Good News

[Knowledge3]

Today, I went to confession and received absolution for my sins.

Fr. Anthony said the prayer of absolution over me.

I asked him if he would chrismate me at Pentecost and he said I will be chrismated this Pascha.

:) :priest:

[E.C.]

Cool! Congrats! Many years!

Take pictures!

[Anhelyna]

Mnohaia lita !

[Lotar]

Congrats!

Just a note: You recieved confession, but not absolution. You will recieve absolution in the place of Baptism.

[Knowledge3]

I'm very enthusiastic and optimistic about my conversion to the Orthodox faith.

Is new convert zeal good or bad?

[Anhelyna]

Zeal is good - but it can go too far and become convertitis - and that is very very bad for all concerned.

You may be near Chrismation - but the learning process doesn't stop.

You are still very much on the beginning stretch

[MrJim]

What are the characteristics of "convertitis"?

[Michael the Iconographer]

What are the characteristics of "convertitis"?
Do you have a few hours to read all the characteristics of convertitis? All of us converts have gone through it at one time or another.

[NyssaTheHobbit]

Congrats and many years!

[NyssaTheHobbit]

My symptoms were going around to my favorite evangelical boards and trying to get people to consider Orthodoxy. :D

[Michael the Iconographer]

Congratulations and many, many years!

[Asinner]

How exciting!:amen:

I am very happy for you. :)

Love,
Christina

[E.C.]

Since we're on the subject, a few words and wisdom from The Onion Dome:
Signs You May Be Suffering From New Convert Syndrome


Your cat rejoices on Annunciation because it's his first fish in a month.
After reading the Didichae, you demand that your priest re-baptize you because he didn't strip you nude the first time.
You ask your university to let you open an Alpha-Omega fraternity.
You write a letter to the school board demanding that St. Herman of Alaska be included in the history curriculum.
You get in trouble for doing your taxes on the Old Calendar.
Your grocery store has white wine, and red wine, but it frustrates you that you cannot find fish wine.
You require your children to put headscarves on their Barbie dolls.
Your co-workers complain about all the incense coming from your cubicle.
I think St. Herman should be in the curriculum!

[Khaleas]

Since we're on the subject, a few words and wisdom from The Onion Dome:
Signs You May Be Suffering From New Convert Syndrome

You get in trouble for doing your taxes on the Old Calendar.

Hahah, I've tried to pull that with a few papers. It actually flew with one prof because he thought it was the funniest excuse he had ever heard. He gave me the day off at Holy Week too... AFTER I turned in my paper late. He got high remarks on his survey from me ^_^.

Edit: And I'm a little dense here: Many Years!!!

[nestoj]

Многаја лета!

nestoj
God helps

[kamikat]

Many years!

[Knowledge3]

My mom has been mean and persecuting me about finding my true religion. :(

Anyway, I will be chrismated on Saturday, April 7. After Palm Sunday April 1st.

Can any of you fellow Orthodox give me any preparation & advice or tips?

[Knowledge3]

*bump*

I have worked really hard and put in a tremendous amount of effort as a catechumen/student of the Orthodox Church.

Whew :sigh:

[Anhelyna]

K3 - I think the silence is because we are all stunned at the speed of events.

This last preparation should be done by your Priest with you - it may well be different in the Western Rite

[Philothei]

deleted!

[kamikat]

Wes, are you sure your priest have not given instuctions about how to prepare yourself for your chrismation? Or this is a "figuretive" question. I cannot imagine you are getting chrismated and you are asking here for preperation "tips". I believe you are to ask your Spiritual Father for intruction and if you do not feel fully prepared you should re-evalutate your decision and talk it over with him.

Praying for you.

God bless,
Philothei

Before anyone jumps to conclusions, many of the converts here asked for tips, that mainly have to do with things like ettiquete, who buys the candle, do I need to get a gift for my sponsor, ect. It doesn't always have to mean being prepared spiritually. To be honest, when I was chrismated, I asked my priest what I needed and he said that my sponsor would know what to do. She said he should know what I needed. If I hadn't asked here, I would have been lost.

[Philothei]

My mom has been mean and persecuting me about finding my true religion. :(

Anyway, I will be chrismated on Saturday, April 7. After Palm Sunday April 1st.

Can any of you fellow Orthodox give me any preparation & advice or tips?
I am sorry if it came out the wrong way. Just a clarification I want to make. If someone is looking for tips to prepare that is a wide open question to many interpretations, from spiritual to practical I took it that way and I dont think I was the only one here that did.

Again God bless, and have mercy on us.

I will immediately delete my post.

Philothei

[Dust and Ashes]

Congratulations and many years!!!

[Knowledge3]

I experienced a long enduring struggle and will continue to persevere in the faith.

:sigh: :)

[Philothei]

Today, I went to confession and received absolution for my sins.

Fr. Anthony said the prayer of absolution over me.

I asked him if he would chrismate me at Pentecost and he said I will be chrismated this Pascha.

:) :priest:
Dear Wes,
I am very happy for you. Congrats to you on your chrismation, to reply to your original post. God bless.
Philothei

[JustinHesychast]

Congratulations, man!

No more books? School?

Many years! :D

[VickiY]

Has anyone told him yet that the Orthodox Church requires new converts to abstain from internet fora for a year after Chrismation? ;)

[nestoj]

I don’t know how should you prepare for chrismation, but if you are interested in becoming a priest, which it seams you are, you should be making a SPIRITUAL effort to prepare yourself for future struggle and to harden yourself in this decision as much as you can. I don’t know about USA, but here the future priests are taking election exam on Orthodox Theological Faculty, and if they pass, spend next four years in studies, exams, spiritual growth, often serve as Deacons, and always providing help to those that need it. These are very intense four years, and if your growth in knowledge is not accompanied with growth in faith, you will stumble and then only God can put you on your feet again.

Now, the most important thing is to ask yourself is this what you want. If the answer is positive, after you’re received in Holy Orthodox Church, make an effort to be in spiritual union with your priest and people from your parish as much as you can – this is your, what’s the word, groundwork I think. Pray. Hold fasts – it will help you to clear your mind. Pray again. Find things that strengthen your faith – if it’s watching mountains and admiring this work of God – then watch the mountains. Pray. Help as much as you can to those in need. Pray more. Learn. Pray again. Do this as long as it takes to make you absolutely certain, cause this is the life you are choosing. After you’ve done everything to harden or discard your decision, start asking questions about the means to become Orthodox priest, but not before that. If your decision is firm and you are suited for a life of a priest, God will find a way for you to become one.

nestoj
God helps

[Jacob4707]

My mom has been mean and persecuting me about finding my true religion. :(

Anyway, I will be chrismated on Saturday, April 7. After Palm Sunday April 1st.

Can any of you fellow Orthodox give me any preparation & advice or tips?

From your profile:

Country:
Israel (http://www.christianforums.com/memberlist.php?do=getall&field31=123)

Location:
Texas (http://www.christianforums.com/memberlist.php?do=getall&field2=Texas)

Marital Status:
Single (http://www.christianforums.com/memberlist.php?do=getall&field124=2)

Church:
St. Peter's Antiochian Orthodox Church (http://www.christianforums.com/memberlist.php?do=getall&field6=St.+Peter%27s+Antiochian+Orthodox+Church)

Dude, we're nearly neighbors! I was unable to go to pan-Orthodox vespers at your church this month.

You're from Israel? (Jewish?) What are you doing in Texas?

Anyway, best wishes on your churching day! (Same day as mine.)