>>24487300
Probably tmi but don't care. I've been researching EO and (praying inconsistenly) since before covid, I started going to church only this year, and can go once every few months, last time I went I missed the service but managed to confess and talk to an amazing priest, wise, gentle, radiating with mercy. He gave me spiritual advice and prayed for me. His counsel stayed with me and I think about his words often.

A couple months before that, I went to Divine Liturgy and partook in Holy Communion for the first time (it should have been the other way around, just circumstances), I felt lighter, like a new man, like my heart was renewed; both after Communion and Confession respectively. I have to hold fast to my prayer rule and icons every day, otherwise I sink. One of the things I'll inquire next time will be about monasticism, something I've been thinking about for many years.

https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/prayers/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orthodoxprayersandservices