I think I took the wrong way

[Imperiuz]

So I began to visit Catholic churches and speak to their priests regularly. Not the whole truth, I have been there only 3 three times as I have little time to spare. Their priests seemed kind, thinking about my salvation. (or perhaps they like long haired boys * …*)

Today three horrible things happened to me. First my school, a horrible and dark place which is ruled by the occultist cult of Steiner Anthroposophy forces us to write unholy symbols (including the upside-down pentagram!!!) to “honour” Saint Michael. And I looked at my teacheress and it struck me, as a sign from God: SHE IS A LUCIFERIAN!!! Basically they are two groups of cult-members: (I discovered this horrible secret myself) those who serve Ahriman who thinks that flesh is a prison and starves themselves (sometimes to death) and Luciferians who do the opposite: enjoy life as much as possible, threat masturbation as prayer and so on. As she is not skinny, in fact she is nearly fat, she must be a servant of Lucifer. Scared me much.

Second, I saw my confirmation priestess today KISSING ANOTHER WOMAN. I would never even dream that she was a lesbian. It reminded me of the current state of the Church of Sweden. I can’t stay there.

But I thought, well, I’m soon going to get out of the occultist school and when I’m 18 my parents can’t prevent me from joining Jesus Christ’s Roman Catholic One and Only Apostolic church. I came into here and saw the school thread and I wanted to know more about the education system in America which seems to be very different from the Swedish one (for instance Home Schooling is not legal here). So I searched at passagen.se (I do not use Google because of their censorship in China) at something like “catholic school) or something like that.

Guess what results I got?

“Catholic school girls [censored] hard by their principal” (the Swedish police would probably block that site)

This reminded me of the corruption in the Catholic Church. When Byzantium flourished, they crowned a barbarian to emperor of the West. When the light of the middle ages, Gods Empire on Earth needed help, they sacked its capital, the Holy City of Constantinople. Their inquisition where unfair. Their cardinals where power-hungry and corrupted. The crusaders well… while the Gnostics and Moslems deserved it and they gave the Holy Land back to Christendom, only the Hospitalers where pure and uncorrupted. The Templar knights where all about Money, Mammon and the Teutons where ruthless terribly racist. They showed no mercy to the people of Jerusalem, Jews where burned alive and so on. A rightful and noble goal caused so much harm…

So for the moment, after all that have happened today, I have the feeling that Orthodoxy is true Christianity. I have little time, especially at Sundays, especially now as I am going too work at Saturdays at Sundays helping my Grandfather with his boat after I sold by 25 newspapers. But I will visit the nearest Orthodox Church when I have time (it’s an Old Calendarian church, and it takes around 35 minutes to get into there travelling by underground rail.

Anyway I have some questions about your beautiful faith:

1. How should I interpret: 18 "So now I say to you that you are Peter, you are the rock, and on this rock I will build my community, and the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'" (Jerusalem Bible) ? Did not Peters successors inherit the keys of the kingdom of Heaven?
2. Are we, as the Catholics tell us, saved by baptism? Or is it only faith and works?
3. The old calendarists, well… Is they a small or a rather large part of the Orthodox church? They are the only Orthodox church with a rather large website. And what are the relations between them and His All Holiness the Patriarch?
4. I would gladly learn Greek, as I already have some knowledge in Latin, but is it a holy language? Why not using the Aramaic language then, which the Lord himself spoke?
5. Why do you call the Patriarch of Constantinople as His All holiness while the Catholics only address the pope as “his Holiness”. If they believe that the Pope is the rightful leader of all Christianity, how can they then address him with lesser than you address the Patriarch?
6. I have seen that you often address the Orientals as Monohysites? Isn’t this wrong as they are Miaphysites?
7. What English version of the bible do you use? Is the Jerusalem bible an okay translation?

Gratefull for any answers. TiA and God bless you all!

/Zeth

 

[authiodionitist]

Anyway I have some questions about your beautiful faith:

1. How should I interpret: 18 "So now I say to you that you are Peter, you are the rock, and on this rock I will build my community, and the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'" (Jerusalem Bible) ? Did not Peters successors inherit the keys of the kingdom of Heaven?

Peter's not the only Apostle!

2. Are we, as the Catholics tell us, saved by baptism? Or is it only faith and works?

Saved by faith - faith is following Jesus Christ. Baptism, prayer, fasting - this is what Jesus did in his earthly life, and we strive to do the same through ascetical struggle.

3. The old calendarists, well… Is they a small or a rather large part of the Orthodox church? They are the only Orthodox church with a rather large website. And what are the relations between them and His All Holiness the Patriarch?

Old Calendarists are in schism with the Orthodox Church. That means they are not in communion with Patriarch Bartholemew or any Autocephalous Church.

Here is an authorized website for a canonical parish in your city:
http://www.ryskaortodoxakyrkan.se/

5. Why do you call the Patriarch of Constantinople as His All holiness while the Catholics only address the pope as “his Holiness”. If they believe that the Pope is the rightful leader of all Christianity, how can they then address him with lesser than you address the Patriarch?

The Orthodox Church is a group of many Autocephalous Churches around the world with the same Faith, Worship, and Communion.

7. What English version of the bible do you use? Is the Jerusalem bible an okay translation?

I use that one!

Gratefull for any answers. TiA and God bless you all!

/Zeth

Welcome to TAW.

 

[Imperiuz]

Oh and I want to apology for the times when I have semi-flamed our Radical Moslem friend here at your forum. I have noticed my own aggressiveness and when I am fully responsible for my actions, it should be noticed that I am exposed to evil occultist magic every time I go to school, they have "magical" crystals, pentagrams in the classrooms, the detention room is pyramid shaped and there is an relief depicting Jupiter, we do occult dances ("eurhythmics") at some lessons (I often skip those) and so on. This may affect my personality, if it works.

Anyway, I'm sorry for any hateful comments here. I promise I will try to improve my posting style.

 

[Imperiuz]

Welcome to TAW.

Thank you, I have been here before.

I use that one!

It's the best translation I can found.

Thanks for answering and I check out your link.

 

[Imperiuz]

Hmm... the Russian Orthodox church, not to far away either, and it seems kinda large. Interesting...

 

[paleodoxy]

Old Calendarists are in schism with the Orthodox Church. That means they are not in communion with Patriarch Bartholemew or any Autocephalous Church.

Are you sure about that?

I'm not saying I oppose the New Calendar - and in certain ways, it may be preferable. In fact, I am going to get chrismated into a New Calendar Antiochian parish on Pascha.

However, it seems to me the Church would have been wiser to bring the rest of the Church along slowly, rather than forcing it down everybody's throat immediately.

Stuff like that doesn't usually make for peaceful relations.

 

[authiodionitist]

Hmm... the Russian Orthodox church, not to far away either, and it seems kinda large. Interesting...

Even though it says "Russian" it's probably just everyday Swedes like yourself. That's how it is in the United States.

 

[authiodionitist]

Are you sure about that?

I'm not saying I oppose the New Calendar - and in certain ways, it may be preferable. In fact, I am going to get chrismated into a New Calendar Antiochian parish on Pascha.

However, it seems to me the Church would have been wiser to bring the rest of the Church along slowly, rather than forcing it down everybody's throat immediately.

Stuff like that doesn't usually make for peaceful relations.

Old Calendarists are in schism. There are many, many Orthodox Churches that use the Old Calendar. Most of the Orthodox world uses the Old Calendar (since the largest jurisdiction is the Moscow Patriarchate, which is 160 million strong and Old Calendar at every parish).

The difference between Old Calenderism and simply using the Old Calendar is that the Old Calendarists try to force everybody to use the Old Calendar and break communion (schism, which is sin) if they do not.

 

[Imperiuz]

Ohh but i have nothin against Russians. ( as long as they cans peak Swedish of course)

The letter of the Bishop where writen i n perfect Swedish. I think you are right. I will save that link.

They seems to have a very beautiful iconostas.

 

[paleodoxy]

authio,

Excellent distinction and clarification. Thank you.

 

[Protoevangel]

Old Calendarists are in schism with the Orthodox Church. That means they are not in communion with Patriarch Bartholemew or any Autocephalous Church.

Good answer, but I just want to make sure that no one mistakes what you are saying. Yes the "Old Calendarists" (i.e. "True Orthodox", "Genuine Orthodox", etc) are schismatics. However, not all Old Calendar churches are "Old Calendarists" or schismatic, many are in full communion with the Orthodox Church.



Edit: I am way behind the ball today. I start a post, have to do some real work, and by the time I post, I am repeating someone else! lol

 

[Fish and Bread]

I think the fact that your Google search turned up a pornographic image or story involving Catholic school girls is a poor reason to not consider that particular religion. It's not as though that's something the Roman Catholic Church favors, it's just that much of the world has freedom of speech and people can thus use the word Catholic if they want to for their images, stories, and/or films. It's not something sanctioned by the actual Roman Catholic Church, it's just a sexual fantasy some people have and use as the basis for their stories or whathaveyou. There is a difference. You have to use discernment with these matters instead of always assuming the worst.

Also, I'd really advise you to go easier on the Church of Sweden. Maybe it's a church with a lot of problems in it, but I sincerely doubt they're devoted to worshiping Satan. Isn't the Church of Sweden basically just liberal Lutheran in theology? Remember to be as charitable as possible in your assessments, you don't want to unnecessarily slander any organization, even if you don't believe what they believe or have your issues with them. You still should desire to be as fair-minded as possible.

 

[Khaleas]

There is also a Moscow Patriarchate church in Stockholm... http://www.sweden.orthodoxy.ru/Svenska/
(they might use the old calendar, but are perfectly canonical) - find your local church in the drop down menu on left
Even a The Finnish Orthodox church in Sweden
http://www.ortodox-finsk.se/index.htm

Of course there is an array of Serbian churches as well... don't know how welcoming they are.
But yes, the Old Calendarists have for some reason gained a huge spot in the information world of the orthodox churches in Sweden...

Lycka till!

 

[Khaleas]

I think the fact that your Google search turned up a pornographic image or story involving Catholic school girls is a poor reason to not consider that particular religion. It's not as though that's something the Roman Catholic Church favors, it's just that much of the world has freedom of speech and people can thus use the word Catholic if they want to for their images, stories, and/or films. It's not something sanctioned by the actual Roman Catholic Church, it's just a sexual fantasy some people have and use as the basis for their stories or whathaveyou. There is a difference. You have to use discernment with these matters instead of always assuming the worst.

Also, I'd really advise you to go easier on the Church of Sweden. Maybe it's a church with a lot of problems in it, but I sincerely doubt they're devoted to worshiping Satan. Isn't the Church of Sweden basically just liberal Lutheran in theology? Remember to be as charitable as possible in your assessments, you don't want to unnecessarily slander any organization, even if you don't believe what they believe or have your issues with them. You still should desire to be as fair-minded as possible.

He's pretty much right on the ball unfortunately... Church of Sweden has gone from being fairly conservative to very liberal...

 

[nestoj]

Hmm... the Russian Orthodox church, not to far away either, and it seems kinda large. Interesting...

If the Old Calendarist's church is what I think it is, then you better choose Russian (you call them Old Caendarian so i'm not sure who it is). Old Calendarists take everything to the (wrong side of) extreme which leads to prelest and we have seen that a consequence of this is completely loosing faith and falling pray to....hmmmm...unmentionable. Stick with those who are recognized part of One Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church (full name of Orthodox Church).

BTW. There are recognized parts of One Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church which use old calendar, so there is possibility that one you are talking about are perfectly OK, but still, be careful.

nestoj
God helps

edit: who came up with an "Old Calendarists" name - it's so confusing (I was 'till somebody explained it to me).

 

[Imperiuz]

There is also a Moscow Patriarchate church in Stockholm... http://www.sweden.orthodoxy.ru/Svenska/
(they might use the old calendar, but are perfectly canonical) - find your local church in the drop down menu on left
Even a The Finnish Orthodox church in Sweden
http://www.ortodox-finsk.se/index.htm

Of course there is an array of Serbian churches as well... don't know how welcoming they are.
But yes, the Old Calendarists have for some reason gained a huge spot in the information world of the orthodox churches in Sweden...

Lycka till!

Tack så mycket Khaleas! I will check your links out. Are Serbs not wellcoming?

Nestoj: They are schismantics (not "genuine" but "true") They have very strong opinions about the Patriarch praying together with the RC Pope.

Also, I'd really advise you to go easier on the Church of Sweden.

Have you any experience of this church? As Khaleas states they are eeeeeeeeeextremely Liberal. Its Christianitry withou Theism. The current archbishop believes that Joseph where Jesus father!!! (monophysite heresy!) Even the JW bible is probably more accurate s their bible is translated and approved by the former Socialist gowernment (or should I say soviet?) of Sweden.

And I have great problems with Protestantism in general, everyone is their own Pope which causes divisions.

 

[Friul]

Are Serbs not wellcoming?

If anything, I found them to be some of the most welcoming of all the Orthodox parishes I visited.

 

[Imperiuz]

If anything, I found them to be some of the most welcoming of all the Orthodox parishes I visited.

I have acctualy never meet any unpleasant Serb, they all seems to be so polite.

 

[Friul]

I have acctualy never meet any unpleasant Serb, they all seems to be so polite.

They are a great bunch of people and boy, do they know how to cook. This coming from an Italian.

 

[Orthosdoxa]

As she is not skinny, in fact she is nearly fat, she must be a servant of Lucifer.

We need the raised eyebrow smilie here...

(....says the fat lady...)