Famous Orthodox Christians

[Hadel]

Hi All,

I got this idea of post from another thread....for your interest found on this site:

List famous of most religions and I checked the Orthodox Site of famous below...listed below.

http://www.adherents.com/adh_fam.html

Spencer Abraham and Darrell Issa of Arab Origins....fyi.

Tom Hanks - actor, movie star
Tina Fey - Saturday Night Live TV series writer and on-screen co-host of "Weekend Update" segment
Michael Dukakis - Massachusetts governor; unsuccessful Democratic nominee for President (1988)
Olympia Dukakis - Academy Award-winning actress
Cyril Lucaris / Cyril I - became Patriarch of Constantinople as Cyril I in 17th Century, first great leader of Church since since fall of Constantinople in 1453
Spencer Abraham - U.S. Secretary of Energy for Pres. George W. Bush
George Stephanopoulos - communication director for Pres. Clinton; news show host
Darrell Issa - U.S. Representative from California; wealthy businessman; personally financed 2003 recall election that ended Gov. Gray Davis's term early
George Tenet - CIA director from 1997 to 2004
Paul Weyrich - powerful conservative American activist; founder of the Heritage Foundation
Terry Mattingly - nationally prominent syndicated religion journalist

Rod Blagojevich - governor of Illinois
Paul Sarbanes - U.S. Senator from Maryland
Olympia Snowe - U.S. Senator from Maine
Michael Huffington - U.S. Representative from California
Melissa Bean - U.S. Representative from Illinois
Michael Bilirakis - U.S. Representative from Florida

[SetFree]

Here is another (from the Coptic Orthodox Church):

Boutros Boutros Ghali--Former UN Secretary General

How About:

Feodor Dostoyevsky--Renowned Russian Novelist

[sin_vladimirov]

I would most certainly add these Orthodox to that list:

Jesus of Nazareth
St. James
St. Peter
St. Andrew
St. John Theologian
St. Phillip
St. Thomas
St. Juda the brother of Jesus
St. Bartholomew
St. Matthew
St. Thaddeus
St. Simon
St. Mathias
St. Paul
St. Mark
St. Luke
and all the others..

[Jennifer]

I've seen Hadel's list before and it's kind of embarrassing.  Almost everyone is Greek or in the case of Tom Hanks, married to a Greek.  The Greek politicians are all pro-choice. 

I think it's kind of funny that every Orthodox person knows that Tom Hanks is Orthodox and that Prince Charles is supposedly Orthodox in secret.  I think that shows how few of us there are.  Roman Catholics and members of other huge religions don't talk things like this. 

[amnesiac99]

The Greek politicians are all pro-choice.

Even the Republican Greeks, like Olympia Snowe. And you're right, it is very embarrassing, especially when the Ecumenical Patriarch and other GOA hierarchs fawn all over pro-abortion politicians.

Here is another celebrity to add to the list: Kennedy, the former vee-jay from MTV, is Eastern Orthodox.

[ania]

Natalie Wood was Orthodox.  My mom remembers that when she was a kid in LA Natalie Wood would come to church pretty often.

Currently though, I would say that most of those political people are Orthodox in name only, and just use it as a being able to say "I'm ______-American, I'm not a WASP, vote for me." 

[Elisha]

Here is another celebrity to add to the list: Kennedy, the former vee-jay from MTV, is Eastern Orthodox.

I was not aware of that.  (Btw, was that a quote from some movie?)

[SetFree]

Who could forget the famous writer and NPR personality, Frederica Mathews-Green???

[dantxny]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

[Lemko Rusyn]

Paul Weyrich - powerful conservative American activist; founder of the Heritage Foundation

No, he is a Uniate (Melkite-Greek Roman Catholic) "deacon".

[Lemko Rusyn]

Michael Huffington - U.S. Representative from California

Really?  An admitted homosexual?

You can't be gay and Orthodox.  Or so I've heard.

[PhosZoe]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

If she is, it must not be that important to her otherwise her wedding would have been in a Greek Orthodox church.
http://www.allstarz.org/aniston/marrynews2.htm

" As the day approached, an army of workers descended on the 5-acre Malibu property which the couple rented for the occasion from Marcy Carsey, producer of Roseanne and The Cosby Show. Tents were erected, lanterns hung, linen laid on a canopied bridal walkway. Florists from La Premiere of Beverly Hills set tables with roses, wisteria and tulips and floated lotus flowers in a specially built slate fountain ("Brad," said one worker, "wanted the Zen garden look"). Candles made from brown sugar, imported from Thailand, helped illuminate the reception tent. "Jennifer wanted tons of candles," says an insider. "We made it very romantic."..."

Her family must not be too into being GREEK....
http://members.home.nl/rody.klaassen2/STUFF/facts.html

" Jennifer Aniston's (who plays Rachel) actual last name is Anastassakis but her family changed it to Aniston when they moved to the United States. If you watch TOW Chandler and Monica's Wedding, Rachel's actual last name is used for the Greek couple having their wedding in the episode."


My feeling is they probably became Episcopalian and did everything to be "American".

[dantxny]

Interesting, but from what you say and considering that family, I wouldn't be too suprised.  However, I'd presonaly put my bets that they followed the American way and became nothing.

[ania]

Quite honestly, about people changing their last names when they came to America...  I know quite a few people who have done it, Russians, Greeks, Poles...  During the Cold War it was definitely better for Russians to have "un-Russian" names in some cases. 
Greek names... well, I could think of several insulting ways to rearrange "Anastassakis."

I have a bunch of Greek friends (and currently a Greek roommate) who's names are very easy to twist around.  One of my brother's best friends gets called "Prophylactics" at school, and it's only 2 letters changed and 1 letter added.  Kids can be cruel and some people would rather their kids not be teased. 

So, in defense of Jennifer Aniston's parents... perhaps they were doing what they thought best for their kid(s).

[eleni]

I would most certainly add these Orthodox to that list:

Jesus of Nazareth
St. James
St. Peter
St. Andrew
St. John Theologian
St. Phillip
St. Thomas
St. Juda the brother of Jesus
St. Bartholomew
St. Matthew
St. Thaddeus
St. Simon
St. Mathias
St. Paul
St. Mark
St. Luke
and all the others..

I like that one!


Jennifer Aniston's mother is not Orthodox.....not sure what nationality though.
Jennifer's Godfather was Kojak.....Telly Savalas
Also Hank Azaria...Greek
John Stamos....
Billy Zane..
And Paris Hilton's fiance.......Paris something?

Oh, Tommy Lee/born in Greece.......But I dont think he is a practising Orthodox..

Sorry for naming only Greeks.....

And all of the Old Testament Prophets.......Elijah and Enoch for sure!
They will come in the end of times to preach the truth .....

IX
helen
Lord have mercy on me a sinner

[Asteriktos]

I would most certainly add these Orthodox to that list: Jesus of Nazareth

Unfortunately, in America this is not a sure thing anymore. In his movie Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock (sp?) showed kids pictures of famous people, and asked them who they were. The kids got Ronald McDonald right. They didn't get Jesus Christ.

[Landon77]

Quite honestly, about people changing their last names when they came to America...  I know quite a few people who have done it, Russians, Greeks, Poles...  During the Cold War it was definitely better for Russians to have "un-Russian" names in some cases. 
Greek names... well, I could think of several insulting ways to rearrange "Anastassakis."

I have a bunch of Greek friends (and currently a Greek roommate) who's names are very easy to twist around.  One of my brother's best friends gets called "Prophylactics" at school, and it's only 2 letters changed and 1 letter added.  Kids can be cruel and some people would rather their kids not be teased. 

So, in defense of Jennifer Aniston's parents... perhaps they were doing what they thought best for their kid(s).

Yes, during WWII, my family started dropping the "e" off of our last name so it didn't look German anymore.  Now my last name is a verb (past tense).

[coptic orthodox boy]

IC XC NIKA
May our Good Lord's peace be with you all,
If the person doesn't have to be living (well, of course he is still living, but you know what I mean) Bob Marley converted to Ethiopian Orthodoxy (of course, I guess you would also have to believe that OO is Orthodox) about a year before he died.
http://zionlightministry.org/ism-sksims.php
in Christ,
shawn

[PhosZoe]

Quite honestly, about people changing their last names when they came to America...  I know quite a few people who have done it, Russians, Greeks, Poles...  During the Cold War it was definitely better for Russians to have "un-Russian" names in some cases. 
Greek names... well, I could think of several insulting ways to rearrange "Anastassakis."

I have a bunch of Greek friends (and currently a Greek roommate) who's names are very easy to twist around.  One of my brother's best friends gets called "Prophylactics" at school, and it's only 2 letters changed and 1 letter added.  Kids can be cruel and some people would rather their kids not be teased. 

So, in defense of Jennifer Aniston's parents... perhaps they were doing what they thought best for their kid(s).

I was saddled with a very long Serbian maiden name until I got married, that I was teased endlessly about.  However, I think it's a pock mark on one's identity to change your name.  It's being something you're really not. White-afying a name doesn't remove the ethnicty. Jennifer Aniston is STILL Greek.  People changed thier names or in some cases had thier names changed FOR them by the wonderful staff people at Ellis Island. 

[Orthodoc]

How about Sandra Dee for those of us who remember beach party movies of the 50's.  Her mother is buried in the cemetery at St Tikhon's.

Also Natalie Wood whose tomb stone carries a 3 bar Cross.

Orthodoc

[Elisha]

I was saddled with a very long Serbian maiden name until I got married, that I was teased endlessly about.ÂÂ  However, I think it's a pock mark on one's identity to change your name.ÂÂ  It's being something you're really not. White-afying a name doesn't remove the ethnicty. Jennifer Aniston is STILL Greek.ÂÂ  People changed thier names or in some cases had thier names changed FOR them by the wonderful staff people at Ellis Island.ÂÂ  

A parishoner from my parish told me that his dad said, when they arrived on Ellis island that they were changing their name from Paniotokopolous to Panages since it was too long.  He's one of the few Greeks who actually speaks some.

[FrChris]

Topic Summary
Posted on: Yesterday at 07:42:37 PMPosted by: Elisha   
A parishoner from my parish told me that his dad said, when they arrived on Ellis island that they were changing their name from Paniotokopolous to Panages since it was too long.  He's one of the few Greeks who actually speaks some.
 

Y'know, because my family are converts that 'fit in' with a Greek community, I have been asked the reverse:

'Xristo, what was your family's name before Ellis Island messed it up?'

[Silouan]

I must agree that this entire thread is weird.  Who really cares which worldy actors and polititions are Orthodox?  The more important questions is which living Orthodox are grace filled and saintly. 

[jmbejdl]

I was saddled with a very long Serbian maiden name until I got married, that I was teased endlessly about.ÂÂ  However, I think it's a pock mark on one's identity to change your name.ÂÂ  It's being something you're really not. White-afying a name doesn't remove the ethnicty. Jennifer Aniston is STILL Greek.ÂÂ  People changed thier names or in some cases had thier names changed FOR them by the wonderful staff people at Ellis Island.ÂÂ  

I completely agree. Look at my surname: Meyer-Bejdl. If I were to respell that the way it sounds to English ears I'd have to write Myer-Badle (or perhaps Baydel), but that would make me feel like I'm denouncing my family. I really don't understand it. I'd rather people had difficulty pronouncing my name (and they always do) than pretend that I'm not of German and Czech stock.

James

[jenck]

Really?ÂÂ  An admitted homosexual?

You can't be gay and Orthodox.ÂÂ  Or so I've heard.

That's like saying you can't be a sinner and be Orthodox.
The truth is, you can't be practicing a homosexual lifestyle and still receive communion.  But admitting that you are homosexual is like admitting any other sin, and you are accepted into the Orthodox community with love and open arms.

[PhosZoe]

That's like saying you can't be a sinner and be Orthodox.
The truth is, you can't be practicing a homosexual lifestyle and still receive communion.  But admitting that you are homosexual is like admitting any other sin, and you are accepted into the Orthodox community with love and open arms.

True. It's having homosexual sex that is the sin. Just like straight people having having pre-marital sex. Love the person hate the sin.

[Timos]

Sorry I am Canadian. Well I'm not really apolagizing for being Canadian...but anyhow..what is Ellis Island and why did the people on this island mess up your names??!

Now I've heard of Long Island which I think is in New York.

Oh yeah for the record, just so you all know...

Canada is not always covered in snow and we don't have polar bears running around the city...thats only in the waaaay north like Alaska...but almost nobody lives up there.

We have lots of Orthodox churches which are about 95% ethnic-tied.

We have McDonalds but not Walgreens...I wish it was the other way around.

Every section of town is like a little cultural ghetto exept they are actually really nice to be called a "ghetto". The Greeks live on either side of town and beside them are the Egyptians and Lebanese. Beside them are the Italians and Portuguese ppl. And finally in the middle of it all are the Pakistanis and Kineso. But then again they live everywhere...

my priest went to the Sates for a visit, came back, and the next sunday I heard an organ and a choir in church and I thought I just walked in to a catholic church.

We barely have Canadian shows other than "Corner Gas" which shows life on the praries way out West.

My favourite American shows are 7th Heaven, Desperate Housewives, and Everybody Loves Raymond. What a contrast huh?

Also you southerners tned to lure in our actors like Michael-J. Fox.

Wow, I've never had to rant about excusing myself for being Canadian..except when in the States and people wonder how we ever survive our freezing year-long winters without snow-shoes.

O and one more thing...we are not obsessed about being Canadian. There's practically one Canadian flag in the country, on parliament hill. I see more Greek flags than Canadian ones here. When I go to the States, I am bombarded with red, white, and blue, red, white, and blue- a constant reminder of my whereabouts...and beautiful messages in huge red bold writing saying: "Join the army and make your people proud by serving your country."

Oh yeah and we practically have no army...

So back to the question. What or where is this Ellis Island and why do they change your names? Sheesh thats so rude.

H Panagia Mazi mas,
                              Timos

[monkvasyl]

Cat Stevens was originally Greek Orthodox.  Michael George also was Orthodox and is gay.  There was a former member of the Boston City Council that was Greek Orthodox and very actively gay.  Jack Palance is Ukrainian, but I'm not sure if he's Uniate or Orthodox.

[Keble]

This is such a mixed area that everyone knows how to pronounce Ng and Nguyen.

Terry Mattingly and Frederica Matthewes-Green are both converts.

It's of some nominal interest who is what. Griping about their worldliness is sour grapes-- the church is inordinately proud, to this day, of those early centuries when they had emperors and empresses to call its own.

[amnesiac99]

Cat Stevens was originally Greek Orthodox.

That didn't last long, though, did it? He spent most of his adult life persuing far-eastern religions only to convert to Islam. His father was Cypriot, as I recall. Anyway, his music is still great!

Oh, and for whoever asked me about how I know Kennedy (the MTV veejay) is Orthodox: she was on some cable news show talking about the role of religion in public and political life and mentioned she was Eastern Orthodox. I'm not sure about her ethnicity, though. Her full name is Lisa Kennedy Montgomery.

[ania]

Sorry I am Canadian. Well I'm not really apologizing for being Canadian...but anyhow..what is Ellis Island and why did the people on this island mess up your names??!

Now I've heard of Long Island which I think is in New York.

So back to the question. What or where is this Ellis Island and why do they change your names? Sheesh thats so rude.

http://www.nps.gov/stli/serv02.htm

If you've ever watched Godfather II, you would have seen Vito Corlenone being processed through Ellis Island. 

The workers would often either completely make up new names for the incoming immigrants, or Americanize the originals.

[ania]

I heard the Freddy Mercury started life out as Orthodox, but not too sure about that one.

[Elisha]

Y'know, because my family are converts that 'fit in' with a Greek community, I have been asked the reverse:

'Xristo, what was your family's name before Ellis Island messed it up?'

That's funny - as if it happend to every single surname.


Timos,
Ellis island is an island in the same NY area (I want to say where the statue of liberty is, but I think it is some neighboring small island) where all the immigrants first landed and got "processed" way "back in the day".

[monkvasyl]

Anyway, his music is still great!

Yea, even tho Cat Stevens made a big mistake, in my opinion, his music still is on my favorite list.  Especially, "Morning Has Broken".

[Lemko Rusyn]

The workers would often either completely make up new names for the incoming immigrants, or Americanize the originals.

This was rarely, if ever, what happened.

See The Myth of Ellis Island Name Changes

[Lemko Rusyn]

Jack Palance is Ukrainian, but I'm not sure if he's Uniate or Orthodox.

Romano-Frankish Papal Latin Ukrainian Nationalist Uniate.

[Deacon Lance]

Freddy Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara to Persian parents, was Zoroastrian.  How much he practiced in his life I do not know but his funeral was according to Zoroastrian rites.

Fr. Deacon Lance

[Deacon Lance]

Jack Palnce's baptismal name is Vladimir (Walter) Palanuik.

[Keble]

Yea, even tho Cat Stevens made a big mistake, in my opinion, his music still is on my favorite list.ÂÂ  Especially, "Morning Has Broken".

The words are by Eleanor Farjeon, who is famous in England for her children's stories. The tune is a traditional Gaelic melody. It appears in several modern hymnals.

[Hadel]

I must agree that this entire thread is weird.ÂÂ  Who really cares which worldy actors and polititions are Orthodox?ÂÂ  The more important questions is which living Orthodox are grace filled and saintly.ÂÂ  

Its mainly for the youth, they need good role models and not the fake religions out there.

Growing up Arab-American I always seeking out Famous Arab-Americans for role models and to say to those who made fun of my heritage that you are also making fun of Doug Flutie, George Mitchell, Danny Thomas, Jamie Farr, Paula Abdul, Shannon Elizabeth....etc. Thus, it is good to find someone in the main stream that is a good practicing Orthodox Christian.

This is for the youth seeking out about their faith and beliefs.

I hope this answers some of your "weird" thought into this.

In Christ,
Hadel

[Ebor]

Hadel, is it sort of the idea of "People like me have done things, made good, are known."

I have to say that I'm pleased when someone from Montana is in the news for something good. 

Ebor

[Michał Kalina]

Katie Melua is also.

[Rosehip]

Timos-the-Canadian, I laughed so hard reading your post!!!!

Jewish people love to make lists of Jewish celebrities too, so it's not uncommon to do so...
I've heard that they consider Jesus of Nazareth to be one of theirs...go figure...

[Heorhij]

Boris Pasternak - he was born into a Jewish family, but his nurse, a simple illiterate Russian woman, brought him to an Orthodox parish when he was an infant, and had him baptized. Pasternak's parents were very secular (his father was a rather famous and very wealthy artist), so they did not mind. Interestingly, Boris grew up a really, seriously devout Orthodox. He attended an Orthodox parish near Peredelkino (Moscow oblast) very regularly and partook in the Holy Mysteries. He kept doing it even at the height of the militant antitheist and anti-Orthodox propaganda in the 1920-s and 1930-s. There is a legend that some henchman suggested in the presence of Stalin that Pasternak should be deported for his Orthodox convictions, but Stalin said, "ah, let this heaven-dweller alone, he is not dangerous."

Ivan Pavlov, the winner of Nobel Prize in Physiology (1905), also was a very devout Orthodox even during the Soviet times. He grew up a son of a priest and kept a very Orthodox lifestyle till the day he died (in 1936).

[ialmisry]

Charles Malik: the force behind the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Igor Sikorsky:developer of the heliocopter and other aero-engineering.

And of course, Troy Polamalu.

[Αριστοκλής]

Nikola Tesla

[Tzimis]

Troy Polamalu from the Superbowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers is a devout Greek Orthodox Christian. I seen him cross himself no less than 25 times through the game.
Probably why they won too.

[Bono Vox]

I read on several websites that Chris Angel (the magician) was Greek Orthodox.

[Keble]

Troy Polamalu from the Superbowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers is a devout Greek Orthodox Christian. I seen him cross himself no less than 25 times through the game.
Probably why they won too.

There was an interesting GetReligion article on the coverage of this.

[Fr. George]

Troy Polamalu from the Superbowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers is a devout Greek Orthodox Christian. I seen him cross himself no less than 25 times through the game.

Yes.  Troy's name was mentioned in an earlier post...

Probably why they won too.

Um, keep the superstition out of this one.

[Tzimis]

Yes.  Troy's name was mentioned in an earlier post...

woops. missed it.

Um, keep the superstition out of this one.

I removed the garlic from around my neck right after the game. haha.

[Orthodoc]

I once read somewhere that Seiji Ozawa the famous Japanese classical conductor of the Boston Symphony is a member of the Orthodox church.

Orthodoc

[Keble]

I once read somewhere that Seiji Ozawa the famous Japanese classical conductor of the Boston Symphony is a member of the Orthodox church.

I don't think this is so, though I could not find clear confirmation one way or the other.

[HandmaidenofGod]

Michael Huffington - U.S. Representative from California

Really?  An admitted homosexual?

You can't be gay and Orthodox.  Or so I've heard.

Better tell Fr. Seraphim Rose that. 

You cannot be a practicing homosexual and go up for communion, just as a heterosexual who has sex outside the bonds of marriage cannot go up for communion.

Same-sex attraction in and of itself is not sinful. It's what you do with it that potentially can be. If you are chaste, you can go to communion. I don't know anything about Michael Huffington, so I can't speak about him, but that is between him and his spiritual father.

[HandmaidenofGod]

Quite honestly, about people changing their last names when they came to America...  I know quite a few people who have done it, Russians, Greeks, Poles...  During the Cold War it was definitely better for Russians to have "un-Russian" names in some cases. 
Greek names... well, I could think of several insulting ways to rearrange "Anastassakis."

I have a bunch of Greek friends (and currently a Greek roommate) who's names are very easy to twist around.  One of my brother's best friends gets called "Prophylactics" at school, and it's only 2 letters changed and 1 letter added.  Kids can be cruel and some people would rather their kids not be teased. 

So, in defense of Jennifer Aniston's parents... perhaps they were doing what they thought best for their kid(s).

This is true. My last name is an Ellis-Island imalgimation that turned a Hungarian last name into something looks Greek and sounds Spanish. I have a friend who is of Russian descent and his last name is Smith.

I know many Indian friends who's names seem to include every letter of the alphabet and go by "American" names like Vic or Kevin.

It's not about cultural shame but rather trying to fit-in in a new environment.

[ialmisry]

Does anyone know if Bear Grylls of "Man vs. Wild" is Orthodox? I see the show from time to time in parts, seeing him do all sorts of strange things in strange places, taking his clothes off all the time (today he got naked in Siberia) and drinking his urine (today in Namibia).  I saw the beginning for the first time and noticed not only did he cross himself but did so in the Orthodox fashion.  My sons told me "he always does that."

[Alveus Lacuna]

Is Tina Fey really Orthodox?

[Hadel]

Is Tina Fey really Orthodox?

Yes, Tina Fey is Orthodox and half Greek; I saw once a rerun sketch of Saturday Night Live, when she use to do the news segment and made a cross (Orthodox Cross) when she mentioned an actor who died ( a skit).

In Christ,
Hadel

[Marc1152]

Timos-the-Canadian, I laughed so hard reading your post!!!!

Jewish people love to make lists of Jewish celebrities too, so it's not uncommon to do so...
I've heard that they consider Jesus of Nazareth to be one of theirs...go figure...

That's because his Mom is Jewish..

I've heard that Celine Dion is Melikite

 I wonder if our former Govorner here in Maryland Spiro T. Agnew ( the great) was Orthodox ?

[Αριστοκλής]

Timos-the-Canadian, I laughed so hard reading your post!!!!

Jewish people love to make lists of Jewish celebrities too, so it's not uncommon to do so...
I've heard that they consider Jesus of Nazareth to be one of theirs...go figure...

That's because his Mom is Jewish..

I've heard that Celine Dion is Melikite

 I wonder if our former Govorner here in Maryland Spiro T. Agnew ( the great) was Orthodox ?

Agnew was Episcopalian.

[Marat]

Are professional tennis players famous enough to count in this? If so, there are bunches of them. Novak Djokovic from Serbia, the number 3 player in the world, crosses himself regularly in his matches, and in the Orthodox way. Why he is doing this all the time I am not sure, but he does it. Maria Sharapova wears an Orthodox looking cross sometimes when she plays. None of this is conclusive of course, but they must feel a connection to some degree. There are many more but no one seems to care about tennis other than me.

[Heorhij]

Are professional tennis players famous enough to count in this? If so, there are bunches of them. Novak Djokovic from Serbia, the number 3 player in the world, crosses himself regularly in his matches, and in the Orthodox way. Why he is doing this all the time I am not sure, but he does it. Maria Sharapova wears an Orthodox looking cross sometimes when she plays. None of this is conclusive of course, but they must feel a connection to some degree. There are many more but no one seems to care about tennis other than me.

Speaking of sports stars, Oksana Baiul, the figure skater from Ukraine who out-competed Nancy Carrigan in the 1994 winter Olympics, is an Orthodox Christian.

[Hadel]

Timos-the-Canadian, I laughed so hard reading your post!!!!

Jewish people love to make lists of Jewish celebrities too, so it's not uncommon to do so...
I've heard that they consider Jesus of Nazareth to be one of theirs...go figure...

That's because his Mom is Jewish..

I've heard that Celine Dion is Melikite

 I wonder if our former Govorner here in Maryland Spiro T. Agnew ( the great) was Orthodox ?

Yes, her Husband Renee' is Syrian-Arab (Canadian Citizen). He is Greek Melkite Catholic Church, in keeping with the faith of the baby's father. (Melkite Christians follow Orthodox rites but are loyal to the pope.) and Paul Anka is Syrian Orthodox (Syrian-Canadian) plus many many, and many more out there.

Here is an article on this:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,622267,00.html

Originally posted Wednesday July 25, 2001 01:00 PM EDT
Celine Dion and husband Rene Angelil baptized their 6-month-old son, Rene-Charles, on Wednesday in Montreal at a 40-minute private ceremony before 250 friends and members of the family -- and it sounds as though the child has quite a set of pipes in him, too. "Little Rene-Charles wasn't cut out for a big ceremony like that, because he cried quite a bit," Michel Jasmin, a Quebec TV host and family friend, told a Canadian radio station. Apparently, though, the baby stopped wailing when his mother picked him up and held him. The service was held at a chapel adjoining the Notre Dame Basilica in Old Montreal, exactly six months after the birth of Rene-Charles, and followed the rites of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church, in keeping with the faith of the baby's father. (Melkite Christians follow Orthodox rites but are loyal to the pope.) The Angelils arrived in limos, while their guests showed up in mini-buses, and the event attracted a crowd of curious onlookers. Montreal officials, reports Reuters, closed off streets in the city's historic district and rolled out a blue carpet at the entrance to the church chapel. Dion, 33, is currently on a three-year sabbatical in order to be a fulltime mother. She has announced that her comeback will take place in Las Vegas in 2003.

In Christ,
Hadel

Ps: For extensive list with some tennis players on the list  , please see Wikipedia (I know some do not respect the site but it is correct of what I read, mixed of Greeks, Eastern European and Arab nationalities):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Eastern_Orthodox_Christians

[ialmisry]

Timos-the-Canadian, I laughed so hard reading your post!!!!

Jewish people love to make lists of Jewish celebrities too, so it's not uncommon to do so...
I've heard that they consider Jesus of Nazareth to be one of theirs...go figure...

That's because his Mom is Jewish..

I've heard that Celine Dion is Melikite

 I wonder if our former Govorner here in Maryland Spiro T. Agnew ( the great) was Orthodox ?

I don't know if Celine has transferred rites (she's Quebecoise), but her husband is an Arab Melkite, and they had a second, Melkite, wedding.

[Marc1152]

Timos-the-Canadian, I laughed so hard reading your post!!!!

Jewish people love to make lists of Jewish celebrities too, so it's not uncommon to do so...
I've heard that they consider Jesus of Nazareth to be one of theirs...go figure...

That's because his Mom is Jewish..

I've heard that Celine Dion is Melikite

 I wonder if our former Govorner here in Maryland Spiro T. Agnew ( the great) was Orthodox ?

Agnew was Episcopalian.

Whew !  Close call

[Michał Kalina]

Naomi Campbell is going to convert

[Elisha]

Naomi Campbell is going to convert

Is this confirmed?  It seems still more of a prediction from the press.  If she does, than hopefully she'll actually go to church and learn how to not be a female dog.  (Just look up all the incidents she's been involved in due to her temper to confirm this.)

--content edited for language -username! section moderator

[PeterTheAleut]

Are professional tennis players famous enough to count in this? If so, there are bunches of them. Novak Djokovic from Serbia, the number 3 player in the world, crosses himself regularly in his matches, and in the Orthodox way. Why he is doing this all the time I am not sure, but he does it. Maria Sharapova wears an Orthodox looking cross sometimes when she plays. None of this is conclusive of course, but they must feel a connection to some degree. There are many more but no one seems to care about tennis other than me.

Speaking of sports stars, Oksana Baiul, the figure skater from Ukraine who out-competed Nancy Carrigan in the 1994 winter Olympics

Yup, because Nancy Kerrigan had taken a rod to the knee from thugs working in cahoots with her American rival a few weeks before.   (Tanya Harding is known for flying hubcaps, as well, but I digress.)

[Heorhij]

Are professional tennis players famous enough to count in this? If so, there are bunches of them. Novak Djokovic from Serbia, the number 3 player in the world, crosses himself regularly in his matches, and in the Orthodox way. Why he is doing this all the time I am not sure, but he does it. Maria Sharapova wears an Orthodox looking cross sometimes when she plays. None of this is conclusive of course, but they must feel a connection to some degree. There are many more but no one seems to care about tennis other than me.

Speaking of sports stars, Oksana Baiul, the figure skater from Ukraine who out-competed Nancy Carrigan in the 1994 winter Olympics

Yup, because Nancy Kerrigan had taken a rod to the knee from thugs working in cahoots with her American rival a few weeks before.   (Tanya Harding is known for flying hubcaps, as well, but I digress.)

Sorry, I did not mean to say anything bad about Nancy Kerrigan (BTW, I apologize for misspelling her name).

Also, related to this as well as to what was said about Naomi Campbell: I remember being struck by the saying that "a perfect Orthodox" is an oxymoron. Oksana Bayul started as a little, naive, shy orphan girl from Dnipropetrovs'k, Ukraine, and then, after winning the Olympic gold medal, turned into a celeb, with wild parties and drunk driving and what not. But she IS Orthodox...

[Jetavan]

Don't forget G. I. Gurdjieff and Nicholas Notovitch.

[SolEX01]

Naomi Campbell is going to convert

If she remains involved with her wealthy Russian fiance....

[Alveus Lacuna]

Benny Hinn was raised Orthodox.  Too bad he is so misguided...

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Yakov Smirnov is Orthodox again.

[ozgeorge]

Apart from Benny Hinn, I have no idea who any of these people are.

[Mark of Ephesus]

Is Tina Fey really Orthodox?

Let's hope NOT.  (For the sake of Orthodoxy)

Your political post that followed this one was split into its own thread in the Politics Forum:
http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,19888.0.html
Please refrain from Political posts in the Public Fora.
- Cleveland, Global Moderator

[Mark of Ephesus]

Hi All,

I got this idea of post from another thread....for your interest found on this site:

List famous of most religions and I checked the Orthodox Site of famous below...listed below.

http://www.adherents.com/adh_fam.html

Spencer Abraham and Darrell Issa of Arab Origins....fyi.

Tom Hanks - actor, movie star





Tina Fey - Saturday Night Live TV series writer and on-screen co-host of "Weekend Update" segment
Michael Dukakis - Massachusetts governor; unsuccessful Democratic nominee for President (1988)
Olympia Dukakis - Academy Award-winning actress
Cyril Lucaris / Cyril I - became Patriarch of Constantinople as Cyril I in 17th Century, first great leader of Church since since fall of Constantinople in 1453
Spencer Abraham - U.S. Secretary of Energy for Pres. George W. Bush
George Stephanopoulos - communication director for Pres. Clinton; news show host
Darrell Issa - U.S. Representative from California; wealthy businessman; personally financed 2003 recall election that ended Gov. Gray Davis's term early
George Tenet - CIA director from 1997 to 2004
Paul Weyrich - powerful conservative American activist; founder of the Heritage Foundation
Terry Mattingly - nationally prominent syndicated religion journalist

Rod Blagojevich - governor of Illinois
Paul Sarbanes - U.S. Senator from Maryland
Olympia Snowe - U.S. Senator from Maine
Michael Huffington - U.S. Representative from California
Melissa Bean - U.S. Representative from Illinois
Michael Bilirakis - U.S. Representative from Florida

Here is an infamous person: Vlad Tepes, Prince of Wallachia & Romania  (Dracula)

[Orthodoc]

Adrain Zmed who played a cop on one of the TV series a few years back was the son of a Romanian Orthodox priest.

Orthodoc

[Hadel]

Benny Hinn was raised Orthodox.  Too bad he is so misguided...

Believe me when I say, he is doing it for the money, I have seen this in the Middle East. I have relatives who have Orthodox Icons in their homes and go pray in the Evangelist church, because they give them money to convert. Personal experience. For others, money first then they fall for the conversion.

In Christ,
Hadel

[Hadel]

Is Tina Fey really Orthodox?

Let's hope NOT.  (For the sake of Orthodoxy)

Your political post that followed this one was split into its own thread in the Politics Forum:
http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,19888.0.html
Please refrain from Political posts in the Public Fora.
- Cleveland, Global Moderator

Yes, Tina Fey is half Greek and is Greek Orthodox (her husband converted for her). I have seen her personally on TV make an Orthodox cross during Saturday Night Live.

In Christ,
Hadel

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Is Tina Fey really Orthodox?

Let's hope NOT.  (For the sake of Orthodoxy)

For the sake of her soul, let's hope so.

[coptic orthodox boy]

To famous MMA fighters who happen to be Orthodox are:

1)Fedor Emelianenko (my avatar) and here is a video where he speaks briefly concerning his religious views (starts at 6:15):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWWUQIhLSS4

2)Andrei Arlovski
(photo) http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/andrei_arlovski_boxing.jpg

and, the recent fight between Emelianenko and Arlovski last month:
http://www.dailymotion.com/search/Emelianenko%252Bvs.%252BArlovski/video/x85648_fedor-emelianenko-vs-andrei-arlovsk_sport

[Heorhij]

Aleksander Galich (real name Alexander Aronovich Ginzburg, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Galich)

Galich is one of my most beloved Russian popular singers-"bards" (folks who composed both the music and the lyrics of their songs and performed them, accompanying themselves with a Russian 7-string guitar), on par with Vladimir Vysotsky and Bulat Okudzhava. His lyrics is incredibly powerful, revolves mostly around the themes of Stalinist terror, the martyrdom of those who ended up in Gulag camps.

He was born into a family of Soviet urban intellectuals of the Jewish ethnic origin, raised atheist, but converted to Orthodoxy in the early 1970-s by Fr. Alexander Men'.

[Mark of Ephesus]

Is Tina Fey really Orthodox?

Let's hope NOT.  (For the sake of Orthodoxy)

Your political post that followed this one was split into its own thread in the Politics Forum:
http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,19888.0.html
Please refrain from Political posts in the Public Fora.
- Cleveland, Global Moderator

Yes, Tina Fey is half Greek and is Greek Orthodox (her husband converted for her). I have seen her personally on TV make an Orthodox cross during Saturday Night Live.

In Christ,
Hadel

So does she cross herself before or after she performs a "black mass"...(HUMOR)

[Mark of Ephesus]

Is Tina Fey really Orthodox?

Let's hope NOT.  (For the sake of Orthodoxy)

For the sake of her soul, let's hope so.

True.

[Jetavan]

Is Tina Fey really Orthodox?

Let's hope NOT.  (For the sake of Orthodoxy)

For the sake of her soul, let's hope so.

True.

Tina Fey is DYNO-MITE.

[Marc1152]

I wonder if Bear Grills is Orthodox. He is the TV survivalist on Man Vs. Wild. He crosses himself in the Orthodox manner before jumping out of planes and such the like. It may just be an affectation.

[John of the North]

I wonder if Bear Grills is Orthodox. He is the TV survivalist on Man Vs. Wild. He crosses himself in the Orthodox manner before jumping out of planes and such the like. It may just be an affectation.

I was wondering the same thing...

[SolEX01]

Based on the quotes on his website, no.

'I am here to help you'
'I am holding you by your right hand'
'The lord himself watches over you'

[Hadel]

Is Tina Fey really Orthodox?

Let's hope NOT.  (For the sake of Orthodoxy)

Your political post that followed this one was split into its own thread in the Politics Forum:
http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,19888.0.html




The way I understand it, After to cleanse her soul.... 
Please refrain from Political posts in the Public Fora.
- Cleveland, Global Moderator

Yes, Tina Fey is half Greek and is Greek Orthodox (her husband converted for her). I have seen her personally on TV make an Orthodox cross during Saturday Night Live.

In Christ,
Hadel

So does she cross herself before or after she performs a "black mass"...(HUMOR)

The way I understand it, after mass, to cleanse her soul, 

[Asteriktos]

Based on the quotes on his website, no

Which quotes? 

[zoarthegleaner]

Famous?  I guess that could even include Julian the Apostate.

[88Devin12]

I just watched videos of Bear Grylls jumping out of airplanes, he does cross himself from right to left... But with his full hand like many Catholics, not with three fingers.

[Mark of Ephesus]

Famous?  I guess that could even include Julian the Apostate.

He wasn't Orthodox.....

[Marc1152]

Based on the quotes on his website, no

Which quotes? 

He is Roman Catholic

[zoarthegleaner]

Famous?  I guess that could even include Julian the Apostate.



He wasn't Orthodox.....
-------------

Then how did he get the name APOSTATE?

[Mark of Ephesus]

Famous?  I guess that could even include Julian the Apostate.



He wasn't Orthodox.....
-------------

Then how did he get the name APOSTATE?

Because he REJECTED Orthodoxy for Paganism.   (I guess you can say he was Orthodox for a short time.)

[Michał Kalina]

OOs: Serj Tankian and Bob Marley. Why anyone hasn't posted them yet?

[Asteriktos]

I have a hard time believing that Serj Tankian is an Orthodox Christian. If he is, his priest should wash his mouth out with soap, based on some of the stuff he sings (e.g. the song Violent Pornography)

[SolEX01]

I never viewed Bob Marley as an Orthodox Christian of any type.   

[Hadel]

I never viewed Bob Marley as an Orthodox Christian of any type.   

I am not sure either; however many sites and rumors say he converted to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church one year before his death like this site:

http://prayerfoundation.org/bob_marley_died_christian.htm

Also, currently his wife Rita, converted and is a deaconess in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

In Christ,
Hadel

[Michał Kalina]

Olaf Lubaszenko - famous Polish actor and film director

[GammaRay]

Definitely should include Bob Marley and Selasie I.
I feel that we have to consider C. S. Lewis as a "semi-Orthodox".
http://www.nantyglo.com/postcards07/jul2507.htm

[Ebor]

I feel that we have to consider C. S. Lewis as a "semi-Orthodox".
http://www.nantyglo.com/postcards07/jul2507.htm

I have a book that makes the claim that C. S. Lewis was Mormon in his thinking and writing and I've seen claims that he would have gone to Rome by now. I've read a claim that because he was interested in Greece he would have become EO.  Reading his letters and own words can clearly establish where he was in in Church.  Meanwhile his work is able to speak and reach people in many different Churches.  After becoming a Christian again, he was Anglican to the day he died.  To borrow from him we cannot know what might have been but what was.

[John Larocque]

Michael Ignatieff, son of diplomat George Ignatieff, public intellectual, Harvard professor, historian/author/novelist and current leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (seriously - he has a daunting resume), is listed as a member of the Russian Orthodox Church. (However he's self-described as not a "church guy".) His grandfather was an adviser to Nicholas II. In the US, the last major presidential contender who was listed as Orthodox was Mike Dukakis.

[Michał Kalina]

Jennifer Aniston and Emir Kusturica.

[rwprof]

Troy Polamalu from the Superbowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers is a devout Greek Orthodox Christian. I seen him cross himself no less than 25 times through the game.

Yes.  Troy's name was mentioned in an earlier post...

Probably why they won too.

Um, keep the superstition out of this one.

Sir! You should know that God is a Steelers fan!

[Ortho_cat]

We should distinguish between those who were baptised Orthodox because of their heritage and those who actively profess/practice their faith today.

[Orthodoc]

We should distinguish between those who were baptised Orthodox because of their heritage and those who actively profess/practice their faith today.

Exactly!  Some of the people mentioned may have been baptised Orthodox but are far from being practicing Orthodox!

Orthodoc

[Fr. George]

We should distinguish between those who were baptised Orthodox because of their heritage and those who actively profess/practice their faith today.

Exactly!  Some of the people mentioned may have been baptised Orthodox but are far from being practicing Orthodox!

Orthodoc

Amen.  (Of course there are plenty of non-famous people who have been baptized Orthodox but are far from practicing; do we exalt them to inquirers who ask us for mentors?)

[Michał Kalina]

Is George Michaell an EO Christian?

On this video he is a godfather on bapstism.

[Papist]

I feel that we have to consider C. S. Lewis as a "semi-Orthodox".
http://www.nantyglo.com/postcards07/jul2507.htm

I have a book that makes the claim that C. S. Lewis was Mormon in his thinking and writing and I've seen claims that he would have gone to Rome by now. I've read a claim that because he was interested in Greece he would have become EO.  Reading his letters and own words can clearly establish where he was in in Church.  Meanwhile his work is able to speak and reach people in many different Churches.  After becoming a Christian again, he was Anglican to the day he died.  To borrow from him we cannot know what might have been but what was.

well, he was a very catholic (lower case 'c') anglican.

[Andrew21091]

It is true that Bob Marley converted before he died.

F. Murray Abraham is Syriac Orthodox. His grandfather was a chanter.

[Marc1152]

Is Michael Dukakas Orthodox? He will probably replace Ted Kennedy

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Is Michael Dukakas Orthodox? He will probably replace Ted Kennedy

Really? You think so?

[Orthodoc]

Is Michael Dukakas Orthodox? He will probably replace Ted Kennedy

He married and brought up his kids in the EPISCOPAL CHURCH.  When his son got involved with drugs a few years back they found him a nice Greek girl.  Don't know if they ever got married.

Orthodoc

[coptic orthodox boy]

Some wedding photos of Fedor Emelianenko's recent wedding (considered MMA's top HW, also an Orthodox Christian):

[Michał Kalina]

Maria Callas.

[Nazarene]

Aren't the Kardashians Armenian Orthodox, or was it just Robert (their father)? I can't find any confirmation.

[Orthodoc]

Aren't the Kardashians Armenian Orthodox, or was it just Robert (their father)? I can't find any confirmation.

Ye gads!  I hope not.
Orthodoc

[ialmisry]

Is Michael Dukakas Orthodox? He will probably replace Ted Kennedy

He married and brought up his kids in the EPISCOPAL CHURCH.  When his son got involved with drugs a few years back they found him a nice Greek girl.  Don't know if they ever got married.

Orthodoc

Doubt it: Michael is Jewish by birth, born Cheffetz.  His half brother through his father is Jason Chaffetz, a convert to the Mormons and to the Republicans  : he is in the House of Representatives from Utah.  Michael married someone, but I do not know whom.

[ialmisry]

Aren't the Kardashians Armenian Orthodox, or was it just Robert (their father)? I can't find any confirmation.

Ye gads!  I hope not.
Orthodoc

I think the same thing. Bad enough that they are Armenian.

[stanley123]

I read somewhere that Mel Gibson's girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva was Eastern Orthodox.

[ialmisry]

Is Michael Dukakas Orthodox? He will probably replace Ted Kennedy

Really? You think so?

No.

[stanley123]

Nikola Tesla

Yes. He certainly was a great scientist, making many important contributions to the theory and development of electrical systems.

[Nazarene]

Aren't the Kardashians Armenian Orthodox, or was it just Robert (their father)? I can't find any confirmation.

Ye gads!  I hope not.
Orthodoc

I think the same thing. Bad enough that they are Armenian.

Haha!

[Robb]

Aren't the Kardashians Armenian Orthodox, or was it just Robert (their father)? I can't find any confirmation.

Judging from the way they live, I seriously doubt that the Armenian Church means much to them.

[Salpy]

Aren't the Kardashians Armenian Orthodox, or was it just Robert (their father)? I can't find any confirmation.

Their grandmother (father's mother) went to my cousin's church, but I think she was the last one in that family to be a devout Armenian Orthodox.  The girls' mother is not Armenian, and I don't believe they were raised at all in the Church.

[Fr. George]

Aren't the Kardashians Armenian Orthodox, or was it just Robert (their father)? I can't find any confirmation.

Judging from the way they live, I seriously doubt that the Armenian Church means much to them.

If we judged one another from the way we each live, none of us could call ourselves Orthodox Christians.  I'm not affirming that they (Kardashians) are, but we also don't have much of a moral high ground to stand upon...

[Basil 320]

Re. REPLY NOS. 112, 113 & 114

Michael Dukakis is a Greek-American and Greek Orthodox.  His father was a medical doctor in Boston and was provided no cost medical services to the students of Holy Cross Seminary in Brookline.  His father made the acquaintance of Archbishop Iakovos, of blessed memory, when he was the presiding priest at the GOAA Boston Cathedral.  Michael Dukakis was baptised and raised in the Orthodox Church.  He married a Jewish women, Kitty.  Due to this marriage, most thought he wasn't in good standing with the Orthodox Church, but during the '88 presidential campaign, Archbishop Iakovos stated that he was in good standing with the Church; by the exercise of Economy, it would seem.

The reference above to his having been an Episcopalian, may be due to confusing him with another Greek-American from Massachusetts, former Congressman Paul Tsongas, who also had sought the presidency.  He had written in a memoir that although he was Greek Orthodox, while living in Washington D.C., his family found a spiritual home in the Episcopal Church.

Admitting to watching "Keeping up...," the Kardashian's make no reference to being members of an organized religion, and they tell quite a bit about their personal feelings about matters.  They allude to their Armenian nationality and culture, somewhat, usually in the context of discussions about their father.  At a wedding for Kloe, the "service " was secular; there was a little Armenian dancing at the reception.

[bogdan]

According to the All-Knowing Wiki, Helen Thomas is Orthodox (Lebanese). Which puts her recent comments about Israel in a different light then perhaps a lot of the media is putting it (not to descend into politics).

Her niece is a news anchor and also Orthodox; I see her at one of our local parishes when I visit. That's kind of cool in this heavily-Reformed area.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Is Michael Dukakas Orthodox? He will probably replace Ted Kennedy

Really? You think so?

No.

Only nine months to recognize sarcasm. I think that's a new speed record for you.

[Agabus]

Sergei Rachmaninoff was Russian Orthodox.

But anyone who is familiar with his music has probably figured that out.

[Carl Kraeff (Second Chance)]

Is Michael Dukakas Orthodox? He will probably replace Ted Kennedy

Really? You think so?

No.

Only nine months to recognize sarcasm. I think that's a new speed record for you.

I think that the joke is on you. How could you fail to notice the very large photograph in Isa's posting?

[LizaSymonenko]

This is nice:  http://www.patriarchate.org/multimedia/photos?setID=72157624269030967  (see photos)

On Monday, June 28, 2010, renowned Hollywood actor Jim Belushi visited the Phanar with his family to receive the blessing of His All Holiness. Belushi and his children are Albanian Orthodox Christians.

[Fabio Leite]

Also from Adherents, my favorite section: super-heroes grouped by faith.


Black Widow   Fireball   Confessor   Geo-Force   Elektra   Mindsinger   Terra

Unfortunately, we just got two anti-heroines (Elektra and Black Widow) who don't even mention this aspect of their origins and a couple of villains! Elektra even apostated to the ninja religion of the sect known as "The Hand".
Blame the Cold War, I suppose.

In case you may be wondering, the site claims that Superman's parents on Earth (Johnantan and Marta Kent) were Methodists and he was raised as such. Batman's parent were a mixed marriage between an Episcopalian and a Roman-Catholic and at least while his parents were alive we can suppose he was taken to church with them. Daredevil is Roman Catholic, and Spiderman seems to be a non-denominational Protestant.

[monkvasyl]

This is nice:  http://www.patriarchate.org/multimedia/photos?setID=72157624269030967  (see photos)

On Monday, June 28, 2010, renowned Hollywood actor Jim Belushi visited the Phanar with his family to receive the blessing of His All Holiness. Belushi and his children are Albanian Orthodox Christians.

This one surprised me.

[Basil 320]

I recall seeing a news clip of his brother John's funeral, from a small wooden structure, an Albanian Orthodox Church in Hyanis Port MA, as I recall.

[Michał Kalina]

Posts about the Orthodox in Brazil being to ethnic moved to Religious Topics.

[That person]

I have a hard time believing that Serj Tankian is an Orthodox Christian. If he is, his priest should wash his mouth out with soap, based on some of the stuff he sings (e.g. the song Violent Pornography)

From the man's mouth: "About religion- My religion is the same as the trees out there. It's the same inspiration. Whatever moves them, moves me. I believe that we're animals. I know we are because we die and we eat and we ****. And all modern religions to me are false. All modern religions come from a time of what we call civilization. Civilization has only existed ten thousand years among millions of years of man being on this planet. Everything before civilization is called prehistory. The reason that I don't give credence to modern religions is because they are only partially true. Because they were started from after civilization." He's a talented musician and lyricist, but I'm guessing he doesn't practice Orthodoxy (although it's quite possible he was Baptized). A name I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned is Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos. Actually, I'm not surprised. It's very hard to spell that name, and many wouldn't want to embarrass themselves trying. Going by his Wiki article, his father is Dean Emeritus at Holy Trinity Cathedral, and he's considered becoming a priest himself.

[Orthodoc]

I have a hard time believing that Serj Tankian is an Orthodox Christian. If he is, his priest should wash his mouth out with soap, based on some of the stuff he sings (e.g. the song Violent Pornography)

From the man's mouth: "About religion- My religion is the same as the trees out there. It's the same inspiration. Whatever moves them, moves me. I believe that we're animals. I know we are because we die and we eat and we ****. And all modern religions to me are false. All modern religions come from a time of what we call civilization. Civilization has only existed ten thousand years among millions of years of man being on this planet. Everything before civilization is called prehistory. The reason that I don't give credence to modern religions is because they are only partially true. Because they were started from after civilization." He's a talented musician and lyricist, but I'm guessing he doesn't practice Orthodoxy (although it's quite possible he was Baptized). A name I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned is Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos. Actually, I'm not surprised. It's very hard to spell that name, and many wouldn't want to embarrass themselves trying. Going by his Wiki article, his father is Dean Emeritus at Holy Trinity Cathedral, and he's considered becoming a priest himself.

George's sister is an Orthodox nun in the ROCOR Church in the Holy Land.

Orthodoc

[Ortho_cat]

Some people who I was pleasantly surprised to see on this list:

Dwayne Wade
Bill Evans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Eastern_Orthodox_Christians

[Asteriktos]

Dwayne Wade

Impossible! He publically invited the devil into his house!   Seriously though, thanks for posting the info/link.


EDIT--As I look at the list, I'm suprised there aren't more NHL players that are Orthodox.

[Ortho_cat]

Dwayne Wade

EDIT--As I look at the list, I'm suprised there aren't more NHL players that are Orthodox.

I had a similar sentiment. I have a feeling that is a pretty incomplete list.

[Marc1152]

Ted Leonsis, owner of the Capitals (Hockey) and the Wizards ( B-Ball).

[tuesdayschild]

Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings wants to celebrate Russian Christmas, but the interviewer keeps asking questions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=525_UhZ1EIg

[PeterTheAleut]

Some people who I was pleasantly surprised to see on this list:

Dwayne Wade
Bill Evans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Eastern_Orthodox_Christians

I'd be careful how much credence I give to this list, though. Take "Pistol" Pete Maravich, for instance. I can remember how toward the end of his life he was quite close with Dr. James Dobson, enough so that Dr. Dobson gave a stirring eulogy in Pete's memory on his "Focus on the Family" program shortly after the basketball star died suddenly in the mid 1980's. I'm not sure a fundamentalist such as Dr. Dobson would have effused so much praise upon the Christian faith of someone who died Orthodox. (IIRC, Dr. Dobson claimed to have been with Mr. Maravich when he died--collapsed of cardiac arrest at age 40 during a pickup game of basketball.)

Everyone named on that list may have been Orthodox at some point in their lives, even if considered Orthodox by ethnicity only, but that doesn't mean that everyone on that list who is still living would call themselves Orthodox today.

[Ortho_cat]

Dwayne Wade

Impossible! He publically invited the devil into his house!  

Another interesting FYI about Wade...it is said that he wears the #3 in honor of the Holy Trinity.

[PeterTheAleut]

Dwayne Wade

Impossible! He publically invited the devil into his house!  

Another interesting FYI about Wade...it is said that he wears the #3 in honor of the Holy Trinity.

Another interesting thing about him is that I've always seen his name spelled Dwyane--in this case where the "Y" precedes the "A", I guess the "Y" is silent.

[88Devin12]

Found this video the other day: Novak Djokovic says (in match with a Greek) that "we are truly Orthodox brothers".
http://youtu.be/kQzIzXPWK8M

On a somewhat related note, I've learned whilst being here in Greece that the #1 Greek soccer/football team, Olympiacos FC is in a "brotherhood" with a couple other teams, and they call themselves the "Orthodox Brothers"...
The "Orthodox Brothers" (in soccer) consists of:
Olympiacos FC (1st in Greece); Red Star Belgrade (2nd in Serbia); FC Spartak Moscow (4th in Russia).

[Milica]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

Seeing Jennifer Aniston's lifestyle.... I would say no.
Evan Lysacek is Orthodox (Olympic figure skater)

[88Devin12]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

Seeing Jennifer Aniston's lifestyle.... I would say no.
Evan Lysacek is Orthodox (Olympic figure skater)

While it saddens me to say this, you cannot judge an Orthodox Christian by their lifestyle...

[Marc1152]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

Seeing Jennifer Aniston's lifestyle.... I would say no.
Evan Lysacek is Orthodox (Olympic figure skater)

What is it about her lifestyle you dont like? She is an accomplished actress. She was dumped by her husband for another woman. All the Movies and TV I have seen her in are relatively wholesome.

[Basil 320]

I like Jennifer Aniston a lot, I find her exceptionally attractive, and I don't think we should judge her life style, anymore than we should judge our fellow man.  She does officially list herself as Greek Orthodox, claiming St. Sophia G.O. Cathedral in L.A. as her parish, but it was reported that her father, soap opera actor John Aniston, was disappointed when she did not get married to Brad Pitt in the Orthodox Church.  (She has embraced her Greek heritage, having lived in Greece in her youth, she vacations in her family's home village regularly.  Her Godfather was the late Telly Savalas.)

[Iconodule]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

Seeing Jennifer Aniston's lifestyle.... I would say no.
Evan Lysacek is Orthodox (Olympic figure skater)

What is it about her lifestyle you dont like? She is an accomplished actress. She was dumped by her husband for another woman. All the Movies and TV I have seen her in are relatively wholesome.

My wife has made me sit through a number of unwholesomely awful rom coms starring Aniston.

[genesisone]

My wife has made me sit through a number of unwholesomely awful rom coms starring Aniston.

as penance  ?

[Asteriktos]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

Seeing Jennifer Aniston's lifestyle.... I would say no.
Evan Lysacek is Orthodox (Olympic figure skater)

What is it about her lifestyle you dont like? She is an accomplished actress. She was dumped by her husband for another woman. All the Movies and TV I have seen her in are relatively wholesome.

My wife has made me sit through a number of unwholesomely awful rom coms starring Aniston.

Isn't that the time to pull out the "Gee dear, you should really have some girls night out time with your friends!" ?? 

[Kasatkin fan]

I like Jennifer Aniston a lot, I find her exceptionally attractive, and I don't think we should judge her life style, anymore than we should judge our fellow man.  She does officially list herself as Greek Orthodox, claiming St. Sophia G.O. Cathedral in L.A. as her parish, but it was reported that her father, soap opera actor John Aniston, was disappointed when she did not get married to Brad Pitt in the Orthodox Church.  (She has embraced her Greek heritage, having lived in Greece in her youth, she vacations in her family's home village regularly.  Her Godfather was the late Telly Savalas.)

It seems to me that getting married outside the church nets one an excommunication, so unless she was given a dispensation, she wouldn't be Orthodox in good standing, but who knows, maybe she did. I guess that's between her and her spiritual father/confessor/bishop.

[Iconodule]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

Seeing Jennifer Aniston's lifestyle.... I would say no.
Evan Lysacek is Orthodox (Olympic figure skater)

What is it about her lifestyle you dont like? She is an accomplished actress. She was dumped by her husband for another woman. All the Movies and TV I have seen her in are relatively wholesome.

My wife has made me sit through a number of unwholesomely awful rom coms starring Aniston.

Isn't that the time to pull out the "Gee dear, you should really have some girls night out time with your friends!" ?? 

We've come up with a system where, for each of these movies, I get a "Rambo card" whereby she must watch with me an equally terrible action flick.

[Marc1152]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

Seeing Jennifer Aniston's lifestyle.... I would say no.
Evan Lysacek is Orthodox (Olympic figure skater)

What is it about her lifestyle you dont like? She is an accomplished actress. She was dumped by her husband for another woman. All the Movies and TV I have seen her in are relatively wholesome.

My wife has made me sit through a number of unwholesomely awful rom coms starring Aniston.

Isn't that the time to pull out the "Gee dear, you should really have some girls night out time with your friends!" ??  

We've come up with a system where, for each of these movies, I get a "Rambo card" whereby she must watch with me an equally terrible action flick.

Make her watch this one. Pound for pound it's the most Manly battle scene in all cinema:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrZbUS0MaY4

[Orthodoc]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

Seeing Jennifer Aniston's lifestyle.... I would say no.
Evan Lysacek is Orthodox (Olympic figure skater)

Speaking of Olympic Skaters, IS Evan's arch rival Johnny Weir Orhodox or just a Russophile?  They said he taught himself Russian and I saw him bless himself before eaating in the Orthodox manner.

Orthodoc

[Kasatkin fan]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

Seeing Jennifer Aniston's lifestyle.... I would say no.
Evan Lysacek is Orthodox (Olympic figure skater)

Speaking of Olympic Skaters, IS Evan's arch rival Johnny Weir Orhodox or just a Russophile?  They said he taught himself Russian and I saw him bless himself before eaating in the Orthodox manner.

Orthodoc

I remember having a conversation with some friends on him, I think we concluded, based on some things he said, that he's a Russophile, but I don't remember the conversation well enough to provide evidence of this.

[88Devin12]

I like Jennifer Aniston a lot, I find her exceptionally attractive, and I don't think we should judge her life style, anymore than we should judge our fellow man.  She does officially list herself as Greek Orthodox, claiming St. Sophia G.O. Cathedral in L.A. as her parish, but it was reported that her father, soap opera actor John Aniston, was disappointed when she did not get married to Brad Pitt in the Orthodox Church.  (She has embraced her Greek heritage, having lived in Greece in her youth, she vacations in her family's home village regularly.  Her Godfather was the late Telly Savalas.)

It seems to me that getting married outside the church nets one an excommunication, so unless she was given a dispensation, she wouldn't be Orthodox in good standing, but who knows, maybe she did. I guess that's between her and her spiritual father/confessor/bishop.

That marriage occurred 11 years ago, and ended 6 years ago. Like the end of your post says, it's between her and her Priest/Confessor. We don't have any business judging her in that way.

[88Devin12]

Isn't Jennifer Aniston Orthodox?  I know that her family is Greek, so ergo . .

Seeing Jennifer Aniston's lifestyle.... I would say no.
Evan Lysacek is Orthodox (Olympic figure skater)

Speaking of Olympic Skaters, IS Evan's arch rival Johnny Weir Orhodox or just a Russophile?  They said he taught himself Russian and I saw him bless himself before eaating in the Orthodox manner.

Orthodoc

From what I read, Johnny Weir is just a Russophile, he isn't Orthodox, rather he is a Roman Catholic (but practices Kabballah?).
I know we just finished a discussion on personal behavior, and I'm not judging him, but he has viewpoints and openly practices behavior contrary to Orthodox teaching and tradition.

[AirKoryoTU-204]

Some great Orthodox Christians, maybe less known ones.

None the less till Orthodox brothers,  Praise God!   


Ibō Takahashi - was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II

Yadegar Moxammat - was the last khan of Kazan Khanate  (Converted from Islam)

[akimori makoto]

Ibō Takahashi - was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II

This reminds me:

Sugihara Chiune, Japanese convert to Orthodoxy and rescuer of persecuted Jews during the second world war.

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiune_Sugihara

Short documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAwqhytNAjY

OCnet thread: http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,8973.0.html

[AirKoryoTU-204]

This reminds me:

Sugihara Chiune, Japanese convert to Orthodoxy and rescuer of persecuted Jews during the second world war.

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiune_Sugihara

Short documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAwqhytNAjY

OCnet thread: http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,8973.0.html

Indeed there are many Japanese brothers and sisters! God willing there will be more and more each day.

Another Japanese brother is

Nobori Shomu : He was a famous translator in the form of literature translation

[Iconodule]

St. Peter of Rostov, a Mongol prince who became a wonder-worker

[AirKoryoTU-204]

St. Peter of Rostov, a Mongol prince who became a wonder-worker

I think he was Tatar, there are so many Tatar Orthodox many of which have taken on the Russian Ethnic identity, although Tatar grous such as the Nağaybäklär, Keräşens and Volga Tatar groups are Orthodox today.

a good example is the famous

Abraham of Bulgaria : (Bulgaria meaning Volga Bulgaria not the European nation) 

[Iconodule]

St. Peter of Rostov, a Mongol prince who became a wonder-worker

I think he was Tatar, there are so many Tatar Orthodox many of which have taken on the Russian Ethnic identity

The term "Tatar" was/ is used in Russia and the West to designate a great array of peoples, including Mongols, who are not all really Tatars.

[AirKoryoTU-204]

Tatarlar or Tatar in English does describe the people of the Volga regions but they are a distinct form of Altaic people i.e. related like the previous groups I listed Qazan (Kazan) Tatars being the main type living in Tatarstan, RU today.  Mongolians are not Tatars never have been called Tatars although Tatars themselves are Mongolic meaning they desend from the Mongols, if we call every ethnicity which is partially Mongol Tatar then the entire Eastern European and Asian continent will be Tatar. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatars

[Iconodule]

The term "Tatar" was indeed applied to Mongols by Russians and other Europeans. Obviously it is not an accurate application of the term but historically it is common. One rarely sees the term "Mongol" in medieval European sources. The invaders under Genghis and Batu Khan were called "Tatars" but they were Mongols. St. Peter of Rostov was a Mongol (belonging to the Golden Horde) but he is called a Tatar.

[AirKoryoTU-204]

The term "Tatar" was indeed applied to Mongols by Russians and other Europeans. Obviously it is not an accurate application of the term but historically it is common. One rarely sees the term "Mongol" in medieval European sources. The invaders under Genghis and Batu Khan were called "Tatars" but they were Mongols. St. Peter of Rostov was a Mongol (belonging to the Golden Horde) but he is called a Tatar.

Fair enough, so they used to call Mongols Tatar?  How did the Russian distinguish from Mongol and (Volga Tatar i.e. Kazan) when they conqured Kazan?  I never knew this.  It's like calling Americans English or Canadians English because somwhere down the track many of them originated from there.

[Iconodule]

The term "Tatar" was indeed applied to Mongols by Russians and other Europeans. Obviously it is not an accurate application of the term but historically it is common. One rarely sees the term "Mongol" in medieval European sources. The invaders under Genghis and Batu Khan were called "Tatars" but they were Mongols. St. Peter of Rostov was a Mongol (belonging to the Golden Horde) but he is called a Tatar.

Fair enough, so they used to call Mongols Tatar?  How did the Russian distinguish from Mongol and (Volga Tatar i.e. Kazan) when they conqured Kazan?  I never knew this.  It's like calling Americans English or Canadians English because somwhere down the track many of them originated from there.

I don't know if they had a separate term for the Volga Tatars. It's funny what you say about "English," the Amish tend to call any outsider "English."

[Michał Kalina]

Dave Gahan.

[LizaSymonenko]

Look!  She's crossing herself!!

[username!]

Famous Orthodox Christian;  Jesus

[Eastern Mind]

Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers is Eastern Orthodox. He's a convert.

[Achronos]

The guy who played in Tuck Everlasting, what's his name?

[JamesR]

Jennifer Aniston-Raised Greek Orthodox and had a Greek Orthodox wedding in her show 'Friends'.

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

Jim Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church, recently just met the Patriarch I think.

John Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church as well.

Tom Hanks-Not sure of the details

Bob Marley-Converted to Ethiopian Orthodoxy right before his death. He actually attempted to be Baptised three times before in the past but it was always postponed because of death threats to his Bishop. He waited until his death bed in New York before converting.

I just watched videos of Bear Grylls jumping out of airplanes, he does cross himself from right to left... But with his full hand like many Catholics, not with three fingers.

Interesting. Perhaps he is an Eastern Rite Catholic?

[dzheremi]

Tom Hanks-Not sure of the details

He converted in 1988 to marry actress Rita Wilson (born Margarita Ibrahimov to Bulgarian and Greek parents).

[ag_vn]

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

I'm curious to see that. Can you provide links to some videos?

[JamesR]

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

I'm curious to see that. Can you provide links to some videos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

[Achronos]

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

Uh what? More details please.

[JamesRottnek]

The guy who played in Tuck Everlasting, what's his name?

Which one?

[JamesRottnek]

Jennifer Aniston-Raised Greek Orthodox and had a Greek Orthodox wedding in her show 'Friends'.

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

Jim Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church, recently just met the Patriarch I think.

John Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church as well.

Tom Hanks-Not sure of the details

Bob Marley-Converted to Ethiopian Orthodoxy right before his death. He actually attempted to be Baptised three times before in the past but it was always postponed because of death threats to his Bishop. He waited until his death bed in New York before converting.

I just watched videos of Bear Grylls jumping out of airplanes, he does cross himself from right to left... But with his full hand like many Catholics, not with three fingers.

Interesting. Perhaps he is an Eastern Rite Catholic?

Can you provide any more information on Eminem converting to Orthodoxy?  I've used Google but turned up nothing.

As an aside, if he has, then he and Orthonorm are even more alike than I thought...

[Basil 320]

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are active members of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA.  A few years back, the "Orthodox Observer" reported that Rita was a Sunday School teacher.  (The church is quite large and was constructed under the leadership of Charles Scouras in the late 1940's, while he was president of Fox, if I recall correctly.  Much of the construction was conducted by firms that worked for Fox and were encouraged (or coerced) into donating or significantly discounting their work;---he must be a grandson, but I see the name Charles Scouras as a producer of Desperate Housewives.)   (These threads get long and many don't read the older pages--most of the names in the prior seven comments have already been covered above.)

I'm not sure to which parish they belong, but Troy Polamalu and his wife's marriage was celebrated by GOAA Metropolitan Maximos, formerly of Pittsburgh.  I saw on facebook, soon after his enthronement in December, Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh was Polamalu's guest at a loge for a Pittsburgh Steelers game.

[Michał Kalina]

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

I'm curious to see that. Can you provide links to some videos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

WOW.

2:09

[PeterTheAleut]

Jennifer Aniston-Raised Greek Orthodox and had a Greek Orthodox wedding in her show 'Friends'.

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

Jim Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church, recently just met the Patriarch I think.

John Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church as well.

Tom Hanks-Not sure of the details

Bob Marley-Converted to Ethiopian Orthodoxy right before his death. He actually attempted to be Baptised three times before in the past but it was always postponed because of death threats to his Bishop. He waited until his death bed in New York before converting.

I just watched videos of Bear Grylls jumping out of airplanes, he does cross himself from right to left... But with his full hand like many Catholics, not with three fingers.

Interesting. Perhaps he is an Eastern Rite Catholic?

You might want to read the earlier posts on this thread, then, since many of the names you listed were already listed earlier.

[vamrat]

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

I'm curious to see that. Can you provide links to some videos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

WOW.

2:09

Wow, indeed.  If there is any substance to this I might like Mr. Shady more than I already did.  With any luck he might convert the Doctor as well.

[Andrew21091]

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

I'm curious to see that. Can you provide links to some videos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

WOW.

2:09

Wow, indeed.  If there is any substance to this I might like Mr. Shady more than I already did.  With any luck he might convert the Doctor as well.

I don't think the video proves anything. If you notice, he crosses with his left hand in the video.

[primuspilus]

Yeah I read Eminem is Orthodox. Isn't Tina Fey as well?

PP

[JamesR]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

Eminem crosses himself at 2:09

Go to google and search 'what religion is Eminem?' and all of the websites that come up will list him as an Orthodox Christian.

[JamesRottnek]

Yeah I read Eminem is Orthodox. Isn't Tina Fey as well?

PP

Where did you read this?  And, yes, Tina Fey at least was Orthodox, I don't know if she still considers herself an adherent of the Church.  Same with Zack Galifinakis and Chris Angel.

[biro]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

Eminem crosses himself at 2:09

Go to google and search 'what religion is Eminem?' and all of the websites that come up will list him as an Orthodox Christian.

Hmmm! Good for him. 

[LBK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

Eminem crosses himself at 2:09

Go to google and search 'what religion is Eminem?' and all of the websites that come up will list him as an Orthodox Christian.

He's crossing himself with his left hand, and his fingers are not arranged in the Orthodox fashion. 

[Shanghaiski]

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

Uh what? More details please.

I've always felt the yellow eminem exuded a spirit of Orthodox humility.

[Shanghaiski]

Jennifer Aniston-Raised Greek Orthodox and had a Greek Orthodox wedding in her show 'Friends'.

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

Jim Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church, recently just met the Patriarch I think.

John Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church as well.

Tom Hanks-Not sure of the details

Bob Marley-Converted to Ethiopian Orthodoxy right before his death. He actually attempted to be Baptised three times before in the past but it was always postponed because of death threats to his Bishop. He waited until his death bed in New York before converting.

I just watched videos of Bear Grylls jumping out of airplanes, he does cross himself from right to left... But with his full hand like many Catholics, not with three fingers.

Interesting. Perhaps he is an Eastern Rite Catholic?

Can you provide any more information on Eminem converting to Orthodoxy?  I've used Google but turned up nothing.

As an aside, if he has, then he and Orthonorm are even more alike than I thought...

Maybe Orthonorm IS Eminem...

[Shanghaiski]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

Eminem crosses himself at 2:09

Go to google and search 'what religion is Eminem?' and all of the websites that come up will list him as an Orthodox Christian.

He's crossing himself with his left hand, and his fingers are not arranged in the Orthodox fashion. 

Aha!

[That person]

Jennifer Aniston-Raised Greek Orthodox and had a Greek Orthodox wedding in her show 'Friends'.

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

Jim Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church, recently just met the Patriarch I think.

John Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church as well.

Tom Hanks-Not sure of the details

Bob Marley-Converted to Ethiopian Orthodoxy right before his death. He actually attempted to be Baptised three times before in the past but it was always postponed because of death threats to his Bishop. He waited until his death bed in New York before converting.

I just watched videos of Bear Grylls jumping out of airplanes, he does cross himself from right to left... But with his full hand like many Catholics, not with three fingers.

Interesting. Perhaps he is an Eastern Rite Catholic?

Can you provide any more information on Eminem converting to Orthodoxy?  I've used Google but turned up nothing.

As an aside, if he has, then he and Orthonorm are even more alike than I thought...

Now that I think about it, I've never seen Orthonorm and Eminem in the same place at the same time. Hmm...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

Eminem crosses himself at 2:09

Go to google and search 'what religion is Eminem?' and all of the websites that come up will list him as an Orthodox Christian.

I've found a variety of things, listing him as Orthodox, Baptist, Mormon (which would be hilarious if true), Christian of unspecified affiliation, and theist of unspecified affiliation. It'd be cool if he has become Orthodox, but I can't find anything reliable saying so.

[Basil 320]

Re. Reply No. 190

Tina Fey was married in a GOAA Metropolis of Pittsburgh parish in Pennsylvania, I don't remember which one.  (She is about a quarter Greek-American).

[Achronos]

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are active members of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA.  A few years back, the "Orthodox Observer" reported that Rita was a Sunday School teacher.  (The church is quite large and was constructed under the leadership of Charles Scouras in the late 1940's, while he was president of Fox, if I recall correctly.  Much of the construction was conducted by firms that worked for Fox and were encouraged (or coerced) into donating or significantly discounting their work;---he must be a grandson, but I see the name Charles Scouras as a producer of Desperate Housewives.)   (These threads get long and many don't read the older pages--most of the names in the prior seven comments have already been covered above.)

I'm not sure to which parish they belong, but Troy Polamalu and his wife's marriage was celebrated by GOAA Metropolitan Maximos, formerly of Pittsburgh.  I saw on facebook, soon after his enthronement in December, Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh was Polamalu's guest at a loge for a Pittsburgh Steelers game.

St. Sophia might be one of the most beautiful churches on earth.

[Achronos]

If Eminem is an Orthodox Christian that makes Oprah one too.

[JamesRottnek]

Jennifer Aniston-Raised Greek Orthodox and had a Greek Orthodox wedding in her show 'Friends'.

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

Jim Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church, recently just met the Patriarch I think.

John Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church as well.

Tom Hanks-Not sure of the details

Bob Marley-Converted to Ethiopian Orthodoxy right before his death. He actually attempted to be Baptised three times before in the past but it was always postponed because of death threats to his Bishop. He waited until his death bed in New York before converting.

I just watched videos of Bear Grylls jumping out of airplanes, he does cross himself from right to left... But with his full hand like many Catholics, not with three fingers.

Interesting. Perhaps he is an Eastern Rite Catholic?

Can you provide any more information on Eminem converting to Orthodoxy?  I've used Google but turned up nothing.

As an aside, if he has, then he and Orthonorm are even more alike than I thought...

Maybe Orthonorm IS Eminem...

Someone needs to contact the paparazzi and see if Eminem has been spotted in Cincinnati, any time recently.

[Andrew21091]

Yeah I read Eminem is Orthodox. Isn't Tina Fey as well?

PP

Is there any kind of fact to this claim. You cannot just say that you've read it and then leave it at that.


Also! primuspilus, LBK, and JamesRottnek. Do you all have to have the same avatar? It seems like I see that one all over the place now. 

[Andrew21091]

Go to google and search 'what religion is Eminem?' and all of the websites that come up will list him as an Orthodox Christian.

For kicks, I did this. Nothing said anything about him being Orthodox. Sorry.

[Opus118]

Presumably Vint Cerf (on the right):

With Bob Kahn, considered the father of the internet.

Also with Bob Kahn, a defender of the pivotal role of Al Gore in the establishment of the internet.
http://web.eecs.umich.edu/~fessler/misc/funny/gore,net.txt

[88Devin12]

Chris Cornell of Soundgarden/Audioslave (who knew? lol)
http://grungereport.net/?p=8790
Cornell is a recent convert, converting for his wife, but its interesting that they seem dedicated to raising their children as Orthodox. Considering some of his songs in the past, its pretty amazing that he's quite open to the Orthodox Church.

Jonathan Jackson of General Hospital
http://roadsfromemmaus.org/2012/02/27/from-general-hospital-to-the-hospital-of-souls-interview-with-jonathan-jackson/

[dzheremi]

I have heard that Kim Thayil, Soundgarden's guitarist, is also Christian, but I don't know if it is true or not. His parents were from Kerala, and there are a lot of Christians there (they're the third largest population, 19% or about 6.3 million people), but many of them aren't Orthohodox (Malabar Catholics, or "Chaldean" Assyrians/Nestorians).

[username!]

Our world famous Admin staff are orthodox.

[biro]

I was on 'Romper Room' in 1977... 

[PeterTheAleut]

Go to google and search 'what religion is Eminem?' and all of the websites that come up will list him as an Orthodox Christian.

For kicks, I did this. Nothing said anything about him being Orthodox. Sorry.

I did the same and got the same results.

[JamesRottnek]

Chris Cornell of Soundgarden/Audioslave (who knew? lol)
http://grungereport.net/?p=8790
Cornell is a recent convert, converting for his wife, but its interesting that they seem dedicated to raising their children as Orthodox. Considering some of his songs in the past, its pretty amazing that he's quite open to the Orthodox Church.

Jonathan Jackson of General Hospital
http://roadsfromemmaus.org/2012/02/27/from-general-hospital-to-the-hospital-of-souls-interview-with-jonathan-jackson/

That is extremely awesome about Cornell.  Just one more reason to keep listening to Soundgarden.

[Shanghaiski]

I was on 'Romper Room' in 1977... 

This made me laugh way more than I should have.

[orthonorm]

Jennifer Aniston-Raised Greek Orthodox and had a Greek Orthodox wedding in her show 'Friends'.

Eminem-Converted to Orthodoxy before going into rehab, in many of his videos he is seen crossing himself from right to left.

Jim Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church, recently just met the Patriarch I think.

John Belushi-Raised in the Albanian Orthodox Church as well.

Tom Hanks-Not sure of the details

Bob Marley-Converted to Ethiopian Orthodoxy right before his death. He actually attempted to be Baptised three times before in the past but it was always postponed because of death threats to his Bishop. He waited until his death bed in New York before converting.

I just watched videos of Bear Grylls jumping out of airplanes, he does cross himself from right to left... But with his full hand like many Catholics, not with three fingers.

Interesting. Perhaps he is an Eastern Rite Catholic?

Can you provide any more information on Eminem converting to Orthodoxy?  I've used Google but turned up nothing.

As an aside, if he has, then he and Orthonorm are even more alike than I thought...

If he keeps biting my . . . .

[orthonorm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

Eminem crosses himself at 2:09

Go to google and search 'what religion is Eminem?' and all of the websites that come up will list him as an Orthodox Christian.

He's crossing himself with his left hand, and his fingers are not arranged in the Orthodox fashion. 

He's a left hander who just took to crossing himself. Dollars to donuts. Pulling is just more "natural" than "pushing".

[PeterTheAleut]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e

Eminem crosses himself at 2:09

Go to google and search 'what religion is Eminem?' and all of the websites that come up will list him as an Orthodox Christian.

He's crossing himself with his left hand, and his fingers are not arranged in the Orthodox fashion. 

He's a left hander who just took to crossing himself. Dollars to donuts. Pulling is just more "natural" than "pushing".

Especially when you're pulling a rope.

[Michał Kalina]

Karolina Gruszka - Polish actress.

[mabsoota]

Adrain Zmed who played a cop on one of the TV series a few years back was the son of a Romanian Orthodox priest.

Orthodoc

i'm a bit late with this, as i am not sure orthodoc is still around, but does anyone have any more info an this?
by the way 'a few years back' was like more than 20 years ago coz i remember watching it in my youth and trying to work out where he was from.
of course, being romanian, it would explain why he was so good looking...

[biro]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Zmed

Here is his Wikipedia page.


http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0957460/

And here is his imdb page.


Hope these are helpful. 

[mabsoota]

thanks, biro, u r very sweet.
actually having read some of the stuff he is quoted as saying, i would like to point out that i was a kid when i used to see him on tv.
i don't remember any scenes involving minimal clothing, although they apparently took place.

[That person]

Comedian Demetri Martin is the son of a Greek Orthodox Priest, but is no longer practicing. He talks about religion some in this interview.

Zach Galifianakis was baptized Greek Orthodox but mostly attended a Presbetyrian Church as a child and has said "I grew up Greek Orthodox and I wish I knew more about the bible. But, I haven't really made my mind up about it. I think it's all mythology. It would be nice to believe in something, just in case. I mean, what do you have to lose? We can be all scientific about it, but just in case. I don't know. I'm still thinking about it. "

[ZealousZeal]

Probably no one cares since I'm willing to bet I'm the only one that watches this show, but I'm pretty sure Nina Dobrev of Vampire Diaries (team Damon in case you were wondering... what? No one? Ah, well...) is Bulgarian Orthodox. She was talking about her "name day" recently-ish, and she was born in Bulgaria.

[biro]

thanks, biro, u r very sweet.
actually having read some of the stuff he is quoted as saying, i would like to point out that i was a kid when i used to see him on tv.
i don't remember any scenes involving minimal clothing, although they apparently took place.

You're welcome. 

[Ansgar]

Probably no one cares since I'm willing to bet I'm the only one that watches this show, but I'm pretty sure Nina Dobrev of Vampire Diaries (team Damon in case you were wondering... what? No one? Ah, well...) is Bulgarian Orthodox. She was talking about her "name day" recently-ish, and she was born in Bulgaria.

Yep, she is orthodox.

[ZealousZeal]

Probably no one cares since I'm willing to bet I'm the only one that watches this show, but I'm pretty sure Nina Dobrev of Vampire Diaries (team Damon in case you were wondering... what? No one? Ah, well...) is Bulgarian Orthodox. She was talking about her "name day" recently-ish, and she was born in Bulgaria.

Yep, she is orthodox.

In the words of Zoolander, she is also really, really, ridiculously good-looking.

[Achronos]

Tom Hanks on Great and Holy Friday 2012



Prince Charles with Athonite monks, who I believe has secretly converted to Orthodoxy

[PeterTheAleut]

Prince Charles with Athonite monks, who I believe has secretly converted to Orthodoxy

There's no secret about the monks being Orthodox!

[Marc1152]

Prince Charles with Athonite monks, who I believe has secretly converted to Orthodoxy

There's no secret about the monks being Orthodox!

Monk: What's sweet and comes in a box at Easter

Prince: I dunno

Monk: The Queen Mum

[Peter J]

Tom Hanks on Great and Holy Friday 2012

Well he's sure not Catholic!

[Peter J]

I remember hearing an interview with a member of the Byrds (I forget which one) about his Orthodox faith.

[Agabus]

I remember hearing an interview with a member of the Byrds (I forget which one) about his Orthodox faith.

Chris Hillman

Lauryn Hill of Fugees and Lauryn Hill fame is reportedly Ethiopian Orthodox.

[tuesdayschild]

I remember hearing an interview with a member of the Byrds (I forget which one) about his Orthodox faith.

Chris Hillman

Interview: http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/illuminedheart/turn_turn_turn

[Peter J]

Yup, that was the one. 

[dzheremi]

Hahaha. Lauryn Hill of Lauryn Hill fame.

Probably the most famous Copt known in the West is former UN Secretary General is Boutros Boutros-Ghali, though according to Wiki we also have a number of internationally-known celebrity chefs: Christopher Maher (also an actor), Karine Bakhoum (also a judge on "Iron Chef America" TV program), and Michael Mina. Thanks Wiki! I have no idea who any of those people are, but I find it funny that Copts would be famous for cooking when we spend so much time fasting.

[Asteriktos]

former UN Secretary General is Boutros Boutros-Ghali,

[ethnocentric/hick comment]

Why do those UN secretary guys always have strange names like that? I suppose Kofi Annan isn't as strange. But then along came Ban Ki-moon, which is open to a lot of jokes.

[ethnocentric/hick comment]

[PeterTheAleut]

former UN Secretary General is Boutros Boutros-Ghali,

[ethnocentric/hick comment]

Why do those UN secretary guys always have strange names like that? I suppose Kofi Annan isn't as strange. But then along came Ban Ki-moon, which is open to a lot of jokes.

[ethnocentric/hick comment]

Yeah, I can remember the situation with the Chinese pilot who got caught where he shouldn't have been. His name was Wang Wei (pronounced Wong Way).

[dzheremi]

former UN Secretary General is Boutros Boutros-Ghali,

[ethnocentric/hick comment]

Why do those UN secretary guys always have strange names like that? I suppose Kofi Annan isn't as strange. But then along came Ban Ki-moon, which is open to a lot of jokes.

[ethnocentric/hick comment]

Because of this and this and this.

[Peter J]

Yeah, I can remember the situation with the Chinese pilot who got caught where he shouldn't have been. His name was Wang Wei (pronounced Wong Way).

I was going to post the Family Matters clip with "Waldo, you brought back the Wong kid!" but it doesn't seem to be online.

[Peter J]

Comedian Demetri Martin is the son of a Greek Orthodox Priest, but is no longer practicing. He talks about religion some in this interview.

Zach Galifianakis was baptized Greek Orthodox but mostly attended a Presbetyrian Church as a child and has said "I grew up Greek Orthodox and I wish I knew more about the bible. But, I haven't really made my mind up about it. I think it's all mythology. It would be nice to believe in something, just in case. I mean, what do you have to lose? We can be all scientific about it, but just in case. I don't know. I'm still thinking about it. "

Hmmm ... I wonder if he read Blaise Pascal.

[JamesRottnek]

Comedian Demetri Martin is the son of a Greek Orthodox Priest, but is no longer practicing. He talks about religion some in this interview.

Zach Galifianakis was baptized Greek Orthodox but mostly attended a Presbetyrian Church as a child and has said "I grew up Greek Orthodox and I wish I knew more about the bible. But, I haven't really made my mind up about it. I think it's all mythology. It would be nice to believe in something, just in case. I mean, what do you have to lose? We can be all scientific about it, but just in case. I don't know. I'm still thinking about it. "

Hmmm ... I wonder if he read Blaise Pascal.

I've never understood why anyone would think Pascal's Wager is a useful tool in converting people (not that I think you've ever used it; but I saw quite a few Protestants bring it up to non-Christians...).

[stanley123]

Comedian Demetri Martin is the son of a Greek Orthodox Priest, but is no longer practicing. He talks about religion some in this interview.

Zach Galifianakis was baptized Greek Orthodox but mostly attended a Presbetyrian Church as a child and has said "I grew up Greek Orthodox and I wish I knew more about the bible. But, I haven't really made my mind up about it. I think it's all mythology. It would be nice to believe in something, just in case. I mean, what do you have to lose? We can be all scientific about it, but just in case. I don't know. I'm still thinking about it. "

Hmmm ... I wonder if he read Blaise Pascal.

I've never understood why anyone would think Pascal's Wager is a useful tool in converting people (not that I think you've ever used it; but I saw quite a few Protestants bring it up to non-Christians...).

Have you heard of John von Neumann?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann

[JamesRottnek]

Comedian Demetri Martin is the son of a Greek Orthodox Priest, but is no longer practicing. He talks about religion some in this interview.

Zach Galifianakis was baptized Greek Orthodox but mostly attended a Presbetyrian Church as a child and has said "I grew up Greek Orthodox and I wish I knew more about the bible. But, I haven't really made my mind up about it. I think it's all mythology. It would be nice to believe in something, just in case. I mean, what do you have to lose? We can be all scientific about it, but just in case. I don't know. I'm still thinking about it. "

Hmmm ... I wonder if he read Blaise Pascal.

I've never understood why anyone would think Pascal's Wager is a useful tool in converting people (not that I think you've ever used it; but I saw quite a few Protestants bring it up to non-Christians...).

Have you heard of John von Neumann?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann

No I've not; but don't worry, I've already been informed by two board members that Pascal's Wager is a part of a larger work that is worth a read, and I shouldn't have dismissed it so quickly.

[Peter J]

Comedian Demetri Martin is the son of a Greek Orthodox Priest, but is no longer practicing. He talks about religion some in this interview.

Zach Galifianakis was baptized Greek Orthodox but mostly attended a Presbetyrian Church as a child and has said "I grew up Greek Orthodox and I wish I knew more about the bible. But, I haven't really made my mind up about it. I think it's all mythology. It would be nice to believe in something, just in case. I mean, what do you have to lose? We can be all scientific about it, but just in case. I don't know. I'm still thinking about it. "

Hmmm ... I wonder if he read Blaise Pascal.

I've never understood why anyone would think Pascal's Wager is a useful tool in converting people (not that I think you've ever used it; but I saw quite a few Protestants bring it up to non-Christians...).

Have you heard of John von Neumann?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann

No I've not; but don't worry, I've already been informed by two board members that Pascal's Wager is a part of a larger work that is worth a read, and I shouldn't have dismissed it so quickly.

Huh ... I wasn't aware of that, or perhaps just never thought about it.