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#Post#: 530--------------------------------------------------
Obstacles along my journey
By: Handmaiden50 Date: November 3, 2014, 10:05 am
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Good morning all!
I am still not at the point where I am regularly attending
liturgy on Sundays. As a Protestant inquirer, I still struggle
with understanding many areas of the Orthodox faith. Right now
it is venerating icons. I have been reading Orthodox sources
online (as I'm not familiar with good books that would address
this - so I'm open to suggestions) and don't understand the
connection between the Incarnation and veneration of icons and
that (put very simplistically) if one doesn't venerate icons one
is denying the Incarnation. Perhaps coming into full
understanding of this is like when I was in high school and I
went a full semester struggling in geometry class and just not
getting it and then one day everything just "clicked" for me. I
pray that the Holy Spirit will give me understanding on this.
The priest at the church I visit is always reminding me that
there is no rush to start attending liturgy full-time, however
if I feel in my heart to come, then come and not to feel that I
have to understand everything about the faith. He says it's not
necessary to understand everything. On one hand, I know that
growing in the faith is a life-long process, however I feel that
I need to understand the basic doctrines of the Church. There is
no inquirer's class at this church and a lot of what I'm
learning is on my own. As well, it seems like I am the one
having to initiate and ask the priest what books would be best
for me to read or questions about my prayer time, etc. I don't
want to get into a situation where I say I want to join the
church and then, after the fact, start being catechized and come
across teachings of the Church that are difficult for me to
comprehend/accept (such as is mentioned in the previous
paragraph). I think it is much more responsible to understand
doctrine on a basic level, as well as attend liturgy weekly to
begin living the life of the church prior to making a
commitment. I liken it to a woman who has been dating a man for
a short time and "in her heart" she is in love and they get
married too soon (before she really gets to know him well
enough) and then, after the marriage, things come out in the
open about him that, had she not just jumped into marriage,
would have been addressed beforehand.
I'm honestly seeking the Lord on the above matter. This is the
best way I know how to explain what is going on with me, as an
inquirer. Please don't take my comments as a Protestant wanting
to argue . .that's not my intent. May God be merciful unto me!
#Post#: 534--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obstacles along my journey
By: Chiere Date: November 3, 2014, 11:42 am
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Lord have mercy!
#Post#: 537--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obstacles along my journey
By: marc hanna Date: November 3, 2014, 11:51 am
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Hi Handmaiden50,
Venerating icons is a challenge for people new to the faith. It
is important to understand that we do not necessarily venerate
the icon itself but rather the person or event depicted in the
icon. One might describe the icons as the gospel and history of
the church depicted in pictorial form, and the severance is the
same that we give to the written bible itself.
Often we praise those living in this world for their
accomplishments, so in like manner we give honour to those who
have died for and in Christ. We ask for their intersessions in
the same way we ask for other Christians to pray for us.
I wouldn't worry about this too much for now, there is a lot to
learn in the Orthodox faith. But know first that our purpose is
to love and serve God. Know first that God is the Almighty,
Undying, and All Knowing creator Who become flesh for us to save
us from our fallen state. Christ is God incarnate Who offered
Himself as a blameless sacrifice for our sins, and God the Holy
Spirit was sent to us to guide us and lead us.
I don't want to overwhelm you with heavy reading, so I will
start you off with a book by Fr. Athanasius Iskander called
Practical Spirituality. Fr Athanasius has provided the rights
of this book free of charge and for free distribution. It is
read by Catholics and Orthodox around the world and has been
reprinted in many languages.
HTML https://s3.amazonaws.com/stmaryscopticorthodox/books/spirituality.pdf
HTML https://s3.amazonaws.com/stmaryscopticorthodox/books/spirituality.pdf
May the Holy Spirit guide you in your journey, and may your
efforts be fruitful.
#Post#: 538--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obstacles along my journey
By: marc hanna Date: November 3, 2014, 11:53 am
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PS. Let me know if you would like a printed copy of the book. I
can provide it to you free of charge.
#Post#: 541--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obstacles along my journey
By: Maria Date: November 3, 2014, 12:18 pm
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Some people have compared icons with pictures of beloved
relatives.
Icons are representations of our beloved holy ones in the
Church: Our Lord, His Mother, the Apostles, the Disciples, and
all the Holy Saints of God.
In addition, these icons are windows into Heaven.
In the Church, icons are examples of the cloud of witnesses that
surround the throne of God. As the Divine Liturgy lifts us up to
the very heavens where we share in the Wedding Feast of the Lamb
of God, these icons remind us of Heaven, our true home.
Know that I am praying for you, Handmaiden of God.
#Post#: 546--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obstacles along my journey
By: stanley123 Date: November 3, 2014, 3:03 pm
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Don't rush, but take things slowly would be my suggestion.
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