The need for some kind of formal reception into Christianity has been present since the first century. Some of the Christians were led away from the true Christian faith by heretics (people who taught about Jesus Christ contrary to the teaching of the Apostles of the Church), by self-proclaimed "prophets", "teachers", "presbyters" that wanted more glory for themselves then for Christ’s Church (Ac 20:29 ). Others denied Christ in fear of persecution (first three centuries were filled with persecutions).

Some of the people wanted to return to church; and that is when the question arose whether to except them or not and if 'yes', then on what conditions this can be done.

So, history of Christian Church, her practices based on love for those that were once lost, is full of examples of rules on formal reception into Christian Faith.

With the evolvement of the schism in 1054, beginning of protestant movement in the XVIth century, different need for reception of the converts arose with the accent placed on the inter-denominational structure of Christian world. Feeling deprived of the truth and wanting to experience the life of the Early Church some of the people studied the writings of the early ages of Christianity. This brought many of them to realize that such experience and life is possible in the Orthodox Faith. Therefore, they wanted to become orthodox.

However, is it possible to leave one Christian denomination and join another? Does it really matter which denomination you belong to?

For those that wanted to become Orthodox and experience life in spirit and truth all these questions had an answer and the answer was "Yes".

The Church had been accommodating those wanting back in the beginning of Christianity, in the middle ages and most definitely we have to help people wanting this true experience in modern times.