“You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” – Ephesians 2:19
For many adults, discovering Orthodox Christianity feels like coming home — even if it’s a home they never knew they had. Whether you were raised in another Christian tradition, or have never belonged to a church before, the Orthodox Church welcomes you with open arms and deep joy.
But what does it actually look like to become Orthodox as an adult? The process is personal, pastoral, and profoundly spiritual.
1. Begin with Curiosity
Many adult converts first encounter Orthodoxy through a book, a podcast, a friendship, or a visit to a service. Something stirs the soul — a sense of depth, beauty, or truth that compels further exploration.
If this is you, you’re not alone. Countless others have walked the same path. God works through wonder. Don’t rush. Let the questions arise. Begin by attending the Divine Liturgy regularly. The Church is encountered first not in argument, but in worship.
2. Talk with a Priest
At some point, speak with a priest. Share your journey, your background, and your desire to learn more. He will walk with you — not to pressure you, but to help you discern.
The Orthodox Church receives adult converts with both patience and reverence. This isn’t about signing up for a class or passing a test. It’s about becoming part of a living Body.
3. Enter Catechism (Preparation)
If you and the priest decide to begin formal preparation, you’ll enter a period of catechism — instruction in the faith, life, and teachings of the Church. This often includes one-on-one meetings, group classes, reading, and most importantly, living the life of the Church: prayer, fasting, feasts, and community.
There is no standard timeline. Some journey for a few months, others for a year or more. Conversion is not a transaction — it’s transformation.
4. Reception into the Church
When the time is right, you’ll be received into the Church. This may happen through Baptism, if you were never baptized in the name of the Trinity, or through Chrismation, if you are being received from another Christian tradition with a valid baptism.
This is not a symbolic gesture — it is a real entry into the Mystical Body of Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and crowned with Holy Communion.
5. A Lifelong Journey Begins
Becoming Orthodox is not the end — it is the beginning. You will still struggle. You will still have questions. But now, you walk the path of salvation not alone, but with Christ, His Church, and the saints surrounding you.
As St. Gregory of Nyssa wrote, “The soul’s true journey is never-ending, for it ever moves deeper into the light.”
Wherever you are starting from, the Church welcomes you. The journey is sacred. Come and see — and come and become.