why convert to orthodox christianity

In this video, Fr. This period of instruction, discernment and spiritual formation also affords you with the opportunity to develop and strengthen your relationship with the parishs clergy and faithfulthose with whom you will worship in Spirit and truth and with whom you will share in fellowship as a member of the Body of Christ, the Church. Further, they identify themselves by reference to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), the "new Rome" of Emperor Constantine, and to the first seven ecumenical councils of the church. A priest can provide guidance and support to help converts discern whether the religion is right for them. It depends on where you put the emphasis. The Global Methodist Church welcomes Scott Jones, who led Methodists in Texas and had advocated for the extreme center and staying at the table., Emily McFarlan Miller - Religion News Service. The ex clergy thing I think is very real. 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. Harakas asked. Frederica Matthewes-Green reflects on how new converts to Orthodoxy can sometimes be overzealous. More than 70 percent of the roughly 75,000 Antiochian Orthodox Christians in the United States are converts. As Philip said to Nathaniel, Come and see [John 1:46]. Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to Christianity. 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. For taking Communion together? Orthodox churches are full of them. That there are too many people joining the Church with a silly belief that they rebelling against the modern world, and hoping to instate absolute monarchy. What steps would I take to become an Orthodox Christian? In the year 311, Emperor Constantine moved the political capital of his empire from Rome to Constantinople. The percentage of foreign born Orthodox Christians is no larger than the percentage in the population at large. A person can read a dozen books on swimming, but that which he or she has read will not come alive until he or she actually gets into a pool. It also must be noted that embracing the faith involves a running to Christ and His Church as the Ark of Salvation, rather than a running away from somethingother than sin. I responded by writing back: "Because I am committed to key distinctives of the Protestant evangelical tradition.". From Islam to Indonesian Orthodox Priest In "Clergy" 97% of Moldovans Identify as Orthodox Christians In "Latest Stories" They conceded a special honor to the Western papacy but insisted that the bishop of Rome was only the first among equals. Also, while evangelicals wholeheartedly embrace the full-orbed New Testament descriptions of the work of Christ (reconciliation, ransom, redemption, forgiveness, adoption, etc. But I slowly came to see that I cant communicate it. He states that in Gaul, before setting out towards Rome, Constantine and his army saw a great cross in the sky. Becoming Orthodox is not a conversion but more so a transformation of self. As a young convert to Orthodox Christianity myself, I can testify that confession and Communion have filled my life meaning and have directed me when I have felt lost. Second, in biblical interpretation the Reformers placed the Scriptures above the church. We are looking forward to our journey in the church. Its not something you can figure out by studying the Church Fathers. In the end, they concocted a list of reasons for not converting. There is a distinct set of conservative converts to Eastern Orthodoxy, which depending on your perspective either left, or was left by, Roman Catholicism in the Great Schism of 1054. In many of these lands, Orthodoxy exhibits an unveiled distrust and even xenophobia toward the massive influx of Western missionaries into their backyards. Bulgaria, 8 million In fact, it promises a Cross and joining with Christ in both suffering and humiliation. Affectionate attempts to obscure this quest feel suffocating. Orthodox Christianity offers a third solution, that is faith with an emphasis on symbolism, inner experience, and Church communion. It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. These are worthy pursuits that can be fulfilled in the Orthodox Church. Thats surely a factor, but I think theres something else going on, more specific to Orthodox converts. Although it is difficult to gather firm figures, worldwide Orthodox Christians number about 150 million, with 3 million in the U.S. alonemore than most evangelical denominations. Then the reality sets in. The West used unleavened bread, the East did not. 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. She stands firm on her dogmatic and moral teachings. They become clergy in their group. Failing to remember (or be taught) this, we are scandalized and even lose our faith in the Church, not distinguishing between the divine and human natures, or confusing them. The unchangeableness of dogma as well as the purity of rite [are] entrusted to the care not of one hierarchy but of all the people of the church." Converts to Orthodoxy usually precede their decision with voluminous reading and research, so their friends must endure agitated lectures on church history, ancient heresies, and what words mean in Greek. Orthodox Christianity may be the o. It doesnt matter how long they have served, or how extensive their education. Their new group who were so "excited" to have them isn't interested/has no role for them as clergy. Contact | . Share your feedback here. Several factors must be considered when converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity. What are we to make, for example, of the Orthodox liturgy in Russia today, which is recited in ninth-century Slavonic, a language very few Russians even understand? One thinks, for example, of those committed to full ministerial status for women, the centrality of lay ministry and spiritual gifts, charismatically inclined groups, seeker-sensitive churches attempting to reach baby boomers or Generation X'ers with novel worship formats, and so on. These arguments wont convert anyone. Thus, while the Protestant principle of sola scriptura places Scripture above tradition, for Orthodoxy the two are complementary means of one organic whole through which the Spirit of God speaks. Christianity had, in fact, penetrated "Russia" by the early 900s, when at least one church had been built in the ancient city of Kiev. Not a few evangelicals in the last decade have forsaken Protestantism to join an Eastern Orthodox church. She is not the endshe is the way. Although she is in this world, she is not of this world (cf. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. But unlike the other two large branches of Christianity, which have spread throughout the developing world, Orthodoxy remains largely confined to Europe. 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. Step Two: Repentance There is no salvation without repentance. Rather, Orthodoxy affirms a single source of revelation, holy tradition, of which Scripture is the preeminent among several forms. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. This perspective presupposes a defective Christologyone that fails to account for the anthropos of the theanthropic (Divine-human) Church. Learn About the Religion. 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. Vladimir fled to his kinsman Haakon Sigurdsson, who ruled Norway at the time. Eastern Christians would hear nothing of it. 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.". Heres a clue to a third possibility. Four important areas deserve ongoing dialogue. What they objected to was the elevation of tradition to the status of Scripture. 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. Vladimir agreed, in exchange for a marital tie; he also agreed to accept Christianity as his religion and bring his people to the new faith. The essence of it was to evangelize younger aristocrats, future leaders of the land. Yet, at times there are questions of conscience and matters of principle. During those years of discovery I labored to absorb new ideas and excise stubborn old ones. T he Orthodox Church in the United States has problems. 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. Naturally, it is crucial to know what the Church teaches and acquire an Orthodox mindset on the intellectual level, so to speak, but it is equally crucial to grow in identifying with the People of God, the worshipping community, through fellowship. 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." Has Orthodoxy in these lands obscured the gospel, becoming merely a "cultural" religion thoroughly assimilated to ethnic identity? 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. It is not a surprise that many Catholics adhering to traditional values are converting to conservative Orthodoxy. Needless to say, Rome was indignant; not until the Lateran Council of 1215 did it acknowledge the status of Constantinople. 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. Converts to Orthodoxy usually precede their decision with voluminous reading and research, so their friends must endure agitated lectures on church history, ancient heresies, and what words mean. Without waiting for a response, Humbert exited the church and declared, "Let God look and judge." Orthodox Christians viewed the filioque amendment to be contrary to explicit instructions by past ecumenical councils not to change the creeds. It is a good question, one I will answer in due course. She is conscious of being the true Church founded by Christ. This is no archaic, dusty doctrine, either. Your firstand subsequent visitswill help you to discern that to which the Lord is calling you. 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. 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. Orthodoxy appeals to the soulnot just to the intellect or the senses. 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. But that cant be the case with me, so lets press on. My ideas havent changed, and Im always glad for a good discussion, but maybe Im past the need to belabour them. John 6 Comments Cole Knight, a former Anglican, got Baptized in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. Instagram | John A. Peck, The Apostolic Mission of Journey To Orthodoxy. While this exclusivism is not unique to Orthodoxy, with this self-understanding it is easy to see why the Orthodox Church in countries such as Russia is extremely unhappy about Western, Protestant missionary incursions. Schisms had already occurred in the Christian church, and others would occur later, but the Great Schism was the first of such major consequence. Another danger is converting to Orthodoxy simply because it is beautiful. When you convert, you must verbalize your commitment to live in accordance with all of the Torah 's commandments as they are explained in Torah law. The sacraments of the Church have helped fill countless young people's lives with meaning in ways that are difficult to find elsewhere. I think people just dont believe me, and I hardly provide a good personal example. I felt like Marco Polo. Jerusalem, 260,000 Have something to add about this? Instead, an adolescent has to figure out and establish his adult persona in the face of affection. 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. At the beginning, I thought I knew what I was getting into. For example, if a person goes through a great deal of hardship, sacrifice, and turmoil in order to join the Churchas in the case of former clergy in a different communion, or when ones family does not approvethey might feel that the Church owes them for converting. Put more starkly, Orthodoxy explicitly rejects the historic Protestant idea of sola scriptura. There is a certain chemistry involved, which one cannot so easily verbalize. This should trouble evangelicals (as well as other Protestants), especially when it is combined with the Orthodox idea of who constitutes the church and how one enters the church. If our only reason for converting is more somber, reverent, and beautiful worship, the newness of this experience soon wanes. The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. During my four years as a visiting professor at Moscow State University (1991-95) I often felt schizophrenic. I appreciate this articles use of blunt honesty! 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. Worshipers prostrate themselves before them and kiss them. The reason Orthodoxy is stable is because she is grounded in the truth. His response: "I don't know.". Your email address will not be published. Copyright 1997 Christianity Today. Perhaps this unanticipated experience of encountering something unknown and marvellously organic accounts for the distinctive lapel-grabbing impulse among converts to Orthodoxy. Chrysostom's liturgy says of the Eucharistic sacrifice: "Your own, from your own, we offer you, in all and for all." 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. On the other hand, there are cases where a person rejects the Church for what I would consider to be erroneous reasons. Emmanuel Hatzidakis | January 19, 2013. Icons. Sara Villate, 10, by a menorah during Hanukkah. Catholicism and Orthodoxy are not alike in their views on the nature of theological authority; it is nevertheless correct to say that Orthodoxy, like Catholicism, views Protestantism in a similar negative manner. My ideas havent changed, and Im always glad for a good discussion, but maybe Im past the need to belabor them. Those who were clergy in a former denomination have no guarantees they will become clergy in the Orthodox Church. The Puritan John Foxe, for example, insisted that "God conducted the Reformation by printing, writing, and reading." Vladimir I, a great prince of Kiev, reigned from 980 till 1015 and succeeded in the mass conversion of the Eastern Slavs.1 Throughout his reign Vladimir's agenda had . Orthodoxy looks forward, to the age to come. 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 . When the media seized on John Paul II's statement, they not only missed his main point, they missed a wider story. For example, it is understandable that evangelicals feel that the Orthodox doctrine of the church is too "high." Receive updates and announcements from Orthodox Witness. Sdn Tim Grace unveils the surprising message of Christmas. Orthodox spiritual life gives central prominence to the sacraments. 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. Before long, in Reformation churches the sermon had replaced the Eucharist as the defining moment of the liturgy. Thats just a fraction of a thorough march through what happened at the first Council of Nicaea, and why it was important (including Arius unpleasant death from digestive indisposition: his bowels were torn by a divine hookin a repulsive manner his soul came out). 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. In 1993 I was chrismated and joined the Eastern Orthodox Church, 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. 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. It merits our attention for several reasons. The Eucharist is a true, propitiatory sacrifice. 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.

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