Rank after deacon. Orders and robes of Orthodox priests and monasticism

Church titles

Orthodox Church

The following hierarchy is observed:

Bishops:

1. Patriarchs, Archbishops, Metropolitans - Heads of Local Churches.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople should be called Your Holiness. Other Eastern Patriarchs should be addressed either as Your Holiness or as Your Beatitude in the third person

2. Metropolitans who are a) heads of Autocephalous Churches, b) members of the Patriarchate. In the latter case, they are members of the Synod or head one or more archiepiscopal dioceses.

3. Archbishops (same as point 2).

Metropolitans and archbishops should be addressed with the words Your Eminence

4. Bishops – administrators of the diocese – 2 dioceses.

5. Bishops – vicars – one diocese.

To the bishops, Your Eminence, Your Grace and Your Lordship. If the Head of the Local Orthodox Church is a metropolitan and archbishop, then it is appropriate to address him, Your Beatitude.

Priests:

1. Archimandrites (usually head monasteries, then they are called abbots of the monastery or governors).

2. Archpriests (usually deans and rectors of churches in this rank) major cities), protopresbyter - rector of the Patriarchal Cathedral.

3. Abbots.

To the archimandrites, archpriests, abbots - Your Reverence

4. Hieromonks.

To the hieromonks, priests - Your Reverence.

1. Archdeacons.

2. Protodeacons.

3. Hierodeacons.

4. Deacons.

Deacons are named according to their rank.

Roman Catholic Church

The order of precedence is as follows:

1. Pope (Roman pontiff (lat. Pontifex Romanus), or supreme sovereign pontiff (Pontifex Maximus)). Simultaneously possesses three inseparable functions of power. Monarch and Sovereign of the Holy See, as the successor of St. Peter (the first Roman bishop) is the head of the Roman Catholic Church and its supreme hierarch, sovereign of the Vatican City State.

The Pope should be addressed as "Holy Father" or "Your Holiness" in the third person.

2. Legates - cardinals representing the Pope, who are entitled to royal honors;

3. Cardinals, equal in rank to princes of the blood; Cardinals are appointed by the Pope. They, like bishops, govern dioceses or hold positions in the Roman Curia. From the 11th century Cardinals elect the Pope.

The cardinal should be addressed as "Your Eminence" or "Your Lordship" in the third person

4. Patriarch. In Catholicism, the rank of patriarch is mainly held by the hierarchs who head the Eastern Catholic Churches with the status of patriarchy. In the West, the title is rarely used, with the exception of the heads of the Metropolises of Venice and Lisbon, who historically bear the title of patriarch, the Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latin Rite, as well as the titular Patriarchs of the Eastern and Western Indies (the latter has been vacant since 1963).

Patriarchs - the heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches - are elected by the synod of bishops of a given Church. After the election, the Patriarch is immediately enthroned, after which he asks for communion (church communion) from the Pope (this is the only difference between the patriarch and the supreme archbishop, whose candidacy is approved by the Pope). In the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, the patriarchs of the Eastern Churches are equated to cardinal bishops.

During the official introduction, the Patriarch must be introduced as “His Beatitude, (Name and Surname) Patriarch (Location).” In person he should be addressed as "Your Beatitude" (except in Lisbon, where he is addressed as "His Eminence"), or on paper as "His Beatitude, the Most Reverend (Name and Surname) Patriarch of (Location)".

5. The Supreme Archbishop (lat. archiepiscopus maior) is the metropolitan who heads the Eastern Catholic Church with the status of the supreme archbishopric. Supreme Archbishop, although he is of lower rank than the Patriarch of the East catholic church, in all respects equal to him in rights. The supreme archbishop elected by his Church is confirmed by the Pope. If the Pope does not approve the candidacy of the Supreme Archbishop, new elections are held.
The Supreme Archbishops are members of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

6. Archbishop - senior (commanding) bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, archbishops are divided into:

Archbishops heading archdioceses that are not provincial centers;

Personal archbishops, to whom this title is assigned by the Pope personally;

Titular archbishops occupying the see of now-defunct ancient cities and serving in the Roman Curia or being nuncios.

Primates. In the Roman Catholic Church, a primate is an archbishop (less commonly a suffragan or bishop-exempt) who is awarded primacy over other bishops of an entire country or historical region (in political or cultural terms). This primacy under canon law does not confer any additional powers or authority in relation to other archbishops or bishops. The title is used in Catholic countries as an honorific. The title of primate can be given to the hierarch of one of the oldest metropolises in the country. Primates are often elevated to the rank of cardinal and are often given the presidency of the national conference of bishops. In this case, the main city of the diocese may no longer be as important as when it was created, or its borders may no longer correspond to national ones. Primates rank below the supreme archbishop and patriarch, and within the College of Cardinals do not enjoy seniority.

Metropolitans. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, a metropolitan is the head of an ecclesiastical province consisting of dioceses and archdioceses. The metropolitan must be an archbishop, and the center of the metropolis must coincide with the center of the archdiocese. On the contrary, there are archbishops who are not metropolitans - these are suffragan archbishops, as well as titular archbishops. Suffragan bishops and archbishops head their dioceses, which are part of the metropolitanate. Each of them has direct and complete jurisdiction over his diocese, but the metropolitan may exercise limited supervision over it in accordance with canon law.
The metropolitan usually presides over any services in the metropolitan area in which he participates, and also consecrates new bishops. The Metropolitan is the first instance to which diocesan courts can appeal. The metropolitan has the right to appoint an administrator of the diocese in cases where, after the death of the ruling bishop, the church is not able to legally elect an administrator.

7. Bishop (Greek - “supervisor”, “supervisor”) - a person who has the third, highest degree of priesthood, otherwise a bishop. Episcopal consecration (ordination) must be performed by several bishops, at least two, except in special cases. As the high priest, the bishop can perform all sacred rites in his diocese: exclusively he has the right to ordain priests, deacons, and lower clergy, and to consecrate antimensions. The name of the bishop is exalted during divine services in all churches of his diocese.

Every priest has the right to perform divine services only with the blessing of his ruling bishop. All monasteries located on the territory of his diocese are also subordinate to the bishop. According to canon law, the bishop disposes of all church property independently or through proxies. In Catholicism, the bishop has the prerogative to perform not only the sacrament of the priesthood, but also anointing (confirmation).

Archbishops and bishops are addressed as “Your Excellency” or “Your Grace” in the second person. In some parts of Canada, especially in the West, the Archbishop is usually addressed as "His Eminence".

8. Priest - a minister of a religious cult. In the Catholic Church, priests are considered to be the second degree of priesthood. The priest has the right to perform five of the seven sacraments, with the exception of the sacrament of priesthood (ordination) and the sacrament of confirmation (which the priest has the right to perform only in exceptional circumstances). Priests are ordained by the bishop. The priests are divided into monastics (black clergy) and diocesan priests (white clergy). In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, celibacy is required for all priests.

During formal introductions, the religious priest must be introduced as "Reverend Father (Name) of (community name)." In person he should be addressed as "Father (Last Name)", simply "Father", "padre" or "prete", and on paper as " Reverend Father(First Name Patronymic Last Name), (initials of his community).

9. Deacon (Greek - “minister”) - a person serving in church service at the first, lowest degree of priesthood. Deacons assist priests and bishops in performing divine services, and independently perform some sacraments. The service of a deacon adorns the service, but is not obligatory - the priest can serve alone.

Among bishops, priests and deacons in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, seniority is also determined depending on the date of their ordination.

10. Accolyte (Latin acolythus - accompanying, serving) - a layman performing a certain liturgical service. His duties include lighting and carrying candles, preparing bread and wine for the Eucharistic consecration, and a number of other liturgical functions.
To denote the service of an acolyte, as well as the state itself and the corresponding rank, the concept of acolyte is used.
11. Reader (Lecturer) - a person who reads the word of God during the liturgy. As a rule, lecturers are third-year seminarians or ordinary laymen appointed by the bishop.
12. Ministerate (Latin “ministrans” - “serving”) - a layman who serves the priest during Mass and other services.

ORGANIST
CHORISTS
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FAITHFUL

Lutheran Church

1. Archbishop;

2. land bishop;

3. bishop;

4. kirchenpresident (church president);

5. general superintendent;

6. superintendent;

7. propst (dean);

8. pastor;

9. vicar (deputy, assistant pastor).

Your Eminence addresses the Archbishop (head of the Church). To the rest - Mister Bishop, etc.

The hierarchical principle and structure must be observed in any organization, including the Russian Orthodox Church, which has its own church hierarchy. Surely every person who attends services or is otherwise involved in the activities of the church paid attention to the fact that each clergyman has a certain rank and status. This is expressed in different colors of clothing, type of headdress, presence or absence of jewelry, and the right to perform certain sacred rites.

Hierarchy of clergy in the Russian Orthodox Church

Russian clergy Orthodox Church can be divided into two large groups:

• white clergy (those who can marry and have children);
• black clergy (those who renounced worldly life and accepted monastic orders).

Ranks in the white clergy

Even the Old Testament scripture says that before the Nativity, the prophet Moses appointed people whose task was to become an intermediate link in God’s communication with people. In the modern church system, this function is performed by white priests. The lower representatives of the white clergy do not have holy orders; they include: altar boy, psalm-reader, subdeacon.

Altar boy- this is a person who helps the clergyman in conducting services. Such people are also called sextons. Staying in this rank is a mandatory step before receiving holy orders. The person performing the duties of an altar server is secular, that is, he has the right to leave the church if he changes his mind about connecting his life with serving the Lord.

His responsibilities include:

• Timely lighting of candles and lamps, monitoring their safe combustion;
• Preparation of priests' robes;
• Offer prosphora, Cahors and other attributes of religious rites in a timely manner;
• Light a fire in the censer;
• Bring a towel to your lips during communion;
• Maintenance internal order in church premises.

If necessary, the altar boy can ring bells and read prayers, but he is forbidden to touch the throne and be between the altar and the Royal Doors. The altar boy wears ordinary clothes, with a surplice on top.

Acolyte(otherwise known as a reader) is another representative of the white lower clergy. His main responsibility: reading prayers and words from holy scripture (as a rule, they know 5-6 main chapters from the Gospel), explaining to people the basic tenets of the life of a true Christian. For special merits he may be ordained subdeacon. This procedure is carried out by a cleric of higher rank. The psalm-reader is allowed to wear a cassock and skufia.

Subdeacon- assistant to the priest in conducting services. His attire: surplice and orarion. When blessed by the bishop (he can also elevate the psalmist or altar server to the rank of subdeacon), the subdeacon receives the right to touch the throne, as well as enter the altar through the Royal Doors. His task is to wash the hands of the priest during services and give him the items necessary for the rituals, for example, ripids and trikirium.

Church ranks of the Orthodox Church

The above-mentioned church ministers do not have holy orders, and, therefore, are not clergy. These are ordinary people living in the world, but wanting to become closer to God and church culture. They are accepted into their positions with the blessing of clergy of higher rank.

Deaconate degree of clergy

Deacon- the lowest rank among all clergy with holy orders. His main task is to be an assistant to the priest during worship; they are mainly engaged in reading the Gospel. Deacons do not have the right to conduct worship services independently. As a rule, they perform their service in parish churches. Gradually, this church rank is losing its significance, and their representation in the church is steadily declining. Deacon ordination (the procedure for elevation to the rank of ecclesiastical rank) is carried out by the bishop.

Protodeacon- chief deacon at a temple or church. In the last century, this rank was received by a deacon for special merits; currently, 20 years of service in a lower church rank are required. The protodeacon has a characteristic robe - an orarion with the words “Holy! Holy! Holy." As a rule, these are people with a beautiful voice (they perform psalms and sing at services).

Presbytery Degree of Ministers

Priest translated from Greek means “priest.” Minor title of the white clergy. The consecration is also carried out by the bishop (bishop). The duties of the priest include:

• Conducting sacraments, divine services and other religious ceremonies;
• Conducting communion;
• To carry the covenants of Orthodoxy to the masses.

The priest does not have the right to consecrate antimensions (a cloth made of silk or linen with a particle of the relics of an Orthodox martyr sewn into it, located in the altar on the throne; required attribute for the full liturgy) and to perform the sacraments of ordination of the priesthood. Instead of a hood he wears a kamilavka.

Archpriest- a title awarded to representatives of the white clergy for special merits. The archpriest, as a rule, is the rector of the temple. His attire during services and church sacraments- stole and chasuble. An archpriest awarded the right to wear a miter is called a miter.

Several archpriests can serve in one cathedral. Ordination to the archpriest is carried out by the bishop with the help of consecration - the laying on of hands with prayer. Unlike consecration, it is carried out in the center of the temple, outside the altar.

Protopresbyter- the highest rank for members of the white clergy. Awarded in exceptional cases as a reward for special services to the church and society.

The highest church ranks belong to the black clergy, that is, such dignitaries are prohibited from having a family. A representative of the white clergy can also take this path if he renounces worldly life, and his wife supports her husband and takes monastic vows.

Also, dignitaries who become widowers take this path, since they do not have the right to remarry.

The ranks of the black clergy

These are people who have taken monastic vows. They are prohibited from marrying and having children. They completely renounce worldly life, taking vows of chastity, obedience and non-covetousness (voluntary renunciation of wealth).

The lower ranks of the black clergy have many similarities with the corresponding ranks of the white clergy. The hierarchy and responsibilities can be compared using the following table:

Episcopal degree of clergy

Bishop belongs to the category of bishops. In the process of ordination, they received the highest grace of God and therefore have the right to carry out any sacred actions, including the ordination of deacons. All bishops have the same rights, the eldest of them is the archbishop (has the same functions as the bishop; elevation to rank is carried out by the patriarch). Only the bishop has the right to bless the service with an antimis.

Wears a red robe and a black hood. The following address to a bishop is accepted: “Vladyka” or “Your Eminence.”

He is the leader of the local church - diocese. Chief priest of the district. Elected by the Holy Synod by order of the Patriarch. If necessary, a suffragan bishop is appointed to assist the diocesan bishop. Bishops bear a title that includes the name of the cathedral city. A candidate for bishop must be a representative of the black clergy and over 30 years of age.

Metropolitan- the highest title of a bishop. Reports directly to the patriarch. Has a characteristic attire: a blue robe and hood white with a cross made of precious stones.

The rank is given for high merits to society and the church; it is the oldest, if you start counting from the formation of Orthodox culture.

Performs the same functions as a bishop, differing from him in the advantage of honor. Before the restoration of the patriarchate in 1917, there were only three episcopal sees in Russia, with which the rank of metropolitan was usually associated: St. Petersburg, Kiev and Moscow. IN present moment There are more than 30 metropolitans in the Russian Orthodox Church.

Patriarch- the highest rank of the Orthodox Church, the main priest of the country. Official representative of the Russian Orthodox Church. Patriarch is translated from Greek as “the power of the father.” He is elected at the Council of Bishops, to which the patriarch reports. This is a lifelong rank, deposition and excommunication of the person who received it, possible only in the most exceptional cases. When the place of the patriarch is not occupied (the period between the death of the previous patriarch and the election of a new one), his duties are temporarily performed by an appointed locum tenens.

Has primacy of honor among all bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. Carries out the management of the church together with the Holy Synod. Contacts with representatives of the Catholic Church and high dignitaries of other faiths, as well as with authorities state power. Issues decrees on the election and appointment of bishops, manages the institutions of the Synod. Receives complaints against bishops, giving them action, rewards clergy and laity with church awards.

A candidate for the patriarchal throne must be a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, have a higher theological education, be at least 40 years of age, and enjoy a good reputation and the trust of the church and people.

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 priesthood. 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 the 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, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Assyrian Church, the Cilician and Albanian Church, the 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 the 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. 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) - 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 the Greek [autonomy] - self-legislation) A local Orthodox Church that is part of the Autocephalous Church, which has received independence in matters of internal governance 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 the 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.

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 colors robes, headdresses, 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 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 connected.

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 a psalmist as a subdeacon. From 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 is 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.

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

This word came to us from the 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 chasuble 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 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 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. By ancient tradition only the bishop can bless the service with the 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 is a high-ranking clergy or the 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);
• white hood 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 rarest cases is it possible to depose it and excommunicate it. 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.

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

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

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

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

Comparison

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

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

Table

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