Most people like to be polite and get along, so they highlight our commonalities. Why did Kievan Rus convert to Orthodox Christianity? These groups mostly came over willingly. How to Convert to Judaism - What to Expect at a Conversion Rich worship taught the faith to literate and illiterate, peasant and emperor, and its essentially the same as our worship today. Are you sure you heard the Meaning of Christmas? "More than a . Orthodox Christianity may be the o. 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. Christianization of Kievan Rus - Wikipedia Although my parents intentionally raised my brother and me without a focus on . Why Would a Protestant Convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? Surely there is enough evangelistic work for everyone. Here are a few reasons from this man's personal reflection. 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. We think the fundamental Christian schism occurred when Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg church, October 31, 1517. 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." St. Theophan The Recluse On Spiritual Practice. Modern speculation is simply just that, speculation, and . Why Ultra-Orthodox Jews Are Turning to Jesus | Opinion News If someone is approaching the Orthodox Church from a purely rationalistic standpoint, they will almost surely find it wanting. However, they rarely spent any time in Orthodox worship services or their local parish, developed no relationship with a priest, and did not engage their spouse or family in their studies and interest in the Church. But I slowly came to see that I cant communicate it. Q&A: A closer look at Orthodox Christians | Pew Research Center Then the reality sets in. Her name is right belief. These sacraments are not mere signs, symbols, or reminders. YouTube | Copyright 19962023. Vladimir I and Christianization | Western Civilization - Lumen Learning As we said, conversion is a love affair. Constantine had once controlled the entire Mediterranean perimeter, and as a result, Christianity flourished. July 26, 2019 By Fr. Can we attempt to put into words why a host of people have converted and continue to convert to the Orthodox faith? How to Become an Orthodox Christian - Phoenix, Arizona In many of these lands, Orthodoxy exhibits an unveiled distrust and even xenophobia toward the massive influx of Western missionaries into their backyards. Buddhists fast, pray, and give alms. 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. It had ramifications for the ecclesiastical status of both cities and further exacerbated the strained relations between the two regions. How did Vladimir's conversion to Christianity affect Kiev? Contact | Circumcision controversy in early Christianity - Wikipedia Orthodoxy knows where she stands, and she is in no need to re-define herself. 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. And I would try hard, no doubt to the point of rudeness, to convince them this was not so. Karmiris writes, "Scripture and Tradition are equally valid, possess equal dogmatic authority, and are equal in value as sources of dogmatic truth . Daniel B. Clendenin is a graduate staff member for InterVarsity at Stanford University and author of Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A Western Perspective and Eastern Orthodox Theology: A Contemporary Reader (both published by Baker). This is no archaic, dusty doctrine, either. But dont do it for all the wrong reasons. Why didn't Henry VIII go Orthodox, and what would happen if he did? 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. There is a myth in Orthodoxy that people only became Eastern Catholics under force by Catholic kings. Orthodoxy in America Has a Convert Problem Orthodox Priest Explains Why Many People in the West are Converting to Orthodox Christianity. My ideas havent changed, and Im always glad for a good discussion, but maybe Im past the need to belabour them. It is a good question, one I will answer in due course. 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?" Many people believe the Church is a social group gathering or a place to network with other like minded people. 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. A Christian representation of Vladimir I, who was the first Rus' leader to officially bring Christianity to the region. 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." Through the centuries, theological, geopolitical, cultural, and linguistic factors have combined to differentiate the Orthodox ethos from Western patterns of Christianity. They become clergy in their group. It is why I think a number of people have a list of groups they have been in here. But every church must have its distinctives, or wed all be in the same church. Preeminent among the sacraments are baptism and the Eucharist. When I visit prisons where floors are shiny, morale is noticeably higher. They are the efficacious means by which God transmits his salvific and sanctifying grace to us. In 858 Photius was appointed as Orthodoxy's new patriarch at Constantinople, replacing Ignatius, who had been exiled and later resigned his duties. Orthodox churches are full of them. At the 1996 meeting of sseoe, Orthodox representative Stanley Harakas said that the Orthodox, who have lived for 70 years in Russia under Communist oppression, are in a state of weakness, unable to rebuild churches and barely able to educate their parishioners. If they are looking for an ethnic identity because they feel they have none. 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. Made using e, Book Cover for the Epistle As a young convert to Orthodox Christianity myself, I can testify that confession and Communion have filled my life meaning and have directed me when I have felt lost. Affectionate attempts to obscure this quest feel suffocating. 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. We must be willing to embrace mystery, to submit to other authorities, and to ultimately submit to the Church Herself. Nicholas reversed the decision, reinstating Ignatius and deposing Photius. You may wish to call the parish priest in advance to introduce yourself and explain that you will be joining him and the faithful of his parish for the first time, although this is not absolutely essential. The secret is out. The first, most obvious explanation is that some people simply are obnoxious to start with. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. In Matthew 16:18, Christ speaks about building His church that "the gates of Hades will not prevail against". 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. 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. Those friends benefit, no doubt, from this opportunity to practice patience and long-suffering. One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 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. Along with Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity is one of the world's three major Christian traditions. Why are Young People Becoming Orthodox? Engage Orthodoxy I've chosen Oriental Orthodoxy over the Byzantine Church because I believe that ours is closer in doctrine and liturgy to the earliest Christians. Now let's hear from Frederica. But the "little guy" is not going through a phase. But if you are still intrigued and drawn to the Orthodox Church, considering all of these disclaimers, then do so with faith, reverence, and a healthy fear of God. 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. While reading about the Orthodox Christian tradition is certainly important, it is crucial to stepliterallyinto an Orthodox Christian parish church near you to witness/experience the Churchs worship and fellowship. Why had a group of conservative American Christians converted to Russian Orthodoxy? How to Become an Orthodox Christian? So You Want to Convert to Judaism? It's Not That Easy I cant be the only one to have done this. Why Convert to Orthodox Christianity? 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. Conversion means belief and acceptance in Jesus Christ, the God-man, as the Savior of the world. 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. 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. It takes a while to get it, because its received by a process of immersion, by soaking in a context of worship. 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?" Conversely, evangelicals argue that this forensic framework for sin and salvation is not merely a historical and unduly negative carryover from Augustine and Anselm, but rather is the clear teaching of Paul in his Letters to the Romans and Galatians. Further, Protestants have long enjoyed rich liturgical traditions of their own (see, for example, Bard Thompson's classic Liturgies of the Western Church). Why I Didn't Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy Conciliar Post 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. Emmanuel Hatzidakis | January 19, 2013. Buddhists are called to meditate. The basic theological impetus for the ever-virginity of Mary (besides the fact that it is presumably historically true and would have been passed down from the early days of the church) is the fact that Mary was profoundly sanctified by her role as the living sanctuary in which God dwelled (quite literally) for nine months and from whom he One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed "the pillar and foundation of the truth" ( 1 Tim. It took me a few years to sense that there was a whole other something going on. In fact, much of what is basic to Christianity: the nature, sources, and interpretation of God's revelation to us, the meaning of the church and its sacraments, the doctrines of sin and salvation, and even how one enters the kingdom of God. Receive updates and announcements from Orthodox Witness. 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. The Orthodox Church has suffered throughout her history. In 1993 I was chrismated and joined the Eastern Orthodox Church, 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. 20). But the impulse is to exaggerate the differences when you fear being hugged to death. There is a certain chemistry involved, which one cannot so easily verbalize. 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. Whatever honor Protestants bestow upon tradition, they deny that its authority is coequal with Scripture. Well, was it so? Also, people should not join the Church in the hopes of solidifying an identity they have in the first place. Sign up to receive a regular email newsletter from Fr. The Vikings' Conversion to Christianity - Norse Mythology for Smart Early on in the life of the Christian church, the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West began to diverge. Step Two: Repentance There is no salvation without repentance. 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. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. 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. As I realized what the big difference is, I grew more insistent, Im afraid. I think people just dont believe me, and I hardly provide a good personal example. 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. If our only reason for converting is more somber, reverent, and beautiful worship, the newness of this experience soon wanes. 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. Not that every churchgoer is following that path, not that the church administration is perfect, but that the path still existedthats what amazed me. Kate Forbes Is Done (or Why an Orthodox Christian Can Never Lead a Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. 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. 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. Liberalism is not a word in the Orthodox vocabulary. The move was far more than geographic. They conceded a special honor to the Western papacy but insisted that the bishop of Rome was only the first among equals. Russian Baptists, Adventists, and Pentecostals feel persecuted. 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. On the other hand, there are cases where a person rejects the Church for what I would consider to be erroneous reasons. Converting to Orthodox Judaism Is a Lot. Here's How 3 Women Did It. - ELLE Fr. 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. 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. Yes, because clearly a Christian is the most honest person to talk about the inner thoughts of atheists . Liturgically, the Orthodox ethos of a formal worship setting will attract some Christians, but to many other vibrant movements within evangelicalism it will have little if any appeal. This book cover is made to order i, Hand-painted Icon of Christ the Pantocrator (acryl. [Converts] Why did you convert to Eastern Orthodoxy? So why should someone desire to join the Orthodox Church? Why did Kievan Rus convert to Orthodox Christianity? If you have a specific question about Orthodox Christianity or the Orthodox Church in America, In any event, feel free to introduce yourself to and speak with the priest and his parishioners. 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]. He sailed to Greenland with a priest to convert the people. Why Converts to Christian Orthodoxy can be Obnoxious, People who've found their way back to Orthodoxy, Theophan the Recluse on Spiritual Practice. John 6 Comments Cole Knight, a former Anglican, got Baptized in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. She has offered more martyrs in the twentieth century under communism than most churches have members. Vladimir agreed, in exchange for a marital tie; he also agreed to accept Christianity as his religion and bring his people to the new faith. 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. Conversion means belief and acceptance in Jesus Christ, the God-man, as the Savior of the world. 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. Orthodox Christianity has a rich tradition of being mindful. Disclaimers, Amon Sl Tolkien & Orthodox Christianity, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Evangelicalism, The Equal of Martyrdom: Fr. Romania, 19.8 million It is no small thing for us to hold in common all the early, Christian creeds. The numbers are staggering! The Orthodox Church in America, with roots in Moscow and about 85,000 adherents . Why not convert to Oriental Orthodoxy? - OrthodoxChristianity.net "It was a calling of the soul," Devorah Guilah Koren, who converted from Catholicism with her husband and two children, told me. But unlike the other two large branches of Christianity, which have spread throughout the developing world, Orthodoxy remains largely confined to Europe. Now, the question stands: If one is convinced that Orthodox Christianity possess the fullness of truth and is God . In the first place, Christians believed Jesus to be the true God rather than a semi-god. Why Would I Need to Convert in Order to Get Married? There is an organic quality here, and the thing itself is inexpressibly alive. One can find Orthodox statements that ascribe a unique authority to Scripture over tradition, but these are few and far between, and they speak of tradition in a narrower than usual sense. Why are Russian people (mostly) Orthodox Christians? Pretty good. Why would a Protestant Christian convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? Get the best from CT editors, delivered straight to your inbox! Those who will guide you through your period of instruction and formation surely will help you in this regard. Site Map | 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 of well, 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. People are attracted by the permanence of Orthodoxy. While the Church is certainly Divine in one respect, She is also comprised of human beingshuman beings that can, and do, err. But the little guy is not going through a phase. It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. What Scripture proclaims by word, the icon proclaims by color. Orthodox Christianity has a rich tradition of meditation, of fasting, of praying, of giving alms. Each of them had his idiosyncrasies, and they regularly disagreed. Why did YOU convert to the Coptic Orthodox Church? 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. Different Orthodox theories exist as to what, exactly, this means. So Christianity would not have been completely alien to the Rus, and even Vladimir's grandmother, Olga, would become enamored with Christianity. After his marriage Vladimir I officially changed the state religion to Orthodox Christianity and destroyed pagan temples and icons. During my four years as a visiting professor at Moscow State University (1991-95) I often felt schizophrenic. Are Orthodox Christians "Bible believing?". The reason Orthodoxy is stable is because she is grounded in the truth. Converts to Orthodox Christianity in America in the Russian Church Have something to add about this? There is not going to be a restored "Celtic" Orthodoxy or "Anglo-Saxon" Orthodoxy. 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. The Catalog of Good Deeds is the official blog of the Catalogue of St. Elisabeth Convent. But whether a non-Orthodox person can even be saved is an open question in Orthodox ecclesiology. Before trying to discern how evangelicals should respond to these many issues involving Eastern Orthodoxy, a brief history is in order. Share your feedback here. Hope this helps, and hope that your journey to Orthodoxy is filled with every blessing. Another issue is becoming Orthodox because one thinks the Church will reward them in some way for doing so. 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?"
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