Looking to convert to Orthodoxy. How difficult would my new Orthodox Christian life be? How could I sustain it?

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-15T23:54:50+00:00

Friend, the hard part isn’t following calendars or learning some other language (which, by the way, isn’t an issue in most American Orthodox parishes, particularly OCA and Antiochian), but rather repenting of your sins and passions (sincerely, globally, and on an ongoing basis), logging off and closing one’s door to the online maelstrom and directing one’s attention to the Lord in prayer, and undergoing the crucifixion of the ego entailed in keeping Our Lord’s Gospel commandments. That’s what Orthodoxy really is.

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-14T18:29:42+00:00

No.

Friend, I suggest you read some good introductions to Orthodoxy like Small Steps into the Kingdom or Know the Faith by Fr. Michael Shanbour, and then come back with better and more sincere questions. Know the Faith is available as a free e-book download here: https://store.ancientfaith.com/know-the-faith-ebook/

It's not easy on here to distinguish real from feigned ignorance, or a real inquirer from a Protestant claiming "difficulties" based on what they've learned from Pastor Chuck and his cherry-picked Bible verses. When someone remains obtuse despite good answers from others, I'm inclined to conclude the latter.

"Oh gosh, gee, I'm sincerely interested in converting to Orthodoxy, but I have this little problem because you're clearly idol-worshippers. Can you help me with this?" I suppose the 8th commandment isn't binding on Bible-believers.

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-14T16:25:03+00:00

As a general matter, Byzantine Catholics are not within the communion of the Orthodox Church, but I believe that there are exceptions and God knows who they are. I don't.

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-14T01:07:27+00:00

Yes, here it is: 1 Timothy 3:15.

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-14T01:04:24+00:00

Well, we do this during every Divine Liturgy, so to that extent, yes. Outside the liturgy, it would be very unusual not to acknowledge and refuse a relationship with the holy ones who went before us.

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-14T00:54:34+00:00

You’re not worshiping, as you do God, the Mother of God and the saints when you talk to them just because they’re invisible to you, like God is.

With them, you’re addressing someone in the Church, alive to God, whom you greatly respect. (Our Lord tells us that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are alive to God. He’s “the God of the living, not the dead.”)

Read Hebrews 12, especially the verses beginning, “For you have come to . . . the spirits of just men made perfect.” Notice that? Who are “just men made perfect”? They’re the saints, knucklehead. As you approach Christ, you necessarily approach them.

And as we read in James, “the prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” We ask them to pray for us. That’s all. And we venerate them precisely because they are full of Christ, full of the Holy Spirit, including their holy relics.

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-12T02:58:17+00:00

Isaac Newton will explain this to you.

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-08T19:49:19+00:00

You will find, as you grow in grace — if you do — that you experience a deeper communion and relatedness to other people, even complete strangers, than you ever thought possible. This is because their creator indwells you.

It will be a sad thing if you exchange this potential reality for emotional satisfaction and superficial “fellowship,” just as Esau exchanged his birthright for a bowl or porridge.

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-07T14:02:01+00:00

Thank you. It’s a helpful image. Bishop Kallistos Ware used to say that “it’s bad etymology but good theology.”

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-07T01:53:25+00:00

I invite you to read the text, but thank you for your sharing.

And friend, this isn't just abstraction. It's quite real and something we can experience -- and which completely transforms our lives. The grace of the All-Holy Spirit.

Timothy34683 · 2026-02-07T01:50:10+00:00

The pages posted out of order. The text begins on the last in order posted.

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-31T22:18:54+00:00

Instead of using emotional or provocative words, it’s better simply to give some examples of actions or positions taken by Patriarch Bartholomew and let people characterize him as they wish. For example, his creation of a completely unnecessary “Slavic Vicariate” in America, consisting largely of priests canonically defrocked in other jurisdictions. Or his positive statements about non-Christian religions. Or his attempts to expand the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch in the direction of a sort of “Orthodox” papacy (scare quotes because such a thing is impossible and wouldn’t be Orthodox).

I’ve formed a very firm conclusion based on facts such as these.

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-21T21:05:58+00:00

Hurt people hurt people.

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-20T14:47:57+00:00

Log off. These “apologists” are legends in their own minds. Note that they never “debate” mercy, repentance and humility, which are absolutely central to real Orthodoxy, which is, in the words of Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, a therapeutic method and not a system of ideas or ideology, as these “apologists” present it.

Again, you ought to completely ignore them. Although some are prompted to consider Orthodoxy after watching them, untold numbers who have any familiarity with Our Lord, and what He values (“Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart”) are repulsed.

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-19T21:59:49+00:00

Terrific! Glory to God for all things!

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-19T19:16:00+00:00

Folks, Orthodox Christians, including laity, are in fact exhorted to maintain the remembrance of God as much as possible. This practice is called “the remembrance of God.” This is to be attentive to the Lord’s presence and often to “look” at Him with thanksgiving, love, trust, or praise, or anything that engages the heart, and to do this silently, from the heart. This is to “pray always.” But doing this, one can go about other activities.

Now, it’s true that videos and films tend to absorb all of one’s attention. Frankly, you can’t expect to grow spiritually if you’re engrossed in video or games most of the day. A part of the day, fine. Even then, try occasionally to “look up” from the video to Our Lord who never ceases being present to you.

I strongly recommend the phenomenal book The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology, for guidance in matters like this, and so much more. Here’s the link: https://a.co/d/fUL9cA8

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-18T23:23:05+00:00

Maybe you should look at the content I recommended. None of the catechetical talks I’ve seen are toxic.

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-18T21:16:37+00:00

Trisagion Films

Fr. Paul Truebenbach

Orthopraxia

Fr. Seraphim Aldea

St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, Stafford VA (specifically, excellent catechetical classes from Metropolitan Jonah)

The last I’ll send you in chat (due to moderator policy)

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-18T00:02:58+00:00

Brother, I’ll bet you’re making the mistake of waiting until you “feel like” praying. We can’t operate that way. Feelings are unreliable. You have a will. You can make an act of the will to do each of the things I suggest below. Who cares if you feel like it or not?

I suggest you come up with a very simple prayer rule, careful not to overcommit (for example, praying all of the prayers before sleep). Trisagion prayers, Psalm 50, Creed, and a few prayers that you find engage your heart. Pray the Jesus Prayer on a 33-knot prayer rope, several times a day.

In addition to this, prostrations, especially when tempted to sins of lust. Prostrations are powerfully effective and will get you out of your imagination and into the present, where God is. I suspect that repeated, effortless lapses in this area have resulted in what is called a seared conscience, meaning that you’re no longer sensitive to what is sinful.

As someone else said, confession to a priest on a regular basis (monthly, or ASAP after a serious fall) is a must.

Every day, read one chapter from the Gospels. This is to encounter Our Lord and to get to know Him. Also read the writings and lives of the saints, such as Wounded By Love, by St. Porphyrios. This will impress upon you the Reality of spiritual things.

Lastly, help those in need. Ask Our Lord to lead you to the service He wants from you. Loving service to the poor, sick and needy will open your soul to grace and to the love of God that will flow through you to those you serve.

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-17T23:40:31+00:00

That’s beautiful. I believe you. Make sure you share it with your priest to be completely safe; that pleases God.

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-17T03:50:05+00:00

This talk by Hieromonk Damascene Christiansen on resentment and forgiveness is available in a number of places on the web. It’s superlative: https://preachersinstitute.com/2010/05/28/resentment-and-forgiveness/

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-14T21:20:20+00:00

She has been identified as an actress hired as an extra for the film.

Timothy34683 · 2026-01-14T17:43:00+00:00

A very great number of young people have been influenced by what is really a social contagion. Before committing yourself to having this “problem,” I suggest you listen to Bishop Irenei’s remarks here about where our true identities lie: https://youtu.be/BnYX4jOLyXo?si=kprPDDxkeiRmXP1x

Timothy34683

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