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. There I was, a Protestant theologian teaching in the former Department of Scientific Atheism in the land where Eastern Orthodoxy had reigned for over 1,000 years. While Protestant evangelicals have never agreed on the precise meaning or mode of the sacraments, they have historically emphasized two related truths that diverge from the Orthodox understanding of the sacraments. I felt like Marco Polo. Many non-Jews become "Jews by choice" because they're spiritual seekers. 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. 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. 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. 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. A priest can provide guidance and support to help converts discern whether the religion is right for them. Buddhists fast, pray, and give alms. But I slowly came to see that I cant communicate it. Vladimir fled to his kinsman Haakon Sigurdsson, who ruled Norway at the time. She is conscious of being the true Church founded by Christ. Orthodox Christians viewed the filioque amendment to be contrary to explicit instructions by past ecumenical councils not to change the creeds. Thank you for this! But it's just fantasies, and they going to get themselves hopeless frustrated when it become clear that the fantasies can't become reality. Why should we welcome that? Needless to say, Rome was indignant; not until the Lateran Council of 1215 did it acknowledge the status of Constantinople. Orthodoxy is true to the Lord, to herself and to her past. And such a journey can only be spoken of from experience. 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. What are we to make, for example, of the Orthodox liturgy in Russia today, which is recited in ninth-century Slavonic, a language very few Russians even understand? 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. She is conscious of being the true Church founded by Christ. Fr. The percentage of foreign born Orthodox Christians is no larger than the percentage in the population at large. 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. My husband and I were just Chrismated into the church on Christmas day. Now let's hear from Frederica. 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. We must be willing to embrace mystery, to submit to other authorities, and to ultimately submit to the Church Herself. Interesting comments. 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. 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 The first four enjoy special honor due to their antiquity. It took awhile because I grasped it through hearing the hymns of the church year, week in and week out. 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 . A wooden pectoral cros, Pectoral Cross for Clergy It is precisely this exclusivistic assertion that some Protestant converts, in search of the "true, New Testament Church" have found so beguiling. 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. Alister McGrath, an intellectual historian and proponent of paleo-orthodoxy, claims that many of the . 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). Then B. 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. 2. What do they find so attractive? Perhaps this unanticipated experience of encountering something unknown and marvellously organic accounts for the distinctive lapel-grabbing impulse among converts to Orthodoxy. 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. Differences over clerical beards, the tonsure, and fasting also exacerbated the growing deterioration of East-West unity. 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). Becoming Orthodox means being willing to submit to the Church and Her bishops, who might not be interested in ordaining you. Do we mean essential for salvation? It merits our attention for several reasons. The essence of it was to evangelize younger aristocrats, future leaders of the land. In his homily, Father Vladimir explained the history and theology of icons, adding that the heresy of iconoclasm was alive and well: "Just look around us at all the Protestants. Sara Villate, 10, by a menorah during Hanukkah. I can't be the only one who's observed a friend converting to Orthodox Christianity and noticed them instantly, literally overnight, losing their sense of . An evangelical explores the ancient and alien world of the Eastern church. There is a certain chemistry involved, which one cannot so easily verbalize. There is world of difference between going Orthodoxy vs staying pagan. 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. 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. Those who will guide you through your period of instruction and formation surely will help you in this regard. Orthodox Christianity has a rich tradition of meditation, of fasting, of praying, of giving alms. By joining Orthodoxy one inherits a theological package that includes central elements that have traditionally troubled many Protestant evangelicals and omits doctrines many evangelicals consider nonnegotiable essentials of vital Christianity. Rather, they are a source of revelation. 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?" Greece, 9 million It was electrifying. Nicola Yanney, Holy Man of Nebraska, Out of Appalachia: Orthodox Christianity and the Old Regular Baptists, What Do You Believe In? Because we confess and believe in the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church, this means we are not looking for a Church that fits our own preferences and ideals, but rather one that teaches us what our preferences should be. Why Are Protestants Converting To Orthodox Christianity? Andrey brings us the news about Orthodox Christianity (the form of Christianity . Originally the creed read that the Holy Spirit proceeded "from the Father"; a later Western interpolation (why, where, and by whom are not known), ratified at the Council of Toledo (589), added filioque to indicate that the Spirit proceeded from the Father "and the Son." One can find people who interpret this ecclesiological exclusivity more leniently; in fact, some would argue that the best Orthodox scholarsGeorge Florovsky and John Meyendorff, to name twowould allow for such leniency. Through the centuries, theological, geopolitical, cultural, and linguistic factors have combined to differentiate the Orthodox ethos from Western patterns of Christianity. Orthodox Sep 9, 2019 #1 For those who converted like myself, why did you? Even more obnoxious, though, must be the tendency to reject hospitality. Wow, like it very much. 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. Copyright 19962023. 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. In an encyclical letter of 1848, the Eastern patriarchs stated this most emphatically: "Infallibility resides solely in the ecumenicity of the church bound together by mutual love. The numbers are staggering! 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. 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. we'll be happy to answer it! Sad, very sad. Theologically, just what is at stake in the differences between Protestant and Orthodox theology? Thus Georges Florovsky once referred to tradition as "the witness of the Spirit.". Step Two: Repentance There is no salvation without repentance. In addition, a new convert must undergo a formal process of initiation. 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. Others charge complicity with the state, both past and present. In the 950s, Olga, the grandmother of Vladimir, was . Click for reprint information. Her name is right belief. Doing so will make much of what you have read come alive, in the sense of seeing how that about which you have read is actually lived. Think of it in the following way. When you convert, you must verbalize your commitment to live in accordance with all of the Torah 's commandments as they are explained in Torah law. No new dogmas of faith spring out of the blue in her life. In the end, they concocted a list of reasons for not converting. So it would be wise to visit a parish near you, perhaps for the celebration of Vespers on a Saturday evening or the Sunday morning Divine Liturgy. Not that every churchgoer is following that path, not that the church administration is perfect, but that the path still existed thats what amazed me. To my friend who asked why I had not converted to Orthodoxy, the answer was surprisingly easy. He made the decision to convert following his second marriage to actress Rita Wilson in. Put more starkly, Orthodoxy explicitly rejects the historic Protestant idea of sola scriptura. It is not a surprise that many Catholics adhering to traditional values are converting to conservative Orthodoxy. This has some truth to it, but is mostly false. The priest censes them and elevates them in processions. It was like seeing a face emerge from a random pattern of dots, and then wink at you. However, I do think that there are certain factors that influence and even cause these abandonments and apostasies from the one, true Church. The collapse of the Roman Empire created a power vacuum that was increasingly filled by the growing power of the Roman papacy. Who can explain why one has fallen in love with a given person? (To be fair, we should note that a large number of Orthodox have become evangelical Protestants as well.). Missiological concerns surface here, too. Orthodox worship can be overwhelmingly beautiful and attractiveon multiple, deeply-felt levelsbut this should not be the only reason why a person converts. It had ramifications for the ecclesiastical status of both cities and further exacerbated the strained relations between the two regions. Worshipers prostrate themselves before them and kiss them. During those years of discovery I labored to absorb new ideas and excise stubborn old ones. Such a question cannot be answered through the use of dogmatic assertions or theoretical musings. Join our newsletter to get the most interesting articles on spiritual issues and learn about the recent news from St. Elisabeth Convent. It is not a religion but rather a way of life. Another issue is becoming Orthodox because one thinks the Church will reward them in some way for doing so. Your email address will not be published. At the beginning, I thought I knew what I was getting into. From Islam to Indonesian Orthodox Priest In "Clergy" 97% of Moldovans Identify as Orthodox Christians In "Latest Stories" Constantine had once controlled the entire Mediterranean perimeter, and as a result, Christianity flourished. Wynona doesn't indicate why the parish priest has done this, but it would appear from the context that the priest objects to her marrying an . YouTube | 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 insists tenaciously on the role of tradition which is her very life and builds upon its past, without revisions. Handcarved In other words, one cannot embrace Orthodox Christianity without embracing Orthodox Christians. And such a journey can only be spoken of from experience. But why is our kind so characteristically obnoxious? Orthodoxy allows divorce in some conditions if I'm not mistaken, and it would have been an easier transition to switch to another powerful church (and become friendly with Russia, etc.). Thats surely a factor, but I think theres something else going on, more specific to Orthodox converts. Rather, each of the thirteen Orthodox churches has its own head, variously referred to as the patriarch, archbishop, or metropolitan. But about this pursuit we can make several observations. During my project I gained. Rather, for Orthodoxy the whole people of God is the protector of apostolic tradition. Much like a divorce where numerous and complex problems fester for years and then coalesce around a single event, the defining moment for a distinctly Orthodox identity came with the Great Schism of 1054. 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. Once inside, a Western Christian experiences sensory overload: the near absence of chairs or pews, dim lighting, head coverings for most women, icons and frescoes covering almost every inch of space on the walls and ceiling, a massive and ornate iconostasis separating the priest and the worshipers, the smoky smell of incense and hundreds of candles burning in memory of the dead, the priest resplendent in his ornate vestments and enormous beard, and worshipers repeatedly prostrating themselves, kissing the icons, and making the sign of the cross. A radical conversion to Christianity. 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. Becoming Orthodox is not a conversion but more so a transformation of self. Christianity had, in fact, penetrated "Russia" by the early 900s, when at least one church had been built in the ancient city of Kiev. Writing a book on Eastern Orthodoxy and working through the manuscript with my Russian students helped me to compare Orthodoxy and Protestant evangelicalism. 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. I responded by writing back: "Because I am committed to key distinctives of the Protestant evangelical tradition.". 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.". 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. 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. 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. 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. 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? Emmanuel Hatzidakis | January 19, 2013. I had been to the east and discovered something wondrous that I assumed all Christians crave. Orthodoxy, in contrast, is a thoroughly aesthetic tradition, as attested by the central role played by icons. 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]. If our only reason for converting is more somber, reverent, and beautiful worship, the newness of this experience soon wanes. Becoming Orthodox means being willing to submit to the Church and Her bishops, who might not be interested in ordaining you. Despite efforts at reunification, to this day the Catholic and Orthodox churches remain estranged. Despite its historical estrangement from Rome, from a Protestant theological perspective Orthodoxy is similar to Catholicism at several points. 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. Linguistic factors posed other, very practical problems. Sdn Tim Grace unveils the surprising message of Christmas. A Christian representation of Vladimir I, who was the first Rus' leader to officially bring Christianity to the region. Copyright 1997 Christianity Today. In 858 Photius was appointed as Orthodoxy's new patriarch at Constantinople, replacing Ignatius, who had been exiled and later resigned his duties. There is another reason someone should not join Our Church. Christimates 1 day ago. If only they would realise that they are rotting corpses trapped in worshipping themselves. 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. Like baptism, the Eucharist is administered to infants. 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. Those who were clergy in a former denomination have no guarantees they will become clergy in the Orthodox Church. 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 . But perhaps our theology of the church is too "low," much lower than our Protestant forebears would have it. Subscribe for our weekly newsletter not to miss the most interesting articles on our blog. 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. 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. The Orthodox Church has existed since the day of Pentecost and when we truly believe and become truly attached, not merely by baptism or chrismation, not merely by our presence but by our actions and our inner convictions, then and only then do we truly become connected to the Church, to Jesus Christ the Saviour and therefore to the Trinitarian God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. For employment at a seminary? Also, while evangelicals wholeheartedly embrace the full-orbed New Testament descriptions of the work of Christ (reconciliation, ransom, redemption, forgiveness, adoption, etc. 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. 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. After five years or so in the Orthodox Church, Ive seen a lot of friends and acquaintances come home to the apostolic faith. The sum of all parts wont add to the total. The Orthodox Church is indelibly marked by the One who is its origin and source. She is the Church of martyrs. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. Search, Learn more about the Orthodox Church in America, Orthodoxy and Cults and Non-Christian Groups. 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. There are two accounts of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. 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 She rightly claims the wholeness of the truth. 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. Questions & Answers / Different from forms of western Christianity, there is no rationalization or theorization of dogma because its focus is on symbology rather than the literal. 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. 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. Submitted by Fr. As Philip said to Nathaniel, Come and see [John 1:46]. They saw this as a perception skill, something anyone could (with diligent practice) hone; it has nothing to do with emotion. Most notable are its beliefs about baptism and the Eucharist. 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. These Protestant movements, important in their own right, are liturgical light years from Orthodoxy. Along with Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity is one of the world's three major Christian traditions. They become clergy in their group. 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. However, because I've never been really exposed to . Applies to RCC too. Orthodox Priest Explains Why Many People in the West are Converting to Orthodox Christianity. The first, most obvious explanation is that some people simply are obnoxious to start with. We think the fundamental Christian schism occurred when Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg church, October 31, 1517. All Rights ReservedDesigned by Fr. What Scripture proclaims by word, the icon proclaims by color. Others are already involved in a Jewish community. Upon joining the Orthodox Church, converts vow to "accept and understand Holy Scripture in accordance with the interpretation which was and is held by the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church of the East, our Mother." "More than a . To support our efforts, join us as a member . In the security of the Orthodox Church one finds peace, reassurance. The last reason Orthodox converts are obnoxious resembles the reason adolescents are obnoxious. 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. But whether a non-Orthodox person can even be saved is an open question in Orthodox ecclesiology. 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?" Icons. 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. One finds that the Orthodox Church is indeed "the pillar and foundation of the truth" ( 1 Tim. It doesnt matter how long they have served, or how extensive their education. Women and men who marry into the Orthodox Jewish faith are required to convertand both genders follow an identical process. Since then, Western and Eastern Christianity developed separately, under very different social and cultural conditions. If they are looking for an ethnic identity because they feel they have none. After being dunked in this sea of hymnography for a few years I began to recognize an underlying unity among all the elements of Orthodoxythe worship, the fasting, the exhortations to humility, the companionship of the saints, all of it. The theological objections evangelicals have traditionally had with Rome on these two points rightly apply to Orthodoxy. (2 Pet. Bulgaria, 8 million Similarly, a person can read a dozen books on Orthodox Christianity, but that which he or she has read will not come alive until he or she actually encounters the Church as the worshipping People of God. One of the problems the Orthodox Church currently suffers in this country is a lack of converts. Excellent comment Kosmas, I totally concur. I had been to the east and discovered something wondrous that I assumed all Christians crave. 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. Romania, 19.8 million He sailed to Greenland with a priest to convert the people. 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. As we said, conversion is a love affair. A person (who is searching within) goes through clerical education to explore questions. 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. These arguments wont convert anyone. 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. Contact | The rise of Islam after Muhammad (died 632) was likewise crucial.
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