Why I Am Becoming Orthodox

[WickedServant]

It is the continuation of the Church of the NT, founded on Jesus Christ (IC XC) and established by the apostles. Within it are more (if not all) of the Doctrines, Traditions, Legacy, and habits of those who laboured ceaselessly in the first century AD to 'make it so'. There is more salvation within than without; more help from those that have paved the way for us, and they (and their help) is not spurned today, nor should it ever be (for I know I need all the help I can get). She is next to Christ in blamelessness, suffering the loss of a limb in 1054, and much more in the following years as people invaded and sacked her Holy Places and pillaged Her belongings; yet those responsible were forgiven. Heretical religious fanatics tresspassed on Her land and attempted to make converts of Her children under threat of war and death; and they were forgiven. God bless His Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and may She trample on the serpent and all his host.

:crosseo: Holy Mother, Theotokos, who watched your Son crucified, love us and have mercy on us...

Bless me

[Marjorie]

May God preserve you in the faith... Satan wants to sift us new believers like wheat. :crosseo:

Mary, Most Holy Theotokos, Queen of Heaven and Earth, hear us and pray for us to your Son and our God...

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[VickiY]

Welcome, with open arms, to the Church!

[sin_vladimirov]

It is the continuation of the Church of the NT, founded on Jesus Christ (IC XC) and established by the apostles. Within it are more (if not all) of the Doctrines, Traditions, Legacy, and habits of those who laboured ceaselessly in the first century AD to 'make it so'. There is more salvation within than without; more help from those that have paved the way for us, and they (and their help) is not spurned today, nor should it ever be (for I know I need all the help I can get). She is next to Christ in blamelessness, suffering the loss of a limb in 1054, and much more in the following years as people invaded and sacked her Holy Places and pillaged Her belongings; yet those responsible were forgiven. Heretical religious fanatics tresspassed on Her land and attempted to make converts of Her children under threat of war and death; and they were forgiven. God bless His Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and may She trample on the serpent and all his host.

:crosseo: Holy Mother, Theotokos, who watched your Son crucified, love us and have mercy on us...

Bless me


So moving.
So nice.
So true.

Maranatha and welcome.
Have many years and more after the many years.

in ICXC
stefan+

[Xpycoctomos]

It is the continuation of the Church of the NT...

Emphasis on the word "continuation". I'm glad you phrased it this way. So many times protestants come to the Orthodox Church convinced that this is the "early Church". This is dangerous thinking that will only end up in 1) disallusionment and disappointment or 2) a wierd kind of Orthodoxy that can get cult-like (I've seen it). We are the Church, period. We are the continuation of that same Church Christ laid down. We are not the Early Church anymore than we are the Church of the 1500s or the Church of the 1900s. We are the Church of today. We live in teh present, not the past. There is nothing to re-create. The Church has grown and matured since the first centuries. The Liturgy we hold today is VERY different (and a ton more complicated) than the liturgy they celebrated in the first centuries. The structure and baic parts are the same, sure. And this is important. But it is the Liturgy because God's grace is there and the Eucharist and Word are present. Please understand, I am not speaking about minimalism. We have no right (and it would be unhealthy) to reduce the Liturgy down to a minimal set of prayers and procedures. The Divine Liturgy as it is today is a gift from God and had organically come to fruition through centuries of love, prayer and devotion to God by the Saints before us. But we have to remember not to search for the Early Church... we are to search for the Church and follow it in love and obedience.

Please understand that this post is not meant to correct anything you said. Your post was beautiful. It's just that I waas thinking a lot about this when I ran across a very odd convert parish some time ago that seriously concerns me (not anywhere near me, I was visiting a friend somewhere else who was talking to me about this parish and then I visited it some time ago) and I finally realized what seemed to be the root of the problem and so, I thought I would voice this herea s I often treat TAW like my journal lol.

God bless and I am happy for you that you are finding the Church.

John

[DivineFiliation]

Wicked, looks like you are posting very similar things in both OBOB and TAW. Are you looking to convert to Catholicism or Orthodoxy?

[vanshan]

Wicked, looks like you are posting very similar things in both OBOB and TAW. Are you looking to convert to Catholicism or Orthodoxy?

I looked into both Catholocism and the Episcopal churches, before concluding that the Orthodox Church alone has preserved the right-beliefs and traditions of the Apostles. Wicked, don't feel bad, if you do, for inquirering in both directions. I think the post I quoted is a little uncharitable. It's helpful to not only decide to become Orthodox, but study Catholicism enough to know why you chose Orthodoxy over the Roman Catholic church. Nothing could be worse than being united to the Church only to be drawn away by wolves later. Becoming Orthodox is not finding a place to relax, but the beggining of greater spiritual challenges, so if you join Christ's Church be alert and ready for attacks.

Basil

[Rilian]

I don't think Shakkai meant anything bad. I think she was just asking out of curiosity.

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Wicked,

May I borrow some of your post for my website? I like the expressions that you have chosen. Very clear and precise.

Many years to you my friend.

Forgive me...

[ufonium2]

John, you are dead on.

Are you familiar with the Parisian School that started in the 1930s? Basically, a bunch of Russians fled communism to Paris, got to thinking about ecclesiology, and decided that the Russian (and to a lesser extent, the Greek) Church had come under way too much Western influence. This was about the time of the Anglican liturgical renewal movement, and the RCC in Paris was inovled in a similar liturgical movement. So the Parisian school had lots of influence from the West (doesn't get more Western than the AC and RCC) but for some reason that was ok.

Anyway, they decide we should return to "authentic" Orthodoxy, which (in their minds) died during the 16th century when the Poles were in Moscow. So basically, they wanted to do exactly what you said, and in doing so cut themselves off from many holy Russian saints and thinkers. Fr. Schmemann was influenced by this movement, which some cite as the reason his book on the liturgy was so well received by Protestants. Fr. Seraphim Rose wrote that Fr. Schmemann and his works were Orthodox, but predicted that the next generation after him would take those Parisian ideas too far and develop an iconoclastic high-church Protestantism in the name of "unadulterated Orthodoxy." I've experienced the churches that don't have an iconostasis because it's a "later invention" and only read books written before 1200 or after 1980. I'm really not sure how one comes to the conclusion that saints who have been dead longer are somehow more holy or more valid, unless you believe God stopped talking to us at some point in the past. Scary stuff.

[DivineFiliation]

I don't think Shakkai meant anything bad. I think she was just asking out of curiosity.

yep. I was just wondering why the extremely similar post (and close timing) to tell each party that he/she was converting to either religion. I just don't like being led on. lol

[DivineFiliation]

I looked into both Catholocism and the Episcopal churches, before concluding that the Orthodox Church alone has preserved the right-beliefs and traditions of the Apostles. Wicked, don't feel bad, if you do, for inquirering in both directions. I think the post I quoted is a little uncharitable. It's helpful to not only decide to become Orthodox, but study Catholicism enough to know why you chose Orthodoxy over the Roman Catholic church. Nothing could be worse than being united to the Church only to be drawn away by wolves later. Becoming Orthodox is not finding a place to relax, but the beggining of greater spiritual challenges, so if you join Christ's Church be alert and ready for attacks.

Basil

Basil. nice to meet you. :wave:

[Rilian]

yep. I was just wondering why the extremely similar post (and close timing) to tell each party that he/she was converting to either religion. I just don't like being led on. lol

I just assume lots of people when converting look at both churches at the same time, so it doesn't seem odd to me.

Also, this has nothing to do with this thread, but I was going to post some info in your Latin thread about languages used in Orthodoxy since you mentioned it in there. I don't want to wear out my welcome in OBOB though. If you're interested I can post in that thread or one in here.

[DivineFiliation]

Rilian, I would love to have you post in OBOB... I love to hear others 2cents worth... I don't think it's against OBOB rules. Which, btw, I wasn't incorrect in my statment that Greek Orthodox speak Greek in church, Russian Orthodox speak Russian, was I?

Thread is hijacked. lol

[Rilian]

Which, btw, I wasn't incorrect in my statment that Greek Orthodox speak Greek in church, Russian Orthodox speak Russian, was I?

No, there's just a little more to it. I'll gather together what I was going to post.

[Xpycoctomos]

Yeah, I tried responding to it, but I realized that comparing the use of Latin and then the use of Greek and Russian in the east is like comparing apples and armchairs :). I tried writing the response literally 3 times until I realized I was getting in over my head and would need a lot more time to write a thoughtful post... now, instead, I'll just hang off the coattails of Rilian lol

John

[DivineFiliation]

lol. awwww I was looking forward to your response John. :)

[Xpycoctomos]

:) I'm sure I'll say something sometime after Rilian does the hard stuff :)

[WickedServant]

In many ways, as I'm sure most here will agree, The Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox are quite similar, and both have claim to the Church as established by the Apostles, founded on Christ. And I love them too.

I am ever the seeker of knowledge, ever the student, and thus the posting on OBOB; inquiring not into the history (of which I have exaustingly studied) nor claiming to be converting to, but asking how one would.

For future knowledge, in case Protestant/Pentecostals friends of mine, looking for more than what they have, find themselves unable to make a home in Orthodoxy for some odd reason(s), perhaps they cand find one in RC church, and knowledge will guide be for them; for I would feel much better leaving them (if not in Orthodox) in RC hands than to have them stay in Protestant homes not being content, needing more help than they have there.

Knowledge for myself as a visitor to RC services, so I do not disprupt any one else with my LACK of knowledge of their customs and habits, nevermind looking the fool. I DO plan on attending their Mass in the furture, for in my home city of Langley, there are Mass services on Saturday nights, and perhaps other days of the week. I used to attend various churches 5 days a week, and I was blessed for doing so. I will be doing as much of that as possible when I can.

Orthodoxy is for me, plain and simple. However, I will never seek ignorance in any other area that quite surely will be a help to someone in the future. Though one car is quite better than another by my judgement, the lesser of two cars will get you where you want to be faster than a bicycle, or walking.

Oh, by the way, Orthodoxyusa, sure use any of it you want! ;)

Bless me

[DivineFiliation]

This got me thinking, wicked, is that it seems to me that there is a lack in availability of Orthodox churches. Although, I haven't exactly been looking for them. But it does appear to be hidden because I cannot think of more than one, and I live in a large city.

[Rilian]

Some have lots, some none. Depends on what area of the country you're in. What city do you live in Shakkai?

I posted in your Latin thread btw.

[DivineFiliation]

Kansas City

[WickedServant]

This got me thinking, wicked, is that it seems to me that there is a lack in availability of Orthodox churches. Although, I haven't exactly been looking for them. But it does appear to be hidden because I cannot think of more than one, and I live in a large city.

I know, I know :sigh:

You see another reason that in the future I will be nudging some towards your room of the house: availability :crossrc:

I am blessed to have it all at my doorstep; others are not so fortunate...

Bless me

[Rilian]

Kansas City

Small world Shakkai. The first Orthodox service I ever attended was at Holy Trinity in KCK. The old building was near Strawberry Hill, but they've moved to Overland Park and built a really cool looking new temple. Their home page is here (http://www.oca.org/DIRlisting.asp?SID=9&KEY=OCA-MW-KKCSTL). Sadly I saw not too long ago that the priest who I had met, Fr. John Platko, reposed recently because of pancreatic cancer leaving behind his Matushka and two sons.

There are other churches as well. My jurisdiction has a mission, St. Basil the Great (http://www.stbasilthegreatorthodoxchurch.com/), which meets at Antioch Elementary School (about a half mile from my great aunts house). I think they have acquired a property though and are getting ready to build. Also in Overland Park is a GOA church St. Dionysius (http://www.stdionysios.org/) and not very far away on Wornall on the Missouri side is Annunciation (http://annunciation.mo.goarch.org/).

There are two Serbian churches in KCK, St. George (http://www.st-george-church.org/) and St. Michael the Archangel which doesn't seem to have a web site.

There's also a church on the Missouri side on Troost (I think), but I can't recall the name.

So there's more than you think! :)

[DivineFiliation]

Strawberry Hill makes this a very small world. :D I think St. George is the one I remember seeing. And actually, I have seen St. Dionysius. Didn't realize there were so many here.

Wow... Annunciation has a beautiful Icon Screen. :)

[MariaRegina]

For some reason, many Orthodox Churches do not have ads in the local telephone directory. That makes it hard to find the churches. I always look at the various websites to find the latest churches and missions.

www.oca.org
www.goarch.org
www.antiochian.org

What is the website for the Serbians and other Orthodox jurisdictions?

I think the jurisdictional mess in America confuses things.

[Xpycoctomos]

Antioch Elementary School

Is this an Orthodox elementary School?

[Xpycoctomos]

This is the best site for finding Churches near you. I got it from Marjorie and I am assuming that others don't know about it because I can't see why we wouldn't refer to it first. It's awesome!

http://orthodoxyinamerica.com/sr/geo_gate.php

Put in your ZIP or city and gives the jurisdiction, address, link to a map, any emails or websites for the CHurch they are aware of, priest's names. Very amazing!

[Xpycoctomos]

Shakkai, click here.

http://orthodoxyinamerica.com/sr/geo_gate.php?search=Kansas+City,KS

It even gives you a visual of the state in question with little dots where each parish is!

[Rilian]

Is this an Orthodox elementary School?

That would be cool, but no. Overland Park is a suburb of Kansas City on the Kansas side and one of the main streets is Antioch Rd. There's also an Antioch Park and Antioch Elementary School (where the Antiochian mission meets). It's just a normal public school.

I don't know how the whole Antioch thing started.

[Zinnia]

Shakkai, click here.

http://orthodoxyinamerica.com/sr/geo_gate.php?search=Kansas+City,KS

It even gives you a visual of the state in question with little dots where each parish is!

Wow! That link is really cool! :clap: