My name is Jeremy and I am a convert to the Eastern Orthodox Church from a Charismatic-Evangelical background. I set out on a journey to draw closer to God in ways that I could not find in my Evangelical communities. I needed roots – something deeper than the latest theological trend.
My journey landed me in the Eastern Orthodox Church. At the outset, I didn’t think I would become Orthodox. However, in Orthodoxy, I have found my spiritual home – to a greater extent than I ever thought possible. You can read about my journey into Orthodoxy here.
If you wish to contact me, you can do so at:
fr.jeremy [and then] @orthodoxroad.com
(sorry I have to split it up like that, I’ve been getting spammed).
If you are beginning your journey into Orthodoxy, and you enjoy deep, historical reads, then I would suggest the epistles of the early church that were not included in the final canon of the Bible. Many historians use these to research the life and beliefs of the early church They are easy to understand, and may deconstruct ideas you have about what the early church actually looked like.
Also, my book Becoming Human: The Healing Journey into the Orthodox Church is recommend it for catechumens and those who want to deepen their spiritual life. You also can check out my Resources page for other ideas.
DISCLAIMERS:
On this site, I make every effort to be theologically accurate though none of my posts here represent an official statement by the Orthodox Church.
I graduated from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and am a priest in the Orthodox Church in America. None of that makes me an official authority on any matter great or small.
I enjoy written dialogue with people who are seeking to deepen their walk with God, however, I am not interested in deep pastoral counseling over the phone or email. If you need the guidance of an Orthodox priest, then please seek a local community. If you reach out to a local priest and don’t receive a response, try visiting in person. The email inboxes of many priests are inundated with so much spam that legitimate messages sometimes go unnoticed.
Support
Despite my busy schedule, I try to keep this website going. The beauty and depth of the Orthodox Church inspires me, and I want others to join me in deepening their walk with Christ. Between the supportive comments and emails as well as the joy of watching some of my readers go from inquirer to baptized, I can’t imagine not maintaining this website.
I ask for your prayers as I continue to pray for those who land on these pages, that God would guide all of us to a deeper love for Him.
If you are able to support this site financially (it costs over $150/year in hosting charges), then I gratefully accept your assistance! I place donors on a prayer list and remember them for a period of time.
Also, some of the Amazon links on this website are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission on those items if they are purchased.
Jeremy, I am really excited to see what you do with this along the way. It has been, and still is a privilege to journey with you.
Thanks, Papa Reed. I feel much of the privilege has been my own in having your wisdom and love to help guide me over the past 10 years.
I just discovered your blog. I can relate to your story, I was on my own journey for about eight years, I have just recently started catechism. Along with that I just started blogging about my journey, as well. It’s hard to rewind the years haha. Love what you’re doing here, great blog!
Congratulations on starting your catechism, polycarp7. Some might say I sped through my journey (from the time I started attending an Orthodox parish to the time I joined was nine months), but I feel like God was moving me toward Orthodoxy since the day I was born. Take your time and enjoy the journey, which it sounds like you are. I know I so frequently get caught up thinking, “I need to get from point A to point B” not realizing that perhaps even more important than Point B is the journey itself. God bless!
Jeremiah, that is wise advise! We’re often are too pragmatic, we want to the get to the end point so we feel accomplished. I learned from reading Eugene Peterson’s writings that it’s more about the journey, like you said. I feel like my whole life has been leading up to this. I started attending regularly back in the spring, and I should be finished with catechism by the end of the year, according to my priest, so this part is going quickly. It’s a great experience!
Hi Jeremiah! I thank the Lord for finding your blog. I was born and raised Evangelical. I’m almost ashamed to say it. But now at 30 years old, reading the Bible more than the average churchgoer (and owning heaps of them in different translations!), praying like everyone else I know, facilitating Bible studies and leading worship, I am still trying to engage with God on a level that satisfies my deepest longing. My search has led me to two places currently: Prahamansa Yogananda’s teachings and Eastern Orthodoxy. I have yet to discover the similarities and differences, but at the end of the day what I want for my soul communion with God and solid theology for my intellect. Have you heard about his teachings, and if so, what do you think of it? I guess on different levels we all want the security of what we believe in to be true. But you are right. Truth and being right as an end goal is not enough. We may (rarely) win debates and convert people, and then what? All my life I have been taught to love God, but my mind goes blank as to how. It’s the communion and relationship aspect with God that has left me wanting for more than what my current worldview and ideology has to offer. Thank you for documenting your journey as a path that others like me can retrace.
Greetings Frances!
Thank you for visiting my blog and for sharing your journey. Since you left your email address in the comments, I will reply to you there. For whatever reason, it seems people around the age of 30 begin to ask many questions, explore spiritually, and often head down a new path. I did the same and it led me into Orthodoxy. I’ll email you to continue our discussion.
Thank you for your excellent website! Do know where I might purchase a wall size print of the following image?
https://i0.wp.com/www.orthodoxroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/banner.jpg
If not, is there perhaps a high res file available from which I could have one made?
Thanks again!
Hi Paul, I’m not aware of any print icons that are exactly like this. However, you might try Legacy Icons. They have a similar one here:
http://legacyicons.com/christ-enthroned-supplication-deesis-icon-set/
Also, you could try contacting Orthodox Christian Supply. I’ve met the fellow who runs the site and he’s a great person. He will sometimes do custom orders. Here is the website:
https://orthodoxchristiansupply.com/
Hi Jeremiah, thank you for the quick reply! I love the set you suggested. You clearly understood that I was trying to fill a horizontal rectangle, i.e., a landscape style space. You and your site are a wonderful resource!
Hi, Frances Colleen — I found your journey to Orthodoxy interesting. You might want to read some works by Fr. Seraphim Rose, who had a similar search through Eastern religions to Orthodoxy. He eventually gravitated to the Orthodox Church, became a monk and a spiritual father to many. I found his book Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future to be especially interesting and enlightening. Amazon has it as well as many other places. I began my own journey to Orthodoxy in 1991 and was chrismated in 1996. –Linda Julia
Greetings Jeremiah. I’m using the comments on your blog because I couldn’t find any contact detail on your site. I have used the picture from your piece on the resurrection icon on a blog post I have written. I have included a link to your site. I am Orthodox, a recent convert and write a very small faith blog. Please let me know if there is a problem with this. ***********. Thanks
I find Orthodoxy interesting, but intercedings saints, prayers and hymns to Mary, eternal virginity, and the eternal Infinite Spirit that is God having a mother and an UBER emphasis on monasticism, are unacceptable. Still I do think that there is some room to agree on certain thingsand I do like the Orthodox view of the Holu Spirit come from the Father. I am extremely surprised to find an evangelical converting to Orthodoxy, and I see you are not alone, were you main line, charismatic or pentecostal.
Two questions, its been my experience with the Roman Catholic church, that while they claim their statues and other representations of saints and the Virgin are not worshipped but just honores, in fact the average Roman Catholic worships both saints , in fact choose one or two saints over aqll, and the Virginj, How does the Orthodox Church strive to prevent honoring from becoming worship? Second questions, also related with my experiences with Roman Catholicism, does the Orthodos Church believe and teach that sacraments, in and of themselves, that is devoid of faith and/or the fruits of the Spirit; save. Baptism especially is held in Roman Catholicism to save, a person. OH I am sorry but I have another question. is there a Charismatic Movement in the Orthodox church?
Thanks for the great blog, Do not agree with mmany things, but do not judge. Besides I always like to ‘reason together’, if you know what I mean. Hope you find what you looking for and the the Lors Jesus extends his mercy upon youin that Day! Blessings in His Name. Peace of Christ Jeremiah
Hi Ronald,
I’m sorry you find aspects of the Christian faith to be unacceptable. When I say “Christian faith,” I mean the faith that Christians have been practicing for thousands of years and that has come to be known as the Orthodox faith. In answer to your first question, my background is in the charismatic faith, you can read more of my story here.
I think you mistake veneration for worship. While the two can appear alike to modern Westerners who have always lived in a Horizontal, democratic society, they are not the same. Both the tradition of Christianity and the scriptures reveal a difference. To venerate is to honor. I don’t know of any cases where the Orthodox faithful have been carried away and turn their veneration into worship of the saints or the Virgin Mary. It would obviously be inappropriate if that happened. But for most Protestants, all veneration appears to be worship since they have never been taught the difference.
To your third question, the sacraments are not magic. They do not magically save people who are faithless or living in sin. In fact, they bring damnation upon those who receive them and are not pursuing a life of repentance.
Lastly, there is no charismatic movement to speak of in Orthodoxy. As a former charismatic, I am happy that it is absent. While I cannot deny that God moves within those circles sometimes (I experienced it myself), I would say 95%+ of what I saw happen was based on emotional hype or some other kind of psychological phenomenon. God has met me in ways that are FAR more powerful than what I ever saw in charismatic/pentecostal meetings. Orthodoxy teaches sobriety of heart and mind. We do not seek to stir up people’s emotions, but rather to quietly elevate their spirits. There is a huge difference.
I hope that helps, and may God be with you on your journey.
Catholics don’t worship Saints, relics, statues and Virgin Mary just like Orthodox don’t worship relics and icons. We (Catholics) and Orthodox faithful venerate Saints, relics, Virgin Mary and icons. Dominus Vobiscum
Hi Jeremy, I just discovered your blog and I really appreciate it. Where are you from? I was scrolling through your post about what you wish you had known before attending your first Orthodox service, and a picture or two of my own parish caught my eye (Saints Constantine and Elena in Indianapolis)! How cool.
Hello Miriam, I am from North Carolina. I wrote that particular blog so many years ago that I couldn’t remember where I got the photos from. That’s neat they’re from your parish. I hope you all don’t mind me using them.
Oh no, not at all! That was before my time there, I think the little girl in one of those pictures is in college now. 🙂 God bless.
Hi Jeremiah, I came across your blog this morning, directly or indirectly, during a search on contemplative prayer. Then I was pleasantly surprised to see that I recognized your face, as I spent the first two weeks of last November at St Tikhon’s, seeking to discern whether to move beyond my life as a sort of lay hermit into the life of community. In the end, at the age of nearly 68, I decided that monastic life was not something I could adapt to. So I continue on the path that I chose three years ago.
If you would like to have a look, I have a Facebook page “Hermitage of Saints Paisios and Seraphim”.
Meanwhile, I was looking for a way to subscribe to your blog but didn’t find one. Can you enlighten me?
I wish you all the best in your journey.
God’s peace,
Albion (Ilias) Land
Hello Ilias, I’m glad we’ve connected again. The subscribe option is difficult to find on my page, but I’m glad I received your follow up comment about finding it. I’m not particularly web-savvy, so I haven’t been able to figure out a way to make it easier to subscribe. I’m sure there’s a plugin for that.
How neat.