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Keyword(s): attending non Orthodox services |
Question:
I am considering conversion to Orthodoxy, the only local Church is a bit of a drive which I can only make every so often though I am transferring schools next semester and will be closer to Orthodox Churches and can attend more frequently. My question is if it is ok for me to attend a Pentecostal Church on wednesday nights? I am currently a Presbyterian, I worship with them on sunday but the Pentcostals on Wednesdays because they have a youth ministry whereas the Presbyterian Church really doesn't, the pastor approves. Can I still do this if I convert to Orthodoxy? The con is that if I cannot I will end up losing connection with many Christian friends seeing as I don't know anyone in my town who is Orthodox, I really don't believe there are any.
Date answered: 2/18/2012
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Keyword(s): dating |
Question:
Are there any rules or guidelines for an orthodox Christian dating (high school) a non-orthodox and even a non-christian?
Date answered: 2/12/2012
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Keyword(s): marriage after ordination |
Question:
Why can't orthodox marry after ordination? I was baptised in the Russian Orthodox church.
Date answered: 2/18/2012
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Keyword(s): Different forms of Orthodoxy |
Question:
Can a lady who is converting to Greek orthodoxy be baptized by a Serbian orthodox?
Date answered: 2/12/2012
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Keyword(s): patriarchs, ecclesiology |
Question:
My objection to Eastern Orthodoxy is not so much theological as it is practical. Since Eastern Orthodoxy no longer has an Emperor, how can they call a church council in which all the bishops are present? I see Orthodoxy as essentially be hobbled in terms of determining the Church's stance on new topics that have come up over the years such as human cloning. My question is this: how does the Orthodox Church formulate a response to a new theological problem that has arisen? How would the Church deal with a Patriarch who has fallen into heresy? If all Patriarchs are equal in authority, what justification would one Patriarch have over the other to excommunicate him? What if a majority of Patriarchs fell into heresy? Thank you for your help with this.
Date answered: 2/12/2012
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Keyword(s): valid absolution |
Question:
Does the Antiochian Orthodox Church accept Roman Catholic absolution as valid? Do RC priests have "grace" to give absolution? I am in the inquiry stage, speaking with a priest of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese. Thank you!!! This question is weighing quite heavily on me! Phillip
Date answered: 2/12/2012
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Keyword(s): Jesus is God, theos | divinity of Christ
Question:
If Jesus is God why is he refereed to as the Son of God? Is he one in the same? He is God but took human form ? Where can I find it in the Bible?
Date answered: 1/21/2012
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Keyword(s): adding water to holy water |
Question:
I am newly orthodox. Is it true I can add water to my holy water from theophany to make more?
Date answered: 1/21/2012
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Keyword(s): apostolic succession |
Question:
What is the difference between Orthodox and Catholic understandings of apostolic succession?
Date answered: 1/22/2012
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Keyword(s): pacifism, war, army |
Question:
What does the Orthodox Church teach about the use of violence? Does it teach pacifism/non-violence? Does it teach a just-war theory? Does it condemn the pacifist position?
Date answered: 1/21/2012
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Keyword(s): spiritual help |
Question:
Greetings! Christ is born! Glorify Him! I come to you guys from a spiritual desert. I converted and was baptized several years ago after a lengthy stint of historical studies on Christian history. I was at the time married to a Ukrainian girl who cheated on me for the 5 years of our marriage with multiple guys. We have a son together and I was devastated! After the divorce begin she confessed her sins glory be to God to our spiritual father at the time and he allowed her to commune as he felt the canons of the church were too harsh and it might push her away from the church with our son. I moved out of state for work and the churches would not give me sacraments due to my divorce. I felt lonely and alone. I turned and even begin to doubt the existence of a God who cared. I still very much do at times. I have turned to a life of depravity and am fearful of my outcome as I had an experience that I dare not go into to much detail where I had an actual out of body experience and was in a VERY bad place of mental anguish. My question is now that I have not been in communion with the church for more than a year and I'm terrified of my demise yet terrified that there is no caring God though I hope for one, I am unsure of what I must do to find peace. Please help! There seems to be no answers except that I am headed for Hell and maybe it's hopeless. My spiritual grandfather is St John Maximovitch. I still pray from time to time. I don't know if anyone is listening. May God have mercy on my soul!
Date answered: 1/11/2012
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Keyword(s): marriage with spiritual relative | marriage with God brother
Question:
Can you marry your God brother or is there a way to make it so you can?
Date answered: 1/10/2012
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Keyword(s): orthodox liturgy boring |
Question:
My son is seriously considering conversion to Orthodoxy. I have no objection, he is an adult, and should make his own choices. In fact, I agree with the teachings of the Church. But the practices are onerous, and the liturgy boring, and tedious. The music sounds like a dirge, and everyone seems to be singing their own melody. Is this normal?
Date answered: 1/10/2012
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Keyword(s): churching and baptism before 40 days |
Question:
What is the earliest a 40 day newborn blessing (sarantismos) can occur? Is there any circumstance where it can occur at (for example) 25 days after the child's birth instead of 40 days? We ask this because of my husband's work circumstances. Thank you.
Date answered: 1/10/2012
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Keyword(s): temporary tattoos | children
Question:
I understand that the Orthodox Church is against tattoos because it desecrates the body which is God's Temple but is it wrong for kids to have temporary tattoos or to have their face painted at county fairs?
Date answered: 1/10/2012
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Keyword(s): obedience to parents | parents discouraging church attendance
Question:
How should I, an Orthodox youth in his 20s, respond to a biological father who does not practice our faith very much and discourages me from doing so?
Date answered: 1/11/2012
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Keyword(s): elisha, the boys and the bear |
Question:
I am struggling to explain some of the Old Testament stories to my sons. Can you help me with just one for now? The story with Elisha calling the bears out of the woods to kill the children who mocked his baldness seems incredibly harsh (one of our boys is named Elisha after this saint). How can we make sense of this story?
Date answered: 1/11/2012
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Keyword(s): Name of God, Jehovah | Trinity
Question:
In the Holy Trinity, who is Jehovah, is it the Father or the Son or the Holy Spirit? Thanks
Date answered: 12/16/2011
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Keyword(s): 144,000 | 144000
Question:
Revelation 14:3-- Are there only 144 000 who will be saved? Can you please elaborate on the interpretation of passage.
Date answered: 12/16/2011
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Keyword(s): virginity | John of Kronstadt
Question:
As I understand it, the reason someone like St. John Kronstadt would desire a life of virginity is because sex is a fusion between two people, and so he wanted to maintain whole within himself and offer that to God. How accurate is that, and what other reasons would there be for celibacy (other than having less obligations as St. Paul says)?
Date answered: 12/8/2011
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