Introductions from 2007

[Amy]

Hello. I am glad to find your forum! I am a Baptist raised gal on a beautiful and sometimes lonely journey toward Orthodoxy. I have been attending St. George, a parish of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America for about 3 years now. I am here to read mostly...still trying to work out some of my stumbling blocks and to have some communication with kindred minds.
Blessings,
amy

[Herman Blaydoe]

Glory to Jesus Christ! Welcome home, even if it may be a home you have never been to before. Feel free to ask about the "stumbling blocks". There are several of us who have climbed over not a few boulders of our own and would be happy to share.

[Marie A.]

Hi Amy,
Welcome to the forum! I haven't posted much here but I have been a lurker for a long time. My husband and I are on the road to the Orthodox Church also after some stumbling blocks. We are very happy to be making this journey together. He is a former Epicopalian and I am from the Catholic Church. We also attend an Antiochian Church, St. Michael's. Unfortunately there are not many around here so our choice is very limited.
May our Lord Jeus Christ and the Theotokos guide you on your journey.
Marie

[Amy]

Thank you for the warm welcome; it's nice to be in your company. :)

[Maria Murray]

I feel obligated to write an introduction prior to posting my comment in a particular thread. I have been reading through this site for a long while now and loved it but to be honest, I have been intimidated to write anything because of my great ignorance in the matters of Orthodoxy. I am still afraid to say something wrong, but I do have some questions and perhaps some experiences I selfishly wanted to share. Although a Russian-born and baptized Orthodox, I was never really "Orthodox". I perceived my experiences with the Church in some negative ways most of my life. I suppose you can call me one of the Orthodox apostates. Not to make excuses, but I never learned Christian basics and somehow kept myself totally blind to everything the Church teaches, most of which is related to not having much interest in religion. I married an Irish Catholic and we now have 3 kids. Having spent so much of our lives ignoring God, we both have been trying for the last 2 years to "make up for it" so to speak. Our experience in the journey of seeking God brought us through many Christian churches, (starting in the Evangelical Protestant) and books and long investigations. After a variety of many interesting experiences, we now belong to a church which we both least expected to find ourselves in - an Orthodox church. It was in many ways a painful decision for our family but in submitting to it, I found our experience with the church to exceed all the expectations I ever had. It's like finding faith 2 years ago was a much refreshing splashing of water, yet after walking in puddles and creeks for these 2 years, I stepped into an ocean. I hope this doesn't sound cheesy. I now feel like I know nothing and while we have overwhelmed our poor priest with questions, we are still so far from knowing anything or being even close to Orthodox.

[Paul Cowan]

Dear Maria:
Welcome! Believe me, as a recent participant in the forum and only in Orthodoxy a short 4 years, you can not ask a bad question here. There are MANY learned people and venerable clergy who will always answer questions.

Yes most of them are very deep, I don't know where they find some of their resources, but they are on target. The great thing about this forum is you can ask them most anything and stay anonomyous. You don't have to worry about your priest or other parishioners finding out you "asked a question".

Enjoy, look around and ask questions. How else will you understand your re-found faith?

Paul

[John Charmley]

Dear Maria,

Welcome to Monachos, and how wonderful for you and for your family that after such a long journey you have rediscovered Orthodoxy.

It sounds as though your journey has been eventful and strenuous, and I wonder if you might share a few of your reflections on it with us here? Through it, you actually bring much to this forum, and there are no silly questions, just the ones we don't ask. All of us here are on the same journey, even those who don't know it yet, and I sometimes think of us as latter-day Chaucerian Canterbury Pilgrims! Those who know Chaucer can come up with their own attributions!

We all try to support each other are we go on our way, and your contribution will be much welcomed.

In Christ,

John

[Tanya Hoadley]

Welcome Maria!

Glad you're here. If you feel timid about asking questions or participating in discussions, may I suggest that you spend some time searching threads that relate to some of your questions? I did this at first and I became less fearful as I found that the members here respond with love and concern.

For me, the old adage "the more you know, the more you realize you don't know" applies to my journey in Christ. But take heart! for, "As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ"

In Christ,
Tanya

[Bruce Bayer]

Hi I am a new member to Monachos. I am a convert to Roman Catholic Church in 1999. Prior to that I was involved with Evangelicalism from 1973 when I first learned about Jesus at 17. I have been reading in various discussion areas for the last few days and am intriged by it all, but mostly I joined Monachos to learn more about the Jesus Prayer and if it is possible to have an Orthodox spiritual guide as a Roman Catholic?

[Peter Farrington]

Dear Bruce Bayer

Welcome to Monachos. There are many here who love the Jesus Prayer and will be able to discuss it with you. I am but a beginner in almost all aspects of the spiritual life, though I have been a Christian all my life. I was an Evangelical myself.

Anyhow, best wishes and I hope that all your questions find helpful answers.

Peter

[Michael Lewis]

Greetings everyone!

I am a recent convert to Holy Orthodoxy (one year at December 24, 2006) and also new to this forum. Coming to the Faith late in life I have much to learn as I struggle along.

Please help this poor sinner learn to live and think the Orthodox way.

I ask for your prayers, and you shall all be in mine! :)

[Tanya Hoadley]

Dear Michael,

Happy Anniversary! May God grant you many blessed years!

I pray that God will lead you to all that is beneficial. I have found much on this site.

In Christ,
Tanya

[John Charmley]

Dear Michael,

Welcome here!

As someone who is still on the journey towards Orthodoxy, I shall see you down the road a little, and congratulate you on being where you are.:)

There is so much to learn - and experience - and that is one of the great benefits of this site. I hope you find what you seek - as well as what you did not know you needed.

In Christ,

John

[Anna K.]

I'm almost new here, I come several times a week to see the posts, but have only written one question nearly a year ago.
So I thought maybe it's time to greet you like this. I'm still in my protestant background, but for a couple of years have been longing towards Orthodoxy. Countless times have I found help from your posts, hope and encouragement in faith.

I probably will stay more on the reading side from now on also, but hopefully get to grow closer to the Church gradually and that way be able to participate more...

I have visited a monastery a few times in my country, and a few times gone to my local Orthodox Church for evening service. I have also found such views of truth in good Orthodox books that if God wills, I hope I can someday be taken into the Church truly.

A Blessed New Year to all of you.

Anna

[Peter Farrington]

Dear Michael

Let me add my own welcome to you.

I came to Orthodoxy in my late twenties, and there is sometimes a twinge of regret that I was not able to find Orthodoxy as a child. But I take the view that God brings us to Himself by His own ways and according to His own will. It's His fault I was not born into an Orthodox family, not mine. :)

So I just enjoy becoming Orthodox and don't worry about not yet being fully and completely Orthodox - since being Orthodox means being fully Christian, fully the person God desires me to be, I don't expect that process to be completed this side of the grave.

We are all struggling along, and it is a pleasure and a joy to have you join this forum so that we can support each other as we become more fully Orthodox.

May God bless our membership here in 2007

Peter

[Jeff Johnson]

Mr. Peter Farrington, which Oriental Orthodox body do you belong to? I am very fond of the Ethiopian Tewahedo Church, which I came to know through contact with the local Ethiopian community, especially an Ethiopian priestmonk whose simplicity, holiness and joy touched me deeply. Their worship is very joyful and reverent.

I look forward to continue getting to know the people here better. Some Eastern Catholic/Orthodox message boards can seem clique-like, and it's hard to really make friends.

[Peter Farrington]

Dear Jeff,

Actually I am part of the British Orthodox Church - http://www.britishorthodox.org, which is a diocese serving British people within the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. We are commissioned to do mission and ministry in our own British culture and language, in a way which is consistant with our Orthodox Faith - so it is a bit of an experiment. An exciting one.

I have met the Ethiopian priest in London, but my own British Orthodox have very good relations with the Eritrean Orthodox, also in London. Indeed my bishop and other clergy and British folk will be with them for their Nativity celebrations this weekend.

Best wishes and a Happy New Year

Peter

[John Charmley]

Dear Anna,

It is good to have you here. Like you I come from a non-Orthodox background, and have found this site a wonderful resource in all sorts of ways, so it is good to know others feel the same way.

I have found people here very generous in their willingness to answer questions which must, to some of them, seem quite simple, which to those of us from outside are not.

May God guide your footsteps where they are meant to go, as as is best for you.

A happy 2007 to you.

In Christ,

John

[Herman Blaydoe]

God be with you on your spiritual quest and guide you to Truth and safe haven. Archbishop Paul of Finland wrote a wonderful book on Orthodoxy, have you read it?

Herman

[Peter Farrington]

Tervetuloa Anna!

Viime kuukausi minä olin Suomessa, ja tämä kuukausi minä täydyn mennä Suomessa taas.

Minä yritan oppia Suomea mutta minä puhun suomea vain vähän.

Parhain terveisin

Peter

[Anna K.]

Thank you all for your warm welcomes!

Herman, I have read two books by Archbishop Paul, the first one was "How we believe" (I don't know the exact title in English) and the other "The feast of Faith" about the Divine Liturgy. Both were as you said, wonderful books!

Peter, I must say you write very good Finnish! Tervetuloa Suomeen uudelleen!
Sorry to say we have a very rainy winter, very little snow anywhere.
You and anyone else for that matter, coming to Finland, should go see the exhibition about Mount Athos with priceless treasures from there, it's open till Jan 21st in Helsinki. I haven't seen it yet but hope to. It's a unique exhibition (the icons and other artefacts are outside Athos for the first time) and it would be interesting to hear views on it here on Monachos.

The Lord be with you all.

[Peter Farrington]

Hi Anna

I don't think I will be back in Helsinki until a few days after the 21st, which is a great shame. Where is the exhibition being held?

Have you been to the New Valaam monastery?

http://www.valamo.fi/index.php

I keep hoping to be able to go there for a visit. I have been to Finland many times over the last few years but I never seem to get far outside Helsinki.

Peter

[Anna K.]

Hello Peter,
The exhibition is held at the Helsinki City Art Museum www.taidemuseo.fi in the very center of the city.

I have been to New Valaam, four times for a weekend. In fact my whole process towards Orthodoxy started from my first visit, after attending the services (although not understanding much of course) and after having for some reason bought two books there and reading them on the bus on my way home (Georgios Kapsanis: Theosis as the Meaning of Human Life and The Letters of Schemahegoumen John to his Spiritual Children)...

God's ways are so mysterious!

If you go to Valaam, visit also Lintula, the monastery for nuns very close by if possible.

Have a nice stay in Finland!

Anna

[Peter Farrington]

Hi Anna

What a shame! I have been in Helsinki twice since this exhibition has been running in August and now I will miss it by a few days!

I will be spending quite a bit of time in Finland this year working on a computer project so I hope that I might be able to get out to the monastery some time this year. I can see that there seems to be a bus goes out there. is the travel difficult?

Best wishes

Peter

[Scott Pierson]

I have been to New Valaam, four times for a weekend.Hello Anna,

What was it like there at New Valaam it must have been a wonderful experience to visit ?

I hope you find the discussion forums here very useful. I know I have. I've learned a lot and have come to reject some of my old prejudices and misunderstandings because of the wise posts of the folks here.

I wish you the best in your journey to the Orthodox faith.

-Scott

[Sylvia Mutale]

Thank you for welcoming me to your site. I trully hope that I will benefit greatly from this site as am an active Charismatic Catholic and interested in learning more about the Sacraments of the church especially the early practices of the church. At the moment, I am researching on the Sacrament of Confession and would appreciate more information on this subject.

I look forward to actively participating on all these interesting topics.

Sylvia Mutale

[Peter Farrington]

Dear Sylvia

Welcome to the site. I hope that you will find answers to many of your questions as well as a genuine sense of fellowship and friendship.

There is a wide range of backgrounds represented here, I am from the British Orthodox Church, but I used to be involved in the Evangelical Charismatic movement.

Best wishes

Peter

[Herman Blaydoe]

A good place to start would be here:

The Sacrament Of Confession (http://www.orthodox.net/confess/index.html)

Living An Orthodox Life: Confession (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/pr_confession.aspx)

[Anna K.]

Hello Peter and Scott,

New Valaam is of course very much worth a visit, and for me, I have always come home richer than before. My spiritual eyesight being the way it is, the blessings are often to be seen later on in my eyes. I believe being physically there affects secretly in many ways, which has been a surprise to me, being Lutheran and a member of a very rationalist society.
The church and the services of course especially are important to me. And to mention one more thing, praying before the Icon of The Mother of God of Konevets, which is one of the three miracle-making icons (what's the word in English?) in New Valaam church.
I feel I have experienced one of her miracles in this way towards Orthodoxy, it never even crossed my mind before to think of myself converting.

The monastery is more peaceful in the winter-time (less tourists), but in the summer you can also visit the old church, which was actually built in two barns to serve as temporary church, you can sense the history there of the old monks who had to flee from Old Valaam in Russia during the II world war, and the air of their prayers.

The bus trip is not difficult, the buses are new and the road is good, but the way is long, it takes about 6 hours.
The public bus doesn't take you quite to the monastery, but my friend has taken it there many times so if you want I can ask about the last part of the trip. There are also ready made bus tours of three days from Helsinki with accomodation included, which is easy, if the time-table is right, you can see about those in the Valaam www-site www.valamo.fi.

Thank you for your good wishes

Anna

[Peter Farrington]

Dear Anna

Thank you for you description of your own experiences. Something of what you have felt comes across in your post.

I did see the three day package trip and that looked easiest. Who knows! If God and my wife allow then I might make the monastery this year.

Peter

[Jeff Johnson]

From one newcomer to another-howdy!

[Andrew Podymow]

Hello to all!

First, I would like to wish all a blessed Feast of the Nativity (for all that follow the Julian Calendar) and a wonderful 2007. I just happened across this site during a Google session (the one you do when you are bored :) ) and thought that it offers a very nice forum for all. Although I come from an extensive Orthodox background, it would be nice to learn how my perspectives and views compare/differ round the world.

Looking forward to this! God Bless!

andy

[Tanya Hoadley]

Dear Andy,

Welcome! Glad to have you here.

In Christ,
Tanya

[Mihai-Gabriel]

Christ is Risen,
my friends in Christ !

I'm Mihai-Gabriel NEACSU, 35 years old, an Romanian ortodox. I heard about your monastery from Father Raphail Noica, who was monk in your monastery few years ago. He is the son of the Constantin Noica, the Romanian best philosoph from the XX-century. I love very much both, Noica father, and Noica son. Father Raphail was one of the greatest surprise for Romanian ortodox society after Romanian Revolution against Comunism since December 1989. He's very loved by Romanian ortodox people, especially young people. Thank you for him, because he's also a son of yours monastery and The Sophronie Saharov -starets of the monastery. I have also the books of starets Sophronie Saharov, translate into Romanian by Father Raphail Noica.
If I will have the posibility, I want to visit your monastery in the future time. I think seriously to start to work some limited period in United Kingdom, in Essex county. Do you think that is posible for me to stay into your monastery ? What are the rules about visitors ? And the monastic rules are the same-Saint Vasile the Great -like in Romania ?
Also I'm the vicepresident of the "Saint Martyrs Brancoveni Foundation" from Constanta City-my city. I'm very involved in the ortodox education of the young people. Since 2005 we establish officialy a Nursery and a Basic School of the "Saint Martyrs Brancoveni Foundation". My wife Virginia is teacher into this school. She made an ortodox book (manual) for Nursery -preparatory year for school- to learn the pupil to read and write. The manual named " First steps into the world of characters" is fully inspired from the childhood and life of Saint John-The Romanian of Hozeva Monastery [/B](died in 1960, recognised like saint by Romanian Ortodox Church in 1992, and by Jerusalem Patriarchate before). If you are interested in this domain of youth education, please don't esitate to contact me.
Our foundation is like a civil arm of the local Ortodox Church-Tomis Achbishopy of Dobrogea region. In Constanta county-my county exist some very old and holy monasteries like "Saint Apostle Andrew Cave Monastery-the first christian church of Romania" and "Saint John Cassian Cave Monastery were lived Saint John Casian-patristic father-help very much by our foundation to bilding and to develop; partner in children education of the school and nursery. Also we have a good link with Saint Mary Monastery of Techirghiol-where live father Arsenie Papacioc-one of the greatest Romanian ortodox fathers of our church (90 years old, 13 years of jail into the communism era- a martyr in life !).

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

This is an unusual post - either Matthew has established a monastery that I have yet to hear of, or Mihai is actually 'writing' a letter to Tolleshunt Knights, since he mentions perhaps working in Essex.

Clearly, someone should contact him.

It may be difficult to stay in a 'virtual monastery'. Though the thought is intriguing.

Any suggestions.

Doamne ajuta!

[Paul Michael Phelan]

Hello friends,
My name is Paul, and I am married, and am nearing retirement. I have always loved Christ, and have been blessed many times. I thought about monastic life when I was young and single, and even spent a week in a Monastery, and loved the chant of the Hours several times a day. I have studied the Bible both as a Catholic and in a non-catholic Bible study online course- which is rather a good one. So I am open minded, yet a traditionalist; learning, not a scholar; applying, not just reading pages.
I come to follow the rules and conditions, and not debate religion, rather only to share the love Christ has for us in general, also to share in prayer requests. The world today is in rough shape and Christ centered way of life is important.
I hope that I will find here friends, and not an audience; prayers, and learning, not political fervor; love, and not fear, anger. It looks like a very nice site, I pray it continues to grow, giving glory to God. Thank you for letting me join you.
Peace be with you all. Paul

[John Charmley]

Dear Paul,

Welcome here!

There is neither fear, nor much anger here - we tend to leave that at the door. And if, at times, we become passionate, it is never directed against our brothers and sisters in Christ - and there is a welcome willingness to repent of any hastiness. There is a tendency to discuss rather than debate, and much quiet wisdom resides here - not least among those who do not post frequently.

May you find here not only what you seek and need, but those things which are needful, but you do not seek because you do not yet know of them.

As a way of sharing the love of Christ and His fellowship with other Christians, this is a good place, but those of us outside the Orthodox Church may need to remind ourselves, from time to time, that it is an Orthodox site, and we must respect that - even, of course, as we come to treasure it for just that fact.

You bring with you, by the sound of it, much that we can benefit from sharing, and I look forward to encountering you here in the year to come.

In Christ,

John

[Nicolaj]

Dear Paul,

Let me welcome you on this forum and I can affirm the words John already wrote, sometimes a bit passionated but never condemning anyone!
The love of God unites all the heavens so why should we built walls that separate?
Come around and taste the fruits when brethren share their thoughts!

In Christ-Nicolaj

[M.C. Steenberg]

This is an unusual post - either Matthew has established a monastery that I have yet to hear of, or Mihai is actually 'writing' a letter to Tolleshunt Knights, since he mentions perhaps working in Essex.

I'll admit to having been away for the past three weeks; but to the very best of my knowledge, I have founded no monasteries during that time (or any other!). :)

INXC, Matthew

[Paul Michael Phelan]

Thank you for the warm welcomes. I will learn many things and will be enriched for it. One Priest told me long ago in the midst of change in our Church, there are many different denominations, each flowering in their own way. He invited me to go and experience them. "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord." I will do so here, sincerely, humbly, and with much interest.

Hope to talk to you again soon.

Paul

[Anastasios Theofilou]

Hello,
My name is Anastasios. I am married, I have four children.
Christ is risen!

[Peter Farrington]

Hi Anastasios

And a warm welcome to this forum.

I am also married and also have four children.

This place can often be a welcome break! :)

Peter

[John Charmley]

Dear Anastasios,

A warm welcome to Monachos.

I hope you find what you need here.:)

In Christ,

John

[Rose]

Hi everyone,:)
Our family will be expecting our first grandchild (sex unknown as of now), and this baby will be raised in the Greek Orthodox religion. I'm lost. There is so much I don't know and would like to learn, so that I don't feel so "left out." I understand that the baptism is a very long ceremony. Can someone kindly explain Orthodox baptism to me; age of the baby, the need for two sets of clothing, the oil, the baby being submerged three times, I would be most grateful for any information. My son was married in a Greek Orthodox ceremony. I am a practicing Lutheran.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Hi everyone,:)
Our family will be expecting our first grandchild (sex unknown as of now), and this baby will be raised in the Greek Orthodox religion. I'm lost. There is so much I don't know and would like to learn, so that I don't feel so "left out." I understand that the baptism is a very long ceremony. Can someone kindly explain Orthodox baptism to me; age of the baby, the need for two sets of clothing, the oil, the baby being submerged three times, I would be most grateful for any information. My son was married in a Greek Orthodox ceremony. I am a practicing Lutheran.

Hello Rose. I am an Orthodox priest. I have baptized quite a few infants (and adults also) over the years. I am sure that other priests present on this forum can also add to what I will say.

There are a number of different traditions within Orthodoxy about when the baby should be baptized. But in general nowadays it is common that we wait 40 days. As to the proper age for when a baby or anyone else for that matter should be baptized the only really suitable answer is as soon as the time is right. No age is too young because in the Orthodox Church we accept infant baptism. Normally however most do wait 40 days before baptizing the newly born child.

When someone is baptized in the Orthodox Church they are immediately clothed in a white baptismal robe after the three immersions. Normally for a baby this is a white dress. Since the child would be baptized naked this means that before the baptism or immersing in the water all clothes or diaper needs to be removed. Hence I suppose the reference to two sets of clothing; ie what the child would wear to church & then the white dress after the baptism.

Oil could refer to two different things during the baptismal service. Probably you are referring to the oil with which the child would be anointed right before the immersion in baptism. This is a normal part of the service. First the oil which would be in a container of some kind is blessed with a brief prayer. Then the child is anointed with the blessed oil on various parts of the body. The remaining oil in the container is then poured into the baptismal font to the chant of Alleluia.

The Greeks pour a very large amount of oil into the baptismal font and if I recall correctly (I am a Russian priest and have only been to one baptism in a Greek church before) rub the person down with the oil before the baptism. So this would be very striking to anyone watching.

There is another anointing with a very special type of oil called myrrh. This anointing is done after the baptism/immersion and is considered a sacrament. But I think you may be referring to the first kind of anointing with oil.

The reason the child is immersed three times is that the baptized goes down into the water in representation of Christ's death and then comes up again in representation of Christ's resurrection. The reason for three immersions is that the person is baptized in the Name of the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity. Hence when the person is baptized the priest says, "the servant of God (name) is baptized in the Name of the Father (immersion), and of the Son (immersion) and of the Holy Spirit (immersion).

The immersing of children in Baptism can seem fearsome to someone who has not witnessed this before. But do not fear- no child has ever been hurt after 2000 years of baptizing in this way. Also many priests have ways of covering the child's face when they are baptized in the water. Normally everyone will pitch in and try to help so don't worry.

I hope these few words of explanation are of some help. Mainly keep in mind that for us Baptism is a most joyous occasion when someone is brought into the Church of Christ.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Tanya Hoadley]

Dear Rose,

Welcome! I am sure that members on this site will answer your questions far better than I could.

As you learn about Orthodox Baptism, I'm sure you will find many ways of sharing in this most wonderous sacrament.

When my first child was baptised, I made a beautiful baptismal gown and my mother embroidered it. (So beautiful and delicate are her stiches.) Mom also bought a thick, white baby bath blanket (the ones with the extra small triangle of cloth that cover the baby's head). This was perfect for covering the wet and somewhat oily baby after immersion. The hardest part is trying to dress the slippery little bundle of joy!

In Christ,
Tanya

[Rose]

Dear Father Raphael,
Thank you so much for the detailed explanation of the baptism. We also view baptism as a very joyous occasion (even though we do it a little less intensely) and are so looking forward to the birth of our first grandchild!

Tanya thank you for the info on the bath blanket. Sounds like a terrific idea.

As a non-Greek and non-Orthodox person, I need all the help and advice I can get. It is very much appreciated.

[Cyprian (Humphrey)]

Greetings to one and all!

I have "lurked" around this site and read through threads for a while before deciding to join. It's not likely that I'll have much to say, as there seem to be a considerable number of highly knowledgable persons who will post what needs to be said far before I could even fully comprehend the situation.

Unless anyone has any questions about Canadian military administration and/or small party raiding tactics :rolleyes: . That's just my joke because I am an ex-soldier, and being a clerk in the military, I was employed often as the imaginary "enemy force" for exercises and we often imitated, as best we could, small party recconassaince and raids on the "good guys". I seriously doubt anyone here would ever want to know about that.:)

But now, I am a monk (rhiasaphormonk specifically) living remotely from my monastic community (the Monastic Community of St Silouan the Athonite, Ottawa, ON, Canada), with the blessing of the abbot (Bp SERAPHIM), specifically due to some personal and financial obligations. So now I live as lone monk, going to a parish church, and being "undercover" Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm. Kind of a weird, almost schizoid, experience, which I fully intend to not be permanent.

Please pray for me, the sinner

Cyprian

[John Charmley]

Dear Cyprian,

It is always a big moment when the lurking turns to joining - so welcome here. You are in an interesting, and possibly unique situation by the sound of it, and I should be very surprised if you did not have much to contribute.

Although the old 'reputation' system is no longer with us, I know from it that some of the most active members of this site rarely actually post - but read and pray.

I hope that whatever it is you are seeking here you will find - and much more.

In Christ,

John

[Trudy]

But now, I am a monk (rhiasaphormonk specifically) living remotely from my monastic community (the Monastic Community of St Silouan the Athonite, Ottawa, ON, Canada), with the blessing of the abbot (Bp SERAPHIM), specifically due to some personal and financial obligations. So now I live as lone monk, going to a parish church, and being "undercover" Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm. Kind of a weird, almost schizoid, experience, which I fully intend to not be permanent.

Dear Brother in Christ Cyprian,

May I add my humble welcome to the others here.

Truly you are far from home and that must be difficult, as well as your situation. May God grant you strength to endure.

It is wonderful to have another monk on this discussion board. Perhaps you've read some of Fr. Seraphim Black's posts? I do hope you will share thoughts as you feel lead.

In Christ,
Athanasia

PS: Thank you for the good quote on your profile. It is good to keep it in my mind.

[Caroline MacDonald-Haig]

A new member to this site, directed via a short course on Theology run by St Paul's Theological Centre at Holy Trinity Brompton, London. Checking out the text of our first lecture on Constantine and the Monks of the Desert.

[Cyprian (Humphrey)]

Thank you both for your kind words. I have sometimes been the recipient of some criticism for being a monastic outside a monastery, but it's nice to know there is also some encouragement at times.

Fr Cyp

[Peter Farrington]

Hi Caroline

A warm welcome to the site. I hope it is helpful to you in many ways.

Best wishes

Peter

[Marie A.]

Welcome to the site, Caroline. I've been a member for awhile but I'm mostly a lurker. My dh and I entered the Orthodox Church on the eve of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ in December. I have learned much here and it has been very helpful in my journey to the Orthodox faith. BTW my dh is a former Episcopalian and I am a former Roman Catholic.

Peace in Our Lord Jesus Christ,
Marie

[John Charmley]

Dear Caroline,

Welcome - nice to have another Anglican here. I hope that you will find not only information you want here, but also things you need. Enjoy the community.

In Christ,

John

[Nina]

Greetings in Christ to you all!

I found monachos.net while looking for some info about Byzantine hymns. I am impressed from the site and glad at the same time because I have learned so much (and I have only been through 10% of the site's contents) and still learning from it.

Nina

[Maria Murray]

Thank you all for your warm welcome comments, they are very much appreciated! This place has been of much great help already. I don't know if my opinions and distorted thoughts can be worth much to the people of such depth here, but I wanted to share a couple of things about my journey in response to John.

As I had some experiences in the Orthodox church when I was younger, they always painted my perception as insincere rituals the people were following out of duty that didn't have any effect in their lives. Indeed this is was left in my mind because that's what it was for me. I have no idea why it never occurred to me to somehow investigate this further. I specifically remember standing in church during the Liturgy thinking, I am supposed to be closer to God here, but why do I feel so far from even caring about that? Every visit to church was mostly filled with some sort of frustration. I was very intimidated by clergy as well and was fearful to even come in close proximity to them somehow imagining I'd be struck by lightning or they would get mad at me and consider me a horrible sinner unworthy of being in a church. Such terrible misunderstandings and blindness permiated my experience with the church. In what I perceived and read, I saw everything painted in this manner: do this, don't do that, hold your hands this way, wear this and not that etc etc. Where is God in that? Besides every one kept saying all other faiths are wrong, that irritated me. Eventually I used my kids' misbehavior and my husband's sighs in church as excuses to give up on trying.

As a result, some time later, what greatly attracted me to the Protestant faith was seeing the fruit of the love for God in their lives and their sincerely I didn't see in the Orthodox people (in my perception of it). I was suggested some evangelical books that made so much sense to me. One particular thing that struck me was a realization that Christ was the savior of the world because I somehow totally missed that in the Orthodox church (don't ask me how) and that I, althought claimed to be a Christian, did not live like one and that it needed to change. Eventually as I soaked up everything I could get my hands on in the Protestant literature, I started seeing many holes that couldn't be filled no matter how you stretch it. Who knows how long this would go on if it hadn't been for us having a new baby and the necessity to firmly decide in what faith she'd be baptized and raised. I suddenly felt a ton of resposibility weighing on me to make an informed decision. So off we went to look into various Christian faiths and to visit churches. It was painful to learn that I had been blind and wrong about many things, particularly the role of Tradition. For some period of time, my husband and I were stuck between Catholicism and Orthodoxy - both have very good arguments and we spoke with wonderful priests from both. Eventually my husband said something that made great sense: we cannot use our limited minds to descern between the two. I must admit, I really didn't want to be Orthodox again and neither did I want to be Catholic, so I prayed that if it's God's will, I will submit to whichever He leads me to, with His help. Gradually I realized somehow that God has always been in the Orthodox church and that I had simply been blind to it. My husband followed this by wanting to be a proper spiritual leader to his inevitably Orthodox family.

While I regret detouring away from the Church, I see it as a lesson in humility. It seems we learn the most when we admit we are wrong... It's so hard to do. To admit I am wrong, I am a sinner and I fail all the time. But the journey to Christ always seems to be paved in humility, of which we still have very little. We also developed great love for people of the other Christian faiths we came to know so closely. While we may disagree with their theology, we no longer question their sincerity or look down on them in any way. And we found that all that is true and beautiful in Protestanism and Catholicism is still true and beautiful but in a fuller form in Orthodoxy. This is just a beginning of a journey.

[Herman Blaydoe]

This is a very moving and inspiring story! Thank you for sharing it. Welcome home. God be with you and your family!

Your servant,
Herman

[John Charmley]

While I regret detouring away from the Church, I see it as a lesson in humility. It seems we learn the most when we admit we are wrong... It's so hard to do. To admit I am wrong, I am a sinner and I fail all the time. But the journey to Christ always seems to be paved in humility, of which we still have very little. We also developed great love for people of the other Christian faiths we came to know so closely. While we may disagree with their theology, we no longer question their sincerity or look down on them in any way. And we found that all that is true and beautiful in Protestanism and Catholicism is still true and beautiful but in a fuller form in Orthodoxy. This is just a beginning of a journey.

Dear Maria,

This is a beautiful and moving post. What regret can there be for such a journey and such lessons learned? We are all sinners, and we all fail all the time, but your senitments expressed here breathe what St, John says in 1 John 4:11-12:


11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

Your penultimate sentence is a perfect example of such love, and we are all in your debt for sharing it with us.

In Christ,

John

[Stephanos Nikopolis]

Hello All,

Though from a Roman Catholic background, I learned of to Orthodoxy and became Orthodox mainly through study of history while living the first fifteen years of my adult life mostly in Mediterranean Europe.

I earned the equivalent of a masters degree in Byzantine History from the University of Ioannina in Epiros, Greece, during which time, in 2002, I was chrysmated into the Orthodox Church by the bishop and fathers of the monastic community of Nikopolis/Preveza.

A researcher, writer, economist and translator, for a living I translate mostly economic and financial texts from Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and possibly Greek into English.

I am also an avid writer and I maintain two blogsites, one on purely economics, the other containing Orthodox-inspired theological aphorisms and essays, influenced by one who is an economist, among other things, mostly related to the Orthodox Tradition.

I don't know if I am allowed to broadcast the URL (http://stephanosofepiros.wordpress.com/), but if not I could send a private message to anyone interested.

In any case, I hope to come into contact with fellow Orthodox around the world, especially those interested in theology, the akolouthia, the New Testament, Patristics, iconographic art, and a bit of history, not necessarily in that order.

I currently live with my wife in the US and we are expecting our first child. I ask for your prayers for a healthy mother and healthy baby, God willing; at the moment we seem to be on a good path.

We hope to be able to visit the Orthodox community in Preveza/Nikopolis this year and in the coming years, among other places, God willing.

The blessings of Christ to all!

[Katarina Fajgelj]

my name is katarina, as you know...

I study icon painting in Belgrade, Serbia. I was on some other forum on www.ccel.org, (and that was first time I was on forum, actualy), and Paul, one of you, told me this is something good...
So, let`s see...;)

[John Charmley]

Dear Steve,

Welcome here. It sounds like you bring a lot of interesting things with you to this site - and I hope that you get from much that interests you back.

In Christ,

John

[Trudy]

Welcome Steve! Your life sounds full and interesting! I too came to know Orthodoxy through history...specifically a college class I took for college credit towards my BA in History.

I still am hacking away at the degree, but was received into the Church in 2004.

athanasia

[Trudy]

Welcome Katarina! I am happy you are here!

athanasia

[Paul Cowan]

Dear sister in Christ Katarina:
Welcome. I again apologize to you for the way I behaved on the other forum. I am glad though you are here. I think you will find the ideals you were expressing there are life here.

I am sure you will feel right at home. Do you have a website that your icons can be viewed on? I would be most interested.

In Christ, Paul

[Kieran P.]

God bless you all!

I'm not - strictly speaking - from Rome, but so that my first post isn't considered a lie :p , I'll come clean and admit to being "Roman" Catholic!

I have a great love for the eastern Church and have read several books by Kallistos Ware, I struggled through part of Lossky's 'Mystical Theology' and I loved the little Russian Philokalia series, my favourite of which is St Seraphim of Sarov.

I pray for the day we have unity between our Churches - a unity achieved at no expense to truth.

Again, God bless you. I'll have a mooch about and please God will come to learn a lot about your great churches.

[Katarina Fajgelj]

O, thank you!!

It is little bit complicated here..But I menaged to find some thread that is so interesting, about icons!

I don't have a website, actualy I never tought of that...But that is a good idea!

If you wrealy want, I can send you some photos... I'm a fresco painter, and I am begginer. But I am trying to give my best.

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

Welcome Kieran,

Interesting name, can you tell us the origin of it?

I spent a lot of time travelling through Italy many decades ago, especially in Umbria.

My patron Saint is St. Seraphim of Sarov.

The very best way to learn about our Church is to attend the Liturgy, indeed the full cycle of Divine Services. Books can be an 'entrance' of sorts, but you need to get down on your knees and work in the garden with your hands!

May our Lord bless your pilgrimage.

[John Charmley]

Dear Kieran,

Good to read that name again, coming from near Liverpool I knew quite a few Kierans in my youth - a good Catholic name; welcome here!

Like you, I come from outside this Tradition (or these traditions) but have been much impressed by what I have read - but Fr. Seraphim is spot on, experiencing it is the thing. I don't know where you are in Ireland, but if you get the chance to experience an Orthodox service, it would be interesting to know what you think.

I have the greatest respect for your Catholic Church - it has done great things throughout the world, and it has borne a mighty witness to the Faith of Our Lord. What ever the differences, theological, ecclesiological, historical, etc., we are all Christians, and, like you, I pray for unity in Truth. The last Pope was one of the greatest Christian witnesses of our time, and his successor, in a quieter way, is a very impressive figure.

It is good to have you here, and I hope to learn much from you - Céad Míle Failte!

In Christ,

John

[Kieran P.]

Welcome Kieran,

Interesting name, can you tell us the origin of it?

I spent a lot of time travelling through Italy many decades ago, especially in Umbria.

My patron Saint is St. Seraphim of Sarov.

The very best way to learn about our Church is to attend the Liturgy, indeed the full cycle of Divine Services. Books can be an 'entrance' of sorts, but you need to get down on your knees and work in the garden with your hands!

May our Lord bless your pilgrimage.

hi petru voda, :)

I'm from Dublin and the Irish spelling of my name is Ciaran, but I prefer the English spelling. Unfortunately, I don't know th origins of it! But there IS a Saint Ciaran who I was named after.

I love St Seraphim of Sarov too! The local Russian Orthox Church has many icons but his is the one I pause before and light a candle. That Church, by the way, was partially funded by Dublin's Franciscans, which is a lovely ecumenical gesture - and practical, too! There are tens of thousands of Russians now living in Dublin and its environs.

My patron saint would Padre Pio. Did you pass his area while in Italy? San Giovanni. He brought me back into the faith three years ago:

http://www.padrepiodevotions.org/

God bless you, and keep you well.

[Kieran P.]

Hiya John, :)

Thanks for the cupla focal as gaeilge! It's the last thing I expected to read on an Orthodox website!;)

You're quite correct - it's a great way for us non-Orthodox to learn about thier faith. And we can bear witness to our own faith also while we're here.

I agree about JPII - and Benedict, too! I like his quiet intelligence and determination. He has a great sprawling monolith to steer and he knows the pitfalls!

God bless you John and take care,

Kieran

[Maria Murray]

Hello Kieran! Nice to meet you. My husband is from Ireland and grew up there in the Roman Catholic faith. His family is still over there. We are both in the process of becoming Orthodox at this time. I am new here myself and there's so much to learn. May God bless you,
Maria Murray

[Katarina Fajgelj]

10 There is one of my latest. I didn't finish text...It's st.Athanasius of Alexsandria:o

[Kieran P.]

Katarina,

That's quite beautiful. :)

Do you need any special skills or piety to be an icon painter? I have the CD of Tarkovski's 'Andrei Rublev' at home waiting...and waiting...and waiting...:o

God bless...

[John Charmley]

Dear Katarina,

Welcome - and thank you so much for sharing your talent with us; your icon was very moving, and I wish you every encouragement to continue to do the Lord's work.

In Christ,

John

[Nina]

Hi Katarina,

I like your icon very much! I like your choice of colors (St. Athanasius looks so angelic)! Also there is a nice flow in this icon that I have never noticed before. Great job!

[Kieran P.]

Hiya Maria,

Thanks for your kind greeting! Whereabouts in Ireland does your hubby come from?

Please tell me, why is he changing church? I see Catholic and Orthodox as being closest in so many ways, and perhaps he'd benefit from exploring his own tradition first, no?

Just curious! :p

God bless you both!

[Michael Ruger]

I am Michael Ruger, Mich, to everyone even my parents. I am a sort of lapsed Orthodox, born and bred, but gradually coming to afresh to the faith.
I will probably be a 'lurker'

Mich

[Maria Murray]

Dear Kieran,
He's from Belfast. (His brother is studying to be a monk in Dublin.) Please don't misunderstand, we DID look into the Catholic tradition, with much prayer and study. We have a lot of respect for the Catholic Church. We did actually consider (as funny as it seems) going to separate churches - mommy and kids go to the Orthodox church and daddy goes to a Catholic church. :rolleyes: You're right that they are similar on many points, but the two disagree on a number of important points. He is much more comfortable with the Roman tradition, by far! But I think the question ultimately comes down to who preserved the fullness of the original faith from apostolic times, the answer to which was really tough for our limited minds. Sometimes, what we seem to find doesn't sit within our comfort zone. Well, we're all on our own journey and in the end for the sake of family unity and being a spiritual leader to us was his leading. His reason seems like a very humble one to me.

Sincerely,
Maria

[John Charmley]

Dear Mich,

Welcome - and lurk all you like, you'll probably find something here that will draw you in to add your 2 cents' worth, which will, I am sure, be more than worth having for the rest of us. May you find here what you need, as well as what you seek.

In Christ,

John

[Katarina Fajgelj]

oh, thank you people!!!

I didn't think anyone will look here!!

I don't know you yet, but I guess I will learn who is who later...

It's good, Tarkovsky, isn't it? I like him! (Kieran, you are Scotish?, I think they look like Serbs, mentaly...)

And this icon is actualy imitation of fresco, I mean it's big, just to tell you..

Are you painting?

[Irene]

We fall down and with God's help we pick ourselves up again. I am glad that you are picking yourself up again Mich, welcome to Monachos....Irene

[Maria Mahoney]

Hi Michael from Michigan!

I am Maria from New Mexico. I have been Orthodox for 25 years and am very excited about Orthodoxy. I like to read, so I am looking forward to having many wonderful conversations with everyone on this message board.

[John Charmley]

Hi Michael from Michigan!

I am Maria from New Mexico. I have been Orthodox for 25 years and am very excited about Orthodoxy. I like to read, so I am looking forward to having many wonderful conversations with everyone on this message board.

Hello there Maria, and welcome here. It is good to have you here, and your excitement, after 25 years, is good to hear about; I look forward to your contributions here.

God bless you.

In Christ,

John

[Thomas Carroll]

Dear fathers and brethren in Christ,

My name is Thomas Carroll. By God's mercy I am an Orthodox Christian. I live in metropolitan Nashville, Tennessee, USA. I serve as a cantor in my parish church. I have joined this forum because I have been deeply impressed by the sincerity, knowledge, and experience of its contributors, from whom I hope to learn.

Asking your prayers,
Thomas

[Nina]

I am new here also but I take the liberty to welcome you. And please do contribute with your thoughts here since we all look forward to learning.

[John Charmley]

Dear Thomas,

Welcome. I hope that you will find here what you seek - and what you need.

In Christ,

John

[Herman Blaydoe]

Greetings from a fellow cantor in Waldorf, MD (in the Carpatho-Russian tradition). Welcome!

[Robert Meyering]

Greetings,
Robert here, from Grand Rapids, MI. Member of the St. John Chrysostom Russian Orthodox Church (MP). Ironically enough, I work at Calvin College named for John Calvin. I was once a member of a Reformed, Calvinistic denomination, but was chrismated about 3 years ago after visiting St. John C's for about 6 years off and on. My beloved wife does not accompany me to Orthodox services, but continues great involvement with her Protestant church.

Now the request.

A few years ago I came across the following website:

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/c.parks/florovsky.html

I contacted the person from that website to inquire about the project to convert all of Georges Forovsky's writings to digital format. I had even volunteered to assist with the project. But after an e-mail exchange or two, I heard nothing more, and it seems no one has posted on that website for several years now.

Does anyone here know anything about this Florovsky project? I still have an interest in scanning materials, checking them, and making them available in digital format. The fellow I had originally e-mailed indicated that he had been unable to track down the copyright holder for these books.

Thanks. I use to check out the discussions here, but never registered. Now I have.

Bob

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Greetings,
Robert here, from Grand Rapids, MI. Member of the St. John Chrysostom Russian Orthodox Church (MP). Ironically enough, I work at Calvin College named for John Calvin. I was once a member of a Reformed, Calvinistic denomination, but was chrismated about 3 years ago after visiting St. John C's for about 6 years off and on. My beloved wife does not accompany me to Orthodox services, but continues great involvement with her Protestant church.

Now the request.

A few years ago I came across the following website:

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/c.parks/florovsky.html

I contacted the person from that website to inquire about the project to convert all of Georges Forovsky's writings to digital format. I had even volunteered to assist with the project. But after an e-mail exchange or two, I heard nothing more, and it seems no one has posted on that website for several years now.

Does anyone here know anything about this Florovsky project? I still have an interest in scanning materials, checking them, and making them available in digital format. The fellow I had originally e-mailed indicated that he had been unable to track down the copyright holder for these books.

Thanks. I use to check out the discussions here, but never registered. Now I have.

Bob

I don't know about a Florovsky project. But you can find a lot of Fr Florovsky's material online here (http://www.holytrinitymission.org/index.php).
Look especially under the Dogmatic Theology and Patrology titles.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Maureen]

Glory to Jesus Christ,

Hello everybody. I have been visiting this site for a while and find the comments to be always thought provoking and always mature and respectful.
I am a convert from Roman Catholicism (over 20 yrs ago)
and love and appreciate Orthodoxy more every year-I must admit the first few were somewhat dicey.
I belong to a very new Orthodox Mission (OCA)where, with the exception of our priest and most of our children, everyone is a convert, though most of us have been converts for a while.
I will probably mostly read other posts for a while and glean some thoughts from Monachos' resources for our electronic newsletter.

Pray for all of us in our new Mission here in the very,very frozen North
maureen

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Glory to Jesus Christ,

Hello everybody. I have been visiting this site for a while and find the comments to be always thought provoking and always mature and respectful.
I am a convert from Roman Catholicism (over 20 yrs ago)
and love and appreciate Orthodoxy more every year-I must admit the first few were somewhat dicey.
I belong to a very new Orthodox Mission (OCA)where, with the exception of our priest and most of our children, everyone is a convert, though most of us have been converts for a while.
I will probably mostly read other posts for a while and glean some thoughts from Monachos' resources for our electronic newsletter.

Pray for all of us in our new Mission here in the very,very frozen North
maureen

Hello Maureen,

Welcome to the Monachos community.

I know Fr Andrew & Christie quite well. I have known of the mission since its beginning and pray it is doing well.

I know what you mean by very, very frozen as I just got back from visiting several of my people at Grace Hospital. It was -30 this morning but has now warmed up to -26!

But maybe it's colder up here in the North End. :)

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Nina]

Hello Maureen and welcome!

:) :) :) :) :) :) All the smiles (I wanted to send more but the system does not allow more) I hope are sending a bit of warmth up to you, since it is a freezing winter up there!

I am amazed that your parish consists of mostly converts. I wonder how that is like, since I do not know many converts - or maybe I do, but I never thought of them as converts. Oh, I guess I should just invite myself to visit a similar parish, so I can be part of that wonderful experience. I really look forward to be enriched by your thoughts and experiences here on monachos!

[John Charmley]

Dear Maureen,

Welcome here, good to have you.:)

How we here in the UK are put to shame by yourself and Fr. Raphael of the Frozen North. We had a snowfall yesterday followed by temperatures of -4c. and you'd think the world had ended!

In Christ,

John

[Nina]

I know what you mean by very, very frozen as I just got back from visiting several of my people at Grace Hospital. It was -30 this morning but has now warmed up to -26!

But maybe it's colder up here in the North End. :)

In Christ- Fr Raphael

Oh my! -30? It warmed up to -26? And here the priest from my previous parish, told me that when is snowed a bit, people started calling him and asking if the church service on Sunday was canceled. :) And he reminded them of the 40 martyrs. I will remember now also you all living and going to church up there. :)

Your blessings Father Raphael!

[Maureen]

You know -it is really not that bad- when it is this cold the sky is very very blue and it is very sunny! It sort of makes me feel good to be out in it as long as I dress warmly and there is no wind. Truly -I would rather have it very cold than too hot- A true Canadian

I think, on balance, being in a overwhelmingly convert parish is a wonderful experience. There is so much enthusiasm, so much committment, such an awareness that we have been blessed by God to be Orthodox and to be brought together as we have been.

Because there are 4 of us who have been Orthodox for over 20 yrs, we have some depth of experience as well. What we are missing, and I am not sure yet how important it is, is more than a couple of people with long, strong Orthodox roots going back generations.

We hold our weekend services in the lower level of an Anglican Church and any other services are held in Father's basement - affectionately known as The Catacomb.

Thank you all for your greetings.

Fr Raphael, we have met at the Consistory Chapel. Maureen

[Nina]

You know -it is really not that bad- when it is this cold the sky is very very blue and it is very sunny! It sort of makes me feel good to be out in it as long as I dress warmly and there is no wind. Truly -I would rather have it very cold than too hot- A true Canadian

I think, on balance, being in a overwhelmingly convert parish is a wonderful experience. There is so much enthusiasm, so much committment, such an awareness that we have been blessed by God to be Orthodox and to be brought together as we have been.

Because there are 4 of us who have been Orthodox for over 20 yrs, we have some depth of experience as well. What we are missing, and I am not sure yet how important it is, is more than a couple of people with long, strong Orthodox roots going back generations.

We hold our weekend services in the lower level of an Anglican Church and any other services are held in Father's basement - affectionately known as The Catacomb.



It sounds all so thrilling, especially the Catacomb! You must feel like the very first Christians.

[Paul Cowan]

Hello Maureen,

Welcome to the Monachos community.

I know Fr Andrew & Christie quite well. I have known of the mission since its beginning and pray it is doing well.

I know what you mean by very, very frozen as I just got back from visiting several of my people at Grace Hospital. It was -30 this morning but has now warmed up to -26!

But maybe it's colder up here in the North End. :)

In Christ- Fr Raphael

I hope I don't make you guys jealous, but down here in Texas it was a nice warm 70 degrees f yesterday. Think of the wonder of God's creation. 1500 miles south of Canada it was 100 degrees f hotter. 100 degrees! Even tonight it is 50 degrees f. Those of you up there are wishing for warmth. I am wishing for a little snow. ;)

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

I hope I don't make you guys jealous, but down here in Texas it was a nice warm 70 degrees f yesterday. Think of the wonder of God's creation. 1500 miles south of Canada it was 100 degrees f hotter. 100 degrees! Even tonight it is 50 degrees f. Those of you up there are wishing for warmth. I am wishing for a little snow. ;)

Hard winters do something to people. It draws them together to help each other & somehow makes you deeply appreciative of being able to accomplish the small things. There's also something starkly beautiful about the dry snow swirling like white sand across a landscape so glaringly white on ground level & so blue above. Those who live in this part of the world know what I mean. I think it does something to our psyche.

I remember the 6 years I spent at seminary in north eastern Pennsylvania how disappointing the winters were. But it was very nice to experience real warmth half way through Great Lent. And Pascha was like summer! I'd never experienced that before.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Adrian Martin]

My name is Adrian, and I am a Roman Catholic from Hawaii. I post on the Catholic Answers Forums as The Augustinian. I converted to Roman Catholicism in 2003, but I am seriously looking into Eastern Orthodoxy, partly because of theology, and partly because of liturgical concerns. I hope that discussions will be fruitful.

--Adrian

[John Charmley]

Dear Adrian,

Welcome here, and may He whom we all worship help you to find what it is you need - as well as what you are looking for.

As you will have seen, this is a site where those of us with questions can help find the tools from which to construct some answers; may you find them.

In Christ,

John

[Peter Farrington]

Let me echo John's welcome.

I am sure that you will find much of interest here, from all sorts of perspectives. And much that will help you personally on your spiritual pilgrimage.

Best wishes and God bless your membership here.

Peter

[Kieran P.]

Hi katarina :)

I'm Irish, from Dublin. We have a Russian Orthodox Church down the road from me (donated by the Catholic Franciscans) and I enjoy to visit and pray before the icons.

I haven't actually watched the Tarkovski film yet. I'm a little intimidated, I think. It's supposedly a great, profound Russian classic. I'll sit in some Sunday after mass and watch. It comes very highly recommended - and now again, by you.

I like the icons for the reasons your saints teach: they're like a window into the next world.


Are you painting?

I painted the ceiling the other day and didn't even manage a straight line there!:p

I write, though, and enjoy that.

God bless you

[Nina]

Hi Adrian and welcome!

[Holly Williams]

Hello everyone. I am new to these forums. I am a 24 year old female from Indiana of the United States of America. I am a Roman Catholic and am interested in learning about and possibly converting to Eastern Orthodoxy. My only problem is that there is not an Eastern Orthodox Church within driving distance of where I live. :( Otherwise I would have already checked one out.

I have many interests and/or hobbies which include: coin collecting, star gazing, reading, theology, biking, swimming, camping, ancient history, history in general, war history, Christian history, History Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, EWTN, and I have other interests or hobbies as well.

I look forward to posting with you all! :)

[Peter Farrington]

Hi Holly

Welcome to the forum.

I hope that it is of great use to you in exploring Orthodox Christianity.

There are many knowledgeable and spiritual people here, and there is me as well!

Peter

[Nina]

Hello everyone. I am new to these forums. I am a 24 year old female from Indiana of the United States of America. I am a Roman Catholic and am interested in learning about and possibly converting to Eastern Orthodoxy. My only problem is that there is not an Eastern Orthodox Church within driving distance of where I live. :( Otherwise I would have already checked one out.

I have many interests and/or hobbies which include: coin collecting, star gazing, reading, theology, biking, swimming, camping, ancient history, history in general, war history, Christian history, History Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, EWTN, and I have other interests or hobbies as well.

I look forward to posting with you all! :)

Hi Holly,

Welcome!

Here is a link of Greek Orthodox churches in Indiana:
http://goarch.org/en/parishes/ParishSearch.asp?parish=&clergy=&city=&state=20&diocese=&SearchRadius=15&SearchZip=&btnSubmit.x=30&btnSubmit.y=12&searchResults=10

I am sure there are also Antiochian, Russian Orthodox etc Maybe you can Google them or find links to them from the website goarch.org

I do not know if you will find Orthodox churches near to where you live, but you can always try to contact the priests by email or phone -maybe they can suggest you something.

[Holly Williams]

Hi Holly,

Welcome!

Here is a link of Greek Orthodox churches in Indiana:
http://goarch.org/en/parishes/ParishSearch.asp?parish=&clergy=&city=&state=20&diocese=&SearchRadius=15&SearchZip=&btnSubmit.x=30&btnSubmit.y=12&searchResults=10

I am sure there are also Antiochian, Russian Orthodox etc Maybe you can Google them or find links to them from the website goarch.org

I do not know if you will find Orthodox churches near to where you live, but you can always try to contact the priests by email or phone -maybe they can suggest you something.

Thank you for the help. Unfortunately none of those are near me either.

[John Charmley]

Dear Holly,

Welcome here. I am sure that some of our posters will be able to help with the location of a suitable Church.

It can be a problem, I know, and for those of us who are way away from a Church, this site can be a most valuable resource for discovering more about Orthodoxy (it can be for those who are more fortunate in the location of their Church, too, of course).

I hope you find what is needful here - as well as some good cyber-companions.

In Christ,

John

[John Papadopoulos]

I'm Orthodox Christian and bad in English-writing, better in reading...http://www.monachos.net/forum/images/smilies/redface.gif
:o so you know well now if I can't reply at your communication easily.
"evloyite" *

*As I learned in ATHOS monasteries is a kind of greetings.

[Nina]

Thank you for the help. Unfortunately none of those are near me either.

Try e-mailing or calling the priests and they maybe know what is nearest to you. Or try searching for another state if you are near the border.

[John Charmley]

Dear John,

Welcome here:)

I hope you will find much to interest you - and please do not worry about the English - our charge as Christians is, in part, to love one another, and no one here minds a bit of rough-hewn English - it is the spirit that counts.

In Christ,

John

[Nina]

I'm Orthodox Christian and bad in English-writing, better in reading...http://www.monachos.net/forum/images/smilies/redface.gif
:o so you know well now if I can't reply at your communication easily.
"evloyite" *

*As I learned in ATHOS monasteries is a kind of greetings.

Hello John and welcome!

Do not worry about your English. I am in the same boat.

[Herman Blaydoe]

Being a fellow Hoosier, it hurts my heart to know that you are not near an Orthodox Church. I wonder where you live. I know that there are several Orthodox Churches in Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne, one in Lafayette, a couple in northern Indiana around Mishawaka and South Bend. There is a Serbian monastery in New Carlisle, and a mission around Bedford. There is even a Carpatho-Russian mission in Crawfordsville. But I certainly understand, there have been a couple of times when the nearest Orthodox Church was a 2 hour drive. When I was stationed in Scotland, it was four hours one way. We didn't get to go very often...

[John Papadopoulos]

thank you for you encourage me.
:)

watch your back! (in spiritual meaning).

[M. Markewich]

Have you tried www.orthodoxyinamerica.org ?

[Deborah Valentine]

Hi,

I am both new to this forum. And, I am soon to be a new baby Orthodox. All support for my path is appreciated.

I am recently retired but when I worked, I was a psychologist. Before I came to know Jesus in the sweet Orthodox tradition, I was a generic Christian. Orthodoxy makes everything else pale and wanting. I am passionate about the Church in all her colors, traditions and eternal truth telling.

Deborah:)

[Mary]

Another great place to learn more about orthodoxy is: www.ourlifeinchrist.com (http://www.ourlifeinchrist.com) - online radio. They have all their shows archived there as mp3 files which you can download and listen to. I do hope you find a parish close to you soon!

It so bothers me that there aren't more orthodox churches! :(

In Christ,

Mary.

[Peter Farrington]

Welcome to the forum Deborah

I hope that your membership here and fellowship with other members will help you through this Lent and up to the expereince of becoming Orthodox.

Best wishes

Peter

[John Charmley]

Dear Deborah,

Welcome. As someone who has just come into Orthodoxy (albeit by a different route) I can echo exactly what you say about the vibrant colours - one begins to grasp, a little, of what 'the fullness of the faith' might mean.

I hope this site will bring you much joy.

In Christ,

John

[Nina]

Hi Deborah and welcome! :)

[Herman Blaydoe]

God be with you on your spiritual journey and welcome!

Herman

[Herman Blaydoe]

There is also Ancient Faith Radio (http://www.ancientfaithradio.com/) and The Orthodox Christian Network (http://www.receive.org/).

[Deborah Valentine]

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Thank you for your warm welcome. Outside of Orthodoxy, it's cold.

In Christ,
Deborah

[Nina]

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Outside of Orthodoxy, it's cold.

In Christ,
Deborah

Mmmmm.... Great saying!:) :) :) Love it!

[Maureen]

GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS

Welcome Katarina, I am also new here but have been looking at the different posts for a while. What is the medium you are using in your frescoes? Do you use egg tempera for such large pieces?

St Athanasius looks to have a peace filled face. I have written 3 icons and am very much a baby at it- not even really out of the womb. In my limited experience,though, I have found that I developed a relationship with the Saint that I never had before-each icon has changed me.

maureen

[Maureen]

Welcome John,

Your English is better than my non-existent Greek-and very understandable.

Maureen

[Nina]

GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS

St Athanasius looks to have a peace filled face. I have written 3 icons and am very much a baby at it- not even really out of the womb. In my limited experience,though, I have found that I developed a relationship with the Saint that I never had before-each icon has changed me.

maureen

Wow, that sounds amazing! :) :) :)

[John Papadopoulos]

Hello John and welcome!

Do not worry about your English. I am in the same boat.

Tha...gratefull

[John Papadopoulos]

Dear John,

Welcome here:)

I hope you will find much to interest you - and please do not worry about the English - our charge as Christians is, in part, to love one another, and no one here minds a bit of rough-hewn English - it is the spirit that counts.

In Christ,

John

trying to find the way through all these schemes to impress my true fillings to
all of you my brother in Christ in english I think that the spirit of what I within my inner wish to spell is not going out easily not even I would saying in my own language.I hope to a good signal (in spirit) for the conclusion of the meanings that I couldn't write.

in Christ.

[John Papadopoulos]

Welcome John,

Your English is better than my non-existent Greek-and very understandable.

Maureen

Thanks to my dictionary :) I hope to understand all these spiritual meanings
Imeet in religius atmosphere.

in Christ

[John Papadopoulos]

Γεια χαρά σου αδέρφι εν Χριστώ.Χάρηκα για τον αριθμό των παιδιών.Καλό κουράγιο ! Αν κοινωνούν τακτικά θα είναι χαριτωμένα (χακούνα ματάτα )
όπως συνήθισα από τα ανήψια μου να λένε όταν κοινωνούν (πέντε τάχω από
την κόρη της αδελφής μου) .Ο Κύριος να σας έχει καλά και με το καλό στον Παράδεισο όλους μας μαζί.

χαίρε εν Χριστώ αδελφέ και εδώ γύρω κάπου κάπου στο site αυτό θα τριγυρνάμε
και να τα λέμε.

[Gina Mosko]

I am newly registered, though I've been browsing the forum for the past year or so. I have always appreciated the thoughtful, respectful, and spiritual tone of these forums.

We (my husband and I) are both converts in the Coptic Orthodox Church, he a few years ahead of me. I feel so blessed to be harbored there. My background is evangelical and I was a campus missionary for about ten years. My husband was raised Lutheran.

We were recently married- some photos follow. :)

http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1106/537/320/529780/Leaning%20closeup.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1106/537/320/196650/Cake%20with%20train.jpg

[Peter Farrington]

Hi Gina

And a warm welcome to Monachos, and congratulations on your marriage in the Coptic Orthodox Church.

It is good to meet other ex-Evangelicals who have found a home in the Coptic Orthodox Church. I was Plymouth Brethen all my life till I joined the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in the British Orthodox Church.

I hope that you will enjoyyour membership here and have lots to contribute.

Peter

[John Charmley]

:)
Dear Gina,

Welcome here - and thank you so much for sharing those beautiful photographs with us.

As a (very) recent convert to the Coptic Orthodox Church (through the British Orthodox Church, like Peter), I know what you mean about feeling blessed to be harboured there. What no-one can tell you before conversion is the sheer joy of being in the Church.

May you find here those things that will nourish your faith and increase your joy.

In Christ,

John

[Katarina Fajgelj]

Hey, you are still writting me!?! How great!

I was just writting something, and I liked it very much, and I lost it all! Sad, isn`t it!? :(
I guess Kieran knows how it looks like...

My medium on this one is acryl, it is not realy fresco, it`s just a practice for one. And on frescoes we use , I dont know how U call it, it`s -lime`s water? Just that, or just water.
Do you want to post me your icon?

I wrealy like talking to you! :)

[Katarina Fajgelj]

Is Holly a name or a title?

I tought to say that there is that srebian monastery, but now I see Herman allready metioned it..

Do you see the same stars as I do?

[Marie A.]

Welcome Holly! I am a former Roman Catholic who recently converted to Orthodoxy at Christmas this past December.

Orthodox Mission Churches are forming around the country all the time so maybe there will be one closer to you in the future. In the meantime you could contact the priest of the closest Church with questions, etc. We have a family who has to drive over 2 hours to get to our Church so they don't come every Sunday.
Blessings to you on your journey.
In Christ,
Marie

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

Kieran, you are Scotish?

Dear Katarina,

I am Scotish on both sides, paternal and maternal, and whilst in Romania I was told I could pass as a Romanian anyday, something the Greeks assured me I would never be mistaken for (Greek that is).

Very much appreciated your iconography, may our Lord bless you in your endeavours.

Yes, we are all a friendly bunch here (especially the Celts!!)

faithfully,

fr. seraphim

[Manuilo]

Just hello to everybody and happy fast.

[Bob Kovacs]

My name is Bob. I am now considering fully embracing the Orthodox faith, as I am currently a baptised Roman Catholic. I have been studying the Orthodox faith and Byzantine tradition, for several years now, and consider myself more Orthodox than Roman Catholic in my theology and practice. I normally attend the Divine Liturgy and Vespers at a local Antiochian parish which is fairly close to my house. But after I am done work I will usually attend the Orthos and Divine Liturgy at a Greek Orthodox parish. I am trying to decide which one to stick with. The Antiochian Orthodox parish is closer, when I am at home, but when I get off work the Greek Orthodox parish is closer. My heritage is Polish/Hungarian, so Greek may be closer in tradition. But the Antiochians say the services 100 percent of the time in English. Greek is half and half. Hard decision?. I hope to learn more about the Orthodox faith from these forums. Im glad I found this site. God bless everyone here!.:)

[Kieran P.]

I was just writting something, and I liked it very much, and I lost it all! Sad, isn`t it!? :(
I guess Kieran knows how it looks like...



Hi Katarina, :)

Tell me about it! I once wrote a whole load of verses that I really loved and then some computer glitch made everything look like binary code :(

I knew a painter once, she used to pound walls and go crazy when she worked. She was definitely committed! Or shoulda have been, as I often thought! Heh heh!

I've still to watch Tarkovski, but I'll try get to it soon. I wonder if you're doing anything for Lent? Has Lent begun yet in the Orthodox Church?

God bless you - and keep well!

Kieran

[Kris]

My name is Bob. I am now considering fully embracing the Orthodox faith, as I am currently a baptised Roman Catholic. I have been studying the Orthodox faith and Byzantine tradition, for several years now, and consider myself more Orthodox than Roman Catholic in my theology and practice. I normally attend the Divine Liturgy and Vespers at a local Antiochian parish which is fairly close to my house. But after I am done work I will usually attend the Orthos and Divine Liturgy at a Greek Orthodox parish. I am trying to decide which one to stick with. The Antiochian Orthodox parish is closer, when I am at home, but when I get off work the Greek Orthodox parish is closer. My heritage is Polish/Hungarian, so Greek may be closer in tradition. But the Antiochians say the services 100 percent of the time in English. Greek is half and half. Hard decision?. I hope to learn more about the Orthodox faith from these forums. Im glad I found this site. God bless everyone here!.:)

Dear Bob,

I'm happy to hear you are considering embracing the Orthodox faith and coming home to the Church of Christ.

As for which jurisdiction to chose, I don't believe it is of particular importance. Wherever you decide to get baptised, you will still be able to attend services the other parish and receive communion there; so from that perspective it makes no difference at all.

I would suggest speaking to the priests in both parishes and making your decision based on what you think about them. I don't mean who is the nicest guy or anything like that, but rather who you would feel comfortable to have as your spiritual father.

In XC,
Kris

[Bob Kovacs]

So if you were baptised in a Antiochian parish, and later in life say you moved to another state for example. You would be able to become a member of the Greek Orthodox parish if that were local.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

So if you were baptised in a Antiochian parish, and later in life say you moved to another state for example. You would be able to become a member of the Greek Orthodox parish if that were local.

Absolutely. Even though we are received into Orthodoxy through a particular parish which is part of a particular jurisdiction we have to keep in mind we are being received first into the Church. So from that point on wherever canonical Orthodoxy is to be found, as long as this is guided by spiritual discernment, we may certainly attend.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Nina]

Hello and welcome here! :)

[Gina Mosko]

Thanks for your welcomes! I have visited britishorthodox.org on occasion and really appreciate the articles there. It's nice to find other converts in the Coptic Orthodox Church. There are a few in our parish, but we know we are strange birds. :)

[Vic Chiasson]

Hi,
I am an Orthodox Christian living in Ottawa, Canada. It has been a pleasure to poke around on this site and I think I'll stick around so I thought I'd introduce myself.
I am a convert to the Church. I came into the Faith in 1991. My only regret is that I didn't find the Church sooner!
Nice to be here. I wish you all the joy of this Lenten season.
V

[John Charmley]

Dear Vic,

Welcome here - you add to our growing band of Canadians - a powerful witness.

May you find what you need here, as well as what you seek.

In Christ,

John

[Paul Cowan]

Dear Kieran:


Has Lent begun yet in the Orthodox Church?


Oh most absolutely. We started Sunday at sundown. All the RC in my building went to Ash Wednesday yesterday and were crossed on their foreheads all day. (why is that BTW?) So the EO starts Lent 2-3 days before the RC every year?

Mardi Gras is culminated on Fat Tuesday the day before RC Great Lent. I am not from Louisiana but to guess would say it is the last day to really get out and sin before you have to be "holy" for 40 days.

Some traditions boggle my brain. It's like a kiss-off dose for addicts. (The last time is the biggest time). "In the end times, their hearts will grow cold". How like Pharoah am I?

Paul

[Kieran P.]

All the RC in my building went to Ash Wednesday yesterday and were crossed on their foreheads all day. (why is that BTW?)


Hiya Paul, :)

The priest told us the other day that the ashes signify that we come from nothing, but since God loves us, then it's through God we gain our dignity as humans. It's also a sign of penitence.


How like Pharoah am I?


I reckon if you're anyhing like Pharoah at all, 40 days ain't gonna be enough! Lol!

One difference I noted between east and west for Lent is that we don't include Sundays in our fasting, since it traditionally the day of joy at the risen Lord. Either way, though, Lent is a great time of the year in our Churches and I wish all Orthodox on this board many graces and blessings for the duration of it!

God bless,

Kieran

[Herman Blaydoe]

The Orthodox Church does not "count" Sundays either for the forty days, but we still observe the Fast. Our Lent started with "Clean Monday" two days before Catholic Ash Wednesday this year. Holy Week also does not "count" towards the 40 days of Great and Holy Lent.

[Herman Blaydoe]

Welcome to a very friendly and collegial place! May you have a blessed and spirituallyprofitable Lenten Spring!

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

John Charmley wrote:


Dear Vic,

Welcome here - you add to our growing band of Canadians - a powerful witness.

eh?





Sorry- all non-Canadians say we constantly put the word 'eh' in our sentences as we speak.

As a Canadian I'd just like to say, like eh; that's really wrong. Eh?

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Father David Moser]

The Orthodox Church does not "count" Sundays either for the forty days, but we still observe the Fast. Our Lent started with "Clean Monday" two days before Catholic Ash Wednesday this year. Holy Week also does not "count" towards the 40 days of Great and Holy Lent.

Actually, I think that Sundays do count as part of the 40 days (from Clean Monday to Friday, the eve of Lazarus Saturday is 40 days.) Lazarus Saturday actually begins Holy Week which is technically a separate fast and so it doesn't "count" in the 40 days (making the whole number of fasting days 48 - from Clean Monday through Great and Holy Saturday). But on Saturdays and Sundays during Great Lent (and all the other lents as well) the fast is relaxed slightly because those days are always counted as festal days (being the Sabbath and the Resurrection).

I know that there are a variety of traditions of how the 40 days of Great Lent have been enumerated - this is the one that has always stuck with me.

One often notices a difference in how the Roman Catholic Lent starts in that Great Lent always begins on Wednesday - not Monday. I'm not sure how the "count" works for that, but that is why Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Carnivale, etc is always on Tues. But then in Orthodoxy we also have our own Maslinitsa - Cheese week Carnival - a whole week of celebration prior to the beginning of the fast.

Fr David Moser

[John Charmley]

Dear Gina,

I'm glad you found the visit to the website useful.

As you say, 'strange birds', but birds of paradise, we hope!:)

In Christ,

John

[Vic Chiasson]

So like, they think we say "eh" all the time, eh?
What's that about, eh?

[Kris]

What's that about, eh?

Don't you mean aboot? :p

[Ruth Hrebinka]

Hello everybody,

I am a newly registered member of this website and I wanted to send my greetings to everyone on this Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy!!

To give you some background, I converted to Orthodoxy from Christian Science 12 years ago. I am married, with three children and my father-in-law is the 2nd priest here in Washington DC at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. I am presently in my second year of classes at the Orthodox Pastoral College where I am pursuing an Orthodox Studies Diploma. At the present time I am working on my senior's Thesis, comparing the American concept of freedom to the idea of freedom as seen in the Church fathers.

I am enjoying reading the old discussions and I look forward to being able to join in. It is wonderful to see the depth of knowledge and love for God on this site.

In Christ,
Ruth Hrebinka

[John Charmley]

Dear Ruth,

Welcome here, it is good to have you, and we shall look forward to your contributions. May you find here what you need, as well as what you want.:)

In Christ,

John

[Peter Farrington]

Greeting indeed Ruth

It will be very interesting to have some input from you on some of the threads relating to Orthodoxy being inculturated in the West.

Peter

[Alex Philip]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

This is Alex Philip from Kerala State, India and presently working in Saudi Arabia. I hope I can get best devotional messages from this Orthodox Group to learn more about Orthodox way of life.

With humble prayers

Alex Philip

[Sunny]

Dear Ruth,
It is always a delight to see another woman posting here. I have learned so much and been very blessed by many on this site. I was just reading something about the Fathers' definition of freedom versus the world. I'm currently reading 3 books and can't remember which one it was in. Perhaps, "The Arena?" Anyway-WELCOME!
Sunny

[John Papadopoulos]

hello brother.
If you wish to look for this treasure Ican,t help you but if you wish to fill it as soon as faster closed to you just find little kids and babies in laughing and a clear night in summer look upon you at the stars and feel untill a sweet sorrow cover your heart.
be healthfull brother.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Hello everybody,

I am a newly registered member of this website and I wanted to send my greetings to everyone on this Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy!!

To give you some background, I converted to Orthodoxy from Christian Science 12 years ago. I am married, with three children and my father-in-law is the 2nd priest here in Washington DC at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. I am presently in my second year of classes at the Orthodox Pastoral College where I am pursuing an Orthodox Studies Diploma. At the present time I am working on my senior's Thesis, comparing the American concept of freedom to the idea of freedom as seen in the Church fathers.

I am enjoying reading the old discussions and I look forward to being able to join in. It is wonderful to see the depth of knowledge and love for God on this site.

In Christ,
Ruth Hrebinka

Hello Ruth! :)

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Herman Blaydoe]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

God be with you there. I spent an eternity in Saudi Arabia one year. I hope you find your time here profitable. A blessed Lent to you!

[Nina]

Welcome and have a blessed Lent!

[Nina]

Welcome and have a blessed Lent!

[Bob Kovacs]

Thanks!.:)

[Ruth Hrebinka]

Welcome Alex!

In Christ,
Ruth

[John Charmley]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

This is Alex Philip from Kerala State, India and presently working in Saudi Arabia. I hope I can get best devotional messages from this Orthodox Group to learn more about Orthodox way of life.

With humble prayers

Alex Philip

Dear Alex,

Welcome. You are the second (I think) Orthodox Christian from Kerala here; have you seen thomasdanielreji (Thomas Daniel (Reji)) on the members' list; he is in a slightly different part of the Middle East working.

You come from a most beautiful part of India with a long and fascinating Christian heritage, and we look forward to your contributions here.:)

In Christ,

John

[Chris Siefkas]

Hi All:

Just a brief introduction from a newly registered member. I am a parishioner (also web-master and parish council treasurer) at Nativity of Christ Church in Novato, CA. I converted to Orthodoxy about 10 years ago after a number of years as a practicing Buddhist.

Thanks

Chris Siefkas

[Paul Cowan]

Welcome Chris,
I am sure we all look forward to your contributions from your past associations.

Paul

[Fr Seraphim (Black)]

Hi All:

Just a brief introduction from a newly registered member. I am a parishioner (also web-master and parish council treasurer) at Nativity of Christ Church in Novato, CA. I converted to Orthodoxy about 10 years ago after a number of years as a practicing Buddhist.

Thanks

Chris Siefkas

Dear Chris,

A hearty welcome aboard Monachos. I lived for two years in India many moons ago - the vast majority of my time was spent living at a Syrian Orthodox Monastery in Kerala, however, before heading south to Kerela I ascended north, east and west. Out of interest which school of Buddhism did you practice? I spent some time in Dharmsala (mostly in the Monastery [!] and the library.)

[Rick H.]

Dear Chris,

In addition to Father Seraphim, I would like to extend 'a hearty welcome' to you also. Good to have you aboard. :)

In Christ,
Rick

[Ruth Hrebinka]

Welcome Chris!

Ruth

[Chris Siefkas]

Dear Chris,

A hearty welcome aboard Monachos. I lived for two years in India many moons ago - the vast majority of my time was spent living at a Syrian Orthodox Monastery in Kerala, however, before heading south to Kerela I ascended north, east and west. Out of interest which school of Buddhism did you practice? I spent some time in Dharmsala (mostly in the Monastery [!] and the library.)
Thank you for the welcome. In answer to your question about what type of Buddhism I practiced, I was associated with both a Soto Zen center (Sonoma Mountain Zen Center) and a Theravadin monastery (Abhayagiri Monastery).

Chris

[Nina]

Welcome and have a blessed Lent!

[Matthew Yarnell]

Just wanted to say hello and I look foward to learning and participating in discusions here.
Slava Isusu Christu!
Slava na viki!

[Patrick Gethin]

Hullo. I'm Patrick Gethin, a member of the ROCOR parish of the Holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul in Bayswater a suburb of Perth the capital of the State of Western Australia. At Divine Liturgy I am the Reader of the English language verson of the Epistle and I also serve at the altar.

After many years of searching through the Catholic, Anglican and Uniting Churches plus the Quakers and, before most of that, through the political spectrum including time as a Marxist, I found myself drawn into Orthodoxy.

In the mid-1980s a group of us decided to support the work of the Rev. Michael Bordeaux (sometime winner of the Templeton Prize) to help to be the voice of persecuted Christians in Communist lands. The regular information we received through Michael's organisation, Keston College often mentioned persecuted Orthodox Christians. I realised that I knew nothing of Orthodox Christianity, so decided to find out by attending Orthodox liturgy at least once a month. My interest grew and my visits became more frequent. Finally I attended an Easter liturgy, and decided during the course of it that Orthodoxy was home for me.

What I learned about the behaviour of Orthodox Christians who resisted Communism and the persecution they suffered, had convinced me that this is a church which has saints and miracles.

I have been a member of the Russian Orthodox Church (Abroad) since Holy Saturday 1990. It has given me two great experiences. One was a visit to the Holy Land in 1992 with another member of the parish plus our then parish priest and his nephew. Our then priest Fr. Andronik Kotliarov* had previously spent nine years in the Holy land as a monk. It would have been hard to find a better guide. We visited many holy sites and read at each specific passages from the Holy Gospels that had most significance for the site in question. This visit confirmed me in my belief that I had found the early church and had become a member of it.

The second great experience was a visit to many significant Orthodox Churches and Monasteries in Russia last year with my wife and other members of the Russian Orthodox Church (Abroad) from Australia plus one American and one Anglican. Here was a church that had suffered the most severe persecution in the history of Christianity. Yet this same church must be the fastest growing Christian community anywhere today. We visited thriving monasteries, which had been shut down for most of the period of Communist rule. We saw churches filled to overflowing on Sundays, weekdays and at various times of day. We read that about three new churches a day and one new monastery a week are opening there. Truly that experience brough to mind the following lines from Lord Byron's poem, "The Destruction of Senacherib":
"The might of the gentile, unsmote by the sword,
Has melted like snow in the glance of the Lord."

Later this year my wife and I will visit Georgia in the Caucasus to tour Georgian Monasteries. We hope to learn something of how God's work there helped the Georgian people maintain their Orthodox Christian faith despite the numerous invasions and persecutions suffered by Orthodox Christians in Georgia, a country which adopted Orthodox Christianity as its religion in 326 A.D.

Western Australia is a very special place. Many of us who live here regard it as our own touch of paradise, but fortunately a well kept secret. However we Orthodox Christians in this State suffer from isolation from our fellow Orthodox in the rest of Australia and in the world. That it is why it was a blessing to encounter the Monachos website to find other Orthodox Christians and potential Orthodox Christians from whom I have much to learn and with whom I hope I have much to share.

I am a grandfather with two sons, one daughter, four grandsons and two granddaughters.

in Christ, Patrick J Gethin

[Paul Cowan]

Welcome Patrick,

I look forward to hearing from you and your life experiences.
Paul

[John Charmley]

Dear Patrick,

What an interesting tale you have to tell - and what wonderful things you have seen on your way to Orthodoxy.

May you find another home here - you certainly have a cordial welcome:)

In Christ,

John

[Alex Pak]

Hello out there.

I am introducing myself to you, members.
I am a Protestant who is interested in Orthodox Church and its traditon.
I hope to learn from you.
:)

[Paul Cowan]

Welcome Alex:

Be sure to visit the archives as there is already a slew of knowledge there.

Paul

[John Charmley]

Dear Alex,

Welcome. As Paul suggests, there is a great fund of knowledge - and even wisdom - to be found here. I hope you find what what seek, and what is needful for you - and that you enjoy it here.:)

In Christ,

John

[Herman Blaydoe]

Welcome! Which seminary do you attend? I wish you a spiritually profitable Lenten Spring and a Glorious and Blessed Holy Pascha!

Your servant,
Herman

[Morgan McPherson]

Hello, I am new to the site also. We will probably interact. :)

[Morgan McPherson]

New to the site. Thanks for putting this together.

[Alex Pak]

Hello,

I am writing a paper on Fr. Georges Florovsky's understanding on Clement of Alexandria and Origen on celibacy.

Could you tell me where I can get some materials?

Thanks in advance.
:)

[Alex Pak]

Thanks for welcoming me and bless your heart.

[Tina H.]

My name is Tina H. I am Greek Orthodox. I joined the church, with my (then) 8 year old son, in 2001. I was received through Holy Chrismation, he through Holy Baptism.

Since that time, I have been blessed to see my husband received into the church through Holy Baptism, in 2004. And my beautiful step daughter was received in 2006, through Holy Chrismation.

I have another step daughter who was received into the church in I believe it was 1992, but it might have been late 1991. It was her wedding invitation that brought me through the doors of the Orthodox Church the first time, and there was something that kept calling me back to the church. It took 3 years, but, I finally began to pursue. I'm so glad I did.

I have 3 other children of my own. One of my children has fallen asleep. My other 2, I can only pray will find their way into Orthodoxy.

I am a homeschooling mother. That is a challenge, from time to time. But, it's always one of the greatest priviledges I've ever known.

Well, I don't think there's much else I can say about myself.

Thank you for allowing me to join.

[Peter Farrington]

Hiya

You need to access the Collected Works.

There is a website with some materials -

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/c.parks/florovsky.html

But you should probably find a library that has the full works.

Also there is

George Florovsky, "Origen, Eusebius, and the Iconoclastic Controversy," Church History 19 (1950): 77-96.

(Though I would think that is not related to celibacy).

He does refer to celibacy here

http://www.romanity.org/htm/flo.01.en.the_ascetic_ideal_and_the_new_testament. 01.htm

Do let us know what you find.

Best wishes

Peter

[Cyprian (Humphrey)]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I am glad to make your cyber-acquaintance. :D

Hopefully, you will find good information for your salvation. There are a lot of smart people here. I am trying to learn from them all.

the unworthy,
Br Cyprian

[John Charmley]

Dear Tina,

A warm welcome here; I hope you will find what you look for here - and what you need.

Your life sounds a full one, so it is nice to be a part of it here. How wonderful that you should have found the Church in such a loving way - and I hope that your other children find their way; how sad it is to give one back to God - but His ways are ours to follow; but it can be sad for those of us left here.

Welcome.

In Christ,

John

[Alex Pak]

Thanks for help, you are great!

[Tessa Miljanic]

Hello everyone. My name is Tessa and I have three children.
Happy to be here.


Blessed fast everyone.
In Christ,
Tessa

[Nina]

Dearest Tina,

Welcome!

I was so moved by your post and I thank you for sharing your experience with us! You are so wonderful - from the way you speak about your stepdaughter. Thank you for being a true Christian!

[Nina]

Welcome Patrick and thank you for your post!

[Amy]

Just wanted to *bump* the thread up and say hello again. It's been a while since I've been here. I'm very happy to share with you that in August 2006, my children & I converted (via chrismation) from Protestantism to Orthodoxy!

It is nice to be home.:)

[Nina]

Wow and welcome and 'Kalo Paradiso' Amy!!!

It is always so wonderful to hear about conversions! I get so moved by these stories.

[Amy]

A warm welcome from West Virginia in the USA. I am a new convert and enjoy learning of others' conversion experiences. Thank you for sharing some of yours! I look forward to reading more from you.

May God continually shine His face upon you~

[Amy]

A warm welcome to you, Tina!

It was because of an Orthodox wedding that led me to discover the beauty of the Orthodox church for the first time, too. I am a fairly new convert (August 2006) and continue to hope and pray that God will touch my husband's heart toward the fullness of the faith in Orthodoxy.

I look forward to reading more from you :)

[Nina]

It was because of an Orthodox wedding that led me to discover the beauty of the Orthodox church for the first time, too.


So I should make sure to invite in my wedding all the non- Orthodox that I know. :) You both are so blessed! And what is a better way than a wedding to start the Orthodox path?! Even Christ started His salvific ministry in a wedding (His first miracle)! :)

[Marie A.]

Many years to you and your family! My DH and I entered the Orthodox Church on Christmas eve this past December.
In Christ,
Marie

[Herman Blaydoe]

Welcome! I hope you find this site a blessing. Many of us have.

Your servant,
Herman

[Nina]

Hello Tessa and welcome!

[Alex Pak]

Thanks Peter for helping me out.

[Peter Farrington]

No problem, Alex

[Darinka Mamula]

Hello everyone,

I am Darinka and I am in Northern California where I belong to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

[Darinka Mamula]

I am new; my name is Darinka and I am trying to post a 'hello' in the Introductions area. I am afraid I may be in the wrong area, as the bottom of my message area is referring to 'Chalcedonian Orthodoxy'???

Anyway, if this is wrong, please forgive me and delete this post.

[Tessa Miljanic]

Thanks everyone...nice to meet you all. I should have specified myself. Yes I am Serbian Orthodox, but we go to a ROCOR church. We used to go to a Serbian church where we recently moved from, Florida. However, I identify myself most the Athonite tradition of Geronda Ephraim, because it's through the monastery (and the Holy Spirit) I became more serious about Orthodoxy and my Spiritual Father

[Tessa Miljanic]

:)

Thanks everybody for the warm welcome. As the thread reads, I am Serbian Orthodox, kind of.

We just moved here from Florida where we went to a Serbian Church, now we go to ROCOR, but I am a follower of the Athonite typicon of Geronda Ephraim. My Spiritual Father is Greek, so I am an American-born Serb in the Athonite Tradition. Confusing huh. Anyway. Glad to be here.

In Christ,
Tessa

[Kornelius]

I am glad to serendipituously come across a site whose premises from what I gather at first glance emerge from a common lofty spiritual passion, that is, discussing the unceasing treasure of Orthodoxy.

I look forward to examine the threads more thoroughly and participate in them!

Kornelius

[Herman Blaydoe]

Welcome! I hope you find this place as useful as many of us have! May you have a spiritually beneficial Lenten Spring and a Glorious Pascha!

Your servant,
Herman

[Amy]

Pleasant greetings to you Kornelius :)

[Amy]

And what is a better way than a wedding to start the Orthodox path?! Even Christ started His salvific ministry in a wedding (His first miracle)! :)

ah! Thank you for such kind words; I had not thought of that connection. Now I will not forget it :)

[Adrian Martin]

Hello, my name is Adrian, and I am a student in Hawaii. I converted to Roman Catholicism in my first year of college. However, I am becoming more and more convinced that Orthodoxy is the true faith. So, I decided to become a catechumen at the Russian parish near my university. I am interested not merely in learning more, but in living the faith, something that I fail at time and again. Let's pray for one another this Lent!

[Father David Moser]

Hello, my name is Adrian, and I am a student in Hawaii. I ... decided to become a catechumen at the Russian parish near my university.

Ahh! Well give dear Fr Anatole my greetings! A wonderful priest who will take good care of you.

Fr David Moser

[Herman Blaydoe]

Aloha! May you have a spiritually beneficial Lent and a Glorious Blessed Pascha!

Your servant,
Herman

[Adrian Martin]

Thank you very much! I hope to learn much about the Church at Monachos, which seems to be one of the more scholarly Orthodox sites out there.

[Antony Solomon]

Greetings all.

I'm here to learn more about Eastern orthodoxy. I am an ex-charismatic, ex-calvinist, sometime Baptist. Reading Romanides and Florovsky at the moment.

[Peter Farrington]

Dear Anthony

Welcome here indeed, and although I am British Orthodox and not Eastern Orthodox, I can guarantee that you will learn a tremendous amount here from a very friendly group of people.

Best wishes

Peter

[Rick H.]

Dear Anthony,

May I welcome you also and second what Peter has well said above. Also, I think it is possible that you and I may have some things in common with our "EX's" :)

In Christ,
Rick

[Nina]

Welcome and have a blessed Lent!

[Nina]

Welcome and have a blessed Lent!

[Nina]

Greetings all.

I'm here to learn more about Eastern orthodoxy. I am an ex-charismatic, ex-calvinist, sometime Baptist. Reading Romanides and Florovsky at the moment.

Welcome and may God bless your seeking!

I very much esteem the work of Fr. Romanides and Florovsky also. I wanted to add that I was blessed to meet in person Fr. Romanides and I am still not recovered from the awe by his infinite and boundless knowledge; by his simplicity, humility and love; by his amazing personality. To top it off he had the gentle smile of a Saint. It is said that he healed/improved his paralysis by repetitions of the Jesus prayer. May his memory be eternal!

[Nina]

Welcome and have a blessed Lent!

[Nina]

Welcome and have a blessed Lent!

[John Charmley]

Dear Antony,

Allow me to add my welcome to those you have received.

Your own introduction is wonderfully apophatic, and define you most of all as a seeker after His Truth. We are all called to redemption in Him, and I hope that your interaction with this site will be of help to you.

My eldest son has just become a Baptist pastor, and through him I have come to know much more about the Baptists, for whom I have developed a great respect. Of course, I would tend to think that the fullness of the Faith is to be found in the Orthodox Church, but I know I can learn much from other Christians, even as they can from Orthodoxy.

May your feet be led where He wills.

In Christ,

John

[John Charmley]

Dear Morgan,

Welcome here; may you find what you need, as well as what you seek. It is a special place, and there is much wisdom to be garnered here - even on this part of the site!

In Christ,

John

[Karena Hryniuk]

Welcome Morgan!

There are many good conversations floating around here at any given time.

See you around the boards :)

In Christ
~Karena

[Bob Robinson]

Hi John,

My wife and I must be your twin. We too are excharismatics and sort-of Baptists. In fact, we live in Thailand and were sent here by our Baptist church 4 years ago. We came in contact with Orthodoxy about 1.5 years ago and have been searching through the myriads of material you can find on the Internet. What a joy it has been for us to discover such wonderful truth after 35 years of going around in circles. May you find your heart's desire through Christ!

Bob Robinson

[Bob Robinson]

Greetings all from Thailand. My wife and I have been living here for the last 4 years as missionaries sent out by a Baptist church in Florida. We discovered Orhtodoxy when we were looking for some information on the Internet unrelated to it. What a blessing. There is no Orthodox presence in Thailand so we have been searching and reading and by God's grace found the answers to most of our questions--at least the obvious ones that protestants of 35 years have. God has been very good to us in allowing us to come in contact with Fr Ted in Jacksonville, Florida, and Fr James in Rincon, GA. They have been so patient with us and blessed us time and time again. We look forward to going back to the States in May for a year to reassess our ministry and calling. What a joy it is to be in God's hand.

Bob Robinson

[Herman Blaydoe]

Greetings! God be with you in your terrestrial and spiritual journeys! How good that regardless, we will be able to share the joy of Pascha/Easter together this year (same date)!

Wishing you a spiritually beneficial Lenten Fast and Glorious Resurrection Feast!

Your servant,
Herman

[Nina]

This is such a great news from you!

Welcome and have a blessed Lent!

[Angie]

Hi everyone. My name is Angela and my husband Jim. I am a childcare worker. We live in Australia. I have read most of this site and think it's great! I am Greek Orthodox.

May you all have a blessed Pascha!
God Bless!
Angela+++:)

[Owen Jones]

One might wish to examine the service books for Pentacost Vespers for the Orthodox theology of Pentacost. And following on that, if you do not have access to the liturgical practices of the Church where you live, read through, pray and meditate on the service books instead of focusing initially on theological books. Another recommendation for seekers is to read patristic sermons.

[Nina]

Welcome Angela and best wishes for a wonderful Anastasi!

[Antony Solomon]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

When i said Eastern orthodoxy, it was iwthout the knowledge that I have today that there is a British Orthodoxy - I found one of the websites.

Unfortunately, there is no church near me, other than a small church that servies the equally small (and that means small outside London) greek community. I've check the relevant registers and there is nothing else for miles around. So my question would then have been, what do I do now.

Perhaps someone can point me to a prayer book/service book.

Martin Thornton, the Anglican writer, recommended saying the daily office every day. Can that be done in Orthodoxy?

ps, none of the graphics work, is it just me?

[John Charmley]

Dear Angela,

Welcome here - you add to our Australian contingent - and help us show that Orthodoxy is the faith on which the sun never sets!

May you find here what you need, as well as what you seek.

In Christ,

John

[Ioannis S.]

Dear fellow friends.

My name is Ioannis and I am Greek Orthodox.

I have joined this forum so I can read and learn more about my faith.

I am hoping one day to enter the Holy Ministry and to serve our God as a Priest.

If anyone would like to ask me any questions or just simply have a chat, feel free to message me.

I remain in Christ our Lord and Saviour

IOANNIS

[Paul Cowan]

Dear Ioannis:
Welcome to the forums. Have a look around the archives and feel free to ask any questions you have. Someone(s) with insight and possibly the answers will always respond.

As far as "wanting" to be a priest, be careful my friend, God may just give you the desires of your heart.

in Christ,

Paul

[Bob Robinson]

Thank you, Herman. God's best to you too.

Bob

[Nina]

Welcome and Kali Anastasi!

[Angie]

Thanks guys for your greetings!
God Bless +++

[Paul Fowler]

Greetings to you all, my name is Paul, I am a Reader in the Diocese of Sourozh, the Russian Patriarchal Diocese in Great Britain. I serve in the Nottingham Parish of St Aidan and St Chad and also in our mission church, the Eucharistic Community of St Paulinus in Newark, twenty miles from Nottingham.

I have enjoyed my wanderings around the postings in this forum, and look to learn more about the Orthodox Faith. I am decidedly not academic in any way, so although I will hopefully post, please do not expect great pearls of wisdom, I am at heart just a simple believer

In XC

Paul

[Nina]

Welcome and I wish you a Joyous Resurrection!

Most of us are "not academic in any way" so even if we post "please do not expect great pearls of wisdom" from us either. So please feel at home here. :)

[John Charmley]

Dear Paul,

A warm welcome here; as you know, simple belief, sincere repentance and amendment of life are what we are called to - it is a pleasure to have you here, and we look forward to you sharing your thoughts with us.

In Christ,

John

[Effie Ganatsios]

Hello, my name is Effie Ganatsios. I'm not really a new member but as I've been off the Internet for the last year or so I thought I'd re-introduce myself.

I am a retired teacher and I live in northern Greece - in a really beautiful valley surrounded by tall mountains covered in pine trees. (I can see the tip of Mt. Olympus "on a clear day" from my balcony). Living here has made me aware of how precious our planet - God's creation - is.

I like this forum because reading the various messages helps me to think clearly about the Orthodox religion.

Effie

[Effie Ganatsios]

Thank you all for your welcome.

I look forward to taking part in various discussions although my thoughts and observations may not be theologically correct as I am still learning about the Orthodox religion (have been for years and am still fumbling in the dark).

Effie