I've been lurking the background for awhile reading and learning from all the post. I am also one of those people that have great difficulty putting my thoughts into printed words, so please forgive me if I am not to eloquent in some of my responses.
I totally agree with you Miriam. It seems you and I have many of the same feelings and questions about Orthodoxy. I am a cradle Orthodox brought up in the Syrian Orthodox Church (before it was known as Antiochian). I am from an Ethnic background and have seen and experienced many of the predijuices you had mentioned. It has been and I imagine it will also be that middle eastern men treat women as inferior. I have had priest tell me that women should be submissive to the men. It is a cultural thing and even though the Saints say that women should be submissive, it is my belief that they were only reacting and teaching what they themselves had been taught by their parents and society.
I do feel that there needs to be more modesty by women and men in church. I find it very distracting during communion when yound women are in line to recieve the Holy Mysteries and they are wearing very revealing attire. Even my 13 y/o son is upset at this. It is just shameful!!
I have also found that many Orthodox Churches,where there is a greater number of cradle Orthodox, tend not to fully accept new comers. They are not too friendly to others that are interested in Orthodoxy and show it. They themselves are too wrapped up in their own traditions from the different villages and not only critisize converts but in many instances critisize the priest,especially if the priest is a convert. I am not judging anyone, just making some observations.
In America, for Orthodoxy to mean anything to english speaking people, I feel the Liturgy should be in english so that the young children and not so yound can experience the beauty of the Divine Liturgy and understand it. Unfortunately, many people from the old country wish to keep the Liturgy in their spoken tongue. I can honestly say that in my youth, sitting through a 2 hour Liturgy in Arabic was frustrating and made me very unattentive! I recieved many a smack to the back of head from well meaning family and parishioners. Many a cold stare from the priest as I was an altar boy and not paying attention at times.
Orthodoxy has many meanings to different people. The Traditionalist that feels that their way is true Orthodoxy because they follow or try to follow to the letter all that was written by the Desert Fathers and the Saints. No deviation-don't pray with anyone who isn't Orthodox, don't asscociate with anyone who isn't Orthodoxy...etc. The Russians, Copts, Antiochians, Greeks and Serbs and many more all have their idea of Orthodoxy and traditions. All these cultures can not even agree that they are all Orthodox because they are too busy searching the cannons to find something wrong with the other. Whose in communion with whom, you can recieve the body and blood of Christ here but not here.
I've rambled enough with my first post, sorry about it being so scattered brained. I really enjoy reading all of everyones post on this thread and I am learing quite alot.
For everyone wondering, where the heck did this guy come from I'll give you some information about myself. I am currently taking the St. Stephens Course of Theology through the Antiochian Archdiocese. I am married with a 13 y/o son at home and we attend a Greek Orthodoxy Church(only two churches in our town, the Greek and Coptic Church). I am also a member of our parish council. I am not and do not plan on being anykind of theologian although I enjoy theology alot. Many of your discussions are way over my head, thats why I like them so much and enjoy lurking so I don't show my ignorance so much.
