Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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Why is the traditional practice of the early church regarding catechumens not exercised in our church anymore?

In the early church the number of converts to Christianity was very large; "so the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily" (Acts 16:5).  Consequently there were many catechumens (those who were new in the faith and could not partake in the Divine Liturgy). To make sure that only the believers were to partake of the Holy Communion, the church separated the catechumens from the believers. But as Christianity spread more and more and became the official and dominant religion, all the church attendants were baptized as Christians and that practice disappeared. Today the number of catechumens in each church is very small and they would feel alienated if we seated them separately and then asked them to leave the church during the Divine Liturgy. On the other hand, if they sit with baptized Christians willing to help them follow the Divine Liturgy, they will integrate more easily in the body of Christ, learn more about Christianity and be well prepared for Baptism and the partaking of the Holy Communion.
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