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. To the extent, however, one could intellectualize the reasons for converting, he or she would probably summarize them along these lines: In our ever-changing world, in the constant re-design of services and re-evaluation of beliefs, Orthodoxy stands as a mountain of granite, unshakable by fads and movements and political correctness. 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. Lol. The Orthodox Church is indelibly marked by the One who is its origin and source. While some did come over by force, the Orthodox also forcibly converted large numbers of Eastern Catholics Orthodoxy. The Orthodox Church does not fit into the paradigms of modernity; it is not a wholly rational faith. Disclaimers, Amon Sl Tolkien & Orthodox Christianity, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism, 5 Differences: Orthodoxy & Evangelicalism, The Equal of Martyrdom: Fr. Poland, 1 million 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. What was the impact of Vladimir I converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity in the region of Byzantium? Andrey brings us the news about Orthodox Christianity (the form of Christianity . 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. 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. The percentage of foreign born Orthodox Christians is no larger than the percentage in the population at large. 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. Why Are There So Many Curses and Cruelties In The Psalms? Beyond the recovery of history and liturgy, there are deeper and more important questions. Instagram | 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. Becoming Orthodox means being willing to submit to the Church and Her bishops, who might not be interested in ordaining you. For any convert, it's a spiritual, intense, and private process,. 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. Women and men who marry into the Orthodox Jewish faith are required to convertand both genders follow an identical process. (2 Pet. Some have argued that evangelicals eager to "contend earnestly for the faith" (Jude 3) will find an ally in Orthodoxy's allegiance to the basic truths of Christianity. Writing a book on Eastern Orthodoxy and working through the manuscript with my Russian students helped me to compare Orthodoxy and Protestant evangelicalism. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. Underneath were written the Greek words en toutoi nika, "In this sign, conquer." When celebrating the Eucharist, Catholics mixed the wine with water, while the Orthodox did not. 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. They are the efficacious means by which God transmits his salvific and sanctifying grace to us. Scripture and tradition. In other words, one cannot embrace Orthodox Christianity without embracing Orthodox Christians. Why would a Protestant Christian convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? Although it is difficult to gather firm figures, worldwide Orthodox Christians number about 150 million, with 3 million in the U.S. alonemore than most evangelical denominations. But dont do it for all the wrong reasons. These arguments wont convert anyone. Perhaps this unanticipated experience of encountering something unknown and marvellously organic accounts for the distinctive lapel-grabbing impulse among converts to Orthodoxy. But the "little guy" is not going through a phase. 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. A Aristocles Merarches Joined Apr 23, 2003 Messages 10,031 Reaction score 1 Points 0 Location Pittsburgh Aug 5, 2006 #4 Matthew777 said: Why would a protestant convert to Eastern Orthodoxy? Sizable groups of the Russian population are disenchanted with Orthodoxy for a number of reasons. Then the reality sets in. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Many would find themselves back in Rus with their new faith and establishing Churches (Spinka, 42-44). T he Orthodox Church in the United States has problems. As I realized what the big difference is, I grew more insistent, Im afraid. 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. Why Convert to Orthodox Christianity? For Eastern Christians, this was yet another Roman encroachment upon their autonomy. For employment at a seminary? 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. "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. That is, Orthodoxy's commitment to "right belief" provides a natural link to evangelical concerns. Romania, 19.8 million Applies to RCC too. Rather, Orthodoxy affirms a single source of revelation, holy tradition, of which Scripture is the preeminent among several forms. But whether a non-Orthodox person can even be saved is an open question in Orthodox ecclesiology. Yes, because clearly a Christian is the most honest person to talk about the inner thoughts of atheists . Four important areas deserve ongoing dialogue. Russia, 50-85 million Why would a Protestant Christian convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity? Another danger is converting to Orthodoxy simply because it is beautiful. I hope so. The Reformers did not reject tradition as a help to wisdom, as a reading of Calvin, Luther, or Wesley easily shows. 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. There is not going to be a restored "Celtic" Orthodoxy or "Anglo-Saxon" Orthodoxy. Further, rote liturgy can stultify as well as edify, which is one reason why many people prefer more informal or personal worship settings. 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. For such a question presupposes a particular person's journey of faith. Who can explain why one has fallen in love with a given person? Constantine had once controlled the entire Mediterranean perimeter, and as a result, Christianity flourished. Icons. Conversion means belief and acceptance in Jesus Christ, the God-man, as the Savior of the world. This book cover is mad, Worship Gospel The so-called Photian Schism brought this matter to a head. . 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. "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. Not a few evangelicals in the last decade have forsaken Protestantism to join an Eastern Orthodox church. And to share why I am not Orthodox. we'll be happy to answer it! Intellectuals, like one of my students at Moscow University, often disdain Orthodoxy as a "medieval mentality." These are worthy pursuits that can be fulfilled in the Orthodox Church. "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 It merits our attention for several reasons. Now, I dont share all of this in order to dissuade anyone from becoming a catechumen, but rather to encourage those who are on such a journeyor who have strayed away from one that began on the wrong foot. 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. Why do people convert to Orthodoxy? Becoming an Orthodox Christian is not easy, nor does it promise great happiness or success in this life. Perhaps this unanticipated experience of encountering something unknown and marvelously organic accounts for the distinctive lapel-grabbing impulse among converts to Orthodoxy. 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. Also, people should not join the Church in the hopes of solidifying an identity they have in the first place. Its just that Orthodoxy still passes on the early churchs knowledge of how to tune in to the presence of Christ. In the 950s, Olga, the grandmother of Vladimir, was .

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