why convert to orthodox christianity

Unfortunately the Eastern organization is founded on control and power. Thus Luther once wrote, "What else do I contend for but to bring everyone to an understanding of the difference between the divine Scripture and human teaching or custom?" In any event, feel free to introduce yourself to and speak with the priest and his parishioners. 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. It is no small thing for us to hold in common all the early, Christian creeds. Any vestiges of hope for unity after the estrangement of 1054 were dashed with the pillage of 1204. But I slowly came to see that I cant communicate it. From Islam to Indonesian Orthodox Priest In "Clergy" 97% of Moldovans Identify as Orthodox Christians In "Latest Stories" I appreciate this articles use of blunt honesty! Poland, 1 million 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. 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'. 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. Yes, because clearly a Christian is the most honest person to talk about the inner thoughts of atheists . People often assume that most Jews by choice convert because they have a partner or spouse who is Jewish. The true details behind her Included in this liturgy is an anathema on all those who reject icons. He made the decision to convert following his second marriage to actress Rita Wilson in. In other words, one cannot embrace Orthodox Christianity without embracing Orthodox Christians. Naturally, it is crucial to know what the Church teaches and acquire an Orthodox mindset on the intellectual level, so to speak, but it is equally crucial to grow in identifying with the People of God, the worshipping community, through fellowship. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. It was electrifying. In Orthodoxy one encounters the eternal, unchangeable God. Its just that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. But the impulse is to exaggerate the differences when you fear being hugged to death. 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. 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 independent churches, they are not bound together by any unilateral or monarchical organization, nor do they owe allegiance to a single primacy, as Roman Catholics do to the pope. Do we mean essential for salvation? St. Theophan The Recluse On Spiritual Practice. Subscribe for our weekly newsletter not to miss the most interesting articles on our blog. Why Converts to Christian Orthodoxy can be Obnoxious, People who've found their way back to Orthodoxy, Theophan the Recluse on Spiritual Practice. Put more starkly, Orthodoxy explicitly rejects the historic Protestant idea of sola scriptura. While discovering the truth of Orthodoxy is exciting, we need to learn a gracious balance when dealing with our friends, family, workmates and others with whom we have contact. And for Orthodoxy, this argument from holy tradition is of great significance. Why did you convert to Orthodoxy? | OrthodoxChristianity.net It takes awhile to get it, because its gotten by a process of immersion, by soaking in a context of worship. Daniel B. Clendenin is a graduate staff member for InterVarsity at Stanford University and author of Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A Western Perspective and Eastern Orthodox Theology: A Contemporary Reader (both published by Baker). 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. Needless to say, Rome was indignant; not until the Lateran Council of 1215 did it acknowledge the status of Constantinople. Sdn Tim Grace unveils the surprising message of Christmas. Forgetting early on that Orthodox worship is liturgical and cyclical (i.e. Is it wrong for Western missionaries to seek to convert the Orthodox in lands like Russia, Romania, or Greece? As I realized what the big difference is, I grew more insistent, Im afraid. Suspicion and recrimination have often characterized relationships between Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Protestantism. Their new group who were so "excited" to have them isn't interested/has no role for them as clergy. Our digital archives are a work in progress. While Rome stumbled toward destruction in 476, Constantinople enjoyed relative theological and political stability for another 1,000 years, until it was sacked by the Turks in 1453. Converting to Orthodoxy - SPCK Publishing ), since the Reformation, justification by faith and substitutionary atonement have enjoyed pride of place in our understanding of the doctrines of sin and salvation. Evangelicals urge the necessity of personal conversion through the faith and repentance of the individual believer, as opposed to the Orthodox idea of regeneration by the sacraments. 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. But the human warts of where they are at and continuing searching within causes them to look elsewhere. Orthodox Priest Explains Why Many People in the West are Converting to Orthodox Christianity. Vladimir I formed an alliance with Basil II of the Byzantine Empire and married his sister Anna in 988. Conversion to Christianity - Wikipedia Rather, "theosis" (literally, "deification"), or the progressive transformation of people into full likeness to God, in soul and body, takes center stage. Why Are There So Many Curses and Cruelties In The Psalms? 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. Russia, 50-85 million 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. The first, most obvious explanation is that some people simply are obnoxious to start with. Early on in the life of the Christian church, the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West began to diverge. The priest censes them and elevates them in processions. 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. Karmiris writes, "Scripture and Tradition are equally valid, possess equal dogmatic authority, and are equal in value as sources of dogmatic truth . 12 Reasons Why I Became and/or Remain an Orthodox Christian It is precisely this exclusivistic assertion that some Protestant converts, in search of the "true, New Testament Church" have found so beguiling. For such a question presupposes a particular person's journey of faith. I cant be the only one to have done this. Conversion is not only a matter of the intellect, but also of the heart. But this really begs another question: "Essential" for what? Click for reprint information. In 858 Photius was appointed as Orthodoxy's new patriarch at Constantinople, replacing Ignatius, who had been exiled and later resigned his duties. Why Would I Need to Convert in Order to Get Married? Why isn't everyone christian? : r/Christianity Orthodoxy's size alone warrants our attention, despite its invisibility on the cultural radar screens of most Americans. The Puritan John Foxe, for example, insisted that "God conducted the Reformation by printing, writing, and reading." Lol. You may wish to call the parish priest in advance to introduce yourself and explain that you will be joining him and the faithful of his parish for the first time, although this is not absolutely essential. In the 950s, Olga, the grandmother of Vladimir, was . As I realized what the big difference is,I grew more insistent, I'm afraid. It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. Clickhereto learn more about the deeds we are talking of and to learn how you can become a part of our social ministry and help those in need. Perhaps this unanticipated experience of encountering something unknown and marvellously organic accounts for the distinctive lapel-grabbing impulse among converts to Orthodoxy. It doesnt matter how long they have served, or how extensive their education. Tom Hanks Legion Media The famous Hollywood actor converted to Orthodox Christianity as an adult. 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. Further, Protestants have long enjoyed rich liturgical traditions of their own (see, for example, Bard Thompson's classic Liturgies of the Western Church). 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). The rise of Islam after Muhammad (died 632) was likewise crucial. 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. 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. Underneath were written the Greek words en toutoi nika, "In this sign, conquer." Another danger is converting to Orthodoxy simply because it is beautiful. Such a question cannot be answered through the use of dogmatic assertions or theoretical musings. There was plenty of ceremony and beauty, but without the mainline churches affection for keeping up-to-date. So they begin the process of "converting.". * A person (who is searching within) goes through clerical education to explore questions. 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." For employment at a seminary? 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. It takes a while to get it, because its received by a process of immersion, by soaking in a context of worship. Nicholas Kim. I think people just dont believe me, and I hardly provide a good personal example. For them the fundamental schism occurred 500 years earlierin the year 1054 (more about that below). 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My husband and I were just Chrismated into the church on Christmas day. As if this were not quite enough, during the Fourth Crusade, Western forces stormed Constantinople in 1204 and ransacked the Church of the Holy Wisdom, an unimaginable act of desecration from the viewpoint of Orthodoxy. Theological disputes combined with these geopolitical and cultural factors to divide the Christian East and West. Orthodox churches are full of them. But every church must have its distinctiveness, or wed all be in the same church. Heres a clue to a third possibility. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. July 26, 2019 By Fr. Linguistic factors posed other, very practical problems. Copyright 19962023. 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. Spiritual enlightenment changes everything. Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight what we hold in common. Now let's hear from Frederica. In fact, much of what is basic to Christianity: the nature, sources, and interpretation of God's revelation to us, the meaning of the church and its sacraments, the doctrines of sin and salvation, and even how one enters the kingdom of God. And these prayers are jam-packed. Why did Kievan Rus convert to Orthodox Christianity? Site Map | So Christianity would not have been completely alien to the Rus, and even Vladimir's grandmother, Olga, would become enamored with Christianity. They have not given up the idea of being clergy. Its not something you can figure out by studying the Church Fathers. Geoff. 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. It is not a surprise that many Catholics adhering to traditional values are converting to conservative Orthodoxy. How do you convert to Greek Orthodox Christianity? - Short-Fact 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. The Orthodox Church has suffered throughout her history. Nicholas reversed the decision, reinstating Ignatius and deposing Photius. In Protestantism there arose the doctrine of sola scriptura. Then B. Several factors must be considered when converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity. Has Orthodoxy in these lands obscured the gospel, becoming merely a "cultural" religion thoroughly assimilated to ethnic identity?

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