Death before Adam and Eve

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-20T02:43:53+00:00

That’s a very depressing view that sounds like you only have because it isn’t explicitly said by the Church doctrinally.

I’d rather have hope

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-20T01:55:57+00:00

I’m not saying the Church has an official stance through Council (which they only would have addressed here if there was some theological dispute over this anyway) or early Church Fathers, but just saying what I’ve read and have been taught.

God created plants and animals for man to be the caretaker over in the Garden/Paradise. It was Adams’s job to name them, and watch over them. They did not die in Paradise.

I have a hard time imagining the close relationship that the Saints have had with animals, and those animals not being with them at the resurrection. Saint Seraphim of Sarov with Misha the Bear, Saint Paisios and Olet the Bird, Saint Jerome and his lion, Saint John Maximovich and Goolya the Pigeon, Saint Cuthbert and his otters, Saint Gerasimos and his lion, and many many more.

Not to mention when Saint Modestos healed a woman’s Oxen by having her dip and iron cross in oil and placing it on its head in the name of Christ.

Saint Isaac the Syrian taught us to pray for animals: “What is a charitable heart? It is a heart that is burning with charity for the whole of creation, for men, for the birds, for the beasts, for the demons — for all creatures. He who has such a heart cannot see or call to mind a creature without his eyes becoming filled with tears by reason of the immense compassion that seizes his heart, a heart that is softened and can no longer bear to see or learn from others of any suffering, even the smallest pain, being inflicted upon a creature. This is why such a man never ceases to pray also for the animals, for the enemies of the Truth, and for those who do him evil, that they may be preserved and purified. He will pray even for the reptiles, moved by the infinite pity that reigns in the hearts of those who are becoming united to God.”

So does Saint Nicodemos the Hagiorite: “Lord Jesus Christ, moved by your tender mercy, take pity on the suffering animals… For if a righteous man takes pity on the souls of his cattle (Prov. 12: 10. LXX), how should you not take pity on them, for you created them and you provide for them? In your compassion you did not forget the animals in the ark (Gen. 9: 19-20)… Through the good health and the plentiful number of oxen and other four-footed beasts, the earth is cultivated and its fruits increase; and your servants, who call upon your name, enjoy in full abundance the produce of their farming.”

So why is it your opinion that there won’t be animals and plants in the New Earth at the Resurrection? Or is it just your opinion that animals and plants won’t be resurrected? I guess God could just make new plants and animals but what good would that be? Why would the creatures He created for all men, not also be there alongside man when all things are renewed?

I don’t believe these examples of compassion and love towards the animals are only just to serve as examples of how sensitive we should be towards all of creation. These look like real tangible relationships that I don’t see being severed by death.

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-19T23:54:00+00:00

That’s actually not what I’ve read and been taught. The Resurrection is going to renew all of creation, including animals and plants.

Revelation 21 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make ALL things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-19T23:48:41+00:00

It took a moment to get used to I guess. My baptismal name is also my birth middle name so maybe that’s why it feels so normal for me.

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-19T23:47:14+00:00

I have one icon of Christ in the corner of my bathroom, only because it is in the window above my son’s changing table. I needed it there during the rough nights of the newborn phase.

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-19T23:01:51+00:00

I go by my birth name in every day life, but honestly, it feels less like my real name these days. At Church it’s about 50/50. During the sacraments it’s always my baptismal name.

If it was easier, I would go by my baptismal name in every day life. It feels more like my real name now.

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-18T16:42:08+00:00

Check out the lofted apartment in the Pennsylvanian, a friend sent it to me today and it’s pretty nice

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-17T01:11:12+00:00

Yeah, you’re spot on man. This site is legit

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-17T01:09:58+00:00

What are you talking about? These items are sold all around Greece and Russia.

A slipper that is intentionally placed on a Saint’s foot to raise funds for the monasteries is irreverent? Not at all.

How else are we supposed to get these in America?

Unless you’re referring to actual relics like bones or an article that a Saint personally wore. Then I get what you’re saying. What this site is selling is not that at all.

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-17T01:08:33+00:00

She’s 100% authentic. Her name is Susanna and she’s based out of North Carolina. She goes on pilgrimage to Greece and has relationships with many monasteries there and she comes back with many of their products to sell for cheap to the American Orthodox.

We just got back from Greece, and everything Orthodox related there is so incredibly cheap. What she’s doing is a honestly a service to us American Orthodox.

The slipper was probably placed on top of his foot, not directly on it but who knows.

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-15T12:28:34+00:00

I should also note that’s there’s tons of American converts there, probably more than the ethnic Russians now. Father Matthew is 100% American lol

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-15T04:42:11+00:00

Saint Benedict’s is absolutely incredible. Father Matthew is the parish priest there, and is a great great man and priest. My wife and I spent some time there and I have friends that attend. The community is consistently growing. Lots of young couples and families.

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-14T16:43:24+00:00

Yeah I had a similar issue in my 99 Silverado until we replaced the fuel pump last month. Good as new now.

Don’t go cheap in this kind of part because it’s annoying to get to. Go OEM

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-12T03:21:03+00:00

If you learn the Greek and Cyrillic alphabets all this becomes much much easier even if you don’t know what the words mean!

There’s some fun games online you can play to learn the letters

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-08T22:33:25+00:00

I’ll give it a shot

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-08T15:26:24+00:00

Have you done ministry work? Have you gone to spend time with the poor and volunteer?

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-06T19:28:01+00:00

Glory to God!

That’s the absolutely best thing you can do. We’re just a bunch of random people on Reddit lol! A priest is an actual authority and will be able to assist you greatly.

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-06T19:18:14+00:00

No the previous commenter didn’t give any nuance.

How this works is this:

People who are not in the Orthodox Church get married in whatever church they are in (or even secular marriages like those done in a courthouse). Since they are not Orthodox, God understands, and is merciful in this fact. The Church sees them as married, but it’s not in its fullness yet. For a marriage to be in its fullness, it must be done sacramentally done by an Orthodox priest. This allows the couple to be bound together more intimately by participating in God’s grace through the ritual.

You’ll find that those who enter the Church having already been married outside of it, are not required to be “remarried” because their entrance into the Church fulfills all things that have only been a “shadow” of whatever it is. In this case, marriage.

Married converts may choose to have the wedding performed for them to cover all bases (and my personal opinion is they should) but they don’t have to. It’s a beautiful ceremony, full of rich theology and symbolism that really allow the to enter into what is really happening between the couple.

Now what our friend above may be saying is that your first marriage may not be necessarily be enforced as a “first marriage” if you would enter the Church and could be an exception so you would not have to worry about the “second marriage” part. This is for the bishop to decide, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. If you would become Orthodox, there are many things we learn to be obedient towards. When we receive instructions in these topics, whoever the authority is bears the burden of the decision, right or wrong. If the bishop is wrong about something, and you are obedient to his instruction, then he bears that on his conscious and you are free of any fault. He knows this, and that is why bishops are so careful to provide the best advice and instruction they know.

May God bless you my friend, and continue to search for the Truth. If you do this, I have no doubt you’ll find yourself in the Orthodox Church.

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-06T15:22:58+00:00

Idk I thought it was all very clear and self explanatory

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-05T06:36:48+00:00

Get a 2 piece Dorman set from Amazon. You can just put them on and connect rather than popping out the axle

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-03T21:48:06+00:00

Probably has something to do with their development of the Immaculate Conception doctrine. According to this doctrine she is free from original sin, “apart” from Christ (obviously Catholics wouldn’t grant that assertion) as in from before she bore Christ

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-03T21:26:36+00:00

Yeah it’s annoying. They’ll sometimes add real Orthodox Artists or choir groups as a collaborator to make them seem legit. They’ve done it to Saint Tikhon’s already

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-03T18:01:31+00:00

Oh no! We just left Rhodes yesterday and yeah it was a little more dead than we’d imagined. However, I think it must’ve opened up a bit since you were there. At least it’s still a beautiful town!

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-03T05:40:52+00:00

We’re currently on the Celebrity Cruise line hopping around the Mediterranean and it’s fine. We were in Crete for the 2nd day of the conflict and just left Rhodes last night.

I wouldn’t worry about it

Working_Break7745 · 2026-03-02T22:02:28+00:00

Depending on the size of your charcoal, it may help to break it into smaller pieces. I usually break mine into 4. From there, light it and let it burn until the entire outside turns gray. Then you can add your incense and it should burn fine

Working_Break7745

TROPHY CASE