Former Orthodox Here

[Twenty_Nine]

Hi All –

My first post. I was born and raised Roman Catholic and spent a short time in a Melkite church. In 2001, I converted to the Orthodox Church. Due to several reasons, I recently returned to the Roman Catholic Church.

Are there any other former Orthodox here?

29

 

[RyanBlack]

I was Orthodox for a short time prior to becoming Catholic.

 

[Wandile]

Hi All –

My first post. I was born and raised Roman Catholic and spent a short time in a Melkite church. In 2001, I converted to the Orthodox Church. Due to several reasons, I recently returned to the Roman Catholic Church.

Are there any other former Orthodox here?

29

Why did you become Orthodox earlier on in your life?

What made you decide to come back to the Catholic Church?

Just curious.

 

[Twenty_Nine]

I converted because I loved the Divine Liturgy…I felt that I was truly living the faith. The community aspect was also very important for me and my family.

I came back for several reasons. One is that I realized that I was born and live in a certain place which is the 21st century in the West. The Latin Church is part of the fabric of my existence - the Orthodox East is not. After the 14 years as Orthodox, I was really feeling like an outcast in terms of the world around me. Being Orthodox did not feel natural at all.

I now appreciate aspects of the Papacy that I didn’t 14 years ago. But also, the Papacy does not really impact my life directly. I like the Pope as a point of unity and I have a local bishop to follow. That is enough for me.

29

 

[SyroMalankara]

Why Roman and not Byzantine? Not agitating, just curious.
And why Byzantine and not Oriental?

 

[Casilda]

Hi All –

My first post. I was born and raised Roman Catholic and spent a short time in a Melkite church. In 2001, I converted to the Orthodox Church. Due to several reasons, I recently returned to the Roman Catholic Church.

Are there any other former Orthodox here?

29

I was a cradle Roman Catholic, my family left the church post V2, I was never able to revert. I married a Protestant and together we seriously considered Eastern Orthodoxy, becoming catechumens. I refused to give up on Pope Francis. Then we discovered Eastern Catholicism, my husband converted and I was able to transfer by marriage. Long way around it and a long, long time, but I am finally a restored Catholic. Did Eastern Catholics cross your radar?

The Latin Church is part of the fabric of my existence - the Orthodox East is not. After the 14 years as Orthodox, I was really feeling like an outcast in terms of the world around me

I have battled with this same feeling. By way of much prayer and studying with my priest I have been able to cast off that feeling. The church I remember does not exist anymore, God saw fit to remove me and has placed me where I am today for my soul’s sake.

 

[Twenty_Nine]

I chose the Latin Church instead of the Byzantine Rite because of cultural reasons. And this is a big reason why I left Orthodoxy. The Byzantine Rite/Liturgy is really wonderful…it’s just not part of the fabric of our culture.

 

[Glomung]

Former Greek Orthodox here.

Baptised Greek Orthodox as an adult. (had been agnostic, raised by relatively lukewarm Protestant parents).
Married a Roman Catholic.
Due to difficulty in getting to the Orthodox Church (long ways off), stubborn Catholic wife,
actually being more familiar with Catholic theology and Saints, I decided to hop the fence.
Now a happy Roman Catholic. I still love the Orthodox church and keep in touch with some of the Orthodox monks I know.

 

[Diamantina]

I was baptized as an infant in the Catholic Church to non-churchgoing parents who had had a civil wedding. I began to attend Mass when I was 10 years old, on my own (though my mother would drop me off and pick me up before and after Mass). I was in the Orthodox Church for 13 years (1990 to 2003, ages 23 to 36) before I reverted to the Catholic Church. I converted to Orthodoxy because I felt alone when I went to Mass by myself in the large suburban parishes that I attended, and I was too shy and too ignorant of what the Catholic Church taught to feel comfortable volunteering. I had also found a smaller, more intimate, even family-like church home in an Orthodox mission parish, loved the Divine Liturgy and thought that the Orthodox Church believed everything that I already believed or wanted to believe. (This was especially true about the role of the Papacy: I did not appreciate it as much as I do now. I thought that the last 150 years or so of Popes had been good and holy men, but that they were first among equals when it came to bishops.)

If there had been Eastern Catholic parishes within five or ten miles of my house when I was first considering the Orthodox Church, I might have become an Eastern Catholic instead. However, there were no Eastern Catholic parishes within that distance at that time (in the past few years, a Maronite parish and a Melkite mission have opened in my neighborhood).

Being Orthodox gave me a love of icons, the Psalms and the Mother of God. So why did I revert to Catholicism? One reason is the same as what Twenty Nine gave – I am a Westerner living at the start of the 21st century. When the mission parish in which I had been chrismated in the Orthodox Church closed, I joined a Serbian Orthodox parish. I was always treated well, but I felt a barrier of sorts because I was not of Serbian descent nor married to someone of Serbian descent (and as time went on, it became obvious that I was unlikely to marry anybody at all). Another reason is that I was attempting to discern consecrated life and knew that the traditional monastic life that prevailed in the Orthodox Church was not for me: I thought that a secular institute or consecrated virginity lived in the world or a private vow of chastity under the aegis of a third order would be more appropriate for me. (I am now a Lay Carmelite, but I have not taken a private vow of chastity or become a consecrated virgin.)

I am extremely active in a NO Latin Rite parish, but am making it a point to attend the Melkite mission near me one or two Sundays a month. It is sooo nice to attend the Divine Liturgy and be in communion with the Pope and the Catholic Church!

Sorry for the length of this post

 

[Peter_J]

But one doesn’t join a Rite, one joins a Church. (I realize a lot of Latin Catholics say that it’s okay to call a Church a “Rite”, claiming that the two words mean the same thing, but I think this thread dispels that notion: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=964658 .)

 

[FollowChrist34]

I was an atheist for many years; also I was a Christian who didn’t attend Church for quite a while. I did seriously consider the Orthodox Church on several occasions, but I realized that it was not my home Church and that I would always be a bit of an outsider. Also the Greek vs. Russian vs. whatever thing really bothered me. The Orthodox Churches felt like a lot of liturgy and nationalism - not a universal Church. I never really felt at home as a Protestant either; I’ve tried that too on occasion.

And finally I don’t always feel at home in the Catholic Church. I am bothered by the orthodox vs liberal battle over the future of the Church. In my darker moments, I think the orthodox overemphasize the tradition, structure, teaching and history of the Church over Jesus Christ and the Bible; they seem to me to lack love or charity.

I likewise find the so called liberals who disregard all moral teaching to be just as frustrating. I think this is a rejection of the teachings of the Christ as presented in the Bible - in order to follow human will. I get tired of the drive to soften Church teaching to push it more in line with secular values. I think this is a lack of faith in Christ.

But is easy to get too abstract, intellectual and judgmental about the Church. I feel much better when I step back from the news issues and conflicts and just be a Christian - the way I was before I joined the Catholic Church. I was just a good a Christian back then as I am now. And a happier one. The Pontificate of Francis has been a little tough for me, more because of how others react than Francis and what he does.

I feel very fortunate that my faith came before my joining the Church - it would survive leaving it. But there is no reason to leave it. Each of us makes our own path - whatever Church God puts us in. So I stay a Catholic. I think I would be better off to mind my own business a little more and focus on my own faith and witnessing Christ and the Church more authentically.

 

[Cassianus]

Congratulations to you for making the Correct Choice

I sorta know what you’re saying. I love the Divine Liturgy as well, but I could never become Orthodox because where I live they only have services in Slavonic languages. Just like the Catholic Church it’s largely a church for immigrants, but while the Catholic Church celebrates the Mass in the Swedish language as standard & Spanish, Croatian or polish on special occasions, the orthodox churches celebrate the mass as a standard in Greek or different Slavonic languages, so I’d have to learn Slavonic or Greek which I didn’t have the time to do, which in turn led me to question the term catholic & whether it could be applied to such a church or not, which led me to conclude that only the Catholic Church is truly Universal.

I still feel the Divine Liturgy is more transcendent & otherworldly than the Mass but I prefer many other things about the Catholic Church such as the rosary, the papacy, Thomism, the religious orders, the clear & thorough catechisms etc.

& in the end, it’s not about what we prefer, it’s what God has established & if we recognize it or not.

It’s the most difficult thing in life, making such a choice as what spiritual path will tread. But it’s also the most important decision that can be made & a sacred enquiry that must take it’s time.

 

[CompSciGuy]

And finally I don’t always feel at home in the Catholic Church. I am bothered by the orthodox vs liberal battle over the future of the Church. In my darker moments, I think the orthodox overemphasize the tradition, structure, teaching and history of the Church over Jesus Christ and the Bible; they seem to me to lack love or charity.

I likewise find the so called liberals who disregard all moral teaching to be just as frustrating. I think this is a rejection of the teachings of the Christ as presented in the Bible - in order to follow human will. I get tired of the drive to soften Church teaching to push it more in line with secular values. I think this is a lack of faith in Christ.

I don’t think you are alone here. I agree with you that rejection of the teachings of Christ indicate a lack of faith in Christ. But I would also recommend to you, have faith in Christ and His Church and the promises that Jesus made about the Church: the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Do not have fear for the future of the Church, it has suffered persecution, it has suffered corruption heresy from within, but it has always survived. It is easy to think these days that the Church is coming to an end or that this liberalism is going to define it for the rest of its earthly life but it’s important to remember the lessons of the past. The Holy Spirit preserved the Church in spite of an almost complete infiltration of Arian heretics in the 4th century. The Church survived the Avignon papacy scandal and the scandal of Pope Formosus and Pope Stephen VI. It survived the reformation and the so-called “enlightenment” and the attacks by Napoleon, who told an imprisoned cardinal “I will destroy your church,” and the cardinal replied, “He will never succeed. We have not managed to do it ourselves!”

If the Church can survive all of that, I think it can survive the gay marriage movement, Roe vs. Wade, and a few liberal priests and nuns.

If it makes you feel any better, there is an increase of holy and orthodox young priests that has come about in recent years. Some have said that this is a fulfilment of the prophecy of Our Lady of Good Success.

Stay Catholic my friend.

 

[Peter_J]

I was an atheist for many years; also I was a Christian who didn’t attend Church for quite a while. I did seriously consider the Orthodox Church on several occasions, but I realized that it was not my home Church and that I would always be a bit of an outsider. Also the Greek vs. Russian vs. whatever thing really bothered me. The Orthodox Churches felt like a lot of liturgy and nationalism - not a universal Church. I never really felt at home as a Protestant either; I’ve tried that too on occasion.

And finally I don’t always feel at home in the Catholic Church. I am bothered by the orthodox vs liberal battle over the future of the Church. In my darker moments, I think the orthodox overemphasize the tradition, structure, teaching and history of the Church over Jesus Christ and the Bible; they seem to me to lack love or charity.

I likewise find the so called liberals who disregard all moral teaching to be just as frustrating. I think this is a rejection of the teachings of the Christ as presented in the Bible - in order to follow human will. I get tired of the drive to soften Church teaching to push it more in line with secular values. I think this is a lack of faith in Christ.

But is easy to get too abstract, intellectual and judgmental about the Church. I feel much better when I step back from the news issues and conflicts and just be a Christian - the way I was before I joined the Catholic Church. I was just a good a Christian back then as I am now. And a happier one. The Pontificate of Francis has been a little tough for me, more because of how others react than Francis and what he does.

I feel very fortunate that my faith came before my joining the Church - it would survive leaving it. But there is no reason to leave it. Each of us makes our own path - whatever Church God puts us in. So I stay a Catholic. I think I would be better off to mind my own business a little more and focus on my own faith and witnessing Christ and the Church more authentically.

Fwiw, if I were Orthodox I wouldn’t switch to Catholicism (Aside: I’ll side-step the question of whether it is appropriate to call it “conversion” when it’s intra-Christian.) – and I think (name removed by moderator) has said something similar in the past, but I don’t remember for sure and don’t want to speak for him. But it would be different if I were, say, Episcopalian … I could definitely see myself leaving the TEC to become catholic.

 

[FollowChrist34]

Fwiw, if I were Orthodox I wouldn’t switch to Catholicism (Aside: I’ll side-step the question of whether it is appropriate to call it “conversion” when it’s intra-Christian.) – and I think (name removed by moderator) has said something similar in the past, but I don’t remember for sure and don’t want to speak for him. But it would be different if I were, say, Episcopalian … I could definitely see myself leaving the TEC to become catholic.

That is interesting. Why can’t someone who is Orthodox decide to become Catholic? I don’t understand. A Catholic can decide he or she prefers the Orthodox Church. The way I look at it the Catholic Church is much more of a universal Church - the original Church (minus a few groups along the way ). I am a big believer in the body of Christ as all Christians. I know many Christians don’t seem to buy into that concept, or at least it seems that way to me, speaking theoretically here.

In spite of any Church’s claim to universal truth, in reality I think the Orthodox Churches can often be largely comprised of individuals from a particular country or region - it is hard for an outsider for this reason. I once went to a (small) Lutheran Church where basically everyone was of Norwegian extraction - they did have others there but they were the minority. (it wasn’t supposed to matter but it did to me) In a Catholic Church you have everyone.

 

[Peter_J]

That is interesting. Why can’t someone who is Orthodox decide to become Catholic? I don’t understand. A Catholic can decide he or she prefers the Orthodox Church.

I’m sorry, but I don’t see what you’re responding to. My post was in the same vein as your statement “Each of us makes our own path - whatever Church God puts us in.” except that I qualified it a little: if I had been born into the TEC, I would probably leave it.

No question I agree with you that a person can choose to “convert” (or whatever we want to call it) from Catholicism to Orthodoxy or from Orthodoxy to Catholicism (see the recent discussion about Fr. Alexis Toth) but I’m not sure I’d want to get into that on this thread – I think there’s enough triumphalism already.

 

[FollowChrist34]

I’m sorry, but I don’t see what you’re responding to. My post was in the same vein as your statement “Each of us makes our own path - whatever Church God puts us in.” except that I qualified it a little: if I had been born into the TEC, I would probably leave it.

No question I agree with you that a person can choose to “convert” (or whatever we want to call it) from Catholicism to Orthodoxy or from Orthodoxy to Catholicism (see the recent discussion about Fr. Alexis Toth) but I’m not sure I’d want to get into that on this thread – I think there’s enough triumphalism already.

Oh - then it is my misunderstanding. Sorry, I misread your comments. (I thought you were saying something to the effect that an Orthodox would never decide to become a Catholic.)

 

[wynd]

That is interesting. Why can’t someone who is Orthodox decide to become Catholic? I don’t understand. A Catholic can decide he or she prefers the Orthodox Church. The way I look at it the Catholic Church is much more of a universal Church - the original Church (minus a few groups along the way ). I am a big believer in the body of Christ as all Christians. I know many Christians don’t seem to buy into that concept, or at least it seems that way to me, speaking theoretically here.

In spite of any Church’s claim to universal truth, in reality I think the Orthodox Churches can often be largely comprised of individuals from a particular country or region - it is hard for an outsider for this reason. I once went to a (small) Lutheran Church where basically everyone was of Norwegian extraction - they did have others there but they were the minority. (it wasn’t supposed to matter but it did to me) In a Catholic Church you have everyone.

Really depends on the parish. I’ve been to Orthodox churches all over the country and the vast majority were a good mix of people.

 

[outremer]

I came back for several reasons. One is that I realized that I was born and live in a certain place which is the 21st century in the West. The Latin Church is part of the fabric of my existence - the Orthodox East is not. After the 14 years as Orthodox, I was really feeling like an outcast in terms of the world around me. Being Orthodox did not feel natural at all.

Depending where you live in the “West.” If you moved to Dearborn, Michigan, you would be surrounded by Arab Muslims and Christians. Many parts of inner cities, it will be Latino culture.

Was your experience with Orthodoxy primarily cultural? Was it a GREEK Orthodox church for example? Sorry, I’m just curious.

 

[outremer]

Sadly, since the loss of the unifying Latin Mass, our Church’s liturgies have become more “cultural.” Masses in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, French… you name it. Especially in English, there are Masses inspired by a wide range of “cultures”- African American and the Gospel worship, Charismatic, contemporary praise and worship, traditional hymnal, rock and roll.

Spanish Masses, for the most part, seem overwhelmingly attended by those who prefer to celebrate Mexican and other Latin cultures. I would assume that’s why the music reflects that culture, from what I have witnessed.

Is this really any different from the Orthodox “divisions”?

That is interesting. Why can’t someone who is Orthodox decide to become Catholic? I don’t understand. A Catholic can decide he or she prefers the Orthodox Church. The way I look at it the Catholic Church is much more of a universal Church - the original Church (minus a few groups along the way ). I am a big believer in the body of Christ as all Christians. I know many Christians don’t seem to buy into that concept, or at least it seems that way to me, speaking theoretically here.

In spite of any Church’s claim to universal truth, in reality I think the Orthodox Churches can often be largely comprised of individuals from a particular country or region - it is hard for an outsider for this reason. I once went to a (small) Lutheran Church where basically everyone was of Norwegian extraction - they did have others there but they were the minority. (it wasn’t supposed to matter but it did to me) In a Catholic Church you have everyone.