What is a catechumen?

[SaintGeorge]

I've heard this term alot around here, but am not familiar with it. Is it a name given to converts? Is it a name for a wicked person? I haven't the slightest idea.

Could some please explain what a catechumen is? Why can't they stay for the Divine Liturgy? I'm so confused.

 

[Momzilla]

Hey Esran! Glad you asked. A catechumen is a person who is officially in the process of becoming an Orthodox Christian. The catechumate is a time to learn about the church and her beliefs.

There is a portion of the Divine Liturgy where the priest says "Catechumens depart!", but the vast majority of parishes do not require the catechumens to leave at this time. I'm a catechumen, and I stay and sing all the hymns with the choir. Catechumens cannot take communion, however, just like any other non-Orthodox. There are many reasons for this, but they all boil down to the principle that unless you are Orthodox, taking communion in the Orthodox church may endanger your soul (if dinner weren't almost ready, I'd give you a better explanation than that!).

 

[Orthosdoxa]

Momzilla, I'd say that was a fine explanation!

Katherine

 

[Matthias]

Why are catechumen asked to leave? It reminds me of my old school principal at a Mass in the Roman Catholic Church telling the parishioners to get out, as he wanted to talk to the school in private. Geez, how respectful of him...

 

[Suzannah]

Why are catechumen asked to leave? It reminds me of my old school principal at a Mass in the Roman Catholic Church telling the parishioners to get out, as he wanted to talk to the school in private. Geez, how respectful of him...

Well, it's a matter of history. In the ancient days of the church, when the church was in the catacombs, literally "underground" because of persecution, it was very dangerous to allow any non-baptised Christian to stay during the Eucharist (Communion) because they were afraid that they would go to the authorities, and say that the Christians were eating flesh and blood. In that time, the general idea was that Christians were to be done away with...it was not safe for the church to allow them to stay, not knowing their intentions in the long run. The only way to really trust the new inquirers was if they went through their catechumen period, (usually pretty long) and then they were baptised at Pascha (Easter). That's pretty much the answer (without going into long and convoluted explanations with references and all that) and I hope this helps you. Because we don't change the Liturgy to suit ourselves, this portion has been left in....it may happen in the future that the practice is reinstituted.

At my church, nobody is expected to actually leave....we did have a visitor once, who was a catechumen in a distant parish, and she actually did step outside and stay there the rest of the Liturgy. Several of our people (baptised Orthodox) went out there and told her to come back in, but she said she was fine out there. Perhaps, for herself and her journey she wanted to experience that leaving part, but it is not expected in the vast majority of churches.

 

[Akathist]

I was warned that this would be said in the liturgy by the Priest on my first visit. (One of the reason's I wanted to speak with him before the visit was because I had read about this and wondered what I was to do.) He said what is said above: it is still said in the liturgy because the liturgy can not be changed.

I still feel kind of guilty not leaving although I am not an official catachumen as of yet. There is also a special liturgy for the catachumen's said just before this that is really very nice, praying for guidance and for divine assistance in their learning. I admit that I bow my head to recieve this blessing although I am not a catachumen yet.

I have read that there is a ceremony done at the end of Divine Liturgy (or was it at the end of Saturday Vespers?) for when one becomes officially a catuacumen.

Does that occur at your different parishes?

The Priest says that some people are catacumen's for more than a year, others for less time. He said that typically most study from September (or approximately then) until Pashca. (spelling? I know this as "Easter".)

 

[Momzilla]

Spelling: pascha. I'm also adjusting to saying Pascha instead of easter, and outside of church I still use "easter" rather than explain myself. Yes, I'm a wimp!

When I was received as a catechumen, Fr. Marcus said the prayers after me right after matins and before the liturgy began.

I likewise bow my head when the prayers for catechumens are said (as much as I can while keeping track of my boys, anyway).

 

[Momzilla]

Spelling: pascha. I'm also adjusting to saying Pascha instead of easter, and outside of church I still use "easter" rather than explain myself. Yes, I'm a wimp!

When I was received as a catechumen, Fr. Marcus said the prayers over me right after matins and before the liturgy began.

I likewise bow my head when the prayers for catechumens are said (as much as I can while keeping track of my boys, anyway).

 

[Matthias]

In reality, the process can take as long or as short as you like.