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jewish voice
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« on: February 13, 2013, 12:51:49 PM » |
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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?
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katherineofdixie
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« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2013, 01:10:22 PM » |
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"Rules" vary from parish to parish, but are not based on age.
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"If but ten of us lead a holy life, we shall kindle a fire which shall light up the entire city."
St. John Chrysostom
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Marc1152
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« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2013, 02:13:03 PM » |
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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. |
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\"Why were so many Civil War battles fought in National Parks? \"
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choy
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« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2013, 02:13:12 PM » |
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Depends on the priest. The priest will take everything into consideration including age.
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katherineofdixie
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« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2013, 03:30:29 PM » |
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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. |
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"If but ten of us lead a holy life, we shall kindle a fire which shall light up the entire city."
St. John Chrysostom
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JamesR
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« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2013, 04:58:57 PM » |
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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.
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"'Blessed are the peacemakers' For those are peacemakers in themselves who, in conquering and subjecting to reason all the motions of their souls and having their carnal desires tamed, have become in themselves a Kingdom of God."-St. Augustine of Hippo
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LizaSymonenko
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« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2013, 05:12:15 PM » |
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I've known people who were baptized in less than a year from inquiry.
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Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.
—St. Isaac of Syria
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JamesR
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« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2013, 05:17:55 PM » |
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I've known people who were baptized in less than a year from inquiry.
Must have been the Evangelical Antiochian Orthodox Church in America. |
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"'Blessed are the peacemakers' For those are peacemakers in themselves who, in conquering and subjecting to reason all the motions of their souls and having their carnal desires tamed, have become in themselves a Kingdom of God."-St. Augustine of Hippo
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LizaSymonenko
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« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2013, 05:20:21 PM » |
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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?
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Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.
—St. Isaac of Syria
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choy
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« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2013, 05:48:17 PM » |
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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.
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Maria
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O most Holy Theotokos, save us.
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« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2013, 06:28:14 PM » |
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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. |
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Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory to Him forever!
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Shlomlokh
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« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2013, 06:46:34 PM » |
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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 |
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"I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him will I proclaim my grief; for with evils my soul is filled, and my life unto hades hath drawn nigh, and like Jonah I will pray: From corruption raise me up, O God." -Ode VI, Irmos of the Supplicatory Canon to the Theotokos
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Xenia
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« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2013, 02:38:36 AM » |
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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!
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katherineofdixie
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« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2013, 11:56:20 AM » |
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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."
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"If but ten of us lead a holy life, we shall kindle a fire which shall light up the entire city."
St. John Chrysostom
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Nephi
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« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2013, 02:11:52 PM » |
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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? |
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Asteriktos
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« Reply #15 on: February 14, 2013, 02:21:25 PM » |
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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... |
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Schultz
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« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2013, 02:28:07 PM » |
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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. |
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"Hearing a nun's confession is like being stoned to death with popcorn." --Abp. Fulton Sheen
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