Primary Reasons for People Becoming Orthodox?

[Mickey]

I feel very comfortable in saying that is a prideful act of a person not humble.

When you point your finger at someone, there are three more fingers pointing back at you.

 

[Rachel_Malloy]

Please remember to remain ON TOPIC.

Thank you for your cooperation.

God bless

 

[chrisb]

Mia culpa!!!

 

[SingleMomMonica]

What is the primary motivation for those born as Catholic to become Orthodox? I’m primarily thinking of those baptized and raised in the Roman Rite of the Church.

Is it a loss of the sense of the Sacred since Vatican II in the Western Church?
Dissatisfaction with the way the abuse crisis was handled?
Marriage?

God Bless.

I was confirmed into the Roman Rite, not baptized or raised.

For me my conversion to Orthodoxy had nothing to do with a loss of the sense of the Sacred since Vatican II in the Western Church.

The Sex Abuse Crisis really came to light after I was really involved, although not yet converted, in Orthodoxy. Even though I was not a practicing Catholic, I defended the Catholic Church from the attacks I heard people making against Catholic Priests and the Catholic Church. Like one lady said that it’s because Catholic priests are not married that some of them have turned to sexually abusing little boys. I told her that one had nothing to do with another and then asked her: "If something happened are you were no longer able to have marital relations with your husband, would he then turn to little boys? That question really woke her up that it is a pediphile issue, not an issue of the Catholic Church’s stance of not ordaining married men. She no longer made any other attacks against the Catholic Church…at least not in my hearing.

I’ve never been married, so nope Marriage had nothing to do with it either.

For me, my interest in Orthodoxy began once I discovered it’s existence. I had become Catholic because I wanted to be a member of the first Christian Church that existed. I only knew about the Catholic Church having Apostolic Succession and so became a Catholic. Had I known about the Orthodox Church at the same time, it’s possible I would have never become Catholic in the first place? I don’t know. God has His reasons for my conversions to have happened as they did.

I really loved the Catholic Faith and was careful to stay in-line with the teachings of the Pope. I read many Papal Encyclicals, the CCC and other official Catholic documents to aide in my Catholic Formation.

In reading these and other “truly Catholic” works, I came across this other Church with Apostolic Succession: The Orthodox Church. Then I learned that both Churches were once in union with each other, but had separated over theological issues.

I began studying these theological issues. I read early Church Fathers on these theological issues. I read the Saints/Martyrs and their perspective on this theological issues.

I began praying about these theological issues…trying to figure out which Church I should belong to.

Eventually, I was convinced that I needed to leave the Church I loved and become Orthodox. So that’s what I pursued.

I found a local Orthodox Church, went and announced to the priest after Liturgy that I wanted to become Orthodox, I remember being suprised when he said, “No. You can continue coming to our parish if you like. But you’re not going to convert. There’s no need for you to become Orthodox.”

I was like in total shock! I had studied and prayed for years. I was ready to be Orthodox and he said NO!?!

Anyway, I knew the Orthodox Church was right on those theological issues, so I continued coming to Divine Liturgy. I have to admitt I was a little worried about the prospect of never receiving the Sacraments again. But I kept coming.

After several months, the priest pulled me aside after Liturgy and said that he sees that I’ve continued coming even though he’d tried to dissaude me. He also said that if I would like, he would meet with me each week to teach me about the Orthodox Church. I agreed and we continued to meet for months.

Then one day after several more months he announced that the following week I should be ready because he was going to Chrismate our family Orthodox and he’d already selected our godparents after speaking with the Bishop.

We happily became Orthodox (finally!) in March 2004.

 

[Cecilianus]

There really is not the same sense of “Holy Days of Obligation” in the Orthodox Church. However, there is the notion that you need to be engaged in the life of the Church–fasting on fast days, attending Pre-sanctified Liturgy during Lent, going to Vespers on Saturday, regular confession, etc. Some priests will not commune you if you have failed to live up to these.

I was told that Sundays were Holy Days of Obligation by an Orthodox friend - either that, or I read it in Pomozansky, I can’t remember. Anyway, I don’t see the problem with the concept, for either Catholic or Orthodox. Nobody thinks that you should go to Mass simply out of duty - it’s a privilege which we should appreciate, and which we would be being gravely ungrateful to skip.

I’ve heard from my priest and have read that if an Orthodox Christian misses Divine Liturgy for three Sundays without good reason, he receives excommunication (similiar to *latea sententiae *in that it is automatic).

Would someone please suggest this to the Pope for all the rites of the Church…

 

[Cecilianus]

My priest says before the Gospel. I usually arrive around the time of the readings.

In the Latin rite of the Catholic Church, you have to hear the Gospel.

It’s much easier to sneak into an Eastern church, as the priest has his back turned to you.

As he used to - and still should - everywhere.