While some did come over by force, the Orthodox also forcibly converted large numbers of Eastern Catholics Orthodoxy. He mentions one Church, not many. These thirteen churches are united in their understanding of the sacraments, discipline, doctrine, faith, government, and worship, but they administer their internal affairs separately. But I slowly came to see that I cant communicate it. Liberalism is not a word in the Orthodox vocabulary. However, because I've never been really exposed to . "I was A. It is not always easy to advance strong arguments for these conversions. 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. It is no small thing for us to hold in common all the early, Christian creeds. Instead, an adolescent has to figure out and establish his adult persona in the face of affection. She is not the endshe is the way. Although she is in this world, she is not of this world (cf. Those who will guide you through your period of instruction and formation surely will help you in this regard. I have read many things on the internet, as well as a number of books about the Churchs faith, worship and history. its the same every year, year after year), it soon becomes familiar, and perhaps even boring for some. 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." Who can explain why one has fallen in love with a given person? Other religions and faiths occupy themselves with this life, with this world. Also, while evangelicals wholeheartedly embrace the full-orbed New Testament descriptions of the work of Christ (reconciliation, ransom, redemption, forgiveness, adoption, etc. Nicola Yanney, Holy Man of Nebraska, Out of Appalachia: Orthodox Christianity and the Old Regular Baptists, What Do You Believe In? Further, rote liturgy can stultify as well as edify, which is one reason why many people prefer more informal or personal worship settings. For me, the one and only valid, core reason is because a person desires to be part of the one, true Body of Christ. You haven't "arrived" in this life. An Orthodox priest who lectured to standing-room-only crowds at Moscow State once described Orthodox theology to me as "music made in the conservatory," whereas he described Protestant theology as "music made in the honkytonk bars. Some have even ended in apostasy. Fr. The sacraments. For such a question presupposes a particular person's journey of faith. It is precisely this view that elevates Scripture above the church and actually encourages private interpretation that the Orthodox theologian Georges Florovsky once called "the sin of the Reformation.". The blog includes recent news and ministry updates of the Convent, as well as other information about Orthodox Christianity that may be useful to those who are either making their first steps in church or want to learn something new about our faith. His response: "I don't know.". Worshipers prostrate themselves before them and kiss them. 20). But it's just fantasies, and they going to get themselves hopeless frustrated when it become clear that the fantasies can't become reality. Search, Learn more about the Orthodox Church in America, Orthodoxy and Cults and Non-Christian Groups. During those years of discovery I labored to absorb new ideas and excise stubborn old ones. 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. It depends on where you put the emphasis. Thank you for this! For such a question presupposes a particular person's journey of faith. I hope so. The sum of all parts wont add to the total. 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. Converting to Orthodoxy. Buddhists fast, pray, and give alms. Forgetting early on that Orthodox worship is liturgical and cyclical (i.e. Can we attempt to put into words why a host of people have converted and continue to convert to the Orthodox faith? Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. Needless to say, Rome was indignant; not until the Lateran Council of 1215 did it acknowledge the status of Constantinople. Is Orthodox different from Catholic? Rich worship taught the faith to literate and illiterate, peasant and emperor, and its essentially the same as our worship today. In the dystopian film,Children of Mendirected by Alfonso Cuarn, a world is imagined in the future where no more children are born, and, as the decades pass, humanity is plunged into despair. If our only reason for converting is more somber, reverent, and beautiful worship, the newness of this experience soon wanes. It takes a while to get it, because its received by a process of immersion, by soaking in a context of worship. Receive updates and announcements from Orthodox Witness. There most certainly will never be a "Southern" or "Confederate" Orthodoxy".And yet another reason not to join is the hopes of having a base of operations for a goofy political ideology. 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. Discussion online about converts to Orthodoxy in America includes papers and blogging by writers in venues such as Public Orthodoxy of the Fordham Orthodox Christian Studies Center, the allied Orthodox Theological Society of America, and various blogs and social media. People are attracted by the permanence of Orthodoxy. They become clergy in their group. It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. Why Converts to Christian Orthodoxy can be Obnoxious, People who've found their way back to Orthodoxy, Theophan the Recluse on Spiritual Practice. Sad, very sad. As we said, conversion is a love affair. Then the reality sets in. 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. An Orthodox Christian Perspective: Overcoming Difficulties in Life, Church Under Soviet Totalitarianism: Suppression, Resistance and Compliance, St Kassia and Her Creations, Still Heard at Todays Divine Services, The feast of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Inexhaustible Chalice, Why Our Catalogue Is More Than Just an Online Store Selling Church Supplies, The List of Musical Instruments Mentioned in the Bible, The First 40 Days after Death Explained by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, An Old Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign Has Started to Exude Myrrh in the Diocese of Tula, Complete List of Prohibited Marriages in the Orthodox Church. In the end, they concocted a list of reasons for not converting. It was electrifying. In addition, sizable Orthodox "diasporate" groups exist in Europe, North and South America, and Australia, typically under the jurisdiction of one of the thirteen patriarchates mentioned above. In some places in the world, Orthodoxy is the primary Christian game in town (as in Russia and Serbia), and it is inextricably wedded to the local ethnic culture. Vladimir fled to his kinsman Haakon Sigurdsson, who ruled Norway at the time. Moreover, evangelicals have some important lessons to learn from Orthodoxy. Copyright 1997 Christianity Today. Its that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. Maybe you have to soak in it for years, till the evidence becomes overwhelming. Disclaimers, Amon Sl Tolkien & Orthodox Christianity, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Evangelicalism, The Equal of Martyrdom: Fr. Indeed, what Protestant converts to Orthodoxy have often sought is not only a conscious continuity with the historic, apostolic past, but also a richer experience of God's majesty and mystery through a more liturgical worship setting. Made using e, Book Cover for the Epistle Yeah, I think Ive gotten it out of my system. 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. Join our newsletter to get the most interesting articles on spiritual issues and learn about the recent news from St. Elisabeth Convent. Handcarved Why would a protestant convert to Eastern Orthodoxy? Becoming Orthodox means being willing to submit to the Church and Her bishops, who might not be interested in ordaining you. And such a journey can only be spoken of from experience. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This hardly signifies any sort of congregational or ecclesiological democracy, however, for while all believers possess the truth, it is the special duty of church authorities to teach it. Bauxite mining would threaten birds, plants, and clean water. While Protestant evangelicals have never agreed on the precise meaning or mode of the sacraments, they have historically emphasized two related truths that diverge from the Orthodox understanding of the sacraments. He shares his witness of it. 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. At the time, I was so occupied with comprehending this strange thing called Orthodoxy that I emphasized the differences, and was impatient with kindly big-tent suggestions. (2 Pet. But if you are still intrigued and drawn to the Orthodox Church, considering all of these disclaimers, then do so with faith, reverence, and a healthy fear of God. But dont do it for all the wrong reasons. Praise for Surprised by Christ "Surprised by Christ is an autobiography, an intellectual history, and a conversion story, and more than these, conveys a spiritual and theological vision in a message that touches people from many different backgrounds. It is often wrongly assumed that Orthodoxy . Assuming that, after subsequent visits, you grow into the conviction that Orthodox Christianity is the fullness of Truth as revealed by Jesus Christ and discern your desire to embrace faith in Our Lord in its fullness, make your desire known to the parish priest, who will initiate the period of instruction and spiritual formation that eventually would lead to your reception into the Church. I will always remember my first visit to an Orthodox church in Russia. And such a journey can only be spoken of from experience. 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. As with liturgy, conversion to Orthodoxy is hardly a prerequisite for a renewed engagement with apostolic tradition. We have challenges here in Africa to find such information for, So glorious+++ Most Holy Theotokos save us, Pectoral Cross Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight our commonalities. The so-called Eastern Orthodox Church is actually not one but thirteen "autocephalous" or independent, self-governing churches. From Islam to Indonesian Orthodox Priest In "Clergy" 97% of Moldovans Identify as Orthodox Christians In "Latest Stories" Telegram | The other forms of tradition include the first seven ecumenical councils, which are acknowledged as normative and, by some, even infallible; patristic writings, especially those of the first four centuries; later councils; the Liturgy; canon law; and icons. It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. People often assume that most Jews by choice convert because they have a partner or spouse who is Jewish. Beyond the recovery of history and liturgy, there are deeper and more important questions. Another issue is becoming Orthodox because one thinks the Church will reward them in some way for doing so. In fact, it promises a Cross and joining with Christ in both suffering and humiliation. Whatever honor Protestants bestow upon tradition, they deny that its authority is coequal with Scripture. Indeed, in a letter of 865, Pope Nicholas made it clear that he intended to extend the power of the papacy "over all the earth, that is, over every church." There are two sides to this coin, as well: Some people become Orthodox for all the wrong reasons, while some dont become Orthodox for all the wrong reasons. You can also subscribe without commenting. It makes no appeal to a doctrine of transubstantiation and instead simply affirms the mystery. Conversion involves a change or transformation in vision, direction and heart, one rooted in repentance and the acknowledgement of Our Lord as the One Who is truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who came into the world to save sinners. Well, was it so? I felt like Marco Polo. T he Orthodox Church in the United States has problems. Orthodox believers see things very differently. Orthodoxy appeals to the soulnot just to the intellect or the senses. Since then, Western and Eastern Christianity developed separately, under very different social and cultural conditions. 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. Some have argued that evangelicals eager to "contend earnestly for the faith" (Jude 3) will find an ally in Orthodoxy's allegiance to the basic truths of Christianity. John A. Peck, The Apostolic Mission of Journey To Orthodoxy, Orthodox Church in Harbin, China Reopens as an Orthodox Church, "When We Speak of Christ, We Must Start With Christ" - An Interview With Fr. Hymns like these offer quite a theological education to anyone who comes to services, and if you didnt catch it all, theres a good chance theyre going to sing it two more times. It is a good question, one I will answer in due course. ), since the Reformation, justification by faith and substitutionary atonement have enjoyed pride of place in our understanding of the doctrines of sin and salvation. "More than a . 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. What was the foreign policy of Yaroslav the Wise? All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. 0. Growing up in the Bible Belt, I was only ever exposed to Christian theology. I cant be the only one to have done this. These arguments wont convert anyone. A person (who is searching within) goes through clerical education to explore questions. In his homily, Father Vladimir explained the history and theology of icons, adding that the heresy of iconoclasm was alive and well: "Just look around us at all the Protestants. To be Eastern Orthodox is, above all, to stake a bold and unapologetic theological claim as the one true church of Christ on earth, which alone has guarded right belief and true worship in absolute identity and unbroken succession with the apostolic church. many mercenaries would convert to Christianity. But perhaps our theology of the church is too "low," much lower than our Protestant forebears would have it. In 999, Leif, the son of Erik, was converted to Christianity by Olaf Tryggvason. But only lately has it dawned on me that I must have strained friendships over the years due to my vocal enthusiasm for my adopted church. Others charge complicity with the state, both past and present. Submitted by Fr. According to the Second Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 787, icons are of equal benefit as Scripture in presenting the gospel message. 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." But Islam's conquest of this same area eventually isolated the Eastern Christians centered in Constantinople from their counterparts in the West centered in Rome. 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 the past year or so I have been considering conversion to Orthodox Christianity. Religion became a state of the Roman Empire, and Christianity became an enormous and influential religion nationwide. Q&A: A closer look at Orthodox Christians. So they begin the process of "converting.". (Of course, for every person insisting that there were no differences, there was another person asking me to explain the differences. They insisted that the Bible interprets itself, and through the Holy Spirit, God instructs its readers in a direct and individual manner rather than binding their consciences to the supposedly reliable teaching of the church. Jerusalem, 260,000 It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. Many times, inquirers approach the Orthodox Church as a safe haven from controversy and scandal, believing that the Orthodox Churchas the one, true Churchis immune to such things. Now, I dont share all of this in order to dissuade anyone from becoming a catechumen, but rather to encourage those who are on such a journeyor who have strayed away from one that began on the wrong foot. The true details behind her Teachings of Orthodoxy. On June 16, 1054, Pope Leo IX's legate, Cardinal Humbert, delivered a Bull of Excommunication to the Orthodox Patriarch Michael Cerularius on the altar of the Church of the Holy Wisdom at Constantinople while the patriarch prepared to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, condemning him and his court. This is not just an explanation but an apology, and even an appreciation for the perseverance of friendship in the face of truly annoying behaviour. Nicholas Kim. Are Orthodox Christians "Bible believing?". Share your feedback here. 1. Sizable groups of the Russian population are disenchanted with Orthodoxy for a number of reasons. Shortly after the beginning of our own catechumenate as a family, we saw friendsand their familiesbegin journeys towards the East. The reality of the difficulty of living the Orthodox life then bubbles up, and apostasy from exhaustion is a real risk. Pray for the Lords mercy, and you can find the strength to endure to the end. Orthodox Christians believe you must be converted every day- every day - and everyone must start with this step if they desire to make spiritual progress and be saved. She stands firm on her dogmatic and moral teachings. For them the fundamental schism occurred 500 years earlierin the year 1054 (more about that below). The Orthodox Church is indelibly marked by the One who is its origin and source. This is not just an explanation but an apology, and even an appreciation for the perseverance of friendship in the face of truly annoying behavior. The independent Orthodox Church in America (OCA) desires to function as a fully "autocephalous" church, although as yet the oca has not been officially recognized by most of the thirteen patriarchates. Heres a clue to a third possibility. 3:15 ). Writing a book on Eastern Orthodoxy and working through the manuscript with my Russian students helped me to compare Orthodoxy and Protestant evangelicalism. My ideas havent changed, and Im always glad for a good discussion, but maybe Im past the need to belabor them. One is attracted to Orthodoxy in the same way one falls in love. So, you have decided to convert to the Greek Orthodox Christian religion. Is the church made up of those who have been "regenerated" by infant baptism in an Orthodox church institution, or by those who have experienced new birth and been justified by grace through faith? Here are a few reasons from this man's personal reflection. Step Two: Repentance There is no salvation without repentance. No new dogmas of faith spring out of the blue in her life. That vision is of the Living God revealed in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant, the life of the Faithful, the hope of the . While reading about the Orthodox Christian tradition is certainly important, it is crucial to stepliterallyinto an Orthodox Christian parish church near you to witness/experience the Churchs worship and fellowship. 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. The reason Orthodoxy is stable is because she is grounded in the truth. Such a question cannot be answered through the use of dogmatic assertions or theoretical musings. Its not something you can figure out by studying the Church Fathers. This book cover is made to order i, Hand-painted Icon of Christ the Pantocrator (acryl. But why is our kind so characteristically obnoxious? Several factors must be considered when converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity. Your email address will not be published. In this video, Fr. As Philip said to Nathaniel, Come and see [John 1:46]. At the beginning, I thought I knew what I was getting into. The first, most obvious explanation is that some people simply are obnoxious to start with. If only you could get them to form two lines.). Theologically, just what is at stake in the differences between Protestant and Orthodox theology? I appreciate this articles use of blunt honesty! 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." Orthodoxy knows where she stands, and she is in no need to re-define herself. Why would a Protestant Christian convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? I can remember that, after Id been Orthodox a few years, developing an increasing sense of tension or frustration. There is not going to be a restored "Celtic" Orthodoxy or "Anglo-Saxon" Orthodoxy. Your firstand subsequent visitswill help you to discern that to which the Lord is calling you. When Martin Luther burned the books of Catholic canon law at Wittenberg's Elster Gate on December 10, 1520, he symbolized an important Protestant distinctive. She is conscious of being the true Church founded by Christ. Greece, 9 million Thus Luther once wrote, "What else do I contend for but to bring everyone to an understanding of the difference between the divine Scripture and human teaching or custom?" Different Orthodox theories exist as to what, exactly, this means. But the little guy is not going through a phase. And while it's true that my involvement with Judaism began with a Jewish boyfriend now my husband of 28 years and the father of our two children as Reform Jews, I would not have had to convert to participate in Jewish life and raise Jewish children. Different from forms of western Christianity, there is no rationalization or theorization of dogma because its focus is on symbology rather than the literal. This doesnt mean we shun catechesis, but just that its not always done in the same way everywhereand where it exists, its likely different from what a catechumen might expect or even hope. that freedom of practice for faith groups should be "defended" in Holyrood's proposed ban on conversion practices and that she believes a trans woman is a "biological male who identifies as a . This absorbed my attention so much that I was apt to expound my current level of comprehension to anyone who stood still in my vicinity. What Scripture proclaims by word, the icon proclaims by color. As former Campus Crusade staff member Gillquist put it, why have so many "Bible-believing, blood-bought, Gospel-preaching, Christ-centered, lifelong evangelical Protestants come to embrace this Orthodox faith so enthusiastically?" In any event, feel free to introduce yourself to and speak with the priest and his parishioners. Orthodox Christianity has a rich tradition of meditation, of fasting, of praying, of giving alms. She is conscious of being the true Church founded by Christ. But that was too little, too late. Clickhereto learn more about the deeds we are talking of and to learn how you can become a part of our social ministry and help those in need. It is why I think a number of people have a list of groups they have been in here. Doing so will make much of what you have read come alive, in the sense of seeing how that about which you have read is actually lived. Think of it in the following way. Whether you decided to do so because you are marrying someone who is a member of the church, or you simply decide to convert on your own, you might be overwhelmed as to where to start. Her allegiance to the perennial truths of Christianity is appreciated by sincere seekers. For taking Communion together? Its not something you can figure out by studying the Church Fathers. The Orthodox Church in America, with roots in Moscow and about 85,000 adherents . John 6 Comments Cole Knight, a former Anglican, got Baptized in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. We should expect nothing less of ourselves than total respect for and even love of the history, theology, and culture of Orthodoxy; still, two things ought to be said about Orthodox complaints about Protestant proselytizing. Everyone associates Orthodox worship with sensory richness, but its also rich in theological content. But that cant be the case with me, so lets press on. Take Russia as an example: First, the majority of Russians are non-Christian and unevangelized. Have something to add about this? Schisms had already occurred in the Christian church, and others would occur later, but the Great Schism was the first of such major consequence. On these points evangelical and Orthodox thinking diverge in significant ways. 1:4). De Maistre, Billington says, was "convinced that Russia was an instrument chosen by Providence for the salvation of Europe." He was "fascinated by the possibility of converting this vast land to Catholicism." He launched a program towards that end. Yes, because clearly a Christian is the most honest person to talk about the inner thoughts of atheists . So it would be wise to visit a parish near you, perhaps for the celebration of Vespers on a Saturday evening or the Sunday morning Divine Liturgy. Thumb through Calvin's Institutes or a volume of John Wesley's Works and you will see our Protestant forebears thoroughly engaged with patristic tradition. But they all came together in worship, and were shaped by the same hymns and prayers, the appointed Scripture readings, preaching, and the picture Bible of iconography. This book cover is mad, Worship Gospel A Christian representation of Vladimir I, who was the first Rus' leader to officially bring Christianity to the region. July 2012 edited December 1969 in Coptic Orthodox Church As an Eastern Orthodox Christian, I am interested in finding out why all of you converts out there converted to the Coptic Orthodox Church, and not any one of the Eastern Orthodox Churches readily available in so many parts of the world. However, I do think that there are certain factors that influence and even cause these abandonments and apostasies from the one, true Church. These are worthy pursuits that can be fulfilled in the Orthodox Church. Evangelicals urge the necessity of personal conversion through the faith and repentance of the individual believer, as opposed to the Orthodox idea of regeneration by the sacraments. Instagram | Perhaps this unanticipated experience of encountering something unknown and marvellously organic accounts for the distinctive lapel-grabbing impulse among converts to Orthodoxy.