I became a Cathecumen...

[Bushmaster78FS]

Yesterday, in our military chapel here in Korea, by one of the very few Orthodox chaplains of the US Army, I was accepted as a cathecumen, my sponsor is another servicemember lady who has Greek heritage. I was given the name John the Evangelist, (Greek name Vangelis?)

Man I was never excited like this before when it came to faith... Just thought I would share with brothers and sisters.

I am going to Savannah from here in a few months, however the closest church to my location is a Greek-Orthodox Parish and I am scared of being alienated. How many actual Turkish Orthodox do you who come from an islamic background? I am not even talking about the Gagauz turks...

[repentant]

Yesterday, in our military chapel here in Korea, by one of the very few Orthodox chaplains of the US Army, I was accepted as a cathecumen, my sponsor is another servicemember lady who has Greek heritage. I was given the name John the Evangelist, (Greek name Vangelis?)

Man I was never excited like this before when it came to faith... Just thought I would share with brothers and sisters.

I am going to Savannah from here in a few months, however the closest church to my location is a Greek-Orthodox Parish and I am scared of being alienated. How many actual Turkish Orthodox do you who come from an islamic background? I am not even talking about the Gagauz turks...


Congratulations..

John the Evangelist would be Ioannis. Vangelis is taken from Evangelos or Angelos which is for the Angels..

[Michael the Iconographer]

Congratulations! Many, many years.

[MariaRegina]

Congratulations.

I know several Turkish Orthodox. In fact, we had a Turkish Orthodox gentleman who was thinking of escaping to Greece. He no longer posts here at CF, but I wish he would return.

The English language is so difficult and I fear that we English speaking people are a little too hard on the non-English native speakers who frequent CF. Many men and boys also struggle with English composition. English is especially hard when we don't have visual contact (like the Internet forums) because we cannot see the bodily language. Communication is 80% body language and only 20% words. At CF, therefore, we miss a lot of cues.

Sorry for the rant. Forgive us.

[xenia]

Congratulations!

[Shubunkin]

Congratulations! :)

[InnerPhyre]

Many years!!

[gzt]

I believe he was referring to Turks who are Orthodox, not Greeks living in Turkey [the man on CF Aria was referring to was a Greek]. Anyways, I don't know any myself, but it's not unprecedented and I'm sure it will all be fine.

[EvangeliGirl]

Im so happy for you!

And thank you for giving your life to the service of our country...

[Annabel Lee]

Wonderful.:) Congratulations.

[eoe]

Many years! Go visit the GO parish anyway. You aren't going to have a gossip party and they are not going to know your history unless you tell them.

[Greg the byzantine]

In my experience, Greeks and Turks look alike (No offence to my fellow Greeks but we do). So they might in fact just think your Greek and not even second guess themselves.

Either way congratulations on your becoming a Catechumen :clap: and don't worry about what they think of you just go and be glad in your heart that you have a safe place to go and Worship God.

[Bushmaster78FS]

I am not very bright on the history of the church, just yet... I wanted to go to the Antiochian church but that is in Atlanta and far away, the reason I wanted that one, Antioch is a province of Turkey and as I have read, it was the closest to the area where actual events took place. Again I am not sure that was the first church, and Greek-Orthodox must be the second close one historically, and then Russian could be the next, I might be as well wrong here, but that was my motivation, I am looking forward to go to the GO church. If I am asked I would tell them I am a Turk, I can not possibly be held responsible of the horrid history, I always loved Greeks anyway...

[ByzantineDixie]

Bushmaster...we have had a few people from Savannah visit our church (St. Philothea) in Athens. I hope when you get assigned there you will make a visit as well someday! Father Anthony in Athens is an iconographer--but he is not Greek. In fact, he is a convert to Orthodoxy from the RCC by way of Evangelicalism. Presbytera however is very Greek. Because we are in a college town and St. Philothea's is the only Orthodox church within a hour or so we have a number of non-Greek Orthodox worshipping each Sunday.

BTW...how about that Lutheran friend of yours? ConantheLibrarian?

[repentant]

I am not very bright on the history of the church, just yet... I wanted to go to the Antiochian church but that is in Atlanta and far away, the reason I wanted that one, Antioch is a province of Turkey and as I have read, it was the closest to the area where actual events took place. Again I am not sure that was the first church, and Greek-Orthodox must be the second close one historically, and then Russian could be the next, I might be as well wrong here, but that was my motivation, I am looking forward to go to the GO church. If I am asked I would tell them I am a Turk, I can not possibly be held responsible of the horrid history, I always loved Greeks anyway...

Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Rome and the Greek Church all have Biblical roots. So all of them are considered first. All of Pauls Epistles except Romans and Hebrews were to Church's in Greece, or Greek provinces at the time...

I also wouldn't worry about being Turkish and going to a Greek Church. Unless most of the congregation is from Greece, which I doubt, they wouldn't really know much anyway. Plus like someone said, we kind of do look alike anyway. Plus I am sure they would be happy to hear that a Turk is converting....

[Asinner]

Yesterday, in our military chapel here in Korea, by one of the very few Orthodox chaplains of the US Army, I was accepted as a cathecumen, my sponsor is another servicemember lady who has Greek heritage. I was given the name John the Evangelist, (Greek name Vangelis?)

Man I was never excited like this before when it came to faith... Just thought I would share with brothers and sisters.

I am going to Savannah from here in a few months, however the closest church to my location is a Greek-Orthodox Parish and I am scared of being alienated. How many actual Turkish Orthodox do you who come from an islamic background? I am not even talking about the Gagauz turks...

Praise God! Welcome Home . . . :crosseo:

God Bless

[eoe]

If you do end up in (or near) Atlanta and want to visit a GOarch parish - come to my parish - You can stand next to me. You will look downright greek next to a chubby little blonde german man.^_^ If they can accept me then you should be fine.

[Bushmaster78FS]

If you do end up in (or near) Atlanta and want to visit a GOarch parish - come to my parish - You can stand next to me. You will look downright greek next to a chubby little blonde german man.^_^ If they can accept me then you should be fine.


^_^ ^_^ ^_^

[Bushmaster78FS]

BTW...how about that Lutheran friend of yours? ConantheLibrarian?

Well, he should be on his way...

[Akathist]

Welcome home!

This is such great news!

[Annoula]

Congratulations Bushmaster.

as a greek myself i would be very happy to have a turk in my parish.

we - common people - have so very few things to divide with each other, and we have so many common things to share.

if you were in my parish i would certainly lood for a hint to get to know you better!!!!

welcome!!!!!!


MERHABA!!!

[Bushmaster78FS]

Merhaba...

You know, if I'd mentioned what I did to a countryman, 9 out of 10, I would be alienated, harrassed, or could be worse, it is indeed upsetting, now considering the historical clash in between, I was thinking I would never get an approval in my decision from both sides, but I know those who follow Christ truly would be better than that.

[Annoula]

Merhaba...

You know, if I'd mentioned what I did to a countryman, 9 out of 10, I would be alienated, harrassed, or could be worse, it is indeed upsetting, now considering the historical clash in between, I was thinking I would never get an approval in my decision from both sides, but I know those who follow Christ truly would be better than that.


hm... i am not sure i understand about the countryman...
but everybody has done things that make him/her be ashamed. (if that is what you are implying..)

was that Saint Dionysios who forgave his brother murderer and helped him hide from the police?

we people are very quick to judge by nationality, religion, and so many other things..... and too slow to understand our own fallen nature, accept it as such and take a step forward.

[vanshan]

Many years!

Basil

[Bushmaster78FS]

hm... i am not sure i understand about the countryman...

Ah, that is not very clear, I realize that now...

I meant if I told that I decided to become Orthodox "Christian" to another turkish person... though this is nothing to be ashamed of...

[ConanTheLibrarian]

The book Witnesses for Christ : Orthodox Christian neomartyrs of the Ottoman period, by Nomikos Michael Vaporis, mentions a number of Muslim Turks who converted to Orthodoxy and were martyred for their faith. There are at least a few elect among every nationality.

It is tragic that, for Turks and others, being of that nationality is equated with being Muslim, and conversion to another faith is seen as treason. In the West we are free to believe any religion, or none at all. Nationality, for us at least, is not a barrier to being able to hear the truth claims of Christianity.

[Annoula]

Ah, that is not very clear, I realize that now...

I meant if I told that I decided to become Orthodox "Christian" to another turkish person... though this is nothing to be ashamed of...


well....i suppose i wouldn't be thrilled if a greek would tell me that they wanted to become muslim....

it's pretty normal i suppose...


do you happen to have any greek origins? my father was born in Asia Minor, a village just above Cyprus. his family had to flee from Turkey during the 1922 catastrophe. my grandparents would communicate in turkish cause they didn't know enough greek.
my father could speak turkish, although i think it was of a former dialect ( i mean not modern turkish).

[ConanTheLibrarian]

Ah, that is not very clear, I realize that now...

I meant if I told that I decided to become Orthodox "Christian" to another turkish person... though this is nothing to be ashamed of...
Duh, before I forget, congratulations and "many years." Or should I say "Live long and prosper"?

[Bushmaster78FS]

do you happen to have any greek origins?

I would have no idea, who knows... Turks are so much mixed with a lot of races. I look like greek that is for sure.

[Bushmaster78FS]

Duh, before I forget, congratulations and "many years." Or should I say "Live long and prosper"?

Live long... that means more waiting time before going to God.

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Many Years! :clap: