Did you feel weird tranistioning from other Christianity to EO?

[Knee V]

@knee-v, you know exactly what I am talking about being from that background then. And where'd it put you? What do you mean?

I mean in terms of relating to my family and friends.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Moving to Orthodoxy was hard for me. It wasn't easy saying goodbye to Catholicism. I cherished many things about it. It was the religion my mother baptized me into, the only religion I knew, and listening to Catholic radio and reading CAF for years, I was pretty fanatical.

It was hard for me to stand for almost two hours. I hated it at first. I also thought the Divine Liturgy was unnecessarily repetitive. I also thought the idea of having a priest stick a spoon in the mouths of like 75 to be a germ-ridden, disgusting mess of a notion.

I also thought Orthodoxy was too chaotic, lacking order. It had no pope, so how could it be the True Church? And how can Orthodoxy, a religion with just Russians, some people from Syria and Lebanon, some Serbs, and other Eastern types be the TRUE church? Are all the Catholic parishes illegitimate and worthless? nah, no way...

If Orthodoxy is the true faith, why are there only parishes spread out every 3-4 hours at best? They're obviously pretty lazy and unmotivated to spread God's word! They seem content to stay ethnically insulated.

These were the feelings I had back at that time. I realized over time that the papacy was illegitimate in its claims, we stand for two hours because we're in front of the Living God and He's the ultimate King who deserves it, we repeat prayers during the Divine Liturgy because we can't underestimate how important it is to pray for our clergy. They're under constant temptation and the Evil One wants them to fail. Then I also realized Orthodoxy is true despite its sparse populations here. It's just the way history turned out. It's not my fault my ancestors were radical Calvinist Puritans! I also realized that Orthodoxy HAS sat on its laurels for decades, but there are also other reasons for that, and that now in 2013 there are many enthusiastic converts and energized youth seeking to spread the faith. This is changing for the better.

I realized that my Western brainwashing encouraged for years a legalistic approach to God, a need to see "systems" in salvation rather than the relational model of Orthodoxy. I realized that my ideas of sin were influenced too much by the scholastics in Medievel Catholicism. I also came to the epiphany that I saw the God in the courtroom judging us with Jesus testifying on our behalf nutty model of atonement.

Orthodoxy was tough for me. I didn't warm up to it instantly as some in here have (God be praised they did!). I resisted it. I also realized it would be a "pain in the butt" (as I felt about it back then) to have to drive clear to Fresno and put up with the distance. But later I was ok with it and realized that the Lord's yoke is easy and light, and I was making this far too much of a big deal.

I also hated the calendar, Christmas in January and Pascha clear in May! WHAT THE HECK?! It felt weird, silly in fact at that time, but later I just came to accept it.

I have zero doubt about Orthodoxy now. I know it's the True Church. It's the real deal, and it isn't up for debate anymore. I will continue to struggle with my sins, but knowing the source of the forgiveness OF those sins....it's Holy Orthodoxy.

I think a good formation, lots of prayer, taking your time, and studying/reading A LOT is essential. Don't jump into Orthodoxy because you're running away from something else. Do it because you know it's right! Don't run away from something, run TO Orthodoxy; that's my best advice.

Listen to many voices in Orthodoxy. You will find a theologian who speaks to you. For some in here, that is Father Seraphim Rose....for others it is Father Schmemann, for others it is Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, etc. etc. You will find your inspirational theologian and your way.

Pray to your saint, keep studying, take your time, and hope in Christ.

 

[LJCTAM]

What's with the spoon thing? I saw a wedding where that was done with some honey or soemthing before these two people got married. What's with the spoon deal?

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

In the West, Holy Communion is given in the hand with a wafer for the Body of Christ, and one drinks from the chalice for the wine, the Blood of Christ.

In the Holy Orthodox Church, the Body and Precious Blood of Christ are combined in the chalice and given to the faithful on a spoon. We all take the Eucharist into our mouths from a common spoon by our priest, not in the hand as in the West.

What's with the spoon thing? I saw a wedding where that was done with some honey or soemthing before these two people got married. What's with the spoon deal?

 

[LJCTAM]

they do that in Greek EO weddings too right?

 

[Knee V]

they do that in Greek EO weddings too right?

In our weddings there is something called "the common cup" from which both drink, but it only has wine (not the eucharist, just wine) and there is no spoon.

 

[LJCTAM]

In our weddings there is something called "the common cup" from which both drink, but it only has wine (not the eucharist, just wine) and there is no spoon.

This is what I was talking about: <05:45 ++>

Greek Orthodox Wedding - YouTube

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

What's with the spoon thing? I saw a wedding where that was done with some honey or soemthing before these two people got married. What's with the spoon deal?

Honey and walnuts are offered to the bride and groom on a silver spoon. Walnuts are used because they break into four parts, representing the bride, groom and the two families.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Listen to many voices in Orthodoxy. You will find a theologian who speaks to you. For some in here, that is Father Seraphim Rose....for others it is Father Schmemann, for others it is Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, etc. etc. You will find your inspirational theologian and your way.

pretty much. it's silly to see folks read someone and automatically disregard another just because they were at odds. yeah, I don't agree with Fr Schmemann's liturgical stuff, but I have yet to read a better description of Lent than the one from him, For the Life of the World was amazing, etc.

 

[AV1]

pretty much. it's silly to see folks read someone and automatically disregard another just because they were at odds. yeah, I don't agree with Fr Schmemann's liturgical stuff, but I have yet to read a better description of Lent than the one from him, For the Life of the World was amazing, etc.

Whoa!!! Are you saying the clergy is just like us...don't agree on everything and some are really good at stuff and rubbish at others?!?!

 

[Lirenel]

Do you know the moment I realized I needed to be Orthodox I cried because I didn't want to convert? But I knew I couldn't be Protestant anymore, and I knew Orthodoxy had the Truth. So I went through with the conversion process and I haven't looked back.

It definitely felt weird at first - the first time I went to a liturgy I kept feeling like I was going to be struck by lightning for being a heretic or something. And there was a lot to get used to, from the different theology to the different traditions.

I do want to say this, though. I attended several different denominations of Protestant churches through my life, and different churches within the denominations. No matter how hard I tried, no matter how long I attended, I was always anxious about whether that church had the Truth. And I mean truly anxious, my mind was never really calm. But once I became Orthodox, even when I didn't understand something, even when I wasn't sure I could believe certain aspects, I was never anxious about whether the Church had the Truth. I may not understand it, but I trust it.

 

[Dewi Sant]

Lirenel - I definitely know that feeling.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Whoa!!! Are you saying the clergy is just like us...don't agree on everything and some are really good at stuff and rubbish at others?!?!

I hope your seated for this one.....are you sitting....?....good

aiight, here goes: YES.

 

[Dewi Sant]

*thumbs up*

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

That sounds a lot like Joseph Hazen's testimony that he has shared, only it was leaving Catholicism for Orthodoxy....

Do you know the moment I realized I needed to be Orthodox I cried because I didn't want to convert? But I knew I couldn't be Protestant anymore, and I knew Orthodoxy had the Truth. So I went through with the conversion process and I haven't looked back.

 

[Augustinosia]

Not weird so much...before I went to an Orthodox Church, I was already mentally on board with about 80% of what I was reading about Orthodox theology - it just made more sense and pulled together those things that were 'at odds' in the bible (from a reformed perspective) into a cohesive whole. The first time I went to a Divine Liturgy, I was hooked, heart and soul as well as mentally, and knew that was were I was meant to be and that there was no going back or staying where I was.

The Orthodox Liturgy I found different at first - different because I was unused to a formal liturgical service that was centred on the eucharist; and had never encountered chanting, incense, icons - but in another sense it resonated more deeply within my being and felt more like worship, more a sense of being in the presence of the living God.

Now, as a new Orthodox Christian, I'm focusing on living a life pleasing to God, following basic spiritual disciplines like morning and evening prayers, and getting to Church as often as I can. Some things don't come naturally like asking saints for their help and intercessions or venerating them through their icons, but I'm working on it.

Any weirdness now comes through the schizophrenic situation of living smack in the middle of ReformedProtestantville and the Orthodox Church being ~140 miles away. I can only get to the Orthodox Church every 6-10 weeks or so. There are no Orthodox Christians within an hour's drive of here to meet with. Most Sundays, I pray in solitude. I occasionally venture into my old local church to worship and catch up with Christian friends, but find the exposure to non-Orthodox doctrine causes confusion and frustration more than anything else. That, and the spiritual isolation is driving me up the wall. I'm not sure what to do long-term about the situation yet.

 

[LJCTAM]

Not weird so much...before I went to an Orthodox Church, I was already mentally on board with about 80% of what I was reading about Orthodox theology - it just made more sense and pulled together those things that were 'at odds' in the bible (from a reformed perspective) into a cohesive whole. The first time I went to a Divine Liturgy, I was hooked, heart and soul as well as mentally, and knew that was were I was meant to be and that there was no going back or staying where I was.

The Orthodox Liturgy I found different at first - different because I was unused to a formal liturgical service that was centred on the eucharist; and had never encountered chanting, incense, icons - but in another sense it resonated more deeply within my being and felt more like worship, more a sense of being in the presence of the living God.

Now, as a new Orthodox Christian, I'm focusing on living a life pleasing to God, following basic spiritual disciplines like morning and evening prayers, and getting to Church as often as I can. Some things don't come naturally like asking saints for their help and intercessions or venerating them through their icons, but I'm working on it.

Any weirdness now comes through the schizophrenic situation of living smack in the middle of ReformedProtestantville and the Orthodox Church being ~140 miles away. I can only get to the Orthodox Church every 6-10 weeks or so. There are no Orthodox Christians within an hour's drive of here to meet with. Most Sundays, I pray in solitude. I occasionally venture into my old local church to worship and catch up with Christian friends, but find the exposure to non-Orthodox doctrine causes confusion and frustration more than anything else. That, and the spiritual isolation is driving me up the wall. I'm not sure what to do long-term about the situation yet.

Thank you for writing. We have a lot in common. The veneration of icons and asking saints for intercession is really strange to me as well. The Copts say "it will make sense some day".

I live in an area where there are 4 churches on one side of a block, one right next to each other in other places, and everyone is right. I have never seen an Orthodox Church 'in the wild'.

The lack of gas $$ keeps me from going to one that is 40 miles away. I simply cannot go to the type of churches I had been going to. I am tired of it and fearful that my experinces with other type of church wil be no different in Orthodox place. For real I am afsraid of it.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I am tired of it and fearful that my experinces with other type of church wil be no different in Orthodox place. For real I am afsraid of it.

you aren't the only one that has had that struggle. that is why we say just come and see, and there is no rush to this. if Orthodoxy is what we say it is, she has been slogging along for 2000 years, has Christ's guarentee, and is not going anywhere.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Like many here, on the thread, the forum, the site, and the internet I too have been to many, many churches and fellowships.(too many to count!). And sometimes at the time, sometimes later, realized that most were not people seeking Truth, seeking Yhwh, or even 'repenting' to live God's Way, but other..... (awkward at best) ...

... Now, I am not afraid (I have hardly ever if ever been afraid, having from Yhwh the gift of peace, joy and rightness with Him by grace in Yeshua, and in His Faithfulness.) to go to most any gathering (except rcc- if Yhwh sends me there, it will be with ALL of His Armor Fresh-On and HIS direction and HIS Word to deliver to Whom He decides)

More simply perhaps "for the pure at heart all things are pure" - Yhwh's Choice. Yhwh's Word. Yhwh's Promise.

So seek Yhwh with all that is in you. With your whole heart, no matter where you are now, or where you may go. Let Yhwh direct your steps and renew your mind in Christ Jesus... then you may have fellowship everywhere you go with all who are HIS. (very very rare, btw, so don't expect to find believers every where you go. but no need to be afraid - not for yourself anyway. (my heart breaks for many lost souls I see , some desperately seeking help, some not caring at all! )

I think I went to one EO church over a decade ago (and new one family, a mom and 2 or 3 children, who did regularly),

and might go again in the near or distant future(Yhwh knows),

mainly if I can find one that practices, teaches, and whose members have learned the primary value of voluntary poverty as the way of living as Scripture and Jesus says to live.

Always living Yhwh's Way, seeking His Way in all things, --- HIS doing -- HIS accomplishing of this == Sheer Grace in Y'shua!

Thank you for writing. We have a lot in common. The veneration of icons and asking saints for intercession is really strange to me as well. The Copts say "it will make sense some day".
I live in an area where there are 4 churches on one side of a block, one right next to each other in other places, and everyone is right. I have never seen an Orthodox Church 'in the wild'.
The lack of gas $$ keeps me from going to one that is 40 miles away. I simply cannot go to the type of churches I had been going to. I am tired of it and fearful that my experinces with other type of church wil be no different in Orthodox place. For real I am afsraid of it.

 

[Sayre]

I hope your seated for this one.....are you sitting....?....good

aiight, here goes: YES.

Arrgghh what? Now I'm confused. Is there a set theology for EO's? I thought there was.