The Liturgy dismisses the catechumens because they aren’t yet baptized, and only the baptized can receive the Eucharist. At St. Michael, the dismissal is still proclaimed, but catechumens stay for the whole Divine Liturgy.
But there’s more to understand here, especially if you’re a catechumen yourself and wondering why the Liturgy says “Catechumens, depart” just when things seem to be getting to the heart of the service.
The Divine Liturgy has two main parts. The first is called the Liturgy of the Catechumens (or the Liturgy of the Word). This includes the readings from Scripture, the homily, and various prayers and litanies. Everyone can attend this part, catechumens, visitors, even people just curious about Orthodoxy. The second part is the Liturgy of the Faithful, which begins after the dismissal and includes the Creed, the Eucharistic prayers, and Holy Communion itself. In the early Church this part was only for the baptized. At St. Michael, catechumens and visitors stay for it, and Holy Communion is for prepared Orthodox Christians.
The dismissal happens right after a special litany where the deacon prays for all the catechumens, asking God to instruct them in the faith and prepare them for baptism. Then comes the actual dismissal: “Catechumens, depart! All catechumens, depart!” In some parishes the deacon adds, “Let none of the catechumens remain.” It sounds dramatic. And it is.
This isn’t some arbitrary rule we made up. The early Church took this seriously. At the dismissal the unprepared were told to leave, and the doors would literally close. Catechumens would leave for further instruction while the baptized remained for the holy mysteries.
Why such strictness? Because the Eucharist isn’t a symbol or a memorial meal. It’s Christ’s actual Body and Blood. We believe that. And participating in the Eucharist requires baptism, full initiation into the Body of Christ. You can’t receive Communion if you haven’t been baptized, chrismated, and communed. The three go together. They’re your entrance into the Church’s sacramental life.
It’s not about excluding people. It’s about protecting something sacred and making clear what baptism actually means.
Parishes today handle the dismissal differently. In some, catechumens leave at this point. At St. Michael, the dismissal is proclaimed and catechumens remain for the whole Liturgy. Why the difference? Because for centuries, most Orthodox Christians were baptized as infants. There weren’t many adult catechumens around. The dismissal continued as a reminder, but nobody was physically leaving.
We’re seeing more adult inquirers and catechumens, especially here in Southeast Texas where Orthodoxy isn’t what most people grew up with. So the litany for the catechumens matters again: it is prayed for real people standing in the nave.
Some catechumens find this hard. You’ve been coming to Liturgy for weeks or months. You’re learning the responses, standing through the service, trying to follow along. And then right when the Liturgy moves toward its climax, you hear the words of dismissal. It can feel like rejection.
But the prayers for catechumens show the Church’s calling to mission. The Church prays for you. The Church is preparing you. Your presence as a catechumen reminds the baptized that the faith is always being handed on, that the Church exists not just for itself but to bring others into the life of Christ.
At St. Michael, catechumens stay and pray with the parish through the rest of the Liturgy. The point is the same: continued preparation for baptism.
If you’re a catechumen, this dismissal should make you long for baptism. That’s actually its purpose. It creates a holy anticipation. You’re standing at the threshold. Soon you’ll be baptized, and then you’ll take part in the whole Liturgy as one of the Faithful. You’ll say the Creed with everyone else. You’ll bring up the gifts at the offertory. You’ll receive Communion. But not yet.
The “not yet” matters. It teaches patience. It teaches that entering the Church isn’t casual. It teaches that the Eucharist is the center of everything we do, and approaching the chalice requires preparation, not just learning facts about Orthodoxy, but being transformed by baptism into a member of Christ’s Body.
So when you hear the dismissal this Sunday, stay where you are. Don’t be embarrassed. Don’t feel like a second-class Christian. You’re a catechumen, which means you’re being catechized, instructed in the faith that will soon be yours fully. The day is coming when you’ll hear “Catechumens, depart” and know the words are no longer addressed to you, because you’ll no longer be a catechumen. You’ll be one of the Faithful.
