Good post. This is an uplifting story about this former Protestant congregation. I suspect they had been studying and preparing in a kind of un-official catechesis for a long time and then 6 mos. under the guidance of whoever Metropoltian PHILIP appointed for the purpose. My point is I don't think they only had 6 months of catechesis but probably included a Part One of their own searching and learning and Part Two: official instruction to round out their knowledge and liturgical practice.
I wish I could agree with you, Siobhan, but I suspect this congregation came in the same way the "Evangelical Orthodox" did, en mass with little or no catechesis. The "evangelicals" came knocking on the door of the GOA seeking chrismation. Among their terms were that their "priests" would be accepted as priests without any formal seminary training etc. +Iakovos of Blessed Memory showed them the door. +Philip jumped at the chance to accept them on their terms. Not good.