We've got a great Greek festival in my town each year. It's held at the Greek Orthodox Church and attended by thousands upon thousands of people. It's obvious that the vast majority of festival volunteers, from the church, are ethnic Greeks. Many speak Greek.
I assume they would accept non ethnic Greek converts into the Church. I know Orthodox Christianity is growing fast in the United States. But would they accept the converts socially? Would the converts be embraced and warmly welcomed into the community?
Tags: Orthodox faith, great greek festival, Religion Belief, ethnic greek converts, Orthodoxethnicity eastern orthodox, how to\ convert to\ Eastern Orthodox Christianity
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I don’t know, but I do know that the majority of users are in time zones where it is currently late at night, and it is Saturday. This is when the trolls come out, and most serious people are doing other things. I wouldn’t expect a real answer right now. I would suggest asking this at a different time.
Really wow. Greek culture is nice. Much more holy in the past. Very liberal today.
I think Greek Orthodoxy needs to know what born again in Christ really means.
The worldly sway of materialism has enveloped Greeks and the rest of the world.
Orthodoxy has the best for Jesus.. The holy Spirit should teach Greeks that they not loose sight of the poor,oppressed and the lost of the world.
Good opportunities to preach, withness for Christ/Messiah is at festivals, fairs and other gatherings.
Yes, absolutely! I’m a non-Greek convert to Greek Orthodox Christianity, and I have to say you will never find a group of people more warm-hearted and welcoming. Even if they speak Greek a lot, it guarantee it is not out of a lack of love or disrespect–they just don’t always realize people around them don’t understand because most people there do speak Greek. They are very warm hearted, loving, down to earth people who love God very much and will accept you as if you were part of their family. God bless you on your journey. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or other concerns.
One of the great things about Detroit is that we have all ethnicities here in abundance, and people from Greece and Greek Orthodox churches are no exception. Generally speaking, you cannot convert to the Greek Orthodox Church because you are not from Greece. You would actually convert to the Eastern Orthodox Church. However, this does not mean that you would not be accepted at a Greek Orthodox church, nor does it mean that you must become an official member either.
My experience with Greek Orthodox church members is they are a very close group and their families have known each other for generations. They take care of each other and look out for one another. I have seen nothing that would make me think your family would be treated like outsiders, and I doubt you would feel out of place in a different cultural atmosphere. You would probably find it rich and beautiful, and I think your family would be welcomed with open arms. That being said, every church is different, so one Orthodox church might be a better fit for you than another.
We met and married in a multi-racial, multi-cultural church, and we never felt out of place, not for one second. We now attend a much different church which we love very much, but we still love and appreciate what we were given at our former church, not the least of which was each other.
Having said all that, I don’t know what the Orthodox Church believes, but there are really only two criteria for a church, and as simple as it sounds, it’s a lot harder to find than most people think. You want a church that treats you like you belong and loves you and your family unconditionally. The second thing you want is a church that will tell you the truth, that we are separated from God by sin, and we are saved not by anything we have done or can do, but by repenting and accepting salvation though Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. I notice more and more churches are teaching that we are saved by good works or by trying hard, and this is not only untrue, it’s very frustrating and tiring because we can never achieve “good enough.” We will always fail, always make mistakes. We are not the answer; God is.
Unfortunately, we have been hurt in our life at the hands of false churches and phony Christians, me more so than my husband because single women are easier to target. One church we attended after our marriage is down the street from us. The pastor’s wife told me that they didn’t want us to leave because my husband was such an asset to the church, and if we would stay she would try to find something I could do there that would fit my lack of talent and training so I would feel like I belonged. I think she thought that was an offer I couldn’t refuse because she seemed truly shocked when I bolted for the door.
I’m trying to say I know how frustrating finding a church home can be, and as I post this answer I will pray that God will direct you and your family and make your search for a church home much easier than ours.
Yes, usually. Sometimes not so much, unfortunately.
People are people, and some are more caught up in their ethnicity than others.
Sometimes it takes persistence and patience.
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