Pierre Haab, a Swiss former Catholic who was disappointed with his religion and was carried away by Buddhism, Hinduism and other screamingly “fashionable” Eastern teachings and who is now a subdeacon of the Orthodox Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross in Geneva, speaks about his conversion to Orthodoxy. by Aviv Saliu-Diallo —Can you tell us a few words about your family, education and the story of your conversion to the Orthodox faith? I was born in an under-developed, impoverished, hungry country where the sky is permanently overcast with dark clouds—of course, in the spiritual sense. I am speaking of Switzerland, and especially of … [Read more...]
Catholics and Lutherans Converting to Orthodoxy in Latvia
June 21, 2017 By 4 Comments
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...]
Finding the Communion that Never Ends
June 14, 2017 By 1 Comment
by Jon Boatwright My journey to the Orthodox Church began in a way that has been hard for me to put into words. People often ask me why I converted to the Eastern Church from a Protestant tradition. That's usually when I start rambling. But I've also discovered that many others have similar difficulties. It's simply difficult to describe the inner life. Then I'll try to keep to the stepping stones. As a young man attending a little Baptist church in Arkansas I recall loving Sunday School but somewhere there began emerging a questioning or even uneasiness regarding Baptist teachings or rather their answers to my questions and I had lots of … [Read more...]
From Irish Soldier to Orthodox Priest
April 6, 2017 By 2 Comments
By Christos Mouzeviris Father Thomas Carroll is a 70-year-old priest in Dublin, Ireland. He grew up rural county Tipperary, in a family with strong military ties. His father fought in Gallipoli, while his great uncle was at the battle of Thessalonica during the first World War. Growing up in a Catholic secondary school, he felt called to take holy orders but was told he was not ready, so he followed the family tradition and joined the military. “We seem to be a family that was always involved militarily. There was discipline among us, but the rules were not too strict. Yet, I could never consider myself a free spirit,” he recalls. It … [Read more...]