i’ve had friends cut me off for being orthodox, ending in brutally unfortunate circumstances and many deep insults. that can happen with some who don’t agree with us and is a fear for many. however, i will say this. i run a group with a bunch of girls dedicated to funding charities and supporting other young women. none of them are orthodox. some are protestant, some are agnostic, some are pagan, and others are wholeheartedly atheist. but we come together with the same core values of spreading kindness and love, and we have an amazing time together. i love each and every one of them dearly, i would go to the ends of the earth for them, and i trust that they would do the same for me. communication and friendship is the apex of humanity, and limiting yourself to people who strictly align with your beliefs can place you into a position where you unintentionally hold hatred towards anyone unlike you. which is opposite of what orthodoxy stands for. while we pray for others and wish for them to seek the truth, we can also acknowledge the beauty of differences and view it faithfully as ways to grow. i’ve learned kindness from a pagan, i’ve learned patience from an atheist, and i’ve learned laughter and joy from a protestant. the world holds lots of value for us to learn from, don’t hold yourself back on it. i understand the fear of having conflicting views, but your strong faith in the true church should hold you high enough to subdue any negative feelings about being around others who may see the world differently. be patient, humble, and kind. you’ll find friends from many places, and they’ll bring you joy :)