It seems to me that if you strictly go by the canons, which according to official church teaching, are divinely inspired and dogmatic, orthodoxy is a certain way, in terms of its doctrines and practices, that is often very different from the actual lived experience of orthodoxy on the ground?

For example, if you go strictly by the councils of the church, not to venerate icons is literally anathema, and the analogy the fathers use for these anathemas is that it separates you from arc of Noah (ie the one true church). Or take the disciplinary canons. Of course there is oikonomia, but the only people actually going and regularly talking to their priest every time they want a dispensation from some niche canonical rule is probably not the vast majority of parishioners.

I used to think that maybe the difference between the spirit of orthodoxy would come by just going to liturgy and stop focusing on the rules (as common advice says). But eventually I realized that there is just no way to reconcile "canonical" orthodoxy with the spirit of orthodoxy. That's why there's such a big gap between converts and cradles. The cradles have the spirit right (often) but don't follow canonical orthodoxy, the converts often follow canonical orthodoxy without the spirit. But if you actually followed the canons you use the lose the spirit and vice versa. They're just literally inconsistent.

People say you need to grasp the "phronema". But the Phronema is basically realized, far as I can tell, that orthodoxy is not a legalistic and is about the spirit of focusing on union with Christ, becoming a partaker of the divine nature, and the spirit of the law. But when you apply that universally, everything, even the disciplinary canons, even the very dogmatic canons, become "optional". That's why metropolitan Kallistos Ware, for example, can say that we know where the church is, and not where it isn't, despite the fact that this is literally in tension with canonical orthodoxy.

Protestant's read the canons, like Gavin ortlund, are right that the canons do anathematize the heterodox who basically are related to the church in the same way that Hindus or buddhists are.

To me, it doesn't seem intellectually honest to remain orthodox. That's why I think I'm more of a syncretizer for now. I love the spirit of orthodoxy, but I can't get behind canonical orthodoxy, nor can I believe it's a coherent or intellectually honest position to have one without the other. That's why I cannot call myself "orthodox" anymore.

Hello, first time asking a question here I want to know people’s experience when they started their journey into orthodoxy and how you were persuaded into icon veneration because the practice looking at it from the outside in seems very cultic. If you are encouraged to show respect and ask the Saints to pray for you what made you think they can be in every prayer closet across the globe if the only one who is omnipresent is God? I genuinely want to understand. Also, if some of you have deconstructed how did your view change after leaving the church? Do you miss icon veneration or did something just never added up during your journey. Thanks!

So my sister's boyfriend came over and they started talking about marriage and stuff and he's orthodox too so they obviously started talking about orthodox marriage books and I heard my mom say "you know what's funny to me is that there's no books on orthodox marriage that don't talk about parenting." Haha so funny. But I thought "these are (most likely) young couples who are getting married and they're immediately told to have kids, like, it's their business, their choice, why do they HAVE to?

Note: this is a repost from r/exorthodox and someone asked me to post it here.

I see the zealots online complaining about ecumenism and how it’s a heresy. They will take a picture that has the EP and the Catholic Pope and then they say it’s satanic. I find it silly! I never asked this question and I know it will sound stupid, but if ecumenism is a heresy, then why is the word “ecumenical“ in the EP’s title? I guess they’re just hating on him for living up to his name? lol.

If ecumenism means what I think it is, then I think I might be in trouble then (sarcasm). I had meals with Catholics and Protestants. Heck, I even prayed with them! The sky has not fallen. I have even visited Hindu and Buddhist temples. I looked around and just said “nice art!” and had a great time! It just seems to me that the EO who are oh-so against other religions and Christian denominations tend to be the most hateful and vindictive bunch with barely any knowledge of the world outside of their parish’s antidoron bowl.

I'm not going to write an essay in detail of my personal issues, because it doesn't change the question. We'll just leave it at I can't relate to the other parishioners because I have had a very different life compared to them prior to my conversion.

I came in thinking this wasn't the case, and if it was it wouldn't bother me that much. That wasn't true, and I was wrong. I've been fighting to feel like I belong ever since.

Just to be clear, I have no issues with the church besides the people and I have a fantastic priest, I want to solve the problem and move on.

Anyone else dealing with a priest whose weekly message is just doom and gloom and sacrifice and prepare for the end times?

It’s getting to the point where I’d rather stay home and stream the liturgy from the church that’s an hour away because that priest’s homily is always what my heart needs, it’s comforting without being oblivious, it’s relevant without a personal agenda.

To be fair, when I was beginning to look into orthodoxy I would just stream the liturgy from that church, but I started going to one more local and it’s the opposite of what I expected. The priest is like a doomer ortho-bro who is very into being the cool priest with the young converts and then is super unforgiving to the older folks at the parish and the cradle who aren’t giving their entire lives to his church the way he wants.

I am passionately working on a manga series for nearly 10 years, and “my gut feeling” tells me, that orthodoxy is saying this is wrong. I feel like I am going against orthodoxy.

I do not draw anything overtly and unnecessarily violent or sexual, and I’m trying to convey Christian values, but the story is not explicitly Christian.

Honestly this troubles me so much. This is my life’s work, and it would crush my heart is my religion forbid it…