|
Returning to the Faith |
|
Have you drifted away from the Orthodox Church? If you would like to return, we want to help you and make it easy for you to come home. To speak to someone about returning to the faith and an active life in the Church, contact the Come Home Office.
We understand that you may have drifted away from the Church and the faith as a teenager or while attending college. Or you may be divorced and think that you are no longer a member of the Church because of it. Or you may have had an abortion and feel guilty and ashamed. Or you may have been offended in some way by a representative of the Church — a bishop, a priest, a deacon, a monk or nun, or a church worker. Whatever the reason for leaving we want to welcome you back. We know returning can be frightening and uncomfortable. We want to remind you, however, that the Orthodox Church is made up of weak, sinful people, and we all rely on the mercy, compassion and forgiveness of a loving God.
The disciples of Jesus left him and came back. We have a beautiful story in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 24:13-35) that tells us about two of Jesus’ disciples who left Jerusalem on Easter Sunday not willing to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. They were disappointed and sad and were on the way to Emmaus to find a better way of life. But a stranger walked with them, listened to their story and explained what had happened to them in a way that was meaningful to them.
When they realized who he was in the sharing of a meal their lives changed forever and they returned to Jerusalem and proclaimed to all who would listen that Jesus was alive.
No matter how long you have been away, you are always welcome to return. We want you to come home. Coming back may not be easy. It may be a slow process as the hurt and pain you have kept inside finds it’s way to the surface. The need to seek forgiveness on both sides is a necessary step to healing, both spiritually and emotionally. It is a process in which we all must actively participate so that the love of Christ fills all.
|
|
Return to the Faith |
|
Religious Education Office |
|
Office of Evangelization |
|
RCIA Steps |
|
RCIA Q & A |
|
Copyright 2010 – 2011 Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada 1101 Howard Avenue, Utica, NY 13501 (315)-368-8753 Email: chancery@igoarch.org
|
|
PARISH DIRECTORY |
|
GIFTING OPPORTUNITIES |
