Orthodox to Eastern Catholic converts

[Agabus]

I suppose “convert” is really the wrong word, but for lack of a better one…

I know this board is haunted by a few EC to Orthodox converts, but I was wondering about the other way around. Why did you decide to come into communion with Rome (by way of coming into communion with your sui juris church)?

 

[bpbasilphx]

Simple…

I got tired of craziness, and the Melkite parish Fr. Brendan and I attend is the healthiest spiritual enviornment we’ve ever experienced.

 

[Religio71]

Simple…

I got tired of craziness, and the Melkite parish Fr. Brendan and I attend is the healthiest spiritual enviornment we’ve ever experienced.

so wait bpbasilphx, are you leaving Orthodoxy for Catholicism?

 

[bpbasilphx]

I’m not leaving anything for anything. I’m a member of the local Melkite church, and could not do so were it not for the Zoghby initiative.

I am has I have been for decades–Orthodox, just in communion with Rome now.

 

[valient_Lucy]

I’m not leaving anything for anything. I’m a member of the local Melkite church, and could not do so were it not for the Zoghby initiative.

I am has I have been for decades–Orthodox, just in communion with Rome now.

What is the Zoghby initiative?

 

[Madaglan]

I’m not leaving anything for anything. I’m a member of the local Melkite church, and could not do so were it not for the Zoghby initiative.

I am has I have been for decades–Orthodox, just in communion with Rome now.

Your posts sound Orthodox.

 

[Madaglan]

What is the Zoghby initiative?

In a nutshell, that the Melkite Catholic Church have communion with Rome *and *with the Orthodox.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Your posts sound Orthodox.

Thank you! I’ll take that as a compliment!

 

[KyivAndrew]

I am no convert but a cradle Ukrainian Catholic who has, however, heard peoples’ reasons for changing rites. One example that sticks with me is of a Portugese Catholic kid who saw a visit to a large Ukrainian Church in Toronto across from his house by the then-released from the Soviet Gulag, Josyp (later Cardinal) Slipyj. The poor man Slipyj had to endure 13 years of the trials of the Gulag in Siberia before John XXIII and Kennedy petitioned Khrushchev to let the poor man go (the rest of his hierarchy in Ukraine had to, by then, been tortured and killed, he was the last still living).

Well, anyway, just that impression of this large holy man and then viewing the Divine Liturgy inside was enough to leave a lifelong impression for the kid to choose to become a Ukrainian Catholic priest as his life mission and he did. He also learned Ukrainian for that matter perfectly. He was a very warm soul and heard my grandmother’s final confession. He has since passed away. I am sure this is not a typical “conversion” story but wished to share it.

Oh and sorry I just noticed the OP was to Orthodox converts to Eastern Catholicism while I dealt with a Roman Catholic to Eastern Catholic move. Apologies.
God Bless.

 

[Dan-Man916]

I don’t mean to be argumentative, but do the Orthodox not in communion with Rome consider themselves in communion with the Church that you attend?

 

[bpbasilphx]

What is it makes us Orthodox?

Our faith?

Who’s in communion with whom?

The label over the door?

Most of the Fathers say it’s our faith.

 

[Dan-Man916]

So would you be allowed to commune in a Church that is not in union with Rome?
I don’t have any problems with someone who identifies as Orthodox in union with Rome. I was just wondering if the Eastern Orthodox not in communion with Rome see you as in communion with them, that’s all.

 

[Ghosty]

So would you be allowed to commune in a Church that is not in union with Rome?
I don’t have any problems with someone who identifies as Orthodox in union with Rome. I was just wondering if the Eastern Orthodox not in communion with Rome see you as in communion with them, that’s all.

It depends very much on the particular priest and/or Bishop in charge. Some will allow Communion, others will not. Some “Orthodox-not-in-Communion” have even concelebrated the Eucharist with “Orthodox in Communion” (I have witnessed it myself), so it really does vary from Church to Church and priest to priest.

Peace and God bless!

 

[mardukm]

It depends very much on the particular priest and/or Bishop in charge. Some will allow Communion, others will not. Some “Orthodox-not-in-Communion” have even concelebrated the Eucharist with “Orthodox in Communion” (I have witnessed it myself), so it really does vary from Church to Church and priest to priest.

More common among the Churches of the Syriac Tradition than in any other Tradition, correct?

Blessings

 

[Ghosty]

More common among the Churches of the Syriac Tradition than in any other Tradition, correct?

Blessings

I imagine so, though the Amenian tradition might have a bit of it as well.

Peace and God bless!

 

[ErichK]

I was baptized non-denominational protestant, but a year ago, I delved into the Russian Orthodox Church, and I’m now looking towards Roman Catholicism.

The biggest things are that of culture. I’m a German, very proud of my heritage, and entering a church that focuses entirely on Russian and Greek culture, worship, and saints is rather…interesting for me, to say the least. I feel like a minority, and I am also having an extremely difficult time accepting a faith that has nothing to do with the faith that I grew up around. (Even though I was baptized a “heathen,” basically, I was born and raised, and spent a good portion of my life, in west-southwest Germany, which has quite a large catholic population and legacy, especially my hometown).

So in short, perhaps it’s hard for me to explain, but it’s like being the only black person in a room full of whites (not trying to be offensive), if that makes a good analogy. Not unwelcome, but just very alone.

Worship, as well, is something I’m not accustomed to. I’m used to the congregation singing hymns as well as a choir, instead of just the choir solely, the absence of a pipe organ, even church architecture. It’s so hard to explain, but I just can’t change from what I was born around

Speaking of which, I’ve got a minor question: Being that I never fully researched catholicism in the way that I researched eastern orthodoxy, I know there are differences in practice between the churches, but what are some of the main ones?

Regards,

Erich

 

[JW55]

I would like to expand on the OP’s question a bit, if I may. I an a Roamn Catholic and for the last 2 years or so I have tried to familiarize myself with the Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox and note the differences with the Latin Rite. I basically feel the EC and EO are very close in their core beliefs to Roman Catholics.

With what could be considered minor differences between the three branches above I would think that a person converting would have to arrive at an “Epiphany” of sorts where the lights came on and you suddenly realize you had to make a decision to change. A state where things suddenly became clear what path you should follow.

For those who have converted one way or another, would you agree that you reached such a moment or did you feel in a was a gradual unvailing of truths that caused you to change? What was the thing that finally guided you to change your path?

 

[steve_b]

I was baptized non-denominational protestant, but a year ago, I delved into the Russian Orthodox Church, and I’m now looking towards Roman Catholicism.

The biggest things are that of culture. I’m a German, very proud of my heritage, and entering a church that focuses entirely on Russian and Greek culture, worship, and saints is rather…interesting for me, to say the least. I feel like a minority, and I am also having an extremely difficult time accepting a faith that has nothing to do with the faith that I grew up around. (Even though I was baptized a “heathen,” basically, I was born and raised, and spent a good portion of my life, in west-southwest Germany, which has quite a large catholic population and legacy, especially my hometown).

So in short, perhaps it’s hard for me to explain, but it’s like being the only black person in a room full of whites (not trying to be offensive), if that makes a good analogy. Not unwelcome, but just very alone.

Worship, as well, is something I’m not accustomed to. I’m used to the congregation singing hymns as well as a choir, instead of just the choir solely, the absence of a pipe organ, even church architecture. It’s so hard to explain, but I just can’t change from what I was born around

Don’t fight it. swim the Tiber

erich:

Speaking of which, I’ve got a minor question: Being that I never fully researched catholicism in the way that I researched eastern orthodoxy, I know there are differences in practice between the churches, but what are some of the main ones?

Regards,

Erich

It’s not so minor. The EO are in schism from the chair of Peter, and Jesus would not approve.

as St Cyprian said

The Lord says to Peter: ‘that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church’…On him He builds the Church, and to him He gives the command to feed the sheep; and although He assigns a like power to all the Apostles, yet He founded a single chair, and He established by His own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was; but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the Apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?”

St. Cyprian of Carthage, The Unity of the Catholic Church, 1st edition, A.D. 251

 

[John_Larocque]

Garry Wills (yes, that Garry Wills) came up with some statements from Cyprian closer to the “first among equals” notion, partly in response to his conflict with Pope Stephen. The above quote was altered and his made the point that other apostles were “equal to Peter”. I get the notion that Pope Stephen and Cyprian did not get along (Stephen apparently called him a “false Christ” and may even have excommunicated him). I’m not inclined to reprint them all the material here, and I guess interested parties, pro and con, can search out the Net and grab what they can.

 

[Hesychios]

For those who have converted one way or another, would you agree that you reached such a moment or did you feel in a was a gradual unvailing of truths that caused you to change? What was the thing that finally guided you to change your path?

I would say both.

When I became Eastern Catholic, I slowly “converted” to Orthodoxy but continued to defend the Papacy vigourously. The more Orthodox-leaning EC tended to disturb me.

The decision to become Orthodox was something of an epiphany, and when it happened I was more surprised than any one else. I did not change my core beliefs, I just changed patriarchs, so to say.