Churchwarden: duties, functions and features of activities

Who is the church elder? What is his responsibility? These questions are answered in the article.

Who is the church elder?

The churchwarden is a parishioner of the church, who was in charge of the economy of the church community. He was elected in every parish for 3 years. This post was first introduced by the Decree of Peter I in 1721. According to the state laws of the elder, the church was exempt from taxes.

Who could become a church elder?

A parishioner, distinguished for his piety, devotion to the church, responsibly related to the moral order of the parish and his material well-being, could be elected as a starosta.

The elder could not be a man under 25 who regularly does not confess and does not receive the Holy Mysteries of Christ, released by the court from service or a spiritual title, wasteful, as well as an insolvent debtor, a person having a reprehensible occupation, consisting in cohabitation without a church marriage, living in the parish Less than eight months.

The churchwarden was to realize all his responsibility as the guardian of the church. The importance of the functions of the elder was manifested in the form of an oath, which became mandatory since 1890. The text was pronounced before the cross and the gospel, thereby emphasizing the seriousness of the service undertaken for the glory of God.

Duties of the church elder in Russia

At first the elder was in charge of selling the candles. Then the terms of reference expanded, began to include the storage of church money and all church funds. According to the instructions, the church elder in Russia was obliged:

1. When taking office, to take church property on the inventory, he was given income-expenditure books. If during verification something was damaged or lost, then the responsibility was borne by the former headman, and in case of death - by his heirs.
2. The elder should collect money in purses or a mug, sell candles, take donations to the temple, make contributions to the inventory, monitor the safety of money, and the purity of the church, take care of the preservation of church property.
3. The elder is responsible for selling the candles. In case of illness or absence, he entrusts someone else with the consent of the clergy. The person appointed as the starosta must take the candles according to the inventory and report after the sale.
4. No one should sell candles illegally, the elder is also watching over this. He also watches how candles are lighted during worship, and for their extinguishment according to the church statute.
5. Money from the sale of candles, as well as donations, immediately drops into special boxes.
6. Monthly calculates the income and expenses, the data is recorded in income-expenditure books.
7. The headman is obliged to collect incomes from shops located on church lands, from houses and cellars leased.
8. Responsible for buying the things necessary for the church, timely repairs of buildings and utensils.
9. The headman must look after the houses that are in charge of the church.
10. He monitors the dachas at the parishes, so that the forest is used only for their own needs, and not for sale.
11. Maintains data on the arrival and expenditure of money. In the case of the illiteracy of the elder, he could invite a clerk or one of the parishioners.
12. The headman is obliged to present income-expenditure books when checking out the deanery churches.
13. Compiles an annual report on the accounts of all income and expenses of the church.
14. The elder is forbidden to take church money for his own needs. He has no right to give church things to other churches, to give money under his authority.

Awards of church leaders

Such a responsible ministry, of course, deserved a worthy encouragement. The elders could be awarded the orders of St. Stanislaus, St. Anna, as well as medals. The latter could be gold or silver (they were worn on special ribbons around the neck), and also on the chest or in the buttonhole.

Church headmen of the Moscow diocese

Many church headmen are known not only for the honest performance of their duties, but also for their personal contribution to the development of their church and city. For example, in the Moscow diocese, the elders are known:

Aleksey Ivanovich Abrikosov - Russian entrepreneur, founder of the confectionery factory (now the concern "Babaevsky"), served as the headman of the Assumption Church on Pokrovka.

Bouffeev Grigory Yakovlevich was the head of the St. John the Theologian church in the city of Kolomna for a total of 28 years. Donated funds for the repair and arrangement of the temple, built a stone road to the church. He was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus.

Protopopov Stepan Alekseevich - the Moscow merchant of the first guild, an entrepreneur and a major patron. He owned factories and factories. For many years he was the head of the parish church of the Assumption on the Mogiltsi.

Kupets VS Leonov was the head of the Floro-Lavra church in the Domodedovo district. Thanks to him, a women's parish school was opened, which was opened in 1889.

Karzinkin Andrey Aleksandrovich - the merchant of the first guild, philanthropist. He was engaged in the trade of tea, he owned the manufactory. He was the head of the church of the Three Hierarchs in Kulishki.

Church elder Vassiliev Petr Vasilievich

Also, philanthropist Peter Vasiliev (1825-1899), a merchant of the second guild, was engaged in charity and public work. Military service was held in Kungur, then remained there. He built a distillery, he also started selling wine. Peter Vasilievich was an honest and decent man, he never deceived. He was truthful and conscientious, his word could be trusted. He always attended the church service on Sundays and holidays.

He was engaged in public service. Known as the chairman of the city Orphaned Court, the trustee of the male parish school. Was vowel of the City Duma. Participated in the work of the Red Cross, the district tax attendance, helped shelters, supported the national school at its own expense. He participated in the construction of the almshouse, and also regularly donated to the needs of the Kungur temples. Vasiliev was also known as the head of the Transfiguration Church, served for 12 years. Donated to the temple, kept singers and watchmen. In 1880 he was awarded a gold medal for wearing on his chest on the Stanislavsky ribbon. Later he was awarded a silver and three gold medals.

In 1894, for unknown reasons, the plant he built was stopped, and the premises were transferred to the spiritual department of Perm. His house also bequeathed the church. Later, seriously ill and died in 1899.