Church medals and orders of the Russian Orthodox Church: history, description, types

The first Russian award related to religious themes was established at the end of the 17th century by Peter I and named in honor of St. Andrew the First-Called. This was an order that was awarded to military personnel for heroism and to government officials for special merits. Among the clergy, Metropolitan Gabriel was the first to receive it, after which awards to the clergy became regular. The Russian Orthodox Church approved its own orders and medals (church ones) only in the twentieth century.

Types of medals of the Russian Orthodox Church

Today there are 3 types of medals in the Russian Orthodox Church:

patriarchal (by the names of the orders);
synodal;
diocesan.

The most significant are the patriarchal ones. They are awarded to persons who have brought a lot of benefit to the Church, but have not yet earned the award of the order.

This category consists of medals of the following orders, which are awarded for certain merits:

Prince Vladimir - for long service to the Church, services to the Russian Orthodox Church;
Glory and Honor (the only medal of this type that has 3 degrees) - for promoting mutual understanding between religions and nationalities;
Sergius of Radonezh - for his activities to establish peace throughout the world;
medal “Patriarchal Gratitude” - for what it is awarded is not defined, but it is received by persons who have received the highest interest of the Patriarch;

Prince Daniil of Moscow - for promoting spiritual social growth;
Princess Olga - a “women’s” medal, awarded for an active life position and high achievements;
Seraphim of Sarov - for church restoration work;
St. Innocent - for missionary work and enlightenment;
Prince Dmitry Donskoy - for services to the defense of the Fatherland, spiritual assistance to the military;
St. Macarius - for participation in church-scientific and spiritual-educational activities;
Venerable Euphrosyne - awarded to women for active work for the benefit of the Russian Orthodox Church;
Equal to the Apostles Nicholas - for missionary work and enlightenment;
St. Andrew the Icon Painter - for the decoration of churches, achievements in icon painting and church architecture, and charity for the decoration of churches;
Martyr Tryphon - for anti-drug, anti-alcohol and other activities with habits that harm people.

Synodal and diocesan formations of the Russian Orthodox Church can establish their own award signs. At the same time, they should not have names that coincide with those of the general church, and require mandatory registration with the Awards Commission.

In addition, special requirements of the Holy Synod were established regarding the widespread establishment of medals. In accordance with them, the regulations and descriptions should be drawn up similarly to the same documents of general church awards.

In order to preserve the identity of the church award system of the Russian Orthodox Church, the parameters of the award sign must be equated to the following values:

diameter: 35–45 mm;
color depending on the degree: I – golden, II – silver, III – bronze;
Mounting option: on a block made of metal or silk.

When developing a design, on one side you can depict the face and name of a saint that is significant for a particular diocese, or another image of an Orthodox theme. The reverse side must have an inscription indicating the merit for which the award is given and the name of the diocese.

The system of awards of the Russian Orthodox Church

Over the past decades, the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church has created a system of orders and medals that commemorate the feat and contribution of our contemporaries - clergy, clergy and laity - to the cause of the revival of Russian Orthodox spirituality, for the benefit of the faith and the Fatherland. To date, this system includes eight orders of various degrees and three medals. In addition, special insignia may be established by the Holy Synods of the Belarusian and Ukrainian Autonomous Churches. Thus, clergy and laity of fraternal Belarus are awarded the Order of the Cross of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk.

Orders and medals of the Russian Church can be awarded to any of its members regardless of rank, origin, property or class qualifications. The metropolitan and the rural priest, the learned theologian and the humble employee of educational and medical institutions, the priest and the layman - the reward of each is determined by his work and faith, and not by rank and social status. As it is said in the famous Easter conversation of St. John Chrysostom, the one who came to the field of church feat not in the morning, but from noon, and not even from noon, but only in the evening, and even, like many of us, “at the eleventh hour” , i.e. in his declining years, he is equally pleased and equally rewarded. It is never too late for anyone to join the great common work of the Holy Church.

In ancient times, the Russian Church did not know any system of external distinctions and awards. The intensity of spiritual life in dioceses and parishes was then completely different, incomparable with our modern era. Later, during the period of Imperial Russia, with its external splendor, “table of ranks” and a developed hierarchy of regalia, representatives of the clergy were awarded in accordance with the general order. Of course, the Church had and still has its own special reward system, based on the characteristics of the priesthood, liturgical attire and accessories of the clergy. The very appointment of a higher rank is a reward conditioned by the merit of the service of the recipient. A priest can become an archpriest, a hieromonk can become an abbot and archimandrite, a bishop can become an archbishop and then a metropolitan. A deacon may be awarded the right to wear a double orarion, a priest (and hieromonk) - a legguard, a pectoral cross, an archpriest - a club, a cross with decoration, a miter, the right to serve at the open Royal Doors to the Cherubim and to the Lord's Prayer, an archimandrite - the right to use a staff during divine services , archbishop - with a personal or memorial panagia...

But, in addition to these church and liturgical differences, the hierarchy of the Russian Church has developed in the last four decades a unique order system of church awards. The first to be established was the Order of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir (three degrees), which appeared in our Church during the period of the primacy of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I, in the late 1950s, and for a long time remained the only church award. Under His Holiness Patriarch Pimen, the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh was established in 1978. Ten years later, in 1988, in commemoration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus', three orders were established at once: the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called with a diamond star, which became the highest award The Russian Orthodox Church, which is awarded to the Heads of Churches, the Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, which was equally often awarded to both ecclesiastical and secular figures who have worked in the field of the spiritual revival of Russia, and the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga - especially for church workers, ascetics of the Church and spiritual enlightenment.

In view of the need to encourage the contribution and heroism of people who devote their strength to the fight against the various spiritual and social ills of our society, charity and care for the weak and in need of help, the Order of the Holy Martyr Tryphon was established (in 1995) and - together with the Russian Children's Fund - Order of the Holy Blessed Tsarevich Demetrius (in 1997).

The revival of missionary service, the goal of which is now no longer the enlightenment of external, pagan peoples, but the return to Christ and the churching of the bulk of our people, prompted us to also establish a special missionary order - St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna (1999). In addition to the indicated orders, we also award clergy and clergy and laity with church medals: St. Sergius of Radonezh, Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow and St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna.

...It is not the order that makes a person. And none of us will come with orders and medals to the Last Judgment of Christ. But clergy wear with dignity the awards assigned to them by the clergy as evidence of worthy completion of church service and respect from the flock and church people.

Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called

In memory of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus', the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church established three new orders on December 27-28, 1988: the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called with a Diamond Star, the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow of three degrees and the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, also of three degrees. The Holy Apostle Andrew (November 30/December 13) is called “first-called” because he became the first of the Savior’s apostles. Immediately after the baptism of Christ on the Jordan, when John the Baptist pointed to Him as the Messiah, the Savior of the world, Andrei, forgetting about everything and leaving everything, followed the Teacher. For the Russian Church, the memory of the apostle is also important because, according to the chronicle, Apostle Andrew the First-Called was the first to bring the proclamation of the Christian faith to the borders of our Fatherland, visited Kyiv and Novgorod, and blessed the Christian future of the Russian Land.

Previously, in the Russian Empire, there was the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, established by Peter the Great in 1698 and revered as the main one among Russian orders. Likewise, today the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle is the highest award of the Russian Orthodox Church. The diamond star of the order is worn on the right side in the upper part of the chest, and the badge of the order on a ribbon is worn over the left shoulder and is located under the star of the order; all other orders are worn lower. In the center of the order is the image of the holy apostle with the characteristic oblique (“St. Andrew’s”) cross on which the apostle was crucified. The original surviving parts of the cross, as well as the relics of the saint, are located in the Cathedral of St. Andrew in the Greek city of Patras. The Order is a Patriarchal award; it is awarded to persons only by decision and initiative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' and the Holy Synod.

Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir

The Order of St. Vladimir of three degrees is the oldest in terms of establishment in the Russian Orthodox Church. It was established in 1957 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchate in the Russian Church. Initially, it was modestly called “a breastplate in honor of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir” and was intended to be awarded primarily to representatives of foreign Orthodox Churches and heterodox denominations.

...Historians called him the Great, the Church - Saint Equal to the Apostles, the poetic memory of the people - Vladimir the Red Sun. Grand Duke Vladimir Svyatoslavich (960-1015; commemorated July 15/28) managed to create a single powerful Holy Rus' from a conglomerate of disparate tribes and principalities. His main spiritual feat was the Baptism of Rus' in 988. The prince did not impose a new religion on the people: he sent ambassadors to different countries to “test their faith,” and when the messengers returned, he listened to them in a meeting of elders and people and, with conciliar consent, chose the Orthodox faith - according to the criterion of true beauty and grace. “For,” said the ambassadors, “when we stood at the service in the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Constantinople, we did not know where we were - in heaven or on earth.” The Baptism of Rus' predetermined the moral character and historical path of our people for a thousand years to come.

The first awards of the order (then still called the “badge”) took place in the spring of 1958. Among the persons awarded the order of the 1st degree in 1959 were Metropolitan Elijah Karam of the Lebanon Mountains and Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia.

The first Russian person to receive a high award was His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow and All Rus'. The Order of St. Vladimir \ degree was awarded to him on July 18, 1961, on the day of the celebration of the memory of St. Sergius of Radonezh, at the Council of Bishops held in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra . The order could also be awarded to churches, monasteries and entire dioceses. In 1964, Vladimir I degree was received by the Moscow Theological Academy, in 1977 - by the Leningrad Theological Academy.

Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga

The order was established by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on December 27-28, 1988, simultaneously with the orders of Apostle Andrew the First-Called and Prince Daniel of Moscow. The order is intended exclusively for awarding women. Grand Duchess Olga of Kiev, baptized Elena (+969; commemorated July 11/24), became the first Russian Christian ruler. Later legends call her homeland Pskov, and the beginning of her independent reign in the chronicles is associated with the story of the terrible retribution against the Drevlyans, the killers of Igor.

Olga the Russian went down in history as the great creator of the sovereign life and culture of ancient Rus'. The chronicles are full of evidence of her tireless “walks” across Russian soil with the goal of improving and streamlining civil and economic life. The princess put a lot of effort into strengthening the country's defense power. No less urgent was the radical transformation of the religious life of Rus'. In 946, Olga set off with a large fleet to Constantinople. It was a peaceful walk, combining the tasks of a religious pilgrimage and a diplomatic mission - the development of a friendly Russian-Byzantine dialogue. The princess's heart opened to Orthodoxy, she decides to become a Christian.

The sacrament of baptism was performed on her by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople, and the recipient from the font was Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus himself. Upon returning to Kyiv, Olga built the first, still wooden, Church of Sophia of the Wisdom of God. God glorified the ascetic princess with miracles and the incorruption of her relics. The grandson raised by her, Grand Duke Vladimir the Red Sun, 20 years after the death of the princess, will make Christianity the state religion of Rus'.

...In Russia, before 1917, there was already an award of this name. On the initiative of the famous publicist M.O. Menshikov of the “Society of St. Olga” in 1914, the “insignia of St. Olga” was highly approved. He was called to Fr. The Saint Olga insignia was awarded only once. In 1916, Vera Nikolaevna Panaeva, who lost three officer sons in the battles of the First World War, was awarded the second degree of distinction.

Order of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna

The Order of St. Innocent was established in the Russian Church in connection with the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the saint of God. Saint Innocent (Veniaminov; 1797-1879; commemorated March 31/April 13 and September 23/October 6) occupies a special place in the history of Russian holiness. He went from a rural parish priest in the Irkutsk diocese to the department of Moscow Saints. An apostle of Siberia and America, he truly carried the gospel of God “even to the ends of the earth,” preached to the Yakuts, Chukchi, Eskimos and Aleuts, and compiled a grammar and the first dictionary of the Aleutian language. Already being Metropolitan of Moscow, he founded the Orthodox Missionary Society.

In February 1999, when the 70th anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II was celebrated, by decision of the Holy Synod he was awarded the newly established Order of St. Innocent, 1st degree - for his primate labors for the benefit of the Russian Church. “By accepting this award,” the Patriarch said in response, “on behalf of the entire Russian Orthodox Church, which has been carrying out its missionary, educational service in these years, strengthening the faith of Christ in the hearts and souls of people, we will maintain unity, and no one and nothing will separate us , as the Apostle Paul said, from the love of God.”

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II went down in the history of the Church as the first of its High Hierarchs, tirelessly undertaking near and far travels to dioceses, churches and monasteries in the fatherland and abroad, where often, as they say, “the foot of an Orthodox bishop has never set foot.” And everywhere bishops, clergy and ordinary believers feel the archpastoral care, spiritual generosity and love of the Primate, from whose attention their difficulties and sorrows do not escape.

It is no coincidence that in recent years the Russian Church has been paying special attention to the revival of Orthodox missionary work, which, alas, is now needed not only by the pagans who have not yet been enlightened by the light of the Gospel truth, but also by the majority of the people who have forgotten their Orthodox roots over the decades of atheistic power. The period of the patriarchate of His Holiness Alexy P. is rightly called the “New Baptism of Rus'”.

Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh

The Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh of three degrees was established by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on December 26, 1978. Orders of I and II degrees are awarded to the primates of Local Orthodox Churches, heads of non-Orthodox Churches and religious associations, prominent church and government figures - for fruitful work to strengthen peace and friendship between peoples.

St. Sergius (1322-1392; commemorated July 5/18 and September 25/October 8) went down in the history of Russia and the Russian Church as the great “educator of the Russian national spirit” (V.O. Klyuchevsky), reformer of Russian Orthodox monasticism, founder of dozens of monasteries . He was rightly called “abbot of the Russian Land.” But the significance of Abba Sergius went far beyond the scope of church activity itself. The spiritual leader of Rus', it was he who blessed the holy Prince Demetrius Donskoy for the Battle of Kulikovo, and then sealed his spiritual will, according to which the great reign passed to Demetrius’s son, Grand Duke Vasily.

Thus, for the first time, the great reign became hereditary and dynastic, which contributed to the strengthening and consolidation of Russian sovereign statehood. The first Order of St. Sergius, 1st degree, was awarded to His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Rus' for his outstanding contribution to the development of relations between the Orthodox Sister Churches, ecumenical and peacemaking services. The second recipient was Metropolitan Alexy of Tallinn and Estonia, now His Holiness the Patriarch. The third order was received by the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomna.

On the day of the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo, on the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on September 8/21, 1980, the Order of St. Sergius, 1st degree, was awarded to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra founded by the great Russian ascetic.

Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow

The Order of St. Daniel of three degrees was established by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on December 27-28, 1988 in memory of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus'. It is awarded to both clergy and secular persons.

The Holy Blessed Prince Daniel (1261-1303; commemorated March 4/17) was the youngest son of Saint Alexander Nevsky. But in history there is an invisibly evangelical law at work, which could be called “the blessing of the youngest son.” After the death of his father, Daniil inherited a small, unknown Moscow. He founded the first Moscow monastery - the St. Danilov Monastery, where his relics now rest.

The holy prince never took up arms to seize foreign lands, he never took away property from other princes either by violence or deceit. God rewarded him with the future prosperity of the Moscow Danilovich princely dynasty, from whom “came the great princes and kings of Moscow. “It was this original founder,” let’s say in the words of Metropolitan Platon of Moscow, “who laid the foundation for the present greatness of Moscow.”

The Primate of the Russian Church presents the Order of St. Daniel, as a rule, himself, giving the award a particularly solemn character. The Order is also awarded to secular persons who have done a lot to revive the spiritual life of Russia, to strengthen its power and well-being. Orders of the 1st degree were awarded at different times to the mayor of Moscow Yu.M. Luzhkov, Russian Defense Minister I.D. Sergeev, writer A.I. Solzhenitsyn. The Order of St. Daniel should be worn on the right side of the chest, the degrees of the order are placed in a line.

Order of the Holy Martyr Tryphon

The Order of the Holy Martyr Tryphon of three degrees was established by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on February 22, 1995. The Order is awarded to clergy, church, government and public figures, law enforcement officials, writers and journalists, medical workers and educators for active work in the fight against alcoholism and drug addiction , other destructive phenomena in the spiritual life of society.

The holy martyr Tryphon (February 1/14) from his youth had the grace from God to cast out demons and heal the sick. We rarely now connect one with the other in our minds, but in the Orthodox understanding, sin is not only and not so much a crime, but damage, a disease. “God did not create death,” says Scripture; illness and death entered the world with original sin, the violation of God's commandments. Accordingly, it is necessary to treat simultaneously - body and soul, illness - and its original source, sin. To heal means to return chastity and integrity to a person. Without prayer, without grace

It is impossible for God to heal either physical, spiritual, or social, civilizational ailments, which include alcoholism, drug addiction, insanity under the influence of economic stress, information psychoses, and totalitarian sects. Saint Tryphon was precisely such a blessed healer, who suffered martyrdom during the era of anti-Christian persecution under the Roman emperor Decius (250).

The order has three degrees. The first is a silver cross with gilding, the second is a silver cross, the third is a silver cross made of jewelry alloy. In our time, when without the joint efforts of the Church and society, the state and charitable foundations, businessmen and the media, an effective fight against social diseases and disorders is impossible, the image of the holy martyr Tryphon, a free healer, who asked those cured by him for one thing - to preserve the faith of Christ, strengthens and supports us.

Order of the Righteous Tsarevich Dimitri, Uglich and Moscow

In the award system of the Russian Orthodox Church, a special place is occupied by the Order of the Holy Blessed Tsarevich Demetrius, the Wonderworker of Moscow and Uglich. It was established on the initiative of the chairman of the Russian Children's Fund, writer Albert Likhanov, on September 29, 1997, jointly by the RDF and the Moscow Patriarchate. According to the statute of the order, it is awarded to persons who have made a significant contribution to the care and protection of suffering children: the disabled, orphans and street children. Each submission is individual in nature; the list of candidates is presented to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', who makes the decision on the award.

The holy noble Tsarevich Dimitri, who was villainously murdered in Uglich on May 15, 1591 (May 15/28, June 3/16), was the youngest son of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Exiled with his mother as a result of palace intrigues to Uglich, the youth prince lived peacefully in this ancient Russian city, until here too he was overtaken by the hand of assassins sent from Moscow. Tradition accuses Boris Godunov of the crime: it was he, who had no rights to the throne, who could have interfered with the last son of John IY. In the bloody haze of political sinful passions, hunger and devastation, people's love in the Time of Troubles brought to life a whole string of ghosts - False Dmitrys.

To stop the temptation, on June 3, 1606, the relics of the murdered prince were transferred to Moscow, to the Kremlin Assumption Cathedral. Since then, a number of miraculous healings, help in illnesses and misfortunes, especially for children, sent by the Lord through prayer to Saint Demetrius, have not stopped. The Order is a cross with rays made of pure silver with gilding, in the middle of which in a medallion there is an image of Prince Demetrius, made using the enamel technique, surrounded by rubies, with the inscription For Deeds of Mercy.

Among the first recipients were the city of Uglich, the temple of Tsarevich Dimitri at the First City Hospital in Moscow, as well as a number of figures who worthily served in the care of sick and unfortunate children. Among them: chairman of the board of the Volgograd branch of the RDF, creator of medical care for disabled children R.K. Skrynnikova; Orthodox philanthropist from Switzerland Tamara Simon, who donated 100 thousand dollars to charity for disabled children; L.S. Gorelysheva - for 42 years of continuous work as a laundress in an orphanage in the city of Suzdal; family orphanage M.V. and T.V. Sorokins (Rostov region) for raising 38 adopted children.

Medal of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna

The medal of St. Innocent, “the apostle of Siberia and America,” was established in the Russian Church on the same day as the order of the same name, in 1999. In the center of the medal, on a blue enamel background, is the golden image of the great evangelist. On the back is the inscription: “For missionary work.”

The vast expanses of Russia involuntarily evoke the thought of an immense field for the exploits of the apostolic Orthodox gospel. And Russian missionaries, from the first centuries after the Baptism of Rus', tirelessly preached the Gospel to the surrounding pagan peoples. They did not go to conquer, subjugate tribes and nationalities to their power, their customs - they went to give enlightenment, moral principles and economic skills, to include them in the space of world Christian civilization.

Following the gracious precepts of Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, for each of the illiterate peoples of great Russia, Orthodox missionaries, first of all, created the alphabet, developed a literary language, translated the Holy Scriptures and liturgical books. This is how Saint Stephen of Perm, a contemporary of St. Sergius, acted in the 14th century, and Saint Innocent acted in the same way in the 19th century. Their works and behests are continued by modern Orthodox missionaries. A special Missionary Department was created under the Holy Synod, and a Theological Seminary with a missionary focus was created in Belgorod.

Medal of St. Sergius of Radonezh

Medals of St. Sergius of two degrees - gold and silver - were established by the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church together with the order of the same name in 1978.

Gold and silver medals appeared in the Russian award tradition before orders. There is information that “gold” (meaning “medals”, because the medal comes from the word “metal”) were first awarded to participants in one of the Russian campaigns of the 15th century.

In the monastery, founded a century earlier by the “Hegumen of the Russian Land,” of course, there was initially neither gold nor silver. Even liturgical vessels were wooden, even books were made of birch bark. The only “gold” in the monastery were the people - the monks of the Sergius school. Each had his own labor obedience: St. Sergius himself (the Life says that he had the height and strength of two men) sawed boards, cut huts, and carried water for the brethren. And everyone, following the precepts of the abbot, constantly worked: they uprooted forests, built, plowed, wrote books and icons, erected churches. The main task of a monk is prayer. But external, physical labor never interferes with internal, spiritual work - as the monks say, “smart work.”

You should not think that great feats - spiritual and physical - were the lot of the ancient ascetics. Among our contemporaries, quietly and imperceptibly, sometimes, perhaps, no lesser feats are accomplished. And none of them expects either praise or an order. A modest medal, overshadowed by the name and image of St. Sergius, with the motto on the reverse side “Exalted by humility,” is perhaps the best reward for these selfless workers.

Medal of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow

The gold medal of Saint Prince Daniel, with the inscription “For labors for the glory of the Holy Church” on the reverse, was established in the Russian Church along with the order of the same name in the year of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus', in 1988.

The work and virtue of Saint Daniel, the founder of the Moscow Danilovich dynasty, consisted, first of all, in frugality, fidelity to the covenants of the fathers, and the slow but sure strengthening of the Moscow Sovereign Center. Historian V.O. Klyuchevsky wrote about his descendants: “The Moscow Danilovichs are in many respects examples of moderation and accuracy. Without shining with special virtues, these princes combined many less expensive, but more profitable qualities.

First of all, these princes live amicably with each other. They hold tightly to the covenant of their fathers: “to live for one.” They are very respectful sons: they sacredly honor the memory and covenant of their parents. Therefore, a family custom, a paternal and grandfather’s tradition, takes shape early among them. Hence the firmness of the step of the Moscow princes, the evenness of movement, the sequence of actions; their work proceeds in an even and continuous thread, just as the yarn flowed in the hands of their wives, obeying the movement of the spindle. Preserving their father's acquisitions and adding something new to it - that's what their government thoughts were focused on. These properties helped their political success.”

This characteristic perfectly reflects the ideal of Russian historical construction and economic development of the land. We need these qualities and talents like no other today. The bearers of these talents are recognized by the Church with a medal bearing the name of Saint Prince Daniel.

New orders and medals

On April 3, 2001, new awards of the Russian Orthodox Church were established:

1. Order of St. Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow. 2. Order of St. Andrei Rublev 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree. 3. Medal of St. Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow. 4. Medal of St. Andrei Rublev, 1st and 2nd degree.

On March 25, 2004, new awards of the Russian Orthodox Church were established:

1. Order of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree.
2. Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree. 3. Order of Glory and Honor. 4. Medal of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 1st and 2nd degree. To the beginning of the section “Orders, medals”>>>

Establishment and award stages

The regulations on church medals and their descriptions are approved by the Council of Bishops. The preparation of these documents is carried out in the order described below.

Primate (Patriarch) of the Russian Orthodox Church:

decides who to reward;
directly rewards;
gives blessings to other clergy members to present awards;
approves the composition of the award committee.

The Holy Synod establishes a specific award, prepares its description and regulations.

Individuals and legal entities have the right to receive church medals. Awards can be made no more than once every 2 years.

Along with the award badge, a certificate is presented, in which its number is written. The procedure itself is a solemn event.

A certain award can be awarded to a person only 1 time. A duplicate can only be obtained when it is proven that the loss of the original was inevitable. Only a clergyman with the authority granted to do so and on the basis of a petition written by the person who lost the award can petition for this. The petition is submitted to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, who makes a decision based on the facts provided.

After the death of the recipient, the medal is inherited, but the heirs are not allowed to wear it. It can only be given to a museum collection with the blessing of the Patriarch or bishop of the diocese.

If the award turns out to be unfounded or the recipient commits a serious crime against the Church or Christian laws, the Patriarch may cancel the award or deprive the award already awarded. If a cleric is defrocked by order of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, orders and medals are also taken away from him.

Church awards and external insignia of clergy

Liturgical awards, serving to encourage bishops and clergy, testifying to their worthy performance of church service, have existed in Russia since 1797, when Emperor Paul I, by a personal decree to the Holy Synod, introduced a number of awards for the white clergy: “first, receiving a cross to wear on the chains on the neck, secondly, the use of a purple velvet kamilavka or skufiya; and, finally, thirdly, for the noblest of them, the miter, which is used by archimandrites.” After the coronation of the holy Emperor Nicholas II, all Orthodox priests were awarded the right to wear a silver 4 eight-pointed cross. Now such a pectoral cross is given by the bishop to everyone who is ordained a priest during ordination.

Currently, the hierarchical awards in the Russian Orthodox Church are:

– promotion in rank;

– elements of liturgical vestments that carry spiritual meaning;

– liturgical distinctions (serving the Divine Liturgy with the royal doors open until the Cherubic Song or the “Our Father”).

Hierarchical awards are presented in strict sequence. Exist

awards for the episcopate, priesthood and diaconate. The conferment of awards for the priesthood and diaconate is carried out by the ruling diocesan bishop or, with his blessing, by the vicar bishop.

When conferring hierarchical awards, the bishop proclaims “axios” (Greek άξιος - worthy). Clerical awards in the form of service distinctions determine the hierarchical place of the clergyman during divine services at the cathedral service (if there are identical awards, the priority belongs to the eldest by consecration).

The awarding of the episcopacy is carried out on the initiative and decision of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'; successive awards are the elevation to the rank of archbishop, metropolitan, as well as (until 2004) the granting of the right to wear the second panagia, present the cross and primikirium during divine services.

Panagia (from the Greek παναγία - All-Holy), which, in addition to the pectoral cross with decorations, is worn by the bishop on his chest - a small round icon with the image of the Mother of God. The right to wear the second panagia belongs to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine and His Eminence Metropolitan of Tokyo and All Japan; bishops who were previously awarded this award retain the right to wear a second panagia only within their dioceses (jurisdictions). The right to present the cross during divine services belongs to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' and His Beatitude the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine (within Ukraine). The primikirium is used by His Holiness the Patriarch for all divine services, His Beatitude the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine, His Eminence the Metropolitans of Tokyo and all Japan, Minsk and Slutsk, Chisinau and all Moldavia - within their jurisdictions; diocesan bishops - within their dioceses.

The successive rewards for the priesthood are:

Gaiter

- a quadrangular board suspended on a tape by two corners to the belt. The award is made by decree of the diocesan bishop no earlier than three years after the consecration of the recipient. The legguard is hung over the left shoulder and descends from the right side below the waist onto the thigh.

Kamilavka

(from the Greek κάμηΛος - camel) - a headdress made of velvet in the form of a cylinder extended at the top without a brim. The black kamilavka is a permanent accessory of the black clergy (the klobuk, the everyday headdress of a monk, is a kamilavka connected to a basting draped over it - a short black veil, divided on the back into three ends). The violet-colored kamilavka is a priest’s award, which is made by decree of the diocesan bishop no earlier than three years after the award of the nabedrennik. The kamilavka is worn during worship, as well as during official and ceremonial events.

Golden pectoral cross.

The award is made by decree of the diocesan bishop no earlier than three years after the award of the kamilavka (for monastics - the gait) and after serving in the priesthood for at least five years.

The pectoral cross is worn over the vestments during divine services, and over the cassock in everyday settings.

The rank of archpriest, the rank of abbot

(for monastics). The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' no earlier than after 10 years of service in the priesthood.

Mace

(“epigonatius” from the Greek έπίγονάτίον - knee pad) - a diamond-shaped plate, which is suspended on a tape by the acute-angled end. Initially it was part of the bishop's vestments. The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' no earlier than five years after the elevation to the rank of archpriest (for monastics - abbot). The club is hung under the phelonion over the shoulder, with the club worn on the right and the legguard on the left.

Cross with decorations.

The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' no earlier than five years after the award with the club; worn during divine services over the vestments, in everyday settings – over the cassock.

Miter

(for archpriests), the rank of archimandrite (for monastics). The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' for no less than 30 years of immaculate service to the Church of God. The miter, reminiscent of a royal crown, was adopted by the hierarchy of the Byzantine Church from imperial use; it is used only during divine services by bishops, as well as by archimandrites, on whom the miter is entrusted when elevated to the rank. The archimandrite's miter, unlike the bishop's, does not have a cross crowning it (with the exception of the head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem, who, elevated to the rank of archimandrite, wears a miter with a cross when serving in the churches of the Spiritual Mission). Honored archpriests awarded a miter are called “mitred”.

Celebrating the Divine Liturgy with the Royal Doors Open

(which is a feature of the bishop's ministry). In this case, the right to serve with the royal doors open is first granted until the Cherubic Song (this award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' no earlier than five years after the award of the miter), and then until the “Our Father” (no earlier than five years after being awarded the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the royal doors open until the Cherubic Song).

Patriarchal cross.

The award is made in exceptional cases, for special church merits, by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. Rules for wearing: worn during worship over vestments, in everyday settings - over a cassock.

San of Protopresbyter.

The award is made in exceptional cases, for special church merits, on the initiative and decision of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

The successive rewards for the diaconate are:

Double orarion.

The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' no earlier than five years after the consecration of the recipient. Rules for wearing: on the left shoulder, over the surplice, the front, longer end goes down from the left shoulder under the right arm, then it is girded around the back, and it goes down over the left shoulder. The double orarion is a reward only in the Russian Orthodox Church; in the Orthodox East it is used everywhere.

The rank of protodeacon.

The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' no earlier than after 20 years of service in the rank of deacon.

Kamilavka is purple.

The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' no earlier than 10 years after elevation to the rank of protodeacon. Rules for wearing: during worship (removed in cases provided for by the Charter), as well as during official and ceremonial events.

Archdeacon's rank

(for monastics). The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' for no less than 30 years of immaculate service to the Church of God.

Note.

The rank of archdeacon can be awarded to the senior deacon of the Patriarchal Cathedral by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch.

The decision to award the nabedrennik, kamilavka and pectoral cross is within the competence of the diocesan bishops; for all other awards, diocesan bishops submit petitions for awards to worthy clergy and abbess of convents to His Holiness the Patriarch.

Nuns appointed by the Holy Synod as abbess of monasteries wear a pectoral cross ex officio, which is assigned by the diocesan bishop (if they leave their position, they are deprived of the right to wear this cross). For many years of diligent service, abbess of monasteries, by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', can be awarded the rank of abbess. For special merits, the abbess, by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', may be awarded the right to wear a cross with decorations.

The distinctive headdress of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' is the kukol - a domed headdress made of white crepe topped with a cross, the shape of which dates back to the 16th century. The leading hierarchs of the Self-Governing Churches and Exarchates of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as all metropolitans, wear a white hood, which differs only in color from the usual headdress of robed monks. There is a small white cross on the front of the hood. A black hood with the same cross belongs to archbishops; bishops have a black hood without a cross.

There is another traditional headdress for the clergy - skufia, which is a small round velvet cap in black or purple, made up of four parts connected at the top in a cross shape. Skufiya is worn outside the temple.

Finally, we should also mention the so-called “doctoral” cross, decorated with blue enamel: it is worn by clergy who have been awarded the degree of Doctor of Theology.

Rod and staff

The archpastoral staff is an external distinctive sign of the episcopal rank. As a symbol of apostolic succession, it serves as a sign of authority over subordinates and legal control over them. The archpastoral staff also has a sulok (a quadrangular board folded in half). A type of staff used outside of worship is a staff. The patriarchal rod is the external distinctive sign of the patriarchal rank. Only His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' uses a staff without a sulka during divine services and enters the altar with it through the royal doors.

When His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' visits the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church, the diocesan bishop of the given diocese has the right to use the staff in the presence of His Holiness the Patriarch. In all other cases, the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church do not use the staff in the presence of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

When conducting church-wide events headed by His Holiness the Patriarch or with his participation, the baton during divine services and the staff outside of divine services are used only by His Holiness the Patriarch, and in his absence (or if he does not perform divine services) - by the leading (performing divine services) bishop. Vicar bishops do not use a staff in the presence of a diocesan bishop and a staff in the presence of a diocesan bishop.

Abbots (vicars) of laurels and monasteries in the rank of archimandrite (abbot), by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', for church services and in consideration of the monasteries governed by them, may be awarded the right to use the abbot's staff during divine services. The abbot (vicar), awarded the right to use the abbot's staff during divine services, has the right to use the staff outside of divine services within the boundaries of his monastery. During the bishop's service, the abbot (vicar) does not have the right to use the abbot's staff. The abbot (vicar) can use the abbot's staff when performing divine services in the presence of a bishop praying in the church, but not performing the service. In the presence of the bishop, the rector (vicar) does not use the staff outside of divine services. In case of leaving the position of rector (vicer), the archimandrite (abbot) does not have the right to use the abbot's staff during divine services.

Abbesses of women's monasteries in the rank of abbess, for church services and in consideration of the monasteries they govern, by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' may be awarded the right to use the abbot's staff. They do not use the abbot's staff in the presence of the bishop. In case of leaving the position, the abbess of the monastery in the rank of abbess does not have the right to use the abbot's staff.

There are some differences between the Russian and other Local Orthodox Churches - both in relation to hierarchical degrees and in external distinctive features. In the Orthodox East, the everyday headdress of monastics and white clergy is a black kamilavka, which differs in shape from that customary in Russia. During services or at official events, monks put a mark on the kamilavka; Thus, the monastic hood in the East is composite, while in Russia it forms a single whole. The Patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, as well as the Archbishop of Athens wear a black hood. The First Hierarchs of the Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish, Czech, American and Japanese Churches have a white hood, but nowhere except Russia does the hood have a white cross. All bishops, including Patriarchs, have the same color of the mantle - dark red, however, among the Primates of the Ancient Eastern Churches, the mantle is richly decorated with images of the Apostle of Christ who is revered as the founder of this Local Church. In the Orthodox East, hieromonks and priests do not wear a pectoral cross; this right belongs only to archimandrites and archpriests and is a reward equal to a cross with decorations in the Russian Orthodox Church. A clergyman who has such a cross is called a stavrophor, that is, a crusader. The gaiter is absent as a reward in the East. The miter belongs exclusively to bishop's vestments. Hegumen is not a rank, but a position of the head of a monastery. Archdeacon is also not a rank, but the position of a deacon, constantly serving with the Primate of the Church.

In the Serbian Church there are the orders of proto-singel and proto-vicar. A person bearing the rank of protosingel is hierarchically higher than the abbot, but lower than the archimandrite. Typically, secretaries of dioceses are proto-singels. The rank of protopreign is higher than that of archpriest - it is held by priests from the white clergy, endowed with official powers similar to those of deans in the Russian Orthodox Church. Ordinary Serbian priests, like Greek ones, do not wear a pectoral cross: it, as a reward, is given to honored archpriests, who are called “staurofors.”

In the Romanian Church, the right to wear a pectoral cross is a reward for priests, archdeacons and protodeacons. The rank of protosingel, which can only be held by the black clergy, is similar to the rank of the Russian archimandrite. The abbot or archimandrite in the Romanian Church is always the abbot of the monastery.

In the Orthodox Church of Finland, the highest award of the clergy is a cross with decorations, which is given extremely rarely, usually it is given to the rector of the Helsinki Cathedral and some of the most honored archpriests. The miter is not an award; it is worn only by bishops and the archimandrite, the rector of the only New Valaam monastery in the Finnish Church.

Wearing rules

Any orders and medals - church or state - when worn on the chest, are arranged by rank. ROC medals should be on the left side below the orders. The order of placement is a sequential decrease in rank from right to left.

If a clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church has awards of another Church, they are attached under similar awards of the Moscow Patriarchate. When a subsequent grade of a certain medal is received, it is placed higher as an award of a higher rank.

It is customary to wear church award badges only on special occasions. In this case, wearing special replacement symbols in this system is not expected, since they are not provided for.

The church award system is somewhat different from the state one, in which most awards are decorated with ribbons of the appropriate color and are attached to blocks. The main part of the medals of the Russian Orthodox Church does not have ribbon elements - instead, predominantly Orthodox symbols are used (8-pointed star, faces of saints, inscriptions in Church Slavonic).

Sometimes individual parts of the front side are decorated with imitation precious stones. However, some church orders have a traditional ribbon trim.

Introduction.

Awards of the Russian Orthodox Church are a form of encouragement for clergy and laity for merits in pastoral service, theological, scientific and administrative activities, revival of spiritual life, restoration of churches, missionary, charitable, social and educational works.

This Regulation on the awards of the Russian Orthodox Church contains information about hierarchical and church-wide awards, as well as provisions on the establishment of the Patriarchal Awards Commission - a new church body that is in charge of all types of church awards and insignia.

The church-wide award system is intended not only to promote the encouragement of those who have worked for the good of the Church and society, but also to revive the order culture, which presupposes that those awarded belong to orders, that is, groups of people united by common goals. The latter seems very important for the further development of the public and social activities of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1. PATRIARIAL AWARDS COMMISSION.

1.1. General provisions.

1.1.1. The Patriarchal Awards Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Awards Commission) is in charge of the liturgical and hierarchical awards of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as all orders, medals and insignia of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is part of the structure of the Moscow Patriarchate.

1.1.2. The regulations on awards of the Russian Orthodox Church are adopted by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. Changes and additions to it are accepted by His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' (hereinafter - the Holy Patriarch) and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (hereinafter - the Holy Synod), with subsequent approval by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1.1.3. The head of the Award Commission is the Chairman of the Award Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Chairman), appointed to the position (dismissed from office) by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.1.4. Members of the Award Commission are appointed (dismissed from office) by His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.1.5. The department of the Awards Commission includes: the office of the Awards Commission, the protocol service of the Awards Commission, the treasury of the Awards Commission, as well as order meetings formed on the basis of the order statutes.

1.1.6. The Chairman and employees of the Award Commission are moved, go on vacation and are dismissed according to the general rules for the Moscow Patriarchate.

1.2. Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Award Commission.

1.2.1. The Chairman reports directly to His Holiness the Patriarch and does not report to any other official.

1.2.2. The chairman reports directly to His Holiness the Patriarch on all matters related to the Award Commission that require a Patriarchal decision.

1.2.3. The Chairman, if necessary or if there is an order from His Holiness the Patriarch, prepares changes and additions to the Regulations on awards of the Russian Orthodox Church and submits them for consideration by His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.2.4. The Chairman interacts with government agencies that manage award issues in the CIS and Baltic countries.

1.2.5. The Chairman, if necessary, registers orders and medals of the Russian Orthodox Church with government agencies that manage award issues in the CIS and Baltic countries.

1.2.6. The chairman prepares regulations on order churches and order holidays and sends them for consideration to His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.2.7. The Chairman monitors the compliance of awards of synodal institutions, diocesan and other church awards with the award system of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1.2.8. The Chairman prepares new awards proposed by synodal institutions and diocesan bishops for approval by His Holiness the Patriarch and, upon approval by His Holiness the Patriarch, registers them within the framework of the award system of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1.2.9. The Chairman prepares for signing by His Holiness the Patriarch decrees on the awarding of liturgical and hierarchical awards, certificates for orders of the Russian Orthodox Church, in accordance with Article 3.2.6 of these Regulations, as well as Patriarchal certificates.

1.2.10. On matters relating to other church institutions, the chairman personally addresses their leaders.

1.2.11. The Chairman chairs the meetings of the Award Commission.

1.2.12. The employees of the protocol, office and treasury of the Awards Commission report to the Chairman.

1.2.13. The Chairman of the Award Commission is the financially responsible person.

1.2.14. In the absence of the chairman or his inability to perform the duties assigned to him, the leadership of the Award Commission is entrusted to the deputy chairman of the Award Commission (hereinafter referred to as the deputy chairman).

1.2.15. The Deputy Chairman ex officio directly supervises the office and protocol of the Award Commission.

1.2.16. The deputy chairman keeps records of order and other award badges and things, monitors the quality of award badges and things in accordance with approved samples.

1.2.17. The preparation of documents of the Award Commission for consideration by His Holiness the Patriarch, as well as the preparation of outgoing documents of the Award Commission, is carried out under the leadership of the deputy chairman.

1.2.18. At the end of the year, by the deadlines appointed by the chairman, the deputy chairman draws up an annual report on the activities of the Award Commission and on the material assets stored by it.

1.3. Office of the Award Commission.

1.3.1. The proceedings of the Award Commission are carried out by the office of the Award Commission.

1.3.2. The Office of the Award Commission carries out an initial examination of incoming documents to determine whether they meet the criteria for the requested award, compiles award tables and compiles service records.

1.3.3. On nominations for awards from clergy of the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church, the office of the Awards Commission requests a written review from the Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate.

1.3.4. The award documents prepared by the office are endorsed by the deputy chairman and sent by him to the chairman, who presents them to the Award Committee. The decision on awards in the Award Committee is made by a majority vote. In case of equality of votes, the opinion of the Chairman of the Award Committee is decisive.

1.3.5. The decision of the Award Commission comes into force after approval by His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.3.6. His Holiness the Patriarch can bestow a church award on the basis of a personal decision.

1.3.7. All documents emanating from the office of the Award Commission are subject to mandatory registration with their brief content.

1.3.8. At the end of the year, by the deadlines appointed by the chairman, the office of the Award Commission draws up an annual report on the cases carried out, which is a list of cases received, resolved and unresolved throughout the year.

1.3.9. A report on the cases carried out is submitted by the chairman to the name of His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.4. Protocol of the Award Commission.

1.4.1. The Protocol Service of the Awards Commission is charged with preparing, as well as organizational support for, ceremonial awards performed by His Holiness the Patriarch, both liturgical-hierarchical and church-wide awards and insignia.

1.4.2. The head of the protocol of the Award Commission is the Deputy Chairman.

1.5. Treasury of the Award Commission.

1.5.1. The Treasury of the Award Commission is responsible for the formation of complete and reliable information about the financial activities of the Award Commission and its property status.

1.5.2. The activity of the treasury of the Award Commission is the preparation and maintenance of financial statements in accordance with the standards established by the Moscow Patriarchate.

1.5.3. At the end of the year, the treasury of the Award Commission prepares an annual financial report drawn up in the form established by the Financial Service of the Moscow Patriarchate. This report is signed by the chairman of the Award Commission and the chief accountant of the Moscow Patriarchate and presented to His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.6. About order meetings.

1.6.1. Order assemblies (hereinafter referred to as assemblies) are created to unite persons awarded orders of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1.6.2. Assemblies are formed by the diocesan bishop from persons awarded each degree of the order. The number of members of the assembly is also determined by the diocesan bishop.

1.6.3. The congregations take care of the pious life of their members, their participation in the social programs of the Church, the provision of assistance to orphanages, shelters, almshouses, places of charity and everything contained in them, the support of persons who find themselves in places of imprisonment and the correction of their morality. The meetings determine such institutions and select responsible order bearers for each of them.

1.6.4. The meetings collect information about those institutions for which they are in charge and forward them to the Awards Commission.

1.6.5. One of the most important directions in the activities of the meetings is concern for the upbringing of the younger generation in the faith of Christ and love for the Holy Church. In this regard, the congregations do everything in their power to teach the fundamentals of the Orthodox faith in schools, lyceums, institutes and other educational institutions in accordance with secular legislation.

1.6.6. The congregations are charged with constant care, care for the splendor and assistance in the maintenance of not only the general church order churches specified in the statutes of each order, but also diocesan ones, if they are established by a decision of the diocesan bishop.

1.6.7. The chairman of the meeting is the diocesan bishop.

1.6.8. All matters to be considered by the meeting are first submitted to the manager of the meeting for review by the diocesan bishop, as the chairman of the meeting.

1.6.9. The time for the opening of the meeting and all subsequent meetings is set by the diocesan bishop.

1.6.10. The meeting has the right to petition the diocesan bishop to recommend that certain persons be awarded orders and medals of the Russian Orthodox Church on the exact basis of the statutes of these orders and medals.

2. LIGOROUS AND HIERARCHICAL AWARDS OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH.

2.1. General provisions on liturgical and hierarchical awards.

2.1.1. Liturgical-hierarchical awards serve to encourage bishops and clergy, testifying to their worthy performance of church service.

2.1.2. The liturgical and hierarchical awards are:

1) promotion in rank;

2) elements of liturgical vestments that carry spiritual meaning;

3) liturgical differences (serving the Divine Liturgy with the royal doors open until the Cherubic Song or “Our Father...”).

2.1.3. In accordance with the gradation, awards are presented in strict sequence. There are awards for the episcopate, the priesthood and the diaconate. The awarding of the priesthood and diaconate is carried out by the ruling diocesan bishop or, with his blessing, by the vicar bishop. When conferring hierarchical awards, the bishop exclaims: “Axios.”

2.1.4. Clerical awards in the form of liturgical distinctions determine the hierarchical place of the clergyman during divine services at the cathedral service. If there are equal awards, priority belongs to the senior in ordination, provided that none of the clergy holds positions in the general church or diocesan leadership.

2.2. Liturgical and hierarchical awards of bishops.

2.2.1. The successive rewards for the episcopacy are:

1) elevation to the rank of archbishop;

2) elevation to the rank of metropolitan.

2.2.2. Elevation to the rank of archbishop and metropolitan is carried out on the initiative and decision of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

2.2.3. When elevated to the rank of archbishop, the recipient is granted the right to wear a cross on his hood, and when elevated to the rank of metropolitan, the recipient is granted the right to wear a white hood with a cross and a blue robe.

2.2.4. The right to wear the second panagia belongs to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and His Beatitude the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine.

2.2.5. The right to wear a second panagia within the limits of his canonical inheritance may be awarded by decision of the Patriarch for special merits to a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.

2.2.6. The Patriarchal Panagia is one of the highest awards of the Russian Orthodox Church, which can be awarded to the Right Reverend Archpastors in exceptional cases, for special services to the Church. The award is made by the will and decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', regardless of length of service and previous awards.

2.2.7. The right to present the cross during divine services belongs to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and His Beatitude the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine (within Ukraine).

2.2.8. The right to present a cross during divine services can be awarded as the highest hierarchical award, within the limits of their destinies, to metropolitans who have the right to wear two panagias. The award is made by the will and decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

2.3. Liturgical and hierarchical awards of elders.

2.3.1. The successive rewards for the priesthood are:

1) the right to wear a legguard;

2) the right to wear a kamilavka;

3) the right to wear a pectoral cross;

4) elevation to the rank of archpriest;

5) the right to carry a club;

6) the right to wear a cross with decorations;

7) the right to wear a miter (for archpriests), elevation to the rank of archimandrite (for monastics);

the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the royal doors open until the Cherubic Song;

9) the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the royal doors open according to “Our Father...”;

10) the right to wear the Patriarchal Pectoral Cross;

11) elevation to the rank of protopresbyter.

2.3.2. Gaiter. The award is made by decree of the diocesan bishop no earlier than three years after the consecration of the recipient.

Wearing rules : hung over the left shoulder and descended from the right side below the waist to the hip.

Note: Here and below, the inter-award deadlines indicated are mandatory, but not a decisive condition for the award. The main condition is the diligent fulfillment by the cleric of the church obediences assigned to him by the hierarchy.

2.3.3. Kamilavka . The award is made by decree of the diocesan bishop no earlier than three years after the award of the breechcloth.

Rules for wearing: during divine services (removed in cases provided for by the liturgical charter), as well as during official and ceremonial events. Kamilavka should be purple. After being awarded the kamilavka, the awarded cleric receives the right to wear a skufia of the same color (the right to wear a black skufia, both in the church and outside the church, belongs to every presbyter from the day of his consecration).

2.3.4. Pectoral cross. The award is made by decree of the diocesan bishop no earlier than three years after the award of the kamilavka (for monastics - the breech cloth).

Rules for wearing : worn during divine services over vestments, in everyday settings - over a cassock.

2.3.5. The rank of archpriest. The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after the award of the pectoral cross. In exceptional cases, an award may be given before the end of this period (for example, in connection with an appointment to a high-ranking - church-wide or diocesan - position), but not earlier than after ten years of service in the rank of presbyter.

2.3.6. The rite of installation as abbot, provided for in the bishop's office, must be performed on persons appointed by the Holy Synod as abbots or governors of monasteries, even in cases where such are bishops or archimandrites. At the same time, the abbot is given a staff. For persons appointed abbots (vicars) of monasteries before the entry into force of these Regulations, the rite of installation as abbot with the presentation of a staff should be performed at the earliest opportunity. The hegumen takes first place among the presbyters when performing divine services in the monastery entrusted to him during the period of his abbot. In case of leaving the position, the title of abbot is retained in memory of the labors incurred.

2.3.7. Mace. The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after the elevation to the rank of archpriest (seven years after the laying of the pectoral cross for monastics, but no less than ten years of service in the rank of presbyter).

Rules for wearing: hung under the phelonion over the shoulder, with the club worn on the right and the legguard on the left.

2.3.8. The primacy of honor during cathedral service is determined as follows: hieromonks who have the right to carry a club stand before archpriests who do not have this right; hieromonks and archpriests who have the right to bear the club stand in the order determined by the seniority of consecration.

2.3.9. Cross with decorations . The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after awarding the club (seven years for hieromonks awarded the club).

Rules for wearing : worn during divine services over vestments, in everyday settings - over a cassock.

2.3.10. Miter (for archpriests), the rank of archimandrite (for monastics). The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years (for monastics - seven years) after the award with a cross with decorations.

Rules for wearing : exclusively during divine services (removed in cases provided for by the liturgical charter).

2.3.11. When elevated to the rank of archimandrite, a miter is placed at the same time.

2.3.12. The right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the royal doors open until the Cherubic Song . The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after the award of the miter.

2.3.13. The right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the royal doors open according to “Our Father...” . The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after the award of the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the royal doors open until the Cherubic Song.

2.3.14. By decree of His Holiness the Patriarch, a temple or monastery may be given the right to serve the Divine Liturgy in it with the royal doors open according to “Our Father...”.

2.3.15. Patriarchal pectoral cross . Awards are made in exceptional cases, for special church merits, by the will and decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', regardless of length of service and previous awards.

Rules for wearing: a cleric who has been awarded the right to wear the Patriarchal Cross by His Holiness the Patriarch can wear it as a second cross. In everyday settings, the Patriarchal Cross is worn over the cassock, and during divine services over the vestments.

2.3.16. Clerics awarded the Patriarchal Pectoral Cross have primacy of honor over other clerics who do not have such an award.

2.3.17. Clerics who have been awarded the right to wear the Patriarchal Cross and are subsequently called to serve as hierarchs may wear it during divine services instead of the usual cross with decorations.

2.3.18. Sanction of protopresbyter . The award is made in exceptional cases, for special church merits, on the initiative and decision of His Holiness the Patriarch.

2.4. Liturgical and hierarchical awards of deacons.

2.4.1. The successive rewards for the diaconate are:

1) the right to wear a double orarion;

2) elevation to the rank of protodeacon;

3) the right to wear a kamilavka;

4) elevation to the rank of archdeacon.

2.4.2. Double orarion . The award is made by decree of the diocesan bishop no earlier than five years after the consecration of the recipient.

Rules for wearing: on the left shoulder, over the surplice; the front end of the orarion goes down from the left shoulder under the right arm, then the orarium is girded around the back, and then it goes down over the left shoulder.

2.4.3. The rank of protodeacon for the white clergy . The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after the award of the double orarium.

2.4.4. Kamilavka . The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after elevation to the rank of protodeacon.

Rules for wearing : during worship (removed in cases provided for by the charter), as well as during official and ceremonial events. Kamilavka should be purple. An archdeacon awarded the right to wear a kamilavka can wear a purple skufia (the right to wear a black skufia outside the church belongs to every deacon from the day of his ordination).

2.4.5. The rank of archdeacon (for monastics). Senior hierodeacons in monasteries can be elevated to the rank of archdeacon (but not less than after ten years of service). The award is made by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch.

2.4.6. The rank of Patriarchal Archdeacon, by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch, can be awarded to a protodeacon who heads the deacons at Patriarchal services. The Patriarchal Archdeacon has primacy of honor over other deacons of the Russian Orthodox Church.

2.5. Awards for abbess and nuns of convents.

2.5.1. Nuns appointed by the Holy Synod as abbess of monasteries are elevated to the dignity of abbot with the presentation of a staff and the laying on of a pectoral cross. If they leave their position, they do not have the right to wear a pectoral cross or use a staff, but they are given the dignity of abbess in memory of the labors they have endured.

2.5.2. For special merits, by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch, an abbess or a nun may be awarded the right to wear a pectoral cross and a cross with decorations. The right to wear a cross bestowed as a personal award is retained for life.

2.5.3. In exceptional cases, on the initiative and decree of His Holiness the Patriarch, regardless of length of service and previous awards, abbess may be awarded the right to wear the Patriarchal Cross. In this case, the Patriarchal Cross is worn as a second cross.

2.6. Rules for using a rod and staff.

2.6.1. The rod serves as a sign of power over subordinates and legal control over them. The archpastoral staff is the external distinctive sign of the episcopal rank. The archpastoral staff also has a sulok (quadrangular board). A type of staff used outside of worship is a staff. The patriarchal rod is the external distinctive sign of the patriarchal rank. Within the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness the Patriarch uses a staff without a sulka during divine services and enters the altar with it through the royal doors. The same right has His Beatitude the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

2.6.2. When His Holiness the Patriarch visits the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church, the diocesan bishop of a given diocese has the right to use the rod and staff in the presence of His Holiness the Patriarch. In all other cases, the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church do not use the rod and staff in the presence of His Holiness the Patriarch.

2.6.3. When conducting church-wide events headed by His Holiness the Patriarch or with his participation, the baton during divine services and the staff outside of divine services are used only by His Holiness the Patriarch, and in his absence (or if he does not perform divine services) - by the leading (performing divine services) bishop. Vicar bishops do not use a staff in the presence of a diocesan bishop and a staff in the presence of a diocesan bishop.

2.6.4. If a divine service or event is not held in the Patriarchal diocese or stauropegial monasteries, during the cathedral service, in the absence of the Patriarch, the staff is used by the first hierarch and the diocesan bishop, and outside of divine services, each bishop can use the staff.

2.6.5. Abbots (vicars) and abbesses of monasteries have the right to use a wooden abbot's staff according to their position, within the boundaries of their monastery. In case of leaving the position, the abbot (vicer) or abbess does not have the right to use the abbot's staff.

2.6.6. During the bishop's service, concelebrating abbots (vicars) do not have the right to use the abbot's staff.

In the presence of the Patriarch praying in the church, but not performing divine services, as well as the diocesan bishop of a given monastery, the abbot (vicar) does not have the right to use the abbot's staff when performing divine services. In the presence of another bishop praying in the church, but not performing the divine service, the abbot (vicar) can use the abbot's staff when performing the divine service.

In the presence of the bishop outside of divine services, abbots (vicars) and abbesses of monasteries do not have the right to use a staff.

2.7. The right to award liturgical and hierarchical awards.

2.7.1. The decision on awards for priests: a gait, kamilavka and pectoral cross, and for deacons: a double orarion, is within the competence of the diocesan bishops.

2.7.2. For all other awards, diocesan bishops submit petitions for awards to worthy clergy, abbess and nuns of convents through the Awards Commission in the name of His Holiness the Patriarch.

2.7.3. Information about those awarded the gait, kamilavka and pectoral cross during the year is indicated in the annual reports of diocesan bishops submitted to His Holiness the Patriarch. In the event of a reduction in the established inter-award deadlines for these awards, the report shall indicate the reasons for the reduction.

2.8. The procedure and deadlines for submitting applications for the nomination of clergy for awards

2.8.1. Petitions from diocesan bishops for nominations for awards must be sent through the Awards Commission to His Holiness the Patriarch before the start of Lent. The lists are drawn up according to the specified form (Table 1) and signed by the diocesan bishop. For each cleric nominated to be awarded the rank of archpriest (for monastics - a club) and miter (for monastics simultaneously with the rank of archimandrite), a service record with a reference signed by the diocesan bishop is attached (in one copy). Awards are made for Easter.

2.9. On exceptional cases that make it possible to reduce the established inter-award periods, as well as on awarding according to position.

2.9.1. Submissions for extraordinary awards are submitted to the office of the Award Commission in a separate report justifying the reasons for reducing the established inter-award deadlines. Inter-award terms can be reduced after the appointment of a cleric to a position requiring it and a sufficient period of unblemished service in this position. Interaward terms can also be reduced for special church services.

2.9.2. In the case of the ordination of an archdeacon to the priesthood, the diocesan bishop, in agreement with His Holiness the Patriarch, may elevate him to the rank of archpriest at ordination, and when ordaining an archdeacon to the priesthood, place a club on him.

2.9.3. In certain cases, regardless of years of service, the right to wear the miter and elevation to the rank of archimandrite with the laying of the miter may be awarded to clergy called to fulfill certain positions in the general church structures of the Russian Orthodox Church (clerks of the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, rector of the Epiphany Cathedral, governors of laurels and stauropegial monasteries, chairmen of synodal departments, rectors of theological academies).

2.9.4. The head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem, elevated to the rank of archimandrite, when serving in the churches of the Spiritual Mission has the right to wear a miter with a cross and use a staff with a sulko.

2.10. On awarding graduates of theological educational institutions and persons with theological education and an academic degree.

2.10.1. Graduates of theological educational institutions in the priesthood, who have a positive reference from the administration and have successfully completed the full course of study, may be awarded the following awards by the diocesan bishop:

1) priests upon graduation from the seminary - a gaiter;

2) priests upon graduation from the academy - kamilavki;

3) priests who have defended a dissertation for the degree of candidate of theology - a pectoral cross (and if they have one - another liturgical hierarchical award);

4) deacons who have defended a dissertation for the degree of candidate of theology - double orarion.

2.10.2. The rule described in Article 2.10.1 applies to persons ordained to the priesthood after graduating from religious educational institutions or after defending a candidate's dissertation. This rule also applies to clergy who have received religious education or defended a Ph.D. thesis after taking holy orders.

2.10.3. Upon the entry into force of the three-stage system of theological education, bachelors of theology can be awarded the right to wear a legguard, masters of theology - a kamilavka, candidates of theology - a pectoral cross (and if they have one - another liturgical hierarchical award).

2.10.4. Persons in the priestly rank who have defended a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Theology are awarded the Doctor's Cross by His Holiness the Patriarch. The same applies to persons who have a doctorate in theology and are ordained as a priest. The doctor's cross cannot be used during or outside of divine services as a second cross.