Does Eastern Orthodoxy have a "Protestant Problem"? - Page 6

cajunhillbilly · #76 Jun 20, '12, 6:56 am

I was greatly impressed with the beauty of a Russian Orthodox service. Didn't like standing for 90 minutes though. LOL Guess I'm lazy.

Hesychios · #77 Jun 20, '12, 7:15 am

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Originally Posted by cajunhillbilly

I was greatly impressed with the beauty of a Russian Orthodox service. Didn't like standing for 90 minutes though. LOL Guess I'm lazy.

The Greeks have learned a certain fondness for pews, but it changes the experience.

dzheremi · #78 Jun 20, '12, 9:20 am

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It would be nice if they removed the nationality from the parish signs, and simply identified the liturgical tradition with non-national terms.

Hasn't really helped the Copts, though that's probably because "Copt" is a national identifier, one question removed.

Non-Copt: What is "Coptic Orthodox"?

Copt: "Coptic" means Egyptian...

Then people like me have to explain that we're not pretending to take on the Egyptian nationality...as if I'd even want it! (sorry, Egypt...it's not you; it's your Islamism.) Of course, then when you open mission parishes like St. Maurice and St. Verena in Canada, some people complain...no matter what you do, someone will always be unhappy.

Trebor135 · #79 Jun 20, '12, 10:01 am

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Originally Posted by dzheremi

Of course, then when you open mission parishes like St. Maurice and St. Verena in Canada, some people complain...

What have my less-than-hospitable compatriots been saying?

andrewstx · #80 Jun 21, '12, 8:30 am

There is an attempt to have one American Orthodox church in the OCA, Orthodox church in America.

They were granted autocephally (sp) by Moso, cw back in the 70s, and now they are the only independent of foreign control church in America. But this has not been easy.

For one thing the heresy of phyletism keeps raising it's head, and some other jurisdictions do not recognise the autocepephally.

Their is the fact that some of the foriegn jursidictions need the money sent back.

And the attempt of the Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul) to be a kind of Orthodox pope, with all Orthodox under his omophorium .

Given the present state of Istanbul, under Turkish Moslem rule does not make that a practical solution.

It is a mess, esp given all the human jealousy and pride from our fallen state.

I honestly don't know the solution, but I pray.

ladylove · #81 Jun 21, '12, 10:24 am

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Originally Posted by Trebor135

Surely a good idea: it would strike a blow against the widespread view of Eastern Orthodoxy as stereotypically bound up with ethnic loyalties--Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, Arab (Antiochian).

Honestly, as a black woman, that is one of the reasons why I stayed away from Eastern Orthodox churches on my spiritual christian quest: those churches seemed more cultural to me and I don't think I would have felt welcomed as an outsider.

The Catholic faith isn't like that. That's why I love it so!

andrewstx · #82 Jun 21, '12, 10:36 am

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Originally Posted by ladylove

Honestly, as a black woman, that is one of the reasons why I stayed away from Eastern Orthodox churches on my spiritual christian quest: those churches seemed more cultural to me and I don't think I would have felt welcomed as an outsider.

The Catholic faith isn't like that. That's why I love it so!

Not all Orthodox churches are that way. For example the Antiochian parish I belong to has only one arab family, and one copt. The rest including me are converted from Protestant faiths, some main-line and some fundamentist in back ground. Our priest was originally Episcopal, our deacon was Lutheran married to a baptist. There are also ex church of Christ members including myself origianlly.

Where you might have trouble is with some of the greeks, who do seem to be more interested in hellenism than religion. But that is only some greeks, not the majority.

ladylove · #83 Jun 21, '12, 11:30 am

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Originally Posted by andrewstx

Not all Orthodox churches are that way. For example the Antiochian parish I belong to has only one arab family, and one copt. The rest including me are converted from Protestant faiths, some main-line and some fundamentist in back ground. Our priest was originally Episcopal, our deacon was Lutheran married to a baptist. There are also ex church of Christ members including myself origianlly.

Where you might have trouble is with some of the greeks, who do seem to be more interested in hellenism than religion. But that is only some greeks, not the majority.

The one that is near my residence (there are only two in the city) is made up of mostly arabic speaking people.

Trebor135 · #84 Jun 21, '12, 12:01 pm

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Originally Posted by ladylove

The one that is near my residence (there are only two in the city) is made up of mostly arabic speaking people.

Where I go to university, there's an Antiochian (i.e., Arab) Orthodox parish as well. But even there, as I've read, half the Divine Liturgy is in English--certainly more than at the Melkite Greek Catholic parish in the same city.

Cavaradossi · #85 Jun 21, '12, 3:33 pm

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Originally Posted by Trebor135

Where I go to university, there's an Antiochian (i.e., Arab) Orthodox parish as well. But even there, as I've read, half the Divine Liturgy is in English--certainly more than at the Melkite Greek Catholic parish in the same city.

That sounds a lot like the parish my father goes to. The Sunday liturgy is done completely in English, even though the parish is made up of mostly Arabic-speaking Lebanese emigrants.

babochka · #86 Jun 21, '12, 7:15 pm

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Originally Posted by snarflemike

I'm curious if there is any substantial encroachment of Protestantism in Eastern Orthodoxy areas. Any info appreciated.

My city is full of Slavic Baptist and Pentecostal Churches. There was major immigration of Ukrainian Baptists and Pentecostals during the 1990s, mostly sponsored by local churches. Their churches are huge, well funded and well attended. Some would qualify as mega-churches.

babochka · #87 Jun 21, '12, 7:27 pm

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Originally Posted by Trebor135

Interesting--I'd never heard of those Lutheran efforts before. To the best of my knowledge, though, most Indian Christians are indeed Catholic--Latin and Syro-Malabar.

I'm pretty sure there is a strong Anglican presence in India, due to it having been part of the British Empire.

Trebor135 · #88 Jun 21, '12, 8:01 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by babochka

My city is full of Slavic Baptist and Pentecostal Churches. There was major immigration of Ukrainian Baptists and Pentecostals during the 1990s, mostly sponsored by local churches. Their churches are huge, well funded and well attended. Some would qualify as mega-churches.

Have you talked to any of the Slavs attending those churches and found out why they became Evangelical Protestant?

And I wonder if they have icons and use incense during worship?--They're both in the Bible, in some form or another!

Trebor135 · #89 Jun 21, '12, 8:21 pm

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Originally Posted by babochka

I'm pretty sure there is a strong Anglican presence in India, due to it having been part of the British Empire.

I had always thought Indian Christians were almost all Latin/Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, or Pentecostal. But you're right: the Church of North India has one and a half million members, and the Church of South India has four million adherents (both communities being Anglican).