𝐎𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐱 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐬 ☦︎

Because it is truly a patriarchal religion. Women are expected to submit to church authority and they have been trained for over a century, not to do that. The other reason is that women like feelings-based spirituality like New Age, charismatic, etc. Same reason they like horoscopes and tarot cards. Orthodoxy is difficult. Everything about it focuses on giving up your own will, and these other religions make you the God. It aligns much better with their feminist programming. Aside from that, people who are finding orthodoxy online tend to find it through studying theology or watching debates, which is a pretty male dominated thing because it’s rational and logical. There are exceptions, but most women want to watch feel good girl podcasts where we talk about the Holy Spirit telling us that we should do whatever we want and follow our heart.

@Bas3dPhilosophy @KalaDeeDee @noetic_healing Y’all got catechumen classes? Lucky

@Orthodoxmaximus @KalaDeeDee @noetic_healing Yea, if he has his own schedule for baptisms, sometimes you gotta go with that. Our parish usually only do it on like 4 feast days throughout the year. Each catechumen class will go in groups during the feast days.

This is definitely concerning. No one…ever should be charging for baptisms. I don’t care the reason. This needs to end. If the priest doesn’t know the people he shouldn’t baptize them or their children. There is no excuse for this. Not one

@Bas3dPhilosophy @KalaDeeDee @noetic_healing I guess Sundays in general because I’ve been going there for 2 years now and I’ve never seen anyone get baptized on a Sunday. I asked if I could do it on another Sunday but he said that was the only day I could do it.

@Orthodoxmaximus @KalaDeeDee @noetic_healing On any Sunday ever? Or just the specific date you wanted?

@HellasHardrada @katherineortho You guessed it

@Orthodoxmaximus @katherineortho I’m guessing Saint Spyridon

I have 6 Godchildren so I’m well aware of the costs associated with Baptism and it’s not cheap. I’m responsible for a cross, robe or towels, a candle, olive oil, and generally my wife and I buy an outfit for them for after the Sacrament though that’s not required. The family is responsible for food and drink at the reception but we are never charged for the use of the building as we are stewards of the Parish. I have never heard of Priests requiring the newly illumined to pay out of their own pocket to receive a Sacrament though a donation from the family or Godparents is customary. Has anyone else heard of charging the person receiving Baptism or Chrismation and denying it if they don’t?

@HellasHardrada @katherineortho Yeah, it’s in San Diego and there’s like 300+ parishioners

@Orthodoxmaximus @katherineortho That’s pretty standard, I’ve paid for all of my Godchildren’s baptismal items. The other fees are odd for someone that is a steward of a Parish. Is it a large one in a big city?

@HellasHardrada @katherineortho This was at my Godparent’s home parish and he helped me get some of the baptism stuff. The parish didn’t provide anything though, me and my Godparent had to purchase everything ourselves.

@Orthodoxmaximus @katherineortho Where’s that? Also why aren’t your Godparents providing those and was that you and your Godparent’s home Parish?

@forsman_josh @BostonConvert I’m a convert who attends every Sunday and my parish told me that I was “required” to pay $325, not including the cost of a baptismal cross, robe, icon, oil, etc. It’s an issue that needs to be addressed.

@BostonConvert Stop hyperventilating and realize that nobody is getting charged who’s a part of a parish community. This so for baptized but most likely nominal Greeks who want a liturgical baby shower and aren’t part of the community.

Paying for sacraments is horrid. I don’t care about expenses etc. none of that excuses simony. And all of the Jew-like dancing and loophole finding I’m seeing from orthodox defending this practice is…disheartening.

@OrthoPol1 @noetic_healing It’s even worse when it’s Greek parishes that have 300+ parishioners and have more than enough money to be financially stable.

I have never even heard of a priest charging for a baptism. If this is true it will be shut down

@HabemusMalleum My local GOArch parish sent me a letter saying that I was "required" to pay a $325 fee to be baptized there. And on top of the $325 fee I also had to purchase my own robe, candle, baptismal cross, oil, icon, and if my Godparent wasn’t a regular donor he’d have to pay a $800 fee.

Converts to Orthodoxy: Were you required to pay a fee to be baptized (other than buying things a robe, cross, etc.). Please RT this to get as many results as possible.

@KalaDeeDee @Bas3dPhilosophy @noetic_healing He didn’t even want to do it on a Sunday at all

@Orthodoxmaximus @Bas3dPhilosophy @noetic_healing Usually done right after not during. Sometimes there are other conflicts/ pastor responsibilities on Sundays

@TrueBirdUS @Dancr200 Mine didn’t even say it was a donation, the letter that my parish sent me said it was “required” and that an honorarium was completely separate from this fee.

@Dancr200 Sister, it’s a lie, it’s a donation, he got the screenshot from the donation page and made it seem like it’s mandatory. We do not practice simony in Orthodoxy

As an Orthodox person I do find this scandalous and I'm not so sure we should be rushing to defend it.

@Rob952046756664 @Dancr200 Mine didn’t even say it was a gift, mine literally said it was “required” and that an honorarium was completely separate from this fee.

@Dancr200 Technically, they call it a gift which is pretty dodge. Gift you must pay.

@AngloVarangian I attend every Sunday and my parish said that I was "required" to pay a $325 fee to be baptized there. And on top of the $325 fee I also had to purchase my own robe, candle, baptismal cross, oil, icon, and if my Godparent wasn’t a regular donor he’d have to pay a $800 fee.

Americans are incapable of understanding this. Talk to any Greek at a Greek Church. These fees only apply to people who never attend Church yet still want to use their local Parish as a country club for personal and family events. Active Parishoners aren't charged this. It's not simony, it's saying if you're gonna treat the Church like a country club, it's going to charge you like a country club.

@JayDyer My local GOArch parish sent me a letter saying that I was "required" to pay a $325 fee to be baptized there. And on top of the $325 fee I also had to purchase my own robe, candle, baptismal cross, oil, icon, and if my Godparent wasn’t a regular donor he’d have to pay a $800 fee.

Protestants are making a nothingburger out of a minimal fee many Greek Churches have because baptisms are usually large celebrations, not empty “symbols.” This covers baptismal robe, candles, perhaps icons, and the celebration feast after. Many churches simply ask for a donation. This is nothing, btw, compared to most fundie churches which demand 10% tithe whereas most orthodox churches leave it all voluntary. This is just more ignorant moral gotchas because they have no intellectual arguments for their sects.

@Bas3dPhilosophy @noetic_healing I asked to be baptized during Divine Liturgy by my priest refused to do it during liturgy.

This also got explained as people who want to do PRIVATE baptisms outside of the regular time and have their own guests and feast etc. If you're getting baptized at liturgy like everyone else, no one is being charged. I can't believe this is what people have trying to trash Orthodoxy these days.

@Emilijan8 @noetic_healing The letter that my parish sent me said it was “required”. And this fee didn’t even include the baptismal cross, robe, oil, and icon. It also said that an honorarium was separate from this “required” fee.

@noetic_healing No one is charging money go on website and see it’s under donations

@noetic_healing My local GOArch parish sent me a letter saying that I was "required" to pay a $325 fee to be baptized there. And on top of the $325 fee I also had to purchase my own robe, candle, baptismal cross, oil, icon, and if my Godparent wasn’t a regular donor he’d have to pay a $800 fee.

@MedWhiteAcolyte My local GOArch parish sent me a letter saying that I was "required" to pay a $325 fee to be baptized there. And on top of the $325 fee I also had to purchase my own robe, candle, baptismal cross, oil, icon, and if my Godparent wasn’t a regular donor he’d have to pay a $800 fee.

PSA to Orthobros (it's our word but you can call us "Orthodox Brother"): You don't have defend blatant simony to refute protestantism.

The Thessalonian Church, both ancient and thriving today.