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Alveus Lacuna
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« on: August 20, 2010, 11:16:21 AM » |
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It's hard to believe I am saying this as I thought it was still a couple of years away, but I am set to be baptized, chrismated and communed on the upcoming feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God (Old Calendar) on next Saturday, August 28 (Gregorian).
For those who have been praying for my family situation I regret to say that I will be doing this alone, so it is bittersweet, but ultimately it has become apparent that this is the right thing to do.
So pray for me as I struggle to prepare with fasting and keeping my regular prayer rule. I am not a disciplined person, and so this will truly be difficult for me. Also, I have already felt an immediate demonic assault on me. There has been a flood of doubts and also a lot of sentimental feelings for my Protestant and Roman Catholic pasts that I am officially putting an end to, even though I know that both are being fulfilled. I'm sure many of these feelings are normal and not necessarily attacks, but I know something is happening because rather than joy, I am not just a bit nervous but suddenly terrified. All at the same time, I am so excited and in awe that I will finally taste His Body and Blood.
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« Last Edit: August 20, 2010, 11:18:08 AM by Alveus Lacuna »
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Iconodule
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« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2010, 11:25:26 AM » |
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May God protect you and guide you, and may the Mother of God and the Saints keep watch over you.
The time around when I was baptized was also full of assaults, temptations, and difficulties, but God will preserve you.
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"A Poet a Painter a Musician an Architect: the Man Or Woman who is not one of these is not a Christian." - William Blake
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ICXCNIKA
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« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2010, 11:29:20 AM » |
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Good for you. May the Lord dispel all your doubts and assist you in your preparation. I will pray for you.
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LizaSymonenko
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« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2010, 12:18:10 PM » |
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Wonderful news! Hang in there!
Lord, have mercy!
When the Priest leads you three times around the font; and you hear “As many of you as have been baptised into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia” (Galatians 3:27), know that the angels in Heaven are singing! At this moment the angels in heaven are expressing their joy that a new soul is registered in the Book of Life. Tradition states that at this moment God assigns a guardian angel to stay with the newly-baptised person until the end of their earthly life.
Each time I was a godmother (x4) this is the moment I would "lose" it and begin to cry.
You will be fine! We are all praying for you. Be strong!
Lord, have mercy! Many Years!
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Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.
—St. Isaac of Syria
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EofK
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« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2010, 01:04:27 PM » |
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Lord, have mercy and many years to you!
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Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -- Douglas Adams
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stashko
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« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2010, 01:13:05 PM » |
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Congratulation,The Lord grant You Many Years , on the upcoming Holy Baptisim,Im a Kum [God father ]for four Serbian Americans that converted, to the true Faith Of Holy Orthodoxy from protestantisim.......... Axios ,Worthy, Dostojan..........Mazoltoff..........  |
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« Last Edit: August 20, 2010, 01:21:13 PM by stashko »
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 ГОСПОДЕ ГОСПОДЕ ,ПОГЛЕДАЈ СА НЕБА ,ДОЂИ И ПОСЕТИ ТВОЈ ВИНОГРАД ТВОЈА ДЕСНИЦА ПОСАДИЛА АМИН АМИН. |
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Michał Kalina
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OC.net's trickster
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« Reply #6 on: August 20, 2010, 02:13:59 PM » |
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Many years!
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formerly known as mikeDespite being a Polish citizen I am not a Pole.  Long live Belarus! "It's my constitutional right!" |
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FormerReformer
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« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2010, 02:31:12 PM » |
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Many years!
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"Funny," said Lancelot, "how the people who can't pray say that prayers are not answered, however much the people who can pray say they are." TH White Oh, no: I've succumbed to Hyperdoxy! |
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Heorhij
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« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2010, 06:04:32 PM » |
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Great news! Many Years!
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Love never fails.
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SolEX01
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« Reply #9 on: August 20, 2010, 10:10:23 PM » |
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Lord have Mercy.
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Ionnis
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« Reply #10 on: August 20, 2010, 10:38:03 PM » |
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Many years!
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“Till we can become divine, we must be content to be human, lest in our hurry for change we sink to something lower.” -Anthony Trollope
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Gebre Menfes Kidus
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« Reply #11 on: August 21, 2010, 05:49:31 AM » |
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Glory to God! This is blessed news.
I remember being extremely nervous immediately before I was baptized. All of a sudden I felt a wave of doubts and fears. I questioned my motives, I felt so unworthy, I was afraid that I was actually so full of sin that I might actually sabotage my own baptism. I started worrying that I might have a panic attack right in the middle of everything. So, I had all these crazy thoughts swirling in my mind right before the service began. But then I realized the beautiful Truth that this is exactly why I needed to be baptized: I am full of sin, I am attacked by satan, I do struggle with anxiety, doubt, and depression. Therefore Christ came into the world to deliver me from sin and death and give me new life in Him; and the regenerative waters of baptism are provided for all who simply wish to come unto Christ and receive His grace and strength.
Remember that it is precisely because we are unworthy that we need the waters of baptism and the subsequent Sacraments of the Church. In my humble opinion, your doubts and fears are evidence of humility and sincerity. You recognize the sanctity and awe of the spiritual transformation you are about to undergo. God knows your heart my brother. He knows your desire to enter into His true Church and your sincere desire to lead your family in the true Faith. It is all in His hands and in His control. Sometimes that doesn't help us feel better, but it is nevertheless and truth upon which we should constantly meditate.
I will pray for you, and I rejoice with you my friend.
Selam
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"Salvation is free, but not easy. It is completely dependent upon the grace of God, and yet we must work it out with fear and trembling. It is given to all, but only a few find it. We are saved only by His Cross, and yet not without taking up our own." +GMK+
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Alpo
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« Reply #12 on: August 21, 2010, 06:14:21 AM » |
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Lord, have mercy!
Welcome home! As for the sentimental feelings, I felt the same before chrismation but as the time has passed they've faded away.
May your guardian angel protect you!
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Just a little reminder: this forum is not called OrthodoxChristianityUSA.net   |
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kansas city
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« Reply #13 on: August 21, 2010, 12:17:35 PM » |
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Lord have mercy! This is really good news
We are praying for you. And we will definitely be back for this!
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augustin717
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« Reply #14 on: August 21, 2010, 01:09:06 PM » |
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Congratulations.
May God help you.
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Rosehip
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« Reply #15 on: August 21, 2010, 01:33:42 PM » |
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Many years, Alveus! I'm so glad to hear this, but I am very sympathetic towards your family and other situations which you shared. It's not always so easy...May you be granted much grace!
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+ Our dear sister Martha (Rosehip) passed away on Dec 20, 2010. May her memory be eternal! +
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PeterTheAleut
The Right Blowhard Peter the Furtive of Yetts O'Muckhart
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« Reply #16 on: August 22, 2010, 08:41:17 PM » |
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Lord, have mercy!
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Alveus Lacuna
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« Reply #17 on: August 28, 2010, 07:55:05 PM » |
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I am an Orthodox Christian.
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Gebre Menfes Kidus
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« Reply #18 on: August 28, 2010, 10:09:04 PM » |
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I am an Orthodox Christian.
 Glory to God!!! Selam |
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« Last Edit: August 28, 2010, 10:09:29 PM by Gebre Menfes Kidus »
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"Salvation is free, but not easy. It is completely dependent upon the grace of God, and yet we must work it out with fear and trembling. It is given to all, but only a few find it. We are saved only by His Cross, and yet not without taking up our own." +GMK+
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SolEX01
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« Reply #19 on: August 28, 2010, 11:57:03 PM » |
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Glory to God!!
Many Years to the newly illumined!!
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LizaSymonenko
Христос Воскрес!!! Christ is Risen!!!
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« Reply #21 on: August 29, 2010, 06:03:40 AM » |
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Glory be to God! Welcome home! Many, many, happy years!
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Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.
—St. Isaac of Syria
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Iconodule
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« Reply #22 on: August 29, 2010, 12:17:10 PM » |
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Welcome home, and many years! Thank God that you are now fully engrafted into the body of Christ.
As an aside, I believe the Church allows catechumens to call themselves Christians, so I'd say you were an Orthodox Christian before your baptism.
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"A Poet a Painter a Musician an Architect: the Man Or Woman who is not one of these is not a Christian." - William Blake
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Alveus Lacuna
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« Reply #23 on: August 29, 2010, 03:08:59 PM » |
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Was it the whole immersion Baptisim like you wanted it or no... Full triple immersion, and I made sure that I got all of the way underwater every time! As an aside, I believe the Church allows catechumens to call themselves Christians, so I'd say you were an Orthodox Christian before your baptism. I was simply never comfortable referring to myself as Orthodox when not participating the sacramental life of the Church. |
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« Last Edit: August 29, 2010, 03:10:48 PM by Alveus Lacuna »
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Rosehip
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« Reply #24 on: August 29, 2010, 03:31:52 PM » |
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Many Years, Alveus! Now begins the struggle...
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+ Our dear sister Martha (Rosehip) passed away on Dec 20, 2010. May her memory be eternal! +
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stashko
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« Reply #25 on: August 29, 2010, 03:42:44 PM » |
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Was it the whole immersion Baptisim like you wanted it or no... Full triple immersion, and I made sure that I got all of the way underwater every time! As an aside, I believe the Church allows catechumens to call themselves Christians, so I'd say you were an Orthodox Christian before your baptism. I was simply never comfortable referring to myself as Orthodox when not participating the sacramental life of the Church. Great News ....Axios, Dostojan ,Worthy.........Mnogaja Ljeta................Many Summers................. |
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ГОСПОДЕ ГОСПОДЕ ,ПОГЛЕДАЈ СА НЕБА ,ДОЂИ И ПОСЕТИ ТВОЈ ВИНОГРАД ТВОЈА ДЕСНИЦА ПОСАДИЛА АМИН АМИН. |
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Ionnis
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« Reply #26 on: August 29, 2010, 06:36:12 PM » |
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Congrats! Many years!
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“Till we can become divine, we must be content to be human, lest in our hurry for change we sink to something lower.” -Anthony Trollope
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PeterTheAleut
The Right Blowhard Peter the Furtive of Yetts O'Muckhart
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« Reply #27 on: August 31, 2010, 02:42:56 PM » |
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Welcome home, Alveus, and may God grant you many years!
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EofK
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« Reply #28 on: September 01, 2010, 09:25:18 AM » |
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Many years!
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Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -- Douglas Adams
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CoptoGeek
of Alexandria, the Christ-loving City
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« Reply #29 on: September 01, 2010, 12:26:35 PM » |
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Congratulations and many years!!
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"Be oppressed, rather than the oppressor. Be gentle, rather than zealous. Lay hold of goodness, rather than justice." -St. Isaac of of Nineveh
"Men never do evil so cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction" -Pascal
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