Orthodox Primer?

[JTA Mom]

Quick Background: I was born into an Orthodox family. You know, the ones that go at Easter? Also, any questions I asked were not really answered by them.

Fast-forward to today: I feel drawn back but I keep feeling like I'm missing the underlying UNDERSTANDING of the Orthodox faith. I was married in the Church to a Catholic. We baptized ds. I feel like I 'get' the sacraments in a 'general' sense. However, I am tired of not really 'getting' it.

Are there any 'lay' sources I can go to? A website? Books? Even a discussion here would be so helpful!

I want to go deeper into the faith, but I just feel lost. I feel like I need a Primer. Something that will guide me through the traditions, organization, beliefs etc. I'd also like a good English Orthodox Bible. I'm Greek Orthodox, so the Church sells Greek ones. But I don't read Greek, or speak it. I can understand my mom's dialect, but that's it. Any good ones out there?

I am getting some 'satisfaction' from delving deeper into the Catholic faith (dh is Catholic), and the online (trusted) sources. I feel like I can find some answers there for the whys of the Catholic faith. But that's not Orthodoxy. I mean, things like birth control (can an Orthodox woman even do NFP? what about when the husband is against it?), how the calendar is set up, why does one stand at certain points during the Service vs. sitting, etc. I mean, I couldn't even answer one of my dh's question about why our 'body' of Christ is leavened bread.

Is there something out there like this? I'd love to sit down with a Priest and discuss this, but between dh trying to get 2 new jobs and ds being sick, it's going to be a while. And at least I can do something in the meantime!

Thanks!

Ami

[mamabadger]

The Orthodox "primer" that almost everybody recommends is The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware. It is a nice, thorough, easy to read summary and also fairly easy to find, since it is published by Penguin. The first half deals with church history, the second half with beliefs and practices. It is a terrific resource. (Most people prefer the old edition from the 1960s, which you can still get from online bookstores or eBay. The newer editions are full of apologetic disclaimers aimed at non-Orthodox readers.)

Online, there is orthodoxinfo.com, where you can find countless articles on anything to do with Orthodoxy, or put in a search for a particular topic.

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

I couldn't even answer one of my dh's question about why our 'body' of Christ is leavened bread.

That, at least, I can answer for you. It is because Christ used leavened bread when he first gave Communion to his apostles at the Last Supper, and the apostles also used it thereafter for Communion.
In Biblical Greek, there is no word just for "bread." There is artos (leavened bread) and azymos (unleavened bread). Whenever the bread used for Communion is mentioned, the word used for the bread is artos. For example, when it says "Jesus took bread, and blessed it and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take, eat, this is my body'." (Matthew 26:26) the actual word used for bread was artos (leavened bread.) It is the same whenever Communion is referred to, such as in Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-24; I Cor. 10:16-17; I Cor. 11:26-30. So we continue to use leavened bread for Communion.

DH and I ran an Orthodox bookstore for many years, so feel free to PM me if you are looking for something specific.

[Tradd]

The Orthodox Way by Kallistos Ware is a great, simple look at Orthodox beliefs, not just the history.

You're GOA, correct? This has lots of basic stuff. Take your time and go through this section. There's a lot of articles that seem they would answer at least some of your questions:

http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/

From the OCA (Fr. Thomas Hopko's basic intro series, The Orthodox Faith, all online):

http://www.oca.org/OCorthfaith.asp?SID=2

The OCA website has a question and answer section. You can even email a priest with questions (I even know the Q&A section priest - he's local to me):
http://www.oca.org/QAIndex.asp?SID=3

For a nice little look at the ascetical tradition (a modern Orthodox writer who draws on The Philokalia, etc.): Way of the Ascetics by Tito Colliander.

Great Lent begins February 17. The best book on Great Lent in English is Great Lent: Journey to Pascha by Fr. Alexander Schmemann.

If you like to listen, too, Fr. Hopko as a great series on Ancient Faith Radio that goes into the basics of the Church Year, various feasts and saints - Speaking the Truth in Love:

http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko

As for the Bible, the Orthodox Study Bible (the complete one, with the OT translated from the Greek Septuagint, not the Hebrew as in Protestant English Bibles) is good. More scholarly types have some issues with it, but for us basic laity, it's the best we've got right now. Every priest I know locally recommends it, and many use it. It has Orthodox footnotes and one page articles articles on various topics. The GOA Orthodox Marketplace sells it. You can also get it on Amazon (temporarily out of stock - popular Christmas gift, but you can get it tons of other places). I even have the Kindle edition.

http://www.amazon.com/Orthodox-Study...2061318&sr=8-1

On bioethics (including contraception):
http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith8076

Do you have a prayer book? Basic prayer book in the Greek tradition (online):
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgi.../daily_prayers

Service texts:
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts

This is a nice section of the GOA website (you can read the daily Scripture lessons, which saints are commemorated, etc.):
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/

My favorite book on the sacraments is For the Life of the World: Orthodoxy and Sacraments by Fr. Alexander Schmemann.

You should be able to find just about all these books on Amazon, used copies, too.

[lilyka]

I sent you a PM

here is a thread from a while ago with some good links in it. they may be able to answer some fo your questions.
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...=136165&page=2

really your best bet though is to talk to your preist and go to Liturgy. even if you just send him an email.

[JTA Mom]

Mamabadger, thank you so much for that site. It's written really clearly and there's lots of info and I will definitely be there for a bit. I'm also going to look if my library has Ware's book. If not, hopefully Interlibrary loan will help. There's a library literally 2 blocks from me, and ds loves the stairs there.

Tradd, yes I'm Greek Orthodox. That's what GOA means, right? I've been reading through the goarch site and it's heavy reading, but very in-depth. Hard to read with a toddler, but after reading one of the articles, I feel like I'm actually getting it. The podcasts sound really cool too. Do you know how to download the podcasts? I have an Ipod I can load it onto and listen to during ds's naps. And I'm saving up for that Bible! I am so happy there's an English version! And it's a study one too--exactly what I need! Thanks!!!

Lilyka, I got your PM. And my computer promptly froze & shut down. It's been having issues, so I'm borrowing my sister's. I will definitely check out the site you linked to there. Is it okay for complete 'newbs' to go there? I feel really embarrassed by my lack of knowledge, especially since I'm 'supposed' to be a cradle Orthodox. Off to check out that link!

Again, thank you all for helping me out. I feel really embarrassed (and a bit ashamed) at not knowing what I'm supposed to know. And the worst part is, everyone assumes I already know, so when I do ask questions, people look at me weird and give me glib answers. Or snarky ones. (thanks for not laughing!) I'm going to try to see one of the priests soon. I just feel like I want to get a good base knowledge first. I definitely need to speak to him about a few issues that can't be figured out from reading through the Bible or online sources myself. I just see how busy they are and I feel like I might be 'wasting' time that they could be spending on more 'serious' cases. But that's more my issue of feeling like I'm imposing--had that with teachers too.

Ami

[lilyka]

of course it is ok for you to just jump right in. Everyone there is so sweet and loving. ready to meet you right where you are. for the most part it is more about living your life as an Orthodox Christian and not so theologically heavy. We used to have quite a good archive but there some sort of weird security breech and to protect the members they blasted everything. sad. so the more questions the better. because where there are questions there are a million answers and then the next person will have more question answered. and it doesn't matter where you are on your journey. we are all right where we are. No one is going to say "oh she should have this figured out already" instead you will be greated with great joy that you are taking a greater interest in your faith. There is no convert/cradle wars allowed. it is a really safe place.

I thought of something else you might like. http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/closetohome
She has pod casts. she has a blog and she has a book. She seems really sappy and fluffy on the surtface but be forwarned, a couple of things she has said have shaken me to the core and really challeneged me to greater spiritual growth. and they come out of nowhere. there are some other great pod casts there too. I like Father Joseph Honeycut and matthew gallitans pod casts as well.

And don't worry about the things you think you are supposed to know. So many people do not know about their faith, doctrines whatever (protestants, catholics and orthodox all together.). When we got a new preist he started doing childrens sermons. But i think the children were just an excuse. he started at the very beginning. he covered all the basics. and even the elderly who had been at that parish forever listened intently to learn about their faith. everyone learned that year together. it was great. don't ever be ashamed of what you don't know. shame will only block you from growing in your faith. drop it like a bad habit. I am so blessed ot have people in my life who are not scared to school me. I am blessed that they know I do not know or suspect I do not know because they come right out with it - "do you know whyat he is doing or why he is doing it?" and I say "NO" which then leads in with an explination. done and done. or they will just launch into instruction or explination.
I can't imagine anyone thinking less of you because you did not know but now you want to. All I can see coming from that is joy from every angle. noone at my church cares where you have been or why you came today. they are just really glad you did. of course they will ask becase they are nosey but the most important part is that you felt called to the church now.

[Tradd]

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

Tradd, yes I'm Greek Orthodox. That's what GOA means, right? I've been reading through the goarch site and it's heavy reading, but very in-depth. Hard to read with a toddler, but after reading one of the articles, I feel like I'm actually getting it. The podcasts sound really cool too. Do you know how to download the podcasts? I have an Ipod I can load it onto and listen to during ds's naps. And I'm saving up for that Bible! I am so happy there's an English version! And it's a study one too--exactly what I need! Thanks!!!

Again, thank you all for helping me out. I feel really embarrassed (and a bit ashamed) at not knowing what I'm supposed to know. And the worst part is, everyone assumes I already know, so when I do ask questions, people look at me weird and give me glib answers. Or snarky ones. (thanks for not laughing!) I'm going to try to see one of the priests soon. I just feel like I want to get a good base knowledge first. I definitely need to speak to him about a few issues that can't be figured out from reading through the Bible or online sources myself. I just see how busy they are and I feel like I might be 'wasting' time that they could be spending on more 'serious' cases. But that's more my issue of feeling like I'm imposing--had that with teachers too.

Ami

GOA=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

The complete OSB (with the OT) only came out about two years ago, so it's still fairly new. I go back and forth between that and the RSV (Revised Standard Version, which is preferred by the OCA for use in services).

You might not be aware, but the three of us who replied to your post are all converts. So, we asked the questions, some of us not that long ago. I've been Orthodox six years (was Antiochian, now OCA) , Lilyka (GOA) about 18 months, and Mamabadger, (Russian Orthodox) at least 15 years (maybe 20, I don't remember exactly).

So, as the hosts of a local computer radio show put it, "There are NO stupid questions!" Ask away!

I'm actually in the midst of a three year program in my area (primarily for training permanent deacons, but also for Orthodox educators and others) to become a certified lay catechist. Our wonderful Archbishop Job (of blessed memory - he died suddenly two weeks ago) wanted to have as many certified lay catechists in the diocese as possible. I'm the only woman in this cycle of classes (rest are diaconal candidates). Ask, especially if you have Biblical questions. I'm in the midst of my OT class (we're reading the entire thing). Had a lot of patristics in our previous class.

An idea I had: I know you're short on time right now, but you might poke around on your parish's website or email your priest, asking if there is an inquirers' or Orthodoxy 101 type class. Many parishes have these. If not, perhaps the Sunday school teacher for the high schoolers could pass along the books they use. I've found that the books used for the high school classes are often very useful for adults as well.

On the podcasts: when you go to the page for the specific podcast, there will be a link to either listen to it directly on your computer or one to download to your computer. If you're working on a Windows machine, right click on the download button. Save it to your desktop (or wherever you want). Then go to the saved mp3 of podcast, right click on it, and open with iTunes (you might have to choose what program to open it with, if iTunes is not your default). Then, just transfer it from iTunes to your iPod.

Fr. Hopko's podcast on "Lent: The Tithe of the Year" is my favorite of his. I just discovered there's a transcript, too! AFR used to not have them, but still listen. It's about 45 minutes. Last year (2008), my adult Sunday school class spent two sessions on this podcast. The high schoolers sat in, too, and they were astonished it was so practical! I had emailed Fr. Hopko and got the 55 Maxims (his list in the podcast) and we used that in class. My priest found a copy of it sitting on a table in the parish hall and actually taped it to the bathroom mirror for that entire Lent!

http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hop...he_of_the_year

And if you find a podcast you like, you can subscribe to it. Then whenever your computer is turned on and there's a new one (most AFR podcasts are new weekly or monthly), it will download. You can get back podcasts this way too. Look on this page: http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko and under Fr. Hopko's picture, you will see the subscribe button - and the iTunes logo. Just click on that and it's easy peasy.