I have watched Orthodox Liturgies from mount Athos and have no doubt several of the monks were in a very high state of prayer, going into ecstasy in fact.
Orthodox Jewish folks in Israel have started treating Christian pilgrims badly and their is a very sharp increase of persecution all across the globe. A sure sign of the End Times.
I remember reading about an exchange of letters between the saint Elder Paisios (an orthodox saint) and Pope Paul VI, in an exchange of letters aimed at dialogue between the churches; nonetheless, Unfortunately, I couldn't find a source reporting this.
Who knows, maybe the pope from the time of the Great Warning will be able to visit Mount Athos in a context of greater rapprochement between the two churches.
Some Orthodox saints bring very edifying messages about faith and the good fight. I have hope that when Orthodoxy returns to unity with us, all this wisdom will give rise to a great revival of faith throughout the world.
I am particularly drawn to the early fathers who are venerated by the Orthodox Church. I also love icons and Russian chant. I have a cd of Russian Orthodox chant which is spiritually powerful. My husband, an agnostic, loves it too. I would never leave the Catholic Church, unlike Rod Dreher, but I do long for East and West to be united.
I love Eastern stuff too. Although Iceent to one of their Sunday masses in Cyprus one time and had to leave after two hours, just too much. It seemed to go on forever
I saw an Orthodox website talk about this once; they said that it is common for people to sleep during the liturgy; that the process was like traveling on a ship; a trip...
I suppose if I spoke Greek it might have helped. Also I hadn't a clue what wà going on. But the icons were gorgeous.
Unfortunately, the Orthodox do not accept the devotion of the Rosary, a sacramental that would be very timely and edifying in these long hours.
The Orthodox have their own prayer beads, the prayer rope, which they use to pray other Christian prayers...
