My
common response to those that ask me where I go to church is that I belong to
an Eastern Orthodox church that’s part of the Catholic Church. Its just a quick
response to what sometimes would be a long conversation. I understand that this
might not be acceptable to some but its an easy way to describe my tradition.
On the other hand, is it far from the truth?
My
church came into communion with the Roman church as an Orthodox church. For
those that oppose this description I would like to know what does it mean to be
an Eastern Orthodox Christian? Is it the prayers? The fasts? The theology? Is
it a staunch ecclesiological philosophy that
opposes Rome? The reason why I ask is because the grass always seems greener on
the other side of the fence.
I
have seen people convert out of my church to the Orthodox church and I have
been personally told that I need to convert. I want to know what is needed to
convert to? I don’t understand? I don’t live any differently than what’s traditionally
practiced at other Orthodox churches. In addition, my church (Ruthenian) was
started by the Apostles to the Slavs, Sts. Cyril and Methodius. My church never
broke off from another church when it entered into communion with Rome and I don’t
think there was ever any intention to sever ties with Constantinople.
My
church’s union was a product of the times, a political move, but one that
ensured that our spiritual traditions stayed intact. Just as we did 500yrs ago
we recite the same creed and celebrate the same liturgy that was given to us
from Constantinople. So, what is it that I should leave behind? How will
converting change me. Sure, I won’t have to put up with Latinizing Catholics that
portray the pope as our roman task master. The truth be told these people rarely
exist at the parish level. Even
historically, when latinizers tried to have their way in our churches there was
always a resistance.
Most
people in our parishes are just concerned with how they can follow the teaching
of Jesus Christ, as I am. Is there something better to gain in that regard? If
there is, I would gladly convert. On the other hand, as I see it I am an Orthodox
Christian that’s in communion with Rome. I am living faithfully the Constantinopolitan
tradition. No one can take that from me. As the Melkite Patriarch Gregorios III
once proclaimed, “We are an Orthodox church with the little or big plus of
communion with Rome”. I believe the same thing about my church.
I
don’t believe the grass is greener on the other side. This kind of thinking in
my opinion is diabolical and needs to end. It gives you the sense you will get
something, but in reality you get nothing. Its a false hope that replaces what’s
really needed, which is surrendering ones whole life to Christ. So, don’t expect me
to convert anytime soon. I have found Jesus Christ in my church, in the people,
and in our traditions. There is no other place Id rather be.
I as a former Orthodox know exactly what you need to convert to-
ReplyDeleteThe Orthodox “Phronema.” The ethos, the mindset, the way of Orthodoxy is not eastern Catholic. Eastern Catholicism has produced very few saints you could call hesychasts, but many martyrs. Perhaps St Charbel is an exception.
But read the life of Elder Joseph the Heaychast or St John Maximovitch and find the eastern Catholic analog.
Frankly, it does not exist. And it is for this reason you get Roman Catholics converting- the savor of Orthodoxy and its ethos simply cannot be fully experienced in communion with Rome.
What you need to determine- is it worth it?
I would not be so quick to judge if I were you. I wonder how many parishioners at the local Eastern Orthodox church know what the word “Phronema” is or even the word Hesychasm. The reality is these terms mostly exist among internet folk and rarely at the parish level. Last time I had a conversation about Hesychasm with a Greek Orthodox monk he was clueless and told me I needed to go to Mt. Athos. The truth is, as Metropolitan Hierotheos once said, the message “has been lost in our time”. You might not be willing to accept this but the Phronema, the mind of the fathers, is in what St. Seraphim would call the "simplicity of the original Christian knowledge". Its learning to acquire the Holy Spirit, not in mastery of Athonite spiritualty and terminology.
DeleteDaniel, your comments beg the question of why you identify as "a former Orthodox?" Why would you suggest someone convert to something you left behind?
DeleteDaniel, you identify yourself as a "former Orthodox" yet you assert what others ought to convert to within Orthodoxy. As such, the advice you give is less than persuasive because you have apparently rejected it yourself.
DeleteAn implied assumption that Daniel is making is that Eastern Orthodox spirituality is primarily Hesychast and that such spirituality is lacking in various Byzantine Catholic Churches. This is not true. First, there are practitioners of hesychast spirituality amongst Eastern catholic, and a former cantor if my Church, Brother Jason is a practitioner of this. Second, not all Eastern Catholic/orthodox spirituality is of the hesychast type. Amongst the Ukrainians, the heritage of the Great Monastery of Studion survives, with its pre-hesychastic heritage. We have the Orthodox Nuns of Elizabeth the New Martyr who have more in commons with the traditional Sisters of Mercy or Daughters of Charity, or little Sisters of the Poor in the West, than with traditional Orthodox nunneries. We have our Byzantine Carmelite Nuns.
ReplyDeleteSome are called to be hesychasts. God bless them. May they grow in love of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
James, this is unrelated -- other readers please forgive the non-germane topic -- but whenever I stumble randomly upon your name in a combox, I am always delightfully reminded of your writings years ago on Daria Sockey's blog about St John's Collegeville's preconciliar Short Breviary, which prompted me to buy a copy of the 1954 complete edition. I really appreciated that, even as I recently sold that copy to a nun somewhere in the Midwest.
DeleteI'd love to hear your story someday of how you discovered and embraced Byzantine Catholicism, which I have also found to be drawing me into its orbit for a few years now.
Pax,
Tom
I'm bothered that Noone brings up the fact that only one church, orthodox or catholic, is true not both.
ReplyDelete