The cleric of the temple is who?

Those who are just beginning to get accustomed to church services and go to church services, in time, start to overcome all sorts of questions. An inquisitive person will find all the answers to them. And here is an example of one of the many questions: "The cleric of the temple - who is this?" Let's try to understand with him in detail.

So, what does the cleric of the temple mean? Translated from the Greek language, the word "klir" means "lot" - a share or lot inherited by lot. In Holy Scripture (Acts 1: 17-25), one can find ecclesiastical service by lot, which means that even then there were special divisions of the members of the Church against priests and clergymen. These people differed from ordinary laymen in that they had to perform church services.

The cleric of the temple is who?

Clerics have ecclesiastical degrees - higher and lower. The former are divided into hierarchical categories and have the right to perform church ordinances. Clerics are higher clerics who receive the priesthood grace in the altar through ordination (ordination to the priesthood degree), and they form a hierarchy of priests. These include hierarchical degrees of the bishop, presbyter and deacon.

The lower clergy are the readers, the bell ringers, the sacristans, the singers, etc., they are assigned to their ministry through hirotésia - placing the episcopal arm in the temple outside the altar. During the service, these people serve in the temple. The lower rank is called clergymen or clergymen. This implies different office positions that are not endowed with spiritual power in the Church of Christ and, according to the rules of the ancient Church, presuppose preparation for the beginning of the priesthood. The appointment to the ministry takes place with the blessing of the bishop and does not belong to the number of sacraments.

Church ranks

It is necessary to note a very important detail. This will give a complete answer to the question: the cleric of the temple is who? There are three clerical officials: the first - the episcopal (bishops), the second - the presbyter (priestly) and the third - the deacon.

And here it is necessary to say that in the broadest sense, the word "cleric" means any clergyman who is ordained by the rules of the Church to serve her. That is, all those who commit and help to perform worship.

At the same time, no matter who occupies Ecclesiastical rites, entering the Kingdom of Heaven for everyone remains equal in their capabilities. However, the Church is the Body, and, as in any living organism, every member of it fulfills its purpose. The Lord Himself placed on the work of the ministry some prophets and apostles, others - Evangelists and teachers, so that they would create the body of Christ, while all others will know the Son of God and will come to the unity of faith. Lest there be waverers and those who are fidgeting with all kinds of false creeds from evil and cunning people, and that in their true love they take into their souls those who are the head of everything - the God Jesus Christ.

Members of the Church

Members of the Church are divided into two categories, the first of which consists of those called by the Holy Spirit to perform worship: teach the Sacraments, preach, take care of the external arrangement of the monasteries and temples. These are the clerics. To another category are lay people. With the blessing of the priests, they participate in church life outside the temple, with their prayers in worship, in the election of clergymen in church administration, etc.

In continuation of the theme "The cleric of the temple is who?" It is worth adding that the Eastern Patriarchs wrote in the District Letter on May 6, 1848 that the guardians of piety are the very Body of the Church, which is the people themselves, thereby expressing one of the main truths of the Orthodox doctrine , In contrast to the Catholic faith, in which the Body of the Church has a division into two churches not accepted by Orthodoxy: the student and the student.

The presentation of the sacred clergy of candidates consists of two acts - election and initiation. The election involves bishops, clergy and laity.

The appointment for church-public ministry and the acceptance of a person into the clergy goes through initiation. This person is endowed with certain powers in the received post and special grace to help.

Duties of the clergy

Clerics, in addition to duties, superimpose a high degree of morality and decent conduct. They can not engage in trade, gambling and drinking. They are also inadmissible to serve in the army and hold public office. In the case of widowhood, it is forbidden to marry a second time. Not encouraged and any business activities and activities related to the shedding of animal or human blood - this is hunting and medical practice (in particular, surgery).

Conclusion

In Byzantium, for the voluntary addition of dignity, a man was deprived of many civil rights, and according to the rules of the Council of Chalcedon, he could even be subjected to anathema. In Russia in the XIX century, this was allowed only when the priest became a young widower. In this case, he could go to work for the public service, though, after a certain time - 6 years in the rank of deacon and 10 years in the rank of presbyter.