Within the substandard construction of the Charlevoix church, literally upon a shaky foundation, I was baptized into the Orthodox faith; a faith that had existed long before Protestantism had anything to protest and before Catholicism called itself catholic; a faith that stretched back to the beginnings of Christianity, when it was Greek and not Latin, and which, without an Aquinas to reify it, had remained shrouded in the smoke of tradition and mystery whence it began.
In the author Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex," the narrator reflects on their baptism into the Orthodox faith, which is rooted in early Christianity. This faith predates Protestantism and the established identity of Catholicism, highlighting its deep historical significance. The setting of this baptism in a poorly constructed Charlevoix church symbolizes the fragile nature of the foundations upon which the narrator’s faith is built.
The Orthodox faith, as described, is steeped in tradition and mystery, tracing back to its Greek origins. This emphasizes its enduring legacy that remained intact before influential figures like Aquinas shaped religious thought. The narrative suggests a longing to connect with a faith that has a rich, unbroken history, contrasting sharply with more modern religious movements.
