Regarding Jean-Serge's remark going unnoticed, I paid attention and fully agreed ! I didn't get a chance to cover that in my post,
but remembered after that I left out some important aspects.
I think none of us laymen have a very good way to judge who is converting REALLY and who is a fake convert.
Only a practiced priest or Bishop - or, a clairvoyant elder - would likely be able to discern this.
Thus, this IS a very important consideration. Our James wouldn't know until way too late whether or not his mailorder or
university student bride was even remotely sincere. It's too big a risk to take nowadays.
I would suggest that he pray for excellent discernment to be able to ferret out the prospects who are faking interest in Orthodoxy.
Yes, about Grand Duchess Elizabeth, she waited quite some years, in fact, before converting. She had a strong indoctrination
of Lutheranism growing up, as was witnessed by the hysterical reactions of her father and brother when she finally sent
them the letter informing them of her idea and seeking her father's blessing to convert to Russian Orthodox.
As I recall, her father said "No way" and almost disowned his daughter !
Observing the future Saint's process is instructive. It's realistic, too, that a Protestant doesn't often immediately cotton to
the "strange rituals", elaborate Liturgies and "worship of the Mother of God and Saints". She had to fight with the ideas inculcated from youth.
It was a fairly slow but steady transition for her.
Though no fan of Grand Duke Serge by any means, one favorable point about the Governor of Moscow at that age was that he - from all the accounts -
did not push her at all. He welcomed her interest in Orthodoxy. But stayed aloof so that it was really HER decision entirely,
which is the result one would want to see, as Jean-Serge says above.
Finally, Joasia is right when she bemoans the lack of support through difficult times of youth from a nice environment like this Forum.
So James is fortunate to be able to openly air any worries he has ! People are sympathetic, even when replying strictly.
The strictness is of course only for this youth's best interests.
