Akathistos

I was visiting our church website this evening, and the homepage has a great explanation of what it means to be a catechumen.

In the Greek language, a “Catechumen” means someone who is learning to listen and to hear. Becoming a Catechumen in the Orthodox Church is like becoming engaged to be married. Based on what a person knows, they have decided this is what they really want, and they prepare for “marriage.” This time of preparation, like engagement, is different for everyone, according to their needs. It is a time of intense and rich spiritual formation.

Here is an explanation of the classes:

While the material digested in Catechism Classes is standardized according to the ancient teaching of classical Christianity in all its fullness, these classes are only one part of being a Catechumen. Catechism includes learning to pray together (every service throughout the entire Church year); it includes learning to work together (formal workdays/nights and beginning to be responsible for the financial and physical needs of others through tithing and doing things that need to be done); and also learning to play together (common meals, picnics, feasts, recreation times). The classes are actually a reflection time about all one is experiencing in these three contexts above. This is a natural process in our life together, for “We pray what we believe and we believe what we pray.”

And finally:

It is important to note that it is not our custom to rush or push our guests toward this step. Like all of the Holy Mysteries (sacraments), one becomes a Catechumen because that is who they really are in this parish. They are manifesting what is Real and True about them in relation to God and others. Therefore, we respect and value our guests and encourage them to spend at least a year experiencing the cycle of services and building relationships with others in the parish before being received as Catechumens. The best things in life should not be rushed, but each stage savored. St. Isaac of Syria said, “This life is given to us for repentance. Do not waste it in vain pursuits.” Being a guest or “seeker,” as people were called in the early centuries, is an important stage of spiritual growth and should not be rushed. In the words of Tolkien, “All who wander are not lost.”

One of the things that I have loved about the Orthodox church is how open they are to visitors (seekers), but how they do not push their beliefs upon them. The Orthodox, as I understand it, believe that we are to “witness” to others through our actions and our lifestyle rather than through proselytizing. I have never had a good impression of those who attempt to convert people through the use of tracks or by going door to door. I think the best witness is the witness of a person’s lifestyle.

As for becoming Catechumens, I do not see this as our final decision to become Orthodox. But, rather, a time for us to learn more about the church, specifically its practices. Then, once we have a better understanding, we will be able to come to a final decision.