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How Do I Become an Orthodox Christian? |
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Question: I was christened a Roman Catholic and am of slavic descent. When I was in my mid-teens, I started attending the Liturgy at an eastern-rite Catholic church because of the complete lack of tradition in the Roman rite since as well as the other terrible changes in that rite since the mid 1960's (destruction of the high altar, communion rail, statues and icons, communion being given on the hands, no more beautiful gregorian chant, many sacrementals being completely disgarded, etc. Since the Liturgy of the Roman rite felt more like an empty theatre performance instead of reverential and meaningful Liturgy, I was always attracted to the eastern-rite because of the beauty and reverence in that Liturgy. Over the past couple of years however, I have seen many of the eastern-rite Catholic churches going in the same direction as the Roman rite, ultra modern church architecture with bare interiors, no iconostas, very few icons if any and very few people venerating the icons on the tetrapod as well as many traditons being overlooked and forgotten. I have attended Liturgy several times in the Orthodox church over the past couple of years and am very interested in becoming an Orthodox Christian and would like to know what would be involved and the steps necessary to initiate this. Any help/advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated and thanks. |
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If you indeed wish to serve and know the Lord in the communion of the Orthodox Church you should first find a community which you attend. Then you should ask the Priest as to what steps you would take to become a member. He would most likely want to see how ready you are for such a step. There may be thingst to read, classes to attend, or meetings in which to take part. Then, he may want to chrismate you (the Orthodox equivalent of Confirmation), i. e. annoint you with the special oil given for this by the Primate of the Church. Or he may simply have you recite the Nicene Creed and receive you through the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist. The pastoral sense of the spiritual leader of the flock is usually paramount in Orthodox communities. This is a very important step to take and should not be done lightly. May God bless and guide you as you deliberate and choose. Very Rev. Ihor Kutash kutash@unicorne.org
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