I Have No Orthodox Church Near Me + a Modest Proposal (Pencils & Prayer Ropes)

A lot of prospective converts want to join the Orthodox Church, but having no church community close presents a challenge, as well as no access to the Holy Mysteries (that is, Sacraments). In this video we share some of our thoughts on what you can do to make your Orthodoxy alive until you factually become a member of the Body of Christ.

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00:00 Introduction
00:27 A Problem for Orthodoxy
01:59 Do Not Worry
02:19 Holy Mysteries
03:03 Satan and Worry
03:41 Orthodox Communities
04:28 Living Orthodoxy
04:44 Livestreams
05:10 Pitfalls
05:41 A Modest Proposal

Music: "Mer-Ka-Ba" by Jesse Gallagher
Narration: Miloš Đekić, Reader Bojan Teodosijević
Illustration: Reader Bojan Teodosijević

[BibleIllustrated]

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[avanticurecanti]

Biggest woe to converts: there are no singles in your area, there never were singles in your area, singles are an urban legend.

[roberthegwood]

When I first encountered Orthodoxy, I lived on an island in the middle of the Pacific. The nearest accessible Orthodox Church to me was 1600 miles away by air. It took years writing to bishops and priests around the world for counsel. Eventually I was put in touch with a priest who received a blessing to catechize me by mail and internet. In total in took three years before I was invited to fly up and be baptized. For several years, I could afford to go to church once a year, and I got all I could then. Eventually I moved back to the states, and the nearest Orthodox Church was only 100 miles away. I went every week for ten or more years. Then a mission opened in my hometown only 25 minutes away. God is good, and He is faithful. For those still at a distance, be patient God will make a way for you in due season.

[lounaannajung]

It's unbelievable how this video has been uploaded now when I needed it most.
I'm a 25 year old ex-Muslim from Algeria who recognized Christ about 8 months ago.
The closest Orthodox parish to me is 5 hours away across the borders to Tunisia. And I suspect there's one in the capital Algiers but I couldn't find anyway to contact the parish to confirm with them.

I know no Algerian Christian around here, let alone Orthodox Christians. I've received conflicting advice about streaming Liturgy and started feeling more and more in exile. And with the extent of my sinfulness that I'm only starting to recognize, I felt more and more helpless.
Thank you for the encouragement, re-centering and refocus.
May God grant me to join you brothers and sisters into His Body and Life soon ❤☦

[christophersnedeker]

I have been struggling with mental illness and when I attended a Coptic Orthodox church the voices in my head went silent when the priest flicked holy water on my face I'm hoping to join the Coptic Orthodox soon. Pray for me friends.

[TheFreekg]

I'm so blessed. I became interested in Orthodoxy online and looked for a local one, only to find it was 10 minutes from my house (I used to drive by it and I had no idea what it was). The people there were super welcoming and helpful on my journey and I was baptized last week. I pray for anyone who is less lucky than I, but take heart and have faith, the lord will provide.

[joshuadilley]

When I discovered Orthodoxy I lived two hours away from the closest Orthodox Church. I got a few icons, a prayer book, and a psalter. I began daily prayers and learned as much as I could online and by reading Orthodox books. I did as much as I could in my situation. After doing this for a couple years, my whole life was uprooted and turned upside down. When the turmoil was over, I ended up in a different city far away from everyone and everything I had ever known. Now I live 15 minutes from an Orthodox Church and I am attending catechism there. The Lord will make a way.

[roberthegwood]

That was my situation. I lived on an island in the North Pacific and want to convert in 1995, but the nearest accessible parish was 1600 miles away by air, in Tokyo. I asked bishops and priests all around the world by both snail mail and the new email for help converting. I was eventually directed to an Orthodox missionary society in South Africa who gave me the contact information for an English speaking priest in Japan. He got permission from his bishop for long distance catechesis…which was very thorough and lasted over a year…but in May of 1998 I was invited to go to Tokyo to be received in zHoly baptism. For the next several years I could only afford to go to church once a year for a few days. But they were days in heaven for me. When I moved back to the states the nearest Orthodox Church was 100 miles away. I went every week for over 10 years. Now there is a parish in my home town, about 25 minutes from me. Not having a nearby parish is an inconvenience to adapt to. Not becoming Orthodox because the distances are difficult is not a good reason. Angels used to bring communion to certain of the desert fathers who lived very isolated lives. Such struggles are for our salvation. Let us embrace them. God is faithful and will make a way.

[saltandlight]

Yes i wanted to join Eastern Orthodox church in 2018 but I didn't know that there was a Greek Orthodox church in my country until 2023 when i met my friend who converted. Now I'm a catechumen

[tateoien]

I really appreciated this video. I'm a catechumen due to be baptized in a few weeks, but I've been unable to attend Divine Liturgy because my boss won't give me Sundays off and I don't have the time or money to try and file an unfair labor practice claim. I'm leaving soon for a better job, and I knew the arrangement was always temporary, but I don't think I fully appreciated how lost I would feel without regularly attending divine liturgy. It forced me to confront my lackluster prayer life, my mediocre commitment to reading scripture, and actively think about how I'm living my life as a Christian. I'm ashamed to say I don't think I responded correctly and with haste, but I'm trying my best to correct that now. And videos like this are a really great way for people in a similar situation to think about how to be an Orthodox Christian.

[brotherbrovet]

My wife and I in the middle of America have always needed to drive 1+hrs each way. We relocated and it's the same here now in our new home. We're the only two Orthodox Christians in our County...for now.

[jcatalan]

Went today for the very first time to Orthodox Church I was so nervous and sweating I didn’t know what to do when to pray when to sit or stand I was raised evangelical so everything was so new to me but aside from feeling a bit embarrassed and nervous I really felt happy to be there. I felt like a part of me that was missing for many years was coming back to me I was very devoted to god as a kid but when I came to the US I felt disconnected from evangelical churches and eventually stopped believing I haven’t prayed or been to a church in almost 8 years so you can imagine how fast my heart was beating today going back to god on Christmas Eve

[goatsandroses]

Thank you for this! I think many Orthodox in Orthodox countries can't imagine that millions of people have never heard of Orthodoxy (or don't understand it even if they know the word) and have never even seen an Orthodox priest or church. (Then, sadly, some Orthodoxy consign all non-Orthodox to Hell for not believing in a faith the non-Ortho has never heard of and which may not even be available.) My closest church, here in Texas, USA, is a little over an hour away, and I count myself lucky. Still, for those with transportation problems, physical problems & sicknesses, etc, we simply need more churches/chapels and more priests. I think the harvest is ready; there just needs to be workers who have the ability to explain Orthodoxy in a way that Protestants and other non-Orthodox can understand. (It really IS a huge paradigm-shift.)

[zialamable]

I thank God for this video. Hello, I’m an Anglican/ Protestant from Hong Kong and just started to learn about Orthodox Christianity a few months ago. And I feel so blessed, it’s like finding gems and treasures all the way. There are quite limited resources about Orthodoxy in HK, and my Protestant friends could not understand/ share my excitement in learning about Orthodoxy, so I’m grateful for all the internet access and I could purchase some related books online. Pray that I will meet some Orthodox Christians (online or in real person) and join the community soon. God bless!

[jubal-lunsul]

as a convert baptized and anointed, my biggest woe is the one mentioned, total distance from my parish of origin. aside from that, it’s a regional unfamiliarity with what Orthodoxy really is. fortunately, a lot of people are coming to know and understand us, and Christian life is becoming more and more open and understood in my town :D

[loverlei]

I would strongly suggest Ancient Faith Radio. It's available as a cell phone app for free and it's absolutely a life saver to shutins, hermits and the displaced.
May God Grant you MANY YEARS! 🥰

[saint-cyrmagdalene]

Thank you so much for this video. I'm a South African teen who's getting confirmed soon at my Anglican school, however on my journey of faith, I've found the Orthodox Church and would love to join but are no Churches near and nobody knows what Orthodoxy is. Whenever I mention it people are confused because they've never heard of it. I was starting to feel a bit hopeless but this video helped remind me of what's truly important!

[BozO]

I finally made the 70 mile drive to a liturgy a few sundays back for the 1st time and it was wonderful. I planned on going back every other Sunday, which now has turned into a once in every 3 months voyage. I try to have the mindset of that Turkish martyr that pilgrimaged all the way to Greece to be Baptized in secret and hope for a more orthodox future.

[thereccereport]

Thanks for this video. 3 years ago I began studying Orthodoxy and strongly desired to convert. Im in rural Ohio. It took my two years to find a parish. The parish I go to is a forty five minute drive from me. I think there needs to be more parishes in rural areas.
In America and the West the vast majority of Orthodox parishes are located in cities with populations over 100, 000. Leaving the bulk of the countryside without a parish. I think increasing availability of parishes in rural areas would help potential converts significantly.

[theherbalsanctuary]

This was a wonderful and comforting video. I love the suggested prayers...Lord in due time....Thank you. I keep telling The Lord...Lord in my heart I am Orthodox please know this.