300 catechumens expected to be baptized at Pascha in OCA parish

Bishop Vasily blesses parishioners and catechumens. Photo: screenshot of UOJ interview on YouTube

At St. Andrew Orthodox Church in America parish in Riverside, California, about 300 catechumens are preparing during Great Lent to be baptized at Pascha, Bishop Vasily of the Diocese of San Francisco and the West of the Orthodox Church in America said in an interview with UOJ-USA.

The interview with Bishop Vasily was recorded after the Patristic Nectar Lenten Conference, organized by an Orthodox educational project in the United States dedicated to spreading the teachings of the Holy Fathers and catechetical materials. During the conference, the hierarch presided over meetings, blessed hundreds of catechumens, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy.

The UOJ journalist asked Bishop Vasily how he assesses the life of St. Andrew’s parish in Riverside, noting the large number of active parishioners and catechumens, which, according to him, stands at around 300.

In response, the hierarch said that the sheer number of people preparing for Baptism became especially evident during the service. “Yes, it indeed delayed the liturgy for a few minutes because all of the catechumans wanted to receive a blessing from my hands,” he said, adding that this testifies to the parish’s vibrant life and to people’s desire to enter the Orthodox Church.

Bishop Vasily explained that these are people seeking the truth and striving to enter the Orthodox Church. “The fruit of the work of this parish is shown in the number of people who are present at the liturgy and also in a number of catechumens and inquirers who are seeking the truth [...] and want to come into the doors of the Orthodox church to be part of the Orthodox Church,” he said.

He also recalled the ancient Church practice of preparing catechumens for Baptism at Pascha. “On the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, they would enroll the catechumens who would be prepared to be baptized at Pascha,” the hierarch said, adding that even today special lithanian prayers are offered at the services for those preparing "to be enrolled."

Earlier, the UOJ reported that more than 1,100 catechumens in the United States are preparing to receive Baptism at Pascha.

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