Marios Poullados | October 20, 2025
[Trans. note: Only time
will tell whether the surge in converts, especially in America and among the
GOC in particular, is an attraction to true Christianity, with its necessary ascetic
struggles and self-abasement, as opposed to a mere reaction to the extremes in left-wing politics...]
At a time when traditional
political ideologies have declined, religions have begun to reemerge
dynamically on the scene. The cultural pulp imposed by liberalism with the Woke
agenda on the one hand, and the rise of radical Islam on the other, are compelling
Western societies and nations to seek spiritual fortification. A seemingly
“paradoxical” observation is the new trend of an increasing number of young
people turning to Christianity, and specifically to Orthodoxy.
Reasons for Turning to
Orthodoxy
In recent years, a remarkable
increase in conversions to Orthodoxy has been observed in the United States.
This trend is attributed to fatigue with the liberal orientation of most
Protestant churches and the search for “stability, tradition, and spiritual
authenticity.” Many Americans, disillusioned by “woke” culture, relativism, and
the abandonment of traditional values such as family, faith, and work, are
turning toward the Catholic Church, and even more so toward Orthodoxy, which is
considered the most resistant to modernist revisions.
The Greek Orthodox Church of
Saint George in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, like many other parishes in the American
Midwest, is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in congregational
participation—especially among young adults aged 20 to 35—signaling a revival of
Orthodox presence in the United States. At the same time, the Metropolis of
Chicago recorded the highest number of baptisms since 2016 (1,045) and
chrismations (420) since 2009, indicating a broader wave of spiritual renewal
within the Greek Orthodox sphere in the United States.
Orthodox priests and researchers
report an explosive increase in new believers: conversions rose by 78% in 2022
compared to pre-pandemic levels, while since 2020 men have outnumbered women
among new members—an indication of the “masculinity crisis” that is driving
many to seek stricter spiritual frameworks. A few days ago, Fox News reported a
resurgence of Christianity in the United States, as Bible sales have surged by
over 40%.
MAGA and e-Orthodoxy
The so-called “e-Orthodoxy,” that
is, the online presence of Orthodox Christians through podcasts, blogs, and
social media, has skyrocketed. Figures such as Andrew Tate, The Prudentialist,
or priests with a strong presence on social networks promote Orthodoxy as a
refuge against the deconstruction of identities.
At the same time, this trend is
often linked with conservative or nationalist views and with the MAGA movement
of U.S. President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, a segment of academics warns that
Orthodoxy in the U.S. risks being transformed from a spiritual movement into a
vehicle for the American cultural wars.
According to available data, the
Orthodox Church in America numbers approximately 750,000 active faithful, with
the largest group being Greek Orthodox (about 375,000) and the second being the
Russian-origin community. Around 28% of American adults have changed their
religious affiliation—that is, 73 million people—while most of them come from
Protestant backgrounds and are now turning toward Catholicism or Orthodoxy. For
many, this turn is not only religious, but also a cultural reaction against a
society that, as they believe, has lost its traditional roots.
The Extreme Case of ROCOR
A large portion of youth in the
U.S. are embracing the Russian Orthodox Church (ROCOR), seeking a “traditional”
and “masculine” form of Christianity.
Texas today has a flourishing
parish with triple the number of faithful in just 18 months and significant
online influence. Their followers condemn anything considered “effeminate” and
present Orthodoxy as a religion of discipline, strength, and fertility, urging
couples to reject contraceptives and have many children.
The new converts, often men aged
20–40, are former Protestants or atheists who state that they are disillusioned
with the “feminized” Western Christianity and the “hostile” attitude of society
toward men. Many choose home-schooling for their children in order to avoid
topics such as gender and sexuality in schools.
ROCOR, which was founded by
Russian priests after the 1917 Revolution, is considered the most conservative
Orthodox network in the U.S. Although Orthodox Christians still make up only 1%
of the population, male participation has increased impressively (64% in 2025
compared to 46% in 2007).
“Orthobros” and “Cultural
Christianity”
In the U.S., an increasing number
of young men, usually of conservative convictions, are turning to Orthodoxy in
search of a traditional, “demanding” form of Christianity. The initial contact
often takes place via YouTube/podcast (Orthodox Ethos, Ancient Faith Radio, Fr.
Spyridon Bailey, etc.). Although Orthodox Christians remain 1% of the
population, priests and researchers describe a significant increase in
conversions after the pandemic, with a predominance of men (reports of ~60%).
The internet fosters a “parallel Orthodox culture” with the “Orthobros,” where
strong anti-ecumenical elements emerge. Within this framework, what many now
call “cultural Christianity” has begun to flourish as a means of evangelism and
social transformation. Cultural Christianity, according to its supporters such
as Jordan Peterson or even Elon Musk, is a “benevolent flame” that can still
lead souls back to faith.
Orthodoxy Takes Root in
Germany
Orthodoxy in Germany is
experiencing a period of strong growth and is transitioning from a “diaspora
religion” to an integral part of the German cultural fabric. According to data
from the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), in 2024 there were approximately
3.8 million Orthodox Christians living in the country, while Bishop Emmanuel
Christopoulos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate estimates the number at 4 million,
that is, nearly 5% of the population.
A decisive factor in this rise
has been the mass migration of Ukrainians after 2022, as most of the over 1.3
million refugees belong to the Orthodox Church. Many are joining existing
parishes of various jurisdictions—Serbian, Russian, Romanian, or Greek—while
new Ukrainian communities are also being established.
The growth, however, is not
limited to migrants: more and more Germans are embracing Orthodoxy, with the
establishment of German-speaking parishes and monasteries that operate in the
German language.
The flourishing of Orthodoxy
stands in stark contrast to the crisis of the traditional churches: the
Catholic Church now numbers 19.8 million members, while the Evangelical Church
counts 18 million, with hundreds of thousands leaving annually. Fewer than half
of Germans now identify as Christians, compared to 70% in 1991.
German-speaking Orthodoxy has now
surpassed the boundaries of the diaspora and constitutes an essential part of
modern German identity, increasingly shaping the country’s religious and
cultural landscape.
Putin – Orthodoxy – Empire
Some young Orthodox express
admiration for Putin as a defender of Christian values. Putin has turned
Orthodoxy into a central ideological pillar of the modern Russian authoritarian
regime, reviving the tsarist triad “Orthodoxy – Empire – Nationality” of Count
Sergey Uvarov (1833) as a state doctrine. The use of Orthodoxy is not
theological, but political and ethno-statist: it functions as a tool for
legitimizing power, military expansionism, and opposition to the West.
Putin presents Russia as a bearer
of “traditional values,” opposing the Russian “spiritual identity” to the
“liberal decadence” of Europe. The 2020 amendments to the Russian Constitution
and the 2022 presidential decree on “traditional Russian spiritual and moral
values” institutionalize this connection, turning the Church into an
ideological arm of the state.
The Case of Australia
Youth participation in Greek
Orthodox youth groups in Australia is steadily increasing, offering a space of
faith, friendship, and spiritual renewal for individuals aged 16–35. According
to a report by the Greek Herald, groups such as “Parea” in Canberra and
the Kogarah Orthodox Youth (KOY) in Sydney have been flourishing in recent
years.
Fr. Petros, priest of the Church
of Saint Nicholas in Canberra, explains that “Parea” functions as a relaxed,
friendly gathering of young people who discuss topics such as faith, fasting,
forgiveness, and ecclesiastical tradition. “It’s not just a catechism class; it
is a community of love and dialogue,” he emphasizes. Meetings are held every
second Tuesday, offering both spiritual guidance and social support.
In Sydney, KOY brings together
youth aged 16–28 through services in English, Bible studies, and lectures.
The Insidious Eschatological
Link Between Orthodoxy and Islam
On the other hand, those who
criticize the turn toward Orthodoxy—mainly coming from Protestantism—consider
it a static, mystic, and state-controlled “religion of incense and emperors,”
in contrast to the “living, reformative, and free” faith of the West. They
claim that the interest of young men in Orthodoxy is a dangerous trend and a
delusion that confuses aesthetic severity with spiritual strength, while in
reality, they believe that Orthodoxy has never produced freedom, reform, or
prosperity.
Sheikh Imran N. Hosein is perhaps
the most influential contemporary Muslim scholar who revived the theological
and geopolitical interpretation of the Malhama al-Kubrā—the “Great
Battle” of Islamic eschatology—linking it with Constantinople and Russia. With
studies in philosophy, economics, and international relations, and a career in
diplomacy before turning to theology, Hosein promotes an anti-Western narrative
in which Muslims and Orthodox Christians (whom he identifies with the “Romans”
of prophecy) will ally against the Zionist West in the Great Battle. He regards
Moscow as the “New Rome” and Constantinople as the “Old Rome,” and through his
lectures—especially in Malaysia, Russia, and Turkey—he has profoundly
influenced anti-Western and pro-Russian Islamic narratives, making him the most
prominent Islamic eschatologist in the English-speaking world.
Greek source online:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.