Russian Orthodox Church as part of the Universal Church, it has a three-level hierarchy, which arose at the dawn of Christianity. The clergy are divided into deacons, elders And bishops. Persons on the first two levels can belong to both the monastic (black) and the white (married) clergy. Since the 19th century, the Russian Orthodox Church has had the institution of celibacy.

In Latin celibacy(celibatus) - an unmarried (single) person; in classical Latin, the word caelebs meant “one without a spouse” (and virgin, divorced, and widower). In late antiquity, folk etymology linked it to caelum (heaven), and this is how it came to be understood in medieval Christian writing, where it was used to refer to angels, embodying an analogy between the virginal life and the angelic life. According to the Gospel, in heaven they do not marry or be given in marriage ( Mf. 22, 30; OK. 20.35).

In practice, celibacy is 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. For the clergy of the Orthodox Church, monogamy is mandatory; divorces and remarriages are not allowed (including for widowers).
The priestly hierarchy is presented schematically in the table and figure below.

stage	White clergy (married priests and non-monastic celibate priests)	Black clergy (monks)
1st: Diaconate	Deacon	Hierodeacon
	Protodeacon
		Archdeacon (usually the title of chief deacon serving with the Patriarch)
2nd: Priesthood	Priest (priest, presbyter)	Hieromonk
	Archpriest	Abbot
	Protopresbyter	Archimandrite
3rd: Episcopate	A married priest can be a bishop only after becoming a monk. This is possible in the event of the death of a spouse or her simultaneous departure to a monastery in another diocese.	Bishop
		Archbishop
		Metropolitan
		Patriarch

1. Diaconate

Deacon (from Greek – minister) does not have the right to independently perform divine services and church sacraments, he is an assistant priest And bishop. A deacon can be ordained protodeacon or archdeacon. Deacon-monk is called hierodeacon.

San archdeacon is extremely rare. It has a deacon who constantly serves To His Holiness the Patriarch, as well as deacons of some stauropegial monasteries. There are also subdeacons, who are assistants to bishops, but are not among the clergy (they belong to the lower degrees of clergy along with readers And singers).

2. Priesthood.

Presbyter (from Greek – senior) - a clergyman who has the right to perform church sacraments, with the exception of the sacrament of Priesthood (ordination), i.e., the elevation of another person to the priesthood. In the white clergy - this priest, in monasticism - hieromonk. A priest can be elevated to the rank archpriest And protopresbyter, hieromonk - ordained abbot And archimandrite.

Sanu archimandrite in the white clergy correspond hierarchically mitred archpriest And protopresbyter(senior priest in cathedral ).

3. Episcopate.

Bishops, also called bishops (from Greek consoles archi– senior, chief). Bishops are either diocesan or suffragan. Diocesan bishop, by succession of power from the holy Apostles, is the primate of the local Church - dioceses, canonically governing the diocese with the conciliar assistance of the clergy and laity. Diocesan bishop elected 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 to assist the diocesan bishop suffragan bishops, the title of which includes the name of only one of the major cities of the diocese. A bishop can 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.
On diocesan bishop entrusted 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 governing bodies can be implemented. In his activities bishop accountable His Holiness 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.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

The first bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church is its Primate, who bears the title - His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. 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: “ About the Great Lord and Our Father (name), His Holiness 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. San Patriarch islifelong. 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 clause IV.9 of the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia 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 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 Russia (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 stauropegies ( word stauropegy derived from Greek. -cross and – erect: a cross installed by the Patriarch at the founding of a church or monastery in any diocese means their inclusion in the Patriarchal jurisdiction).
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 stands before God in prayer for his entire flock. Often the Patriarch is also called First Hierarch or High Priest, since he is first in honor among other hierarchs equal to him in grace.
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.

Robes of bishops.

Bishops have the distinctive sign of their dignity 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 - e piskop, A archbishop, m Metropolitan, n atriarch; on the left is the first letter of his name. Only in the Russian Church does the Patriarch wear a robe green, Metropolitan - blue, archbishops, bishops - lilac or dark red. IN Lent members of the episcopate of the Russian Orthodox Church wear a robe black.
The tradition of using colored bishop's robes in Russia 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 divine services, all bishops use 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 staff. 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.

Election of bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.

According to the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church, adopted by the Jubilee Council of Bishops in 2000, 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 hierarchy of the Christian church is called the “three-order” because it consists of three main levels:
– diaconate,
- priesthood,
- bishops.
And also, depending on their attitude to marriage and lifestyle, the clergy is divided into “white” - married, and “black” - monastic.

Representatives of the clergy, both “white” and “black,” have their own structures of honorary titles, which are awarded for special services to the church or “for length of service.”

Hierarchical what degree	"Secular clergy	"Black" clergy	Appeal
		Hierodeacon	Father deacon, father (name)
	Protodeacon	Archdeacon	Your Excellency, Father (name)
Priesthood	Priest (priest)	Hieromonk	Your Reverence, Father (name)
	Archpriest
		Abbess	Venerable Mother, Mother (name)
	Protopresbyter	Archimandrite	Your Reverence, Father (name)
Bishopric			Your Eminence, Most Reverend Vladyka, Vladyka (name)
		Archbishop
		Metropolitan	Your Eminence, Most Reverend Vladyka, Vladyka (name)
		Patriarch	Your Holiness, Most Holy Lord

Deacon(minister) is called so because the duty of a deacon is to serve at the Sacraments. Initially, the position of deacon consisted of serving at meals, taking care of the maintenance of the poor and sick, and then they served in the celebration of the Sacraments, in the administration of public worship, and in general were assistants to bishops and presbyters in their ministry.
Protodeacon- chief deacon in a diocese or cathedral. The title is given to deacons after 20 years of service in the priesthood.
Hierodeacon- a monk with the rank of deacon.
Archdeacon- the eldest of the deacons in the monastic clergy, that is, the senior hierodeacon.

Priest(priest) with the authority of his bishops and on their “instructions” can perform all divine services and Sacraments, except for Ordination (Priesthood - Ordination to the priesthood), the consecration of the World (Incense oil) and the antimension (a quadrangular plate made of silk or linen material with sewn-in particles of relics , where the Liturgy is celebrated).
Archpriest- senior priest, the title is given for special merits, is the rector of the temple.
Protopresbyter- the highest title, exclusively honorary, given for special church merits on the initiative and decision of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.
Hieromonk- a monk who has the rank of priest.
Abbot- abbot of the monastery, in women's monasteries - abbess.
Archimandrite- monastic rank, given as the highest award to the monastic clergy.
Bishop(guardian, overseer) - not only performs the Sacraments, the Bishop also has the power to teach others through Ordination the grace-filled gift of performing the Sacraments. The bishop is the successor of the apostles, having the grace-filled power to perform all seven sacraments of the Church, receiving in the Sacrament of Ordination the grace of archpastorship - the grace of governing the Church. The episcopal degree of the sacred hierarchy of the church is the highest degree on which all other degrees of the hierarchy (presbyter, deacon) and lower clergy depend. Ordination to the rank of bishop occurs through the Sacrament of the Priesthood. The bishop is elected from the religious clergy and ordained by the bishops.
An archbishop is a senior bishop who oversees several ecclesiastical regions (dioceses).
Metropolitan is the head of a large ecclesiastical region uniting dioceses (metropolis).
Patriarch (forefather, ancestor) is the highest title of the head of the Christian church in the country.
In addition to the sacred ranks in the church, there are also lower clergy (service positions) - altar servers, subdeacons and readers. They are classified as clergy and are appointed to their positions not through Ordination, but by bishop’s or abbot’s blessing.

Altar boy- the name given to a male layman who helps the clergy at the altar. The term is not used in canonical and liturgical texts, but became generally accepted in this meaning by the end of the 20th century. in many European dioceses in the Russian Orthodox Church. The name “altar boy” is not generally accepted. In the Siberian dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church it is not used, instead in given value the more traditional term is usually used sexton, and also novice. The sacrament of priesthood is not performed over the altar boy; he only receives a blessing from the rector of the temple to serve at the altar. The responsibilities of the altar server include monitoring the timely and correct lighting of candles, lamps and other lamps in the altar and in front of the iconostasis, preparing the vestments of priests and deacons, bringing prosphora, wine, water, incense to the altar, lighting coal and preparing the censer, giving payment for wiping the lips during Communion, assisting the priest in performing the sacraments and services, cleaning the altar, if necessary, reading during the service and performing the duties of a bell ringer. The altar server is prohibited from touching the throne and its accessories, as well as from moving from one side of the altar to the other between the throne and the Royal Doors. The altar server wears a surplice over lay clothes.

Subdeacon- clergyman in Orthodox Church, serving mainly with the bishop during his sacred rites, wearing in front of him on the indicated occasions the trikiri, dikiri and ripids, laying the eagle, washes his hands, vests him and performs some other actions. In the modern Church, a subdeacon does not have a sacred degree, although he wears a surplice and has one of the accessories of the deaconate - an orarion, which he wears crosswise over both shoulders and symbolizes angelic wings. Being the most senior clergyman, the subdeacon is an intermediate link between clergy and clergy. Therefore, the subdeacon, with the blessing of the serving bishop, can touch the throne and the altar during divine services and at certain moments enter the altar through the Royal Doors.

Reader- in Christianity - the lowest rank of clergy, not elevated to the degree of priesthood, reading texts during public worship Holy Scripture and prayers. In addition, according to ancient tradition, readers not only read in Christian churches, but also interpreted the meaning of difficult-to-understand texts, translated them into the languages ​​of their area, delivered sermons, taught converts and children, sang various hymns (chants), engaged in charity work, had other church obediences. In the Orthodox Church, readers are ordained by bishops through a special rite - hirothesia, otherwise called “ordaining”. This is the first initiation of a layman, only after which can he be ordained as a subdeacon, and then ordained as a deacon, then as a priest and, higher, as a bishop (bishop). The reader has the right to wear a cassock, belt and skufia. During tonsure, a small veil is first put on him, which is then removed and a surplice is put on.
Monasticism has its own internal hierarchy, consisting of three degrees (belonging to them usually does not depend on belonging to one or another hierarchical degree itself): monasticism(Rassophore), monasticism(small schema, small angelic image) and schema(great schema, great angelic image). The majority of modern monastics belong to the second degree - to monasticism proper, or the small schema. Only those monastics who have this particular degree can receive Ordination to the rank of bishop. To the name of the rank of monastics who have accepted the great schema, the particle “schema” is added (for example, “schema-abbot” or “schema-metropolitan”). Belonging to one degree or another of monasticism implies a difference in the level of strictness of monastic life and is expressed through differences in monastic clothing. During monastic tonsure, three main vows are made - celibacy, obedience and non-covetousness (the promise to endure all sorrow and hardship of monastic life), and a new name is assigned as a sign of the beginning of a new life.

Every Orthodox person meets with clergy who speak publicly or conduct services in 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 clothing: different colored robes, hats, some have jewelry made of precious stones, while others are more ascetic. But not everyone is given the ability to understand ranks. To find out the main ranks of clergy and monks, let's look at the ranks of the Orthodox Church in ascending order.

It should immediately be said that all ranks are divided into two categories:

1. Secular clergy. These include ministers who may have a family, wife and children.
2. 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 the Old Testament. The scripture says that before the Nativity 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 associated.

Altar server (novice)

This person is a lay assistant to the clergy. His responsibilities include:

If necessary, a novice can ring bells and read prayers, but he is strictly forbidden to touch the throne and walk between the altar and the Royal Doors. The altar server wears the most ordinary clothes, with a surplice thrown over the 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 Christian life. For special zeal, the clergyman can ordain the psalmist as a subdeacon. As for church clothes, he is allowed to wear a cassock and a skufia (velvet cap).

This person also does not have holy orders. But he can wear a surplice and an orarion. If the bishop blesses him, then the subdeacon can touch the throne and enter through the Royal Doors into the altar. Most often, the subdeacon helps the priest perform the service. He washes his hands during services and gives him the necessary items (tricirium, ripids).

Church ranks of the Orthodox Church

All of the church ministers listed above are not clergy. These are simple peaceful people who want to get closer to the church and the Lord God. They are accepted into their positions only with the blessing of the priest. Let's start looking at the ecclesiastical ranks of the Orthodox Church from the lowest.

The position of deacon has remained unchanged since ancient times. He, as before, must help in worship, but he is prohibited from independently performing church services and representing the Church in society. His main responsibility- reading the Gospel. Currently, the need for the services of a deacon is no longer required, so their number in churches is steadily decreasing.

This is the most important deacon at a cathedral or church. Previously, this rank was given to a protodeacon, who was distinguished by his special zeal for service. To determine that this is a protodeacon, you should look at his vestments. If he wears an orarion with the words “Holy! Holy! Holy,” that means he’s the one in front of you. But at present, this rank is given only after a deacon has served in the church for at least 15–20 years.

These are the people who have beautiful singing voice, know many psalms and prayers, and sing at various church services.

This word came to us from Greek language and translated means “priest.” In the Orthodox Church this is the lowest rank of priest. The bishop gives him the following powers:

• perform divine services and other sacraments;
• bring teaching to people;
• conduct communion.

The priest is prohibited from consecrating antimensions and performing the sacrament of ordination of the priesthood. Instead of a hood, his head is covered with a kamilavka.

This rank is given as a reward for some merit. The archpriest is the most important among the priests and also the rector of the temple. During the performance of the sacraments, archpriests put on a robe and stole. Several archpriests can serve in one liturgical institution at once.

This rank is given only by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' 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 earn a higher rank, since then there are ranks that are prohibited from starting a family.

Nevertheless, many, in order to get a promotion, leave worldly life, family, children and go into monastic life forever. In such families, the wife most often supports her husband and also goes to the monastery to take monastic vows.

Black clergy

It includes only those who have taken monastic vows. 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 clergy conduct sacraments and perform services. For example, he carries out the vessels necessary for rituals or makes prayer requests. The most senior hierodeacon is called "archdeacon."

This is a man who is a priest. He is allowed to perform various sacred sacraments. This rank can be received by priests from the white clergy who decided to become monks, and by those who have undergone consecration (giving a person the right to perform the sacraments).

This is the abbot 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 grant this rank to any abbot of the monastery. During initiation, the abbot is given a staff with which he must walk around his domain.

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 by the fact that he has red tablets on him. If, in addition, the archimandrite is the rector of any temple or monastery, he has the right to carry a rod - a staff. He is supposed to be addressed as “Your Reverence.”

This rank belongs to the category of bishops. At their ordination, they received the highest grace of the Lord and therefore can perform any sacred rites, even ordain deacons. According to church laws, they have equal rights; the archbishop is considered the most senior. According to ancient tradition, only a bishop can bless the service with an antimis. This is a quadrangular scarf in which part of the relics of a saint is sewn.

Also this clergyman controls and guards all monasteries and churches that are located on the territory of his diocese. The generally accepted address to a bishop is “Vladyka” or “Your Eminence.”

This ordination high rank or highest title of bishop, the oldest on earth. He obeys only the patriarch. Differs from other dignitaries in the following details in clothing:

• has a blue robe (bishops have red ones);
• hood white with a cross trimmed precious stones(the rest have a black hood).

This rank is given for very high merits and is a badge of distinction.

The highest rank in the Orthodox Church, the main priest of the country. The word itself combines two roots: “father” and “power”. He is elected at the Council of Bishops. This rank is for life, only in the most in rare cases his deposition and excommunication is possible. When the place of the patriarch is empty, a locum tenens is appointed as a temporary executor, who does everything that the patriarch should do.

This position carries 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 clergymen “father,” each Orthodox Christian must know the main differences between dignitaries and positions.

Priesthood - people chosen to serve the Eucharist and shepherd - care, spiritual nourishment of believers. first elected 12 apostles, and then 70 more, giving them the power to forgive sins and perform the most important sacred rites (which became known as the Sacraments). The priest in the Sacraments acts not by his own power, but by the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by the Lord after His Resurrection (John 20:22-23) to the apostles, transmitted from them to the bishops, and from the bishops to the priests in the Sacrament of Ordination (from the Greek. Heirotonia - consecration).

The very principle of the New Testament structure is hierarchical: both Christ is the head of the Church, and the priest is the head of the Christian community. The priest for the flock is the image of Christ. Christ is the shepherd; He commanded the Apostle Peter: “...feed My sheep” (John 21:17). Shepherding sheep means continuing the work of Christ on earth and leading people to salvation. The Orthodox Church teaches that there is no salvation outside the Church, but salvation can be achieved by loving and fulfilling the commandments of God and participating in the Sacraments of the Church, in which the Lord Himself is present, giving His help. And the helper and mediator of God in all the Sacraments of the Church, according to the commandment of God, is the priest. And therefore his service is sacred.

Priest - symbol of Christ

The most important Sacrament of the Church is the Eucharist. The priest celebrating the Eucharist symbolizes Christ. Therefore, without a priest, liturgy cannot take place. Archpriest Sergiy Pravdolyubov, rector of the Church of the Life-Giving in Trinity-Golenischev (Moscow), Master of Theology, explains: “The priest, standing before the Throne, repeats the words of the Lord Himself at the Last Supper: “Take, eat, this is My Body...” And in the Cherubic Song he pronounces the following words: “You are the Offerer and the Offered, and the One Who accepts this Sacrifice, and the One Who is distributed to all believers - Christ our God...” The priest performs the sacred act with his own hands, repeating everything that Christ Himself did. And he does not repeat these actions and does not reproduce, that is, he does not “imitate”, but, figuratively speaking, “pierces time” and is completely inexplicable for the usual picture of space-time connections - his actions coincide with the actions of the Lord Himself, and his words - with the words of the Lord! That is why the liturgy is called Divine. She has been served once by the Lord Himself in the time and space of the Zion Upper Room, but outside time and space, in the abiding Divine Eternity. This is the paradox of the doctrine of the Priesthood and the Eucharist. Orthodox theologians insist on this, and this is how the Church believes.

A priest cannot be replaced by a layman, not only “due to human ignorance,” as it is written in the ancient Slavic books, let the layman be an academician, no one gave him the power to do something that one cannot dare to do without receiving the gift of the grace of the Holy Spirit through ordination, coming from the apostles themselves and the apostolic men.”

The Orthodox Church attaches exceptional importance to the priesthood. The Monk Silouan of Athos wrote about the high dignity of the priesthood: “Priests carry within themselves such great grace that if people could see the glory of this grace, the whole world would be amazed at it, but the Lord hid it so that His servants would not become proud, but would be saved in humility ... A great person is a priest, a servant at the Throne of God. Whoever insults him insults the Holy Spirit living in him..."

The priest is a witness in the Sacrament of Confession

Without a priest, the Sacrament of Confession is impossible. The priest is endowed by God with the right to announce the forgiveness of sins in the name of God. The Lord Jesus Christ said to the apostles: “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18). This power to “knit and loosen” passed, as the Church believes, from the apostles to their successors - bishops and priests. However, confession itself is not brought to the priest, but to Christ, and the priest here is only a “witness,” as stated in the rite of the Sacrament. Why do you need a witness when you can confess to God Himself? The Church, when establishing confession before a priest, took into account the subjective factor: many are not ashamed of God, since they do not see Him, but to confess before a person ashamed, but this is a saving shame that helps to overcome sin. In addition, as it explains, “the priest is a spiritual mentor who helps to find the right path to overcome sin. He is called not only to become a witness of repentance, but also to help a person with spiritual advice and support him (many come with great sorrows). No one demands submission from the laity - this is free communication based on trust in the priest, a mutual creative process. Our task is to help you choose the right solution. I always encourage my parishioners to feel free to tell me that they were unable to follow some of my advice. Perhaps I was mistaken, I did not appreciate the strength of this man.”

Another ministry of a priest is preaching. Preaching, carrying the Good News of salvation is also Christ, a direct continuation of his work, therefore this ministry is sacred.

A priest cannot exist without the people

In the Old Testament Church, the participation of the people in worship was reduced to passive presence. IN Christian Church the priesthood is inextricably linked with the people of God and one cannot exist without the other: just as a community cannot be a Church without a priest, so a priest cannot be one without a community. The priest is not the sole performer of the Sacraments: all the Sacraments are performed by him with the participation of the people, together with the people. It happens that the priest is forced to perform the service alone, without parishioners. And, although the rite of the liturgy does not provide for such situations and it is assumed that a meeting of people participates in the service, yet in this case the priest is not alone, because the deceased, as well as the deceased, make a bloodless sacrifice with him.

Who can become a priest?

In Ancient Israel, only persons belonging to the tribe of Levi by birth could become priests: the priesthood was inaccessible to everyone else. The Levites were initiates, chosen to serve God - they alone had the right to make sacrifices and offer prayers. The priesthood of the times of the New Testament has a new meaning: the Old Testament sacrifices, as the Apostle Paul says, could not deliver humanity from slavery to sin: “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins...” (Heb. 10: 4-11). Therefore, Christ sacrificed Himself, becoming both Priest and Victim. Not belonging by birth to the tribe of Levi, He became the one true “High Priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 109:4). Melchizedek, who once met Abraham, brought bread and wine and blessed him (Heb. 7:3), was an Old Testament prototype of Christ. Having given His Body to death and shed His Blood for people, having taught this Body and this Blood to the faithful in the Sacrament of the Eucharist under the guise of bread and wine, having created His Church, which became the New Israel, Christ abolished the Old Testament Church with its sacrifices and the Levitical priesthood, removed the veil, separating the Holy of Holies from the people, destroyed the insurmountable wall between sacred Leviticism and the profane people.

A priest of the Orthodox Church, explains Archpriest Sergiy Pravdolyubov, “any pious, virtuous person can become, fulfilling all the commandments and rules of the church, having sufficient training, married first and only to a girl of the Orthodox faith, not disabled with a physical obstacle to using his hands and feet (otherwise he will not be able to perform the liturgy, carry out the Chalice with the Saints Gifts) and mentally sound.”

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 “unwifed” (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 staff. 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 in moral qualities and have a theological education.

The diocesan bishop is entrusted with a wide range of 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 governing bodies 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 of 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 the temple or a 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 that denote 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 fully and without any doubt accept with his whole Christian spirit 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.” (