My Journey to Orthodoxy: Discovering the Narrow Path

For the past two years, I've been slowly converting to Orthodoxy. In these last few months, however, my pace has shifted into hyperdrive. Every day, as I deepen my faith, I’m becoming more and more convinced that Orthodoxy is the narrow path that Jesus spoke of.

Each day, I’m learning more, praying more, and trying to immerse myself in what feels like a call toward greater spiritual depth. One of the practices I’ve adopted is perpetual prayer—specifically, repeating the Jesus Prayer throughout the day. I do this not out of routine, but in the hope that it will draw me closer to God.

A Personal Journey: From Catholicism to Orthodoxy

My journey didn’t begin with Orthodoxy. Most of my family is Catholic, and naturally, that’s where I gravitated first. For a long time, I didn’t think denomination mattered as much as simply being Christian. But then, I met my wife—an Orthodox Christian. After dating for a month, she invited me to attend an Orthodox service with her. I remember first walking into this beautiful church and seeing the wide-open space and asking my wife "Where do we sit?" which she replied, "We don't".

From the moment I walked into that church, I felt something indescribable. The way the Orthodox Church worshipped brought a sense of transcendence that I hadn't experienced before. There was a stillness and a sacredness that resonated with me in ways that I struggled to put into words. For the next two years, my wife and I alternated between attending Catholic and Orthodox services. And while I never received communion in the Orthodox Church during that time, I found myself continually drawn to the way they worshipped. It felt like the way God was meant to be worshipped.

The Significance of Leavened Bread: A Small Detail with Deep Meaning

One of the key moments in my journey came when I began to reflect on the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. In the Orthodox tradition, the bread used in communion is leavened—the bread rises, symbolizing Christ's risen body. This stood out to me because, in the Catholic Church and most other Christian denominations, the bread is unleavened.

At first, this seemed like a small detail. But the more I researched, the more I realized how significant it was. Historically, before the Great Schism between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, both traditions used leavened bread. So why the change? This seemingly minor difference led me to explore deeper theological questions, and it reinforced my growing belief that Orthodoxy has preserved the fullness of Christian tradition.

Now, let me be clear—I’m not saying that if you aren’t Orthodox, you aren’t saved. I believe God calls each of us in different ways, and we are all on unique spiritual journeys. But for me, this detail became part of a larger pattern, one that pointed me toward Orthodoxy as the "narrow path" Jesus referred to.

Embracing the Orthodox Life

As I’ve continued on this path, I’ve found myself embracing more aspects of Orthodox life. I now attend catechesis classes every week, fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, and spend more time reading spiritual texts like The Way of the Pilgrim and learning about the lives of different Saints to deepen my understanding of God and the concept of perpetual prayer.

Perpetual prayer has been particularly transformative for me. The constant repetition of the Jesus Prayer—"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"—keeps me focused on God's presence throughout the day. It reminds me that faith is not just something to practice on Sundays, but a continuous, living relationship with God.

Wrestling with Prayers to Mary and the Saints

Despite the clarity I’ve found in many aspects of Orthodoxy, there’s one area where I’ve struggled: the practice of praying to Mary and the saints. When I first started this journey, I couldn’t understand why anyone would pray to saints or to Mary. Why not go directly to God?

I’ve had long internal debates about this, and I’ve even used AI platforms like ChatGPT to help me sort through my thoughts (which, by the way, can be surprisingly helpful!). The answers I’ve found are beginning to make sense, but I still have questions. I know that for Orthodox Christians, praying to Mary and the saints isn’t about bypassing God; it’s about asking those who are already in heaven to intercede on our behalf, much like we might ask friends or family members to pray for us. But I can't help to think of 1 Kings, specifically the part where Adonijah goes to Bathsheba (Solomons mother) to intercede for him to Solomon for the hand of Abishag. It didn't work out too well for Adonijah.

Still, it’s an area I continue to wrestle with. I believe that doubt and questioning are an important part of faith, and I trust that with time, this too will fall into place as part of my ongoing spiritual formation.

Conclusion: A Journey Far from Over

As I look back on the past two years, I see how far I’ve come on my spiritual journey. Converting to Orthodoxy has been a gradual, sometimes challenging process, but it has also been deeply rewarding. I’m learning to trust the process, to embrace the unknown, and to surrender to God’s will—even when I don’t have all the answers yet.

For anyone else on a spiritual journey, whether in Orthodoxy or another tradition, I encourage you to keep asking questions and seeking truth. God calls each of us in unique ways, and as long as we remain open and willing to listen, we’ll find ourselves exactly where we’re meant to be.