue to Protect Ghana Forest, Complete access to articles on ChristianityToday.com, Over 120 years of magazine archives plus full access to all of CTs online archives. Romania, 19.8 million When you are the only Norse guy and most of your lands are Slovianskian, it makes more sense to convert yourself than to convert them. Together they gathered an army with the intent to regain control of Rus' and establish Vladimir as the ruler. I have read many things on the internet, as well as a number of books about the Churchs faith, worship and history. When you convert, you must verbalize your commitment to live in accordance with all of the Torah 's commandments as they are explained in Torah law. Religion became a state of the Roman Empire, and Christianity became an enormous and influential religion nationwide. Orthodoxy generally affirms the same seven sacraments as Catholicism: baptism, chrismation or confirmation, the Eucharist, repentance or confession, holy orders or ordination, marriage, and holy unction or anointing of the sick. Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight our commonalities. We are looking forward to our journey in the church. Why Would a Protestant Convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? Applies to RCC too. What do they find so attractive? So You Want to Convert to Judaism? It's Not That Easy Christ is thus "the Offerer and the Offered, the Acceptor and the Distributed," all in such a way that nothing is added to his once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. An Appeal to Traditional Roman Catholics From - Orthodox Christianity After that, Orthodoxy is by far the best possible choice of religion for Russia because of Byzantium. Who Converted Russian Religion To Orthodox Christianity? There I was, a Protestant theologian teaching in the former Department of Scientific Atheism in the land where Eastern Orthodoxy had reigned for over 1,000 years. So why should someone desire to join the Orthodox Church? 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. For example, their local parish was too ethnic; the priest wasnt nice or outgoing; their spouse wasnt interested; they found logical inconsistencies in the writings of the fathers; and so on. Orthodoxy allows divorce in some conditions if I'm not mistaken, and it would have been an easier transition to switch to another powerful church (and become friendly with Russia, etc.). Why are so many Christians in Colombia converting to Orthodox Judaism These arguments wont convert anyone. Women and men who marry into the Orthodox Jewish faith are required to convertand both genders follow an identical process. There is a certain chemistry involved, which one cannot so easily verbalize. If they are looking for an ethnic identity because they feel they have none. For example, it is understandable that evangelicals feel that the Orthodox doctrine of the church is too "high." Worse, they considered the interpolation to be theologically untrue and a threat to the doctrine of the Trinity. A radical conversion to Christianity. Your email address will not be published. Holy Orders are a mystery (sacrament) of the Church, and the Spirit blows where it will. Orthodoxy provides a full-bodied, full-souled spiritual life that assumes that everything you do as a Christian makes you either more like God or less like Him, and because becoming like God is what salvation consists of, that means that everything you do is critical. Is Orthodox different from Catholic? Roman Emperor Constantine's Conversion to Christianity - Classic History The Orthodox Church has existed since the day of Pentecost and when we truly believe and become truly attached, not merely by baptism or chrismation, not merely by our presence but by our actions and our inner convictions, then and only then do we truly become connected to the Church, to Jesus Christ the Saviour and therefore to the Trinitarian God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. On another front, under the leadership of founder Bradley Nassif, the Society for the Study of Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism (SSEOE) holds meetings each fall at Wheaton College's Billy Graham Center for the sake of the two traditions learning from one another. The Orthodox Church is the ancient Church that Christ and the Apostles established. A wooden pectoral cros, Pectoral Cross for Clergy There is a distinct set of conservative converts to Eastern Orthodoxy, which depending on your perspective either left, or was left by, Roman Catholicism in the Great Schism of 1054. Thus Georges Florovsky once referred to tradition as "the witness of the Spirit.". There is another reason someone should not join Our Church. Kind of like large scale serial monogamous people. My husband had been an Episcopal priest for 16 years, and we had gradually moved from an evangelical-style low church to the more liturgically-fancy high church. Orthodoxy looked like taking that escalator up one more floor. Vladimir fled to his kinsman Haakon Sigurdsson, who ruled Norway at the time. One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. Converts from Protestantism claim that Orthodoxy is strongest where evangelicals tend to be weak-its robust liturgical celebration of the majesty and mystery of God, its unyielding insistence on the indispensable role of tradition in theology, and its admirable heritage of perseverance amid terrible fires of persecution. In 858 Photius was appointed as Orthodoxy's new patriarch at Constantinople, replacing Ignatius, who had been exiled and later resigned his duties. Scripture and tradition. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Why Are Protestants Converting To Orthodox Christianity? Andrey brings us the news about Orthodox Christianity (the form of Christianity . 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. And I would try hard, no doubt to the point of rudeness, to convince them this was not so. This book cover is mad, Worship Gospel This is a sufficiently serious reason for reproach: We are right to expect that the Church will point out a path toward God, independently of the jolts and shocks of the epoch; that it will remain,. This icon, Wedding Icon of The Mother Of God Kate Forbes is young, smart, a woman (in the actual sense of the word), but fatally, an orthodox Christian seeking the top office in the land. 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." Thank you for this post! 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. Converts to Orthodox Christianity in America in the Russian Church Why Would a Protestant Convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? Despite its historical estrangement from Rome, from a Protestant theological perspective Orthodoxy is similar to Catholicism at several points. In fact, it promises a Cross and joining with Christ in both suffering and humiliation. Small bodies of Orthodox believers exist in other places as "autonomous" but not "autocephalous" churches (Finland, Japan, former Czechoslovakia, etc.). While some did come over by force, the Orthodox also forcibly converted large numbers of Eastern Catholics Orthodoxy. One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed "the pillar and foundation of the truth" ( 1 Tim. But this really begs another question: "Essential" for what? Liberalism is not a word in the Orthodox vocabulary. 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. Orthodoxy in America Has a Convert Problem Through the centuries, theological, geopolitical, cultural, and linguistic factors have combined to differentiate the Orthodox ethos from Western patterns of Christianity. ), since the Reformation, justification by faith and substitutionary atonement have enjoyed pride of place in our understanding of the doctrines of sin and salvation. What steps would I take to become an Orthodox Christian? As with liturgy, conversion to Orthodoxy is hardly a prerequisite for a renewed engagement with apostolic tradition. To be Eastern Orthodox is, above all, to stake a bold and unapologetic theological claim as the one true church of Christ on earth, which alone has guarded right belief and true worship in absolute identity and unbroken succession with the apostolic church. You can also subscribe without commenting. 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. How To Become An Orthodox Christian - Journey To Orthodoxy we'll be happy to answer it! Orthodox churches are full of them. A person (who is searching within) goes through clerical education to explore questions. That vision is of the Living God revealed in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant, the life of the Faithful, the hope of the . Once inside, a Western Christian experiences sensory overload: the near absence of chairs or pews, dim lighting, head coverings for most women, icons and frescoes covering almost every inch of space on the walls and ceiling, a massive and ornate iconostasis separating the priest and the worshipers, the smoky smell of incense and hundreds of candles burning in memory of the dead, the priest resplendent in his ornate vestments and enormous beard, and worshipers repeatedly prostrating themselves, kissing the icons, and making the sign of the cross. Whereas Western Protestants want to hear the written Word spoken in the sermon, Orthodox believers want to see it in the visual images of iconsas well as hear it in the spoken word. Interesting comments. In Orthodoxy one encounters the eternal, unchangeable God. The East allowed some priests to marry, while the West required celibacy. It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. Why Are Protestants Converting To Orthodox Christianity? Even more obnoxious, though, must be the tendency to reject hospitality. We think the fundamental Christian schism occurred when Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg church, October 31, 1517. Ignatius's followers, however, refused to acknowledge the transition, and eventually both Ignatius and Photius appealed to Pope Nicholas (858-67) in Rome. Indeed, what Protestant converts to Orthodoxy have often sought is not only a conscious continuity with the historic, apostolic past, but also a richer experience of God's majesty and mystery through a more liturgical worship setting. Most notable are its beliefs about baptism and the Eucharist. But why is our kind so characteristically obnoxious? From Protestant to Orthodox - Orthodox Christianity serving Costa Mesa, CA
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