Steps to Becoming Orthodox
“Take up your cross and follow Me.” – Matthew 16:24
Becoming Orthodox is not simply joining a new church — it is stepping into a life of transformation. It is a return to the ancient faith, lived out in the heart of the Church that has preserved the fullness of truth since Pentecost.
If you’re considering becoming Orthodox, here are the basic steps — not a checklist, but a spiritual journey.
1. Come and See
Before anything else, begin by attending services regularly. Start with the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings. Observe, listen, pray. You do not need to understand everything at once — Orthodoxy is learned by experience, by immersion, like stepping into living water.
As the Lord said to the first disciples, “Come and see” (John 1:39). Let your heart settle into the rhythm of Orthodox worship.
2. Meet the Priest
Introduce yourself to the parish priest. Share your background and your interest in Orthodoxy. The priest will help guide your journey, answer your questions, and begin to discern with you how and when to begin catechism — the formal preparation for entry into the Church.
3. Begin Catechism (Instruction in the Faith)
Catechism is not simply a class — it is a time of preparation for a new life in Christ. You will learn the basic teachings of the Church: the Creed, the Sacraments, the Scriptures, the lives of the Saints, and the meaning of the liturgical life. But more importantly, you will begin to live the Orthodox way: prayer, fasting, repentance, humility.
The Church is not looking for theologians. She is looking for those who are ready to be healed.
4. Live the Life of the Church
Begin to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. Begin morning and evening prayers. Read the daily Gospel. Confess your sins. Be present at feasts and fasts. Orthodoxy is not an ideology — it is a way of being. As St. John Chrysostom said, “The Church is not a courtroom — it is a hospital for souls.”
5. Reception into the Church: Baptism or Chrismation
When you and your priest discern that you are ready, you will be received into the Church. This may happen through Holy Baptism (if you were never baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity), or through Chrismation (anointing with holy oil), if you come from another Christian tradition.
From that moment, you are united to the Body of Christ — able to receive the Eucharist and live the fullness of the Orthodox life.
6. Keep Going
Becoming Orthodox is just the beginning. The Christian life is one of continual repentance, communion, and transformation. In the words of St. Gregory of Nyssa, “This is the true vision of God: never to be satisfied in the desire to see Him.”
So take courage. The road is narrow, but the Church is wide. Christ stands at the door — and He knocks.