Name: byzantine death machine, slayer of darkness
How long I've been Christian:
Wanted to learn about God; started the Bible and got introduced to the Orthodox Church in late 2020
Attended first Liturgy in 2022
Finished most of the Bible in 2023, drawing out Psalm and Revelation for another 2 years
Started Catechumenate in 2024
Still currently on track for Baptism and Chrismation
So basically anywhere between 2-6 years take your pick :^]
Favorite Verse; These ones come to mind:
"Teach us to number our days, that our hearts may be bound with wisdom" Psalm 90
"But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted." Matthew 23
"but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a gentle whisper." 1 Kings 19
Favorite Books: Tobit and Ruth are definitely top favorites of mine as well, but I'm also going to mention Job, Exodus, 2 Samuel, and Ecclesiastes for OT
For NT its the Four Gospels. The Gospels have had a very powerful effect on my heart and society as a whole
Currently Reading: Acts alongside a respective commentary by Archbishop Averky, and soon going to pick up The Path to Salvation by St Theophan the Recluse
Also have "On Resistance to Evil by Force" by Ivan Alexandrovich Ilyin on the backburner
Bible (Orthodox Study Edition recommended)
Jordanville Prayer Book (babby's first prayer book for orthobros 🙃)
Prayer Rope from local bookstore or monastery
Icon (Best to have is Pascha or Christ Pantocrator)
Православие календарь (Orthodox Calendar) app to follow along with the Liturgical Calendar
Best Spiritual Books: St Seraphim of Sarov Conversation with Motovilov, Brief Intro to Orthodox Spirituality by Mtrp. Nafpaktos Heirotheos and the Spiritual Writings of Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
Notice these resources are not only listed by priority but are mostly action oriented because faith in Christ is an actionable, lived in reality.
The best thing you can do to live out your relationship with God is to ask God to transform you and help you live the faith, to attend services, to build a prayer habit that reflects the services, to stay and meet with fellow Christian people, and to remember at the end of the day what matters is not any head knowledge or piety you might display but rather it is the love you show for God, people, creation, and life itself.
Tag time: @religiousextremist @hail-holy-queen @orthodoxadventure @commissar-caiaphas-cain @orthodoxydaily @crusadingspacewarrior
The reign of destruction doesn't stop