I Did It!

[Alexis OCA]

Dear friends,

I did it! This morning after Divine Liturgy I presented Father with a formal letter requesting to become a catechumen and placing myself in his spiritual care. He happily accepted! Since he knows my background and I was already confirmed in the RC church he said the process should not take too long. I thank all of you who have kept me in your prayers.

It rained today here in NY but it was the happiest rain I ever walked in!

Warmest regards,
Douglas (Grigori)

[InnerPhyre]

Awesome! :)

[Greg the byzantine]

What a great day to become a catechumen, on the sunday of ORTHODOXY. Congrats from a fellow New Yorker!

[Rilian]

That's awesome. Both you and InnerPhyre have been in my prayers.

[Matrona]

Wonderful news, congratulations!

[Prawnik]

I agree, Grisha and Phyre, your timing is beautiful - no time like the present.

[Orthosdoxa]

Welcome home, brotha! :clap:

[countrymouse33ad]

Congratulations! :clap:

[Dust and Ashes]

Awesome news!!! Congratulations!!! :clap:

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Awesome!:cool: :thumbsup:

[Victrixa]

I'm really happy for you GregChant! :hug:

[gord96]

congratulations! all the best :)

[jameseb]

Congratulations, Greg. :)

[Photini]

:clap: That's wonderful!

[Oblio]

Congratulations Grigori, many years !

[Philip]

:clap:

[xenia]

Yippy skippy! :)

[Xpycoctomos]

Congratulations!

Donde esta PeterPaul?....

[xenia]

Si, los tres hermanos. :)

[Stephanida]

Congratulations!!! Many years!

[MariaRegina]

Congratulations and Many years.

[Maximus]

Congratulations, Doug.

As others have remarked, the Sunday of Orthodoxy was a great day for such a momentous event.

May God grant you and yours many blessed years.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Congratulations! May God grant you many years!

[Monica, child of God]

Many years! Many, many years!

:clap: :clap: :clap:

[Alexis OCA]

Thank you for all your love and support! I was so excited and exhausted after Divine Liturgy I slept for a few hours....now I'm still excited and I can't sleep!

With affection,
Douglas

[Eusebios]

Douglas,
How wonderful for you! Many years my brother!
His unworthy servant,
Eusebios.
:bow:

[ExOrienteLux]

Welcome home, brother!

And always remember:

This is the Faith of the Apostles, this is the Faith of the Fathers, this is the Faith of the Orthodox, this is the Faith which hath established the Cosmos!

[NewToLife]

Many Years :).

[vanshan]

Welcome home, this is great news.

Basil

[Momzilla]

:clap: Congratulations!

[Mary of Bethany]

How wonderful, Grigori!!!

Mary

[Wiffey]

Many years!!!

[Alexis OCA]

For the record....

I am more than five years in the making
I originally thought Father was going too slow when I met him two years ago. (Father Knew Best)
I am a former college-seminarian and spent 3 years in a catholic religious order
I've studied philosophy, theology, patristics, and church history
I have Orthodox genes (maternal great-grandparents and grandmother)
Orthodox ancestors in heaven won't let me turn around now

So you're all stuck with me.
Thank You God.

Love you all.

[Alexis OCA]

The reason given for an individual's conversion to Orthodoxy according to one lay theologian on another board:

"Well it is either fallen human nature or Satan, it certainly can't be Christ. He built HIS Church on Peter."



As my Italian wife would say, "Mamma Mia!":doh:

[Matrona]

The reason given for an individual's conversion to Orthodoxy according to one lay theologian on another board:

Well it is either fallen human nature or Satan, it certainly can't be Christ. He built HIS Church on Peter.



As my Italian wife would say, "Mamma Mia!":doh:

:eek:

How nice!

[Paisley]

The reason given for an individual's conversion to Orthodoxy according to one lay theologian on another board:

"Well it is either fallen human nature or Satan, it certainly can't be Christ. He built HIS Church on Peter."



As my Italian wife would say, "Mamma Mia!":doh:


I understand they found Peter's bones under the Vatican, just beneath the altar. Or so they claim... so yes, they built their church on top of him, but how about through his influence?

Okay, bad joke...throw your rotten tomatoes at me now. :D

[Alexis OCA]

Another lay theologian checks in with this:

"Technically- the Orthodox are in schism, while the Protestants are comitting heresey."

I gonna tell Father at my next meeting!

Honestly, I'm getting great material for my next special on Comedy Central.

[Matrona]

Another lay theologian checks in with this:

"Technically- the Orthodox are in schism, while the Protestants are comitting heresey."

I gonna tell Father at my next meeting!

Honestly, I'm getting great material for my next special on Comedy Central.

:hug:

Try not to be too concerned with the mean things they say sometimes. Instead, remember the good times you've had there.

[Alexis OCA]

:hug:

Try not to be too concerned with the mean things they say sometimes. Instead, remember the good times you've had there.

Indeed I do! I am grateful for the faith foundation that made me who I am today.:amen:

[Rilian]

It seems odd to me to say on one hand, I like church "blah, blah" and respect its theology. I actually hope we come in to communion with it. Oh, but if you join church "blah, blah" it's an act of apostasy, your spiritual pride is at work and Satan has a hand in it, etc., etc.

It doesn't make sense to me. No less than the accusation of sheep stealing, while at the same time extolling the virtues of a group of churches built on what? You guessed it, sheep stealing.

Oh well. I think my irony-o-meter is near maximum.

[Xpycoctomos]

Yeah, I agree, but I am just as bad myself. I mean, I do have a lot of respect for the Catholic Church and faith. Obviously, I disagree with a lot of what they uphold, but it is perhaps the closest thing on earth to the Church withouut being within Her canonical borders. (I know many disagree with this... this is not THE orthodox position, please I don't feel like defending myself... just let rest for a while lol). But, at the same time, it is not one (at least not visibly) with the Canonical Church and there are serious concerns I have for the RC.

So, with that said... I still admire them a great deal and feel an intense feeling of brotherly love when I am with them. i was in Spain for a year and Catholics (a priest, a community and many friends) were my support. The most Orthodox support was a huge ethnic Romanian Parish in Madrid that I went to twice... and it wasn't a community of faith, but rather of economics and nationality... which is fine... but I fit in neither of those two... so I was just a visitor... oh and anyway, those services were held in a huge Catholic parish.

I used to be Lutheran... very Lutheran (whatever that means) and it is wehre i learned everything. But I don't feel the closeness I feel when I am talking with Catholics. I do feel they are my seperated brethern.. like.. an estranged brother that I feel for everytime I see him. This is not so with Lutheran.. it's more like just a good friend. I would love for them to come to Orthodoxy. But while I would be so happy for Catholics to come to Orthodoxy, I don't wish for it. It's just... different. And I can't explain it. but, I am very sorrowful when we lose an Orthodox to the Catholic Church... but it's not the same sorrow as when they leave for a protestant Church or worse yet a non-Christian Church.

A lot conflicting feelings that I don't think I will ever resolve. I don't apologize for my feelings either. I see that they conflict (or that I just don't know yet how to organize them) but as long as I do not compromise that the Orthodox Church is the Church that Christ laid down (a conviction which goes stronger all the time) I am fine with contradiction. As long as that conviction stays firm, that's all that matters to me.

So anyway, while i understand what Rilian is saying, I do think that the Catholic's respect for Orthodoxy is genuine... contradictory with their actions... indeed, but genuine. It's such a confusing time... yet so clear. Sounded profound... but did anyone get it? lol

John

[Matrona]

It seems odd to me to say on one hand, I like church "blah, blah" and respect its theology. I actually hope we come in to communion with it. Oh, but if you join church "blah, blah" it's an act of apostasy, your spiritual pride is at work and Satan has a hand in it, etc., etc.

I noticed that, too.

And since when is Orthodoxy the "easy road"? What the heck?!

Those people have obviously never dealt with the gastrointestinal consequences of fasting from animal products for seven weeks and then eating piles and piles of meat and dairy after Pascha!

http://sinfest.net/comics/sf20000723.gif

It doesn't make sense to me. No less than the accusation of sheep stealing, while at the same time extolling the virtues of a group of churches built on what? You guessed it, sheep stealing.

Oh well. I think my irony-o-meter is near maximum.

I don't call it irony. I have another word for it. :)

[Annabel Lee]

Sounded profound... but did anyone get it? lol

John

Yes. :)

[ProCommunioneFacior]

but did anyone get it? lol

John

I got it brother.

[ProCommunioneFacior]

Nevermind

[Strength&Honour]

congratulations

[Matrona]

Nevermind

I've noticed these "nevermind" posts. The feelings behind them are still there, so wouldn't it have been much better if you went to the source of those emotions instead of censoring yourself?

"Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst might be inferred." --Nathaniel Hawthorne

[Rilian]

So anyway, while i understand what Rilian is saying, I do think that the Catholic's respect for Orthodoxy is genuine... contradictory with their actions... indeed, but genuine.

The actions and words should not contradict each other.

[ZooMom]

Douglas...Grigori :) I just wanted to tell you that I am glad to see the joy and peace that you have found in your faith journey. My best wishes and prayers go with you. May you indeed have many years to grow in the love and light of our Lord, Jesus Christ. :hug:

Peace be with you!

Sandy

[ProCommunioneFacior]

I've noticed these "nevermind" posts. The feelings behind them are still there, so wouldn't it have been much better if you went to the source of those emotions instead of censoring yourself?

"Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst might be inferred." --Nathaniel Hawthorne

Sure my post went something like this:

One person made the sheepstealing comment, later explained what she meant, which is not the same as you all are taking it as, then retracted her statement. Yet you continue to use it.

Then there are snide remarks in here about what Catholics believe, which is that the Orthodox Church are in schism (I'm fully aware that this is not what this forum believes), however, I have not seen one person in OBOB call Orthodox heretics.

Both the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church believe that we are at least in schism with one another. The Catholic Church goes only that far, however some in the Orthodox Church go further and call us heterodox or heretics. Now that's fine, if you all believe that, go ahead and say it. However, for you all to whine and bemoan, when Catholics say the truth of what we believe, when you all are doing the same in here, is what sounds contradictory to me.

Now, personally, I have a great love for the Orthodox faith, I believe that you all have valid apostolic succession, valid sacraments, and valid theology, and I regularly share with people the beauty of your faith, and I would defend the Orthodox til my knuckles were worn down to the bone. However, you can't expect me and my fellow Catholics to go against what the Catholic Church teaches.

Now could some people in OBOB have made a little more charitable posts, sure, however, I did not see any of them go beyond what the Catholic Church teaches, and also as some of you may see, we are going through a tough time right now in OBOB, emotions are strained and some of us are honestly worried for some of our brothers and sisters, as I'm sure you could understand if a person was leaving the Orthodox Church.

So I hope that this doesn't turn into a blood bath, which is why I edited myself earlier, because it is the season of Lent(do the Orthodox call it Lent?) and for Catholics it is Holy Week(do the Orthodox call it Lent?). But if you wanted me to share, then there you go.

[Irish Melkite]

Doug,

Congratulations and may God grant you many years.

Neil

[Rilian]

some of us are honestly worried for some of our brothers and sisters, as I'm sure you could understand if a person was leaving the Orthodox Church.

I think we understand perfectly as it happened quite recently, and I don't think I need to tell you how seriously we take it for someone to leave the church. I don't recall things like "apostasy", "work of the devil" or the like being used in response. Could just be that I missed them however. I frankly think words like heterodox or heretic (though these were not used either) pale in comparison to those.

[ProCommunioneFacior]

I think we understand perfectly as it happened quite recently, and I don't think I need to tell you how seriously we take it for someone to leave the church. I don't recall things like "apostasy", "work of the devil" or the like being used in response. Could just be that I missed them however. I frankly think words like heterodox or heretic (though these were not used either) pale in comparison to those.

Granted, and I may try to correct my brothers and sisters by pm. However, I have noticed that many people here consider appartions that have been approved by the Catholic Church as diabolical and such, apparitions that I hold dear to my heart, yet I've shut up about it because it was you all believe, and you all free to believe that in your forum.

[Rilian]

I don't recall anyone saying they are diabolical, though I know some do hold that opinion that are not on TAW. I think the same people are quite likely not to have a very high opinion of other Orthodox as well for other reasons. Regardless, I'm sorry if such things were said regarding something close to your heart.

I do remember disquiet being expressed, including by myself, regarding the nature of some Marian apparitions. I also know many in TAW have and do regard many of the apparitions as genuine and have said as much.

[ProCommunioneFacior]

I don't recall anyone saying they are diabolical, though I know some do hold that opinion that are not on TAW. I think the same people are quite likely not to have a very high opinion of other Orthodox as well for other reasons. Regardless, I'm sorry if such things were said regarding something close to your heart.

I do remember disquiet being expressed, including by myself, regarding the nature of some Marian apparitions. I also know many in TAW have and do regard many of the apparitions as genuine and have said as much.

Nope, there have been some that have said that the Marian apparitions are diabolical on TAW.

[Rilian]

My apologies again then. I did say I don't recall, not that it didn't happen.

[ProCommunioneFacior]

Apology accepted, although not really needed, because I am aware that some people that have different beliefs than me, see it is a validation of my Church, and thus it is questionable.

Personally, I don't question the miracles that occur in the Orthodox Church, because I believe that God is working in your Church, obviously the greatest miracle, the Eucharist happens regularly in your Church, and for me that validates a Church more than anything else.

Doug, congratulations on your catechumenate, I pray that one day we will be united again, so that times like this can be a source of great joy in my life as well, rather than a time of bittersweetness.

[katherine2001]

I apologize if I offended you by any comments I made about some of the Marian visions. However, as a Christian, I have a responsibility to determine where visions come from. If I have any question, I am not to venerate them. You have the same responsibility. If you question any Orthodox visions of her, you shouldn't be venerating anything to do with them either. I respect your right and responsibility to do that.

[ProCommunioneFacior]

I apologize if I offended you by any comments I made about some of the Marian visions. However, as a Christian, I have a responsibility to determine where visions come from. If I have any question, I am not to venerate them. You have the same responsibility. If you question any Orthodox visions of her, you shouldn't be venerating anything to do with them either. I respect your right and responsibility to do that.

I understand and agree with that, I'm just :scratch: about the double-speak that is going on.

[Matrona]

Nope, there have been some that have said that the Marian apparitions are diabolical on TAW.

I believe my exact words were that the Fatima apparition is demonic. Not "Marian apparitions are diabolical".

[ProCommunioneFacior]

I believe my exact words were that the Fatima apparition is demonic. Not "Marian apparitions are diabolical".

What's the difference?

[Orthosdoxa]

Hey, guess what guys! My cat has learned to go to the bathroom in the toilet!

[katherine2001]

Great! One of our Reader's cats can use the toilet (they have 6 cats and 2 dogs). Our Reader's wife's response was, "Now, if he'd just learn to flush!"

[Matrona]

What's the difference?

Well, one says "diabolical" and one says "demonic".

If you're interested in taking this further, my PM box is open.

But if you have a problem with me or something I say, you talk to me, don't hold what I say against my brothers and sisters, or the Church.

[Xpycoctomos]

Hey, guess what guys! My cat has learned to go to the bathroom in the toilet!

Sweet! Like in Meet the parents? Can he/she flush the toilet.... I guess that's crazy.. cat's don't have imposable thumbs!

[Annabel Lee]

Sweet! Like in Meet the parents? Can he/she flush the toilet.... I guess that's crazy.. cat's don't have imposable thumbs!

...but if the cat just takes it's little paw and smacks the flush lever...it could work.

[ProCommunioneFacior]

I will bow out of this thread and out of this forum. Have a blessed Lent.

[Michael the Iconographer]

...but if the cat just takes it's little paw and smacks the flush lever...it could work.

Quite true. Oliver used to play with the wound spring door stops that were in the apartment I had when he was a puppy! He got a kick out of the gong sound it made! :D

[Xpycoctomos]

Good point... what do imposible thumbs have to do with it? What if it's true... what if cats CAN flush toilets.... oh the horror!!!! the horror!

[Matrona]

...but if the cat just takes it's little paw and smacks the flush lever...it could work.

^_^

[Alexis OCA]

Dear friends,

I did it! This morning after Divine Liturgy I presented Father with a formal letter requesting to become a catechumen and placing myself in his spiritual care. He happily accepted! Since he knows my background and I was already confirmed in the RC church he said the process should not take too long. I thank all of you who have kept me in your prayers.

It rained today here in NY but it was the happiest rain I ever walked in!

Warmest regards,
Douglas (Grigori)

Dear ones,

That was my OP and I am grateful your love, suppport and expressions of friendship. As I said in another post somewhere..it looks like you are stuck with me.:wave: Reading through the last few pages though I wonder if it is perhaps time to close the thread? I respectfully request it. For Peace.:crosseo:

-Grigori

[Oblio]

Closed by request of OP