Conversions to Orthodoxy

[oedipus_wrecks]

Hello All.
I'm a college freshman who recently completed my conversion (On the Feast of the Presentation in November). My college is quite small, and there are no teenage converts in my parish. I would just like to meet some other teenagers who converted on their own; my parents are still Protestants. It gets kinda lonely being the only convert Orthodox teenager around...and I'd like to meet people who are passionate about our Pearl of Great PRICE!
Tyrell

 

[Suzannah]

Hello All.
I'm a college freshman who recently completed my conversion (On the Feast of the Presentation in November). My college is quite small, and there are no teenage converts in my parish. I would just like to meet some other teenagers who converted on their own; my parents are still Protestants. It gets kinda lonely being the only convert Orthodox teenager around...and I'd like to meet people who are passionate about our Pearl of Great PRICE!
Tyrell

Hello Tyrell...Welcome to TAW. I know you will make many friends here..."We are many..." LOL

O)ur motto is: You will be assimilated...

God bless...i'm having connection problems right now but others will be here to chat soon!
:hug

 

[Marjorie]

Hello All.
I'm a college freshman who recently completed my conversion (On the Feast of the Presentation in November). My college is quite small, and there are no teenage converts in my parish. I would just like to meet some other teenagers who converted on their own; my parents are still Protestants. It gets kinda lonely being the only convert Orthodox teenager around...and I'd like to meet people who are passionate about our Pearl of Great PRICE!
Tyrell

*soon to be a convert-Orthodox-teenager!* Welcome!

In IC XC,
Marjorie

 

[Thomas C.]

Hey Tyrell,

I am in college right now as well; a serious inquirer and hopeful future catechumen into the One Holy Apostolic Church. There are faithful here of all different stripes of course, including, I believe, many teenagers and college/college bound students. Welcome!

 

[MariaRegina]

Welcome oedipus_wrecks and Thomas too!

Please do share how you came into contact with the Orthodox Church.

Here is part of my story:

When I was a young college student, my aunt Regina (may her memory be eternal) took me to a Maronite parish in Atlanta, Georgia. The old Maronite Priest was married (a shocker for me at that time to discover a married Catholic Priest). They introduced me to his wife, and she introduced me to some delicious Lebanese cooking (love at first sight).

Then my aunt dropped a bomb shell. She told me that I was French-Lebanese and that this was rightfully my church. The Divine Liturgy (Mass) was celebrated in Aramic (the language which Christ spoke). This entralled me - here I was listening to the very words that Christ used to consecrate the blessed bread and wine into the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.

I went back to college and promptly forgot about the Maronites. A few years later I married and my husband joined the Catholic Church in time for us to have a Nuptial Mass, but things did not bode well. Our marriage struggled to survive as we were losing our faith due to all the liturgical abuses that were occurring in Southern California parishes. We tried different parishes but ran into bongo drums, loud electric guitars, clown masses, and changes in the Holy Scripture and the words that Christ spoke that were not authorized by the Vatican.

In desperation, I remembered my Aunt Regina who sent me Christmas greeting and implored me to return to my roots. I called a Lebanese Melkite Eastern Catholic Church and attended a Divine Liturgy. It was so beautiful that my husband and I cried throughout the Holy Service.

The Melkite Priest seeing our devotion scheduled an appointment to meet us that evening at 7:00 pm (even after a busy Sunday). That evening changed our lives forever. He called us to true repentance and gave us 4 volumes to read that were written by Father Thomas Hopko of the Orthodox Church in America. I was shocked. I asked, "Aren't these heretical?" The Melkite Catholic Priest said, "No, the Great Schism of 1054 was more political than religious. It was a power trip by both sides. We rejoice that the mutual excommunication was lifted in 1964 by the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople."

So, I went home and could not sleep that night as I eagerly devoured the pages of those books. Since the Melkite Church didn't have any inquiry classes or bible classes, I asked permission to attend the Inquiry Classes held at the Greek Orthodox Church. What I saw opened my eyes to the beauty of Orthodoxy. Within three years, my whole family had come home to Orthodoxy.

 

[oedipus_wrecks]

What an amazing story, Aria. I couldn't quite figure out why your label said, "Orthodox Catholic", but I guess that is made clear now.... Well, I guess it's my turn to relate my story!
I was raised by Protestant parents, Methodists to be more precise. They are very devout, quite pious, really! I've attended church for as long as I can remember, and I was baptized when I was 9 years old. I was confirmed when I was 12, and it seemed likely that I would live the rest of my life as Protestant. I was raised in New Mexico, and I'm currently a freshman at Fordham University in New York City. However, early into high school, I began questioning my Methodist beliefs, and I started studying the Church Fathers and Church History. Originally, I settled on the Catholic church, in part because no one knew anything about the Orthodox Church---there were almost no resources on it in a town of 30,000 in Eastern New Mexico. But I soon became disillusioned with particular Catholic doctrines and practices---I never converted, but I entered a crisis of faith---questioned my Christian beliefs entirely. But, thanks to the grace of God, I really discovered Orthodoxy, and I discovered an Orthodox Church three hours from my home. I found my new family, but as you can imagine, 3 hours is quite a journey. I went as often as I could, and now that I'm in New York, it is such a blessing to be so close to my church...Most people back home, learning that I'm an Orthodox Christian, think I'm converting to Judaism. While it's certainly funny, it also is quite disheartening that so many people back in New Mexico know nothing about the Ancient Church. I know that many people have asked and are asking many of the questions that I asked, but unlike me, they haven't found the answers yet---it was an act of God that I DID! My experience is rather muted---there was not a life-altering experience that urged me into Orthodoxy, rather it was a study of the Church Fathers. I really believe that New Mexico, and particularly eastern NM where I was born and raised is fertile ground for the Orthodox Church---the Church in the South is growing by leaps and bounds, and there's no reason why NM shouldn't get in on the action. The problem is that people are quite apathetic about Church History and the early Fathers---they really could care less, and honestly, I think that understanding them is really necessary(certainly, the emotional experience and the beauty of the services helps), but there has to be some substance, some theology to the Liturgy. As John Cardinal Newman said, "To be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant." AMEN to that!

 

[33ad]

The problem is that people are quite apathetic about Church History and the early Fathers---they really could care less, and honestly, I think that understanding them is really necessary(certainly, the emotional experience and the beauty of the services helps), but there has to be some substance, some theology to the Liturgy. As John Cardinal Newman said, "To be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant." AMEN to that!

I agree 100%! That is what dissappointed me about Protestants too.

I still have to post my story, and it's looong overdue.

Kolya

 

[ExOrienteLux]

Hello All.
I'm a college freshman who recently completed my conversion (On the Feast of the Presentation in November). My college is quite small, and there are no teenage converts in my parish. I would just like to meet some other teenagers who converted on their own; my parents are still Protestants. It gets kinda lonely being the only convert Orthodox teenager around...and I'd like to meet people who are passionate about our Pearl of Great PRICE!
Tyrell

Here's one!

+IC XC NIKA+
Phillip

 

[Rilian]

The Divine Liturgy (Mass) was celebrated in Aramic (the language which Christ spoke). This entralled me - here I was listening to the very words that Christ used to consecrate the blessed bread and wine into the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.

That's interesting, is it common in Maronite churches for the liturgy to be in Aramaic?

 

[MariaRegina]

That's interesting, is it common in Maronite churches for the liturgy to be in Aramaic?

No, perhaps in Lebanon or Syria in the villages located in isolated hamlets.

Here in America, the Maronites usually have the Divine Liturgy in English. They used to have (or still have) novus ordo masses but hopefully those are being discouraged as latinizations. ThereseLittleFlower may know more.

 

[sojourner]

To all,

In reading many of these conversion stories it is simply amazing how the Holy Spirit works. That is the external working of the Spirit upon all of mankind, calling each to be IN Christ.
I was raised a very religious protestant. Went to a private Christian school, private Christian 4 year college. Obtained a teaching degree but along with that a major in Bible as well. I was raised a Calvinist went to Sunday School, catechism and eventually taught in a Christian school, taught Sunday School and in my 50's I was teaching an adult Sunday School class and found that over the years the viewpoints on doctrine and understanding within this particular denomination was changing. Many had many different views on major doctrines that were opposed to the very creeds they professed to believe in order to be a member of this denomination.
Well, having practically memorized the Heidelberg Catechism in my youth, I thought I would teach from one of these professions to help them get acquainted with one of the major confessions of this denomination. Would you know that they did not have a copy of it, the pastor did not have copy. I went on the Internet to download a copy. I went to my college Library online and they also had some Early Church Fathers writings.
Well, since I love to read and learn I downloaded a copy of "The Church Is One" by Alexei Khomiakov. It sounded like a challenging read. I was literally astounded. I downloaded others of similar titles. I think that intellectually I was an Orthodox at that point. Over the next week I could not sleep, work or concentrate on anything except that concept that the Church is one and present in the world today.
By the end of a couple of weeks I knew that I was no longer protestant, so therefore I must be Orthodox. I left the church I was attending and began to attend the one my wife worked at as a director. Over the next three years I read and studied Orthodoxy but never attempted to attend a service. I knew a Greek Orthodox Church was only two blocks from the Church I had been attending. I also found that an Antiochian Church was less than 3 minutes from my home and I have been passing this Church for 35 years totally unawares of its existance. Eventually I called to set an appointment to see the priest. This was a week before Pascha and he said I was totally welcome to come that week to the services but it might overwhelm me. I visted the first time two weeks later and have been there for almost 4 years. I became a catechuman for a year, was chrismated on Pascha in 2002.
I have found my home but the only thing that did not happen as yet, is my family, especially my wife, does not want to discuss it. It's like living two lives. Half protestant and fully Orthodox. Praying that my family will follow.

 

[Eusebios]

Thanks for sharing Sojurner, my prayers are with you!
His unworthy servant,
Eusebios.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Thanks for your story, sojourner! Welcome to TAW. My story is pretty similar, but at least my husband is supportive of my conversion to Orthodoxy, though he did not follow me.

I will add you to my prayer list for those whose families are not Orthodox.

Mary

 

[Khaleas]

It's been wonderful to read all your stories here. A lot mirrors what I'm wondering and thinking but you are all wonderful people. I'm so happy I've found this site.

I was born in Finland where there are two official religions: Lutheran and Orthodox (total religious freedom with whatever else you'd like to choose too). My parents were Lutheran and we started out with going to church just at Christmas. My parents got divorces (they are still very good friends) and we didn't go to church at all anymore. In any case, you have religion class in school K-12, a lot of reading about other religions but also straight out bible study. You also attend church twice a year when you're in school, before Christmas and before school is out in May. It's just a service for the students K-12.
I was confirmed Lutheran (just like all other kids, because of the cool presents and money people give you) but at that point my faith was really starting to get stretched thin. The last drop basically came when our priest compared the group of kids getting confirmed to monkeys (I don't remember the exact story, but it totally ticked me off). At 18 I left the Lutheran church and I have really never looked back.
All the time I've believed in God, but I had no reason for putting a name on it. My grandfather (on my father's side) was born in Karelia (now part of Russia, it was lost to them from FInland after WW II) close to the Vaalam Monastery. He was always very pro-Orthodox and that feeling kept coming back to me.
I read about a lot of different religions and after moving to the US and becoming increasingly conservative I started reading about the Orthodox Church. Slowly pieces started to make sense and making up a partly finished puzzle (I'm not expecting it to be finished in my lifetime).
I met my now husband and he is baptized Catholic but that's where his "church going" ended. He does believe in God very strongly and I have a feeling he'll soon start following in my footsteps. Him being in the military makes it a bit difficult to attend services regularly. It also made it very obvious for me that I wanted to be a good example for my future children as well as be able to raise them with faith. Eventhough I hated my religion classes in school (mainly because our teacher was just plain icky) I now am very happy that I had them.
So I've spent a lot of time reading, then started going to church as often as I could and yesterday I talked to the Father again and he said that he thinks I'm ready and it shouldn't be a problem to get chrismated soon. I'll know for sure in March when I meet with him again.

So after 10 years of searching, I'm finally home. I was very happy with the attitude of the Orthodox church and the fact that they just "don't take just anyone". Especially with my spur of the moment ideas it gave me a chance to make sure this was exactly what I wanted too. So hopefully after Pasha (new calender) I will be able to take my next step.

 

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Welcome, Khaleas!

 

[QustantinahQuaker]

I was born Sufi Muslim in Algeria, my parents converted to Quakerism and moved to the USA with me when I was young. This past year I became more and more interested in the history and spirt of the Antiochian and Greek churches and eventually I was won over totally and was converted. In doing research on our family history (on the father's line) we found that our great, great, great grand (etc) parents went to Algeria after being exiled by the Ottomans from Lebanon and my family was Orthodox until the late 1700s when they became Muslim. Go figure.

 

[Eusebios]

I was born Sufi Muslim in Algeria, my parents converted to Quakerism and moved to the USA with me when I was young. This past year I became more and more interested in the history and spirt of the Antiochian and Greek churches and eventually I was won over totally and was converted. In doing research on our family history (on the father's line) we found that our great, great, great grand (etc) parents went to Algeria after being exiled by the Ottomans from Lebanon and my family was Orthodox until the late 1700s when they became Muslim. Go figure.

What a great story QQ! I'd love to gear more! Welcome to CF and to TAW!
In Xp,
Eusebios.

 

[Verushka]

I just loved to read all these stories, and I'd like to share mine as sort of an introduction of myself to this Orthodox part of this board. So here it comes:

I was babtised as a child to Evangelic Lutherian church but my family didn't attend to any church activities. Later I grew very hostile towards Christian faith seeing only the negative sides; what horrors had been done "in the name of Jesus".

I've always had a strong feeling of connection with God but what was to happen totally shaked my world: Couple of years ago I was reading, not praying or meditating or anything, just reading casually in my room when suddenly a loving light entered.. It filled the whole room and myself - everything was suddenly full of love and ease. I got a strong urge to walk towards a nearby ex-monastery church. The "light" inside of me was just dragging me there. I stepped inside and sat in that empty church just wondering what was going on! The fire inside of me was burning me and didn't let me rest until I decided I need to talk to a priest. But talking to Lutheran priest felt just impossible, (they are most common here in Finland as khaleas wrote already)

I didn't know how to proceed. I just knew something needed to be done. I just couln't continue life after this experience as if nothing had happened. I tried to rationalize it to death but that didn't help a bit. I started to find myself sitting on a stairs of this Orthodox Cathedral. I had never been inside and didn't know much of their tradition. I felt stupid getting back there but couldn't help but to follow my legs taking me there. Then once I had a courage to peek inside.

It was so utterly beautiful and harmonious that I felt almost stunned. I couldn't believe us people had managed to build something so beautiful to celebrate God's love! And the people! Everyone gathered together to pray in their own way. Not just listening passively but actively participating with their presence, prayers, cross signs and humbly bowing. I was deeply convinced. The harmonious and beautiful way of praying and chanting touched the same feeling I had had when the light came. These people were connected to the same God that had touched me with his light!

I gathered all my courage and went to see a priest. Believe me it wasn't easy after 10 years of loud scorning of Christians. How would my friends react that I the former devouted christian hater would become a convert!?
I felt like I wasn't worthly to speak to a priest! But I over came my fears and went to meet him. And he wasn't like the priests I used to know from Lutheran church but this enlightedned looking like old man who truly listened to me and gave me truly deep advices! I started to read literature he recommended about Orthodox ways of life and attended the local cathecumen group. I studied the ways of Orthodox church for a year and received anointing with myrrh last easter 04. My life has been so beautiful ever since!!

Love, Veruska

 

[PandaBear]

One thing I would like to do during this Lent is go through this thread and read all of the conversion stories here. Thank you, Veruska, for posting yours. I look forward to reading it soon!

PB

 

[Orthosdoxa]

Beautiful, Veruska. We're glad you're here.