Journey Stories

Coming to Orthodoxy was like death by 1,000 papercuts (or like life, in this case!): there wasn’t just one pivotal moment or fact, but many small things over time. The Bible says we will experience trials and tribulations in life, and in 2010, our family received our fair share (cancer, death, and divorces). By the end of that year, I was left feeling sorrowful and lost as pieces of my world view began to fall apart. Also, at the end of that year, my brother, Eric Clary, came to live with me and ... [Read more]

My first obstacle was accepting that God was something to consider. Growing up agnostic in a small Missouri farming town and going to a Baptist Sunday School on occasion, I was left with the idea that church was free daycare and a school for morals. I gave next to no thought to God—that is until I had what could be called a mental break at 24. I spent my free time playing in a band and living a lifestyle reflective of that choice. I set myself up to have an early existential crisis, wondering ... [Read more]

I think my journey began at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, where my Aunt Jackie received Jesus as her savior at a Billy Graham Crusade. From there, she would frequently take her three nephews, myself included, to Glad Tidings Temple on Filmore Street, to hear the gospel of redemption, and evangelical Christianity, “on fire.” My folks, not wanting to be called “holy rollers” started attending the Presbyterian church, in San Rafael, where I was baptized. My brothers and I, sang in the choir, ... [Read more]

My father’s mother, who my siblings and I called “Yiayia,” was an active member of the Greek Orthodox community in central California. I grew up outside of Orthodoxy, in a Pentecostal setting, but attended Pascha picnics most years with the whole family and a Liturgy here and there when I stayed with my grandparents. My father was involved in the Charismatic Movement and became a pastor in the Foursquare denomination. In spite of this parting of ways, he and his extended family got along well, ... [Read more]

When I look back, I see that God was guiding me on my path to Orthodoxy - a journey that I continue each day. I grew up Catholic and was drawn to God from an early age. When I was a teen, I started to question some of the history and teachings of the Catholic church and went seeking other faiths. I ended up not attending church at all, but still prayed. Many years later, a co-worker and I started discussing life and ended up talking about our beliefs. I mentioned that I had been raised ... [Read more]

While I was writing this journey and collecting my thoughts, I was reminded of God’s grace in bringing my family to Orthodoxy, as well as seeing that I am grateful for each part of the journey. I am truly thankful to have been raised in a Christian home by wonderful, loving and God-fearing parents. I grew up attending a Protestant Missionary Alliance church. Although it was defined as non-denominational, the theology is Baptist. We attended church regularly and I enjoyed attending Bible study ... [Read more]

I began my journey to Orthodoxy by trying to protect my son Taran from being corrupted! You see, he had been accepted into the University of Dallas, and this Great Books/classical leaning university fit his personality well. But Heaven forbid! It was a very traditional Catholic school! So, I started reading. After all, I knew Catholicism was wrong, and he might be swayed! Let’s backtrack a bit. I have been a Christian my entire life. I was born into Protestant Christianity (Assembly of God), ... [Read more]

My family was not religious, but we did celebrate Christmas and did Easter egg hunts. We went to the West Hills Unitarian Fellowship where there were educated people and some great field trips; but my brothers and I stopped going as teenagers. By college I thought that the world would be better off without religion—but when challenged about that, I couldn't articulate goods reasons for it. Some street preachers in the park blocks at PSU got me thinking, and I became a seeker and started going to ... [Read more]

I’ve always had a sense of God as long as I can remember. I grew up in a home where we went to church occasionally and on Christmas and Easter. When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, my fear of death drove me to look more closely at what I believed. After my mother’s death, I moved with my husband and two young daughters to Arizona. They had a women’s Bible study on the cul-de-sac where we lived and I was at home with two small children, away from my family and still grieving my mom, so I ... [Read more]

As a baby I was baptized Russian Orthodox. Growing up, my mom would tell me little things about God and Orthodoxy, but we never attended any services. We had a few icons around the house, but very little was said about them. For elementary school, my brother and I were enrolled in a Catholic school. We attended Catholic mass every week and learned about Catholicism. I remember enjoying the Bible readings and singing hymns. As I got older, I enjoyed hearing sermons. I never participated in any ... [Read more]