What is a Catechumen
What is a Catechumen?
A catechumen is one who is preparing for baptism in the Church. In modern usage, catechumen can also refer to one who is preparing for
chrismation (or another form of reception) to be received from a
non-Orthodox Christian communion.
In the ancient Church, the catechumenate, or time during which one is a catechumen, often lasted for as much as three years and included not only participation in the divine services but also catechesis, formal
instruction from a teacher, often the bishop or appointed catechist.
Catechumens are understood to be Christians upon beginning their
catechumenate, and should they die before baptism, they are
traditionally given an Orthodox funeral.
As the Church eventually became the majority religion of the lands in
which it sojourned, the catechumenate as an institution gradually died out in many places, as most Christians were being baptized shortly after birth. As Orthodoxy has moved into the West and Far East and begun gaining converts to the faith, the catechumenate has been significantly rejuvenated.
Catechetical instruction in Orthodoxy in America does not typically last
the three years which was common in the time of St. John Chrysostom, but
typically can last from six months to a year, depending on the practice
of the bishop, his jurisdiction, and the level of spiritual maturity of
the catechumen. His Eminence, Archbishop Mark has directed the
catechumenate to be one year. Local parish priests typically oversee the
catechesis of those preparing to be received into the Church. Here at St
Michaels we have three catechist who have graduated from the St
Vladimir’s Catechist program: Joseph Hart, Uriel Vo, & Maura Elko.
Before becoming a catechumen you will be expected to attend Liturgy for
at least a few weeks until you and the priest are confident about your
decision. You will then will be received as a catechumen by prayers on a Sunday morning. During your catechumenate you will be expected to attend Great Vespers and Liturgy regularly. As a catechumen you are a part of the community, “by intention” and should begin to participate in the
various activities and disciplines of the Church.
If you are interested in becoming a catechumen at St. Michael’s please
see Fr. Michael to begin the process. You will be expected to attend a
series of teachings and to read several books under the direction of the
priest.
Some of the topics covered in the teaching series are:
- Church History, an overview
- Holy Tradition and Scripture
- The Nicene Creed
- The Life of the Holy Virgin
- Salvation and the meaning of life
- The Church
- Holy Worship
- A life of Prayer and a personal Prayer Rule
- The Holy Mysteries: a sacramental life
- Confession
- Marriage and Monastic Life
You may also be asked to do some reading although each catechumen is
guided according to their own personal needs, among the books that you may read are:
- Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, The Orthodox Faith
- Carlton, Clark (1997), The Faith: An Orthodox Catechism
- Hilarion Alfeyev, Online Catechism
- Bp. Kallistos Ware, The Orthodox Way
- Timothy Ware, The Orthodox Church
- Schmemann, Fr. Alexander, For the Life of the World
- Colliander, Tito,The Way of the Ascetics
- Kyriacos C. Markides, The Mountain of Silence
Before you are baptized or chrismated several things will happen:
- Arrange with the Priest to make a life confession
- You will be assigned a Godparent by the Priest
- You will suggest a Christian name for your Patron unless you already possess an appropriate name. The Priest will make the final decision based on your request.
- Provide a baptismal certificate from your former Christian communion if you have one.
- How you are received e.g. baptism & chrismation or chrismation is up to our archpastor, Archbishop Mark.
Resources for our catechumens can be found here.
Upcoming Calendar
Wed
15Jan9:30AM House Blessing
11:00AM-1:00pm Silent Prayers
12:30PM House Blessing
1:30PM House BlessingThu
16Jan5:00PM House BlessingSat
18Jan5:00PM Great Vespers
