A Stranger at Home

The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition and All Saints - London, England

I just got back from 10 days in England - my homeland.

Although I had not made the trip with the idea of it being a spiritual pilgrimage, while I was there I couldn't help noticing some of the contrasts in the way spirituality and religion is positioned in the culture.

England has a very rich spiritual heritage - many of its landmarks are named after Christian saints - St. Albans, St. Pancras, St. Martin's etc. However, this heritage has become an historic reference point with very little impact on daily life. Most people in England seem to live their lives as if Christianity in its traditional form is irrelevant - and indeed, in many ways, it has become irrelevant.

While most people celebrate the "holidays" like Easter and Christmas - they have returned to their pagan roots rather than being a timeless commemoration of Christ's physical appearance on earth. Many of the great churches in England are tourist sites and not places of worship anymore.

As in the United States, England's only visible church growth is in the "culturally current" movement that uses the right "terminology" of Christianity and espouses Christian "beliefs." But places a low priority on the Christian lifestyle that alone brings maturity and transformation of character.

I found it rather ironic and a little sad that while walking through Oxford Circus, the main shopping precinct of London, I was assaulted by the loud yelling of a street evangelist who proclaimed "hellfire" and urged everyone to "accept Christ" - then moments later I was handed a very nicely worded brochure on the "Truth of Islam" by a smiling, friendly Muslim - who invited me to learn more about the teachings of the Quran. I felt embarrased by the contrast and by the emotional experience of momentarily wanting to be identified more with the Muslim than the Christian!

Orthodox Oasis

I did manage to attend a vigil service at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in London, and it was breathtakingly beautiful. The service was held in alternating Russian and English. The sense of reverence during the worship was overwhelming, as if we were in the presence of Angels - which indeed we were!

I also attended a Divine Liturgy service at a small but growing Antiochian Orthodox Church in Bishopsgate, London. Once again, the worship was reverent and beautiful, and the lunch/social time after the service was very friendly and welcoming. A lovely group of people.

There is a tremendous hunger for spirituality in England - but people are rarely turning to the Church for answers - because the main street church has lost its way.

In America people are turning to alternative forms of spirituality, like meditation and/or "generic" Hinduism or Buddhism - while in England, people seem to have settled into a sort of harmless "Jesus admiration" that doesn't really have much meaning in their lives.

My visit to my homeland was a bittersweet experience.