Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Marnie's avatar

I came to have an interest in Orthodox Christianity through a different path: I married a Greek whose parents are from the mountains of Northern Greece where virtually everyone is at least nominally an Orthodox Christian. My husband's extended family regularly vacations in Sithonia which is adjacent to Mount Athos.

Greeks tend to see priests is equals and know there are good and bad priests. They also know that there is corruption in some parts of the Orthodox Church. Still, the Orthodox Church is deeply embedded in Greek life and is, for the most part, a force for good.

I grew up in the United Church of Canada. This Church is a unification of Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists. I still occasionally attend this Church.

It has been interesting to see how the Orthodox Church views Protestant Churches. Largely, they view them as an illegitimate offshoot. I can perhaps understand this attitude about Methodism, but Presbyterianism (the Church of Scotland) is one of the oldest Protestant Churches. The inability of the Orthodox Church to acknowledge some of the legitimate reasons for the Reformation leaves me to feel that the Orthodox Church sometimes denies the political history of the Western of Europe. It seems a little insular and out of touch on this account.

Expand full comment
Christopher Whittington's avatar

I’m not sure of a better way to contact you, but I feel like I’d benefit from hearing more about your seminary experience/church experience. I recently applied to be an Antiochian seminarian after only a year of being Orthodox and with the advice of a few priests I know. It was turned down (disappointing, but probably for the better). I’m still in the process of working through it and my wife and I are now trying to figure out what’s next. Sounds like you’re coming from a similar religious background (non-denom/baptist) and if you’re up to it I’d love to talk more.

Expand full comment
22 more comments...

No posts