Choosing A Parish

[Ioustinos]

As one leaving behind Protestantism and entering into the way of the Orthodox Church, I have been blessed to currently live in a city where the choice of Orthodox churches are many. In my city there are Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox, Antiochian Orthodox and OCA churches.

All of them are Orthodox but I am having a hard time deciding which one to choose as my "home" parish. For example here are some thoughts that run through my mind:

Greek Orthodox - the Divine Liturgy is in Greek which is the language of the early church.

Russian Orthodox - I would like to learn church Slavonic. (In addition to my desire to learn Russian - and, yes, I know they are different)

Serbian Orthodox - again learning church Slavonic and/or Serbian (I want to learn a Slavic language)

Romanian Orthodox - I found out within the last year that I am 1/4 Romanian and it would be interesting to grow that part of my heritage both earthly and spiritual.

OCA - the Divine Liturgy is in English

I see all of these as benefits to my options, but I do not want to choose a parish based upon superficial criteria. So I was wondering if you all could give some advice in how I choose a parish to call my home.

 

[Nik0s]

Assuming you only know English from your post, I would suggest going to either the Antiochian or OCA Parishes as they conduct the Liturgy in English. The most important thing about choosing a Parish is for you to be able to understand the liturgy . Also, I've heard that both the Antiochian and OCA churches are more welcoming to converts than other jurisdictions.

 

[Protoevangel]

I tend to agree. You can always learn another language. It's not like the services will be useless if you don't understand the language, but you will get a lot more out of it if you do understand it. Visit the other parishes fairly often, if you like. They all have something to offer.

 

[ArmyMatt]

while they all speak the same faith so it does not matter, since you are American it would prolly be best to start off with an OCA or Antiochian parish. plus, the OCA has its roots in Russia, and a Romanian Episcopate....

 

[gracefullamb]

Just to clarify did you already call these churches and confirm that is the language they hold their Liturgy in? If you have found out that is the language they hold their services in, then my advice it go with whatever one is in English. If there is more than one church close enough holding services in English visit them all a couple times to find out which one you feel at home the most in. Learning a different language can come later with visiting other churches along with other ways of studying. Right now your concern needs to be learning and living the faith and it will be a lot easier to do that in your own language. Trying to learn a language and the faith will just create frustration where don't need any.

 

[Ioustinos]

I have contacted the priest at the Greek, Serbian, and Russian parishes and they perform the liturgy in a mix of English and the language of that specific church.

But I guess you are all right in that I can visit them as I wish but begin with a predominantly English speaking parish. As someone who loves history and culture, I am easily tempted to bend towards the Russian and Greek churches

 

[Nik0s]

I have contacted the priest at the Greek, Serbian, and Russian parishes and they perform the liturgy in a mix of English and the language of that specific church.

But I guess you are all right in that I can visit them as I wish but begin with a predominantly English speaking parish. As someone who loves history and culture, I am easily tempted to bend towards the Russian and Greek churches

Some (Most) Greek parishes can be snobbish and stuck up so don't be discouraged if you choose to visit the Greek parish first.

 

[Mariya116]

Which church feels like home? choose that one. If you can't tell, then the OCA.

 

[nutroll]

I think it's important not to make assumptions based on the ethnic label on the church. I have been in Greek churches that were incredibly welcoming to non-Greeks, I have been in Antiochian Parishes where very little English was spoken, and I have been in mostly convert parishes where I didn't feel very welcome. In some places OCA churches are very ethnic and even use quite a bit of Slavonic. I would go to the parishes and see how they feel. You may find that language is not a barrier at one church but the people are, or find yourself in a parish where the people are wonderful, but the services are a mystery. And you will find one of them more comforting than the others, for reasons that might surprise you.

 

[E.C.]

Go to where you are welcomed and loved.


Like Dn. Nutroll basically said, beware of prejudices. I have a prejudice about Greek parishes because of a few bad experiences until I attended one that dealt a severe blow to it.

 

[ikonographics]

Its simple! Ask St Philoumenos to find you a parish!

 

[TheCunctator]

Any parish - as long as it has little old Ukrainian ladies who are absolute sweethearts .

I found a couple of those at an OCA parish.

 

[Dewi Sant]

How simple it would be if Orthodox parishes had geographical territories, in which case, I would say "go to your parish, there should be no choice".
I was fortunate in that my parish was only a couple of miles away (and I am/was a fast cyclist). I do not live in the US, but in my experience here in the UK I have not come across a church which I could not feel comfortable attending regularly.
If the clergy are unable to attend to your spiritual concerns because of language divide, then there is reason to look elsewhere.
Also, it is nice to go to a parish where there is some English, if only for the Creed and Our Father. Personally, as someone opposed to prayerbook liturgy, I would attend English (or Latin) parishes out of choice simply because I can follow and respond accordingly without following the written service. It helps because you get a better "feel" for worship when you are not distracted by a service book (whether it be in English, Church Slavonic, Syriac, or Amharic).


ps. the Greeks make nice coffee. Oh, and baklava.

 

[Mariya116]

The topic makes me recall how I chose my parish. I was received there very well, and at the prior parish where I went for a couple of years - not so much, although both pastors are wonderful and actually are good friends. The attitude of the parishioners is crucial.

 

[gzt]

Not terribly important, but, all things considered, it's usually best to go to an English-speaking parish (though you really don't know to what extent the other parishes use other languages! it might not be important). It's also usually best to go to a church that has had people convert before and knows what to do with converts - though I would caution against a church that is almost totally converts. Really, all you need is a priest that's willing to teach you a bit and friendly people, though you really don't know what's important about a priest teaching you stuff, you might have all the wrong ideas about what you need to know and learn, so don't judge.

 

[Joshua G.]

As one leaving behind Protestantism and entering into the way of the Orthodox Church, I have been blessed to currently live in a city where the choice of Orthodox churches are many. In my city there are Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox, Antiochian Orthodox and OCA churches.

All of them are Orthodox but I am having a hard time deciding which one to choose as my "home" parish. For example here are some thoughts that run through my mind:

Greek Orthodox - the Divine Liturgy is in Greek which is the language of the early church.

Russian Orthodox - I would like to learn church Slavonic. (In addition to my desire to learn Russian - and, yes, I know they are different)

Serbian Orthodox - again learning church Slavonic and/or Serbian (I want to learn a Slavic language)

Romanian Orthodox - I found out within the last year that I am 1/4 Romanian and it would be interesting to grow that part of my heritage both earthly and spiritual.

OCA - the Divine Liturgy is in English

I see all of these as benefits to my options, but I do not want to choose a parish based upon superficial criteria. So I was wondering if you all could give some advice in how I choose a parish to call my home.

I think you should be looking at those things which benefit your soul before your interests (and if they match up then that's great).

Remember, the priest will probably be the one you end up consistently confessing to. Which seems to take interest most in your salvation and doesn't wierd you out (if applicable )

Which parish seems to fit you best in regards to yoru personality. Feeling at home and like you can relate to some people around you is important.

There is another parish in town that is a Greek one. Our home is the Russian one but the Greek one has some very attractive qualities as well. We are where we are becuase it seems that God placed us there and our priest does a good job with us. We connect. it's also a smaller parish so it is easier to get some one on one with certain people including the priest.

But there are definitely advantages to the other one. The Luioturgy at the Greek Church for some reason calms me more than at my Russian Church.

Anyway, my poitn is that you need to go where you feel you will be most benefited SPIRITUALLY.

Don't choose until you feel led to one. You will. It will just "feel" right and don't be surprised if it's the one you didn't think it would be. I just wouldn't base it too much on language unless everything else is the same, which it usually isn't.

God bless you on your journey and let us know what you decide when you do down the line.

Josh

 

[Ioustinos]

For those who converted into Orthodoxy as an adult, did you find it more difficult to feel "at ease" since the Orthodox Church and the Divine Liturgy is different in both action and atmosphere than Protestant U.S. churches?

 

[MariaRegina]

Many adults who have converted to Orthodoxy have come from liturgical churches such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopalian Church, the Anglican Church, and the Lutheran Church. The issues faced by the converts vary. I think it is safe to say that the variety of "national" Orthodox Churches and the language barrier have proven to be common obstacles. For me it was not as I am a linguist.

 

[Joshua G.]

For those who converted into Orthodoxy as an adult, did you find it more difficult to feel "at ease" since the Orthodox Church and the Divine Liturgy is different in both action and atmosphere than Protestant U.S. churches?

I did and to a point still do but more because I'm Western and the OC is mostly Eastern (including my parish). By the way, I was Lutheran.

Don't get me wrong. The Eastern approach to theology is notning that took getting used to (at least not in an uncomfortable way). But still when I go to a conservative western Rite (be it Anglican, old School Catholic, confessional Lutheran--which my parish was not, it was pretty middle of the road-- or especially Western Orthodox) I feel more at ease.

But at the same time it's not that I feel uneasy at Church. Not at all. I do feel at home there... I'm just even MORE at ease in a Western setting (it took me a while to admit that to myself bc when I converted I went through the typical westophobia phase lol)

Hope that made sense? I hope what you don't get out of this is that it is possible you will never feel at ease at an Eastern Church. You will. Just don't consider it an object of concern if you find yourself still feeling MORE at east in other places. You're human and there's nothing wrong with that. I find the smell of apple cider very comforting but that doesn't mean that I ned apple cider for my thirst to be quenched

Josh

 

[SpiritlMuse]

For those who converted into Orthodoxy as an adult, did you find it more difficult to feel "at ease" since the Orthodox Church and the Divine Liturgy is different in both action and atmosphere than Protestant U.S. churches?

"I felt like I was in heaven praising God with all the Saints and the Angels" Honesty thats what I felt the very first time I was there during the Divine Liturgy.

I am in the process of converting to the Orthodox Church. I grew up in the Roman Catholic church until I was an adult. As an adult I looked at a few different churches and never found one that really spoke to me. Some I stayed a few years at although I knew I was not where I should be, still seeking that one real church. I believe that when it was my time the Orthodox Church came into my grasps and after going the first time, I knew it was the right place for me. I felt like I was in heaven praising God with all the Saints and the Angels too. I have gone to Greek and Romanian Orthodox Churches and really love the Romanian one the people and Fr. are wonderful but so much of it is in Romanian and I miss so much.

I now only go to the Antioch Church because it is in English and I am taking classes to become Orthodox with the Fr. John, many people come to his intro classes that are cradle Orthodox because his classes are so good. After I become Orthodox I am thinking of going to the Romanian Church, not sure time will only tell.