Something that confuses me about Orthodoxy...

[Victrixa]

Hi my Orthodox brethren!

Another question here.

I wonder, if the Orthodox Church is the One True Church founded by Jesus Christ and the Church of Christ, why isn't it found everywhere? Why haven't missionaries gone out in the remotest places of the world (in all the countrysides for example and not just the big cities of the world) to bring the Orthodox church (which seems to be the Church according to Orthodoxy) to them? It baffles me, seriously... why aren't there any Orthodox churches in Quebec countrysides? (or American countrysides, for example) All you see here in Quebec, except in large cities like Montreal and Toronto, are Roman Catholic Churches and a few very small evangelical churches here and there. No Orthodox churches in sight.

If Orthodoxy is necessary for salvation, then why haven't Orthodox Christians sensed the urgency (or why don't they sense the urgency) to establish Orthodox missions (and eventually churches) in the remotest of countryish places?

You see, I'd love to visit an Orthodox church but there is none in sight and there is absolutely no way I can go to Montreal regularly.

Please, I'm not trying to sound harsh or divisive, I'm just looking for explanations.... it gets confusing, you see? (when one looks at the claims of the Orthodox Church)

Seeking for answers,

Caroline

 

[MrJim]

Hi my Orthodox brethren!

Another question here.

I wonder, if the Orthodox Church is the One True Church founded by Jesus Christ and the Church of Christ, why isn't it found everywhere? Why haven't missionaries gone out in the remotest places of the world (in all the countrysides for example and not just the big cities of the world) to bring the Orthodox church (which seems to be the Church according to Orthodoxy) to them? It baffles me, seriously... why aren't there any Orthodox churches in Quebec countrysides? (or American countrysides, for example) All you see here in Quebec, except in large cities like Montreal and Toronto, are Roman Catholic Churches and a few very small evangelical churches here and there. No Orthodox churches in sight.

If Orthodoxy is necessary for salvation, then why haven't Orthodox Christians sensed the urgency (or why don't they sense the urgency) to establish Orthodox missions (and eventually churches) in the remotest of countryish places?

You see, I'd love to visit an Orthodox church but there is none in sight and there is absolutely no way I can go to Montreal regularly.

Please, I'm not trying to sound harsh or divisive, I'm just looking for explanations.... it gets confusing, you see? (when one looks at the claims of the Orthodox Church)

Seeking for answers,

Caroline

That is a neat question.

 

[orthodoxy]

Hi my Orthodox brethren!

Another question here.

I wonder, if the Orthodox Church is the One True Church founded by Jesus Christ and the Church of Christ, why isn't it found everywhere? Why haven't missionaries gone out in the remotest places of the world (in all the countrysides for example and not just the big cities of the world) to bring the Orthodox church (which seems to be the Church according to Orthodoxy) to them? It baffles me, seriously... why aren't there any Orthodox churches in Quebec countrysides? (or American countrysides, for example) All you see here in Quebec, except in large cities like Montreal and Toronto, are Roman Catholic Churches and a few very small evangelical churches here and there. No Orthodox churches in sight.

If Orthodoxy is necessary for salvation, then why haven't Orthodox Christians sensed the urgency (or why don't they sense the urgency) to establish Orthodox missions (and eventually churches) in the remotest of countryish places?

You see, I'd love to visit an Orthodox church but there is none in sight and there is absolutely no way I can go to Montreal regularly.

Please, I'm not trying to sound harsh or divisive, I'm just looking for explanations.... it gets confusing, you see? (when one looks at the claims of the Orthodox Church)

Seeking for answers,

Caroline

It is good you question the Orthodox faith.

Jesus Christ said to go out and preach the gospel and that is what orthodox has done for 2000 years. Orthodoxy entered the North American Continent with Leaf Erikson on the late 900's and in Alaska via Russia in 1789 ad. It took Orthodox 700 years to span russia and enter north america. These things take time.

Orthodoxy is a missionary Church. That is the nature of Orthodoxy. Here in Colorado we have an Orthodox Church out on the plains that is in the middle of no where however people from 100 miles are members and travel to attend weekly.

One can begin an orthodox mission by one's self just in prayer. God will add to this Church as He sees fit.

Maybe you are the one being called to start a mission while in the conversion process to Orthodoxy. I have seen this happen. A few people find orthodoxy, begin to live the orthodox life and pray together. Soon it is large enough to support a priest. Our priest travels many miles to keep flegling missions alive with the support of our parish.

I understand your frustration however this should not hinder your desire to investigate the orthodox faith. www.oca.org is a good place to start learning about orthodoxy.

God bless you if and when you begin your walk into the orthodox faith.

Kyril

 

[VickiY]

In many countries, the conditions have not permitted it until recently. (Soviet persecutions, etc). However, we are very definitely in all areas of the world, but we also tend to place Churches where there is a concentration of families who will support it. Thus, you will see many in cities, and large towns (think, over 30,000), but fewer if there is not a great enough demand for them. Our monasteries are in the middle of nowhere, generally, and people drive hours to reach them. We have many Churches in Quebec...and a monastery or two, IIRC.

 

[gzt]

Well, we have/had missionaries in East Asia [including China], you really should read of the missionaries to Alaska. The Russians sent missionaries out all across Siberia to get to all of the remote country places. There are some parishes in Quebec, but you're right, not many and not in the countryside.

It's not urgent in the sense that you're not automatically damned if you aren't Orthodox. Ideally, yes, everybody in the world would have reasonable access to an Orthodox parish and we're working on providing that ideal. Conversion takes a long time and sometimes the nations don't want to cooperate. And there's sort of a chicken/egg problem: for there to be parishes in the countryside, there need to be Orthodox in the countryside. For there to be Orthodox in the countryside, there need to be parishes in the countyside.

Generally, though, those who are interested in converting but are unable to regularly attend Orthodox services because of distance make arrangements with the priest and attend as able, even if it is only once per month or a few times per year.

 

[Akathist]

Eastern Orthodoxy is found through out the world. We have spread and have sent missionaries many many places. However, keep in mind that to be Eastern Orthodox is to start on a difficult course. This is an ascetic life. The process of conversion is long, often a year or more. We have a shortage of Priests. Also, our congregations are often poor in funds. Much of EO has been hurt by economic issues that go back to the Turks.

However, EO is growing. In the US I am told it is growing more in the Mid West than anywhere else in the U.S. As it grows in the US, more men will become Priests.

Also, consider that in some part of the world, the EO church is huge, the largest church in some countries by far.

 

[ConanTheLibrarian]

That brings up a related question: What do you do if you're in an isolated area, far from the nearest Orthodox church? I have been attracted to Orhtodoxy for years, but my main reason for remaining officially Lutheran is that, in the U.S. at least, it is far easier to find a Lutheran church in any given community that it is to find an Orthodox church. We are privileged to have a chaplain here this year, but he leaves next June. There is the cathedral in Seoul but that is 2 hours away from here and not in English. It will be much more difficult then.

 

[Matrona]

I wonder, if the Orthodox Church is the One True Church founded by Jesus Christ and the Church of Christ, why isn't it found everywhere?

Where was the Church in 33 A.D.? Could someone have found Christian churches down the road in Britain then, or in China, or North America?

Why haven't missionaries gone out in the remotest places of the world (in all the countrysides for example and not just the big cities of the world) to bring the Orthodox church (which seems to be the Church according to Orthodoxy) to them?

We have, and we're working on more. There's even a little Orthodox church located in Antarctica, which was sent there to serve workers at a research station.

 

[Oblio]

Seeing as we are the second largest Church, I think we have done pretty well, and much of our evangelization was completed centuries ago (Russia, Eastern Europe) Also, after the Schism, what would have been the Western part of Orthodoxy was evangelized by the RCC. If not for that, the vast majority of Christians would be EO. Add to that the tragedy of the Russian revolution and it's effect on the Church of Russia and her efforts throughout the West.

 

[Monica child of God 1]

It is also important not to underestimate the effect of Islam on Orthodox Christianity in the Middle East and North Africa. From the 1st centuries, Christianity grew rapidly in Africa and was steadily moving southward. The some of the first monastics, and later the first monasteries, were founded in North Africa. Then the followers of Muhammed swept in and began persecutions that continue to this day. But, glory to God (!), Orthodox Christianity is growing once again in Africa. (Saints Augustine, Monica and Anthony pray for your earthly homeland!)

Many, many horrible things have happened and continue to occur to Orthodox Christians at the hands of Muslims which makes it difficult to do the kind of evangelical outreach that you are probably familiar with. Plus, that is just not our style

M.

 

[OnTheWay]

Hi my Orthodox brethren!

Another question here.

I wonder, if the Orthodox Church is the One True Church founded by Jesus Christ and the Church of Christ, why isn't it found everywhere? Why haven't missionaries gone out in the remotest places of the world (in all the countrysides for example and not just the big cities of the world) to bring the Orthodox church (which seems to be the Church according to Orthodoxy) to them? It baffles me, seriously... why aren't there any Orthodox churches in Quebec countrysides? (or American countrysides, for example) All you see here in Quebec, except in large cities like Montreal and Toronto, are Roman Catholic Churches and a few very small evangelical churches here and there. No Orthodox churches in sight.

It would be greatly appericated in the future if you could chose your language more wisely. This isn't a debate borad.
The Orthodox Church has active missions all around the world, from North America to Africa and Asia.
If one is lucky enough to live in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska one can visit many of the historical missions and parishes of American Orthodoxy.
For many centuries Orthodoxy was boxed on the west by the Roman Church. After nearly a century under the militant atheists the Great See of Orthodoxy in Moscow is still recovering, however, that has not stopped the growth of Orthodoxy in western Europe and North America.
So in being realistic, one can find Orthodoxy anywhere in the world.

 

[xristos.anesti]

Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem... Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Jn IV, 21-24.

 

[Theophorus]

We visited a ROCOR mission meeting in the chapel of an Anglican church last week. My family outnumbered that of the congregation, plus there was a mother and a daughter visiting that were not Orthodox so it was 9 to 5, vistors to members. We did the 3rd and 6th hours plus the Typikon. A priest gets there every 6 weeks for liturgy. The chanting was two part harmony and very well done. The "soprano" explained to me that if the bass can't make it, she switches from Russian style to Byzantine as it is easier going solo that way.

 

[Oblio]

It would be greatly appericated in the future if you could chose your language more wisely. This isn't a debate borad.

I don't think the OP was meant as a debate, but an honest (and good) question. We should be ready, willing and able to respond in kindness to such inquiries about the Orthodox Faith.

 

[Victrixa]

Thank you all for the very interesting responses.

If I sounded rude, please forgive me. That wasn't my intention. I just didn't know how to word my long question.

I understand that a mission would have to start with a few people in one area. It can be just kind of frustrating when it is impossible for one to travel to an Orthodox church far away.

I was just wondering how one could be Orthodox without any Orthodox churches in the surrounding areas.

Thanks everyone! That was very interesting.

 

[repentant]

Honestly, no offense, but the OP has no idea what they are saying and I believe is maybe trying to stir up something.There are Orthodox Churches and missionary's on every continent. Ever heard of Fr. Kosmas Grigoriatis? He is called the Apostle to Zaire. He helped bring Orthodoxy to Zaire, and other parts of Africa. Also the Elder Ephraim has 16 monastery's and counting here in the US, and they are in remote areas, not big city's. 1000's of people a year go to them to visit, Orthodox and non Orthodox alike. There are Orthodox Church's in Australia, Asia (I personally know Metropolitan Nikita of Hong Kong), developed and undeveloped country's.

I think people need to stop with the assumptions. They see an Orthodox Church in a big city (why wouldn't there be?) and assume they are only in big cities.

 

[Akathist]

I don't think they are necessarily trying to stir anything up. Before I visited the first EO church, I didn't know there were hardly any in the midwest state that I live in. I call EO the world's best kept secret. It was right there in front of me but I never knew about it.

 

[Oblio]

Honestly, no offense, but the OP has no idea what they are saying and I believe is maybe trying to stir up something.There are Orthodox Churches and missionary's on every continent.

Give it a rest. Apparently they are hard to find in her area. The OP was asking a question, rather than accusing and berating, how about suggestions on how to find an Orthodox Church to visit, or perhaps find a priest to talk with. Or maybe you are giving an indirect answer to her question

 

[Victrixa]

repentant,

I wrote the OP.

As you said, I don't know what I'm talking about here and am in complete ignorance in regards to the Orthodox Church. This is why I am asking questions.

I just found it a little odd that the Orthodox Church is found nowhere in rural Quebec, for example, but I understand, as was mentioned before, the Roman Catholic Church took over in the West, probably not leaving any room for other churches.

Thanks for the answers and I really didn't mean to debate, stir up anything or be rude. I was just puzzled and confused and trying to understand. And if you were standing before me and I would have asked you the same question in the same words, my voice would have been soft and gentle as is my nature. As you know, this is the Internet, a totally cold and impersonal world (yet interesting to communicate with other people with).

Shalom.

 

[MariaRegina]

If you mentioned a city that you lived near, or even a town, maybe there might be a church or a mission.

If you look in the phone book, that could be the problem. A lot of churches here in the LA area don't bother to list in the yellow pages, but only in the white pages.

this can be a problem.

Joy of All who Sorrow Orthodox Church.

The Assumption Orthodox Church

Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church

Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral

Some churches begin with a Saint but not all do. That was my problem.

St. Luke

St. Paul the Apostle