Moderator: Mark Templet
Hey all, I am new here and am wanting to convert to Orthodoxy, as I believe she has the fullness of faith in Christ. I was wondering...are there any parishes or missions of Traditional Orthodox churches in San Antonio??? As that is the city closest to me, I would prefer to go there. I have looked at some of the Jurisdiction Websites, but haven't found any parishes even remotely near to me. Thank you for any help you can offer.
Pray for me...
Welcome to Orthodoxy, I think that only the Orthodox church in america is in san antonio, His eminence Arch bishop Dmitri is the ruling bishop in that area...also you are very luck for there is a great Greek Orthodox Monastery located near San Antonio...If you hear of an Othodox Monastery in Blanco Texas Stay away,they are uncanonical and have a bad rap.......The Greek monastery website is located below
www.holyarchangels.org
Thank you very much...I am in contact with Fr. Suciu at St. Sophia's Orthodox Church (GOA), and am going to visit there this sunday. Thanks for the warning about the monastery in Blanco. I don't think there are any San Antonians who grew up in the 90's who don't remember the Christ of the Hills debacle. I will keep my distance. I would love to visit the GOA monastery in Kendalia, TX.
I have a question for you guys, I have been in contact with another priest, who is a part of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church-Canonical in the USA. Is this jurisdiction canonical. I know that they claim apostolic succession from a Met. Alexis Nizza. Does anyone know anything about him??? The website for the Metropolia that the priest is under is:
I think THe OCA does alot for those new to Orthodox,they offer alot of Catachumen clases etc......and then you can decide later where you belong..........The western rite jurisdiction you mentioned,i have never known anyone in..but the name itself (WESTERN RITE) should lead you instead to The Greek Arch-diocese....but i honestly recommend the OCA at this time......
Dear friend,
I would recommend that, if you're already in contact with Father Daniel, you stick with St Sophia's if you feel at home there. Father Daniel is a wonderful priest, a pious and learned man who can safely guide you in your journey to embracing "the whole Christ, Head and Body". As a parish of the Greek Archdiocese, there are many things there that could doubtless be criticized. No matter. None of us (and certainly not catechumens!) has carte blanche to judge the Church. Which is not to say that we're not supposed to learn well the standards of a normal Orthodox Christian life and abide by them, but rather, that we are to flee the temptation of making ourselves the measure of Orthodoxy, which is so common in this age of information overloads.
If St Sophia's doesn't feel like home, you might wish to visit St Antony's, or the Annunciation Chapel, which is a Romanian mission. I believe those are your options in the area.
As for the group you mention, please stay away from it. This is not a Traditional or Old Calendar Church, but rather one of the many vagante splinters of the Ukranian catastrophe. More about their convoluted recent history, as well as about their policy of intercommunion with Papists both Eastern and Western, may be learned from their official website.
I hope this is helpful.
With love in Christ,
Esteban (Julio)
"This life was given to you for repentance. Do not waste it in other things."
--St Isaac the Syrian
