Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Cleveland, Ohio

This church is where I was baptised in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. My brother was baptised there as well. I remember sitting in a pew, horrified by his screams. Orthodox infant baptism is full immersion, done by the godparent (in his case, my father's mother). It was very upsetting to a 2 1/2 year old!

Even so, I loved this church. Sitting in a Greek Orthodox church is like sitting in heaven. God isn't a very personal God there, but an all-encompassing pressence, permeating the living and dead. The smell of incense, the chant in the incomprehensible and yet familiar language of one's ancestors, the gorgeous icons and paintings, especially the universal living Christ on the dome looking down, all contribute to the sense of being in heaven and earth at the same time. This is, at least, how it was for me as a child.

The Greeks don't have women priests, though. That is meaninful to me in the Episcopal Church. I've come to love the Episcopal liturgy as well, and after over 30 years, it moves me, and makes me feel closer to God. In the Episcopal Church I understand all of the words, which takes away some of the feeling of mystery, but helps my mind to be more involved. I struggle to keep the mystery in my spirituality, but also struggle to understand the relationship of spirituality to everyday life. This, of course, is something I didn't do as a young child. We grow up, and into, one hopes, a deeper relationship with the divine.
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Comments

Cher Stepanek said…
So true, and I love your recollections of the Orthodox churches you grew up in-- I remember them as well, from my father's side of the family. Keep blogging!
June 3, 2009 at 1:44 PM
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