Question for Converts

[Suzannah]

Being Irish, I attended Church of Ireland (Anglican) fo0r some time. I also looked at the church of Rome and the Lutehran church (in which I was baptised as an infant....my life story is a nightmare...never mind). In any case, as I grew in faith and knowlege, it was perfectly clear to me that Orthodoxy was historical, verifiable, and visible. The historicity and clear Apostolic succession ,of the Church was of paramount importance to me. If Christ and His mission and very words were true, then I absolutely had to find His church. I felt that the "truth" had to exist somewhere...I was not satisfied with part of the truth there, a bit of here... I believe I have done that and I am humbled that He allowed me in....I am, after all, the worst of all sinnners, and I believe that He led me here...

 

[Happy Orthodox]

LalithaGreen, I see you are in Israel? Go to Jerusalem a week after Easter to the Temple of the Tomb of the Lord, and you will get as close to God as you will not get at any other place. Note who's carrying out the Light of the Lord! He's got the truth.


I converted simply because I have read the theology of Orthodoxy and just believed it's the truth right away. I believed in God before, but my faith was like a little spark which did not warm my life very much. That book made the spark a flame and now I passed the learning period (although learning in Orthodoxy never stops) and now fully practice Orthodoxy. I never considered Catholicism or any other church, well, duh, I am Russian! However, it is only a coincidence that I am Russian, because if I wasn't, I would still convert to Orthodoxy. I think God just wanted it to be easier for me, and it is! "What a Lord is ours!" Saint Siluan the Athonite. Catholicism never attracted me, I saw it as artificial, not natural, it seemed cold for me and empty. Even the Western European culture soaked in Catholicism was and is inattractive to me just because it was Catholic. When you walk into an old Orthodox church built with stone a few hundred years ago with an old style of constructing buildings in Russia, with a low seiling that has a form of four-sided dome, without electric lamps, and where only candles lit the shining with gold old icons, where people stand with bowed heads in repentence quietly sensing the peace and holiness of this place, where the prayers say such unbelievably adequate words, and where the Eyes of the One pierce through your body into the depths of your heart with unbearable meekness and peace, it is impossible to hold your tears and not long for coming back to this place, the throne of the Truth which is the source of the Water of Life. That Water fills and overfills me, it satisfies my huge thirst, it heals my poor soul, it is my Light, my Life and my Joy. How can I desire anything else after that? (Sorry, I'm not a poet. Oh, well)

 

[MariaRegina]

About 8 years ago, I converted from Roman Catholicism to Orthodoxy.

All the liturgical changes in the Catholic Mass especially here in "Never Never Land" really bothered me. I suppose if I had lived on the Eastern coast where the Latin Liturgy is celebrated more frequently, I might have remained a Roman Catholic; however, I live in the crazy far out state called California. (Need I say more?)

I sought a return to the consistency of the ancient Eastern Orthodox rite of worship in the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church. This is the timeless heavenly worship where we are lifted up to celebrate the Feast of the Lamb of God.

 

[Dust and Ashes]

I had considered Roman Catholicism in the past because I craved high church worship and the RCC was the oldest Church in existence as far as I knew. But my actual conversion to Orthodoxy was quite by accident (if Providence can be at least called accidental as it relates to my intentions). I was pretty much resigned to my Protestant faith until I "met" some of the wonderful Orthodox people here on CF and was intrigued by their unity and love. After a few visits to TAW and a round of questions, I visited an Orthodox priest for a talk, started attending Divine Liturgy there and the rest is, as they say, history.

 

[DoubleDutch]

None. I was very much into charismatic protestantism before I became Orthodox. Catholicism was out of the question, and I didn't really know any others. Discovering Orthodoxy really was a surprise.

 

[Wiffey]

I was Catholic prior to my conversion to Orthodoxy. But the Catholic Church today is nothing like it was pre-Vatican II...it led me to really question my faith. Then I fell in love with a Greek who introduced me to the undiluted Apostolic Faith.