PRAVOSLAVIE.

Young, single men are leaving traditional churches. They found a more ‘masculine’ alternative.

Washington's Episcopal Bishopess probably isn't reversing that migration.

Young, single men are flocking to the Orthodox church after discovering the “masculine” Christian religion through online influencers.

Some converts said they felt disillusioned with the “feminisation” of the Protestant church and were attracted to the “authenticity” of Orthodoxy, which they claim pushes them physically and mentally.

Not in the same way that Special Forces training does, but there is something about being upstanding to build character.

Many of them had been drawn to the “masculine” nature of church, which puts emphasis on denial and pushing yourself physically.

Worshippers must stand for long services, which can last upwards of five hours. They must fast, too, sometimes for up to 40 days.

This, some felt, was in stark contrast to other religious denominations where they felt the church had been “feminised”.

That beats going to a church that's indistinguishable from a night club, according to 2019 convert Emmanuel Castillo.

Mr Castillo is open about his faith with his thousands of online followers and receives scores of messages from young men interested in the Orthodox church.

He believes part of the surge in men converting to the Orthodox church is a rejection of the “feminisation” of other denominations.

“It’s unfortunate that feminism has kind of sunk its teeth into all of our organisations to include Christianity,” he said.

He said that at Protestant churches, the majority of the leaders “aren’t good, strong men”, whereas the Orthodox church leaders are more like “father figures”.

He said: “They look like men. They look like fathers, they’re strong, spiritually, mentally, physically... I think young men right now are yearning to follow a good father.”

Meanwhile, Pajamas Media contributor Paula Bolyard questions whether Washington's bishopess is even a practicing Christian.

In (small-o) orthodox circles, the Episcopal Church is apostate, straying from biblical teachings on female pastors, the LGBTQ array, and interfaith worship services.

Donald Trump and JD Vance lent their credibility to the National Prayer Service with their presence (as their predecessors have done since the 1930s). That set them up for a political lecture by the liberal bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.

Thanks, post-modernists and multiculturalists.