Potential Convert?

[Rilian]

Has Prince Charles found his true spiritual home on a Greek rock?

 

[Philip]

Haven't read the article yet. The thought of the future head of the Church of England becoming Orthodox is interesting.

 

[xenia]

If it were a genuine conversion it would be a great thing. However, Prince Charles dabbles in all kinds of "spiritualities" and believes many New Agey things. The conversion would have to be drastic or it would be a bad advertisement for Orthodoxy.

Love, Xenia

 

[Nickolai]

can you say God Ordained Monarchy? I think it may be a good thing if Charles converts. But that may be wishful thinking

 

[ufonium2]

Prince Philip was Orthodox? I had no idea.

 

[Cradle]

Prince Philip was Orthodox, as he was born Philip of Greece (i.e. a descendant of the danish prince chosen in the 19th century to play king of Greece - in fact I'm a bit unfair there, I'm no monarchist but king George I has gone down in history as a good ruler). Philip switched to anglicanism upon marriage, as royals tend to do.

I totally agree with

The thought of the future head of the Church of England becoming Orthodox is interesting.

I think it's the most interesting aspect for us mortals . I assume such a conversion would have unpredictable implications - even legal ones - for the Church of England and the overall Anglican community. We all know for a fact that a number of traditional Anglicans, including priests and maybe bishops, have good respect for Orthodoxy. Conversions have been taking place for some time on an individual basis. But there are also people who would very much like to seek a more traditional way of christianity, yet with pain in heart and love for their church they prefer to fight from within. Maybe such a royal conversion could be the "green light" for them? My wishful thinking here, but let's wait and see. I don't trust them royals, but God always has His plans.

One thing that is for sure is that Charles is active in the Friends of Mount Athos society and the word is that he donates money through them. Whether its genuine spiritual interest or just a break in his cosmopolitan island cruises, that I don't know, only God knows.

Here's the same story as the BBC reports it http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3707317.stm

 

[MariaRegina]

Prince Charles has a canonized Orthodox saint in his family.

There is some hope!

 

[MariaRegina]

Here is a small portion of the Guardian article which appeared in the OP.

...

"What people forget is that Orthodoxy is in his family," Archbishop Grigorios of Thyateira, who heads the 500,000-strong Orthodox community in Britain, told the Guardian.

"One of Charles's aunts, the Grand Duchess Eugenia, was proclaimed an Orthodox saint after she was murdered in Moscow where she had established a monastery. His paternal grandmother, Aliki [Alice], was a nun for most of her life. She spoke very good Greek and in her later years, when she came to live in London, she kept an Orthodox chapel in Buckingham Palace," added the prelate. "Aliki was a very powerful woman whom I'm sure had a very strong influence on Charles in his early years."

 

[Moros]

Prince Charles has a canonized Orthodox saint in his family.

Who?

 

[Rilian]

I think it's the most interesting aspect for us mortals . I assume such a conversion would have unpredictable implications - even legal ones - for the Church of England and the overall Anglican community. We all know for a fact that a number of traditional Anglicans, including priests and maybe bishops, have good respect for Orthodoxy. Conversions have been taking place for some time on an individual basis. But there are also people who would very much like to seek a more traditional way of christianity, yet with pain in heart and love for their church they prefer to fight from within. Maybe such a royal conversion could be the "green light" for them? My wishful thinking here, but let's wait and see. I don't trust them royals, but God always has His plans.

It would be interesting. I think according to the Act of Settlement the only thing that could take one out of the line of succession is being a Catholic. It would be rather odd to have an Orthodox head of the Church of England. Most likely though, whatever religious avenue he takes it's unlikely he will be the next monarch.

There is a lot of affinity felt on the Anglican side in my experience and the branch theory is a popular one there. The current Archbishop of Canterbury has even written a book about praying with icons. No doubt the current troubles within the Anglican world will shake things up to some extent as well. My wife and I spent three years in and around the Episcopal Church and most of the other inquirers I've met also came from low church backgrounds and passed through or are currently Episcopalians.

---
Just saw Bruncvik's post. I'm not sure if Chanter was thinking of her, but I believe St. Elizabeth the New Martyr would be a relation and she was also a convert to Orthodoxy.

 

[Eusebios]

This is certainly interesting, and I believe wonderful news, if as another poster rightly points out, it is true. True in the sense that is, if indeed Charles is serious about Orthodoxy and it is not merely a spiritual diversion if you will. Time indeed will tell.
His unworthy servant,
Eusebios.

 

[prodromos]

I keep expecting to bump into him on Mount Athos

 

[Suzannah]

I keep expecting to bump into him on Mount Athos

If you do, please ask him to let my people go.... JUST KIDDING! (well, okay, maybe not really....)

 

[Markh]

I hope that he does convert, the media attention would be pretty massive, there would be articles about Orthodoxy all over the place. I always liked Prince Charles

 

[The Prokeimenon!]

Prince Charles, Fidel Castro, and Kim Jong Il! They should all convert! What a wonderful world it would be!

Moses

 

[nikephoros_spatharios]

Prince Charles has been going to Mt. Athos every summer for many years now. I suspect either that (a) he has found some wise monk that he can open his heart to, or (b) Mt. Athos is probably one of the few places in the entire world where he can just be alone and avoid all cameras and reporters.

 

[Michael G]

If you do, please ask him to let my people go.... JUST KIDDING! (well, okay, maybe not really....)

Nothing like begging Pharaoh for the release of the Jewish slaves, err, I mean asking the King to release his silly hold on Ireland. BUT THEN, if that were to happen, what Human Rights violation would Bono of U2 have to focus on? (sorry, I could not resist!)

 

[The Prokeimenon!]

Bono single-handedly stopped Apartheid in South Africa If he Ireland were given back to the Irish, then I guess Bono could retire. Maybe he could go back to singing- I always did love Rattle and Hum.

Moses

 

[Michael G]

Bono single-handedly stopped Apartheid in South Africa If he Ireland were given back to the Irish, then I guess Bono could retire. Maybe he could go back to singing- I always did love Rattle and Hum.

Moses

My favorite was the live cd "Under a Blood Red Sky", but "Joshua Tree," "Rattle and Hum" and "War" were really good too.

 

[Suzannah]

Bono single-handedly stopped Apartheid in South Africa If he Ireland were given back to the Irish, then I guess Bono could retire. Maybe he could go back to singing- I always did love Rattle and Hum.

Moses

If he retired, he would have more than enough time to take a trip to Mt. Athos, maybe bunk in with Charles, and learn the value of silence and quit swearing...

That aside, I really liked him once upon a time...still love that Rattle and Hum....