For those new to Orthodoxy

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Here are some articles that I have recently run across that I thought would be handy for those who are new to Orthodoxy, are learning about Orthodoxy for the first time, and are just generally unfamiliar with the faith.

The articles don't go into the theology as much as the rubrics and the "why we do the things we do" of Orthodox life and worship.

Hope this helps!

In XC,

Maureen

Practical Tips for Orthodox Living (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/practical.aspx)

Some thing we should know while in Church (http://www.3saints.com/rules.html)

First Visit to an Orthodox Church -- Twelve Things I wish I'd Known (http://www.frederica.com/orthodox/o12th-mrb.html)

Introduction to Orthodoxy (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/)

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Oh! And if you're trying to FIND and Orthodox Church near you, here is a good place to start:

http://orthodoxyinamerica.com/

It's not authoritative or completely comprehensive, but it's a good place to start. :)

Note: The above site is for Churches in the U.S. and Canada. Please feel free to start a thread to request assistance in finding Churches outside the U.S. and Canada, as there are many members on TAW outside of these countries that would be happy to help you locate a Church. :)

[eoe]

Also.... don't let the "rules" scare you at all. Don't worry about them in the least. Just do your best to be respectful and you will be fine.

[Akathist]

Please only post advice to those new to the faith or links to information. (If you want to thank someone, use the reputation or the blessings buttons.) This way the thread will stay on topic.

[MariaRegina]

Here is a list of only a few Great Threads in TAW for your viewing enjoyment.

http://www.christianforums.com/t712355-taw-index-of-great-threads.html

Also visit the following websites:

www.antiochian.org

www.goarch.org

www.oca.org

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Here (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/clergy_etiquette.aspx) is a great article regarding how to address Orthodox Clergy in person and in correspondence.

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Here (http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/catechism_ext.htm) is a brief history on Orthodox history and beliefs.

[HandmaidenOfGod]

The Icon Corner (http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Icon_corner)

The Icon Corner: A How To (http://www.unicorne.org/orthodoxy/articles/alex_roman/iconcorner.htm)

[ramesses]

Thanks, though I have already been to one service (which I absolulty loved and went through all of it including coffee hour) this is a vital source of information for me.

I have always been searching for a deeper spirituality in Christ and I feel that is already being fulfilled by the Orthodox church.


I praise God for leading me to such a place :clap:

[Ioan cel Nou]

Here's a great site for finding Churches in the UK that use English in the Liturgy and for finding out about pre-Schism western saints. I've had to post links to it in a number of posts, so I thought I should add it in here.

http://www.orthodoxengland.btinternet.co.uk/hp.htm

James

[ramesses]

Looks like a useful site.
Thanks for sharing that with us.

[cygnusx1]

http://www1.christianforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=70244&d=1145120529...........:wave: ......:hug:

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Here is a good article regarding prayers for the dead/asking for intercessions from the saints:

Prayer and the Departed Saints (http://www.protomartyr.org/prayer.html) :crosseo:

[MichaelArchangelos]

http://www.antiochian.org.au/content/category/14/64/37/

[Zcruf]

I'm in love with the orthodox faith, and truly believes that it is the most colorful branch of christianity. And hopes that I one day will be strong enough to visit a eastern orthodox church. God have mercy upon you all.

[Xpycoctomos]

hey Zcruf!

If you have any questions, feel free to equire either here or more specifically you can start your own thread.

God bless!

John

[KatherineOCA]

Christ is born!
Glorify Him!
I am wondering about people who look here for information. Does anyone ask questions about Orthodoxy? I just wonder...

[hungrytiger]

Christ is born!
Glorify Him!
I am wondering about people who look here for information. Does anyone ask questions about Orthodoxy? I just wonder...

People do look in this forum for information about Orthodoxy and ask questions here. Actually this particular thread is a sticky and I think is mostly just for reference. But people are welcome to post new threads and ask questions; they're more likely to be read by people that way. Do you have questions or know someone else who does? I'm sure the people here would love to try and help.

[KatherineOCA]

Actually I am an Orthodox Christian. I was asking for information about this forum and how it works. What is a "sticky". :)

[hungrytiger]

Actually I am an Orthodox Christian. I was asking for information about this forum and how it works. What is a "sticky". :)

Threads are normally ordered by when the last post in them was, with the one with the most recent post at the top of the page. Normal threads get pushed off of the first page by newer threads, but stickies are "stuck" at the top and don't get pushed off. Announcements or references and things are often stickied so that they're easy to find and don't get lost. Does that help?

CF is rather huge and does have a lot of features. One place you can try if you don't understand something about how this forum works is the FAQ (http://www.christianforums.com/faq.php). There's also a subforum just for help with these kinds of things, it's called "CF How-To? (http://www.christianforums.com/f681-cf-how-to.html)". You can ask more questions there if you need to.

[Dust and Ashes]

Christ is born!
Glorify Him!
I am wondering about people who look here for information. Does anyone ask questions about Orthodoxy? I just wonder...

I came to christianforums as a tongue-talking pentecostal in mid 2004. I encountered some Orthodox people here so I came to TAW asking questions, which led me to contact the nearest Orthodox priest. My wife and I were received into the Church this past Holy Saturday. There are several others who discovered Orthodoxy here at christianforums.

[KatherineOCA]

May God bless you on your journey. Merry Christmas.
Katherine

[MessianicMuslim]

what do these terms means:
14) For a longer and more difficult journey, ask a priest to sing a Moleben, failing that, at home say the troparion and kontakion for a journey.

15) If there is a possibility of future trouble of any kind, either for yourself or for someone you care for, say an Akathist to the Mother of God.

And what do you mean by Mother of G-d?

[Emmanuel-A]

A Moleben is a short service in which you pray for someone who is alive.
Troparion and Kondakions are basically short hymns that summarize the feast celebrated the day they're sung.
An akathist (this word comes from a greek verb that means "not to seat") is a prayer or an hymn that you sing while standing. The most famous one is the one to the Mother of God.
What do we mean by Mother of God ? We refer to the Virgin Mary.
Since Jesus-Christ is fully human and fully God, and that his human nature and his Divine nature are perfectly united in one person, we call his Mother the Mother of God. To deny her such a title would challenge the perfect unity of Jesus Christ's person, thus compromizing our salvation, since we believe that our salvation comes from the fact that Jesus-Christ (who is God)fully embraced our human nature.
However, this title does not mean that she was not a creature. She was human and created by God, just like all of us.
I hope this helps.

[ProfessorMom]

There are some nice resources in this thread. Thanks.