The usual process of one’s entry into the Orthodox Church is this: 

The person begins to attend regularly the Divine Services, and does so for a few months.

If the person proves to him- or herself and others that his or her desire to become an Orthodox Christian is not a short-lived whim, but something he will carry throughout his life and beyond, he or she can start the catechesis with one of the parish catechists.

The catechesis lasts for about nine months, during which the person makes his or her best effort to live as an Orthodox Christian (sobriety of spiritual life, eradicating passions, acquiring humility and patience, consistent prayer and fasting (on the fasting days and the long fasting seasons).

During this process the person meets several times with the rector (or the person appointed by him) to discuss his progress.

At the end the catechesis the decision is made (or rather becomes obvious to the person, his catechist and the rector) if he or she is ready to be baptized.

1. Baptismal Robe – You will need a baptismal robe. Most people order theirs from The Sewing Room, which usually take a few weeks to be delivered. Others use the robes which are already hanging in the cloak closet.
2. Cross Necklace – You will need a cross necklace, which will be put on you after you are baptized and which you will wear all the time. Our parish candle counter sells crosses. A number of people have purchased their crosses from Gallery Byzantium, which has a very nice variety and selection. They have a fairly quick turn around time that is less than two weeks. In terms of necklace chains, many have had good success with more affordable, but sturdy, chains you can buy on Amazon, such as this.
3. Patron Saint – If you already have an Orthodox Christian name, choose a saint with that name. If you do not have an Orthodox Christian name, you will need to choose one and a saint bearing that name. Often people choose a name that is similar (in sound or linguistic derivation) with one’s own non-Christian name, or a Christian middle name (if you have one), or if all else fails, a particular saint towards whom you have developed a particular affinity.
4. Godfathers and Godmothers – You will need a sponsor, who has been an Orthodox Christian for some time and who has an imitable life and reputable character to help guide you in the Christian life. Males choose a male sponsor; females choose a female sponsor. Godfathers and godmothers often choose to purchase the cross necklace, icon, robe, and/or baptismal candle. Please make the necessary arrangements with them. Also, godfathers and godmothers should help assist the priest before and after the baptism with preparations and cleaning up.
5. Life Confession – You will do your life confession in the week(s) leading up to your baptism. You may choose to do it with any of our priests. The same rule applies for regular confession after baptism: you may confess with any priest at any time. Individuals do tend to confess with the same priest over time, with whom they have developed a relationship, or feel comfortable, or have developed an affinity. Although it is not required to confess to the same priest, there is a lot of wisdom in confessing consistently to the same priest, who gets to know you over time and learns how best to guide and help you. Moreover, confessing to the same priest also staves off the temptation to “spread one’s sins” among different priests out of a sense of shame or in order to avoid responsibility and accountability. For married couples (and families), although it is not required, there is a lot of wisdom in everyone in the family confessing consistently to the same priest, who, without violating the seal of confession, can know how best to guide the husband, wife, and children. There is more information on confession below.
6. Clothing – Please bring a bathing (ideally white) towel and a change of church clothes to change into after your baptism. You will be triple-immersed in your first pair of clothes, so please wear a pair of church clothes that you do not mind getting immersed in. At the baptismal service, everyone is barefoot, women’s heads are uncovered and hair is untied, and infants are baptized naked.
7. Holy Communion – You will commune first at the next Divine Liturgy. For preparation for taking Holy Communion, the church requires that (1) one confess on a regular basis, (2) married couples abstain from marital relations and are free from bodily impurity (i.e., seminal emissions and menstruation) from the night before, (3) one abstain from all food and drink from midnight until after they have communed, and (4) one pray “The Order of Preparation for Holy Communion,” which can be found in the red Jordanville Prayer Book (pp. 331-375). (One may also read the canons and an akathist beforehand. See pp. 220-289.) On the topic of being properly prepared for communing of the Holy Eucharist, Fr Sergii writes:
   

   An Orthodox Christian does not have a goal to receive Holy Communion at every Divine Liturgy no matter what. We commune ONLY when we are prepared. Therefore, we live the preceding days in “piety and purity.” This means we kept our passions in check, did not quarrel, did not get angry — i.e., we tried to live a focused life worthy of a Christian. If we are to commune on a Sunday, we uphold the fasting days leading up to the Sunday, read the Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion (found in our prayer book) and perhaps add the three canons–the Canon of Repentance, the Canon to the Mother of God, and the Canon to Our Guardian Angel (this is what the clergy do), attend the Vigil the night before, confess (if needed), and abstain from food or drink from midnight on Saturday night. Be good spouses/parents/children in your families, do not provoke anyone, do not anger anyone, live quietly and peacefully.

   On the day of your first communion, when the clergy are communing in the altar, and the Prologue (lives of the saints) is being read from the choir loft, you will go out to the narthex and put your baptismal robe on, and then you will re-enter the nave and stand first in line holding your lit baptismal candle. Your sponsor will standing next to you. When you come forward to commune, place your left arm over your right arm crosswise (so as to prevent yourself from making the sign of the cross). Open your mouth wide, close your lips over the spoon and consume the gifts. The deacon will wipe your mouth. Then kiss the chalice (never the priest’s hand) before walking down the steps. Then walk down the steps to the small table to partake of “zapivka” (water mixed with wine and some antidoron (or “blessed bread”) to “wash down” the Body and Blood of Christ). You can leave your robe on for the reminder of the service and take it off after the service. Next Sunday you will repeat the same process again for the last time, and then you may take your baptismal robe home and store it for safekeeping to be worn at your funeral.

Confession:

Everyone is required to write (or type) out their confession on paper and will read from it to Christ in the presence of the priest (your confessions after this do not need to be written down, since they will be much shorter). The length and time really depends on each person, in terms of their life experiences and their powers of self-awareness. But one should strive to be thorough in examining their life, leaving nothing hidden and concealed. Thus, we encourage you to spend the many weeks leading up to your baptism by praying, fasting, reflecting, and writing out your confession.

There are different ways to structure one’s life confession. Some people structure it thematically according to the passions described in the toll-houses (see link below). Others structure it chronologically as a life narrative containing different stages of life up to the present moment (childhood, adolescent, adult, etc.). Of course, it is impossible to confess every single instance of a sin, nor is it necessary to go into all the details of the sins committed. But we advise that you especially confess sins that, among other things, (1) have weighed heavily on your conscience in your life, (2) are things you are especially ashamed of that you never wanted someone else to know about, (3) are things that have formed habitual patterns in your life (i.e., I have the passion of X, and here are some representative examples from my life that illustrate this), and (4) indicate the areas where you currently struggle with the passions.

In the prayer that the priest says before the mystery of confession, he warns the baptized penitent that “if thou concealest anything from me, thou shall have the greater sin. Take heed, therefore, lest having come to the place of the Physician thou departest unhealed.” Confession is a spiritual medicine in which we experience God’s divine healing. Think of your life confession as unique opportunity to take a sober assessment of your life and bring everything to the Lord, so that you may be healed of all your wounds. At the same time, let this spiritual sobriety be conjoined with spiritual joy, knowing that Christ the Great Physician loves you and sees you with eyes of mercy.

Here are some resources that might be helpful in preparing your written, life confession:

• “A Guide to Confession”
• “St. Theodora’s Journey Through the Aerial Toll-Houses”
• “What is Necessary for a Saving Confession?”
• “The Sacrament of Confession”
• “Examine Your Conscience: Ten Commandments and Nine Beatitudes”
• Ten Commandments (you can also look at the questions and answers from Sts Philaret and Peter Mogila in their catechisms)
• Beatitudes (you can also look at the questions and answers from Sts Philaret and Peter Mogila in their catechisms)

Most importantly: pray. Here is a great verse on which to meditate prayerfully:

Psalm 138[139]:23-24

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

†