OK, I've done the research, asked questions and gotten answers. I have researched a plethora of world religions to find the rite one for me and have realized Eastern Orthodox Religion is the TRUTH I've been searching for. my wonderful friend invited me to the Eastern Orthodox church she attends. I AM SO EXITED!
but, what are some things I can't do since I'm not Orthodox (yet) ?
and, what are some all around good things to know?
I'm in the same place, having done research and finally found a ride. (Sadly, I don't have my license, so I can't attend on a regular basis) From what I've read, you can't take the Eucharist. Otherwise, just try to follow along, and if different people are doing different things, then you can't go wrong standing up.
RE: Vicky. They don't consider it a sin; it's just their tradition. There are some parishes that break with this.
i don't know an awful lot about Orthodox Christianity, but i went to one of their churches once and they said that it's a sin to play a musical instrument because the only good instrument is the human voice (created by god).
Great question. The only thing you can't do since you aren't quite Orthodox yet is receive Holy Communion. You have to be Orthodox to receive the Mysteries. There is also a bit of wine and bread served after holy communion to those who had communion, and that will not be offered to you, but everything else you can participate in.. You can take the priest's blessing and if he hands you bread at the end of the service, you can take that. You can kiss the cross, you can cross yourself and you can venerate icons. Just ask your friend what you can do and follow what she does. Most Churches have no pews, and people stand, because that is the ancient and original practice in Christianity, so don't be surprised...but some Churches do have pews or chairs. If the service is not entirely in English, ask your friend if you can have a book to follow along in. I think if you just follow your friend, you'll be fine. I'd love to hear how it goes for you...what you think after you visit.
I just read Vicky's comment about musical instruments. We don't consider it a sin to use musical instruments, but we always keep original ways of worship in Orthodox Christianity. IN the early Church, musical instruments like the organ were used in the hippodrome, and so not considered appropriate for use in Church. The custom was to use the God-given musical instrument: the human voice for worship, so all music within the Church service is always Capella. Orthodoxy always maintains Christianity as it was in the beginning, without any man made changes. But Orthodox people have a deep and abiding love of nearly all music, and some of the world's greatest musicians have been Orthodox Christians....Intruments are not sinful...just not the custom in Church.
I'm Syriac Orthodox, here some Do's and Dont's
The term ?Orthodox? translates from the Greek to mean ?correctly believing? or "correctly glorifying God" (from the adjective Otho's = correct, right and the verb dike,-o = I see, I believe or the noun docs = glory)
"God becomes powerless before human freedom; He cannot violate it since it flows from His own omnipotence. Certainly man was created by the will of God alone; but he cannot be deified [made Holy] by it alone. A single will for creation, but two for deification. A single will to raise up the image, but two to make the image into a likeness. The love of God for man is so great that it cannot constrain; for there is no love without respect. Divine will always will submit itself to gropings, to detours, even to revolts of human will to bring it to a free consent."
The Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches teach that Heaven and Hell are within the same realm, which is in the presence of God.
Eastern Orthodox Christians believe in a God who is both three and one (tribune). The Father is the cause or origin of the Godhead, from whom the Son is begotten eternally and also from whom the Holy Ghost proceeds eternally. The Holy Trinity is three, distinct, divine persons (apostasies), without overlap or modality among them, who share one divine essence (USIA)?uncreated, immaterial and eternal. Eastern Orthodox doctrine regarding the Holy Trinity is summarized in the Nicene Creed (Symbol of Faith).
My research: The Oc has the same wrong "religious" format as the RCc. Sadly, most of what Catholics (RCc/Cc/OC) practice isn't Biblical so they rant Christian (dictionary def. doesn't = God's Standard). I almost became Catholic & found it no better than Protestant churches I grew up in. Many wont find Jesus, the truth.
The Bible severely warns us not 2 trust humans, not even ourselves, clergy/churches/scholars (Jer 10:2-5,23; Is 2:22; Job 12:11; Prov 14:12; Acts 17:11). So carefully think over what I say. Dont just believe or dismiss what I write. It might save u from making the same mistake many made, getting caught up in religious beliefs having nothing 2 do with knowing God (poisoned tree/its fruit).
Rituals HIV no meaning under the NT Covenant. Hebrew rituals were by instruction of God the best 1 could do under God's Law (None in NT). Other religions (even many Christian) either copied or invented rituals (the best humans could do within the limits of being human). Jesus' perfect sacrifice canceled the need 4 all rituals/priests (doing them calls God a liar as it makes it appear Jesus failed His mission - Jesus is the only Priest now). The closest thing 2 a ritual is Communion but its not 2 b treated as a ritual as its 2 b treated most seriously (not Jesus' actual body/blood - Cc belief).
Many dint know the diff. btwn a ritual done as a ritual & genuine "remembrance" - not possible without knowing Jesus' actual Biblical instructions - absent in Cc teachings (the Cc didnt write any of the NT [not a Cc text - NT was written by 1rst century Apostles {NT Gospels/letters preserved the truth 4 all ppl not the Cc}, full Cc possession was not until 4th century] which contradicts their claims. Jesus is about being 1 in Spirit & truth not rituals - God allowed them 2 produce the Bible despite their wrong teachings like He allowed Romans 2 fulfill prophecy without their knowledge [happening again today). A teaching can hv a truth but the action taken is superficial - The Cc/others, like the Pharisees, know how 2 clean the outside of the cup but dont understand how the inside is 2 b cleaned with respect 2 Jesus' actual message. The fact that the Cc/other religions hv an altar @ the center of their practices is 1 clue of their being about rituals not the truth.
Problem is theres many religions/subset varieties. 1 day I realized they cant all b right (i.e. theres 1 Bible, why so many interpretations? - II Pet 1:**19-21). Most religions came thru ppl who thought up things 4 a God they/others liked. Some realized religion could b good 2 control the masses & 4 other agendas - but, religion cant teach u much about God (they cant teach what they dont know). Who knows more about a house the Builder or he who moves in later?
4 Christians, trouble began when the Apostles/disciples were killed off or died during the 1rst century (Christianity was illegal @ that time). Over the next century others, whom either didnt know Jesus or were less informed than Jesus' 1rst generation of believers &/or (un)intentionally added in their own ideas/agendas, replaced the original believers. By the time the Cc religion became a "state - Jn 18:36" recognized, organized religion in Constantine's reign (about AD 325), most of what Jesus taught & original Apostles practiced were no longer present.
The Cc mixed in Pagan religious practices 2 please & draw in ppl, thus, creating a new religion they labeled "Christian/Catholic". The Cc's, like other religions' agendas (some mayve been well-intentioned), was mostly 2 control masses & 2 influence politics (II Tim 2:*4; I Jn 2:*15-17; Col 2:*8; Jer 10:*2-5). The Cc claims they didnt give out Bibles 4 over a century b/c ppl couldnt read so why didnt they teach ppl 2 read?
God & Jesus hv never been about pleasing man. In fact, the Cc, RCc & Oc made religions just like the Pharisees, which Jesus flat out stated was an abomination b/c they were about pleasing man not God (Mt 23:15; LK 16:15). Even when Protestants/others split off from the Cc they kept the same wrong Cc format.
Even tho these churches got rid of some of the Cc nonsense they still didnt know much about Jesus (most skipped over Biblical instructions 4 various agendas) nor did they go 2 the Bible 2 find out all Jesus' instructions [a huge mistake, as they're fulfilling prophecies against their practices (Amos 8:*11; Jr 12:*10: Is 5:*9 (large houses r churches - Mt 24:*1-2); Hos 4:*6: Mk 7:1-23 (John 3:*3,5 & Ez 36:24-27,*26); Lk 16:**15 (see Rv 21:27; Jr 10:**2-5; Is 1:*11-15)].
2 Major Cc lies:
1. The CC claims 2 b the 1rst church & since they r the longest existing church, they r the only "official" church. Jesus' Apostles never named their church catholic (not in the Bible nor in line with God's message that never changes) nor did they ever practice Cc religious rituals. There was nearly a 250 yr gap btwn Jesus' original Apostle's church & the start of the official Cc - there4, the Cc was never a part of or the true 1rst Christian Church (Neither a label, title, name, its history, # of members, amount of time it existed or claims made about them means anything (u can call anything anything). Its whats practiced that makes them either the whole truth or a lie. A dictionary def. doesnt necessarily encompass God's full definition/usage of a word (or His exceptions thereof). I.e. Jesus & Biblical prophets were never muslims no matter what Islam claims & the Cc's claim of veneration of saints/Mary is a form of idolitry no matter what they claim (calling a dog god doesnt make it God).
2. Peter was never a pope nor was he/other Apostles ever members of the Cc (not in the Bible = no apostolic succession) the use of the word pope is a Cc invention - the Bible instructs us not 2 go beyond whats written (I Cor 4:6; Rv 22:18-19 - Cc so-called *oral* teaching isnt in the Bible). Peter was never a bishop of the Cc (he died nearly 250 yrs b4 the Cc became a church). Peter wouldnt call himself a pope or b a member of the Cc b/c calling 1self "holy" Father & other Cc teachings r abominations (combo of rituals/false priesthoods - Paul meant he was like a father not a holy Cc father). Even the devil knows Jesus is the Son of God so 1 would b wise not 2 trust any church ahead of whats in the Bible. Calling urself a Christian/saying u believe in Jesus doesnt make it true - recital of words means nothing (Mat 23:2 says do what they say not what they do [they were under Pharisee rulers] - now we know Pharisee practices r wrong so we follow Jesus' Biblical teachings [u can leave the Cc - Luke 10:16 - He who rejects Jesus/His Biblical teachings rejects Christ - if a person/church isnt listening 2 Jesus then we dont listen 2 them]).
More Cc wrongs:
Mass (not in the Bible) is full of non-biblical rituals, Statues (God isnt in2 dead things - non-living things can't help or save any1 - praying 2/using them r abominations), the Rosary & beads, mother Mary (virgin 2 Jesus' birth) as interceder (Jesus is the only way 2 God - not His Apostles/disciples - Jn 14:6; 5:39; 10:1,7; Acts 4:12; IS 1 - Mary was a sinner & had children after Jesus - Mt 12:46-50), candles, incense, the cross (its a symbol of the curse rather than Jesus & 4 the same reasoning against statues), making the sign of the cross, holy water, stations of the cross, the pope's/other leader's garb they wear, confirmation, trinity, the Cc creed/other documents, raising ppl (especially dead ppl) 2 the status of "saint" (only God/Jesus hv such authority), nuns, monks, purgatory, catechism, devotionals, sacraments, holy eucharist, penance, traditional/repetitive type prayers & other things they do rnt in the Bible - cancels any truth they know.
Religion is built on what man likes, not on Jesus' instructions. The result is few will b saved thru most of them (u cant save urself by ur own initiative nor will good deeds save u - theres no good in any man - Rom 1:23). 1 must b very careful not 2 get sucked in or going 2 various denominations (especially if u dont hv a good handle on whats actually written in the Bible) as it'll add 2 ur confusion.
B/c religions made many fatal mistakes doesnt mean God doesnt know what He's doing. Many missed this: Jesus is the only 1 in history who said no1 can find our real God except thru Jesus (Jn 14:6; 5:39; 10:1,7; Acts 4:11). This means "the" truth was complete & finished thru what Jesus did. So, all so-called new teaching/other religious beliefs r invalid & cant lead u 2 God. The truth is either the whole truth or its a lie. Either Jesus told the whole truth or He's a false prophet, among many, whom should b disregarded. It would also mean God must not exist either (He either knows what He's doing or He cant b God).
Jesus couldnt hv done nor said what He did unless He fully knew the entire OT (NT didnt exist @ the time of Jesus - the only way Jesus couldve known the whole OT is if God sent Him). The Apostles couldnt write the NT unless Jesus allowed them 2 know & remember His purpose (Lk 24:25-27,45). Only God could cause it.
No matter how much well-meaning ppl (religious or not) read the Bible they cant find Jesus without going 2 Him thru His Biblical instructions (Jn 5:39; 10:1,7; 3:3,5). God outsmarted man - the Bible is the only 1 that cant b properly understood without Jesus (Jn 14:6; II Cor 3:14, Is 29:11-12 - If Jewish ppl cant pierce the veil over the OT without Jesus then all gentiles cant). Its why theres many interpretations & many thinking its fairy tales (Jesus came with the sword of division).
As you are not baptized and charismatic yet you are not allowed to participate in sacraments. You can do all the remaining things (praying, venerating the icons and so on).
The good thing about your future conversion is that you will become a member of One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ on Pentecost.
I recommend you to visit an EO forum: http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum
my first visit to an Eastern Orthodox church!!!?
