May I ask some questions?

[MariaRegina]

Do you have any witnesses?

Both in the Orthodox and the Catholic Church you need to have a certificate or a witness that is credible and honest. My husband's certificate was not filed in the Roman Catholic Church because of a priest's honest mistake, so I was the witness, and a certificate was issued based on my sworn statement. So, we took that certificate to the Orthodox Church and they recognized it, confirming my husband in the Orthodox Church.

 

[Suzannah]

The only "witness" I have now that everyone is dead is my mother. And she is still a Protestant. i guess I would have to be baptised again.

 

[MariaRegina]

Have you had another dream about the Icon?

 

[MariaRegina]

The only "witness" I have now that everyone is dead is my mother. And she is still a Protestant. i guess I would have to be baptised again.

If your mother goes to the Baptist Church, you probably can get a certificate from them.

 

[Suzannah]

Yes as a matter of fact. Except this is the "other dream" I have and it happened last night. In this one, it is a dream that I am in a restaurant, and I "see" an icon of a female figure drawing me in. This one shows a female, with a very large head, silver, gold and precious stones again ; she is holding soemthing in her hand and pointing toward somehting. That is all I remember.

 

[MariaRegina]

Yes as a matter of fact. Except this is the "other dream" I have and it happened last night. In this one, it is a dream that I am in a restaurant, and I "see" an icon of a female figure drawing me in. This one shows a female, with a very large head, silver, gold and precious stones again ; she is holding soemthing in her hand and pointing toward somehting. That is all I remember.

Could that Icon be the Theotokos with her Son, Jesus Christ, Our Savior and God?

 

[MariaRegina]

There is a miraculous icon painted by the Apostle Luke of the Virgin Mother of God (Theotokos). This Icon is called the Directress, because the Theotokos holds the Christ Child in one hand and points to her Son, leading us to worship Him not her. Protestants like this one for that reason. She looks at us drawing us to her Son.

 

[MariaRegina]

The Directress

The Russians and Greeks sometimes adorn this icon with gold, silver and jewels to show their love for her and her Divine Son.

 

[MariaRegina]

Dear Suzannah:

I just received a message from Erwin -- he says that using the faith icon is done using the honor system. If you are truly inquiring into Orthodoxy, then you can use the Orthodox faith icon. Kimber over at OBOB started using the Catholic faith after she committed to seek Catholic instruction. Several of our Ancient Way members are only catechumens and not baptized or chrismated members of the Orthodox Church, yet they also use the Orthodox faith icon.

 

[Suzannah]

Elizabeth! I just woke up and I dreamed it again. And the one you posted is the one! I didn't know Mary was called "Theotokos". The one I saw in my dream had a lot more blue in it, but this is the icon I saw.

Okay, so here's my "Personal Announcement": I believe that the Orthodox Church is the One True Church so I have a lot of adjustments to make. I will have to begin my life over and that includes how I look at Jesus, how I talk about him, how I think about Him. I will start here at CF by changing my faith icon, and my CF homepage.
Please be patient with this sinner!

 

[Photini]

Does this mean that my "baptism" although performed in a Protestant Baptist church/tradition, is recognized by the Orthodox church? I'm sorry for asking so many questions. But I am absolutely devastated by the knowledge that I have been "kept" from my "catholic" bretheren! I am very angry that they kept this knowlege from me!

Suzannah,

I was "baptised" in a Protestant church when I was about 13 or 14. It was done in the name of the Trinity by a single immersion. When I converted to Orthodoxy, though I could have been simply confirmed, I chose to be Baptised in the Orthodox manner (triple immersion), after seeking guidance at the monastery. I was taught previously that baptism was a *symbol* or outward expression of faith...a mere act of obedience. So I did not view it as anything more than that. It would have bothered my conscience had I not received the Orthodox baptism. It was very powerful, because the prayers of exorcism are read over those being baptised, and you renounce Satan and literally spit at him.

This is a matter you should talk to the priest about. What is in your heart, and your conscience. Listen to your conscience about this, and talk honestly to the priest.

 

[Oblio]

Suzannah,

May God guide you and keep you on your journey home.



IIRC, the issue of Baptism certificates obtained outside of the Orthodox Church is a pastoral one, IOW your Bishop (or Priest through his Bishops authority) will make this decision. He may not require you to present one, especially if you were baptised as an adult and can personally affirm the event and it's form.

 

[Suzannah]

Thanks Oblio! I plan to call the priest at the Serbian Orthodox Mission today and ask about classes. He wasn't there last night when I stopped in. Thank you to all of you, for helping to guide this sailor to safe harbor! Much love in Christ,
Suzannah