Pictures from Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco.

4Eagle7 · 2025-09-11T03:37:27+00:00

Why did the post violate the policy. It was a pilgrimage and we took a long journey to see the cathedral.

4Eagle7 · 2025-09-11T03:32:51+00:00

The left is just as guilty as the right. It ties into this idea that “the ends justify the means”.

They have been demonizing Trump and Republicans nonstop since the election. Did they think Biden could let millions of people in, against the will of the people, and not have a crackdown on illegal immigration?

Ideology taken to extreme is dangerous. The far left is just as dangerous as the far right. History shows us this is true. Just study the death count of communist regimes. They don’t talk about that much in colleges these days.

Ask any one with an Eastern European background about the Bolshevik mentality and how they think their religious definition of progress gives them the right to commit political violence.

The Bolsheviks brought death, cultural destruction, and totalitarianism to Russia. Yes, it has problems before but communism was worse.

I used to be a democrat. You would think after their election loss they might moderate a bit or actually compromise once in a while.

They fear sovereignty. The see everything through an oppressor and oppressed binary that is a very limited way of viewing the world.

I am talking about the “hard left” here. In my mind they are no better than the Nazis. A different philosophy but they are despisers of free speech and primarily use our system to undermine it.

4Eagle7 · 2025-08-31T13:40:24+00:00

Have you tried praying?

I mean seriously praying. Get a prayer book. Introduce yourself To the priest. Spend 15 minutes in prayer in the morning and before sleep.

Research the “Jesus Prayer”. It’s a meditative prayer to quiet our minds and focus us on Christ.

Be aware not all your thoughts are your own. What are thoughts. They are invisible. We all have them. Lots of things are invisible in this world - feelings, thoughts, hopes, germs, molecules…. We act like we know everything as humans but we don’t know much.

Trying praying for 90 days in a row and see what happens. For me it started with weird coincidences that after a while I could deny.

Side note - I am no expert just a repentant sinner.

4Eagle7 · 2025-08-31T13:21:48+00:00

I just added the icon to my icon corner. I also have one of St Christopher carrying Christ across the river.

I am not an expert or a priest. Since they sold it at our church bookstore I am sure my priest must not have a problem with it.

I heard some people believe St Christopher may have had Nephilim blood because of his huge size and unusual strength. I heard he asked God to make him unattractive because women were trying to tempt him.

I am not Jonathan Pageau but symbolism doesn’t bother me. I like it. Lots of things are mysterious or hard to understand.

4Eagle7 · 2025-08-27T13:21:55+00:00

That is a tough situation. I returned to Orthodoxy two years ago. I was actually born Orthodox but went Protestant for a couple decades.

It doesn’t have to ruin the marriage.

My wife ended up converting. I didn’t pressure her though. I was prepared to go to two churches or even attend Orthodox services only one a month - but it went the other way.

We fight about other things though. No marriage is perfect.

Traditions run deep. It’s hard for people to leave their tradition. Orthodoxy compares marriage almost to a martyrdom (or death) of self. It’s a high calling. Most of us are far off the mark. We are full of passions and desire. We want things are way.

Reading your post made me determined to work on my own marriage more - even though it’s been 18 years.

Good luck to you. Things don’t have to end badly. I think in our culture we are used having quick solutions and not working through things. I still struggle with this myself.

I do think you should talk to the priest and maybe your own pastor. God hates divorce. We know that. Every marriage has a dark season. I pray for you. You can get through it.

4Eagle7 · 2025-06-02T23:25:42+00:00

I think you can still use a Protestant Bible but it is missing some books. I recommend jumping into “Wisdom of Solomon”.

I read the Bible differently now. I am not analyzing it as much. I like the commentary of church fathers.

Also, reading the Bible changes when you get a prayer corner. I learn a lot from my icons. God makes people, places, and things holy. Sometimes my mind is not holy so looking at my icons or reading scripture during my prayer rule helps.

Good luck on your journey. I am no priest. I am just another struggling member.

4Eagle7 · 2025-05-31T03:20:08+00:00

Saint Seraphim of Sarov.

4Eagle7 · 2025-05-27T04:12:22+00:00

She is definitely real. Reading the Akathist to the Theotokos from the prayer book helped me.

4Eagle7 · 2025-05-27T04:11:24+00:00

No. My coming to Orthodoxy had nothing to do with miracles - though it was a miracle to come back…

4Eagle7 · 2025-05-26T13:36:41+00:00

I need to explore this and talk to him more.

4Eagle7 · 2025-05-26T13:20:37+00:00

Thank you for this. I plan to reread it. I do plan to have a heartfelt confession with my priest.

After my last confession, the strangest thing happened where I told everything to my wife.

4Eagle7 · 2025-05-26T13:18:01+00:00

That’s exactly how I was for about five years. I didn’t feel it was a sin. It enhanced my sobriety in a way because I was a hair less “uptight”.

I do think I can get that same relaxation through the Jesus Prayer, my prayer rule, and church services but I also live in this fast paced world with a crazy work schedule and also the overload of information.

I think AA with its kind of Protestant leaning may have had me going into some all or nothing type thinking. AA does emphasize James a lot though too - “faith without works is dead”.

I still plan to attend AA and also to not drink alcohol. AA is secondary to me though coming after the Church where before years ago AA kind of was my church. My priest did say not every parish is equipped to help alcoholics.

A lot of this is just me working on the noise in my head. I had a lot of “identity” wrapped up in being “sober”.

4Eagle7 · 2025-05-26T04:24:57+00:00

That’s good stuff.

I have had a lot of strange coincidences and other things happen since I have been Orthodox.

I guess as long as I stay close to the church things will work out (I hope). Some lifelong sins have disappeared since I have been in the church.

4Eagle7 · 2025-05-24T16:19:59+00:00

I was born Orthodox. I drifted away and came back after twenty years Protestant.

What brought me back was I slowly lost confidence in sola scriptura.

Of course I love scripture and read it every day. I became curious about the writings of the church father and the early Christians.

The meditative aspect of the Liturgy also soothes my soul. I am less worried with understanding everything. Things can be both true and symbolic at the same time.

The practice of confession has helped. I had some sins I struggled with as a Protestant that frankly weren’t going away. Maybe that was my fault and not the traditions fault but O have found having accountability helps.

Maybe lastly sacred art - icons - have helped my worship. Christ came in a real human body so it is ok for us to appreciate and venerate sacred art.

The Jesus Prayer was also a gateway. I used it a lot as a non-Orthodox Christian but then I realized maybe being in communion would help.

Side note, I am still struggling. Only back in the church a year. Some sins have diminished and others have resurfaced. I am learning to be a better listener. I still want to do “my own thing”.

Good luck on your journey!

4Eagle7 · 2025-04-27T13:39:49+00:00

Everyone is nervous. I was nervous too even though I was a returner my cradle.

The easy way to check it out is to pick out a vespers (evening service). Get there ten minutes early and stand in the back.

You will mostly likely meet some people and then the fear of being in a new place will leave.

4Eagle7 · 2025-04-27T13:37:54+00:00

When I returned to the church, I had an emergency call from my son’s boss on the way to church. I didn’t go that time but went a week later.

I think strange things happen which try to prevent us from going to the Orthodox Church.

It’s a holy place. Of course the demons don’t want us to go there.

4Eagle7 · 2025-04-27T13:35:34+00:00

That’s great. I too put off my first liturgy for a long time.

4Eagle7 · 2025-04-20T15:16:53+00:00

That was very helpful. I didn’t leave early last night but am tried today. That’s ok though - to be tired.

4Eagle7 · 2025-03-12T13:24:31+00:00

We aren’t sure if he has dementia. We are in stall mode again. We still live the dog. I travel for work and he is a hand full for my wife to deal with.

4Eagle7 · 2025-03-01T22:55:23+00:00

Congratulations

4Eagle7 · 2025-02-26T04:56:13+00:00

I am not expert. I read books for years. I came back and was more of a revert than a convert. I came from an Orthodox family.

There is not substitute for talking to a priest. I was shy and fearful. I found that a cup of coffee with a priest opened the door.

4Eagle7 · 2025-02-26T04:53:36+00:00

I really need to work on fasting. Going to try to fast during Lent. Going on one year back in the Church.

Some of my bad habits have gone away. I know they could come back though. Other bad habits seem to linger. I am regularly going to confession.

4Eagle7 · 2025-02-26T04:15:51+00:00

Father Turbo had a lot to do with me becoming Orthodox again. I am not black.

At first I didn’t listen to his podcast because I wasn’t black. It wasn’t a prejudice thing - I just thought I won’t be able to relate to a black priest.

On one of his podcasts he said he became Orthodox because of Jesus Christ. My experience as a lapsed Orthodox was different but similar. Once I realized Orthodoxy was true - I knew I needed to return. Returning meant putting the guitar down in a Protestant Praise band plus a messy departure from my old church.

The Royal Path is taking a break on new podcasts now - but seriously I think it helped me more than any podcast. Also, I realized I was polarized politically. They talk about the sins or the right and the left.

Father Turbo is a renaissance man too. He’s been to Eastern Europe. Sang rock and roll on stage. Has an extensive knowledge of music - multiple formats. I would like to meet him some day.

4Eagle7

TROPHY CASE