www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Converting to Orthododoxy

My most esteemed colleagues in faith,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I write now in almost 100% certainty, that is, I have yet to fully finalise what I am about to say.
My friends, I have decided to become Orthodox. It is not for reasons I have stated in the past, like dissapointment or feelings of bittereness between me and the Roman Church, it is simply the result of where I feel I am being called in life, to serve God as a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church. I would like everyone to know that I have by no means sacrificed any of my beliefs as a Catholic, but rather, I am confirming what I have always believed by becoming Orthodox.

I feel no feelings of bitterness towards His Holiness the Patriarch of Rome nor do I doubt the appointement of the Patriarch of Rome as being prime amongst the pentarchy, but rather, I state simply that the current state of the papacy and the Catholic Church in general is not what I would refer to as "apostolic faith". I will always respect and love the Catholic faith and the holy father, though I may at times not agree with the history of the situation.


I know that there are some who would prefer for me to remain Catholic and become part of the "bridge east", though I do not think that the eastern Catholic CHurches are the prime tool for this reunion. I would prefer rather that instead of proding the east (sorry for this crude and innacurate analogy) that I would truly become one with it and try to achieve unity by other means.

All in all, I feel I have made the right choice, that this is where God is calling me, and I hope that I am accepted still as a brother in the faith by you all, my colleagues and close friends. Pray for me, that I may persevere in what I have been called to and that my current parish and its priests shall be merciful to my calling. May God have mercy on us all
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison

Peace be with you all!
Glory to Jesus Christ!

-Justin, archsinner, believer in double communion until the final reunion.

p.s. my reference to "other means" is not for me to become some sort of spy for the Catholic Church in the eastern ranks, I seek to truly be part of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Dear Justin,

But if you convert to Orthodoxy, what will you do about your screen name? :p

Just kidding.

If it's not too much trouble, I would like it very much if you could explain a bit further what's behind your decision. You alluded to some things in your post, but if you could give those and any other factors more of an explanation here, I would really appreciate it, and I'm sure others would too. Thanks!

I pray all of God's blessings on you. As a former Roman Catholic, turned Greek Orthodox, turned Byzantine Catholic; I understand what you are going through. Let me know if I can help.

Dmitri

Mor ephrem, I'll see what I can do about the screen name

But otherwise, I guess it's just things like the general Catholic understanding of the church, you know, the one patriarch to rule them all type of thing. I usually had no problem with the doctrine of infallibility, but then I realised, "to what is the pope infallible?". I mean, the patriarchates established for the eastern Catholic Churches are like pawns, almost. They have no authority compared to the pope, so infallibility isn't really a doctrine, it's something that was produced from the lack of other patriarchs. There's no Patriarch of constantinople in union with Rome, you know, things like that. But I do respect all the offices of the Church of Rome, including those offices of the ones in union with them.

I know that may have been a little confusing, but then there's also a few other things.One is the filioque. I know it's just three little words and that the creed is an expression of the faith of the Church, but the filioque has no place in the creed. It wasn't declared part of the creed in a ecumenical council (but it was rejected in one) and it's in the creed as a result of an push by the Holy Roman Emperor. It should have been removed as soon as the empire lost its authority, but for some reason it was kept.

there's other reasons I would not like to delve into right now, out of charity and out of respect for his holiness, the patriarch of Rome.
The Orthodox Churches seem to be an authentic, completely historical expression of the apostolic faith by means of the eastern rites. There is also the issue of the position of the Orthodox churches. They do not receive nearly as much heresy and controversy, it seems. This is a terrible reason, I know, but it is merely a bonus, if you will.

I could go on and on, as I already have, but I end it here to just give a general expression of my sentiments at the moment.

In the peace of Christ,

-Justin,archsinner

Dmirtri, sure you can help, same with anyone else who would like to help.

contact me at:

Catholic_servant86@byzantines.net


thank you all

Just another question here, what would I have to do to become (Greek) Orthodox? Just explain to the priest at the Orthodox church my situation and then make a profession of faith the same day?
I feel as though I am prepared, as I have been journeying east for a while and I have never made a permanent place anywhere in particular (except my local parish) .
thank you

No, it is not quite that simple. You must be Christmated (even if already Confirmed) and may be re-Baptized depending on the Orthodox Jurisdiction. Most churches require you to take some form of RCIA like courses for a few months beforhand.

Dmitri.

Alright, I'll see what I can do, I hope my parents will allow this. I most certainly would not mind any of the alternatives, as long as I am accepted into the church.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Catholic_servant86:
[QB]My most esteemed colleagues in faith,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I write now in almost 100% certainty, that is, I have yet to fully finalise what I am about to say.
My friends, I have decided to become Orthodox.


Many Years!!!!!!!!! God lead you on your journey to the Orthodox Faith and it is good to see that you are moving "towards" instead of "fleeing" from. Pray for me as well as I am inquiring into Orthodoxy hopefully to become a Catechumen at Nativity!

Nnogaya Lyeta!!!!!!!

That I will pray for you Brian.

O Lord, you who grants wisdom and takes it, the infinite treasury of blessings, have mercy on us all that Brian in particular shall be delivered unharmed and unscathed spiritually into your Heavenly fortress, the Orthodox Church.

For you alon, O God, are the merciful and great, and you alone can save us from damnation.

Amiin


p.s. Brian, what's your story? What are you at the moment?

Thanks so much for the prayer.

I am presently worshipping at a local OCA parish here in Sacramento as an inquirer and to be received, God Willing, as a Catechumen in Dec at Nativity. The priest is extremely warm and very spiritual and devoted to the Liturgy and Services and the community is very welcoming a good mix of "convert" and "cradle" I like what my priest says about the "Cradle" people ("They show us how to be Orthodox!)
I attended a Byzantine Catholic Church for 13 years (originally Latin Catholic) Our parish was beginning to recover our Orthodox traditions and our Byz Cath priest always encouraged us to read Orthodox authors and occasionally I would attend Vigil at a local Orthodox parish. Through a lot of reading and prayer, I came to see Orthodoxy as the Mother Church, the fullness of expression of Eastern Christianity and also that Orthodoxy has a healthier and more historically accurate approach to Church authority (A Communion of Churches as opposed to INfallibility etc)
In going towards Orthodoxy, I have nothing but deep love for the Church I grew up in and especially for the Eastern Catholic Church (Byzantine Catholic Rusyn) which taught me what Eastern Christian Faith was for the first time. I see this step as completion and not a break.
Of course, much more went into it then this and I am just starting my journey but enough for the space of a message board.



Thanks again for your prayers and good wishes!

Brian

[ 08-02-2002: Message edited by: Brian ]

Catholic Servant,
The filioque is a moot issue these days. The pope himself omits it when amongst Orthodox and Eastern Catholics. His primacy and it's developed offshoot of infalability continues to develop and be defined by the needs of the church. The Holy Spirit, guiding the Church, sees to this. The hardest thing to contemplate and dinscern is the issue of obedience. Are we called to effect change for the "demons" that plague the human-ness of the institution through "prayer and fasting" or should our obedience to the faith lead us to disobedience? Are these concerns of yours truly impediments to your spiritual life? Cannot the Holy Spirit, if it be the will of the Holy Trinity, make way for your ordination to the presbyteriate? I would suggest, in humility, that it is far greater to die a saint and a layman, than a priest and proud. As you are well aware, the Orthodox church has it's own unique problems. These are the same problems that can lead to disillusionment and dispargement once one leaves the Catholic fold for Orthodoxy. We so often look outside of our own scope of influence and long for the ideal. Inner transformation leads to external changes. If the sacraments and patramony are valid, then the tools for Metanoia are there. Why look in someone else's field for what is in your own backyard?

Peace to you,

Athanasius

Brian wrote:

>>>Through a lot of reading and prayer, I came to see Orthodoxy as the Mother Church, the fullness of expression of Eastern Christianity and also that Orthodoxy has a healthier and more historically accurate approach to Church authority (A Communion of Churches as opposed to INfallibility etc)<<<

And especially "A Communion of Churches"...

Thank-You, Brian, for this penetrating insight into the nature of Church authority. One of the differences I have noticed between east and west is that in the west authority tends to be imposed from the top, and in the east, it tends to be sought from the bottom.

A Communion of Churches... Not a single Church with an infallibly ordained and institutional
head, but a communion. The eastern Churches spawned many additional Churches, each in their own language and culture, each attaining independence from the evangellizing Church. The west has not evangellized this way, apparently valuing a 'final authority' over a "communion of Churches."

Is not the Trinity a Communion of Persons?

My prayers are with you...

geo

Having been around the block a few times, I have noticed some patterns. It seems to me, anyway, that too infrequently when people speak of converting to Orthodoxy that Jesus Christ has any real role and place - it is focussed on other things (perhaps good in themselves).

I have read countless "testimonies" of those who have converted to Orthodoxy - what seems missing too often is any mention of Our Lord Himself and his gospel.

This is one major reason why I decided to come back to the Catholic Church - for all her problems, I find Christ really is central in a way I do not think comparable elsewhere (and I love the Evangelical Tradition very much, too, for its great devotion to the Person of Jesus).

I have a good friend, named Ed Berman, who was a convert to Orthodoxy and has become a Catholic. He wrote, a while back now, his reasons for the change. What I appreciate it is that it is focussed on Christ and reconciling all things in Him. If any care to read this piece, you can access it at:

http://praiseofglory.com/Church.htm/edmund.htm

I do not post this to get involved in flame wars; I am quite battle worn and torn from contact with too many Orthodox who seem to forget the basics of civility and justice even. (You can read an update I put on my page dedicated to Catholic-Orthodox relation "with a sad heart" which gives some indication of "where I'm at these days":

http://praiseofglory.com/Stmaximus.htm

(I will not reply to any personal ad hominems at all and think this board does not allow for such anyway, thanks be to God. I am relatively new to this board but I can't say how much I appreciate it and how helpful it seems to be. God bless those who administer it and contribute).

P.S. I have no problem with anyone converting to Orthodoxy and, in fact, some of my best friends have. God's Will be done! God's Plan unfold!

[ 08-02-2002: Message edited by: Gerard Serafin ]

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