Aims and Conditions of Catechumenate in the Patristic Tradition and their Possible Application in Modern Church Practice

Abstract

The article presents main principles of the patristic tradition of catechumenate and their possible application in modern Church practice. Catechetical learning is designed to facilitate full inclusion into the church modus vivendi, into the life of the new people of God. It necessarily means core change of priorities and acquisition of skills of living in this otherness. That is why Catechumenate must be estimated not as a historical temporal practice, but as a universal means of Church reception of its new members. In the modern conditions of existence of church communities all encompassing nature of purpose and aims of catechetical instruction determines that the preference is given to the long-term and elaborately structured catechumenate practice.

Keywords

• catechesis
• catechumenate
• stages
• listening
• enlightening
• examination of faith
• training catechists
• катехизация
• оглашение
• этапы
• "слушание"
• "просвещение"
• испытание веры
• подготовка катехизаторов