The sexton is .... Who is the sexton?

The priests of the modern Orthodox Church are, in addition to the clergy, some laymen who carry various obediences - reciters, singers, wearers, ponomaris. We will talk about the last category of clergymen in this article.

Etymology

The very word "sexton" is an unofficial designation of a clergyman, who is also called a "paramonar" (the Greek term). The last, more correct version was ousted from the use of the Russian church and almost forgotten. It is translated as a "gatekeeper", although the modern functions of sextons hardly meet this definition. But we'll talk about the history and evolution of the Ponomaran ministry a little later.

Analogues of the Ponomaran ministry

According to Tipikon, that is, the liturgical statute of the Orthodox Church, the sexton may also be called a candle-litigator, a light-bearer or a para-eclipsiarch. All these church terms, however, are not used in everyday life. Most often in Russia, the sextons are simply called altars, that is, people carrying a wide range of duties related to the altar of the temple.

The history of the ministry of sacristies

The gatekeeper, that is, the servant of the ancient Christian church, whose functions are performed by the modern sexton, is a man whose duties included monitoring the order during the celebration of the service. At a certain time, he closed the gates of the temple, so that none of the uninitiated - the catechumens, the unbelievers, heretics, excommunicated or penitent - could not penetrate the Eucharistic celebration, participation in which can only be accepted by baptized Christians who are not subject to penance. In addition, the Ponomaries in ancient times cared about the preservation of the temple property, about its illumination, watched the behavior of the parishioners, in order to prevent thefts, sacrilege and so on. In special places, such as Calvary or Bethlehem, the Ponomarians were constantly on guard to guard the places of mass pilgrimage and help the pilgrims.

The duties of sextons today

At present, the sexton is first and foremost a servant, whose main task is the material and technical, if I may say so, maintenance of worship. His task is to prepare vestments of priests, the preparation of some vessels, the incense of the censer, the burning of candlesticks and candles in the altar, and other duties that allow the service to be performed in a proper manner and without fuss. In addition, the Ponomarians, as a rule, serve as readers and help these work of the choir, that is, the choir. During extra-service time on the sacristans lies the responsibility for the purity in the altar. Perform this service in the Russian church, as a rule, parishioners from among men. Children of parishioners often become altar boys. If there are not enough men among the parishioners of the church, pious elderly women can be chosen for the altar ministry. In monasteries, of course, nuns are often altars. But generally, the entrance to the altar for women is forbidden, and this is done as an exception. This categorical character is characteristic of the Russian church. In the temples of the Patriarchate of Antioch, for example, as well as in other local churches in the altar, it is often possible to see girls, also clothed in surplice - a special dress of a sexton. For Russia this is simply unthinkable.

How to become a Sexton

In ancient times, "putting into a paramonar" was a special rank. The ceremony was of a nature of hirotesia, that is, a full-time initiation into the church service. Today, this procedure is rarely reproduced. Obligations of the sexton are quite trivial these days to get by the usual oral permission of the rector of the church. He also blesses the altar bearer to bear the stigma. However, when visiting the parish bishop should receive and episcopal blessing. Many sextons in our time also seek permission to wear a cassock, which, in principle, is not a church tradition, but is a local custom. But to become a sacristan, nothing special is required. It's enough just to be a regular parishioner of the church, participate in church life and have a good reputation among the members of the community. In this case, you can ask the priest for blessing to join the Ponomaran ministry.

It is important to understand that the modern sexton is most often a layman, who is entrusted with special obedience in the temple, and not a clergyman. In large churches, as a rule, some altars are regular, that is, professional. Their work is overseen and organized by the senior sexton in the church. Such people perform their ministry not only at the call of the heart and the blessing of the confessor, but also under an employment contract, respectively, receive wages. For them, ponomarism is associated with daily worship services. Other altars appear on services only on holidays, Sundays and when they themselves want to.