Evangelizing Orthodox

[jphod]

When I was growing up we rarely talked about the Orthodox because the assumption was that they really didn’t believe much differently than Catholics did except for the Pope and a few other peripheral issues. There were never any harsh or unkind words said about the Orthodox. I actually thought there was some sort of kinship though strained but not belligerent.

After reading posts here and elswhere I’m beginning to feel I was living in a dream world. Animosity seems to abound.

Apparently there are significant Doctrines that Catholics hold as binding that Orthodox do not. All the talk of breathing with two lungs (with respect to unification with the Orthodox) needs some heavy duty theological immunosuppression to prevent rejection.
Though Catholics may look at the Orthodox as having valid sacraments the Orthodox do not see Catholic sacraments in the same light. so I must assume to them the Catholic Faith is not much different than any other heretical (in there minds) group.(ie Protestants)

[Personally I believe the Church already breaths on two lungs as there are “Eastern” churches who are in full communion with the church and the church already enjoys the riches that come from both. (I apologize but at this point I’m not certain what is the preferred title of those Catholic churches following Eastern liturgies who share communion with Latin rite Catholics)]

If the Orthodox do view Catholics as uh, well , heretics, why would the Orthodox approach The Pope with complaints of proselytizing (spelling?) do they approach other Christian groups and complain. Or do they really look upon the Catholic Church differently than others. Or do they just feel more threatened by it.

Which leads to my next question. If indeed the Orhtodox is the true christian religion why do I experience little evangelization on their part. Most of my protestant friends do not have a clue what an Orthodox church is and what makes it different. The lamp seems to be under the bushel basket.

Not that this has any bearing on whether the Orthodox is true or not , but why keep it a secret. Most of my neighbors know I am a Catholic. We had neighbors across the street that I never knew were Orthodox until they celebrated Christmas on a different day… of course once we discovereed they were we wished them a blessed Christmas and were thrilled to have an excuse to keep our Christmas decorations up and running a little longer.

Are the Orthodox to nationalistic or too ethnic that it impairs their ability to evangelize?

 

[Hesychios]

I have been trying a while today to get some statistics on the orthodox population of the USA, no luck.

I am pretty sure that the numbers are under 5 million and may be half that. The Orthodox simply don’t have the visability.

I have been to many Orthodox parishes around Chicago and most of those I know have no more than 600 parishioners. If one looks at the size of the temples they can hold perhaps 250 to 350 at a sitting in many cases, and the tradition does not normally permit more than one Liturgy on a Sunday. On the positive side they have a marvelous Priest-to-parishioner ratio, on the other hand they do not have the resources to carry out really big projects.

It is possible to find some very large parishes but nothing on the scale of a typical RC parish in the Chicago suburbs. My friend is a deacon candidate at an RC parish with 22,000 parishioners registered! If they all showed up there would be one heck of a jam over there.

The sizes of the two church groups RC and OC are relative to the size of the immigrant populations that first constituted those churches.

There are exceptions, but most Orthodox parishes have excellent greeting methods, visitors are made to feel very welcome and questions are answered. Priests call visitors who fill out cards and they are attracting converts. They have a radio program and websites for outreach, and the small parishes do charitable work, but on a smaller scale than most RC parishes could put forth if they really wanted to.

But they really don’t go door to door, neither do the Romans in most cases. Most visitors know what they are looking for when they first step inside an Orthodox church.

I was Byzantine Catholic until recently, we had similar issues that the Orthodox had and our methodology wasn’t much different. My parish launched a radio show, sent out mailers and did some working the neighborhood fests. We even did some door to door to introduce ourselves to the neighborhood when the parish moved. The parish is growing because of those things. All of the Orthodox parishes are doing things in a similar fashion AFAIK.

 

[Starsweeper]

In many ways, I think the ethnocentricity found in some Orthodox churches hinders evangelization efforts as well as small Orthodox populations. Some churches fall into the trap of placing ethnic pride on par with matters of faith and morals. I’ve lived literally all over America and therefore entered countless Greek Orthodox churches all across the country. Without fail, the first question out of the greeter’s mouth was, “Are you Greek?”, not Orthodox but Greek. Every single time, and unfortunately it was often said with a suspicious and unwelcoming tone that would make anyone with a pulse squirm and head for the door. I have no clue about any similiar reactions from other Orthodox communions, I can only speak from personal experience. Greeks in my experience do place unusual pride on their ethnicity (watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding!) so that may be part of it.

 

[Starsweeper]

jphod:

When I was growing up we rarely talked about the Orthodox because the assumption was that they really didn’t believe much differently than Catholics did except for the Pope and a few other peripheral issues. There were never any harsh or unkind words said about the Orthodox. I actually thought there was some sort of kinship though strained but not belligerent.

After reading posts here and elswhere I’m beginning to feel I was living in a dream world. Animosity seems to abound.

Apparently there are significant Doctrines that Catholics hold as binding that Orthodox do not. All the talk of breathing with two lungs (with respect to unification with the Orthodox) needs some heavy duty theological immunosuppression to prevent rejection.
**Though Catholics may look at the Orthodox as having valid sacraments the Orthodox do not see Catholic sacraments in the same light. so I must assume to them the Catholic Faith is not much different than any other heretical (in there minds) group.(ie Protestants) **

There is no standard rule on whether or not Catholics have valid sacraments. Some on this forum may assert that but generally speaking Orthodoxy does not comment on the validity of sacraments found outside of her. Personally I find those on this forum who assert such an opinion (That Catholics have invalid sacraments) as dogma to be somewhat deceptive. In fact many, including prominent Orthodox Bishops and theologians believe that Catholics do in fact have valid sacraments.

 

[Coptic]

When I was growing up we rarely talked about the Orthodox because the assumption was that they really didn’t believe much differently than Catholics did except for the Pope and a few other peripheral issues. There were never any harsh or unkind words said about the Orthodox. I actually thought there was some sort of kinship though strained but not belligerent.

After reading posts here and elswhere I’m beginning to feel I was living in a dream world. Animosity seems to abound.

You know, your experience has been quite similar to mine, as a Coptic Orthodox and the EO’s.

I always thought we were so similar and that as you said there was some sort of kinship.

Boy was I wrong.

In my discussions with EO’s, and forgive me if this sounds harsh, I have come across a LOT of arrogant, prideful people who have nothing nice to say about the OO’s or the RC’s.

It was quite a sad realization on my part.

God Bless,
Elizabeth

 

[Hesychios]

Starsweeper:

In many ways, I think the ethnocentricity found in some Orthodox churches hinders evangelization efforts as well as small Orthodox populations. Some churches fall into the trap of placing ethnic pride on par with matters of faith and morals. I’ve lived literally all over America and therefore entered countless Greek Orthodox churches all across the country. Without fail, the first question out of the greeter’s mouth was, “Are you Greek?”, not Orthodox but Greek. Every single time, and unfortunately it was often said with a suspicious and unwelcoming tone that would make anyone with a pulse squirm and head for the door. I have no clue about any similiar reactions from other Orthodox communions, I can only speak from personal experience. Greeks in my experience do place unusual pride on their ethnicity (watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding!) so that may be part of it.

I agree, it’s a major problem.

Some of the ethnic groups keep coming to certain areas and they constantly refresh the ethnic flavor of a congregation. Ukrainians and Serbs are two that I think are still migrating in, so a parish 100 years old will still have people whose first language is from the old country.

This can be an intimidating environment for a visitor. Especially because the rank and file may not be all that interested in evangelizing the neighborhood. They may think of it as their only refuge from us!

Most of the OCA parishes are so established and Americanized that the reception is completely different, many of the Antiochian parishes are as well (there are Arabic parishes and Amero-English parishes). I don’t want to comment any further because these are mostly generalizations.

Most people don’t really realize that the RC church also went through this, and it had repercussions as well. My grandfather went for help during the Great Depression to the local parish and was turned away “you are French, you should go to the French parish for help” honest, that hurt him something awful.

The Americanised younger generations moved to the suburbs (like my Dad and Mom) and wound up in very mixed English-language congregations. We think of that as a standard for American Catholicism, but it was not until recently that this was surely the case!

Two weeks ago I went to a Polish church near Chicago, some Cistercian priests from Poland came out to the Chicago suburbs about 10 to 15 years ago and set up a church, not a regular parish as such, and they use no English at all. The place is packed every Sunday with Polish language immigrants and their Americanizing children. It has been growing like crazy with immmigrant money and they have already outgrown a beautiful brand new building, SRO. I don’t think these people are hitting the bricks looking for converts.

I have to tell you, I am Polish and this place intimidated me. When I called the priest answered in Polish and when I didn’t know how to respond he proceeded in English and informed me “you know this is a Polish church, right?” I said “yes, I heard that”.

He said “well I just wanted you to know that it’s an all Polish Mass”. End of call. I felt that it was a very cold reception and it took more than three years before I went to attend Mass. When I was there no one greeted me, no one at all said a word to me of welcome. I did notice some stares, and I mean right at me. I am sure I will never go back.

So I know how intimidating an ethnic orientation of a parish can be, and I was baptised in a Polish language parish as an infant. When they don’t want you around, they really don’t want you around! But people like that have no idea how un-Christian that attitude really is.

 

[iwonder]

Starsweeper:

In many ways, I think the ethnocentricity found in some Orthodox churches hinders evangelization efforts as well as small Orthodox populations. Some churches fall into the trap of placing ethnic pride on par with matters of faith and morals. I’ve lived literally all over America and therefore entered countless Greek Orthodox churches all across the country. Without fail, the first question out of the greeter’s mouth was, “Are you Greek?”, not Orthodox but Greek. Every single time, and unfortunately it was often said with a suspicious and unwelcoming tone that would make anyone with a pulse squirm and head for the door. I have no clue about any similiar reactions from other Orthodox communions, I can only speak from personal experience. Greeks in my experience do place unusual pride on their ethnicity (watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding!) so that may be part of it.

This does not happen as much in Roman Catholicism, but it does happen every once in a while. When I moved to town I am in now, way up in the mountains, with only a 5000 pop. I went to the local Catholic Church for Mass. The first question I greeted was with was “Are you just visiting?” I explained who I was and why I was there and their next question was “Are you Italian?” And I said no. She then informed that I was very welcome and if I decided to pursue my journey, RCIA was on Tuesday evenings. When I entered the Church proper, every pew and stained glass window had an italian name. I thought it was wonderful. It so happened the priest was brand new that day as well. He and I had a good time discussing how RCIA might help us convert to Italian.

 

[Fr_Ambrose]

Coptic:

I always thought we were so similar and that as you said there was some sort of kinship.

But you baptize Roman Catholics. That is hardly a sign of kinship.

 

[IacobPersul]

Coptic:

You know, your experience has been quite similar to mine, as a Coptic Orthodox and the EO’s.

I always thought we were so similar and that as you said there was some sort of kinship.

Boy was I wrong.

In my discussions with EO’s, and forgive me if this sounds harsh, I have come across a LOT of arrogant, prideful people who have nothing nice to say about the OO’s or the RC’s.

It was quite a sad realization on my part.

God Bless,
Elizabeth

Well I’ve had exactly the same experience with OOs on another forum. Most of those I’d come across previously had been fine, a lot of these were not - they were extremely arrogant.

The thing to remember is that there’re good and bad in all churches. Many OOs I know are reasonable and polite to us and don’t seem to believe much different than we do, ditto Roman Catholics, though I feel we are further apart on beliefs.

I don’t doubt that you’ve experianced arrogance from some EOs but I really don’t believe we’re that far apart, despite what some of the more extremist members of my church might say. I would be sorry, but not greatly surprised, to find out that I had contributed to your experience (and the same can be said to the RCs here), but we all have bad days and sometimes we say things in the heat of argument that we later regret.

I apologise unreservedly if I’ve ever caused any bad feelings in others here, whatever church they are in.

James

 

[Lumen_Gentium]

I view evangelism as one of the very important aspects of Christianity. Our church started with evangelism by the Holy Apostles, and the world came to know, accept, embrace Christianity because of evangelism. Christ was very explicit when he commanded the Holy Apostles to spread the Gospel in all four corners of the world. As followers of Christ, this is our first and foremost mission in this world - to spread the Gospel.

For someone like me coming from Asia, I cannot understand all these ethnical / nationalistic (eastern, western, Russian, Egyptian, Turkish, American, Ukrainian, etc. ) barriers in spreading the Gospel. When Spain evangelized and christianized the Philippines in the 15th century, we accepted Christ and his church, not Spain nor Italy or Rome for that matter. For clearly, after Spain left us, we remained Catholics and witnesses to the Gospel in all of Asia. Filipino Catholics have always been joyful, blessed, inspired, loud and proud to be known as the only Christian (Catholic) nation in Asia. Never kept that fact silent, in doubt or in question. Same thing with Latin America in all of America.

Evangelism is not just about preaching and spreading the Gospel. It is actually living our lives by the Gospel and setting examples to all peoples of the world. I remember (I was in high school back then) when we toppled a 20-year dictatorship by peaceful and bloodless revolution, the world watched how Filipino Catholics asked for Mama Mary’s help, prayed our Rosaries in the streets, celebrated the Holy Mass in open spaces and nuns, priests, lay people, the rich, the poor, the children and adults hand in hand out in the streets with the Cardinal leading the faithful and then it all became an inspiration for other nations even for the rest of eastern Europe for peaceful and bloodless revolutions. The faith and the prayers of the Filipino Catholics served as the voice spreading the Gospel as inspiration to the world.

I see the work of the Holy Spirit at hand by evangelism, and truly only the Catholic Church can attest to that from North to South, from East to West…in all four corners of the world.

jphod:

When I was growing up we rarely talked about the Orthodox because the assumption was that they really didn’t believe much differently than Catholics did except for the Pope and a few other peripheral issues. There were never any harsh or unkind words said about the Orthodox. I actually thought there was some sort of kinship though strained but not belligerent.

After reading posts here and elswhere I’m beginning to feel I was living in a dream world. Animosity seems to abound.

Apparently there are significant Doctrines that Catholics hold as binding that Orthodox do not. All the talk of breathing with two lungs (with respect to unification with the Orthodox) needs some heavy duty theological immunosuppression to prevent rejection.
Though Catholics may look at the Orthodox as having valid sacraments the Orthodox do not see Catholic sacraments in the same light. so I must assume to them the Catholic Faith is not much different than any other heretical (in there minds) group.(ie Protestants)

[Personally I believe the Church already breaths on two lungs as there are “Eastern” churches who are in full communion with the church and the church already enjoys the riches that come from both. (I apologize but at this point I’m not certain what is the preferred title of those Catholic churches following Eastern liturgies who share communion with Latin rite Catholics)]

If the Orthodox do view Catholics as uh, well , heretics, why would the Orthodox approach The Pope with complaints of proselytizing (spelling?) do they approach other Christian groups and complain. Or do they really look upon the Catholic Church differently than others. Or do they just feel more threatened by it.

Which leads to my next question. If indeed the Orhtodox is the true christian religion why do I experience little evangelization on their part. Most of my protestant friends do not have a clue what an Orthodox church is and what makes it different. The lamp seems to be under the bushel basket.

Not that this has any bearing on whether the Orthodox is true or not , but why keep it a secret. Most of my neighbors know I am a Catholic. We had neighbors across the street that I never knew were Orthodox until they celebrated Christmas on a different day… of course once we discovereed they were we wished them a blessed Christmas and were thrilled to have an excuse to keep our Christmas decorations up and running a little longer.

Are the Orthodox to nationalistic or too ethnic that it impairs their ability to evangelize?

 

[iwonder]

Hesychios:

I agree, it’s a major problem.

Some of the ethnic groups keep coming to certain areas and they constantly refresh the ethnic flavor of a congregation. Ukrainians and Serbs are two that I think are still migrating in, so a parish 100 years old will still have people whose first language is from the old country.

This can be an intimidating environment for a visitor. Especially because the rank and file may not be all that interested in evangelizing the neighborhood. They may think of it as their only refuge from us!

Most of the OCA parishes are so established and Americanized that the reception is completely different, many of the Antiochian parishes are as well (there are Arabic parishes and Amero-English parishes). I don’t want to comment any further because these are mostly generalizations.

Most people don’t really realize that the RC church also went through this, and it had repercussions as well. My grandfather went for help during the Great Depression to the local parish and was turned away “you are French, you should go to the French parish for help” honest, that hurt him something awful.

The Americanised younger generations moved to the suburbs (like my Dad and Mom) and wound up in very mixed English-language congregations. We think of that as a standard for American Catholicism, but it was not until recently that this was surely the case!

Two weeks ago I went to a Polish church near Chicago, some Cistercian priests from Poland came out to the Chicago suburbs about 10 to 15 years ago and set up a church, not a regular parish as such, and they use no English at all. The place is packed every Sunday with Polish language immigrants and their Americanizing children. It has been growing like crazy with immmigrant money and they have already outgrown a beautiful brand new building, SRO. I don’t think these people are hitting the bricks looking for converts.

I have to tell you, I am Polish and this place intimidated me. When I called the priest answered in Polish and when I didn’t know how to respond he proceeded in English and informed me “you know this is a Polish church, right?” I said “yes, I heard that”.

He said “well I just wanted you to know that it’s an all Polish Mass”. End of call. I felt that it was a very cold reception and it took more than three years before I went to attend Mass. When I was there no one greeted me, no one at all said a word to me of welcome. I did notice some stares, and I mean right at me. I am sure I will never go back.

So I know how intimidating an ethnic orientation of a parish can be, and I was baptised in a Polish language parish as an infant. When they don’t want you around, they really don’t want you around! But people like that have no idea how un-Christian that attitude really is.

The same thing happens here. I moved to a new neighbor hood about ten years ago and attended the local parish Church. The priest asked me if I knew that it was a “Mexican” church. When they had the church bazaar he counseled me to leave before dark because it was not safe for a white woman. Frequently we had Masses bilingual but not always. People were tremendously cold and unfriendly. Should it be like this? No. But I continued to attend that Church while I lived there because I’m Catholic and it is unreasonable to blame God for the actions of people intent on upholding culture over Christ. On the bright side- I learned a lot Spanish.

 

[Lumen_Gentium]

Didn’t happen to me here. Thank God Samoans are warm and friendly people. It has to be more on cultural and linguistical differences which can easily be solved.

I think, when one attends a mass, goes to a church that is being attended by people of different culture, race or language then you…it’s your duty to make a little sacrifice by going to the mass earlier, greet them outside, be friendly to them…Stuff like that.
The problem is when you expect (just because you are going to a church) first from people things you want to happen or things you like them to be without first doing or thinking what you should do.

When moving to a new neighborhood with a different culture, wouldn’t you assess first the general atmosphere of the neighborhood? Wouldn’t you grab a phone, call the parish and ask questions first? Wouldn’t you try to know things first, after all you are new in the area (so don’t expect people to adapt themselves to you, but rather you)? Things like these can avoid cultural differences. By simply using common sense and educating ourselves first before expecting things from people that are culturally different from us.

I really don’t think this is something applicable only to a particular church situation when you are new to an area or you are going to a place where people and their customs and culture are different from yours. This is a applicable in general.

iwonder:

The same thing happens here. I moved to a new neighbor hood about ten years ago and attended the local parish Church. The priest asked me if I knew that it was a “Mexican” church. When they had the church bazaar he counseled me to leave before dark because it was not safe for a white woman. Frequently we had Masses bilingual but not always. People were tremendously cold and unfriendly. Should it be like this? No. But I continued to attend that Church while I lived there because I’m Catholic and it is unreasonable to blame God for the actions of people intent on upholding culture over Christ. On the bright side- I learned a lot Spanish.

 

[stellina]

I’m lucky to have a good friend who is Orthodox & the son of a priest, and he’s taught me a lot about Eastern Christianity. Just from my casual observations when I’ve been along with him, many people came into his church through marriage, i.e. they were Catholic, Protestant, etc. & converted when they married an Orthodox. Here in western Pennsylvania, this is common & works in both directions (I have friends with a parent who was originally Orthodox but converted to Catholicism upon marriage). There is a large Slavic population and hence there are many Orthodox and Byzantine Catholics.

I know from my friend that his particular branch of Orthodoxy concentrates its efforts on re-evangelizing its own back in the former Eastern bloc, i.e. people who have grown up under Communism & were denied an opportunity to learn their faith. Personally, I’ve never been targeted for conversion by my friend or anyone I’ve met in his church. The closest he ever came was years ago & it was just one brief statement like “You know, it was the Catholic church that broke away” - to which I answered “that depends on your understanding of history” and we just let it go. In all the time I’ve known him, he’s only asked me a couple of times if I would ever consider converting and sincerely just out of curiosity. He’s one of the few people (and that includes many Roman Catholics like myself) with whom I can discuss religion in a polite and open manner, and I suppose it’s because we respect each other’s differences. However, he’s often said one thing that everyone should remember: we have more similarities than differences.

 

[Lumen_Gentium]

Remember that part in the mass when one says peace be with you to another? I think this part of the mass, with a smile or grin on one’s face, a touch on another one’s hand, or a shakehand, a kiss or an embrace, add a little cheerfullness will solve the problem!

iwonder:

The same thing happens here. I moved to a new neighbor hood about ten years ago and attended the local parish Church. The priest asked me if I knew that it was a “Mexican” church. When they had the church bazaar he counseled me to leave before dark because it was not safe for a white woman. Frequently we had Masses bilingual but not always. People were tremendously cold and unfriendly. Should it be like this? No. But I continued to attend that Church while I lived there because I’m Catholic and it is unreasonable to blame God for the actions of people intent on upholding culture over Christ. On the bright side- I learned a lot Spanish.

 

[iwonder]

Lumen Gentium:

Didn’t happen to me here. Thank God Samoans are warm and friendly people. It has to be more on cultural and linguistical differences which can easily be solved.

I think, when one attends a mass, goes to a church that is being attended by people of different culture, race or language then you…it’s your duty to make a little sacrifice by going to the mass earlier, greet them outside, be friendly to them…Stuff like that.
The problem is when you expect (just because you are going to a church) first from people things you want to happen or things you like them to be without first doing or thinking what you should do.

When moving to a new neighborhood with a different culture, wouldn’t you assess first the general atmosphere of the neighborhood? Wouldn’t you grab a phone, call the parish and ask questions first? Wouldn’t you try to know things first, after all you are new in the area (so don’t expect people to adapt themselves to you, but rather you)? Things like these can avoid cultural differences. By simply using common sense and educating ourselves first before expecting things from people that are culturally different from us.

I really don’t think this is something applicable only to a particular church situation when you are new to an area or you are going to a place where people and their customs and culture are different from yours. This is a applicable in general.

Pardon me, but very often Catholics deliberately move to a neighborhood full of another culture. It is not uncommon. They experience discomfort and the parishioners experience discomfort. Who said I asked them to adapt to me? I’m the one who learned Spanish- I doubt that they learned English from me. Who said they adapted themselves to me?
Who said I did not assess the neighborhood first? We deliberately moved there, knowing it was an entirely Mexican neighborhood. There is no better way to know what people experience then to experience it yourself. Mexicans feel estranged from the Church frequently when they come here. We went to see if we would feel estranged in a “Mexican” church. We did. We empathize with their difficulties as we experienced them first hand. Your conclusions to my post were erroneous. There was nothing in it to cause you offense. What exactly is your problem with it?

 

[Lumen_Gentium]

No, I don’t have any problems with it as I said from my post.
Look at it from a bigger picture. This great country of ours is composed of so many different people, from so many different races, talk so many different language, yet that is what makes this country of ours great. That we can live, work, worship, etc. the way we OUGHT and SHOULD and certainly not because of others and the way they want us to.

iwonder:

Pardon me, but very often Catholics deliberately move to a neighborhood full of another culture. It is not uncommon. They experience discomfort and the parishioners experience discomfort. Who said I asked them to adapt to me? I’m the one who learned Spanish- I doubt that they learned English from me. Who said they adapted themselves to me?
Who said I did not assess the neighborhood first? We deliberately moved there, knowing it was an entirely Mexican neighborhood. There is no better way to know what people experience then to experience it yourself. Mexicans feel estranged from the Church frequently when they come here. We went to see if we would feel estranged in a “Mexican” church. We did. We empathize with their difficulties as we experienced them first hand. Your conclusions to my post were erroneous. There was nothing in it to cause you offense. What exactly is your problem with it?

 

[Subrosa]

Fr Ambrose:

But you baptize Roman Catholics. That is hardly a sign of kinship.

Hi Fr. Ambrose -

Would you expand on this statement? I don’t quite get your point.

Thanks, much and God bless.

Subrosa

 

[Fr_Ambrose]

Subrosa:

Would you expand on this statement? I don’t quite get your point.

The Coptic Orthodox Church baptizes all Catholics except those who can prove that they were baptized as Catholics with a triple immersion. Since virtually no Catholic has such a triple immersion virtually no Catholic can avoid rebaptism when converting to the Coptic Church.

When converting to Eastern Orthodoxy (Greek, Russian, etc.) many Catholics are received by Chrismation, their RC baptism being accepted as sufficient in form and trinitarian belief and filled with grace upon admission to the Orthodox Church through Chrismation. Some Orthodox bishops will extend this *economia * and receive Catholics simply by a profession of faith, confession and communion.

 

[Volodymyr]

I have found only true believers of both Orthodox and Catholic Churches who disagree about some things but little animosity at this Computer Locus. Have found many Latin Catholics to be perplexed because they want Orthodox not to be different from Catholic. Many such Catholics greatly disappointed to find that Orthodox do not believe everything as Catholics. This has been in my view most source of misunderstanding - not Orthodox explaining how they differ.

Perhaps American Catholics were different 100 years ago when they were minority and still proud of being Polish or Italian and still speaking such languages. I know Greko Catholics and Orthodox from Ukraina must be increasing in United States since 1991. Probably seem unfriendly since speak poor or little English. Sometimes Western Evangelical-Protestant missionaries who have invaded Ukraina can be seen as “friendly” because are rich and also many Ukrainians want to practice English (or German or French or whatever they speak).

Also Eastern Christians have different historical “burden”. Most have been oppressed by Moslems - Turks, Arabs, Tartars. Russian/Ukrainian mitropolit required Yarlik from Tartar Khan to be in Kafedra. Even after this 70 years Communist ateism made believers to practice faith in forests and back rooms. Much different than freedom in America. Finding faith, survival, raising children in faith most important. Proclaiming faith by mouth for too many years got family sent to Kazakhstan. Be patient, American Latin Catholics.

 

[JOHNYJ]

Since the restoration of the Catholic church in Russia .It has been against the Rules to try to convert Orthodox christians.In General it is against church policy to convert Orthodox christians any where.