Topic: Older people wanting to join the Church

[jewish voice]

Is there different rules for older people wanting to Join the Church. I'm asking this cause a person I know asked me about the Orthodox faith as they know that I know a little bit on the Church. This person is in their 70's. I said they would have to go on a 1yr to 2 yr classes they seamed not to like that idea. Did I give the right answer or are there different rules for much older people?

[katherineofdixie]

"Rules" vary from parish to parish, but are not based on age.

[Marc1152]

Is there different rules for older people wanting to Join the Church. I'm asking this cause a person I know asked me about the Orthodox faith as they know that I know a little bit on the Church. This person is in their 70's. I said they would have to go on a 1yr to 2 yr classes they seamed not to like that idea. Did I give the right answer or are there different rules for much older people?

They can be made a catechumen right away just for the asking. The rest will come in due course and is nothing to worry over.

[choy]

Depends on the priest.  The priest will take everything into consideration including age.

[katherineofdixie]

Is there different rules for older people wanting to Join the Church. I'm asking this cause a person I know asked me about the Orthodox faith as they know that I know a little bit on the Church. This person is in their 70's. I said they would have to go on a 1yr to 2 yr classes they seamed not to like that idea. Did I give the right answer or are there different rules for much older people?

They can be made a catechumen right away just for the asking. The rest will come in due course and is nothing to worry over.

Not necessarily. It depends on the priest. Some priests would want the person to attend services for awhile and experience the life of the parish, or attend a class before becoming formally a catechumen. Others will do as you said, make someone a catechumen right away.

[JamesR]

My Priest made me a catechumen after attending services for about three months and then began weekly classes for approximately one year before I was baptized.

[LizaSymonenko]

I've known people who were baptized in less than a year from inquiry.

[JamesR]

I've known people who were baptized in less than a year from inquiry.

Must have been the Evangelical Antiochian Orthodox Church in America.

[LizaSymonenko]

Ha!  Hardly.

You know....there's no specific time period that it takes each individual person to "know" God.  It's different for everyone.

I don't think everyone needs to be a catechuman for 3 years....while some do.  It all stems from the individual's maturity, desire, humility, etc.

Don't you believe that some people might be led to the Church and be ready and willing to enter in less than a year's time?

[choy]

Our priest judges the person's acceptance of the basic beliefs of Orthodoxy.  So Roman Catholics get the shortest Catechumenate because things like Liturgical worship, Sacraments, and the Theotokos are pretty close.  Evangelicals and Pentecostals are about a year or so.  Its pretty fluid in our parish, it depends on how much one knows about Orthodoxy and has accepted about Orthodoxy.

[Maria]

Is there different rules for older people wanting to Join the Church. I'm asking this cause a person I know asked me about the Orthodox faith as they know that I know a little bit on the Church. This person is in their 70's. I said they would have to go on a 1yr to 2 yr classes they seamed not to like that idea. Did I give the right answer or are there different rules for much older people?

Each individual seeking to become a catechumen and each priest are unique.
 
Thus, if a priest has had some bad experiences with catechumens from Catholicism who have returned to the Catholic Church (a common problem), he may make each person wait from one to three years.

If a priest has not had any problems, then he may receive a Catholic within six months.

With Protestants, it is the same thing.
I have known some Protestants who are diligent and who are received within six months.
Others have had to be instructed and attend Holy Services regularly in order to receive the Sacraments of Initiation within one to three years.

[Shlomlokh]

I've known people who were baptized in less than a year from inquiry.

Must have been the Evangelical Antiochian Orthodox Church in America.

I was baptized after having been a catechumen for 7 months and we are in the Bulgarian Church. There is a couple in my parish who have been catechumens for about 4 years and are getting baptized in a few weeks. It varies.

In Christ,
Andrew

[Xenia]

I attended the local Greek parish for a month or so,  asked about joining, was told to pick out some godparents, had 2 meetings with the priest and was chrismated a a month or so later.  I don't think this is the best way to be received into the Orthodox Church but in my case, I think  God knew what He was doing because I was desperate.   I was in my fifties at the time.  It was like I became "instantly Orthodox,"  not something I recommend!

[katherineofdixie]

There was a guy in our parish who attended services more or less regularly for 10 years or so. We affectionately referred to him as the "Oldest Living Catechumen."

[Nephi]

I've known people who were baptized in less than a year from inquiry.

Must have been the Evangelical Antiochian Orthodox Church in America.

Anything under a year is too Protestant for you, isn't it?

[Justin Kissel]

I've known people who were baptized in less than a year from inquiry.

Must have been the Evangelical Antiochian Orthodox Church in America.

Not sure if this is meant to be positive or negative...

[Schultz]

I've known people who were baptized in less than a year from inquiry.

Must have been the Evangelical Antiochian Orthodox Church in America.

Anything under a year is too Protestant for you, isn't it?

Anything that his holy grace and eminence JamesR considers odd or out of his experience is Protestant.