Those who are just starting to become churchgoers and go to church services, over time, begin to be overcome by all sorts of questions. An inquisitive person will definitely find all the answers to them. And here is an example of one of the many questions: “Who is the cleric of the temple?” Let's try to understand it in detail.
So, what does a temple cleric mean? Translated from Greek, the word “clergy” means “lot” - a share or inheritance received by lot. In the Holy Scriptures (Acts 1:17-25) one can find church service by lot, which means that even then there were special divisions of Church members into clergy and clergy. These people differed from ordinary laymen in that they had to perform church services.
Who is a cleric in the Orthodox Church
To have a more complete idea of who is called a cleric, one should understand the classification that exists in the ranks of the church. There are two categories of clerics - clergy and clergy. The first are ordained to the rank through the rite of hirothesia. Simply put, this is an action during which the bishop ordains a person who wishes to serve in the church outside the altar to the priesthood. Such a cleric has the right to participate in divine services as a reader. He helps the priest lead the service.
The main task of the cleric is to read the texts of prayers and Holy Scripture during services
Clergy are ordained by the bishop in the altar of the church. Ordination is the acquisition of the grace of the Holy Spirit. In turn, the clergy of this group are divided into bishops, presbyters and deacons.
The Church in the Orthodox interpretation is the Body of Christ. Consequently, clerics are his organs, each performing its own function.
Important! A person who is elected and ordained to the rank of clergy is endowed with certain powers. And at the same time, there is a list of strict prohibitions, for violation of which even anathema can be imposed.
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Church ranks
We must also note a very important detail. This will allow us to get a complete answer to the question: who is the cleric of the temple? There are three clergy ranks: the first is episcopal (bishop), the second is presbyteral (priest), and the third is deacon.
And here it must be said that in a broad sense, the word “cleric” means any clergy person who, according to the rules of the Church, is dedicated to serving it. That is, all those who perform and help perform divine services.
At the same time, no matter what church ranks someone holds, entry into the Kingdom of Heaven remains equal in their opportunities for everyone. However, the Church is a Body, and, as in any living organism, each member fulfills its purpose. The Lord Himself appointed some to serve as prophets and apostles, others as evangelists and teachers, so that they would create the body of Christ while everyone else would come to know the Son of God and come to the unity of faith. So that there are no hesitating people who are carried away by all sorts of false beliefs from crafty and cunning people, and so that, out of their true love, they accept into their souls the one who is the head of everything - God Jesus Christ.
Activities of the cleric
Depending on the assigned rank, a cleric can read sermons, practice chanting, instill in children a love of faith and the church, and study obedience. Many clergy are involved in charity issues, helping those in need financially and spiritually.
In past times, according to information that has reached our time, clergy, in addition to reading church texts, helped the laity understand words or phrases that were incomprehensible to them. Obviously, in the past, a church minister was required to have a broad outlook and be an educated person.
“I’m looking for a position as a priest, I have a pleasant baritone voice”
However, when the conversation at the Council turned to practical issues, the final decisions turned out to be quite conservative. The issues of electing the clergy caused a huge debate. This idea had both its obvious supporters and radical opponents. Many generally believed that the problem of electivity was exaggerated.
Even during the pre-conciliar presence in 1906, professor-canonist A.I. Almazov declared: “It is better that the Chief Prosecutor, the representative of the sacred person of the Sovereign, still remain with our Church, than that the people’s assembly, so diligently recommended to us, be the legislator and ruler in it.” But the election of the clergy also had more sober opponents. Yes, Rev. V.M. Shevaleevsky said at the Council: “Every day, with the speech of each new speaker, the conviction strengthens in my mind that the idea of an elective principle, which is wonderful in idea, cannot be practically applied in the conditions of current reality...
The voice of pious and pious people remains unheard and insignificant. And if so, is it possible, as a means of revival, to grant such a parish the right to elect candidates for the priesthood? .
Various speakers at the Council said that the “de facto” election that began with the February Revolution had already led to many problems. The clergy "became dependent on electors, often non-religious." With the elective beginning, it became “easy to see some “Bolshevik” in the rank of priest.” Real elections in parishes have led to the fact that “the parish now chooses priests who would agree to charge it less for their services - parishioners care little about the mental development of the priest.” Even where elections were made by church people, they were more interested in external things: the ability to serve beautifully and preach a sermon.
As a result, essentially monstrous advertisements appeared in newspapers: “I am looking for a position as a priest. I have a pleasant baritone voice. Received secondary education. Served in the parish for 25 years.”
During lengthy discussions, members of the Parish Improvement Department were able to formulate a compromise procedure for selecting a priest. Anyone wishing to fill a vacant position had to submit petitions to the bishop. Parishioners could also nominate their own candidate. The bishop removed from the list those candidates whom he considered undesirable, and transferred the list for voting to the parish assembly. If the parish refused the proposed candidates, then it had to propose a new candidate to the bishop. However, this complex compromise formula did not receive the support of the Council.
The final wording left the right of election to the bishop, “who, when electing, takes into account those candidates for whom the parish petitions.” Thus, despite all the shortcomings of the old system, in those conditions it was not considered possible to replace it with an elective one.
We advise you to study What does the expression “Kiss of Judas” mean?
The last of the fundamental issues concerned the ownership of church property. After lengthy disputes and many recounts of votes, a compromise decision was made: to divide the property into temple and parish property with the establishment of two legal entities. The property of the temple included the building, liturgical items, candle profits, and mug collection. Everything that was donated “to satisfy the religious, educational and charitable needs of the parish” became parish property.
This decision, on the one hand, preserved the usual procedure for compulsory financing of “general church and general diocesan needs” at the expense of the legal entity of the temple. On the other hand, within the framework of the legal entity of the parish, it became possible to collect funds for those purposes that the parishioners themselves would determine for themselves. In this case, decisions at the parish meeting were determined by a simple majority of votes, i.e. it did not obey the rector of the temple or the bishop. Thus, parishioners could not be afraid of the diocese withdrawing their funds “for the good of the church.”
Who can become a holy reader
There are certain rules according to which a layman can be ordained as a clergyman. Only a man, an Orthodox Christian, can become one after the rite of consecration. He should be familiar with church rules.
Appointment to the ministry of a cleric occurs with the blessing of the bishop
Usually, graduates of theological seminaries were ordained as clergy. This was the first step on the path to higher ranks. A cleric has the right to marry according to Christian traditions.
How the concept of “clear” has changed
The degrees of the priesthood were established by the apostles themselves. Therefore, this hierarchy cannot be changed or canceled. The degrees of clergymen were formed and changed during the history of the Church. In the 4th century, in Christian territories, clerics received special rights and privileges. In addition to subdeacons and readers, there were such degrees as exorcist, ostary (gatekeeper), akoluf (bishop's servant). These positions were abandoned in the Middle Ages.
In Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a group of people who were not initiated into the clergy, but were counted among them (clergy). These were sextons, clerks, singers, bell ringers, church watchmen and others. In Soviet times, the concept of “clerk” disappeared. Since then, the clergy consists only of those who are initiated into it. Sextons, singers, bell ringers - they are all laymen, although they are in church services. Moreover, the economic staff of the parish (church warden, watchman, driver and others) are not clergy.
Those asking the question “who is a cleric?” should remember: all baptized Orthodox Christians, from layman to bishop, have equal opportunities for salvation in Christ. The Apostle Paul teaches:
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are diversities of services, but the same Lord” (1 Cor. 12:4-5).
Responsibilities of Clerics
Speaking about the duties of clergy, it is easier to highlight what cannot be done. Tradition says that merchants were expelled from churches by Christ. Until today, clergymen are not allowed to engage in business. Members of the clergy are not allowed to gamble or drink. However, ordinary people should stay away from such temptations.
Also, clergy cannot hold positions in government agencies. Clerics do not serve in the army. It is unacceptable for them to shed the blood of living beings. For this reason, clergy do not practice medicine or veterinary medicine. Hunting is taboo for clergy.
After ordination, a person must become a role model. The parishioners look at the clergyman.
This is not an easy burden, which helps to get closer to God. But before making such an important decision, you should weigh the pros and cons. Without the zeal in your soul to strengthen your faith, you should not become a clergyman.
Important! Maintaining purity of soul and body, devotion to faith, the ability to show mercy and kindness - these are the qualities that should be inherent in anyone who decides to connect their life with the church.
What does the word “clear” mean after this?
The clergy generally consists of ministers of the faith to this day. That is:
- priests (priests according to the people),
- deacons (servants who help the priest, but are by no means able to independently direct services),
- subdeacons (assistants to deacons),
- readers (in this case there are clerics),
- sextons (officially these are gatekeepers, as well as bell ringers - again, they serve at services and sing in the choir),
- senior singers (regents, that is, choir directors),
- treasurers, as well as elders (in the old way - ktitors) of churches.
The throaty word “clergy” has an even lesser-known synonym: “clergyman.”
In the old days, singers were also considered among the clergy, but today this is not the case. Now only people who are dedicated to this are officially in the clergy.
But what is a choir? In Orthodox churches this is the place where the readers and singers stand. This is the embodiment of that part of heaven, where angels sing the glory of God.
And at the end we traditionally offer a video - short, but very informative. It was recorded in the Holy Spirit Cathedral. This is a khutbah that tells about the miracle of faith, as well as the blind cleric:
