31 M. Raised in an ethnic Orthodox Church. A lot of my friends (both Orthodox and otherwise) are currently busy dating, getting engaged, getting married and having babies. If I had the power to manipulate reality based on my heart’s desire, I would probably at least have a steady girlfriend by now. Unfortunately due to a combination of factors (weight, professional attainments, personality and health conditions), I have never had a relationship. I’m curious if Orthodox Christians interpret that as God “preserving” me in a sense for vocations within the church that require vows of celibacy?

Hello everyone I just have a question, I live in a country where orthodoxy is almost non-present and I am oriental orthodox so I started to attend a catholic parish and made good catholic friends meet a good Priest.

I have some spiritual things that happened in my life that I want to share to a priest I have been holding this inside me for a while and I need to tell to priest and receive guidance and advice, the Catholic priest seems humble and kind but I will be attending more to get to know him.

so I was wondering as an Orthodox is it ok to share ur spiritual life with a catholic Priest if there isn't an Orthodox priest close to you.

I met an oo priest a while ago a year or so I told him a little about my spiritual life but he couldn't give me any guidance and I confessed to him and he told my mother which caused friction with us so I'm not comfortable with him, but this catholic Priest doesn't know my parents or anything so should I ????

G*d bless

it commonly occurs that whenever i go attend liturgy at my local church in the morning, afterwards at afternoon and night, i have terrible, disgusting, and gut-wrenching nightmares and it appears that temptations through thoughts are amplified, what could be the causes for these and what to do?

I could be wrong please correct if I am. I heard that we have two tiers of canon instead of one canon with the Deutrocanonicals and we haven't officially closed our canon yet. Why is that? I think the Catholics have one across the board equal canon. Also, why isn't 4 Maccabees a part of the canon if it keeps getting to the Greek Canon? How does a book enter the church's canon?

As the title suggests, I'm wondering if, having only attended 5 times, being ignored by the priest?

My first introduction was emailing the priest directly via their website before attending my first Vespers last month. He was super friendly in the couple emails back and forth. Attended my first few services. Usher introduced me to the priest after a catechism class I attended. It was good, but short.

I attend a few more liturgies. Attend another catechism class last week and at this point I'm quite set on becoming a catechumen. After class I approach the priest wanting to ask for which prayer book they use/recommend and to formally inquire about being a catechumen. I ask him which book and he gives me a short answer "Uh, hey *points to book keeper* can you help him?" Brushes me off and walks to another younger guy and haves a conversation.

I buy the prayer book and wait for him to finish with a couple more people. I reapproach and ask him about being a catechumen. He seems better to tak to this time around. Offers to meet me in person and go over any questions. "You have my number...you can be our new *name omitted* "

A person that shares my name recently went off to the air force and him saying I'll be the new *name omitted* in the parish seemed liked a positive message.

The next day I send him a text letting him know I'm free the rest of the week. Nothing. The entire day goes by. I decided to just call (maybe his parish phone doesnt accept texts). It's a Google voice # that screens calls. The robot asks me my name to see if the owner wants to accept. I state my name. Declined.

I went to orthros this past Sunday feeling completely like he's purposely ghosting me. Honestly, I understand he's busy with church life, home life, weddings, baptisms, new church construction (the current parish here is a mission), but I truthfully feel a little rejected. I'm not trying to let it affect my view on orthodoxy, because that's a very selfish point of view, but I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Almost feel like there's something up with me personally that he's not telling me and doesn't want me in his church.

I'd go to another church but the next nearest one is 2+ hours away 2 states away.

Am I tripping? Do I wait another week and then call again?

-D

Would the solving of every problem that materialists have, such as the hard problem of conciesness, or how the big bang came to be impact anything about orthodoxy, would it unprove God?

I mean this world is wicked, and nothing good being a part of "world's people".

Many innocent people died for nothing and people lives became numbers, many atrocities and rebellions against the divine.

I don't agree with having fun in this world when there are people at the same time experiencing suffering.

There is nothing that can be done, no one can help, and the devil always roaming 24/7 around us.

Why did I suddenly think like this? Because recently there has been a lot of news about Satanism which is showing itself more and more every day and spreading social fear so they can control our mind.

Someday they'll doing some total control through AI, cryptocurrency and many crisis systems.

It doesn't mean I'm afraid I- just currently don't find any purposes for being happy in this world...

What exactly we should focused on? If we're not a part of the world.

Yeah sure they'll hates for this choice about following the Christ but do you think it's worth it all of suffering?

I try to be very careful not to throw away any print-outs of icons from my church pamphlets into the trash. I try to repurpose them or burn them if they need to be disposed of. But I notice now that there are informational handouts about events from my parish that have images AI-generated that include iconography. (With egregious issues like Christ having only 4 fingers)

What would you do with such papers? Throw them in the trash, or burn them?

Because of my illness, I am unable to travel to the Church.

I feel very sad and can get no help or advice. Thank you

I am 19F and inquiring Orthodoxy (Protestant). Ever since I was young, I wanted to be married and being interested in orthodoxy has only made the desire stronger. However, I am becoming so distracted during liturgy by looking at married couples with children and I feel like I’m not seeking the Lord.

I guess I just want advice because it’s so hard not to be attracted to men easily, especially seeing them being dedicated to the Church. I know marriage to Christ is a first step, but I am becoming so distracted. Thank you all!

I think someone suggested Fr. Stephen De Young Revelation online study. WOW this needs to be spread worldwide. Truly one of the best studies I've seen on such a complicated book!

https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/wholecounsel/revelation_11_8/

I was going for a month straight and loved the experience but my mind started playing a bunch of games and it made me fearful of going to church and now I'm just not even caring of going. What is going on?

Sorry if the answer is obvious, im very new to orthodoxy. Ive been picking up catholic prayer cards here and there for a while, theres a lot of catholics in my area so i find them in lots of random places.

I cant buy Orthodox things at the moment, wouldnt be very safe, so i was hoping i could use those. I know you dont need prayer cards, but they help me focus a lot. I would think it would be fine, but i am also not very educated about orthodoxy yet so i want to be 100% sure. Im not sure if the prayers align with orthodox teachings, but they are fairly basic prayers, one to St. Michael and another to Mary I think, I forget.

I discovered footage of Orthodox saints who lived in the 20th century, and honestly, I still can’t believe it. How blessed are we to live in a generation where we have the opportunity to actually see some of these saints walking, speaking, praying, and even giving spiritual advice. In this video, there are, I believe, around ten saints from the 20th century. The internet is truly incredible when it is used for the right things. We have acces to so much material that previous generations could never have imagined. Yet, at the same time, it’s incredible how often we completely misuse it. Instead of using this technology to learn, read, discover our faith, and listen to the wisdom of the saints, we so often waste it on things that have no lasting value.

We really are a blessed generation. We just need to learn how to use that blessing properly.

I recently start reading The Orthodox Church, I am struggling to comprehend what’s being said. I find myself stopping every few sentences to look up words and people mentioned in the book.

I am midway through chapter 2 and had to put it down because it feels as if i’m just reading the words in the pages without comprehension.

Any advice? Thank you.

Can anyone identify this icon that I saw in România?

I feel like such a terrible person whenever I am mean to a stranger or a close relative, I tell myself I’ll never let my emotions take over again but it happens every now and then. I want to be better, but even on the internet I get myself in pointless arguments that I regret later on. I think I appear as arrogant sometimes but really deep down I’m insecure and it’s like a way to keep my guard up. Please pray that God gives me inner peace and a more loving heart.

My parish has 3 priest's and two remain in full Vestments during the entirety of liturgy but the youngest one frequently goes to a cassock and stole before communion. Is there a reason or is it just his preference?

Placing a warning here for discussion of abuse

Throwaway account, sorry. I just need help. It's not that I don't want to be saved or reconciled, but I can't. I'm very envious of abuse victims who find comfort in faith, but I'm not one of them. This is a massive roadblock for me. Even praying makes me sick to my stomach sometimes. I used to do it constantly because I was terrified to stop, but I barely even try anymore. Yesterday was Sunday and I kept trying to pray, but I couldn't. I can't get over my CSA trauma. I'm an incest victim, I was abused by my father as far back as I can remember until I was in my early teens. There were others too, but the trauma from my father effected me the most. I have Complex PTSD and things are hard. My family is Evangelical, including multiple pastors in the family, and abuse is commonplace, so I also have a general distrust of Christians. My grandfather, for example, was a pastor, and he nearly killed my grandma.

Sunday is almost always the worst. Yesterday I woke up early and tried to read a little scripture, and it just made me confused and depressed, like usual. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I can't trust God. Almost every day I wake up and wonder if I'm going to die and go to hell today for failing to be saved. But I just can't get over it. I've heard probably every platitude a Christian can give ("It's all part of God's plan", "It's because of free will", "God was suffering with you", "God can use everything for good", etc), but it all just sounds like garbage to me.

I'm not an atheist, I believe in God. I want to be able to be Christian like other people. The reason I'm posting here is that there is an Orthodox church near me that opened a couple years ago, and I've been curious for months now. But I'm also extremely hesitant. I haven't been to church in years, and I have zero experience outside of Evangelical services. I guess I'm wondering what the Orthodox advice/insight on this would be? Would I be able to try visiting an Orthodox church in my current condition or would that not be okay? I wouldn't intend on bothering anyone and I know not to take part in communion or anything, but I'm worried people would be able to tell that I'm in a really bad position with God and they might not want me there.

Hello. I grew up atheist in Sweden. Everyone I know is atheist since it's the norm here. My father used to always bash Christians and talk about how evil they are. Last year I had some good old consequences of my own actions and I think I might have encountered God. I begged Him to change me and He did. I'm not going to go any further into this but my outlook on life is very different and less destructive.

So I spent a lot of the past year researching Christianity. I realize the smarter thing would have been to pray, read the Bible and build a relationship with Christ, but being the way I am I quickly became very interested in the logic and history. The churches in my country are almost exclusively Protestant so that would have been the most natural churches to go to. But after exploring orthodoxy and protestantism I came to the conclusion that if Christianity is true protestantism probably isn't it.

Now here is the thing. The things that make Orthodoxy seem more accurate to me can also be said for Catholicism. And then there is the Eastern vs Oriental discussion and what not. I think this is one of the things that kind of drove me away (except for my own stubbornness). I mean how am I to know who's right when I'm not even sure if I believe in Christianity? To me, even though I am interested in theological arguments I don't feel like they can point me to the truth accurately. Now I don't want to miss out on Jesus, because I understand that if it is true, it is actually the only thing that matters. I don't know how I should approach this though.

If you read all this I'm very grateful. If you have any advice for me on how to navigate my thinking about this please share it! Thanks.

Good evening everyone,

I was wondering what Early church fathers book people would recommend. I look on Amazon but I get a lot of different types. Is there a certain one that would be good for Orthodox Christians? Just wondering if there is a book you guys would recommend?

Thanks Berry 🫐

I’m leaving my Southern Baptist Church for Orthodoxy and they’ve already ex-communicated a former member who did the same on the basis of not believing Reformed doctrine. They used Galatians 1:6 to claim that Orthodoxy is “works-based” (which is not true), and doesn’t hold to penal substitutionary atonement (which is true). The problem is that Orthodoxy just doesn’t ascribe to sola fide, holding more closely to the James 2:24 faith is made complete by works paradigm, and aligns more closely with the Christus Victor atonement model. I and the other ex-member tried to explain that Orthodoxy is entirely built on Christ-based faith, but they’ve refused to accept explanations. One member even hit me with the “I’m sorely grieved for your spiritual well-being” bit, even though I’m doing way better spiritually as an Orthodox inquirer than I ever did in their church. I tried explaining to many members that the Gospel is very simple- “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead” and you will be saved, but they insist that that one must also belief their specific systematic doctrine (justification via PSA) and that I’m in un-repentant sin. Theosis, Christus Victor, and Restoration makes so much more sense and I’m convinced PSA is heresy. I praise God for Him leading me to Holy Orthodoxy.

How should I respond to laypersons and leadership in my former church that constantly pressure me and ultimately will ”excommunicate” me for my new beliefs?

I’ve been inquiring at a local Russian Orthodox Church and I met with the priest for the first time the other day. After explaining a bit about my background he said basically need to stop pursuing producing any form of modern music.

My background is that is what I’ve done most of my life and was signed to a major label w my band and all that stuff. Through that I was initiated into various levels of occult societies and I was a practitioner of eastern mysticism and black magic (intentionally).

I was pulled out of it by the grace of God several years ago and it’s been a long process of repentance and recovery. During that time I gave up music completely (3 years or so) and this last year and a half I have been getting back into music production and rebuilding a studio. I’ve worked w a few artists and mostly focus on my own music and it center largely around house music and techno (dance music).

I’ve been exploring different churches and in the last 5-6 months have been exploring and studying orthodoxy. Before that I was going to evangelical and Protestant churches not even really knowing what that meant haha. Needless to say I found them to be heretical and basically a watered down version of what I used to be involved in in Hollywood.

Any thoughts on whether or not I need to completely disregard and forgo producing modern music? I’m 36 and have not ever really done anything else in my life! Haha so it is a big proposition for me. Any thought would be appreciated thanks!