Intro Thread for Orthodox Catechumens

I wanted to drop in and announce that today my family and I are officially Orthodox. After inquiring for a couple of years and becoming a catechumen for a year, my kids were baptized today. My first confession was the other day and it was like going to a soul doctor.

Confessing the ugly reality of myself was something that I was fighting over before confession. I was afraid the priest would stop me and say I couldn’t be Orthodox. I determined to confess truthfully and I was met with nothing but love and care. The priest had a mini “sermon” for me addressing what I was confessing—it was very much like going to get treatment. The Orthodox Church is truly a hospital for souls, and after Chrismation today, it felt like coming home after wandering through so many “teachings” over the years.

Upon leaving the church today, both of my priests gave me a big hug and I truly felt like a son to both of them. If this is but a small glimmer of the Kingdom, it truly is incredible, the love and grace of our King, Jesus Christ. I’m closer to middle aged, but in some sense, I feel like life is just getting started.

I just want to say thank you to everyone here for the insight and topics that have been a great help and resource over the last couple of years (from RVF to here). I am excited to continue on the path ahead. Wishing everyone an early Merry Christmas!
 
TheLoneReader said:
I wanted to drop in and announce that today my family and I are officially Orthodox. After inquiring for a couple of years and becoming a catechumen for a year, my kids were baptized today. My first confession was the other day and it was like going to a soul doctor.

Confessing the ugly reality of myself was something that I was fighting over before confession. I was afraid the priest would stop me and say I couldn’t be Orthodox. I determined to confess truthfully and I was met with nothing but love and care. The priest had a mini “sermon” for me addressing what I was confessing—it was very much like going to get treatment. The Orthodox Church is truly a hospital for souls, and after Chrismation today, it felt like coming home after wandering through so many “teachings” over the years.

Upon leaving the church today, both of my priests gave me a big hug and I truly felt like a son to both of them. If this is but a small glimmer of the Kingdom, it truly is incredible, the love and grace of our King, Jesus Christ. I’m closer to middle aged, but in some sense, I feel like life is just getting started.

I just want to say thank you to everyone here for the insight and topics that have been a great help and resource over the last couple of years (from RVF to here). I am excited to continue on the path ahead. Wishing everyone an early Merry Christmas!
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Congrats and may God grant you many years!
 
TheLoneReader said:
I wanted to drop in and announce that today my family and I are officially Orthodox. After inquiring for a couple of years and becoming a catechumen for a year, my kids were baptized today. My first confession was the other day and it was like going to a soul doctor.

Confessing the ugly reality of myself was something that I was fighting over before confession. I was afraid the priest would stop me and say I couldn’t be Orthodox. I determined to confess truthfully and I was met with nothing but love and care. The priest had a mini “sermon” for me addressing what I was confessing—it was very much like going to get treatment. The Orthodox Church is truly a hospital for souls, and after Chrismation today, it felt like coming home after wandering through so many “teachings” over the years.

Upon leaving the church today, both of my priests gave me a big hug and I truly felt like a son to both of them. If this is but a small glimmer of the Kingdom, it truly is incredible, the love and grace of our King, Jesus Christ. I’m closer to middle aged, but in some sense, I feel like life is just getting started.

I just want to say thank you to everyone here for the insight and topics that have been a great help and resource over the last couple of years (from RVF to here). I am excited to continue on the path ahead. Wishing everyone an early Merry Christmas!
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God bless and may Christ be with you!! Welcome to the brotherhood of God. Keep us updated of your journey.
 
Thank you! Our first communion in a Divine Liturgy was yesterday. We attend a fairly large parish (bursting at the seams now), and walking back to our seats we were met with hugs and many expressions of congratulations from people we know and people we hadn’t met. It truly felt like a coming home to a family.
 
TheLoneReader said:
Thank you! Our first communion in a Divine Liturgy was yesterday. We attend a fairly large parish (bursting at the seams now), and walking back to our seats we were met with hugs and many expressions of congratulations from people we know and people we hadn’t met. It truly felt like a coming home to a family.
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That is absolutely wonderful. If you don't mind me asking, which of the Orthodox Churches do you attend? (Greek, Russian, OCA, Antiochian, etc)
 
I am learning but starting from 0 besides the cultural propoganda ive realized that i did not and still have almost no idea what christianity and god is actually about so it will take time, not a catachumen but more so in the stage before that of orientation, should read more in the bible, listening to content made by orthodox priests, getting into praying ( on an amateur level ), ive found some orthodox communities and will go to lithurgy when i am able.

Seeing the new pope and the discussions people have on twitter raised some questions. How resistant to infiltration and corruption is the orthodox church ?. How does the orthodox church handle the JQ. What are the leaders of the orthodox church like compared to catholics.
 
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Because there is no pope or bishop with complete authority the Orthodox Church is much more resistant to corruption. Of course flawed and fallen humans will always mess things up here and there, but in Orthodoxy you need a council to make any major changes and so if one bishop gets carried away and starts doing heretical stuff, they can't impose that on any other churches and it is usually very obvious and addressable.

I'm not sure what you mean by "handling" the JQ but it correct to say that the Church is the true Israel, Christians are God's people, Jews are not and the nation-state of Israel is not the Israel of the Bible nor is it blessed by God. At any rate philosemitism is very rare among the Orthodox and every Orthodox I've met is very aware that the Jews killed Christ and do not have special dispensation from God to reject His Son.
 
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