Orthodox Church in America

[rat]

I've been attending a ROCOR church, but I'm not having any luck finding a spiritual director. I'm thinking about going to an OCA church, and would like to know what any of you think about it.

I would rather stay with ROCOR, but I've been basically told that only Russian speakers are eligible to become catechumens, because it wasn't worth the effort to hold instruction in English for just one or two candidates.

I really like the Russian people, but it is trying when some sweet old lady would come up to me every week, and speak to me in Russian. When I tell them I don't speak Russian, they exclaim "This Russian church! Why you here?"
Lately, I've been asking myself the same question.

[Chrysostomos]

Wretched Sinner,

This is truly saddening. This was also one of my points in my recent post on evangelism. Here you are, an individual who is seeking to enter the church, yet because they don't have enough "english speaking" catechumens, it isn't worth doing the catechesis. There is simply no excuse for this, and I on behalf of the Church, bow and ask forgiveness on it's behalf.

I would first recommend your asking your priest for a recommendation. I would have hope that he would have offer to bring you into the church, especially when heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents, but then again the problem you are faced with.

Where are you located?

I myself feel it best that I can merely offer you my prayers.

Your fellow struggler in Christ,

Rd. Chrysostomos

[Priest Siluan]

It is really sad the Filetism, this do that many people to leave some bad thing to another worse one

[rightbyyou]

This is unfortunate, but I too can relate. The only church near me is an all Greek Parish that only has services in Greek (and this is GOA, not even a Traditionalist Parish) and no English. I can definately understand keeping ethnic culture alive... but at what cost? Is it worth it to turn people away from the True Body of Christ because they happened to be born an american? A difficult issue. I will pray for you and I ask that you will also pray for me, a sinner. God Bless and keep you.

I've been attending a ROCOR church, but I'm not having any luck finding a spiritual director. I'm thinking about going to an OCA church, and would like to know what any of you think about it.

I would rather stay with ROCOR, but I've been basically told that only Russian speakers are eligible to become catechumens, because it wasn't worth the effort to hold instruction in English for just one or two candidates.

I really like the Russian people, but it gets old have some sweet old lady come up to me every week, and speak to me in Russian. When I tell her I don't speak Russian, they exclaim "This Russian church! Why you here?"
Lately, I've been asking myself the same question.

[rat]

[ Where are you located? ]

I'm in Northern California...here is another post that about sums it up:

.... to find a Spiritual Father in Northern California as a Catachumen is almost impossible...

http://euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/viewto ... hlight=oca

[rightbyyou]

Southcoast Massachusetts... if I had a car I could probably drive to a Church farther away, but I don't. I just wish the Parish down the street from me used some English.

[尼古拉前执事]

We have 2 large parishes in Mass. Some people drive from some distance and it m,ay be possible that you could get a ride with someone who drives from near your location too.

Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Resurrection

Protopresbyter Victor Melehov, Rector & Dean of the ROAC Clergy in North America
Priest Michael Marcinowski, Assistant
Temple Address:
63 Laurel Street
Worcester, MA 01605-3069
Phone: (508) 752-7813

Email: ProtVM@Charter.net

Saint John the Russian Orthodox Church

Protopriest Spyridon Schneider, Rector
Priest Christopher Johnson, Assistant
Reader James Hanson
Reader Michael Hauser
Temple Address:
16 Mount Pleasant Street
Ipswich, MA 01938
Phone: (978) 356-1207
Email: FrSpyridon@Comcast.net, FrChristopher@Comcast.net