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Showing posts with label orthodoxy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orthodoxy. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

First Orthodox Easter

I survived my first Orthodox Easter. I have mentioned before that Michael is Russian Orthodox. We belong to a Greek Orthodox church here in the Atlanta area. Services are a mix of English and Greek so they can be hard to follow. The Goof Friday service was about 4 hours, but beautiful. We did not make it to the Easter service and I am still kicking myself. The service started at midnight and since Michael had to be at work by 6 am and I did not want to be out till about 4 or 5 am by myself.

They had photographers take some photos from Good Friday and the Easter services. For your viewing pleasure:

This is the alter at our church - we will be married here

Our priests in front of the tomb

the church alter on Easter

Good Friday - everyone had a candle, and the parking lot was lined w/ bags w/ names of the deceased, I had one made for my dad it was nice to see


Good Friday - isnt that beautiful!

Good Friday

our tomb

Saturday, March 12, 2011

My first lent

Growing up we never celebrated Easter or went to church, I was never even baptized. Now don't go putting any fault or blame on my parents, they wanted us to make our own decisions about our faith. I respect that. I was never much into church or faith or really even cared until I met Michael. I really didnt care much until the talks about family and marriage came up. Michael was raised in an Orthodox Christian church. I had never even heard of it until I met him. The Orthodox church is the original Christian church. All other denominations sprung off from the Orthodox church. The basic beliefs and doings of the church has never changed. My biggest problem with church growing up was the hypocrites.  I always had a issue with it and thats why I never found a church I felt I belonged to.

Well, to get married in the Orthodox church both parties have to have been baptized in the holy trinity, seeing as I was never baptized, well that has to be fixed. We joined the local Orthodox church (not very many around us, but we LOVE the one we joined) and started going to the services and I started attending intro to Orthodoxy classes to get a feel for what I was getting myself into. I felt at home and things I am learning make sense to me. If you are interested in reading some about you can check out my churchs website.

I will be baptized into the church the week before our wedding. I am really glad to be doing so. I have decided to dive into the celebrations of lent. In the Orthodox faith lent begins earlier then most. Ours is two months long. Our church has a service everyday but Tuesdays. I wont be able to make all of them, but my goal is to attend as many Wednesday night liturgies as I can. I am excited to dive in and partake in my first Lent and Easter.

I am NOT trying to shove my religion down anyones throat in case you were thinking that. That is one of my MAJOR problems with a lot of people. This is for me and its my first Easter. I just wanted to share.