Elvendon
Mystical Tea Dispenser
Well, I was put on the scent of Eastern Orthodoxy by JamesThePersian on a thread about Origen. I looked it up on wikipedia, and well I must say I'm really impressed. I found the theology convincing and practical - deftly avoiding all the inumberable logical problems that have so plagued western theology while not falling foul of gross deviance from scripture that many Protestant traditions seem to be so prone to. I especially liked the non-judgemental (in the normal, legal sense) aspect of God's nature - it really fits with what I have read in scripture and my deepest beliefs. I take my hat off to you, my eastern bretheren When you called yourselves "Orthodox", you weren't kidding! :bow:
Though I find the theology really intellectually satisfying, my main problem is the rituals. The aceticism sounds good, the approach and attitude to the mysteries really resonates with me, but it still doesn't feel of my people, if you know what I mean - iconography, the existence of an Iconostasis seperating the congregation from God in the Holy of Holies, the bright and ornate robes don't really resonate with me at all.
I personally think this is because, as a I am spiritually staunchly anglo-celtic, the Mediterranean robes and rituals don't really fit with me - my soul isn't in it, it just doesn't fit in with my ethnic consciousness. My ancestors always found and reverred the divine in the natural world, rather than in pictures or statues - the stones, trees, rivers and animals were their idols, just as the great temples and pieces of beautiful, representative art were those of your pre-Christian spiritual tradition.
My question is, would it still be considered a form of Orthodoxy if, rather than draw on Hellenistic ritual for inspiration, I were to draw on my own pagan ancestors past practices - using the elements and cardinal directions instead of icons. I did look up the Celtic Orthodox Church, but it shared the iconography that, truth be told, rather repels me.
I am also rather forward looking when it comes to women priests... is the male nature of the priesthood totally against Eastern Orthodoxy?
Thanks, and God Bless.
Elvendon
Though I find the theology really intellectually satisfying, my main problem is the rituals. The aceticism sounds good, the approach and attitude to the mysteries really resonates with me, but it still doesn't feel of my people, if you know what I mean - iconography, the existence of an Iconostasis seperating the congregation from God in the Holy of Holies, the bright and ornate robes don't really resonate with me at all.
I personally think this is because, as a I am spiritually staunchly anglo-celtic, the Mediterranean robes and rituals don't really fit with me - my soul isn't in it, it just doesn't fit in with my ethnic consciousness. My ancestors always found and reverred the divine in the natural world, rather than in pictures or statues - the stones, trees, rivers and animals were their idols, just as the great temples and pieces of beautiful, representative art were those of your pre-Christian spiritual tradition.
My question is, would it still be considered a form of Orthodoxy if, rather than draw on Hellenistic ritual for inspiration, I were to draw on my own pagan ancestors past practices - using the elements and cardinal directions instead of icons. I did look up the Celtic Orthodox Church, but it shared the iconography that, truth be told, rather repels me.
I am also rather forward looking when it comes to women priests... is the male nature of the priesthood totally against Eastern Orthodoxy?
Thanks, and God Bless.
Elvendon