Ranks of church ministers. Church hierarchy - table of ranks of clergy

One of the main directions in Christianity is Orthodoxy. It is practiced by millions of people around the world: in Russia, Greece, Armenia, Georgia and other countries. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is considered the guardian of the main shrines in Palestine. exist even in Alaska and Japan. Icons hang in the homes of Orthodox believers, which are picturesque images of Jesus Christ and all the saints. In the 11th century, the Christian Church split into Orthodox and Catholic. Today, most Orthodox people live in Russia, since one of the oldest churches is the Russian Orthodox Church, headed by a patriarch.

Jerey - who is this?

There are three levels of priesthood: deacon, priest, and bishop. Then the priest - who is this? This is the name of a priest of the lowest rank of the second degree of the Orthodox priesthood, who, with the blessing of the bishop, is allowed to independently conduct six church sacraments, except for the sacrament of ordination.

Many are interested in the origin of the title of priest. Who is this and how does he differ from a hieromonk? It is worth noting that the word itself is translated from Greek as "priest", in the Russian Church it is a priest, who in the monastic rank is called a hieromonk. In an official or solemn speech, it is customary to address priests as "Your Reverend". Priests and hieromonks have the right to lead church life in urban and rural parishes and they are called rectors.

The deeds of the priests

Priests and hieromonks in the era of great upheavals for the sake of faith sacrificed themselves and everything that they had. This is how true Christians held on to saving faith in Christ. The church never forgets their real ascetic feat and honors them with all honors. Not everyone knows how many priests-priests died in the years of terrible trials. Their feat was so great that it is impossible to even imagine.

Hieromartyr Sergius

Priest Sergiy Mechev was born on September 17, 1892 in Moscow into the family of priest Alexei Mechev. After graduating from the gymnasium with a silver medal, he went to study at Moscow University at the Faculty of Medicine, but then transferred to the Faculty of History and Philology and graduated in 1917. During his student years, he attended the theological circle named after John Chrysostom. During the war years of 1914, Mechev worked as a brother of mercy on an ambulance train. In 1917, he often visited Patriarch Tikhon, who treated him with special attention. In 1918, he received a blessing to accept the priesthood from After that, already being Father Sergius, he never left his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the most difficult times, having gone through camps and exile, he did not give it up even under torture, for which he was shot on December 24, 1941 within the walls of the Yaroslavl NKVD. Sergius Mechev was canonized as a holy new martyr in 2000 by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Confessor Alexei

Priest Alexei Usenko was born into the family of the psalmist Dmitry Usenko on March 15, 1873. Having received a seminary education, he was ordained a priest and began to serve in one of the villages of Zaporozhye. So he would have labored in his humble prayers, if not for the revolution of 1917. In the 1920s and 1930s, he was not particularly affected by the persecution of the Soviet authorities. But in 1936, in the village of Timoshovka, Mikhailovsky District, where he lived with his family, the local authorities closed the church. He was already 64 years old then. Then Priest Alexei went to work on the collective farm, but as a priest he continued his sermons, and everywhere there were people who were ready to listen to him. The authorities did not accept this and sent him to distant exiles and prisons. Priest Aleksei Usenko meekly endured all the hardships and humiliations and was faithful to Christ and the Holy Church until the end of his days. He probably died in BAMLAG (Baikal-Amur camp) - the day and place of his death are not known for certain, most likely he was buried in a camp mass grave. The Zaporozhye diocese appealed to the Holy Synod of the UOC to consider the issue of including Priest Oleksiy Usenko as a locally venerated saint.

Hieromartyr Andrew

Priest Andrey Benediktov was born on October 29, 1885 in the village of Voronino in the Nizhny Novgorod province in the family of priest Nikolai Benediktov.

He, along with other clergy of Orthodox churches and laity, was arrested on August 6, 1937 and accused of anti-Soviet conversations and participation in counter-revolutionary church conspiracies. Priest Andrei pleaded not guilty and did not testify against others. It was a real priestly feat, he died for his unshakable faith in Christ. He was canonized as a saint by the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000.

Vasily Gundyaev

He was the grandfather of the Russian Patriarch Kirill and also became one of the brightest examples of real service to the Orthodox Church. Vasily was born on January 18, 1907 in Astrakhan. A little later, his family moved to the Nizhny Novgorod province, to the city of Lukyanov. Vasily worked in a railway depot as a machinist. He was a very religious man, and raised his children in the fear of God. The family lived very modestly. Once, Patriarch Kirill said that, as a child, he asked his grandfather where he had put the money and why he had not saved anything either before or after the revolution. He replied that he sent all the funds to Athos. And so, when the patriarch ended up on Athos, he decided to check this fact, and, in principle, not surprisingly, it turned out to be true. In the monastery of Simonometra there are old archival records from the beginning of the 20th century for the eternal commemoration of Priest Vasily Gundyaev.

During the years of the revolution and severe trials, the priest defended and kept his faith to the end. He spent about 30 years in persecution and imprisonment, during which time he spent time in 46 prisons and 7 camps. But these years did not break Vasily's faith, he died an eighty-year old man on October 31, 1969 in the village of Obrochnoye, Mordovian region. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, being a student of the Leningrad Academy, participated in the funeral of his grandfather together with his father and relatives, who also became priests.

"Jerei-san"

A very interesting feature film was shot by Russian filmmakers in 2014. Its name is "Jerei-san". The audience immediately had a lot of questions. Jerey - who is this? Who will be discussed in the picture? The idea of ​​the film was suggested by Ivan Okhlobystin, who once saw a real Japanese in the temple among the priests. This fact plunged him into deep reflection and study.

It turns out that Hieromonk Nikolai Kasatkin (Japanese) came to Japan in 1861, at the time of the persecution of foreigners from the islands, risking his life with a mission to spread Orthodoxy. He devoted several years to studying Japanese, culture and philosophy in order to translate the Bible into this language. And now, a few years later, or rather in 1868, the priest was waylaid by the samurai Takuma Sawabe, who wanted to kill him for preaching alien things to the Japanese. But the priest did not flinch and said: “How can you kill me if you don’t know why?” He offered to tell about the life of Christ. And imbued with the priest's story, Takuma, being a Japanese samurai, became an Orthodox priest - Father Paul. He went through many trials, lost his family, his estate and became the right hand of Father Nikolai.

In 1906, Nicholas of Japan was elevated to the rank of archbishop. In the same year, the Kyoto Vicariate was founded by the Orthodox Church in Japan. He died on February 16, 1912. Equal-to-the-Apostles Nicholas of Japan canonized as a saint.

In conclusion, I would like to note that all the people discussed in the article kept their faith like a spark from a big fire and carried it around the world so that the people would know that there is no greater truth than Christian Orthodoxy.

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

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

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

Archbishop
(Greek senior among bishops) - originally a bishop, head of a large church area, uniting several dioceses. BISHOS Administering dioceses were subordinate to the archbishop. Subsequently, bishops began to be called archbishops, managing large dioceses. Currently, in the Russian Orthodox Church, the title "archbishop" is honorary, preceded by the title "metropolitan".

Bishop
(Greek senior priest, head of priests) - a clergyman belonging to the third, highest degree of priesthood. He has the grace to perform all the sacraments (including the laying on of hands) and lead church life. Each bishop (except vicars) governs a diocese. In ancient times, the bishops were divided according to the amount of administrative power into bishops, archbishops and metropolitans, at present these titles are preserved as honorary titles. From among the bishops, the local council elects a patriarch (for life), who leads the church life of the local church (some local churches are headed by metropolitans or archbishops). According to the teaching of the church, the apostolic grace received from Jesus Christ is transmitted through ordination to bishops from the most apostolic times, and so on. in the church there is a grace-filled succession. Ordination to the bishopric is performed by a council of bishops (there must be at least two ordaining bishops - Canon 1 of the Holy Apostles; according to Canon 60 of the Local Council of Carthage in 318 - at least three). According to Canon 12 of the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680-681 Constantinople), a bishop must be celibate; in true church practice, it is customary to appoint monastic clergy as bishops. It is customary to address the bishop: to the bishop "Your Eminence", to the archbishop or metropolitan - "Your Eminence"; to the patriarch "Your Holiness" (to some Eastern patriarchs - "Your Beatitude"). An unofficial address to the bishop is "Vladyko".

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

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

Hegumen -
monastic rank in holy dignity, abbot of the monastery.

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

Priest -
a clergyman belonging to the second, middle degree of the priesthood. He has the grace to perform all the sacraments, except for the sacrament of ordination. Otherwise, the priest is called a priest or presbyter (Greek elder; this is the name of the priest in the epistles of the Apostle Paul). Ordination to the priesthood is accomplished by the bishop through ordination. It is customary to address a priest: "Your blessing"; to a monastic priest (hieromonk) - "Your Reverence", to an abbot or archimandrite - "Your Reverend". Informal address - "father". Priest (Greek priest) - a priest.

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

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

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

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

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

Clergy -
clergy. A distinction is made between white (non-monastic) and black (monastic) clergy.

Schemamonk -
a monk who has adopted a great schema, otherwise - a great angelic image. When tonsured into the great schema, a monk takes a vow of renunciation of the world and everything worldly. A schemamonk-priest (schieheromonk or hieroschemamonk) retains the right to serve as a priest, the schihegumen and schiarchimandrite must remove themselves from monastic authority, the bishop must remove himself from episcopal authority and does not have the right to celebrate the liturgy. The schemamonk's vestment is complemented by a kukul and analav. Schematic monasticism arose in the Middle East in the 5th century, when, in order to streamline hermitage, the imperial authorities ordered hermits to settle in monasteries. The hermits, who took seclusion in exchange for hermitage, began to be called the monks of the great schema. Subsequently, the shutter ceased to be obligatory for schemamonks.

Priests -
persons who have the grace to perform the sacraments (bishops and priests) or directly participate in their performance (deacons). They are divided into three successive degrees: deacons, priests and bishops; delivered through ordination. Ordination is a divine service during which the sacrament of the priesthood is performed - the decision to the clergy. Otherwise, ordination (Greek ordination). Ordination is performed to deacons (from subdeacons), to priests (from deacons) and to bishops (from priests). Accordingly, there are three rites of ordination. As deacons and priests, one bishop can perform ordination; in bishoprics, ordination is performed by a council of bishops (at least two bishops, see Canon 1 of the Holy Apostles).

Ordination
to the deacons is performed at the liturgy after the Eucharistic canon. The initiate is led into the altar through the royal gates, is circled around the throne three times while singing the troparia, and then kneels on one knee in front of the throne. The bishop places the edge of the omophorion on the head of the initiate, places his hand on top and reads the sacramental prayer. After the prayer, the bishop removes the cruciformly clad orarion from the initiate and places the orarion on his left shoulder with the exclamation "axios". Ordination to the priesthood is performed at the liturgy after the great entrance in a similar way - the one who is supposed to kneel on both knees in front of the throne, another sacramental prayer is read, the ordained one puts on priestly clothes. Ordination to the bishopric takes place at the liturgy after the singing of the trisagion before the reading of the Apostle. The ordained one is introduced into the altar through the royal gates, makes three bows before the altar and, standing on both knees, places his hands folded in a cross on the altar. The hierarchs who perform the ordination hold the open Gospel above his head, the leading of them reads the sacramental prayer. Then a litany is proclaimed, after which the gospel is placed on the throne, and the newly ordained one is clothed with the exclamation of "axios" in bishop's vestments.

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

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

Subdeacon -
a clergyman serving the bishop during the service: prepares the vestments, gives the dikirion and trikirion, opens the royal doors, etc. The vestment of the subdeacon is a surplice and a cross-shaped orarion worn. Appointment as a subdeacon, see dedication.

Sexton
(distorted Greek. preceptor) - a clergyman mentioned in the charter. Otherwise, an altar boy. In Byzantium, a church watchman was called a sexton.

Tossed -
1. An action performed at certain services. Hair cutting existed in the ancient world as a symbol of slavery or service, and with this meaning it entered Christian worship: a) hair cutting is performed on the newly baptized after baptism as a sign of service to Christ; b) hair cutting is performed during the initiation of the newly appointed reader as a sign of service to the church. 2. Worship performed upon acceptance of monasticism (see monk). Corresponding to the three degrees of monasticism, there are tonsure into the cassocks, tonsure into the small schema, and tonsure into the great schema. The tonsure of non-clergy (see clergy) is performed by a monastic priest (hieromonk, abbot or archimandrite), clerics - by a bishop. The rite of tonsure in cassocks consists of a blessing, the beginning of the usual, troparia, priestly prayer, cruciform tonsure, and putting on the newly tonsured in a cassock and kamilavka. The tonsure into the small schema is performed at the liturgy after entering with the Gospel. Before the liturgy, the tonsured is placed on the porch and. While singing the troparia, he is led into the temple and placed in front of the royal gates. The one who takes the vows asks about sincerity, voluntariness, etc. the newcomer and then he is tonsured and given a new name, after which the newly tonsured one is dressed in a chiton, paraman, belt, cassock, mantle, klobuk, sandals and a rosary is given. The tonsure into the great schema is performed more solemnly and longer, the tonsured one is dressed in the same clothes, except for paraman and klobuk, which are replaced by anola and kukul. The rites of tonsure are contained in a large breviary.

There are three levels of priesthood in the Orthodox Church: deacon, priest, bishop. In addition, all the clergy are divided into "white" - married and "black" - monks.

Deacon (Greek "diakonos" - minister) - a clergyman of the first (junior) level of the priesthood. He participates in divine services, but does not perform the sacraments himself. A deacon in the monastic rank is called a hierodeacon. The senior deacon in white (married) clergy is called protodeacon, and in monasticism - archdeacon.

A priest, or a presbyter (Greek "pre-sviteros" - an old man), or a priest (Greek "hier-is" - a priest), is a clergyman who can perform six of the seven sacraments, with the exception of the sacrament of ordination, that is, elevation to one of the degrees of the church hierarchy. Priests are subordinate to the bishop. They are assigned to lead church life in urban and rural parishes. The head priest in a parish is called the rector.

Only a deacon (married or monastic) can be ordained to the rank of presbyter. A priest who is in the monastic rank is called a hieromonk. The elders of the presbyters of the white clergy are called archpriests, protopresbyters, and monastics are called abbots. The abbots of monastic cloisters are called archimandrites. The rank of archimandrite usually has the abbot of a large monastery, a laurel. Abbot - the abbot of an ordinary monastery or parish church.

Bishop (Greek "episcopos" - guardian) - a clergyman of the highest degree. A bishop is also called a bishop, or hierarch, that is, a hierarch, sometimes a hierarch.

The bishop governs the parishes of an entire region, called a diocese. The bishop who manages the parishes of a large city and the surrounding area is called a metropolitan.

Patriarch - "father leader" - the primate of the Local Church, elected and installed at the Council - the highest rank of the church hierarchy.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church is His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'. He governs the church with the Holy Synod. In addition to the Patriarch, the Synod constantly includes the Metropolitans of Kiev, St. Petersburg, Krutitsy, and Minsk. The permanent member of the Holy Synod is the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. Four more are invited from the rest of the episcopate in turn as temporary members for six months.

In addition to the three sacred ranks, there are also lower official positions in the Church - subdeacons, psalm-readers and sextons. They are among the clergy and are appointed to their position not through ordination, but by the blessing of a bishop or rector.

The hierarchy of the Christian Church is called the "triple" because it consists of three main steps:
- diaconate,
- the priesthood
- Bishoprics.
And also, depending on the attitude to marriage and lifestyle, the clergy is divided into “white” - married, and “black” - monastic.

Members of the clergy, both "white" and "black", have their own structures of honorary titles, which are awarded for special services to the church or "long service".

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

Priest(priest) by the authority of his bishops and on their "order" can perform all divine services and the Sacraments, except for the Hirotonia (Priesthood - Ordination to the Holy Order), the consecration of the Myrrh (Fragrant Oil) and the antimension (a quadrangular board made of silk or linen with sewn particles of relics, on which the Liturgy is performed).
Archpriest- senior priest, the title is given for special merits, is the rector of the temple.
Protopresbyter- the highest title, exclusively honorary, is given for special church merits on the initiative and decision of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.
Hieromonk- a monk who has the rank of priest.
hegumen- the abbot of the monastery, in the women's rooms - the abbess.
Archimandrite- the monastic rank, given as the highest award to the monastic clergy.
Bishop(guardian, overseer) - not only celebrates the Sacraments, the Bishop also has the power to teach others through the laying on of hands the gift of grace to celebrate the Sacraments. The bishop is the successor of the apostles, having the grace-filled authority to administer all the seven sacraments of the Church, receiving in the Sacrament of Ordination the grace of archpastorship—the grace of administering the Church. The episcopal degree of the sacred hierarchy of the Church is the highest degree, on which all other degrees of the hierarchy (presbyter, deacon) and the lower clergy depend. Consecration to a bishop occurs through the Sacrament of Priesthood. The bishop is chosen from among the monastic clergy and ordained by the bishops.
An archbishop is a senior bishop overseeing several ecclesiastical areas (dioceses).
Metropolitan - the head of a large church area, uniting the dioceses (metropolis).
Patriarch (forefather, ancestor) - the highest title of the head of the Christian church in the country.
In addition to the sacred ranks in the church, there are also lower clerics (official positions) - altar servers, subdeacons and readers. They are among the clergy and are appointed to their position not through ordination, but by the blessing of a bishop or rector.

altar boy- the name of a layman helping the clergy at the altar. The term is not used in canonical and liturgical texts, but became generally accepted in this sense by the end of the 20th century. in many European dioceses in the Russian Orthodox Church. The name "altar" is not generally accepted. In the Siberian dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is not used; instead, in this sense, the more traditional term is usually used sexton, and novice. The sacrament of the priesthood is not performed over the altar boy, he only receives a blessing from the rector of the temple to serve at the altar. The duties of the altar boy include overseeing the timely and correct lighting of candles, lamps and other lamps in the altar and in front of the iconostasis, preparing the vestments of priests and deacons, bringing prosphora, wine, water, incense to the altar, kindling coal and preparing the censer, giving payment for wiping the lips during Communion, helping the priest with the sacraments and rites, cleaning the altar, if necessary - reading during worship and performance of the duties of a bell ringer. The altar boy is forbidden to touch the throne and its accessories, as well as to move from one side of the altar to the other between the throne and the Royal Doors. The altar boy wears a surplice over lay clothes.

subdeacon- a clergyman in the Orthodox Church, serving mainly under the bishop during his sacred rites, carrying in front of him on the indicated occasions the trikirion, dikirion and ripids, laying the eagle, washes his hands, vests and performs some other actions. In the modern Church, a subdeacon does not have a sacred degree, although he wears a surplice and has one of the accessories of the deacon's dignity - an orarion, which he puts on crosswise over both shoulders and symbolizes angelic wings. Being the most senior clergyman, the subdeacon is an intermediate link between clergymen and clergymen. Therefore, the subdeacon, with the blessing of the serving bishop, may touch the throne and the altar during the service and at certain moments enter the altar through the Royal Doors.

Reader- in Christianity - the lowest rank of clergy, not elevated to the degree of priesthood, reading the texts of Holy Scripture and prayers during public worship. In addition, according to ancient tradition, readers not only read in Christian churches, but also interpreted the meaning of difficult-to-understand texts, translated them into the languages ​​of their locality, delivered sermons, taught new converts and children, sang various hymns (chants), did charity work, and had other church obediences. In the Orthodox Church, readers are consecrated by bishops through a special rite - chirotesia, otherwise called "ordaining." This is the first consecration of a layman, only after which can his consecration to the subdeacon, and then the ordination to the deacon, then to the priest and the highest - to the bishop (hierarch) follow. The reader has the right to wear a cassock, a belt and a skuf. During the tonsure, he is first put on a small felon, which is then removed, and a surplice is put on.
Monasticism has its own internal hierarchy, consisting of three degrees (belonging to them usually does not depend on belonging to one or another proper hierarchical degree): monasticism(ryassofor), monasticism(small schema, small angelic image) and schema(great schema, great angelic image). Most of today's monastics belong to the second degree - to actual monasticism, or the lesser schema. Only those monastics who have exactly this degree can receive ordination to the hierarchal rank. The particle “schema” is added to the title of the rank of monastics who have accepted the great schema (for example, “schiegumen” or “schematropolitan”). Belonging to one or another degree of monasticism implies a difference in the level of rigor of monastic life and is expressed through differences in monastic clothing. During monastic tonsure, three main vows are made - celibacy, obedience and non-possession (a promise to endure any sorrow and tightness of monastic life), and a new name is assigned as a sign of the beginning of a new life.

In the Orthodox Church there is a people of God, and it is divided into three types: the laity, the clergy and the clergy. With the laity (i.e., simple parishioners), everything is usually clear to everyone, but in reality this is not so. For many (unfortunately, for the laity themselves) the idea of ​​the lack of rights and servility of the common man has long become familiar, but the role of the layman is the most important in the life of the church. The Lord did not come to be served, but Himself served the salvation of sinners. (Matt. 20:28), and commanded the apostles to do the same, but also showed the simple believer the path of selfless sacrificial love for one's neighbor. For all to be one.

Laity

Lay people are all parishioners of the temple who are not called to the priesthood. It is from the laity that the Church, by the Holy Spirit, puts them into service at all the necessary levels.

clergymen

Usually this type of servant is rarely distinguished from the laity, but it exists and plays a huge role in the life of the Church. This type includes readers, singers, laborers, elders, altar servers, catechists, watchmen and many other positions. The clergy may have obvious differences in clothing, but may not stand out externally.

clergymen

Priests are usually called clear or clergy and are divided into whites and blacks. White is married clergy, black is monastics. Management in the Church can only be done by the black clergy, not burdened with family concerns. The clergy also have a hierarchical degree, which indicates involvement in worship and spiritual guidance of the flock (i.e., laity). For example, deacons only participate in worship, but do not perform the Sacraments in the Church.

The clothes of the clergy are divided into everyday and liturgical. However, after the coup in 1917, it became unsafe to wear any church clothes and, to preserve the peace, it was allowed to wear secular clothes, which is practiced to this day. The types of clothes and their symbolic meaning will be described in a separate article.

For a new parishioner you need be able to distinguish between a priest and a deacon. In most cases, the difference can be considered the presence pectoral cross, which is worn on top of vestments (liturgical garments). This part of the vestment differs in color (material) and decoration. The simplest pectoral cross is silver (for a priest and hieromonk), then gold (for an archpriest and abbot), and sometimes there is a pectoral cross with decorations (precious stones) as a reward for good many years of service.

Some simple rules for every Christian

• Anyone who misses many days of worship cannot be considered a Christian. Which is natural, because just as it is natural for someone who wants to live in a warm house to pay for heat and a house, so it is natural for someone who wants spiritual well-being to do spiritual work. The question of why you need to go to the temple will be considered separately.
• In addition to being present at worship, there is a tradition to wear modest and non-provocative clothes (at least in the temple). For the time being, let us omit the reason for this establishment.
• The observance of fasting and prayer rules has natural causes, since sin is expelled, as the Savior said, only through prayer and fasting. The question of how to fast and pray is decided not in articles, but in the temple.
• It is natural for a believer to abstain from excesses in speech, food, wine, merriment, and the like. For even the ancient Greeks noticed that for a quality life there must be a measure in everything. Not extreme, but deanery, i.e. order.

Believers should remember that the Church reminds us of the order not only internally, but also externally, and this applies to everyone. But it is also not necessary to forget that order is a voluntary matter, not a mechanical one.