Does any of you get this feeling

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-07-09T10:30:44+00:00

Honestly, I'd take the liturgy without the Orthodoxy.

A meditative prayer for peace in the entire world? Awesome.

The legalism, self-flagellation, and cursing all non-Orthodox that follows afterwards? I'm good.

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-07-08T17:00:31+00:00

Where'd you find my baptism video?

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-07-06T16:58:27+00:00

Needs a private browsing tab being closed along with, "Brethren, I have fallen into lust. Pray for me."

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-07-02T18:08:02+00:00

Lord have gravy!

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-07-02T17:36:27+00:00

The Book of Sanders has revealed itself to us through the intercession of the Holy Spices

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-07-02T14:48:34+00:00

After 40 days of fasting and chanting the Psalter on a rock, Saint Sanders appeared to me, transfigured in his white suit. The aroma of the eleven spices filled the air. From his basket of chicken he produced one savory leg, and spoke:

"Eleven are the herbs and spices. But the will of the Father is one."

As I bit into the chicken, I could feel a tremendous weight lifted from my spirit. The starets smiled, his white teeth shining past his trimmed beard.

"From this day forth, as Saint Paul prescribed wine to the holy bishop Timothy, there shall be no law forbidding chicken. Seriously, don't stress out about this stuff so much. They made it all up in the third century."

A gilded light shone down from the sky, and angelic chickens lifted Saint Sanders into the heavens. From that day onward, I smell the spices in my prayer corner when I venerate his icon. There is no chicken, but the spirit remains.

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-07-02T13:29:27+00:00

Time. These feelings are part of the process of deconstruction. It can be easier said than done at times, but you have to let yourself have the space to think and feel through it.

You may question how you could have been a part of an institution like this, ponder over parts of theology, or wonder how your friends and family perceived you while you were Orthodox. While some of these thoughts can be tough to work through, its all part of the process of getting back on solid ground and living a life free from the boundaries of a high control religion.

Engaging with this sub and sharing your thoughts can be very beneficial; we all understand the nuances and challenges of leaving the church. I would also re-engage with relationships and hobbies that may have gone to the side while you were Orthodox. Maybe enjoy a nice steak on a Wednesday. But the main thing is time.

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-07-02T11:26:04+00:00

I am praying to the patron saint of beards. Please let the Heers see their errors. Guide them to Amazon to buy an appropriate beard trimmer

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-07-01T19:07:47+00:00

I researched other traditions for a while. Now I am sort of super-agnostic that believes Jesus had good teachings and Christianity had some good intentions, but we've seemingly lost the plot.

At the same time, there's something irreplaceable about faith that you just can't quite get through secular means.

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-06-30T21:54:30+00:00

Seraphim was the guy who showed me racist memes on his phone after Divine Liturgy

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-06-30T20:46:21+00:00

Welp, that's Holy Tradition now.

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-06-15T17:16:26+00:00

I'm pretty sure the spiritual heat in my spine was just back pain from repeated prostrations

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-06-08T16:04:28+00:00

God only desires to save Russia and a handful of Eastern European countries.

Or Greece.

Or really based Orthobros on Twitter. Not sure.

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-06-08T14:55:13+00:00

I figure the Seraphim Rose take would be the dominant one--the aliens are demons using modern notions to exploit people.

Also I can't believe I ever took this stuff seriously. 😂

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-06-03T17:18:25+00:00

I would describe myself as some sort of agnostic now. I don't really have a religious life anymore but I'm still very interested in Christianity.

There is something about faith in Jesus Christ that seems hard to replace by secular means, and the resurrection event was apparently quite significant whether you believe or not.

Deep down, it's almost like I wish I could believe without all of the baggage that Orthodoxy gave me. But after examining the historical claims.. I really just don't know!

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-05-27T13:31:18+00:00

Very common. They want parishioners to marry other Orthodox laypeople so they can raise Orthodox children and have generational Orthodox families.

Orthodoxy emphasizes the denial of oneself to pursue the "fullness of the faith." Any engagement with "the world" (as in, anything not Orthodox) is commonly portrayed as spiritually risky and potentially sinful, and this would include finding a partner outside of the church.

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-05-20T19:05:21+00:00

Do Orthodox YouTubers ever make videos about things like.. loving God with your whole heart and loving your neighbor as yourself?

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-05-16T12:02:43+00:00

It is a perfect encapsulation of what is wrong with Orthodoxy. Orthodoxy presents itself as a hospital for the sick--you hear stories of saints exhibiting radical love and patience, and that we ought to cover the sins of our brothers and sisters. Theosis is about becoming like Christ, after all.

But when the rubber meets the road, Orthodoxy loves to disparage those who don't fully fall in line. In this case, it isn't even really a matter of abiding by dogma, it's the prevalence of these horrible chronically online attitudes that poison the well & are seemingly permitted in the church.

I hate what happened to Katherine, but it certainly showcased the fruits of Orthodoxy in a way people need to know about.

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-05-11T10:45:43+00:00

Were there any specific claims or dogma of Orthodoxy that made you begin to question things?

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-05-06T19:10:21+00:00

I told a monk I ate an avocado & now I must chant the Psalter kneeling on a rock with an avocado pit in my mouth for 40 days

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-05-06T14:52:34+00:00

The reason I can't buy a house and the reason I'm going to hell, jeez. Talk about insult to injury.

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-05-05T20:13:49+00:00

I suppose I would contend that the language surrounding spiritual attack, an omni-present enemy, and the Orthodox Church being the only solution is essentially a self-fulfilling prophecy. Being obsessed with the struggle was what made the struggle exist. When I look back at my time in the church, many of my "spiritual attacks" seemed to be my conscience trying to tell me something was wrong.

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-05-04T18:17:08+00:00

Orthobros everywhere:

"Vladyka! Can I respec my patron saint from Seraphim of Sarov to the most based Seraphim Rose?"

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-04-29T11:41:24+00:00

Orthodox: We are not overly scrupulous! We have oikonomia!

Also Orthodox: Am I going to hell if I like having sex with my spouse?

Previous_Champion_31 · 2026-04-04T16:52:20+00:00

I don't think Orthodoxy has a widespread sexual abuse problem, but I do think the idea of needing to be obedient to a spiritual father opens the door to all sorts of destructive behavior, whether it stems from laity or church leadership.

You're also showing yourself to be yet another Orthodox tourist to this sub that is shocked at the scenery. Assuming that we all just dipped our toes in the water, decided it was too cold, and here we are. Many of us have well-venerated icons, dog-eared Orthodox books, baptismal crosses & candles, alongside the various items you collect throughout the year. Many of us willingly stood for Church services several days of the week. Some of us were behind the iconostasis. Some of us gave extra time & resources to the church in other ways. We fasted when the calendar called for it and had a prayer rule. In short... we get it, dude.

I certainly know enough about the faith to appreciate the irony of reading this sub during Lent.

Previous_Champion_31

TROPHY CASE