NadirGP wrote:I do not recall telling this Orthodox forum about receiving the holy sacraments from the Church I was born into; today it has became a real problem. I explain.
Some of you are expecting me to become an Orthodox, in order to save my soul – and the sooner the better; Fair enough, that is a normal expectation from good Christians who have the salvation of souls as their ultimate purpose in their life on earth.However, when one like me, who lives hundreds miles away from any church – remember I live in Australia and the only churches close by are Protestant or Novus Ordo types. So where should I go to receive the sacraments? To Newcastle – 200 km from here – or to Sydney – about 300 km? Because in those cities there are Orthodox churches.
But then again, which Orthodox Church there [in Sydney, Brisbane or wherever], is the true Orthodox Church? You know too well, this is also your problem where you are in the USA – which church is the true Orthodox Church there?
Maranatha,
The lowest point, Nadir
I do recall that you mentioned this difficulty before.
Have you corresponded with Arcmode to see where he attends church?
We are far from an Orthodox Church too, so we have been instructed to attend as often as possible, but when we cannot, then we say extra prayers. In the meantime, we pray daily prayers and chant the Paracleisis to the Virgin Theotokos every evening. The Theotokos has been quick to answer our prayers and help us remain sober in an ungodly unsober world.
Just as the Russians attended catacomb churches and prayed in secret, we are called to do the same. I fear it will not be long before the official True Orthodox churches will be underground catacomb churches since the Holy Bible is considered hate material in many countries due primarily to St. Paul's passages found in Romans, etc.
