Welcome brothers and sisters to /bant/z first /OG/
Orthodox pastebin
http://pastebin.com/bN1ujq2x

>Orthodox asceticism/mysticism
Hesychasm is a mystical tradition of prayer in the Orthodox Church. It is described in great detail in the Philokalia,citation needed a compilation of what various saints wrote about prayer and the spiritual life.
https://orthodoxwiki.org/Hesychasm

The goal is to obtain theosis (unity with the lord). This is achieved through 3 steps
>Catharsis/Purification
>Theoria/Illumination
> Theosis/Divinization

REQUIRED READING
>Philokalia
>Sayings of the desert father's
>The orthodox way by Metropolitan Ware
>The ascent of Mt Caramel by st John of the cross. (Catholic I know but the carmalites are based of the desert fathers)

>Form for converts
http://www.saintandrew.net/files/catechumen%20info/Catechumen_Renunciations_and_Affirmations_Form.pdf

>Orthodox cartoon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP0J2eDPIjU [Open]

>Comparison of Orthodox and Catholic services
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHZtbnaXuGk [Open]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxcOv4zPoVo [Open]

>Comparison of Orthodox and Catholic Liturgical hymns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noetoc2W4Pc [Open]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0iOBOIwQ2o [Open]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDoyZtkrU0s [Open]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN6UNVwlRbk [Open]

>Media Attacks Orthodox Church
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-06-16/the-orthodox-church-stays-in-the-dark-ages
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/14/world/europe/russia-orthodox-church.html?_r=0

>Putin's faith in his own words
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3d_yxJhmjk [Open]

>Verses backing up veneration and intercession
Exodus 18:7
Joshua 7:6
1 Kings 13:6

>Based Patriarch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pqax_dPgTk [Open]