Your response to 1Tim215Mommy’s ignorance was a thumbs up and to write “I’m aware of the history”, as though anything she had presented in any way passes for history. So please forgive me for remaining resolute that nothing in this thread indicates that anyone knows anything about the Armenian objections to Chalcedon. But still, thank you for attempting to correct 1Tim215Mommy on her inaccurate and polemical use of language regarding the OO.
The thumbs up was a way of acknowledging that she did not accuse the modern Armenians of Monophysitism, and trying to end an argument before it began. As I said, I didn’t want to derail the thread; I just wanted to make sure nobody mistook the OO for Monophysites. I probably could’ve done it in a better way than a thumbs up though, so I apologize for the misunderstanding.
I don’t know if you’re talking about your incident or mine, so please forgive me on that.
I wouldn’t expect you to feel any different, and no one else should, either. I haven’t been to an Orthodox church in a while, and I continue to pray I won’t have to, even though my parents plan on my family and I finding a parish to attend. I would have done the same thing. If the Church looks nice, and it’s open, or even if it’s just unlocked, then you should have been able to go there without issue. If the door was locked or there was a sign that read “Orthodox Only,” then I could understand, but I’m pretty sure no Orthodox church would post that. I would never hinder anyone from converting to another faith if that’s where they feel God wants them, but if I was Catholic and had that experience, I wouldn’t even let that thought cross my mind.That, my friend, is something I am unsure of. Every parish is different, just like every Priest is different. People will probably ask who you are, if your Orthodox, things like that. Note: From all of the Orthodox parishes I’ve been to, they normally aren’t open on Saturdays, except for Holy Days and/or Church events, so if you are wanting to visit, plan on going on a Sunday. As for your questions, as I said before, I do not know, but do prepare yourself in case something goes wrong.
Depends. If it’s during Vespers and you came in nobody would probably notice. At my parish they’d come up afterwards to say hello. If you went to St. George’s down the street you’d be locked out with nobody because they don’t do Vespers, or we might be standoffish because Youth Group might be going on, and we’d be concerned about a strange man we don’t know wandering around the grounds while our kids are there without their parents (I’m one of the youth leaders, that’s the ‘we’ I mean) and that parish is in a sketchy neighborhood.
You’d be in Liturgy following along as best you could. You might be welcomed personally afterwards to Coffee Hour, but I know just as many hospitable people who don’t do that because they feel Liturgy alone can be overwhelming without putting someone in the awkward position of rejecting Coffee Hour right afterwards. They only welcome people the second time. You might meet the priest afterwards, you might be ignored, you might have people ask if you’re Orthodox, or if you’re (insert ethnicity here) or if you’re converting. You might have someone help you work out your place in the Service Book, you might just be standing there amidst people who don’t speak English and don’t know where on Earth the Liturgy is in the Service Book. You might be struggling with a book in Cyrillic and a Liturgy in Slavonic. You’d probably be confused by lack of cohesive gestures - when to cross oneself, when to bow, when one can sit or stand, is different in each parish and even amongst parishioners. Generally you’ll be standing the whole time. There might not be any back ‘row’ for you to inhabit!
Hilarious. Thanks!
Hello, for Eastern Orthodox Christians and everyone who has knowledge of them, I have a question.
This question might strike as offensive or generalizing, so I apologize in advance…
Well, for those who don’t know me, I have an interest in Religions, not just mine but others. And I often get invited to or just like to visit different Non-Catholic places of worship just to see what it’s like.
I’ve noticed with Catholics, they’re very explanatory and welcoming.
Protestants and Jehovah’s Witnesses even more so (for kind of obvious reasons).
But I’ve visited one going on two Eastern Orthodox Churches. And I’ve been getting a vibe of skepticism from some of the people in those Churches. Sort of like a “what exactly are you doing here?” kind of vibe.
It all depends on the parish. I guarantee you that if you visited my parish you would be welcome. I know of many Eastern Orthodox Churches that welcome visitors. However, I must be honest, some parishes are so tied to their ethnicism that they do not welcome visitors. However, these parishes are becoming fewer and most Orthodox parishes welcome visitors.
Archpriest John W. Morris
Can anyone tell me why this is?
That is very unusual in an Antiochian Orthodox Church. Most Antiochian Orthodox Churches encourage visitors and are filled with non-Arab converts. Most of the clergy of the Antiochian Archdiocese are converts. We have received whole parishes of converts from Protestantism.
At least the Antiochian Orthodox have gotten out of the ethnic mindset except in a few places. Most of our Priests are converts like myself. We have received whole parishes of converts into our Archdiocese. Actually, the Orthodox Church is very active in the mission field. There are hundreds of thousands of Orthodox in Africa, and Latin America. The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan in Mexico just took in over 500,000 Mayan Native Americans in Guatemala and southern Mexico. The Antiochian Patriarchate has about 20 parishes in Great Britain, all but one came into Orthodoxy from Anglicanism. We are also growing in Asia.
There is a reason why the monks of The Esphigmenou Monastery were evicted. They went into schism and broke with the Orthodox Church. Mt. Athos is under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarch and they accused him of heresy because of our dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church. They are somewhat like the followers of Archbishop Lefebvre are to the Roman Catholic Church.
There has been a series of dialogues between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox theologians which decided that we both believe the same things about Christ, but use different terminology to describe our doctrine. Thus the Christological disputes between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox has been resolved.Right, they did change their stance from Monophysite (Only One Nature) to Miaphysite (One Nature), BUT they still deny the Truth about Christ ~ He has Two Natures.
I suppose on the positive side, since they’ve changed their beliefs already, perhaps they’ll change it again to Orthodoxy? There is always HOPE, no?
I am compelled to point out that there is a very active and fruitful dialogue both in North America and on the international level between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. The Ecumenical Patriarch attended the installation of Pope Francis, the first time in history even before the schism that a Patriarch of Constantinople has attended a papal installation. The new Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, John X, visited Rome a few weeks ago and met with Pope Francis. So both sides are working for reunion.
That is not quite true. Most Orthodox do not re-baptize converts. The problem that we have today is with liberal Protestant Churches who baptize “in the name of the creator, redeemer and sanctifier,” instead of the correct “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Thus we now have to verify that a convert was baptized using the correct Trinitarian formula. Look at Canon 95 of the Council in Trullo. Even Arians were not re-baptized if they converted to the then united Church. The Council of Constantinople of 1484 ruled that Roman Catholics should be received by Chrismation, but used a prayer to reconcile some who has left the Church, not the prayer to complete a Baptism. The Council of Jerusalem Bethlehem of 1672 ruled that Protestant converts are to be received by Chrismation, but mandated that the prayer used be the one used to complete a Baptism from the Baptism service of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Please do not judge all Orthodox by one ignorant priest. I always welcome visitors to our Church as do my people.
We are working on Eastern Orthodox unity in North America. We have established the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and Central America which includes all canonical Orthodox Bishops. The Assembly has established several committees to work to unify Orthodox practice in preparation for greater unity.
The situation in the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulcher) and the Church of the Nativity is a scandal that should concern all Orthodox and Catholic Christians. All sides act in a very un-Christian manner. I have had friends who were treated very rudely by Franciscans in these Churches.
Fr. bless,
The Esphigmenou monks were sent eviction notices but last time I heard they have not actually left their monastery, although this particular case in point deals not with their monastery building but with their building in Karyes. They do not view the Ecumenical Patriarch as heretical for his dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, rather they have viewed the past Ecumenical Patriarchs as heretical for the Patriarchs’ involvement with a heresy known as Ecumenism. While the majority of those on Mt. Athos are in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch, Esphigmenou monastery is the only monastery that isn’t along with various sketes who aren’t as well.