www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Letter from a lost Christian

Christ is risen! Hello you all, my name is Laurence, I'm an Eastern Orthodox, former Catholic who's been struggling with the faith it's been 5 years. On my country (Brazil), 90% of the Orthodox people are arrogant, pharisaic, ego and ethnocentrical. They defend ready and closed "combos" and "banners", such as Russophilia (most of them) and in minor cases such as in my Ukrainian Eparchy, NATOphilia with strong sense of Russophobia, applauding NASTLY Zelensky's persecution of Onuphry's UOC. I'm sure Jesus would't be glad of seeing Ukrainians persecuting their own co-patriots. I dare to ask, as foreigners, do you notice all this pride and confusion in Eastern Orthodoxy throghout the world outside Brazil as well? How are Orthodox people in USA? Russia? Greece? Romania? Ukraine? Is pride, ethnocentrism something intrinsical to Orthodoxy? Because at times I just don't feel at home. Too much crazy people around me.

This is my bias speaking, but I know there are Byzantine rite Catholics in Brazil. That may be a better fit for you.
We have them (Such Orthodox) in the United States, they're mostly on the internet and mostly ROCOR, but they're called "Orthobros".
I sometimes go to a Melkite Greek Catholic Church, and other than prayers for the Pope of Rome, you'd never know you weren't at an Eastern Orthodox church.
I also question WHY you'd become Eastern Orthodox. If you sincerely believe it, than by all means. But do you?

With respect, brother in Christ, do you know all Orthodox believers in Brasil?

Have you considered the Eparchy under the Polish Orthodox Church? They were once part of the Orthodox Church of Portugal, when it was still under the Polish Orthodox Church. Hence, they are more oriented to Portuguese speaking natives. Here is their website: http://www.igrejaortodoxa.com/

Christ is in our midst!!

laurencedeoliveira,

Welcome to the forum.

Bob
Moderator

What are your thoughts on the balance between faith and cultural identity in Eastern Orthodoxy, and do you think ethnocentrism and pride are widespread issues among Orthodox communities globally?

Christ is in our midst!!

John Steve:

Don't' you think adding "globally" paints with a rather broad brush? How would anyone know the answer to that? The philosophical question you pose first is equally broad. It seems to me that your post misses the point this poster tries to ask us about. I wonder if the jump form Catholic to Orthodox was too quick after too little discernment. It seems that the issues he raises are corrosive to his individual faith. Additionally, since we are saved individually but in community, it seems that the communities he has experienced are the cause of this corrosive effect. There is a danger in uprooting oneself from one Church to another with a long period of discernment and this seems to be playing out here.

Is pride and ethnocentrism common in Eastern Orthodox communities around the world, or is it more specific to certain countries like Brazil?