{"id":5153,"date":"2025-05-09T18:43:03","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T22:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nativityofchrist.net\/?page_id=5153"},"modified":"2025-05-09T18:44:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T22:44:13","slug":"inquirer-catechumen-inquiry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nativityofchrist.net\/?page_id=5153","title":{"rendered":"Inquirer &#038; Catechumen Inquiry"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nativityofchrist.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Parish-Inquirer-Sign-Up-Form-.pdf\">Parish Inquirer Sign-Up Form<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>The Process to Become Baptized in the Orthodox Church: <\/b><br \/>\n<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Become an Inquirer:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Begin by attending services, exploring the faith, and meeting with the parish priest to discuss your interest.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Enroll as a Catechumen:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">After a period of inquiry 2-3 months, you may be enrolled as a catechumen, marking the start of formal preparation. This involves catechetical classes (often 6 months to a year) to learn about Orthodox teachings and practices but the main learning takes place in Church services.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">The rite of the Reception into the Catechumenate will take place on a Sunday with the prayer of the catechumen being read.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Preparation for Baptism:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">If you were baptized in the Roman\/Eastern Catholic Church, or Oriental Churches, the Synod of Moscow accepts reception into the Church by way of Chrismation (anointing with holy oil) rather than baptism. Baptism is still permissible and preferred; the priest and bishop will determine this.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">If unbaptized or baptized in a Protestant confession, you will be received through Holy Baptism, followed by Chrismation and Holy Communion.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Select a sponsor (godparent) of the same sex, who must be an Orthodox Christian in good standing, to guide you spiritually.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">You will need to be baptized with a Christian name (typically of a Saint). If you already have a Christian name we will use that, if not, we will select a name.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Gather required items for the baptismal service (e.g., white robe, candle, cross necklace, towels\u2014all white).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>The Baptismal Service:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">The service includes renouncing Satan, affirming faith in Christ, reciting the Nicene Creed, and triple immersion in water in the name of the Holy Trinity. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Chrismation follows immediately, sealing you with the Holy Spirit, and you will receive Holy Communion at the next Divine Liturgy.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Post-Baptism:<br \/>\n<\/b>Your sponsor will bring you to Holy Communion. You are now a full member of the Church and encouraged to live an active sacramental life.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Parish Inquirer Sign-Up Form The Process to Become Baptized in the Orthodox Church: \u00a0 Become an Inquirer:\u00a0 Begin by attending services, exploring the faith, and meeting with the parish priest [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113778682,"featured_media":0,"parent":10,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5153","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Inquirer &amp; Catechumen Inquiry -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Youngtown orthodox church\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nativityofchrist.net\/?page_id=5153\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Inquirer &amp; 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