The Orthodox Church in Latvia is increasingly filling up with former Catholics and Lutherans. by Grigory Shugaev European Christians are complaining about the emptying of churches. The older generation is dying, and only a few adherents are replacing them. It would seem that a Catholic country such as France, at the Easter services—and not just anywhere but in the Notre Dame Cathedral—it would be impossible to get in. Especially considering that the cathedral contains a great Christian relic—Christ’s Crown of Thorns. Nothing of the sort—the cradle of French Catholicism is just slightly over half full on the Feast of Feasts. We hear the same … [Read more...]
My Journey into the Orthodox Church
June 8, 2017 By 1 Comment
by Fr. Joshua Genig I recall being deeply moved by Fr. Richard John Neuhaus’ recounting of his journey from Lutheranism into the Roman Catholic Church (“How I Became the Catholic I Was”). It is a move that not a few have made, with denominational provenance spanning most every Protestant confession. Though I journeyed in a different direction from that of Neuhaus, many of the sights along the way were quite similar. Like him, however, neither do I wish for what follows to be an argument for my position, nor do I wish to engage those who have “cruelly, disdainfully, and despitefully” spoken against me, with little or no basis for their … [Read more...]
My Journey Through Lutheranism and Calvary Chapel to Orthodoxy
March 22, 2017 By 4 Comments
by Patrick Keenan My parents brought me to Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church for Baptism as an infant. Somehow, someway a grace entered my life that has resided as long as I can remember. The quest as to who He is and how I should know him has been a lifelong pursuit. It was an evening in 1966. Our modest North Dakota apartment housed my Mother, Father and myself. Dad was at the family Drive-In. Mom and I decided to watch NBC’s Saturday Night at the Movies. It was a Rock Hudson Movie called ‘The Spiral Road’. Rock’s character was an Atheist Doctor in a south pacific Island who had fallen in love with a Christian nurse. She asked Rock why he … [Read more...]
My Journey to the Orthodox Christian Church: Part Two
January 17, 2017 By 5 Comments
by Adam Lindahl But I will never forget that moment that I stepped over the threshold. I was immediately struck with a sense of awe and reverence. Before me stood a dark room with only candlelight illuminating select portions of the space. The smell of previously used incense lingered in the air. The image of Christ was before me with only a small flickering candle casting light on His face. Everyone was silently awaiting the beginning of the service. A few people hurriedly, but carefully prepared for the service by lighting remaining candles and preparing sheet music in a small corner of the room. Icons of saints lined the church and people … [Read more...]