Finding a healthy parish

[Dietrich Johnson]

In looking for a healthy parish, what criteria should one utilize?

 

[keiw]

In looking for a healthy parish, what criteria should one utilize?

There is but one--They teach exactly what Jesus teaches. Its easy to spot his real teachers by a single teaching--Man does not live by bread alone, but by EVERY utterance from GOD--- That would entail studying -OT-NT week after week, year after year, it never stops. Jesus real teachers make sure this gets done. Afterall John 14:15-24 clearly teaches--obeying Jesus is proof of ones love for him. All can look at their teachers and see if they are doing this.

 

[ArmyMatt]

In looking for a healthy parish, what criteria should one utilize?

start with your closest parish, and take it from there. look to see if they are loving, prayerful, and active.

 

[prodromos]

There is but one--They teach exactly what Jesus teaches. Its easy to spot his real teachers by a single teaching--Man does not live by bread alone, but by EVERY utterance from GOD--- That would entail studying -OT-NT week after week, year after year, it never stops. Jesus real teachers make sure this gets done. Afterall John 14:15-24 clearly teaches--obeying Jesus is proof of ones love for him. All can look at their teachers and see if they are doing this.

Please take note of which forum this thread was posted (The Ancient Way -Eastern Orthodoxy) and abide by the rules of the congregational forums. It's an easy mistake to make as the New Threads section gives no indication of where in CF it has been posted.

 

[keiw]

Please take note of which forum this thread was posted (The Ancient Way -Eastern Orthodoxy) and abide by the rules of the congregational forums. It's an easy mistake to make as the New Threads section gives no indication of where in CF it has been posted.

He asked a question. I answered honestly.

 

[prodromos]

He asked a question. I answered honestly.

He asked a question of Eastern Orthodox Christians.
There are rules you agreed to when you joined CF. If you are not a member of the congregation subforum, you may ask questions and post in fellowship. I have fallen foul of the same rules when I responded to a new thread which turned out to be in the Traditional Adventist forum. My post was reported and susequently deleted. We don't tend to immediately report posts in The Ancient Way since people usually don't intend to break the rules.

 

[keiw]

He asked a question of Eastern Orthodox Christians.
There are rules you agreed to when you joined CF. If you are not a member of the congregation subforum, you may ask questions and post in fellowship. I have fallen foul of the same rules when I responded to a new thread which turned out to be in the Traditional Adventist forum. My post was reported and susequently deleted. We don't tend to immediately report posts in The Ancient Way since people usually don't intend to break the rules.

sorry if i messed up

 

[prodromos]

sorry if i messed up

No worries. Its all good.

 

[ArmyMatt]

sorry if i messed up

not happens, no worries

 

[GreekOrthodox]

In looking for a healthy parish, what criteria should one utilize?

As Fr. Matt said, look at the closer parishes. Here is a parish finder for all jurisdictions.

Orthodoxy in America

 

[E.C.]

So, as someone who has done three cross country moves, lived in five US states, and attended at least fifty parishes, let me give you some advice.

First, decide how long you are willing and/or able to commute to a parish. Draw a circle on a map (literally or virtually, your call) then find all the Eastern Orthodox parishes within that circle. Visit each one at least once or twice. My personal record for regular attendance is a two hour drive for Liturgy which lasted about three months in Mississippi (lovely parish, I'd totally go back for Pascha!)


Things to consider:
-Language. Does the liturgical language matter to you? Are you a strictly English speaker or do you know other languages? Do those parishes worship in your language, or at least one you can understand? If they're using 50/50 of English and another language, would your spiritual life grow?

-Families. Some parishes have more families with small children than others. If you have a family and small children, is it a parish where they'll be happy?

-Friends. Do you know someone at any one of those parishes already? No matter where you go, already knowing someone at a parish can be a big help.

-Calendar. We have the Old and New Calendars in the Orthodox Church. Most in this country celebrate Christmas on December 25 (new), however, some celebrate Christmas on January 7 (old). Does this calendar difference matter? For me, not really as long as I can celebrate Christmas someone on the 25th because I'm an American and it is also my birthday. Most of the time I don't care as long as the people don't have a superiority complex about the calendar thinking that anyone on the "other" calendar (whichever it may be) is automatically a heretic, not a "real" Orthodox, etc.

 

[ArmyMatt]

something else is if the parish has a ministry that you feel called to as well (ie an OCF chapter if you want to work with college age or are that age, very involved acolytes or readers, etc.)