Becoming an Orthodox Christian

If you have been reading about Orthodoxy, listening to podcasts, watching the substantive YouTube content, or simply feeling drawn toward the ancient Christian faith and you are wondering what comes next, this page is for you. Becoming Orthodox is not a single decision made in a moment. It is a journey, and the Church gives you a structured path to walk.

You are also not alone. The number of Americans entering the Orthodox Church has grown significantly over the past five years. Parishes across the country, including in Tampa Bay, are receiving inquirers and catechumens at rates not seen in living memory. The Holy Spirit appears to be working broadly, and you are part of a movement that is much larger than yourself.

Where People Come From

Orthodox Christianity welcomes inquirers from every background. The path you walk depends a little on where you start.

From a Protestant background. You were probably baptized as an infant or as a young person in a Protestant denomination. The Orthodox Church recognizes that baptism in many cases (this is determined pastorally, by your parish priest in conversation with the bishop). If your baptism is recognized, you would be received into the Orthodox Church through Chrismation, the sacrament of anointing with Holy Chrism. You would not be re-baptized.

From the Roman Catholic Church. Similar to the Protestant path. Catholic baptism is generally recognized by the Orthodox Church, and reception is through Chrismation. The Catholic understanding of the sacraments overlaps significantly with Orthodox theology, so the transition is often less of a leap than people expect.

From the Greek or Ukrainian Catholic (Eastern Catholic) traditions. Reception is through Chrismation in most cases, sometimes through a simple profession of faith depending on the bishop’s pastoral judgment. The liturgical experience will be familiar.

From an unchurched background, or never baptized. You would be received through both Baptism and Chrismation. These are typically celebrated together in a single service, often at Pascha or Theophany.

From another Orthodox jurisdiction. Welcome. No formal reception is needed beyond a transfer of membership and a conversation with Fr. Stephen.

In all cases, the conversation with the priest comes first. Do not assume your situation. Come and talk.

The Catechumenate

The catechumenate is the period of instruction and prayer that precedes formal reception into the Church. It is an ancient practice. In the early Church, catechumens prepared for years before being baptized at Pascha. The modern catechumenate is shorter but follows the same shape.

Phase one, inquirer. This is where most people begin. You attend Sunday Divine Liturgy. You read. You ask questions. You meet parishioners. You are not yet committed; you are looking. This phase has no formal beginning or end. Some people are inquirers for a few weeks, some for a year or more.

Phase two, catechumen. When you have decided that Orthodoxy is the path you want to walk, you ask Fr. Stephen to enroll you as a catechumen. This is a brief liturgical rite at the start of a Sunday service. From this point you are formally on the path. You attend services regularly. You begin a structured catechetical program with the priest. You begin to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays in the manner the Church recommends. You begin learning to pray Orthodox-ly with morning and evening prayers, the Jesus Prayer, and the prayers before and after meals.

Phase three, illumined. You are received into the Church through Chrismation (or Baptism and Chrismation if you were never baptized). You take communion for the first time. You have a saint’s name (your own baptismal name or one you choose to be received under). From this day forward you are a full member of the Orthodox Church, with all the responsibilities and all the gifts.

The full path from inquirer to chrismation typically takes six months to two years. There is no rush. The Church wants you to be sure.

A Spiritual Father (or Mother)

The Orthodox tradition emphasizes the relationship between the believer and a spiritual father, a more experienced Christian (typically a priest, sometimes a wise lay parishioner or a monk) who knows you personally and can guide you through difficulties, prayer practices, and life decisions. As you progress in the catechumenate, Fr. Stephen will likely serve as your spiritual father, though this relationship can also develop with another priest or a monastic.

The spiritual father relationship is not therapy and it is not just confession. It is the practice of accountability and guidance under the eye of someone who has walked the path further than you have. It is one of the great gifts of the Orthodox tradition.

Practical First Steps at St. Michael

If you are ready to begin:

1. Come to Sunday Divine Liturgy. 10:00 AM. Read our first visit guide before you come if you are nervous about what to expect.
2. Stay for coffee hour after the service. Introduce yourself.
3. Email or call Fr. Stephen at 727-777-4450 to set up a conversation. The first conversation is informal. He will want to hear your story, answer your questions, and explain what the catechumenate at St. Michael looks like.
4. Begin reading. The Orthodox Study Bible is a good starting Bible. The Orthodox Way by Bishop Kallistos Ware is a classic introductory book. For the Life of the World by Fr. Alexander Schmemann is denser but transformative.
5. Begin praying. The Jordanville Prayer Book has morning and evening prayers in English. Start small. Five minutes of prayer is better than fifty minutes you do not actually do.

Common Concerns

“I do not know any Ukrainian.” That is fine. Our Sunday Divine Liturgy is bilingual, with substantial English content. The catechumenate is in English. Sermons are in English. Becoming Orthodox does not require becoming Ukrainian.

“I am not sure I am ready to commit.” You do not have to commit yet. Be an inquirer. Come on Sundays. Read. Ask. The Orthodox Church does not pressure you into a decision. The Church gives you space and structure to come to your own clarity.

“My family is not Orthodox.” Most converts come from non-Orthodox families. This is normal. Be patient with your family. Do not lecture them. Let your changed life be the witness, not your words.

“I am divorced or have a complicated marital history.” Talk with Fr. Stephen. The Orthodox Church takes marriage seriously, but it also has pastoral mercy and a process called economia for situations that are not straightforward. Do not assume your situation prevents you from becoming Orthodox.

“I have moral or doctrinal questions I have not resolved.” That is what the catechumenate is for. Bring the questions. Most have been wrestled with by saints, theologians, and ordinary believers for two thousand years. Few questions are as new as we think they are.

You Are Welcome

The Ukrainian Orthodox tradition has a long history of welcoming inquirers from every background. We are part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, in full communion with all canonical Orthodox churches worldwide. Whether your reason for coming is theological, spiritual, cultural, or simply a sense of being drawn home, you are welcome at St. Michael.

Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM. Address: 9201 60th St, Pinellas Park, FL 33782. Phone: 727-777-4450.

Read your first visit and the catechumen journey for more. Christ is in our midst.