What it is?
Translated from Latin, “seminarium” means “breeding ground,” but in real life, a theological seminary is an educational institution engaged in the professional training of church workers. This educational institution fulfills a specific mission - it trains Christian clergy.
In fact, this cultural and spiritual center makes it possible to convey to specific individuals who want to connect their lives with the Christian religion, faith, deeply immersing them in all the nuances and sacraments, the rules for conducting certain services, rituals, celebrations, etc.
The education received at a theological seminary is special and suitable exclusively in a religious environment, in a specific religious organization - the church.
How to build a career
Considering that the work of a priest is a ministry, most people do not think much about their career. It is important to many that people respect them and listen to their words and advice. But still, having proven yourself to be the best, you can get a transfer to a more promising parish or a teaching job at a theological seminary. If, in addition to ordinary work, a presbyter is a monk, continues his studies, and is engaged in science, then he can eventually be ordained a bishop and become part of the church elite, but this is not an easy matter.
Short story
Orthodoxy is the third most supported branch of Christianity (after Catholicism and Protestantism); it is professed by over 225 million people around the world. Since apostolic times there has been a single church, but in 1054 the Great Schism occurred, and the believers were divided into Catholics and Orthodox.
Subsequently, Christianity has seen different times, for example, in the USSR atheism was aggressively promoted and clergy often had to conduct rituals secretly so that the authorities would not find out about it.
Thus, in the 30s of the 20th century, all seminaries were closed; easing occurred only during the Second World War, when the country's leadership was forced to recognize the need for human faith in God.
Description of the profession
According to established tradition, the priesthood consists of three levels:
- Bishop. This is the highest level, which includes bishops, archbishops, metropolitans and patriarchs. They are appointed by decisions of the Holy Synod, head dioceses and carry out work aimed at enhancing church activities. Only bishops have access to the sacrament of the priesthood*; they can ordain presbyters.
- Priest (presbyter). The second degree in the hierarchy, these ministers can perform six sacraments (excluding ordination). They are required to undergo training in a seminary or theological academy, reach the age of Christ (i.e., thirty years old) and have no defects that prevent them from fulfilling their duties. In the Russian tradition, a presbyter is usually addressed as “father.”
- Deacon (deacon). The lowest level in Christianity, whose representatives do not have the right to perform divine services and sacraments, but can provide assistance to bishops and elders. Their presence is optional, so not all churches have them.
*Christian teaching assumes the presence of seven sacraments:
- baptism;
- anointing;
- Eucharist (communion);
- confession (repentance);
- wedding (marriage);
- unction (unction);
- priesthood.
The clergy is divided into black and white. Blacks include monks and bishops; deacons and priests can be monastics or be white (married) provided they enter into a single marriage before ordination.
Prospects for the profession
If a person cannot imagine himself without faith and serving God, then this profession will choose him. In modern Russia, after the collapse of the USSR, interest in Orthodoxy continues to grow, new churches are opening, and a network of theological seminaries and academies has been revived. They require literate young people with strong faith who can bring the word of God to the masses.
Author: Alexey Kuznetsov
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Responsibilities at work
The main task of the priest is to conduct religious rituals, which can be:
- general, held in the temple for everyone. Nowadays they are limited to two or three services a day (matins, vespers, liturgy), although the daily circle can include up to 9 services. Sometimes the priest serves prayers and memorial services;
- private. In this case, the parishioner turns to the presbyter to carry out the required requirement. Usually this is baptism, communion, consecration of a home or car. Burial, prayer or wedding ceremonies are also often ordered.
In addition to the main ones, the clergyman performs a number of other functions. He confesses those who wish, gives them communion, and explains church teachings during public conversations. To increase the authority of the faith and attract new parishioners, he carries out a lot of educational work in the form of meetings with people, organizing the activities of a church choir, Sunday school, supporting pilgrimages and religious processions.
To attract young people and keep up with current trends, many publish Christian newspapers and maintain Christian websites or blogs. Mass events are also organized (exhibitions, meetings, hikes, competitions) and active social work is carried out aimed at helping people in need. We should not forget about the priest’s economic functions: repairs, construction and putting things in order on the territory of the temple.
Who is it suitable for?
A priest can be a deeply religious person, ready to devote his life to serving God and helping people. Rarely does anyone come to this path for mercantile motives; usually it happens at the call of the heart. An Orthodox priest is required to have the following personal qualities:
- openness and friendliness;
- integrity and honesty;
- the ability to listen to any person;
- ability to speak in public convincingly and cogently;
- erudition and emotional intelligence;
- tolerance and faith.
There are a number of physical restrictions for candidates for ordination:
- Women cannot be clergy;
- the protege must be an adult, but not older than 75 years;
- there is a list of unacceptable ailments: serious problems with hearing, vision or speech, absence of a leg, arm or fingers on the right hand, drunkenness or drug addiction, mental illness.
List of social restrictions:
- being in a second marriage or marrying a divorced woman, widow or harlot;
- adultery of the wife or personal;
- unfinished military service or holding a government position;
- pending imprisonment;
- presence of loans or debts;
- if at the time of the sacrament of consecration (ordination) the priest is not married, then he remains single for the entire duration of his ministry.
A Christian priest needs to have life wisdom, as well as the skills of a teacher and psychologist. Often you have to communicate with sick, desperate or aggressive parishioners, and for everyone you need to find the right words of support and reassurance. It is impossible to simply perform the functions of an elder; you need to really serve people with all your heart.
How much do they get
The priesthood is not a profession in the traditional sense, and therefore cult ministers do not have a fixed salary as such. However, despite the fact that the Bible says that the work of a shepherd should be free of charge, the priests still receive financial compensation. The church in Russia lives on donations from philanthropists, funds from parishioners paying for services carried out, and income from the sale of church equipment (icons, candles, crosses). Part of the money collected goes to the needs of the temple (repairs, utilities, diocesan tax, maintenance of vehicles, payment of service personnel), and from the remaining remuneration is paid to the presbyter.
In small parishes, collections are small, so priests often receive 15–25 thousand rubles a month and are forced to keep a subsidiary farm to feed themselves. In large churches in the capital and large cities, as well as in tourist centers during the high season, the earnings of ministers are much higher and can reach 150–200 thousand rubles. True, getting a place there is very difficult; connections and money are often required.
