Catechumens are dismissed because they aren’t yet baptized, and only the baptized can participate in the Eucharist. It’s that simple.
But there’s more to understand here, especially if you’re a catechumen yourself and wondering why you’re being asked to leave 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. This part is only for the baptized.
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. St. John Chrysostom would cry out, “Let none of the unworthy eat! Let no one remain that cannot perceive the heavenly Blood!” 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.
Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos explains it this way: “Since we are about to proceed to the sacrifice, at which the uninitiated have no right to be present, the priest dismisses catechumens, that their initiation may be completed by the grace of Baptism.” It’s not about excluding people. It’s about protecting something sacred and making clear what baptism actually means.
Here’s the thing, though. If you’re a catechumen at St. Michael or most other Orthodox parishes today, you probably won’t actually be asked to leave. The deacon still proclaims the dismissal, but it’s become more symbolic than literal. Why? 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.
That’s changing now. 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 dismissal matters again in a practical way, not just a historical one.
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’re dismissed. It can feel like rejection.
But Fr. Alexander Schmemann saw it differently. He said the prayers for catechumens express “the most basic calling of the Church, namely the Church as a 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.
And you’re not being sent away to sit in the parking lot. Historically, catechumens were dismissed to receive further instruction. That’s still the idea. Some parishes offer catechism classes during the Liturgy of the Faithful. Others ask catechumens to use that time for prayer and reflection. The point is 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 remain for the whole Liturgy. 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 if you’re dismissed this Sunday, go. 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 you’ll remain standing, because you’ll no longer be a catechumen. You’ll be one of the Faithful.
