In Orthodoxy there are three degrees of priesthood: deacon, priest, bishop. Even before being ordained as a deacon, the protege must decide whether he will undergo priestly ministry, being married (white clergy) or having become a monk (black clergy). Since the last century, the Russian Church has also had the institution of celibacy, that is, one is ordained with a vow of celibacy (“Celibacy” means “single” in Latin). Deacons and celibate priests also belong to the white clergy. Currently, monastic priests serve not only in monasteries, they are often also in parishes, both in the city and in the countryside. The bishop must necessarily be from the black clergy. The priestly hierarchy can be represented as follows:
| SECULAR CLERGY | BLACK CLERGY |
| DEACON | |
| Deacon | Hierodeacon |
| Protodeacon (senior deacon, usually in a cathedral) |
Archdeacon (senior deacon, in the monastery) |
| PRIEST | |
| Priest (priest, presbyter) |
Hieromonk |
| Archpriest (senior priest) |
Abbot |
|
Mitred Archpriest Protopresbyter (senior priest in the cathedral) |
Archimandrite |
| BISHOP (BISHOP) | |
| - | Bishop Archbishop Metropolitan Patriarch |
If a monk accepts a schema (the highest monastic degree - a great angelic image), then the prefix “schema” is added to the name of his rank - schemamonk, schema-hierodeacon, schema-hieromonk (or hieroschemamonk), schema-abbot, schema-archimandrite, schema-bishop (the schema-bishop must leave the management of the diocese ).
When dealing with the clergy, one should strive for a neutral style of speech. Thus, the address “father” (without using a name) is not neutral. It is either familiar or functional (characteristic of the way clergy address each other: “Fathers and brothers. I ask for your attention”). The question of what form (to “you” or “you”) should be addressed in the church environment is decided unambiguously - to “you” (although we say in prayer to God Himself: “leave it to us”, “have mercy on me” ). However, it is clear that in close relationships, communication switches to “you”. And yet, to outsiders, the manifestation of close relationships in the church is perceived as a violation of the norm.
It should be remembered that in the church environment it is customary to treat the use of a proper name in the form in which it sounds in Church Slavonic. That’s why they say: “Father John” (not “Father Ivan”), “Deacon Sergius” (and not “Deacon Sergei”), “Patriarch Alexy” (and not “Alexey”).
Hierarchically, the rank of archimandrite in the black clergy corresponds in the white clergy to the mitred archpriest and protopresbyter (senior priest in the cathedral).
What is the difference between bishops, priests and other clergy?
The difference is the fullness of Grace. The Bishops of the Church, as full-fledged successors of the Apostles, have all the fullness of the Apostolic Grace they received from the Lord Jesus Christ. Bishops, appointing Presbyters (priests) for sacred service, transfer to them a part of the Apostolic Grace sufficient to perform the above-mentioned six Sacraments and other sacred rites. In addition to bishops and priests, there is also the rank of Deacons (diaconia - Greek ministry), who, upon their consecration, receive Grace in the fullness that is sufficient for them to fulfill their deaconal ministry. In other words, deacons themselves do not perform sacred rites, but “serve” and help bishops and priests perform sacred rites. Priests “act in sacred rites,” that is, they perform the six Sacraments and less significant sacred rites, teach the people the Word of God and guide the spiritual life of the flock entrusted to them. Bishops perform all sacred rites that priests can perform, and, in addition, perform the Sacrament of the Priesthood and head the Local Churches, or the dioceses included in them, uniting different quantity parishes led by priests.
“Between bishops and presbyters,” says St. John Chrysostom, “there is no great difference, since presbyters are also granted the right of teaching and church administration, and what is said regarding bishops, the same applies to presbyters. The right of consecration alone elevates bishops above presbyters ". (Handbook for a clergyman. Published by the Moscow Patriarchate. Moscow, 1983, p. 339).
It should also be added that the consecration of a deacon and a priest is performed by one bishop, while the consecration of a bishop must be performed by at least two or more bishops.
Hieromonk Aristarchus (Lokhanov)
Trifono-Pechengsky Monastery
Handbook of an Orthodox person. Part 2. Sacraments of the Orthodox Church Ponomarev Vyacheslav
Degrees of church hierarchy
Degrees of church hierarchy
Clergy (Greek kleros - lot), clergy, clergy- this is the totality of all the clergy and clergy of one temple. The clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church includes the clergy and clergy of all its churches.
The lowest degree of clergy that every candidate for the priesthood must pass is called clergyman. Initiation to the highest degrees of the church hierarchy takes place only after passing through the lower degrees of clergy, which are, as it were, preparatory.
Church services? low cleric, over whom the Sacrament of Priesthood is not performed. Serves at the altar, helping clergy during church services and rituals. Another name, not used in canonical and liturgical texts, but which became generally accepted by the end of the 20th century in the Russian Church, is altar boy.
Now in altar server duties includes:
1) lighting candles and lamps in the altar and in front of the iconostasis at the beginning of the service;
2) preparing vestments for priests and deacons;
3) preparation of prosphora, wine, water and incense;
4) lighting the coal and preparing the censer;
5) assistance to the deacon during Communion of the laity;
6) necessary help to the priest when performing the Sacraments and requirements;
8) reading during worship;
9) bell ringing before and during services.
The altar boy is prohibited from touching the Altar, the altar and their accessories; move from one side of the altar to the other between the Throne and the Royal Doors.
In the original Church, functions similar to those now performed by altar servers were assigned to the so-called Akolufov, who were lower servants. The word "akoluf" means "companion", "servant of his master on the road."
Clergymen (current altar servers) were divided into several groups that had specific responsibilities:
1) subdeacons (in the ancient Church - subdeacons);
2) readers (psalm-readers);
3) sextons;
4) singers (canonarchs) of the church choir.
Readers were already known in the Old Testament Church. During the service they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly, and added an interpretation, and the people understood what they read(Neh. 8; 8). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, having come to Nazareth, entered on the Sabbath day to the synagogue, and stood up to read(Luke 4:16).
Since books are read at every Orthodox service Holy Scripture, the rank of readers (lecturers) was immediately established in the Christian Church. In the first centuries, all members of the Church, both clergy and laity, could read in church, but later this ministry was assigned to individuals who were especially skilled in reading. The readers were subordinate to the deacons and became part of the lower clergy. At the end of the 2nd century, lecturer (Greek anagnost) becomes official in the church.
There were also singers in the Old Testament Church, called “canonarchs” according to the church charter (speakers of the voices of the Octoechos, prokeimnov, etc.). Old Testament mentions psalmists, sacred singers, singers and singers. They were divided into two choirs and were controlled by the “chief of praise and prayer.” The Lord Jesus Christ, Who more than once sang psalms and hymns with the disciples-apostles, thereby sanctified the ministry of the singers: And having sung, they went to the Mount of Olives(Matt. 26; 30).
Clergy- persons who have received Sacrament of Priesthood grace to do Sacraments(bishops and priests) or directly participate in their performance (deacons).
In the Orthodox Church there are three degrees of priesthood.
1. Deacon.
2. Presbyter (priest, priest).
3. Bishop (bishop).
The one ordained as a deacon receives the grace to help in the performance of Sacraments. One who is ordained as a priest (presbyter) receives the grace to perform Sacraments. Anyone ordained as a bishop (bishop) receives grace not only to perform Sacraments, but also to dedicate others to accomplish Sacraments.
Deacon (Greek dia?konos – servant) – clergyman first(junior) degree. He participates in public and private worship, serving at the Sacraments, but not performing them. The title of deacon in the Christian Church was established by the apostles when they ordained seven men in the Jerusalem community known, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom(Acts 6:3). Since that time, the deacon's priesthood has been continuously preserved in the Church as the lowest degree of the Priesthood. A deacon, depending on the circumstances of his ministry, is called:
1) hierodeacon, if he is in the monastic rank;
2) schema-hierodeacon, if he accepted the schema;
3) protodeacon (first deacon), if he holds the office of senior deacon in the white (married) clergy;
4) archdeacon (senior deacon), if he holds the office of senior deacon in monasticism.
Deacons are addressed as “Your love for God” or “Father deacon.”
Presbyter (Greek presvy?teros - elder), or priest, priest (Greek jere?os - priest) - a priest who can perform six out of seven Sacraments, with the exception of Sacraments of the Priesthood. One is ordained to the rank of presbyter only after the protege has been elevated to the rank of deacon. The priest “baptizes and performs sacred functions, but does not consecrate, that is, does not ordain others to perform the Sacraments and cannot ordain others to the rank of priest or to another rank involved in the sacred rite.” The presbyter also cannot perform consecrations and such sacred rites as the consecration of the antimension and the consecration of the World. His responsibilities include teaching the Christians entrusted to his care the dogmas of faith and piety. Subordinate to the priest in the church hierarchy are deacons and clergy, who perform their temple duties only with his blessing.
The presbyter, depending on the circumstances of his ministry, is called:
1) hieromonk (Greek) jeromni?hos - priest-monk), if he is in the monastic rank;
2) schema monk, if the hieromonk accepted the schema;
3) archpriest or protopresbyter (first priest, first presbyter), if he is the eldest of the elders white clergy;
4) abbot called the first among monastics (hieromonks);
5) archimandrite, if he is the abbot of a monastic monastery (although there are exceptions);
6) schema abbot or Schema-Archimandrite They call the abbot or archimandrite who has accepted the schema.
To the clergy accepted to contact in the following way.
1. To priests and monastic priests (hieromonks): "Your Reverence."
2. To archpriests, abbots or archimandrites: "Your Reverence."
Informal appeal to clergy: "father" with the addition of the full name, as it sounds in Church Slavonic. For example, “Father Alexey” (and not Alexey) or “Father John” (but not “Father Ivan”). Or simply, as is customary in the Russian tradition, - "father».
Bishop (Greek episcopos - overseer) - highest degree clergy. A bishop can do all seven sacraments, including Sacrament of the Priesthood. According to ancient tradition, only priests of the highest monastic order - archimandrites - are ordained to the rank of bishop. Other titles for bishop: bishop, hierarch (priest leader) or saint.
Ordination to the bishopric is accomplished by a council of bishops (according to the First Rule of the Holy Apostles, there must be at least two ordaining bishops; according to the 60th Rule of the Carthage Local Council of 318, there must be at least three). According to the 12th Rule of the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680–681), held in Constantinople, the bishop must be celibate. Now in church practice There is a rule for appointing bishops from the monastic clergy.
To the bishop accepted to contact in the following way.
1. To the bishop: "Your Eminence."
2. To the archbishop or metropolitan: "Your Eminence».
3. To the Patriarch: "Your Holiness."
4. To some Eastern Patriarchs(sometimes to other bishops) they turn - "Your Bliss."
Unofficial appeal to the bishop: “Lord” (name).
Bishop's rank administratively has several degrees.
1. Suffragan Bishop(or chorepiscop)- does not have its own diocese and helps the ruling bishop in the given area (usually the metropolitan), who can give him a parish to manage small town or group of villages, called a vicariate.
2. Bishop manages all parishes the whole region which is called a diocese. To the name of the bishop, which he has in monasticism, is added the name of the diocese he governs.
3. Archbishop(senior bishop) governs the diocese bigger size than the bishop of a given Local Church.
4. Metropolitan is the bishop of a large city and the surrounding region. The metropolitan may have governors in the person of suffragan bishops.
5. Exarch(original bishop) – usually the metropolitan of a large metropolitan city. He is subject to several dioceses that are part of the Exarchate, with their bishops and archbishops, who are his governors. In the Russian Orthodox Church, for example, on this moment The Patriarchal Exarch of all Belarus is Metropolitan Philaret of Minsk and Slutsk.
6. Patriarch(principal) - Primate of the Local Church, the highest rank of the church hierarchy. The full name of the Local Church that he governs is always added to the name of the Patriarch. Elected from among the bishops at the Local Council. Provides leadership to the church life of the Local Church for life. Some Local Churches are headed by metropolitans or archbishops. The title of Patriarch was established by the Fourth Ecumenical Council, held in 451 in the city of Chalcedon (Asia Minor). In Rus', the Patriarchate was established in 1589, and in 1721 it was abolished and replaced by a collegial body - Holy Synod. In 1918, at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, the patriarchate was restored. Currently there are the following Orthodox Patriarchates: Constantinople (Turkey), Alexandrian (Egypt), Antioch (Syria), Jerusalem, Moscow, Georgian, Serbian, Romanian and Bulgarian.
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everything about the orders of priests, the orders of the Russian Orthodox Church and their vestments
Following the example of the Old Testament church, where there were a high priest, priests and Levites, the holy Apostles established in the New Testament Christian Church three degrees of priesthood: bishops, presbyters (i.e. priests) and deacons. All of them are called clergy, because through the sacrament of the priesthood they receive the grace of the Holy Spirit for the sacred service of the Church of Christ; perform worship services, teach people the Christian faith and good life(piety) and manage church affairs.
Bishops constitute the highest rank in the Church. They receive the highest degree of grace. Bishops are also called bishops, i.e., the heads of the priests (priests). Bishops can perform all the Sacraments and all church services. This means that bishops have the right not only to perform ordinary Divine services, but also to ordain (ordain) clergy, as well as to consecrate chrism and antimensions, which is not given to priests.
According to the degree of priesthood, all bishops are equal to each other, but the oldest and most honored of the bishops are called archbishops, while the capital's bishops are called metropolitans, since the capital is called metropolis in Greek. Bishops of ancient capitals, such as: Jerusalem, Constantinople (Constantinople), Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and from the 16th century the Russian capital of Moscow, are called patriarchs. Between 1721 and 1917, the Russian Orthodox Church was governed by Holy Synod. In 1917, the Holy Council meeting in Moscow elected him again to govern the Russian Orthodox Church." His Holiness Patriarch Moscow and all Russia."
Metropolitans
To help a bishop, another bishop is sometimes given, who, in this case, is called vicar, i.e., viceroy. Exarch- the title of the head of a separate church district. Currently, there is only one exarch - the Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl, who governs the Belarusian Exarchate.
Priests, and in Greek priests or elders, constitute the second sacred rank after the bishop. Priests can perform, with the blessing of the bishop, all the sacraments and church services, except for those that are supposed to be performed only by the bishop, that is, except for the sacrament of the priesthood and the consecration of the world and antimensions.
A Christian community under the jurisdiction of a priest is called his parish.
More worthy and honored priests are given the title archpriest, i.e. the main priest, or the leading priest, and the main one between them is the title protopresbyter.
If the priest is at the same time a monk (black priesthood), then he is called hieromonk, i.e., a priestly monk.
In monasteries there are up to six degrees of preparation for the angelic image:
Worker / worker— lives and works in a monastery, but has not yet chosen the monastic path.
Novice / Novice- a laborer who has completed obedience in a monastery and has received the blessing of wearing a cassock and a skufa (for women an apostle). At the same time, the novice retains his worldly name. A seminarian or parish sexton is accepted into the monastery as a novice.
Rassophore novice / Rassophore novice- a novice who is blessed to wear some monastic clothes (for example, a cassock, kamilavka (sometimes hood) and rosary). Rassophore or monastic tonsure (monk/nun) - a symbolic (as at baptism) cutting the hair and giving a new name in honor of the new heavenly patron; one is blessed to wear a cassock, kamilavka (sometimes hood) and rosary.
Robe or monastic tonsure or small angelic image or small schema ( monk/nun) - vows of obedience and renunciation from the world are given, hair is symbolically cut, the name of the heavenly patron is changed and monastic clothes are blessed: hair shirt, cassock, slippers, paraman cross, rosary, belt (sometimes leather belt), cassock, hood, mantle, apostle.
Schima or great schema or great angelic image ( schema-monk, schema-monk / schema-nun, schema-nun) - the same vows are given again, the hair is symbolically cut, the name of the heavenly patron is changed and clothes are added: analav and a kokol instead of a hood.
Monk
Schimonakh
Hieromonks, upon appointment by their abbots of monasteries, and sometimes independently of this, as an honorary distinction, are given the title abbot or higher rank archimandrite. Especially worthy of the archimandrites are elected to bishops.
Hegumen Roman (Zagrebnev)
Archimandrite John (Krastyankin)
Deacons (Deacons) constitute the third, lowest, sacred rank. "Deacon" is a Greek word and means: servant. Deacons serve the bishop or priest during Divine services and the celebration of the sacraments, but cannot perform them themselves.The participation of a deacon in the Divine service is not necessary, and therefore in many churches the service takes place without a deacon.
Some deacons are awarded the title protodeacon, i.e., chief deacon.
A monk who has received the rank of deacon is called hierodeacon, and the senior hierodeacon - archdeacon.
In addition to the three sacred ranks, there are also lower official positions in the Church: subdeacons, psalm-readers (sacristans) and sextons. They, being among the clergy, are appointed to their positions not through the sacrament of the Priesthood, but only with the blessing of the bishop.
Psalmists have the duty to read and sing, both during divine services in the church on the choir, and when the priest performs spiritual needs in the homes of parishioners.
Acolyte
Sexton have their duty to call believers to Divine services by ringing bells, light candles in the temple, serve censers, help psalm-readers in reading and singing, and so on.
Sexton
Subdeacons participate only in the episcopal service. They dress the bishop in sacred clothes, hold lamps (trikiri and dikiri) and present them to the bishop to bless those praying with them.
Subdeacons
Priests, in order to perform Divine services, must put on special sacred clothes. Sacred robes are made of brocade or any other suitable material and decorated with crosses. The deacon's vestments consist of: surplice, orarion and bridles.
Surplice There are long clothes without a slit in the front and back, with an opening for the head and wide sleeves. The surplice is also required for subdeacons. The right to wear the surplice can be given to psalm-readers and laymen serving in the church. The surplice signifies the purity of the soul that persons of holy orders must have.
Orar there is a long wide ribbon made of the same material as the surplice. It is worn by the deacon on his left shoulder, above the surplice. The Orarion signifies the grace of God that the deacon received in the sacrament of the Priesthood.
Narrow sleeves that are fastened with laces are called handguards. The instructions remind the clergy that when they perform the sacraments or participate in the celebration of the sacraments of the faith of Christ, they do this not with their own strength, but with the power and grace of God. The guards also resemble the bonds (ropes) on the hands of the Savior during His suffering.
The vestments of a priest consist of: a vestment, an epitrachelion, a belt, armbands and a phelonion (or chasuble).
The surplice is a surplice in a slightly modified form. It differs from the surplice in that it is made of thin white material, and its sleeves are narrow with laces at the ends, with which they are tightened on the arms. The white color of the sacristan reminds the priest that he must always have a pure soul and lead an immaculate life. In addition, the cassock also resembles the tunic (underwear) in which our Lord Jesus Christ Himself walked on earth and in which He accomplished the work of our salvation.
The epitrachelion is the same orarion, but only folded in half so that, going around the neck, it descends from the front downwards with two ends, which for convenience are sewn or somehow connected to each other. The epitrachelion signifies the special, double grace compared to the deacon, given to the priest for performing the sacraments. Without an epitrachelion, a priest cannot perform a single service, just as a deacon cannot perform a single service without an orarion.
The belt is worn over the epitrachelion and cassock and signifies readiness to serve the Lord. The belt also marks Divine power, which strengthens clergy in the passage of their ministry. The belt also resembles the towel with which the Savior girded when washing the feet of His disciples at the Secret
The chasuble, or phelonion, is worn by the priest on top of other clothes. This clothing is long, wide, sleeveless, with an opening for the head at the top and a large cutout in the front for free action of the arms. In its appearance, the robe resembles the scarlet robe in which the suffering Savior was clothed. The ribbons sewn on the robe resemble the streams of blood that flowed through His clothes. At the same time, the robe also reminds the priests of the garment of righteousness in which they must be clothed as servants of Christ.
On top of the chasuble, on the priest’s chest, is a pectoral cross.
For diligent, long-term service, priests are given a legguard, that is, a quadrangular cloth hung on a ribbon over the shoulder and two corners on the right hip, meaning a spiritual sword, as well as head ornaments - skufya and kamilavka.
Kamilavka.
The bishop (bishop) puts on all the clothes of a priest: a vestment, epitrachelion, belt, armlets, only his chasuble is replaced by a sakkos, and his loincloth by a club. In addition, the bishop puts on an omophorion and a miter.
Sakkos - outerwear bishop's surplice, similar to a deacon's surplice shortened at the bottom and in the sleeves, so that from under the bishop's sakkos both the sacron and the epitrachelion are visible. Sakkos, like the priest’s robe, symbolizes the Savior’s purple robe.
The club is a quadrangular board hung at one corner, above the sakkos on the right thigh. As a reward for excellent and diligent service, the right to wear a club is sometimes received from the ruling bishop and honored archpriests, who also wear it with right side, and the legguard in this case is placed on the left. For archimandrites, as well as for bishops, the club serves as a necessary accessory to their vestments. The club, like the legguard, means the spiritual sword, that is, the word of God, with which clergy must be armed to fight unbelief and wickedness.
On the shoulders, above the sakkos, bishops wear an omophorion. Omophorion there is a long wide ribbon-shaped board decorated with crosses. It is placed on the bishop's shoulders so that, encircling the neck, one end descends in front and the other behind. Omophorion is a Greek word and means shoulder pad. The omophorion belongs exclusively to bishops. Without an omophorion, a bishop, like a priest without an epitrachelion, cannot perform any service. The omophorion reminds the bishop that he must take care of the salvation of the lost, like the good shepherd of the Gospel, who, having found the lost sheep, carries it home on his shoulders.
On his chest, on top of the sakkos, in addition to the cross, the bishop also has a panagia, which means “All Holy One.” This is a small round image of the Savior or Mother of God, decorated with colored stones.
A miter decorated with small images and colored stones is placed on the bishop's head. Mithra symbolizes the crown of thorns, which was placed on the head of the suffering Savior. Archimandrites also have a miter. In exceptional cases, the ruling bishop gives the right to the most honored archpriests to wear a miter instead of a kamilavka during Divine services.
During Divine services, bishops use a rod or staff as a sign of supreme pastoral authority. The staff is also given to archimandrites and abbots, as heads of monasteries. During the Divine Service, eagles are placed under the bishop’s feet. These are small round rugs with the image of an eagle flying over the city. Orlets mean that the bishop must, like an eagle, ascend from the earthly to the heavenly.
The home clothing of a bishop, priest and deacon consists of a cassock (half-caftan) and a cassock. Over the cassock, on the chest, the bishop wears a cross and panagia, and the priest wears a cross
Everyday clothing of clergy of the Orthodox Church, cassocks and cassocks, as a rule, are made of fabric black color, which expresses the humility and unpretentiousness of a Christian, disregard for external beauty, attention to the inner world.
During services on top casual wear church vestments are put on, which come in various colors.
Vestments white are used when performing divine services on holidays dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ (with the exception of Palm Sunday and Trinity), angels, apostles and prophets. The white color of these vestments symbolizes holiness, permeation with uncreated Divine Energies, and belonging to the heavenly world. Wherein White color is a memory of the Tabor light, the dazzling light of Divine glory. The Liturgy of Great Saturday and Easter Matins are celebrated in white vestments. In this case, the white color symbolizes the glory of the Risen Savior. It is customary to wear white vestments for funerals and all funeral services. In this case, this color expresses the hope for the repose of the deceased in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Vestments Red used during the Liturgy of the Light Christ's Resurrection and at all services of the forty-day Easter period. The red color in this case is a symbol of all-conquering Divine Love. In addition, red vestments are used on holidays dedicated to the memory of martyrs and on the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist. In this case, the red color of the vestments is a memory of the blood shed by the martyrs for the Christian faith.
Vestments blue color
, symbolizing virginity, are used exclusively for divine services on the feasts of the Mother of God. Blue is the color of Heaven, from which the Holy Spirit descends on us. Therefore, blue color is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. This is a symbol of purity.
That is why the blue color is used in church services on holidays associated with the name of the Mother of God.
The Holy Church calls the Most Holy Theotokos the vessel of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descended on her and She became the Mother of the Savior. Holy Mother of God Since childhood, she has been distinguished by a special purity of soul. Therefore, the color of the Mother of God became blue (blue). We see clergy in blue (blue) vestments on holidays:
Nativity of the Mother of God
On the day of Her Entry into the Temple
On the day of the Presentation of the Lord
On the day of Her Assumption
On the days of glorification of the icons of the Mother of God
Vestments golden (yellow) color used at services dedicated to the memory of saints. The golden color is a symbol of the Church, the Triumph of Orthodoxy, which was affirmed through the works of the holy bishops. Sunday services are performed in the same vestments. Sometimes divine services are performed in golden vestments on the days of remembrance of the apostles, who created the first church communities by preaching the Gospel. It's no coincidence that's why yellow liturgical vestments are the most commonly used. It is in yellow robes that priests dress on Sundays (when Christ and his victory over the forces of hell are glorified).
In addition, yellow vestments are also worn on the days of remembrance of the apostles, prophets, and saints - that is, those saints who, through their service in the Church, resembled Christ the Savior: they enlightened people, called to repentance, revealed Divine truths, and performed the sacraments as priests.
Vestments Green colour used at the services of Palm Sunday and Trinity. In the first case, the green color is associated with the memory of palm branches, a symbol of royal dignity, with which the inhabitants of Jerusalem greeted Jesus Christ. In the second case, the green color is a symbol of the renewal of the earth, purified by the grace of the Holy Spirit who has appeared hypostatically and always abides in the Church. For the same reason, green vestments are worn at services dedicated to the memory of saints, holy ascetics-monks, who were more transformed than other people by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Vestments Green colour are used on the days of remembrance of the saints - that is, saints leading an ascetic, monastic lifestyle, who paid special attention to spiritual deeds. Among them are Venerable Sergius Radonezh, founder of the Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and Reverend Mary Egyptian, who spent many years in the desert, and Venerable Seraphim Sarovsky and many, many others.
This is due to the fact that the ascetic life that these saints led changed them human nature- she became different, she was renewed - she was sanctified by Divine grace. In their lives, they united with Christ (who is symbolized by the color yellow) and with the Holy Spirit (who is symbolized by the second color - blue).
Vestments purple or crimson (dark burgundy) colors are worn on holidays dedicated to the Honest and Life-giving Cross. They are also used at Sunday services during Lent. This color is a symbol of the Savior’s suffering on the cross and is associated with the memories of the scarlet robe in which Christ was clothed by the Roman soldiers who laughed at him (Matthew 27, 28). In the days of remembering the sufferings of the Savior and His death on the cross(Sundays of Lent, Holy Week- the last week before Easter, on the days of worship of the Cross of Christ (Day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, etc.)
Shades of red in violet remind us of Christ’s suffering on the cross. of blue color(colors of the Holy Spirit) means that Christ is God, He is inextricably linked with the Holy Spirit, with the Spirit of God, He is one of the hypostases Holy Trinity. Purple seventh in the row of colors of the rainbow. This corresponds to the seventh day of the creation of the world. The Lord created the world for six days, but the seventh day became a day of rest. After the suffering of the cross ended earthly path Savior, Christ conquered death, defeated the powers of hell and rested from earthly affairs.
In order to get a more detailed understanding of who conducts services in the church or who speaks on television from the Russian Orthodox Church, it is necessary to know exactly what ranks there are in the Church and the Monastery, as well as their hierarchy. We recommend that you read
IN Orthodox world Church ranks are divided into the ranks of the white clergy (Rites of the Church) and the ranks of the black clergy (Monastic ranks).
CHURCH OFFICERS OR WHITE CLERGY
CHURCH OFFICES – ALTARNIK
In the worldly sense lately Church rank The altar boy began to disappear, and instead of him the rank of Sexton or Novice was increasingly mentioned. The tasks of the Altarman include the duties of carrying out the instructions of the rector of the temple; as a rule, such duties include maintaining a candle fire in the temple, lighting lamps and other lighting devices in the altar and iconostasis, they also help the priests put on clothes, bring prosphora, incense to the temple and perform other menial work. The altar boy can be recognized by the fact that he wears a surplice over his secular clothes. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with
CHURCH OFFICERS – READER
This is the lowest rank of the church and the reader is not included in the priesthood. The reader's duties include reading sacred texts and prayers during worship. In case of advancement in rank, the reader is ordained subdeacon.
CHURCH OFFICES – HYPODIACON
It is something of an intermediate rank between the laity and the clergy. Unlike the readers and altar servers, the subdeacon is allowed to touch the throne and the altar, as well as enter the altar through the royal gate, although the subdeacon is not a clergyman. The duties of this Church rank include assisting the Bishop in Divine services. We recommend that you read
CHURCH OFFICES – DEACON
The lowest level of clergy, as a rule, the duties of deacons include helping priests in worship, although they themselves do not have the right to perform public worship and be representatives of the church. Since a priest has the opportunity to perform rituals without a deacon, the number of deacons is currently being reduced, as the need for them is no longer needed.
CHURCH OFFICES – PROTODEACON OR PROTODEACON
This rank indicates the chief deacon in cathedrals As a rule, such a rank is awarded to a deacon after at least 15 years of service and is a special reward for service.
CHURCH OFFICERS – PRIEST
Currently, this rank is held by priests, and is designated as a junior title of priest. Priests, receiving power from bishops, have the right to conduct church ceremonies, teach people the Orthodox faith and perform other sacraments, but at the same time priests are prohibited from conducting ordination as priests.
CHURCH OFFICERS – ARCHOPRISH
CHURCH OFFICES – PROTOPRESTER
The highest Church rank in the white clergy is not a separate rank and is awarded only as a reward for the most deserved deeds before Orthodox faith and is appointed only by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.
Monastic orders or black clergy
CHURCH OFFICES – HIERODEACON: He is a monk with the rank of deacon.CHURCH OFFICES – ARCHIDEACON: He is a senior hierodeacon.
CHURCH OFFICES – HIEROMONCH: Is a monastic priest with the right to perform Orthodox sacraments.
CHURCH OFFICES – IGUMENE: Is the rector Orthodox monastery.
CHURCH OFFICES – ARCHIMADRID: The highest degree in the monastic ranks, but occupying a step lower than bishop.
CHURCH OFFICES – BISHOP: This rank is supervisory and has the third degree of priesthood and can also be called a bishop.
CHURCH OFFICES – METROPOLITAN: The highest title of bishop in the church.
CHURCH OFFICES – PATRIARCH: The most senior rank of the Orthodox Church.
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Clergy and clergy.
The performers of divine services are divided into clergy and clergy.
1. Clergy - persons over whom the sacrament of the Priesthood was completed (ordination, ordination), in which they received the grace of the Holy Spirit to perform the Sacraments (bishops and priests) or directly participate in their performance (deacons).
2. Clergymen - persons who have received the blessing to serve in the church during Divine services (subdeacons, altar servers, readers, singers).
Clergymen.
Clergy are divided into three degrees: 1) bishops (bishops); 2) elders (priests); 3) deacons .
1. Bishop is the highest degree of priesthood in the Church. The Bishop is the successor of the Apostles, in the sense that he has the same powers in the Church as the Apostles of Christ. He:
- primate (heading) of the community of believers;
- the chief superior over priests, deacons and the entire church clergy of his diocese.
The bishop has all the fullness of the sacrament. He has the right to perform all the sacraments. For example, unlike a priest, he has the right:
— ordain priests and deacons, and several bishops (one cannot) erect a new bishop. According to the teaching of the Church, apostolic grace (i.e., the gift of the priesthood), received from Jesus Christ, is transmitted through the ordination of bishops from the very apostolic times, and thus a gracious succession is carried out in the Church;
— bless the ointment for the sacrament of Confirmation;
— consecrate antimensions;
— consecrate temples(a priest can also consecrate a temple, but only with the blessing of the bishop).
Although all bishops are equal in grace, in order to preserve unity and for mutual assistance in difficult circumstances, the 34th Apostolic Canon still gives some of the bishops the right of supreme supervision over others. Hence, among bishops they distinguish: patriarch, metropolitan, archbishop, and simply bishop.
A bishop who rules the Church of an entire country is usually called patriarch , that is, the first of the bishops (from Greek patria - family, tribe, clan, generation; and arcwn - beginner, commander). However, in a number of countries - Greece, Cyprus, Poland and others, the Primate of the Orthodox Church bears the title archbishop . In the Georgian Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, the Assyrian Church, Cilician and Albanian primate bears the title - Catholicos (Greek [katholicos] - ecumenical, universal, conciliar). And in Roman and Alexandrian (from antiquity) - dad .
Metropolitan (from Greek capital) is the head of a large church region. The ecclesiastical area is called – diocese . A diocese (Greek region; the same as Latin province) is an ecclesiastical administrative unit. IN Roman Catholic Church dioceses are called dioceses. The diocese is divided into deaneries, consisting of a number of parishes. If a diocese is headed by a metropolitan, then it is usually called - metropolis. The title of metropolitan is an honorary title (as a reward for special merits or for many years of zealous service to the Church), following the title of archbishop, and the distinctive part of the metropolitan's vestments is a white hood and a green mantle.
Archbishop (Greek: senior bishop). In the Ancient Church, the rank of archbishop was higher than that of metropolitan. The archbishop ruled several metropolises, i.e. was the head of a large ecclesiastical region and the metropolitans governing the metropolises were subordinate to him. Currently, in the Russian Orthodox Church, archbishop is an honorary title, preceding the even more honorable rank of metropolitan.
A bishop who rules a small area is simply called bishop (Greek [episkopos] - supervising, supervising, controlling; from [epi] - on, with; + [skopeo] - I look).
Some bishops do not have an independent area of government, but are assistants to other, senior bishops; such bishops are called suffragan . A vicar (lat. vicarius - deputy, vicar) is a bishop who does not have his own diocese and helps the diocesan bishop in the administration.
2. The second degree of priesthood is priests (presbyters, from Greek [presvis] - elder; [presbyteros] - elder, head of the community).
Among the priests there are secular clergy - priests who did not take monastic vows; And black clergy - monks ordained to the priesthood.
The elders of the white clergy are called: priests, archpriests And protopresbyters. The elders of the black clergy are called: hieromonks, abbots And archimandrites.
Archpriest (from the Greek [protos iereis] - first priest) - a title given to a priest as an honorary distinction over other priests for merit or long service. This title does not give any power; the archpriest has only the primacy of honor.
The senior priest of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Moscow is called protopresbyter .
Priests of monks are called hieromonks . The senior hieromonks, who are usually entrusted with the management of the monastery, are called abbots And archimandrites .
Abbot (Greek [igumenos] - leader) - boss, leader of the monks. In ancient times, and nowadays in many Local Churches, the abbot is the head of the monastery. Initially, the abbot was not necessarily a priest; later he was chosen only from among the hieromonks, or the monk chosen by the abbot was ordained as a presbyter. In a number of Local Churches, the title of abbot is used as a hierarchical reward. This was the case in the Russian Orthodox Church until 2011.
Archimandrite (Greek [archi] - lit. chief, chief, senior; + [mandra] - sheepfold, corral (a place in a pasture or pasture, enclosed by a fence, where livestock is driven, intended for rest and additional feeding), i.e. in a figurative sense, the head of spiritual sheep) is the head of a large or most important monastery. In ancient times, this was the name given to persons who headed several monasteries, for example, all the monasteries of a diocese. IN special cases this title is given as a hierarchical reward. In the white clergy, the rank of archimandrite corresponds to the rank of archpriest and protopresbyter.
3. The third degree of clergy consists of deacons , in monasticism - hierodeacons . Deacons do not perform the Sacraments, but only assist bishops and priests in performing them. The senior deacons in cathedrals are called protodeacons , and the eldest of the hierodeacons in monasteries - archdeacons . These titles mean primacy of honor, not power.
Clergymen.
The clergy in the Orthodox Church constitute the lowest circle. The clergy include:
subdeacons (i.e. deacon's assistants);
readers (psalm-readers);
singers (sacristans);
altar servers (clerics or sextons).
Types of Local Churches.
Autocephalous Church(from Greek [autos] - himself + [mullet] - head) - an independent Orthodox Local Church, i.e. administratively (canonically) completely independent from other Orthodox Local Churches.
Currently there are 15 Autocephalous Churches, which, according to the diptych adopted in the Russian Orthodox Church, are located in the following hierarchy of honor:
Constantinople Orthodox Church(more than 2 million people)
Alexandria(more than 6.5 million people)
Antioch(1 million 370 thousand people)
Jerusalem(130 thousand people)
Russian(50-100 million people)
Georgian(4 million people)
Serbian(10 million people)
Romanian(16 million people)
Bulgarian(about 8 million people)
Cyprus(420 thousand people)
Hellasic(Greek) (about 8 million people)
Albanian(about 700 thousand people)
Polish(500 thousand people)
Czechoslovakian(more than 150 thousand people)
American(about 1 million people)
Each Local Orthodox Church is part of the Universal Church.
Autonomous Church(from Greek [autonomy] - self-law) The Local Orthodox Church, part of the Autocephalous Church, which has received independence in matters internal management from one or another Autocephalous (otherwise Cariarchal) Church of which this autonomous church was previously a member with the rights of an exarchate or diocese.
The dependence of the Autonomous Church on the Kyriarchal Church is expressed in the following:
- the head of the Autonomous Church is appointed head of the Kyriarchal Church;
— the charter of the Autonomous Church is approved by the Kyriarchal Church;
— The Autonomous Church receives myrrh from the Kyriarchal Church;
— the name of the primate of the Kyriarchal Church is proclaimed in all churches of the Autonomous Church before the name of its primate;
- the primate of the Autonomous Church is subject to the jurisdiction of the highest court of the Kyriarchal Church.
Currently there are 5 Autonomous Churches:
Sinai(depending on Jerusalem)
Finnish
Estonian(depending on Constantinople)
Japanese(depending on Russian)
Self-governing Church– it’s like the Autonomous Church, only larger and with broader rights of autonomy.
Self-governing within the Russian Orthodox Church:
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
Latvian
Moldavian
Ukrainian(Moscow Patriarchate) (with rights of broad autonomy)
Estonian(Moscow Patriarchate)
Belarusian(de facto).
Self-governing within the Orthodox Church of Constantinople:
Western European Exarchate of Russian Parishes
Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada
Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA.
Exarchate(from Greek [exarchos] - external power) in modern Orthodoxy and Catholicism of the Eastern rites - a special administrative-territorial unit, foreign in relation to the main Church, or specially created for the care of believers of a given rite in special conditions.
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