Please, welcome the converts!

[andrewlya]

Dear brothers and sisters,

I've started this topic as I'd like to meet the Orthodox Christian converts.

Whether you are only thinking of converting or have already converted, please sate what religion you were before , if you were of any religion at all, and where you are from i.e. a nationality or a country.

I'd just like to know what religion people to convert from and what countries you are in, I am really interested in knowing about the Orthodox converts and reasons/how you found your way to Orthodoxy.

If you are a convert, please make yourself known here:)
Thank you and be blessed by our Father in Christ!

[choy]

Roman Catholic --> Ukrainian Catholic --> Orthodoxy
Philippines --> Canada

[andrewlya]

Roman Catholic --> Ukrainian Catholic --> Orthodoxy
Philippines --> Canada

Thank you and  if you could tell the reason why you have converted as well, it would be great thanks:)

[Shiny]

Roman Catholic --> Ukrainian Catholic --> Orthodoxy
Philippines --> Canada

Ah you are filipino.

[choy]

Roman Catholic --> Ukrainian Catholic --> Orthodoxy
Philippines --> Canada

Ah you are filipino.

Ethnically, yes.

[dzheremi]

Roman Catholic --> Coptic Orthodox
United States

I grew up with a lot of RC influences (my dad's side of the family is from Mexico, Ireland, etc., so they're all Catholic, though I don't think any of them are practicing anymore), so it seemed like a natural fit for a while. But I increasingly became dissatisfied with it as a mode of being Christian. It just seemed really shallow in the way that it was rooted in medieval philosophers and lots of speculation and the rambling verbiage of smart people. I wanted something simpler, more "organic", for lack of a better way to put it. I had seen glimpses of that in the RCC in Mexico and other places, but it seemed like real faith, as opposed to intellectual assent to a set of principles (often not regarding Christ, but the proper governance of the church and other such things), was increasingly hard to find. So when I eventually found some sermons by HH Pope Shenouda III that were really easy to follow, direct, and powerful, I knew I had to know more. I felt that this was the faith I wanted but didn't have. I found a copy of the Agpeya, fell in love with it, started reading the Desert Fathers, etc. It really changed my whole outlook. So now about three years after my introduction to Coptic Orthodoxy, here I am.

[Joseph Hazen]

Protestant --> Roman Catholic --> Orthodox
American/United States (of German/French/English heritage)

As a protestant I found out about the Tradition which completed the Bible, and as a Roman Catholic I found out about the history of The Church which disagreed with Roman Catholic doctrines, to make a long story short.

[lovesupreme]

Orthodox (Jew) --> (Christian)
Privileged American white boy

[mersch]

Catholic/Baptist>believer but God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit couldn't be contained in a man made religion (agnostic and stupid 18-23 year old anyone?    )Lutheran by marriage > Christian/non-denom stops > fed up > maybe Catholics weren't so far off base-what do they really  believe?  > Kalistos Ware's book literally falling off the shelf at the kcmo library with Scott Hahn's book in my hand >  lots and lots of questions > here I am a few years down the road! .

100 % American pie (some of dis, some of dat, sprinkle of this, splash of that, pinch of this,  and a few good spalters of who knows what else -just like all the 90 % of the mutts, LOL!

[Shiny]

Orthodox (Jew) --> (Christian)
Privileged American white boy

Judging by the avatar, good taste in music I hope.

[Justin Kissel]

Welcome!

[lovesupreme]

Orthodox (Jew) --> (Christian)
Privileged American white boy

Judging by the avatar, good taste in music I hope.

Of course. Any privileged white boy worth his grain in salt listens to jazz.

[Cyrillic]

None -> Orthodox Christianity
Dutch/The Netherlands

I hope to start the catechumenate in September. That's when I'm moving out.

[Alpo]

None

Atheism? Agnosticism?

[Cyrillic]

None

Atheism? Agnosticism?

Atheism.

[jmbejdl]

Raised Lutheran/Anglican (not many Lutheran churches in the UK) fell out with Protestantism as a teenager and wandered through various religions, most notably a two year stint practising Karma Kagyu Buddhism.
I've lived most of my life in the UK, but ethnically I'm a bit of a mongrel, predominantly German/Czech, though.

James

[Alpo]

I've lived most of my life in the UK, but ethnically I'm a bit of a mongrel, predominantly German/Czech, though.

The strange world of Orthodoxy. I've assumed you're a Romanian living in Romania.

[jmbejdl]

I've lived most of my life in the UK, but ethnically I'm a bit of a mongrel, predominantly German/Czech, though.

The strange world of Orthodoxy. I've assumed you're a Romanian living in Romania.

No, I speak Romanian, I married a Romanian and I love Romania, but I'm certainly not Romanian ethnically. In fact a history of empire, two world wars and communism have conspired to scatter my family across Europe from Slovakia to France and, in the case of my small branch, the UK. If anyone asks me where I'm from the short answer is always that I'm a European. I don't think that I actually have a mother country and don't really understand patriotism at all... but I think that's a good thing.

James

[Ansgar]

Orthodox (Jew) --> (Christian)
Privileged American white boy

Judging by the avatar, good taste in music I hope.

Of course. Any privileged white boy worth his grain in salt listens to jazz.

Ain't it the truth! Ain't it the truth!

[Justin Kissel]

People still play jazz?   

[Cyrillic]

Orthodox (Jew) --> (Christian)
Privileged American white boy

Judging by the avatar, good taste in music I hope.

Of course. Any privileged white boy worth his grain in salt listens to jazz.

Ain't it the truth! Ain't it the truth!

No.

[soderquj]

Mormon -> Orthodox

Could not make it work for me IAW with Biblical readings. Met and married an Orthodox women and found the truth.

[Alpo]

Orthodox (Jew) --> (Christian)
Privileged American white boy

Judging by the avatar, good taste in music I hope.

Of course. Any privileged white boy worth his grain in salt listens to jazz.

Ain't it the truth! Ain't it the truth!

No.

Barbarian!

[LenInSebastopol]

Cradle R.C. to agnostic to wild life to atheist (youthful indiscretion) to Protestant for 30 years to OCA, all in Northern California. I knew I should have been dead long before this and as a catechumen I realize I was.

[Iconodule]

To simplify things, I went sort of like this...

apathetic-> atheist -> militant atheist (anarchist-communist) -> Buddhist -> Orthodox Christian

I'm a Chinese-Irish American.

[jmbejdl]

To simplify things, I went sort of like this...

apathetic-> atheist -> militant atheist (anarchist-communist) -> Buddhist -> Orthodox Christian

I'm a Chinese-Irish American.

What bizarrely parallel lives we lead! Different starting points but everything from anarchist-communist (while at university I was heavily involved with the Anarchist-Communist Federation here) onward looks pretty much like my background. I wonder if many journeys to Orthodoxy involve both Kropotkin and Marpa?

James

[Martyr Eugenia]

Dear brothers and sisters,

I've started this topic as I'd like to meet the Orthodox Christian converts.

Whether you are only thinking of converting or have already converted, please sate what religion you were before , if you were of any religion at all, and where you are from i.e. a nationality or a country.

I'd just like to know what religion people to convert from and what countries you are in, I am really interested in knowing about the Orthodox converts and reasons/how you found your way to Orthodoxy.

If you are a convert, please make yourself known here:)
Thank you and be blessed by our Father in Christ!

roman catholic-southern baptist-pentecostal-unchurched-non denomination-home church-cult church gone mainstream(but not really)-presbyterian-lutheran-orthodox inquirer-orthodox catechumen(?) Live in the US, ancestors have Spanish roots.

How I found my way? Twice baptized, Bible believing Christian led by the Holy Spirit seeking 'the'(?) church, may have found it. If not still will be a Bible believing unchurched Christian.

[IoanC]

I was actually baptized as an infant, but due to the fact that I did not really practice till later in life I consider myself a convert in many ways. Or maybe I'd be a revert. I don't know because my spiritual journey has been a sinuous one and as much as one would think that they are in control of their lives they aren't. I did a lot of "right" things, but then I did a lot of "wrong" thins. I have been consequent, and then again, not so much. Then a lot of the things turned out not the way I expected (but better and way different). So, it's best to leave it all up to God.

A typical tendency is to think that Orthodoxy is "the correct" way that will save you from Hell and get you to Heaven. But I have learned that it is much more than that: it is human nature, our beautiful relationship with our loving God and each other, and a very humble approach to life. Orthodoxy is love and humility. It is being grateful to God and praising Him, and leaving yourself and your merits behind. In other words, I did not become Orthodox, but God made me Orthodox and I pray He will keep me this way.

[Cognomen]

Probably something like this:

Undefined something-->Not much of anything-->Undefined something-->Undefined monotheist-->Reverent monotheist-->Orthodox Christian.

[TheMathematician]

I went, RC-> almost seminarian RC-> inquiring orthodox-> orthodox catechumen -> Brief spell in Lutheranism-> Orthodox

And, I'm a Slavic American

[mike]

I went, RC-> almost seminarian RC-> inquiring orthodox-> orthodox catechumen -> Brief spell in Lutheranism-> Orthodox

And, I'm a Slavic American

Slavic what?

[mabsoota]

I hope to start the catechumenate in September. That's when I'm moving out.

  
congratulations.

also, welcome to the forums, len in sebastopol.
 
how is sebastopol today?
a bit cold, i imagine...

[Iconodule]

To simplify things, I went sort of like this...

apathetic-> atheist -> militant atheist (anarchist-communist) -> Buddhist -> Orthodox Christian

I'm a Chinese-Irish American.

What bizarrely parallel lives we lead! Different starting points but everything from anarchist-communist (while at university I was heavily involved with the Anarchist-Communist Federation here) onward looks pretty much like my background. I wonder if many journeys to Orthodoxy involve both Kropotkin and Marpa?

James

Ha! Yeah, I was also in the local anarcho-communist federation (NEFAC, now goes by the very dull name "Common Struggle.") Life is strange. 

[Pan Michał]

Was raised Roman Catholic.

Poland.

I'd like to keep to myself the hows and whys of my "conversion", though.

[biro]

Raised Roman Catholic. Decided to see an Orthodox Church from the inside. That was three years ago.

Been through a lot, but last week I wrote a letter to the priest, asking if I could become a catechumen. Here's hoping.

[Margarita]

I wrote a letter to the priest, asking if I could become a catechumen. Here's hoping.

 Here's hoping with you  

[Martyr Eugenia]

Raised Roman Catholic. Decided to see an Orthodox Church from the inside. That was three years ago.

Been through a lot, but last week I wrote a letter to the priest, asking if I could become a catechumen. Here's hoping.

Is that the prescribed way of contact? A letter asking to become a catechumen?

[biro]

I am not aware of any particular ways that are approved or not. It's a busy parish, and I just thought a letter would be a little bit more easy to see and remember than a phone message or something like that. I am trying to, let's say, repair my faith life, and this is one step in that.

[biro]

I wrote a letter to the priest, asking if I could become a catechumen. Here's hoping.

 Here's hoping with you  

Thank you.

[choy]

Raised Roman Catholic. Decided to see an Orthodox Church from the inside. That was three years ago.

Been through a lot, but last week I wrote a letter to the priest, asking if I could become a catechumen. Here's hoping.

That's nice.  Very formal.  I just walked up to my priest after Liturgy and told him we're ready, next Sunday we were made catechumens.

[SolEX01]

I am not aware of any particular ways that are approved or not. It's a busy parish, and I just thought a letter would be a little bit more easy to see and remember than a phone message or something like that. I am trying to, let's say, repair my faith life, and this is one step in that.

Best wishes on your journey.   

[dzheremi]

Cradle R.C. to agnostic to wild life to atheist (youthful indiscretion) to Protestant for 30 years to OCA, all in Northern California. I knew I should have been dead long before this and as a catechumen I realize I was.

Hey, another Sonoma County person! Greetings, Len!

[Maximum Bob]

Evangelical > Charismatic > "more than an inquirer less than a catechumen"  depending what my wife says at the end of Lent.

Raised Roman Catholic. Decided to see an Orthodox Church from the inside. That was three years ago.

Been through a lot, but last week I wrote a letter to the priest, asking if I could become a catechumen. Here's hoping.

That's nice.  Very formal.  I just walked up to my priest after Liturgy and told him we're ready, next Sunday we were made catechumens.

Interesting, I came in indicating I wanted to convert, after most of a year of attending Inquirer's class and involving ourselves in our church our Priest asked us, now just waiting on my wife.

USA of mostly Swedish heritage along with some German and a British mix, although my kids are Chinese.

Coming this way because I understand the sarcasm in this.

[choy]

Interesting, I came in indicating I wanted to convert, after most of a year of attending Inquirer's class and involving ourselves in our church our Priest asked us, now just waiting on my wife.

USA of mostly Swedish heritage along with some German and a British mix, although my kids are Chinese.

Coming this way because I understand the sarcasm in this.

I forgot to mention that I have already been in discussion with my priest for about 9 months at the time.  Also I am coming from Eastern Catholicism, and my priest recognizes that I'm pretty close to Orthodoxy.  He does recommend me books to read.  I don't attend catechism because my wife does and I'm left to watch the kids during that time.

[Cyrillic]

I hope to start the catechumenate in September. That's when I'm moving out.

  
congratulations.

Thank you 

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