A new seeker of the truth

[John Jackson]

Hello, I am John Jackson
I rather new at this whole forum thing. I am looking into becoming Orthodox, but I am still afraid to the final plunge. I have taken some classes in college (Eastern University) on Eastern Orthodoxy and the Byzantine Empire.

[Andreas Moran]

Welcome, John. There are fathers here who are experienced in guiding people such as yourself. Better than classes, though, is to experience Orthodoxy because it is something we live, not learn like some subject. The truth is to be found where it is manifested by the Holy Spirit whom we call in our prayers, the Spirit of Truth. That means going to an Orthodox church and attending the Divine Liturgy. You might also get an Orthodox prayer book and look for example at the morning prayers we say. You need to attune yourself to the spirit of Orthodoxy. Better still, find a priest or some experienced Orthodox person who can, as one saint put it, tune your soul like a musical instrument. There's a lot that can seem strange and daunting but that's true of any new venture in life. But Orthodoxy has the fulness of the truth and so it's the biggest venture of all. I'd be more afraid of not accepting this truth than of meeting it.

[Herman Blaydoe]

This is a good place to start, but as Andreas says, finding a church is absolutely key. In the words of the Apostle Philip; "come and see".

We don't do altar calls, you will not be immediately swept up and carried off to a monastery. Joining yourself to the Church does not happen on a whim. We make sure that your eyes are open and you know what you are getting yourself into before we allow you to make a commitment. You will have plenty of time and information before you become a member.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Welcome to a whole "new" Christ, or actually the real original Christ, before Anselm and Luther got ahold of Him.

Herman

[Andreas Moran]

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Lovely quotation, Herman.