I'm having a meeting with the parish priest tomorrow to discuss the "three steps of conversion," as he calls them. I'm kinda nervous. I've been reading up on Orthodoxy for a year, but haven't had an in-depth discussion with a priest before. What should I expect.
Also he said that he only chrismates once a year unless there is a pressing pastoral reason to do otherwise. What does that mean? I'm worried about waiting a whole year at this point because my kids have never been baptized.
Rosemarie
No need to be nervous, he seems like a nice person from what you've said. You'll just get to talk about your faith in Christ, your background, your interest in the Church, what you have read, what you might like to read, etc.
Traditionally, baptism/chrismation happen the week before Pascha. A lot of ppl spend a year or more as a catechuman, one one who has formally announced their desire to become part of the Orthodox faith. But, some pressing need may take hold earlier than that-- for example, there was a couple at my church that was baptised after only a few weeks, bt that was because the husband was dying of cancer. He died about 3 months after he was baptised, but it is up the discretion of the priest. Reading and learning about Orthodox is good, but living it is better, so don't worry, you may have been reading for a year, but that's nothing compared to worshipping God every Sunday in the Divine Liturgy.
And don;t worry abotu your kids-it's not like we believe kids go to hades.
