I was instructed that the great schism was between Constantinople and Rome regarding a thing called the filioque. Something about Holy Spirit proceeding from both The Father and The Son. It’s It’s not how Orthodox had it figured. They would have convened a council, and sorted it out but that didn’t happen. That was 1054 when the Pope was in Constantinople and marched into the Paschal (Easter) Liturgy to place a notice of excommunication on the altar. Wild stuff.

For the Fatima letters I’m not as well informed as I could be, but I do notice there’s some controversy about what’s in them, and some secret ones, and all about “the end of the world”. I just keep reading John and Acts over and over, in keeping with my simple mindedness. I don’t like to argue. I can’t “know” for a fact so I don’t take a position and defend it to the death. Except for what’s in the Nicene Creed. Moscow is back, as a center of Eastern Orthodoxy after a brief 80 year break for Communism. Wasnt ever one of the original 5 though. Rus have a long bloody history. So do Constantinople and Rome though. I don’t care about any of that. Yes Orthodoxy is Mary focused. We don’t pray to her, she’s just a human like us after all, but of course we entreat her to pray for us sinners, because, the Greek who thinks he’s clever says with a wink, even He can’t say no to his mom.

If you haven’t checked out Bishop Mar Mari of the Assyrian Orthodox Church in … Sydney Au, as I recall. of all places. He gives good homily. All over YouTube, especially after the failed assassin tried to stab him during Divine Liturgy.

As for Purgatory, it’s unorthodox. I don’t know, or really care about it. I’ve heard some references to Revelation whereby it’s very wrong to add or take away from scripture. I’m not trying to do either.

In my approach it’s about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The resurrected Christ. That’s who answered when I knocked. Not the Pope, or any other Patriarch. I’m in love with Him. It’s Platonic, of course.

I was just another free range fornicator living for my own pleasures, but saw on TV the Shroud is a freaking hologram! That got my attention, so I researched it extensively and knew I’d been wrong all my life. I tried to become a Roman Catholic, but they said I didn’t qualify. I’d have to get my wife to convert and live like brother and sister for a year or so then we could be “married” in the Church. Yeah, no. This phony baloney (imho) preacher type guy invited me to “services” in his home, with grape juice and crackers, and I didn’t want to offend him, so I said I had plans to visit the Orthodox Cathedral that coming Sunday. I just told him that to put him off, but at 7:00 Sunday I woke up, cleaned up, suited up, and went in search of a place I’d never been. Got lost, decided to give up and found myself right at their driveway. It was too weird to ignore. Wound up months later receiving Sacrament of Chrismation. So I guess I’m Orthodox, sort of. I went to catechism. I was a 60 year old altar boy for a while. Learned a lot. But mostly it’s about that personal relationship. I was a Thomas. I needed proof. I reproach myself endlessly over that. It motivates me to be better. As best as a sinner can, and I’m the worst, that much I “know”.

Anyway, God Bless You, and your family.