[/b]I know this is a question I might get in trouble for,But in all honesty Ive been overwhelmed by soo many jurisdictions,
and honestly just not very educated on who is who,ive attended Rocor,Oca,Goarc.,Rocie,etc..I honestly just noticed a little difference
maybe Im narrow minded or have just been a roman rite person for too many years too know any better,but the whole emphasis when I came to Orthodoxy was to give my life completely to the Father,Son,and Holy Spirit-one together as one.now I seemed to discover that if I get
Chrismated in one church(orthodoxy) I cant communion Gods Holy mystery with the other (orthodox) church, because of some internal
conflicts that spell out a complete sadness to God..
I know the answer from most of you will be get with your Father,
well Im not an ecumenist by far,But I do hold 2 priests very close to me,from both Rocor and Oca...each advises me to choose them..But I honestly am asking you the people on this list to guide me in the right way of which church(orthodox) to be of service to..and to find a Spiritual Father in Northern California as a Catachumen is almost impossible,or maybe ive been connected to the wrong people...
Help in any way possible,or E-mail me in person..
Pray for me a Sinner..................Spyridon
CataChumen Lost-Who shall I join to worship?????
Moderator: Mark Templet
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spyridon
CataChumen Lost-Who shall I join to worship?????
CataChumen Lost - Who should I joint to worship?
I believe HOCNA has a monastery in Northern California whose Abbot is former OCA. You can find out about it at HOCNA.org I have found HOCNA to be the most stable/sane place in the midst of all the present confusion. I ,too, am a convert and former Antiochian. As with all these issues, many will diagree with me but you should at least look into it.
joseph b
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priestmark
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Re: CataChumen Lost-Who shall I join to worship?????
SPYRIDON wrote:...I honestly am asking you the people on this list to guide me in the right way of which church(orthodox) to be of service to... and to find a Spiritual Father in Northern California as a Catachumen is almost impossible,or maybe ive been connected to the wrong people... Help in any way possible,or E-mail me in person..
Pray for me a Sinner..................Spyridon
Dear Spiridon, God Bless! We pray for you personally now, but the Church will pray for you collectively once the prayers for being made a Cathechumen are read over you.
Be as patient as you can be. Visit the churches you would like to be a part of. Pray. Don't rush to be made a Catechumen until you have a good idea where you think you belong. First impressions are not always correct.
Do not be looking for a spiritual father. That will come in time as necessary. People get very confused on this point. Most, the vast majority of Orthodox, have a confessor, their local priest, and not any another "spiritual father." This priest will also be your catechist, or he will appoint another to help you along this path. If things move along quickly. this is probably a bad sign of hurried and incomplete preparation. You don't want to later fall away because you didn't really understand what you were getting into. The sort of relationship many seek at the beginning of their path is a false idea, and unfortunately there are many false fathers out there willing to fill that role. Many on this list can tell you about their own mistakes in this regard Thank God that no one you have run into in Northern California is willing to fulfill these expectations. But beware, if you persist, you will find one who is.
Do not approach the Orthodox Church with too many expectations, especially with respect to how you will serve it. God knows what you need, but you need time, trusting in Him, to figure it out.
See:
http://directory.sjkp.org/ for parishes in or near SF.
In particular go to the Cathedral where St John's relics are and pray for his intercession. Having dwelt on earth in the 20th century, he understands us and our impatience, and answers prayers quickly.
Holy Virgin Cathedral
6210 GEARY BLVD
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121-1822
Click on the clergy links at each of the other parishes to see if the priest lists English fluency for conversation.
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joasia
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Yes! Definitely! Pray to St. John and visit his relic, in San Franscico, if you can. He will help you. We all have specific ways that we have come to Orthodoxy. You will come in your own way...the way God leads you.
I can tell you one thing. When the time comes to make that decision, it will be so powerful, as if Christ is saying: follow Me. And you will not be able to refuse that call. And everything will fall into place.
Just remember. The confusion is there to test your faith. To see if you will struggle to hold on. Once you have become determined in your choice...God will open all the doors. But, then, you will face obstacles to get there. But, it's not the same as the confusion. At this point, you will know what you want, but may have difficulties getting things arranged. That's when you just keep praying to God for His will to be done. And He will lead you. I've done pretty good so far and I know that it's because He has protected me.
I can tell you some interesting stories. What an experience!
I can also highly recommend a pilgrimage to San Francisco and Holy Virgin Cathedral.
It is very easy to pray before the relics of St. John Maximovitch. His body rests inside a glass-topped sarcophagous to the right as one enters the sanctuary of the Cathedral.
His intercession helped me a great deal and saved me from a big mistake I was in the process of making.
My wife, 2-year-old daughter, and I visited the Cathedral in the evening at Vespers time. We got there early and had no trouble venerating St. John and asking for his prayers.