Sam goes Orthodox

Visited no less than three Orthodox churches today. This is extremely unusual as they’re uncommon in this part of the world, and I’m lucky if I visit one a year. The town I was visiting was a Catholic pilgrimage site, and there are Anglican and Orthodox (even one Methodist) churches in it too. They were a bit small though.

Anyway, I’ve always found Eastern Orthodoxy very interesting. I find their art oddly moving, considering that at times it can look quite crude. I also like their liturgical music more than the western Catholic tradition. And their architecture is also quite interesting and different from the west. Not too keen on their saint and Mary worship though.

But Orthodoxy is odd. It’s been far too tied up with governments, whether the tsar or the Soviets, and also thoroughly persecuted by both the Nazis and Soviets. It’s persecuted the Jews, Catholics and Baptists in turn, and even the Salvation Army.

So a very strange mix… and yet, despite all this, I do find a kind of beauty in its simplicity. Was talking to the archimandrite, or whatever he’s called. He was a very pleasant man.