And now for something a little different: a former Lutheran minister who is now a Catholic priest — in the Eastern Rite.

From the Catholic Anchor:

A former Lutheran pastor from Northern Michigan now heads St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church in Anchorage.

On Oct. 31, Father James Barrand, 52, succeeded just-retired pastor Father Mike Hornick at the little, dome-topped church, where an ancient Catholic liturgy is celebrated everyday. Father Barrand is quick to explain that he got to the icon and incense-filled church with the help of ancient guides — the Early Church Fathers — who chanted the same Divine Praises in the first centuries of the church as he does now.

While a Protestant seminarian, Father Barrand had been fascinated by the Catholic Church.

“I had been exploring it all the way through seminary,” he told the Anchor.

Father James Barrand celebrates the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church in Anchorage on Dec. 30. At right, Father Barrand stands along side the screen of icons, in front of the sanctuary of the church. — Photo by Patricia Coll Freeman
Father James Barrand celebrates the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church in Anchorage on Dec. 30. At right, Father Barrand stands along side the screen of icons, in front of the sanctuary of the church. — Photo by Patricia Coll Freeman

His concentration was the study of the Fathers of the Church, the influential theologians and writers of the first centuries after Jesus Christ. They include St. Augustine, St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. John Chrysostom.

As with many Protestant denominations, Father Barrand explained, Lutherans think they must “restore” the church to “its pristine shape before the corruption – as they saw it – of the Middle Ages. So they very much encourage people to go back to the Fathers. So I did.”

But in examining the writings of those closest in time to Christ and his Apostles, Father Barrand discovered the church Christ founded was the Catholic Church, not the Protestant denominations.

During his inquiry, Father Barrand examined the Orthodox church, as well, but he had become “a firm believer that the pope was the God-appointed vicar (of Christ) on earth,” — a belief the Orthodox do not share with Catholics.

Eventually, Father Barrand was introduced to the Byzantine Catholic Church.

“It was just like a perfect marriage – because it was the spirituality and liturgical traditions of Orthodoxy, while yet being in full union with Rome.”

On his entrance into the Catholic Church, there were no guarantees of being ordained a priest. His bishop wanted faithfulness, Father Barrand recalled, not just a career switch for the Protestant minister.

“I just needed to decide if I wanted to be Catholic, and I did.”

Check out the rest of his remarkable journey at the link.