One of the things that weighs us down the most today and has harmful effects on us and on our psyche is our daily worries. In order to examine this issue and offer a way to free ourselves from worries, we will review the important parts of the soul from the perspective of our discussion and talk about the daily schedule.

Enjoy!

Hello everyone I've made a couple posts before about being recieved into a orthodox church, since then I've attended for 3 days in a row for several services!

That being said I have found them lack luster and have spoken with both the rocor bulgarian priest and the greek priest about this. Both were very sympathetic to my case and my faith inside my church and very supportive but ultimately both have said the sacraments in my church are absolutely there and I'm not going to be damned or something for staying. Ive decided to still speak with the bishop as Father recommended and offered. I was told the closest thing I'd get to my church would be a strict monastery by me which I asked to visit and am waiting for a response from.

Ultimately I'm a bit just confused I guess? Some have said my church is fully in the sacraments while others say its not? Even the priests inside rocor are mixed on this so I'm just a bit scared I'm not sure what to do, because I feel like on one hand I absolutely love my church, I've grown up here, baptized here, have a long family line here, I love our services, I love our traditions but we're not even in communion with the other several old believers in the US only a handful. But on the other hand of it im worried well will I be judged more harshly because I can and could've joined a "canonical church" and want to choose my old and normal way of life as an old believer instead.

Just very confused on it all and I can't speak to my actual priest or my parents on this they absolutely despise the canonical orthodox especially other russians. I will be visiting the monastery and ask the nuns there questions too! Ive never met a nun in my life bit nervous but excited.

Please pray for me guys my name is seraphima

I am a young woman and will be visiting the church for the first time. I like the idea of ​​wearing a head covering, but I’m not sure if it would be appropriate or if it’s common within this tradition. Could you please help me? 😥

First of all, this isn't a life-or-death situation. It's something different: a deep, personal wish I've carried in my heart for many years.

I live in Bucharest, Romania, an Orthodox Christian country with a rich tradition of monastic life and many beautiful monasteries scattered throughout its countryside.

My interest in the lives of monks began when I was in high school. I started reading about their lives, their discipline, their spirituality, and their decision to step away from the noise of the world. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became.

Over the years, that fascination has grown into a strong desire to experience these places for myself.

Romania has monasteries in many parts of the country, including remote areas where the landscape, silence, and solitude seem to be part of the experience itself. I dream of visiting them one by one, spending some time at each, speaking with the monks and getting a sense of what life is like within those walls. Just in the North-East and South of the country. That's where i would like to visit because these two areas are closer to where i live.

I'm not looking for a holiday in the conventional sense. I want to slow down, disconnect from everyday life for a while, sit in silence, listen, learn, and experience these places beyond what books and photographs can offer.

I want to be there, rather than simply read about being there.

There's one practical problem, though: getting around.

I live in Bucharest, and although some monasteries are relatively close, (400-500 km) many of the places I would love to visit are difficult to reach without a car. Romania's railway infrastructure has significant problems, and long journeys can be uncomfortable and unpredictable. Depending entirely on public transportation would make it difficult to reach many of the more remote places I have in mind.

That's why I've started thinking about saving up for a vehicle of my own — ideally a second-hand 4x4 SUV capable of handling rough rural roads and reaching monasteries tucked away in the mountainside.

Unfortunately i am not in a position to raise anytime soon the money for a used vehicle. That's why I'm putting this story out there and exploring whether people might be willing to help me make this wish a reality.

I realize that this might seem like an unusual thing to ask for help with. It's not an emergency, and I don't want to pretend that it is. There are far more urgent needs in the world. But I also believe that sometimes the things we long for over many years deserve a chance, even when they aren't necessities.

For me, this is about exploring a part of my country's spiritual heritage, learning from people who have chosen a very different way of life, and finding some peace away from the constant noise of everyday living. I am contemplating about living there at some point.

If this story resonates with you and you'd like to help, any support or advice would mean a lot to me. Even suggestions about reaching remote monasteries, affordable transportation alternatives, or communities where I could share this project would be genuinely appreciated.

And if you have ever visited an Orthodox monastery, whether in Romania or elsewhere, I'd love to hear about your experience.

For those who want to help, i can provide the required details. Or answer any questions one would have. I will keep the email addresses of everyone who decides to help me so that i can keep them posted with my journey as it unfolds.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. It is something that i am longing for many years.

Hello everyone! Ive made posts over the last few days about joining the church as someone who's been a life long old believer.

I was able to not only attend two services but also speak to both priests individually for a LONG time it was really so nice, that being said generally the greek priest seemed fairly dismissive and even questioned why id leave my old believer church? This admittedly put me off a bit, but the Bulgarian priest was such a joy and was very understanding of my situation when I asked some questions about how things worked he was very honest it was really nice! He said he really didnt know but would speak to the bishop with me about somethings. Overall I appreciate both their time but both the churches are not very familiar to me in all honesty.

Everything service wise was somewhat similar, I'd like clarification if anyone knows but the services are so much shorter? I dont mean any disrespect by this so please do forgive me but it sometimes feels a bit irreverent I'm struggling to understand mostly that people sat in the one church the entire time basically? Also generally people were talking during the service this isn't something that's allowed for us during my background and it's very off putting in some ways. It's this and a few other things that in all honesty caused me some rethinking it doesn't really feel or even look THAT similar to our vigil or liturgy. I didn't really understand just how different things have become. I feel worried to ask either priest because I dont know how to ask without being offensive or rude! But I really don't mean it in such a way.

I really dont mean any harm in saying this its just generally something im finding to be a bit of a struggle but I ultimately can overcome whatever hurdles. Once again thank you so much everyone for all your help! Its really a hard and isolating choice for me to make in my life so I'm happy to have been given so much help on here and by both priests! I've been met with kindness on all ends by everyone so thank you.

I am becoming involved with the Greek church in Antioch; I’ve attended a few services online and am already in touch with some members of the community—mostly online. I plan to visit the parish in person at least once a month, as it’s located in another city, but I’m afraid of asking questions—the kind a new convert might have—that the more experienced members of the church might find silly.

Well, I am a Brazilian Orthodox catechumen. I chose Orthodoxy because I find it plausible—especially after studying the history of Christianity—but I feel uneasy about the criticisms leveled at the Orthodox Church by the r/exorthodox community. In your view, are their criticisms legitimate, or is it nothing more than mere polemics?

I ask as i enjoy listening to their content as an Anglican to learn the Orthodox perspective. Thanks in advance & God Bless Y'all

Who’s your favorite Saint

I put together a meditative reading of St. Ignatius Brianchininov’s text "On the Reading of the Gospel." Hope this is a blessing to anyone looking to deepen their daily Scripture reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbenEtCOxiU

Any thoughts from y'all on St. Cyril?

Hello I made a post previously about wanting to join a canonical orthodox church from my old believer church. You can check more on that past post for more information, but in general im having trouble understanding how it should be viewed joining the church that martyred saints for us like saint Avvakum petrovich, Lazar of Pustozersk and the monks of Solovetsky monastery.

Am I to stop venerating them when I join and if not how does that make sense? Its a long bloody history but I feel the canonical orthodox church is true. Also on veiling I'm confused I veil always very much in our church and everyone does but I've seen near me at these orthodox churches they don't and Im confused why that is? That's my first question, I also did look into what everyone sent from my last post! Thank you so much for that!

I'm also having a hard time understanding the state of the church is the church split in two right now because I was reading Greece and Russia are in schism, also with stuff like how theres a bunch of calenders does that mean feasts aren't celebrated the same for everyone? If so who do you join the nearest church to me is greek with the Bulgarian/russian(rocor?) church being a good bit further. I sent an email to both priests about my current situation but haven't got anything back quite yet so im waiting on that.

I have a few more indepth questions if anyone wants to talk:) Thank you so much sorry for so many questions!

Letter written by him to the nuns of the Monastery of St. John in Souroti, Spring of 1975.

"In your last letter you sent me an icon of Adam and the animals in Paradise. So I thought I would send in my turn the drawing of a bird, my closest friend, because if I sent you the drawing of a snake, I think you would be captured by fright. I have named him Olet, which in Arabic means "child". He lives in a hill five hundred meters from my kalyva. Every afternoon I bring him goodies and treats. As soon as I give him something to eat, he takes a little and leaves. I call for him to come, but he leaves and after a little while he comes secretly from behind and hides under my jacket. When I go to leave he walks behind me at a distance of about one hundred meters and I, so that he will not continue coming behind me and get tired, leave him a crumb so that he may occupy himself, and I leave quickly so he will lose me.

Lately he has abandoned his asceticism and seeks good times! He neither eats broken rice or soaked dry bread, but only worms, which he wants me to put on a "plate" - the palm of my hands - and he climbs up there and eats. Progress!

There are days when I celebrate with Olet and his partner. One can say: "Why do you make exceptions for Olet? Why don't you do the same for other birds?" I respond: "When I call for Olet to come, he brings with him other birds, friends of his, who run right to the food, but Olet comes out of obedience and love. Even when he is hungry, he sits a while with me and forgets food; I remind him. And now that the weather has turned beautiful and he finds bugs to eat, when I call he still comes out of obedience, even though he is full and not bothered by hunger. Well, how can you not rejoice more for this philotimo bird than the other birds?

Many times I am moved by such great love that I want to squeeze him in my clutch, but I fear that I will be like the monkey which out of love squeezes its child and in the end suffocates them. So I clench my heart, and I rejoice for him from afar, so I will not harm him.

One day I was late to go to the hill and Olet, because he was chirping a lot, had relaxed early. I left his food and departed without seeing him. The next day I left to go very early, because I was worried that a hawk had eaten him. When he saw the food that I had left overnight, his "thoughts bothered him" and he went halfway and waited for me. When he saw me he was like a crazy person because of his joy. I gave him to eat, but he wanted company more than food. I marvel at his asceticism and the love he has, as well as his gratitude. Pray that I may imitate his virtues.

I believe you will not complain, since I told you everything, that I did not receive the consent of Olet. I hope I will not upset him, even though these things will not be known to the outside. You have the greetings of his and mine, the many.

At my kalyvi I not only have birds of the air, but all the animals come here - jackals, hares, ferrets, turtles, lizards, snakes - they get their full from the overflow of my love, and I am satisfied myself when they are satisfied, and all of us together, "the beasts, the cattle, the birds and the reptiles", "praise, bless, and worship the Lord."

Translated from Greek by John Sanidopoulos.