Pray for the Lords mercy, and you can find the strength to endure to the end. So, you have decided to convert to the Greek Orthodox Christian religion. Instead, an adolescent has to figure out and establish his adult persona in the face of affection. The pairing of both secular groups with the Orthodox in a religious freedom case is rare they have frequently been on opposite sides on church-state separation issues such as same-sex marriage . Is Orthodox different from Catholic? What Scripture proclaims by word, the icon proclaims by color. Are you sure you heard the Meaning of Christmas? In the dystopian film,Children of Mendirected by Alfonso Cuarn, a world is imagined in the future where no more children are born, and, as the decades pass, humanity is plunged into despair. Legislation pending in Russia, for example, could, if implemented, curtail Western missionary enterprises. In addition, sizable Orthodox "diasporate" groups exist in Europe, North and South America, and Australia, typically under the jurisdiction of one of the thirteen patriarchates mentioned above. Your email address will not be published. Even more obnoxious, though, must be the tendency to reject hospitality. In the East the local parish priest could administer the sacrament of confirmation; in the West only the bishop could. 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 no small thing for us to hold in common all the early, Christian creeds. Why did Vladimir convert to Orthodox Christianity? Protestant Christianity," Andrei went on, "is a cheap, terrible substitute, and an Orthodox believer who knows his own faith will never go there.". 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. For example, on the Feast of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, the chanter launches into this: Of the Father before the morning star Thou wast begotten from the womb without mother before all ages, even though Arius did believe Thee to be created, not God, classing Thee in ignorance and impudence with creatures. We cannot describe it to you: only this we know, that God dwells there among men, and that their service surpasses the worship of all other places. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. * Without waiting for a response, Humbert exited the church and declared, "Let God look and judge." Orthodoxy insists tenaciously on the role of tradition which is her very life and builds upon its past, without revisions. 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. Ask An Eastern Orthodox Christian: Conversion Process - SpokaneFVS Why should we welcome that? And these prayers are jam-packed. 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. Have something to add about this? They are the efficacious means by which God transmits his salvific and sanctifying grace to us. Sad, very sad. Why are so many Christians in Colombia converting to Orthodox Judaism The Orthodox Church in America, with roots in Moscow and about 85,000 adherents . Photius then branded the entire Western church as heretical for inserting the phrase "and the Son" (filioque) into the Nicene Creed. Orthodox Priest Explains Why Many People in the West are Converting to Orthodox Christianity. Orthodoxy looks forward, to the age to come. Is the church made up of those who have been "regenerated" by infant baptism in an Orthodox church institution, or by those who have experienced new birth and been justified by grace through faith? (2 Pet. Praise for Surprised by Christ "Surprised by Christ is an autobiography, an intellectual history, and a conversion story, and more than these, conveys a spiritual and theological vision in a message that touches people from many different backgrounds. 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. Worse, they considered the interpolation to be theologically untrue and a threat to the doctrine of the Trinity. It is a good question, one I will answer in due course. 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. Baptism is the primary and fundamental basis of the entire Orthodox Christian life. This book cover is made to order i, Hand-painted Icon of Christ the Pantocrator (acryl. 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?" During my four years as a visiting professor at Moscow State University (1991-95) I often felt schizophrenic. "We are Orthodox because (we) follow the same laws like in other Orthodox communities in the world," explains Meyer Sanchez, assistant to a rabbi in Medelln. 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. Included in this liturgy is an anathema on all those who reject icons. Other times it is a youth group or Bible study group inspiring and educating. Questions & Answers / Christians in the West variously trace their roots to Rome (Catholics), Wittenberg (Lutherans), Geneva (Calvinists), Canterbury (Anglicans), or Oxford (Wesleyans). Vladimir I, a great prince of Kiev, reigned from 980 till 1015 and succeeded in the mass conversion of the Eastern Slavs.1 Throughout his reign Vladimir's agenda had . At the beginning, I thought I knew what I was getting into. But I slowly came to see that I cant communicate it. 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. One is attracted to Orthodoxy in the same way one falls in love. It is why I think a number of people have a list of groups they have been in here. In this wonderful, 4-minute video, Fr. Telegram | It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. I sincerely wish to know everyone's reasons for converting to Orthodoxy. Several factors must be considered when converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity. We are not seeking to reform or to teach the Church how it should do things, but are rather seeking to be formed by the Church and to learn how we should be doing things as faithful Christians. Why I Didn't Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy Conciliar Post Learn About the Religion. This hardly signifies any sort of congregational or ecclesiological democracy, however, for while all believers possess the truth, it is the special duty of church authorities to teach it. 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. And I would try hard, no doubt to the point of rudeness, to convince them this was not so. Its that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. 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.". It is not always easy to advance strong arguments for these conversions. Why Are Protestants Converting To Orthodox Christianity? According to the Second Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 787, icons are of equal benefit as Scripture in presenting the gospel message. Through the centuries, theological, geopolitical, cultural, and linguistic factors have combined to differentiate the Orthodox ethos from Western patterns of Christianity. T he Orthodox Church in the United States has problems. Russia, 50-85 million It doesnt matter how long they have served, or how extensive their education. 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. There was plenty of ceremony and beauty, but without the mainline churches affection for keeping up-to-date. Conversion is not only a matter of the intellect, but also of the heart. In fact, what Orthodox converts "vow to accept" diverges significantly from important, basic tenets of evangelical Protestantism. Conversion means belief and acceptance in Jesus Christ, the God-man, as the Savior of the world. Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight our commonalities. One can find Orthodox statements that ascribe a unique authority to Scripture over tradition, but these are few and far between, and they speak of tradition in a narrower than usual sense. 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. The independent Orthodox Church in America (OCA) desires to function as a fully "autocephalous" church, although as yet the oca has not been officially recognized by most of the thirteen patriarchates. Since the World Council of Churches' Canberra Assembly in 1991, evangelical and Orthodox believers have joined in a series of wcc-sponsored dialogues on matters challenging historic Christian faith. A wedding set o, Wedding Icon of Christ the Pantocrator (in Oklad /, A Handmade Bookcover For The Gospel. In 867, Patriarch Photius of Constantinople told other Christian patriarchs that the Rus' people were converting enthusiastically, but his efforts seem to have entailed no lasting consequences, since the Primary Chronicle and other Slavonic sources describe the tenth-century Rus' as still firmly entrenched in Slavic paganism. These are worthy pursuits that can be fulfilled in the Orthodox Church. After that, Orthodoxy is by far the best possible choice of religion for Russia because of Byzantium. For Eastern Christians, this was yet another Roman encroachment upon their autonomy. Further, Protestants have long enjoyed rich liturgical traditions of their own (see, for example, Bard Thompson's classic Liturgies of the Western Church). Interesting comments. Unfortunately most "Orthodox Christian" are nominal even despite their active presence they are nominal because they extinguish the Holy Spirit and do not have a relationship with God, they outwardly seem to be praying but like the Pharisee praise themselves for being 'good with God'. On these points evangelical and Orthodox thinking diverge in significant ways. A radical conversion to Christianity. Nicholas reversed the decision, reinstating Ignatius and deposing Photius. But about this pursuit we can make several observations. 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. Ignatius's followers, however, refused to acknowledge the transition, and eventually both Ignatius and Photius appealed to Pope Nicholas (858-67) in Rome. Made using e, Book Cover for the Epistle Andrey brings us the news about Orthodox Christianity (the form of Christianity . Step Two: Repentance There is no salvation without repentance. Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight what we hold in common. 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. 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. Take Russia as an example: First, the majority of Russians are non-Christian and unevangelized. Who can explain why one has fallen in love with a given person? Buddhism and Conversion to Orthodoxy - Questions & Answers - Orthodox In the first place, Christians believed Jesus to be the true God rather than a semi-god. 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. It took me a few years to sense that there was a whole other something going on. Forgetting early on that Orthodox worship is liturgical and cyclical (i.e. People are attracted by the permanence of Orthodoxy. I cant be the only one to have done this. St. Theophan The Recluse On Spiritual Practice. Jerusalem, 260,000 July 2012 edited December 1969 in Coptic Orthodox Church As an Eastern Orthodox Christian, I am interested in finding out why all of you converts out there converted to the Coptic Orthodox Church, and not any one of the Eastern Orthodox Churches readily available in so many parts of the world. Needless to say, Rome was indignant; not until the Lateran Council of 1215 did it acknowledge the status of Constantinople. Tom Hanks Legion Media The famous Hollywood actor converted to Orthodox Christianity as an adult. And these prayers are jam-packed. While evangelicals might be eager to argue there is no biblical warrant for icons, for the Orthodox it is enough that icons have always been a part of church tradition. Suspicion and recrimination have often characterized relationships between Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Protestantism. Because of my interest for eastern culture, negative views on catholicism (I live in a mostly catholic country) and protestantism and my fascisnation for the Orthodox Church, i decided to convert to just that. I will always remember my first visit to an Orthodox church in Russia. Its not something you can figure out by studying the Church Fathers. But dont do it for all the wrong reasons. 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. It is not surprising they become disaffected and leave. More than 70 percent of the roughly 75,000 Antiochian Orthodox Christians in the United States are converts. Spiritual enlightenment changes everything. Paganism was a mental mindset of the Eastern Slavs living in a world where a majority of the European countries surrounding them had already converted to a monastic religion. She is conscious of being the true Church founded by Christ. Conversions gradually transforming Orthodox Christianity Similarly, a person can read a dozen books on Orthodox Christianity, but that which he or she has read will not come alive until he or she actually encounters the Church as the worshipping People of God. He has no good option for dealing with that affection, so he's either sullen or angry. In Russia, the largest figure usually cited for the Orthodox Church is 85 million people (some estimates are as low as 50 million), which means 100 million Russiansmore than half the countryare not affiliated with Orthodoxy. The unchangeableness of dogma as well as the purity of rite [are] entrusted to the care not of one hierarchy but of all the people of the church." Why did Kievan Rus convert to Orthodox Christianity? Why Converts to Christian Orthodoxy Are So Obnoxious by Frederica For me, the one and only valid, core reason is because a person desires to be part of the one, true Body of Christ. Two theological controversies drove the final wedge between Catholic and Orthodox Christians: papal supremacy and the so-called filioque controversy. Why do People Convert to Orthodox Christianity? - Orthodox Witness She is the Church of martyrs. Now let's hear from Frederica. In the end, they concocted a list of reasons for not converting. Geoff Harvey on Thu, 20/11/2008 - 11:15am. To the extent, however, one could intellectualize the reasons for converting, he or she would probably summarize them along these lines: In our ever-changing world, in the constant re-design of services and re-evaluation of beliefs, Orthodoxy stands as a mountain of granite, unshakable by fads and movements and political correctness. True, Luther and some other Protestants have not viewed baptismal regeneration and justification by faith as mutually exclusive. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. Why did Vladimir convert to Orthodox Christianity? The Orthodox Churches share with the other Christian Churches the belief that God revealed himself in Jesus Christ, and a belief in the incarnation of Christ, his crucifixion and resurrection. Why Would A Protestant Christian Convert to Eastern Orthodox - YouTube Orthodox believers see things very differently. In 1993, I was chrismated and joined the Eastern Orthodox Church. 7 Hollywood stars who adopted Orthodox Christianity For employment at a seminary? In Orthodoxy one encounters the eternal, unchangeable God. How to Become an Orthodox Christian - Phoenix, Arizona its the same every year, year after year), it soon becomes familiar, and perhaps even boring for some. There are two accounts of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. Handcarved As a young convert to Orthodox Christianity myself, I can testify that confession and Communion have filled my life meaning and have directed me when I have felt lost. I think people just dont believe me, and I hardly provide a good personal example. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. The reason Orthodoxy is stable is because she is grounded in the truth. Why are Young People Becoming Orthodox? Engage Orthodoxy 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. It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. Russian Baptists, Adventists, and Pentecostals feel persecuted. But every church must have its distinctives, or wed all be in the same church. 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 . Before long, in Reformation churches the sermon had replaced the Eucharist as the defining moment of the liturgy. 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. Similarly, Protestants like Thomas Oden, Donald Bloesch, and others have shown that one need not join Orthodoxy to immerse oneself in the patristic past with joy, gratitude, and a sense of accountability to that "great cloud of witnesses" of the last two millennia. Now, the question stands: If one is convinced that Orthodox Christianity possess the fullness of truth and is God . Thank you for this post! 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. Not that every churchgoer is following that path, not that the church administration is perfect, but that the path still existed thats what amazed me. 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. Constantine had once controlled the entire Mediterranean perimeter, and as a result, Christianity flourished. Before trying to discern how evangelicals should respond to these many issues involving Eastern Orthodoxy, a brief history is in order. My ideas havent changed, and Im always glad for a good discussion, but maybe Im past the need to belabor them. I can't be the only one who's observed a friend converting to Orthodox Christianity and noticed them instantly, literally overnight, losing their sense of . Hymns like these offer quite a theological education to anyone who comes to services, and if you didnt catch it all, theres a good chance theyre going to sing it two more times. Orthodox Christians were more inclined to appeal to the ecumenical councils than to a single bishop to settle theological matters. Georgia, 3 million 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. The reality of the difficulty of living the Orthodox life then bubbles up, and apostasy from exhaustion is a real risk. 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. My Conversion from Islam to Orthodoxy - ORTHODOX CHEYENNE Hello all, forgive me if I am posting to the wrong forum. Like baptism, the Eucharist is administered to infants. Put more starkly, Orthodoxy explicitly rejects the historic Protestant idea of sola scriptura. Buddhists fast, pray, and give alms. Orthodox Christian churches are drawing in far-right American converts At the time, I was so occupied with comprehending this strange thing called Orthodoxy that I emphasized the differences, and was impatient with kindly big-tent suggestions. If a richer liturgical life is what a believer wants, converting to Orthodoxy is hardly necessary. 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 People Convert to Orthodoxy I've chosen Oriental Orthodoxy over the Byzantine Church because I believe that ours is closer in doctrine and liturgy to the earliest Christians. 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.
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