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 clergy belonging to the white (married) clergy and the black (monastic) clergy. Only persons who have taken monastic vows are elevated to the last, third degree. According to this order, all church ranks and positions among Orthodox Christians.

Church hierarchy that came from Old Testament times

The order in which ecclesiastical titles among Orthodox Christians are divided into three different degrees dates back to Old Testament times. This happens due to religious continuity. From Holy Scripture It is known that approximately one and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ, the founder of Judaism, the prophet Moses, selected special people for worship - 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 became priests, leading all the services. But in order to perform numerous sacrifices, which were an integral part of religious rituals, assistants were needed. They became the Levites - the descendants of Levi, the son of the forefather Jacob. These three categories of clergy of the Old Testament era became the basis on which all church titles are built today Orthodox Church.

Lowest level of priesthood

When considering church ranks in ascending order, one should start with deacons. This is the lowest priestly rank, upon ordination to which God’s Grace is acquired, necessary to fulfill the role assigned to them during the divine service. 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 a deacon is called a hierodeacon.

Deacons who have served for a sufficiently 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 clergy. The privilege of the latter is the right to serve under the bishop.

It should be noted that all church services these days are structured in such a way that, in the absence of deacons, they can be performed by priests or bishops without much difficulty. Therefore, the participation of the deacon in the divine service, while not being obligatory, is rather its decoration than an integral part. As a result, in some parishes where serious financial difficulties are felt, this staffing unit is being reduced.

Second level of the priestly hierarchy

Considering further church ranks in ascending order, we should focus on priests. The holders of this rank are also called presbyters (in Greek, “elder”), or priests, and in monasticism, hieromonks. Compared to deacons, this is a higher level of priesthood. Accordingly, upon ordination one receives high degree The grace of the Holy Spirit.

Since evangelical times, priests have been leading divine services and have the right to perform most of the holy sacraments, including everything except ordination, that is, ordination, as well as the consecration of antimensions and the world. In accordance with the duties assigned to them job responsibilities, priests lead the religious life of urban and rural parishes, in which they can hold the post of rector. The priest is directly subordinate to the bishop.

For long and impeccable service, the priest of the white clergy is rewarded with the title of archpriest (chief priest) or protopresbyter, and the black clergy is rewarded with the rank of abbot. Among the monastic clergy, the abbot, as a rule, is appointed to the position of rector of an ordinary monastery or parish. If he is entrusted with leading a large monastery or monastery, he is called an archimandrite, which is an even higher and more honorable title. It is from the archimandrites that the episcopate is formed.

Bishops of the Orthodox Church

Further, when listing church titles in ascending order, it is necessary to pay special attention to the highest group of hierarchs - bishops. They belong to the category of clergy called bishops, that is, heads of priests. Having received the greatest degree of Grace of the Holy Spirit at ordination, they have the right to perform all church sacraments 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 Charter, all bishops have an equal degree of priesthood, with the most honored of them being called archbishops. Special group are made up of the capital's bishops, called metropolitans. This name comes from Greek word"metropolis", which means "capital". In cases where another is appointed to assist one bishop holding a high position, he bears the title of vicar, that is, deputy. The bishop is placed at the head of the parishes of an entire region, called in this case a diocese.

Primate of the Orthodox Church

And 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, exercises leadership over the entire local church. According to the Charter adopted in 2000, the rank of patriarch is for life, but in some cases the bishop's court is given the right to try him, depose him and decide on his retirement.

In cases where the patriarchal see is vacant, the Holy Synod elects a locum tenens from among its permanent members to perform the functions of the patriarch until his legal election.

Church workers who do not have the Grace of God

Having mentioned all church ranks in ascending order and going back to the very foundation hierarchical ladder, it should be noted that in the church, in addition to the clergy, that is, clergy who have undergone the sacrament of ordination and have been honored to receive the Grace of the Holy Spirit, there is also a lower category - clergy. These include subdeacons, psalm-readers and sextons. Despite their church service, they are not priests and are accepted into vacant positions 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 when the priest performs the requirement. The sexton is entrusted with calling parishioners to the church by ringing bells for the beginning of services, ensuring that the candles in the church are lit, if necessary, helping the psalm-reader and handing the censer to the priest or deacon.

Subdeacons also take part in divine services, but only together with bishops. Their duties are to help the bishop put on his vestments before the start of the service and, if necessary, change his vestments during the service. In addition, the subdeacon gives the bishop lamps - dikiri and trikiri - to bless those praying in the temple.

Heritage of the Holy Apostles

We looked at all church ranks in ascending order. In Russia and among other Orthodox nations, these ranks bear the blessing of the holy apostles - the 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 a model the example of Old Testament times.

What is the church hierarchy? This is an ordered system that determines the place of each church minister, his responsibilities. The hierarchy system in the church is very complex, and it originated in 1504 after an event that was called the “Great Church Schism.” After it, we got the opportunity to develop autonomously, independently.

First of all, the church hierarchy distinguishes between white and black monasticism. Representatives of the black clergy are called upon to lead the most ascetic lifestyle possible. They cannot marry or live in peace. Such ranks are doomed to lead either a wandering or isolated lifestyle.

White clergy can lead more privileged lives.

The hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church implies that (in accordance with the Code of Honor) the head is the Patriarch of Constantinople, who bears the official, symbolic title

However, the Russian Church does not formally obey him. The church hierarchy considers the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' to be its head. It occupies the highest level, but exercises power and governance in unity with the Holy Synod. It consists of 9 people who are selected on different basis. By tradition, the Metropolitans of Krutitsky, Minsk, Kiev, and St. Petersburg are its permanent members. The five remaining members of the Synod are invited, and their episcopacy should not exceed six months. The permanent member of the Synod is the Chairman of the internal church department.

The church hierarchy calls the next most important level senior officials, which govern dioceses (territorial-administrative church districts). They bear the unifying name of bishops. These include:

• metropolitans;
• bishops;
• archimandrites.

Subordinate to the bishops are priests who are considered to be in charge locally, in city or other parishes. Depending on the type of activity and duties assigned to them, priests are divided into priests and archpriests. The person entrusted with the direct leadership of the parish bears the title of Rector.

The younger clergy is already subordinate to him: deacons and priests, whose duties are to help the Superior and other, higher spiritual ranks.

Speaking about spiritual titles, we should not forget that church hierarchies (not to be confused with the church hierarchy!) allow several different interpretations spiritual titles and, accordingly, give them other names. The hierarchy of churches implies the division into Churches of the Eastern and Western rites, their smaller varieties (for example, Post-Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, etc.)

All of the above titles refer to the white clergy. The black church hierarchy is distinguished by more stringent requirements for people who have been ordained. The highest level of black monasticism is the Great Schema. It implies complete alienation from the world. In Russian monasteries, the great schema-monks live separately from everyone else, do not engage in any obedience, but spend day and night in unceasing prayer. Sometimes those who accept the Great Schema become hermits and limit their lives to many optional vows.

The Great Schema is preceded by the Small. It also implies the fulfillment of a number of obligatory and optional vows, the most important of which are: virginity and non-covetousness. Their task is to prepare the monk to accept the Great Schema, to completely cleanse him of sins.

Rassophore monks can accept the minor schema. This is the lowest level of black monasticism, which is entered immediately after tonsure.

Before each hierarchical step, monks undergo special rituals, their name is changed and they are appointed. When changing a title, the vows become stricter and the attire changes.

Priest and Archpriest are the titles of Orthodox priests. They are assigned to the so-called white clergy - those clergy who do not take a vow of celibacy, create families and have children. What is the difference between a priest and an archpriest? There are differences between them, we will talk about them now.

What do the titles “priest” and “archpriest” mean?

Both words have Greek origin. "Priest" has long been used in Greece to designate a priest and in literal translation means "priest". And “archpriest” means “high priest.” System church titles began to take shape from the first centuries of Christianity, both in the Western, Catholic, Church, and in the Eastern, Orthodox Church, most of the terms for designating the different ranks of the priesthood are Greek, since the religion originated in the east of the Roman Empire, and the first adherents were mainly Greeks.

The difference between a priest and an archpriest is that the second term is used to name priests who are at a higher level of the church hierarchy. The title "archpriest" is awarded to a clergyman who already has the title of priest as a reward for services to the church. In different Orthodox churches, the conditions for conferring the title of archpriest are slightly different. In the Russian Orthodox Church, a priest can become an archpriest five years (not earlier) after he is awarded a pectoral cross (worn over his clothes). Or ten years after ordination (in this case, ordination to the rank of priest), but only after he is appointed to a leading church position.

Comparison

In Orthodoxy there are three degrees of priesthood. The first (lowest) is the deacon (deacon), the second is the priest (priest) and the third, highest, is the bishop (bishop or saint). Priest and archpriest, as is easy to understand, belong to the middle (second) step of the Orthodox hierarchy. In this they are similar, but what is the difference between them, except that the title “archpriest” is given as a reward?

Archpriests are usually rectors (that is, senior priests) of churches, parishes or monasteries. They are subordinate to the bishops, organizing and leading the church life of their parish. It is customary to address the priest as “Your Reverence” (on special occasions), as well as simply “Father” or by name - for example, “Father Sergius”. The address to the archpriest is “Your Reverence.” There used to be in the course of addressing: to the priest - “Your Blessing” and to the archpriest - “Your High Blessing”, but now they are practically out of use.

Table

The table presented to your attention shows the difference between a priest and an archpriest.

	Priest	Archpriest
What does it mean	Translated from Greek it means “priest”. Previously, this word was used to refer to priests, but in the modern church it serves to designate a priest of a certain rank.	Translated from Greek it means “high priest.” The title is a reward to the priest for many years of work and service to the church
Level of Church Responsibility	Conduct church services, can perform six of the seven sacraments (except for the sacrament of ordination - initiation into the clergy)	They conduct church services and can perform six of the seven sacraments (except for the sacrament of ordination - initiation into the clergy). Usually they are the rector of a temple or parish, and are directly subordinate to the bishop

Patriarch -
in some Orthodox churches - the title of the head of the local church. The Patriarch is elected by the local council. The title was established by the Fourth Ecumenical Council of 451 (Chalcedon, Asia Minor). In Rus', the patriarchate was established in 1589, abolished in 1721 and replaced by a collegial body - a synod, and restored in 1918. Currently, the following Orthodox patriarchates exist: Constantinople (Turkey), Alexandria (Egypt), Antioch (Syria), Jerusalem, Moscow, Georgian, Serbian, Romanian and Bulgarian.

Synod
(Greek special - assembly, cathedral) - currently - an advisory body under the patriarch, consisting of twelve bishops and bearing the title "Holy Synod". The Holy Synod includes six permanent members: Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna (Moscow region); Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Novgorod; Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine; Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of Belarus; Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate and six non-permanent members, replaced every six months. From 1721 to 1918, the Synod was the highest body of church administrative power, replacing the patriarch (bearing the patriarchal title "Holiness") - it consisted of 79 bishops. Members of the Holy Synod were appointed by the emperor, and a representative of state power, the chief prosecutor of the Synod, took part in the meetings of the Synod.

Metropolitan
(Greek metropolitan) - originally a bishop, the head of a metropolis - a large ecclesiastical region uniting several dioceses. The bishops governing the dioceses were subordinate to the metropolitan. Because church-administrative divisions coincided with state ones, metropolitan departments were located in the capitals of the countries that covered their metropolises. Subsequently, bishops who govern large dioceses began to be called metropolitans. Currently, in the Russian Orthodox Church, the title "metropolitan" is an honorary title, following the title "archbishop". A distinctive part of the Metropolitan's vestments is the white hood.

Archbishop
(Greek: senior among bishops) - originally a bishop, the head of a large church region, uniting several dioceses. BISHOPS Governing dioceses were subordinate to the archbishop. Subsequently, bishops who govern large dioceses began to be called archbishops. Currently, in the Russian Orthodox Church, the title "archbishop" is an honorary title, preceding the title "metropolitan".

Bishop
(Greek senior priest, chief of priests) - a clergyman belonging to the third, highest degree of priesthood. Has the grace to perform all the sacraments (including ordination) and lead church life. Each bishop (except for vicars) governs the diocese. In ancient times, bishops were divided according to the amount of administrative power into bishops, archbishops and metropolitans; currently these titles are retained as honorary titles. From among the bishops, the local council elects a patriarch (for life), who leads the church life of the local church (some local churches are headed by metropolitans or archbishops). According to the teachings of the church, apostolic grace received from Jesus Christ is transmitted through ordination to bishops from the very apostolic times, etc. grace-filled succession takes place in the church. Ordination as a bishop is carried out by a council of bishops (there must be at least two ordaining bishops - 1st rule of the Holy Apostles; according to 60th rule of the Carthage Local Council of 318 - no less than three). According to the 12th rule of the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680-681 Constantinople), the bishop must be celibate; in current church practice, it is customary to appoint bishops from the monastic clergy. It is customary to address a bishop: to a bishop “Your Eminence”, to an archbishop or metropolitan - “Your Eminence”; to the patriarch “Your Holiness” (to some eastern patriarchs - “Your Beatitude”). The informal address to a bishop is “Vladyko.”

Bishop
(Greek: overseer, overseer) - a clergyman of the third, highest degree of priesthood, otherwise a bishop. Initially, the word “bishop” meant the bishopric as such, regardless of the church-administrative position (in this sense it is used in the epistles of St. Apostle Paul), later, when the bishops began to differ into bishops, archbishops, metropolitans and patriarchs, the word “bishop " began to mean, as it were, the first category of the above and in its original sense was replaced by the word "bishop".

Archimandrite -
monastic rank. Currently given as the highest award to the monastic clergy; corresponds to archpriest and protopresbyter in the white clergy. The rank of archimandrite appeared in the Eastern Church in the 5th century. - this was the name given to the persons chosen by the bishop from among the abbots to oversee the monasteries of the diocese. Subsequently, the name “archimandrite” passed to the heads of the most important monasteries and then to monastics holding church administrative positions.

Hegumen -
monastic rank in holy orders, abbot of a monastery.

Archpriest -
senior priest in the white clergy. The title of archpriest is given as a reward.

Priest -
a clergyman belonging to the second, middle degree of priesthood. Has the grace to perform all the sacraments, except the sacrament of ordination. Otherwise, a priest is called a priest or presbyter (Greek elder; this is what a priest is called in the epistles of the Apostle Paul). Ordination to the priesthood is carried out by the bishop through ordination. It is customary to address a priest: “Your blessing”; to a monastic priest (hieromonk) - “Your Reverence”, to an abbot or archimandrite - “Your Reverence”. The informal title is "father". Priest (Greek priest) - priest.

Hieromonk
(Greek: Priest-monk) - priest-monk.

Protodeacon -
senior deacon in the white clergy. The title of protodeacon is given as a reward.

Hierodeacon
(Greek: Deacon-monk) - deacon-monk.

Archdeacon -
senior deacon in the monastic clergy. The title of archdeacon is given as a reward.

Deacon
(Greek minister) - a clergyman belonging to the first, lowest degree of clergy. A deacon has the grace to directly participate in the performance of the sacraments by a priest or bishop, but cannot perform them independently (except for baptism, which can also be performed by laymen if necessary). During the service, the deacon prepares the sacred vessels, proclaims the litany, etc. Ordination to deacons is carried out by the bishop through ordination.

Clergy -
clergy. There is a distinction between white (non-monastic) and black (monastic) clergy.

Schimonakh -
a monk who has accepted the great schema, otherwise the great angelic image. When tonsured into the great schema, a monk takes a vow of renunciation of the world and everything worldly. The schemamonk-priest (schieromonk or hieroschemamonk) retains the right to officiate, the schema-abbot and schema-archimandrite must be removed from monastic authority, the schema-bishop must be removed from episcopal authority and has no right to perform the liturgy. The schemamonk's vestment is complemented by a kukul and analava. Schema-monasticism arose in the Middle East in the 5th century, when, in order to streamline hermitage, the imperial authorities ordered hermits to settle in monasteries. The hermits who adopted seclusion as a substitute for hermitage began to be called monks of the great schema. Subsequently, the seclusion ceased to be obligatory for schemamonks.

Clergy -
persons who have the grace to perform the sacraments (bishops and priests) or directly participate in their performance (deacons). Divided into three successive degrees: deacons, priests and bishops; supplied through ordination. Ordination is a divine service during which the sacrament of the priesthood is performed - ordination to the clergy. Otherwise, consecration (Greek: ordination). Ordination is performed as deacons (from subdeacons), priests (from deacons) and bishops (from priests). Accordingly, there are three rites of ordination. Deacons and priests can be ordained by one bishop; The ordination of a bishop is performed by a council of bishops (at least two bishops, see 1 Rule of the Holy Apostles).

Ordination
the deacons are performed at the liturgy after the Eucharistic canon. The initiate is led into the altar through the royal gates, is led around the throne three times while singing troparions, and then kneels on one knee in front of the throne. The bishop places the edge of the omophorion on the head of the dedicatee, places his hand on top and reads the secret prayer. After the prayer, the bishop removes the cross-shaped orarion from the initiate and places the orarion on his left shoulder with the exclamation “axios.” Ordination to the priesthood is performed at the liturgy after the great entrance in a similar way - the ordained one kneels on both knees before the throne, another secret prayer is read, the ordained one puts on priestly vestments. Ordination as a bishop takes place at the liturgy after the singing of the Trisagion before the reading of the Apostle. The person being ordained is introduced into the altar through the royal doors, makes three bows before the throne and, kneeling on both knees, places his hands folded in a cross on the throne. The bishops performing the ordination hold the open Gospel over his head, the first of them reads the secret prayer. Then the litany is proclaimed, after which the Gospel is placed on the throne, and the newly ordained one is clothed with the exclamation “axios” in bishop’s vestments.

Monk
(Greek one) - a person who has dedicated himself to God through taking vows. Taking vows is accompanied by cutting one's hair as a sign of service to God. Monasticism is divided into three successive degrees in accordance with the vows taken: ryassophore monk (ryassophore) - a preparatory degree for accepting the lesser schema; monk of the minor schema - takes a vow of chastity, non-covetousness and obedience; monk of the great schema or angelic image (schemamonk) - takes a vow of renunciation of the world and everything worldly. One who is preparing to be tonsured as a monk and undergoing probation in a monastery is called a novice. Monasticism arose in the 3rd century. in Egypt and Palestine. Initially, these were hermits who retired to the desert. In the 4th century. Saint Pachomius the Great organized the first cenobitic monasteries, and then cenobitic monasticism spread throughout the Christian world. The founders of Russian monasticism are considered to be the Monks Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk, who created in the 11th century. Kiev-Pechersk Monastery.

Enoch
(from Slav. other - lonely, different) - the Russian name for a monk, a literal translation from Greek.

Subdeacon -
a clergyman who serves the bishop during the service: prepares the vestments, serves the dikiri and trikiri, opens the royal doors, etc. The subdeacon’s vestment is a surplice and a cross-shaped orarion. Ordination to subdeacon see ordination.

Sexton
(corrupted Greek “pristanik”) - a clergyman mentioned in the charter. Otherwise - an altar boy. In Byzantium, a temple watchman was called a sexton.

Tonsured -
1. An action performed at some services. Hair cutting existed in the ancient world as a symbol of slavery or service and with this meaning entered Christian worship: a) hair cutting is performed on a newly baptized person after baptism as a sign of service to Christ; b) hair cutting is performed during initiation of a newly ordained reader as a sign of service to the church. 2. Divine service performed upon acceptance of monasticism (see monk). According to the three degrees of monasticism, there are tonsure into the ryassophore, tonsure into the small schema and tonsure into the great schema. The tonsure of non-clergy (see clergy) is performed by a monastic priest (hieromonk, abbot or archimandrite), of clergy - by the bishop. The rite of tonsure into the cassock consists of a blessing, the beginning of the usual, troparions, priestly prayer, cruciform tonsure and vesting of the newly tonsured in a cassock and kamilavka. The tonsure into the minor schema takes place at the liturgy after entering with the Gospel. Before the liturgy, the person being tonsured is placed on the porch and... While singing the troparions, he is led into the temple and placed in front of the royal gates. The person performing tonsure asks about sincerity, voluntariness, etc. who has come and then tonsures and gives a new name, after which the newly tonsured person is dressed in a tunic, paraman, belt, cassock, mantle, hood, sandals and given a rosary. The tonsure into the Great Schema takes place more solemnly and takes longer; the tonsured person is dressed in the same clothes, except for the paraman and klobuk, which are replaced by the anolav and kukul. The rites of tonsure are contained in a large breviary.

Chapter:
CHURCH PROTOCOL
3rd page

HIERARCHY OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Spiritual guidance for those truly established in the holy Orthodox faith:
- questions of believers and answers of holy righteous people.

The Russian Orthodox Church, as part of the Universal Church, has the same three-degree hierarchy that arose at the dawn of Christianity.

The clergy are divided into deacons, presbyters and bishops.

Persons in the first two sacred degrees can belong to either the monastic (black) or the white (married) clergy.

Since the 19th century, our Church has had the institution of celibacy, borrowed from the Catholic West, but in practice it is extremely rare. In this case, the clergyman remains celibate, but does not take monastic vows and does not take monastic vows. Clergymen can only marry before taking holy orders.

[In Latin “celibate” (caelibalis, caelibaris, celibatus) - an unmarried (single) person; in classical Latin, the word caelebs meant “one without a spouse” (and virgin, divorced, and widower), but in late antiquity folk etymology associated it with caelum (sky), and so it came to be understood in medieval Christian writing, where it was used in speech about angels, containing an analogy between virgin life and angelic life; according to the Gospel, in heaven they do not marry or be given in marriage (Matt. 22:30; Luke 20:35).]

In schematic form, the priestly hierarchy can be represented as follows:

SECULAR CLERGY	BLACK CLERGY
I. BISHOP (BISHOP)
	Patriarch
	Metropolitan
	Archbishop
	Bishop
II. PRIEST
Protopresbyter	Archimandrite
Archpriest (senior priest)	Abbot
Priest (priest, presbyter)	Hieromonk
III. DEACON
Archdeacon (senior deacon serving with the Patriarch)	Archdeacon (senior deacon in the monastery)
Protodeacon (senior deacon, usually in a cathedral)
Deacon	Hierodeacon

NOTE: the rank of archimandrite in the white clergy hierarchically corresponds to the mitred archpriest and protopresbyter (senior priest in the cathedral).

A monk (Greek μονος - solitary) is a person who has dedicated himself to serving God and has taken vows (promises) of obedience, non-covetousness and celibacy. Monasticism has three degrees.

The ordeal (its duration, as a rule, is three years), or the degree of novice, serves as an entrance into monastic life, so that those who wish for it first test their strength and only after that pronounce irrevocable vows.

The novice (otherwise known as the novice) does not wear the full robe of a monk, but only a cassock and kamilavka, and therefore this degree is also called a ryassophore, i.e. wearing a cassock, so that while waiting to take monastic vows the novice is confirmed on his chosen path.

The cassock is the clothing of repentance (Greek ρασον - worn, shabby clothing, sackcloth).

Monasticism itself is divided into two degrees: the small angelic image and the great angelic image, or schema. Dedication of oneself to monastic vows is called tonsure.

A cleric can only be tonsured by a bishop, a layman can also be tonsured by a hieromonk, abbot or archimandrite (but in any case, monastic tonsure is performed only with the permission of the diocesan bishop).

In the Greek monasteries of Holy Mount Athos, tonsure is performed immediately on the Great Schema.

When tonsured into the small schema (Greek το μικρον σχημα - small image), the ryasophore monk becomes robed: he receives a new name (its choice depends on the tonsure, for it is given as a sign that the monk who renounces the world completely submits to the will of the abbot) and puts on the a mantle that marks the “betrothal of a great and angelic image”: it has no sleeves, reminding the monk that he should not do the works of the old man; the robe fluttering freely as he walks is likened to the wings of an Angel, in accordance with the monastic image. The monk also puts on the “helmet of salvation” (Isa. 59:17; Eph. 6:17; 1 Thess. 5:8) - a hood: like a warrior covers himself with a helmet, When going to battle, a monk puts on a hood as a sign that he strives to avert his eyes and close his ears so as not to see or hear the vanity of the world.

More strict vows of complete renunciation of the world are pronounced when accepting the great angelic image (Greek: το μεγα αγγελικον σχημα). When tonsured into the great schema, the monk is once again given a new name. The clothes in which the Great Schema monk dresses are partly the same as those worn by the monks of the Lesser Schema: a cassock, a mantle, but instead of a hood, the Great Schema monk puts on a doll: a pointed cap that covers the head and shoulders all around and is decorated with five crosses located on the forehead, on the chest, on both shoulders and on the back. A hieromonk who has accepted the great schema can perform divine services.

A bishop who has been tonsured into the great schema must renounce episcopal power and administration and remain a schema-monk (schema-bishop) until the end of his days.

A deacon (Greek διακονος - minister) does not have the right to independently perform divine services and church sacraments; he is an assistant to the priest and bishop. A deacon can be elevated to the rank of protodeacon or archdeacon.

The rank of archdeacon is extremely rare. It is owned by a deacon who constantly serves His Holiness the Patriarch, as well as deacons of some stauropegial monasteries.

A deacon-monk is called a hierodeacon.

There are also subdeacons, who are assistants to bishops, but are not among the clergy (they belong to the lower degrees of the clergy along with readers and singers).

Presbyter (from the Greek πρεσβυτερος - senior) is a clergyman who has the right to perform church sacraments, with the exception of the sacrament of the Priesthood (ordination), that is, the elevation to the priesthood of another person.

In the white clergy it is a priest, in monasticism it is a hieromonk. A priest can be elevated to the rank of archpriest and protopresbyter, a hieromonk - to the rank of abbot and archimandrite.

Bishops, also called bishops (from the Greek prefix αρχι - senior, chief), are diocesan and vicar.

The diocesan bishop, by succession of power from the holy Apostles, is the head of the local Church - the diocese, canonically governing it with the conciliar assistance of the clergy and laity. He is elected by the Holy Synod. Bishops bear a title that usually includes the name of the two cathedral cities of the diocese.

As needed, the Holy Synod appoints suffragan bishops to assist the diocesan bishop, whose title includes the name of only one of the major cities of the diocese.

A bishop may be elevated to the rank of archbishop or metropolitan.

After the establishment of the Patriarchate in Rus', only bishops of some ancient and large dioceses could be metropolitans and archbishops.

Now the rank of metropolitan, just like the rank of archbishop, is only a reward for the bishop, which makes it possible for even titular metropolitans to appear.

Bishops, as a distinctive sign of their dignity, have a mantle - a long cape fastened at the neck, reminiscent of a monastic robe. In front, on its two front sides, top and bottom, tablets are sewn - rectangular panels made of fabric. The upper tablets usually contain images of evangelists, crosses, and seraphim; on the lower tablet on the right side are the letters: e, a, m or n, meaning the rank of bishop - bishop, archbishop, metropolitan, patriarch; on the left is the first letter of his name.

Only in the Russian Church does the Patriarch wear a green robe, the Metropolitan - blue, archbishops, bishops - purple or dark red.

During Great Lent, members of the episcopate of the Russian Orthodox Church wear a black robe. The tradition of using colored bishop's robes in Rus' is quite ancient; an image of the first Russian Patriarch Job in a blue metropolitan robe has been preserved.

Archimandrites have a black mantle with tablets, but without sacred images and letters denoting rank and name. The tablets of archimandrite's robes usually have a smooth red field surrounded by gold braid.

During worship, all bishops use a richly decorated staff, called a rod, which is a symbol of spiritual authority over the flock.

Only the Patriarch has the right to enter the altar of the temple with a rod. The remaining bishops in front of the royal doors give the rod to the subdeacon-co-worker standing behind the service to the right of the royal doors.

According to the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church, adopted in 2000 by the Jubilee Council of Bishops, a man of the Orthodox confession at the age of at least 30 years old from among the monastics or unmarried members of the white clergy with mandatory tonsure as a monk can become a bishop.

The tradition of electing bishops from among the monastic ranks developed in Rus' already in the pre-Mongol period. This canonical norm is preserved in the Russian Orthodox Church to this day, although in a number of Local Orthodox Churches, for example in the Georgian Church, monasticism is not considered a mandatory condition for ordination to hierarchical service. In the Church of Constantinople, on the contrary, a person who has accepted monasticism cannot become a bishop: there is a position according to which a person who has renounced the world and taken a vow of obedience cannot lead other people.

All hierarchs of the Church of Constantinople are not robed, but robed monks.

Widowed or divorced persons who have become monastics can also become bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. The elected candidate must correspond to the high rank of bishop according to moral qualities and have a theological education.

The diocesan bishop is entrusted with wide circle responsibilities. He ordains and appoints clergy to their place of service, appoints employees of diocesan institutions and blesses monastic tonsures. Without his consent, not a single decision of the diocesan administration can be implemented.

In his activities, the bishop is accountable to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. The ruling bishops at the local level are authorized representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church before the bodies of state power and administration.

The first bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church is its Primate, who bears the title of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. The Patriarch is accountable to the Local and Bishops' Councils. His name is exalted during divine services in all churches of the Russian Orthodox Church according to the following formula: “On the Great Lord and Our Father (name), His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.”

A candidate for Patriarch must be a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, have a higher theological education, sufficient experience in diocesan administration, be distinguished by his commitment to canonical law and order, enjoy a good reputation and trust of the hierarchs, clergy and people, “have a good testimony from outsiders” (1 Tim. 3, 7), be at least 40 years old.

The rank of Patriarch is for life. The Patriarch is entrusted with a wide range of responsibilities related to the care of the internal and external welfare of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Patriarch and diocesan bishops have a stamp and a round seal with their name and title.

According to paragraph 1U.9 of the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' is the diocesan bishop of the Moscow diocese, consisting of the city of Moscow and the Moscow region. In the administration of this diocese, His Holiness the Patriarch is assisted by the Patriarchal Vicar with the rights of a diocesan bishop, with the title of Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna. The territorial boundaries of the administration carried out by the Patriarchal Viceroy are determined by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' (currently the Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna manages the churches and monasteries of the Moscow region, minus the stauropegial ones).

The Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' is also the Holy Archimandrite of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, a number of other monasteries with special historical significance, and governs all church stauropegia (the word stauropegia is derived from the Greek σταυρος - cross and πηγνυμι - to erect: the cross installed by the Patriarch at the founding of a temple or monastery in any diocese means their inclusion in the Patriarchal jurisdiction).

[Therefore, His Holiness the Patriarch is called the Higumen of stauropegial monasteries (for example, Valaam). Ruling bishops, in relation to their diocesan monasteries, can also be called Holy Archimandrites and Holy Abbots.
In general, it should be noted that the prefix “sacred-” is sometimes added to the name of the rank of clergy (holy archimandrite, holy abbot, holy deacon, holy monk); however, this prefix should not be attached to all words without exception denoting a spiritual title, in particular to words that are already compound (protodeacon, archpriest).]

His Holiness the Patriarch, in accordance with worldly ideas, is often called the head of the Church. However, according to Orthodox doctrine, the Head of the Church is our Lord Jesus Christ; The Patriarch is the Primate of the Church, that is, a bishop who prayerfully stands before God for his entire flock. Often the Patriarch is also called the First Hierarch or the High Hierarch, since he is the first in honor among other hierarchs equal to him in grace.

What an Orthodox Christian should know:

THE MOST NEEDED ABOUT THE ORTHODOX FAITH IN CHRIST
Anyone who calls himself a Christian must accept with all his Christian spirit completely and without any doubts Creed and truth.
Accordingly, he must know them firmly, because one cannot accept or not accept what one does not know.
Out of laziness, ignorance or unbelief, one who tramples and rejects proper knowledge of Orthodox truths cannot be a Christian.

Creed

The Creed is a brief and precise statement of all the truths of the Christian faith, compiled and approved at the 1st and 2nd Ecumenical Councils. And whoever does not accept these truths can no longer be an Orthodox Christian.
The entire Creed consists of twelve members, and each of them contains a special truth, or, as they also call it, dogma Orthodox faith.

The Creed reads like this:

1. I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. 2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, consubstantial with the Father, to whom all things were. 3. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from Heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human. 4. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. 5. And he rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures. 6. And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. 7. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. 8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life-giving, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. 9. Into one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. 10. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. 11. I hope for the resurrection of the dead, 12. And the life of the next century. Amen

I believe in one God, Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, everything visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, one being with the Father, by Him all things were created. For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation, he came down from Heaven, and took flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became a man. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and buried, And rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; His kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets. Into one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I recognize one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I'm waiting for the resurrection of the dead And the life of the next century. Amen (truly so).

“Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed and say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you;" ()

Sim By Your Word Christ gave people a way to verify the truth of the Christian faith of everyone who calls himself a believing Christian.

If this Word of Christ or otherwise stated in Holy Scripture, you question or try to interpret allegorically - you have not yet accepted truth The Holy Scriptures and you are not yet a Christian.
If, according to your word, the mountains do not move, you have not yet believed enough, and there is not even true Christian faith in your soul. with a mustard seed. With very little faith, you can try to move with your word something much smaller than a mountain - a small hillock or a pile of sand. If this fails, you must make many, many efforts to acquire the faith of Christ, which is still absent in your soul.

Therefore true Word of Christ check the Christian faith of your priest, so that he does not turn out to be a deceiving servant of the insidious Satan, who does not have the faith of Christ at all and is falsely dressed in the Orthodox cassock.

Christ Himself warned people about many lying church deceivers:

“Jesus answered and said to them, “Beware that no one deceives you, for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will deceive many.” (