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The secular world, it seems, has discovered Orthodox Christianity, the Church that predates Rome with ancient roots in Jerusalem and Antioch. Prominent among the “discoverers” are young men. Young men that Abbot Seraphim of Holy Cross Monastery in West Virginia says “are broken” and “searching for spirituality.”
Abbot Seraphim describes this brokenness as the result of absentee or abusive fathers — mothers too — and the fact that many of these young men come from non-believing homes. In many cases they were raised nominally Protestant, meaning church on Christmas, weddings and funerals but nothing in-between, something that amounts to a superficial faith minus backbone and substance. Many of these young men have seen their Protestant denominations dissipate into woke reflections of the secular culture.
That reflection includes Black Lives Matter banners strung from the steeples of Protestant churches; rainbow flags used as altar cloths; sermons that concentrate on feminism, “reproductive” rights, or the “rights” of illegal aliens.
Even Scripture has been bastardized with pronoun changes along with the forced alteration of explicit but unpopular Biblical condemnations to make them blend with societal changes.
The New York Post’s feature on the phenomenon of young men entering Orthodox Christianity got a lot of attention. The article revealed why men find Orthodoxy attractive: In a world of flux and changing fashion, the new converts desire something ancient, substantive and unchanging. The superficiality of what many have experienced in Protestant churches might be said to include abbreviated entertainment-style worship services and sermons that mimic TED Talks.
Orthodoxy, as has been said, is not for sissies. Unlike their Catholic brethren, the Orthodox Church never diluted fasting to a simple one hour before receiving the Eucharist. Orthodox Christians fast most of the year, and the fasts are strenuous. Long worship services contribute to a complicated life of prescribed prayers and frequent confession.
The article refers to Orthodoxy as “muscular Christianity,” as opposed to the softer, almost feminized world of Protestantism where the Jesus worshiped is often the Jesus of equity, inclusion and diversity, or the woke Jesus as invented by the Left.
In Orthodoxy there are regular processions, a heavy use of incense, and the kissing of icons.
There is also an act of submission known as prostrations — or kneeling with one’s face on the floor — a worship practice adopted from Eastern Christianity by Islam. Multiple prostrations in Orthodoxy involve gymnastic stand up/lie down maneuvers that often exhaust the most athletically inclined.
Psychologist and author Jordan Peterson compares the Orthodox liturgy to a dance.
Tradition, he told the Post, makes Orthodoxy unquestionable: “Unlike a Protestant service, which is much more dependent on the preacher, you can’t criticize an Orthodox service…. It’s ritualized. It’s a dance. And it’s not the words only. It’s the words in the architecture, in the images, in the history. And you’re participating in it.”
The number of Orthodox converts nationwide has increased by 80 percent since 2019, tripling the size of many established congregations. New Orthodox churches are being built to accommodate this rapid growth.
While young men are discovering Orthodoxy, what about young women? Why isn’t there a mass exodus of young women into the Orthodox Church? The question deserves some attention. Part of the reason has to do with the damage feminism has done to women in the culture.
“The feminist movement,” as Carrie Gress writes in her book, The End of Woman: How Smashing the Patriarchy Has Destroyed Us, “has eviscerated our homes, our children, our lives as wives, our fertility, and now finally our bodies, leaving us in a strange no-man’s-land — or rather a no-woman’s-land — where we are simply a generic ‘human being,’ a traumatizing blank slate imposed over natural realities.”
Recently I had a conversation with Mother Christophora, the abbess of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, founded by the exiled Princess Ileana (Mother Alexandra) of Romania in 1965 after her tonsure as a nun. During our talk, Mother Christophora pointed out the crisis in vocations to the monastic life among young women, but not with young men.
“Orthodox male monasteries are flourishing with young men, but the opposite is true with women,” she said. “And yet when you consider what the culture has done to young women, you begin to understand this discrepancy.”
The ravages of feminism are certainly behind the changes we see in many Protestant denominations.
One by one, old guard Protestant churches that once resisted radical liberalization are falling into line. One Anglo-Catholic parish in Philadelphia, Saint Clement — for years noted for its beautiful Christmas 3-hour High Solemn Mass — finally succumbed to the woke virus that has transformed nearly Episcopal church in the nation. The parish now has liberal priests who preach woke Democrat Party-inspired sermons.
The parish also employs women deacons and priests who dress for Mass in rich fiddle-back vestments. This visual incongruity — safeguarding the superficialities of tradition while accessing all the latest woke talking points — is a queer phenomenon, something that young men searching for authentic Christianity no doubt see as false.
It should be noted that the Episcopal Church in Philadelphia has been used in past years as a sort of entry into society, what used to be called the Social Register class. Membership is mostly about making connections with the right people — lawyers, physicians, or old families with Mayflower roots — even though the “right people” category in Philadelphia is nearly depleted due to changing demographics.
I was reminded of this at Christmastime when a post on Facebook included a photo of a man standing outside an Episcopal church. The caption read: “The Episcopal Church is the gentleman’s way to Heaven.” (But first you have to stomach left-wing rants by the female priest or bishop as well as a short talk on Gaza and Black Lives Matter.)
Many Orthodox male converts say they first investigated Orthodoxy during the pandemic lockdown when their Protestant churches were closed or having virtual-only services. According to a study published by the National Catholic Reporter, of all the Christian denominations, many Orthodox churches remained open during the pandemic: “From 2020 through 2023, the study found 44% of Orthodox churches remained open during the pandemic, compared to just 12% of all U.S. congregations. Only 31% of Orthodox priests publicly encouraged parishioners to get vaccinated compared to 62% of all clergy.”
This is the fearlessness of true belief and ancient wisdom. If you turn away from receiving the Eucharist because you’re afraid of germs and catching COVID, you really have little to no belief in the power inherent in receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.
The young men who have gone over to Orthodoxy talk about the feminization of non-Orthodox forms of Christianity. As one Orthodox priest, Father Josiah Trenham of Riverside, California told the Post:
The vast majority of attendees at most Christian churches are female, and many services are accordingly dominated by emotional songs, swaying, uplifted hands, and eyes closed in ecstasy. Men are much less comfortable [in those settings], and they have voted with their feet. Our worship forms are very traditional and very masculine.
Of course, all is not perfect in Orthodoxy. There are snake-in-the-grass liberalizing groups and trends, like a group called Public Orthodoxy at Fordham University, a Jesuit-run school, that wants to see the Church embrace same-sex marriage the way the Catholic bishops are doing in Germany — in direct disobedience to the pope by the way — an act that only 20 years ago under Pope Benedict XVI would have resulted in some form of censure or excommunication. I suspect Pope Francis secretly agrees with the German bishops and his only real worry is that the Germans are moving too fast, while he prefers a slow, incremental reformation. (Recall the apologue of the frog being slowly boiled alive.)
I suspect the young men coming into Orthodoxy see through this charade as well.
It appears that Orthodoxy — for the most part — remains one of the sole true survivors of ancient Christianity, a shining city on a hill.
This over generalizes the Protestant church. Yes the Episcopal Church has gone off the rails and has lost 2/3 of its membership over the last few decades. As have the other mainline denominations. There’s a broad swath of Bible preaching conservative churches whose members have upheld the biblical view of sexuality and the world in general and haven’t deviated from it because their morals and views are based on the Bible which can’t be changed.
Tom, I am a reformed protestant Christian and I agree with this article. Of course there are still faithful protestant churches who are not woke or woke adjacent, but it is more difficult to find them than it used to be.
It very good to see young men rejecting the whole seeker-sensitive baloney and earnestly desiring strong, beautiful, masculine churches.
I think Eastern Orthodoxy is a lot like Roman Catholicism. EO is very eastern, but not so orthodox. RC is very Roman, but not so catholic. Both churches fall within Christianity proper and both can be used by the LORD to strengthen the next generation. The Holy Spirit will not fail the earnest soul longing for God.
Now we must unite in the essentials and work hard to create a better world for our progeny. Then we will have the luxury of constructive, respectful dialogue over finer points of doctrine. The LORD will come and all will one day be well; but now is the time to unite and win the war.
Interesting, thank you.
Also interesting is the link between lockdown and orthodox growth because here in the UK every single church closed but every single mosque refused to close.
Churches are being sold off and mosques are growing dramatically.
Actually, Orthodoxy is growing in the UK as well. The largest religious affiliation in Walsingham, where the principal Marian shrine in England is located is now Orthodox Christian, sadly followed by (neo-)Druid. When my daughter lived in York, and I crossed the Pond to visit her, I used to worship at St. Constantine and Helen, a little community that rented a college chapel, and was served by two priests, both of whom had converted from Anglicanism.
Young men are sick and tired of the endless Leftist emasculation, the endless Leftist toxic masculinity crap, angry insane women, and a government that indulges the leftist fake religious groups pretending to “care” with a price.
Gimme that old time religion, Charles Martel and King Sobieski.
Obama (a covert Muslima) and Low T Timmy would probably become skopsi (castration cultists).
As an Orthodox living in Romania I am glad to read your article I met mother Alexandra during her visit in 1990. She was Princess Ileana, daughter of Queen Mary of Romania (who was granddaughter of Queen Victoria). Small world, isn’t it?
Interesting. No mention of growing non-denominational churches and conservative evangelical denominations. How are they doing?
Could have been a one-off, but last year I did see an established evangelical tv/online ministry, well known for conservative positions on things, using social justice jargon in one of their videos. It seems the evangelical’s emphasis on sticking to the Bible doesn’t necessarily guarantee complete immunity from anti-God worldviews that can be such good shape-shifters at times.
One of our priests in the Orthodox Church, did some research because he heard a lot of the orthodox churches were growing. He found that a lot of churches, not just the Orthodox that are very conservative are growing. That being said, there has not been this kind of growth in the Orthodox Church that we have been experiencing lately. Our parish currently has 45 enquirers/catechumens. We average 4-5 newcomers a month. This appears to be happening all over the country.
From a different perspective The Faith Is the Faith and always has been and always will. regardless. Veritas Splendor. Dominus Vobiscum. Verum, Bonum, Pulchram.
Mr. Nickels, I hope you, and any other believer’s here, and those particular searchers, will look up midActs Paul-ine Bible study. It’s a critical matter. It’s anxiety and confusion saving to see and understand that view, even if one doesn’t think they’re anxious or confused about what’s going on in the Bible.
There are quite a few good ministries which can be suggested; I’ll mention one. The teaching of Keith Blades at Enjoy the Bible dot com.
Any church who preaches about Gazan terrorists and BLM terrorists is Satanic.
Remember they forced Churches to Close but allowed Bars to Stay Open
Some years ago, a Jewish rabbi told the midActs Bible teacher, the late Cornelius Stam, that Christianity began with the apostle Paul; said by one who rejects the New Testament. The rabbi knew and understood the truth, but most of professing Christendom doesn’t. That’s a sad commentary and reflects very poorly on professing Christendom.
The searchers talked about in this article are, unfortunately, not flocking to the “real Christianity,” They’re going backwards, they’re just circling back around again. The truth, the true Christian faith, began in Acts chapter 9 upon the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. 1 Tim. 1:16
Sadly, your comment is merely your interpretation of Scripture based on the false premise that the entire Bible was written, the canon put together, and available for all to read in the first century.
Many girls who, in childhood, aspired to holy orders, later abandoned that goal when diverted by a longing for motherhood.
Amen! And without that longing for motherhood, the Orthodox Church wouldn’t have young men coming to its gates!
Mr. Nickels mentions a lot about tradition, history, ritual and masculinity. He mentions not one word, however, about Jesus Christ — the same Jesus Christ who excoriated the Pharisees for “traditions that make void the Word of God” and for basically being self-righteous hypocrites. Mr. Nickels, sadly, expresses the same kind of arrogant attitude as the Pharisees did — the kind of attitude all-too-many Christians reveal about their respective churches. It shows where their values *truly* lie.
The esteemed author should realize that if Jesus did not die an excruciating death for “crimes” he didn’t commit, nor rise from the dead nor sit at the right hand of his Father to intercede for all God’s adopted sons and daughters, his beloved Orthodoxy would be nothing more than theological static and liturgical kabuki.
And what about you, sir? Do you understand and follow the Lord Jesus Christ’s spokesman in this dispensation of the grace of God, the apostle Paul? Do you understand and tell other professing believer’s that their personal mail is in Romans through Philemon? Do you understand and remind others that while all the Bible is for us, not all the Bible is written to us or is about us?
Do you rightly divide the word of truth according to 2 Tim 2:15? Or, are you using a “bible” which has removed that key in 2 Tim 2:15, as most of the new Bibles have? Do you know and understand that Pentecost is not the “birthday” of the Christian Church, nor is it in any place in the for gospels?
Do you know and understand that water baptism is not required today (“Christ sent me not to baptize”) Do you know and understand that believer’s need not keep a short account system of their sins and continue to confess them to God? Do you know and understand, “time past,” “but now,” “the ages to come,” (that’s right division)? I hope you and other believer’s know and understand these critically important truths and/or will come unto the knowledge of them (2 Tim 2:4). They’re not optional.
What does that have to do with what I wrote?
It has everything to do with what you wrote because most of Christendom teaches and preaches the Lord Jesus Christ, but not according to the revelation of the mystery, Rom 16:25; Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:25.
Most of Christendom teaches and preaches the Lord Jesus according to the flesh, according to His earthly ministry. Remember “WWJD?” No, it’s, “What would Paul do?” The Lord Jesus made Paul the Christian’s apostle. The apostle Peter, for example, is not the Christian’s apostle.
So, those questions remain and they are pertinent. Do you teach the Lord Jesus according to God’s program with Israel, which among other things, is according to the Law, or are understanding and teaching the Lord Jesus according to what the Lord revealed to Paul about His grace?
They’re very important questions. Just ask the son and granddaughter of the woman who gave her savings to Kenneth Copeland for healing, but she still died. Why? Because Copeland didn’t teach that woman the word rightly divided. He was mixed up in God’s program with Israel. That’s dangerous. So, where are you with the Lord Jesus?
So, again, you brought up the Lord Jesus Christ, and so I asked you questions about Him. Are you teaching the Lord Jesus according to His earthly ministry, or according to the revelation of the mystery He revealed to Paul? There’s a huge difference and it makes a difference.
See the comment by Marylou Leeman. She is unfortunately involved in Pentecostalism. Oh, they’re preaching Jesus all right, but it’s the teaching of Jesus according to His earthly ministry and His program with Israel. That program is the Law, it’s not grace. Pentecostalism , and most “Christian” denomination’s try to operate under the principles of the Law. Do you you know, does she know, that that program, which is God’s program with Israel, is in abeyance?
What does your understanding of “God’s program for Israel” (whatever that means) have to do with what I wrote? You sound like one of those “anti-Zionists” who populate much of liturgical Christianity (especially traditionalist Catholicism). You also sound like an anti-Pentecostal bigot, which also is typical of those in liturgical Christianity. Now, there also are anti-liturgical bigots in non-liturgical Christianity, as well. Both sides are wrong.
You seem offended by my statement if Jesus didn’t die on the cross, rise three days later, ascend into heaven 40 days later and sit at the right hand of the Father to intercede for His adopted sons and daughters, then Orthodox theology is nothing more than static and liturgy is nothing more than kabuki. That also goes for the Kenneth Copelands of the world. *Frankly, that goes for all churches, liturgical and non, Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant.*
I’m not accountable to you for what I believe. If you happen to worship form and group identity over the Triune God, that’s your problem.
It’s obvious you know nothing about the Orthodox Church. As a convert from Evangelical Protestantism, I found no other church that bases its worship on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The west has more of a faith that is based on intellect. Orthodoxy stresses prayer, communicating with our Lord. As Evagrius the Solitary once said, “He who earnestly prays is a theologian; and he who is a theologian earnestly prays.”
In Ashland the Orthodox Church shares the same building as the Episcopal Church. No good can come of that.
The hope is that maybe we Orthodox can be a witness to them.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is certainly a better alternative than Woke Christianity. But I’ve been studying Eastern Orthodoxy for 30 years since my wife decided to leave a conservative Lutheran Church to become Orthodox. Unfortunately, the source of authority for Eastern Orthodoxy is not Holy Scripture, it is what they call Holy Tradition.
Fortunately, most of their tradition agrees with Holy Scripture, but not all of it, some of it contradicts Holy Scripture. It seems that abandoning responsible Protestantism for Eastern Orthodoxy could be considered an over-correction.
St. Paul wrote in II Thessalonians 2:15 to “stand fast in the traditions you have been taught whether by word or epistle.” Holy Tradition (Scripture, the Fathers, Liturgy, the ancient Councils, etc.) has preserved the Faith of the Orthodox Church for 2k years. Scripture alone hasn’t unified Protestant churches. It hasn’t resolved their differences. It holds no one accountable. Ever wonder why the Orthodox Church never had a reformation? Maybe those of us who have left Protestantism for the Orthodox Church have made a better choice than you think.
Leave it to us Pentacostals!! We bring the life and the joy and how to hang on to this very challenging way of living for a God who loves us.
Rev Lance Wallnau recently had a YouTube short to this point. HIlarious!!
Ma’am, you need to move right in your Bible to Acts chapter 9 and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Christianity began there. Acts chapter 2, the day of Pentecost, is God’s program with Israel; the Jewish “little flock” there is still following the law. If you read carefully Acts 1-3, preferably in a KJB, you will notice that the cross work of Christ is not preached as good news, that Christ died for them, though He did, but He was not killed in faith:
Acts 2:23 “Him…ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”
Acts 2:36-38 “…Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
They were pricked in their heart because they learned they were guilty of manslaughter.
If you are saved, you were saved according to the gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (Paul’s gospel). 1 Corinthians 15-1-4 is NOT taught in Acts 2 or 3. Again, that’s God program with Israel. Something else entirely different is going on there in Acts 2 and the four gospel’s for that matter.
It doesn’t matter how popular and beloved Pentecostalism is or the popularity of any other denomination. Men cannot force God to do what He’s just not doing today. God is doing what He told Paul He is doing. 1 Tim 1:16.