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I am a new person! My new Questions Thread!
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MariaRegina
Well-Known Member
Dear Suzannah:
I just posted a new thread with information from the internet about St. Columba.
It is in the Ancient Way Forum here.
See the new thread:
St. Columba of Ireland
I just posted a new thread with information from the internet about St. Columba.
It is in the Ancient Way Forum here.
See the new thread:
St. Columba of Ireland
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I am absolutely thrilled to report my experience today! Today I went to the service at the St. John the Baptist Serbian Orthodox Mission. I got to witness a Baptism and a Chrismation (spelling?). It was a beautiful service, almost three hours, because they also had the "Blessing of the Waters"!
After the Eucharist and the Blessing of the Waters, the Priest invited me up to receive a "Blessing" and gave me a piece of the Eucharist bread and some holy water to drink. Then he gave me a full bottle of it to take home! I was so very touched by that experience. What a wonderful way to welcome people into the church, in friendship and in love!
After the service, I stayed for their lunch, and got a chance to chat with several of the church members. This time, everything was in English and I felt very much at home. What a wonderful, beautiful and glorious day it is today!
I hope to start classes very soon, as their current group will be finished in a few weeks, but Father James said that he would be willing to start teaching me on a different day/time so that I can get started. I am sooooooooo happy!
After the Eucharist and the Blessing of the Waters, the Priest invited me up to receive a "Blessing" and gave me a piece of the Eucharist bread and some holy water to drink. Then he gave me a full bottle of it to take home! I was so very touched by that experience. What a wonderful way to welcome people into the church, in friendship and in love!
After the service, I stayed for their lunch, and got a chance to chat with several of the church members. This time, everything was in English and I felt very much at home. What a wonderful, beautiful and glorious day it is today!
I hope to start classes very soon, as their current group will be finished in a few weeks, but Father James said that he would be willing to start teaching me on a different day/time so that I can get started. I am sooooooooo happy!
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MariaRegina
Well-Known Member
Dear Suzannah:
I'm so happy for you.
So the entire service was in English? Was the baptism and chrismation for an infant, child, or adult?
The Serbian Church is on the Julian Calendar, so they celebrate the feast of the Epiphany on January 19 (January 6) and the lesser blessing on January 18 (January 5). The do celebrate Pascha the same date as all Orthodox do. So we will all begin Great Lent together (with the Catholics too) as both calendars celebrate Pascha the same day this year.
Again, Welcome!
Your sister in Christ,
Elizabeth
I'm so happy for you.
So the entire service was in English? Was the baptism and chrismation for an infant, child, or adult?
The Serbian Church is on the Julian Calendar, so they celebrate the feast of the Epiphany on January 19 (January 6) and the lesser blessing on January 18 (January 5). The do celebrate Pascha the same date as all Orthodox do. So we will all begin Great Lent together (with the Catholics too) as both calendars celebrate Pascha the same day this year.
Again, Welcome!
Your sister in Christ,
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth! Yes, everything was in English. (This is a different church than the one I went to last week which was entirely Greek. I had a great time there, but it was hard because it was all in Greek.)
For me this was an especially beautiful part of the service: the Baptism and Chrismation. She was a young woman, about 25, who had been raised Seventh Day Adventist. Many of her family and friends came and I think they were touched as much as I was. I have never seen (or even heard of) Chrismation before. When I saw how the Priest annointed her entire body, sealing her with the Holy Spirit, I couldn't help but shed tears of happiness for her. Now last week, you remember I had a question/concern about whether they would "accept" my Baptism as it was done years ago, but now that I have seen an Orthodox baptism, I want that experience also!
One of the deacons later explained to me that the oil they use, is similar to sourdough starter: that Holy Tradition says it is from the same oil that Jesus used! How EXCITING AND WONDROUS IS THAT!!!!
I still haven't figured out all the calendars, but I'm sure that I will be learning as I go along.
For me this was an especially beautiful part of the service: the Baptism and Chrismation. She was a young woman, about 25, who had been raised Seventh Day Adventist. Many of her family and friends came and I think they were touched as much as I was. I have never seen (or even heard of) Chrismation before. When I saw how the Priest annointed her entire body, sealing her with the Holy Spirit, I couldn't help but shed tears of happiness for her. Now last week, you remember I had a question/concern about whether they would "accept" my Baptism as it was done years ago, but now that I have seen an Orthodox baptism, I want that experience also!
One of the deacons later explained to me that the oil they use, is similar to sourdough starter: that Holy Tradition says it is from the same oil that Jesus used! How EXCITING AND WONDROUS IS THAT!!!!
I still haven't figured out all the calendars, but I'm sure that I will be learning as I go along.
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Matrona
Lady Godiva Freedom Rider
Suzannah, I know how you feel. Only the first baptism I ever attended was my own, eight months ago, at the Antiochian church I currently attend. I had to be baptized because to my knowledge there was no previous existing trinitarian baptism, and if there was, I couldn't have proved it anyhow. I couldn't afford anything special to wear and my church is small, so I was baptized in jeans and a t-shirt, while kneeling in a horse trough. 
And even if I ever get married and have children, this will STILL be one of the most special and wonderful days of my whole life.
I tell you, you really do feel "born again" after an Orthodox baptism!!! For days afterward, it was like God had turned up the sun a few million watts, and the whole world felt so bright and beautiful. And I still remember how wonderful it felt to be sealed with the Holy Spirit by chrismation, and taking my first communion during the Pascha liturgy!
The very memory of the day I became Orthodox fills my heart with joy! I hope you'll soon be able to experience the same!
And even if I ever get married and have children, this will STILL be one of the most special and wonderful days of my whole life.I tell you, you really do feel "born again" after an Orthodox baptism!!! For days afterward, it was like God had turned up the sun a few million watts, and the whole world felt so bright and beautiful. And I still remember how wonderful it felt to be sealed with the Holy Spirit by chrismation, and taking my first communion during the Pascha liturgy!
The very memory of the day I became Orthodox fills my heart with joy! I hope you'll soon be able to experience the same!
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Matrona! Thank you for your response! Yes, I feel the same way!
Is that a picture of you??? You're a very pretty girl!!!
Is that a picture of you??? You're a very pretty girl!!!
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Filia Mariae
Senior Contributor
I hope it's okay for me to post here...
Matrona,
I just wanted to congratulate you on your baptism. The picture reminded me of the joy of seeing adults baptized by their own choice and desire.
Matrona,
I just wanted to congratulate you on your baptism. The picture reminded me of the joy of seeing adults baptized by their own choice and desire.
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Matrona
Lady Godiva Freedom Rider
Suzannah: Yes, that's me in the picture! The priest's wife was kind enough to take pictures for me. It's so nice to have my big day recorded for posterity.
My dear friend, the one who introduced me to Orthodoxy in the first place, served as reader for my service, and his girlfriend is my godmother.
My dear friend, the one who introduced me to Orthodoxy in the first place, served as reader for my service, and his girlfriend is my godmother.
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I was baptized about 7 months ago (it's been that long already?). Like Matrona, it is a day that my heart leaps for joy when I remember it. Everything was so clear to me that day.Suzannah said:
Here's a pic of my Chrismation: (I was also baptised in a horse trough
, which I was so relieved to find after frantically searching for something big enough...I found it at the Tractor Supply Co.)
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Matrona
Lady Godiva Freedom Rider
Thank you, Carly! That's so sweet of you! Of course you are welcome here, you are our sister in Christ!Carly said:I hope it's okay for me to post here...
Matrona,
I just wanted to congratulate you on your baptism. The picture reminded me of the joy of seeing adults baptized by their own choice and desire.
It was truly a wonderful experience for me, to die to my old self and be resurrected in Christ, to put on Christ on the very day we celebrate His trampling down death and His glorious resurrection!
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ChoirDir
Choir Director
Susannah,
I noticed you mentioned that your husband was an ex-Mormon. Our priest is also an ex-Mormon. So don't give up hope. Congrats on your finding the "true" faith. Since Lent and Pascha is coming up, the Saturday before Pascha has always been a traditional day for Catachumens to be brought into the Church. I made my conversion official on the day before Pascha back in 1989.
I noticed you mentioned that your husband was an ex-Mormon. Our priest is also an ex-Mormon. So don't give up hope. Congrats on your finding the "true" faith. Since Lent and Pascha is coming up, the Saturday before Pascha has always been a traditional day for Catachumens to be brought into the Church. I made my conversion official on the day before Pascha back in 1989.
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Hi all and thanks for the welcome!!!
Hello Everyone, especially ChoirDir:
I am in so much pain, I can't describe it. My husband, an ex-mormon, walked out on me tonight as I was trying to explain my interest in the Orthodox Church. The priest at the Mission is not available until tomorrow night,. Please pray for me, that God's Love will prevail. I am so thankful for the fellowship here!
I am in so much pain, I can't describe it. My husband, an ex-mormon, walked out on me tonight as I was trying to explain my interest in the Orthodox Church. The priest at the Mission is not available until tomorrow night,. Please pray for me, that God's Love will prevail. I am so thankful for the fellowship here!
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Oblio
Creed or Chaos
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May God give you strength, and your dear husband wisdom in these trying times. Satan will do ALL he can to keep you from Christ's Holy Church. Persevere and hold fast my friend ....
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