By Jennifer Galardi, First Things. (photo: Ruth Gledhill/Unsplash)
Orthodox Christianity is seeing a resurgence in popularity, especially among young men. In an age that often calls their very existence into question, the Orthodox Church provides them with validation, acceptance, and—in the words of Jordan Peterson—the “great adventure” they crave. The rituals and sacraments offer structure and discipline. It makes perfect sense that men are disenchanted with the lukewarm, “feminized” worship that’s typical of American Christianity. But while men find a home in the challenge of Orthodoxy, the same holds true for women. As a woman who returned to Greek Orthodoxy in 2023, I’ve found that the Church encompasses the complementarity of both the masculine and the feminine—and that media portrayals of Orthodoxy as overwhelmingly masculine do a disservice to the faith.
I first returned to Christianity in 2021 after almost a decade of participating in a yoga cult. The church I attended encouraged expressive, emotional worship, such as lifting one’s hands and swaying with one’s eyes closed. After about a year, I found that it only exacerbated the emotional instability I had come to be so familiar with in my yoga circles. I became more and more uncomfortable with public displays of emotion. I longed not to be subject to every pull of my heartstrings. I craved stability and a solid foundation—a faith that would anchor me in reality and not judge my closeness to Christ by the passion I felt in the moment. I wanted a faith I could depend on day in and day out, that would remain unchanged and not acquiesce to the whims of the culture. I wanted a place where a congregation’s flourishing was not dependent on a cult of personality.