why convert to orthodox christianity why convert to orthodox christianity

In many of these lands, Orthodoxy exhibits an unveiled distrust and even xenophobia toward the massive influx of Western missionaries into their backyards. 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 . Submitted by Fr. Harakas asked. Here, according to Ronald Roberson's 1993 book The Eastern Christian Churches, is a list of these churches and their approximate sizes: Constantinople, 3.5 million The theological objections evangelicals have traditionally had with Rome on these two points rightly apply to Orthodoxy. Handcarved 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. One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 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. For example, it is understandable that evangelicals feel that the Orthodox doctrine of the church is too "high." Whereas Western Protestants want to hear the written Word spoken in the sermon, Orthodox believers want to see it in the visual images of iconsas well as hear it in the spoken word. She is conscious of being the true Church founded by Christ. 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. He has no good option for dealing with that affection, so he's either sullen or angry. (2 Pet. I hope so. Geoff. 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. Orthodoxy is true to the Lord, to herself and to her past. For Eastern Christians, this was yet another Roman encroachment upon their autonomy. Underneath were written the Greek words en toutoi nika, "In this sign, conquer." 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.". 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. Why Convert to Orthodox Christianity? 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. Has Orthodoxy in these lands obscured the gospel, becoming merely a "cultural" religion thoroughly assimilated to ethnic identity? If only they would realise that they are rotting corpses trapped in worshipping themselves. 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. Emmanuel Hatzidakis | January 19, 2013. The Orthodox Churches are united in faith and by a common approach to theology, tradition, and worship. During my project I gained. 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. John 17:14.16). People are attracted by the permanence of Orthodoxy. Now, the question stands: If one is convinced that Orthodox Christianity possess the fullness of truth and is God . One of the problems the Orthodox Church currently suffers in this country is a lack of converts. Several factors must be considered when converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity. We cannot describe it to you: only this we know, that God dwells there among men, and that their service surpasses the worship of all other places. 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. So why should someone desire to join the Orthodox Church? And during those years of discovery, my mind was constantly cranking away as I laboured to absorb new ideas and excise stubborn old ones. Like baptism, the Eucharist is administered to infants. More than 70 percent of the roughly 75,000 Antiochian Orthodox Christians in the United States are converts. Step Two: Repentance There is no salvation without repentance. In the 950s, Olga, the grandmother of Vladimir, was . His response: "I don't know.". I will always remember my first visit to an Orthodox church in Russia. Your email address will not be published. My ideas havent changed, and Im always glad for a good discussion, but maybe Im past the need to belabor them. These thirteen churches are united in their understanding of the sacraments, discipline, doctrine, faith, government, and worship, but they administer their internal affairs separately. Moreover, evangelicals have some important lessons to learn from Orthodoxy. It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. Early on in the life of the Christian church, the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West began to diverge. My husband and I were just Chrismated into the church on Christmas day. ), since the Reformation, justification by faith and substitutionary atonement have enjoyed pride of place in our understanding of the doctrines of sin and salvation. In 978, Vladimir returned to . I've chosen Oriental Orthodoxy over the Byzantine Church because I believe that ours is closer in doctrine and liturgy to the earliest Christians. 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." Sign up to receive a regular email newsletter from Fr. Cerularius condemned Humbert and entreated Orthodox believers to "flee the fellowship of those who have accepted the heretical Latins." But unlike the other two large branches of Christianity, which have spread throughout the developing world, Orthodoxy remains largely confined to Europe. Toggle signature Sara Villate, 10, by a menorah during Hanukkah. 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 . I had been to the east and discovered something wondrous that I assumed all Christians crave. What steps would I take to become an Orthodox Christian? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 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. 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. Excellent comment Kosmas, I totally concur. After five years or so in the Orthodox Church, Ive seen a lot of friends and acquaintances come home to the apostolic faith. Orthodox Priest Explains Why Many People in the West are Converting to Orthodox Christianity. Even more obnoxious, though, must be the tendency to reject hospitality. "I was A. Others charge complicity with the state, both past and present. 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. Luther urged that Christianity would stand or fall with this doctrine; Calvin called it "the hinge upon which all true religion turns.". They have not given up the idea of being clergy. (Some within Orthodoxy say there are 15, but this is a minor, internal debate.) Different from forms of western Christianity, there is no rationalization or theorization of dogma because its focus is on symbology rather than the literal. The move was far more than geographic. From Islam to Indonesian Orthodox Priest In "Clergy" 97% of Moldovans Identify as Orthodox Christians In "Latest Stories" Alexandria, 350,000 Liberalism is not a word in the Orthodox vocabulary. Lol. When the media seized on John Paul II's statement, they not only missed his main point, they missed a wider story. She rightly claims the wholeness of the truth. 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. At one level, I was close in heart and mind to my Orthodox sisters and brothers in Christ; but on another level, I agreed with many of my atheist friends' criticisms of Russian Orthodoxy. Jerusalem, 260,000 Then the reality sets in. 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. She is the Church of martyrs. Debate is more plentiful than research, but also indefinite. The church. It is no small thing for us to hold in common all the early, Christian creeds. In any event, feel free to introduce yourself to and speak with the priest and his parishioners. Further, rote liturgy can stultify as well as edify, which is one reason why many people prefer more informal or personal worship settings. They saw this as a perception skill, something anyone could (with diligent practice) hone; it has nothing to do with emotion. They are the efficacious means by which God transmits his salvific and sanctifying grace to us. Telegram | I felt like Marco Polo. She rightly claims the wholeness of the truth. The final declaration of the Second Ecumenical Council of Nicea (787) that ratified the use of icons appealed to the "written and unwritten" tradition of the early 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. The first, most obvious explanation is that some people simply are obnoxious to start with. The true details behind her 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. Christians in the West variously trace their roots to Rome (Catholics), Wittenberg (Lutherans), Geneva (Calvinists), Canterbury (Anglicans), or Oxford (Wesleyans). What was the impact of Vladimir I converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity in the region of Byzantium? He shares his witness of it. There I was, a Protestant theologian teaching in the former Department of Scientific Atheism in the land where Eastern Orthodoxy had reigned for over 1,000 years. Differences over clerical beards, the tonsure, and fasting also exacerbated the growing deterioration of East-West unity. In the first place, Christians believed Jesus to be the true God rather than a semi-god. Maybe you have to soak in it for years, till the evidence becomes overwhelming. It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. Serbia, 8 million 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. Orthodoxy, in contrast, is a thoroughly aesthetic tradition, as attested by the central role played by icons. Conversion is not only a matter of the intellect, but also of the heart. 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. Antioch, 750,000 Then B. From the Orthodox perspective, both Catholics and Protestants seek to ground theological authority in an external norm. The so-called Eastern Orthodox Church is actually not one but thirteen "autocephalous" or independent, self-governing churches. 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. 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. Because of my interest for eastern culture, negative views on catholicism (I live in a mostly catholic country) and protestantism and my fascisnation for the Orthodox Church, i decided to convert to just that. 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. "We are Orthodox because (we) follow the same laws like in other Orthodox communities in the world," explains Meyer Sanchez, assistant to a rabbi in Medelln. 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. 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. 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." Your firstand subsequent visitswill help you to discern that to which the Lord is calling you. For them the fundamental schism occurred 500 years earlierin the year 1054 (more about that below). Why would a Protestant Christian convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? Second, in biblical interpretation the Reformers placed the Scriptures above the church. Tom Hanks Legion Media The famous Hollywood actor converted to Orthodox Christianity as an adult. The numbers are staggering! Orthodoxy allows divorce in some conditions if I'm not mistaken, and it would have been an easier transition to switch to another powerful church (and become friendly with Russia, etc.). This book cover is mad, Worship Gospel Orthodoxy's size alone warrants our attention, despite its invisibility on the cultural radar screens of most Americans. Through the centuries, theological, geopolitical, cultural, and linguistic factors have combined to differentiate the Orthodox ethos from Western patterns of Christianity. But the claim to be Christ's one, true church remains the clear Orthodox position. 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. 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. If our only reason for converting is more somber, reverent, and beautiful worship, the newness of this experience soon wanes. The secret is out. For instance, John of Damascus (675-749), Orthodoxy's most famous systematic theologian, epitomized the Orthodox ethos when he wrote in his The Orthodox Faith, "we do not change the everlasting boundaries which our fathers have set, but we keep the traditions just as we have received them." Two points that have been hallmarks of evangelical identity deserve special scrutiny: the relationship between Scripture and tradition, and the relationship between Scripture and the church. Also, people should not join the Church in the hopes of solidifying an identity they have in the first place. Step Two: Repentance There is no salvation without repentance. Perhaps this unanticipated experience of encountering something unknown and marvelously organic accounts for the distinctive lapel-grabbing impulse among converts to Orthodoxy. Orthodoxy attracts seekers with her other-worldliness, with her holiness, with her worship, with her services and sacraments, with the form and content of her religious expression, with her iconography, with her chanting, with her mysticism, with her monasticism, with her life between heaven and earth. One feels that the Church is not just a worldly organization, but a divine-human organism. This is particularly notable in the mid-1st century, when the circumcision controversy came to the fore. Orthodoxy generally affirms the same seven sacraments as Catholicism: baptism, chrismation or confirmation, the Eucharist, repentance or confession, holy orders or ordination, marriage, and holy unction or anointing of the sick. 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. 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. It is why I think a number of people have a list of groups they have been in here. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. Protestant Christianity," Andrei went on, "is a cheap, terrible substitute, and an Orthodox believer who knows his own faith will never go there.". At each point in their conversions, from initial religious seeking to settling into life as Orthodox Christians, Orthodox converts in Pittsburgh consistently relate a kind of on-going negotiation between self and other, as they research religious differences and experiment with practices and dogmas.