Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight our commonalities. As Philip said to Nathaniel, Come and see [John 1:46]. 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. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. 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. Search, Learn more about the Orthodox Church in America, Orthodoxy and Cults and Non-Christian Groups. The Reformers did not reject tradition as a help to wisdom, as a reading of Calvin, Luther, or Wesley easily shows. Orthodoxy is true to the Lord, to herself and to her past. July 26, 2019 By Fr. I hope so. But dont do it for all the wrong reasons. In 1993, I was chrismated and joined the Eastern Orthodox Church. Nicholas reversed the decision, reinstating Ignatius and deposing Photius. 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. A person (who is searching within) goes through clerical education to explore questions. We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no such splendor or beauty anywhere upon earth. Then the reality sets in. Yeah, I think Ive gotten it out of my system. Instead, an adolescent has to figure out and establish his adult persona in the face of affection. 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. Who can explain why one has fallen in love with a given person? 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. St. Theophan The Recluse On Spiritual Practice. Learn About the Religion. We must be willing to embrace mystery, to submit to other authorities, and to ultimately submit to the Church Herself. (Some within Orthodoxy say there are 15, but this is a minor, internal debate.) In fact, what Orthodox converts "vow to accept" diverges significantly from important, basic tenets of evangelical Protestantism. Don't pretend you don't know what I mean. Why not convert to Oriental Orthodoxy? - OrthodoxChristianity.net In Orthodoxy one encounters the eternal, unchangeable God. Sdn Tim Grace unveils the surprising message of Christmas. John Meyendorff writes that "the Christian faith can in no way be compatible with the notion of sola scriptura." Twitter | And I would try hard, no doubt to the point of rudeness, to convince them this was not so. We are looking forward to our journey in the church. The first, most obvious explanation is that some people simply are obnoxious to start with. Not that every churchgoer is following that path, not that the church administration is perfect, but that the path still existedthats what amazed me. Conversion is not only a matter of the intellect, but also of the heart. 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.". Geoff. This is particularly notable in the mid-1st century, when the circumcision controversy came to the fore. 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? Orthodoxy looked like taking that escalator up one more floor; plenty of ceremony and beauty, but without the mainline churches affection for keeping up-to-date. Icons are, quite literally, a "theology in color.". we'll be happy to answer it! If a richer liturgical life is what a believer wants, converting to Orthodoxy is hardly necessary. In the history and theology of Orthodoxy it is startling to observe the nearly complete absence of any mention of the doctrine of justification by faith. 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 is an organic quality here, and the thing itself is inexpressibly alive. ), since the Reformation, justification by faith and substitutionary atonement have enjoyed pride of place in our understanding of the doctrines of sin and salvation. Orthodoxy insists tenaciously on the role of tradition which is her very life and builds upon its past, without revisions. Two theological controversies drove the final wedge between Catholic and Orthodox Christians: papal supremacy and the so-called filioque controversy. How To Become An Orthodox Christian - Journey To Orthodoxy Her name is "right belief". They push it down the road that they will be able to transition to that in their new group eventually. Early on in the life of the Christian church, the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West began to diverge. 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. 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. These groups mostly came over willingly. Alexandria, 350,000 Clearly this stability is found in no other church. Why Are Protestants Converting To Orthodox Christianity? Thus, while the Protestant principle of sola scriptura places Scripture above tradition, for Orthodoxy the two are complementary means of one organic whole through which the Spirit of God speaks. But it's just fantasies, and they going to get themselves hopeless frustrated when it become clear that the fantasies can't become reality. Do we mean essential for salvation? 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 . From Islam to Indonesian Orthodox Priest In "Clergy" 97% of Moldovans Identify as Orthodox Christians In "Latest Stories" 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. John A. Peck, The Apostolic Mission of Journey To Orthodoxy, 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. When you are the only Norse guy and most of your lands are Slovianskian, it makes more sense to convert yourself than to convert them. When Martin Luther burned the books of Catholic canon law at Wittenberg's Elster Gate on December 10, 1520, he symbolized an important Protestant distinctive. But unlike the other two large branches of Christianity, which have spread throughout the developing world, Orthodoxy remains largely confined to Europe. 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. 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. Why Are Orthodox Christians So Grumpy? - Church Militant This is no archaic, dusty doctrine, either. Why I Didn't Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy Conciliar Post Instead, an adolescent has to figure out and establish his adult persona in the face of affection. But that cant be the case with me, so lets press on. They saw this as a perception skill, something anyone could (with diligent practice) hone; it has nothing to do with emotion. One of the problems the Orthodox Church currently suffers in this country is a lack of converts. The first four enjoy special honor due to their antiquity. But why is our kind so characteristically obnoxious? Disclaimers, Amon Sl Tolkien & Orthodox Christianity, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Evangelicalism, The Equal of Martyrdom: Fr. Why didn't Henry VIII go Orthodox, and what would happen if he did? 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. 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. Alister McGrath, an intellectual historian and proponent of paleo-orthodoxy, claims that many of the . Has Orthodoxy in these lands obscured the gospel, becoming merely a "cultural" religion thoroughly assimilated to ethnic identity? She stands firm on her dogmatic and moral teachings. Why did Kievan Rus convert to Orthodox Christianity? I can remember that, after Id been Orthodox a few years, developing an increasing sense of tension or frustration. Converts to Orthodox Christianity in America in the Russian Church Constantine had once controlled the entire Mediterranean perimeter, and as a result, Christianity flourished. 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. 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." 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. Then B. When the media seized on John Paul II's statement, they not only missed his main point, they missed a wider story. It takes a while to get it, because its received by a process of immersion, by soaking in a context of worship. There is an organic quality here, and the thing itself is inexpressibly alive. Its that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. . For Eastern Christians, this was yet another Roman encroachment upon their autonomy. They become clergy in their group. The Spirit of God himself, realizing the sacramental presence of Christ in the church, speaks to us in tradition. Wynona is a Catholic planning to marry an Orthodox man, but as she tells us, "my Catholic parish priest is not giving his consent for this marriage, so it will be held in an Orthodox church.". While some did come over by force, the Orthodox also forcibly converted large numbers of Eastern Catholics Orthodoxy. If only you could get them to form two lines.). 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). The Orthodox Church has suffered throughout her history. This is the ultimate reason an ultra-Orthodox Jew would turn to Jesus. But this really begs another question: "Essential" for what? One need not travel overseas to encounter Eastern Orthodoxy. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. True, Luther and some other Protestants have not viewed baptismal regeneration and justification by faith as mutually exclusive. What they objected to was the elevation of tradition to the status of Scripture. Icons. Orthodoxy, advocates suggest, reveals and corrects evangelical reductionism and superficiality. Its just that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. Wow, like it very much. Steps to "becoming" an Orthodox Christian - Questions & Answers Thatwould be interesting. But the "little guy" is not going through a phase. Why Would a Protestant Convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? 2. 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. 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? The reason Orthodoxy is stable is because she is grounded in the truth. During my four years as a visiting professor at Moscow State University (1991-95) I often felt schizophrenic. Join our newsletter to get the most interesting articles on spiritual issues and learn about the recent news from St. Elisabeth Convent. 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." 5:12). 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. The sacraments. Albania, 160,000. "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. Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight what we hold in common. It was electrifying. There is world of difference between going Orthodoxy vs staying pagan. Many non-Jews become "Jews by choice" because they're spiritual seekers. If our only reason for converting is more somber, reverent, and beautiful worship, the newness of this experience soon wanes. Converting to Orthodoxy - SPCK Publishing 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 You were begotten from the womb without mother before all ages, even though Arius did believe You to be created, not God, classing You in ignorance and impudence with creatures Thats just a fraction of a thorough march through what happened at the first Council of Nicaea, and why it was important (including Arius unpleasant death from digestive indisposition: his bowels were torn by a divine hookin a repulsive manner his soul came out). For church membership? Conversion may be unnecessary if you're open to a Reform wedding: Reform Judaism permits interfaith marriages, though roughly half of all Reform rabbis still abjure officiating at them. Is it wrong for Western missionaries to seek to convert the Orthodox in lands like Russia, Romania, or Greece? In this Orthodox view, Scripture stands within rather than above the church, and to distinguish its authority from that of the church is a mistake of method. But I slowly came to see that I cant communicate it. "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. So why should someone desire to join the Orthodox Church? Other times it is a youth group or Bible study group inspiring and educating. Sizable groups of the Russian population are disenchanted with Orthodoxy for a number of reasons. Buddhism and Conversion to Orthodoxy - Questions & Answers - Orthodox I cant be the only one to have done this. This conception lessens the validity and value of the Holy Scriptures as the primary source of Christian dogma." 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. But the impulse is to exaggerate the differences when you fear being hugged to death. The Puritan John Foxe, for example, insisted that "God conducted the Reformation by printing, writing, and reading." 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. Another danger is converting to Orthodoxy simply because it is beautiful. Here is an overview of the steps you can take to convert to Orthodox Christianity: First, Christianity had no doctrine to support the Islamic hypothesis about Jesus' modification into a semi-god. Also, while evangelicals wholeheartedly embrace the full-orbed New Testament descriptions of the work of Christ (reconciliation, ransom, redemption, forgiveness, adoption, etc. So Christianity would not have been completely alien to the Rus, and even Vladimir's grandmother, Olga, would become enamored with Christianity. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I will always remember my first visit to an Orthodox church in Russia. Why Ultra-Orthodox Jews Are Turning to Jesus | Opinion News 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. The secret is out. Playing as Rurik in 862: Convert to local religion or keep Norse In Protestantism there arose the doctrine of sola scriptura. Rather, "theosis" (literally, "deification"), or the progressive transformation of people into full likeness to God, in soul and body, takes center stage. Fr. Such a question cannot be answered through the use of dogmatic assertions or theoretical musings. On another front, under the leadership of founder Bradley Nassif, the Society for the Study of Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism (SSEOE) holds meetings each fall at Wheaton College's Billy Graham Center for the sake of the two traditions learning from one another.