Ryan Selinger

My name is Ryan Selinger.

I have been attending St. George for the last 3 years. My journey to Orthodox Christianity began right after Pascha 2023.

I grew up in White City attending a Lutheran Church in north Regina with my family, and was confirmed around 13. After beginning high school and being involved in sports that are active on Sundays, I fell away from faith but always still considered myself Christian. I thought one day I’d eventually take it seriously.

When watching a show or something in passing I recalled hearing briefly about Orthodox Christianity and the effort involved but never actually searched it out. It wasn’t until after University and the time of covid that I began to encounter it more, mostly by reading history and learning more about European history. It interested me to learn more about what people thought and how they lived throughout the ages. As I looked into Christianity more, my mind was opened up to a whole part of history, recordings, Church Fathers, apostolic succession and many other parts that I wasn’t aware of. I was overwhelmed but wanted to learn more about Ancient Christianity.

I first came to a Divine Liturgy at St. George’s in late April 2023 with my friend who also shared an interest in attending and was enamoured by the service, sights and smells. We were kindly greeted by Carol at the Epitroph desk and were helped along through the Liturgy by Craig. We came for Matins and stayed for the class.

I recall feeling that I had encountered something I hadn’t seen before, and felt a sense of the importance and reverence by how everyone was fully committing in the service, through all chanting, bowing, and many signs of the cross. In the class I heard Father speak about how all the senses are utilized by the Divine Liturgy and that stuck with me and made me want to continue and to actually participate. We were welcomed so warmly by the church family and I recall Dom saying we just missed the most amazing time that is Pascha, and that we’d need to keep attending until next year. I am glad I took his advice.

After several years, I was baptized in December of 2026 along with 8 other Catechumens. It took some time, but I have learned that taking change slowly is the norm here. I know my life as an Orthodox Christian has only just begun and I’ve barely scratched the surface in faith. But I now have a foundation, and have many people both present and in the past to look to for help and guidance. I have learned to look into myself more, to take in silence and pray. I am excited to see the continued growth of St. George’s and am grateful to be apart of it.

- Ryan