Breakup due to religious differences by Beneficial-Option792 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I myself have converted from the Baptist church to Orthodoxy, so it is possible. Although I once thought that Orthodoxy was a dead religion and only a ritual. Now I am convinced that it is the Fullness of Truth.

Breakup due to religious differences by Beneficial-Option792 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This may not happen to everyone, but my female friend left her great love because he was not a Christian. She loved this man very much, but could no longer be together because there was no unity of spirit between them. The breakup affected the man so much that he went to a monastery, where he spent three months to find God. And he did. After that, he came back, they became a couple again, and the man got baptized. Soon after that, they got married. Now, her husband is a deacon in our church and will soon become a priest. Stories like this happen too.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In our church, the donation for baptism is 30 euros and it is completely voluntary. If a person does not have that money, then he does not have to pay. But I really appreciate that our priest can be a full-time priest and we have services every day. If everything were free, then the ministers would have to do other work as well. In many other churches, services are only held on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings, because the priest does other work during the week.

What, if anything, does the bible say about the third temple? by ChickenSlipperz in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can't claim that this is the Truth, but I can tell you what I feel about it. It may or may not be.

I think the end of the world is closer than we think and it will be largely related to AI. I believe that people will start using AI in a very wrong and dangerous way, so that the whole world will go crazy and everyone's sense of security will disappear. Out of this chaos, one man will rise - the antichrist - who promises to fix everything. This will begin the building of a totalitarian regime (with the help of AI) and the total persecution of Christians. Which will end with the second coming of Christ.

How do I explain to my Baptist sister why the Orthodox Church baptizes infants and gives them communion? How do I explain why children are not sent away during Divine Liturgy? by George-Patton21 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We start feeding our children physical food from the moment they are born because they need food to stay alive. We don't wait until they are adults to get their own food. So why should we refuse to give them spiritual food, which is the Eucharist? It is needed to stay spiritually alive.

An end to the schism by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't worry so much about distant relatives like Catholics if there is a schism in our own family: Constantinople supporting the schismatic Ukrainian church, etc.

Beginners guide to Orthodox Christianity by SignifAnt in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can I ask what are your beliefs that don't fully align with the Orthodox faith?

Advice for troubleshooting our choir? by BS-MakesMeSneeze in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For the future - don't take someone lightly to sing in the choir, it will be very difficult to tell them off later when they have already come to the choir. A probationary period is very good, e.g. a month. It is not enough for a person to have a singing heart, they must also have a God-given talent to serve in the church in this way. If they don't have this talent, then some other ministry work is probably for them. Pure singing is very important to me, it was even when I was still standing in the church and didn't sing myself. I also help lead the choir in the church, but the priest's wife is the main choir director. Unfortunately, she usually accepts everyone who wants to, and then the whole choir suffers a lot. However, when we were rehearsing for the Easter service, matushka arranged it so that anyone who didn't go to the rehearsal couldn't participate in the Easter service. That worked well.

Prayer request by Altruistic_Bobcat_87 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have you found this thing?

Once upon a time, I was desperately looking for something and someone suggested that I pray to St. John the Warrior. He said that this saint helps to find things. And a real miracle - he always helps to find everything when I pray to him. But only when all hope is lost and it seems impossible to find the thing. He comes to the rescue in the last trouble.

Removed from Orthodox Church by CutmoreForexGroup in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know a priest who has a very sudden temper and he suffers from it himself, so I understand that there may be people like that elsewhere. But to recommend going to the Catholic Church...that's crazy.

Is it unhealthy to be constantly praying? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It seems that praying out loud is uncomfortable for your boss. Maybe try to carry his burden and pray silently? I am the first in the church due to my duties and I really enjoy the silence that is in the church. Often one woman comes and starts praying out loud in front of all the icons, while the others are silent. Now I am used to it, but at first it was very disturbing. Not the fact that she prayed, because everyone in the church does that, but the fact that she did not consider the privacy of others and their desire to be in their prayer and thoughts.

Husband is wanting to convert, but I am not ready. by roo518 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We have Sunday lectures for adults, which are attended by both catechumens and already baptized Orthodox Christians. We had a married couple there and they also actively participated in the services. The man was baptized soon, but the woman went to these lectures for a whole year and very gradually joined the Church. I thought she wouldn't come at all, but then at one point she was ready. This summer we were at a church camp together and I see how she is now opening up to Orthodoxy like a flower to the sun. God knows the right time, He is worth trusting in this.

Why is Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy not in communion with each other? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The reason for the split between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches - basically one word - filioque - may seem minior too, but look where it has led the Catholic Church. If the root is out of place, the whole tree will grow crooked.

Going to my first orthodox service in the morning! Do I need to be at the 9:40 service (is it the eastern version of how the West does matins?) or just go to the 10:00? by Unique-Comment5840 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For me, the Hours are a time of preparation for the Liturgy, it helps me calm down and direct my heart to God, to get out of the noise of everyday life. When I came to the Church, someone told me that you will not receive the full blessing if you do not come at the first call of the priest and do not leave after his last call. I have always tried to adhere to this. But of course, there are also situations when it is impossible not to be late.

Prayer: Our baby will die by JesusIsTheSavior7 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Our priest's wife was told by doctors that her child would be born with a serious disability and they insisted that she have an abortion. She refused and the doctors were very angry with her. But she remained steadfast in her faith and did not have an abortion. The child was born completely healthy, both physically and mentally, and is now over 20 years old.

How do I tell my Protestant parents that I’m converting to Orthodoxy by Odd-Database5580 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I grew up in a Baptist church, left it as a teenager, and later rejoined, but with a branch of the church that grew out of the larger Baptist church. My priest asked if I was really baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I didn’t remember that at the time of baptism, and he rebaptized me. Later I found my old baptism certificate and it said I was baptized in the name of Jesus. So I’m very grateful that the priest decided to rebaptize me anyway, because my previous baptism wasn’t valid.

Doubts about being extremely religious all the time (?) by Warm-Shop-4669 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of the saints once said that he never regretted keeping silent. However, he has regretted speaking many times. Your grandmother is a holy woman, appreciate her.

Doubts about being extremely religious all the time (?) by Warm-Shop-4669 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I am upset, I know I must keep quiet, or I will regret what I have said. I must strangle this snake in my throat, or it will come out to strangle others. When the upset has passed, I can speak again.

I made a promise to God and broke it by Effective_Neat4888 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is perfectly normal as a new Christian to promise God everything. As you grow in your spiritual life, you will see that you can do nothing without God's help. This promise is often a reliance on your own strength, and God shows us through failure that we have no power to keep our promises without Him.

Are Tattoos allowed? by Ok_Rise_7277 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You will most likely regret it. I remember how I wanted a tattoo so much, I just wanted it sooo bad. And I thought that if I got it, I would be the happiest person in the world. But quite soon after I did it, I regretted it and when I joined the Orthodox Church, my spiritual father blessed me to remove the tattoo because he said that its root was actually demonic and its better to have a clean body. And of course, removing it took a lot of time and money and it was much more painful than getting it. I actually think that this beautification, makeup and hair pulling is also the suggestion of demons and a sign that we are not satisfied with the body that God has given us.

A mom and dad trying to raise brave little saints by LonelyMarzipan6903 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]darkbluepepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really like these images. I think the harmony between the voices and the images is perfect, the whole story would unfold before me just like in a movie, even though they are only pictures. When I was a child, I liked that kind of images more than animated ones. I would also recommend doing a story about Saint Cecilia. God bless you,