Catholic converts from Orthodox Christianity

[NJC89]

Hello,

I would like to hear the conversion stories of anyone who has been an Orthodox Christian and converted to the Catholic Church (Eastern or Latin).

I was raised Roman Catholic, but i converted to the Eastern (Greek) Orthodox Church. After many cultural issues i left them and joined the Coptic Orthodox Church, where i feel i am learning to be a Christian of the early church. The Copts are staunch and have kept the ancient traditions alive.

But i always have a temptation to return to the Catholic Church. I go back to the Traditional Latin Mass occasionally, and miss the Latin, the Gregorian chant, the feeling of being “home” in a church that is part of my cultural memory.

I have always had a desire to assist in re-evangelising the West, and am concerned that Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy is too culturally fragmented and tied down by ethno-nationalism to ever truly re-evangelise the West.

In fact, i believe the key institution that will be one day credited for re-evangelising the West will be the FSSP.

Which brings me to my questions. As i can’t find very many - in fact, barely any at all - stories of conversion from Orthodox Christianity to Catholicism?
Are there are any recent converts?
I would like to hear your reasons?
I have so many issues standing in my way, i would like to hear how other Orthodox Christians have dealt with this.

God bless

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

Hi there

I can sympathize with what you’re going through. Although I’m not Orthodox I certainly have been drawn towards Eastern Christianity and even did a formal transfer to the UGCC from the Latin Church. I am still tempted at times to become Orthodox but, like you the cultural issues are there. I’m not of Eastern European or Middle Eastern ancestry and my background is completely Western European. I think I would always feel like an outsider unless I happened upon a parish with a good deal of converts…however then there is the all too common issue of anti Roman Catholicism. I may disagree with certain things in the Latin church but I wouldn’t call my self anti western at all…and I don’t’ like that some people would hate my own background, which is what it feels like in that case.

There are a few people out there who have left Orthodoxy for Catholicism…most were like you, of western background to begin with. PM for more info as I do know someone personally who has done this. I’m very lucky to be a part of my little parish as we are very inclusive of all backgrounds since we are all of various western Christian backgrounds and similar ancestry.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I know a couple of priests, both married, that were ordained as Eastern Orthodox priests. They’ve since become Eastern Catholic. They love Orthodoxy, but there were just too many issues with disagreements between Bishops and whatnot, and no final say was a problem for them. I honestly believe, the it is through Eastern Catholics, that unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Church will happen. I gladly await the day when all Catholics are Orthodox, and all Orthodox are Catholic.

 

[ziapueblo]

I am still tempted at times to become Orthodox

I think it’s His Grace Bishop Nicholas Samra or the Melkite Greek Catholic Church who has said something like if you are Byzantine Catholic and have not thought of becoming Orthodox you are doing something wrong. I often feel the same way as a Byzantine Catholic but I continue to wish to be in communion with Rome.

ZP

 

[ChristMyLife]

Eastern Catholics, that unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Church will happen. I gladly await the day when all Catholics are Orthodox, and all Orthodox are Catholic.

Unfortunately the majority of practicing EO despise the EC’s as “uniates” (which ironically makes them disuniates… I think I’d rather be called a uniate than a disuniate…)

I read a great article yesterday by an EO priest-scholar, and he said EO have to first desire unity amongst themselves, THEN desire unity with Rome for East and West to be One in Christ.

However, if you’ve at all been following recent developments in Eastern Orthodoxy, you’ll see there’s more disunity now than ever before.

I created a thread in the Eastern forum about this issue which people may want to check out.