Fr. George wrote these answers for inquirers who know little of the Orthodox Church or its culture and would like to ask before they arrive. They are printed here in his own words.
Quite simply, a catechumen is a learner. A catechumen is an inquirer who has decided to study so that they might, in time, embrace the Orthodox faith. This course of study involves learning the basic faith, traditions, dogmas and practices of Orthodoxy.
The Orthodox faith is not a set of intellectual understandings, decisions, ideas or precepts. It is a way of life. This way of life requires a change, a conversion of heart. To fully understand, one needs to seriously examine their heart, with guidance and with faith, and adopt a new way of living.
Becoming Orthodox is a very individual path and journey. Some of the determining factors are your previous faith tradition, your faith journey, and your understanding of the faith. Each person comes to this decision prayerfully and with the guidance of a spiritual father. This is usually the parish priest of the church you wish to join.
Presently, in the West, you can find Greek, Antiochian, Russian, Serbian or one of the many other Orthodox national churches. These churches are NOT different denominations. They are the expressions of the same faith transplanted by immigrants from the various native Orthodox countries. This represents the transplanting of a national church to the new country. They are ONE church in faith and beliefs, but may express the faith with differing native customs and in various languages.
This is confusing, but remember: the Orthodox Church is universal, apostolic and united. This “difference in jurisdictions” is found not only in the Western Hemisphere (the United States, Canada, and North and South America) but also in Western Europe and Australia. In time, and with the grace of the Holy Spirit, all the differing national churches will form one “American” Orthodox Church. Presently, the bishops of all the various jurisdictions are part of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. They direct several joint ministries in a Pan-Orthodox cooperation.
In the US, most of the services in the various Orthodox churches are in English. There might be some few prayers in the original language to help new immigrants or the older parishioners pray in their native language. In most cases this is very little of the service, and prayers in a native language are usually repeated in English.
The traditional Sunday worship service is called the Divine Liturgy. It is a very traditional service that is eucharistic: it is a communion service. Much of the service is chanted. Orthodoxy is timeless and very spiritual. The worship service has been the same service since the fourth century. Anyone is welcome to attend and to pray, but communion is only offered to baptized or chrismated Orthodox Christians.
Most churches stream their liturgical services, but it is not worship. It is offered for educational purposes and for shut-ins. The true worship of the Church is the community gathering together, forming the Body of Christ with Christ as our Head. This cannot be accomplished online. Streaming can help educate new learners about the liturgy, but the only true worship is together, in the church, with all our fellow Orthodox Christians and the presence of the whole Church: Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Angels and the Saints, the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant. This presence happens only in the temple as the community assembles and prays together.
“Understandest thou what thou readest? … How can I, except some man should guide me?”Acts 8:30–31
