By Theodore Phillips
Most modern Christian churches are stuck in the mud. Rain, old ruts, sinkholes and dead end paths lead many astray, bog down a few more and cause even more to abandon the path and surrender the struggle. There is a way to clean this mud road up and lay the foundations of a solid, straight path.
If we study the Church back just to the last two centuries we will observe Christian practices that are unknown to modern Christians. Go a few more hundred years and we’ll see an even more unadulterated religion. Once we pave away back a thousand years there will only be a few ruts and mudholes to avoid. Obviously as we get back to the end of the path we find Jesus Christ and should have a mile of straight, clean road as a result. A very good book that very handily shows us how to do this is the “Orthodox Survival Guide” by Fr. Seraphim Rose.
However, let’s look at this purely from traces we find here in our Appalachian Bible Belt Culture. The Orthodox Church might seem very alien to Appalachian people nowadays, but many of our Protestant great granddaddy’s would most likely understand the Orthodox Church better than the modern version of their particular denominations.
One example of this is in our music. Several of our old hymns have traces of Orthodoxy within them. We’ll look at three. The following Appalachian song “The Cherry Tree Carol” references the Virgin Mary as the “Queen”, a forgotten concept in many churches. It also states the birthday of Jesus as the 6th of January. The 6th of January would be the Old Calendar December 25th. The Orthodox Church and the Appalachians were the last people in the world to come onto the “New Calendar” of Pope Gregory. Most Orthodox Churches though are still on the Old Calendar. You can find out more about “Old Christmas” by clicking here.
Another Appalachian Folk song from the Easter Brothers, which is a bit more contemporary, speaks about the Ladder. The Ladder is an ancient concept of the Church that has its first mention by Jacob in the Old Testament. Later in the 600’s it was expounded on again by St John Climacus in his “Ladder of Divine Ascent.” This is an important Christian teaching because it helps us to see our struggle and our climb in much more theological depth.
The iconic and still popular song, Angel Band, written in the 19th century has another hint to ancient Christianity in its verses. The idea that angels and demons surround us at the moment of our death may not be that uncommon in Christian circles. Yet understanding this very important moment when our Soul departs the Body is one of the areas the Orthodox Church is most prepared. There are specific and ancient prayers before, during and after death, for the departed Soul’s. Appealing to the Angels is a very traditional practice that is quickly fading away in modern Christianity.
The preservation of our native, Christian religion should be very important to us here in the “Bible Belt.” A lot of our folkways are fading, losing relevance and simply being forgotten in post-modern America. One thing we cannot lose is our understanding of Jesus Christ and His Holy Church established by Him as a means to bring salvation to all peoples. One of the most effective ways the enemy has hurt the Church is by erosion. Slowly slipping knots in here and there and subverting entire flocks. Sacramental Worship is literally disappearing and some of those who do practice it don’t even believe its anything more than an antiquated expression. Like the “Popes Calendar,” it may take three hundred years for the enemy to dig a hole in our road. Or he could use a new hip “Christian” song with heretical lyrics that only takes him a few days to pour on us.
Where else can we hope to fight so advanced an adversary, save our peoples souls, and advance Christ’s Kingdom here on earth than within the confines of His Holy Church? The Orthodox Church is the only hope for Appalachia, it is the only hope for America, and it is the only hope for the world. If you get stuck in the mud you must go in reverse to get the momentum to go forwards.
Originally published April 28, 2020, at Orthodox Appalachia.
Theodore Phillips is a Scots-Irish native of Tennessee. His granny’s side came from the Cumberland Plateau and his granddaddy’s side has been in the Tennessee Valley since the State of Franklin. Before converting to Orthodoxy in 2015, Pierce had been to a dozen or so churches looking for the “old path,” but most of his life was spent in the Methodist, Charismatic and Freewill Baptist denominations.
