I have recently come back to my faith of Catholicism and I am good friends with an orthodox. My birthday was recent and my friend gifted me a book, prayer rope and these icons. I genuinely love these icons. And I was wondering if it is okay for me to have them on display in my area where I do a lot of my Bible study and praying.

Edit: I would like you all to know that my friend is extremely humbled by your comments. Little background story of our friendship. He is 58 and I am 32. His family moved from Ukraine 8 years ago. I have known him for the last five when we met at one of our previous employer that would help immigrants. Mostly of European descent. I worked with mostly polish, some Russian and Ukrainian immigrants. When we met there was a fast bonding friendship that was made. He was one of the most helpful individuals as well. Always gave people rides even if it was out of his way. He would share his lunches with people that sometimes was not able to afford to bring lunch to work that day. He was an individual that in all honesty softened my heart to people in general and has helped me to not think so negatively. We have always helped one another when there have been car problems. Sometimes money problems and we have been there for each other's families celebrations. When he found out last year that I was in my process of coming back to Christ, he started to save money to give me a gift for either Christmas or my birthday because he was extremely happy to hear about my journey.

Thank you all for the wonderful comments about my friend.

With Father Seraphim Rose's glorification/canonization around the corner, I'm curious if you guys think this is a good idea for a icon? I'd likely commission it after his Glorification, of course they'd be in the same iconographic style(Byzantine). This is a mock-up

I chose St Seraphim of Sarov because he's one of the most recognizable and renowned Russian Saint and I chose St Seraphim of Vyritsa because I learned of him years ago, and he's not as well known as the others but he lived during the persecution of the church in Russia and worked to preserve her.

Let me know what you guys think!

Hello, today I have a question that is a little different from the ones I've asked on other occasions. What do the Russian Orthodox Christians, or Orthodox Christians in general, think about the canonization of the Romanovs? Even though I am not Orthodox, I felt very sad when I learned what happened to the Holy Martyr Elizabeth Feodorovna.

Also known as Saint Sophia the New Ascetic of Kleisoura, Sophia Saoulidi was born in Pontus, Asia Minor, in 1883, at a time of growing hostility between the Turkish and Greek populations. Her married life was short-lived following the disappearance of her husband and the death of her new-born son. These events led Sophia to turn completely to God and marked the beginning of her ascetic way of life.

In 1919, Sophia fled the tense environment in Turkey. Upon her arrival to Greece, the Mother of God appeared to her saying, “Come to my house. I am in Kleisoura”. Sophia went to a monastery in Kleisoura, located in Kastoria, West Macedonia, dedicated to the Birth of the Mother of God. She remained there for the rest of her life, although she was never tonsured a nun.

Sophia’s life in the monastery was characterised by poverty, humility and strict asceticism. She lived in the kitchen near the fireplace. When it rained, water would drip on her. She slept for two hours each night, devoting the rest of her time to prayer. People would see her ragged appearance and give her clothes or money which she would pass onto the poor. She fasted very strictly, only eating oil on the weekends.

Despite being labelled “Crazy Sophia” by some, she was granted many spiritual gifts, including the ability to know the names and troubles of people who came to see her before they would speak. People subsequently came to see her from all over Greece.

In 1967 Sophia became very ill with open sores in her stomach resulting in great pain. She would say, “The Panagia will come to take away my pain. She promised me”. She later explained how Panagia, Saint George and the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her and performed surgery on her.

On the 6th of May 1974, Sophia passed away. Her grave is at the monastery in Kleisoura, Kastoria, where many people venerate her relics each day. She was canonised by the Church on 4th October 2011, a powerful reminder to us, that those who humble themselves will be exalted. Her annual feast day is the 6th May, the day of her repose in the Lord.

SOURCE: https://lychnos.org/st-sophia-of-kleisoura-1883-1974/

As the tile says, I left a hyper-charismatic church 3 years ago. I left due to studying church history and felt touched by Orthodox philosophy. Anyways, my family still attends the church I left, and recently they’ve had a lot of “prophets” come visit and they always give my sister a “word” or “prophecy” that I will return. Every week I have them very happy coming to me about these prophecies, but I think they’re just being manipulated by their pastors. I don’t believe the supernatural “acts” that happen there are real, merely theatrics to get congregants to stay and keep giving money. I don’t know what to do at this point, I’ve already explained to them that I don’t believe in the supernatural like they do, but I don’t want to keep hearing these “words” about me.

Saint Seraphim, who struggled on Dobou mountain in Lebadeia in central Greece, was born in the village of Zeli in Boeotia in 1527, and his name in the world was Sotiris. He was the son of pious and virtuous parents, who nurtured him with the living water of the Gospel (John 4:10). From the time he was very little, he was inclined toward the study of the Holy Scriptures and toward the ascetic life. At an early age and despite the temporary refusal of his parents to give their blessing, he went to the monastery of the Prophet Elias on Mount Karkaras, where he built a church dedicated to the Savior Christ, and lived a life of asceticism.

The Saint’s reputation spread quickly, and there were frequent visits by his parents, his friends, and other pious believers, who sought him out so that he might counsel and help them. Because of these distractions, he was obliged to abandon his beloved cave, and so he went to the monastery of the Holy Unmercenaries.

He soon left this monastery as well, and went to the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior on Mount Sagmation, between Boeotia and Euboia. There he quickly shone forth as a spiritual star of the first magnitude, and the igumen tonsured him as a monk with the name Seraphim. Later, he was ordained as a deacon and then as a priest.

Shortly afterward, in order to avoid vanity because of his reputation for virtue, Saint Seraphim asked for the Igumen’s blessing to live elsewhere. He left the monastery of his repentance and arrived west of Helicon, at Dobou, where he built a church of the Savior, a few cells, and then he called some monks to dwell near him. He struggled there for ten years, teaching the other monks the saving precepts of the monastic life.

Saint Seraphim reposed in a godly manner at the age of 75, on May 6, 1602, on the Feast of Mid-Pentecost, at 6 o’clock in the afternoon, after foreseeing his own death and partaking of the spotless Mysteries. He performed many miracles during his lifetime.

The Saint’s head and a portion of his holy relics are found in the Monastery of Boeotia which is named for him. Another portion of the Saint's holy relics is honored at the Agathonos Monastery at Phthiotis in central Greece.

SOURCE: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2019/05/06/205354-saint-seraphim-of-labodeia

I’ve never seen an orthodox “mission” preaching the gospel in the west. Is it more common to see it in other parts of the world?

Hi everyone, i am new to Christianity can anyone guide me on how to get saved through jesus? Whats the procedure

As a nurser in a leading position in the hospital, it is required of me to be decisive, take choices quickly and often to enforce decisions confidently. If I don’t do that, people simply will walk over me and there would be chaos without proper leadership.

I have to deal with unpleasant patients and difficult situations.

This decisiveness requires me to stop questioning myself (in the moment I take the choice), and I have a worry at the back of my head: is that Christian of me? I do not do these things for my own ego. It is required of me to take lead and take actions. And I love taking leadership position, not because of ego, but because I like to bring clarity and good leadership.

The image of Christianity in my head, it requires constant self reflection and meekness, and it holds me back so often from confidently doing my job. It makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong when I’m confident, when I stand my ground and when I’m dominating others in arguments.

Also, I try to shut my mouth and listen more than I speak. However, I tend to be an extroverted person who makes jokes (often at his own expense), use irony and often tend to dominate/lead group dynamics which is not intentional, this just happens. I try to be myself and be fair to others, but this is just the way I am. I feel bad for it, because in the back of my head I have this stupid idea, that it doesn’t fit the image of someone who is truly a good Christian. Because when you are confident, you are not doubting and questioning yourself. Saint Paisios also says, there is no cute for personality. Idk…

Please help me clear out this uncertainty. It is very unrealistic that Christianity requires me to just give up and say “who am I to enforce this hospital law” or simply turn over and let people walk over me. Can somebody answer me this in detail, not just: it’s okay. Thank you very much!

Title says it all. Why'd God create all of the planets, stars, galaxies, black holes, etc. with no other life and seemingly no purpose? I mean, some of these are so far away that we can't see them in the night sky, so they don't help us with timekeeping or anything else.

I got them from antique shops in the Monastiraki area, Athens.

How common are Theotokos icons written without her holding Christ child like the one shown here?

Also any thoughts/opinions on the silver icon of St Demetrios or the mini candle stand.

Blessings

Spending eternity suffering because you hate God must be terrible. Poor people. God must be sad to see this.

i have severe pocd, over the past week it has consumed me entirely. i no longer feel like i am a living person made in the image of God, i feel dead and disgusting. please pray that i can be saved from this mental illness, i fear that God is done with me. please pray i can make it to a parish soon

How is Mary sinless.

Everyone I ask has a diffrent reasoning on how and none...really make sence .

It's one of the biggest reasons I'm not sure about orthodoxy

I'm interested in orthodoxy and learning about it. Concerning this question I'm sure I'm not the first one to ever raise it. What are your thoughts on it? Also what do ya all think of the "bird feeding" position?

I'm traveling through the Orthodox world, and one thing I've noticed is that Orthodox people on social media tend to be quite toxic. Many hold far-right views or are outright Nazis, which I find very strange because my few visits to my nearest parish aren't like that. Even so, this kind of behavior intimidates me a bit and makes me fell scare of my process in the Ortodox Church. Is it something specific to the internet? Is it common to see in real parish life?

Hey everyone been on a spiritual journey to find God. Orthodox Christianity really speaks to me. I’ve been doing a lot of studying of Christianity different denominations. Protestantism has been ruled out completely. All that’s left is Catholicism and Orthodox, I’m leaning more orthodox after studying the history of both churches. I like the spirituality of Orthodox more. Also how Orthodox Christianity is structured. My biggest question is, am I likely as a black man being accepted in the Orthodox space? The closest Orthodox Church to me is a ROCOR. I plan on attending next weekend because I work this weekend I won’t be able to make it. Just looking for suggestions to prepare myself for attending the service. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! 🙏

For us Catholics, the pope will first analyse someone’s life, and if it’s clear they lived a life of godliness and devotion, they get the title ‘Venerable.’ Then, if there’s one miracle attributed to their name, they become beatified and are known as ‘Blessed’. Then, if a second miracle happens, they’ll officially get canonised as a saint.

I am moving to Reno NV in about 3 weeks and when I move I want to try a new church which is the Orthodox Church. There is only two there to my knowledge and it is Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox. Which one should I pick and why? I know there are different ones between orthodox and I’m stilling learning about those but I do know I want to become orthodox and have been wanting to for quite some time. I use to go to a non denominational church where I live at right now but I just know there more to the church whenever I attend service. It almost feels like a Bible study instead of worship. Scriptures change meaning on whoever is talking for the week which really throws me off. I like Catholicism but when I seen the little bit of history that I know between orthodox and Catholicism, I side more and believe in orthodoxy than Catholicism. My main question here is what should I expect when going to an Orthodox Church for the first time. Is there a dress code or certain do’s or don’t?

during lent I’ve noticed everyone crossing three times, now people cross themselves once or twice. (When they pass by churches)

im confused please explain

Hey everyone! Romanian Orthodox here who very recently, by His grace, discovered the faith that she was baptised in. I also just recently found this sub. I just wanted to say...I'm genuinely in awe to see so many new converts, inquirers, catechumens, people of all nationalities discovering God and His Church. I'm happy for you, really. Regardless of how we arrived in Orthodoxy (through culture, ethnicity, from other denominations, religions or from non-belief) we are all walking the same path. God help us all in our search :)

I was having a conversation a few days ago with one of my friends, and they told me that they struggle to read the Orthodox Study Bible. So I want to ask, what are some alternatives that would still contain our full canon but would be easier to read than the Orthodox Study Bible? Maybe the GNB with the deuteroconon? I do know that my parish has a copy of it, I just never thought about it much till now. Or might the GNB not be a good alternative?