Cerularius condemned Humbert and entreated Orthodox believers to "flee the fellowship of those who have accepted the heretical Latins." This woode, Christ (Wedding Icon in Textile Oklad) All rights reserved. Why did Vladimir convert to Orthodox Christianity? Suspicion and recrimination have often characterized relationships between Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Protestantism. These groups mostly came over willingly. Converting to Orthodoxy - SPCK Publishing This is a sufficiently serious reason for reproach: We are right to expect that the Church will point out a path toward God, independently of the jolts and shocks of the epoch; that it will remain,. As I realized what the big difference is,I grew more insistent, I'm afraid. Facebook | (Of course, for every person insisting that there were no differences, there was another person asking me to explain the differences. If our only reason for converting is more somber, reverent, and beautiful worship, the newness of this experience soon wanes. And yet, not all of these journeys have worked out. I assumed this would somehow convince me not to continue on my discovery of the Orthodox Church, but it has more solidified it! 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/. Two theological controversies drove the final wedge between Catholic and Orthodox Christians: papal supremacy and the so-called filioque controversy. At a minimum, Protestants need to move beyond ignorance of these neighbors. Several factors must be considered when converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity. many mercenaries would convert to Christianity. These Protestant movements, important in their own right, are liturgical light years from Orthodoxy. Handcarved And while it's true that my involvement with Judaism began with a Jewish boyfriend now my husband of 28 years and the father of our two children as Reform Jews, I would not have had to convert to participate in Jewish life and raise Jewish children. Chrysostom's liturgy says of the Eucharistic sacrifice: "Your own, from your own, we offer you, in all and for all." After five years or so in the Orthodox Church, Ive seen a lot of friends and acquaintances come home to the apostolic faith. Thus, when an Orthodox believer once asked why his church did not do more doctrinal teaching, his priest responded, "Icons teach us all that we need to know." Serbia, 8 million 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. [Converts] Why did you convert to Eastern Orthodoxy? A second theory is that converts of any sort have a tendency to exuberance that is wearying to outsiders. It is precisely this exclusivistic assertion that some Protestant converts, in search of the "true, New Testament Church" have found so beguiling. Interesting comments. While the Church is certainly Divine in one respect, She is also comprised of human beingshuman beings that can, and do, err. Put another way, we must invoke the spirit of irenic disagreement in the formula: "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity." The numbers are staggering! Her name is "right belief". 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. Why I Didn't Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy Conciliar Post Site Map | Can we attempt to put into words why a host of people have converted and continue to convert to the Orthodox faith? It must sound like vague, fluffy religious talk (though in my experience it is anything but). In other words, one cannot embrace Orthodox Christianity without embracing Orthodox Christians. 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. Luther urged that Christianity would stand or fall with this doctrine; Calvin called it "the hinge upon which all true religion turns.". Rich worship taught the faith to literate and illiterate, peasant and emperor, and its essentially the same as our worship today. Together they gathered an army with the intent to regain control of Rus' and establish Vladimir as the ruler. PDF The Conversion of Vladimir the Great to Orthodox Christianity Missiological concerns surface here, too. Some have even ended in apostasy. How To Become An Orthodox Christian - Journey To Orthodoxy Along with Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity is one of the world's three major Christian traditions. 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." There are two sides to this coin, as well: Some people become Orthodox for all the wrong reasons, while some dont become Orthodox for all the wrong reasons. 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. 1:4). 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. Thats surely a factor, but I think theres something else going on, more specific to Orthodox converts. Before long, in Reformation churches the sermon had replaced the Eucharist as the defining moment of the liturgy. The Conversion of Russia - Catholicism.org One is attracted to Orthodoxy in the same way one falls in love. From Islam to Indonesian Orthodox Priest In "Clergy" 97% of Moldovans Identify as Orthodox Christians In "Latest Stories" It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. And such a journey can only be spoken of from experience. ), since the Reformation, justification by faith and substitutionary atonement have enjoyed pride of place in our understanding of the doctrines of sin and salvation. Even more obnoxious, though, must be the tendency to reject hospitality. You can make an appointment to talk to our parish priest Fr Athanasios by contacting him at (03) 9387 7693. 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. But every church must have its distinctives, or wed all be in the same church. In time, you will be welcomed sacramentally into the Church and continue your ongoing path to the Kingdom of God. 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? In 858 Photius was appointed as Orthodoxy's new patriarch at Constantinople, replacing Ignatius, who had been exiled and later resigned his duties. She is not the endshe is the way. Although she is in this world, she is not of this world (cf. Orthodoxy insists tenaciously on the role of tradition which is her very life and builds upon its past, without revisions. Roman Emperor Constantine's Conversion to Christianity - Classic History If only you could get them to form two lines.). 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. 7 Hollywood stars who adopted Orthodox Christianity Is it wrong for Western missionaries to seek to convert the Orthodox in lands like Russia, Romania, or Greece? They have not given up the idea of being clergy. Christians in the West variously trace their roots to Rome (Catholics), Wittenberg (Lutherans), Geneva (Calvinists), Canterbury (Anglicans), or Oxford (Wesleyans). ADL, AJC join Orthodox groups in Supreme Court case on supporting 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. Intellectuals, like one of my students at Moscow University, often disdain Orthodoxy as a "medieval mentality." In the security of the Orthodox Church one finds peace, reassurance. 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. We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no such splendor or beauty anywhere upon earth. Pray for the Lords mercy, and you can find the strength to endure to the end. You haven't "arrived" in this life. Why isn't everyone christian? : r/Christianity Orthodox believers see things very differently. Scripture and tradition. 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. Becoming Orthodox means being willing to submit to the Church and Her bishops, who might not be interested in ordaining you. The Orthodox Church has suffered throughout her history. 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. Icons. 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. In fact, it promises a Cross and joining with Christ in both suffering and humiliation. Assuming that, after subsequent visits, you grow into the conviction that Orthodox Christianity is the fullness of Truth as revealed by Jesus Christ and discern your desire to embrace faith in Our Lord in its fullness, make your desire known to the parish priest, who will initiate the period of instruction and spiritual formation that eventually would lead to your reception into the Church. It is not surprising they become disaffected and leave. Converts from Protestantism claim that Orthodoxy is strongest where evangelicals tend to be weak-its robust liturgical celebration of the majesty and mystery of God, its unyielding insistence on the indispensable role of tradition in theology, and its admirable heritage of perseverance amid terrible fires of persecution. Telegram | This simple change of dress symbolized a radical shift that has characterized the Protestant West ever since: that the knowledge of God is mediated primarily through the written Word. On the other hand, there are cases where a person rejects the Church for what I would consider to be erroneous reasons. A person (who is searching within) goes through clerical education to explore questions. Why Would a Protestant Convert to Eastern 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.". Your email address will not be published. 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. Converts to Orthodox Christianity in America in the Russian Church Here is an overview of the steps you can take to convert to Orthodox Christianity: Talk With an Orthodox Priest. Despite its historical estrangement from Rome, from a Protestant theological perspective Orthodoxy is similar to Catholicism at several points. Now, I dont share all of this in order to dissuade anyone from becoming a catechumen, but rather to encourage those who are on such a journeyor who have strayed away from one that began on the wrong foot. Who can explain why one has fallen in love with a given person? But why is our kind so characteristically obnoxious? Why did you convert to Orthodoxy? | OrthodoxChristianity.net John A. Peck, The Apostolic Mission of Journey To Orthodoxy. They saw this as a perception skill, something anyone could (with diligent practice) hone; it has nothing to do with emotion. Such a question cannot be answered through the use of dogmatic assertions or theoretical musings. Liberalism is not a word in the Orthodox vocabulary. Conversions gradually transforming Orthodox Christianity Holy Orders are a mystery (sacrament) of the Church, and the Spirit blows where it will. We are looking forward to our journey in the church. This icon, Wedding Icon of The Mother Of God Converting to Judaism has defined my high school experience Baptism is the primary and fundamental basis of the entire Orthodox Christian life. Russia, 50-85 million However, this is a mistaken viewpoint and can lead to the destruction of a persons faith. Geoff Harvey on Thu, 20/11/2008 - 11:15am. we'll be happy to answer it! Through the centuries, theological, geopolitical, cultural, and linguistic factors have combined to differentiate the Orthodox ethos from Western patterns of Christianity. For example, I know someone that spent over a year studying almost every aspect of Orthodoxy, including many fathers of the Church and practically every nuance of both doctrine and history. I hope so. My ideas havent changed, and Im always glad for a good discussion, but maybe Im past the need to belabor them. "Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." Turning to Jesus brings you to God, and you begin to understand His plan of salvation. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. 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. Disclaimers, Amon Sl Tolkien & Orthodox Christianity, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Evangelicalism, The Equal of Martyrdom: Fr. 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? Orthodox Christians and some Eastern Catholics baptize by triple immersion upon invocation of the Trinity; the only time the Orthodox Church permits other forms of baptism is in the case of an emergency. You can also subscribe without commenting. That vision is of the Living God revealed in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant, the life of the Faithful, the hope of the . For such a question presupposes a particular person's journey of faith. According to the Second Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 787, icons are of equal benefit as Scripture in presenting the gospel message. In any event, feel free to introduce yourself to and speak with the priest and his parishioners. It was electrifying. 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. The first four enjoy special honor due to their antiquity. Orthodox Christian churches are drawing in far-right American converts Hello all, forgive me if I am posting to the wrong forum. Her allegiance to the perennial truths of Christianity is appreciated by sincere seekers. Frederica Matthewes-Green reflects on how new converts to Orthodoxy can sometimes be overzealous. But about this pursuit we can make several observations. Also, people should not join the Church in the hopes of solidifying an identity they have in the first place. Why do Orthodox Christians keep a vigil at the Tomb of Christ? 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. already I have lost many people I thought were friends but so be it! Spiritual enlightenment changes everything. 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. Through the centuries, theological, geopolitical, cultural, and linguistic factors have combined to differentiate the Orthodox ethos from Western patterns of Christianity. Almost everyone around me was a Baptist. This could take some timeperhaps a year or more, depending on a variety of circumstancesand should not be rushed. Just as we pray that Gods will, not our own, be done, so too we pray that we might embrace the faith in Gods time, not our own. One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. These are worthy pursuits that can be fulfilled in the Orthodox Church. Alexandria, 350,000 Conversion means belief and acceptance in Jesus Christ, the God-man, as the Savior of the world. The Search for Authority and the Fear of Difference, Nostalgia Without Memory: A Case Study of American Converts to Eastern Orthodoxy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, The Eastern Church in the Spiritual Marketplace: American Conversions to Orthodox Christianity, New York Times Article on Calvinist Revival., If Not Sola Scriptura, Then What? One of the problems the Orthodox Church currently suffers in this country is a lack of converts. Copyright 19962023. To my friend who asked why I had not converted to Orthodoxy, the answer was surprisingly easy. Surprised by Christ: My Journey from Judaism to Orthodox Christianity 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.
why convert to orthodox christianity
