Orthodox priest in Germany says Germans are finding truth in Orthodoxy
A priest of the Orthodox Church in Germany has said that growing numbers of Germans are turning to the faith in search of clear spiritual guidance and a fuller church life.
Orthodox priest and missionary Fr. Alexey Veselov said interest in Orthodoxy is growing among Germans, adding that many are coming to the Church in search of clear answers to questions of faith. He made the remarks in an interview with UOJ in Germany.
Fr. Alexey, rector of St. Barbara Church in Krefeld, said that more and more Germans, especially young people, are coming to the Church in search of truth and certainty. “When people ask us about the faith, we do not philosophize – we answer: this is what the Christian faith is. This is what the Bible, the canons, and the holy fathers say,” he said.
According to him, people are drawn by the clarity and unchanging nature of Orthodox teaching. “When people ask us what is right and what is not, we do not appeal to modern standards – we say: this is what the Bible says, period,” the priest said.
He also stressed the importance of a concrete spiritual life. “You must go to church every Sunday, you must pray, you must fast,” he said, adding that this very sense of clarity becomes decisive for many people.
Speaking about mission work in Germany, Fr. Alexey said preaching is an inseparable part of the Church’s life. “We cannot choose which commandments to follow and which not to follow. The commandment to go and teach all nations concerns every one of us,” he said.
The priest noted that many people in Germany have no connection to religion, which is why it is essential to open the way to Orthodoxy for them. “In Germany there are many people who either do not belong to any church or are not religious at all – and we must open the doors of the Church to them,” he said.
He also spoke of growing interest in theological education. Referring to a newly established correspondence school, he said, “Some people told me they had been waiting for such an opportunity for decades.”
At the same time, the priest stressed the responsibility of believers themselves. “You have accepted Orthodoxy – then go forward and do something. Do not wait for someone else to do everything for you,” he said.
In conclusion, Fr. Alexey underscored what he called the central principle of Christian life: “You cannot recognize the truth and go on living as before.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that eight local residents had embraced Orthodoxy in Vietnam.
