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The '''Litany of the Catechumens''' at , recited during the [[Divine Liturgy]], is a [[litany]] that traditionally ended the part of the service which the [[catechumen]]s were permitted to attend, the Liturgy of the Word.

This litany is composed of petitions for the catechumens as they prepare for [[baptism]]. In it, and for the faithful to pray for the catechumens, asking that the Lord may have mercy upon them. That God would , illumine the catechumens them with the [[Gospel ]] of Truth , and unite them to his Holy Church, granting them "in due time the laver of regeneration, the remission of sins , and the robe of incorruption" in [[baptism]].

The litany concludes with a dismissal of the catechumens, and the closing of the doors of the temple to all but baptized members in good standing. The catechumens are prayed for and dismissed from the Divine Liturgy since, as not yet baptized, they can not receive the Eucharistic [[Eucharist]]ic gifts. In the early Church all those under penance for their sins, and all who were not receiving Holy Communion, also left the liturgical gathering at this time.

At present, the dismissal of the catechumens has become only a reminder of the past, since it is not the case that non-communicantsnoncommunicants, or even the non-baptizednonbaptized, depart the gathering of the Eucharistic liturgy.

During the litany of the catechumens, the [[priest ]] unfolds on the [[altar ]] table the [[antimins]], a cloth with a depiction of the burial of [[Christ]], in preparation for the Liturgy of the Faithful.