The militants of TAW started June 2004, retired Jan 2006

[Oblio]

Welcome to TAW Raphael !

What an awesome story.

[Xpycoctomos]

Welcome to TAW Rafael!

[Kolya]

Welcome to TAW Rafael! St Seraphim still plays a major role in our lives.
Kolya & Seraphima

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Welcome Rafael!

[RolandCheney]

Thank you very much, everyone! I'm so glad to be here!

[MariaRegina]

Welcome Rafael

[RolandCheney]

Banned by Protestants? I was a Protestant. Now I'm Orthodox.:)


http://www3.christianforums.com/images/quotes/quot-top-left.gif Quote http://www3.christianforums.com/images/quotes/quot-top-right.gif http://www3.christianforums.com/images/quotes/quot-by-left.gif Originally Posted by: orthodoxy http://www3.christianforums.com/images/quotes/quot-by-right.gif
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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Baptised with my wife and our childen on February 2, 2002 as Kyril after Saint Cyril of Jerusalem who fought against the Arian heresy.

I have been banned "gasp"! at other "protestant forums" for speaking about the orthodox faith and my testimony and opinions so hopefully I can hang out here for awhile.

Unworthy Servant,

Kyril
http://www3.christianforums.com/images/quotes/quot-bot-left.gif
http://www3.christianforums.com/images/quotes/quot-bot-right.gif

[beatdown]

I'm a catechumen.

As of December 17th I will defninitely be Orthodox. It might be on the 10th, though.

[Oblio]

Banned by Protestants? That's amazing, but not so surprising I guess.:)

TMBTSNBN ? :)

[Kolya]

Banned by Protestants? I was a Protestant. Now I'm Orthodox.:)
I have been banned "gasp"! at other "protestant forums" for speaking about the orthodox faith and my testimony and opinions so hopefully I can hang out here for awhile.

Unworthy Servant,


Hi Rafael,
I know the feeling. i was not banned from other Protestant forums, but they made me feel so uncomfortable that I just left and came here for sancturay.

Kolya

[RolandCheney]

I went through head trips to get here (Orthodoxy). Here's a link to a beautiful 'picture' of Jesus in the Protestant section;
http://www.christianforums.com/t2297028-a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words.html
It is truly a beautiful and inspiring picture. No kidding.
But if you ask a Protestant what they think of an icon of Christ, "Oh no, that's idolatry!" I've been there and I'm sure this sentiment is sincere. "Well, what about your Protestant image of Christ?" "Well, that's just a picture." "But my icon?" "That's damnation and hellfire for idolatry."
I went through that. In fact, my fear of damnation was so deep, it became an obstacle to finishing my true inner conversion to Orthodoxy. What finally enabled me to overcome the fear of idolatry and damnation over icons, was the Scriptures that utterly convinced me that Mary Theotokos truly was eternally sinless and virgin, such as Ezekiel 44:1-3, about the gate that shall remain shut, and no man may pass through, for the Lord has pass through, and it shall remain shut. Then there is Psalm 44 (45 KJV) verses 10, 16 & 17, speaking of Mary forsaking Judaism in favor of 'her children', Christianity, whom she may make princes in all the world (and princesses, of course). I kept looking at this and other Scriptures, and telling myself, If this is true, how can icons be wrong? Another part kept repeating, If 'pictures' of Jesus are okay, what's the matter with icons?
So the 'picture' of Jesus is still very inspiring to me. But now, I can only venerate proper Christian Orthodox icons of Christ. I can admire 'pictures', but only venerate icons.

[Akathist]

I came here about a year ago and joined a fairly small rag tag group of devout Orthodox Christians. I've watched along with others as some came, and some went, though through the grace of God, mostly they came and stayed.

I'd like to get a roster of Orthodox Christians (Eastern & Oriental), Catechumens, and sincere Inquirers to the Holy Orthodox Church. No detailed rules, baptismal certificates, or 3-Bar crosses required. God knows your heart and where you are and where you are going. Post here once only please, if you would like to leave some info in your post, fine, all I ask is that you edit the original post and not make duplicates. In addition, if you change your status (Inquirer/Catechumen/Orthodox) after your initial post please PM me so I can adjust the totals. Think of it as our TAW membership roster of the Church militant here on this earth. Finally, this is not meant as an official 'read before posting' thread, the only mod action I will take is to stick it to the top.

Thanks be to all here, Erwin, and especially the Most Holy Trinity for making everything possible.

In XC,

Rdr. Christopher

-------------------
Totals (posting members):

Baptised/Chrismated Orthodox: 30
Catechumens: 8
Inquirers: 9

Total: 47

Please, only one post per member

Just a reminder about the purpose of this thread......

[Kassiane]

Hi, Kassiane here....

I am at present a catechumen, very soon to be Chrismated, God willing.

Long story how I came to Orthodoxy, but I am so glad it found me!!!!!

I am so grateful for this board and all of you....



Kassiane

[Khaleas]

Hi, Kassiane here....

I am at present a catechumen, very soon to be Chrismated, God willing.

Long story how I came to Orthodoxy, but I am so glad it found me!!!!!

I am so grateful for this board and all of you....



Kassiane

hehe, this area is meant for long stories... :D

[Kassiane]

Well, I'll come back and edit my entry when I have more time, but I couldn't wait to officially "join the club!"



Kassiane

[crusader4peace]

hi everyone

im new in this forum and just getting around in here. i found this topic interesting.

im an indian orthodox christian (malankara syrian orthodox church) from india currently in malaysia.

i hope to make alot of orthodox friends in here. i love orthodoxy alot.

thats a brief abt me. if anything else that anyone wants to know, pls don't hesitate to pm me.

God bless u all.

Vinod Varghese

[ephraimanesti]

DEAR ORTHODOX FRIENDS IN CHRIST,

What a joy to meet you. i am a newbie to CF and an even newer newbie to this particular Forum which it has taken me 2 days to find. i have only read the last page but am impressed with who you are and what you are doing. When i figure all this stuff out i will get more involved and hopefully connect with your spirits through the Spirit. In the meantime, may God's Grace, Peace, and Love be with each one of you on this wonderful Thanksgiving 2005. As Orthodox, we surely have a lot to be thankful for!

YOURS IN CHRIST'S LOVE,
ephraimanesti

[Prawnik]

Greetings, Ephriam and Vinod!

[Xpycoctomos]

vinod, are you a member of the Mar Thoma Church? India.. that's fascinating, welcome!

[BabyLutheran]

My name is Mike. Right now I am between churches and seriously inquiring into Orthodoxy. I have attended DL once at very small OCA parish in Norfolk Virginia, and found it weird and compelling all at one time. I came to Christ about 10 years ago at a nonDenominational church, moved on to a moderately charismatic church, and now am not going to church, no specific moment which caused me to hate my old church, just drifted away.

I have read the Orthodox Way and have been participating in other forums, asking questions, and learning. I am going to try DL tomorrow at a different church (Antiochian, mostly converts. My wife is not interested at all, says she doesn't want to go to church where the service is so much the same thing over and over, and she also has problems with Mary and icons.

I will not convert unless my wife changes, because my I don't want my wife and family to end up in a different church than me, or have my family not attend church at all.

Anyway, I just want to ask for prayer in these matters, I am sure some of you went through the same types of trials.

[Khaleas]

Hi Mike!! Welcome to TAW!!! :wave:

My husband and I will be visiting the Norfolk OCA church soon. I still live in Baltimore but will be moving to Norfolk/Va Beach area in 6 months or so. We might visit the Antiochian mission too (I presume it's the one on the peninsula).
I can relate a bit to how you feel. I was chrismated this past spring and at that point my husband wasn't interested in converting at all. He went to church to me whenever he came to visit and now he is slowly working toward converting. My husband started enjoying and understanding icons when I told him the stories about the Saints they depicted and so.

Take care!


My name is Mike. Right now I am between churches and seriously inquiring into Orthodoxy. I have attended DL once at very small OCA parish in Norfolk Virginia, and found it weird and compelling all at one time. I came to Christ about 10 years ago at a nonDenominational church, moved on to a moderately charismatic church, and now am not going to church, no specific moment which caused me to hate my old church, just drifted away.

I have read the Orthodox Way and have been participating in other forums, asking questions, and learning. I am going to try DL tomorrow at a different church (Antiochian, mostly converts. My wife is not interested at all, says she doesn't want to go to church where the service is so much the same thing over and over, and she also has problems with Mary and icons.

I will not convert unless my wife changes, because my I don't want my wife and family to end up in a different church than me, or have my family not attend church at all.

Anyway, I just want to ask for prayer in these matters, I am sure some of you went through the same types of trials.

[Kolya]

My name is Mike. Right now I am between churches and seriously inquiring into Orthodoxy. I have attended DL once at very small OCA parish in Norfolk Virginia, and found it weird and compelling all at one time. I came to Christ about 10 years ago at a nonDenominational church, moved on to a moderately charismatic church, and now am not going to church, no specific moment which caused me to hate my old church, just drifted away.

I have read the Orthodox Way and have been participating in other forums, asking questions, and learning. I am going to try DL tomorrow at a different church (Antiochian, mostly converts. My wife is not interested at all, says she doesn't want to go to church where the service is so much the same thing over and over, and she also has problems with Mary and icons.

I will not convert unless my wife changes, because my I don't want my wife and family to end up in a different church than me, or have my family not attend church at all.

Anyway, I just want to ask for prayer in these matters, I am sure some of you went through the same types of trials.

Hi and welcome Mike.
My wife nearly joined the Orthodox church without me, and I did not want to be left behind,:) so I started seriously studying and thank the Lord, we joined the Church together.
I can relate to your feeling on this though.
You will be in our prayers.
Kolya

[Kassiane]

You can now change Kassiane from catechumen to a full member of the Orthodox Church since yesterday.



I am very happy today....



Kassiane

[Mary of Bethany]

You can now change Kassiane from catechumen to a full member of the Orthodox Church since yesterday.



I am very happy today....



Kassiane

WONDERFUL!!!!! :clap:

Many, many years to you, Kassiane!

Mary

[BabyLutheran]

My wife hated the service we attended, it was too foreign to her western way of thinking, so I am at a loss at what to do next. I told the priest to give me a call as we were leaving the church yesterday to help me along my path.

Just thought I'd let you guys know that your prayers are being heard. I was in my office earlier today which is a 1000 square foot 1 bedroom condo. I had a consultant here working with me when the priest from the church we visited yesterday called. I went into the bedroom to talk so I wouldn't disturb the consultant. The priest talked with me for about 15 minutes, adivising me not to push my wife. In fact, just the opposite. He said God knows my heart towards converting, and my plight with my wife, and it doesn't necessarily need to be resolved in the near future. He advised me to continue studying Orthodoxy and to attend occasionally, while supporting my wife and even attending church with her most of the time. He said it is long journey and to be patient with her.

Now for the good part. After he blessed me and we hung up, I came back into the main living room area to my desk, and there was a distinct smell of burning incense. I think God was trying to drop me a hint and bless me with His prescence.

Just thought I'd let you who are praying for me so you would be encouraged that prayer works. I am now more convinced than ever that I am doing the right thing.

[Mary of Bethany]

ortho,

thanks for sharing that!

Some of us have indeed converted without our spouses, but I doubt any of us converted if/while our spouses were opposed to our conversion. My hubby took Inquirer's classes with me, but when the Priest said we were ready to be made Catechumens, he decided not to. But he was/is perfectly okay with my conversion. It isn't the ideal, but I believe God will work it out.

I doubt any Priest would advise you to convert against your wife's wishes. Prayer and patience are your best friends at this point.

Blessings,

Mary

[Xpycoctomos]

My wife hated the service we attended, it was too foreign to her western way of thinking, so I am at a loss at what to do next. I told the priest to give me a call as we were leaving the church yesterday to help me along my path.

Just thought I'd let you guys know that your prayers are being heard. I was in my office earlier today which is a 1000 square foot 1 bedroom condo. I had a consultant here working with me when the priest from the church we visited yesterday called. I went into the bedroom to talk so I wouldn't disturb the consultant. The priest talked with me for about 15 minutes, adivising me not to push my wife. In fact, just the opposite. He said God knows my heart towards converting, and my plight with my wife, and it doesn't necessarily need to be resolved in the near future. He advised me to continue studying Orthodoxy and to attend occasionally, while supporting my wife and even attending church with her most of the time. He said it is long journey and to be patient with her.

Now for the good part. After he blessed me and we hung up, I came back into the main living room area to my desk, and there was a distinct smell of burning incense. I think God was trying to drop me a hint and bless me with His prescence.

Just thought I'd let you who are praying for me so you would be encouraged that prayer works. I am now more convinced than ever that I am doing the right thing.

Sounds like a very wise and understanding priest. Hold on to this one!

[Orthosdoxa]

So much good stuff happening in here!

Kassiane, welcome home!!!! :hug:

Mike, your priest sounds great and that sounds like very good advice to me. And the incense smell thing... tres cool. :thumbsup:

Does your wife like to read much? Would she read something for your sake? I'd reccomend "Facing East" by Frederica Mathews-Green. Very Orthodoxy 101, and very, very compelling. "Thirsting for God in a land of shallow wells" by Gallatin is also very good for Protestants who have issues with certain Orthodox practices. Either one of these might really open a door in her heart....either of them would cover the issues you mentioned she has. I can get copies for you if you like - I've got connections. :cool:

God bless you, and let us know if we can help you at all on your journey.

LK

[BabyLutheran]

Thanks for adivce on books. I just ordered the shallow wells book for myself yesterday, and I will try to get her to read it. I am interested in Facing East also, so pm me with your details on how I can get a copy.

I don't know that it's so much the doctrine as it is the strangeness of the service, she seems to think it's mindless because it's the same week after week. she also likes to sing praise and worship music, and the music at DL is very strange to her also. No one in the congregation seems to sing, and she really would miss that.

My priest recommended that I help her find a church she's comfortable going to and to attend it with her and my family, because if nothing else, my family needs to be going to church every Sunday. He also said I should attend DL whenever possible once in a while, and he would help me learn Orthodoxy and I can start modeling it for my family. Hopefully my wife's heart will change when she sees changes in me. The first book he recommended is "The Faith" which he said is a great book about the everday practices, so if your sources have this or any other books like it, I would be happy to purchase them through an Orthodox source instead of Amazon.

Thanks again for your support and kind comments.

Mikle

[Orthosdoxa]

I don't know that it's so much the doctrine as it is the strangeness of the service, she seems to think it's mindless because it's the same week after week.

Have her read this little essay:

Liturgical Repetition
You ask me whether I tire of attending a liturgy week after week which always remains the same. I do not. You are wrong to think that there is anything to dislike about repetition. On the contrary, there is no greater joy than repeating what we love. Those activities which give us the greatest pleasure in life also drive us to repeat them again and again. Does sex ever change? Does eating ever change? Do athletic contests change? These things are essentially the same each time. And what of music? There is great joy in learning a new song, but we are even more filled with delight when we hear an old song that we know and love. So it is with the liturgy. The familiarity is a source of great joy.
Of course, we have all had the experience of growing tired of something which is repeated over and over again, but it seems to me that we misunderstand the problem. We hear a song once and love it. Then we hear it a few more times and love it more. However, when it becomes "overplayed," it looses its appeal. We think that we have stopped loving it because of the repetition, but this is false. If our experience of the song were the same each time, exactly the same, we would feel the same joy each and every time, for this is part of the experience. What actually happens with the overplayed song is that it fails to be truly repeated. The experience is different each time, and the latter experiences lack the joy of the first. So, we are not annoyed by the repetition, but rather by the imperfection of the repetition, the fact that it doesn't truly repeat what we first heard. We are not disturbed by the repetition, but by the lack of it.
Now, when we properly experience the liturgy, there is great joy each time. In the liturgy, we do not simply make something happen again. Instead, we lift a small portion of time into eternity. We do not call the Orthodox liturgy "The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom," but rather "The Liturgy According to St. John Chrysostom." The liturgy, the real liturgy, is the one happening eternally in heaven, the one seen by Isaiah, and the one that John recounts in his Revelation. When we Orthodox go to church, we lift ourselves up into that one eternal liturgy, in the way that St. John Chrysostom prescribed, and thereby become participants in the heavenly worship of God. John, the Apostle, refers to Christ as the "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." The events of salvation are not something which only happened 2,000 years ago, but rather, they happen eternally in heaven and were made manifest on Earth 2,000 years ago. When we go to church, we participate in the Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ. We do not, as the Catholics say, make the death and resurrection of Christ which happened 2,000 years ago present again. Instead, we join ourselves to Christ's eternal death and resurrection, so that we do not experience it again, but eternally, outside of time altogether. And because it is always the same eternal divine worship which we experience, and not simply another re-enactment of it, our experience is the same each time, truly the same. And because it is truly the same, it gives us the same joy always. Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.





The first book he recommended is "The Faith" which he said is a great book about the everday practices, so if your sources have this or any other books like it, I would be happy to purchase them through an Orthodox source instead of Amazon.

I wasn't kidding when I said I had connections. :D There is an older Greek man at our church who just came back to the faith of his childhood a few years ago and is totally on fire. He always has a few hundred books, cd's and dvd's about Orthodoxy in his trunk - no kidding. So they're always with him, so he can strike up random conversations with people and then give them a book to follow up. :D He's a hoot. I know he has "The Faith" - I don't know about "Facing East", but our bookstore just got a copy, so I'll snag that one. And any other cd, dvd, or title he currently has in the collection. We'll pm soon, and you can tell me where to send a rather large box of materials. No payment needed - he has a lot of money, and his mission is to give it all away in the spread of Orthodoxy.

I'll give him a call soon, then come back to pm you.

LK

[Ragamuffins]

We'll pm soon, and you can tell me where to send a rather large box of materials. No payment needed - he has a lot of money, and his mission is to give it all away in the spread of Orthodoxy.

I'll give him a call soon, then come back to pm you.

LK
Can anyone get in on this? I would be grateful as there are so many books and such that are beyond my means.

[MariaRegina]

My wife hated the service we attended, it was too foreign to her western way of thinking, so I am at a loss at what to do next. I told the priest to give me a call as we were leaving the church yesterday to help me along my path.

Just thought I'd let you guys know that your prayers are being heard. I was in my office earlier today which is a 1000 square foot 1 bedroom condo. I had a consultant here working with me when the priest from the church we visited yesterday called. I went into the bedroom to talk so I wouldn't disturb the consultant. The priest talked with me for about 15 minutes, adivising me not to push my wife. In fact, just the opposite. He said God knows my heart towards converting, and my plight with my wife, and it doesn't necessarily need to be resolved in the near future. He advised me to continue studying Orthodoxy and to attend occasionally, while supporting my wife and even attending church with her most of the time. He said it is long journey and to be patient with her.

Now for the good part. After he blessed me and we hung up, I came back into the main living room area to my desk, and there was a distinct smell of burning incense. I think God was trying to drop me a hint and bless me with His prescence.

Just thought I'd let you who are praying for me so you would be encouraged that prayer works. I am now more convinced than ever that I am doing the right thing.


I know that scent of incense, many times, too many time to count, my husband and I have both smelled the blessed fragrance that smells like a heavenly bouquet of flowers. The fascinating thing is that I am allergic to most flowers, especially roses, but this heavenly aroma doesn't make me sneeze.

[Ragamuffins]

Can anyone get in on this? I would be grateful as there are so many books and such that are beyond my means.
Guess not :)

[Oblio]

Can anyone get in on this? I would be grateful as there are so many books and such that are beyond my means.


Anything in particular you are looking for Bud ?

[Orthosdoxa]

Whoopsie. Sorry, Bud, I rarely look at this thread and didn't see that before. You should pm me when you want to be sure I'll see something. :)

And the answer is of course. Let me talk to our friend, hopefully this weekend, and see what we can get hooked up.

[SumTinWong]

Anything in particular you are looking for Bud ?
I do not honestly know the name of the books, there are two of them, and they have the saints of the day and such. Father Phillip has them int e store but they are like $50 a piece. Yikes. He said they would be good for me to read but, I am thinking food would be good as well. LOL.

I am also looking to get a hardbound copy of the Orthodox Study Bible.

A book for my wife entitled Gender: Men, women, sex, and feminism

The Orthodox Church from A - Z

Facing East

The way of the pilgrim

The Philokalia

Anyway I don't NEED any of these things but I think they would be great for me to read and if the guy has the resources and can help this would be great.

[SumTinWong]

And the answer is of course. Let me talk to our friend, hopefully this weekend, and see what we can get hooked up.
Sorry about that, I forgot what a busy week this was. Forgive me.

[Oblio]

I do not honestly know the name of the books, there are two of them, and they have the saints of the day and such. Father Phillip has them int e store but they are like $50 a piece. Yikes. He said they would be good for me to read but, I am thinking food would be good as well. LOL.


Are they the Prologue of Ohrid ?

[SumTinWong]

Are they the Prologue of Ohrid ?
I am going to see FR Phillip tomorrow I will look at them again then. I can't rmemeber the names of most anything anymore. Must be old age ;)

[Oblio]

Just in case it is, you can read it online ....

Prologue of Ohrid (http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/)

[icxn]

Perhaps this collection?

http://www.chrysostompress.org/catalog/collection/?CPSESSION=589c1201722cf8eba830e9e0cf4a40a1

Btw the commentaries of St. Theophylact on the Gospels are great (much better than the OSB):

http://www.chrysostompress.org/catalog/explanation/?CPSESSION=589c1201722cf8eba830e9e0cf4a40a1

[SumTinWong]

Perhaps this collection?

http://www.chrysostompress.org/catalog/collection/?CPSESSION=589c1201722cf8eba830e9e0cf4a40a1

Btw the commentaries of St. Theophylact on the Gospels are great (much better than the OSB):

http://www.chrysostompress.org/catalog/explanation/?CPSESSION=589c1201722cf8eba830e9e0cf4a40a1
Nope niether of those, although those are at the book store. These were sort of like Oblio posted, but I will, like I said check tomorrow to make certain what they were.

[SwordOfGod]

hmmmmmmmmmmmm................. Christ is good........

[SumTinWong]

Hello friends.

It turns out that it was the Prologue of Ohrid, so i have that now thanks to Oblio finding that online.

The only others that caught my eye were: The complete book of Orthodoxy and The Way : What every Protestant should know.

Thanks guys for all your help :)

[Ioannis]

Hey everyone. My name is John. Been Orthodox for as long as I can remember, by the grace of God. Not sure what to really say. Just saying 'hi,' I guess. Ya'll take care.

[Kolya]

Welcome to TAW Ioann!!! Please join us in the Taverna thread. It's comfy and warm, and all the drinks are on the house.:)

[theoforos]

I was received into the Orthodox church through confession and chrismation in May 2005 after a process that took about 20 years. I was raised Lutheran but I got interested in orthodoxy at avery young age (before I turned 10, can't remember exactly when), but I was afraid of other people's reactions so I tried to remain where I was but I finally came to the conclusion that I just had to do what felt right without thinking so much about other people. I'm a member of the Orthodox Church of Finland (under the EP) and live in Helsinki, Finland. My patron saint is St. Michael the Archangel, since baptism, didn't see any reason to change it when I became Orthodox.

[MariaRegina]

I was received into the Orthodox church through confession and chrismation in May 2005 after a process that took about 20 years. I was raised Lutheran but I got interested in orthodoxy at avery young age (before I turned 10, can't remember exactly when), but I was afraid of other people's reactions so I tried to remain where I was but I finally came to the conclusion that I just had to do what felt right without thinking so much about other people. I'm a member of the Orthodox Church of Finland (under the EP) and live in Helsinki, Finland. My patron saint is St. Michael the Archangel, since baptism, didn't see any reason to change it when I became Orthodox.

Welcome Theoforos! St. Michael is a great patron saint.

My Baptismal name is Elizabeth and I kept it for my Chrismation too.

[Xpycoctomos]

I was received into the Orthodox church through confession and chrismation in May 2005 after a process that took about 20 years. I was raised Lutheran but I got interested in orthodoxy at avery young age (before I turned 10, can't remember exactly when), but I was afraid of other people's reactions so I tried to remain where I was but I finally came to the conclusion that I just had to do what felt right without thinking so much about other people. I'm a member of the Orthodox Church of Finland (under the EP) and live in Helsinki, Finland. My patron saint is St. Michael the Archangel, since baptism, didn't see any reason to change it when I became Orthodox.

You had a patron saint as a baptised Lutheran? It doesn't surprise me that that was once a tradition in the Lutheran Church, but I didn't realize that the Finnish Lutheran Church was that traditional. Although, I had heard they have monasteries in that part of the world. Is that true?

Anyhow, welcome to the CHurch and welcome to TAW :)

John

[theoforos]

You had a patron saint as a baptised Lutheran? It doesn't surprise me that that was once a tradition in the Lutheran Church, but I didn't realize that the Finnish Lutheran Church was that traditional. Although, I had heard they have monasteries in that part of the world. Is that true?

Anyhow, welcome to the CHurch and welcome to TAW :)

John

Thanks John! (and thanks to Aria, too!)

The Finnish Lutheran Church never abandoned the Catholic calendar after the reformation, and it is still common to celebrate name days among the Lutherans, but I'm afraid that the vast majority of the Finnish Lutherans don't think about the connection between their name and the saint. Personally I've always been aware of that connection, but the thing is made easier by the fact that there isn't any other Michael in the Lutheran calendar.

I know the Norwegians don't have a name day calendar any more, but I think the Swedes might have. The Lutheran churches of Finland and Sweden are the ones that remained the most "Catholic" of all the Lutheran churches after the reformation, preserving many things that Lutherans elsewhere abandoned. To start with the reformation was very superficial, they pretty much just broke their ties with the pope, but they did make some more changes gradually.

As for Lutheran monasteries, I've heard of a monastery type of a community somewhere in central Finland (but I think they allow also married couples to move there) and I think there are some Lutheran nuns somewhere in the southwestern corner of Finland, but I'm not really an expert on this... I've also heard about Lutheran monasteries in Sweden and Germany, but I don't have any more information about them.

[Xpycoctomos]

Thanks for that theforos. Interesting. Actually, interestingly enough, we have a Lutheran Monastery in the States (which by coincidence is pretty close to where i live) but it is the only one i know of and most all Lutherans around here are completely unaware of its existance (it is very very small... very very beautiful).

And regarding the calendar: I know at least the LCMS here still HAS the calendar (the Saints are listed for every day) but it is pretty much completely ignored for the most part (except for the typical feast days unrelated to saints... unless it's luther lol). So, it exists... not abandoned, per so... but practically speaking it is as you say... abandoned.

John

[Akathist]

Retiring this thread see the new one here (and please update it): http://www.christianforums.com/t2505078-militants-of-taw-starting-january-2006.html

[Akathist]

New thread started, hoping to get updated information.

[RobNJ]

Remember, this thread is "read-only", any new posts go in the thread started in January, 2006

http://www.christianforums.com/t2505078-militants-of-taw-starting-january-2006.html