HOW to Convert from Traditionalist Catholic to Orthodox
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- Опубликовано: 11 июн 2024
- Here's an outline of the content in the video that was approved by a priest. So, where there's any editorializing by yours truly, just take it as my experience and opinion, not anything from the Orthodox church or clergy.
I. Introduction - How to Convert from Traditionalist Catholicism to Eastern Orthodoxy
- This issue has become really controversial over the last few years, especially with a certain book by a certain priest that came out taking a very particular stand.
- I am just a layman, and I don't want to wade into all that. So, this video is just explaining my own experience while comparing it with some other possibilities you might encounter. But, for more detail, you are going to have to discuss it with your priest.
II. Where are you coming from?
-For traditionalists, this is a way more complicated question than it might seem at first:
(a) Some traditionalists were baptized and confirmed by ordinary, diocesan priests or bishops.
(b) Some were baptized by priests from sedevacantist groups without bishops, or from bishops who were never approved by Rome.
(c) Some are a mixture of the two.
-This might matter because your priest may, or may not, be able to piece together the details of your baptism (or confirmation, if that's relevant), depending on how organized the traditionalist group was. And there are some out there that are clearly whacky. (Palmarians, anyone?)
-Also, many traditionalists may have been baptized in protestant churches, so that history will have to be looked at as well.
II. So, let's assume that the priest looked into your records, and, after consulting with all the right authorities, determined that you were a Catholic and converting.
A. In the Antiochian (and usually other Greek) jurisdictions, you are most likely going to be received by chrismation.
B. In ROCOR and many other jurisdictions, you may be received by baptism and chrismation, depending on the judgment of your ruling bishop.
C. In some old Slavic jurisdictions, you may be received by Confession and the renunciation of errors.
-If your priest and bishop determine that you were not Catholic, then there might be some adaptations to the plan to account for that. It depends.
III. How do you get there?
(These are generalizations.)
1.) Inquirer - You attend services, perhaps attend a few classes, and decide whether you are going to join the Orthodox faith.
2.) Catechumen - You are formally enrolled as a Catechumen. In the Antiochian church, this happens after the Matins service on Sunday (Orthros). After this point, you attend classes or instruction regularly until your priest determines that you are ready for initiation.
- n.b., If you are received by Confession, you may never be formally enrolled as a "catechumen" but just take the same instruction.
-You will probably choose godparents at this point. This relationship is taken very seriously, and often a couple is chosen.
-You may also choose a patron saint. In some traditions, you will receive the holy mysteries under this name. (In others, like the Serbians, you don't.)
3.) Life Confession - You confess all your sins up to that point. Orthodox priests often don't ask for the number of times you committed a sin, just for the sin, but, on the flip side, you confess facing an icon standing next to the priest rather than behind a screen.
4.) Baptism and Chrismation, or just Chrismation
5.) Holy Communion
6.) Continuing Formation
- Many traditions will have you attend Divine Liturgy with your godparents for at least the next three Sundays with your baptismal candle.
- And your priest may assign you additional reading, classes, etc.
IV. As I said, there is a lot of controversy right now about how to receive converts. I don't want to weigh into that controversy because, in my experience, how you are received by one jurisdiction doesn't really affect your relationship with the other jurisdictions. After all, it is through the bishop that you are brought into the Church, so, it really is up to him.
I'm going to say thanks before even listening. Looking forward to this. Deeply appreciated.
Hope you enjoy it!
The godparents thing seems to vary pretty widely. I know people for whom their godparents really do become as close as family. In my case, I've had very little continuing relationship with mine. A few years after I entered the Church, they ended up moving across the country, so that certainly didn't help.
That is true. My experience is that ethnically Orthodox godparents tend to take it more seriously. Convert-friendly parishes, less so.
I can relate-- I haven't heard from my godmother in years, and I had been the one initiating contact; I dontcnow because, well, it felt one sided. And my daughter's godmother also seems mia...it's been very discouraging.
@@genevieverose1234 What a sad thing!
how many hours is life confession? I never confessed
do you make a list before hand and just read off? is it normal to pause someone while they reading their sins and ask for elaboration?
@@homelesbillionaire Good questions! For me, I found a good examination of conscience from an Orthodox prayer book (The Prayer Book, or Molitovnik from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-USA) and looked through it, noting which of them I had done. Then, when I went to confession, I repeated the process, referring to my prayer book. Some priests encourage bringing a list. Others do not. In my experience, it took just about 45 minutes, but I can see it taking longer with a different priest. It would be fairly normal for a priest to pause you as you confess to elaborate on a sin (not for details of 'who, what, where' but for whether it was habitual, how serious, etc.), but not all priests do this.
I feel as if I am communicating with you in the spirit of Crossing the Threshhold of Hope (if you are familiar with that book) so, kindly permit one more question. In this video you laid out the process of entering the Orthodox church. What of leaving the Catholic church. You will be stepping out of the ark, your name presumably be struck from church records (which some would interpret as The book of Life)- anyway, what of the "decatholicizing" side of converting. (I do not mean to give you more "homework" but could you address that either here with a response or in a future video?) Humbly.
Sure! I will address each one by one:
(1) "You will be stepping out of the ark." Not really. You are stepping into the Church!
(2) "Your name presumably be struck from church records." Actually, no. From the Catholic point of view, a convert is still a member of the Roman Church, albeit in schism. There is no real way to undo one's membership in the Roman Church, so one remains on the rolls. I notified my parish and had my name removed from the mailing list and such, but it doesn't actually affect my status.
There are some other interesting things about this, but keep an eye on the next video for those! I will be talking about some more frustrations that might cover some of your other questions.
@@TheRomanOrthodox much thanks.
I called my Roman Catholic Bishop he didn't do anything
Good video. Which trad cath sect did u belong to?
I usually attended FSSP apostolates, but I directed choir in a diocesan TLM community. Many of my friends were SSPX, and I definitely knew some sedevacantist folks.
@@TheRomanOrthodox ok. I'm orthodox myself but my wife is Catholic & very much into the sspx! 😔. Need i say more!
It makes mo sense to be convert to Orthodoxy.
Why not?
I did. Former Roman Catholic here
Hey cutie 🥰
Greek Orthodox or Russian Orthodox?
Either one! I am Antiochian Greek (or Rum) Orthodox, but most of my Orthodox friends are Russian Orthodox. I have joyfully communicated in Serbian, Greek, Ukrainian, Russian, and Antiochian parishes.
False Dialectic.
Both the Greeks and the Russians are Orthodox. Same Theology Same Sacraments.
Cope, just admit their is a real schism to your audience
@@TheRomanOrthodoxI guess the 2018 Moscow-Constantinople schism doesn't exist in your version of "orthodoxy"
@@grape4158 It isn't a true schism. Many jurisdictions (actually, the vast majority) are in communion with both, and the Russian Orthodox church has not cut off communion with those who are in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch, only those who concelebrate with the "Orthodox" Church of Ukraine. Even Slavic jurisdictions such as the OCA commune with both EP jurisdictions and the Moscow Patriarchate. As an Antiochian, we are in full communion and good(ish) relations with both jurisdictions.