A cleric in an Orthodox church - who is he, rights and responsibilities

Having heard in the church from the parishioners that a cleric would preach, I (I confess, I’m just getting acquainted with the world of the Orthodox religion) at first thought that one of the respectable parishioners who often help in the church was entrusted with speaking. But the father came out. I couldn’t restrain myself and after the service I went up to ask why he was called a cleric and whether it was a mistake. Of course, I blushed, as it was a little awkward (it seemed like I was asking about something basic that everyone here knows about). Father praised me for my curiosity and explained everything to me.

Who is allowed to become a clergyman in the church?

Only men are allowed to become a cleric.
This rule existed in ancient times and has survived to this day. Features of clerics and requirements for applicants for the rank:

According to tradition, those who have graduated from a theological seminary are ordained as clergy (this rule has been in effect since 1994);
the cleric is not the lowest rank; he is preceded by the cleric (the latter is accepted from the age of 7, and is ordained as a reader only from the age of 15);
during initiation, clerics become abbots or bishops;
if a cleric is not married, he is allowed to marry, but according to Christian canons;
For initiation, a special rite called hirothesia is used.

The church itself in Orthodoxy is considered the Body of Christ, and readers and other ministers act as its bodies performing certain functions. This way they ensure the coordinated functioning of the whole organism.

On a note! After initiation, the cleric is given certain responsibilities. If he does not comply with them or starts doing it incorrectly, he is punished for violations. Sometimes an anathema is even imposed.

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.

Literature

Church readers // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.
Vasiliev P. P.
Deacon // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.
Lebedev A.
Lower ranks of clergy in ancient times
Neselovsky A. Z.
Rites of consecration and consecration
Prot.
Gennady Nefedov. Sacraments and rituals of the Orthodox Church. Ch. VII. Sacrament of Priesthood
Nechaev P.
Practical guide for clergy. - St. Petersburg, 1892.
Posnov M.
History of the Christian Church (until 1054) Constant hierarchical and non-hierarchical ministries in the Church.
Suvorov N.
Course of Church Law. — T. II. - Yaroslavl, 1890.

^ CLEAR

CLER (Greek - “lot”, “share inherited by lot”) - in a broad sense - a set of clergy (clergy) and clergy (subdeacons, readers, singers, sextons, altar servers). “Clerics are so called because they are elected to church degrees in the same way as Matthias, appointed by the apostles, was chosen by lot” (Blessed Augustine). In relation to temple (church) service, people are divided into the following categories.

I. In the Old Testament: 1) the “clergy” (high priests, priests and “Levites” (lower ministers) and 2) the people. The principle of the hierarchy here is “tribal”, therefore only representatives of the “tribe” (tribe) of Levi are “clerics”: the high priests are direct representatives of the clan of Aaron; priests are representatives of the same family, but not necessarily direct; Levites are representatives of other clans of the same tribe. “People” are representatives of all other tribes of Israel (as well as non-Israelites who accepted the religion of Moses).

II. In the New Testament: 1) “clergy” (clergy and clergy) and 2) the people. The national criterion is abolished. All Christian men who meet certain canonical standards can become priests and clergymen. Women are allowed to participate (auxiliary positions: “deaconesses” in the Ancient Church, singers, servants in the temple, etc.), but they are not classified as “clergy” (see Deacon). “The people” (the laity) are all other Christians. In the Ancient Church, the “people,” in turn, were divided into 1) laity and 2) monks (when this institution arose). The latter differed from the “laity” only in their way of life, occupying the same position in relation to the clergy (acceptance of holy orders was considered incompatible with the monastic ideal). However, this criterion was not absolute, and soon monks began to occupy the highest church positions. The content of the concept of K. has changed over the centuries, acquiring rather contradictory meanings. Thus, in the broadest sense, the concept of K. includes, along with priests and deacons, the highest clergy (episcopal, or bishopric) - as in Tertullian: clergy (ordo) and laity (plebs). On the contrary, in a narrow meaning, also recorded in the first centuries of Christianity, K. are only clergy below the deacon (our clergy). In the Old Russian Church, the clergy is a collection of altar and non-altar ministers, with the exception of the bishop. Modern K. in a broad sense includes both clergy (ordained clergy) and clergy, or clerics (see Clergy).

Lit.:
Eleonsky F. G.
On the Old Testament priesthood // Christ.
Reading. 1879. Part 2; Titov G., priest.
Controversy on the issue of the Old Testament priesthood and the essence of priestly ministry in general. St. Petersburg, 1882; and under the article Hierarchy.

Who is the temple cleric? | Christianity on 4-women.ru

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 Holy Scripture (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.

Clerics have church degrees - higher and lower. The first are divided into hierarchical ranks and have the right to perform church sacraments. Priests are the highest clergy who receive the grace of the priesthood at the altar through ordination (ordination to the degree of priesthood), and they form the hierarchy. These include the hierarchical degrees of bishop, presbyter and deacon.

The lower clergy are readers, bell ringers, sextons, singers, etc., they are appointed to their service through consecration - the laying on of the episcopal hand in the temple outside the altar. During worship, these people serve in the temple.

Appointment to ministry occurs with the blessing of the bishop and does not belong to the sacraments.

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.

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.

Church Members

These are the clerics. The laity belongs to another category.

With the blessing of the clergy, they participate in church life outside the church, with their prayers in worship, in the election of clergy in church administration, etc.

Continuing the theme “Who is the temple cleric?” It is worth adding that on May 6, 1848, the Eastern Patriarchs wrote in the District Message that the guardians of piety are the Body of the Church itself, which is the people themselves, thereby expressing one of the fundamental truths of the Orthodox teaching, in contrast to the Catholic faith, which has the Body of the Church has divisions into two churches, not accepted by Orthodoxy: teaching and learning.

Appointment to church and public service and acceptance of a person into the clergy takes place through initiation. This person is endowed with certain powers in the position received and special grace to help.

We advise you to study the Georgian Icon of the Mother of God

Responsibilities of Clerics

In addition to responsibilities, clerics are also subject to a high degree of morality and decent behavior. They are not allowed to trade, gamble or drink.

They are also prohibited from serving in the army or holding government positions. In case of widowhood, it is forbidden to marry a second time.

Any business activity or occupation related to the shedding of animal or human blood is also not encouraged, such as hunting and medical practice (in particular, surgery).

Conclusion

In Byzantium, for voluntary resignation a person was deprived of many civil rights, and according to the rules of the Council of Chalcedon he could even be subject to anathema.

In Russia in the 19th century, this was only allowed when the priest became a young widower.

In this case, he could go to work in the public service, however, after a certain time - 6 years in the rank of deacon and after 10 years in the rank of presbyter.

Source

Clergyman in an Orthodox church

Since the Church is considered to be the Body of Christ, the clergy perform various functions like internal organs. Each person who has just been ordained must start from the lower positions and go through several steps.

In the Orthodox Church it is customary to divide all clergy into higher and lower.

The highest category includes all clergy in general. The ordination of such clergy takes place in the altar. Another name for ordination is consecration. Priests receive the grace of the Holy Spirit. It means giving the minister the right to perform Christian rites and sacraments.
The second group consists of temple servants. The ordination of lower ministers takes place outside the altar in the temple and is called chirosetia. The right to perform rituals for lower clergy is given by the bishop. Lower clerics serve in churches during services. This group of church ministers is given the right to read the Psalter, Apostle and Proverbs before the parishioners. It should be noted that laymen are also allowed to perform the duties of lower clergy.

All clergy are divided into three categories according to the degree of priesthood - bishops, presbyters and deacons.

Activities and responsibilities of a cleric

The rights and duties of clergy members were established by Ecumenical Councils in the 4th century, when Christianity was recognized as the state religion. There are quite a lot of functions that clergy perform. Among them:

reading sermons;
chants;
teaching children the Word of God;
charity;
explanation of Holy Scripture.

However, the main task of the cleric is to conduct divine services. To fully engage in his activities, he must be well educated and know his responsibilities.

A full member of the clergy continues to observe the same canons that were prescribed to him before the Sacrament of Hirothesia.

Interesting information

The main task of the cleric is to conduct divine services

Clergy are prohibited from leaving the service or community in which they reside. Priests are obliged to maintain the purity of the rituals performed, control their correctness, and bear responsibility for church paraphernalia.

Readers are only allowed to wear clothing appropriate to their rank. It is forbidden to wear military uniform, provocative or too expensive costumes. You cannot attend entertainment events or be a guest at a parishioner’s holiday.

The role of clergy in the Orthodox Church is difficult to overestimate. They are engaged in educating parishioners, teaching children, and preaching Christian values. It is the clergy who help the bishops conduct divine services, and also monitor the correct functioning of the parish.

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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.

Behavior in the presence of a bishop

Church etiquette is something every Orthodox Christian should know.

When attending a celebration, buffet or dinner party, you need to remember how to behave and follow the following rules:

When you arrive at the reception, you need to come up for a personal blessing by clergy. A person who is not a member of the church can greet the clergyman with a normal handshake. The meal begins with common prayer. Persons of other religions must remain silent during prayer. You are allowed to make toasts in honor of anyone present; you must end your message with the words: “Many years to come!” Being late for an event for no reason is considered an insult, so it is better to plan all your time in advance. People belonging to the lowest hierarchical level are the first to arrive at the reception, and they are the last to leave. It is indecent to linger and drink excessive amounts of alcohol during a meal.

Getting up from the table earlier than expected is also not recommended. Throughout the entire event, you should pay attention to the person sitting next to you, especially if it is a woman, but it is not customary to introduce yourself at the table. It is not recommended to talk with your mouth full, or to put a large amount of food on your plate. Free behavior, loud conversations, laughter and indecent conversations are not allowed at meals. It is not approved for a woman to appear in a short skirt, low-necked blouse or pants, although it is not necessary to wear a headscarf. When attending an event with the participation of sacred persons, it is better to observe moderation in everything.

So, a cleric is...

Reader, that is, a person who reads psalms in church. In the old days, this title sounded different.

And if you see the word “deacon” in classical literature, you should know that this is the same reader, but in today’s terms, a cleric.

According to the church hierarchy, the rank of cleric is the lowest of all (lower only is the cleric) and has not yet even been elevated to the rank of priesthood. So, although many people address the cleric as “father,” he is not always a priest.

The Church considers the clergy a very important figure - it depends on him how the faithful will understand and accept Scripture and preaching. After all, if people (even enlightened ones, even in our age of the Internet) do not correctly and timely interpret many complex passages of the Gospel, their hearts may not open to the Truth

By the way, there is also an opinion that a cleric is generally any clergy person who helps during divine services.

And there are three spiritual clergy ranks:

bishop or bishop (highest rank),
priest or presbyter,
deacon (this is a priest, but of the lowest rank).

That is, clergy can be representatives of any rank who are not laymen.

How this church rite arose: a little history

In the Orthodox Church, the rank of reader appeared before the end of the 19th century.

In the old days, the sexton not only read Scripture, but also explained the meaning of difficult passages, or translated texts if the believers did not understand the language of the church book. This was relevant not only for settlements with “national minorities” or other countries (after all, Orthodox churches were built in Armenian and Greek quarters, as well as in these countries), but also for Russians, because the language of church books and everyday speech were significantly different.

So it is not difficult to guess that for this rank they chose a person who was not only literate and well-versed in the wisdom of Orthodoxy, but also someone who knew how to communicate with people and was generally smart.

In addition to the reading itself, clerics:

could read sermons (this, by the way, has not changed to this day),
taught children in Sunday schools,
sang church hymns,
did charity work
could carry out various assignments of the priest.

Who can become a cleric?

Firstly, only a male person (this tradition has been maintained in Orthodoxy since ancient times, while among Protestants a woman can even become a priest).

Secondly, since 1994 the following have been accepted as clergy:

every graduate of a theological seminary,
from the age of 15 (whereas people can be admitted to the priesthood from the age of 10, or even from 7 years old - in fact, that’s why many priests are so young).

Such a dedication is made by the abbot or bishop. A special ritual has been created for this, it is called “hirothesia” (the word translates as “initiation”).

Sometimes a person holds the rank of cleric for only a couple of minutes before he is ordained a deacon.

Interestingly, if the cleric is not married, he can get married. If he is ordained to a higher church rank (subdeacon and beyond), he will no longer be able to get married.

Responsibilities of this person today

There are a number of church rules, written and unwritten, which all clergy must adhere to.

A church minister should not engage in entrepreneurial activity, because the Son of God drove the merchants out of His Father’s House. This prohibition also includes working in a public office - the holy father does not belong to worldly affairs, but only to God's.
He is forbidden to serve in the army, because this implies a readiness to kill other people if war suddenly breaks out.
Blood must not be shed. This also means that a cleric (and priest) cannot kill an animal and even be a doctor (especially a surgeon, but also a veterinarian), and of course, a hunter.
Gambling is also prohibited - this is the work of the devil.
Well, and most importantly: a church minister must be an example for parishioners. Competent speech, lack of anger and foul language - this is how he should look. And if he decides to start a family, then he should also become an exemplary husband and father.

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.

Who is a cleric and what are his responsibilities?

The word "clergy" comes from the Greek "lot." In Christianity this is what the clergy was called. That is, the society of parish clergy. Their appearance, duties and standards of behavior are regulated by the rules of the Ecumenical Councils.

Who are the clerics
Responsibilities and rules of conduct of clerics

We advise you to study the Icon of the Right-Handed Woman

In the broadest sense, clerics mean the clergy. In accordance with the rules in force in the church, they are ordained to serve in it.

In a narrow sense, a cleric is any clergyman of the church. That is, those who directly perform worship. These include deacons, readers, bell ringers, sextons, choristers and priests.

The exception is for bishops and church officials in certain church institutions.

In the early period of the formation of the church, the apostles enjoyed the greatest authority. It was then that the modern church hierarchy was created. Ordination was required to enter the clergy. That is, performing the sacrament of joining the community of priests. Only baptized males are now accepted into the clergy.

Although there are cases where women became priests. At the same time, they were forbidden to serve inside the temple. There are also age restrictions. For deacons, the minimum age is 25 years, for a subdeacon - 20, and for a presbyter - 30. Even children from eight years old are accepted as readers, and as choristers - from three years old.

The position of a cleric comes with certain responsibilities. They are associated both with church service and with norms of behavior. A cleric must have a high degree of morality. Under penalty of excommunication, they are prohibited from drinking and gambling. It is also unacceptable to hold public office and perform military service. It is forbidden to marry a second time in case of widowhood.

It is also prohibited to engage in trade, especially alcohol. Any entrepreneurial activity is not encouraged at all. Representatives of the church are prohibited from any activity related to the shedding of animal or human blood, including hunting.

For the same reason, clergy are not allowed to practice medicine, especially in the field of surgery.

In Byzantium, clergy who voluntarily resigned their ranks were deprived of many civil rights. According to the rule of the Council of Chalcedon, they could even be subject to anathema.

In the 19th century in Russia, by decree of the Synod, this was allowed only in exceptional cases. For example, when a priest became a widower at a young age.

In this case, he could enter the civil service only after a certain time: a deacon after 6 years, and a presbyter after 10.

Tsypin V.A. Canon law

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Who is a cleric and what are his responsibilities?

Temple cleric - who is this in Christianity

The word clergy is of Greek origin and literally means “lot.” In the Christian tradition, this is how clergy and ministers of the parish are called. The entire way of life of clergy - their behavior and appearance, duties and privileges - are strictly regulated by the Ecumenical Councils.

Who is a cleric in Christianity

The term cleric in its broadest sense is usually understood to mean the clergy as a whole. All clergy devote themselves to serving the Church and obey the laws in force within it.

In a narrower sense, clergymen who directly perform divine services in churches are usually called clerics. This category includes readers, deacons, sextons, bell ringers, priests and singers. The exception to this group is the bishops and some other ministers of the Church.

In the earliest years of the formation of the Christian Church, the apostles were considered the most authoritative persons. It was then that the church hierarchy began to form, which still exists today. Ordination is required to enter the clergy. This is the name of a special sacrament that allows you to join the community of clergy.

Currently, only males who have been baptized can join the clergy. However, there are several known cases where women were ordained. However, they were forbidden to perform services inside the temple.

In addition, there are age restrictions. The minimum age for deacons is 25 years. The age for receiving the rank of subdeacon is 20 years, and that of presbyter is 30 years.

Children from three years old can be accepted as readers and singers.

Clergyman in an Orthodox church

In the Orthodox Church it is customary to divide all clergy into higher and lower.

The highest category includes all clergy in general. The ordination of such clergy takes place in the altar. Another name for ordination is consecration. Priests receive the grace of the Holy Spirit. It means giving the minister the right to perform Christian rites and sacraments.
The second group consists of temple servants. The ordination of lower ministers takes place outside the altar in the temple and is called chirosetia. The right to perform rituals for lower clergy is given by the bishop. Lower clerics serve in churches during services. This group of church ministers is given the right to read the Psalter, Apostle and Proverbs before the parishioners. It should be noted that laymen are also allowed to perform the duties of lower clergy.

All clergy are divided into three categories according to the degree of priesthood - bishops, presbyters and deacons.

What are the responsibilities of clergy?

All clergy, regardless of their rank, are required to adhere to certain common rules and norms of behavior and moral and ethical principles based on Orthodox rules.

Orthodoxy provides a list of prohibitions, the violation of which can become an indelible stain on the reputation of a clergyman:

Christ also expelled all merchants from the Temple. And today, clergy are strictly prohibited from engaging in entrepreneurial activities.
It is unacceptable for clergy to gamble.
A clergyman is not allowed to serve in the Army.
It is not appropriate for a minister of the Church to work in government agencies.
A cleric has no right to shed the blood of a person or animal. The activities of a doctor, especially a surgeon, as well as veterinary practice are inaccessible to him. The same ban applies to hunting.
A spiritual person of any rank should serve as an example to follow. A clergyman is obliged to keep his soul and body pure, help his neighbors and show mercy.

In general, a person who becomes a cleric takes on a heavy burden - he strives to become closer to the Almighty. And therefore, the choice to serve God must be made only after carefully weighing all the pros and cons. If a person does not have faith and does not have the desire to gain and strengthen it in the future, he should not take the path of a clergyman.

The question of who a cleric is needs to be explained even to children. If a child understands at least in general terms the structure of the church hierarchy and the Temple, he will be much more interested, and he will show much more respect for the priests.

Rights of clerics

Among elders and deacons, primacy is determined by the rank or seniority of consecration, or consecration.

In the Russian Empire, clergy received great advantages in society. According to the Table of Ranks, bishops were equal to the highest civil and military ranks.

All noble privileges extended to clergy and their children.

Nowadays, clergy do not have privileges over other members of society and can enjoy all the rights and freedoms available to any citizen. Clergymen have the right to receive honorary titles and state awards.

Video

You can learn about the church hierarchy in Orthodoxy from this video.

Source: https://LivePosts.ru/articles/culture-society/religion/klirik-hrama-kto-eto-v-christianstve

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:

Job responsibilities of a medical representative

A medical representative must have information about the medicines he sells, be erudite and sociable. The responsibilities of specialists include working with attending physicians to motivate the prescription of drugs, new medical equipment, and establishing contacts with chief physicians and heads of pharmacies. Medical representatives conduct educational work, distribute information materials (including treatment regimens using promoted drugs), conduct seminars and lectures for doctors and pharmacy workers, conduct presentations, organize promotions, and participate in medical exhibitions.

Candidates for this position usually have the following basic requirements: - higher medical (pharmaceutical) education; - work experience as a medical representative of at least two years; - knowledge of effective sales technology; - good knowledge of a personal computer; - category “B”, driving experience .

To work in Western companies you will need knowledge of English.

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.

“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.”

Church Members

Members of the Church are divided into two categories, the first of which consists of those called by the Holy Spirit to perform divine services: teach the Sacraments, preach, take care of the external structure of monasteries and churches. These are the clerics. The laity belongs to another category. With the blessing of the clergy, they participate in church life outside the church, with their prayers in worship, in the election of clergy in church administration, etc.

The installation of candidates for sacred ecclesiastical ranks consists of two acts - election and consecration. Bishops, clergy and laity participate in the election.

The Importance of the Cleric in the Modern Orthodox Church

Clergy play a large role in the religious education of children and the religious education of adults who have converted to the Orthodox faith. Unobtrusive propaganda of religious values requires tactful and competent clergy, especially in newly built urban churches. Priests who have received a parish in the form of a temporary place at a church under construction need smart, efficient and competent clergy, with whom the clergy of the future church begins.

The clergyman in many Orthodox churches reads prayers in a half-empty church while people gather for the service. If a prayer is read with soul, its impact on the rare listeners is very great; a person is prepared from within for the sacrament of the Liturgy.

At all times, it depended on the Orthodox cleric how the parishioners of his church understood the Holy Scriptures. If in Tsarist Russia the clergy had to explain to illiterate parishioners the meaning of the Word they heard, today the situation has become more complicated. Highly educated people come to the Church to whom it is difficult to explain in simple words the elusive meaning of the sacred text they heard for the first time.

The cleric, as a link between people who have not yet become parishioners of the Temple and the priest, is very significant in our days.

Rights of clerics

Among elders and deacons, primacy is determined by the rank or seniority of consecration, or consecration.

According to the instructions of church canons and customs , lower clergy are obliged to show due respect to higher ones, but excessive signs that are contrary to the spirit of Christianity are not welcome. In the Russian Empire, clergy received great advantages in society. According to the Table of Ranks, bishops were equal to the highest civil and military ranks. All noble privileges extended to clergy and their children.

The role of the bishop in various denominations of Christianity

Both the Orthodox and Catholic Churches declare that the ascension of a priest to the highest rank exclusively through apostolic succession is legal and valid. In other words, the bishop receives full authority to perform the sacraments only with the blessing of a church minister who acquired such right in line with the apostles.

The bishop has the power to perform any of the sacraments. Only he is allowed to conduct the ordination procession (ordination) for the junior and middle ranks of church monks.
The name of the bishop is extolled in all monasteries during divine services. Temples located on the territory of the bishop's diocese are obliged to obey his will.
Any priest must wait for the approval of his bishop to begin performing a church sacrament. According to Byzantine tradition, the permission is presented in the form of a scarf with the image of one of the martyrs.
The vow of celibacy for those elevated to the rank of bishop became mandatory in the 7th century. If he had a wife, they had to separate by common consent.

Bishop in the Orthodox tradition

In 988, Prince Vladimir accepted Christianity from the Greeks. Mikhail becomes the first metropolitan. The history of Rus' is replete with cases of disagreements between clergy and princes.

In the middle of the 12th century, an incident occurred when Yuri Dolgoruky expelled Bishop Clement, who was not placed in this place by right of succession.
During the Kyiv schism of the church, the Novgorod diocese was separated from the capital on the initiative of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Novgorodians began to elect bishops from local priests at their own veche.
In the middle of the 13th century, the Moscow diocese separated from the ecclesiastical west of Rus'. Kyiv remains under the direct supervision of Constantinople.
To be elevated to the rank of Orthodox bishop, the candidate must be at least 35 years old. This provision was promulgated in the Byzantine collection of rules “Nomocanon”.
During the period from 1700 to 1917, orders for the ordination of a bishop and his transfer to other dioceses were under the supervision of the Holy Synod. Currently, the Moscow church is heading towards expanding the number of bishops to improve governance. The standard of living of clergy is gradually rising due to the workload, and many restrictions are being eradicated. Some Moscow bishops have their own personal transport and a rich mansion.

Bishop in Catholicism

Here the chief cleric has the power to perform confirmation, the process of bestowing spiritual powers. In addition, the Catholic bishop has the ability and right to perform any sacrament. The Pope has incomparable authority and is the king of the Holy See. He is considered the direct successor of the Apostle Peter.

In 1964, a college of bishops was created to govern the Church. The Pope is proclaimed president, without whom the institution of priesthood itself cannot exist.

Bishop in Protestantism

Unlike Orthodoxy and Catholicism, here bishops are recognized as temporary heads of administrative church communities and do not have special privileges. Protestants deny the distinction between bishop, elder and deacon, since the difference is not found in the Holy Scriptures. They argue that over time the spiritual strength of the continuity from Jesus Christ decreases.

After the Reformation, the sacrament took the form of a service rather than a sacrifice of the spirit. In Protestantism, the bishops, who play the most important role of governance, are not defined as a separate caste. The difference between a bishop and a simple pastor lies only in the former’s ability to visit the parishes of the diocese subordinate to him. Protestant services are held without magnificent decoration, statues and images of saints. The bishop modestly monitors the behavior of the parishioners and administers the sacraments at the right time.

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Presbyter - who is he in the Orthodox Church and who can occupy the rank

Every churchgoer or person interested in religion has heard about this at least once, but few are able to explain what the rank of presbyter is. But behind this term lies a rich tradition of priestly ministry and the history of theological development in Christianity, since New Testament times. Let's look into the history of the issue and find out who is called that today.

Who is this?

The word comes from the Greek term for elder. In common parlance today they are often simply called priests.

This is due to the fact that in the main traditional confessions the term “Presbyter” designates the second level of the priesthood.

The majority of clergy that parishioners of both the Orthodox Church and other historical confessions encounter are precisely presbyters or simply priests.

Of these, rectors of parishes and cathedrals are almost always appointed. They also administer most of the sacraments, except for ordination and (in Catholicism) confirmation, and perform other sacred rites.

In the early church

The word “presbyter” can be found already in the New Testament. It can be encountered especially often in the Acts of the Apostles. As Wikipedia says, at that time he was not always a person, hierarchically at the next level of the priesthood, after the bishop.

In apostolic times, this term often simply meant the elder in the Christian community. Sometimes one of the apostles was called this way. At the same time, already in the New Testament texts there is a difference between presbytery as an honorary title and ministry. It appears even more clearly in the writings of the apostolic and early Christian apologists.

From the texts of the next generation we can get an idea of what the duties of the early Christian priest were:

bless Church members;
to replace the bishop as chairman of the assembly of the faithful;
teach the faith instead of the bishop and with his blessing;
teach the sacraments, in addition to the priesthood itself, and the performance of sacred rites;
accept confession.

The bishop governed the diocese entrusted to him, consulting with the priests, whose college was called the “presbytery.” They were also called to councils, where they took seats behind the episcopate.

The outstanding role played by priests in the life of the church often resulted in a difficult fate for them during periods of persecution. Among them we can meet many martyrs, such as Elymas, a presbyter in Babylon who suffered under the emperor Decius, who became lights of the Christian faith even after death. Martyrs from the second priestly rank are called holy martyrs.

In Orthodoxy

Who is a presbyter in the Orthodox Church today? How different is his role from what we can find in antiquity?

The Orthodox priesthood finally took shape by the 5th–6th centuries, when the roles were clearly divided between three ranks - bishop (or bishop), presbyter (or priest) and deacon.

Subsequently, the main changes concerned the requirements for education, moral character and age of candidates.

The priest is assigned the role of the chief assistant and deputy bishop in the rites and teaching the faith of Orthodox Christians. Therefore, it is so important that he has the proper level of education.

In accordance with the canon law of the Russian Church, a candidate for ordination in Russia must:

Complete a full course of theological education at a seminary or theological academy. Although in certain cases, the ruling bishop may allow a deacon who has not graduated from the seminary, or a secular person, to become a priest. But they must prove their knowledge and trustworthiness.
Reach the age specified by the canons. Even by ancient councils it was defined as 30 years. As in the case of education, deviation from this rule is allowed, but only if there are really serious reasons.
Be either already married to an Orthodox woman or celibate, declaring his desire to remain in this state forever. Widowers are also allowed to be ordained.
The moral qualities of the candidate must be impeccable.

Unmarried priests who have become monastics can become bishops.

In other denominations

In Catholicism, as well as in Protestant communities where the bishopric has been preserved, elders occupy the same place in the hierarchy as in Orthodoxy. Their functions are also very similar. The only difference is that in the Catholic Church, confirmation is administered only by the bishop.

Many Protestant denominations do not recognize the priesthood as a sacrament, which leaves its mark on the role of the elder, which primarily becomes administrative and teaching.

In addition, there are Presbyterian churches where there are no bishops. In them, the entire administration of church affairs is in the hands of a college of elders.

As in Orthodoxy, in the Catholic Church and most historical Protestant denominations (Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism), candidates for the role of elder are required to meet certain minimum age, education and lifestyle requirements.

Catholic Latin priests, for example, are required to remain celibate. At the same time, this does not apply to Protestant pastors - moreover, they can often get married after they have taken office.

Recently, many Protestant denominations have opened their doors to female elders, and some have gone further by appointing women bishops. This applies to both Lutherans (Church of Sweden) and Anglicans (Church of England, Episcopal Church USA).

Presbyterianism

Among the many directions of Protestantism, there is one that took its name from the rank of elders - Presbyterianism.

Anyone who is interested in the question of what the Presbyterian Church is will have to turn to the teachings of the French theologian John Calvin, which formed the basis of the teachings of this denomination. It was his rethinking on the soil of Scotland that gave birth to it.

The main feature of Presbyterianism was the absence of episcopacy. This denomination is organized according to the congregational principle:

Parishes are led by pastors and a council of elders.
Several parishes make up presbyteries.
General synods, which are the highest governing body, are formed by representatives of the presbyteries.

In this denomination, elders are called not only the pastors who lead the community, but also the elders elected by it and those in charge of financial and administrative matters.

The elders are assisted by deacons. Thus, the Presbyterian Church is devoid of such a strict hierarchical principle typical of Orthodoxy, Catholicism or Lutheranism.

Although the first Calvinists appeared in the Muscovite kingdom back in the 16th century, real Presbyterianism appeared in the Russian Empire in the middle of the 19th century. In 1860, the US missionary Easton and the Turkish preacher Kashamosh organized the first Presbyterian communities in the Yerevan province, which gradually grew throughout the empire.

Today, Presbyterianism is represented in most regions of Russia, especially strongly in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The communities of the northern capital are united by the Council of Pastors of Presbyterian Churches of St. Petersburg, which is an unregistered coordinating body.

Source: https://religiya.guru/polezno-znat/izuchaem-tserkovnye-terminy-presviter-kto-eto-takoj.html