into two categories: white and black. The first category includes those priests who did not take the monastic vow, the second - those who took it. The vow is taken at the moment of tonsure as a monk. Before taking holy orders, a person must decide whether he wants to be a priest (they are allowed to have a wife) or a monk. When the ordination is completed, marriage becomes impossible for the priest. In addition, there is a vow of celibacy. It means complete celibacy. Religion allows priests and deacons to have a spouse, but the hierarch must be a monk.
In Orthodoxy, there are three hierarchical ranks:
During divine services, priests are assisted by deacons. However, the latter are deprived of the right to conduct them without the participation of a priest, who, in turn, can perform almost all the sacraments. Bishops conduct ordination to holy orders, they have in their hands all the power that the church can give to a person. This is the highest degree of the priesthood.
At the bottom of the hierarchical ladder are the bishops, followed by increasing power of the archbishops, then the metropolitan and, finally, the patriarch.
The white clergy is the most numerous, it includes the vast majority of the clergy. However, it is also closest to worldly life. In our state, small churches have been built in almost all, even small, settlements. If the size of the parish is small, it has one priest. In a larger parish, an archpriest, priest and deacon are needed for pastoral service. In many ways, the position of the clergy depends on the participation and assistance of the laity. The hierarchy here is not very complicated.
At the altar, the priest also needs help, and he receives it from the novices, who are called sexton, or altar servers. Not only men can play this role. Often these functions are taken over by nuns or elderly parishioners. Temples are generally in need of male believers who would like to take on the responsibility of serving God in this way.
To become a sexton, you do not need to go through the rite of the sacrament. It is enough to receive a blessing for serving from the rector of a particular temple. Responsibilities of the altar boy:
All these actions are quite within the power of the majority of believers who want to serve the Lord and be at the temple.
Readers do not have a sacred degree, in other words, psalmists. The task of these people is to read the texts of prayers and the Holy Scriptures during the service. But in some cases, the abbots of the temples may give readers other instructions. The rite of ordination, consecrating a person as a reader, is performed by a bishop. If the rite is not performed, the reader will then not be able to try himself in the role of subdeacon, deacon and priest.
Bishops need helpers during sacred rites. Subdeacons act in this capacity. Their task is to offer candles, spread the orlets, vest the bishop, and wash his hands. Despite the fact that these clergymen wear oraries and put on surplices, they do not have a sacred degree. By the way, the surplice and orarion are parts of the deacon's vestments, while the orarion symbolizes the wings of an angel.
Deacons belong to the first degree of the priesthood. Their main goal is to help priests during divine services. They themselves, alone, cannot hold any services. Since maintaining a large clergy is not an easy task, not all small parishes have deacons.
These priests are the main deacons at cathedrals. Sanaa is awarded only to those who have been ordained for at least two decades.
In addition, there are patriarchal archdeacons - those who serve the patriarchs. Unlike other archdeacons, they belong to the white clergy.
This title is considered the first in the priesthood. Priests begin the flock, perform all the sacraments, with the exception of ordination, conduct services (but do not consecrate the antimension).
Most parishioners are accustomed to calling priests priests. A white priest also bears the name "presbyter", and one belonging to the black clergy - "hieromonk".
As a reward, this title may be given to a priest. He is initiated into it during the sacrament of chirothesia.
This title is highest rank white clergy. By tradition, the Russian Orthodox Church issues this title only for special spiritual merits, and the patriarch himself makes the decision on the award.
The third degree of priesthood is occupied by bishops, who have access to absolutely all Orthodox sacraments. They may also conduct ordinations for clergy. It is they who govern the entire life of the church, and lead the dioceses. The bishops include bishops, metropolitans and archbishops.
The decision to lead a monastic lifestyle is one of the most difficult in a person's life. Therefore, before taking the veil as a monk, it is necessary to go through novitiate. This is a preparation, primarily moral, for the dedication of the whole life to the Lord. During this time, you can get used to the monastic life and reflect on the need for vows.
After tonsure, a person is given a new name. From that moment on, he is called "ryasofor", or "monk". When he accepts the small schema, he is called a monk, while his name changes again, and he takes on additional vows.
When accepting the great schema, the monk turns into a schemamonk, his vows become even more strict and his name changes again. Schemamonks usually do not live with the monastic brethren. Often they go into hermitage or become hermits or hermits. It is they who perform well-known monastic feats.
A monk who has taken the rank of deacon becomes a hierodeacon. If he has the dignity of a priest, then it is correct to call him a hieromonk. In this case, the receipt of the title occurs during the passage of the ordination procedure. White priests can become hieromonks only after being tonsured.
The abbots of the monasteries are called abbots. To become them, it is necessary to go through the procedure of election among the hieromonks.
These clergy belong to one of the highest Orthodox monastic ranks. As a rule, it is issued to the abbots of large monasteries.
It is interesting that archpriests can also become archimandrites: in the event of the death of the mother and when deciding to lead a monastic lifestyle.
The leadership of dioceses is available to bishops who are ranked as the first rank of bishop. Large dioceses are headed by archbishops. The last title is considered honorary and can be awarded to those who have major merits before God and the church.
A metropolitan presides over several dioceses located in the same district or in the same region.
Patriarchs belong to the highest episcopal rank, they head local churches. Only a person who is the primate of an autocephalous church can receive the rank. In Russia, the representative of this dignity at the moment is Patriarch Kirill.
Monasticism is a special way of life for the sake of serving God. Monks have a lot of differences from white clergy. The tonsure can be called the second baptism, because through it the human soul is renewed and reborn. After the ceremony, a person is considered to be renounced from the world and henceforth dressed in the image of an angel.
But becoming a monk is not easy. It is not enough just to make this decision, it is necessary to justify it and go through a kind of probation. During it, the candidate goes through the so-called "monastic work", which includes three steps:
The difference between the steps is great. Every believer who goes to the temple can work in it if he has a desire to work for the glory of God. Employees may have families and children. In some cases, they are even paid wage. But if such a person - a serviceman - lives at the monastery, then he takes upon himself the obligation to observe the rules adopted there and give up bad habits.
When entering a monastery, a person receives the title of a candidate for novice. From that moment on, he must begin to figure out how monastic life suits him. The confessor, as well as the abbot of the monastery and the elder brothers independently determine how long he will stay in the monastery in this capacity.
A novice becomes one who has successfully passed the probationary period, still expresses a desire to live in the monastery and who is not restrained by any external obstacles. To do this, it is necessary to write a petition to the ruling bishop, which accompanies the letter on behalf of the rector. The diocesan authorities must give their blessing, after which the brother can become a resident of the monastery.
There are three types of monastic tonsure accepted in Orthodoxy. According to them monks become:
The cassocks undertake to live in the monastery for at least three years. Only in case deadly disease the candidate can write a petition to be tonsured a monk before three years have elapsed.
During the sacred service, special prayers are read, hair is cut with the help of a cross, the old name is changed (although in some cases the person being tonsured may leave his former one), and a cassock is put on. During tonsure, vows are not required, but the very fact of freely entering the path of a monk implies the assumption of obligations to the Lord. These obligations mean first of all the so-called pure living. This is helped by the intercession of the saint whose name is taken during the ceremony.
Some monasteries skip the cassock stage and immediately conduct the sacrament of the small schema. There are testimonies of believers who immediately accepted the great schema. This means maintaining an individual approach to each believer in Orthodox tradition. It is during the Lesser and Great Schemas that people who take monastic vows make vows to God and renounce worldly life. From that moment on, they not only have a new name and garb, but also a new life.
Despite these differences, the clergy of both types of clergy have common task: to teach children and adults Orthodoxy and right life, enlighten and bring good. Both white and black clergy are a very important part of serving God, and not only Orthodoxy, but also Catholicism has this system.
The Orthodox clergy is a special estate that appeared in Rus' in 988, after the Baptism of Rus'. History is silent about how the situation with the clergy was before this period, but it is known that the priest Gregory went to Constantinople with Princess Olga. At a time when a special and very important mission was assigned to the clergy - the Christianization of the population, the priests were considered a special and privileged estate. Many came from Greece and Bulgaria, even children from different classes were selected for education as the future composition of the clergy. The monks enjoyed special honor and respect, the ascetic culture was especially close to the people. Rich and noble people of that time went to the monastery. In addition, the monasteries have always carried out charitable work. The princes favored the monasteries and exempted them from taxes. No exact information has been preserved about who became the first Metropolitan of Kyiv. Since the 16th century, it was believed that he was Michael I the Syrian, who was once sent to perform the Sacrament of Baptism over Prince Vladimir. In Kyiv, he baptized local residents. The relics of Metropolitan Michael were kept in the Church of the Tithes, but then they were transferred to the Great Church of the Lavra.
The Russian Orthodox Church has always had a white and a black clergy. The white clergy include priests who can marry, and the black clergy include the inhabitants of monasteries who have taken a vow of celibacy.
The white clergy are numerous. Priests before the start of service can start a family, or they can choose the path of celibacy. Black clergy - "withdraw from the world" and refuse marriage.
It is worth noting that the hierarchy of the clergy did not appear from the moment the Church appeared. At the dawn of Christianity, everyone was equal. Gradually, the need to distinguish between church titles and ranks became apparent. In the Russian Orthodox Church, one cannot immediately “come to the office” of a Metropolitan or a Bishop. Such honors must be earned. We will tell you more about the role each rank of the clergy plays in the life of the Church in this article.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is the Primate - the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. Together with Holy Synod he manages church affairs.
He is immediately responsible for several dioceses. Bishops do not make important decisions without the knowledge of the Metropolitan.
Each diocese has its own Bishop, who is responsible for the area assigned to him. Absolutely all bishops belong to the black clergy. Bishops are responsible for major dioceses.
There are also deacons and protodeacons who help the priest and archpriest during divine services. A deacon cannot conduct divine services on his own.
Thus, the hierarchy in the white clergy looks like this:
The black clergy have their own rules:
The Patriarch is still considered the head of the Church. And the head of several dioceses is the Metropolitan. A diocese may be headed by a bishop or an archbishop (for the largest dioceses). The abbot of a large monastery and the highest monastic rank is the Archimandrite. This status is given for special services to the Church. The abbot of the monastery, chosen by the hieromonks, is the hegumen. Interestingly, a widower priest can also become an archimandrite after being tonsured a monk. The inhabitants of the monasteries are Hierodeacons and Hieromonks.
The choice of faith today is a personal matter for everyone. Now the church is completely separated from the state, but a completely different situation developed in the Middle Ages. In those days, the well-being of both an individual person and society as a whole depended on the church. Even then, groups of people were formed who knew more than others, could convince and lead. They interpreted the will of God, which is why they were respected and consulted. Clergy - what is it? What was the clergy of the Middle Ages, and what was its hierarchy?
In Christianity, the first spiritual leaders were the apostles, who, through the sacrament of ordination, passed on grace to their heirs, and this process did not stop for centuries both in Orthodoxy and in Catholicism. Even modern priests are the direct heirs of the apostles. Thus in Europe there was a process of the birth of the clergy.
Society at that time was divided into three groups:
At that time, the clergy was the only educated class. There were libraries at the monasteries where the monks kept books and copied them, it was there that science was concentrated before the advent of universities. Barons and counts did not know how to write, so they used seals, it’s not even worth talking about peasants. In other words, the clergy - this is the definition of people who are able to be intermediaries between God and the common people and are engaged in conducting The clergy are divided into "white" and "black".
The white clergy include priests, deacons serving churches - these are the lower clergy. They do not take a vow of celibacy, they can start a family and have children. The highest rank of the white clergy is the protopresbyter.
Black clergy means monks who devote their entire lives to the service of the Lord. Monks give obedience and voluntary poverty (non-possession). Bishop, archbishop, metropolitan, patriarch - this is the highest clergy. The transition from white to black clergy is possible, for example, if a parish priest's wife has died - he can take the veil as a monk and go to a monastery.
In (and among Catholics to this day) all spiritual representatives took a vow of celibacy, naturally estate could not be replenished. How, then, could one become a clergyman?
In those days, they could go to the monastery younger sons feudal lords who could not inherit their father's fortune. If a poor peasant family was unable to feed a child, he too could be sent to a monastery. In the families of kings, the eldest son occupied the throne, and the youngest became a bishop.
In Rus', the clergy arose after Our white clergy are people who, as they did not give, and still do not give, a vow of celibacy, which caused the emergence of hereditary priests.
The grace that was bestowed on a person at the time of his elevation to the holy rank did not depend on his personal qualities Therefore, it would be wrong to consider such a person ideal and demand the impossible from him. No matter what, he remains a man with all the advantages and disadvantages, but this does not negate grace.
The priesthood, which developed in the second century and is still valid today, is divided into 3 steps:
How easy is it to be a clergyman today? The clergy are those people who daily listen during confessions to many complaints about life, confessions of sins, see a huge number of deaths and often communicate with grief-stricken parishioners. Each clergyman must carefully think over each of his sermons, in addition, one must be able to convey holy truths to people.
The complexity of the work of each priest lies in the fact that he has no right, as a doctor, teacher or judge, to work out the allotted time and forget about his duties - his duty is with him every minute. Let's be grateful to all the clergy, because for everyone, even the most distant person from the church, the moment may come when the help of the priest will be invaluable.
1) Clergy- - clergy in a number of modern religions. Satisfies the spiritual needs of believers, performs religious rites and actions, preaches the doctrine. In Orthodoxy, it is divided into black (monasticism) and white (priests, deacons). The ruling class, along with the nobility, in the Middle Ages.
2) Clergy- - clergy in monotheistic religions; persons professionally engaged in the administration of religious rites and services. They are revered by believers as people endowed with some kind of supernatural power (grace). In feudal states, the clergy constituted a special privileged estate. Archbishops, bishops, abbots of monasteries were large landowners. The clergy contributed to the spread of literacy and knowledge. It founded schools, compiled chronicles, etc., although it hindered the development of scientific knowledge independent of theology. People from the lower clergy were often participants or leaders of popular movements (Jan Hus and others).
3) Clergy- ministers of worship, usually organized in hierarchical corporations. On the territory of Russia there are various cults and denominations that have their own religion (see Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Lamaism, and Christianity). In Russian Orthodox Church D. is divided into white - clergymen and clergymen, and black (see Monasticism).
Clergy
Worshipers in a number of modern religions. Satisfies the spiritual needs of believers, performs religious rites and actions, preaches the doctrine. In Orthodoxy, it is divided into black (monasticism) and white (priests, deacons). The ruling class, along with the nobility, in the Middle Ages.
Cultists in monotheistic religions; persons professionally engaged in the administration of religious rites and services. They are revered by believers as people endowed with some kind of supernatural power (grace). In feudal states, the clergy constituted a special privileged estate. Archbishops, bishops, abbots of monasteries were large landowners. The clergy contributed to the spread of literacy and knowledge. It founded schools, compiled chronicles, etc., although it hindered the development of scientific knowledge independent of theology. People from the lower clergy were often participants or leaders of popular movements (Jan Hus and others).
clergy, usually organized in hierarchical corporations. On the territory of Russia there are various cults and denominations that have their own tradition (see Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Lamaism, and Christianity). In the Russian Orthodox Church, D. is divided into white - clergymen and clergymen, and black (see Monasticism).
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Every Orthodox person meets with clergy who speak publicly or conduct services in the church. At first glance, you can understand that each of them wears some special rank, because it’s not for nothing that they have differences in clothes: different color robes, headdresses, some have jewelry made of precious stones, while others are more ascetic. But not everyone is given to understand the ranks. To find out the main ranks of clergy and monks, consider the ranks of the Orthodox Church in ascending order.
It should immediately be said that all ranks are divided into two categories:
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 supposed to communicate with God. It is with these people that today's hierarchy of ranks is connected.
This person is a lay assistant to a clergyman. His responsibilities include:
If necessary, a novice can ring the bells and read prayers, but it is strictly forbidden for him to touch the throne and walk between the altar and the Royal Doors. The altar boy wears the most ordinary clothes, he puts a surplice on top.
This person is not elevated to the rank of clergy. He must read prayers and words from scripture, interpret them ordinary people and explain to children the basic rules of the Christian life. For special zeal, the clergyman may ordain the psalmist as a subdeacon. From church clothes, he is allowed to wear a cassock and a skuf (velvet hat).
This person also does not have a holy order. But he can wear a surplice and orarion. If the bishop blesses him, then the subdeacon can touch the throne and enter through royal doors to the altar. Most often, the subdeacon helps the priest perform the service. He washes his hands during divine services, gives him the necessary items (tricirium, ripids).
All the ministers of the church listed above are not clergymen. These are simple peaceful people who want to get closer to the church and the Lord God. They are accepted to their positions only with the blessing of the priest. We will begin to consider the ecclesiastical ranks of the Orthodox Church from the lowest.
The position of a deacon has remained unchanged since ancient times. He, just as before, must help in worship, but he is forbidden to independently perform church services and represent the Church in society. His main duty is to read the Gospel. At present, the need for the services of a deacon disappears, so their number in churches is steadily declining.
This is the most important deacon at the cathedral or church. Previously, this dignity was received by the protodeacon, who was distinguished by a special zeal for service. To determine that you have a protodeacon in front of you, you should look at his vestments. If he is wearing an orarion with the words “Holy! Holy! Holy," then it is he who 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 a beautiful singing voice, know many psalms, prayers, and 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 rank of priest. The bishop gives him the following powers:
It is forbidden for a priest to consecrate antimensions and conduct the sacrament of ordination of priesthood. Instead of a hood, his head is covered with a kamilavka.
This dignity is given as a reward for some merit. The archpriest is the most important among the priests and concurrently the rector of the temple. During the celebration of the sacraments, the archpriests put on a robe and stole. In one liturgical institution, several archpriests can serve at once.
This dignity is given only by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' as a reward for the most kind and 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 earn a rank higher, since then there are ranks that are forbidden to start a family.
Nevertheless, many, in order to get a promotion, give up worldly life, family, children, and go permanently into the monastic life. In such families, the spouse most often supports her husband and also goes to the monastery to take a monastic vow.
It includes only those who have taken monastic vows. This hierarchy of ranks is more detailed than those who preferred family life monastic.
This is a monk who is a deacon. He helps the clergy conduct the sacraments and perform services. For example, he takes out the vessels necessary for rituals or makes 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 rank can be received by priests from the white clergy who have decided to become monks, and those who have undergone ordination (giving a person the right to perform the sacraments).
This is the rector or abbess of the Russian Orthodox monastery or temple. Previously, most often, this rank was given as a reward for services to the Russian Orthodox Church. But since 2011, the patriarch decided to give this rank to any abbot of the monastery. At the consecration, the abbot is given a staff, with which he must go around his possessions.
This is one of the highest ranks 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 on it. If, moreover, the archimandrite is the abbot of any temple or monastery, he has the right to carry a wand - a staff. He should be addressed as "Your Reverend".
This dignity belongs to the category of bishops. When they were ordained, they received the most High grace of the Lord and therefore they can perform any sacred rites, even ordain deacons. According to church laws, they have equal rights, the archbishop is considered the eldest. By ancient tradition only a bishop can bless a service with an antimis. This is a square scarf, in which part of the relics of a saint is sewn.
Also, this clergyman controls and takes care of all the monasteries and churches that are located on the territory of his diocese. The common address for a bishop is "Vladyka" or "Your Eminence".
This is a spiritual dignity of high rank or the highest title of a bishop, the most ancient on earth. He submits only to the patriarch. It differs from other ranks in the following details in clothing:
This dignity is given for very high merit and is a distinction.
The highest rank in the Orthodox Church, head priest countries. 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 from. When the place of the patriarch is empty, a locum tenens is appointed as temporary executor, who does everything that the patriarch should do.
This position bears responsibility not only for itself, but also for the entire Orthodox people of the country.
The ranks in the Orthodox Church in ascending order have their own clear hierarchy. Despite the fact that we call many clergy "father", each Orthodox Christian should know the main differences between ranks and positions.
