Today is Pascha - that's Easter to us Westerners. Of course Pascha works for those in the West just the same. But popular Western parlance calls it Easter, while most Orthodox will correct you in two shakes of a paschal lamb's tail if you use Easter in their company.
My second oldest son has chosen to remain in the Orthodox way, even as the rest of us returned to the Catholic Church. This wasn't surprising, just as it wasn't surprising our oldest remained Catholic when the rest sojourned with the Orthodox tradition for a season.
Years and years ago, on our way into the Catholic Church, we actually visited with the Orthodox for a bit. In Protestantism, you have engrained certain 'anti-Catholic' biases that are a bit like having the Queen of Diamonds laid in front of you when you get too close to a Catholic tradition. Because my wife had been born and bred Baptist, her family drinking deeply from the well of Baptist life, it wasn't easy for her to transition to Catholicism in a direct line.
Therefore we went in an outflanking maneuver that included visiting the Orthodox cathedral in Columbus, Ohio. It was too far to seriously consider visiting on a regular basis. And it was quite foreign to us. But it wasn't Catholic, and that helped us look at various doctrines and teachings in ways a lifelong Protestant might not have if the only option was through a Catholic lens.
Eventually we came into the Catholic Church - a long road to be sure. But we did get an appreciation for the Orthodox tradition. There were problems, of course, and that's why we returned. But for my son, the problems our outweighed by the benefits, and the problems he sees in the churches of the Dead West. Plus, from the time we first entered an Orthodox church before becoming Catholic, he had a wide eyed wonder that he never quite matched in the Catholic tradition.
So for him, and all who will be worshipping through the Paschal Celebration today and last night - especially those in war torn Ukraine who will be doing so from underground bunkers and hiding places - prayers for a blessed and joyous celebration.
It was interesting attending the Pascha service with him and my daughter this morning. Definitely different from the Presbyterian and Baptist services I'm used to! Although the chanting reminded me of the acapella Psalm singing in the RPCNA church we used to attend. I had read a book about the Orthodox Church (albeit written from a Reformed perspective), so I knew some of what to expect, but was still not sure what was going on much of the time. At least I could join in on the Lord's Prayer! But I appreciated seeing how other Christians worship and wouldn't be adverse to going again sometime. And then of course there's the wedding - that will be interesting. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe've not been to an Orthodox wedding either, so it will be new for all of us! You're right, in that Orthodox Christianity is a culture apart from what we are used to. Many believe Protestantism is a tradition on one side of the coin, then on the other side of the coin is the Catholic/Orthodox traditions. Truth be told, we learned it's probably more accurate to say on one side is Orthodoxy, on the other side is Catholicism/Protestantism. If for no other reason than the cultural differences beyond what we're used to in the West, either from Catholic or Protestant backgrounds.
DeleteSome days I think your 2nd son and I would have gotten along very well had we been schoolmates.
ReplyDeleteI think so. He has always had an inscrutable tendency about him, very smart and fast on his feet in a debate. He doesn't say much, but when he does he scores a critical hit most times. :)
DeleteAnd a happy St. Thomas Sunday, as well!
ReplyDeleteYes! One of my favorites - for obvious reasons. :)
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