Warning for New Converts to Orthodox Christianity

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[RealDavidN]

I've heard "There is Orthodoxy on the Internet, but there is no such thing as Internet Orthodoxy".

[tbnrcreator.official]

All inquirers or catechumens etc remember this: Real Orthodoxy isn't edits or phonk or any of that sort of stuff you see online. It's not a label or an aesthetic. It's a way of life, a religion and a struggle. You only see that in person and not through a screen. ☦

[DiMacky]

New converts, I promise you, icons, prayerbooks, holywater flasks, saintly writings etc will all come to you from other parishioners over the years. Don't get anything for yourself, the chur h will provide and you in turn will provide for others. Focus on living in your parish and taking Orthodoxy day by day. It's an endurance race, not a sprint. I say this all as a young convert myself.

[wauliepalnuts]

2:07 "I've learned over time that just getting more things doesn't help my faith one bit."

Powerful statement.

[wv]

This priest has been smacking me in the face with wisdom lately.. thank you so much

[JoelFuhrmann]

I’ve been Orthodox for almost five years. When I was new in the Church, I did buy a lot of books, mostly aimed to new-comers, but fortunately have a spiritual father who put great emphasis on prayer and scripture reading. So I wrote a personal “mission statement” to remind me of my primary task, the first thing to do each day :
“Pray first - nothing else matters”
Do have to confess I’ve struggled with this at times - transitioning from a school-based work schedule to a lighter summer schedule gave lots of opportunity to sleep later and put off prayer, causing me to struggle with controlling thoughts and passions, but nevertheless that’s the goal
“Pray first - nothing else matters”

[jupiterrising]

New Convert: “I’m so excited to join Holy Orthodoxy, I’m going to learn everything I can!”
Fr. Paul Trubenbach: “And I took that personally.”

[ShadowbannedLyfe]

When I first went to visit my local Orthodox Church a month ago two things were made abundantly clear to me. That nothing in Orthodoxy is fast. And to not get stuck in internet Orthodoxy.

[jarrettmiller]

I spent the first 14-16 months of my conversion simply reading one source.
And those books helped change me in dramatic ways.
Those were the Spiritual Counsels of St. Paisios.
Some at our parish even started to joke (lovingly) about how often I would reference his writings during devotions groups / Bible studies.
But rather than try to read many different things, I chose to learn from one source with whom I deeply connected.

[seeker]

This is a perfect example of Orthodoxy wrapping you in enormous wisdom.
Be still, and know that God is God.
And while you are still, let the church surround you.

[πατριχορ]

The consumerism part is very important!

[Adam_Wilde]

‭1 Corinthians 8:1b

"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."

[laurahildebrand]

Yes, thankful that my godparents and friends from our parish warned of us this and gave us steps on how to avoid the consumerism. Take breaks, read books that build your faith, really focus on the prayers and learn your prayer rule, don’t have one, talk with your spiritual father. Write down questions and ask them, cultivate your nous in prayer, fasting and living in your parish. Books are great but living Orthodoxy is more important. Read the scriptures, slow down, and remember that icons aren’t an aesthetic or decorations, but windows into heaven.

[LCx]

As a born orthodox. Go to church, support your community. You don’t need books but the church needs support.

[hwahwa]

Maybe it's something like:
When a person sees a video he likes on YT, he puts it in his favorites, and then there are more and more things in his favorites, but in fact, he may not even finish watching a single video.
It is so easy to get information nowadays, but it is difficult to really quiet down your mind and focus on one thing.
Even in today's environment, such as the workplace, bosses hope that employees can do N kinds of things at the same time.
Focusing on just one thing is sometimes foolish in the eyes of others.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why it is common for people nowadays to suffer from anxiety and various mental problems.

[leslielousma]

I’ve been studying on my own for well over a year. I’m hoping there’s an Orthodox Church where we’re moving.

[RobertOrthodox]

As a catechumen in the Orthodox Church, my advice to my fellow brothers and sisters is to stick to the essentials; Attend liturgy, read, pray and fast. Don’t spend so much time on the internet going down the rabbit hole.

[jackieboib]

3:00 literally all you need to be a devout christian in my opinion. nothing wrong w/ reading the bible and going to church on Sundays obviously, but if your going to be a child of God being humble, repentant, and loving at all times is the work. God put in the work for us by sending Jesus down here to sacrifice himself for us, so we gotta put in the work for him, and THATS the work

[orthodox.nikolai]

About 2 weeks ago, I finally decided to attend the liturgy for the first time and I was in awe. For the first time I could actually feel God's presence.. But around the 1 hour mark my vision went completely black and I was losing control of my body, I would've fainted if it were not for some gentleman who led me out of the church and made me sit down on the pavement. Now I'm too ashamed to show myself there again- There are a few chairs so I could just sit, but seeing even the grandmas stand for the entire liturgy while I must be sitting down makes me so ashamed of myself.

[smokeyb]

I unfortunately don't have an Orthodox church nearby. But next year I hopefully will and I will finally get baptized.