Priestly ranks of white and black clergy
White clergy are married clergy. Black is monks in the priesthood. There are three hierarchical levels of the priesthood and each of them has its own hierarchy: deacon, priest, bishop. Either a married priest or a monk can be a deacon and a priest. Only a monk can become a bishop.
The Sacrament of the Priesthood is performed only when the candidate is elevated to the next of the three levels. As for the hierarchy of titles within these levels, in ancient times they were associated with special church obediences, and now - with administrative power, special merits, or simply the length of service to the Church.
I. Bishops (bishops)
- highest sacred rank
Bishop - supervising bishop
Archbishop - the most emeritus bishop
Metropolitan - bishop, head of the metropolis
Vicar - assistant to another bishop or his vicar
The Patriarch is the chief bishop in the Local Church
II. Priests- second sacred rank
The word "priest" has several Greek synonyms:
For white priesthood:
1) Priest(priest; from Greek hieros - sacred) / Presbyter (from Greek presbyteros, literally - elder).
2) Archpriest(first priest) / Protopresbyter (first elder).
For black priesthood:
1) Hieromonk- a monk in the rank of priest.
2) Archimandrite- (from the Greek archon - head, elder and mandra - sheepfold; literally - elder over the sheepfold), that is, elder over the monastery. The word "mandra" was used to describe monasteries in Greece. In ancient times, only the abbot of one of the largest monasteries (in the modern Church of Constantinople and Greece this practice is preserved, however, an archimandrite can be both an employee of the Patriarchate and an assistant to the bishop). In modern practice of the Russian Church, the title can be given to the abbot of any monastery and even simply to abbots for special merits and after a certain period of service to the Church.
! Abbot- (from the Greek hegumenоs, literally - going ahead, leader, commander), currently the abbot of the monastery (he can be a hieromonk, an archimandrite or a bishop). Until 2011, he was an honored hieromonk in the Russian Orthodox Church. When leaving the position of abbot, the title of abbot is retained. Also, this title remains with those who received it as an award until 2011 and who are not abbots of monasteries.
III. Deacon - the lowest sacred rank
For the white priesthood:
- deacon
- protodeacon
For the black priesthood:
- hierodeacon
- archdeacon
Words stand apart pop and archpriest. In Rus', these words did not have any negative meaning. Apparently, they come from the Greek “pappas”, which means “daddy”, “father”. This word (due to its prevalence among the Western Slavs) probably came into the Russian language from Old High German: pfaffo - priest. In all ancient Russian liturgical and other books, the name “priest” is constantly found as a synonym for the words “priest”, “priest” and “presbyter”. Protopop is the same as protopresbyter or archpriest.
Address to clergy:
As for appeals to priests, they exist official and unofficial. Unofficially, priests and deacons are usually called fathers: “Father George”, “Father Nikolai”, etc. Or simply “father”. On official occasions, the deacon is called “Your Reverence,” the presbyter “Your Reverence,” the protopresbyter “Your Reverence.” When addressing a bishop, they say “Vladyka” (Vladyka George, Vladyka Nikolai). In the Russian Orthodox Church, when formally addressing a bishop, he is called “Your Eminence”; archbishops and metropolitans are called “Your Eminence”. The Patriarch is always addressed: “Your Holiness.” All these appeals relate not to the person’s personality, but to his ministry.
In Orthodoxy, there is a distinction between white clergy (priests who did not take monastic vows) and black clergy (monasticism)
The ranks of the white clergy:
:
Altar boy is the name given to a male layman who helps the clergy at the altar. The term is not used in canonical and liturgical texts, but became generally accepted in this meaning by the end of the 20th century. in many European dioceses in the Russian Orthodox Church the name “altar boy” is not generally accepted. In the Siberian dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church it is not used; instead, in this meaning, the more traditional term sexton, as well as novice, is usually used. The sacrament of priesthood is not performed over the altar boy; he only receives a blessing from the rector of the temple to serve at the altar.
the duties of the altar server include monitoring the timely and correct lighting of candles, lamps and other lamps in the altar and in front of the iconostasis; preparation of vestments for priests and deacons; bringing prosphora, wine, water, incense to the altar; lighting the coal and preparing the censer; giving a fee for wiping the lips during Communion; assistance to the priest in performing the sacraments and requirements; cleaning the altar; if necessary, reading during the service and performing the duties of a bell ringer. The altar server is prohibited from touching the altar and its accessories, as well as moving from one side of the altar to the other between the altar and the Royal Doors. The altar server wears a surplice over secular clothing.
Reader (psalmist; earlier, until the end of the 19th century - sexton, lat. lector) - in Christianity - the lowest rank of clergy, not elevated to the degree of priesthood, reading the texts of the Holy Scriptures and prayers during public worship. In addition, according to ancient tradition, readers not only read in Christian churches, but also interpreted the meaning of difficult-to-understand texts, translated them into the languages of their area, delivered sermons, taught converts and children, sang various hymns (chants), engaged in charity work, had other church obediences. In the Orthodox Church, readers are ordained by bishops through a special rite - hirothesia, otherwise called “ordaining”. This is the first ordination of a layman, only after which can he be ordained as a subdeacon, and then ordained as a deacon, then as a priest and, higher, as a bishop (bishop). The reader has the right to wear a cassock, belt and skufia. During tonsure, a small veil is first put on him, which is then removed and a surplice is put on.
Subdeacon (Greek Υποδιάκονος; in common parlance (obsolete) subdeacon from the Greek ὑπο - “under”, “below” + Greek διάκονος - minister) - a clergyman in the Orthodox Church, serving mainly under the bishop during his ceremonies yay, wearing in front In the indicated cases, the trikiriy, dikiriy and ripida, laying the eagle, washes his hands, clothes him and performs some other actions. In the modern Church, the subdeacon does not have a sacred degree, although he wears a surplice and has one of the accessories of the deaconate - an orarion, which is worn crosswise over both shoulders and symbolizes angelic wings. Being the most senior clergyman, the subdeacon is an intermediate link between clergy and clergy. Therefore, the subdeacon, with the blessing of the serving bishop, can touch the throne and the altar during divine services and at certain moments enter the altar through the Royal Doors.
Deacon (lit. form; colloquial deacon; ancient Greek διάκονος - minister) - a person serving in church service at the first, lowest degree of the priesthood.
In the Orthodox East and in Russia, deacons still occupy the same hierarchical position as in ancient times. Their job and significance is to be assistants during worship. They themselves cannot perform public worship and be representatives of the Christian community. Due to the fact that a priest can perform all services and services without a deacon, deacons cannot be considered absolutely necessary. On this basis, it is possible to reduce the number of deacons in churches and parishes. We resorted to such reductions to increase the salary of priests.
Protodeacon or protodeacon is the title of the white clergy, the chief deacon in the diocese at the cathedral. The title of protodeacon was complained of in the form of a reward for special merits, as well as to deacons of the court department. The insignia of a protodeacon is the protodeacon’s orarion with the words “Holy, holy, holy.” Currently, the title of protodeacon is usually given to deacons after 20 years of service in the priesthood. Protodeacons are often famous for their voice, being one of the main decorations of the divine service.
Priest (Greek Ἱερεύς) is a term that passed from the Greek language, where it originally meant “priest,” into Christian church usage; literally translated into Russian - priest. In the Russian Church it is used as a junior title for a white priest. He receives from the bishop the authority to teach people the faith of Christ, to perform all the Sacraments, except the Sacrament of Ordination of the priesthood, and all church services, except for the consecration of antimensions.
Archpriest (Greek πρωτοιερεύς - “high priest”, from πρώτος “first” + ἱερεύς “priest”) is a title given to a member of the white clergy as a reward in the Orthodox Church. The archpriest is usually the rector of the temple. Ordination to the archpriest occurs through consecration. During divine services (except for the liturgy), priests (priests, archpriests, hieromonks) wear a phelonion (chasuble) and stole over their cassock and cassock.
Protopresbyter is the highest rank for a member of the white clergy in the Russian Church and in some other local churches. After 1917, it is assigned in isolated cases to priests of the priesthood as a reward; is not a separate degree. In the modern Russian Orthodox Church, the award of the rank of protopresbyter is carried out “in exceptional cases, for special church merits, on the initiative and decision of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.
Black clergy:
Hierodeacon (hierodeacon) (from the Greek ἱερο- - sacred and διάκονος - minister; Old Russian “black deacon”) - a monk in the rank of deacon. The senior hierodeacon is called the archdeacon.
Hieromonk (Greek: Ἱερομόναχος) - in the Orthodox Church, a monk who has the rank of priest (that is, the right to perform the sacraments). Monks become hieromonks through ordination or white priests through monastic tonsure.
Hegumen (Greek ἡγούμενος - “leading”, female abbess) is the abbot of an Orthodox monastery.
Archimandrite (Greek αρχιμανδρίτης; from Greek αρχι - chief, senior + Greek μάνδρα - corral, sheepfold, fence meaning monastery) - one of the highest monastic ranks in the Orthodox Church (below the bishop), corresponds to the mitred (awarded with a miter) pro priest and protopresbyter in the white clergy.
Bishop (Greek ἐπίσκοπος - “supervisor”, “supervisor”) in the modern Church is a person who has the third, highest degree of priesthood, otherwise a bishop.
Metropolitan (Greek: μητροπολίτης) is the first episcopal title in the Church in antiquity.
Patriarch (Greek Πατριάρχης, from Greek πατήρ - “father” and ἀρχή - “domination, beginning, power”) is the title of the representative of the autocephalous Orthodox Church in a number of Local Churches; also the title of senior bishop; historically, before the Great Schism, it was assigned to the five bishops of the Universal Church (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem), who had the rights of the highest church-governmental jurisdiction. The Patriarch is elected by the Local Council.
everything about the orders of priests, the orders of the Russian Orthodox Church and their vestments
Following the example of the Old Testament church, where there were a high priest, priests and Levites, the holy Apostles established three degrees of priesthood in the New Testament Christian Church: bishops, presbyters (i.e. priests) and deacons. All of them are called clergy, because through the sacrament of the priesthood they receive the grace of the Holy Spirit for the sacred service of the Church of Christ; perform divine services, teach people the Christian faith and good life (piety) and manage church affairs.
Bishops constitute the highest rank in the Church. They receive the highest degree of grace. Bishops are also called bishops, i.e., the heads of the priests (priests). Bishops can perform all Sacraments and all church services. This means that bishops have the right not only to perform ordinary Divine services, but also to ordain (ordain) clergy, as well as to consecrate chrism and antimensions, which is not given to priests.
According to the degree of priesthood, all bishops are equal to each other, but the oldest and most honored of the bishops are called archbishops, while the capital's bishops are called metropolitans, since the capital is called metropolis in Greek. Bishops of ancient capitals, such as: Jerusalem, Constantinople (Constantinople), Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and from the 16th century the Russian capital of Moscow, are called patriarchs. From 1721 to 1917, the Russian Orthodox Church was governed by the Holy Synod. In 1917, the Holy Council meeting in Moscow elected again the “Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia” to govern the Russian Orthodox Church.
Metropolitans
To help a bishop, another bishop is sometimes given, who, in this case, is called vicar, i.e., viceroy. Exarch- the title of the head of a separate church district. Currently, there is only one exarch - the Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl, who governs the Belarusian Exarchate.
Priests, and in Greek priests or elders, constitute the second sacred rank after the bishop. Priests can perform, with the blessing of the bishop, all the sacraments and church services, except for those that are supposed to be performed only by the bishop, that is, except for the sacrament of the priesthood and the consecration of the world and antimensions.
A Christian community under the jurisdiction of a priest is called his parish.
More worthy and honored priests are given the title archpriest, i.e. the main priest, or the leading priest, and the main one between them is the title protopresbyter.
If the priest is at the same time a monk (black priesthood), then he is called hieromonk, i.e., a priestly monk.
In monasteries there are up to six degrees of preparation for the angelic image:
Worker / worker— lives and works in a monastery, but has not yet chosen the monastic path.
Novice / Novice- a laborer who has completed obedience in a monastery and has received the blessing of wearing a cassock and a skufa (for women an apostle). At the same time, the novice retains his worldly name. A seminarian or parish sexton is accepted into the monastery as a novice.
Rassophore novice / Rassophore novice- a novice who is blessed to wear some monastic clothes (for example, a cassock, kamilavka (sometimes hood) and rosary). Rassophore or monastic tonsure (monk/nun) - a symbolic (as at baptism) cutting the hair and giving a new name in honor of the new heavenly patron; one is blessed to wear a cassock, kamilavka (sometimes hood) and rosary.
Robe or monastic tonsure or small angelic image or small schema ( monk/nun) - vows of obedience and renunciation from the world are given, hair is symbolically cut, the name of the heavenly patron is changed and monastic clothes are blessed: hair shirt, cassock, slippers, paraman cross, rosary, belt (sometimes leather belt), cassock, hood, mantle, apostle.
Schima or great schema or great angelic image ( schema-monk, schema-monk / schema-nun, schema-nun) - the same vows are given again, the hair is symbolically cut, the name of the heavenly patron is changed and clothes are added: analav and a kokol instead of a hood.
Monk
Schimonakh
Hieromonks, upon appointment by their abbots of monasteries, and sometimes independently of this, as an honorary distinction, are given the title abbot or higher rank archimandrite. Especially worthy of the archimandrites are elected to bishops.
Hegumen Roman (Zagrebnev)
Archimandrite John (Krastyankin)
Deacons (Deacons) constitute the third, lowest, sacred rank. "Deacon" is a Greek word and means: servant. Deacons serve the bishop or priest during Divine services and the celebration of the sacraments, but cannot perform them themselves.
The participation of a deacon in the Divine service is not necessary, and therefore in many churches the service takes place without a deacon.
Some deacons are awarded the title protodeacon, i.e., chief deacon.
A monk who has received the rank of deacon is called hierodeacon, and the senior hierodeacon - archdeacon.
In addition to the three sacred ranks, there are also lower official positions in the Church: subdeacons, psalm-readers (sacristans) and sextons. They, being among the clergy, are appointed to their positions not through the sacrament of the Priesthood, but only with the blessing of the bishop.
Psalmists have the duty to read and sing, both during divine services in the church on the choir, and when the priest performs spiritual needs in the homes of parishioners.
Acolyte
Sexton have their duty to call believers to Divine services by ringing bells, light candles in the temple, serve censers, help psalm-readers in reading and singing, and so on.
Sexton
Subdeacons participate only in the episcopal service. They dress the bishop in sacred clothes, hold lamps (trikiri and dikiri) and present them to the bishop to bless those praying with them.
Subdeacons
Priests, in order to perform Divine services, must put on special sacred clothes. Sacred robes are made of brocade or any other suitable material and decorated with crosses. The deacon's vestments consist of: surplice, orarion and bridles.
Surplice There are long clothes without a slit in the front and back, with an opening for the head and wide sleeves. The surplice is also required for subdeacons. The right to wear the surplice can be given to psalm-readers and laymen serving in the church. The surplice signifies the purity of the soul that persons of holy orders must have.
Orar there is a long wide ribbon made of the same material as the surplice. It is worn by the deacon on his left shoulder, above the surplice. The Orarium signifies the grace of God that the deacon received in the sacrament of the Priesthood.
Narrow sleeves that are fastened with laces are called handguards. The instructions remind the clergy that when they perform the sacraments or participate in the celebration of the sacraments of the faith of Christ, they do this not with their own strength, but with the power and grace of God. The guards also resemble the bonds (ropes) on the hands of the Savior during His suffering.
The vestments of a priest consist of: a vestment, an epitrachelion, a belt, armbands and a phelonion (or chasuble).
The surplice is a surplice in a slightly modified form. It differs from the surplice in that it is made of thin white material, and its sleeves are narrow with laces at the ends, with which they are tightened on the arms. The white color of the sacristan reminds the priest that he must always have a pure soul and lead an immaculate life. In addition, the cassock also resembles the tunic (underwear) in which our Lord Jesus Christ Himself walked on earth and in which He accomplished the work of our salvation.
The epitrachelion is the same orarion, but only folded in half so that, going around the neck, it descends from the front downwards with two ends, which for convenience are sewn or somehow connected to each other. The epitrachelion signifies the special, double grace compared to the deacon, given to the priest for performing the sacraments. Without an epitrachelion, a priest cannot perform a single service, just as a deacon cannot perform a single service without an orarion.
The belt is worn over the epitrachelion and cassock and signifies readiness to serve the Lord. The belt also signifies Divine power, which strengthens the clergy in carrying out their ministry. The belt also resembles the towel with which the Savior girded when washing the feet of His disciples at the Secret
The chasuble, or phelonion, is worn by the priest on top of other clothes. This clothing is long, wide, sleeveless, with an opening for the head at the top and a large cutout in the front for free action of the arms. In its appearance, the robe resembles the scarlet robe in which the suffering Savior was clothed. The ribbons sewn on the robe resemble the streams of blood that flowed through His clothes. At the same time, the robe also reminds the priests of the garment of righteousness in which they must be clothed as servants of Christ.
On top of the chasuble, on the priest’s chest, is a pectoral cross.
For diligent, long-term service, priests are given a legguard, that is, a quadrangular cloth hung on a ribbon over the shoulder and two corners on the right hip, meaning a spiritual sword, as well as head ornaments - skufya and kamilavka.
Kamilavka.
The bishop (bishop) puts on all the clothes of a priest: a vestment, epitrachelion, belt, armlets, only his chasuble is replaced by a sakkos, and his loincloth by a club. In addition, the bishop puts on an omophorion and a miter.
Sakkos is the bishop's outer garment, similar to a deacon's surplice shortened at the bottom and in the sleeves, so that from under the bishop's sakkos both the saccos and the epitrachelion are visible. Sakkos, like the priest’s robe, symbolizes the Savior’s purple robe.
The club is a quadrangular board hung at one corner, above the sakkos on the right thigh. As a reward for excellent and diligent service, the right to wear a club is sometimes received from the ruling bishop by honored archpriests, who also wear it on the right side, and in this case the legguard is placed on the left. For archimandrites, as well as for bishops, the club serves as a necessary accessory to their vestments. The club, like the legguard, means the spiritual sword, that is, the word of God, with which clergy must be armed to fight unbelief and wickedness.
On the shoulders, above the sakkos, bishops wear an omophorion. Omophorion there is a long wide ribbon-shaped board decorated with crosses. It is placed on the bishop's shoulders so that, encircling the neck, one end descends in front and the other behind. Omophorion is a Greek word and means shoulder pad. The omophorion belongs exclusively to bishops. Without an omophorion, a bishop, like a priest without an epitrachelion, cannot perform any service. The omophorion reminds the bishop that he must take care of the salvation of the lost, like the good shepherd of the Gospel, who, having found the lost sheep, carries it home on his shoulders.
On his chest, on top of the sakkos, in addition to the cross, the bishop also has a panagia, which means “All Holy One.” This is a small round image of the Savior or the Mother of God, decorated with colored stones.
A miter decorated with small images and colored stones is placed on the bishop's head. Mithra symbolizes the crown of thorns, which was placed on the head of the suffering Savior. Archimandrites also have a miter. In exceptional cases, the ruling bishop gives the right to the most honored archpriests to wear a miter instead of a kamilavka during Divine services.
During Divine services, bishops use a rod or staff as a sign of supreme pastoral authority. The staff is also given to archimandrites and abbots, as heads of monasteries. During the Divine Service, eagles are placed under the bishop’s feet. These are small round rugs with the image of an eagle flying over the city. Orlets mean that the bishop must, like an eagle, ascend from the earthly to the heavenly.
The home clothing of a bishop, priest and deacon consists of a cassock (half-caftan) and a cassock. Over the cassock, on the chest, the bishop wears a cross and panagia, and the priest wears a cross
Everyday clothing of clergy of the Orthodox Church, cassocks and cassocks, as a rule, are made of fabric black color, which expresses the humility and unpretentiousness of a Christian, disregard for external beauty, attention to the inner world.
During services, church vestments, which come in various colors, are worn over everyday clothing.
Vestments white are used during services on holidays dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ (with the exception of Palm Sunday and Trinity), angels, apostles and prophets. The white color of these vestments symbolizes holiness, permeation with uncreated Divine Energies, and belonging to the heavenly world. At the same time, the white color is a memory of the Tabor light, the dazzling light of Divine glory. The Liturgy of Great Saturday and Easter Matins are celebrated in white vestments. In this case, the white color symbolizes the glory of the Risen Savior. It is customary to wear white vestments for funerals and all funeral services. In this case, this color expresses the hope for the repose of the deceased in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Vestments Red are used during the liturgy of the Holy Resurrection of Christ and at all services of the forty-day Easter period. The red color in this case is a symbol of all-conquering Divine Love. In addition, red vestments are used on holidays dedicated to the memory of martyrs and on the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist. In this case, the red color of the vestments is a memory of the blood shed by the martyrs for the Christian faith.
Vestments blue color, symbolizing virginity, are used exclusively for divine services on the feasts of the Mother of God. Blue is the color of Heaven, from which the Holy Spirit descends on us. Therefore, blue color is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. This is a symbol of purity.
That is why the blue color is used in church services on holidays associated with the name of the Mother of God.
The Holy Church calls the Most Holy Theotokos the vessel of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descended on her and She became the Mother of the Savior. Since childhood, the Most Holy Theotokos was distinguished by a special purity of soul. Therefore, the color of the Mother of God became blue (blue). We see clergy in blue (blue) vestments on holidays:
Nativity of the Mother of God
On the day of Her Entry into the Temple
On the day of the Presentation of the Lord
On the day of Her Assumption
On the days of glorification of the icons of the Mother of God
Vestments golden (yellow) color used at services dedicated to the memory of saints. The golden color is a symbol of the Church, the Triumph of Orthodoxy, which was affirmed through the works of the holy bishops. Sunday services are performed in the same vestments. Sometimes divine services are performed in golden vestments on the days of remembrance of the apostles, who created the first church communities by preaching the Gospel. It is no coincidence that yellow is the most commonly used color for liturgical vestments. It is in yellow robes that priests dress on Sundays (when Christ and his victory over the forces of hell are glorified).
In addition, yellow vestments are also worn on the days of remembrance of the apostles, prophets, and saints - that is, those saints who, through their service in the Church, resembled Christ the Savior: they enlightened people, called to repentance, revealed Divine truths, and performed the sacraments as priests.
Vestments Green colour used at the services of Palm Sunday and Trinity. In the first case, the green color is associated with the memory of palm branches, a symbol of royal dignity, with which the inhabitants of Jerusalem greeted Jesus Christ. In the second case, the green color is a symbol of the renewal of the earth, purified by the grace of the Holy Spirit who has appeared hypostatically and always abides in the Church. For the same reason, green vestments are worn at services dedicated to the memory of saints, holy ascetics-monks, who were more transformed than other people by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Green vestments are used on the days of remembrance of the saints - that is, saints leading an ascetic, monastic lifestyle, who paid special attention to spiritual deeds. Among them are St. Sergius of Radonezh, the founder of the Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and St. Mary of Egypt, who spent many years in the desert, and St. Seraphim of Sarov and many, many others.
This is due to the fact that the ascetic life that these saints led changed their human nature - it became different, it was renewed - it was sanctified by Divine grace. In their lives, they united with Christ (who is symbolized by the color yellow) and with the Holy Spirit (who is symbolized by the second color - blue).
Vestments purple or crimson (dark burgundy) colors are worn on holidays dedicated to the Honest and Life-Giving Cross. They are also used at Sunday services during Lent. This color is a symbol of the Savior’s suffering on the cross and is associated with the memories of the scarlet robe in which Christ was clothed by the Roman soldiers who laughed at him (Matthew 27, 28). On the days of remembrance of the Savior’s suffering on the cross and His death on the cross (Sundays of Lent, Holy Week - the last week before Easter, on the days of worship of the Cross of Christ (Day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, etc.)
Shades of red in purple remind us of the suffering of Christ on the cross. The shade of blue (the color of the Holy Spirit) means that Christ is God, He is inextricably linked with the Holy Spirit, with the Spirit of God, He is one of the hypostases of the Holy Trinity. Purple is the seventh color in the rainbow. This corresponds to the seventh day of the creation of the world. The Lord created the world for six days, but the seventh day became a day of rest. After the suffering on the cross, the Savior’s earthly journey ended, Christ defeated death, defeated the forces of hell and rested from earthly affairs.
It would be correct to say that those people who work in churches and benefit the Church perform a service that is quite difficult, but very pleasing to God.
For many people, the Church remains hidden in darkness, and this is why some people often have a distorted understanding of it, an incorrect attitude to what is happening. Some expect holiness from employees in temples, others asceticism.
So, who serves in the temple?
Perhaps I’ll start with the ministers to make it easier to perceive further information.
Those serving in churches are called clergy and clergy, all clergy in a particular church are called clergy, and together clergy and clergy are called the clergy of a particular parish.
Clergy
Thus, clergy are people who are consecrated in a special way by the head of a metropolitan or diocese, with the laying on of hands (ordination) and acceptance of holy clergy. These are people who have taken the oath and also have spiritual education.
Careful selection of candidates before ordination (ordination)
As a rule, candidates are ordained as clergy after lengthy testing and preparation (often 5 - 10 years). Previously, this person underwent obedience at the altar and has a reference from the priest from whom he obeyed in the church; then he undergoes a prostitute confession from the confessor of the diocese, after which the metropolitan or bishop makes a decision about whether a particular candidate is worthy of being ordained.
Married or Monk...But married to the Church!
Before ordination, the protege is determined whether he will be a married minister or a monk. If he is married, he must marry in advance and after checking the relationship for strength, ordination is performed (priests are prohibited from being foreigners).
So, the clergy received the grace of the Holy Spirit for the sacred service of the Church of Christ, namely: to perform divine services, teach people the Christian faith, good life, piety, and manage church affairs.
There are three degrees of priesthood: bishops (metropolitans, archbishops), priests, and deacons.
Bishops, Archbishops
A bishop is the highest rank in the Church, they receive the highest degree of Grace, they are also called bishops (the most honored) or metropolitans (who are the head of the metropolis, i.e. the main ones in the region). Bishops can perform all seven of the seven sacraments of the Church and all Church services and rites. This means that only bishops have the right not only to perform ordinary divine services, but also to ordain (ordain) clergy, as well as to consecrate chrism, antimensions, temples and altars. Bishops govern priests. And bishops submit to the Patriarch.
Priests, Archpriests
A priest is a clergyman, the second sacred rank after the bishop, who has the right to independently perform six sacraments of the Church out of seven possible, i.e. The priest can, with the blessing of the bishop, perform sacraments and church services, except for those that are supposed to be performed only by the bishop. More worthy and honored priests are given the title of archpriest, i.e. senior priest, and the main one among the archpriests is given the title of protopresbyter. If the priest is a monk, then he is called hieromonk, i.e. priest, for their length of service they can be awarded the title of hegumen, and then the even higher title of archimandrite. Particularly worthy archimandrites can become bishops.
Deacons, Protodeacons
A deacon is a clergyman of the third, lowest priestly rank who assists a priest or bishop during worship or the performance of the sacraments. He serves during the celebration of the sacraments, but cannot perform the sacraments on his own; therefore, the participation of a deacon in the divine service is not necessary. In addition to helping the priest, the deacon's task is to call the worshipers to prayer. His distinctive feature in vestments: He dresses in a surplice, on his hands there are guards, on his shoulder there is a long ribbon (orarion), if the deacon’s ribbon is wide and sewn overlapping, then the deacon has an award or is a protodeacon (senior deacon). If the deacon is a monk, then he is called a hierodeacon (and the senior hierodeacon will be called an archdeacon).
Church ministers who do not have holy orders and help in ministry.
Hippodiacons
Hippodiacons are those who help in the bishop's service, they vest the bishop, hold the lamps, move the orlets, present the official at a certain time, and prepare everything necessary for the service.
Psalmists (readers), singers
Psalmists and singers (choir) - read and sing on the choir in the temple.
Charterers
The Ustanovnik is a psalm-reader who knows the liturgical Rule very well and promptly hands the singing singers the necessary book (during worship, quite a lot of liturgical books are used and they all have their own name and meaning) and, if necessary, independently reads or proclaims (performs the function of a canonarch).
Sextons or altar boys
Sextons (altar servers) - help priests (priests, archpriests, hieromonks, etc.) during divine services.
Novices and workers
Novices, laborers - mostly only visit monasteries, where they perform various obediences
Inoki
A monk is a resident of a monastery who has not taken vows, but has the right to wear monastic robes.
Monks
A monk is a resident of a monastery who has taken monastic vows before God.
A schemamonk is a monk who has made even more serious vows before God compared to an ordinary monk.
In addition, in temples you can find:
Abbot
The rector is the chief priest, rarely a deacon, at a particular parish
Treasurer
A treasurer is a kind of chief accountant, usually an ordinary woman from the world who is appointed by the abbot to perform a specific job.
Headman
The headman is the same caretaker, a housekeeping assistant; as a rule, he is a pious layman who has a desire to help and manage the household of the church.
Economy
Economy is one of the housekeeping employees where it is required.
Registrar
Registrar - these functions are performed by an ordinary parishioner (from the world), who serves in the church with the blessing of the rector; she prepares the requirements and custom prayers.
Cleaning woman
The temple servant (for cleaning, maintaining order in the candlesticks) is an ordinary parishioner (from the world), who serves in the temple with the blessing of the abbot.
Servant in the Church Shop
A servant in a church shop is an ordinary parishioner (from the world), who serves in the church with the blessing of the rector, performs the functions of consulting and selling literature, candles and everything that is sold in church shops.
Janitor, security guard
An ordinary man from the world who serves in the Temple with the blessing of the abbot.
Dear friends, I draw your attention to the fact that the author of the project asks for the help of each of you. I serve in a poor village Temple, I really need various help, including funds for the maintenance of the Temple! Website of the parish Church: hramtrifona.ru
Read also:
