How is the white clergy different from the black?
In Russian Orthodox Church there is a certain church hierarchy and structure. First of all, the clergy is divided into two categories - white and black. How do they differ from each other? © The white clergy includes married clergymen who did not take monastic vows. They are allowed to have a family and children.
When they talk about the black clergy, they mean monks ordained to the priesthood. They devote their whole lives to serving the Lord and take three monastic vows - chastity, obedience and non-covetousness (voluntary poverty).
A person who is going to take holy orders, even before ordination, is obliged to make a choice - to marry or become a monk. After ordination, it is no longer possible for a priest to marry. Priests who did not marry before accepting ordination sometimes choose celibacy instead of taking monastic vows - they take a vow of celibacy.
Church hierarchy
In Orthodoxy, there are three degrees of priesthood. The first step is occupied by deacons. They help to conduct divine services and rituals in temples, but they themselves cannot lead services and perform the sacraments. Church ministers belonging to the white clergy are simply called deacons, and monks ordained to this dignity are called hierodeacons.
Among deacons, the most worthy can receive the rank of protodeacon, and among hierodeacons, archdeacons are elders. A special place in this hierarchy is occupied by the patriarchal archdeacon serving under the patriarch. He belongs to the white clergy, and not to the black, like other archdeacons.
The second degree of the priesthood is priests. They can independently conduct services, as well as perform most of the sacraments, except for the ordination to the priesthood. If a priest belongs to the white clergy, he is called a priest or presbyter, and if he belongs to the black clergy, he is called a hieromonk.
A priest can be elevated to the rank of archpriest, that is, senior priest, and a hieromonk - to the rank of abbot. Often, archpriests are abbots of churches, and abbots are abbots of monasteries.
The highest priestly title for the white clergy, the title of Protopresbyter, is awarded to priests for special merit. This rank corresponds to the rank of archimandrite in the black clergy.
Priests belonging to the third and highest degree of the priesthood are called bishops. They have the right to perform all the sacraments, including the ordination of other priests. Bishops govern church life and lead dioceses. They are divided into bishops, archbishops, and metropolitans.
Only a clergyman belonging to the black clergy can become a bishop. A priest who has been married can only be ordained a bishop if he accepts monasticism. He can do this in the event that his wife has died or also tonsured as a nun in another diocese.
The local church is headed by the patriarch. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is Patriarch Kirill. In addition to the Moscow Patriarchate, there are other Orthodox patriarchates in the world - Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Georgian, Serbian, Romanian and Bulgarian.
(who first used this term), a continuation heavenly hierarchy: a three-degree sacred system, whose representatives, through worship, impart divine grace to the church people. At present, the hierarchy is a "estate" of clergy (clergy), divided into three degrees ("ranks") and in a broad sense corresponds to the concept of clergy.
The structure of the modern hierarchical ladder of the Russian Orthodox Church for greater clarity can be represented by the following table:
|
Hierarchical degrees |
White clergy (married or celibate) |
Black clergy (monastic) |
|
Episcopate (bishopric) |
patriarch metropolitan archbishop bishop |
|
|
Eldership (priesthood) |
protopresbyter archpriest priest (presbyter, priest) |
archimandrite abbot hieromonk |
|
Deaconate |
protodeacon deacon |
archdeacon hierodeacon |
The lower clerics (clergy) are outside this three-degree structure: subdeacons, readers, singers, altar men, sextons, church watchmen, and others.
Orthodox, Catholics, as well as representatives of the ancient Eastern (“pre-Chalcedonian”) Churches (Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, etc.) base their hierarchy on the concept of “apostolic succession”. The latter is understood as a retrospective continuous (!) Sequence of a long chain of episcopal ordinations, going back to the apostles themselves, who ordained the first bishops as their sovereign successors. Thus, the "apostolic succession" is the concrete ("material") succession of the episcopal ordination. Therefore, the bearers and keepers of the internal "apostolic grace" and external hierarchical authority in the Church are bishops (bishops). Based on this criterion, the Protestant confessions and sects, as well as our Old Believers-bespopovtsy, do not have a hierarchy, since representatives of their "clergy" (leaders of communities and worship meetings) are only elected (appointed) for church-administrative ministry, but not have an internal gift of grace, communicated in the sacrament of the priesthood and the only one that gives the right to perform the sacraments. (A special question - about the legality of the Anglican hierarchy, has long been debated by theologians.)
Representatives of each of the three degrees of the priesthood differ among themselves "by grace" bestowed upon them during the elevation (ordination) to a specific degree, or "impersonal holiness", which is not associated with the subjective qualities of a clergyman. The bishop, as the successor of the apostles, has the fullness of liturgical and administrative powers within his diocese. (The head of the local Orthodox Church, autonomous or autocephalous, is an archbishop, metropolitan or patriarch, is only "the first among equals" within the episcopate of his Church). He has the right to perform all the sacraments, including sequentially ordaining (ordaining) representatives of his clergy and clergy. Only consecration to a bishop is performed by a “council” or at least two other bishops as determined by the head of the Church and the synod attached to him. A representative of the second degree of the priesthood (priest) has the right to perform all ordinances, except for any ordination or ordination (even as a reader). His complete dependence on the bishop, who was in Ancient Church the predominant performer of all the sacraments, it is also expressed in the fact that he performs the sacrament of chrismation in the presence of the peace previously consecrated by the patriarch (replacing the laying on of the bishop's hands on the head of the person), and the Eucharist - only in the presence of the antimension he received from the ruling bishop. A representative of the lowest degree of the hierarchy, a deacon, is only a co-minister and assistant to a bishop or priest, who does not have the right to perform any sacrament or service according to the "priestly order." In case of extreme necessity, he can only baptize according to the "worldly order"; and he performs his cell (home) prayer rule and divine services of the daily cycle (Hours) according to the Book of Hours or the "worldly" Prayer Book, without priestly exclamations and prayers.
All representatives within the same hierarchical degree are equal to each other "by grace", which gives them the right to a strictly defined range of liturgical powers and actions (in this aspect, the newly ordained village priest is no different from the honored protopresbyter - rector of the main parish church of the Russian Church). The difference is only in terms of administrative seniority and honor. This is emphasized by the ceremony of successive elevation to the ranks of one degree of the priesthood (deacon - to protodeacon, hieromonk - to hegumen, etc.). It takes place at the Liturgy during the entrance with the Gospel outside the altar, in the middle of the church, as if being awarded with some element of vestment (legguard, club, miter), which symbolizes the preservation of the level of “impersonal holiness” given to him during ordination. At the same time, the elevation (ordination) to each of the three degrees of the priesthood takes place only inside the altar, which means the transition of the ordained person to a qualitatively new ontological level of divine service life.
The history of the development of the hierarchy in oldest period Christianity is not fully understood, indisputable only the solid formation of the modern three degrees of the priesthood by the III century. with the simultaneous disappearance of the first Christian archaic degrees (prophets, didascals- "charismatic teachers", etc.). The formation of the modern order of "ranks" (ranks, or gradations) within each of the three degrees of the hierarchy took much longer. The meaning of their original names, reflecting specific activities, while changing significantly. So, the abbot (Greek. egu? menos- letters. ruling,leading, - the same root with "yoke? Mon" and "hegemon"!), Initially - the leader of a monastic community or monastery, whose power is based on personal authority, a spiritually experienced person, but the same monk as the rest of the "brethren", having no sacred degree. Currently, the term "abbot" refers only to a representative of the second rank of the second degree of the priesthood. At the same time, he can be the rector of a monastery, a parish church (or an ordinary priest of this church), but also just a full-time employee of a spiritual educational institution or an economic (or other) department of the Moscow Patriarchate, whose official duties are not directly related to his priesthood. Therefore, in in this case elevation to the next dignity (rank) is simply an increase in rank, an official award "for length of service", for an anniversary or for any other reason (similar to the assignment of another military degree not for participation in military campaigns or maneuvers).
3) In scientific and general speech use, the word "hierarchy" means:
a) the arrangement of parts or elements of the whole (of any construction or logically complete structure) in descending order - from the highest to the lowest (or vice versa);
b) the strict arrangement of official ranks and ranks in the order of their subordination, both civil and military ("hierarchical ladder"). The latter are typologically the closest to the sacred hierarchy and also a three-degree structure (rank-and-file - officers - generals).
Lit .: The clergy of the ancient universal Church from the times of the Apostles to the IX century. M., 1905; Zom R. A.P. Lebedev On the origin of the early Christian hierarchy. Sergiev Posad, 1907; Mirkovich L. Orthodox Liturgy. Prvi opshti deo. Another edition. Beograd, 1965 (in Russian); Felmi K. H. An Introduction to Contemporary Orthodox Theology. M., 1999.S. 254-271; Afanasiev N., prot. The Holy Spirit. K., 2005; The Study of Liturgy: Revised edition / Ed. by C. Jones, G. Wainwright, E. Yarnold S. J., P. Bradshaw. - 2nd ed. London - New york, 1993 (Chap. IV: Ordination. P. 339-398).
ARCHIRE
ARCHIRE (Greek. archiereus) - in pagan religions - "high priest" (this is the literal meaning of this term), in Rome - Pontifex maximus; in the Septuagint, the highest representative of the Old Testament priesthood is the high priest (). In the New Testament - the naming of Jesus Christ (), who did not belong to the Aaronic priesthood (see Melchizedek). In the modern Orthodox Greco-Slavic tradition - the generic name of all representatives of the highest degree of the hierarchy, or "episcopate" (ie, the actual bishops, archbishops, metropolitans and patriarchs). See Episcopate, Clergy, Hierarchy, Clear.
DIAKON
DEACON, DIAKON (Greek. diakonos- "servant", "minister") - in ancient Christian communities - an assistant to the head of the Eucharistic assembly of the bishop. The first mention of D. was in the epistles of Apostle. Paul (and). His closeness to the representative of the highest degree of the priesthood was expressed in the fact that the administrative powers of D. (in fact, the archdeacon) often placed him above the priest (especially in the West). The ecclesiastical tradition that genetically elevates the modern deaconate to the "seven men" of the Acts of the Apostles (6: 2-6, D. not named here at all!) Is scientifically very vulnerable.
At present, D. is a representative of the lowest, first degree of the church hierarchy, a "minister of the word of God," whose liturgical duties consist primarily of loud reading of Holy Scripture ("evangelism"), proclamation of litanies on behalf of praying litanies, and censing of the church. The church charter provides for his assistance to the priest performing the proskomedia. D. has no right to perform any divine service and even don his own service clothes, but must each time ask for this "blessing" from the priest. The purely auxiliary liturgical function of D. is emphasized by his elevation to this rank at the Liturgy after the Eucharistic canon (and even at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, which does not contain the Eucharistic canon). (At the request of the ruling bishop, this can also occur at a different time.) He is only a “servant (servant) during the sacrament” or “Levite” (). A priest can do without D. (this is the case mainly in poor rural parishes). Liturgical vestments D: surplice, orarion and hand. Out-of-service clothing, like that of a priest, is a cassock and a cassock (but without a cross over the cassock worn by the latter). Official appeal to D., found in the old literature, "Your gospel" or "Your goodness" (now not used). The address "Your reverend" can be considered competent only in relation to the monastic D. Everyday address - "Father D." or "father is name", or simply by name and patronymic.
The term "D.", without specification ("simply" D.), indicates his belonging to the white clergy. A representative of the same lower rank in the black clergy (monastic D.) is called a "hierodeacon" (literally "clergyman"). He has the same vestments as the D. of the white clergy; but outside of worship, he wears the clothes common to all monks. The representative of the second (and last) rank of the deaconate among the white clergy is "protodeacon" ("first D."), historically - the senior (in the liturgical aspect) among several D. serving together in a large church (cathedral). It is distinguished by a “double orarion” and a purple kamilavka (given as a reward). Currently, the rank of protodeacon is also a reward, so there can be more than one protodeacon in one cathedral. The first among several hierodeacons (in the monastery) is called "archdeacon" ("senior D."). A hierodeacon who constantly serves with the bishop is also usually elevated to the rank of archdeacon. Like the protodeacon, he has a double orarion and a kamilavka (the latter is black); non-service clothes are the same as those of the hierodeacon.
In ancient times, there was an institution of deaconess ("servants"), whose duties consisted mainly of caring for sick women, preparing women for baptism and serving priests at their baptism "for decency." St. (+403) explains in detail the special position of deaconesses in connection with their participation in this sacrament, while decisively excluding them from participation in the Eucharist. But, according to Byzantine tradition, the deaconess received a special ordination (similar to the deacon's) and participated in the communion of women; however, they had the right to enter the altar and take St. the cup directly from the throne (!). The revival of the institution of deaconess in Western Christianity has been observed since the 19th century. In 1911, the first deaconess community in Moscow was supposed to be opened. The issue of reviving this institution was discussed at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1917-18, but, due to the circumstances of the time, no decision was made.
Lit .: Zom R. Church structure in the first centuries of Christianity. M., 1906, p. 196-207; Kirill (Gundyaev), archim. On the question of the origin of the diaconate // Theological works. M., 1975.Sat. 13, p. 201-207; V... Deaconesses in the Orthodox Church. SPb., 1912.
DIAKONAT
DEACONATE (DIAKONAT) - the lowest degree of the church Orthodox hierarchy, which includes 1) a deacon and a protodeacon (representatives of the "white clergy") and 2) a hierodeacon and an archdeacon (representatives of the "black clergy." See Deacon, Hierarchy.
Episcopate
Episcopate is the collective name for the highest (third) degree of the priesthood of the Orthodox Church hierarchy. Representatives of Yemen, who are also collectively referred to as bishops or hierarchs, are currently distributed, in the order of administrative seniority, according to the following ranks.
Bishop(Greek episkopos - literally overseer, overseer) - an independent and plenipotentiary representative of the "local church" - the diocese headed by him, which is therefore called the "bishopric". His distinctive off-duty clothing is a cassock. black cowl and staff. Conversion - Your Eminence. A special variety is the so-called. "Vicar bishop" (lat. vicarius- deputy, governor), who is only an assistant to the ruling bishop of a large diocese (metropolis). It is in his direct jurisdiction, carrying out orders for the affairs of the diocese, and bears the title of one of the cities on its territory. A vicar bishop in a diocese can be one (in the St. Petersburg Metropolitanate, with the title "Tikhvin") or several (in the Moscow Metropolitanate).
Archbishop("Senior bishop") - a representative of the second rank E. The ruling bishop is usually elevated to this rank for any merit or after a certain time (as a reward). It differs from the bishop only by the presence of a pearl cross sewn on the black hood (above the forehead). Conversion - Your Eminence.
Metropolitan(from the Greek. meter- "mother" and polis- "city"), in the Christian Roman Empire - the bishop of the metropolis ("mother of cities"), the main city of the region or province (diocese). A metropolitan may also be the head of a Church that does not have the status of a patriarchy (the Russian Church until 1589 was ruled by a metropolitan with the title first of Kiev and then of Moscow). The rank of the metropolitan is currently bestowed on the bishop either as a reward (after the rank of archbishop), or in case of transfer to a cathedra with the status of a metropolitanate (St. Petersburg, Krutitskaya). A distinctive feature is a white cowl with a pearl cross. Conversion - Your Eminence.
Exarch(Greek. chief, leader) - the name of the church-hierarchical degree, found in the 4th century. Initially, this title was borne by representatives of only the most prominent metropolises (some later turned into patriarchates), as well as extraordinary representatives of the Patriarchs of Constantinople, who were sent by them to the diocese on special assignments. In Russia, this title was first acquired in 1700, after the death of patr. Adrian, locum tenens of the patriarchal throne. The head of Georgian Church(since 1811) during the period of its entry into the Russian Orthodox Church. In the 60s - 80s. 20th century some parishes of the Russian Church abroad were united on a territorial basis in the exarchates "Western European", "Central European", "Central and South American". The ruling hierarchs could be ranked lower than the metropolitan. A special position was occupied by the Metropolitan of Kiev, who bore the title "Patriarchal Exarch of Ukraine". Currently, only the Metropolitan of Minsk (“Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus”) bears the title of Exarch.
Patriarch(lit. "founder") - a representative of the highest administrative rank E., - the head, otherwise the primate ("standing in front"), of the Autocephalous Church. A characteristic distinctive feature is a white headdress with a pearl cross attached above it. The official title of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is “ His Holiness Patriarch Moscow and All Russia ". The appeal is Your Holiness.
Lit .: Statute on the management of the Russian Orthodox Church. M., 1989; see the article Hierarchy.
HEREAS
HEREAS (Greek. hiereus) - in a broad sense - "sacrificing" ("priest"), "priest" (from hiereuo - "to sacrifice"). In Greek. language is used both to designate the servants of the pagan (mythological) gods, and the true One God - that is, the Old Testament and Christian priests. (In the Russian tradition, pagan priests are called “priests.”) In the narrow sense, in Orthodox liturgical terminology, I. is a representative of the lowest rank of the second degree of the Orthodox priesthood (see table). Synonyms: priest, presbyter, priest (obsolete).
IPODIAKON
IPODIAKON, IPODIAKON (from the Greek. hupo- "under" and diakonos- "deacon", "minister") - an Orthodox clergyman who occupies a position in the hierarchy of the lower clergy below the deacon, his assistant (which fixes the naming), but above the reader. At initiation into I., the initiate (reader) is dressed over the surplice in a cross-tied orarion, and the bishop reads a prayer with the laying on of his head. In ancient times, I. was ranked among the clergy and no longer had the right to marry (if he was single before being promoted to this rank).
Traditionally, I.'s duties included taking care of sacred vessels and altar covers, guarding the altar, removing the catechumens from the church during the Liturgy, etc. The emergence of the subdeaconate as a special institution is attributed to the 1st half of the 3rd century. and associate with the custom of the Roman Church not to exceed in one city the number of deacons above seven (see). Currently, the subdeacon ministry can only be seen during episcopal divine service... Subdeacons are not members of the clergy of one church, but are enrolled in the staff to a specific bishop. They accompany him during the obligatory trips to the churches of the diocese, serve during the divine service - they dress him before the beginning of the service, provide water for washing his hands, participate in specific ceremonies and activities that are absent in ordinary worship, and also carry out various extra-temple assignments. Most often, I. are students of theological educational institutions, for whom this service becomes a necessary step towards further climbing the hierarchical ladder. The bishop himself tonsured his I. into monasticism, ordains him to the priesthood, preparing him for further independent service. This is an important succession: many modern hierarchs passed through the "subdeacon schools" of prominent bishops of the older generation (sometimes even pre-revolutionary ordinations), inheriting their rich liturgical culture, system of church-theological views and manner of communication. See Deacon, Hierarchy, Consecration.
Lit .: Zom R. Church structure in the first centuries of Christianity. M., 1906; Benjamin (Rumovsky-Krasnopevkov V.F.), Archbishop. New Tablet, or Explanation about the Church, the Liturgy and about all the services and utensils of the church. M., 1992. T. 2.S. 266-269; Works of bliss. Simeon, Archbishop. Thessaloniki. M., 1994.S. 213-218.
CLERGY
KLIR (Greek - "lot", "share, inherited by lot") - in a broad sense - the totality of clergy (clergy) and clergy (subdeacons, readers, singers, sextons, altar men). “Clerics are so called because they are elected to church degrees in the same way as Matthias was chosen by lot, appointed by the apostles” (St. Augustine). In relation to temple (church) ministry, 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 hierarchy here is “tribal”, therefore only representatives of the “tribe” (tribe) of Levia are “clerics”: the high priests are direct representatives of the clan of Aaron; priests are of the same family, but not necessarily direct; Levites are members of other genera of the same tribe. The "people" are representatives of all the other tribes of Israel (as well as non-Israelites who adopted the religion of Moses).
II. In the New Testament: 1) "clergy" (clergy and clergymen) and 2) the people. The national criterion is abolished. All male Christians who meet certain canonical standards can become clergy and clergymen. The participation of women is allowed (auxiliary positions: "deaconess" in the Ancient Church, singer, servant in the temple, etc.), while they are not considered "clerics" (see Deacon). The "people" (the laity) are all other Christians. In the Ancient Church, the "people", in turn, was subdivided 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 (taking the priesthood was considered incompatible with the monastic ideal). However, this criterion was not absolute, and soon the monks began to occupy the highest ecclesiastical positions. The content of the concept of K. has changed over the centuries, acquiring enough conflicting meanings... So, in the broadest sense, the concept of K. is included, along with priests and deacons, and higher clergy(episcopate, or bishopric), - so for: clergy (ordo) and laity (plebs). On the contrary, in a narrow sense, also recorded in the first centuries of Christianity, K. are only clergy below the deacon (our clergy). In the Old Russian Church, a clergy is an aggregate of altar and non-altar ministers, with the exception of the bishop. Modern K. in a broad sense includes both clergymen (ordained clergy) and clergymen, or clergymen (see Prit.).
Lit .: On the Old Testament priesthood // Christ. Reading. 1879. Part 2; Titov G., priest. Controversy over the Old Testament priesthood and the essence of priestly ministry in general. SPb., 1882; and under the article Hierarchy.
LOCATOR
A VESTOR - a person temporarily acting as a state or church leader of a high rank (synonyms: governor, exarch, vicar). In Russian church tradition only M. of the patriarchal throne ”, - the bishop who directs the Church after the death of one patriarch before the election of another. Metr. , met. Peter (Polyansky) and Met. Sergiy (Stpagodsky), who became the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in 1943.
Patriarch
PATRIARCH (PATRIARCH) (Greek. patriarches -"Ancestor", "forefather") - important term biblical-Christian religious tradition, used mainly in the following meanings.
1. The Bible calls P.-mi, firstly, the founders of all mankind ("antediluvian P.-i"), and secondly, the founders of the people of Israel ("forefathers of the people of God"). All of them lived before the Mosaic Law (see Old Testament) and therefore were the exclusive guardians true religion... The first ten P., from Adam to Noah, whose symbolic genealogy is presented in the book of Genesis (Chapter 5), were endowed with the extraordinary longevity necessary to preserve the promises entrusted to them in this first earthly history after the Fall. Of these, Enoch stands out, who lived “only” 365 years, “because God took him” (), and his son Methuselah, on the contrary, who lived longer than others, 969 years, and died, according to Jewish tradition, in the year of the flood (hence the expression “ mafusal, or mafusail, age "). The second category of biblical P. begins with Abraham, the ancestor of a new generation of believers.
2. P. - a representative of the highest rank of the Christian church hierarchy. The title of P. in strict canonical meaning was established by the Fourth Ecumenical (Chalcedonian) Council of 451, which assigned it to the bishops of the five main Christian centers, defining their order in the diptychs according to the "seniority of honor." The first place belonged to the Roman bishop, followed by the bishops of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. Later, the title of P. was received by the heads of other Churches, moreover, P. of Constantinople, after breaking with Rome (1054), received primacy in Orthodox world.
In Russia, the patriarchate (as a form of government by the Church) was established in 1589. (before that, the Church was ruled by metropolitans with the title first "Kiev" and then "Moscow and All Russia"). Later, the Russian patriarch was confirmed by the Eastern patriarchs as the fifth in seniority (after Jerusalem). The first period of the patriarchate lasted 111 years and actually ended with the death of the tenth Patriarch Adrian (1700), and legally - in 1721, with the abolition of the institution of the patriarchate itself and its replacement by the collective body of church government - the Holy Governing Synod. (From 1700 to 1721 the Church was ruled by the Metropolitan of Ryazan Stephan Yavorsky with the title “locum tenens of the patriarchal throne.”) The second patriarchal period, which began with the restoration of the patriarchate in 1917, continues to the present day.
Currently, there are the following Orthodox patriarchates: Constantinople (Turkey), Alexandrian (Egypt), Antioch (Syria), Jerusalem, Moscow, Georgian, Serbian, Romanian and Bulgarian.
In addition, the title of P. is held by the heads of some other Christian (Eastern) Churches - the Armenian (P.-Catholicos), Maronite, Nestorian, Ethiopian, and others. "Latin patriarchs" under the canonical subordination of the Roman Church. Some Western Catholic bishops (Venetian, Lisbon) also have the same title, as an honorary distinction.
Lit .: Old Testament doctrine at the time of the patriarchs. SPb., 1886; Roberson R. Oriental Christian churches... SPb., 1999.
SEXTON
SEXTON (or "paramonar", - Greek. paramonarios,- from paramone, lat. mansio - "stay", "finding") - a church clerk, an inferior minister (" sexton "), who originally served as a guardian of sacred places and monasteries (outside and inside the fence). P. is mentioned in the 2nd rule IV Of the Ecumenical Council(451). In latin translation church rules- "mansionarius" (mansionarius), the gatekeeper in the temple. considers it his duty to kindle lamps during the divine services and calls him "the guardian of the church." Perhaps in antiquity, Byzantine P. corresponded to the western villicus ("manager", "steward") - the person who controlled the choice and use of church things during worship (our later sacristan or sacellarium). According to the "Teaching News" of the Slavic Service Book (who calls P. a "servant of the altar"), his duties are to "... bring prosphora, wine, water, incense and fire to the altar, light and extinguish candles, prepare and serve the priest a censer and warmth, often and with reverence to clean and clean the entire altar, as well as the floors from all dirt and the walls and ceiling from dust and cobwebs ”(Official. Part II. M., 1977. S. 544-545). In the Typikon P. is called "paraeklisiarch" or "kandilovozigatel" (from kandela, lampas - "lamp", "lamp"). The northern (left) doors of the iconostasis, leading to the part of the altar where the indicated Ponomar accessories are located and which are mainly used by P., are therefore called "Ponomar". Currently, in the Orthodox Church, there is no special post of P. in monasteries: in monasteries P.'s duties mainly lie with novices and simple monks (who do not have ordination), and in parish practice they are distributed among the readers, altar men, watchmen and cleaners. Hence the expression "read like a sexton" and the naming of the watchman's premises at the church - "sexton".
PRESBYTER
PRESVITER (Greek. presbuteros -"Elder", "elder") - in liturgical. terminology - a representative of the lowest rank of the second degree of the Orthodox hierarchy (see table). Synonyms: priest, priest, priest (obsolete).
SUPERIORITY
PRESIDENCY (priesthood, priesthood) is a common (generic) name for representatives of the second degree of the Orthodox hierarchy (see table)
PRICHT
PRICHT, or CHURCH PRIVATE (glory. admit- "composition", "meeting", from Ch. whimper- "rank", "attach") - in the narrow sense - the totality of the lower clergy, outside the three-degree hierarchy. In a broad sense - the totality of both clergy, or clergy (see clergy), and actually clergy, together making up the staff of one Orthodox Church. temple (church). The latter include the psalm reader (reader), sexton, or sexton, chapel bearer, singers. To pre-rev. In Russia, the composition of P. was determined by the states approved by the consistory and the bishop, and depended on the size of the parish. Coming with a population of up to 700 souls husband. Paul relied on P. from a priest and a psalmist, a parish with large population- P. from the priest, deacon and psalmist. P. populous and wealthy parishes could consist of several. priests, deacons and clergymen. The bishop requested permission from the Synod to establish a new P. or change the state. P.'s income was formed by hl. arr. from the payment for the fulfillment of requirements. P. rural churches were provided with land (at least 33 tithes per P.), some of them lived in the church. houses, then. part with ser. 19th century received a government salary. By church. charter 1988 P. is determined as a priest, deacon and psalmist. The number of P.'s members changes at the request of the parish and in accordance with its needs, but cannot be less than 2 people. - a priest and a psalmist. The head of P. is the rector of the church: a priest or an archpriest.
PRIEST - see Priest, Elder, Hierarchy, Clear, Consecration
CHIROTESIA - see ordination
CHIROTONY
CHIROTONY is the external form of the sacrament of the priesthood, in fact its culminating moment is the action of laying hands on a correctly chosen protege being elevated to the priesthood.
In ancient Greek. language word cheirotonia means the casting of votes in the popular assembly by a show of hands, i.e. elections. In New Greek. language (and church usage) we find two closely related terms: cheirotonia, ordination - "ordination" and cheirothesia, chirotesia - "laying on of hands." The Greek Euchology calls every ordination (ordination) - from the reader to the bishop (see Hierarchy) - by H. terms and their fame. equivalents, which are artificially different, although not completely strict.
Setting 1) a bishop: ordination and H.; 2) presbyter (priest) and deacon: ordination and H.; 3) subdeacon: H., consecration and ordination; 4) a reader and a singer: dedication and ordination. In practice, it is usually said about the "consecration" of a bishop and the "ordination" of a priest and a deacon, although both words have the same meaning, going back to the same Greek. term.
T. arr., H. imparts the grace of the priesthood and is the elevation ("ordination") to one of the three degrees of the priesthood; it is performed in the altar and at the same time the prayer "Divine grace ..." is read. But ordination is not "ordination" in the proper sense, but only serves as a sign of admission of a person (clerk, see) to the performance of some lower church service. Therefore, it is performed in the middle of the church and without reading the prayer "Divine grace ..."
The ancient Byzantine manuscript Euchologies preserved the once widespread in the Orthodox world the rank of H. deaconess, similar to H. deacon (also before the Holy See and with the reading of the prayer "Divine grace ..."). Printed books no longer contain it. Euchology J. Goara gives this rank not in the main text, but among the variants of manuscripts, the so-called. variae lectiones (Goar J. Eucologion sive Rituale Graecorum. Ed. secunda. Venetiis, 1730. P. 218-222).
In addition to these terms for denoting ordination to fundamentally different hierarchical degrees - actually priestly and lower "clerical", there are also others indicating the elevation to various "church orders" (ranks, "offices") within one degree of priesthood. "A work of archdeacon, ... abbot, ... archimandrite"; "Follow in the Hedgehog to Create the Protopresbyter"; "The Erection of an Archdeacon or Protodeacon, Protopresbyter or Archpriest, Abbot or Archimandrite."
Lit .: The protégé. Kiev, 1904; A. Offices of ordinations and ordinations. Kamenets-Podolsk, 1906; A guide to the study of the charter of the Divine services of the Orthodox Church. M., 1995.S. 701-721; Vagaggini C... L "ordinazione delle diaconesse nella tradizione greca e bizantina // Orientalia Christiana Periodica. Roma 1974. No. 41; or T. with articles Bishop, Hierarchy, Deacon, Priest, Priesthood.
APPLICATION
ENOCH
INOK - Old Russian. the name of a monk, otherwise - a monk. In the train. R. - a monk, let's lie. - nun (nun, nun).
The origin of the name is explained in two ways. 1. I. - "lonely" (as the translation of the Greek. Monos - "one", "lonely"; monachos - "hermit", "monk"). "The monk will be called, he is one who talks to God day and night" ("Pandects" by Nikon Montenegrin, 36). 2. Another interpretation derives the name I. from a different way of life who has taken monasticism: he “otherwise must lead his life from worldly behavior” ( , priest Complete Church Slavonic Dictionary. M., 1993, p. 223).
In modern Russian Orthodox church use, a "monk" is not called a monk in the proper sense, but cassock(Greek "wearing a cassock") novice - before tonsuring him into the "small schema" (due to the final acceptance of monastic vows and the naming of a new name). I. - like a "novice monk"; in addition to a cassock, he also receives a kamilavka. I. retains a secular name and is free at any time to stop passing the novice and return to his former life, which for a monk, according to Orthodox laws, is no longer possible.
Monasticism (in the old sense) - monasticism, blueberry. Monasticism is to lead a monastic life.
LAYMAN
A LORD - one who lives in the world, a secular ("secular") person who does not belong to the clergy and to monasticism.
M. is a representative of the church people who take part in prayer in the church service. At home, he can perform all the services listed in the Book of Hours, Prayer Book or other liturgical collection, omitting priestly exclamations and prayers, as well as deacon litanies (if they are contained in liturgical text). In case of emergency (in the absence of a priest and mortal danger), M. can perform the sacrament of baptism. In the first centuries of Christianity, the rights of the laity were incomparably superior to those of today, extending to the election of not only the rector of a parish church, but even the diocesan bishop. In ancient and medieval Russia, M. was subject to the general princely judicial administrator. institutions, in contrast to the people of the church, under the jurisdiction of the metropolitan and bishop.
Lit .: Afanasyev, N... The ministry of the laity in the Church. M., 1995; Filatov S."Anarchism" of the laity in Russian Orthodoxy: Traditions and perspectives // Pages: Journal of Bible-Bogosl. in-that ap. Andrew. M., 1999. N 4: 1; Minnay R. Participation of laity in religious education in Russia // Ibid; Laymen in the Church: Materials of the international. divine confer. M., 1999.
SACRISTAN
SACRED (Greek sakellarium, sakellarios):
1) the head of the royal clothes, the royal bodyguard; 2) in monasteries and cathedrals - the keeper of church utensils, the priest.
In the Christian New Testament Church, there are three degrees of priesthood established by the holy Apostles. The dominant position is occupied by bishops, followed by elders - priests - and deacons. This system repeats the structure of the Old Testament church, where the following degrees existed: the high priest, priests and Levites.
Priests for the service of the Church of Christ through the sacrament of the priesthood receive the grace of the Holy Spirit. This allows you to perform divine services, manage the affairs of the Church, teach people through the Christian faith. good life and piety.
The highest rank in the Church are bishops receiving highest degree grace. They are also called bishops - chiefs of priests (that is, priests). Bishops have the right to perform all Sacraments and Church services without exception. It is the bishops who have the right not only to conduct ordinary divine services, but also to ordain (or consecrate) other Orthodox Christians. Also, bishops, unlike other priests, can consecrate myrrh and antimensions.
All bishops are equal to each other in the degree of priesthood, but the most honored, the oldest of them are called archbishops. Metropolitan bishops are called metropolitan - translated into Greek "capital" will sound like "metropolitanate". The bishops of the most ancient Christian capitals are called patriarchs. These are the bishops of Jerusalem and Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Rome.
At times, one bishop is assisted by another bishop. The second of the named clergy in this case is called the vicar (governor).
The holy order, following the bishops, is occupied priests... In Greek they can be called elders or priests. These priests, with the episcopal blessing, can perform almost all church ordinances and services. However, it does not do without exceptions, which are the rituals available only to the highest sacred order - the bishops. Such exceptions, first of all, include the following sacraments: ordination to dignity, as well as the sacraments of the consecration of antimenses and peace. The Christian community, headed by a priest, bears the name of his parish.
The most honored and worthy priests can be called archpriests, in other words, chief priests, preeminent priests. The Chief Archpriest is awarded the title of Protopresbyter.
When a priest is a monk at the same time, he is called hieromonk - priest-monk, translated into modern Russian. Hieromonks who are abbots of monasteries carry the title of abbots. Sometimes a hieromonk can be called an abbot independently of this, simply as an honorary distinction. Archimandrite - even more high rank than the abbot. The most worthy of the archimandrites can subsequently be elected as bishops.
The lowest, third sacred order is deacons... it Greek name translates as "minister". When church ordinances or services are performed, deacons serve bishops or priests. However, the deacons themselves cannot perform them. The participation or presence of a deacon during the service is optional. Accordingly, church services can often take place without a deacon.
Individual deacons, the most worthy and honored, receive the title of protodeacon - or first deacon, in modern language.
If a monk receives the rank of deacon, they begin to call him a hierodeacon, of which the archdeacon is the eldest.
In addition to these three sacred ranks, there are other, lower official positions in the Church. These are subdeacons, sextons and psalmists (sextons). Although they are clergymen, they can be appointed to office without the sacrament of the Priesthood, but only with the blessing of the hierarch.
Psalmists reading and chanting both during the service in the church and when the priest performs spiritual requests in the homes of parishioners is charged with the duty.
Ponomari must summon believers to worship by ringing the bells. In addition, they are required to light candles in the temple, help the psalmists while singing and reading, serve a censer, and so on.
Subdeacons take part only in the ministry of bishops. They dress the bishop in church vestments, and also hold lamps (called dikiri and trikiri), giving them to the bishop who blesses the worshipers.
The priesthood of the Russian Orthodox Church is divided into three degrees, established by the holy apostles: deacons, priests and bishops. The first two include both white (married) clergy and black (monastic) clergy. Only persons who have taken monastic vows are elevated to the last, third degree. All church titles and positions of Orthodox Christians have been established in accordance with this order.
Church hierarchy that came from the Old Testament times
The order according to which the church titles among Orthodox Christians are divided into three varying degrees, dates back to Old Testament times. This happens due to religious continuity. From Holy Scripture it is known that about one and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ, the founder of Judaism, the prophet Moses, selected special people for worship - the high priests, priests and Levites. It is with them that our modern church titles and positions are associated.
The first of the high priests was Moses' brother Aaron, and his sons, who led all the divine services, became priests. But, in order to perform the numerous sacrifices that were an integral part of religious rituals, helpers were needed. They were the Levites - the descendants of Levi, the son of the forefather Jacob. These three categories of clergymen of the Old Testament era became the basis on which all the church titles of the Orthodox Church are built today.
The Lower Order of the Priesthood
When looking at church titles in ascending order, one should start with deacons. This is the lowest priestly office, upon ordination into which is acquired the Grace of God, which is necessary to fulfill the role that is assigned to them in divine services. The deacon does not have the right to independently conduct church services and perform the sacraments, but is only obliged to help the priest. A monk ordained to the deacon is called a hierodeacon.
Deacons who have served for a fairly long period of time and have proven themselves well, receive the title of protodeacons (senior deacons) in the white clergy, and archdeacons in the black. The latter's privilege is the right to serve under the bishop.
It should be noted that all church services today are structured in such a way that, in the absence of deacons, they can be performed without much difficulty by priests or bishops. Therefore, the participation of a deacon in divine services, while not being obligatory, is rather an adornment than an integral part of it. As a result, in some parishes, where serious material difficulties are felt, this staffing unit is reduced.
The second rung of the priestly hierarchy
Considering further the church ranks in ascending order, one should dwell on the priests. The holders of this dignity are also called elders (in Greek "elder"), or priests, and in monasticism, hieromonks. Compared to deacons, this is more high level priesthood. Accordingly, when ordained, a greater degree of the Grace of the Holy Spirit is acquired.
Since evangelical times, priests have been leading the divine services and are entitled to perform most of the holy ordinances, including everything except ordination, that is, ordination, as well as the consecration of antimensions and peace. In accordance with their entrusted job responsibilities, priests lead religious life urban and rural parishes who can hold the post of abbot. The priest is directly subordinate to the bishop.
For a long and impeccable service, the priest of the white clergy is encouraged by the title of archpriest (chief priest) or protopresbyter, and of the black one - by the rank of hegumen. Among the monastic clergy, the abbot, as a rule, is appointed to the post of abbot of an ordinary monastery or parish. In the event that he is instructed to lead a large monastery or lavra, he is called an archimandrite, which is an even higher and honorable title. It is from the archimandrites that the episcopate is formed.
Bishops of the Orthodox Church
Further, listing church titles in ascending order, it is necessary to pay Special attention the highest group of hierarchs - bishops. They belong to the category of clergymen called bishops, that is, chiefs of priests. Having received the greatest degree of the Grace of the Holy Spirit during ordination, they have the right to perform all church ordinances without exception. They are given the right not only to conduct any church services themselves, but also to ordain deacons to the priesthood.
According to the Church Rule, all bishops have an equal degree of priesthood, with the most honored of them being called archbishops. A special group is made up of the metropolitan bishops, called metropolitans. This name comes from the Greek word "metropolis", which means "capital". In those cases when another bishop is appointed to help one bishop holding a high office, he bears the title of vicar, that is, a deputy. The bishop is placed at the head of the parishes of the whole region, in this case called the diocese.
Primate of the Orthodox Church
Finally, the highest rank of the church hierarchy is the patriarch. He is elected by the Council of Bishops and together with The Holy Synod leads the entire local church. According to the Charter, adopted in 2000, the dignity of the patriarch is life-long, but in some cases the bishop's court is given the right to try him, depose him and decide on his retirement.
In those cases when the patriarchal see is vacant, the Holy Synod elects from among its permanent members a locum tenens who performs the functions of the patriarch until his legal election.
Church Ministers Who Do Not Have the Grace of God
Having mentioned all the church ranks in ascending order and returning to the very foundation of the hierarchical ladder, it should be noted that in the church, besides the clergy, that is, clergymen who have passed the sacrament of ordination and were vouchsafed to gain the Grace of the Holy Spirit, there is an even lower category - clergy. These include subdeacons, psalmists, and sextons. Despite their church ministry, they are not priests and vacancies are accepted without ordination, but only with the blessing of the bishop or archpriest - the rector of the parish.
The duties of the psalmist include reading and singing during church services and during the performance of the priest's services. The sexton entrusts to call the parishioners to the church by bell ringing at the beginning of the services, to make sure that candles are lit in the church, if necessary, help the psalmist and give the censer to the priest or deacon.
Subdeacons also take part in divine services, but only together with the bishops. Their duties are to help the Vladyka put on his vestments before the beginning of the service and, if necessary, change vestments in the process. In addition, the subdeacon gives the bishop lamps - dikiriy and trikiriy - for the blessing of those praying in the church.
The legacy of the holy apostles
We have looked at all church titles in ascending order. In Russia and among other Orthodox peoples, these ranks bear the blessing of the holy apostles - disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. It was they who, having become the founders of the earthly Church, established the existing order of the church hierarchy, taking as an example the example of the Old Testament times.
Every Orthodox person meets with the clergy who speak in public or conduct services in the church. At first glance, you can understand that each of them wears some special rank, because it is not for nothing that they have differences in clothes: different colors of robes, hats, someone has jewelry made of precious stones, while others are more ascetic. But not everyone is given to understand the ranks. To find out the main dignities of clergy and monks, consider the ranks of the Orthodox Church in ascending order.
It should be said right away that all ranks are divided into two categories:
- Secular clergy. These include ministers who can have a family, wife, and children.
- Black clergy. These are those who accepted monasticism and renounced worldly life.
Secular clergy
The description of people who serve the Church and the Lord comes from Old Testament... The scripture says that before the birth of Christ, the prophet Moses appointed people who were to communicate with God. It is with these people that today's hierarchy of ranks is associated.
Altar boy (novice)
This person is a worldly clergy assistant. His responsibilities include:
If necessary, the novice can ring the bells and read prayers, but he is strictly forbidden to touch the throne and walk between the altar and the Royal Doors. The altar boy wears the most ordinary clothes, puts on the surplice upstairs.
This person is not elevated to the rank of clergy. He must read prayers and words from scripture, interpret them common people and explain to children the basic rules of living as a Christian. For special zeal, a priest can ordain a psalmist to a subdeacon. From church clothes he is allowed to wear a cassock and a skufia (velvet hat).
This person also does not have a sacred dignity. But he can wear surplice and orarion. If the bishop blesses him, then the subdeacon can touch the throne and enter through Royal gates to the altar. Most often, the subdeacon helps the priest to perform the service. He washes his hands during the divine services, gives him the necessary items (trikiry, ripids).
Church dignities of the Orthodox Church
All of the above ministers of the church are not clergymen. These are simple peaceful people who want to get closer to the church and the Lord God. They are accepted for their positions only with the blessing of the priest. To consider the ecclesiastical dignities of the Orthodox Church from the lowest.
The position of the deacon has remained unchanged since ancient times. He, as before, must help in the divine service, but he is forbidden to independently perform church services and represent the Church in society. His main responsibility is reading the Gospel. Currently, the need for the services of a deacon is no longer needed, so their number in churches is steadily declining.
This is the most important deacon at a cathedral or church. Previously, this rank was received by the protodeacon, who was distinguished by a special zeal for service. To determine that the protodeacon is in front of you, it is worth looking at his vestments. If he is wearing an orarion with the words “Holy! Holy! Holy ”, it means that he is in front of you. But at present this dignity is given only after the deacon has served in the church for at least 15–20 years.
It is these people who have beautiful singing voice, know many psalms, prayers, sing at various church services.
This word came to us from Greek and in translation means "priest". In the Orthodox Church, this is the smallest priesthood. The bishop gives him the following powers:
- perform divine services and other sacraments;
- to carry the teaching to people;
- to carry out communion.
It is forbidden for a priest to consecrate antimensions and to administer the ordinance of the ordination of the priesthood. Instead of a hood, his head is covered with a kamilavka.
This dignity is given as a reward for some kind of merit. The archpriest is the most important among the priests and concurrently the rector of the church. During the performance of the sacraments, the archpriests put on the robe and the epitrachelion. Several archpriests can serve in one liturgical institution.
This dignity is given only by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia as a reward for the kindest and most useful deeds that a person has done in favor of the Russian Orthodox Church. This is the highest rank in the white clergy. It will no longer be possible to deserve a rank above, since then there are ranks who are forbidden to create a family.
Nevertheless, in order to get promoted, many abandon worldly life, family, children and go into monastic life forever. In such families, the spouse most often supports the husband and also goes to the monastery to take a monastic vow.
Black clergy
It includes only those who have received monastic tonsure. This hierarchy of ranks is more detailed than that of those who preferred family life monastic.
This is a monk who is a deacon. He helps priests to conduct ordinances and perform services. For example, he brings out the vessels necessary for rituals or pronounces prayer requests. The most senior hierodeacon is called "archdeacon".
This is a person who is a priest. He is allowed to perform various sacred ordinances. This dignity can be obtained by priests from the white clergy who have decided to become monks, and those who have passed ordination (giving a person the right to perform the sacraments).
This is the abbot or abbess of the Russian Orthodox monastery or a temple. Previously, most often, this rank was given as a reward for services to the Russian Orthodox Church. But since 2011, the patriarch made a decision to grant this rank to any abbot of the monastery. At dedication, the abbot is presented with a staff, with which he must go around his possessions.
This is one of the highest dignities in Orthodoxy. Upon receiving it, the clergyman is also awarded a miter. The archimandrite wears a black monastic robe, which distinguishes him from other monks in that he has red tablets. If, moreover, the archimandrite is the abbot of a temple or monastery, he has the right to wear a wand - a staff. He is supposed to be addressed by "Your High Reverend".
This dignity belongs to the category of bishops. When ordained, they received the highest grace of the Lord and therefore can perform any sacred rite, even ordain deacons. According to church laws, they have equal rights; the archbishop is considered the oldest. According to ancient tradition, only a bishop can bless a service with the help of antimis. This is a quadrangular scarf, into which part of the relics of a saint is sewn.
Also, this clergyman controls and takes care of all monasteries and churches that are located on the territory of his diocese. The generally accepted address to the bishop is "Vladyka" or "Your Eminence".
This is a high-ranking clergy or the highest title of a bishop, the most ancient on earth. He is subject only to the patriarch. It differs from other dignitaries in the following details in clothing:
- has a blue robe (bishops have red ones);
- white cowl with trimmed cross precious stones(the rest have a black hood).
This dignity is given for very high merit and is a badge of distinction.
Highest rank in the Orthodox Church, head priest country. The word itself combines two roots "father" and "power". He is elected at the Council of Bishops. This dignity is for life, only in the most rare cases is it possible to depose and excommunicate. When the seat of the patriarch is empty, a locum tenens is appointed as an interim executor, who does everything the patriarch has to do.
This position bears responsibility not only for itself, but also for the entire Orthodox people of the country.
Ascending ranks in the Orthodox Church have their own clear hierarchy. Despite the fact that we call many clergy "father", each orthodox christian should know the main differences between dignities and positions.
