Prayer Request

[Orthodox Andrew]

Next week I will be getting Baptized at Saint John's Greek Orthodox Church, and I'm very blessed to be doing so! I would just like to ask for you folks to remember me in your prayers, in hope that everything goes well.

God bless you all!

P.S. Here's a link to the Church that I will be getting Baptized in. http://www.greekcommunity.org/english/churches_stjohn_e.php It's about a 6 minute walk from my house.

Note* The 4 Greek Orthodox Churches listed on that site are far from the only Greek Orthodox Churches in Toronto. Toronto has about 11 Greek Orthodox Churches.

 

[Photini]

Andreas! I am very happy for you. You are in my prayers.

 

[Rainbow.]

God bless and peace be with you. Love Grace

 

[MariaRegina]

Next week I will be getting Baptized at Saint John's Greek Orthodox Church, and I'm very blessed to be doing so! I would just like to ask for you folks to remember me in your prayers, in hope that everything goes well.

God bless you all!

P.S. Here's a link to the Church that I will be getting Baptized in. http://www.greekcommunity.org/english/churches_stjohn_e.php It's about a 6 minute walk from my house.

Note* The 4 Greek Orthodox Churches listed on that site are far from the only Greek Orthodox Churches in Toronto. Toronto has about 11 Greek Orthodox Churches.

Dear Andreas:

May God bless you on your special day when you enter Holy Orthodoxy and become a member of Christ's Mystical Body. My prayers for you.

Lovingly in Christ God,
Elizabeth

 

[Matrona]

Remember what Gus said to Ian in My Big Fat Greek Wedding? "It is your lucky day to be baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church!" (Boy, is that ever true! )

God bless you, Andreas, I'm so happy for you! Many years, and welcome home!

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Thanks all!

God Bless you all.


P.S. Where would we be without the wisdon of Gus?

 

[xenia]

Congratulations on your upcoming baptism! Hooray!

My church (in California) is also called St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church.

Many years! Many years!

-Xenia

Oops- upon rereading your post, I see I have my Johns mixed up. Sorry 'bout that!

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Congratulations on your upcoming baptism! Hooray!

My church (in California) is also called St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church.

Many years! Many years!

-Xenia

Oops- upon rereading your post, I see I have my Johns mixed up. Sorry 'bout that!

Thanks a lot!

Actually you're right. It is technically named after Saint John The Baptist.

 

[Matrona]

Thanks a lot!

Actually you're right. It is technically named after Saint John The Baptist.

Hey Andreas,

Don't forget to have someone take pictures. It's such a special event, you'll want to have pictures to help you remember for the rest of your life.

If you want, I can PM you (or anyone else who's curious) the address of the pictures from mine.

(I don't post the address in public since there are other people in the pictures besides me. The one in my profile is the one I could crop everyone else out of so no one else would have to worry about having their picture out in public.)

 

[Reader Nilus]

Welcome Home, Andreas! The church will grow on you to the point where Orthodoxy or Death is the only way to view it. The Life is found no where else.
Jeff the Finn

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Hey Andreas,

Don't forget to have someone take pictures. It's such a special event, you'll want to have pictures to help you remember for the rest of your life.

If you want, I can PM you (or anyone else who's curious) the address of the pictures from mine.

(I don't post the address in public since there are other people in the pictures besides me. The one in my profile is the one I could crop everyone else out of so no one else would have to worry about having their picture out in public.)

I never even thought of taking pictues. That's a great idea. Oh, and I would love for you to PM me the address of your Baptismal pics.

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Welcome Home, Andreas! The church will grow on you to the point where Orthodoxy or Death is the only way to view it. The Life is found no where else.
Jeff the Finn

AMEN, Brother!

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Okay my Baptismal is almost here. I was wondering if they will make me read anything aloud in the Church, or if I will have to say anything aloud during the ceremony? Or is that the role of the Godfather?

 

[Matrona]

Be prepared to recite the Nicene Creed. Most churches will give you something to read it off of, but mine didn't. (And they hadn't told me to memorize it, either... hmm, I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't taken the initiative (and advice from online friends) to go ahead and memorize it. :o )

Everything else is either a simple response ("I have", etc.) or repeating after the priest. Really, it's as easy as pie.

God bless you! Welcome home!

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Be prepared to recite the Nicene Creed. Most churches will give you something to read it off of, but mine didn't. (And they hadn't told me to memorize it, either... hmm, I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't taken the initiative (and advice from online friends) to go ahead and memorize it. :o )

Everything else is either a simple response ("I have", etc.) or repeating after the priest. Really, it's as easy as pie.

God bless you! Welcome home!

Oh, I don't mind reciting the Nicene Creed because I'm used to that. But I wouldn't want to have to read something for the first time infront of everybody. I just really hate reading in public. When I read the Nicene Creed will I have to face the Priest or the people in the Church?

God bless you, and thanks.

 

[Matrona]

You don't have to face anyone in particular for that, if I remember correctly.

There are parts of the ceremony where you'll need to face in a particular direction, but trust me, you'll know what to do. Read over the service very carefully and make sure you understand every part of it. If there's something you don't understand, ask your priest as soon as possible.

There will be a part where you will need to kneel or prostrate.

I am unusually high-strung, so of course I was much more nervous than even a typical baptismal candidate. So what I did was I would look at an icon, or a cross, or whatever was handy, whenever I could. That helped tone down my anxiety, and also helpfully reminded me of the triumphant members of the church I was joining.

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

You don't have to face anyone in particular for that, if I remember correctly.

There are parts of the ceremony where you'll need to face in a particular direction, but trust me, you'll know what to do. Read over the service very carefully and make sure you understand every part of it. If there's something you don't understand, ask your priest as soon as possible.

There will be a part where you will need to kneel or prostrate.

I am unusually high-strung, so of course I was much more nervous than even a typical baptismal candidate. So what I did was I would look at an icon, or a cross, or whatever was handy, whenever I could. That helped tone down my anxiety, and also helpfully reminded me of the triumphant members of the church I was joining.

Yeah, you're right. I should just look around me and think of all the things the Saints went through. I mean all I have to do is look at an Icon of Christ to remember who has the power to help me overcome my nerves.

Thanks.

 

[Matrona]

Yeah, you're right. I should just look around me and think of all the things the Saints went through. I mean all I have to do is look at an Icon of Christ to remember who has the power to help me overcome my nerves.

That's what I used to do to help me during the prayer for the catechumens. I was the lone catechumen at the time, so all eyes were on me. I absolutely hate attention so I would look at either Christ or the Theotokos while I was walking up there (which felt ten times as long as the actual distance). Now I don't have to worry about that--I have to worry about making sure I do everything right for communion. :o

BTW, don't forget to cross your arms in an X when you take your first communion! Pin your right arm with your left!

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

That's what I used to do to help me during the prayer for the catechumens. I was the lone catechumen at the time, so all eyes were on me. I absolutely hate attention so I would look at either Christ or the Theotokos while I was walking up there (which felt ten times as long as the actual distance).

Yeah, I can only imagine. I hope by doing that I will find peace.

 

[prodromos]

BTW, don't forget to cross your arms in an X when you take your first communion! Pin your right arm with your left!

I suspect that this is the practice in the Russian tradition as we certainly don't do that in Greece. Over here there is no one holding the cloth up to your chin so you have to hold it yourself, makes it kind of hard to cross your arms

You should have seen poor Oblio when he was here . There he was assuming the position you just described and there was our priest waiting for him to hold the cloth under his chin before he could give him communion, neither of them expecting what the other was (or wasn't) doing.

All ended well though

John.