{"id":20946,"date":"2023-12-09T16:40:10","date_gmt":"2023-12-09T16:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?page_id=20946"},"modified":"2023-12-16T10:40:22","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T10:40:22","slug":"orthodoxy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/orthodoxy\/","title":{"rendered":"Orthodoxy"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"20946\" class=\"elementor elementor-20946\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5382ceb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5382ceb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-11ac097\" data-id=\"11ac097\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d97d813 elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"d97d813\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper fullwidth\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">Orthodoxy<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\">How We&#039;re Different<\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">Orthodoxy typically refers to a set of religious beliefs and practices that are considered traditional, adhering closely to established doctrines and rituals. In the context of Christianity, Orthodox Christianity is distinct from other Christian denominations, such as Catholicism and Protestantism, in several key ways:\n\n<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3fc5231 different elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3fc5231\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1f5291c elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"1f5291c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-206336a elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"206336a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-church\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d6bb84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"1d6bb84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h3 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Doctrinal Differences:<\/h3><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\"><u>Filioque Controversy<\/u>: One of the historical doctrinal disputes involves the \"Filioque\" clause in the Nicene Creed. The Orthodox Church rejects the addition of this clause, which asserts that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-91c4efe elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"91c4efe\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d15b0e elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"0d15b0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-church\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28ce04c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"28ce04c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h3 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Ecclesiastical Structure:<\/h3><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\"><u>Ecclesiastical Hierarchy<\/u>: Orthodox Christianity has a decentralized structure with autocephalous (independent) and autocephalous-like churches. Each local church is self-governing, headed by a bishop, and makes decisions collectively in councils. This differs from the centralized authority structure in Roman Catholicism.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-392bcff elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"392bcff\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a7f56e elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"5a7f56e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-church\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e222a26 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"e222a26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h3 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Liturgical Practices:<\/h3><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\"><u>Liturgy and Worship<\/u>: The Orthodox Church has a distinct liturgical tradition that includes elaborate and symbolic rituals. The Divine Liturgy is a central worship service, and icons play a significant role in Orthodox worship. The liturgical practices in Orthodoxy can be different from those in other Christian traditions.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-db776e1 different elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"db776e1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0ab9f9d elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"0ab9f9d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18616b0 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"18616b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-church\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a2b173 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"0a2b173\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h3 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Understanding of Salvation:<\/h3><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\"><u>Theosis<\/u>: The Orthodox concept of salvation often includes the idea of theosis, which is the process of becoming one with God. This understanding of salvation may differ from the emphasis on justification by faith alone found in some Protestant traditions.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b57002a elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"b57002a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af9cefe elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"af9cefe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-church\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c93f8ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"c93f8ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h3 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Approach to Theology:<\/h3><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\"><u>Apophatic Theology<\/u>: Orthodoxy often employs apophatic theology, emphasizing the ineffability of God and the limitations of human language in describing the divine. This is in contrast to certain Western theological traditions that may use more systematic and speculative approaches.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-744c8f3 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"744c8f3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-666adde elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"666adde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-church\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63ad9a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"63ad9a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h3 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Iconography:<\/h3><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\"><u>Use of Icons<\/u>: The Orthodox Church places a strong emphasis on the use of religious icons, which are considered essential for conveying spiritual truths. This practice may differ from the traditions in Protestantism, which sometimes avoids or minimizes the use of religious images.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fa47506 different elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fa47506\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7a1279e elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"7a1279e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8aa9d91 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"8aa9d91\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1430bbb elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"1430bbb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-church\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-011cdce elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"011cdce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h3 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Understanding of Original Sin:<\/h3><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\"><u>Ancestral Sin<\/u>: While both Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity acknowledge the concept of original sin, the Orthodox Church often frames it as \"ancestral sin,\" emphasizing the inherited consequences rather than guilt. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7949ccd elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"7949ccd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4603d24 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"4603d24\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ef3b71b\" data-id=\"ef3b71b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b9db52 elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"6b9db52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">Orthodoxy<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\">Jesus Prayer Video<\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">Embark on a spiritual journey with our 'Jesus Prayer Video.' Let the serene visuals and sacred words of the Jesus Prayer bring tranquility and connection to your heart. Experience a moment of profound reflection and inner peace.<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-efc6125\" data-id=\"efc6125\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-030687f elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"030687f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><iframe width=\"620\" height=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fhMl8OQ6Mrw\" title=\"What is the Jesus Prayer?\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0f2ee42 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0f2ee42\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9cdb0c0\" data-id=\"9cdb0c0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a1a691 elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"1a1a691\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper fullwidth\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">Orthodoxy<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\">Why Men Love Orthodoxy<\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">Orthodoxy typically refers to a set of religious beliefs and practices that are considered traditional, adhering closely to established doctrines and rituals. In the context of Christianity, Orthodox Christianity is distinct from other Christian denominations, such as Catholicism and Protestantism, in several key ways:\n\n<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2350e2f elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"2350e2f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b1c9667 elementor-hidden-mobile\" data-id=\"b1c9667\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8123433\" data-id=\"8123433\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b603ef9 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b603ef9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"966\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/orthodox-man.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-23264\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/orthodox-man.jpg 966w, https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/orthodox-man-768x490.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 966px) 100vw, 966px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c424d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"0c424d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">By Frederica Mathewes-Green<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\"><\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">In a time when churches of every description are faced with Vanishing Male Syndrome, men are showing up at Eastern Orthodox churches in numbers that, if not numerically impressive, are proportionately intriguing. This may be the only church which attracts and holds men in numbers equal to women. As Leon Podles wrote in his 1999 book, \u201cThe Church Impotent: The Feminization of Christianity,\u201d \u201cThe Orthodox are the only Christians who write basso profundo church music, or need to.\u201d\n\nRather than guess why this is, I emailed a hundred Orthodox men, most of whom joined the Church as adults. What do they think makes this church particularly attractive to men? Their responses, below, may spark some ideas for leaders in other churches, who are looking for ways to keep guys in the church.<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b6ca36d elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"b6ca36d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b300240\" data-id=\"b300240\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d1b00b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5d1b00b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/st-demetrios.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-23326\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21e5e68 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"21e5e68\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki\n<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae4c42a\" data-id=\"ae4c42a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b729d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"2b729d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">Challenges<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\"><\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">The term most commonly cited by these men was \u201cchallenging.\u201d Orthodoxy is \u201cactive and not passive.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s the only church where you are required to adapt to it, rather than it adapting to you.\u201d \u201cThe longer you are in it, the more you realize it demands of you.\u201d <br><br>\n\nThe \u201csheer physicality of Orthodox worship\u201d is part of the appeal. Regular days of fasting from meat and dairy, \u201cstanding for hours on end, performing prostrations, going without food and water [before communion]\u2026When you get to the end you feel that you\u2019ve faced down a challenge.\u201d \u201cOrthodoxy appeals to a man\u2019s desire for self-mastery through discipline.\u201d <br><br>\n\n\u201cIn Orthodoxy, the theme of spiritual warfare is ubiquitous; saints, including female saints, are warriors. Warfare requires courage, fortitude, and heroism. We are called to be \u2018strugglers\u2019 against sin, to be \u2018athletes\u2019 as St. Paul says. And the prize is given to the victor. The fact that you must \u2018struggle\u2019 during worship by standing up throughout long services is itself a challenge men are willing to take up.\u201d <br><br>\n\nA recent convert summed up, \u201cOrthodoxy is serious. It is difficult. It is demanding. It is about mercy, but it\u2019s also about overcoming oneself. I am challenged in a deep way, not to \u2018feel good about myself\u2019 but to become holy. It is rigorous, and in that rigor I find liberation. And you know, so does my wife.\u201d\n\n<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-24c0eec elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"24c0eec\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-00e8cfb\" data-id=\"00e8cfb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-974f313 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"974f313\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"273\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/orthodox-worship.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-23460\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b41f38 elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"7b41f38\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper fullwidth\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">Clear Disciplines<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\"><\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">Several mentioned that they really appreciated having clarity about the content of these challenges and what they were supposed to do. \u201cMost guys feel a lot more comfortable when they know what\u2019s expected of them.\u201d \u201cOrthodoxy presents a reasonable set of boundaries.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s easier for guys to express themselves in worship if there are guidelines about how it\u2019s supposed to work\u2014especially when those guidelines are so simple and down-to-earth that you can just set out and start doing something.\u201d <br><br>\n\n\u201cThe prayers the Church provides for us \u2014 morning prayers, evening prayers, prayers before and after meals, and so on \u2014 give men a way to engage in spirituality without feeling put on the spot, or worrying about looking stupid because they don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d\n\nThey appreciate learning clear-cut physical actions that are expected to form character and understanding. \u201cPeople begin learning immediately through ritual and symbolism, for example, by making the sign of the cross. This regimen of discipline makes one mindful of one\u2019s relation to the Trinity, to the Church, and to everyone he meets.\u201d\n\n<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3edce52 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3edce52\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-626cd89\" data-id=\"626cd89\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-819b81b elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"819b81b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper fullwidth\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">A Goal<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\"><\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">Men also appreciate that this challenge has a goal: union with God. One said that in a previous church \u201cI didn\u2019t feel I was getting anywhere in my spiritual life (or that there was anywhere to get to \u2014 I was already there, right?) But something, who knew what, was missing. Isn\u2019t there SOMETHING I should be doing, Lord?\u201d <br><br>\n\nOrthodoxy preserves and transmits ancient Christian wisdom about how to progress toward this union, which is called \u201ctheosis.\u201d Every sacrament or spiritual exercise is designed to bring the person, body and soul, further into continual awareness of the presence of Christ within, and also within every other human being. As a cloth becomes saturated with dye by osmosis, we are saturated with God by theosis. <br><br>\n\nA catechumen wrote that he was finding icons helpful in resisting unwanted thoughts. \u201cIf you just close your eyes to some visual temptation, there are plenty of stored images to cause problems. But if you surround yourself with icons, you have a choice of whether to look at something tempting or something holy.\u201d <br><br>\n\nA priest writes, \u201cMen need a challenge, a goal, perhaps an adventure \u2014 in primitive terms, a hunt. Western Christianity has lost the ascetic, that is, the athletic aspect of Christian life. This was the purpose of monasticism, which arose in the East largely as a men\u2019s movement. Women entered monastic life as well, and our ancient hymns still speak of women martyrs as showing \u2018manly courage.\u2019\u201d <br><br>\n\n\u201cOrthodoxy emphasizes doing\u2026Guys are activity oriented.\u201d<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-76afc27 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"76afc27\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-adf3123\" data-id=\"adf3123\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cfec3a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"cfec3a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper fullwidth\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">No Sentimentality<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\"><\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">In \u201cThe Church Impotent,\u201d cited above (and recommended by several of these men), Leon Podles offers a theory about how Western Christian piety became feminized. In the 12th-13th centuries a particularly tender, even erotic, strain of devotion arose, one which invited the individual believer to picture himself or herself (rather than the Church as a whole) as the Bride of Christ. \u201cBridal Mysticism\u201d was enthusiastically adopted by devout women, and left an enduring stamp on Western Christianity. It understandably had less appeal for guys. For centuries in the West, men who chose the ministry have been stereotyped as effeminate. A life-long Orthodox layman says that, from the outside, Western Christianity strikes him as \u201ca love story written for women by women.\u201d <br><br>\n\nThe Eastern Church escaped Bridal Mysticism because the great split between East and West had already taken place. The men who wrote me expressed hearty dislike for what they perceive as a soft Western Jesus. \u201cAmerican Christianity in the last two hundred years has been feminized. It presents Jesus as a friend, a lover, someone who \u2018walks with me and talks with me.\u2019 This is fine rapturous imagery for women who need a social life. Or it depicts Jesus whipped, dead on the cross. Neither is the type of Christ the typical male wants much to do with.\u201d <br><br>\n\nDuring worship, \u201cmen don\u2019t want to pray in the Western fashion with hands clasped, lips pressed together, and a facial expression of forced serenity.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s guys holding hands with other guys and singing campfire songs.\u201d \u201cLines about \u2018reaching out for His embrace,\u2018\u2019\u2018wanting to touch His face,\u2019 while being \u2018overwhelmed by the power of His love\u2019\u2014those are difficult songs for one man to sing to another Man.\u201d <br><br>\n\n\u201cA friend of mine told me that the first thing he does when he walks into a church is to look at the curtains. That tells him who is making the decisions in that church, and the type of Christian they want to attract.\u201d <br><br>\n\n\u201cGuys either want to be challenged to fight for a glorious and honorable cause, and get filthy dirty in the process, or to loaf in our recliners with plenty of beer, pizza, and football. But most churches want us to behave like orderly gentlemen, keeping our hands and mouths nice and clean.\u201d <br><br>\n\nOne man said that worship at his Pentecostal church had been \u201clargely an emotional experience. Feelings. Tears. Repeated rededication of one\u2019s life to Christ, in large emotional group settings. Singing emotional songs, swaying hands aloft. Even Scripture reading was supposed to produce an emotional experience. I am basically a do-er, I want to do things, and not talk about or emote my way through them! As a business person I knew that nothing in business comes without effort, energy, and investment. Why would the spiritual life be any different?\u201d <br><br>\n\nAnother, who visited Catholic churches, says, \u201cThey were conventional, easy, and modern, when my wife and I were looking for something traditional, hard, and counter-cultural, something ancient and martial.\u201d A catechumen says that at his non-denominational church \u201cworship was shallow, haphazard, cobbled together from whatever was most current; sometimes we\u2019d stand, sometimes we\u2019d sit, without much rhyme or reason to it. I got to thinking about how a stronger grounding in tradition would help.\u201d <br><br>\n\n\u201cIt infuriated me on my last Ash Wednesday that the priest delivered a homily about how the real meaning of Lent is to learn to love ourselves more. It forced me to realize how completely sick I was of bourgeois, feel-good American Christianity.\u201d <br><br>\n\nA convert priest says that men are drawn to the dangerous element of Orthodoxy, which involves \u201cthe self-denial of a warrior, the terrifying risk of loving one\u2019s enemies, the unknown frontiers to which a commitment to humility might call us. Lose any of those dangerous qualities and we become the \u2018JoAnn Fabric Store\u2019 of churches: nice colors and a very subdued clientele.\u201d <br><br>\n\n\u201cMen get pretty cynical when they sense someone\u2019s attempting to manipulate their emotions, especially when it\u2019s in the name of religion. They appreciate the objectivity of Orthodox worship. It\u2019s not aimed at prompting religious feelings but at performing an objective duty.\u201d <br><br>\n\nFrom a deacon: \u201cEvangelical churches call men to be passive and nice (think \u2018Mr. Rogers\u2019). Orthodox churches call men to be courageous and act (think \u2018Braveheart\u2019).<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-df7d2b2 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"df7d2b2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3b68215\" data-id=\"3b68215\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc4fdc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"dc4fdc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/defeat-of-devil.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-23481\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/defeat-of-devil.png 400w, https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/defeat-of-devil-80x80.png 80w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34c75a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"34c75a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper fullwidth\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">Jesus Christ<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\"><\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">What draws men to Orthodoxy is not simply that it\u2019s challenging or mysterious. What draws them is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the center of everything the Church does or says. <br><br>\n\nIn contrast to some other churches, \u201cOrthodoxy offers a robust Jesus\u201d (and even a robust Virgin Mary, for that matter, hailed in one hymn as \u201cour Captain, Queen of War\u201d). Several used the term \u201cmartial\u201d or referred to Orthodoxy as the \u201cMarine Corps\u201d of Christianity. (The warfare is against self-destructive sin and the unseen spiritual powers, not other people, of course.) <br><br>\n\nOne contrasted this \u201crobust\u201d quality with \u201cthe feminized pictures of Jesus I grew up with. I\u2019ve never had a male friend who would not have expended serious effort to avoid meeting someone who looked like that.\u201d Though drawn to Jesus Christ as a teen, \u201cI felt ashamed of this attraction, as if it were something a red-blooded American boy shouldn\u2019t take that seriously, almost akin to playing with dolls.\u201d <br><br>\n\nA priest writes: \u201cChrist in Orthodoxy is a militant, Jesus takes Hell captive. Orthodox Jesus came to cast fire on the earth. (Males can relate to this.) In Holy Baptism we pray for the newly-enlisted warriors of Christ, male and female, that they may \u2018be kept ever warriors invincible.\u2019\u201d <br><br>\n \nAfter several years in Orthodoxy, one man found a service of Christmas carols in a Protestant church \u201cshocking, even appalling.\u201d Compared to the Orthodox hymns of Christ\u2019s Nativity, \u201c\u2019the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay\u2019 has almost nothing to do with the Eternal Logos entering inexorably, silently yet heroically, into the fabric of created reality.\u201d<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ef54ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"5ef54ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper fullwidth\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">Continuity<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\"><\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">Many intellectually-inclined Orthodox converts began by reading Church history and the early Christian writers, and found it increasingly compelling. Eventually they faced the question of which of the two most ancient churches, the Roman Catholic or the Orthodox, makes the most convincing claim of being the original Church of the Apostles. <br><br>\n\nA lifelong Orthodox says that what men like is \u201cstability: Men find they can trust the Orthodox Church because of the consistent and continuous tradition of faith it has maintained over the centuries.\u201d A convert says, \u201cThe Orthodox Church offers what others do not: continuity with the first followers of Christ.\u201d This is continuity, not archeology; the early church still exists, and you can join it. <br><br>\n\n\u201cWhat drew me was Christ\u2019s promises to the Church about the gates of hell not prevailing, and the Holy Spirit leading into all truth\u2014and then seeing in Orthodoxy a unity of faith, worship, and doctrine with continuity throughout history.\u201d <br><br>\n\nAnother word for continuity is \u201ctradition.\u201d A catechumen writes that he had tried to learn everything necessary to interpret Scripture correctly, including ancient languages. \u201cI expected to dig my way down to the foundation and confirm everything I\u2019d been taught. Instead, the further down I went, the weaker everything seemed. I realized I had only acquired the ability to manipulate the Bible to say pretty much anything I wanted it to. The only alternative to cynicism was tradition. If the Bible was meant to say anything, it was meant to say it within a community, with a tradition to guide the reading. In Orthodoxy I found what I was looking for.\u201d<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26ded51 elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"26ded51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper fullwidth\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">Men in Balance<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\"><\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">A priest writes: \u201cThere are only two models for men: be \u2018manly\u2019 and strong, rude, crude, macho, and probably abusive; or be sensitive, kind, repressed and wimpy. But in Orthodoxy, masculine is held together with feminine; it\u2019s real and down to earth, \u2018neither male nor female,\u2019 but Christ who \u2018unites things in heaven and things on earth.\u2019\u201d <br><br>\n\nAnother priest comments that, if one spouse is originally more insistent about the family converting to Orthodoxy than the other, \u201cwhen both spouses are making confessions, over time they both become deepened and neither one is as dominant in the spiritual relationship.\u201d<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a37143 elementor-widget elementor-widget-zegensectiontitle\" data-id=\"7a37143\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"zegensectiontitle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-title-wrapper fullwidth\"><div class=\"title-wrap\"><span class=\"sub-title\">Men in Leadership<\/span><h2 class=\"section-title\"><\/h2><span class=\"title-separator separator-border theme-color-bg\"><\/span><\/div><!-- .title-wrap --><div class=\"section-description\">Like it or not, men simply prefer to be led by men. In Orthodoxy, lay women do everything lay men do, including preach, teach, and chair the parish council. But behind the iconostasis, around the altar, it\u2019s all men. One respondent summarized what men like in Orthodoxy this way: \u201cBeards!\u201d <br><br>\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s the last place in the world men aren\u2019t told they\u2019re evil simply for being men.\u201d Instead of negativity, they are constantly surrounded by positive role models in the saints, in icons and in the daily round of hymns and stories about saints\u2019 lives. This is another concrete element that men appreciate \u2014 there are other real human beings to look to, rather than a blur of ethereal terms. \u201cThe glory of God is a man fully alive,\u201d said St. Irenaeus. One writer adds that \u201cThe best way to attract a man to the Orthodox Church is to show him an Orthodox man.\u201d <br><br>\n\nBut no secondary thing, no matter how good, can supplant first place. \u201cA dangerous life is not the goal. Christ is the goal. A free spirit is not the goal. Christ is the goal. He is the towering figure of history around whom all men and women will eventually gather, to whom every knee will bow, and whom every tongue will confess.\u201d<\/div><!-- .section-description --><\/div><!-- .section-title-wrapper -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Orthodoxy How We&#039;re Different Orthodoxy typically refers to a set of religious beliefs and practices that are considered traditional, adhering closely to established doctrines and rituals. In the context of Christianity, Orthodox Christianity is distinct from other Christian denominations, such as Catholicism and Protestantism, in several key ways: Doctrinal Differences: Filioque Controversy: One of the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"wf_page_folders":[43],"class_list":["post-20946","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20946"}],"version-history":[{"count":265,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23536,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20946\/revisions\/23536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"wf_page_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_page_folders?post=20946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}