please explain the chrismation process

[Tikhon.of.Colorado]

Hello, all.  I have become a catechumen.  my priest plans to chrismate me on Lazarus saturday of this month.  I am very excited!  and I thought that my godfather would get me a cross as in the cases I have read of, but instead a woman is giving me a cross that she has just had around the house but never taken out of the package.  you can view it here: http://www.militaryjewelry.us/christian-military-pendants/greek-orthodox-cross.html   it's simple, but it's just what I want.  I am excited and happy that I am almost a part of the Orthodox church.  but I have just realized that I am nervose for the actual chrismation ceremony.  what will I do?  what will my priest do?  if I could have some step-by-step directions on what a chrismation ceremony is like, I will be very grateful. 

[ialmisry]

Hello, all.  I have become a catechumen.  my priest plans to chrismate me on Lazarus saturday of this month.  I am very excited!  and I thought that my godfather would get me a cross as in the cases I have read of, but instead a woman is giving me a cross that she has just had around the house but never taken out of the package.  you can view it here: http://www.militaryjewelry.us/christian-military-pendants/greek-orthodox-cross.html   it's simple, but it's just what I want.  I am excited and happy that I am almost a part of the Orthodox church.  but I have just realized that I am nervose for the actual chrismation ceremony.  what will I do?  what will my priest do?  if I could have some step-by-step directions on what a chrismation ceremony is like, I will be very grateful. 

You mean they haven't told you about getting naked on the Church roof and covered in tin foil? LOL.

You can see the service here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=hVIXAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA464&dq=Hapwood+anointment+with+the+holy+chrism&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

For practical matters, you just need to know you will be bare foot and will have your shrit unbottoned a bit since you are male.

[Tikhon.of.Colorado]

that's just what I wanted!  thanks so much!

[Tikhon.of.Colorado]

OK, one more question.  at chrismation will I have to do anything except stand there?  will I prostrate, kneel, etc?

[bogdan]

OK, one more question.  at chrismation will I have to do anything except stand there?  will I prostrate, kneel, etc?

Depending on the tradition and the configuration of your parish, the ceremony may begin in the narthex and work your way to the front (other traditions, and if the parish isn't laid out optimally, may do it all in the front).

You do have to kneel in front of the altar, when the priest says, "Bow down and worship him."

There is also a part where you "blow and spit" on the devil, which is exciting.

Here is the full service for the Greek Archdiocese: http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/baptism (ignore the baptism section if you are just being chrismated).  Being in the OCA your mileage may vary, but it's the same general thing.

[edit] I just realized the "Making of a Catechumen" is split from the baptism on the GOARCH website.

http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/catechumen

I am unsure what events will happen at the Chrismation and which events will happen at the "making of a catechumen" service. In the Antiochian Archdiocese they are rolled into one according to the service book and in my own experience. Not sure what the OCA does.

[ialmisry]

OK, one more question.  at chrismation will I have to do anything except stand there? 

LOL.  You're going to have to confess the Orthodox Faith.

will I prostrate, kneel, etc?

After reading the Hapgood (which will cover the Russian/OCA usage) and the GOA version (covering the Greek: in between covering the Antiochian) you might ask the priest to go over the text he is going to use about rubrics (location, kneeling etc.).

[Paisius]

that's just what I wanted!  thanks so much!

One more thing. My wife wanted me to tell you to make sure to remember to breathe. 


Yours in Christ
Joe

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