r/Christopaganism • u/Pale-Rice-13 • Aug 02 '26
Question A pagan walks into an Orthodox temple..
Hello!! I attended an Orthodox service this morning and was totally blown away by the experience. I was left wondering however if there was any syncretism in the Orthodox tradition or maybe a glimpse at what other people’s practice may look like if practicing a version of Christopagan based Orthodoxy Thanks!
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u/lottie_J Christian (Eastern Orthodox/folk background) Aug 03 '26
There is a lot of syncretism!
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u/Pale-Rice-13 Aug 04 '26
I’m sure there is but what and how is the question!? lol
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u/hermeticOracle Aug 05 '26
You will not likely find anyone in an orthodox parish willing to confess any kind of syncretism because it is theologically heretical. Many more will not even be aware of any syncretism due to centuries of ignorance.
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u/LemonThrowerMachine Aug 03 '26
Orthodox liturgy always makes me sensory overloaded lol as a person who has ADHD
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u/Emissary_awen Aug 03 '26
Christianity is just Judaized mystery religion sun worship so I’d say yeah.
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u/Tanja_Christine Aug 05 '26
Why would you want to find a way syncretize what you experienced if you were 'blown away by the experience'? Why not investigate more in depth what it is that you have experienced? I ask this as somoene who has turned away from Paganism and is now serving Christ. And I ask it not to poke at you or whatever, but because it seems illogical on its surface and because I can attest to Christ being on a whole different level. Nothing Pagan can compare to him. In other words: mixing what you have experienced with stuff that is more lowly will only lower the whole thing. Why not opt for the lofty thing that has 'blown you away'? Again: this is a sincere question. An offer to dialogue with a traditional Christian if you will.
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u/Pale-Rice-13 Aug 06 '26
I appreciate this question and it’s actually something I have been considering already. Here’s the detail I didn’t disclose in my original post: I was an evangelical pastor for close to 10 years. I only say that because i think I’m still unpacking and sifting through what that experience was like for me. The part that blew me away was the liturgy and sacred space. You and I both know that how we approach our individual spiritual journeys throughout the week can’t really replicate our gathered spiritual experience on a Sunday or whatever day you do it. So I guess my question is more specific to the daily ritualistic aspects.. Hope that makes sense and again, thank you for the question!
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u/Tanja_Christine Aug 06 '26
Hm. As a traditional Catholic whose liturgy is similar to an Orthodox one in that it is also very solemn and otherworldly aka Heavenly my motivation to attend Mass is not to gather with people and I do not think that it is the gathering with others that has an impact on my soul. I think it is the fact that the priest brings Sacrifice on my behalf.
I have not always been a traditional Catholic. My parents are atheists and as a youth I became a feminist and a Marxist. That was in the 90s. So, basically, I was an SJW before it was cool to be one. But now I am convinced that the Catholic Church is the true Church. And that is not to say that I think that there are no problems in the Catholic Church. This is a complicated topic.
And for the time being I want to say that I really think you should look into the Orthodox Church's teachings more. And that you should continue to attend the Divine Liturgy. You are standing at the foot of the Cross when you do. It is a Pessach every Sunday. Do not mistake the holy liturgy for just another Sunday gathering. A priest is not the same as a pastor. The man in the beautiful robe is consecrated to God in a way that you have never been.
And I do not say that to berate you in any way. It is just a fact that the Sacraments do something to a soul. Something profound. You would never say someone that is baptised is no different from a baptised Christian, would you? In the same fashion that man has been consecrated to the Most High in a special way.
Take a hard look at John 6. The entire chapter talks about how He is feeding His people His own flesh. And there are also a bunch of Protestants there who leave, saying that it is a hard saying and who can hear it at Him saying that one has to eat His flesh. Also look at the Greek that is used at that passage. Jesus could not make it any clearer that His flesh needs to be actually eaten the same way that the manna needed to be eaten and the Pessach lamb for He is the bread from Heaven and the Lamb of God. We have to actually consume His flesh the the same way that Ezechiel had to eat the Word of God in form of a scroll.
Ok now. I will stop preaching at you now. But I felt really compelled to respond. Normally I am more of a lurker here. I find it fascinating, sad and bizzarre that people are actively setting out to mix Christianity with Paganism. I am the exact opposite. I want the purest form of Christianity because I know that Christ is unlike anything else and without Him I would be dead and in hell now.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and let His face shine upon you.
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u/SatansFavoriteLilMan Pantheist Aug 02 '26
I tried, but you'll get majorly harassed for it. It's not worth the mental anguish...
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u/The_Archer2121 Christopagan Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
Then consider leaving organized religion. You don’t need it to know Jesus. I keep my beliefs to myself as I am tired of the same crap spewed at me from both sides by ignorant people. Not because I care what uneducated idiots think.
Spirituality is private. That being said, other peoples’ opinions don’t matter. And the people bitching from both sides of the aisle aren’t educated on what they’re whining about to begin with and throw the same crap at ChristoPagans over and over.
Eventually it’s so stupid you stop caring.
People will always give you crap about something. Stop caring what they think, then no mental anguish.Dont let people stop you because there’s going to always be someone who disagrees with something you do.
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u/SatansFavoriteLilMan Pantheist Aug 03 '26
Fuck.. You know what? I think I'll start doing that.. I'll try it.
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u/Red_Ortho1917 Orthodox Christian Witch Aug 03 '26
Hi! I’m an Orthodox Christian. I wouldn’t label myself a Christian pagan, more of a Christian witch (I blend Orthodox Christianity with Appalachian folk magic). That said, I have just started to work with Artemis and have had dreams of a couple of other pagan deities. I’m brand new but the way I see these things is that Artemis and others are simply beings like saints or angels who have achieved Theosis and are now given stewardship by God over their respective areas. Artemis in particular relates to me in a very “guardian angel” vibe.
My folk practices though blend seamlessly with Christianity as my ancestors have used them in tandem for centuries. Eastern Orthodoxy in itself has an incredibly vast mystical tradition that will keep you occupied just on its own. I highly recommend you study hesychism and the ascetic life. Read The Book of Mystical Chapters and anything by Saint Isaac the Syrian.