The Orthodox Christian Church traces an unbroken line to the Apostles. Becoming Orthodox is not a class to finish or a paperwork hurdle — it is a way of life that begins with a conversation and ends, if God wills it, at the font and the chrism.
The path from first curiosity to the Holy Mysteries is not engineered for efficiency; it is paced for the soul. What follows is the shape that path usually takes, written for the person who has begun to wonder whether Orthodoxy might be home.
Three stages, one journey
Most people who become Orthodox pass through three distinct stages over the course of one to two years. They are not strict thresholds with exams — they are markers in a conversation that the priest, the parish, and you are having together.
- 01
Inquirer
You're curious. You read, you visit a Liturgy or two, you have conversations with Orthodox Christians and with the priest. There's no pressure. Think of it like courtship before engagement.
- 02
Catechumen
When you and the priest agree the time is right, you are formally enrolled as a catechumen. Typically six months to a year follows — attending services, learning the prayers, reading the Fathers, finding a sponsor, making your life confession.
- 03
Illumined
Most often at Pascha, you are baptized (or, if your prior baptism was Trinitarian, chrismated) into the Orthodox Church. From that day forward you are an Orthodox Christian, joined to the Body of Christ.
The first step is just hello. Nothing is binding; nothing is rushed.
What the journey involves
Each catechumenate is shaped to the person, but most include some version of the following practices. None of them are tests. They are the conditions under which the Holy Spirit ordinarily forms a Christian.
- Attending services — Sunday Liturgy throughout the catechumenate, and Lenten services in the year of your reception.
- Confession — a life confession at the beginning, and the establishment of regular (at least monthly) confession as ongoing practice.
- A prayer rule — daily prayers, written down and approved by the priest, that you commit to.
- Reading — six required books drawn from the Fathers and modern Orthodox teachers (Schmemann, Carlton, Colliander, Chrysostom, and more).
- A lecture series — typically nine sessions during the Nativity Fast and eight during Great Lent, covering Orthodox theology and the seven mysteries of the Church.
- Visiting other Orthodox parishes — at least two, to ground you in the wider Orthodox world beyond ours alone.
- A sponsor — an Orthodox Christian who will walk with you, chosen in conversation with the priest.
Begin the conversation
Fill out the form below and the priest will personally follow up with you. There is no expectation. There is no pressure. The first step is just hello.