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The first, most obvious explanation is that some people simply are obnoxious to start with. The Orthodox Church is the ancient Church that Christ and the Apostles established. Submitted by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis | January 19, 2013. One is attracted to Orthodoxy in the same way one falls in love. The pairing of both secular groups with the Orthodox in a religious freedom case is rare they have frequently been on opposite sides on church-state separation issues such as same-sex marriage . Why Are Protestants Converting To Orthodox Christianity? Protestant theologian Adolf von Harnack once described the Orthodox church as "in her entire structure alien to the Gospel and a perversion of the Christian religion, its reduction to the level of pagan antiquity." Hope this helps, and hope that your journey to Orthodoxy is filled with every blessing. While discovering the truth of Orthodoxy is exciting, we need to learn a gracious balance when dealing with our friends, family, workmates and others with whom we have contact. Orthodox Priest Explains Why Many People in the West are Converting to Orthodox Christianity. What they objected to was the elevation of tradition to the status of Scripture. Tom Hanks Legion Media The famous Hollywood actor converted to Orthodox Christianity as an adult. Kind of like large scale serial monogamous people. She rightly claims the wholeness of the truth. YouTube | Buddhism and Conversion to Orthodoxy - Questions & Answers - Orthodox The late Orthodox theologian John Meyendorff once remarked that the ultimate conflict between the Orthodox East and the Latin West, both Catholic and Protestant, resided in two different ideas about tradition. However, because I've never been really exposed to . John A. Peck, The Apostolic Mission of Journey To Orthodoxy, Armenian Muslims Living in Turkey are Returning to Christianity, Devotion to Orthodox History leads Malaysian Priest to Mount Carmel. By the end of the sixth century, neither group could speak the other's language. Why did Vladimir convert to Orthodox Christianity? Its that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. Telegram | Perhaps this unanticipated experience of encountering something unknown and marvelously organic accounts for the distinctive lapel-grabbing impulse among converts to Orthodoxy. It is often wrongly assumed that Orthodoxy . Converting to Orthodoxy : r/OrthodoxChristianity The Orthodox Churches are united in faith and by a common approach to theology, tradition, and worship. Why had a group of conservative American Christians converted to Russian Orthodoxy? . One who would claim that he or she wishes to embrace the faith but doesnt want to get involved with other people and their lives falls short in his or her understanding of the Church as the People of God and, as such, has yet to make that internal conversion that must take place before one is received into the Church. They have not given up the idea of being clergy. If they are looking for an ethnic identity because they feel they have none. When celebrating the Eucharist, Catholics mixed the wine with water, while the Orthodox did not. Orthodoxy looks forward, to the age to come. Orthodoxy looked like taking that escalator up one more floor. Conversion means belief and acceptance in Jesus Christ, the God-man, as the Savior of the world. I assumed this would somehow convince me not to continue on my discovery of the Orthodox Church, but it has more solidified it! In time, you will be welcomed sacramentally into the Church and continue your ongoing path to the Kingdom of God. At the 1996 meeting of sseoe, Orthodox representative Stanley Harakas said that the Orthodox, who have lived for 70 years in Russia under Communist oppression, are in a state of weakness, unable to rebuild churches and barely able to educate their parishioners. Its just that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. In 858 Photius was appointed as Orthodoxy's new patriarch at Constantinople, replacing Ignatius, who had been exiled and later resigned his duties. This is particularly notable in the mid-1st century, when the circumcision controversy came to the fore. Speaking out against a government that is massively exterminating believers, would only lead to greater persecution. Then bear your cross,, Please, include documents that can be downloaded or printed. I love the Church, and so I find it difficult to understand how a person could not see the beauty in our faith, leaving it all behind. For example, their local parish was too ethnic; the priest wasnt nice or outgoing; their spouse wasnt interested; they found logical inconsistencies in the writings of the fathers; and so on. Do we mean essential for salvation? They push it down the road that they will be able to transition to that in their new group eventually. Your email address will not be published. He has no good option for dealing with that affection, so hes either sullen or angry. John 6 Comments Cole Knight, a former Anglican, got Baptized in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. Anxious to avoid the siege of his capital, Basil II turned to the Rus' for assistance, even though they were considered enemies at that time. Those who approach Orthodoxy looking for all their questions to be answered in a neat-and-tidy manner will be deeply disappointed, left rejecting the faith to which theyve only been shortly exposed. Becoming Orthodox means being willing to submit to the Church and Her bishops, who might not be interested in ordaining you. Second, whatever failings Western missionaries might bring to their work, and whether Orthodoxy likes to admit it, many Russians are responding very positively to a clear, contemporary presentation of the gospel by Protestant missionaries. The Spirit of God himself, realizing the sacramental presence of Christ in the church, speaks to us in tradition. Spiritual enlightenment changes everything. Who Converted Russian Religion To Orthodox Christianity? The reason Orthodoxy is stable is because she is grounded in the truth. But that cant be the case with me, so lets press on. At the beginning, I thought I knew what I was getting into. On the Path of Love: From Islam to Christianity, Madagascar: Church Opens Huge Complex with Church, Schools, Orphanage, Old Folks Home, Australia: Orthodoxy Fastest Growing Church amidst General Christian Decline. Rich worship taught the faith to literate and illiterate, peasant and emperor, and its essentially the same as our worship today. I hope so. When we realize that every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle or a matter of conscience, then we are freed to engage fully people with whom we actually have profound differences without compromising our own theological commitments. Karmiris writes, "Scripture and Tradition are equally valid, possess equal dogmatic authority, and are equal in value as sources of dogmatic truth . Like baptism, the Eucharist is administered to infants. Alexandria, 350,000 The conversion of 2,000 evangelicals in 17 congregations "from Alaska to Atlanta" in 1987, recounted in Peter Gillquist's Becoming Orthodox, is only a small window into a larger phenomenon. Orthodox worship can be overwhelmingly beautiful and attractiveon multiple, deeply-felt levelsbut this should not be the only reason why a person converts. The true details behind her Thats surely a factor, but I think theres something else going on, more specific to Orthodox converts. Click for reprint information. She is not the endshe is the way. Although she is in this world, she is not of this world (cf. This perspective presupposes a defective Christologyone that fails to account for the anthropos of the theanthropic (Divine-human) Church. Because we confess and believe in the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church, this means we are not looking for a Church that fits our own preferences and ideals, but rather one that teaches us what our preferences should be. John A. Peck, The Apostolic Mission of Journey To Orthodoxy. As if this were not quite enough, during the Fourth Crusade, Western forces stormed Constantinople in 1204 and ransacked the Church of the Holy Wisdom, an unimaginable act of desecration from the viewpoint of Orthodoxy. Further, Protestants have long enjoyed rich liturgical traditions of their own (see, for example, Bard Thompson's classic Liturgies of the Western Church). Then the reality sets in. After five years or so in the Orthodox Church, Ive seen a lot of friends and acquaintances come home to the apostolic faith. We have challenges here in Africa to find such information for, So glorious+++ Most Holy Theotokos save us, Pectoral Cross I kept finding myself in conversations with nice people who wanted to assure me that this very thing I was so excited about in Orthodoxy is something they have in their church as well. It must sound like vague, fluffy religious talk (though in my experience it is anything but). As independent churches, they are not bound together by any unilateral or monarchical organization, nor do they owe allegiance to a single primacy, as Roman Catholics do to the pope. The stability that the Orthodox Church provides for the seeker consists in the assurance of the truth she possesses, her other-worldly and mysterious character, the beauty of her liturgical celebrations and her crucified lifethey all attest to what she is for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear: the unique, beloved Bride of Christ. If anyone is unwilling or not ready to submit to the Church in all areas of life, they should stay awayuntil or unless they are ready to do so. Because their focus for years was on their theological education (which they may still be paying for) often they end up in a low wage job that they don't love. This icon, Wedding Icon of The Mother Of God Originally the creed read that the Holy Spirit proceeded "from the Father"; a later Western interpolation (why, where, and by whom are not known), ratified at the Council of Toledo (589), added filioque to indicate that the Spirit proceeded from the Father "and the Son." Protestant Christianity," Andrei went on, "is a cheap, terrible substitute, and an Orthodox believer who knows his own faith will never go there.". Excellent comment Kosmas, I totally concur. I cant be the only one to have done this. Cerularius condemned Humbert and entreated Orthodox believers to "flee the fellowship of those who have accepted the heretical Latins." Instead, Orthodoxy believes that the church stands above the Scriptures, which is why, as noted, Orthodox believers agree to "accept and understand Holy Scripture in accordance with the interpretation that was and is held by the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church of the East, our Mother." Rome accused the "Greek heretics" of trying to "humiliate and crush the holy catholic and apostolic church." In the Orthodox calendar, the first Sunday of Lent celebrates the Triumph of Orthodoxy, a commemoration of the final triumph of icons in the long and bitter battle with the iconoclasts (literally, "image-smashers") on March 11, 843. It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. Despite efforts at reunification, to this day the Catholic and Orthodox churches remain estranged. Orthodox spiritual life gives central prominence to the sacraments. If anyone is unwilling or not ready to submit to the Church in all areas of life, they should stay awayuntil or unless they are ready to do so. There is not going to be a restored "Celtic" Orthodoxy or "Anglo-Saxon" Orthodoxy. Now, the question stands: If one is convinced that Orthodox Christianity possess the fullness of truth and is God . Why Convert To Islam? - The American Conservative Nicholas Kim. Pretty good. In the history and theology of Orthodoxy it is startling to observe the nearly complete absence of any mention of the doctrine of justification by faith. Questions & Answers / But that was too little, too late. People often assume that most Jews by choice convert because they have a partner or spouse who is Jewish. In 867, Patriarch Photius of Constantinople told other Christian patriarchs that the Rus' people were converting enthusiastically, but his efforts seem to have entailed no lasting consequences, since the Primary Chronicle and other Slavonic sources describe the tenth-century Rus' as still firmly entrenched in Slavic paganism. Eastern Right: Conservative Minds Convert to Orthodox Christianity There are many basic beliefs that Orthodoxy and evangelicalism hold in common: the inspiration of Scripture; the two natures of Christ, the finality and uniqueness of Christ's death on the cross, the resurrection, and our future hope of eternal life. If you have a specific question about Orthodox Christianity or the Orthodox Church in America, Greece, 9 million The secret is out. The move was far more than geographic. Why Would a Protestant Convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Contact | These Protestant movements, important in their own right, are liturgical light years from Orthodoxy. Surely there is enough evangelistic work for everyone. When you are the only Norse guy and most of your lands are Slovianskian, it makes more sense to convert yourself than to convert them. Orthodox Christianity has a rich tradition of being mindful. 0. After that, Orthodoxy is by far the best possible choice of religion for Russia because of Byzantium. As Saint Paul reminds us, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another [Romans 12:5; see also Ephesians 4:25]. How to Convert to Judaism - What to Expect at a Conversion Her allegiance to the perennial truths of Christianity is appreciated by sincere seekers. Yeah, I think Ive gotten it out of my system. July 26, 2019 By Fr. The beauty and majesty of her liturgical services celebrating the majesty and mystery of God continue to be a major attraction to many seekers of a religious experience that transcends the mundane reality and elevates the spirit to the divine realm. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. Upon joining the Orthodox Church, converts vow to "accept and understand Holy Scripture in accordance with the interpretation which was and is held by the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church of the East, our Mother." I have read many things on the internet, as well as a number of books about the Churchs faith, worship and history. Evangelicals focused on social ethics may also find little comradeship in Orthodoxy, as there is nothing in Orthodoxy comparable to the body of Catholic social teaching, for instance. The Biblical Basis for Holy Tradition., On the Path of Love: From Islam to Christianity, Madagascar: Church Opens Huge Complex with Church, Schools, Orphanage, Old Folks Home, Australia: Orthodoxy Fastest Growing Church amidst General Christian Decline. For example, it is understandable that evangelicals feel that the Orthodox doctrine of the church is too "high." The Orthodox Church has suffered throughout her history. However, this is a mistaken viewpoint and can lead to the destruction of a persons faith. And while they are just beginning to recover, he says, Protestants invade, with all their Western resources, and attempt to draw away the very people the Russian Orthodox Church is attempting to nurture in the faith. 3:15). Missiological concerns surface here, too. It merits our attention for several reasons. It took me a few years to sense that there was a whole other something going on. 5:12). Any objective historian can discover that the permanence of Orthodoxy is due to the preservation and the passing on of the apostolic faith unadulterated, pure. Oden, for example, who delights in referring to his theological method as "paleo-orthodox," is now working on a comprehensive patristic commentary on the whole Bible to be published by InterVarsity Press. Since then, Western and Eastern Christianity developed separately, under very different social and cultural conditions. Orthodoxy's size alone warrants our attention, despite its invisibility on the cultural radar screens of most Americans. They saw this as a perception skill, something anyone could (with diligent practice) hone; it has nothing to do with emotion. A radical conversion to Christianity. But every church must have its distinctiveness, or wed all be in the same church. Not a few evangelicals in the last decade have forsaken Protestantism to join an Eastern Orthodox church. If our only reason for converting is more somber, reverent, and beautiful worship, the newness of this experience soon wanes. Heres a clue to a third possibility. Why I Didn't Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy Conciliar Post