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The aspect with "Holy Fools" is intriguing - seeing how they often didn't fit the norm in either dress or vernacular and yet were designed by God as tests to those around them of accepting spiritual realities. John the Baptist being one of them as well as others who didn't quite fit in...and others having the spirit of Holy Fools in the way they are mistreated for being who they are rather than accepted..The second generation Churches are an interesting "problem".
In Greece, the last metropolitan was quite open to any form of dress (ie to accept anyone), and the old world has still the "holy fools" which are reminders there ... in the new world (as one bishop observed) the "holy fools" would likely be imprisoned etc. by the secular authorities.
Thankfully you were welcomed where you were at - and in other places seeing others taken care of...I will say that in every parish we've attended, there have been some of us who were of little means -- but were amply (and quietly) helped by individuals in the parish. Ie, one would not notice by clothing the actual difference in income within the community.
Of course many in these parishes were dirt poor when arriving in the US, and some in the parishes still are. (Though much is made of ethnic churches, in our parish we are about 30% recent immigrants and many older immigrants who don't have much English - hence the bilingual services so that all may pray in their language of prayer. In fact, in every parish, my apparently not-Greek family have been warmly welcomed by many who don't speak English.)
So speaking from experience (three parishes, and visits to Antiochian and Russian parishes) I haven't really experienced what the author points to; ie I really can't comment except from speculation.
Of course, from experience, it is interesting when others note the parishes they are in were radically different from negative experiences they had at others they left after feeling ostracized for things in their background or for not having the same ethnic/cultural understandings - be it migrants in non-migrant communities or those who were born in the U.S and looking for a parish and yet having other migrant communities they wanted to be a part of in their area and yet got shunned because of suspicions migrants had of them......or having those who are minorities bring in their own stereotypes into things (like having Indian Orthodox have stereotypical views of blacks which are low and yet also dealing with feeling isolated/stereotyped as a community and thus keeping to themselves - even though they may have views of blacks that are racially insensitive...even forbidding Indians in their community to marry outside of Indian ethnicity).
And of course, even with saying the Gospel is being preached and others are welcomed, the body language may be radically different. Had one brother I discussed with who grew up Indian Orthodox (Indian himself, of course) and yet noted his being tired of where he was at when seeing how judgmental others were in his parish of anything outside of them/their culture - leading to him leaving eventually due to how they made claims of him and others he became friends with that were based in fear rather than facts.
It takes a lot to make others feel welcomed as much as possible
The Serbs and Arabs in this country have had a pretty rough time of it recently w/ the secular US culture - I would not be surprised if they were thus a bit wary with "outsiders".
Indeed..
Having friends/family who are Coptic, I was very thankful for this presentation in showing what life is like for believers from this background in Diaspora...and how often they're present/in need of help and yet not many know of them or how to help them due to not understanding life in their world:
The presentation meant a lot to me, in light of the fact that I'm a Youth Worker and one that has often had to deal with intergenerational ministry - connecting worlds and making bridges.
For many, the only way they are able to connect with outsiders is through new generations in their children who grew up in the cultures they are still foreign to..
I always found it interesting to see the ways that people who're young adults have often left the Church in droves over issues related to generational differences and not being understood - regardless of whether it's in Eastern Christianity or Protestant Christianity and others. There was actually another thread elsewhere that focused on the issue of how a lot of people have been in extensive debate on what is..or isn't "religion" that God doesn't like - and many noting that so many end up starving because Christ gets lost in the mix. The thread where discussion occurred was entitled "Why I Hate Religion, But I Love Jesus" video + Orthodox rebuttal
And on the same token, there are many staying faithful and quite engaged. They're being salt/light where they're at and involved in their communities - seeing the relevance of what others in history went through in representing Christ during their time (from the Desert Fathers/Monastics to the Early CHurch Fathers ..to communities of believers suffering persecution). A lot of it often seems to be a matter of others staying because they have been trained to not look for entertainment as the basis for learning - and others finding ways to take what they learn/apply it in practical ways to everyday life. It's not as if you have to get rid of Divine Liturgy in order to connect with young adults since a lot of the battles seem to be an issue of translation......taking from what's Ancient and bringing it into the Modern World in a way others can understand/appreciate.
It seems to shock a lot of people when they find someone who's Orthodox and yet into rap, hiphop, poetry, spoken word and other elements found commonly in young adult culture - yet those same individuals who others find to be oddities are strengthened in some ways more than others because they have found ways to contexualize their faith in ways that can reach the people of their day.... The folks at "Ancient Christian Defense" are one example that has been encouraging (IMHO).
There are many who stay where they are at and yet it is not noted as often as the people who leave. One of the most inspiring examples I've always been blessed by - in light of others within Oriental Orthodoxy who have a visible presence within the community and strong young adults - ae those with HG Bishop Angaelos and the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK. They're actively involved in community endeavors such as helping the homeless, community service and a host of other things. I was glad for Bishop Angaelos in what he did with youth and the ways he imparts to so many young adults when it comes to passionately serving the Lord , as seen in the work he did with establishing the Coptic City Mission', a group of youth who visit the homeless on the streets of London every week, distributing food, clothes and a comforting word. And yet they still do things young adults can connect with like sports.
Their YouTube page called Coptic Youth Channel has had some really excellent study material/videos on what goes on with their youth and how they're reaching others.
"A Church without Youth is a Church without a future." -- H.H. Pope Shenouda III.
Bishop Moussa talk to Coptic Youth about media
Guys Talk Season 2 Eps 1 -Coptic Youth
Bishop Moussa talk to Coptic Youth about media
Guys Talk Season 2 Eps 1 -Coptic Youth
That said, indeed it's difficult for many to connect because of how the secular world has been PUSHED onto them when they come to the U.S - and thus, they have a hard time learning how to navigate it or appreciate those who can help them to survive with it.
Intriguing to hear(To add, in each parish I have received very quiet and gentle inquiries about the "means" of new families that I have been observed interacting with - from parishioners.)
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