/lit/ - Literature

I've been having a hard time with Orthodoxy these days bros. My church just completely tore itself apart. No one would listen to my priest, he wouldn't enforce any rules. But that's not what bothers me. What bothers me is the role of the bishops promoting fear of covid in the flock. I've seen their "covid safety" rules used to beat parishioners over the head with and make them feel excluded. The greek bishops in America convened a council that declared that there is no Orthodox religious exemption for the vaccine. This is patently false, as it's unlawful to do anything that harms the body and the vaccine is harmful to most if not all of the people who get jabbed. Regardless, it's mind-boggling that the Church (and I hesitate to capitalize that "C") would call together a council NOT pertaining to salvation and navigate the issue in such a worldly manner.

Where I've seen Jesus Christ acting most in the world has been outside the walls of the Orthodox Church. It's been very hard for me to see the people that have been going to church for 20 years at my parish act like this. It makes you question the sacraments. Of course, my priest says that almost no one comes in for confession. Maybe that's the reason why, but I know an old Greek woman who has gone to confession twice in her life and she is one of the most God-filled people that I have met.

There is still unfathomable Grace within the Orthodox Church. I've been to Athos two times and seen absolute angels on earth. I know what the grace of God can do. But I just can't say that there's not salvation and sainthood outside of Orthodoxy as well. Thanks for reading my blog, enjoy the icon of the Panagia (the first icon painted according to the monks of Dionysiou).