@RoninGrey Nice; the Second Edition is still pretty decent, and should work nicely.

@RoninGrey Should reiterate the caveat; Bp. Kallistos Ware is (was?) a top-notch scholar, but the real Orthodox Orthodoxy comes through the Saints, in their Lives.

I mention this because it’s easy to assume so scholarly a Bishop should be a reliable, authoritative source; but it doesn’t always pan out that way.

@LawrenceGerald @KingOfWhiteAmerica Are there recorded church services from different places I could watch, and do you guys have any tips for if I do that throughout February to prepare?

Like, are there things, groups, or Bishops I should avoid if I come across them because they are not accepted, despite their claims?

For example, Joel Osteen is a problem because of how popular he is but the average person isn't aware of how incorrect the average tv preacher is in speech and life.

@RoninGrey @LawrenceGerald Many parishes release livestreams of their Services, and I do recommend perusing them to Inquirers. We’ve just kicked off the pre-Lenten Triodion; you’ve got great timing because it’s precisely about preparation.

At this point, since you’re in early Inquiry, rather than naming specific names of living people, I’ll give a broad overview of the landscape. The current giant-scale issue facing the Church, is Ecumenism. Orthodoxy is under enormous pressure to broaden our Communion. Most Bishops cave, eventually. Those that do not, face persistent censure and ridicule from many monied sources. It’s easy for someone like me to say this, but I can hardly imagine what it must be like, to actually be in that position. So I’m sincerely not trying to be a dick - it just is what it is.

What to do about it ? Go in, eyes open to the reality, prayerfully, and trust the Almighty God already knows all this - and will reward your sincerity in ways I could never predict.

@RoninGrey @LawrenceGerald This era is rather a lot like how 1st Century Rome would have been in many ways; but without the bonus benefit of the novelty of the Gospel.

Have you heard the rumor the protestants are circulating.
That Orthodoxy is a Russian spy operation. There was a Senator from SC that claimed this. Ive even heard one of my protestant feminist female family members claim it trying to keep her of age son from looking into Orthodoxy.
That shit pisses me off.

@Captain80s @RoninGrey @LawrenceGerald What cracks me up about it is that it’s demonstrably nearly 2000 years old; those Ruskies must be time travellers playing a *real l…o…n…g” game

That same person left a protestant church because there was not enough "female" leadership. Which her son had enough and said ,that is enough I am done with this retardedness. Also claims Icons are idolatry but has a flag of the US and israel in her living room (star of renpham) how fucking gay.

@Captain80s @RoninGrey @LawrenceGerald Women belong neither in politics, nor clergy. While thoroughly disgusting, her actions aren’t terribly surprising.

@Captain80s @KingOfWhiteAmerica @RoninGrey I regret to inform you that the OCA, which began in the US as the Metropolia, was funded and aided by the KGB and whatever was its precursor as a countering force to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. ROCOR was made up of refugees who had sided with the Czar and were devout Orthodox fleeing persecution 100 years ago. I don't know a lot of detail but I do know that the Metropolia was a sort of rival Orthodox jurisdiction that was controlled from Moscow.

This all came out in the 60s. So there was at one time some truth to this rumor. Of course the caved-head boomers who obediently hate Russia as their masters have told them to know none of this.

@Captain80s @KingOfWhiteAmerica @RoninGrey I should hasten to add that the OCA is fine now. It has its problems but isn't some rooooskey plot.

I know there is some tension between the patriarchs over the Ukraine war and the Russian patriarch claiming its a holy war. So to say ROC is compromised may or may not be true but what about the rest of Orthodoxy that has nothing to do with Russia in the least is my claim when I hear this. Trying to lump all of Orthodoxy into one bowl is a violation of that types "not all are bad" philosophy. Which goes to show they are cherry pickers/hypocrites not interested in the actual truth.

@Captain80s @RoninGrey @KingOfWhiteAmerica yes and no ... there is only one Church. there are no denominations. the Ukrainian situation is very complex and has been going on for a long time and is partly religious and partly secular all fused together. but the Ukrainian Orthodox Christians who are attending Liturgies in the autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church are not separate from the rest of Mother Church. that church's hierarchy is in error, and this is a heartbreaking situation. but above all the Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. said cherrypickers won't get any farther than "Catholic" before freaking out. let them.

@LawrenceGerald @Captain80s @RoninGrey @KingOfWhiteAmerica > there is only one Church. there are no denominations

Exactly. As the Book of Common Prayer says, the blessed company of all faithful people.

> but above all the Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. said cherrypickers won't get any farther than "Catholic" before freaking out. let them

They don't know the definition of Catholic.

@LawrenceGerald @RoninGrey @Captain80s @KingOfWhiteAmerica

It confuses me, certainly. Would you like to explain?

@w0rm @RoninGrey @Captain80s @KingOfWhiteAmerica explain the term "Catholic"? or the Ukrainian situation? because I'm not qualified to do either, despite the fact that I'm currently popping off about it

@LawrenceGerald @RoninGrey @Captain80s @KingOfWhiteAmerica

The use of the term Catholic.

On the topic of the Church in Ukraine I've listened to a lot, but I have no qualifications to comment on it.

@w0rm @LawrenceGerald @RoninGrey @Captain80s @KingOfWhiteAmerica > The use of the term Catholic.

From https://www.websters1913.com/words/Catholic

Cath"o*lic, n.

1. A person who accepts the creeds which are received in common by all parts of the orthodox Christian church.

Cath"o*lic (kăth"?*ĭk), a. [L. catholicus, Gr. kaqoliko`s, universal, general; kata` down, wholly + "o`los whole, probably akin to E. solid: cf. F. catholique.]

1. Universal or general; as, the catholic faith.

@James_Dixon @w0rm @RoninGrey @Captain80s @KingOfWhiteAmerica you know I love you, James, but we do not in fact accept the same Creed, and haven't for 1,000 years. I will not hellthread in disagreement over anything to do with Mother Church so I'll probably have to tap out of this thread.

newports

@LawrenceGerald @w0rm @RoninGrey @Captain80s @KingOfWhiteAmerica > but we do not in fact accept the same Creed, and haven't for 1,000 years.

I'm not Roman Catholic, hon. Though my church derives from them rather than yours, it agrees with yours about Papal authority.

I have no problem with your version of the Nicene Creed and I don't ask that you accept the one I use.

I think the only significant difference is the filioque, and I'm at best ambivalent about it. The Scripture on the matter is inconclusive.

@James_Dixon @LawrenceGerald @w0rm @RoninGrey @Captain80s Well tbh, I’d be greatly impressed with the Anglican Communion if you represented the Rule, rather than the Exception. Not to imply my opinion really matters, of course 😅

@KingOfWhiteAmerica @LawrenceGerald @w0rm @RoninGrey @Captain80s > Well tbh, I’d be greatly impressed with the Anglican Communion if you represented the Rule, rather than the Exception.

What can I say, eventually everyone will realize I'm right about everything. 😜

@James_Dixon @LawrenceGerald @w0rm @RoninGrey @Captain80s That escalated quickly

@w0rm @RoninGrey @Captain80s @KingOfWhiteAmerica @Kalogerosstilitis2RevengeoftheJunta can weigh in on the Greek language part but as I understand it, "catholic (little "l"), catholikos" means universal, throughout the whole world. when the Roman Church broke away they put it in their name like it was some kind of trademark, and now people think it means the Church of Rome. protestants are still flailing at the Roman church and they like to nitpick over single words while studiously missing the point

@LawrenceGerald @w0rm @RoninGrey @Captain80s @KingOfWhiteAmerica Not necessarily the whole world. Just, the whole. Complete,that's the meaning.

@LawrenceGerald @w0rm @RoninGrey @Captain80s @Kalogerosstilitis2RevengeoftheJunta

Catholic = “universal”

To this sense must be added the sense of completeness. Imo, probably the closest English idiom to “Catholic” is “the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth”.

@LawrenceGerald @w0rm @RoninGrey @Captain80s @Kalogerosstilitis2RevengeoftheJunta Truth be told, a very very great deal of insight is to be gained by learning where a Communion stands, in relation to “Catholic”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTSruhryIEA This chant was taped at a Ukrainian Monistary that was bombed out. This is so moving it makes me tear up every time I see or hear it.

@Captain80s @w0rm @RoninGrey @LawrenceGerald That comments section is 🔥

It is.

@RoninGrey @KingOfWhiteAmerica heresy is a serious issue, but don't worry about it when you go to worship the King of Kings. at some point you have to trust that God is bigger and smarter than you are. you don't have to know everything.

if you've done any reading, you may have found that not all Orthodox jurisdictions are in communion with each other. there are some groups that have splintered out further than some others, just as you have Jehovah's Witnesses and the Latter Day Saints. in the US, you will be safe with the patriarchates of Antioch, Greece, Russia (ROCOR), Romania, Bulgaria, and the OCA. I might be leaving a few out but these are the big ones with the most parishes

and this is just me talking but you don't have to do as much to prepare as you might think. Orthodoxy will blow your mind so completely in ways you didn't even know you had ways. just be open and trust the Lord. if you're taking your family, have the women dress modestly which means no bare shoulders, cleavage, or short skirts. no shorts, crummy/tight jeans, or graphic prints of secular things. head covering for women is required in some parishes but is really a matter of personal piety and not something to get torqued about.