In Depth:  Eastern orthodoxy

Dear Editor,

As an Evangelical Christian with a longstanding academic and pastoral interest in Eastern Orthodoxy, I have followed with interest the story surrounding the ex-FIEC congregation in Halifax which recently converted en masse (no pun intended) to Eastern Orthodoxy. I have appreciated the coverage of this story in en, namely the articles by Lydia Houghton (see here) and particularly the one by Kenneth Brownell (see here). In my experience, in Russia and the English-speaking world, Eastern Orthodoxy holds a certain appeal for Evangelical Christians, particularly in situations where theological truth seems too confused or personality-based, and where public worship becomes too casual and reduces the divine means of grace to “explanation” and “symbol”.