I want to change my Muslim name

[gurneyhalleck1]

I say keep your name and take on a different Christian name at Church if you want. I'm "Scott" to most people, "Reader Joseph" at Church. I love having it like that. On here I'm just Gurns.

There were plenty of pagans who joined the Church and their pagan heathen names were blessed and sanctified into the Church. There are plenty of saints with what were earlier considered pagan monickers.

 

[AMM]

There were plenty of pagans who joined the Church and their pagan heathen names were blessed and sanctified into the Church. There are plenty of saints with what were earlier considered pagan monickers.

This is a good point. Even if your name is Muslim, that doesn’t make it sinful. Many of our saints continued to known by their pre-Christian name, and, as a result, that name became sanctified.

I believe Saint Prince Vladimir, enlightener of Rus, had the patron name of Basil, but nobody calls him that now, and now we have many Saint Vladimir’s as a result!

 

[Not David]

This is a good point. Even if your name is Muslim, that doesn’t make it sinful. Many of our saints continued to known by their pre-Christian name, and, as a result, that name became sanctified.

I believe Saint Prince Vladimir, enlightener of Rus, had the patron name of Basil, but nobody calls him that now, and now we have many Saint Vladimir’s as a result!

Well, I don't see that much progress in evangelizing names.

 

[Phronema]

What does it mean, to use a different name in church? How do you go about with that? It sounds weird to me.

I do have a Christian conviction yes, but it's more like I support religion in general before atheism. So it's not Christianity OR any other religion, it is Christianity AND other religions.. Yes, I do believe that Jesus rose from the dead objectively speaking, but that there are different valid paths for different people. I'm not sure my inner faith in Christ must correspond with an outer Christian identity. A part of me wants that, but another shuns it. So I'm essentially conflicted about myself. A walking paradox.

So, to use a different name in church means using the name of the patron Saint that you become named for. If you were to become Orthodox you would have to find a patron Saint (sometimes they find you), and then upon being baptized you take on the name of your patron Saint. Then that becomes the name that you're known by around your parish if you like, though it's not mandatory as far as I've been told.

As for the second portion I don't know that there's much that I, or anyone can do for you on that one. It's something that you would have to work out on your own I believe. The best way to do that in my opinion would be to go to an Orthodox church, and experience the Divine Liturgy if possible. Speak with the priest, and the parishioners. Also, please stick around TAW, and ask questions.

Ultimately this would be something that you'd have to work out on your own.

 

[Windir]

So, to use a different name in church means using the name of the patron Saint that you become named for. If you were to become Orthodox you would have to find a patron Saint (sometimes they find you), and then upon being baptized you take on the name of your patron Saint. Then that becomes the name that you're known by around your parish if you like, though it's not mandatory as far as I've been told.

My second name is Eric, do you know if there is any valid Orthodox/Catholic saint named Eric?

As for the second portion I don't know that there's much that I, or anyone can do for you on that one. It's something that you would have to work out on your own I believe. The best way to do that in my opinion would be to go to an Orthodox church, and experience the Divine Liturgy if possible. Speak with the priest, and the parishioners. Also, please stick around TAW, and ask questions.

Ultimately this would be something that you'd have to work out on your own.

Thanks for your help. I go to Catholic church by the way. I feel the milieu is more international and organized there, whereas when I went to Greek orthodox service once it felt very 'ethnic' and 'tribal, everyone were Greek and spoke Greek etc, whereas I don't, so I felt a bit like an outcast. Are you aware of this 'problem' and what would you say about it? I experienced the same thing in the Romanian service, so I tend to prefer the Catholic setting.

 

[AMM]

There is an Irish Saint, Erc of Slane. That’s pretty close. I’m not sure off the top of my head of any “Saint Eric” people, but I’m guessing we could find one with a bit of digging.

Erc of Slane - Wikipedia

And yeah that can be an issue in some parishes. I’ve experienced that myself. Luckily for me, I was able to find other orthodox parishes near me that were not as “ethnic” as you described. But sometimes the “ethnic” parishes are the only option.

And as for going to a Catholic Church, I will just say, that Catholicism and Orthodoxy are different, although I have some Catholic friends who see them as basically identical with no real differences

 

[AMM]

Leif Erikson was apparently Orthodox as well - I’m not sure if he’s considered a saint or not, or if he’s a candidate for a patron saint, but maybe you could discuss him with your priest haha

Oh, and I am not sure about catholic saints. I believe there are some catholic saints named Eric but I’m even less of an expert on that, so I don’t know for sure

 

[Windir]

Leif Erikson was apparently Orthodox as well - I’m not sure if he’s considered a saint or not, or if he’s a candidate for a patron saint, but maybe you could discuss him with your priest haha

Oh, and I am not sure about catholic saints. I believe there are some catholic saints named Eric but I’m even less of an expert on that, so I don’t know for sure

Haven't heard if him. There is a Swedish Catholic saint, called Eric the holy (a medieval Swedish king), but I don't know if he'd count as an orthodox saint.

 

[ArmyMatt]

not sure where, but there is a Saxon St Eric

 

[Windir]

And yeah that can be an issue in some parishes. I’ve experienced that myself. Luckily for me, I was able to find other orthodox parishes near me that were not as “ethnic” as you described. But sometimes the “ethnic” parishes are the only option.

Not quite my cup of tea. In Catholic church I feel there is an overarching structure where everyone is a "Roman", whereas in orthodoxy you're still a Greek, a Russian a Serb etc..

And as for going to a Catholic Church, I will just say, that Catholicism and Orthodoxy are different, although I have some Catholic friends who see them as basically identical with no real differences

Different but same (at least in relation to protestantism).

 

[AMM]

Haven't heard if him. There is a Swedish Catholic saint, called Eric the holy (a medieval Swedish king), but I don't know if he'd count as an orthodox saint.

King Eric seems to be a bit after the schism between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, so you’d probably find most Orthodox would not recognize him as an Orthodox Saint. But I’m not sure.

Not quite my cup of tea. In Catholic church I feel there is an overarching structure where everyone is a "Roman", whereas in orthodoxy you're still a Greek, a Russian a Serb etc..



Different but same (at least in relation to protestantism).

Yeah, Catholicism does have a lot more of that overarching cultural structure. I think there are beneficial and negative aspects to that. I understand that impression of Orthodoxy; I felt that way for quite a while myself. But I think the more time I spend in Orthodoxy the more I realize that it’s not a universal thing. (I’m a convert to the Orthodox Church, so my experiences are limited and growing every day.)

 

[Phronema]

My second name is Eric, do you know if there is any valid Orthodox/Catholic saint named Eric?

Thanks for your help. I go to Catholic church by the way. I feel the milieu is more international and organized there, whereas when I went to Greek orthodox service once it felt very 'ethnic' and 'tribal, everyone were Greek and spoke Greek etc, whereas I don't, so I felt a bit like an outcast. Are you aware of this 'problem' and what would you say about it? I experienced the same thing in the Romanian service, so I tend to prefer the Catholic setting.

As Fr. Matt, and AMM have noted there seems to be only St. Erc of Slane. Eric of Sweden is a Roman Catholic Saint as he was canonized after the Great Schism of 1054.

You're quite welcome. I understand what you mean in regards to a parish feeling too ethnically focused. It's a problem I've heard of, but not experienced. The Divine Liturgy in my parish is usually about 90-95% in English, but the way the Divine Liturgy is held is according to the Byzantine Rite. As for my comments on it, I'd say it's a bit of a shame that when going to a new area/country that the language of the new country isn't used. It's not unheard of in the past, and it happened when Orthodoxy moved into the Slavic lands. While I personally enjoy the Greek I know a lot of people don't, and if we're truly about showing people the truth we'd be smart to offer it in the language of the land. Ultimately I of course leave it to the bishops, and trust their guidance.

On the other hand most people don't understand Latin either, and I simply don't like the Novus Ordo as it seems to be lacking in tradition to me. That's just my opinion though, and it may well be an unpopular one.