Lets get a little bit serious.
I'm a Catholic I have been baptised in the Catholic Church grew up a Catholic and even went to an all girls private catholic college (Read: Not a snob) D is Greek Orthodox and it's been mentioned a few times about marriage and converting etc.
I have made the decision to convert to orthodox - Its not about changing my belief's as we already believe in the same. I'm nervous but also excited!
Id love to hear some insight into your conversion experiences or even your thoughts?
Ooohhhh so does that mean you are planning to get married soon? You are changing to Greek Orthodox yes ? I am Greek Orthodox, its an old religion but I love it. I find going to church so relaxing, spirtiual and clensing. I went to a catholic all girls school too! But it didnt make a big difference I still had my beliefs. You will find there are alot of similarities in it. Good on you for changing. I know that Mez from Domestic Divinity changed also to Serbian Orthodox right before her wedding. I think she has a blog post about it.
ReplyDeleteYep I'm changing to Greek orthodox :) I've been to their church ceremonies a few times and agree its such a beautiful feeling! It's so similar to what I'm used to so I don't feel like I'm jumping straight in the deep end.. But i just wanted to hear about others experiences both positive and negatives.
DeleteAs for the marriage..he has been taking about it so much recently but i doubt it's right around the corner so many things to do before then! ;)
Domestic Divinity did a post on this recently, I believe.
ReplyDeleteGood luck :)
B
Oooohhh I think marriage might be on the cards! ;)
ReplyDeleteTo be honest hun, I did consider converting, it was A who told me not to and the priest at his local church. The priest told me this because he said it does take a long time to convert and from what I read with Greek Orthodox involves full emersion. If it wasn't for A telling me not to, I would have done it regardless and I think it is great you are doing this!
I know there is a lot of information online, just try and look a the website for D's church, as from what I can see each of them can vary slightly.
Good luck!!
It shouldn't be full emersion if you are already a baptised Christian though.
DeleteAlso, in my case of Serbian Orthodox it took 40 minutes haha, not like converting to Judaism!!
That's correct Mez you have a small batipism as you did and then the process goes on from there.
DeleteMy sister is Catholic and her now-husband is Greek Orthodox, so same situation as you. They were married last October.
ReplyDeleteThey were married in the Greek church, because apparently the Greek church won't recognise a marriage performed in a Catholic Church but a Catholic Church will recognise one performed in a Greek Church. So, in order for their marriage to be seen as valid in both churches, they had to get married in the Greek Church. They then went to the Catholic church afterwards for vows (as the Greek Church doesn't do vows) and a blessing.
I was against this for two reasons:
1. Neither of them is overly religious but my sister is more believing and practising of Catholicism than her husband is of Greek Orthodox. She has more interest in religion and puts more into it.
2. I am a firm believer that if the couple are from two different religions, unless one person really doesn't care, the marriage should be done in a non-denominational setting.
The wedding itself was interesting. Very different to a Catholic wedding. 80% of the service was in Greek, even though they were told beforehand he would speak English because most the guests don't speak Greek. We had no idea what was going on, and neither did my sister or her husband. Why would you want to be married when you don't even know what's being said? Both of them stood there and looked confused during the whole ceremony. There wasn't the happiness or celebration of a Catholic wedding. It was very solemn (with the cantor, in particular!) and seemed like this big serious deal (which I know marriage is) rather than a celebration.
My sister and her husband plan on going on as they are, with her Catholic and him Greek. They say there's no real difference between the religions, but there are some differences, like celebrations, Easter, church services, etc. The original deal between them was that if they got married i the Greek church, any kids they had would be baptised Catholic. Now he is refusing this to happen, and says any kids must be Greek Orthodox. Maybe part of it is my own dislike of how her husband demands things and dictates to her, and that it is all take and no give on his part.
I think it is do-able to combine the two traditions, get married in the Greek church and have a Catholic blessing after. My dad really appreciated the Catholic blessing after as he felt like our family was being acknowledged. Too bad my sister's Father in Law thought the whole thing was a joke (it was more relaxed and informal) and decided it was OK to call out 'jokes' during the blessing. I think if you are two religions it does have to be give and take, not all or nothing, because your religion is part of you, even if you aren't that strict or don't really practise, because it is how you grew up, and to let go of that with no further acknowledgement is just wrong. If you do want to convert, I think it should be because you want to, because you like more of that religion than your own, and that that religion better suits your personality, beliefs, lifestyle, etc., rather than for marriage.
Good luck!
2 mentions, go me.
ReplyDeleteAs noted, I converted to Serbian Orthodox from Roman Catholic.
I was never a strong catholic but am so happy I converted. I don't understand a freaking word of what is said during church but I feel closer to religion, if that makes any sense.
Of course, I want to be the same religion as our children and I want them to be raised with a strong religious background, even if I was not.
Make sure that you want to do it 100% though, and that it is for you and not D or his family.
I only have positive feelings, no negative.
You can read and see photos from my actual conversion here:
http://domesticdivinity.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/conversion.html
It was quick and not scary at all.
Any more questions, feel free to ask me.
P.S - Will your wedding ceremony be in Greek? Ours was meant to be 80% english, 20% Serb but it was 80% Serb instead...
Haha thanks Mez! I'll def shoot some questions your way if I have any!
DeleteWhen the time comes to get married it'll be in the Greek church and I've told D even though I'm learning Greek and slowly (read failing) picking it up, I don't want our ceremony to be 100% in Greek - I want to actually be able to understand the ceremony and also want my family to understand it also but then his yiayia doesn't speak a word of English and so do a few other members of his family. I know the priest said that some parts of the ceremony will be in Greek they sing the whole ceremony - so to cut a long answer short I hope it'll be a mix of both.
I know converting is a huge thing and such a personal one but im lucky to have had no pressure from any of his family saying "I must" convert which has been such a relief! I grew up catholic but never really had strong beliefs.. Eg sadly I never really go to church eg whereas D's family is far more religious in their beliefs.
I've spoken to the reverent at the church and he's been so helpful and has almost over loaded me with information haha!
Haha thanks Mez! I'll def shoot some questions your way if I have any!
ReplyDeleteWhen the time comes to get married it'll be in the Greek church and I've told D even though I'm learning Greek and slowly (read failing) picking it up, I don't want our ceremony to be 100% in Greek - I want to actually be able to understand the ceremony and also want my family to understand it also but then his yiayia doesn't speak a word of English and so do a few other members of his family. I know the priest said that some parts of the ceremony will be in Greek they sing the whole ceremony - so to cut a long answer short I hope it'll be a mix of both.
I know converting is a huge thing and such a personal one but im lucky to have had no pressure from any of his family saying "I must" convert which has been such a relief! I grew up catholic but never really had strong beliefs.. Eg sadly I never really go to church eg whereas D's family is far more religious in their beliefs.
I've spoken to the reverent at the church and he's been so helpful and has almost over loaded me with information haha!
If you are converting just to get married in an Orthodox church there is no need - if you are converting for other reasons then thats a different story. Im Catholic and the husband Orthodox. We got married in the Orthodox church and there was no need to convert as i had already been Christened (Catholic). You can ask the priest to do the ceremony half in English and half in Greek. We had that and it was equally half English/Macedonian. I was lucky to understand both (been Croatian). Im not a big church goer (only Christmas/Easter if i'm lucky. Changing religions is a big step and you have to be 100% comitted to it. (just my opinion)
ReplyDelete