To become a priest, spiritual education is required. Orthodox priest

Who can be a priest? How did the institution of priesthood come about? How much do the realities of modern parish life influence the system of education in theological seminaries? These and other questions are answered by Bishop Anthony, Metropolitan of Boryspil and Brovary, Administrator of the Affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Who is the mediator?

- Master, why does the priesthood exist? Why are intermediaries needed in communication between man and God?

The idea that a priest is a mediator in communication between God and man is fundamentally wrong. Who do we call a mediator in everyday life? The one who is in the middle. An intermediary is someone through whom something is transmitted. If two people communicate through an intermediary, then there is no personal contact between them. And if we consider the priest a “mediator,” this will mean that we do not communicate with God personally. But the New Testament is imbued with the opposite feeling, sometimes simply the incomprehensible closeness of the Lord to people. This is a book about the closest communication between God and man, a book about God-manhood!

- What then is the priesthood?

Let's open the New Testament. We see that the Lord Jesus Christ chose only 12 apostles (translated from Greek as “messengers”) to carry out a special mission. They bring to all humanity the message that the world is saved in Christ, they preach the Kingdom of God, which has come in power. They first spread the faith and then strengthened it among Christian converts. Without this mission, Christianity would simply be impossible. In his Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul writes: How can we call on Him in whom we have not believed? How can one believe in Him of whom one has not heard? How to hear without a preacher? And how can we preach if they are not sent? (Rom. 10:14–15). These words precisely speak of the birth of the Church: the Lord sends the apostles, they preach to the whole world, and as a result, people accept Christ as their Savior. Thus, from the very beginning of Christianity, the Lord Jesus Christ established a special institution among His followers - the institution of the apostles.

- How did the institution of priesthood arise?

The New Testament clearly records the moments when the apostles begin to appoint bishops and elders to lead communities. Thus, the Book of Acts says that the apostles Paul and Barnabas ordained elders for each church (Acts 14:23). A few chapters earlier, seven deacons were chosen to maintain order and justice in the daily distribution of needs (see: Acts 6: 1-6). These priestly degrees exist to this day. The task of the bishop and priest, as we clearly see in Scripture, is to lead communities, teach Christians the truths of the faith and help them follow the path of spiritual improvement. Usually a priest is called a shepherd. This means that he and the flock he leads are going in the same direction. Therefore, he has a special responsibility for the community.

When getting acquainted with the church hierarchy, it becomes obvious that in its complexity it is not inferior to the “table of ranks” in the army. How can the uninitiated deal with this?

In fact, as I said, there are only three degrees of priesthood: deacon, priest and bishop. A deacon (translated from Greek as “servant”) only assists in the performance of divine services, but does not have the right to perform the sacraments on his own. If he is in the monastic rank, he is called a hierodeacon, and the one who has taken monastic vows into the schema is called a schema-hierodeacon. The senior deacon in married clergy is called protodeacon (first deacon), and in monasticism - archdeacon (senior deacon).

The second degree of priesthood is presbyter (translated from Greek as “elder”). He is also called a priest or priest. He can perform all sacraments except ordination. A presbyter who is a monk is called a hieromonk, and one who has accepted the schema is called a schema monk. The senior elders of the white clergy are called archpriests and protopresbyters (first priests). The eldest of the monk-priests are called abbots and archimandrites. Abbots and archimandrites usually lead monasteries.

The third (highest) degree of priesthood is bishop (translated from Greek as “overseer”). He has the right to perform all seven sacraments. Bishops are also called bishops or hierarchs. They head large church districts (dioceses). A diocese can include from several dozen to several hundred churches. Bishops can also govern associations of dioceses, which are usually called metropolitan districts. Accordingly, such a bishop is called a metropolitan. The bishop who heads the Local Church may bear the title of archbishop, metropolitan or patriarch.

“After being ordained, it is prohibited to marry”

Many people think that a seminary graduate automatically becomes a priest. How is the Sacrament of Priesthood performed?

Ordination to all three degrees of the priesthood is performed only during the Divine Liturgy. The bishop ordains the priest and deacon. And the ordination of a bishop can be performed by at least two bishops. One bishop alone cannot ordain another - this is prohibited by canonical rules.

- What is the reason for this ban?

First of all, with the conciliar nature of the Church. The priest and deacon receive their powers from the bishop. By ordaining a deacon or priest, the bishop delegates to him part of his powers in the sphere of worship and the administration of the sacraments. The deacon and priest are subject to the authority of the bishop in whose diocese they serve. But the canons establish completely different relationships between bishops. Bishops are equal to each other. The highest authority in the Church is the Council of Bishops, which is the successor to the Apostolic Council. Therefore, the election and ordination of a new bishop must be carried out only by the Council of Bishops. In the practice of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the election of a new bishop is carried out by the Holy Synod. The ordination of new bishops takes place in a solemn atmosphere, at the Liturgy.

- How does the Sacrament itself take place? What is the main thing about it?

The main moment of the Sacrament is the laying on of hands, during which a special prayer is read. When the ordination of a deacon and presbyter occurs, the bishop in whose diocese he will serve lays hands on him. When a bishop is ordained, the open book of the Gospel is placed on his head, and all the bishops who are present at the service lay hands on him.

- Who can be ordained to the priesthood? What are the requirements for a future priest?

In the Orthodox Church, only male persons professing the Orthodox faith and having experience of church life can be admitted to the priesthood. Degrees of the priesthood can only be taken sequentially. You cannot be ordained immediately as an elder without passing through the degree of deacon. And, accordingly, you cannot become a bishop if you have not previously been a presbyter. Both married and celibate candidates can be ordained as deacons or priests. However, they must marry before being ordained.

After being ordained, marriage is prohibited. But candidates can only be ordained as bishops from among the monastics. There is also an age limit. Priests are usually ordained no earlier than 25 years of age, and bishops no earlier than 30 years of age.

It is very important that a candidate for the priesthood be rooted in the tradition of church life. The canonical rules do not permit the ordination of converts. After all, a priest must help his parishioners enter the fullness of church life. It is unlikely that such a task can be accomplished by someone who has not yet fully assimilated church tradition. You also need to have the necessary knowledge and high moral qualities.

Be a model

Secular society also places high moral demands on priests. Why does their behavior sometimes disappoint people?

It is unfortunate to hear of such inappropriate behavior. We live in an information society. And therefore, the priest’s misconduct can almost instantly become public. But the saddest thing is that in such cases the stain of shame falls not only on the most careless shepherd, but on the entire Church. This is the pattern of social consciousness. The shortcomings of a priest are automatically transferred to the entire Church.

Every priest must remember the responsibility entrusted to him. After all, he is given a cross, on the reverse side of which important words are written: be an example for the faithful in word, in life, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Tim. 4:12). These words precisely express the main moral requirement presented to the priest. He must, first of all, be a model for his parishioners. The moral requirements that are prescribed for all Christians in the New Testament must be observed by the priest with special care, so that a model can always be seen in him. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ calls his disciples the light of the world: so let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Every Christian should shine to the world with his virtuous life. But for the pastor of the Church this requirement is doubly relevant.

At the same time, we must understand: the deacon, the priest, and the bishop are also people who struggle with sin. In this struggle it is not always possible to win. And if we encounter unworthy behavior of a priest, first of all, we should not condemn him. It is better to pray to God for this person, so that the Lord will give him the strength to correct himself and carry out his ministry with dignity.

- Are there any types of activities that are not recommended or prohibited for priests?

The canons prohibit those activities that are incompatible with high service. A priest cannot indulge in drunkenness or engage in gambling. He must not have an alcoholic feast or visit places where they drink alcohol. In the decrees of ancient church councils there are also prohibitions for priests to participate in festivities associated with pagan rituals, dressing men in women's clothes, and using masks. In Byzantium, a priest was forbidden to attend the hippodrome or attend other similar public entertainments. It is also forbidden to visit public baths, since men and women have washed together in them since pagan times. There may also be restrictions on participation in a wedding: if obscene games take place there, you should leave. Also, the priest is strictly forbidden to raise his hand against a person, even against someone who has done wrong. Any activities related to the shedding of blood (not only of humans, but also of animals) are not permitted. This applies not only to hunting, but also to medical practice, especially surgery. Indeed, in the event of a death (during an operation), the surgeon may be accused of involuntary murder, and this entails defrocking. Other occupations (professions) are also incompatible with priestly service: performance of public and government positions, military service, usury and trade (especially wine). As for appearance, you cannot wear dandy and magnificent clothes: they must be modest and decent. The main purpose of such requirements is to protect the priest from anything that could serve as a temptation to others.

Be responsible not only for yourself

- Is having a seminary education a prerequisite for being ordained?

A candidate for the degree of presbyter, and especially a bishop, is required to have both thorough knowledge and the ability to convey this knowledge to others. The Apostle Paul also wrote that a bishop must be strong and teach sound doctrine and reprove those who resist (Titus 1:9). Therefore, the Church has a special system for preparing candidates for the priesthood. Before the revolution, for ordination it was necessary to successfully complete a course of study at a theological seminary, and for a bishop it was considered mandatory to graduate from a theological academy. Although there were cases when high hierarchical degrees were achieved without spiritual education. A striking example is the spiritual writer of the 19th century. Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov), whose works were included in the golden fund of Orthodox ascetic literature.

After the revolution, the system of spiritual education was destroyed. In conditions of severe persecution of the Church, it was simply impossible to receive spiritual education. Therefore, those who did not have an education were also allowed to be ordained. But today we have a sufficient number of educational institutions for training shepherds. Therefore, the ordination of candidates who have not studied in a seminary is permitted only as an exception.
Those who study full-time in theological seminaries can be ordained deacon starting from the third year. And we usually allow those who are studying in their last (fourth) year of seminary to receive priesthood.

You often have to ordain your students. Are you interested in the future fate of former students?

Our graduates, as a rule, return to serve in the dioceses from which they were sent to study. We try to support them in pastoral ministry. However, it is hardly possible to track the fates of all graduates... In this regard, I would like to remind you: even before the revolution, when the Kiev Theological Academy was preparing to celebrate its 300th anniversary (in 1915), Professor Archpriest Fyodor Titov decided to collect information about all the graduates, graduated from the academy during the 19th – early 20th centuries. He worked for several years, collected a lot of material, but was never able to solve such a large-scale problem. Now we are also engaged in publishing materials collected by Father Fedor. Working on them, we see how unexpectedly the destinies of our graduates sometimes took shape...

- How much do the realities of modern parish life influence the system of education in a theological seminary?

Of course, in a theological school you need to receive comprehensive training: theoretical, practical, and general humanitarian. Therefore, creating a balanced curriculum is very difficult. We regularly adjust our educational programs based on the modern needs of the Church. Both feedback from graduates and constant communication with the ruling bishops, who are well aware of the needs of their dioceses, are extremely important to us.

- How many priests serve in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church?

More than 11 thousand. They serve in parishes whose number exceeds 12 thousand. The situation is different in different regions. In some dioceses there are practically no priestly vacancies, while in others there is a shortage of clergy. As statistics show, the quantitative growth of the Church’s clergy (which began after the fall of the atheistic Soviet state) continues to this day: new communities are being created, new churches and monasteries are being built.

What should a person think about when he first thought about the priesthood? What motive should be present in such a desire?

The desire to become a priest must necessarily be associated with the determination to give all of oneself to the service of God and people. The desire for the priesthood is a desire for selflessness, and not for power, career advancement or material enrichment. Accepting the priesthood is accepting a voluntary burden. After all, at the Last Judgment, the priest will be responsible not only for himself, but also for those people whom the Lord entrusted to him. Before becoming a priest, you need to test your heart...

Recorded by Archpriest Vladislav Sofiychuk

Hello dears!
Last time, we briefly went over the basics of the Orthodox clergy: and today I propose to continue more specifically and talk about the first degree of the priesthood - about deacons.
The system of diaconate (or otherwise diaconate) is an ancient institution that arose in the very first years of the existence of the Church, although the roots of this institution are even deeper - something similar, say, was in Judaism, and some find similarities even in some of the assistants of the ancient Egyptian priests of Aten.

In general, you need to understand that deacon - this is not a priest, but his first and main assistant, that is, a religious professional who cannot independently perform all sacred rites, but knows all the procedures very well.
In general, the word deacon comes from the Greek διάκονος, which means " minister".

Deacon Isaurian. Fresco from the 11th century.

Speaking about deacons, we must understand that this term means several ranks at once - just deacon, protodeacon, hierodeacon and archdeacon . We'll take a closer look at what the difference is below. As well as mentioning subdeacon, which, although it does not relate to the priesthood and is a transitional link from clergy to clergy, is still close to the institution of deacons in essence.

So, as we have already said, deacon- This is the chief assistant to the priest during sacred rites. At the moment, this institution is gradually becoming a thing of the past, and there are deacons only in large parishes, monasteries or cathedrals, and locally the priest can cope quite well alone.


Denis Hopper in "Water World" also called himself a Deacon, but this is somewhat from a different opera...:-)))

Deacon (until he is ordained, he is called protege) can be a man at least 25 years old (there are exceptions, but they are rare), preferably having graduated from a theological seminary or at least a college, unmarried, married in his first marriage, or a widower who has no obstacles of a physical, spiritual or social nature. Obstacles of a physical nature are those that may prevent him from performing priestly service. That is, to be disabled, say, hunchbacked or missing a leg deacon It may well be, but blind or deaf - no. Obstacles of a spiritual nature are weak faith or the desire to enter the priesthood under the influence of a serious illness. The desire must be conscious and deliberate, and the strength of faith must be proven not only in words, but also in deeds.


Deacon at the service

Finally, social is associated with a person’s status in worldly life. No criminals hiding from justice, no marriages with close relatives, and also a ban (though it is often circumvented) on marriages with non-Orthodox wives. And there is another funny thing about unfaithful wives. Prohibition on ordination deacon the spouse of a wife caught in adultery sounds like this: “ If the wife of a certain layman, having committed adultery, is clearly convicted of it, then he cannot come into church service. If, after the husband’s ordination, he falls into adultery, then he must divorce her, but if he cohabits, he cannot touch the ministry entrusted to him."(8 rights. Neokes. Sov.). It is very interesting to know how this position is verified in practice :-))))


Deacon Andrey with his family. Staged photo by A. Zhuk

Before ordination protege must pass the so-called test - that is, pass henchman confession before the diocesan confessor for his entire life and priestly oath. After this, the confessor tells the bishop whether he is ready protege to be ordained or not. Confession can be secret (which most often happens) or in the presence of the entire community.

Ordination of a deacon (the protege was a subdeacon)

If protege Approved for consecration, then the process itself ordination occurs during the Liturgy after the consecration of the Holy Gifts. Commits ordination local bishop (bishop). The procedure is as follows: the protege circles three times around the so-called Throne (the table located in the middle of the altar for celebrating communion (Eucharist) on it), kissing its corners, then kneels in front of the Throne and places his head on it. The bishop (bishop) places it on his head a special ribbon, the honor of one’s vestments, which is called omophorion(we will talk about it in the following parts) and on omophorion, having read a special prayer, lays on his hands.


Omophorion

After which it grants 3 attributes deacon and loudly proclaims " Axios!" (ἄξιος), which translated from Greek means " worthy", to which everyone present in the church also answers him three times "Axios!"
From this moment the protege begins to be considered deacon and you need to contact him either Father Deacon, or “ Your evangelism" Although no one has canceled the order of addressing by first name and patronymic, and as far as I understand, in Tsarist Russia it was the latter address that was most common.
To be continued...
Have a nice day!

I arrived at noon to get acquainted with the life of the Saratov Orthodox Theological Seminary and its students. At this time, classes usually end in secular educational institutions, but in theological seminaries the educational process is in full swing. However, it never stops here. A strictly regulated daily routine is an indispensable condition of life for seminary students. Closeness from the outside world disciplines future priests, fosters tolerance, respect for each other, and brotherly relations. That is why seminarians are called not students, but pupils.

The main audience is the temple

From the past life, only a wide metal staircase with wrought iron railings remains here; otherwise, it is difficult to recognize the building of the former teaching staff forge. Now everything is different here: beautiful, spacious, perfectly clean and full of icons. There is everything necessary for the spiritual education of clergy, but the main audience is the church, in which seminarians learn the skills of liturgical life, carry out sexton and singing obedience, and gain their first experience in pastoral service and church preaching.

In a church university, everything is not the same as in other educational institutions. Teachers respectfully address students in cassocks not just by name, but by “father.” At any course you can meet priests serving in parishes, rectors of churches, although they are still far from receiving a diploma. The criteria for ordination, that is, into the profession, are different here - spiritual.

I want to serve God and people

I asked sophomore priest Artemy Dobrynin, rector of the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Privolzhskoye, Rivne region, head of the missionary department of the Intercession diocese, the traditional question that all applicants are asked upon admission to the seminary: “Why did you decide to become a priest?”

— The Lord asked me the same question before blessing me to study. I replied that I wanted to serve God and people. I had before my eyes a wonderful example of such service. I then lived in Marks and often watched how our local priest, Archpriest Valery Gensitsky, communicated with parishioners - like a father. This made a huge impression on me and gave rise to the desire to also become a priest.

Even to me this thought seemed incredible at the time, because I had everything a young man could dream of. As a teenager, I was already playing basketball professionally, was a master of sports, earned good money, and played for the Russian national team. In short, there were no problems. But there was no understanding: why am I living? Once, having broken my leg while playing, I sat at home for a long time and decided to read the Gospel. I had never opened the book that was once given to me by my godfather. And I was literally dumbfounded by what was revealed to me: I realized that I was living incorrectly, and this is how most of my peers live. I began to go to church, read spiritual literature, and learn more about Orthodoxy.

I remember my first confession: I was very worried, but Father Valery supported me, saying: “You come more often.” Since then, I haven’t missed a single service, but I haven’t given up sports either. Great Lent arrived, and for the first time I fasted truly, in a Christian way. My teammates looked at me like I was crazy, they didn’t understand why I was doing this, because competitions require a lot of physical effort. And while fasting, I felt in excellent physical shape.

When the idea of ​​studying at a theological seminary came, I shared it with Father Valery, then I wrote a letter to Vladyka, and at the meeting he blessed me to study. Until the last minute, until I got on the bus, my parents did not believe that I would turn my life around so dramatically. Studying at the seminary convinced me that I made the right choice. I found my place, and in my second year I was ordained to the priesthood. The Lord directed it in such a way that now all my numerous relatives have joined the church. Half of our parish in Marks are my relatives.

- You are a family man, you must support your family. Tell me, is the priesthood a job for you?

— To put it in one word, it is joy. As soon as you begin to feel the temple of God as a place of your work, you are simply a performer of various requirements, and not a priest.

...By the way, the young priest did not say goodbye to sports completely. In his village, Father Artemy intends to train children, so there will soon be an Orthodox basketball team.

Our training continues in the temple

Four years ago, a young man approached priest Viktor Tikhonov, keymaster of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and asked permission to serve at the altar, immediately revealing his plans for the future: he intended to enter a theological seminary and become a priest. He was hired, served as a sexton, then as a subdeacon, and a year later he immediately entered the second year of seminary - the future priest already had a higher legal education. A year later, seminarian Shmatko became Father George. This is how everything happened quickly in his life, although the young priest walked towards his goal for a long time, overcoming doubts and misunderstandings of his loved ones.

“This was, of course, not a spontaneous step. Already in high school, I began to read spiritual literature, think about the meaning of life, and became more and more inclined to the idea that a person cannot come to this earth from generation to generation just to eat, drink, produce offspring, and again that’s all. in the same circle. It seemed pointless to me. There is such a concept - seeking God. So I did this for quite a long time, became interested in many philosophical and religious ideas, until I realized that the truth is in Orthodoxy.

— Who influenced your worldview?

“I walked this path on my own. There was not a single believer in my circle at that time, so no one supported me in my quest; on the contrary, the attitude towards me became more and more negative and suspicious. It seemed like he was an ordinary person, could make a decent career, earn good money, and suddenly for everyone around him he became an alien. Time passed, I made the most important choice in my life, and everything fell into place.

— Has your life changed much after that?

“Everything has changed, even friends and acquaintances.” In the Church I found a new family, here I met my future wife. My whole life is now connected with our temple, where my mother once brought me occasionally as a little boy.

- The life of a priest is never calm, you can never completely belong to yourself, to your family.

“This is the meaning of our ministry.” The priest is called to lead people to God, to eternal life. The responsibility is enormous. You must constantly remember your priesthood, at any moment go to where they are waiting for your help, you must always remain a priest, including when leaving the doors of the temple. This is the only way to become a good priest whom parishioners will listen to and love.

— You recently became a priest. Isn’t it difficult to combine studies at the seminary with church service and family concerns?

“Now I serve the obligatory magpie for newly ordained people, which means daily Liturgies and evening services for forty days. Father must serve not when he wants, but as long as his parishioners need, so you have to get used to it. Of course, my studies are difficult; I only have time for half of my classes. At the seminary they are willing to meet us, because our training continues in the temple.

The priesthood is a never-ending work

Raising yesterday's schoolchildren into pastors is not an easy task, therefore, when admitting to a theological seminary, they pay attention not only to the amount of necessary knowledge, but, most importantly, to the spiritual state of future priests. Not everyone can be trusted to appear before the Throne of God, to be a conductor between God and people.

Today there are many young priests serving in parishes. The opening churches need clergy; there are not enough of them. Both the personnel shortage and the Providence of God, invisibly operating in the lives of those who are ready to accept it, apparently all came together. The road to the seminary of Andrei Kasimov, who bears the obedience of a senior subdeacon, is in many ways similar to the path that his comrades in the seminary took.

Andrei grew up in a family in which they did not talk about religion at all. But the school history teacher, a Kazakh by nationality, often liked to repeat: “You need to know history like the Lord’s Prayer.” Few people in the class understood what it was. An inquisitive guy found out that the Lord’s Prayer begins with these words. I began to read the Gospel on my own and fast in secret from my parents. There was no church in the village of Trudovaya, St. Petersburg district, but by that time the topic of Orthodoxy was present in many media, and Andrei increasingly began to think about faith.

Having entered the Faculty of Journalism at Saratov State University, he became a parishioner of the Saratov Holy Trinity Cathedral, in which he received the Sacrament of Baptism. Andrei received his first obedience - reading on the choir - from the former rector of the church, the current Bishop of Pokrovsky and Nikolaevsky Pachomius.

The young man found himself in a different world, with different human relationships, and no longer wanted to return to his previous environment. The moment came when it was necessary to decide: to continue studying at the university or devote oneself to the Church. A difficult test for the young man was his parents’ categorical rejection of his decision to study at a theological seminary. He was forced to leave home, he took this conflict hard, but insisted on his own. Now Andrey is already in his last year of study.

— Isn’t the army regime, the strict framework in which you live during all five years of study, difficult for seminary students? Is it possible for a young man to get used to a life in which everything happens on cue?

“Not everyone can endure it; almost half of the seminarians leave for various reasons without completing their studies. But I would not call our life at the seminary “rigid boundaries.” These are the conditions that a person needs if he is a Christian, and especially if he is preparing for pastoral service. We are taught to force ourselves in everything, while remembering that the bar we strive for will always remain unattainable. The priesthood is a never-ending work, and we are prepared for it in the seminary. The Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force, as it is said in the Gospel. And I made peace with my mother, thank God!

In one of his interviews, the Rector of the Theological Seminary, Metropolitan Longin of Saratov and Volsky, admitted that during conversations with applicants entering the study, he tries to understand what is inside a person, why he crossed the threshold of the seminary. And at the beginning of the new (2016-2017) academic year, in his traditional address to the seminarians, he wished them, over the years of study, to develop in themselves the most important thing - a love for worship, God and people.

Olga Strelkova

The path to becoming a priest, like any profession, begins with special education. To become a priest, you must graduate from a theological seminary. A man aged 18-35 years old, who has completed secondary education, is single or in his first marriage (divorced or remarried people are not allowed to enter the seminary) can enter there. In addition to the usual documents that are presented in all educational institutions, the applicant must submit a recommendation from an Orthodox clergyman, a written blessing from the bishop, a baptismal certificate, and if the applicant is married, a wedding certificate.

Submission of all required documents does not guarantee admission to the entrance exams. The applicant must undergo an interview in which his beliefs and motives for entering the seminary are tested.

The main entrance exam is the Law of God. Here you need to demonstrate knowledge of Orthodox teaching, sacred history and liturgical regulations. Other exams include church history and church singing. Future seminarians also take a language exam in the form of an essay, but the range of topics is special - church history. In addition, the applicant must know many prayers by heart and read fluently in Church Slavonic.

They study at the seminary for 5 years. Future priests study not only theology, liturgical disciplines and church singing, but also philosophy, logic, rhetoric, literature and other humanitarian subjects. A seminary graduate must decide whether he will be a monk or a parish priest. In the second case, he is obliged to marry.

But receiving a special education does not mean that a person has become a priest, because the priesthood is one of the sacraments.

A person becomes a priest in the sacrament of consecration - ordination. At the same time, the Holy Spirit descends on him, and thanks to this, the priest becomes not just a spiritual mentor for the laity, but also a bearer of Grace. Only a bishop can perform consecration; this takes place in the altar during the liturgy.

Ordination must be preceded by ordination - ordination to the rank of subdeacon. This is not a clergyman, but a clergyman. It is not necessary to be married at the time of ordination, but if you are not married before ordination, you cannot marry later.

A subdeacon can be ordained as a deacon - this is the first level of the church hierarchy. The deacon participates in the performance of the sacraments, but does not perform them independently - with the exception of Baptism.

The next step is ordination to the priesthood. A priest, unlike a deacon, has the right to perform the sacraments, with the exception of ordination.

Unless we are talking about a monk, the ordained person is required to be absolutely monogamous. Not only is divorce and remarriage of the initiate himself prohibited (even in the event of the death of his first wife), he must not be married to a widow or divorced woman. A person should not be under ecclesiastical or secular court or be bound by government duties that could interfere with priestly service. And, of course, special moral and spiritual qualities are required from the future priest. This is revealed during a special henchman confession.

The third level of the hierarchy is the bishop. Such an ordination is performed by a council of bishops. Not every priest can become a bishop; this is available only to hieromonks - priest-monks. The bishop has the right to perform all sacraments, including ordination, and to consecrate churches according to the full rite.

A priest is not just a profession, but a choice of a whole life path. Few are capable of it, because it requires not only certain knowledge and skills, but also a general disposition towards ordination, spirituality, responsibility and maturity. There are many common questions regarding church ministry. In particular, how to become a priest without a seminary? At what age can one choose such a profession? There are other questions, and all of them, no doubt, require detailed and thorough answers. So let's find out how to become a priest, and who can devote themselves to serving the church.

Almost every man can devote himself to serving the church if he wishes. However, this path is not easy and requires great endurance and faith. Even before receiving theological education, a priest must show an inclination to serve, cultivate high moral qualities, tame his base and sinful aspirations and, of course, often attend church. It will be better if he studies church books and hymns in advance, becomes familiar with how the service is performed, and so on. This will greatly facilitate further training.

Finding a profession and admission

Those who are wondering how to become a priest in Russia need to know certain rules. The primary task is to obtain an education at a theological seminary. Applicants must comply with the following rules:

age: from 18 to 35 years, male;

marital status: married for the first time or single;

After submitting all the required papers, the applicant undergoes an interview, during which the motives for admission, the sincerity of intentions, as well as the ability to correctly and coherently express their thoughts are assessed.

The entrance examination assesses knowledge of the Old and New Testaments, the Catechism and the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. In addition, applicants must pass a written exam - a presentation on a church-historical or biblical topic. Knowledge of basic prayers and chants, as well as vocal abilities, are tested. A mandatory requirement is the ability to read the Psalter in Church Slavonic.

How is the training going?

Those who are interested in how to become a priest should also know the conditions of study at the seminary. Entrance exams are held in August. Classes, as in other educational institutions, begin on the first of September. Studying in seminary is a tough test of faith and the correctness of the choice of life path. Strict discipline reigns in it, and not everyone can complete this stage.

Please note that students who come from other cities receive a place in a dormitory for all five years of study. Naturally, seminarians must strictly observe the rules of living there; in particular, they must spend nights in their room.

All students are provided with a scholarship. Young people who complete the training can expect to be ordained priests. This is possible only after going through confession and passing another exam. At the same time, we note that studying at a seminary does not guarantee obligatory ordination.

Parish priest or monk?

Before graduating from seminary, students must determine whether they intend to marry. This decision is very responsible, because it is no longer possible to change your marital status after initiation. So, the future minister of the church must either choose the path of a monk, who is forbidden to marry, or get married and become a parish priest. In this case, absolute monogamy is assumed not only from the man being ordained (he cannot divorce or remarry even if widowed), but also from his wife: she should not be a widow or divorced.

What happens after graduating from seminary?

Having completed their education, graduates are distributed among the parishes to which they are assigned. As the service progresses, it becomes possible to receive a new rank. The first level of the church hierarchy is the deacon. This is immediately followed by ordination. And the highest degree of priesthood is the rank of bishop. At the same time, those who want to know how to become a priest need to know one more detail.

Monks (those who choose celibacy) have more opportunities to move up in the church hierarchy. Only they have a chance to receive the rank of bishop and become a metropolitan, leading an entire diocese. In addition, the Patriarch is chosen exclusively from among the monks. If a graduate chooses the path of a married parish priest, he cannot rise above the archpriest in the position of rector.

Is it possible to become a priest without special spiritual education?

There is a question that interests many who want to devote themselves to the church. It goes like this: “Is it possible and how to become a priest without a seminary?” In fact, this is possible, but only if the head of his parish personally performs the dedication ceremony. It should be noted right away that receiving ordination in this way is practiced in very few churches. So you still can’t do without special theological education in a seminary. This is an indispensable condition for receiving rank.

Theological education in Belarus

For many, the important question is how to become a priest in Belarus. In this country there are a large number of relevant institutions where those who wish to devote themselves to the church can study. Let's try to list them. So, there are now three schools in Belarus, located in Minsk, Vitebsk and Slonim. In addition, there is a seminary and a theological academy in the capital. It is also necessary to mention the Institute of Theology at the Belarusian State University.

At the same time, only men with a higher theological education are accepted into the Academy. The future priest must be single or in his first marriage, and must be baptized. The Minsk seminary accepts both those with higher education and those with only secondary theological education. In addition, only those who have served in the army or are documented to be exempt from it can get here. Let us note that girls can also enroll in some departments of theological schools.

Thus, the choice of educational institutions is great, and here, too, everything is primarily determined by the sincerity of the motives and faith of the future clergyman.

What about Catholics?

Those who are interested in how to become a Catholic priest need to know some nuances. The path to serving in the church turns out to be even more difficult than is customary in Orthodoxy. The first difference is that in Catholicism there is no so-called white clergy. Thus, a priest cannot create a family. Future church ministers are trained in seminaries, which can be entered either after receiving higher education or after graduating from high school.

In the first case, the training will take four years, in the second - eight. It is worth noting that a young man who wants to come to the seminary must already be a devout Catholic and actively participate in parish life for at least two years. Having completed his studies, the future priest must serve in the church as a deacon for six months and make sure that the chosen path is correct. After this time, the rite of ordination and appointment to a specific parish are performed.

Thus, the path of a Catholic pastor, although not in many ways, differs from how to become an Orthodox priest.

Age restrictions

As already mentioned in the article, only a man who is no younger than 18 and no older than 35 can enter the seminary, that is, after completing his studies, you can become a priest at 40 or earlier. However, some people begin to feel drawn to this calling much later than expected. They ask themselves: “Is it possible to become a priest in this case?”

An option for such people could be distance learning at a theological academy - where the age limit is up to 55 years. But there is one condition: the applicant must bear parochial obedience, and this must be documented. Even after admission, you must annually provide a reference from the place of obedience, and it must be certified by the ruling bishop.

In any case, the issue of priesthood after the established deadlines must be resolved on an individual basis.

How to become a priest's wife?

Many religious girls want to marry a priest. However, such a life is also a kind of calling, and not everyone is ready for it. But those who are still interested in how to become a priest’s wife need to know some details.

First of all, it is worth understanding that a young man studying at a theological seminary cannot meet people in the usual way, for example, by attending parties or concerts. The brides of future priests are usually girls from religious families who attend church or the regency class at the seminary. As we have already mentioned, the chosen one of the priest cannot be a widow or divorcee and, moreover, must be a virgin, however, like her fiancé. In this case, only the rector can give permission for a seminarian to get married.

By the way, certain requirements are also imposed on the profession of the future wife of a priest. She should not compromise her husband in any way. Previously, there was a regulation prohibiting church ministers from marrying actresses; this profession was considered unworthy.

Be that as it may, girls who want to join their destiny with a priest should be aware that this choice is fraught with certain difficulties. For example, a wife should follow her husband to any parish, even the most remote and poor one, and not complain that her husband pays much more attention to other people.

In addition, mother’s life often causes discussion among church parishioners; she is always in sight. Thus, this path involves high responsibility and requires great moral strength and endurance in order to be not just a companion, but also a support and reliable rear for your spouse.

Profession or calling?

Now we know how a person can become a priest. However, certain moral qualities should also be considered among the basic requirements: fortitude, patience, the desire to help in word and deed, love for people. Those who wish to become priests must be prepared to live according to special canons, to voluntarily renounce many joys and pleasures.

Not everyone is ready for such steps. And they must be done solely at the behest of the heart, only then does this path become truly righteous and good. And then the question of how to become a priest and how difficult it is, fades into the background. And the desire to adequately prove oneself in this difficult field becomes paramount. Thus, the priesthood is not primarily a profession, but a vocation and choice that determines a person’s entire life.