Quick question

[ScottsWife]

I realize that this probably depends on the individual, but how long does one typically visit an Orthodox Church before becoming a Catachuman?...generally speaking... Also, how long is one typically a Catachuman before being Chrismated?

 

[Etsi]

No idea on a catechumen, and they may consider you one after attending regularly for a certain period of time. It was never an "official" thing with us. They just started considering us such after a couple of months, but that included having home visits and other discussions.

As for chrismation, that will depend on you and the priest. I've known some people that it's a year for and others it's two years. We were considered "quickly chrismated". We were chrismated 6mos after we started attending. However, it was known that my husband had been studying and leaning EO for a couple of years, we were well versed in church history and various theologies and made it clear that we weren't going anywhere. We also needed to settle due to the children, this was a family event. Let me tell ya, it was quite something coming up with godparents for nine people and scheduling a christmation on a date that EVERYONE was able to be there at the same time...and don't you know, we had the biggest snowstorm of the year the night before. Neighbours were helping to dig us out...most of us missed Liturgy but made it in time for the Chrismation. Even those living several towns away made it...it was a miracle for certain!

 

[ScottsWife]

No idea on a catechumen, and they may consider you one after attending regularly for a certain period of time. It was never an "official" thing with us. They just started considering us such after a couple of months, but that included having home visits and other discussions.

As for chrismation, that will depend on you and the priest. I've known some people that it's a year for and others it's two years. We were considered "quickly chrismated". We were chrismated 6mos after we started attending. However, it was known that my husband had been studying and leaning EO for a couple of years, we were well versed in church history and various theologies and made it clear that we weren't going anywhere. We also needed to settle due to the children, this was a family event. Let me tell ya, it was quite something coming up with godparents for nine people and scheduling a christmation on a date that EVERYONE was able to be there at the same time...and don't you know, we had the biggest snowstorm of the year the night before. Neighbours were helping to dig us out...most of us missed Liturgy but made it in time for the Chrismation. Even those living several towns away made it...it was a miracle for certain!

WOW!! That's a neat memory!!! Thanks for sharing!

I was just curious as to the differences between different Orthodox churches. I talked to the priest on the phone yesterday. He told me, that if I were to become a catechuman, to just let him know. They do something in the service for it.....I think it would happen before the Divine Liturgy. Like the baptism that happened my first visit. He explained it to me...he just told me to let him know when/if I get to that point where I'm ready.

 

[ScottsWife]

No idea on a catechumen, and they may consider you one after attending regularly for a certain period of time. It was never an "official" thing with us. They just started considering us such after a couple of months, but that included having home visits and other discussions.

As for chrismation, that will depend on you and the priest. I've known some people that it's a year for and others it's two years. We were considered "quickly chrismated". We were chrismated 6mos after we started attending. However, it was known that my husband had been studying and leaning EO for a couple of years, we were well versed in church history and various theologies and made it clear that we weren't going anywhere. We also needed to settle due to the children, this was a family event. Let me tell ya, it was quite something coming up with godparents for nine people and scheduling a christmation on a date that EVERYONE was able to be there at the same time...and don't you know, we had the biggest snowstorm of the year the night before. Neighbours were helping to dig us out...most of us missed Liturgy but made it in time for the Chrismation. Even those living several towns away made it...it was a miracle for certain!

WOW!! That's a neat memory!!! Thanks for sharing!

I was just curious as to the differences between different Orthodox churches. I talked to the priest on the phone yesterday. He told me, that if I were to become a catechuman, to just let him know. They do something in the service for it.....I think it would happen before the Divine Liturgy. Like the baptism that happened my first visit. He explained it to me...he just told me to let him know when/if I get to that point where I'm ready.

As of right now, he has lent me some books to read.

 

[Etsi]

I'm not sure. We attend a Greek parish, but I have been told that it's a bit progressive compared to some. It was summer, fewer people were attending, and the older priest was leading that Sunday. I was downstairs with the baby and I heard my children called up to the front (speaker in the nursery) and he announced (without talking to us about it) that we were catechumens, asked all the children their names, and then told each of them the equivalent of their names in Greek. Yes, we've made memories here We all had a laugh at Fr catching us off guard like that. That particular priest was already determined LOL! I'm pretty sure the most parishes will not do that to you ROTFL!

 

[ScottsWife]

Wow! it must be cold wherever you are! Snowstorm in the summer! -I'd be in heaven!

 

[xuxana]

I realize that this probably depends on the individual, but how long does one typically visit an Orthodox Church before becoming a Catachuman?...generally speaking... Also, how long is one typically a Catachuman before being Chrismated?

about a year. you have to experience the entire liturgical year and attend bible classes, orthodoxy 101, ect. so start practicing your fasting now. like dont eat the night before, and the morning of sunday liturgy. that way when u do finally become orthodox, ur stomach wont be all growling for like 2 hours. 3 hours if u attend matins.

 

[ScottsWife]

right on! Thanks! I practiced fasting for the first time a couple weeks ago, to see if I could handle it for 24 hours with the medicines I take. -and i did fine with it. however, I still took my meds. Is that ok? I've never missed a dose...ever. I'm scared to see how I would feel without it. (probably worse than I feel with it lol)

 

[Dorothea]

It was about 9 months for my husband (being a catechumen and then being chrismated).

 

[Etsi]

Wow! it must be cold wherever you are! Snowstorm in the summer! -I'd be in heaven!

No, no...catechumen in the summer, chrismated in the winter.

 

[cobweb]

I was an inquirer for 2 1/2 years before I was made a catechumen. My catechumenate lasted only as long as Lent. For my husband it was 5 months between his first serious inquiry and Chrismation.

 

[cobweb]

right on! Thanks! I practiced fasting for the first time a couple weeks ago, to see if I could handle it for 24 hours with the medicines I take. -and i did fine with it. however, I still took my meds. Is that ok? I've never missed a dose...ever. I'm scared to see how I would feel without it. (probably worse than I feel with it lol)

Fasting should only be done under the guidance of your spiritual father. Most often when we are discussing fasting here it isn't a strict fast with no food for 24 hours.

There are days when we do fast like that (and typically we avoid food before Communion), but usually what we discuss here in TAW is abstinence from certain foods.

I'll mention it again because it is VERY important. Do not fast without the blessing of your priest.

 

[ScottsWife]

I was an inquirer for 2 1/2 years before I was made a catechumen. My catechumenate lasted only as long as Lent. For my husband it was 5 months between his first serious inquiry and Chrismation.

I sure wish my husband had an interest. That's the only negative thing. He did not like it. He went once....then said he was going to try it one more time...but backed out. He's OK with me going...and taking our daughter, but he said he won't go back. So, I have decisions to make...go to church without him, or find one we both like (which has not been accomplished in 4 years of investigating). I've already posted about this...sorry for the repeat...it's a huge decision. I have a really hard time leaving this church that I found, and I've only been there twice. I know that the more I go, the more I will get attached. How does someone leave something they know is REAL....with REAL HISTORY...and TRUTH? I don't think I can do it....but at the same time, our daughter sees us divided.

 

[ScottsWife]

Fasting should only be done under the guidance of your spiritual father. Most often when we are discussing fasting here it isn't a strict fast with no food for 24 hours.

There are days when we do fast like that (and typically we avoid food before Communion), but usually what we discuss here in TAW is abstinence from certain foods.

I'll mention it again because it is VERY important. Do not fast without the blessing of your priest.

So, how does one go about obtaining that blessing? do you just go up to the priest and ask him, every week? or do you call him on the phone? Sorry for my ignorance.

 

[cobweb]

I sure wish my husband had an interest. That's the only negative thing. He did not like it. He went once....then said he was going to try it one more time...but backed out. He's OK with me going...and taking our daughter, but he said he won't go back. So, I have decisions to make...go to church without him, or find one we both like (which has not been accomplished in 4 years of investigating). I've already posted about this...sorry for the repeat...it's a huge decision. I have a really hard time leaving this church that I found, and I've only been there twice. I know that the more I go, the more I will get attached. How does someone leave something they know is REAL....with REAL HISTORY...and TRUTH? I don't think I can do it....but at the same time, our daughter sees us divided.

Mine was openly hostile about it and thought I was nuts until the day I was Chrismated. He went from openly mocking me and the Church to being quite serious about Orthodoxy (he is much stricter about his praxis than I am) in very short period of time.

In all honesty I consider it a miracle.

 

[cobweb]

So, how does one go about obtaining that blessing? do you just go up to the priest and ask him, every week? or do you call him on the phone? Sorry for my ignorance.

He will probably let you know. In my case, we discussed fasting when he was explaining the prayer rule he wanted me to follow.

 

[xuxana]

right on! Thanks! I practiced fasting for the first time a couple weeks ago, to see if I could handle it for 24 hours with the medicines I take. -and i did fine with it. however, I still took my meds. Is that ok? I've never missed a dose...ever. I'm scared to see how I would feel without it. (probably worse than I feel with it lol)

oh no... please take your pills. you need that. i'm talking about no food 2 hours before bedtime & no breakfast. but pills yes. but some medications require a bit of food in the stomach. in that case, tell your priest so that he knows what's going on.

i know that diabetic folks @ my parish aren't on strict fasts.

 

[ScottsWife]

Mine was openly hostile about it and thought I was nuts until the day I was Chrismated. He went from openly mocking me and the Church to being quite serious about Orthodoxy (he is much stricter about his praxis than I am) in very short period of time.

In all honesty I consider it a miracle.

Yes, I consider that a miracle, too. I'm praying for one. Did your husband ever tell you what exactly made him change his mind?

oh no... please take your pills. you need that. i'm talking about no food 2 hours before bedtime & no breakfast. but pills yes. but some medications require a bit of food in the stomach. in that case, tell your priest so that he knows what's going on.

i know that diabetic folks @ my parish aren't on strict fasts.

Right on. My meds did fine with no food on my tummy. I was kind of shocked to find that I did as well as I did. I figured I'd be "starving" at the end of the 24 hours. I was not. I considered going longer.

 

[Julina]

i was an inquirer for about 2.5 years before i was received as a catechumen. i will probably be chrismated sometime next year, so that's almost 4 years total for me. most of the time it does not take that long though. i think my circumstances are a little bit different than most though.

 

[-Kyriaki-]

Please listen to us. Fasting for us is almost never about going without food - there's the usual communion fast for those receiving Holy Communion in the morning but that's from bedtime/midnight through until receiving. Otherwise we eat, we just don't eat rich foods - essentially we eat vegan. That's fasting, not going entirely without food!

Going without food for any long period of time is a very very bad idea.

As for medication - depending on the meds, you might not be supposed to fast anyway. I've got a medical condition that means I'm not allowed to fast most of the time anyway. I do the communion fast, but I always eat very well right after Church.

Please, please talk to your priest about fasting before you do it, and then talk to your doctor about what that would entail, and then talk to your priest about your doctor's advice. If you're on medication you shouldn't be taking them without eating something.