Monastic tonsure and Orthodox youth conference

[methodius]

This last weekend has been a historic occasion for Orthodoxy in Southern Africa, with the first diocesan youth conference and the tonsuring of the first South African monk in South Africa by His Beatitude Theodoros, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria

Comments

Orthodoxy and culture, racism and ethnicentrism

[methodius]

OK, here are some brief notes from what I wrote when the groups reported. There was only one "cradle Orthodox" person at the conference.

We need to distinguish between tradition, custom and culture.

The basic dogmas are the same everywhere, but diversity of customs is good.

People born into Orthodoxy have difficulty in separating ethnicity from the Orthodox Faith.

The physical nature of the faith (eg ikons) makes it difficult forn those brought up in a different tradition.

Being a minority gives more opportunity to share one's faith (eg people are curious -- why do you fast during what others call "the festive season"?). One person said that Orthodoxy was like a magnet that drew her.

Some churches make people from other ethnic groups feel unwelcome, so there is racism in the church (this applies especially to ethnic "community" churches, which are the majority in the Archdiocese).

We only scratched the surface of the topic, and will probably need to discuss it further. For example, what do we mean when we say "our culture"? South Africa is a multicultural country, and "my" culture is eclectic, drawn from the cultures of many different people.

Re: Orthodoxy and culture, racism and ethnicentrism

[ibid]

People born into Orthodoxy have difficulty in separating ethnicity from the Orthodox Faith
To what extent is this true for people for whom Orthodoxy is reletively recent (say those born to converts?) and to what extent is there an orthodox culture?

Thanks for posting

Re: Orthodoxy and culture, racism and ethnicentrism

[methodius]

In Alaska how many indigenous, Native American men are tonsured? How many have been in the past? I truly believe that in your heart there is no racism nor ethnocentrism on a conscious level. However as I have been to Orthodox services I have never felt a genuine warmth from the folks there. Cordial, yes, and polite, but not a warmth. Percentages as well demographics would be interesting for countries such as South Africa as well. Just an observation. Also I would think that countries like America would be the ideal place to show the world just how broad minded the Orthodox culture truly is, compared to the Old World that is.

Re: Orthodoxy and culture, racism and ethnicentrism

[methodius]

You'd have to ask someone from Alaska, or at least someone familiar with it, how many are tonsured there.

As for percentages in South Africa, at the last census about 20000 people claimed to be Orthodox Christians, and this was the first one to be tonsured as an Orthodox monk in South Africa. There are some who have gone to monasteries overseas and been tonsured there, maybe about 4-5, certainly not more than 10, and probably not as many.