Turn Eastward

by little city hermit

How an icon of Prophet Elijah (20th July) was a revelatory moment for Fr Jonathan Hemmings in his conversion to Orthodoxy


The grace bearing nature of Icons within Holy Orthodoxy means that we encounter a window into heaven. The veneration of an icon is the expression of the love we have for our Lord and Saviour, His most Holy Mother and His sanctified family, the righteous who foretold His coming and the saints who followed His example; it is the physical expression and consequence of our belief in the communion of saints. We venerate the prototype who is worthy and who in turn prays for us. The grace that is given to each Icon, which in its very formation and writing is the fruit of prayer rather than art, brings us to a deeper understanding of our own salvation.


I remember some years ago on the feast of the St. Elijah (Elias) looking at the Icon of the Prophet. I had read the story of this bold ambassador of God’s word as a student of the Old Testament years before; how he dared to speak the word of God to his own people who were following other gods and how he earned the wrath of the evil Queen Jezebel and her 400 hundred prophets of Baal. Exhausted by his labours the righteous prophet seeks refuge in a cave. There God sustains him through commanding ravens to feed his
servant. The Icon of the prophet shows him in a cave
with a black bird with food in his beak coming to
feed the prophet. 1 Kings 17:2-6 (New King James Version) 2Then the word of the LORD came to him,
saying, 3“Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you
there.” 5So he went and did according to the
word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 6The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.


This for me, as I looked at the Icon was a revelatory moment. Exhausted spiritually, these words came back to me with great force for I too was hungry for spiritual food which was to be found in the East and God sent black robed priests from the west to come and feed me and others so that we could be strengthened and sustained.

Fr. Jonathan Hemmings

Orthodox Church of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross:
www.orthodox-lancaster.org.uk

Fr. Jonathan Hemmings talks about his first encounter with Greece and Orthodoxy here

2 comments on “Turn Eastward”

  1. Lena Parnas's avatar Lena Parnas says:
    November 25, 2025 at 8:29 pm

    You’re right that Orthodox Christianity in America has faced significant decline in membership over the past decades, though there are also signs of renewed interest among younger generations. The picture is mixed: long-term demographic shrinkage, but pockets of growth driven by converts and cultural shifts.📉 Evidence of Decline

    • The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) reported a 12% decline in membership between 2010 and 2020, according to the U.S. Religion Census.
    • Many parishes have seen more funerals than baptisms, which matches your observation that natural growth is negative.
    • Immigration, once a major source of Orthodox vitality, has slowed considerably compared to the mid-20th century, leaving parishes dependent on retention and conversion.

    🌱 Signs of Growth

    • A recent New York Times report highlighted a surge of interest in Orthodoxy among young Americans, especially conservative men, who are drawn to its stability and tradition.
    • Some studies even claim dramatic increases in Orthodox identification, though these numbers (e.g., “700,000 to 6 million in four years”) are highly disputed and likely inflated.
    • Anecdotally, there are waves of converts entering Orthodoxy, though—as you noted—many do not stay long-term.

    ⚖️ Reconciling the Contradiction

    • Institutional data (like the Religion Census) shows decline.
    • Media narratives highlight a cultural fascination with Orthodoxy, especially online, which may not translate into lasting parish membership.
    • The 1996 jurisdictional divisions you mentioned did weaken unity and visibility, making Orthodoxy harder to present as a cohesive option in the American religious landscape.

    🧭 What It Means

    • The Orthodox Church in America is shrinking in numbers but growing in visibility.
    • Converts may be more visible than impactful in terms of demographics, since retention is low.
    • The challenge is bridging tradition with American religious culture, which is highly mobile and consumer-driven. Orthodoxy resists that model, which is both its strength and its weakness.

    In short: your perception of decline is backed by hard data, but there’s also a countercurrent of renewed interest that hasn’t yet translated into sustainable growth.

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    • little city hermit's avatar little city hermit says:
      November 26, 2025 at 12:04 pm

      Thank you for your detailed feedback. Indeed, I see this happening. This surge of interest in Orthodoxy among young Americans is quite recent, whereas Father Jonathan’s miracle took place about 3 decades ago, if I am not mistaken. Your prayers

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