New Inquirer

[Guineverelyndy]

Hello!

I have been lurking here for quite a while because I was trying to decide if I was ready to become an actual inquirer of Orthodoxy or not. I have finally made the leap and I attended Divine Liturgy for the first time on Sunday and I am setting up a meeting with the priest there for the near future. I am VERY excited about this. I have been praying about it a lot and would like to ask for your prayers as well. :)

[kamikat]

Fantastic! Welcome to TAW!

[Philothei]

Welcome! and Hello!

We are very happy for you to join us!

And congrats on your decision to be an inquirer for Orthodoxy.

God bless you on your journey :)

Philothei

[EricTheRed]

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllcome



-Mercurius

[Anhelyna]

Glad to have you here :)

[nikostheater]

Welcome to TAW!
Enjoy your staying here and our prayers with you!
And dont be shy to ak questions...we love them

[ModernDaySpyridon]

Welcome to TAW!:wave:

Most of us have been right where you are, so feel free to ask away!

[JustinHesychast]

Hola!

Welcome welcome welcome!

What's your sanity level?

[Knowledge3]

Greetings, and welcome to TAW.


Blessings, :priest:

[Guineverelyndy]

Thanks everyone!

My sanity level? Eh...depends on the day. ;)

I'm trying to figure out exactly what questions I have. It's not that I don't have a lot - it's that sometimes it's difficult to articulate them. I have the feeling that some of them won't really be answered until I have the chance to live Orthodoxy within a community for a while. I really liked the church/parish that I visited on Sunday although I have to admit that I felt pretty awkward. I went by myself and I didn't know anyone and I had no idea what was going on. However, I kind of figured that would be the case. Hopefully I will have met one of the priests before this Sunday so that I will have at least one contact person and won't feel so lost.

Oh! I do have one question and I've gotten mixed answers through what I've read. If you do end up joining the Orthodox Church, do you have to be rebaptized? I was baptized by immersion in the name of the Trinity.

[Greg the byzantine]

Welcome.

What a hectic and exciting time to inquire into the Holy Orthodox Church, with the greatest of all Holy Days just around the corner :)

[EmperorConstantine]

Hello and welcome!



Oh! I do have one question and I've gotten mixed answers through what I've read. If you do end up joining the Orthodox Church, do you have to be rebaptized? I was baptized by immersion in the name of the Trinity.
If I remember correctly, you do not have to be rebaptized if you were baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. However, if you were baptized like so: "I baptize you in the name of the Trinity..." than I believe you would have to be. Priests would have the answer.

[Wewoapisak]

I am in the same situation as you baptism wise and my priest (Fr. Scott of St. George Cathedral in charleston if anyone cares) said i would not have to be rebaptized. Other priests might have different views though.

[Mary of Bethany]

Hi, and welcome to TAW!

Baptism really depends on the Bishop. I was not rebaptized (6 years ago), as I had been immersed in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit at a Baptist church when I was 8.

However, I've noticed that most of the catechumens coming into the Church at our parish this past year have been baptised - even those who had the same sort of baptism I had. I think Bishops are being more "cautious" with some of the crazy baptismal practices in other churches these days.

Mary

[Michael the Iconographer]

Welcome to TAW!

[AJB4]

Welcome. We can never get enough inquirers (I'm one myself) :wave:

:crosseo:

[Emmanuel-A]

Welcome.

We'll make our best to answer any question you may have. We are nice people.

[eoe]

Welcome! You are doing the right thing by attending the Liturgy as soon as possible. Come and see!

[Guineverelyndy]

Thanks again for your help!

I was wondering what I should do during the Eucharist. I know that I can't take it and last time I just stood in the back. A little girl brought me bread right after that, which I appreciated.

[Photios]

Sing the prayers with everyone else, "Receive the Body of Christ! Taste the Fountain of Immortality!"

Also, ask the priest, and/or the matushka, presbytera, khouria, or whatever title she's going by.

[Eusebios]

Hello and Welcome to TAW. We are indeed glad to answer questions you might have.
I would recommend asking the priest you are meeting with what they would like you to do while others are receiving the Eucharist. This can vary from tradition to tradition. I know that some approach the chalice and merely receive the priests blessing. It seems to me however that the most common practice is to simply stay where you area at, and prayerfully sing the communion hymn (as you come to know it of course ;) ).
Your approoch and attitude is a good one. Steep in the faith for awhile, take your time remembering that God is the rewarder of all those who earnestly and diligently seek him.
Oh, and WELCOME TO TAW! :wave:
Don

[Knowledge3]

Also welcome to TAW.

We are a friendly group of Orthodox Christians and your inquiry questions are welcome.

Blessings, :liturgy:

[NyssaTheHobbit]

Welcome! :D