Deacon Nikolai wrote:The Greek tradition allows people to name themselves after the Ever Virgin Mary the Theotokos, while this is not part of the Russian traditional praxis. Let us not lash out in zeal without knowledge here.
Russian tradition doesn't allow naming someone after Our Lady?? Since when??
I am not sure how long it has been, but I had been told this long before I became Orthodoxy. No one is named after the Theotokos or Christ unlike in Mexico where Jesus and Maria are some of the top names for children. Most Marias baptized in to the Russian Orthodox Church are named after Mary of Egypt or one of the other Holy Maidens rather than the Mother of God.
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This thread seems to contain 1) an unpleasant side, and 2) erroneous information, me thinks.
First, many, many Orthodox saints of the new covenant and believers bear names of Noble characters from the old covenant.
Second, I remember only a few years ago visiting France with three Russian princesses, one of whom was named Maria. She came from a very pious Russian family.
(As an aside, a friend of mine was in a part of London with a sizeable Jewish population. In a conversation he was introduced by one woman by name with the tag, and he's Orthodox. After my friend left one person made the observation that he didn't look very Jewish. When my friend was told this later he replied people often made the assumption that if you were Orthodox, you were Jewish, indeed to some the only true Jews as the Liberal and progressives weren't truly Jewish.)
Joasia:
I haven't laughed so hard or so long in a long time. Joasia, honey, readjust your scarf...your prejudice is showing. I would remind you about the old saying regarding assuming things. 
.....
As has been stated elsewhere here in this fora and for your edification since you insist on assuming.....I am cradle Orthodox. And yes, I am comfortable enough with who and what I am that I allow myself to laugh at who and what I am.... 
Miriam
mor ephrem wrote:Why do people insist on letting Roman Catholics define who we are? We have the Ecumenical Councils for that. The title Orthodox is a lot older than 1054. If I'm not mistaken, Orthodox was first used at the First Ecumenical Council.
Oh what do you know, you'rea heretic, too, remember! 
Schultz wrote:mor ephrem wrote:Why do people insist on letting Roman Catholics define who we are? We have the Ecumenical Councils for that. The title Orthodox is a lot older than 1054. If I'm not mistaken, Orthodox was first used at the First Ecumenical Council.
Oh what do you know, you'rea heretic, too, remember!
He wasn't a "heretic " in A.D. 325 and Mor Phil is correct!
Demetri
