I'm really tired of evangelicals. God forgive me, but I can't deal with these people anymore. And I don't say this out of anger, but out of exhaustion. There's too much pride, and the heresies are tiring.
@RomanosOrthodox Thank you Roman, I've been studying Russian for 3 month now. I belong to a Russian Orthodox parish in Brazil and I'm from a family of Italian immigrants. Thank you very much for the correction. God bless you.
What I am about to share with you is a testimony.
I come from a complicated background; my family was Pentecostal Protestant for many years, though today they are Baptists. During my childhood, I attended those churches but never felt comfortable—to the point where my faith in God grew completely cold.
I lived an empty, aimless adult life, heavily influenced by secular philosophies and—if I may call it that—pure nihilism. I contemplated taking my own life on a weekly basis and saw no meaning in my existence.
Then, I can say my life was totally transformed by Christ in a way I never imagined. Extraordinary things began to happen in my life from that point on. One day, while on a business trip, videos about the Orthodox faith started appearing in my Instagram feed. I found them interesting, until I came across a video of a monk praying—a scene from the movie *The Island* (*Ostrov*). I thought to myself, "I need that kind of faith; I need to draw closer to Christ in that way." I stopped everything I was doing, knelt by my bed, and began to pray to the Lord.
It didn't take long for a powerful, comforting presence to wash over my entire being. It felt like a gentle, warm, and soothing embrace; just remembering it brings tears to my eyes. Soon, my heart was completely broken and humbled, and I knew with certainty that the Lord was present in that moment. I finished my prayer totally transformed; I was never the same again. That single moment—opening my heart to Christ—changed my life. From then on, I decided to embrace the Orthodox faith and follow all the Church's dogmas.
Then came the internal struggles; coming from a Protestant background, I faced some difficulties at first. Yet, God continued to reveal Himself to me, and the teachings began to make sense, fostering a sense of humility within me. I deeply desired to draw closer to the Theotokos, as I had neglected this love throughout my life—again, due to my Protestant background. I began to pray, asking that she—just like our Lord—might visit me. Then, during a terrible nightmare, I sort of woke up to a very bright, comforting light shining upon me; I cannot explain the sensation, but I felt my body vibrating with that light as the nightmare dissolved. Instinctively, I knew it was the Mother of God; with my eyes closed, I uttered the words "It is the Mother of God" (filled with profound joy) and made the Sign of the Cross.
My dream became peaceful again, and an immense peace washed over my entire being. I share this account solely for the honor and glory of our Lord, for He is exceedingly merciful. I am strengthening my faith day by day, and on August 8th, I will be baptized into the Orthodox Church. Glory to God.
36 years ago today, I was made a Catechumen on St. Olga's day. Only in the past year or so did I discover that she is my 29th great grandmother. Wondrous is God in His Saints.
https://t.co/Ywv0gzRnsp