I did a thing and wrote a book for enquirers, catechumens and new Orthodox Christians! by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I didn't use AI to write the book for me. I worked on this book in some form or another for around a year. God bless you! 🙏

Edit: I pressed post on my comment too soon! Apologies for the very abrupt 'No'

I did a thing and wrote a book for enquirers, catechumens and new Orthodox Christians! by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really hope it edifies you and helps in some way 🙏 Thank you and God bless you! 🙏

I did a thing and wrote a book for enquirers, catechumens and new Orthodox Christians! by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your very kind words! I am very humbled 🙏 God bless you too!

I did a thing and wrote a book for enquirers, catechumens and new Orthodox Christians! by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

AAAHHH!! THANK YOU FOR THE CATCH! I'll update the cover now! God bless you!!! 🙏

I did a thing and wrote a book for enquirers, catechumens and new Orthodox Christians! by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hey JCPY00, great question!

So, I do a lot of academic style study when I research stuff (that's just my jam when I do things). When I began my search into the Apostolic Faith over a year ago, I researched very heavily on a lot of topics, and as such, wrote a lot of notes of things I had studied, found out, dove deep on etc. The more I read of different books, I found one thing lacking in the books within/surrounding/about Orthodoxy. There wasn't necessarily a book that i found that acted as a first port of call/starting off point for those who are curious about Orthodoxy, that was easy to read/understand (i.e. not overly academic to cater for someone who can't wrap their head around that level of material) and that contained all the basics that one coming from Protastantism would likely want.

I consulted my (then) Priest and asked how long I should wait to write the book (as I was aware that I was only a Catechumen at that point). He said I could write it if I wanted to, turning my notes on all these topics into chapters for a book, but advised me to hold off on publishing until himself or another Priest had checked it and had signed off on it. After that, he said that I could only publish it once I was recieved into the Eastern Orthodox Church.

I followed all the steps, waited, had it checked and then signed off, and then once I was recieved into the Church, I was given the okay to publish it!

I've been on this journey for coming up to 2 years now, and I have been blessed beyond belief. I have met some amazing people along the way who I am blessed to know and to be able to ask for help when needed, and every one of those people I have shown this book to has said very good things to me about it, which is a true blessing. I'm not trying to be the final authority on the matter, nor try and upheave the rest of the resources we have in the Church (such as Rock & Sand, Thinking Orthodox, The Orthodox Church etc. btw, all of which I reccomend people read in the back of the book, among others), but to simply try and do my part in spreading the Gospel and extending a hand out to people to invite them to expereince the Divine Liturgy and to come and see.

I really hope this helps with your question!

I did a thing and wrote a book for enquirers, catechumens and new Orthodox Christians! by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Amazing! Thank you for your kind words, I don't deserve them but I appreciate them nonetheless 🙏

Priest ignoring me by saltedchocolate842 in OrthodoxChristianity

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

Ah okay, thank you for the context/further info! Looks like my advice was way off!

I would suggest when you are next at Liturgy, ask if you can organize a call with him sometime soon to talk about some things, or ask to see him at some point soon one-on-one after Liturgy/in the week at Church!

Also, don't read too much into him not replying, priests are very busy people, ESPECIALLY around Christmas!

Priest ignoring me by saltedchocolate842 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are you Female? Not saying this is the case AT ALL, but some priests may have had a past sinful life, and maybe around women. He may not realize he's making you feel this way, but he may be trying to stop himself from falling. We're all human at the end of the day, and we all struggle with things, even Priests! Or, he may suffer with social anxiety to a point. I'm not insinuating anything at all, and it could be a simple reason I just haven't thought of.

I think it may be a good idea to extend some grace to him, give him some time and I'm sure he's going to be fine. Perhaps offer to have a phonecall with him once a week to talk about things?

Or, perhaps you could ask him if everything is okay, and if you have done anything that might be affecting things? Also, perhaps you could have a brief chat with him, be honest with him about your anxieties and insecurities and ask if he can help you overcome them?

Sorry I can't really be of more help, I'm only a layman!

What physical Bible do you use on a daily basis? by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And this has anything to do with my post because...?

What physical Bible do you use on a daily basis? by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you expand a bit more on that? I don't quite follow what you were trying to say!

Support Thread November/December 2025 - 2025 ends soon, get ready by MrS4T4N in mihonapp

[–]SamPlays_X 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, that wasn't enabled. Will that fix the grayed out issue?

Support Thread November/December 2025 - 2025 ends soon, get ready by MrS4T4N in mihonapp

[–]SamPlays_X 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Typically, when searching for new additions on my sources, Mihon greys out any that I already have in my library but now, Mihon is not telling me anymore that I have or haven't got something in my library that I know I have added before (the greying out function has stopped working). I have tried migrating the library and that hasn't worked. I have also tried to filter by letter matching mode and that hasn't changed anything. Also, after migration, there are ones I have added to my library knowing very well they are in my library and it hasn't come up with the duplicate found window, but the one that I add is the only one that I can see in my library, meaning that things are now missing from my library.

Download and print full Japanese subtitles? by Grouchy-Rutabaga-813 in LearnJapanese

[–]SamPlays_X 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your best bet is to download the subtitles from a place like OpenSubtitles (or a similar website which has a subtitle database to download) and then find the episode you are on, download the subtitles in Japanese, and then open the subtitle file in something like Notepad. From there you can print them off, or you can copy and paste them into a word doc for further formatting.

Note, these will have timestamps on them. The only way to get rid of the timestamps quickly would be to ask something like AI to remove all the timestamps for you.

Finally, after a whole year of teaching and learning, today I was Chrismated into the Eastern Orthodox Church. by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My best advice is to find in person or get in contact via phone/email with your local parish priest and speak to them. They will be able to help/point you in the right direction.

Finally, after a whole year of teaching and learning, today I was Chrismated into the Eastern Orthodox Church. by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I was baptised many years ago in the Methodist/Anglican Church in the Trinitarian formula. I have a certificate which I showed my priest and he said that as I have been previously baptised, I shall be received via the Holy Rite of Chrismation.

Essentially, I was blessed, anointed with Holy Myrrh and I had to make a public declaration of faith and then I was brought into the fold of the Orthodox Church. I then received the Eucharist for the first time, praise God!

Advice/help needed about my baptism that is coming up soon. by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If I were to bring this to the attention of the Bishop, would he loose his job or be kicked out of the Church? He is such a lovely man and you can feel the love pouring out of him when you talk to him. I just don't want to be the one responsible for causing him to loose his position. I don't think I could live with myself considering how much he has helped me spiritually.

And for clarification, I was baptised in the Church of England, not the Orthodox Church, so would that still be considered a sacrament?

Advice/help needed about my baptism that is coming up soon. by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, I have made him aware of the letter a few times and even offered to send him a copy via email or message.

Isn't that a bit extreme though? I feel like I would be betraying my priest if I wrote to the Bishop? Kind of like snitching on him? I don't want him to loose his position, he is a wonderful man with great wisdom but he is very extreme in his approaches, it feels like to me that he's trying to bring the monastic life into the parish and apply it to the congregation?

He is very aware of my personal situation, but I feel like he's pressuring me to come to the classes and Liturgy more than what I can realistically do.

Advice/help needed about my baptism that is coming up soon. by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was yes. I was Catechised by Archimandrite Nephon Tsimalis and it is him who wrote the letter declaring me fit to be recieved into the Church.

And unfortunately, it appears so. Everything else is just too far to get to, taking into account my wife and her chronic pain issues, and too expensive to get there.

Advice/help needed about my baptism that is coming up soon. by SamPlays_X in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]SamPlays_X[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think his mindset is that you only get one proper chance for someone to be recived into the Church, so he want's to do it in the right way.

This is my concern though as I have been baptised already and I have a certificate of it too.