I actually know very little about the Orthodox Church. I was baptized in a Romanian Orthodox Church. My father, who was Greek Orthodox, was traveling for his work so my Romanian maternal side of the family saw to it that I was baptized. At baptism, the infant also receives anointing with Holy Chrism, which I believe constitutes Confirmation. I only know the attitudes of certain Romanian Orthodox people changed toward me when I became a Catholic at age 15. My godfather was a Mason. He glared at me. My little girl pen pal stopped writing. I also had an Anglican penpal in U.K. who stopped. My godfather’s surviving daughter to this day doesn’t respond. But this in no way really compares to the Russian Orthodox Church. It’s a completely different entity. One thing that surprised me. My cousin’s husband passed away a few months ago. He actually was a practicing Catholic years ago. When I looked on the website of the Romanian Orthodox Church where his services would be, I saw that the Divine Liturgy is now in English. Just like our Mass. Some of my Eastern Rite Catholic relatives have gone over to Orthodox. This has been my experience.
I don't think they believe in the Immaculate Conception or Purgatory. They believe in Divorce and their priests are married . Of course they don't accept the Pope as Pontiff As well as that they are State religions and tend as in Russia at the moment to do as they're told. These are all really big draw backs. Another for me at least theyvtend to be Anti intellectual, condemning Catholics for what they call the heresy of Scholastism. Another this is that they're often bitterly anti Catholic, more so than even bitter red neck Evangelicals .
I like them for their mystical monastic tradition, their wonderful liturgies, their saints and Mount Athos ... also their devotion to the Mother of God But they wouldn't like me
I like to study the history of the Russian Orthodox Church before it became a state church, in the case of the Greek Church, I still really enjoy studying the monastic life on Mount Athos.
perhaps the holy pope of prophecies is not a converted monk from Mount Athos that reunites the churches.
I have not read many detailed Peophecies about the Great Pope . They say he will be so Holy his holiness will change the entire world That would be quite something . He must be alive at the moment Some think it is that young Croation priest with the Stigmata
They allow non- abortifacient forms of birth control if your decision is blessed by your Spiritual Father. Just looked it up.
What a trial that must have been for you, especially as a teen. Very sad. My eldest daughter once had a little pen pal from Georgia. The second she found out my daughter was Catholic she never wrote again.
Dostoevsky was bitterly anti-Catholic, despite all his Christian virtues. So many have a problem with the absolute truth...and from so many contrasting directions. Either the Catholic Church is the most errant institution in history or...
I am afraid this is more common than any of us would like to believe. Many years ago I had a partime job at the local hospital and so had conversations about God with many Christian employees. They were absolutely shocked to find out I was a devout Roman Catholic. One remarked "I had no idea a Catholic could be a Christian"(or something to that effect) she was very edified that I was so obviously "born again". Shaking my head.
I went many many years ago to a Mass and Adoration/Holy hour celebrated by Fr. Sudac. I don’t know of specific healings/miracles. But, I will share that when he held the monstrance with Eucharist aloft to bless us, I saw it glow with a beautiful red light. It was not a reflection. Maybe a gift for the my wife and I as others did not say anything. I saw the cross on his forehead. I could not see his hands. There was an overwhelming sense of holiness and love that emanated from him. He offered the Mass with much beauty and love. I hope to experience it again sone day.
