Matrona of Moscow: Distraction from the REAL Saints

[eish]

I'm a woman <curtsy>

Fair enough, madam. I owe you an apology. But it IS still “common and, quite frankly, not bad advice for young male converts into World Orthodoxy.” If they have to resort to telling it to the women as well the orthobro situation must be getting really bad.

I haven't even been received into the church and God has presented this test.

Better now than going through the same thing twice. Or thrice. Ask me how I know. You could have gone to liberal WO, had to leave for more conservative WO, and ended up having to leave that as well. Don't think I don't love those people. Worst of all, you could have never moved past the false facade of Orthodoxy at all.

[Lemon Schist]

Fair enough, madam. I owe you an apology. But it IS still “common and, quite frankly, not bad advice for young male converts into World Orthodoxy.” If they have to resort to telling it to the women as well the orthobro situation must be getting really bad.

No apology necessary, since there are no women on the internet
It is an unfortunate fact that when looking for information on Orthodoxy, one does encounter Jay Dyer almost immediately. I was more interested in his takes on cults, ufos, and the subversion of Hollywood and 3 letter agencies. I was also listening to Ancient Faith radio and reading the websites of John Sanidopoulos among others.

Better now than going through the same thing twice. Or thrice. Ask me how I know. You could have gone to liberal WO, had to leave for more conservative WO, and ended up having to leave that as well. Don't think I don't love those people. Worst of all, you could have never moved past the false facade of Orthodoxy at all.

I keep telling myself this but it's difficult since I thought God had brought me to this location when I was searching for a job. The first priest I contacted, in my previous location, was originally from the town I now live and attended the church I am now attending. It seemed like God's providence brought me here, and I have experienced a number of things that seem like little miracles. Things that I would have previously assigned to coincidence occurred when I prayed for Paisios's and Matrona's help.

[eish]

No apology necessary, since there are no women on the internet

The internet: where the men are real men, the women are really men, and the kids are undercover cops.

It is an unfortunate fact that when looking for information on Orthodoxy, one does encounter Jay Dyer almost immediately. I was more interested in his takes on cults, ufos, and the subversion of Hollywood and 3 letter agencies. I was also listening to Ancient Faith radio and reading the websites of John Sanidopoulos among others.

Funny opposite story. I had no idea who this "Jay Dyer" was that Roman Catholics were accusing Orthodox converts of being followers of. I eventually discovered him only because he operates loosely in the same sphere as KJ and I took a temporary interest in what is happening in the realm of horror writing, with a bit of a detour to KJ's conspiracy videos. “Oh, they mean this guy! Yeah, he is eccentric.” (Poor KJ. The man's been frantically panicking over the end of the world and “rapture” for years and years. He sees that there is evil in the world but he allows it to dominate his mind. No grounding in the Church and no discernment.)

On AFR, however, I can agree. I just thought it was Orthodox and even have some books from them. My first introduction to “Orthodoxy” after finding out about it and starting to investigate, must have been Kallistos Ware. I read Frederica what-was-her-name (Matthews-Greene?)'s book as well. Found the latter self-contradicting and problematic, and honestly wasn't impressed with her presuming to teach, but what it did help with is give me an idea what to expect when stepping into a church building. It lessened the culture shock to have heard some description of an “iconostasis” and “veneration,” etc.

I keep telling myself this but it's difficult since I thought God had brought me to this location when I was searching for a job. The first priest I contacted, in my previous location, was originally from the town I now live and attended the church I am now attending. It seemed like God's providence brought me here, and I have experienced a number of things that seem like little miracles. Things that I would have previously assigned to coincidence occurred when I prayed for Paisios's and Matrona's help.

And yet at the end of the day, have not those things brought you to Orthodoxy? Have you considered that God could have used World Orthodoxy to bring you to True Orthodoxy? I for one do not think I was ready to hear the truth in the beginning.

Just as the conservative World Orthodoxy is a stumbling block for some, a pressure relief valve allowing them to rest and not embrace real Orthodoxy, so it is a stepping stone for others. By the same measure, liberal World Orthodoxy may be for some a pressure relief valve on the way to conservative World Orthodoxy, and for others a stepping stone to it (or directly to True Orthodoxy). Any heretical “Christianity” leads some astray but is also used by God to lead some on the path to truth.

[Lemon Schist]

I want to reply but I feel as though I have hijacked the thread.

[Barbara]

That's OK - BECAUSE : so many people will look up Fake-Matrona that some inevitably will find THIS thread and be enlightened by the excellent conversation that is relevant to many who are questing for the Truth.

About women on this site, there have been others in the past but up til you showed up, I was the only one who is presently active.

I had JUST been thinking about this, so it's good timing you showed up !
Welcome, feel right at home.

[eish]

Barbara is right. Yes, we have side issues in the thread, but the posts do still relate to your experience with the “saints” of World Orthodoxy during the process of entering the faith, both in general and as it relates to Matrona of Moscow specifically. We can move to another thread if we need to expand on a side issue.

[Lemon Schist]

Is there a list of saints that the TO recognize? I've slowly been finding them out just by reading the different websites and this forum but I was just curious. Or perhaps it would be better to ask if there is a list that the TO do NOT recognize?