- Feb 10, 2007
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Hi Everyone,
I visited an Orthodox Church for the first time in many years.
I was born cradle Orthodox but didn't really get my arms around the faith primarily due to family instability. My original thread was from 2007.
http://www.christianforums.com/t4831670/
I took my son to Pascha at an Antiochian Orthodox Church in Southern California two weeks ago. I have some family members who go there and asked if it would be ok if I came down for Orthodox Easter.
When I was a kid the Liturgy was usually in Russian or Ukrainian. It was interesting to hear it in English. I found I remembered it. My grandparents were my main link to the church.
My son is 15. I have tried to explain the Orthodox Church to him. Finally I decided he needed to see if for himself. I can't really explain it.
I had a lot of anger during the liturgy at my father for not passing down the faith. I prayed to God to forgive him and also asked him to forgive me for my sins as well. I did not take communion of course because I know I am not in communion with the church.
About six months ago my sister and I visited my grandparents old church in upstate NY. They had a huge stained glass window behind the alter with their name on it. I took a risk and knocked on the priests door. I explained to him that my grandparents helped build the church many years ago. The priest lets us inside the church and let me behind the alter to view the window.
My sister was crying. She saw the picture I took of the window on her Ipad. She said, "This was important to them.... We didn't get this".
My sister had a falling out with my parents and hasn't spoken to them for about a year and a half. The church thing was only one small part of that.
I didn't tell the priest my life story. We took a snapshot of the window, thanked him for his time, and left. The priest was very nice. The whole thing felt very spiritual.
When I was in Southern CA I was talking about some of my younger family members. I told my aunt that when you "marry out" you lose the culture.
My cousins got all the culture and the Orthodox upbringing. One seems committed to the faith and the other doesn't. I have read a ton of books on Christianity in the last ten years - I feel like I got no culture but have real belief.
I thanked my aunt for putting up with our "newness". I always feel like I am bumbling around in an Orthodox church not really knowing the customs and when to do certain things.
The truth is though I really enjoyed the liturgy and time moved pretty quickly which is saying a lot for Midnight Easter Service. My son hit the wall at 1 AM and was very tired. I remembered many times with my grandparents "hitting the wall" at Easter Service. My grandfather was always cool - we would go out to the car and get some coffee.
My dad married my mom (who was catholic). The schism erupted in the family and they both stopped going to church.
I have continued to be involved in the protestant based church I go to but may gravitate back towards orthodox. It is tricky because my wife (of 7 years) is dyed in the wool protestant. I have tried to explain Orthodox concepts to her but it is difficult.
I have a friend at my church who once a month visits another church. I may try an approach like that to ease back into Orthodoxy.
It is tricky to leave one church and join another.
When I rejoined Christianity I was so new in the basics of the faith that the whole concept of a "liturgical service" and many other concepts of tradition were lost on me.
This is a hodge podge of thoughts. Thank you for listening. I will continue to lurk and go where God takes me.
I visited an Orthodox Church for the first time in many years.
I was born cradle Orthodox but didn't really get my arms around the faith primarily due to family instability. My original thread was from 2007.
http://www.christianforums.com/t4831670/
I took my son to Pascha at an Antiochian Orthodox Church in Southern California two weeks ago. I have some family members who go there and asked if it would be ok if I came down for Orthodox Easter.
When I was a kid the Liturgy was usually in Russian or Ukrainian. It was interesting to hear it in English. I found I remembered it. My grandparents were my main link to the church.
My son is 15. I have tried to explain the Orthodox Church to him. Finally I decided he needed to see if for himself. I can't really explain it.
I had a lot of anger during the liturgy at my father for not passing down the faith. I prayed to God to forgive him and also asked him to forgive me for my sins as well. I did not take communion of course because I know I am not in communion with the church.
About six months ago my sister and I visited my grandparents old church in upstate NY. They had a huge stained glass window behind the alter with their name on it. I took a risk and knocked on the priests door. I explained to him that my grandparents helped build the church many years ago. The priest lets us inside the church and let me behind the alter to view the window.
My sister was crying. She saw the picture I took of the window on her Ipad. She said, "This was important to them.... We didn't get this".
My sister had a falling out with my parents and hasn't spoken to them for about a year and a half. The church thing was only one small part of that.
I didn't tell the priest my life story. We took a snapshot of the window, thanked him for his time, and left. The priest was very nice. The whole thing felt very spiritual.
When I was in Southern CA I was talking about some of my younger family members. I told my aunt that when you "marry out" you lose the culture.
My cousins got all the culture and the Orthodox upbringing. One seems committed to the faith and the other doesn't. I have read a ton of books on Christianity in the last ten years - I feel like I got no culture but have real belief.
I thanked my aunt for putting up with our "newness". I always feel like I am bumbling around in an Orthodox church not really knowing the customs and when to do certain things.
The truth is though I really enjoyed the liturgy and time moved pretty quickly which is saying a lot for Midnight Easter Service. My son hit the wall at 1 AM and was very tired. I remembered many times with my grandparents "hitting the wall" at Easter Service. My grandfather was always cool - we would go out to the car and get some coffee.
My dad married my mom (who was catholic). The schism erupted in the family and they both stopped going to church.
I have continued to be involved in the protestant based church I go to but may gravitate back towards orthodox. It is tricky because my wife (of 7 years) is dyed in the wool protestant. I have tried to explain Orthodox concepts to her but it is difficult.
I have a friend at my church who once a month visits another church. I may try an approach like that to ease back into Orthodoxy.
It is tricky to leave one church and join another.
When I rejoined Christianity I was so new in the basics of the faith that the whole concept of a "liturgical service" and many other concepts of tradition were lost on me.
This is a hodge podge of thoughts. Thank you for listening. I will continue to lurk and go where God takes me.
