Church titles and positions of the Orthodox. The hierarchy of the clergy

It would be correct to say that those people who work in churches and benefit the Church are serving, moreover, a rather difficult one, but very godly.

For many people, the Church remains hidden in darkness, and hence, some people often have a distorted understanding of it, a wrong attitude to what is happening. Some expect holiness from servants in temples, others asceticism.

So who serves in the temple?

Perhaps I'll start with the ministers to make it easier to perceive further information.

Those serving in churches are called clergymen and clergymen, all clergymen in a particular church are called clergy, and together clergymen and clergymen are called the clergyman of a particular parish.

Priests

Thus, priests are people who are consecrated in a special way by the head of the metropolis or diocese, with the laying on of hands (ordination) and the adoption of a sacred spiritual dignity. These are people who have taken the oath, and also have a spiritual education.

Careful selection of candidates before ordination (consecration)

As a rule, candidates are ordained as clergymen after a lengthy examination and preparation (often 5-10 years). Previously, this person passed obedience at the altar and has a testimonial from the priest to whom he obeyed in the church, then he undergoes an appointee confession with the confessor of the diocese, after which the metropolitan or bishop decides whether a particular candidate is worthy of being ordained.

Married or Monk ... But married to the Church!

Before ordination, the henchman is determined whether he will be a married minister or a monk. If he is married, then he must marry in advance, and after checking the relationship for the fortress, the ordination is performed (priests should be prohibited from being reclaimed).

So, the clergy received the grace of the Holy Spirit for the sacred service of the Church of Christ, namely: to perform divine services, teach people the Christian faith, good life, piety, and manage church affairs.

There are three degrees of priesthood: bishops (metropolitans, archbishops), priests, deacons.

Bishops, Archbishops

The bishop is the highest rank in the Church, they receive the highest degree of Grace, they are also called bishops (most honored) or metropolitans (who are the head of the metropolitanate, i.e. the main ones in the region). Bishops can perform all seven of the seven ordinances of the Church and all Church services and ordinances. This means that only bishops have the right not only to perform ordinary divine services, but also to ordain (ordain) to clergy, as well as to consecrate myrrh, antimensions, temples and thrones. Bishops run priests. And the bishops obey the Patriarch.

Priests, Archpriests

A priest is a priest, the second holy order after the bishop, who has the right to independently perform six of the seven sacraments of the Church, i.e. a priest can perform ordinances and church services with the blessing of the bishop, except for those that are supposed to be performed only by the bishop. More worthy and deserved priests are awarded the title of archpriest, i.e. senior priest, and the chief among the archpriests is given the title of Protopresbyter. If a priest is a monk, then he is called by a hieromonk, i.e. priestly monks, for the length of service they can be awarded the title of abbot, and then the even higher title of archimandrite. Especially worthy archimandrites can become bishops.

Deacons, Protodeacons

A deacon is a priest of the third, lower priestly rank, who assists a priest or bishop during divine services or the performance of the sacraments. He serves in the performance of the sacraments, but he cannot perform the sacraments on his own. Therefore, the participation of the deacon in the service is not necessary. In addition to helping the priest, the deacon's task is to call the worshipers to prayer. Its distinctive feature in vestments: he dresses in a surplice, on his hands there are straps, on his shoulder there is a long ribbon (orarion), if the deacon has a wide and overlapped ribbon, then the deacon has a reward or is a protodeacon (senior deacon). If a deacon is a monk, then he is called a hierodeacon (and the senior hierodeacon will be called an archdeacon).

Church ministers who are not ordained and help in the ministry.

Hippodiacs

Hippodeacons are those who help in the hierarchal service, they dress the bishop, hold the lamps, move the eagles, bring the Official at a certain time, prepare everything necessary for the divine service.

Psalm-readers (readers), singers

Psalm-makers and singers (choir) - read and sing on the kliros in the temple.

Registrars

An instructor is a psalm-reader who knows the Divine Rite very well and provides the singing singers with the necessary book on time (during divine services, quite a lot of divine service books are used, and they all have their own name and meaning) and, if necessary, reads or proclaims independently (performs the function of canonarch).

Ponomari or altar boys

Ponomari (altar men) - help priests (priests, archpriests, hieromonks, etc.) during divine services.

Novices and laborers

Novices, laborers - mostly they only visit monasteries where they perform various obediences

Inoki

A monk is a resident of a monastery who did not take vows, but has the right to monastic robes.

Monks

A monk is a resident of a monastery who has taken monastic vows before God.

Shimonakh is a monk who made even more serious vows before God compared to an ordinary monk.

In addition, in the temples you can find:

Abbot

An abbot is the head priest, rarely a deacon in a particular parish

Treasurer

The treasurer is a kind of chief accountant, as a rule, this is an ordinary woman from the world, who is appointed by the abbot to do a specific job.

Headman

The headman is the same manager, the housekeeper, as a rule, this is a pious layman who has a desire to help and manage the household at the church.

Economy

The housekeeper is one of the domestic workers where required.

Registrar

Registrar - these functions are performed by an ordinary parishioner (from the world) who serves in the church with the blessing of the abbot, she draws up requests and ordered prayers.

Cleaning woman

A church attendant (cleaning, maintaining order in candlesticks) is an ordinary parishioner (from the world) who serves in the temple with the blessing of the abbot.

Church Shop attendant

An employee in a church shop is an ordinary parishioner (from the world) who serves in the church with the blessing of the rector, performs the functions of consulting and selling literature, candles and everything that is sold in church shops.

Janitor, security guard

An ordinary man from the world who serves in the Temple with the blessing of the abbot.

Dear friends, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the author of the project asks for help from each of you. I serve in a poor village Temple, I really need various help, including funds for the maintenance of the Temple! Parish Church website: hramtrifona.ru

The priesthood of the Russian Orthodox Church is divided into three degrees, established by the holy apostles: deacons, priests and bishops. The first two include both white (married) clergy and black (monastic) clergy. Only persons who have taken monastic vows are elevated to the last, third degree. All church titles and positions of Orthodox Christians have been established in accordance with this order.

Church hierarchy that came from the Old Testament times

The order according to which Orthodox Christians are divided into three different degrees of church titles dates back to Old Testament times. This happens due to religious continuity. It is known from the Holy Scriptures that about one and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ, the founder of Judaism, the prophet Moses, selected special people for worship - the high priests, priests and Levites. It is with them that our modern church titles and positions are associated.

The first of the high priests was Moses' brother Aaron, and his sons, who led all the divine services, became priests. But, in order to perform the numerous sacrifices that were an integral part of religious rituals, helpers were needed. They were the Levites - the descendants of Levi, the son of the forefather Jacob. These three categories of clergymen of the Old Testament era became the basis on which all the church titles of the Orthodox Church are built today.

The Lower Order of the Priesthood

When looking at church titles in ascending order, one should start with deacons. This is the lowest priestly office, upon ordination into which is acquired the Grace of God, which is necessary to fulfill the role that is assigned to them in divine services. The deacon does not have the right to independently conduct church services and perform the sacraments, but is only obliged to help the priest. A monk ordained to the deacon is called a hierodeacon.

Deacons who have served for a sufficiently long period of time and have proven themselves well, receive the title of protodeacons (senior deacons) in the white clergy, and archdeacons in the black. The latter's privilege is the right to serve under the bishop.

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

The second rung of the priestly hierarchy

Considering further the church ranks in ascending order, one should dwell on the priests. The holders of this dignity are also called elders (in Greek "elder"), or priests, and in monasticism, hieromonks. Compared to deacons, this is a higher level of priesthood. Accordingly, when ordained, a greater degree of the Grace of the Holy Spirit is acquired.

Since evangelical times, priests have been leading the divine services and are entitled to perform most of the holy ordinances, including everything except ordination, that is, ordination, as well as the consecration of antimensions and peace. In accordance with the duties assigned to them, priests direct the religious life of urban and rural parishes, where they can hold the post of rector. The priest is directly subordinate to the bishop.

For a long and impeccable service, the priest of the white clergy is encouraged by the title of archpriest (chief priest) or protopresbyter, and of the black one - by the rank of hegumen. Among the monastic clergy, the abbot, as a rule, is appointed to the post of abbot of an ordinary monastery or parish. In the event that he is instructed to lead a large monastery or lavra, he is called an archimandrite, which is an even higher and honorable title. It is from the archimandrites that the episcopate is formed.

Bishops of the Orthodox Church

Further, listing church titles in ascending order, it is necessary to pay special attention to the highest group of hierarchs - bishops. They belong to the category of clergymen called bishops, that is, chiefs of priests. Having received the greatest degree of the Grace of the Holy Spirit during ordination, they have the right to perform all church ordinances without exception. They are given the right not only to conduct any church services themselves, but also to ordain deacons to the priesthood.

According to the Church Rule, all bishops have an equal degree of priesthood, with the most honored of them being called archbishops. A special group is made up of the metropolitan bishops, called metropolitans. This name comes from the Greek word "metropolis", which means "capital". In those cases when another bishop is appointed to help one bishop holding a high office, he bears the title of vicar, that is, a deputy. The bishop is placed at the head of the parishes of the whole region, in this case called the diocese.

Primate of the Orthodox Church

Finally, the highest rank of the church hierarchy is the patriarch. He is elected by the Council of Bishops and, together with the Holy Synod, leads the entire local church. According to the Charter, adopted in 2000, the dignity of the patriarch is life-long, but in some cases the bishop's court is given the right to try him, depose him and decide on his retirement.

In those cases when the patriarchal see is vacant, the Holy Synod elects from among its permanent members a locum tenens who performs the functions of the patriarch until his legal election.

Church ministers who do not have the grace of God

Having mentioned all the church ranks in ascending order and returning to the very foundation of the hierarchical ladder, it should be noted that in the church, besides the clergy, that is, clergymen who have passed the sacrament of ordination and were vouchsafed to gain the Grace of the Holy Spirit, there is an even lower category - clergy. These include subdeacons, psalmists, and sextons. Despite their church ministry, they are not priests and vacancies are accepted without ordination, but only with the blessing of the bishop or archpriest - the rector of the parish.

The duties of the psalmist include reading and singing during church services and during the performance of the priest's services. The sexton entrusts to call the parishioners to the church by bell ringing for the beginning of the services, to make sure that candles are lit in the church, if necessary, help the psalmist and give the censer to the priest or deacon.

Subdeacons also take part in divine services, but only together with the bishops. Their duties are to help the Vladyka put on his vestments before the beginning of the service and, if necessary, change vestments in the process. In addition, the subdeacon gives the bishop lamps - dikiriy and trikiriy - for the blessing of those praying in the church.

The legacy of the holy apostles

We have looked at all church titles in ascending order. In Russia and among other Orthodox peoples, these ranks bear the blessing of the holy apostles - disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. It was they who, having become the founders of the earthly Church, established the existing order of the church hierarchy, taking as an example the example of the Old Testament times.

In the Christian New Testament Church, there are three degrees of priesthood established by the holy Apostles. The dominant position is occupied by bishops, followed by elders - priests - and deacons. This system repeats the structure of the Old Testament church, where the following degrees existed: the high priest, priests and Levites.

Priests for the service of the Church of Christ through the sacrament of the priesthood receive the grace of the Holy Spirit. This allows you to perform divine services, manage the affairs of the Church, and teach people through the Christian faith a good life and piety.

The highest rank in the Church are bishops receiving the highest degree of grace. They are also called bishops - chiefs of priests (that is, priests). Bishops have the right to perform all Sacraments and Church services without exception. It is the bishops who have the right not only to conduct ordinary divine services, but also to ordain (or consecrate) other Orthodox Christians. Also, bishops, unlike other priests, can consecrate myrrh and antimensions.

All bishops are equal to each other in the degree of priesthood, but the most honored, the oldest of them are called archbishops. Metropolitan bishops are called metropolitan - translated into Greek "capital" will sound like "metropolitanate". The bishops of the most ancient Christian capitals are called patriarchs. These are the bishops of Jerusalem and Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Rome.

At times, one bishop is assisted by another bishop. The second of the named clergy in this case is called the vicar (governor).

The holy order, following the bishops, is occupied priests... In Greek they can be called elders or priests. These priests, with the episcopal blessing, can perform almost all church ordinances and services. However, it does not do without exceptions, which are the rituals available only to the highest sacred order - the bishops. Such exceptions, first of all, include the following sacraments: ordination to dignity, as well as the sacraments of the consecration of antimenses and peace. The Christian community, headed by a priest, bears the name of his parish.

The most honored and worthy priests can be called archpriests, in other words, chief priests, preeminent priests. The Chief Archpriest is awarded the title of Protopresbyter.

When a priest is a monk at the same time, he is called hieromonk - priest-monk, translated into modern Russian. Hieromonks who are abbots of monasteries carry the title of abbots. Sometimes a hieromonk can be called an abbot independently of this, simply as an honorary distinction. Archimandrite is an even higher rank than abbot. The most worthy of the archimandrites can subsequently be elected as bishops.

The lowest, third sacred order is deacons... This Greek name translates to "minister". When church ordinances or services are performed, deacons serve bishops or priests. However, the deacons themselves cannot perform them. The participation or presence of a deacon during the service is optional. Accordingly, church services can often take place without a deacon.

Individual deacons, the most worthy and honored, receive the title of protodeacon - or first deacon, in modern language.

If a monk receives the rank of deacon, they begin to call him a hierodeacon, of which the archdeacon is the eldest.

In addition to these three sacred ranks, there are other, lower official positions in the Church. These are subdeacons, sextons and psalmists (sextons). Although they are clergymen, they can be appointed to office without the sacrament of the Priesthood, but only with the blessing of the hierarch.

Psalmists reading and chanting both during the service in the church and when the priest performs spiritual requests in the homes of parishioners is charged with the duty.

Ponomari must summon believers to worship by ringing the bells. In addition, they are required to light candles in the temple, help the psalmists while singing and reading, serve a censer, and so on.

Subdeacons take part only in the ministry of bishops. They dress the bishop in church vestments, and also hold lamps (called dikiri and trikiri), giving them to the bishop who blesses the worshipers.

A priest in the Orthodox Church is not just a “father”. An uninitiated person guesses that there are many degrees of priesthood in the church: it is not for nothing that one Orthodox priest wears a silver cross, another a gold cross, and a third also decorated with beautiful stones. In addition, even a person who does not delve into the Russian church hierarchy knows from fiction that the clergy can be black (monastics) and white (married). But when faced with such Orthodox as an archimandrite, priest, protodeacon, the overwhelming majority of people do not understand what this is all about, and how the listed clergy differ from each other. Therefore, I offer a short overview of the dignities of Orthodox clergy, which will help you understand a large number of clerical titles.

Priest in the Orthodox Church - black clergy

Let's start with the black clergy, since the ranks of monastic Orthodox priests are much more than those who have chosen family life.

• The patriarch is the head of the Orthodox Church, the highest church dignity. The patriarch is elected at a local council. A distinctive feature of his vestments is a white headdress (kukol), crowned with a cross, and a panagia (the image of the Mother of God adorned with precious stones).
• The Metropolitan is the head of a large Orthodox church region (metropolitanate), which includes several dioceses. Currently, it is an honorary (usually award) dignity, immediately following the archbishop. The Metropolitan wears a white cowl and panagia.
• The Archbishop is an Orthodox priest who managed several dioceses. It is currently awarded. The archbishop can be distinguished by a black hood decorated with a cross and a panagia.
• The bishop is the head of the Orthodox diocese. It differs from the archbishop in that there is no cross on his cowl. All patriarchs, metropolitans, archbishops and bishops can be called in one word - bishops. All of them can ordain to Orthodox priests and deacons, consecrate, and perform all the other sacraments of the Orthodox Church. Ordination to a bishop, according to church rule, is always carried out by several bishops (council).
• Archimandrite is an Orthodox priest in the highest monastic rank, preceding the episcopal one. Previously, this rank was conferred on the abbots of large monasteries, now it often bears a reward character, and in one monastery there can be several archimandrites.
• Hegumen is a monk in the rank of an Orthodox priest. Previously, this title was considered quite high, and only the abbots of the monasteries had it. Today it is no longer important.
• Hieromonk is the lowest rank of a monastic priest in the Orthodox Church. Archimandrites, abbots and hieromonks wear black vestments (cassock, cassock, mantle, black cowl without a cross) and a pectoral (breast) cross. They can perform church ordinances, except for ordination to the priesthood.
• The Archdeacon is a senior deacon in an Orthodox monastery.
• Hierodeacon is a junior deacon. Archdeacons and hierodeacons outwardly differ from monastic priests in that they do not wear a pectoral cross. Their vestments during worship also differ. They cannot perform any church sacraments, their functions include concelebrating the priest during the service: proclaiming prayer requests, carrying out the Gospel, reading the Apostle, preparing sacred vessels, etc.
• Deacons, both monastics and those belonging to the white clergy, belong to the lower level of the priesthood, Orthodox priests to the middle, and the bishop to the highest.

Orthodox cleric - white clergy

• An archpriest - a senior Orthodox priest in a church, as a rule, is a rector, but today in one parish, especially a large one, there may be several archpriests.
• Priest is a junior Orthodox priest. White priests, like monastic priests, perform all the sacraments, except for ordination. Archpriests and priests do not wear a robe (this is part of a monastic vestment) and a cowl, their headdress is a kamilavka.
• Protodeacon, deacon - senior and junior deacons, respectively, among the white clergy. Their functions are fully consistent with those of monastic deacons. White clergy are not ordained Orthodox bishops only on condition of taking monastic dignity (this often happens by mutual consent in old age or in the case of widowhood, if the priest has no children or they are already adults.

Every Orthodox person meets with the clergy who speak in public or conduct services in the church. At first glance, you can understand that each of them wears some special rank, because it is not for nothing that they have differences in clothes: different colors of robes, hats, someone has jewelry made of precious stones, while others are more ascetic. But not everyone is given to understand the ranks. To find out the main dignities of clergy and monks, consider the ranks of the Orthodox Church in ascending order.

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

1. Secular clergy. These include ministers who can 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 birth of Christ, the prophet Moses appointed people who were to communicate with God. It is with these people that today's hierarchy of ranks is associated.

Altar boy (novice)

This person is a worldly clergy assistant. His responsibilities include:

If necessary, the novice can ring the bells and read prayers, but he is strictly forbidden to touch the throne and walk between the altar and the Royal Doors. The altar boy wears the most ordinary clothes, puts on the surplice upstairs.

This person is not elevated to the rank of clergy. He should read prayers and words from scripture, interpret them to ordinary people and explain to children the basic rules of the Christian life. For special zeal, a priest can ordain a psalmist to a subdeacon. From church clothes, he is allowed to wear a cassock and a skufia (velvet cap).

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

Church dignities of the Orthodox Church

All of the above ministers of the church are not clergymen. These are simple peaceful people who want to get closer to the church and the Lord God. They are accepted for their positions only with the blessing of the priest. To consider the ecclesiastical dignities of the Orthodox Church from the lowest.

The position of the deacon has remained unchanged since ancient times. He, as before, must help in the divine service, but he is forbidden to independently perform church services and represent the Church in society. His main responsibility is reading the Gospel. Currently, the need for the services of a deacon is no longer needed, so their number in churches is steadily declining.

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

It is these people who have a beautiful singing voice, know many psalms, prayers, and sing at various church services.

This word came to us from the Greek language and in translation means "priest". In the Orthodox Church, this is the smallest priesthood. The bishop gives him the following powers:

• perform divine services and other sacraments;
• to carry the teaching to people;
• to carry out communion.

It is forbidden for a priest to consecrate antimensions and to administer the ordinance of the ordination of the priesthood. Instead of a hood, his head is covered with a kamilavka.

This dignity is given as a reward for some kind of merit. The archpriest is the most important among the priests and concurrently the rector of the church. During the performance of the sacraments, the archpriests put on the robe and the epitrachelion. Several archpriests can serve in one liturgical institution.

This dignity is given only by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia as a reward for the kindest and most useful deeds that a person has done in favor of the Russian Orthodox Church. This is the highest rank in the white clergy. It will no longer be possible to deserve a rank above, since then there are ranks who are forbidden to create a family.

Nevertheless, in order to be promoted, many abandon worldly life, family, children and go into monastic life forever. In such families, the spouse most often supports the husband and also goes to the monastery to take a monastic vow.

Black clergy

It includes only those who have received monastic tonsure. This hierarchy of ranks is more detailed than that of those who preferred family life to monastic life.

This is a monk who is a deacon. He helps priests to conduct ordinances and perform services. For example, he brings out the vessels necessary for rituals or pronounces prayer requests. The most senior hierodeacon is called "archdeacon".

This is a person who is a priest. He is allowed to perform various sacred ordinances. This dignity can be obtained by priests from the white clergy who have decided to become monks, and those who have passed ordination (empowering a person with the right to perform the sacraments).

This is the abbot or abbess of a 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 made a decision to grant this rank to any abbot of the monastery. At dedication, the abbot is presented with a staff, with which he must go around his possessions.

This is one of the highest dignities in Orthodoxy. Upon receiving it, the clergyman is also awarded a miter. The archimandrite wears a black monastic robe, which distinguishes him from other monks in that he has red tablets. If, moreover, the archimandrite is the abbot of a temple or monastery, he has the right to wear a wand - a staff. He is supposed to be addressed by "Your High Reverend".

This dignity belongs to the category of bishops. When ordained, they received the highest grace of the Lord and therefore can perform any sacred rite, even ordain deacons. According to church laws, they have equal rights; the archbishop is considered the oldest. According to ancient tradition, only a bishop can bless a service with the help of antimis. This is a quadrangular scarf, into which part of the relics of a saint is sewn.

Also, this clergyman controls and takes care of all monasteries and churches that are located on the territory of his diocese. The generally accepted address to the bishop is "Vladyka" or "Your Eminence".

This is a high-ranking clergy or the highest title of a bishop, the most ancient on earth. He is subject only to the patriarch. It differs from other dignitaries in the following details in clothing:

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

This dignity is given for very high merit and is a badge of distinction.

Highest dignity 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 dignity is for life, only in the most rare cases is it possible to depose and excommunicate. When the seat of the patriarch is empty, a locum tenens is appointed as an interim executor, who does everything the patriarch has to do.

This position bears responsibility not only for itself, but also for the entire Orthodox people of the country.

Ascending ranks in the Orthodox Church have their own clear hierarchy. Despite the fact that we call many clergy "father", every Orthodox Christian should know the main differences between dignities and positions.