posted May 07, 2013 10:23 AM            

* I happen to like simplicity of dress, and I think it's aesthetically pleasing when the men and women dress very differently. 'Not saying I want to do that myself (skirts can be really impractical in my opinion), but I like how it looks.

* I like how they are immune to the rubbish in popular culture.

* I like their scholarship, charity, service, and (sometimes) humility.

The service is really under-appreciated. Many religious people devote their lives to anonymously, or without any recognition, lifting up others in their time of desperation.

* I like a lot of religious music, and it's a beautiful thing to me, to see how some people can heal themselves through listening to it.

posted May 07, 2013 07:08 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by doommlord:
ohhh i am a fan of those church choir songs.

and i do like orthodox religious people as they are better than extremists by far and are often kind and accepting people (had quite a few teachers who were orthodox and almost all i liked other than 1)

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posted May 07, 2013 07:08 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by shura:
I'm studying the Eastern Orthodox Churches presently, particularly the Russian and Antiochian. Everything you've listed above applies and you'll get no argument from me. The liturgy is truly sublime.

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posted May 07, 2013 11:54 PM            

Today, tomorrow, a week from now etc.

Was actually a online friend with a Greek Orthodox Priest, and he was quite nice and very cultured.

posted May 08, 2013 02:54 PM            

The old ancient boundary markers that have stood the test of Time are proven forms. You can choose your level of participations... Can sit up front or inhabit the last row... and they're not going to put a barrier between you and your relationship to God by making threatening and scary associations when taking their offerings.... usually!

OF COURSE you KNOW how much I adore music---- Remember this old one?

posted May 08, 2013 11:42 PM            

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Originally posted by Padre35:
True, to a point Mirage, the form has lasted the test of time and will surely out last me or you or anyone likely to read this!

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Padre, I love that thought.... ~ wow.

posted May 09, 2013 11:02 AM            

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Originally posted by PixieJane:
Just my observation: the Eastern Orthodox are great outside their countries of origin, but not so much in their homeland. As a general rule I'll get along well with the Russian Orthodox in North America, but not so much in (or from) Russia.

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posted May 11, 2013 12:11 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Faith:
What do you like about it?

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I've only just begun to explore, so my thoughts are still forming. A few random examples:

There are four major feast/fast cycles. I'm a proponent of fasting. It's crucial to our spiritual development.

The understanding that Christ's sacrfice was not limited to the crucifixtion. Orthodox teaching acknowledges the incarnation, the last supper, the resurrection and the ascension as equally important.

I was happy to see so much attention paid to the twelve days following Christmas. I believe this is a potent spiritual window that has been neglected by the other Christian churches.

The sacrament of confession is approached quite differently than it is in the Roman Catholic Church, with emphasis placed on confessing to God and the priest serving as witness. Priests are allowed to marry. The sign of the cross is made right to left, rather than left to right.

This is vague. I don't yet have the words to describe properly but there is a feminine atmosphere I've found lacking in the Protestant chruches, and perhaps to a lesser degree in the Roman Church as well. I was raised Episcopalian where Mary is all but a non entity. Not so here. Theotokos, the God Bearer, plays a major role. Even the churches themselves, with their rounded feminine domes, rather than sharp steeples, is somehow more welcoming and pleasing to the eye. On the whole, there is something more intuitive, less intellectual, here. That's something much needed in the West imo.

And, again, the liturgy is divine.

Church politics is another matter and secondary at best imo.

posted May 11, 2013 12:17 PM            

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Originally posted by Heart--Shaped Cross:
A beautiful book I'm reading now, by the present Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, known as the "Green Patriarch" for his consistent promotion of environmental issues. He's also very comitted to encouraging dialogue between different religions; when he visited Pope John Paul II, he included a devout Muslim in his entourage: http://www.amazon.com/Encountering-Mystery-Understanding-Orthodox-Christianity/dp/ 0385518137

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I haven't come across this one yet. Looks quite nice, so I will add it to my list.

posted May 13, 2013 11:26 PM              

quote:

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Originally posted by shura:
I don't yet have the words to describe properly but there is a feminine atmosphere I've found lacking in the Protestant chruches, and perhaps to a lesser degree in the Roman Church as well. I was raised Episcopalian where Mary is all but a non entity. Not so here. Theotokos, the God Bearer, plays a major role. Even the churches themselves, with their rounded feminine domes, rather than sharp steeples, is somehow more welcoming and pleasing to the eye. On the whole, there is something more intuitive, less intellectual, here. That's something much needed in the West imo.

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posted May 14, 2013 06:32 AM            

IMO, that is a mistake as the Eastern Church is as ancient and they have a very different take on Christ, they are far more about energies and feel then the West which is more about power and position.

posted May 15, 2013 06:06 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Faith:
* I like a lot of religious music, and it's a beautiful thing to me, to see how some people can heal themselves through listening to it.

Anything you care to add (or challenge?)

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Maybe you'd like some Romanian chants as well. In case you haven't heard any before - here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d49uHvhZEJo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6s5Jo3Je5Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHUzj0q0b0Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29POG_9-LZI

posted May 15, 2013 08:16 PM            

I'm not much of a fan of religious, contemporary, religious music.

Litanies in Latin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3iu9bwEfl4

Or Calvnistic, heartfelt, songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3iu9bwEfl4

(not my favorite version tbh, there was once a young woman who just blew that song up, but she's since disappeared from Youtube and I cannot find it, and I looked)

posted May 15, 2013 10:52 PM              

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Originally posted by Padre35:

I do have a quibble about not allowing female priests and prelates in both traditions, to me, if all Christians are equal why are they excluded? Were there not female prophets in the Scriptures?

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Indeed.

posted May 15, 2013 11:35 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Padre35:

I'm quite happy Eastern Orthodox Church is getting more attention, in the West we tend to focus on Calvin v the Roman Church.

IMO, that is a mistake as the Eastern Church is as ancient and they have a very different take on Christ, they are far more about energies and feel then the West which is more about power and position.

I do have a quibble about not allowing female priests and prelates in both traditions, to me, if all Christians are equal why are they excluded? Were there not female prophets in the Scriptures?

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When circumstances allowed, the Orthodox Churches played games of power and position as well. The Russian Orthodox Church bullied its flock no less than the Romans, padre. And they will again if permitted.

I have no issue with a male only priesthood. In fact, I believe that's the way it should be. (neither do I have an issue with women who choose to be ordained priests) Prophets and priests are apples and oranges. Their station is different, their function is different. No much use comparing the two imo.

posted May 15, 2013 11:57 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by shura:
When circumstances allowed, the Orthodox Churches played games of power and position as well. The Russian Orthodox Church bullied its flock no less than the Romans, padre. And they will again if permitted.

I have no issue with a male only priesthood. In fact, I believe that's the way it should be. (neither do I have an issue with women who choose to be ordained priests) Prophets and priests are apples and oranges. Their station is different, their function is different. No much use comparing the two imo.

That said, a few of the Eastern Orthodox Churches have maintained the old tradition of female deacons.

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#1- I know, every institution relies on bullying to remain and retain it's power.

Still a mistake though.

#2-Male only Priesthood..for me, nope. I understand and accept that if the rules of the institution are "men only" then if one joins it..those are the rules..no exceptions. One joined, that is how they run things, imo..shut up and deal with it.

This is one of but a host of reasons why you never see me set foot inside such an institution, nope, reject it, will not have it..period..as Christ is my witness..and Justifies, I'll have no part of it.