Welcome
So you want to be Orthodox? Usually, the response to this request is- go away for a while and see, or attend church for a year, and see. This is to establish whether your request is a whim or prompted by someone else. Let's assume that you have been pushing at the door of the Orthodox church for a while, and you want to finalise your journey with the Rite of Chrismation.

This set of resources has been created to help you with this preparation. It is not a formal exposition of the Orthodox doctrine and canons of the Church. Nor is it an exhaustive treatment of the services of the church. What this resource is for is to allow you to situate your own existing faith in God in the Orthodox communion. I am assuming that you have had experience of Christianity elsewhere. I wish to build on that experience, rather than deny it. I wish to help you to begin to orient that experience towards an orthodox mindset. It will not possible to 'become' Orthodox in a few weeks or months of study, but we have to start somewhere.

The demands of a commited Orthodox faith are substantial, so this resource will help your decide whether you really wish to seek to become Orthodox over the rest of your life and includes:

Personal faith and prayer: a growing awareness of God and his role in your life; daily personal prayer; a commitment to Christ Jesus as Saviour; an openess to the guidance of the Holy Spirit

Personal spirituality: a honest desire to keep the commandments and to make your daily decisions according to the will of God; frequent examination of your life; regular celbration of the sacrament of confession and reconciliation

Commitment to the Eucharist: a personal commitment to attend the Divine Liturgy as often as it is celebrated in my community; willingness to participate in the prayers of the church by praying, listening, singing and through serving my community.

Community membership: contributing to a sense of belong in my parish community, a willing ness to be there when the parish gathers for prayer, for service and for fellowship; a willingness to use my God given talents, time and 'treasure' for the parish.

Service and ministry: being generous with my time; awareness of the needs of others, especially my family and those who are not Orthodox Christians, willingness to use my talents as catechist, singer, committee member, concern for the poor, lonely, the aged and the needy.

Religious knowledge:  a commitment to a life-long development in faith and understanding, moving from the basics of Christianity - the traditons of the Church, the Scriptures, the creed, church history, liturgical rites and sacraments;