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Prodigal Son
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| First Name: | Prodigal | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Methodist, Anglican, Orthodox |
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Posted: Fri Feb 1st, 2008 04:50 pm |
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I am a newly registered member of these forums.
I was born into the family of a liberal Protestant Minister. Ever since I can remember I also wanted to be a clergyman. At 16 years old, disillusioned by my denomination which which had a pro-abortion stand and seemed to have only ministers who did not believe the basic doctrines of the Scriptures enshrined in the Creeds, I knew I had to leave. Where to go?
I decided to attend the Episcopal Church. The parish I went to happened to be fairly Anglo-Catholic. A new world was opened me of Liturgy and Sacramental Life. I felt as though I had come home. Once I had satisfied myself that none of the practices I found there (e.g. Auricular Confession, praying for the departed, praying to the Mother of God and the Saints, etc.) were anti-Scriptural, I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church within a year.
Not long after this, the Episcopal Church decided to ordain women to the priesthood. I knew this was a departure from Catholic practice and I could not accept it. I looked at the "continuing Anglican" churches. I liked the continuation of the worship I knew and loved, but I could see something was gravely wrong because they went into schism from each other so easily. I thought I really wanted to be an Orthodox Christian, but there was no Orthodox parish anywhere near me.
I looked at the Catholic Church but was really repelled by the lack of reverence I saw there in the Novus Ordo Mass in the late 1970's. I also honestly thought that the modern Papacy was a departure from the Early Church. I also knew that i wanted to be a priest and I was very seriously involved with a young woman (who did in fact become my wife), and I knew Catholic priests cannot marry. I was an Anglican Third Order Franciscan and so I greatly revered St Francis of Assisi. I really admired Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Both these great Saints, I knew, were ardent believers in Papal Authority. I thought, "these two people whom I admire most in all the world believe this, I should too." I went to a Catholic priest and told him I wanted to be Catholic. He had a few talks with me and found out that I understood Catholicism better that 95% of his parishioners. He asked me, "What if the Pope decided to ordain women priests?" I said, "Well. since as a Catholic I believe the Pope to be infallible, I would accept it." (Oh brother!) To make a long story short, he received me into the Catholic Church about two weeks after I'd first come to him.
I tried to break up with my girlfriend because I knew I had a vocation to be a priest. But that lasted about a day because I found out that my vocation to marriage with her was stronger. After a very short time (I think a month) I went back to the Episcopal Church, hating it, but not knowing how my two vocations could be reconciled. (I'm sure if anyone is reading this they are bored to tears by now or at least pretty disgusted with me.) I was married in the Episcopal Church and continued attending that church for six years after the ordination of priestesses, though never accepting that as valid. I knew I couldn't stay there.
I finally found an Orthodox parish that I could get to, that had services in English, and that welcomed converts. After a year attending this parish, first I, then my wife, were received into the Orthodox Church. After three years, I went to Seminary. I was ordained an Orthodox priest. I've been married for 28 years, and been a priest for almost 21 years. My wife and I have five children and two grandchildren.
There is so much I am happy with in the Orthodox Church: the Theological richness, the liturgical life, the acsetical tradition, to name a few. I am beginning to see that the Orthodox Churches have a problem with Authority. Who makes decisions? How do the many Orthodox Churches maintain unity? How does the Orthodox Church face the challenges of modern life? I am beginning to see the central role of the Apostle Peter among the Twelve reflected in both the New Testament and the liturgical tradition of the Eastern Church.
I don't know if I am strong enough for this.
Fr David
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CajunRick
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Posted: Fri Feb 1st, 2008 05:49 pm |
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Fr. David, welcome to our forum. We are blessed to have you here with us and look forward to your participation. Although I am a Latin Rite Catholic, I have a great respect for our eastern Christian brothers and sisters, both Orthodox and Catholic, and a great interest in eastern spirituality. The representation of the eastern Christian community in my area is practically non-existant. The only Eastern Catholic church in our state has not reopened since Hurricane Katrina.
I look forward to learning from you. Please let me know if I (and we) can help you in any way on your faith journey.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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setapart
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 13th, 2007 |
| Location: | Austin, Texas USA |
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| First Name: | Bill | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Born Catholic, Non-Denominational Charismatic, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Feb 1st, 2008 06:01 pm |
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Fr. David,
Welcome to the forum. Thank you for sharing a portion of your life story with us. May God contiue to bless you as you continue on your faith journey.
Bill
____________________
But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Mal 4:2
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Fri Feb 1st, 2008 06:40 pm |
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| Fr. David, what a wonderful journey and yet you are still on the move it would seem! Thank you for sharing with us. I have been hesitant about married priests, but you sound like you are called to the vocation without a doubt. Sometime when you are able, would you share with us how a priest manages to give enough time and attention to his flock as well as his family. Obviously it is done in many parts of the world and isn't a problem. I look forward to hearing from you again.
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
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| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Nominal Methodist / evangelical non-denom / "Bapticostal" / Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Feb 1st, 2008 06:59 pm |
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Dear Fr. David,
A very warm welcome to the forum, and God bless you for your many faithful years of service to Our Lord in the priesthood. I don't want to hit you with too much material of an apologetic nature, but perhaps some of the following writings might assist you as you ponder the doctrine of Petrine primacy. I found all this very interesting when I was studying it, and love to share it with others:
50 New Testament Proofs for Petrine Primacy and the Papacy
The Biblical, Primitive Papacy: St. Peter the "Rock": Scholarly Opinion (Mostly Protestant)
The Biblical, Primitive Papacy: St. Peter & the "Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven": Scholarly Opinion (Mostly Protestant) (+ Part II)
Pope Leo the Great (r. 440-61) and Papal Supremacy
Pope Gregory the Great and the Universal Papacy
If anyone here can provide any assistance at all to you in your inquiries, please don't hesitate to ask. We're very honored and delighted to have you with us.
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 1900+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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Ave_Girl
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| First Name: | Mary Clare | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Feb 1st, 2008 08:14 pm |
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Welcome Father David!
I'm so glad you have joined our forum. I look forward to seeing you post!
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~Mary Clare Piecynski~
Coming Home Network Staff
740-450-1175 ext 105
maryp@chnetwork.org
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Prodigal Son
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 03:28 am |
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Many Thanks to you Rick, Bill, Marsha, Dave, and Mary Clare for you warm welcome and words of encouragement. May God bless you all.
Fr David 
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Prodigal Son
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 03:56 am |
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Credo Catholic wrote:
Fr. David, what a wonderful journey and yet you are still on the move it would seem! Thank you for sharing with us. I have been hesitant about married priests, but you sound like you are called to the vocation without a doubt. Sometime when you are able, would you share with us how a priest manages to give enough time and attention to his flock as well as his family. Obviously it is done in many parts of the world and isn't a problem. I look forward to hearing from you again.
Churches which have a married priesthood set up the local parish rather differently from what you are used to in a typical large American Catholic parish. Married priests have a wife to share their life with and children to raise and so cannot live only to serve their flock. Parishes tend to be much smaller. A very large parish might have 300-500 parishioners, not thousands. Parishes are typically even smaller than that. The two parishes I've served had 75 parishioners at most. Another difference would be the frequency of the Liturgy. Orthodox parishes do not serve the Divine Liturgy daily, but usually on Sundays and Great Feasts. (One reason for this is that married clergy must abstain from marital relations before serving the Liturgy for at least a day. Too much information? Sorry!  )
I hear many Catholics saying things like, "I think priests should be able to get married." I often say:
1) Priests cannot marry in the Orthodox Church. Married priests have already been married when they are ordained. They can only marry once and they must remain celibate if they are widowed.
2) The Catholic Church is not set up to have married priests. If that change were made, the whole parish structure would have to change radically. You'd probably have to build a whole lot more parishes.
Celibacy is a higher way than marriage, as St Paul tells us. It has some very practical advantages in church administration. Obviously, I don't believe that one must have a vocation to celibacy to have a vocation to the priesthood, but if one does have both vocations, that can be used by God very powerfully. I do feel very strongly that almost everyone is called to be in real community with others. It saddens me to see many good, dedicated Catholic priests not really in community with anyone. They appear quite separate from everyone - from other priests and certainly from their parishioners (to avoid charges of favoritism or immoral conduct.) Ideally they should be in a real community with brother priests.
Just my thoughts....
Fr David
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Prodigal Son
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 04:03 am |
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Dave Armstrong wrote:
Dear Fr. David,
A very warm welcome to the forum, and God bless you for your many faithful years of service to Our Lord in the priesthood. I don't want to hit you with too much material of an apologetic nature, but perhaps some of the following writings might assist you as you ponder the doctrine of Petrine primacy. I found all this very interesting when I was studying it, and love to share it with others:
50 New Testament Proofs for Petrine Primacy and the Papacy
The Biblical, Primitive Papacy: St. Peter the "Rock": Scholarly Opinion (Mostly Protestant)
The Biblical, Primitive Papacy: St. Peter & the "Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven": Scholarly Opinion (Mostly Protestant) (+ Part II)
Pope Leo the Great (r. 440-61) and Papal Supremacy
Pope Gregory the Great and the Universal Papacy
If anyone here can provide any assistance at all to you in your inquiries, please don't hesitate to ask. We're very honored and delighted to have you with us.
Dear Dave,
Thanks for your kind words and the links. They look very interesting. I'll study the material.
Fr David
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 05:38 am |
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| Thank you Fr. David for your comments. The idea of smaller parishes sounds good. It would make the ratio of clergy to parishioners smaller and they may all actually know each other's names!
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Cindy
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| First Name: | Cindy | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic convert |
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 06:46 am |
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Hello Fr David, and welcome!
One of my favorite Journey Home programs is the one with James Likoudis, a convert from Greek Orthodoxy. Here's the link, if you'd like to hear it:
Listen Now
God bless you on your journey,
Cindy
____________________
"Where Peter is, there is the Church" -- St. Ambrose of Milan
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tedjenczewski
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 05:23 pm |
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| As a revert to the CC from a protestant church, I would like to see a married order of priests in the latin rite. We need smaller, not bigger local congregations This became particularly evident to me when I moved from my small home town to a large metropoitan area, with a parish of 4500 rather than 400 members. Although the large parish is better organized through the presence of administrators and deacons, the ability to come to know a significant fraction of the flock on a personal basis, and to participate in works of charity with them is made more difficult. And, there is also the problem of the parking lot situation. As I understand some reading I did a few years ago, some clergy in the latin CC were married past the year 1000 AD.
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"...the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth." 1Tim 3, 15
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CajunRick
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 06:45 pm |
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There are advantages to largeness and smallness in just about everything. Large schools can offer more advanced classes, less popular languages, better lab facilities, more specialized instruction in math, sciences and literature, etc. A one-room schoolhouse (and homeschooling) provides individualized instruction and an intimacy that doesn't exist in a large school, but a student is not likely to be able to study classical Greek or Elizabethan literature.
I'd rather have open heart surgery at a large medical center that does hundreds a year than in a country doctor's office, but I'd rather have a cold at the country doctor's place.
Parishes work the same. A large parish is likely to have someone who specializes in marital issues, a dedicated youth minister and a large youth group, etc., but a small parish offers the intimacy and friendliness where everyone knows that you've been sick and everyone prays for those who are out of work.
In the Latin Rite, we sometimes have personal parishes for college campuses and ethnic groups that offer an alternative, smaller, more heterogeneous congregation. Latin Rite parishes also coexist with parishes of the eastern Rites in those areas where there is enough of a concentration of population to make them practical. We certainly need more priests of both the western and eastern Rites.
Fr. David, in those areas where the population is primarily Eastern (Catholic or Orthodox) such as in Eastern Europe and Russia, are the parishes still that small in nature? Are there also larger churches and cathedrals? If so, are the priests of those churches primarily married or celibate?
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Intercessor
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 09:01 pm |
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Prodigal Son wrote:
I've been married for 28 years, and been a priest for almost 21 years. My wife and I have five children and two grandchildren.
There is so much I am happy with in the Orthodox Church: the Theological richness, the liturgical life, the acsetical tradition, to name a few. I am beginning to see that the Orthodox Churches have a problem with Authority. Who makes decisions? How do the many Orthodox Churches maintain unity? How does the Orthodox Church face the challenges of modern life? I am beginning to see the central role of the Apostle Peter among the Twelve reflected in both the New Testament and the liturgical tradition of the Eastern Church.
I don't know if I am strong enough for this.
Fr David
Fr. David, welcome to the CHNI Forum. How blessed we are to have you here!
As a pastor's daughter and a missionary's daughter-in-law, I have some sense of the emotional impact of your situation. It is very difficult for laity to remember (if they ever realize) that priests/pastors do not have all the answers and are subject to self-doubt, anxiety, love of the familiar just as the rest of us are.
On a much smaller scale, I struggled with concerns about the ladies in the Sunday School class I had been teaching for many years. How would they cope with my "abandoning" them? What about interpretations of Scripture I had given them over the years which I could no longer justify?
It is my prayer that we can provide a safe haven for you here, a place where you can let your hair down and ask us to support you during tough times. We do not have your training, but we have shared some of the fears associated with questioning one's past, leaving the familiar, astonishing family and friends and associates, and adjusting to a new environment.
You will be in my prayers, Fr. David.
Grace and peace,
Becky
____________________
"If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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brian
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Posted: Sun Feb 3rd, 2008 03:49 am |
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Thanks for sharing Fr. David. Seems like a struggle for you to be dealing with these questions. I attend an Eastern Rite Catholic Church. I love it because I felt drawn to the Orthodox Church but eventually felt called to Rome. So now in a sense I have both. Sometimes I think it is confusing and a lot of Eastern Catholic Churches are not as Orthodox as they could be because of Latinization that took place, but for the most part it is really exciting and gives one the idea that reunion is somehow possible if we can exist. I pray that the Holy Spirit guides you on your journey.
Christ is in our midst,
Brian
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Prodigal Son
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Posted: Mon Feb 4th, 2008 02:02 am |
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CajunRick wrote:
Fr. David, in those areas where the population is primarily Eastern (Catholic or Orthodox) such as in Eastern Europe and Russia, are the parishes still that small in nature? Are there also larger churches and cathedrals? If so, are the priests of those churches primarily married or celibate?
I would say that Orthodox parishes, even in Orthodox countries, tend to be smaller. One of the reasons for this is a married priesthood. A parish can only afford to house one priest and his family. Our tradition is that there can be only one Liturgy served on an altar table in one day and that a priest can only serve one Liturgy in a day. These restrictions are not disregard, even in Mission situations. Very few Orthodox churches have more than one altar table. These factors tend to limit the size of a parish to those who can fit into a church to attend the single Liturgy on a Sunday or Feastday.
There certainly are Cathedrals that are very large. They may have two, or even three altar tables. These churches would have more than one priest and more than one Liturgy in a single day. These Cathedral parishes might have hundreds of people more than ordinary parishes.
On the whole, married priest serve parishes. Monastic (i.e. celibate) priests remain in monasteries. In the West - what we call the Diaspora - sometimes Bishops take monastic priests out of monasteries to serve parishes, usually when there is a clergy shortage. But this is not looked upon as ideal. However, in Orthodox tradition, monastics are looked upon as the best and most successful missionaries.
Fr David
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Prodigal Son
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Posted: Tue Feb 5th, 2008 03:33 am |
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brian wrote:
Thanks for sharing Fr. David. Seems like a struggle for you to be dealing with these questions. I attend an Eastern Rite Catholic Church. I love it because I felt drawn to the Orthodox Church but eventually felt called to Rome. So now in a sense I have both. Sometimes I think it is confusing and a lot of Eastern Catholic Churches are not as Orthodox as they could be because of Latinization that took place, but for the most part it is really exciting and gives one the idea that reunion is somehow possible if we can exist. I pray that the Holy Spirit guides you on your journey.
Christ is in our midst,
Brian
Dear Brian,
The Eastern Catholic Churches....
Many Catholics would see this as the perfect solution. They may be right. But - I hesitate to say it, but in the interest of honesty, I must -it might be easier for me to become a Latin Rite Catholic in a place that had good Liturgy (like that seen on EWTN) than to become an Eastern Catholic. In theory Eastern Catholic Churches are supposed to be just like their Orthodox counterparts, except that the Pope is commemorated. I've checked out several EC parishes and their practices are so different from what I am used to that it is very jarring: No Vespers, no Matins, no Prokomedia before Liturgy; Saturday evening Vesperal Liturgies, Liturgies served in a spoken voice, Liturgies lasting a half hour or 45 minutes; Litanies and Antiphons being omitted at pretty much all Eastern Catholic Liturgies, a new inclusive language translation mandated in the Ruthenian Catholic Church, no Spoon used to distribute Holy Communion and Altar Girls in the Melkite Catholic Church. From what I've read, if there were a Russian Catholic Diocese in the this Country I might fit in. Otherwise I'm in for a powerful amount of change. And Orthodox people don't handle change well!
Fr. David
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Prodigal Son
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Posted: Tue Feb 5th, 2008 01:56 pm |
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Cindy wrote:
Hello Fr David, and welcome!
One of my favorite Journey Home programs is the one with James Likoudis, a convert from Greek Orthodoxy. Here's the link, if you'd like to hear it:
Listen Now
God bless you on your journey,
Cindy
Dear Cindy,
Thanks for the link to James Likoudis. Unfortunately, I had to keep restarting it over and over to be able to (nearly) hear it to the end. I find that this is often the case with the archived Journey Home programs. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I've experienced it often.
Mr Likoudis has a characteristic which I've found in many people (and sometimes in myself). When speaking to someone he is very nice. But the things he writes are quite strident. I thought the interview was pretty good. But he is not the best person to convert Orthodox because he has a zeal which really puts people off. That being said, I know that he is quite sincere. I also feel sorry that his adherence to the Catholic Church has undoubtedly cut him off from his people. It's not an easy thing to be Greek and anything else but Orthodox. There is an old saying: What do you call a Greek who converts to Islam? Answer: A Turk. (There a few things more repulsive to a Greek than Turks.)
Fr. David
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CajunRick
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Posted: Tue Feb 5th, 2008 03:05 pm |
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Prodigal Son wrote: Thanks for the link to James Likoudis. Unfortunately, I had to keep restarting it over and over to be able to (nearly) hear it to the end. I find that this is often the case with the archived Journey Home programs. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I've experienced it often.
I have an older computer that is short of memory, so I often find that audio and video programs work much better if I hit the "pause" button and allow the streaming video to cache and then play from my hard drive.
Most video players have an indicator that shows the media file being downloaded, although it's often not easy to find. Look for a bar that moves even after the pause button is hit.
Hopefully this will make the experience a little easier.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Pani Rose
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 01:03 pm |
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Fr. Bless +
Fr. David, welcome to the forum and You can still look East! Which may actuallly be the easier transition for you.
If Fr. Deacon Stan and I can do anything to help, please let us know.
Pani Rose
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brian
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 03:12 am |
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I can respect your concerns about not wanting to go through liturgy that is not as traditionally correct as what you are used to. I will say that the Byzantine prish I attend is wonderful, and we try to be authentic. We always have Vespers on Saturday. Only one weekend liturgy preceeded by matins, and we usually sing the corect tropars and changeable parts. People stand during the liturgy. No kneeling. I know that other churches are not all there yet, but I think that there may still be some excellent ones left, and that perhaps we will see things improve as John Paul II only recently encouraged us to keep to our own traditions. I know the Ruthenian change in text may bother you (it bothers e a little) but if one truly believes that the Catholic Church would preserve us from error, then I certainly do not think that there is anything wrong with it that God is entirely displeased with.
Now, perhaps you are simply looking for a different way to go. I must y, it is not necessarily easy to find in a normal Latin Rite church what you find n EWTN. You may enjoy more of the extraordinary form of the mass wif you can find it. There are churches who are more or less like what you see on TV but you may have to search quite a bit depending on where you live.
Now if you are a priest, I would think it is possible that you could possibly be accepted to the Catholic Church as a Priest or Deacon and continue toseve. If this were the case (and even if not) I would ask you to consider n Eastern Rite because the problems you mentioned are perhaps things that you could help us with and fight for the traditions as you have learned them. Some Eastern Catholic Church We may need someone who knows how things are supposed to go and wh can slowly point us back to our heritage.
Anyway, all this to say, I trust that God will help you figure out where you need to be as you trust and rely on Him. If you think that means going West then I would behappy for you. I just wanted to throw one more thought out there.
Brian
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Pani Rose
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| Joined: | Fri Oct 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Irondale, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 327 |
| First Name: | Rose | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Ruthenian Byzantine in a Melkite Greek Catholic Parish, raised ... |
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 05:41 am |
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Prodigal Son wrote: brian wrote:
Thanks for sharing Fr. David. Seems like a struggle for you to be dealing with these questions. I attend an Eastern Rite Catholic Church. I love it because I felt drawn to the Orthodox Church but eventually felt called to Rome. So now in a sense I have both. Sometimes I think it is confusing and a lot of Eastern Catholic Churches are not as Orthodox as they could be because of Latinization that took place, but for the most part it is really exciting and gives one the idea that reunion is somehow possible if we can exist. I pray that the Holy Spirit guides you on your journey.
Christ is in our midst,
Brian
Dear Brian,
The Eastern Catholic Churches....
Many Catholics would see this as the perfect solution. They may be right. But - I hesitate to say it, but in the interest of honesty, I must -it might be easier for me to become a Latin Rite Catholic in a place that had good Liturgy (like that seen on EWTN) than to become an Eastern Catholic. In theory Eastern Catholic Churches are supposed to be just like their Orthodox counterparts, except that the Pope is commemorated. I've checked out several EC parishes and their practices are so different from what I am used to that it is very jarring: No Vespers, no Matins, no Prokomedia before Liturgy; Saturday evening Vesperal Liturgies, Liturgies served in a spoken voice, Liturgies lasting a half hour or 45 minutes; Litanies and Antiphons being omitted at pretty much all Eastern Catholic Liturgies, a new inclusive language translation mandated in the Ruthenian Catholic Church, no Spoon used to distribute Holy Communion and Altar Girls in the Melkite Catholic Church. From what I've read, if there were a Russian Catholic Diocese in the this Country I might fit in. Otherwise I'm in for a powerful amount of change. And Orthodox people don't handle change well!
Fr. David Dear Fr. David,
There are many ECs in this country that are very Orthodox in their worship, I understand ours is one of them. So don't throw the baby out with the bath water
The biggest thing is God will get you to where he wants you to be! The right place at the right time. 
Last edited on Thu Feb 7th, 2008 05:50 am by Pani Rose
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Prodigal Son
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| Joined: | Fri Feb 1st, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 25 |
| First Name: | Prodigal | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Methodist, Anglican, Orthodox |
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 11:55 pm |
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Pani Rose wrote:
Dear Fr. David,
There are many ECs in this country that are very Orthodox in their worship, I underst | | |
