Which Orthodox church to join

[Haykakan]

Re: Which Orthodox church to join

I think the Choir in the armenian church is one of the things i liked about our church. The person doing the preaching has a lot to do with someone liking one church over another. We had a preachere "dont know about official church title) here who was a very spiritual and caring person and someone like that is easy to spend a couple hours listening to. There have also been plenty of preachers who were vulgar or lead their sermun like a drill sargent and these were not very pleasent. If you actually listen to what the preachers say you will get a good idea about what kind of a person he is and if you want to be seeeing him on a sunday. Some armenian preachers have said very stupid things in mass while others have been smart in a spiritual way. People and speech skills and the intellect of the preacher may be the difference in the decision making. I have seen both good and bad in the same church many times so even if you find what you like today it may not stay that way.

[Hyegirl]

Re: Which Orthodox church to join

I really like this priest. I'm also glad that even if I don't stay there for long, I will be officially Orthodox.

I don't know what to wear to my chrismation. Any suggestions anyone?

[Mos]

Re: Which Orthodox church to join

Orthodox?? You mean Armenian Apostolic?

[Hyegirl]

Re: Which Orthodox church to join

Orthodox?? You mean Armenian Apostolic?

Ayo. Wasn't it called Orthodox though until the Soviets took over or somehow Russia got more involved and the Russian/Eastern Orthodox wanted to keep that name to themselves? Or was it the other way around?

[Mos]

Re: Which Orthodox church to join

Ayo. Wasn't it called Orthodox though until the Soviets took over or somehow Russia got more involved and the Russian/Eastern Orthodox wanted to keep that name to themselves? Or was it the other way around?

Well it's better to refer to it as Apostolic. This also lessens confusion, since 'orthodox' label is often times confused for "Eastern Orthodox" which Armenian Church isn't part of. We have a rather independent Church, in communion with Syriac and Coptic Churches. We notably reject the Council of Chalcedon We are more accurately a Miaphysite Churche, as with that rejection, we believe that Jesus Christ had one single nature rather than 2.

[Hyegirl]

Re: Which Orthodox church to join

Well it's better to refer to it as Apostolic. This also lessens confusion, since 'orthodox' label is often times confused for "Eastern Orthodox" which Armenian Church isn't part of. We have a rather independent Church, in communion with Syriac and Coptic Churches. We notably reject the Council of Chalcedon We are more accurately a Miaphysite Churche, as with that rejection, we believe that Jesus Christ had one single nature rather than 2.

Yeah, I know the Copts say Chalcedon was a matter of translation, but then an other argument from the Oriental/miaphysite perspective is that Chalcedonian dyophysite are closer to Nestorianism, which I do not know much about. Do you know why?

[Mos]

Re: Which Orthodox church to join

Yeah, I know the Copts say Chalcedon was a matter of translation, but then an other argument from the Oriental/miaphysite perspective is that Chalcedonian dyophysite are closer to Nestorianism, which I do not know much about. Do you know why?

Interesting section from Wiki regarding Nestorianism/DYophysite:

Dyophysite has also been used to describe Nestorianism, the doctrine ascribed to the Patriarch Nestorius of Constantinople by his detractors, which asserted that Christ existed as two persons (hypostases): the human Jesus and the divine Logos. The use of it to describe those who supported the Chalcedonian position (who continued on as the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches) is tantamount to accusing them of being Nestorian, which they were not as they emphasised the complete and perfect unity of the two natures in one hypostasis. For the Chalcedonians the hypostasis was the centre of Jesus' unity (his divinity and humanity being described as natures) whereas those who rejected the Chalcedonian definition saw his nature as the point of unity. Many historical theologians and ecumenists believe it was and continues to be more a difference of terminology than actual belief.

so on another point, you recently converted to the Armenian Church? from what church or religion you converted?

[Hyegirl]

Re: Which Orthodox church to join

so on another point, you recently converted to the Armenian Church? from what church or religion you converted?

Sort of ex-Messianic/Ex-denominationally agnostic Christian, ex-nondenominational, ex-almost Catholicism inquirer getting a ride to church where a college student can, ex-Lutheran. I've been around a few denominations. I'm still trying to get the last of Catholicism out of my head and need to read up on an eastern take on sacraments.

[Mos]

Re: Which Orthodox church to join

Sort of ex-Messianic/Ex-denominationally agnostic Christian, ex-nondenominational, ex-almost Catholicism inquirer getting a ride to church where a college student can, ex-Lutheran. I've been around a few denominations. I'm still trying to get the last of Catholicism out of my head and need to read up on an eastern take on sacraments.

So you are just trying different denominations out?? What attracted you to the Armenian Church?

[Hyegirl]

Re: Which Orthodox church to join

So you are just trying different denominations out?? What attracted you to the Armenian Church?

I blame my parents and youthful my willingness to listen to others to the point of not really making up my own mind for myself.

How many answers do you want of things that attracted me to the Armenian church? I think in the end, it goes back to the flaws of Catholicism and my exposure to Catholicism and former attraction to it as a young child. Armenian Apostolic is one of the few churches I could happily live with, one of the few that combines all the best of Catholicism, with better theology, and a lot of common sense. I'll find you a dozen more attractions if you want (admittedly some better than others).