The Reception of Converts.

        The pre-revolutionary Book of Needs (the Russian Trebnik) prescribes to receive non-Orthodox into the Church following one of the three methos:

v       Those converting from Judaism, paganism, and Islam, as well as those who distort or do not accept the dogma of the Holy Trinity, or where the baptism is performed by a single immersion, — by means of baptism.

v       Those whose baptism was valid but who either do not have sacrament of chrismation or who lack a hierarchy with apostolic succession (or if it is questionable), — by means of chrismation. This group includes Lutherans, Calvinists and Episcopalians (Anglicans).

v       Those whose hierarchy has apostolic succession and whose baptism and chrismation was performed in their church, — by means of repentance and repudiation of heresy, following instruction in Orthodoxy. This group includes persons of the Roman Catholic and Armenian confessions. If it happens that they were not chrismated or confirmed in their churches or if there is any question about this, they are anointed with the Holy Chrism.

The person who does not need to be rebaptized, confesses his sins before a priest, but does not receive absolution. Then, in the vestibule (or, where there is none, by the western entrance), he abjures all his former errors of faith and professes the doctrine of the Orthodox Church. The priest then conducts him into the church, saying: “Enter into the Church of God and cast away all wrongs and errors.” He kneels in the middle of the church before a lectern, upon which lie a Cross and Gospel, and hears a prayer in which the priest beseeches the Lord to grant that this man may irrevocably, without deceit or guile, be joined unto the Holy Catholic Church. After this prayer he rises and pledges himself under oath: “Firmly to maintain and profess the Orthodox faith, with the help of God, whole and intact, to his last breath, and to fulfill all its obligations,” and, in affirmation of this promise, kisses the Cross and Gospel. After taking the oath, he kneels once more, and the priest pronounces over him the prayer of remission and absolution, anoints him with the holy chrism and places a Cross around his neck. The rite concludes with the ectenia, in which the sponsors are prayed for; and the dismissal.