What do you go by?

Myong Hwan Eiselstein said:

When you identify your religion, do you state that you are Russian/Greek/etc. Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox?

Thanks.

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Orthodox Christian

All4Christ said:

Orthodox Christian

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Same.
Often I just say 'Orthodox' unless questioned further.
[anecdote]
I was on a city bus, on my way home from work one day a couple years ago. It was just prior to my Chrismation while I was still in catechism.

Two young, twenty-something, modestly dressed, attractive young women got on the bus together. One of them sat in the seat in front of me, the other behind me.
The one in front turns around asks, "Can I ask you a few questions?" I responded, "Sure." She asks, "Do you go to church?"
(yes)
"What kind of church do you go to?"
(we are Orthodox)
"Do you mean, like Jewish?"
(no, Christian). "What's the name of your church?"
(Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church).
She then said, "well... uum.. OK." and moved. I later overheard them telling another passenger that they were Jehovah's Witnesses.

I'm accustomed to the puzzled stare and non-response of most in our community.

FenderTL5 said:

Same.
Often I just say 'Orthodox' unless questioned further.
[anecdote]
I was on a city bus, on my way home from work one day a couple years ago. It was just prior to my Chrismation while I was still in catechism.

Two young, twenty-something, modestly dressed, attractive young women got on the bus together. One of them sat in the seat in front of me, the other behind me.
The one in front turns around asks, "Can I ask you a few questions?" I responded, "Sure." She asks, "Do you go to church?"
(yes)
"What kind of church do you go to?"
(we are Orthodox)
"Do you mean, like Jewish?"
(no, Christian). "What's the name of your church?"
(Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church).
She then said, "well... uum.. OK." and moved. I later overheard them telling another passenger that they were Jehovah's Witnesses.

I'm accustomed to the puzzled stare and non-response of most in our community.

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Agreed. I recently was talking to one of the ladies who lives on our street. I think she saw my cross and she said, "you have Jesus in you, right?" Of course, I said yes. Then she asks "do you go to a church? What denomination do you belong to - and What's the name of the church?". I mentioned I was Orthodox and that the name of my church is "Holy Apostles Orthodox Church" and she said - "what is the Orthodox Church? Is it Catholic?" followed by "Do you believe in Jesus?".

It was a good segway to talk to her about what we believe, but when I tried to explain about the schism, she was a bit lost. I'm glad we could talk though.

All4Christ said:

Agreed. I recently was talking to one of the ladies who lives on our street. I think she saw my cross and she said, "you have Jesus in you, right?" Of course, I said yes. Then she asks "do you go to a church? What denomination do you belong to - and What's the name of the church?". I mentioned I was Orthodox and that the name of my church is "Holy Apostles Orthodox Church" and she said - "what is the Orthodox Church? Is it Catholic?" followed by "Do you believe in Jesus?".

It was a good segway to talk to her about what we believe, but when I tried to explain about the schism, she was a bit lost. I'm glad we could talk though.

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I've seen that as well.

I now try to keep the details of the schism brief, simple, with few details ("try" being the operative word). If I know the other person is a garden variety protestant who typically knows very little of church history prior to the Great Awakenings, I'll say something like, "it's the church that existed before the Bishop in Rome declared himself 'the Pope'"
While I know there is quibble room in the language (Pope being from the Latin for Papa/father and he was likely called that long prior to the schism) it usually communicates enough, depending on the situation.
I tend to spend a little more energy on the foundation of the church, beginning in Jerusalem, and spreading.. into Antioch, where they were first called Christians, Corinth/Greece, Egypt and Alexandria.. not ignoring but de-emphasizing Rome - again unless asked. I try to make points of reference that would be familiar (Corinth, the city of Corinthians.. etc.)

FenderTL5 said:

I've seen that as well.

I now try to keep the details of the schism brief, simple, with few details ("try" being the operative word). If I know the other person is a garden variety protestant who typically knows very little of church history prior to the Great Awakenings, I'll say something like, "it's the church that existed before the Bishop in Rome declared himself 'the Pope'"
While I know there is quibble room in the language (Pope being from the Latin for Papa/father and he was likely called that long prior to the schism) it usually communicates enough, depending on the situation.
I tend to spend a little more energy on the foundation of the church, beginning in Jerusalem, and spreading.. into Antioch, where they were first called Christians, Corinth/Greece, Egypt and Alexandria.. not ignoring be de-emphasizing Rome - again unless asked.

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The toughest times are when you are limited to a few minutes Explaining Orthodoxy to someone who has no idea what it is in a few minutes is tough!

I'm hoping it is a start for more conversations.

Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox

ArmyMatt said:

Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox

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For me, if someone is more educated about Church history, I say Eastern Orthodox to differentiate myself from Oriental Orthodox. That said, since we are in communion with the Western Orthodox Church, I primarily say "Orthodox" by itself.

I usually say Orthodox (which can get the "Jewish?" question). I often say Orthodox Christian.

When I had to select a religion for hospital admission (and I wanted them to get it right!) the only choice in their menu is Greek Orthodox.

I recently told Protestant friends I was reconnecting with after some years that I was an Orthodox Christian, but I overheard them telling others I was now Greek Orthodox. So they had at least heard of it and made that connection. (Or it could be I'd been discussed - I have seen some from that circle at the Greek Fest and greeted and chatted with old friends, but when the pastor and his wife were coming toward me in the pastry shop, I was looking forward to greeting them but they changed and went to the other line and completely avoided meeting my eye so I never got a chance to even wave. Such things like that happened in that group, and most of my old friends are very cool to me, so ... I may have been a topic of conversation.)

Some people call me "Maurice".

I just say Orthodox - sometimes Eastern Orthodox or American Orthodox or if they say something like, "Oh, like Greek Orthodox?" I usually just say, "Yeah, like Greek Orthodox, it's all the same."

gzt said:

Some people call me "Maurice".

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Well, it IS shorter than "The Gangster Of Love"

I say Orthodox, if they go "Jewish?" I reply "Oy Vey! No, like the Greek and Russian guys with the beards, big crosses & incense"... Around here, that will click.

Orthodox, or Orthodox Christian.

If it's a hospital, I will go by Eastern Orthodox or Greek Orthodox, since those are most likely to get you the right cleric if something should go wrong.

I usually say Eastern Orthodox or Orthodox Christian. The Navy has me down as "Eastern Orthodox Churches" which avoids any confusion of my ethic background!

Orthodox or Orthodox Christian

Christian.

Orthodox Christian.

If pushed, I'd say, "I go to a Greek Orthodox church".
Is it bad that I don't necessarily identify with the church in which I am Chrismated? I'm not embarrassed about it, I love the Greek Orthodox Church, but I am not Greek myself and I don't seek any sort of Greek dominance of the UK (anyway, the Russian church has the most parishes here )


It's a bit like when asked about my nationality.

"European"
"UK"
"English"


I prefer to go for the widest term first.

Myong Hwan Eiselstein said:

When I say Russian Orthodox, I get a lot of funny looks. So, that's why I started this thread

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when I say 'Greek Orthodox', I usually get "oh, so your family is Greek?" or "you don't look Greek, are you from the north?"



I couldn't pass for Greek if I tried. Russian maybe, but I look too Germanic/Celtic to be anything southern Mediterranean.

You mean like I'm a Ukrainian Catholic - no links with Ukraine [ other than my wonderful GodPapa - who is American Ukrainian ] I don't speak the language , my understanding is very very limited but I can sing the Liturgy in Ukrainian and I can read it like a 5 year old