Eastern Orthodoxy in the United States is experiencing a surge in popularity in recent years, partly thanks to online content.

Christian Orthodoxy is an embodied tradition that requires in-person participation, but the internet has given their message a reach not seen in centuries.

Justin Braxton, a Los Angeles-based firefighter who converted to Orthodoxy a year and a half ago, likens some of its more “strenuous” demands like fasting and praying to exercise.

“I dreaded leg day, but I would feel amazing afterwards. I feel like that’s the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is when you’re basically fulfilling carnal needs," he said. “Joy is that feeling after that tough workout and saying, ‘Yeah, I did it.’"

Some Orthodox content creators, like Jonathan Pageau, emphasize the importance of in-person community even as they take advantage of digital tools.

There has been a focus on single young males who turn to Orthodoxy after finding it through content online about masculinity. But Matthew Namee, Executive Director of the Orthodox Studies Institute, says the recent wave of converts has been more diverse.

While the internet has expanded Orthodoxy's reach, church leaders are addressing challenges like extremism and the need for experienced spiritual guidance.

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