Orthodoxy in Russia. Clergy white and black

In Orthodoxy and Catholicism, the clergy (clergy) includes only men. Protodeacon is the title of the white clergy, the chief deacon in the diocese at the cathedral. In Orthodoxy there are three degrees of priesthood: deacon, priest, bishop. Deacons, let us remind you, are the lowest degree of clergy in Orthodoxy. The table shows the ranks of the white clergy and the corresponding ranks of the black clergy. The clergy includes priests, deacon, psalm-reader, sexton, etc.

The laity today are often confused about how a bishop differs from a metropolitan, and a priest from an archpriest. Well, who the sexton or subdeacon is is generally a “dark forest” for the majority, so they are poorly versed in the ranks of the clergy and do not even know how to address them correctly. In Old Testament times (about 1,500 years before the birth of Christ), the founder of Judaism, the prophet Moses, chose and dedicated special persons for worship - high priests, priests and Levites.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ chose twelve apostles from among his many followers and gave them the right to teach, perform worship, and lead believers. Over time, the apostles transferred their authority to other chosen persons, establishing the same as in Old Testament, three degrees of hierarchy. The ministry of the first deacons (from Greek “diakonos” means “servant”) consisted of caring for the poor and helping the apostles in performing the sacraments.

Orthodoxy in Russia

Thus, from the times of the apostles to the present day, there are three degrees of hierarchy in the Church: the highest - bishop, middle - priest and lowest - deacon. Deacons and priests can be either married (but only in their first marriage) or monastics, and bishops can only be monastics. A laborer is a person who lives and works in a monastery during vacations in order to test his desire to become a monk.

What is the difference between bishops, priests and other clergy?

A novice under tonsure is still the same, but the sacrament of tonsure has been performed on this person and he has the right to wear a cassock. When a monk is ordained, he can become a hierodeacon (monk-deacon), a hieromonk (monk-priest), then an abbot and an archimandrite.

Monasticism in the world

Belonging to one degree or another of monasticism implies a difference in the level of strictness of monastic life and is expressed through differences in monastic clothing.

What are “white” and “black” monks?

Bishops can perform all Sacraments and all church services. This means that bishops have the right not only to perform ordinary Divine services, but also to ordain (ordain) clergy, as well as to consecrate chrism and antimensions, which is not given to priests.

Orthodoxy for Beginners

He may have assistants in the form of suffragan bishops. The bishops of ancient capitals, such as Jerusalem, Constantinople (Constantinople), Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and since the 16th century the Russian capital of Moscow, are called patriarchs.

Unlike Catholicism (where the Pope is considered the vicar of Christ on earth, and therefore infallible), the Orthodox patriarch is not endowed with the status of infallibility. He governs the Church together with the Holy Synod, which includes bishops on a permanent basis. A priest can perform six sacraments of the Church, except for the sacrament of ordination, that is, elevation to one of the degrees of the church hierarchy, that is, in addition to the sacrament of the priesthood and the consecration of the world and antimensions.

Roman Catholic monasteries within Russia

A priest who is in the monastic order is called a hieromonk, and one who has accepted the schema is called a schema monk. Especially worthy of the archimandrites are elected bishops. In the Christian community there are also positions: assistant rector (church warden) and treasurer.

He has the right to directly participate in the performance of the sacraments, but cannot administer them himself (except for baptism, which, in case of emergency, can also be performed by the laity). The title of protodeacon was complained of in the form of a reward for special merits, as well as to deacons of the court department. Currently, the title of protodeacon is usually given to deacons after 20 years of service in the priesthood. Protodeacons are often famous for their voice, being one of the main decorations of the divine service.

In addition to persons of holy orders (clergy), in church services Lay people occupying lower official positions also take part - subdeacons, psalm-readers and sextons. Altar boy is the name given to a male layman who helps the clergy at the altar. The term is not used in canonical and liturgical texts, but became generally accepted in this meaning by the end of the 20th century. in many European dioceses and in the Russian Orthodox Church.

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In the Siberian dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church it is not used; instead of it in given value the more traditional term sexton is usually used, as well as novice. The sacrament of priesthood is not performed over the altar boy; he only receives a blessing from the rector of the temple to serve at the altar.

In the Orthodox Church, readers are ordained by bishops through a special rite - hirothesia, otherwise called “ordaining”. This is the first initiation of a layman, only after which can he be ordained as a subdeacon, and then ordained as a deacon, then as a priest and, higher, as a bishop (bishop).

Some other terms are also used in church life. In the Russian Orthodox Church, when formally addressing a bishop, he is called “Your Eminence,” and an archbishop and metropolitan is called “Your Eminence.”

How does the white clergy differ from the black clergy? In the Russian Orthodox Church there is a certain church hierarchy and structure. First of all, the clergy is divided into two categories - white and black. How are they different from each other? TO white clergy These include married clergy who did not take monastic vows. They are allowed to have a family and children. When they talk about the black clergy, they mean monks ordained to the priesthood. They devote their entire lives to serving the Lord and take three monastic vows - chastity, obedience and non-covetousness (voluntary poverty). A person who is going to take holy orders is required to make a choice even before ordination - to marry or become a monk. After ordination, a priest can no longer marry. Priests who did not marry before being ordained sometimes choose celibacy instead of becoming a monk - they take a vow of celibacy. Church hierarchy In Orthodoxy there are three degrees of priesthood. At the first level are deacons. They help conduct services and rituals in churches, but they themselves cannot conduct services or perform sacraments. Church ministers belonging to the white clergy are simply called deacons, and monks ordained to this rank are called hierodeacons. Among the deacons, the most worthy can receive the rank of protodeacon, and among the hierodeacons, the eldest are archdeacons. A special place in this hierarchy is occupied by the patriarchal archdeacon, who serves under the patriarch. He belongs to the white clergy, and not to the black clergy, like other archdeacons. The second degree of priesthood is priests. They can independently conduct services, as well as perform most of the sacraments, except for the sacrament of ordination to the priesthood. If a priest belongs to the white clergy, he is called a priest or presbyter, and if he belongs to the black clergy, he is called a hieromonk. A priest can be elevated to the rank of archpriest, that is, senior priest, and a hieromonk - to the rank of abbot. Often archpriests are abbots of churches, and abbots are abbots of monasteries. The highest priestly rank for the white clergy, the title of protopresbyter, is awarded to priests for special merits. This rank corresponds to the rank of archimandrite in the black clergy. Priests belonging to the third and highest degree of priesthood are called bishops. They have the right to perform all sacraments, including the sacrament of ordination of other priests. Bishops govern church life and lead dioceses. They are divided into bishops, archbishops, and metropolitans. Only a clergyman belonging to the black clergy can become a bishop. A priest who has been married can be elevated to the rank of bishop only if he becomes a monk. He can do this if his wife has died or has also become a nun in another diocese. The local church is headed by the patriarch. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is Patriarch Kirill. In addition to the Moscow Patriarchate, there are other Orthodox patriarchates in the world - Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Georgian, Serbian, Romanian and Bulgarian. Information from the Orthodox magazine “Thomas” and the portal Pravoslavie.ru was used. Alina Kleshchenko

Into two categories: white and black. The first category includes those priests who did not take the monastic vow, the second includes those who took it. Taking the vow occurs at the time of becoming a monk. Before taking holy orders, a person must decide who he wants to be: a priest (they are allowed to have a wife) or a monk. Once ordination is completed, marriage becomes impossible for the priest. In addition, there is a vow of celibacy. It means complete celibacy. Religion allows priests and deacons to have a spouse, but the hierarch must be a monk.

In Orthodoxy there are three hierarchical ranks:

1. diaconate;
2. priesthood;
3. bishopric.

During services, priests are assisted by deacons. However, the latter are deprived of the right to conduct them without the participation of a priest, who, in turn, can perform almost all the sacraments. Bishops carry out ordination to the priesthood; in their hands is all the power that the church can give to a person. This is the highest degree of priesthood.

At the base of the hierarchical ladder are bishops, followed by archbishops in increasing power, then the metropolitan and, finally, the patriarch.

Secular clergy

The white clergy is the largest, comprising the vast majority of the clergy. However, it is also closest to worldly life. In our state, small churches have been built in almost all, even small, populated areas. If the parish is small, there is one priest per parish. In a larger parish, an archpriest, a priest and a deacon are needed for pastoral service. In many ways, the position of the clergy depends on the participation and help of the laity. The hierarchy here is not very complicated.

Altar servers

At the altar, the priest also needs help, and he receives it from novices, who are called sextons, or altar servers. Not only men can play this role. Often these functions are taken on by nuns or elderly parishioners. Temples generally have a need for male believers who would like to take on the responsibility of serving God in this way.

To become a sexton, you do not need to go through the ritual of the sacrament. It is enough to receive a blessing to serve from the rector of a particular temple. Responsibilities of the altar server:

• make sure that lamps and candles are burning at the iconostasis, arrange them;
• prepare the priest's vestments;
• bring wine, prosphora and incense on time;
• during communion, bring a cloth with which to wipe your lips;
• maintain order in the altar.

All these actions are quite within the power of the majority of believers who want to serve the Lord and be at the temple.

Readers

Readers, or psalmists in other words, do not have the sacred degree. The task of these people is to read the texts of prayers and Holy Scripture when the service takes place. But in some cases, the abbots of temples may give other instructions to the readers. The rite of consecration, ordaining a person to become a reader, is conducted by the bishop. If the rite is not performed, the reader will then not be able to try himself in the role of subdeacon, deacon and priest.

Subdeacons

During sacred ceremonies, bishops require assistants. Subdeacons act in this capacity. Their task includes offering candles, laying out the eagle, vesting the bishop, and washing his hands. Despite the fact that these clerics wear orari and put on surplices, they do not possess a sacred degree. By the way, the surplice and the orarion are parts of the deacon’s vestments, while the orarion symbolizes the wings of an angel.

Deacons

The first degree of priesthood includes deacons. Their the main objective- assist priests during services. They themselves, alone, cannot conduct any services. Since maintaining a large clergy is not an easy task, not all small parishes have deacons.

Protodeacons

These clergy are the chief deacons at cathedrals. Only those who have held holy orders for at least two decades are awarded rank.

In addition, there are patriarchal archdeacons - those who serve the patriarchs. Unlike other archdeacons, they belong to the white clergy.

Priests

This title is considered the first in the priesthood. The priests begin the flock, perform all the sacraments, with the exception of ordination, and conduct services (but do not consecrate the antimension).

Most parishioners are accustomed to calling priests priests. A white priest also bears the name “presbyter,” and one belonging to the black clergy is called “hieromonk.”

Archpriests

As a reward, this title may be given to a priest. They are initiated into it during the sacrament of consecration.

Protopresbyter

This rank is the highest rank of the white clergy. According to tradition, the Russian Orthodox Church issues this title only for special spiritual merits, and the decision on the award is made by the patriarch himself.

Bishops

The third degree of priesthood is occupied by bishops, who are able to conduct absolutely all Orthodox sacraments. They may also conduct ordination for clergy. They are the ones who control the entire life of the church, who lead the dioceses. Bishops include bishops, metropolitans and archbishops.

Black clergy

The decision to lead a monastic lifestyle is one of the most difficult in a person’s life. Therefore, before becoming a monk, you must go through novitiate. This is preparation, primarily moral, for dedicating your entire life to the Lord. During this time, you can get used to monastic life and reflect on the necessity of the vow.

After tonsure, a person is given a new name. From that moment on, he was called “Rassophore”, or “monk”. When he accepts the minor schema, he is called a monk, at which time his name changes again and he takes on additional vows.

When accepting the great schema, the monk turns into a schemamonk, his vows become even more strict and his name changes again. Usually schemamonks do not live with the monastery brethren. Often they go into hermitage or become hermits or hermits. They are the ones who perform famous monastic feats.

Hierodeacons and hieromonks

A monk who has accepted the rank of deacon becomes a hierodeacon. If he has the rank of priest, then it is correct to call him a hieromonk. In this case, the title is obtained upon completion of the consecration procedure. White priests can become hieromonks only after monastic tonsure.

Abbots

The abbots of monasteries are called abbots. To become one, you must go through the procedure of election among the hieromonks.

Archimandrites

These clergy belong to one of the highest Orthodox monastic ranks. As a rule, it is issued to the abbots of large monasteries.

It is interesting that archpriests can also become archimandrites: in the event of the death of their mother and when deciding to lead a monastic lifestyle.

Bishops and archbishops

The leadership of dioceses is available to bishops who are ranked among the first rank of bishop. Large dioceses are headed by archbishops. The latter title is considered honorable and can be awarded to those who have great merits before God and the church.

Metropolitan

Over several dioceses located in the same district or in the same region, the metropolitan presides.

Patriarch

Patriarchs belong to the highest rank of bishops; they head local churches. Only a person who is the head of an autocephalous church can receive rank. In Russia, a representative of this rank in this moment- Patriarch Kirill.

Features of tonsure as a monk

Monasticism is a special way of life for the sake of serving God. Monks have many differences from white clergy. The tonsure can be called the second baptism, because through it a person’s soul is renewed and reborn. After the ceremony, the person is considered to have renounced the world and is now clothed in the image of an angel.

But becoming a monk is not so easy. It is not enough to just make this decision; you need to justify it and go through a kind of probation. During it, the candidate goes through the so-called “monastic work,” which includes three steps:

1. the life of a worker;
2. the title of candidate for novitiate;
3. novitiate.

The difference between the steps is great. Every believer who goes to church can work in it if he has a desire to work for the glory of God. Workers may have families and children. In some cases they are even paid wage. But if such a person - a servant - lives at a monastery, then he takes upon himself the obligation to comply with the rules adopted there and give up harmful habits.

Upon entering a monastery, a person receives the title of candidate novice. From this moment on, he must begin to figure out how monastic life suits him. The confessor, as well as the abbot of the monastery and the elder brothers, independently determine how long he will remain in the monastery in this capacity.

A novice becomes one who has successfully completed the probationary period, still expresses a desire to live in the monastery, and who is not restrained by any external obstacles. To do this, you need to write a petition to the ruling bishop, which accompanies the letter on behalf of the rector. The diocesan authorities must give their blessing, after which the brother can become a resident of the monastery.

Types of tonsure in monasticism

There are three types of monastic tonsure accepted in Orthodoxy. In accordance with them, monks become:

1. ryassophores;
2. those who have passed through the small schema;
3. those who have passed through the great schema.

Rassophors undertake to live in a monastery for at least three years. Only in the case of a terminal illness can a candidate write a petition to be tonsured a monk before three years have passed.

During the ceremony they read special prayers, with the help of a cross, the hair is cut, the old name is changed (although in some cases the tonsured person can keep his old one), and the vestment takes place. During tonsure there is no need to pronounce vows, but the very fact of freely entering the path of a monk implies taking on obligations before the Lord. These obligations mean, first of all, the so-called pure living. The intercession of the saint whose name is taken during the ritual helps with this.

Some monasteries skip the stage of the cassock ceremony and immediately perform the sacrament of the minor schema. There is evidence of believers who immediately accepted the great schema. This means maintaining an individual approach to each believer in Orthodox tradition. It is during the small and great schema that people who become monks make vows to God and renounce worldly life. From this moment on, they not only have a new name and vestments, but also a new life.

Despite these differences, clergy of both types of clergy have a common task: to teach children and adults Orthodoxy and right life, enlighten and bring good. Both white and black clergy are a very important part of serving God, and not only Orthodoxy, but also Catholicism has this system.

The choice of faith today is a personal matter for everyone. Now the church is completely separated from the state, but a completely different situation developed in the Middle Ages. In those days, the well-being of both an individual and society as a whole depended on the church. Even then, groups of people were formed who knew more than others and could convince and lead. They interpreted the will of God, which is why they were respected and sought advice. What is the clergy? What was the clergy of the Middle Ages like, and what was its hierarchy?

How did the clergy emerge during the Middle Ages?

In Christianity, the first spiritual leaders were the apostles, who through the sacrament of ordination passed on grace to their heirs, and this process did not stop over the centuries in both Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Even modern priests are direct heirs of the apostles. Thus, the process of the emergence of the clergy took place in Europe.

What was the clergy like in Europe?

Society in those days was divided into three groups:

• feudal knights - those people who fought;
• peasants - those who worked;
• clergy - those who prayed.

At that time, the clergy was the only educated class. There were libraries at the monasteries, where the monks kept books and copied them; it was there that science was concentrated before the advent of universities. Barons and counts did not know how to write, so they used seals; peasants are not even worth talking about. In other words, the clergy is the definition of people who are capable of being mediators between God and the common people and are engaged in carrying out the activities. The clergy is divided into “white” and “black”.

White and black clergy

The white clergy includes priests, deacons serving churches - these are lower clergy. They do not take a vow of celibacy, they can start a family and have children. The highest rank of white clergy is protopresbyter.

Black clergy means monks who devote their entire lives to serving the Lord. Monks give obedience and voluntary poverty (non-covetousness). Bishop, archbishop, metropolitan, patriarch are the highest clergy. A transition from white to black clergy is possible, for example, if the parish priest’s wife died, he can become a monk and go to a monastery.

In (and among Catholics to this day) all clergy took a vow of celibacy; the class could not be replenished naturally. How, then, could one become a clergyman?

How did you become representatives of the clergy?

In those days, the younger sons of feudal lords who could not inherit their father’s fortune could go to the monastery. If a poor peasant family was unable to feed a child, he could also be sent to a monastery. In the families of kings, the eldest son took the throne, and the youngest became the bishop.

In Rus', the clergy arose after Our white clergy are people who did not, and still do not, take a vow of celibacy, which was the reason for the emergence of hereditary priests.

The grace that was bestowed upon a man at the time of his elevation to holy orders did not depend on his personal qualities, therefore, it would be wrong to consider such a person ideal and demand the impossible from him. No matter what, he remains a person with all his advantages and disadvantages, but this does not negate grace.

Church hierarchy

The priesthood, which emerged in the second century and continues to this day, is divided into 3 levels:

• The lowest level is occupied by deacons. They can participate in the performance of sacraments, help the highest ranks conduct rituals in churches, but they do not have the right to independently conduct services.
• The second level occupied by the clergy of the church is the priests, or priests. These people can independently conduct services, conduct all rituals with the exception of ordination (the sacrament during which a person acquires grace and himself becomes a minister of the church).
• The third, most high level occupied by bishops or bishops. Only monks can achieve this rank. These people have the right to perform all the sacraments, including ordination, and in addition, they can lead the diocese. Archbishops ruled larger dioceses, metropolitans, in turn, ruled a region that included several dioceses.

How easy is it to be a clergyman today? The clergy are those people who daily listen during confessions to many complaints about life, confessions of sins, see a huge number of deaths and often communicate with grief-stricken parishioners. Every clergyman must carefully think through each of his sermons; in addition, he must be able to convey holy truths to people.

The difficulty of every priest’s work is that he does not have the right, like a doctor, teacher or judge, to work the allotted time and forget about his duties - his duty is with him every minute. Let us be grateful to all the clergy, because for everyone, even the most distant person from the church, there may come a moment when the priest’s help will be invaluable.

The Orthodox clergy is a special class that appeared in Rus' in 988, after the Baptism of Rus'. History is silent about how the situation with the clergy was before this period, but it is known that the priest Gregory traveled with Princess Olga to Constantinople. At a time when the clergy was entrusted with a special and very important mission - the Christianization of the population, priests were considered a special and privileged class. Many came from Greece and Bulgaria; even children from different classes were selected for education as the future clergy. The monks enjoyed special honor and respect, and the ascetic culture turned out to be especially close to the people. Rich and noble people of that time went to the monastery. In addition, monasteries have always carried out charitable work. The princes favored the monasteries and freed them from taxes. No exact information has been preserved about who became the first Metropolitan of Kyiv. Since the 16th century, it was believed that he was Michael I the Syrian, who was once sent to perform the Sacrament of Baptism over Prince Vladimir. In Kyiv, he baptized local residents. The relics of Metropolitan Michael were kept in the Church of the Tithes, but then they were transferred to the Great Church of the Lavra.

White and black clergy

In the Russian Orthodox Church there have always been white and black clergy. The white clergy includes priests who can marry, and the black clergy includes residents of monasteries who have taken a vow of celibacy.

The white clergy is numerous. Before starting ministry, priests can start a family, or they can choose the path of celibacy. Black clergy are “withdrawing from the world” and refusing marriage.

Hierarchy of the white clergy

It is worth noting that the hierarchy of the clergy did not appear since the advent of the Church. At the dawn of Christianity, everyone was equal. Gradually, the need to distinguish between church titles and ranks became obvious. In the Russian Orthodox Church you cannot immediately “come to the position” of Metropolitan or Bishop. Such titles must be earned. We will tell you more about the role each clergy rank plays in the life of the Church in this article.

At the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is the Primate - the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. Together with the Holy Synod, it administers church affairs.

Responsible for several dioceses at once. Bishops do not make important decisions without the knowledge of the Metropolitan.

Each diocese has its own Bishop, who is responsible for the area assigned to him. Absolutely all bishops belong to the black clergy. Bishops are responsible for large dioceses.

There are also deacons and protodeacons who assist the priest and archpriest during services. A deacon cannot conduct divine services on his own.

Thus, the hierarchy in the white clergy looks like this:

1. Patriarch
2. Metropolitan
3. Bishop/Bishop
4. Priest/Archpriest
5. Deacon/Protodeacon

Hierarchy of the black clergy

The black clergy has its own rules:

The Patriarch is still considered the head of the Church. And the head of several dioceses is the Metropolitan. A diocese can be headed by a bishop or archbishop (for the largest dioceses). Abbot large monastery and the highest monastic rank is Archimandrite. This status is given for special services to the Church. The abbot of the monastery, chosen by the hieromonks, is the abbot. Interestingly, a widower priest can also become an archimandrite after monastic tonsure. The inhabitants of the monasteries are Hierodeacons and Hieromonks.