In ecclesiology, a catechumen (from Latin catechumenus, Greek κατηχουμενος, instructed) is one receiving instruction in the principles of the Christian religion with a view to baptism.

Quoting Shaye J. D. Cohen: From the Maccabees to the Mishnah (1987)"The Sadducees were the aristocratic opponents of the Pharisees. The Essenes were a group of religious and philosofic virtousi, living a utopian life of the sort that would provoke the admiration of Jews and non-Jews alike. Josephus mentions their three-year catechumenate, their oath of loyalty to the group, their separation from their fellow Jews, their emphasis on purity and ablutions, but he regards them not as a "sect" but as a pietistic elite."

References

• This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, a publication in the public domain.

External link

• , an OrthodoxWiki article Katechumen

Catéchumène Catechumeen Katechumenat