What is a Catachumen in the Greek Church?

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In Orthodox Christianity, there are two basic types of people. There are those who became Orthodox Christians in childhood, likely because their family members are all Orthodox, and there are those who convert into it. Those who are in the process of converting are referred to as catachumens. Technically speaking, people are referred to as catechumens when they are preparing for baptism and/or chrismation.

Are you interested in converting into Orthodox Christianity? People all have their different reasons for wanting to convert. The process begins by consulting with an Orthodox priest. Here is more information about this:

Definition of Catachumen

Here is the definition of catechumen, according to Webster’s Dictionary:

• Christian convert under instruction before baptism

The key part of the definition here is “under instruction.” When someone is interested in becoming an Orthodox Christians they typically first begin by consulting with an Orthodox priest, who will then tell them what they need to do in order to become baptized/chrismated. They will likely need to undergo instruction about what it means to be Orthodox and also learn about the Orthodox beliefs before they are able to convert.

Catachumens Through the Centuries

When the church first started, catachumens underwent a slightly different process than what goes on now. Back then, they entered into an established period of instruction that usually lasted about three years. Now, the process is a little different and varies depending on the situation. Now, the process usually takes anywhere from 6 months to 1 year, depending on the nature of the situation. It is important to talk to a priest to see what you need to do in order to become baptized and chrismated into the Orthodox Church.

If you are interested in converting to Orthodox Christianity, you should first start by taking with an Orthodox Priest. From there, he will tell you the steps you need to take in order to become an Orthodox Christian.

Source:

OrthodoxWiki – Catachumen

The Religion section on GreekBoston.com was written by Greeks to help people understand some of the traditions of the Orthodox Christian religion, which is a religion practiced by people in countries such as Greece, Russia, United States, and other nations throughout the world. This article is not a substitute for information found in the Holy Bible or by our church fathers, priests, and other clergy members.

Categorized in: Greek Orthodox Religious Information

This post was written by Greek Boston