Liberalism is not a word in the Orthodox vocabulary. Twitter | Heres a clue to a third possibility. He promptly left Constantinople. Her name is "right belief". The essence of it was to evangelize younger aristocrats, future leaders of the land. Rich worship taught the faith to literate and illiterate, peasant and emperor, and its essentially the same as our worship today. If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you If they persecuted me, they will persecute you (John 15:18. In 1523-24 the Reformers Ulrich Zwingli and Martin Luther donned the gown of the university scholar. He has no good option for dealing with that affection, so hes either sullen or angry. One can find Orthodox statements that ascribe a unique authority to Scripture over tradition, but these are few and far between, and they speak of tradition in a narrower than usual sense. Orthodox Christianity has a rich tradition of meditation, of fasting, of praying, of giving alms. Why Convert to Orthodox Christianity? It is not about rules and regulations but rather guide posts to make choices to transition to what we were designed to become. Missiological concerns surface here, too. So why should someone desire to join the Orthodox Church? Together they gathered an army with the intent to regain control of Rus' and establish Vladimir as the ruler. We have challenges here in Africa to find such information for, So glorious+++ Most Holy Theotokos save us, Pectoral Cross (Of course, for every person insisting that there were no differences, there was another person asking me to explain the differences. How to Become an Orthodox Christian? After five years or so in the Orthodox Church, Ive seen a lot of friends and acquaintances come home to the apostolic faith. 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. ADL, AJC join Orthodox groups in Supreme Court case on supporting Granny and Pops and Uncle Pete love the little guy, and theyre going to be kindly and patient with him because hes going through a phase. Why didn't Henry VIII become Orthodox? - Paradox Interactive Forums First, Christianity had no doctrine to support the Islamic hypothesis about Jesus' modification into a semi-god. She is committed to the same, unchanging, absolute truth. The Conversion of Russia - Catholicism.org Why Converts to Christian Orthodoxy Are So Obnoxious by Frederica Questions & Answers / Toggle signature Now let's hear from Frederica. A wedding set o, Wedding Icon of Christ the Pantocrator (in Oklad /, A Handmade Bookcover For The Gospel. Those who were clergy in a former denomination have no guarantees they will become clergy in the Orthodox Church. T he Orthodox Church in the United States has problems. According to The Saga of Erik the Red, there were Christians among the people whom Erik the Red brought to Greenland to settle it in the late tenth century. Can you explain why some former clergy (from non-orthodox backgrounds) can enter without formal orthodox seminary education, while other former clergy (again, from non-orthodox backgrounds) are kept away even after the bishop (he who has the control and power) makes a statement that none may come to the clergy with our formal orthodox seminary? 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." Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. Tom Hanks Legion Media The famous Hollywood actor converted to Orthodox Christianity as an adult. 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. 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. While evangelicals might be eager to argue there is no biblical warrant for icons, for the Orthodox it is enough that icons have always been a part of church tradition. Pray for the Lords mercy, and you can find the strength to endure to the end. Becoming Orthodox is not a conversion but more so a transformation of self. It is a good question, one I will answer in due course. 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. The basic framework of services like the Divine Liturgy or Vespers doesnt change much, but every day of the liturgical year provides prayers for saints and feasts that can be added to that framework. 3:15 ). Also, people should not join the Church in the hopes of solidifying an identity they have in the first place. In 978, Vladimir returned to . (Some within Orthodoxy say there are 15, but this is a minor, internal debate.) 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. Orthodoxy appeals to the soulnot just to the intellect or the senses. After being dunked in this sea of hymnography for a few years I began to recognise an underlying unity among all the elements of Orthodoxy the worship, the fasting, the exhortations to humility, the companionship of the saints, all of it. Greece, 9 million 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. Its just that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. 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. Conversions gradually transforming Orthodox Christianity Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 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. Orthodoxy knows where she stands, and she is in no need to re-define herself. Why Ultra-Orthodox Jews Are Turning to Jesus | Opinion News He senses that its something much more profound than that, as he is turning into a different person, the adult he is destined to be. The Orthodox Church is the only Church, originally founded by Christ and still retaining the apostolic succession and the undistorted teaching of the Lord and . "I was A. The Orthodox Church does not fit into the paradigms of modernity; it is not a wholly rational faith. Surprised by Christ: My Journey from Judaism to Orthodox Christianity It had ramifications for the ecclesiastical status of both cities and further exacerbated the strained relations between the two regions. The basic framework of services like the Divine Liturgy or Vespers doesnt change much, but every day of the liturgical year provides prayers for saints and feasts that can be added to that framework. But that cant be the case with me, so lets press on. This book cover is made to order i, Hand-painted Icon of Christ the Pantocrator (acryl. How To Become An Orthodox Christian - Journey To Orthodoxy How did Vladimir's conversion to Christianity affect Kiev? In Matthew 16:18, Christ speaks about building His church that "the gates of Hades will not prevail against". 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. 3:15). Essential for clergy to pray together, to talk, and to encourage one another in Christ? Other times it is a youth group or Bible study group inspiring and educating. She has offered more martyrs in the twentieth century under communism than most churches have members. Alister McGrath, an intellectual historian and proponent of paleo-orthodoxy, claims that many of the . Before you start the process of converting, you will want to speak with a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church. (To be fair, we should note that a large number of Orthodox have become evangelical Protestants as well.). Converting to Orthodoxy - SPCK Publishing In many of these lands, Orthodoxy exhibits an unveiled distrust and even xenophobia toward the massive influx of Western missionaries into their backyards. Converting to Orthodox Christianity : r/OrthodoxChristianity - reddit What was the impact of Vladimir I converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity in the region of Byzantium? (2 Pet. Thank you for this! As Philip said to Nathaniel, Come and see [John 1:46]. 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. And such a journey can only be spoken of from experience. For me, the one and only valid, core reason is because a person desires to be part of the one, true Body of Christ. 12 Reasons Why I Became and/or Remain an Orthodox Christian The so-called Eastern Orthodox Church is actually not one but thirteen "autocephalous" or independent, self-governing churches. Orthodoxy's size alone warrants our attention, despite its invisibility on the cultural radar screens of most Americans. Small bodies of Orthodox believers exist in other places as "autonomous" but not "autocephalous" churches (Finland, Japan, former Czechoslovakia, etc.). It is no small thing for us to hold in common all the early, Christian creeds. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. The sacraments of the Church have helped fill countless young people's lives with meaning in ways that are difficult to find elsewhere. 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. At the beginning, I thought I knew what I was getting into. No doubt, I felt at home when first attending the Divine Liturgy, but this was after months of study and discussion with other Orthodox people. Don't pretend you don't know what I mean. 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. In the year 311, Emperor Constantine moved the political capital of his empire from Rome to Constantinople. What Do I Need to Do to Become Greek Orthodox? - Greek Boston But about this pursuit we can make several observations. 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. Another issue is becoming Orthodox because one thinks the Church will reward them in some way for doing so. More than 70 percent of the roughly 75,000 Antiochian Orthodox Christians in the United States are converts. The theological objections evangelicals have traditionally had with Rome on these two points rightly apply to Orthodoxy. 20). He made the decision to convert following his second marriage to actress Rita Wilson in. The first is by Lactantius, a tutor to Constantine's son and a good authority. It is precisely this exclusivistic assertion that some Protestant converts, in search of the "true, New Testament Church" have found so beguiling. Why did you convert to Orthodoxy? | OrthodoxChristianity.net Affectionate attempts to obscure this quest feel suffocating. In Orthodoxy one encounters the eternal, unchangeable God. 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. Then the reality sets in. Conversion is not only a matter of the intellect, but also of the heart. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. Submitted by Fr. Can we attempt to put into words why a host of people have converted and continue to convert to the Orthodox faith? Beyond the recovery of history and liturgy, there are deeper and more important questions. Underneath were written the Greek words en toutoi nika, "In this sign, conquer." A second theory is that converts of any sort have a tendency to exuberance that is wearying to outsiders. There is a certain chemistry involved, which one cannot so easily verbalize. Reasons Why You Should Not Convert to Orthodox Christianity However, they rarely spent any time in Orthodox worship services or their local parish, developed no relationship with a priest, and did not engage their spouse or family in their studies and interest in the Church. From Protestant to Orthodox - Orthodox Christianity serving Costa Mesa, CA As historians mostly suppose, Vladimir's turn to Orthodox Christianity was more about the improvement of Russians' connections with Christian states than about sentiments: for Rus, Byzantium. 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. PDF The Conversion of Vladimir the Great to Orthodox Christianity When the media seized on John Paul II's statement, they not only missed his main point, they missed a wider story. Similar differences and disputes existed within early Christianity, but disputes within Christianity extended also to the place of Mosaic Law or Old Covenant in general in Christianity. Legislation pending in Russia, for example, could, if implemented, curtail Western missionary enterprises. Albania, 160,000. The Spirit of God himself, realizing the sacramental presence of Christ in the church, speaks to us in tradition. Orthodox Christianity offers a third solution, that is faith with an emphasis on symbolism, inner experience, and Church communion. Yet, at times there are questions of conscience and matters of principle. Christianization of Kievan Rus - Wikipedia Orthodox believers see things very differently. 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. Growing up in the Bible Belt, I was only ever exposed to Christian theology. Rather, each of the thirteen Orthodox churches has its own head, variously referred to as the patriarch, archbishop, or metropolitan. 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. Orthodox Priest Explains Why Many People in the West are Converting to Greenland. Georgia, 3 million 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. In Catholicism this external dogmatic authority resides in the teaching magisterium of the church as expressed in the primacy and infallibility of the papacy. Everyone associates Orthodox worship with sensory richness, but its also rich in theological content. We must be willing to embrace mystery, to submit to other authorities, and to ultimately submit to the Church Herself. For example, on the Feast of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, the chanter launches into this: Of the Father before the morning star Thou wast begotten from the womb without mother before all ages, even though Arius did believe Thee to be created, not God, classing Thee in ignorance and impudence with creatures. Before long, in Reformation churches the sermon had replaced the Eucharist as the defining moment of the liturgy. Two theological controversies drove the final wedge between Catholic and Orthodox Christians: papal supremacy and the so-called filioque controversy. Many would find themselves back in Rus with their new faith and establishing Churches (Spinka, 42-44). 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. Worshipers prostrate themselves before them and kiss them. It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. The East allowed some priests to marry, while the West required celibacy. Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight what we hold in common. Instead, an adolescent has to figure out and establish his adult persona in the face of affection. Vladimir fled to his kinsman Haakon Sigurdsson, who ruled Norway at the time. Home / "It's typically an immigrant faith, so I was really interested in that experience and why it spoke to. To the extent, however, one could intellectualize the reasons for converting, he or she would probably summarize them along these lines: In our ever-changing world, in the constant re-design of services and re-evaluation of beliefs, Orthodoxy stands as a mountain of granite, unshakable by fads and movements and political correctness. 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. Daniel B. Clendenin is a graduate staff member for InterVarsity at Stanford University and author of Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A Western Perspective and Eastern Orthodox Theology: A Contemporary Reader (both published by Baker). Here is an overview of the steps you can take to convert to Orthodox Christianity: Talk With an Orthodox Priest. In this video, Fr. If someone is approaching the Orthodox Church from a purely rationalistic standpoint, they will almost surely find it wanting. Because everyone has their own presuppositions in which they interpret reality and thus no surprise you'll find people based on these presuppositions won't accept Christianity. For church membership? For them the fundamental schism occurred 500 years earlierin the year 1054 (more about that below). While Rome stumbled toward destruction in 476, Constantinople enjoyed relative theological and political stability for another 1,000 years, until it was sacked by the Turks in 1453. Contact | It took me a few years to sense that there was a whole other something going on. In other words, one cannot embrace Orthodox Christianity without embracing Orthodox Christians. All rights reserved. Icons are, quite literally, a "theology in color.". In the first place, Christians believed Jesus to be the true God rather than a semi-god. These arguments wont convert anyone. They push it down the road that they will be able to transition to that in their new group eventually. So Christianity would not have been completely alien to the Rus, and even Vladimir's grandmother, Olga, would become enamored with Christianity. 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. The Orthodox Church has suffered throughout her history. 1. Thank you for this post! Preeminent among the sacraments are baptism and the Eucharist. Orthodoxy affirms the real, physical presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist (as do Catholics, Lutherans, and many Anglicans), yet unlike Catholicism it is content not to explain how this happens. I hope so. As I realized what the big difference is, I grew more insistent, Im afraid. Almost everyone around me was a Baptist. Reaching for the Transcendent on the Streets of New York, http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2007/12/icons-will-save-the-world, cool blog entry by Fr Andrew Damick - Christian Forums, http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/liturgics/athenagoras_remarriage.htm, http://www.oodegr.co/english/ekklisia/marriage_divorce.htm, http://www.oodegr.com/english/ekklisia/marriage_divorce.htm, http://www.patheos.com/blogs/justandsinner/the-church-fathers-interpretation-of-the-rock-of-matthew-1618-an-historical-refutation-of-the-claims-of-roman-catholicism-by-william-webster/. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. As I realized what the big difference is,I grew more insistent, I'm afraid. I felt like Marco Polo. Cerularius condemned Humbert and entreated Orthodox believers to "flee the fellowship of those who have accepted the heretical Latins." It merits our attention for several reasons. Why Are Protestants Converting To Orthodox Christianity? The Eucharist, according to the Divine Liturgy of Saint Chrysostom (the normal liturgy for Sundays and weekdays), is "for the purification of the soul, for the remission of sins, for the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, [and] for the Kingdom of Heaven.". 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." [Converts] Why did you convert to Eastern Orthodoxy? Surely there is enough evangelistic work for everyone. Orthodox spiritual life gives central prominence to the sacraments. Even more obnoxious, though, must be the tendency to reject hospitality. Hope this helps, and hope that your journey to Orthodoxy is filled with every blessing. It must sound like vague, fluffy religious talk (though in my experience it is anything but). 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. Young teens go through a few years when they are trying to understand their own unique identity and trying to establish it in the face ofwell, it would be one thing if they had to establish it in the face of hostility, because, even though that would be hard, it would be bracing and clarifying. 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. It is not surprising they become disaffected and leave. No new dogmas of faith spring out of the blue in her life. Her allegiance to the perennial truths of Christianity is appreciated by sincere seekers. Scripture and tradition. Around 2-3 months ago I decided that I wanted to convert to Christianity. Then B. In fact, what Orthodox converts "vow to accept" diverges significantly from important, basic tenets of evangelical Protestantism. 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. Most notable are its beliefs about baptism and the Eucharist. If you have a specific question about Orthodox Christianity or the Orthodox Church in America, During my project I gained. The Orthodox Church is indelibly marked by the One who is its origin and source. Why didn't Henry VIII go Orthodox, and what would happen if he did? You haven't "arrived" in this life. Why People Convert to Orthodoxy 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. How Christianity Came to Ukraine and Russia | Christian History 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. Converting to Judaism has defined my high school experience What was the foreign policy of Yaroslav the Wise? What steps would I take to become an Orthodox Christian? Poland, 1 million 5:12). Spiritual enlightenment changes everything. They conceded a special honor to the Western papacy but insisted that the bishop of Rome was only the first among equals. What do they find so attractive? Q&A: A closer look at Orthodox Christians | Pew Research Center But dont do it for all the wrong reasons. There is world of difference between going Orthodoxy vs staying pagan. Who Converted Russian Religion To Orthodox Christianity? 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.