Might want to try out an Orthodox Church, once a month

[AlexB23]

Hello folks. I am Catholic, but I like how the Orthodox church does not have a Pope, or have anything such as mortal and venial sins, and sticks mostly true to the Bible. Each of the three Christian branches have strengths and weaknesses, but given how the Pope has gone a little woke in 2024, I would like to try out an Orthodox service, as a Christian who has moderate beliefs (neither liberal nor conservative). Also, both the Orthodox church and Catholic church were founded in 33 AD, and broke apart in 1054 AD, so I trust the Orthodox church over a mainline Protestant church.

Are there any etiquette or things that must be done before in preparation or when attending an Orthodox service? I will still mostly attend the Catholic service as my friends are Catholic, but I would like to get a taste of the Orthodox church, cos if the future Pope after Francis goes totally woke, then I will have to ditch the Catholic church. Do you guys have documented miracles, such as Eucharistic miracles?

 

[rusmeister]

It is possible to become Orthodox for the wrong reasons. I know that I did, initially.
I think that converting because of personallikes and dislikes is a wrong reason. The right reason is because it is true, it has and speaks the truth.
A wrong reason is excusable as long as you come to the right reason. Otherwise, you can find reasons to leave the Orthodox Church as well. I’ve certainly been through heavy temptation to do so. It is only the certainty of truth that can keep you in such trials.

 

[AlexB23]

It is possible to become Orthodox for the wrong reasons. I know that I did, initially.
I think that converting because of personallikes and dislikes is a wrong reason. The right reason is because it is true, it has and speaks the truth.
A wrong reason is excusable as long as you come to the right reason. Otherwise, you can find reasons to leave the Orthodox Church as well. I’ve certainly been through heavy temptation to do so. It is only the certainty of truth that can keep you in such trials.

I am tired of the Pope pandering to the LGTV community, and Papal Infallibility is demonic. No church is perfect, but the Orthodox is the oldest.

 

[ArmyMatt]

don’t go to the Orthodox Church because of what or who you like or dislike. go because you believe she has the fullness of Christ’s Truth.

and for your first visit, I would say hang out in the back and soak it in, then talk to the priest afterwards.

 

[AlexB23]

don’t go to the Orthodox Church because of what or who you like or dislike. go because you believe she has the fullness of Christ’s Truth.

and for your first visit, I would say hang out in the back and soak it in, then talk to the priest afterwards.

I downloaded a bunch of Orthodox documents onto my computer. The AI learned them, so maybe I can ask the documents what the pillars of Orthodoxy are.

Hanging out in the back, and then talking with the priest sounds like the best idea. So what makes Orthodoxy, and even Catholicism true compared to Protestantism? Then, what makes Orthodoxy true compared to Catholicism?

 

[ArmyMatt]

I downloaded a bunch of Orthodox documents onto my computer. The AI learned them, so maybe I can ask the documents what the pillars of Orthodoxy are.

that’s great for personal learning, but the pillars of Orthodoxy are experienced and lived.

Hanging out in the back, and then talking with the priest sounds like the best idea.

awesome.

So what makes Orthodoxy, and even Catholicism true compared to Protestantism? Then, what makes Orthodoxy true compared to Catholicism?

Protestantism and Catholicism have distorted views of Christ. Orthodoxy has maintained Christ as He is.

 

[AlexB23]

that’s great for personal learning, but the pillars of Orthodoxy are experienced and lived.

awesome.

Protestantism and Catholicism have distorted views of Christ. Orthodoxy has maintained Christ as He is.

Amen to that, I am excited to learn about Orthodoxy.

If you had to rank your favorite denominations based on level of truth, what would they be? Here is an alphabetical list to choose from: Anabaptist, Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Evangelical Protestant, JW, Lutheran, Nondenominational, Orthodox, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist and United Church of Christ.

Automatically, I would cross out the SDAs, JWs, United Church of Christ, and the mainline Protestant denominations, and would be left with Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican. Orthodox seems to be less reliant on Popes, so that denomination seems the best, and Anglicans do not have all the books of the Bible.

 

[ArmyMatt]

If you had to rank your favorite denominations based on level of truth, what would they be? Here is an alphabetical list to choose from: Anabaptist, Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Evangelical Protestant, JW, Lutheran, Nondenominational, Orthodox, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist and United Church of Christ.

forgive me for being blunt, but it’s Orthodoxy or nothing. there aren’t levels of truth. there’s truth and falsehood.

the ones closer to the Truth are also the more deceptive.

 

[AlexB23]

forgive me for being blunt, but it’s Orthodoxy or nothing. there aren’t levels of truth. there’s truth and falsehood.

the ones closer to the Truth are also the more deceptive.

All or nothing approach, interesting. Why are there more Catholics compared to Orthodox? Is a large percentage of Christians getting misled by going the Catholic route? I do want to go to an Orthodox church once a month, to get used to it before making a commitment. The Pope is totally off his rockers. A few months ago, I would have not considered the Orthodox church, but the Vatican I doctrine on Papal Infallibility is contrary to Biblical teachings where all people are sinners.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Why are there more Catholics compared to Orthodox?

dunno, but I venture because they were the initial ones who came to the New World. but raw numbers has nothing to do with whether or not you have the fullness of the Truth.

Is a large percentage of Christians getting misled by going the Catholic route?

yes. this doesn’t mean they won’t necessarily be saved in the end, however.

 

[AlexB23]

dunno, but I venture because they were the initial ones who came to the New World. but raw numbers has nothing to do with whether or not you have the fullness of the Truth.

yes. this doesn’t mean they won’t necessarily be saved in the end, however.

That is probably true. For myself, I believe that all Christians have the possibility of being saved, only if they believe in Jesus, and do not place anyone else over Jesus. It seems like some Catholics (not all), place the Pope on a high pedestal, so those Catholics may or may not be saved.

 

[ArmyMatt]

That is probably true. For myself, I believe that all Christians have the possibility of being saved, only if they believe in Jesus, and do not place anyone else over Jesus. It seems like some Catholics (not all), place the Pope on a high pedestal, so those Catholics may or may not be saved.

who is or isn’t saved is up to God

 

[AlexB23]

who is or isn’t saved is up to God

Agreed.

So, Orthodox churches smell good apparently, as some use chrism oil. Does your church use oil or incense?

Chrism - OrthodoxWiki

orthodoxwiki.org

 

[ArmyMatt]

So, Orthodox churches smell good apparently, as some use chrism oil. Does your church use oil or incense?

we only use chrism when we receive someone into the Church or consecrate a Temple. incense is used every Liturgy, Matins/Orthros, 6th Hour, and Vespers.

 

[AlexB23]

we only use chrism when we receive someone into the Church or consecrate a Temple. incense is used every Liturgy, Matins/Orthros, 6th Hour, and Vespers.

That is interesting stuff. Why do the Orthodox use more incense compared to Catholics. It is sad how my Catholic church does not use incense that often.

 

[ArmyMatt]

That is interesting stuff. Why do the Orthodox use more incense compared to Catholics. It is sad how my Catholic church does not use incense that often.

that’s a question for Rome, not us.

 

[RileyG]

we only use chrism when we receive someone into the Church or consecrate a Temple. incense is used every Liturgy, Matins/Orthros, 6th Hour, and Vespers.

@AlexB23 If it's ok to ask Fr. Matt

What's a Temple in Orthodoxy?

 

[ArmyMatt]

What's a Temple in Orthodoxy?

humans, and because of that, the parishes where God’s people worship.

 

[RileyG]

humans, and because of that, the parishes where God’s people worship.

So parishes and temples are used interchangeably or no?

 

[rusmeister]

So parishes and temples are used interchangeably or no?

Well, there is a word for congregation. In Russian it’s “prihod”.