Chrismated Today!!!

[All4Christ]

I was chrismated today! Both my parents ended up coming (something that I never dreamed would happen) - and Father Tim's short 'mini-sermon' or whatever you would call it after the chrismation really helped my parents understand why I am becoming Orthodox - while reassuring them that everything I have learned at my family's church has helped to bring me to this point - that Orthodoxy is a fulfillment and "clarification" to all I learned in the past. Anyways - my sponsor gave me a beautiful gold cross. My boyfriend's mom (they're all Orthodox) gave me an egg pendent (is there an official name for that) so that I could have one for Pascha - and everyone in the church family was so welcoming!! I was so nervous for confession last night - with no reason! Father Tim was VERY good for easing my nerves with that - and it was actually an experience that was very helpful - a wonderful experience - cleansing experience. I'm so excited about this!!! :bow: :crosseo:

[All4Christ]

I'll post pictures once I get them!

[Matrona]

God grant you many years! Congratulations!

[MariaRegina]

God grant you many years.

[Andrew21091]

Glory to God! Many years!

[katherine2001]

Welcome home! May God grant you many, many years!

[fuerein]

Congrats and Many Years.

:)

[All4Christ]

Now I just have to remember how to change my subtitle to "Newly Illumined" rather than "Orthodox Catechumen" :)

[MariaRegina]

Nice change, Laura.

[EmperorConstantine]

:clap::clap::clap: x 10^5437543653476437537637563763654375236538748637

[All4Christ]

:clap: I know! I'm so excited! :)

[Nichole]

WOOT :clap: WOOT :clap: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Xronia Polla!

[All4Christ]

Still not quite up to date with the other languages - just figured out 8 translations of "Lord Have Mercy" because of choir :) - but I haven't encountered this one yet.

"Xronia Polla!" ? Congratulations of some sort?

[Nichole]

I believe it translates to "many years". ^_^ ........then again.........could be wrong..............^_^

[Rowan]

I read this and immediately teared up! I don't do that often :o

Many years and welcome home :hug:

[Eusebios]

Many Years!

[Dorothea]

:clap: CONGRATS!!! :)

[Orthosdoxa]

Thank God. :)

[-Kyriaki-]

MANY YEARS!!!!

Yes, Xronia Polla is 'many years' in Greek.

Glory to God, and I am sooo so glad your parents came :)

[Hoankan]

Welcome home and Many Years!

[Thekla]

God bless the newly illumined handmaiden , Laura !!!!!!!!


(:D :clap: :clap:)

[MariaRegina]

Laura,

Can you share what your parents thought of the ceremony?

It was really sweet of the priest to explain everything and to make your parents feel grateful for raising you as a Christian.

[zhilan]

Many Years!!!

[Anhelyna]

Mnohaia lita !

A wonderful day :)

[Lukaris]

:amen: God grant you many years.:crosseo:

[Philothei]

:clap:Congrats, Many years to you :) Welcome and officially to our Faith :)

[Chocolatesa]

:hug: Many years!!! :D

[ma2000]

Many Years!

[Mary of Bethany]

Many years to the newly illumined handmaid, Laura!

It sounds like it was a wonderful day.

:clap:

Mary

[OrthoCanuck]

God grant you many years!

[cassc]

Wonderful news!! God grant you Many Years!!

[All4Christ]

I'm sorry for not responding sooner! I'm in the last two weeks of undergrad school ever! I can't wait to graduate :-)

Anyways - that's why I didn't respond sooner. I came to my email inbox today with about a week's worth of emails! :doh:

lol anyways, yes I will be happy to tell you my parent's reactions :-)

My parents didn't say too much about it - except that they thought it was a really nice service, that the people there were very kind, that Father Tim's remarks helped them understand more where I am coming from - and that they were happy that he made those remarks. They have been digesting through everything over the past couple days.

While they didn't say too much that day (except that it was - in my Dad's words - "a very nice service"), they have been coming back asking questions about the various beliefs that were listed in the Reception of Convert's Service booklet. They took it home and have been reading through it. They recently asked about the Eucharist being the body and blood of Christ. My Dad and Grandma (she's been looking at the booklet too) asked me in the car what the priests do with unused communion. I didn't quite see where they were going - but I said that I thought that the priests consumed whatever wasn't used - or that it was saved for presanctified liturgy (I think?). They said that "That makes sense. If they do believe that it is the body and blood of Christ - then they couldn't throw away the extra!" My grandma was surprised at first that we actually believed that the bread in the Eucharist really is the body of Christ. My Dad said - well - even if we don't interpret it that way - it really is a biblical belief if you take it at face value.

Anyways - we've started to be able to talk more about things recently. My dad actually likes some of the aspects of "Confession" save for the part about the absolution. Basically - last Sunday was an opening of communication between us - and they seem to be accepting that this is what I truly believe - and if I do believe this - they seem to think that they should at least know what I believe and keep communication about it open.

I have been wearing my cross every day lately - and each day when I see it - it reminds me that I am so thankful that I found Orthodoxy and that I am able to grow closer to God through this!

God is faithful! :crosseo:

[All4Christ]

I read this and immediately teared up! I don't do that often :o

Many years and welcome home :hug:
Thank you! I am so happy to be here today - and am so thankful for God's guidance on my journey throughout the past....wow....6 years!