User:Cora-Catherine

Raised a protestant, I came to Orthodoxy about 22 years ago... but only after much study and prayer. A lawyer by education, from a home which had been broken by the religious conversion of one parent (from Presbyterian to New Age), having had a teacher who was atheist, a boyfriend who was Mormon... then Catholic (long story), countless others who told me THEY knew the truth but varied with one another (each adhering to Sola Scriptura), I was lost but by the grace of God. Making a very long story short, I pleaded God's mercy for my ignorance--that I couldn't distinguish who/what was right and wrong. I came to refuse to join any church I could not agree with 100 percent. Through a long chain of events, and sticking to my guns, I found Orthodoxy--though it was incredibly different from my heritage. Because it was, I not only did the initial due diligence (reading modern classics such as "The Orthodox Way" and "The Orthodox Church" and attending catechism), but I felt compelled to understand WHY Orthodoxy was different from everything I had previously heard. EVERYthing that was different, I investigated. I became, I guess you might say, a lawyer who couldn't argue against it. Orthodoxy became the home I needed.

Constrained mostly to English, I but have read much more since joining the Church (incl. explanations of the Psalms by St. John Chrysostom, the Explanation of the Gospels, by Blessed Theophylact, listened to modern scholars/speakers like Fr. Thomas Hopko, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Fr. Josiah Trenham, etc.) on what Orthodoxy truly is and how the different denominations/theologies (heresies) and practices developed. I have done a lot of research on how/why the West adopted what became known as the Masoretic Text, and have spent countless hours obsessed with patristic commentary on the Psalter.

I cannot begin to list all of the commentaries, catechisms, and explanations I have read/heard--and continue to read/hear--but all of this has been coexistent for over twenty hears with attending Divine Liturgy weekly (mostly without fail--aside from the pandemic--Lord have mercy).

May God also have mercy on my wanting to help add a note or two to OrthodoxWiki. The site is a great tool on the internet, but there are a few places it could be filled out. With all my heart I strive only to pass on what I have learned from other Orthodox teachers far greater than I.

If granted an account on OrthodoxWiki, I will honestly probably not be very active but will strive to make accurate and document anything I DO write.