Priesthood

The beginning of a family is the sacrament of marriage. After the prayers of the wedding rite are completed, the priest reads to the newlyweds an instruction on how a husband ought to care for his wife, a wife to honor her husband, to keep marital fidelity, to do works of mercy, to seek the…

Priests are called to celebrate divine services, sacraments, and other liturgical rites. Unlike bishops, they do not have the authority to consecrate churches or ordain others—that is, to perform ordination (khirotonia). A priest is usually assigned to a particular parish and serves as its rector. Priests bear various titles: some are called presbyters (ierei), others…

The sacrament of Priesthood (holy orders) is not obligatory for every Christian. Not all are capable of becoming clergy—only those who sincerely desire to dedicate their entire lives to serving God and the Church, and who are worthy of the sacred ministry. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself chose special ministers for His Holy Church. He…

The ordination of a priest takes place during the Divine Liturgy. The one to be ordained serves in that liturgy, fulfilling the duties of an archdeacon: he reads the Gospel after receiving a blessing and carries the Divine Lamb on his head during the Great Entrance, as though completing his service in the diaconate. When…

Khirothesia is the ordination of a lower church minister — a reader or candle-bearer. These lower church ministers do not receive the grace of the priesthood but are appointed by the bishop’s blessing to serve in the church through reading and singing. The duties of a reader include reciting the appointed psalms and prayers during…

A bishop is the highest-ranking clergyman. He not only performs divine services and all the sacraments himself, but also has the authority to perform ordinations—that is, to confer on others the grace-filled gift of celebrating services and sacraments. Unlike priests, a bishop may: “Those anointed with chrism—laypeople—do not possess the gifts of the priesthood or…

The one chosen to be ordained a deacon is led from the center of the church by two deacons through the Royal Doors into the altar. Bowing low before the bishop, who at that moment is seated on the kafedra (cathedra) near the Holy Table on the right side, he receives the bishop’s blessing. Then…