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| Source: wikipedia.org |
The following is from one of our current inquirers taking our Catechetical Class, and getting prepared to become a catechumen, and then enter the Church. Our potential catechumens are required to write an essay in answer to the question: Why Do I Desire to Enter the Orthodox Church? I found this essay most encouraging, and here are some of the key paragraphs from the essay that I would like to share with the parish.
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Orthodoxy has challenged the way I think about Jesus Christ and the significance of His death and resurrection. It has challenged me to pursue transformation of the heart and to strive to reflect Christ in my actions toward others. While my previous faith tradition emphasized Christ’s death as payment for our sins, I have come to appreciate the Orthodox understanding that Christ came to conquer death and restore humanity to communion with God. This understanding has strengthened my belief that God is loving and merciful rather than merely legalistic.
The people I have met at Christ the Savior have been kind, welcoming, and caring in ways I had not previously experienced. The prayers of the Church have also enriched my spiritual life. Their beauty and repetition have helped me develop greater consistency in prayer, especially during times when I struggle to find words of my own. Through all of these experiences, Orthodoxy has strengthened my faith in ways I never expected.
I truly believe that the Orthodox Church is the Church founded by Christ and preserved through the Apostles. I desire to participate fully in the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church, and I am committed to continuing to grow in faith, repentance, and service. While I recognize that struggles ... may at times affect my attendance, I remain committed to my spiritual growth through prayer, participation in parish life whenever possible.
