r/OrientalOrthodoxy

As I want to read the bible as a whole (Non Christian, just loved the history of religon), including texts that every contemporary denomination (Or pre-denomination) includes within their canon. I've barrowed down the others, but this specific tradition appears to be elusive online within their canon for some reason, as every source seems to contradict one another. May I ask, besides the standard books within the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic traditions, what books are considered canonical or God-breathed for you guys, and what is commonly bound within your bibles? Thanks so much!

Hello everybody.

I am Theo, I am 16 yo and I live in Vosges (in the East of France). I am baptized Roman Catholic but after doing a lot of research, I am starting my conversion to Oriental Orthodoxy and my concern is that there is no community in my department and that because of my age and my schedule, my travel is limited. Can you give me examples of YT channels or other to discover many things about this faith please ? Thanks in advance !

hey y'all, first let me tell yall my situation. Long story short I had a weird dream back in December last year tellin me to convert to Oriental Orthodoxy. and since then, I've learned a lot about the faith.

But the thing is, I'm having to take care of my Momma on the weekends and my sister's going through a divorce. So I'm stuck in Montgomery Alabama for the weekends and the closest Oriental Orthodox Church is the Coptic Church in Birmingham Alabama which is two hours away from where I stay.

At first, I was going to church on YouTube at various Coptic worship services. But recently, I've been kind of slack on not going to church on Sunday on YouTube.

Although I am a believer now, but not officially initiated into the church cause I ain't been able to go to a physical oriental orthodox Church because ain't no oriental Orthodox Church in my city cause I have to take care of my Momma on the weekends and on weeknights after 7:00 PM (yes I do stay with my Momma because she's sick with an infirmary which I won't go into detail about).

I realized I had to be patient in the process. Cause I was just reminded about a saint who was in prison for his faith couldn't go to church at all. His name was Saint Artemius. So that encourages me some.

So what I'm asking for is I need an Oriental Orthodox accountability buddy. Cause I feel like I'm the only oriental orthodox believer in the metro area around Montgomery, Alabama. (although I haven't been initiated into the church, cause I'm six months new at this)

So I was wondering if someone could be an accountability buddy for me. First of all, I'm NOT gonna ask people for money cause I don't believe in taking advantage of people like that. And second of all, neither am I going to give anyone else money online cause as the saying goes DTA don't trust anyone.

and I don't care where where you're at in the world I just need somebody to be a buddy of mine that would hold me accountable and talk about the faith on a personal level with another person. Cause unlike Saint Artemius I at least have the Internet to reach out to people.

So who wants to be my Oriental Orthodox accountability buddy?

Currently I'm deciding whether I should become Eastern or Oriental Orthodox. I have looked at many debates and many arguments from both sides, and it seems to me that both sides have extremely strong cases. However, I'm currently more leaning towards EO for a couple of reasons. I'll name just some of them:

1. Miaphysitism has its origins with Apollinarius, who "forged" some letters and attributed them to St Athanasius. It is safe to say that St Cyril used those letters not knowing they were forgeries.
2. Council of Chalcedon was accepted by Antioch [officially], Constantinople, Rome and Jerusalem. Now I know Jerusalem wasn't a Patriarchate yet, but it was a very important episcopal center, so I cannot simply ignore its authority. Chalcedon was rejected by Alexandrian See officially, and half of Antioch rejected it also. Reception of Chalcedon was very wide, ranging from Rome to Jerusalem, while rejection of it was mostly regional, but the rejection was overwhelming.

I would say that reason #2 is the main one, since all previous councils were considered ecumenical primarily because the large Sees [Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch] accepted them over time (not necessarily right away).

I'm always looking for the truth, and if the truth leads me to OO, so be it. Can someone give me reasons why these 2 points I presented don't really hold up? God bless!

Edit: for point #1, I don't mean that theology of Miaphysitism originates with Apollinarius, but the phrase itself (mia physis), but St Cyril interpreted it in an Orthodox way where humanity and divinity are distinct within one incarnate nature.

Hey everyone, I'm currently a Roman Catholic, but I am interested in becoming Orthodox. I'll be moving to the Metro Denver area soon for graduate school. I've already researched the EO parishes in Denver a bit. Now I would like to know about some of the OO parishes in the area. Does anyone have any experience with St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church or  Denver Debreselam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church?

Hello, I'm an EO very new to christology. In letter 44, it seems to me like St. Cyril is not denying/condemning the dyophysite position, but views it as another acceptable formulation of the 'Orthodox Christology' (one divine-human person). What are the OO's thoughts on this, is there anything I missed?

Thanks.

I would like to know a little about - if God is outside time, are all the ideas that come from him already fully manifested? Where would the concept of predestination fit in that? Is time basically a character of human nature and exist because we are finite? After end times, does God also rest eternal or does he still be the cause of further creation? Have any saint talked about that.

Also does suffering exist in God, maybe not causing him but as a potential and real thing? Because why did creation contract it isn't it logically contrary to God then if it's not a thing because he alone is the only existence? Or do we mean it is absence of something than a thing? Isn't it a positive thing since Christ suffered and therefore real?

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Hello, I'm an EO that's slightly looking into OO, was looking for clarifications on the differences between EO and OO except for christology and liturgy. Do the OO affirm essence-energies distinction?

Hi, I'm a 19 year old Christian catechumen from Turkey. I started to catechesis in Coptic Church. Nevertheless, I need your advices(If possible) and prayers. I'm suffering from major depressive disorder. I had two suicide attempts, I harmed myself and I was hospitalized three times. Sometimes world takes too much of heavy toll on me. I'm sorry mods if this breaks the rules. Please pray for me and if you have, give me your advices. I'd like to talk to people.