When celebrating the Eucharist, Catholics mixed the wine with water, while the Orthodox did not. 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. On the other hand, there are cases where a person rejects the Church for what I would consider to be erroneous reasons. Vladimir I formed an alliance with Basil II of the Byzantine Empire and married his sister Anna in 988. Small bodies of Orthodox believers exist in other places as "autonomous" but not "autocephalous" churches (Finland, Japan, former Czechoslovakia, etc.). Heres a clue to a third possibility. Why do Orthodox Christians keep a vigil at the Tomb of Christ? Converting to Orthodoxy : r/OrthodoxChristianity Home / There most certainly will never be a "Southern" or "Confederate" Orthodoxy".And yet another reason not to join is the hopes of having a base of operations for a goofy political ideology. For example, their local parish was too ethnic; the priest wasnt nice or outgoing; their spouse wasnt interested; they found logical inconsistencies in the writings of the fathers; and so on. Her allegiance to the perennial truths of Christianity is appreciated by sincere seekers. So Christianity would not have been completely alien to the Rus, and even Vladimir's grandmother, Olga, would become enamored with Christianity. There is an organic quality here, and the thing itself is inexpressibly alive. Our digital archives are a work in progress. While some did come over by force, the Orthodox also forcibly converted large numbers of Eastern Catholics Orthodoxy. Icons are absolutely central to Orthodoxy, distinguishing it from both Catholicism and Protestantism. 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. The genius of this principle is that it allows us to disagree with other believers, even vehemently so, yet in an edifying fashion with a degree of theological modesty and a perspective that seeks a deeper consensus within the bounds of true faith. He has no good option for dealing with that affection, so he's either sullen or angry. From the Orthodox perspective, both Catholics and Protestants seek to ground theological authority in an external norm. Even before entering the church one is taken aback by the unusual architecture-the glittering gold onion domes that sparkle like diamonds on a sunny day. I hope so. Hymns like these offer quite a theological education to anyone who comes to services, and if you didnt catch it all, theres a good chance theyre going to sing it two more times. Orthodox Christian churches are drawing in far-right American converts It is no small thing for us to hold in common all the early, Christian creeds. It took me a few years to sense that there was a whole other something going on. Orthodox believers see things very differently. 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. Sizable groups of the Russian population are disenchanted with Orthodoxy for a number of reasons. Greece, 9 million Orthodox spiritual life gives central prominence to the sacraments. 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. Nicholas Kim. 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." It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. In addition, a new convert must undergo a formal process of initiation. These groups mostly came over willingly. Converting to Orthodox Christianity : r/OrthodoxChristianity - reddit 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. If only you could get them to form two lines.). Handcarved On these points evangelical and Orthodox thinking diverge in significant ways. Icons are, quite literally, a "theology in color.". Some have even ended in apostasy. Roman Emperor Constantine's Conversion to Christianity - Classic History 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. Orthodoxy looks forward, to the age to come. The more familiar I became with Orthodoxy by serving in a local parish, on a parish council, and as an altar assistant, the more I saw others approach the Church, test the waters, and walk back out the narthex door. Even more obnoxious, though, must be the tendency to reject hospitality. You haven't "arrived" in this life. 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. A priest can provide guidance and support to help converts discern whether the religion is right for them. It merits our attention for several reasons. Around 2-3 months ago I decided that I wanted to convert to Christianity. Playing as Rurik in 862: Convert to local religion or keep Norse 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. Why would a Protestant Christian convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? 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. Why are Young People Becoming Orthodox? Engage Orthodoxy Tom Hanks Legion Media The famous Hollywood actor converted to Orthodox Christianity as an adult. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. This is not just an explanation but an apology, and even an appreciation for the perseverance of friendship in the face of truly annoying behaviour. We are looking forward to our journey in the church. I had been to the east and discovered something wondrous that I assumed all Christians crave. "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 Despite its historical estrangement from Rome, from a Protestant theological perspective Orthodoxy is similar to Catholicism at several points. Conversion is not only a matter of the intellect, but also of the heart. For Eastern Christians, this was yet another Roman encroachment upon their autonomy. Differences over clerical beards, the tonsure, and fasting also exacerbated the growing deterioration of East-West unity. Its just that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. One is attracted to Orthodoxy in the same way one falls in love. But only lately has it dawned on me that I must have strained friendships over the years due to my vocal enthusiasm for my adopted church. She has offered more martyrs in the twentieth century under communism than most churches have members. It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. Speaking out against a government that is massively exterminating believers, would only lead to greater persecution. Then bear your cross,, Please, include documents that can be downloaded or printed. Disclaimers, Amon Sl Tolkien & Orthodox Christianity, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Evangelicalism, The Equal of Martyrdom: Fr. Two theological controversies drove the final wedge between Catholic and Orthodox Christians: papal supremacy and the so-called filioque controversy. I appreciate this articles use of blunt honesty! Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to Christianity. Why did YOU convert to the Coptic Orthodox Church? Why did you convert to Orthodoxy? | OrthodoxChristianity.net The Orthodox Church in America, with roots in Moscow and about 85,000 adherents . But that cant be the case with me, so lets press on. 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. Eastern Right: Conservative Minds Convert to Orthodox Christianity 20). 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. Forgetting early on that Orthodox worship is liturgical and cyclical (i.e. Missiological concerns surface here, too. 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). 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. 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. Over coffee one day I asked an Orthodox priest whether I, as a Protestant theologian, might be considered a true Christian. Such a question cannot be answered through the use of dogmatic assertions or theoretical musings. Needless to say, Rome was indignant; not until the Lateran Council of 1215 did it acknowledge the status of Constantinople. 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. Vladimir fled to his kinsman Haakon Sigurdsson, who ruled Norway at the time. Put more starkly, Orthodoxy explicitly rejects the historic Protestant idea of sola scriptura. Why Are Orthodox Christians So Grumpy? - Church Militant Bulgaria, 8 million Circumcision controversy in early Christianity - Wikipedia Jerusalem, 260,000 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? Why are Russian people (mostly) Orthodox Christians? 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. Emmanuel Hatzidakis | January 19, 2013. 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. It is precisely this exclusivistic assertion that some Protestant converts, in search of the "true, New Testament Church" have found so beguiling. Through the centuries, theological, geopolitical, cultural, and linguistic factors have combined to differentiate the Orthodox ethos from Western patterns of Christianity. Why Convert To Islam? - The American Conservative Questions & Answers / Paganism was a mental mindset of the Eastern Slavs living in a world where a majority of the European countries surrounding them had already converted to a monastic religion. Since the World Council of Churches' Canberra Assembly in 1991, evangelical and Orthodox believers have joined in a series of wcc-sponsored dialogues on matters challenging historic Christian faith. Q&A: A closer look at Orthodox Christians. What do they find so attractive? The first, most obvious explanation is that some people simply are obnoxious to start with. Step Two: Repentance There is no salvation without repentance. This is no archaic, dusty doctrine, either. And for Orthodoxy, this argument from holy tradition is of great significance. 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. Recently I worshiped at an Orthodox church in Palo Alto on this celebration of the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Conversion to Christianity - Wikipedia Put another way, we must invoke the spirit of irenic disagreement in the formula: "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity." Geoff. Here are a few reasons from this man's personal reflection. These thirteen churches are united in their understanding of the sacraments, discipline, doctrine, faith, government, and worship, but they administer their internal affairs separately. And to share why I am not Orthodox. De Maistre, Billington says, was "convinced that Russia was an instrument chosen by Providence for the salvation of Europe." He was "fascinated by the possibility of converting this vast land to Catholicism." He launched a program towards that end. The conversion of 2,000 evangelicals in 17 congregations "from Alaska to Atlanta" in 1987, recounted in Peter Gillquist's Becoming Orthodox, is only a small window into a larger phenomenon. Its not something you can figure out by studying the Church Fathers. During my project I gained. 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. Several factors must be considered when converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity. A second theory is that converts of any sort have a tendency to exuberance that is wearying to outsiders. 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. 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. The theological objections evangelicals have traditionally had with Rome on these two points rightly apply to Orthodoxy. Also, while evangelicals wholeheartedly embrace the full-orbed New Testament descriptions of the work of Christ (reconciliation, ransom, redemption, forgiveness, adoption, etc. Rather, Orthodoxy affirms a single source of revelation, holy tradition, of which Scripture is the preeminent among several forms. The Orthodox Church is indelibly marked by the One who is its origin and source. John 6 Comments Cole Knight, a former Anglican, got Baptized in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. But why is our kind so characteristically obnoxious? To my friend who asked why I had not converted to Orthodoxy, the answer was surprisingly easy. But they all came together in worship, and were shaped by the same hymns and prayers, the appointed Scripture readings, preaching, and the "picture bible" of iconography. It had ramifications for the ecclesiastical status of both cities and further exacerbated the strained relations between the two regions. Antioch, 750,000 Hello all, forgive me if I am posting to the wrong forum. 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. Why did Vladimir convert to Orthodox Christianity? In fact, what Orthodox converts "vow to accept" diverges significantly from important, basic tenets of evangelical Protestantism. Steps to "becoming" an Orthodox Christian - Questions & Answers Get the best from CT editors, delivered straight to your inbox! Albania, 160,000. I've chosen Oriental Orthodoxy over the Byzantine Church because I believe that ours is closer in doctrine and liturgy to the earliest Christians. Whatever honor Protestants bestow upon tradition, they deny that its authority is coequal with Scripture. Then C" The strengths of a group draws them but after a while the weaknesses bubble up. From Islam to Indonesian Orthodox Priest In "Clergy" 97% of Moldovans Identify as Orthodox Christians In "Latest Stories" She is the Church of martyrs. She stands firm on her dogmatic and moral teachings. Further, Protestants have long enjoyed rich liturgical traditions of their own (see, for example, Bard Thompson's classic Liturgies of the Western Church). Why Converts to Christian Orthodoxy Are So Obnoxious by Frederica Well, was it so? They saw this as a perception skill, something anyone could (with diligent practice) hone; it has nothing to do with emotion. If they are looking for an ethnic identity because they feel they have none. Further, the Orthodox reject the idea of inherited guilt; we are guilty only for our own sins rather than for the inborn consequences of Adam's fall. Orthodoxy is true to the Lord, to herself and to her past. 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. Buddhists are called to meditate. In the end, they concocted a list of reasons for not converting. When I visit prisons where floors are shiny, morale is noticeably higher. 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. 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 . In the year 311, Emperor Constantine moved the political capital of his empire from Rome to Constantinople. 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. By the end of the sixth century, neither group could speak the other's language. It is not about rules and regulations but rather guide posts to make choices to transition to what we were designed to become. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. After his marriage Vladimir I officially changed the state religion to Orthodox Christianity and destroyed pagan temples and icons. 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'. 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. Everyone associates Orthodox worship with sensory richness, but its also rich in theological content. Constantine had once controlled the entire Mediterranean perimeter, and as a result, Christianity flourished. Many non-Jews become "Jews by choice" because they're spiritual seekers. Christimates 1 day ago. Today 23 percent of all Orthodox Christians in the United Statesabout one in fourare converts, as are 30 percent of the clergy and 43 percent of seminarians. 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. 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. 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." See something we missed? Not to be outdone, the Orthodox could respond in kind. Why isn't everyone christian? : r/Christianity These arguments wont convert anyone. Before you start the process of converting, you will want to speak with a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church. There is a myth in Orthodoxy that people only became Eastern Catholics under force by Catholic kings. Inherent in this claim, of course, is the charge that both Catholics and Protestants have lapsed from the true faith into error, if not outright heresy. Orthodox Priest Explains Why Many People in the West are Converting to 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. An evangelical explores the ancient and alien world of the Eastern church. The reality of the difficulty of living the Orthodox life then bubbles up, and apostasy from exhaustion is a real risk. Linguistic factors posed other, very practical problems. But that cant be the case with me, so lets press on. 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. Why I Didn't Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy Conciliar Post 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. 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. 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. But every church must have its distinctiveness, or wed all be in the same church. "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. Serbia, 8 million Made using e, Book Cover for the Epistle Before long, in Reformation churches the sermon had replaced the Eucharist as the defining moment of the liturgy. Her name is "right belief". All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. Christ is thus "the Offerer and the Offered, the Acceptor and the Distributed," all in such a way that nothing is added to his once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. 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. Affectionate attempts to obscure this quest feel suffocating. 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. Kind of like large scale serial monogamous people. The last reason Orthodox converts are obnoxious resembles the reason adolescents are obnoxious. 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. 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. So You Want to Convert to Judaism? It's Not That Easy So they begin the process of "converting.". And such a journey can only be spoken of from experience. Here is an overview of the steps you can take to convert to Orthodox Christianity: Talk With an Orthodox Priest. One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed "the pillar and foundation of the truth" ( 1 Tim. Here is an overview of the steps you can take to convert to Orthodox Christianity: Icons. They push it down the road that they will be able to transition to that in their new group eventually. The sacraments. Heres a clue to a third possibility. Why did Kievan Rus convert to Orthodox Christianity? Its that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. Surprised by Christ: My Journey from Judaism to Orthodox Christianity Well, was it so? Also, people should not join the Church in the hopes of solidifying an identity they have in the first place. * It must sound like vague, fluffy religious talk (though in my experience it is anything but). One of the problems the Orthodox Church currently suffers in this country is a lack of converts. Who can explain why one has fallen in love with a given person? Because their focus for years was on their theological education (which they may still be paying for) often they end up in a low wage job that they don't love.