My Journey

Embracing the Journey: From Episcopal Roots to the Orthodox Faith

The question often arises, “What is life like at a monastery?” The answer is simple: you fall down and you get back up; you fall down and you get back up; you fall down and you get back up; you fall… All I can say is, “Me too!” That speaks volumes about my journey.

I’ve traversed through various churches to arrive at where I am in the Orthodox Church. Raised in the Episcopal Church, confirmed in it, attended an evangelical boy’s camp, made a profession of faith, and went on to an Independent Fundamentalist Church. Later, I pursued studies at an evangelical Bible College (Philadelphia College of Bible, now Cairn University) with a major in missions. Subsequently, I began seminary in a similar evangelical setting but graduated from a Presbyterian Seminary (Faith Theological Seminary, M.Div.).

In my quest for a church home, I explored numerous churches, delving into their doctrines and polities. Ordained in 1988 in the Bible Presbyterian Church, I later embarked on my own venture after leaving the church. I traveled among smaller Presbyterian groups and eventually ventured into Anglicanism, Old Catholicism, Roman Catholicism, and finally, the Orthodox Church.

It has been humorously said to me that “Orthodoxy is the last stop to nowhere,” a statement both amusing and true. After witnessing so much, it becomes evident that there is nowhere else to go! However, when one grasps the Orthodox faith, they realize it is truly the True Church—a sentiment shared by others. It’s like the “Pearl of Great Price,” a profound realization that solidifies one’s faith in the authenticity of the Orthodox Church.