OCA: Questions and Answers

Why are Orthodox Christian clergy “adorned” in fancy vestments at worship services?  Doesn’t this stand in conflict with Christ’s teachings on humility?

http://oca.org/questions/liturgicarts/why-do-orthodox-christian-clergy-wear-vestments

Recently I read something about the Divine Liturgy that struck me as rather odd.  The author said something to the effect that the Divine Liturgy is “long” so as to allow the ...

http://oca.org/questions/divineliturgy/participation-in-the-entire-divine-liturgy

My wife and I recently made enquiry concerning having our new born son baptized.  When we enquired as to whether my wife’s cousin, who believes in Jesus Christ but is not a member o...

http://oca.org/questions/sevensacraments/baptismal-sponsors

I attend a non-denominational church that considers itself “Bible believing.”  Recently, I was told that Orthodox Christianity places little emphasis on the Bible and, as such...

http://oca.org/questions/otherconfessions/are-orthodox-christians-bible-believing

For the past year or so I have been considering conversion to Orthodox Christianity.  I have read many things on the internet, as well as a number of books about the Church’s faith,...

http://oca.org/questions/teaching/steps-to-becoming-an-orthodox-christian

An Orthodox friend of mine invited me to attend the evening service on Good Friday.  At the end of the service, the priest announced that “vigil will be kept at the Tomb of Christ t...

http://oca.org/questions/liturgicalyear/why-do-orthodox-christians-keep-a-vigil-at-the-tomb-of-christ

At present, my wife and I are seriously considering conversion to Orthodox Christianity.  I, however, am concerned that my many past sins would prevent me from being accepted into the Chu...

http://oca.org/questions/teaching/am-i-too-sinful-to-convert

I was reading your answers about faith and life. I have been raised to believe that grace is all that is necessary for salvation… no works. But having read the verse from James that you ...

http://oca.org/questions/teaching/grace-and-salvation

What is the significance of the placement of the fingers of the right hand I notice in icons of Christ and certain saints?

http://oca.org/questions/liturgicarts/placement-of-fingers-in-icons

Could you please inform me of the Orthodox Church’s position on the subject matter of sex education being taught to children by laity?

I’d like to know if the Church believe...

http://oca.org/questions/contempmoral/sex-education-in-sunday-school

I was raised in a Catholic/Protestant family. Lately, I have been drawn to Orthodox Christianity, but I am worried that there will be a language barrier. Do Orthodox churches worship only in G...

http://oca.org/questions/namerica/orthodoxy-ethnicism-and-conversion

I’m fully aware that the Orthodox Church forbids astrology. But once, out of idle curiosity, I looked up my astrological sign and read about the personality type. It matched my personali...

http://oca.org/questions/otherconfessions/orthodoxy-and-astrology

Why do Orthodox Christians attend the Divine Liturgy and other religious services of the Church? What is the purpose of such services? Is the purpose of such attendance “to get something...

http://oca.org/questions/divineliturgy/the-nature-of-our-worship

I have read in some evangelical Protestant books that, unless you give 10% of your income to the Church, God won’t bless you. This seems to be an Old Testament idealogy, contrary to the ...

http://oca.org/questions/parishlife/giving-to-the-church

For years I have felt drawn to the priesthood. However, I have one major obstacle to being a priest. I must confess that I am an atheist, or at the very least a very skeptical agnostic. Does t...

http://oca.org/questions/priesthoodmonasticism/personal-faith-and-the-priesthood

What is the difference between an “autocephalous” and an “autonomous” church if both types are truly independent?

http://oca.org/questions/autocephaly/autocephalous-autonomous

Recently I came across some quotes from St. John Chrysostom concerning wealth which I find disturbing. First, he writes, “our money is the Lord’s, however we may have gathered it.&...

http://oca.org/questions/teaching/chrysostom-and-the-wise-stewardship-of-our-money

I recently read a statement by an Orthodox author that said, “The goal of Christianity is radically different than the goal of Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.” The goal of Buddhism is the...

http://oca.org/questions/otherconfessions/the-goals-of-christianity-and-buddhism

In general, how should an Orthodox Christian view the current situation with Terry Schiavo? I guess one of the issues is that of extraordinary means. Does the Church have a position on extraor...

http://oca.org/questions/contempmoral/thoughts-on-the-terri-schiavo-case

Do you have an opinion of an Orthodox Christian reading “The DaVinci Code” as part of a book club? I know it’s a novel, and would of course view it as such. Any thoughts wou...

http://oca.org/questions/contempmoral/should-i-read-the-davinci-code