A dear, old friend texted me. She had questions about Orthodoxy. She was raised Catholic and has been Protestant over 45 years. We have known each other the same amount of time so she knows my journey and my joining the Orthodox church eight years ago after first attending a liturgy eleven years ago.
In His Love,
Dana (Paisia)
Dear Friend:
It can be a complicated answer to your inquiries. It's a good exercise for me to write about why I love the Orthodox Church and her practices after living over 50 years as a protestant. Here is a brief overview. Just the start of all there is to learn. As in the study of the Bible, we will be learning until our time on this earth is over.
Brief Church History
The Orthodox Church traces its start to the time of the Apostles. It has continued more or less unchanged since that time. The Liturgy (worship service) was fine-tuned around 400 AD. This service can be found in any church, any country, and any language.
Throughout the first millennium, Christians were unified through the Pentarchy, or the Five Patriarchal Sees. There were five centers: Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. At each location resided the Patriarch, or Bishop, of the area. They were meant to work together when it comes to governing the Church and discussing problems and issues that arise.
By the year 1054, there were many issues where the Patriarch in Rome had disagreements with the other Patriarchs. At this time, the Great Schism occurred. The Christian church split between the West and the East. The five Eastern patriarchs continue to this day with the addition of Moscow, Georgia, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria. Rome came to be known as the Catholic Church.
Orthodoxy — Tools that Enrich my Walk with Jesus.
From outside Orthodoxy, there has arisen the idea that it is legalistic. I believe this is a misconception. The Western church can create legalistic expectations by some. I have a loved one who had deep struggles. My personal walk in the Orthodox Church has brought a freedom that I hadn't quite felt before.
This freedom comes from the guidance of the church and its emphasis to grow one's life and heart to become more in sync with God. I have found closeness to God through the practices of repentance (confession), prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and attending liturgy with all of its traditions. All of this and more has enriched my walk with Jesus, and my journey with God continues to expand.
I find the beauty of the liturgy gives one a whole body experience in worshipping God through sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. Icons of Christ depict the fact of His incarnation. We only worship God alone. In venerating the icons of Saints, we show honor and respect to them who, in their faithfulness, modeled for us the Christian walk. Icons help us connect with the divine. We have photos of loved family & friends. Icons are reminders of our Christian family. We may kiss our loved one's photo; Orthodox also give kisses to icons.
To Mary, we give her the honor and respect due to the woman who agreed to carry Christ in her womb. We use the name Theotokos for her which in Greek means "God bearer." We still only worship God. As with the Saints, we venerate Mary and also give her special honor and respect throughout the services.
The liturgy is beautifully chanted and sung by the choir and congregation. Liturgical words come directly from the Psalms and the Bible. The smell of incense permeates the air as the censer jingles in its rhythmic manner.
The Eucharist is God's gift to us and helps us bring to mind His sacrifice on the Cross. We receive bread and wine that has been mysteriously consecrated into His body and blood during liturgy. Yes, it is difficult to understand. It's also difficult to understand how God became incarnate or raised the dead to life. As Jesus says in Luke 22:19, 20, "This is My body.....this is My blood." I believe the Bible and the words of Christ.
I am, and will be to my dying day, a work in progress. With the Orthodox Church and fellowship, I feel my connection to Christ growing. The journey any Christian takes has its ups and downs. I have known many ups and downs. The history and consistency of the Traditions of the Orthodox church help me acknowledge and settle in my heart this great love story of God's to us.
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
As always, much Love to you, Dear Friend.
Originally published in the Holy Apostles E-bulletin. Subscribe here.
