How do you define a true Orthodox Church?

[NadirGP]

Let me recap what has been said and commented so far. Though first allow me to give you a short background how all this came about.

Some time ago, after a lot of reading and searching on the internet, I decided to write a few stories about my discovery on Orthodoxy and its history; this in a dialogue format, and then published on my website.

It was during this period that I came across your website, “The Saint Euphrosynos Cafe Discussion Forum.” Therefore, I decided to join it. Initially, I did not have a clue how to use it, let alone what to say. After awhile though, I saw an opening in the forum, which gave me the opportunity to start with my introduction and … the rest now is history.

What I really wanted to know from this forum was, first, what type of Orthodox Church you people were: Are these people really Orthodox Christians or just another group of those … You never know until it is too late to withdraw from it.
So once in it, I was encouraged to ask questions for you people thought maybe I was one of those lost souls, who didn’t know the right from the left…

I made a statement. And that for me was only an opening for something else that might come along and so to enable me to express myself in real Christian terms and tell you what I am really looking for from this forum.
I am exploring whether there is any possibility of understanding between two different religion and cultures, Catholic and Orthodox without compromising, of course, what is essential to both of us, that is, the Truth that is Jesus Christ Himself and His Holy Church.

Another thing you don’t know about me is that I am a married man with three grown up children, two married this year and one is a Catholic priest. So what I am doing now will have repercussions with my family because all my children and my wife are traditional Catholics.

Only my wife knows what I am up to - flirting with some unknown Orthodox people, even though for a good cause.

So now after this rant, you will understand that this is all new ground for me, and it will take some time to make myself at home with you. Also I have said all this because I want to make it clear that I do not have any other ulterior motive than to understand better how your world moves and lives.

In Christ and His Holy Mother Miriam

Nadir

[Priest Antonios]

Another thing you don’t know about me is that I am a married man with three grown up children, two married this year and one is a Catholic priest. So what I am doing now will have repercussions with my family because all my children and my wife are traditional Catholics.

Only my wife knows what I am up to - flirting with some unknown Orthodox people, even though for a good cause.

You have courage my friend! You also have my prayers, for what it's worth.

-Antonios

[NadirGP]

Another thing you don’t know about me is that I am a married man with three grown up children, two married this year and one is a Catholic priest. So what I am doing now will have repercussions with my family because all my children and my wife are traditional Catholics.

Only my wife knows what I am up to - flirting with some unknown Orthodox people, even though for a good cause.

You have courage my friend! You also have my prayers, for what it's worth.

-Antonios

Antonios,

Thanks a lot and I will reciprocate.
Nadir

[NadirGP]

Usury and the Church

I am aware that the topic on usury will not be taken lightly because of its contentious implications and resonances in some ambience. Nonetheless, I feel this as my sense of duty that tells me so and as a Christian to approach such topic for the common good. Hence, before I say anything in particular on the subject of Usury, do I have permission from the board of this forum or not? If in the positive, I guess that Maria will probably suggest me to post it on Controversial Political and Social Issues thread.

The desire of money is the root of all evils.- 1 Timothy 6:10

[NadirGP]

I was in hurry when I post this last one and I had omitted the reason, why I posted it. As I said previously, it is not that easy for me to deal with Orthodoxy now for the fact that I am a married man and the all my family is traditional Catholic. Now my wife is well aware what I am writing for there is nothing secret between us as a couple and I intend it stayed in that way.

Last night, this after my wife and I discussed about the Filioque and some other Catholic issues, I said to her: “Theresa, the Filoque is another important issue that keep us apart from the Orthodox Church and I reckoned the Catholic Church made a blunder there since the inception of insertion of, “and the Son,” in the Credo. “So you said that the Catholic Church is in error?” She said. “Not only that but what about the problem with usury within the Catholic Church since the Renaissance period?” I replied. That prompted me to initiate this thread.

[joasia]

Thank you for sharing. I had my own situation with coming to Orthodoxy. It is not easy when the other family members don't understand.

You wrote:

In Christ and His Holy Mother Miriam

Miriam is not the proper name for Christians, especially Orthodox. We call her Maria or in the West Mary. Miriam is the Jewish name and we do not follow Jewish culture. Please refer to her in her proper name, at least in showing respect to her. We also refer to her as the Mother of God. A familiar name is Theotokos. I've never heard any Christian call her Miriam.

[NadirGP]

Thank you for sharing. I had my own situation with coming to Orthodoxy. It is not easy when the other family members don't understand.

You wrote:

In Christ and His Holy Mother Miriam

Miriam is not the proper name for Christians, especially Orthodox. We call her Maria or in the West Mary. Miriam is the Jewish name and we do not follow Jewish culture. Please refer to her in her proper name, at least in showing respect to her. We also refer to her as the Mother of God. A familiar name is Theotokos. I've never heard any Christian call her Miriam.

Joasia,

This is a bit rich!! First, I was not disrespectful to the Mother of Jesus by call Her Miriam. Far from it, for we as Catholic believers know well that her name is Miriam and not Maria or Mary. Second, I chose the name of Miriam for our daughter because I love it and because it reminds me of Miriam, the Mother of our Lord and Saviour. What is wrong with that? Are you now censuring me because I call my Mother and the Mother of Jesus by her name, Miriam?
Besides, Miriam is not a Jewish name but Hebrew. Am I not allowed to call my cousin Giuseppe, Joseph in English, because is a “Jewish” name, according to you?
Nadir