why convert to orthodox christianity

Legislation pending in Russia, for example, could, if implemented, curtail Western missionary enterprises. Almost everyone around me was a Baptist. In contrast, Orthodoxy offers a view of theological authority that is internal and pneumatic rather than external and dogmatic. For taking Communion together? 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. Alexandria, 350,000 Further, rote liturgy can stultify as well as edify, which is one reason why many people prefer more informal or personal worship settings. Sad, very sad. In 858 Photius was appointed as Orthodoxy's new patriarch at Constantinople, replacing Ignatius, who had been exiled and later resigned his duties. 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. Why didn't Henry VIII go Orthodox, and what would happen if he did? All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. 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. Overall, is the Orthodox church growing in America or is it slowly dying, as the older cradle Orthodox are dying and fewer cradle Orthodox either convert to other churches [primarily Protestant churches] or morph into Deists or worse?. Orthodoxy looked like taking that escalator up one more floor. 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. Its not something you can figure out by studying the Church Fathers. One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. Beyond the recovery of history and liturgy, there are deeper and more important questions. The Orthodox Church has been, for me, the ultimate revelation of what it means to be "in Christ"; my upbringing in Evangelical Protestantism has not only helped me appreciate this now, but was very much preparing me for this all along [1]. The Orthodox Church does not fit into the paradigms of modernity; it is not a wholly rational faith. The secret is out. The Orthodox Church in America, with roots in Moscow and about 85,000 adherents . Yet, at times there are questions of conscience and matters of principle. Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight our commonalities. Most notable are its beliefs about baptism and the Eucharist. In this wonderful, 4-minute video, Fr. 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. Made using e, Book Cover for the Epistle 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. 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. During my project I gained. Instead, an adolescent has to figure out and establish his adult persona in the face of affection. 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. 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. Becoming Orthodox means being willing to submit to the Church and Her bishops, who might not be interested in ordaining you. And yet, not all of these journeys have worked out. But every church must have its distinctives, or wed all be in the same church. For any convert, it's a spiritual, intense, and private process,. Is it wrong for Western missionaries to seek to convert the Orthodox in lands like Russia, Romania, or Greece? But the Church is not dependent upon any one convert or their family, nor will the Church reward people (beyond the mysteries and salvation) for converting. 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. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. There is another reason someone should not join Our Church. Unfortunately the Eastern organization is founded on control and power. 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. The reason Orthodoxy is stable is because she is grounded in the truth. Her name is right belief. 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. Administered to infants who are fully immersed three times, baptism effects the "bath of regeneration" by which a person is born again, wholly cleansed from both original and actual sins, and, consequently, saved from guilt and punishment. (Of course, for every person insisting that there were no differences, there was another person asking me to explain the differences. 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. 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. The East allowed some priests to marry, while the West required celibacy. They are the efficacious means by which God transmits his salvific and sanctifying grace to us. Scripture and tradition. 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. 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. If someone is approaching the Orthodox Church from a purely rationalistic standpoint, they will almost surely find it wanting. Now, the question stands: If one is convinced that Orthodox Christianity possess the fullness of truth and is God . Orthodoxy, in contrast, is a thoroughly aesthetic tradition, as attested by the central role played by icons. Pray for the Lords mercy, and you can find the strength to endure to the end. In 999, Leif, the son of Erik, was converted to Christianity by Olaf Tryggvason. During my four years as a visiting professor at Moscow State University (1991-95) I often felt schizophrenic. 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. 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. In Russia, the largest figure usually cited for the Orthodox Church is 85 million people (some estimates are as low as 50 million), which means 100 million Russiansmore than half the countryare not affiliated with Orthodoxy. For church membership? Well, was it so? Put another way, we must invoke the spirit of irenic disagreement in the formula: "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity." Sara Villate, 10, by a menorah during Hanukkah. Needless to say, Rome was indignant; not until the Lateran Council of 1215 did it acknowledge the status of Constantinople. It doesnt matter how long they have served, or how extensive their education. But that was too little, too late. Another issue is becoming Orthodox because one thinks the Church will reward them in some way for doing so. She has offered more martyrs in the twentieth century under communism than most churches have members. 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. If only they would realise that they are rotting corpses trapped in worshipping themselves. Orthodoxy has always affirmed that Peter was the "first among equals" (primus inter pares) ; but unlike Roman Catholics, the Orthodox have always denied that he held any "primacy of power" (primatus potestatis). Such a question cannot be answered through the use of dogmatic assertions or theoretical musings. Subscribe for our weekly newsletter not to miss the most interesting articles on our blog. All rights reserved. It is not surprising they become disaffected and leave. 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. Growing up in the Bible Belt, I was only ever exposed to Christian theology. 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. 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 Andrey brings us the news about Orthodox Christianity (the form of Christianity practiced by Russians). Orthodox Christians viewed the filioque amendment to be contrary to explicit instructions by past ecumenical councils not to change the creeds. 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. It is a good question, one I will answer in due course. Writing a book on Eastern Orthodoxy and working through the manuscript with my Russian students helped me to compare Orthodoxy and Protestant evangelicalism. Not a few evangelicals in the last decade have forsaken Protestantism to join an Eastern Orthodox church. 20). Essential for clergy to pray together, to talk, and to encourage one another in Christ? These sacraments are not mere signs, symbols, or reminders. Are you sure you heard the Meaning of Christmas? 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. The Orthodox Church is indelibly marked by the One who is its origin and source. The Orthodox Churches share with the other Christian Churches the belief that God revealed himself in Jesus Christ, and a belief in the incarnation of Christ, his crucifixion and resurrection. There are two accounts of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. Preeminent among the sacraments are baptism and the Eucharist. I think people just dont believe me, and I hardly provide a good personal example. Buddhists fast, pray, and give alms. Rather, Orthodoxy affirms a single source of revelation, holy tradition, of which Scripture is the preeminent among several forms. 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. I hope so. Is Orthodox different from Catholic? Orthodoxy knows where she stands, and she is in no need to re-define herself. She stands firm on her dogmatic and moral teachings. 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. Different Orthodox theories exist as to what, exactly, this means. In 978, Vladimir returned to . Emmanuel Hatzidakis | January 19, 2013. 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. "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. Other religions and faiths occupy themselves with this life, with this world. This is no archaic, dusty doctrine, either. Nicholas Kim. Further, Protestants have long enjoyed rich liturgical traditions of their own (see, for example, Bard Thompson's classic Liturgies of the Western Church). Each of them had his idiosyncrasies, and they regularly disagreed. "The Orthodox Church of Christ never lost the 'unity of faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit' and does not accept the theory of the restoration of the unity of those "who believe in Christ," because it believes that the unity of those who believe in Christ already exists in the unity of all of Her baptized children, between themselves and Conversion is not only a matter of the intellect, but also of the heart. Perhaps this unanticipated experience of encountering something unknown and marvelously organic accounts for the distinctive lapel-grabbing impulse among converts to Orthodoxy. It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. John A. Peck, The Apostolic Mission of Journey To Orthodoxy. And for Orthodoxy, this argument from holy tradition is of great significance. 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?" A wooden pectoral cros, Pectoral Cross for Clergy There are no doubt some ways that he is the same person he will always be, and there are ways Orthodoxy and every other church has significant points in common, not least that we love the same Lord. Other times it is a youth group or Bible study group inspiring and educating. 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. 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. I hope so. 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. Also, people should not join the Church in the hopes of solidifying an identity they have in the first place. Rich worship taught the faith to literate and illiterate, peasant and emperor, and its essentially the same as our worship today. 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. Home / But perhaps our theology of the church is too "low," much lower than our Protestant forebears would have it. 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. In Matthew 16:18, Christ speaks about building His church that "the gates of Hades will not prevail against". 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. 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. In any event, feel free to introduce yourself to and speak with the priest and his parishioners. Orthodox Christianity may be the o. Intellectuals, like one of my students at Moscow University, often disdain Orthodoxy as a "medieval mentality." 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. 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. 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." Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to Christianity. Your email address will not be published. Albania, 160,000. I cant be the only one to have done this. Instagram | I appreciate this articles use of blunt honesty! For we cannot forget that beauty (Envoys of the Russian Prince Vladimir, after experiencing the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Wisdom in Constantinople in the year 987). * 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. Different from forms of western Christianity, there is no rationalization or theorization of dogma because its focus is on symbology rather than the literal. Missiological concerns surface here, too. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. For such a question presupposes a particular person's journey of faith. John 17:14.16). This icon, Wedding Icon of The Mother Of God The thesis that Eastern Orthodoxy is the true religion was turning out to bear the practical corollary that, to share fully and fruitfully in the life of the Body of Christ, one would almost have. Persons wishing to become Orthodox of their own free volition, without any direct or indirect pressure from anyone, should firstly meet with a Priest of the Church. Join our newsletter to get the most interesting articles on spiritual issues and learn about the recent news from St. Elisabeth Convent. For me it was due to the fact that papal supremacy is a later doctrine, yet I could not become a Protestant because the writings of the Fathers do not agree with Protestantism. 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. After five years or so in the Orthodox Church, Ive seen a lot of friends and acquaintances come home to the apostolic faith. Geoff Harvey on Thu, 20/11/2008 - 11:15am. A wedding set o, Wedding Icon of Christ the Pantocrator (in Oklad /, A Handmade Bookcover For The Gospel. It had ramifications for the ecclesiastical status of both cities and further exacerbated the strained relations between the two regions. 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. Worse, they considered the interpolation to be theologically untrue and a threat to the doctrine of the Trinity. There is world of difference between going Orthodoxy vs staying pagan. For good and ill, it is a classic "cultural religion," and comprehending Orthodoxy is an indispensable key to understanding those countries, cultures, and people. Why would a Protestant Christian convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? 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." Thank you for this post! She rightly claims the wholeness of the truth. Surely there is enough evangelistic work for everyone. (2 Pet. I felt like Marco Polo. Cerularius condemned Humbert and entreated Orthodox believers to "flee the fellowship of those who have accepted the heretical Latins." 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. But whether a non-Orthodox person can even be saved is an open question in Orthodox ecclesiology. Theological disputes combined with these geopolitical and cultural factors to divide the Christian East and West. Later ecumenical councils at Constantinople (381) and Chalcedon (451) acknowledged Constantinople as the "New Rome" and accorded it "equal privileges" and "equal rank in ecclesiastical matters" with Latin Rome. Most Protestants would experience an Orthodox liturgy as something strange, even exotic. 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. 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. Protestant Christianity," Andrei went on, "is a cheap, terrible substitute, and an Orthodox believer who knows his own faith will never go there.". It is not a surprise that many Catholics adhering to traditional values are converting to conservative Orthodoxy. In Protestantism there arose the doctrine of sola scriptura. This gives strength and spiritual joy to her members, true to the Lords words, Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Mt. But the human warts of where they are at and continuing searching within causes them to look elsewhere. "It was a calling of the soul," Devorah Guilah Koren, who converted from Catholicism with her husband and two children, told me. "I was A. On these points evangelical and Orthodox thinking diverge in significant ways. And to share why I am not Orthodox. 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. The Actual Conversion to Judaism: Conversion to Judaism has a few components, which are undertaken under the supervision of an established beit din: Accepting the yoke of the commandments. 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 . We are looking forward to our journey in the church. Converting to Orthodoxy. Orthodox worship can be overwhelmingly beautiful and attractiveon multiple, deeply-felt levelsbut this should not be the only reason why a person converts. One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed "the pillar and foundation of the truth" ( 1 Tim. Geoff. He has no good option for dealing with that affection, so he's either sullen or angry. 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. If only you could get them to form two lines.). The first, most obvious explanation is that some people simply are obnoxious to start with. Tom Hanks Legion Media The famous Hollywood actor converted to Orthodox Christianity as an adult. Orthodoxy appeals to the soulnot just to the intellect or the senses. Karmiris writes, "Scripture and Tradition are equally valid, possess equal dogmatic authority, and are equal in value as sources of dogmatic truth . Unfortunately most "Orthodox Christian" are nominal even despite their active presence they are nominal because they extinguish the Holy Spirit and do not have a relationship with God, they outwardly seem to be praying but like the Pharisee praise themselves for being 'good with God'. The rise of Islam after Muhammad (died 632) was likewise crucial. The church. Rather, they are a source of revelation. We are not seeking to reform or to teach the Church how it should do things, but are rather seeking to be formed by the Church and to learn how we should be doing things as faithful Christians. This is particularly notable in the mid-1st century, when the circumcision controversy came to the fore. Several factors must be considered when converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity. As Philip said to Nathaniel, Come and see [John 1:46]. Christians in the West variously trace their roots to Rome (Catholics), Wittenberg (Lutherans), Geneva (Calvinists), Canterbury (Anglicans), or Oxford (Wesleyans). 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?" You haven't "arrived" in this life. Its that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. But the claim to be Christ's one, true church remains the clear Orthodox position. 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. "More than a . . In the end, they concocted a list of reasons for not converting. Vladimir fled to his kinsman Haakon Sigurdsson, who ruled Norway at the time. Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight what we hold in common. It is why I think a number of people have a list of groups they have been in here. But one insightful reader asked a penetrating question: "Your book does a fine job comparing the two traditions; why have you not converted to Orthodoxy?" 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? I assumed this would somehow convince me not to continue on my discovery of the Orthodox Church, but it has more solidified it! Has Orthodoxy in these lands obscured the gospel, becoming merely a "cultural" religion thoroughly assimilated to ethnic identity? It is not a religion but rather a way of life. The West used unleavened bread, the East did not. Interesting comments. The ex clergy thing I think is very real. 3:15 ). 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. He shares his witness of it. It must sound like vague, fluffy religious talk (though in my experience it is anything but). Instead, an adolescent has to figure out and establish his adult persona in the face of affection. The Orthodox Churches are united in faith and by a common approach to theology, tradition, and worship. 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. Maybe you have to soak in it for years, till the evidence becomes overwhelming. And such a journey can only be spoken of from experience. 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. 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. 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. Why did Vladimir convert to Orthodox Christianity? Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. Now let's hear from Frederica. These are worthy pursuits that can be fulfilled in the Orthodox Church. One is attracted to Orthodoxy in the same way one falls in love. They saw this as a perception skill, something anyone could (with diligent practice) hone; it has nothing to do with emotion. The reason Orthodoxy is stable is because she is grounded in the truth. True, Luther and some other Protestants have not viewed baptismal regeneration and justification by faith as mutually exclusive. I do not wish to antagonize anyone and if there is a place online where I might go to better have my questions answered, please. (Some within Orthodoxy say there are 15, but this is a minor, internal debate.) Orthodoxy provides a full-bodied, full-souled spiritual life that assumes that everything you do as a Christian makes you either more like God or less like Him, and because becoming like God is what salvation consists of, that means that everything you do is critical. Perhaps this unanticipated experience of encountering something unknown and marvellously organic accounts for the distinctive lapel-grabbing impulse among converts to Orthodoxy.