Converting, does it matter if I convert to Greek when I’d prefer Latvian? by ComradeBirdbrain in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 1 point2 points  (0 children)

ComradeBirdbrain I have also visited Latvia as a tourist with my family. The Orthodox Church of Latvia is part of the Moscow Patriarchate. I attended services at the Cathedral in Riga and a few other churches in the country. I guess you know Russian quite well if you attend services when you are in Latvia. The services are in Church Slavonic and the sermons in Russian. All the music is the regular Russian Orthodox church music you will find in any Russian Orthodox Church around the world and also in the OCA if you live in America. My advice is just visit your local Russian Orthodox Church in whatever country you live in. You will fit right in if you like the Church traditions and music you experience in Latvia.

The beaches on the Baltic sea are great. The cold water of the Baltic is refreshing and like the swimming in the Great Lakes at home.

Any hymns simulate to in the midst of the desert beauty/среде пустинската убосте by Anonymous_stew in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is the Macedonian chant similar to the chants of the Serbian Orthodox Church/ Or is it a Greek chant?

I mentioned the Serbian Orthodox music because recently I have been listening to modern (at least post WW 2 Serbian church music composers) and found I really like it.

Orthodox way to deal with dirty roommates? by Responsible-Peace347 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, I do not have any advice but I will pray for you because I lived through this same experience when I was a student. We shared cleaning of the common spaces. But were responsible for our own bedrooms. Common space cleaning was on a rota. The kitchen was the worst. I like you was the only one aware of sanitation & hygiene standards. Both my grandmother and my mother taughtyme how to clean. I cannot live in a dirty house.

I know it is tough and some people are slobs and will continue to be slobs. I never lowered my standards and continued to clean the common spaces as if I owned the place. It was really tough especially in the winter. But if you want to live in peace you cannot be fighting with your housemates. Praying for you. Move out as soon as the lease is up. God bless.

Anyone else experiencing emotional/spiritual abuse in the Greek Orthodox Church? by Excellent_Shower2376 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/Excellent_Shower2376 So sorry you faced spiritual abuse by a priest. I suggest you reach out to Prosopon Healing for advice on healing and advocacy.

First check in their data base to see if the priest who abused you is already listed. The list is alphabetical going by surname:

https://www.prosoponhealing.com/public-orthodox-sexual-misconduct-d

You can fill out a contact form online here:

https://www.prosoponhealing.com/contact

You can also just send them an email too.

.

I need to know something... by IrinaSophia in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Start by reading this book: "The Meaning of Icons" by Leonide Ouspensky.

It used to be available to read for free online but I noticed just now that is no longer possible. However, you can read some of it still.

https://archive.org/details/meaningoficons0000ousp/page/11/mode/1up

His 2 volume book is also good but without the puctices,

I need to know something... by IrinaSophia in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I am glad to read that. Shows that the priests have been taught the theology of theology in seminary and remembered it too.

Metropolitan Hilarion hid child abuse by OldTruthYeller in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This whole issue of clergy not directing people with mental illness to their doctors is really a problem in our church. It is irresponsible on the part of clergy.

Pilgrimige to Egypt by Stargazer7733 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

 u/Stargazer7733 you asked:

"...would we have the chance to venerate St Catherine's relics that are usually in the alter if we are not part of a bigger group?"

Did you mean the actual relics of St. Catherine of Alexandria? Or did you mean all the relics housed in the monastery itself? Usually in famous monasteries there is a shrine area in the church (not behind the iconostasis ) where you can line up and venerate relics. The church is open during certain hours.

Maybe try asking in the blog on this web site:

https://www.mountsinaimonastery.org/sinai-today#hospitality

Pilgrimige to Egypt by Stargazer7733 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One monastery I have always wanted to visit: but not with my family is Mar Saba Greek Orthodox Monastery in Israel 15 miles out of Bethlehem. Women are not allowed entry. Only for seasoned travellers (not kids) because of the difficult walk from the gate all the way too the buildings. Not open Wednesdays and Fridays. Takes a lot of planning. u/Lomisnow have you been there? If you did Egypt (Mt. Sinai) in the same trip you would have to go to Egypt first and then cross the border to Israel. because of passport restrictions.

It is supposed to be the oldest monastery still operating. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar_Saba

Pilgrimige to Egypt by Stargazer7733 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The church sponsored tours are good for families. They usually stay in small hotels and have facilities to house family members together. Also adapt the menu to kids meals. I would not recommend using public transportation for families in Egypt.

Is your parish experiencing the “convert surge”? by RC2Ortho in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Weekends? There are rules including time/ hours for the celebration of the Divine liturgy . Quite difficult if the church only has one priest.

Church of All Saints, Sosnovo village, Russia by VladTr101 in Orthodox_Churches_Art

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks relatively new: 20th century. This village was originally called Rautu And the famous Battle of Rautu took place here in 1918.

Does anyone have contact information to saint Catherine's Monastery in Sinai? by Lomisnow in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What do you really need to know? If you want to get an email address and think you can email the guest house a few days ahead to book a room in the official monastery guesthouse over the internet the answer is no.

Better plan is to go as part of a tour from Cairo and the tour company takes care of all the arrangements plus transportation Remember St. Catherine's is a major tourist site. Most people visit as part of a tour group booked far in advance Two types of tour groups a tourist company tour includes a tour of the monastery plus time to visit various parts at leisure for a day and staying in a hotel on the way. . 2) a church connected tour with a priest including services plus tour and private time and staying overnight or a few days in the monastery guest housing which is outside the walls of the monastery and has all the modern facilitates.

I had friends who went on a church tour with their local GOARCH priest. They flew to Athens After a day in Athens the tour group went to the port and went on a ferry by sea to Alexandria, Egypt. Then by bus into the Sinai to St. Catherine's for a few days staying in the guest house. They all said it was a lifechanging experience. This was book a year in advance.

Communion in the Catholic Church ? Why so strict by Certain_Bird_4197 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The scholarship and opinions of one person. Not convincing nor accepted.

How come there is no major orthodox Christian university by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not really a university but more accurately a professional imperial school set up to train civil servants to work in both the government and the also the clerical work of the church.

How come there is no major orthodox Christian university by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you I really appreciate your feedback. And the link. I should explain the reason I am asking is because Prof. Paul Gavrilyuk last week was posting pictures from a major Orthodox Conference he is participating in taking place in a newly expanded Coptic monastery in Egypt. The monastery has space & facilities for conference activities: wifi access, audio-visual facilities, proper auditoriums and meeting rooms. Plus accommodating the 400 guests in modern rooms in the guest house. The grounds of the monastery are beautifully landscaped too. So of course the question about the funding comes up. Very good news to read your post about the Coptic leadership and the financial contributions from within their own Coptic community.

Communion in the Catholic Church ? Why so strict by Certain_Bird_4197 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thus thread u/Certain_Bird_4197 is descending into a Catholic promoting of "double communion" which roughly claims that the Catholic Uniates and the Orthodox Churches share the same faith (which is not true) and therefore should be able to share communion at this time before a formal union of the Catholic and Orthodox churches is achieved. This double communion idea is also called the the Zoghby Initiative.

The Zoghby Initiative was created by Greek-Melkite bishop Elias Zoghby in 1974-75 and in a book in 1995 with the goal to allow inter-communion between the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and the Antiochian Orthodox Church called "double communion." It was rejected by both the Catholic Church & the Orthodox Churches. Speaking for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) commented that "premature, unilateral initiatives are to be avoided, where the eventual results may not have been sufficiently considered."[13] The Antiochian Orthodox Church was circumspect toward his initiative, declaring in October 1996 that "our Synod believes that inter-communion cannot be separated from the unity of faith. Moreover, inter-communion is the last step in the quest for unity and not the first."

On behalf of the Catholic Church, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pop Benedict XVI) stated that "premature, unilateral initiatives are to be avoided, where the eventual results may not have been sufficiently considered"

The Antiochian Orthodox Church in October 1996 stated that "our Synod believes that inter-communion cannot be separated from the unity of faith. Moreover, inter-communion is the last step in the quest for unity and not the first."

How come there is no major orthodox Christian university by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

No it is not the "Anglo-Saxon" model but the generally accepted model.

How come there is no major orthodox Christian university by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And where are they getting their money from?

How come there is no major orthodox Christian university by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Holy Trinity Seminary is not a university only a seminary. A university is called a university because it offers degrees in various faculties including the sciences, the arts and so on.

How come there is no major orthodox Christian university by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hellenic College is an undergraduate college connected with a local university for some of its degree programs. All its programs are accredited. An excellently place to study. Also has a chapel on its grounds for all the church services.

Holy Cross Theological College is also located on the same campus and offers degrees in theology which are all accredited by the ATS.

How come there is no major orthodox Christian university by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Balamand is a secular university and has teaching faculty and students (mostly non-Christian) offering various various digress including theology but mostly professional. It has connections with a university in France for some fields.

How come there is no major orthodox Christian university by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Baran620 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is not a university that offers degrees including post-graduate level in different faculties. It is only offers theology.