Any converts from the EOC?

[rc_inquirer]

Hello all, first time poster here. I have been investigating the EOC (Eastern Orthodox Church) for the past 8 months or so, and lately I have been gaining an interest in RC spirituality, specifically the Rosary Meditations and the Stations of the Cross. I was wondering if anyone has converted to the RCC by way of the EOC? If so, could you please summarize your conversion experience, and how your spiritual life has changed (hopefully for the better)? Finally, is there anything that you miss from the Eastern Church?

I’d prefer not to discuss doctrinal differences between the two Churches (these I am well aware of), rather I am more interested in the differences of the spiritual life between the two. Any other (name removed by moderator)ut contrasting EO and RC spirituality and related practices is also welcome.

Thanks!

 

[whm]

I suggest that you investigate an Eastern Rite Catholic Church. You will get essentially the same liturgy and spirituality as EOC and you would be in full communion with the Catholic Church and free to attend Roman Rite Churches.

 

[Pregustator]

Is there actually an ecclesiastical body known as the “Eastern Orthodox Church” or is that simply an umbrella term that covers all the Orthodox Christian Churches of the East (The Hellenic Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Romanian Orthodox Church, &c) that are in communion with one another?

 

[Aramis]

EOC is an umbrella term covering those churches in communion with either the Ecumenical Patriarch (Constantinople) and/or the Patriarch of Moscow. In the US, that includes the Orthodox Church in America, Greek Orthodox Ardiocese of America, Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, American Carpetho-Russyn Orthodox Diocese, and a couple, smaller, jurisdictions; in the US, they have a standing conference, SCOBA.

 

[ConstantineTG]

As far as I know, if and Eastern Orthodox converts to Catholicism, they will be received in the corresponding Eastern Catholic Church they are a part of. From there its very difficult to convert into the Latin Rite as the Pope is very adamant in keeping the Eastern traditions and thus would want Eastern Rite Catholics to stay Eastern Rite.

But once you are part of the Catholic Church, you are free to attend Mass in any Rite and follow any devotion privately. This also means you can go for Divine Liturgy on Sundays, and then go to a RC parish for First Friday Sacred Heart devotion, or join in public prayers of the rosary either in the parish church or in a procession.

Actually, since they are not Sacraments, anyone is free to join such prayers.

 

[valoriuslobo]

Hello all, first time poster here. I have been investigating the EOC (Eastern Orthodox Church) for the past 8 months or so, and lately I have been gaining an interest in RC spirituality, specifically the Rosary Meditations and the Stations of the Cross. I was wondering if anyone has converted to the RCC by way of the EOC? If so, could you please summarize your conversion experience, and how your spiritual life has changed (hopefully for the better)? Finally, is there anything that you miss from the Eastern Church?

I’d prefer not to discuss doctrinal differences between the two Churches (these I am well aware of), rather I am more interested in the differences of the spiritual life between the two. Any other (name removed by moderator)ut contrasting EO and RC spirituality and related practices is also welcome.

Thanks!

Hello

I am not a convert as I was born and raised RC. The Rosary Meditations are very mystical if prayed “correctly,” i.e. by actually meditating on them whilst reciting the Hail Marys. There is a type of Rosary called the Franciscan Crown that requires you only to exclaim the given mystery of the given decade, but even with that rosary I like to meditate on the mystery. The Rosary is a powerful prayer that is an efficacious means of prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Theotokos.

I haven’t ever prayed the Stations of the Cross. That was something that was never taught to me, as I grew up in the post Vatican II Church. However, the Stations used to be a very common prayer said by many people. I’ve been meaning to do it sometime. From what I gather, you can use the images of the various Stations around the Church (they should be in there!) and say the cooresponding prayers. I think there is a prayer before and after each station and you gain a certain indulgence therefrom. Someone feel free to correct me. My understanding is that you are “connecting” with Christ’s Passion, which in itself can be a very mystical prayer.

While it’s true that you’d find an “easier” transition from the EOC into an ECC, there is nothing barring you from going to a Latin Rite church, nor me from an Eastern (catholic) church. IMHO, If I were you, I’d attend a Tridentine Mass first, because while it is in Latin and not Greek or Slavic (aren’t those the EOC liturgical languages?), it has a more mystical feel to it than your standard grade Novus Ordo Mass does, as conducted by many a parish. I’d consider it a shock if I were to suddenly go from “Kyrie Elesion” and chanting, to “Lord Have Mercy” and a ton of post-1960s folk-pop drivel.

Good luck!

 

[rc_inquirer]

Are the Tridentine masses typically done in Latin exclusively?

By the way, thanks for the eastern-rite recommendation. There is one parish that meets on our local Catholic university campus I might check out.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Are the Tridentine masses typically done in Latin exclusively?

Yes

By the way, thanks for the eastern-rite recommendation. There is one parish that meets on our local Catholic university campus I might check out.

I guess it will also depend on the availability of the Eastern Catholic Church in your area. If no such corresponding Catholic Church exists in your area, then perhaps you can enter the Latin Rite Church instead.

 

[rc_inquirer]

Also, I think I might check out a western-rite Orthodox church just for good measure