Becoming Orthodox

Becoming an Orthodox Christian is more than joining an organisation or accepting a set of beliefs. It is entering more fully into a life in Christ within His Church — a life of worship, prayer, repentance, fellowship, service, and participation in the Holy Mysteries.

The Orthodox Church welcomes people of every background. You do not need to be Greek, or to come from an Orthodox family, to explore the Orthodox Christian faith or to become Orthodox.

If you are interested in Orthodoxy, you are welcome to begin simply by coming to church.

Begin by visiting

The best introduction to Orthodox Christianity is taking part in the worship and life of an Orthodox parish.

Come to the Divine Liturgy. Listen to the prayers and the hymns. Experience the rhythm of the Church’s worship. Stay for coffee hour. Ask questions, and begin getting to know the people of the parish.

You do not need to understand everything before you attend, and visiting the Nativity does not commit you to becoming Orthodox. If this will be your first time at an Orthodox service, planning your visit will tell you what to expect.

Speak with the priest

If you become seriously interested in the Orthodox faith, the next step is to speak with our priest.

The Archdiocese encourages anyone interested in becoming Orthodox to meet their local Orthodox priest and get to know the parish. The priest can learn about your religious background, answer questions, recommend reading, and guide you as you explore the faith.

There is no expectation that you arrive already knowing Orthodox theology or practice. The parish office will arrange the conversation.

Learning the Orthodox faith

Those preparing to enter the Orthodox Church receive instruction in the faith. It is a time to learn Orthodox Christian belief and practice while going on taking part in the worship and community life of the parish.

Instruction may include subjects such as:

• Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition;
• the Holy Trinity, and the person of Jesus Christ;
• the Divine Liturgy and Orthodox worship;
• prayer and the spiritual life;
• the Holy Mysteries;
• the Creed and the teachings of the Church;
• the feasts and the fasts;
• the Saints and the Theotokos;
• icons;
• repentance and Confession; and
• living the Orthodox Christian life.

The length and form of this preparation are not the same for everyone. The Archdiocese notes that instruction varies according to a person’s previous knowledge of Christianity, and according to individual needs and circumstances.

The catechumenate

As someone moves from exploring Orthodoxy toward intentionally preparing to enter the Church, they may be received as a catechumen — a person formally preparing to become an Orthodox Christian.

The catechumenate is a period of continued instruction, prayer, participation in parish life, and preparation for reception into the Church. It is not merely a course to be completed. It is the beginning of learning to live within the worshipping community of the Church.

Your priest will guide you through it, and will help decide when you are prepared to be received.

Reception into the Orthodox Church

After the appropriate period of preparation, a person is received into the Orthodox Church according to the practice of the Church and the pastoral direction of the priest and the bishop.

Depending on a person’s circumstances and previous Christian initiation, reception may involve Holy Baptism and Chrismation, or reception in another form prescribed by the Church. It culminates in receiving the Holy Eucharist, which expresses full sacramental union with the Church.

Because circumstances differ from person to person, how any particular person would be received is a question to put directly to the priest. Nothing on this page decides it.

Becoming part of a parish family

When someone embraces the Orthodox Church, they also enter the life of a particular local parish. The parish is meant to become a spiritual family: a community in which we worship together, receive the Holy Mysteries, learn the faith, serve our neighbours, form friendships, and help one another grow toward Christ.

Becoming Orthodox therefore does not end with Baptism or Chrismation. Reception into the Church is the beginning of a lifelong Orthodox Christian life.

A life committed to Christ

The purpose of becoming Orthodox is not to acquire the name “Orthodox”. It is a commitment of our lives to Jesus Christ.

That commitment is lived out in the worship and sacramental life of the Church, in personal prayer, in repentance, in growth in virtue, in love of neighbour and in service to others. As we pray again and again in the Divine Liturgy, we seek to “commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God”.

Becoming Orthodox is not the end of a journey of learning about the Church. It is the beginning of a lifetime of growing in Christ within His Church.

Interested in becoming Orthodox?

You do not need to have everything worked out before speaking with us.

If you are curious about Orthodox Christianity, have been coming to the Nativity, or believe God may be leading you toward the Orthodox Church, we invite you to speak with our priest. You are welcome to ask questions, to come to the services, and to take whatever time you need to discern your next step.

Come and see.