r/OrthodoxChristianity

hi everyone! so i’m a christian and i’ve also been a 911 dispatcher for a couple years. i work in a decently sized city that has a lot of protestant christian churches.

since i’ve worked here, ive noticed that SO MANY churches call us to have homeless people removed from their property. and i have the whole context because of course i ask them all of the safety questions.

it’s often not because they have weapons, or because they’re committing crimes. often, when i ask what the person is doing, it is simply the fact that they are sleeping on the property or camped out near the building and the staff wants them gone. or they are worried their presence will make other people uncomfortable.

i try not to judge, and im wondering if anyone can offer me another perspective on this. but why are churches calling the police on the less fortunate to have them removed because it is an inconvenience to them?

some verses i am using as a basis:

“I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you visited me… The King will reply, Truly I tell you, Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:36-40)

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves..” (Philippians 2:3)

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matthew 5:46-47)

“For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and needy, in your land.’” (Deuteronomy 15:11)

“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14: 13-14)

I am new to Orthodoxy. I’ve been reading and watching YouTube for months. I found a church 45 minutes away and started attending their introductory classes which ironically is watching YouTube videos. I appreciate the history and tradition. I’m fine with fasting and giving alms but veneration feels intrinsically wrong. I understand without it I cannot become a member. If I give it more time will I be able to get past it?

Hi everyone.

I'm a 27 year old orthodox catechumen-I'm looking to move just because the culture here in Florida doesn't quite suit me anymore. I love the outdoors and hiking, camping, etc. Single woman so looking to avoid a town that is too small. I have no children, a remote job, so really no limitations. I just would like to be within proximity to an established parish with a substantial population of younger people, also want to find a spouse.

Considering San Diego, and I would love if anyone had any suggestions/recommendations otherwise. Appreciate it :)

I’ve been a follower of Ram Dass. He’s an eastern spiritual teacher if you’re familiar with him and he talks of using the method of the religions to connect to god obv but not being caught in the righteous chains of dogma. I think I may use orthodoxy as a method. This may sound like something an orthodox person wouldn’t do but I’ve been seeker for along time and the methods of orthodoxy resonate with me so I’m going to plant my flag here for a bit and see how it goes. Maybe I’ll become a believer

Okay, to give background. I am newer to the orthodox church. I was recently baptized/chrismated. I love my parish and really feel at home there.

There is only one issue that I am having. There is an older gentleman( probably 20 years older than me) who attends. When I first started attending I made the mistake of giving him my number as I wanted to become involved and meet people within the parish and at the time he was in charge of the classics book club and I asked him to send me the information.

After liturgy he waits for me before I go into agape. It is awkward because when I sit at a table of just women he will seek me out and sit where I am. I try to be cordial and I dont think that he is a bad guy, just not getting the hint and almost overbearing. I have excused myself multiple times. He texts to go have lunch under the guise of helping me in my faith. I have politely declined, let him know that I am seeing someone and also informed him that I wish to take my concerns/questions regarding faith to Fr. or my sponsor.

He continues to text and tell me that Fr. is very busy etc. This is the same man who comes up to question me every time I take communion because he only saw my baptism and not my chrismation (which was part of the same ceremony).

I do not want to be rude but I also don't know what else to say for this individual to get the point. I also don't want to cause any problems. I guess the next step would be to tell my priest but again, I dont want to be seen as a trouble maker. I have even taken the steps of changing where I stand during liturgy so that he can not see me. Do I just block him and then run away when I see him. lol I'm trying to be an adult, but the old me wants to tell him to back off in not so nice wording.

Before I continue I want to say the closest parish is cities down and I have no way of getting there so this is why I’m coming here to ask these things.

I was watching a video of Mormons knocking on a Pastors door and one of the first questions they asked was “do you believe there are any modern day prophets?”
I’m curious, what are your thoughts on that?

I mean this whole thing started because I tried searching an Orthodox Church term (it doesn't matter which one) that appeared transliterated in an online website and I was looking for some information regarding the said foreign-language Orthodox term. I have even posted here about an interesting site that I came across which is called "pravoslavieto.com", plus I encountered another notable one called "azbyka.ru". Then I became triggered to search again and again more online content surrounding this term that does appear transliterated in English but stems from another language because apparently at the end of the day it doesn't matter if the word comes from Bulgarian, Russian or Serbian since as an English speaker I can get the full text from Google translator in the foreign-language source; this whole situation has become quite tiring and depressing....

If Ive been baptized catholic would I be baptized again if I went the orthodox route? Thank you for your time and thoughts. God bless.

To me there seems to be an uncomfortable problem regarding grace and free will. I'm aware I'm not the first person to think of it, but I can't seem to find a good answer.

What exactly determines whether a person responds to grace? We are all supposed to be given sufficient grace to turn our lives towards God and it's up to our will to make the right choice, but I am not sure how this actually works. There are so many people out there who lack any faith at all and don't respond to anything shown to them. Why? If God's grace is sufficient for us to find him, how is it possible for someone to refuse? Yes we can say things like "their mind is poorly formed towards God" but why would someone be allowed to stray so far from God that grace is no longer efficacious?

There are only a few options but none of them seem to work.

Due to previous human sin, someone's situation is such that no amount of grace can save them.

This seems to violate both God's omnipotence and to reduce someone's culpability. If they couldn't have done otherwise how can Gos hold them accountable?

2. God doesn't predestine everyone to salvation. Some people are "collateral damage" of human choice.

This seems to violate God's omnibenevolence.

I don't find either one very compelling but maybe I'm missing some other option.

My husband and I inquired about orthodoxy almost a year ago! I had an individual conversation with the priest about 2 weeks after attending. My husband was coming home late from work so he missed the call.

I thought we’ve been attending for like 6 months at most. The priest asked us in December of last year! I’m so shocked by this. Time just kept getting away.

We’re not catechumen. We just attend divine liturgy and talk with the other young adults at coffee hour.

Coming from a nondenom and baptist background, I think it’s just unusually for me to have an actual spiritual leader. Someone who is invested in me, wants to know me and build trust with vs someone you just have to assume you can trust.

It’s also really fun having a community. At the nondenom church we attended, everyone kinda just ran out the door (even before the service was dismissed bc the ‘parking lot traffic’) like sardines. Church just felt like a good christian task?

This is all to say: we finally texted him back. I’m just so excited we are finally start the catechumen process!

I'm a protestant inquirer into the orthodox faith. I'm curious to hear any testimony on how converting positively or negatively affected your marriage. Did it grow you closer to your spouse? How did it change things?

There sure is a lot of them. The Marble King. The fall of Ergodan. Digital IDs etc. I can't think of all of them so please don't come for me for just these three.

But in general. How seriously do you take the prophecies of the Saints?

I’m a huge sinner, and I frankly don’t even know what I believe theologically anymore. But I know that God loved her so dearly, and he loved me, for he gave me the greatest gift of my entire life while I was still a child. She died peacefully in my childhood garden, where she always played.

Her name is Solveig. She got cervical cancer.

I'm in the process of trying to convert to orthodoxy, and one of the things that drew me in was icons and the idea of a prayer corner. The issue is I have no clue where to get anything for it and don't know what all I should get to set one up. Another issue is the space within my room. I still live with my parents as I am only 19 and I do not have space outside of my room to set it up. With space in mind, what should I do?

Hello all, I am struggling to comprehend the difference between two versions of Orthodox Study Bibles, besides cover, and was wondering if anyone who has seen them in person can help me? I searched this sub but couldn't find the comparison I was looking for.

I am more interested in durability/print quality and content, than aesthetics. Please frame your point of view from that of an adult catechumen with college level education. Which one would you prefer to have in your prayer corner, and why?

Orthodox Study Bible from Ancient Faith
Orthodox Study Bible from Thomas Nelson

I'm a Roman catholic I come in peace, I would like to learn more about Orthodox Catholicism since West and East of Catholicism are becoming closer which is a great thing. If you could point me in the right direction of prayers or history of Orthodoxy I would be greatly appreciated. God bless all of you Amen.

Hello all! I (23 y/o F) am a recent convert to orthodoxy, and I was wondering if there was a specific way to do vespers and other prayer at home. Is kneeling at the side of my bed okay, or do I need to have a dedicated space? Any tips help! (Even tips for attire / icons / books etc) 🫶🏻