What does it take to become a priest? Why did you become an Orthodox priest? Priest Svyatoslav Shevchenko,

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, Manager 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 New Testament 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 the message to all humanity 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 the 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 authority 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 the special prayer. 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 their 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 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 also on the entire Church. This is the pattern public 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, back side which were written important words: Be an example to the faithful in word, in conduct, 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 participate 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 clothing, 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 the priesthood: performing public and government positions, staying in military service, usury and trade (especially wine). Concerning appearance, then you cannot wear smart and lush 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? future fate former pupils?

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 learning programs, based precisely 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, not for power, career growth or material enrichment. Accepting the priesthood is accepting a voluntary burden. After all, on Last Judgment the priest will be responsible not only for himself, but also for those people whom the Lord has entrusted to him. Before becoming a priest, you need to test your heart...

Recorded by Archpriest Vladislav Sofiychuk

In John 15:16, Jesus says that people do not choose Him, but He chooses ministers to bear fruit.

Becoming a priest is a life choice that is made according to God’s calling and a voluntary renunciation of earthly joys. This can be a man who has a theological education and has been ordained as a clergyman.

What does serving God mean?

A priest is not a profession or a job that lasts 8 hours and then lives a personal life. Serving God is a complete dedication of oneself to people as a faithful servant of God, ready at the right moment to become a helper, mediator, spiritual guide, shepherd.

Read about the priesthood:

Every man can devote his life to serving the church.

Perhaps someone dreams of becoming a priest because of wealth, but abundance comes with time, and not every parish can provide a decent salary for a priest.

In everyday life, priests have to do the same things as ordinary people, while they have constant force majeure circumstances:

• someone died and needs to be buried;
• another calls for prayer at the bedside of a seriously ill patient;
• the third must be unctioned.

No one cares how household affairs are going in the clergyman’s family at this time.

The main thing is that priesthood is a great responsibility before God, who entrusts the shepherd to a certain person, who will then be asked of him, of him and his descendants.

Who can become a priest

The desire to become a priest is born in a heart filled with the knowledge of God and mission on earth as a Christian.

A true understanding of the depth of dedication to God and people is characteristic of men who possess certain moral qualities:

• strong faith;
• the ability to hear God;
• fortitude;
• patience;
• love for people and a desire to serve them.

A deep understanding of priestly service is available to church-going Christians; they agree to give up many, even earthly, joys in order to fully accept the happiness of communion with God.

The future priest must cultivate high moral qualities from early youth

First of all, those who want to become a priest must understand that the life of a servant of God is dedicated to people, there are no hourly restrictions, but there are strict rules and routines. In pastoral ministry there is no leave at will or at one's own expense; one cannot resign from this position at one's own request or change jobs.

A priest is a subordinate person, over whom there are superior servants; obedience is unquestioning. This is called humility, which for God is the highest sacrifice. Few Christians can become priests, not for lack of some deep knowledge, but from a lack of Christian maturity and the ability to accept responsibility.

Before receiving the education of a theologian, men must prove themselves in ministry; this must be a need and a pleasure, a priority in life. It is impossible to imagine a person who is not a church member, who does not live in the interests of the church, and who does not observe fasting and prayer rules, in the role of a clergyman. A person who has low moral qualities and does not know how to tame his sinful thoughts cannot become a priest.

Important! A Christian who has learned all the canons of the church through studying at a seminary can become a clergyman.

How to get a seminary education

Theological education opens the door to becoming a priest.

Basic requirements for everyone:

• age - 18-35 years;
• marital status - single or once married;
• secondary education;
• mentally healthy;
• recommendations from an Orthodox priest.

Studying at a theological seminary

When entering the seminary, those wishing to become clergy must be oriented in the Bible, Old and New Testaments, know the Catechism and the history of the Church, which is tested during the exam.

Before being allowed to take the exam, you must be tested for knowledge of prayers, chants and mastery of the basics of vocals. A prerequisite is the ability to speak the Church Slavonic language and read psalms in it.

A person who was unable to clearly state his intentions, motives during the interview, and prove his sincerity and desire to serve the Lord and people, may not be allowed to take the exams.

On a note! August is the time for passing exams; applicants begin studying on September 1.

Applicants should be prepared to undergo a rigorous test of faith and adhere to strict discipline. I would like to warn you right away that the most faithful and chosen by God reach the end.

Those living in other cities are provided with a dormitory at the seminary, which also has strict rules; violation of them may result in expulsion from the seminary.

All seminarians are provided with a scholarship. At the end of the seminary, final exams are taken, confession is held, and after which the most worthy can be ordained and become priests, but this is not a mandatory guarantee after graduating from a religious institution.

Monk or priest

While in the rank of seminarian, future clergy must decide on an important task that will set a mark on their entire life.

Graduates before graduating from the seminary must decide which path they choose, monasticism or priesthood, black or white brotherhood.

When deciding to be a married person, to have a family, children, there is only one way - to become a priest, getting married before ordination. At the same time, strict rules are put forward for both the future spouse and his wife.

Father can only have one wife

The future mother should not have previous family ties before marriage. She cannot be a widow or divorced. Father can only have one wife. Even if he remains a widower, he is prohibited from remarrying.

When choosing a girl for his wife, the future priest must explain to her all the individual characteristics in the role of mother, and this is a ban on parties, certain requirements for clothing, and behavior. As a rule, Christian girls preparing to become mothers are raised in Orthodox Christian families familiar with the canons of the church.

Attention! Without the permission of the rector of a theological institution, a seminarian cannot marry.

The bride of a future clergyman must be aware of the full responsibility of her title and be prepared:

• follow your husband into the depths;
• always be in sight;
• become an example for other Christian women as a wife;
• accept that your spouse will be constantly busy with church problems and other people.

Another path is monasticism, in which marriage is prohibited; a young man voluntarily renounces the joy of being the head of a family, fatherhood, entrusting his life into God’s hands.

Attributes of priests:

After graduating from a religious institution

Having received assignment to a parish, graduates must go through certain steps of the hierarchical ladder.

Those who choose the path of the clergy first serve as deacons, after which they are ordained as priests, the highest level being bishopric, archpriest, and rector.

The Sacrament of Ordination - ordination - involves the Holy Spirit, who fills the heart of the future mentor of the laity with special love for them and makes the priest a bearer of God's grace.

Sacrament of ordination

The consecration is performed by the bishop in the altar during the Liturgy.

Attention! Members of the black brotherhood, monks, can become bishops, metropolitans and heads of dioceses. The patriarch is chosen from the monastic brethren; this path is closed to priests.

Theological education is prerequisite upon receiving ordination, however, the head of the parish can take responsibility and perform the rite of ordination to the priesthood without special education.

This practice is inherent in few churches, and experience shows that it is difficult for a priest to do without a theological education.

Where can you get spiritual education?

In addition to Russia, spiritual education can be obtained in Belarus. Minsk is the capital, which has not only a school, a seminary, but also an academy.

Belarusian State University is one of the few universities former countries CIS, which opened the Institute of Theology. Vitebsk and Slonim are ready to accept those wishing to receive a secondary theological education in a special school. Girls can also become students at the schools.

Chance to become a priest in adulthood

The history of the Church contains cases when men living in the world as ordinary Christians discovered in themselves the gift of serving people. At first they help, then they begin to serve in the church, and then they decide to become a priest.

Theological institutions offer distance learning, the age limit in which is increased to 55 years.

On a note! For distance learning, applicants who already have church service, having recommendations from the priest and dean, documents certified by the bishop.

Each issue of ordination to the priesthood is considered individually.

How to become a priest

How do they become priests? Atheistic propaganda portrayed the priests as greedy people who calculatedly profit from the delusions of others. The time of the dominance of atheism has passed, but even today few people are seriously interested in the question: how does it happen that ordinary people suddenly begin to serve at the throne of God, subordinating their entire lives to this? How do these people come to faith, and not just come, but fill everything with it, devoting themselves to God? We decided to talk about this. And they asked the priests from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Pakistan, Kenya, and Germany one simple question: “Why did you become an Orthodox priest?”

Archpriest Alexander Avdyugin,Lugansk, Ukraine

Probably most of us who are in the priesthood, when asked: “How did you become a priest?” they will answer with a vague “The Lord brought.” But this uncertainty is only for the questioner, but for us it is absolute certainty. After all, there are no accidents a priori, and when you begin to compile a ladder of events, the steps of which you climbed to the amazing and indescribable minutes of ordination, it becomes absolutely clear that you were led to your current ministry...

Therefore, the answer is: “The Lord brought.”

You can remember these steps, but not all of them. There were those that, it would seem, were overcome without your will and were not very obligatory, but today, with the experience of the past years, it becomes clear that everything happened in unity and in a clear sequence.

First religious experience, or rather, an apologetic dispute, I had with my grandmother, my father’s mother.

Bah,” I asked, “why is God evil in your kitchen, but good in the hall?”

You can't say that! - Grandma was angry. - Look, what are you thinking!

See for yourself! - I pointed to the icons.

In the kitchen, the image of the Savior was old, dark, only the eyes and forehead were visible. At night you wake up, and if the lamp has not gone out, then eyes are looking at you from the darkness. Scary.

In the hall, in the brightest corner, between the small windows, God, framed by a towel, is kind and joyful. In shiny clothes with flowers. And He was not alone there, with the Mother of God and some other saints.

The second vivid “religious experience” is connected with Easter. Or rather, with a police baton. In the ninth grade, after a literature lesson, in which our teacher told us about the Church and faith at her own risk, we decided to go to the Rostov Cathedral on Easter night.

Around the entrance to the cathedral, in a horseshoe shape, half a meter from each other, stood the cadets of the river school, and behind them, along the sidewalks and tram rails, were groups of young policemen. The cadets only let old women through. Everyone else had to explain themselves to the police, who, as a rule, sent them back behind the cordon.

Rostov Cathedral is located on the market square of the city. The center with parks and entertainment is nearby. It is clear that an impressive crowd of young people has gathered at the cordon, animatedly discussing a not so common action.

No, they didn’t talk about Easter and the Resurrection of Christ, they just quietly (loudly in those years it was not accepted, and it was scary) they discussed the fact itself: why they weren’t allowed in. And, naturally, they immediately developed plans to “break through” into the church. Why “break through” was not so important...

We came up with a grand plan. Not far from the cathedral there is a stop from which trams depart, passing through the cordon just past the temple gates. Opening the doors of a moving tram in those years was elementary, so we decided to jump out of the car just opposite the church gate and... run to the church.

And so they did. But they didn’t calculate it. The police turned out to be quicker. That’s when a baton hit me on the neck and back...

Probably, it was this baton that became the reason that I began to look for books related to Orthodoxy. It's not just that Soviet years it was, but Rostov-on-Don is a special city, in it you could always find even what was prohibited and not encouraged. And the love of books, instilled in me by my parents since childhood, helped. Even in official publications, especially in domestic classics, one could find stories about Christ and faith.

During my student years, it became possible to read Christian publications “from abroad,” brought by our sailors, and Orthodox broadcasts from the BBC and Voice of America played their role.

Already in my mature years, I met a priest in a small Belgorod village. My peer. The owner of an amazingly diverse and rich library, for whom faith, service and passion for literature were a natural everyday thing. He couldn’t imagine his life any other way.

Our friendship had a logical conclusion. My father took me to the reviving Optina Pustyn, where I “stayed” for a whole year.

About the last steps to ordination you need to ask not me, but Father Melchizedek (Artyukhin), the current rector of the Optinsky metochion in Yasenevo. He taught, he blessed and wrote a recommendation for ordination. To my question why he took me under his, then dean’s, wing in Optina and assigned me to obedience in the publishing department, Father Melchizedek answered jokingly: “Because, father, he took me because you are Avdyugin, and I am Artyukhin.”

Just a joke, but that’s exactly how the Lord ordered it.

Archpriest Maxim Pervozvansky, Moscow

I was a physics student

While studying in my fifth year at the Faculty of Experimental Physics at MEPhI, I seriously, truly believed in God. I began to look for opportunities to serve Him in the church fence - no matter who, but in the church fence. After graduating from high school, I went to work at one of the closed design institutes and at the same time began going to the Novospassky Monastery. Archimandrite Alexy (Frolov) suggested that I create and head a parochial school at the monastery.

And at the same time, I asked to read at the service, became an altar boy and a reader. Since at that time there were only three monks, one protodeacon and several novices in Novospassky, my help was in demand. I went to services every day, morning and evening, read...

And after a few years, apparently observing my work and drawing some conclusions for himself, the bishop offered to ordain me.

I loved physics. But the decision to leave work was made quite easily. The country was not worried better times. I did not see the possibility of making efforts in the field that occupied me - military physics. There has been a loss of meaning. And it coincided with a serious internal turn to God, with a search for service.

In 1994 I became a deacon and then a priest. I never aspired to this myself. It seemed to me that priests were some special kind of people, that they were unearthly, angels. The especially high example of the monastery priests convinced me of this - such an ideal seemed unattainable. But there are words in the Bible: You did not choose Me, but I chose you- I always remembered these lines and perceived them as addressed to myself personally.

The priesthood became for me the assembly point of my entire life. From him and through him my family is built, professional life, work of the magazine editor-in-chief, work with youth. Priestly ministry gives meaning to everything I do.

Priest Philip Gathari, Nyeri, Kenya

I was a Kenyan boy

The words “Orthodox” and “Orthodoxy” came into my life as a child. We were familiar with all the Christian denominations operating in Kenya, the main one of which was Catholicism. But he didn't attract me.

Then the Independent Church appeared, supported by fighters for political freedoms in Kenya. Orthodoxy came with them. White missionaries from Greece brought Orthodox faith us children.

We began to flock to services at the local temple. What struck us most was the style of reading psalms and other liturgical readings. We were fascinated by Communion. And we also liked the bread prosphoras that were brought out from the altar. Bread was rare, and going to church was a sure way to taste it. As children, we did not understand the meaning of all these rituals. But they didn’t like to miss services. Every time the priest went away somewhere, we felt very bad.

I began singing in a youth choir, and later became an altar boy. This was considered an honor, because when the priest was away, the altar servers were given the privilege of helping to serve Matins. Most of the older parishioners could not read, so we young people were their eyes and their mouths.

Yours elementary education I received it when I was already fully living the church life. I remember once praying: “Lord, when I grow up, make me a priest, like our local priest.” As a child, I really liked the vestments of priests. They fascinated me. I was also attracted by the central role priests play in the life of our Christian community.

By the time I entered high school in Nairobi, I had already been baptized with the name Philip - that was the name of one independent preacher, thanks to whom Orthodoxy came to Kenya.

After finishing school, when I was already working as a secretary in the reception office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the priest of the local rural church sent me to study abroad, to the university in Sibiu (Romania). I had no intention of studying theology specifically, but it turned out that way.

In 1983 I returned to my country. My wanderings began: for 15 years I worked as a teacher in different schools, taught at the seminary. When I lost last place, then with my theological diploma I could not find a job. To support myself, I was engaged in private business for two years.

And then I was called to serve by Bishop Seraphim, Archbishop of Nairobi. He felt that I could become a priest: as a lay theologian, I made a great contribution to the training of priests at the seminary; most of our parishioners and priests relied and trusted me greatly. I have always really wanted to help my people learn and understand Orthodoxy. After all, most of our local priests do not have higher education, and some liturgical books were translated incorrectly. Our flock simply did not see these mistakes... Since I studied to be a theologian, I felt that it was my duty to serve the Orthodox Church...

In 1999, immediately after my ordination, the bishop sent me to an area where there was no Orthodox community. There I founded a church in the name of St. Philip in Karundu.

And in 2005, the new archbishop, Bishop Macarius (Andrea Tirides), with whom I taught at the seminary, sent me to the Church of St. Anthony in Ichamar. Where I serve today. There are a lot of difficulties; we have to sacrifice our personal comfort, our resources in order to keep the missionary school that we created at the temple afloat. This is an extremely difficult task. But we overcome everything.

Priest Thomas Ditz, Moscow

I was a German Protestant

I felt an inner call to the priesthood when I was 18-19 years old. But then this call was forgotten: completely different plans for life, studying to become an architect... Moreover, I belonged to Protestantism (my parents are Lutherans, this is a traditional German faith along with Catholicism), and Protestants do not have the priesthood.

When I decided to convert to Catholicism in my youth, celibacy turned me away from the idea of ​​the priesthood: I always felt that my path was a family path.

However, the vocation to the priesthood was renewed, and I entered a Catholic seminary. But the confidence that I could finish what I started did not last long: only a year or two. Then came the internal crisis. It became clear to me that this was not my path, that it would be to the detriment of my spiritual state, and, let’s be honest, it would lead me to severe mental illness - I was so out of tune with myself. I finished my studies without knowing what awaited me. I stayed because the leadership of the seminary understood what was best for me. My confessor led me, but a very serious conflict was brewing inside.

The priesthood is a calling from God, it is truly inevitable if a person prays, lives a spiritual life, and tunes his senses to hear the will of God.

While studying at a Catholic seminary, I began to delve deeper into Orthodoxy, and the more I learned about it, the more I understood its truth and its difference from Catholicism, although Catholics believe that there is no significant difference between us. And when I finally accepted Orthodoxy, I felt that my desire to become a priest had not disappeared, but, on the contrary, had suddenly become possible. When I learned about the life of the Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union under conditions of persecution, I became interested in everything connected with Russia. And so I decided to come here to study theology. The only obstacle was the language of my Church - Russian, which is not my native language. And age: at 40 years old it is no longer so easy to study, to comprehend the complex Byzantine Liturgy, the world of Slavic languages.

God brought me into such conditions and circumstances that it became possible to fulfill my long-standing calling. I felt that now, having become an Orthodox priest, I had found my way. And this obliges me to work for the one holy Apostolic Church, which really exists in Orthodoxy.

Priest Gleb Grozovsky, Maloe Verevo village, Leningrad region

I was a Zenit football player

I was born and raised in the family of the priest Viktor Grozovsky, and almost all of my brothers were inclined towards the priesthood. And I, an athlete, a football player, could not imagine such a future for myself! Well in as a last resort“If I don’t become a player, I’ll become a coach,” I thought.

After school I went to study at State Academy physical culture them. P. F. Lesgaft. Naturally, I didn’t even think about seminary then.

My dreams came true: I, although not for long, was both a player on the national youth team and a trainee coach at the Zenit football school, which I myself once graduated from. However, I was destined to follow in my father's footsteps. By the time I was twenty, the Lord called me to be His priest. I clearly remember the call, thoughts and feelings that I experienced while standing in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where my father served. I think it happens differently for everyone. Let me just say that the thought came to me that I could be useful not just as a “spectator”, but as an assistant during worship.

I asked then Archimandrite, and today Bishop Nazarius of Vyborg, for a blessing to help at the altar in his free time from training and competitions. He gave the go-ahead. It was delicious! In my childhood I already served as an altar boy, but I didn’t appreciate it then. Just six months later, following my younger brothers, I was accepted as a subdeacon to Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga. I could not even dream that it was he, who accepted the grace of a bishop from St. Nicholas (Mogilevsky) himself, who would ordain me to the rank of deacon, and two years later - to the rank of presbyter!

Well, as for football, it has not left my life. A sports department has been created in our diocese; tournaments are held between parishes, together with orphanages, and with other dioceses. The students of the Theological Academy, whom I coach, receive football equipment from the hands of Zenit football players and maintain their physical shape. St. Petersburg Zenit also does not remain without my support in all home and away matches. By the way, the temple that I was entrusted with building is planned to be built with donations from football players.

There is no more delightful state of soul on earth and no greater responsibility before God than the priesthood, that pledged pledge which must be kept intact until one's last breath.

Archpriest Dimitry Lukyanov, Belgorod

I was a physical education teacher

Now, as a priest, I am receiving a higher secular education: I am studying at the Faculty of Geology and Geography of the Belgorod state university. I will defend my diploma as a geography teacher. And this is very interesting to me. After all, every year I go for several months on an expedition to the Arctic on the ship “Mikhail Somov”. We are going from Arkhangelsk to Chukotka. For me, these expeditions are missionary. The visit of a priest to an Arctic village once a year is perhaps the only opportunity for its residents to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

However, I myself never imagined that I would become a priest or a missionary. I haven’t dreamed about this since childhood, such thoughts never even occurred to me. By profession I was a physical education teacher and worked. Helped at the temple. And gradually he came to the decision to be ordained. This happened in 1997, back in the “dashing 90s”...

But for some reason I had absolutely no fear that I was finally turning down this path for the rest of my life. A priest in this sense - happy man. Financial problems that often arise - especially among the rural clergy - are somehow resolved by themselves. At the most difficult moment, help always comes from somewhere. I know that my family will never be rich, but we will never die of hunger. In addition, I was lucky: from my youth I was a rather ascetic young man - I could quite easily buy myself ordinary simple boots instead of beautiful men's shoes.

A priest is, of course, not a profession. This is service. And if we can say about a good school teacher: “He carries out his ministry,” then even more so about a priest. You can leave work, there are days off at work. The working day is limited: you leave the office, come home, change clothes, and until the morning you can forget that you are an engineer. This does not happen in the priesthood. You are both at home and on the street a priest. Service is distinguished from work by the readiness to be “on service” at any moment. That's why I never go out without a cassock. I think this is very important.

And on the expedition, first of all, I am a priest. I hope that these trips will be of interest to our geography department. Thanks to me, the “geography” of the department’s work is expanding. In addition, this is also a missionary appointment for me. After all, on an expedition you meet many scientists. For many of them, it becomes a real discovery that the priest is not “dark and dense”, but understands geography and geology. They love their work, their science, and therefore they always really appreciate it when the interlocutor can support the conversation and asks them the right, competent, deep questions. Now it will be easier for me to establish contacts, easier to speak the same language with them.

Priest John Tanveer, Lahore, Pakistan

I was a Catholic priest

I waited for the opportunity to convert to Orthodoxy for fifteen years, and for the opportunity to become an Orthodox priest for another three years. The Lord tested my desire.

I belonged to the Catholic community and in 1974 I entered the seminary, and four years later I continued my studies at another institute, and studied for another six years Holy Bible, church and civil law, church history and ethics. I remember praying, “Lord, You are my Father, if I am worthy to be a priest, Your servant, please grant me the courage to serve You and Your people.”

My journey to Orthodoxy began in 1990. Early one morning, as I was leaving the cathedral after mass, a tall, stately man approached me and asked if he could come into the cathedral to pray. "Certainly!" - I answered. He came in. And I don’t know what made me wait for him. This man came out and said to me: “I thought it was Orthodox church. But nothing! I needed to pray and I did.” We met, he turned out to be Orthodox, he was a general from Greece who came on an official visit to Pakistan. He left me his business card.

I can’t explain why, but from that time on I began to be irresistibly drawn to Orthodoxy. In May 1993, I managed to attend a service in an Orthodox church in Australia. The feeling of holiness in the air fascinated me. I stood there and suddenly had the confidence that I had found my true home. After the Liturgy, despite a strong desire to meet with the bishop or priest of the parish, I was unable to do so.

I returned to my country. And I began to talk with even greater enthusiasm about the holiness of the Orthodox Church to my brother priests and friends. In 1996 I left Catholicism.

In October 1998, through a friend from Greece, I managed to contact Metropolitan Nikita (Loulias) of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. But things went very slowly; replies to my letters did not come for years. God tested my faithfulness. And only thanks to the support of my family, especially my wife Rosa, I was able to endure this test.

Finally, in March 2005, Metropolitan Nikita came to Lahore: I, my wife and 350 other Pakistanis were accepted into Orthodoxy through confirmation.

Then the bishop advised me to continue my path to the Holy Cross, and I accepted his advice, because I really wanted to be a God-fearing and faithful Christian. I was incredibly happy.

My ordination was also delayed, but finally took place in Greece in November 2008. So far I am the only Pakistani Orthodox priest in our country.

Being a priest in Pakistan is very difficult. We have to be very careful about what we say. There is so much prejudice and injustice around, you can be caught at your word, accused, put behind bars and even killed.

During the period when I was a priest of the Catholic Church, the most painful issue for me was the positioning of the priest as a kind of boss, master and teacher of life for the people of God, who are already in a minority position here in Pakistan. I realized that a priest is a shepherd. Where there is no bridge, it must become a bridge so that the herd can cross the river. He must be the voice of the unanswered. I try to be like open book for my faithful ones, because I love them very much. They know whether I have something in my pocket or not, this makes us close people. Even though pain and sadness are a part of my life, they make my priesthood even more meaningful.

Priest Svyatoslav Shevchenko, Blagoveshchensk

I was an aspiring journalist

I never had to ask myself the question: why did I become a priest? Simply because I didn’t notice how it happened. Of course, like any Orthodox man, thoughts about the priesthood arose in my mind. But these thoughts were similar to childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut. Therefore, it is more logical to pose the question this way: why did God want me to become a priest? And in this direction I have some assumptions.

When I look over the affairs of past years in my memory, I see the obvious Providence of God. I definitely entered the Church through journalism. I was even honored to stand at a fork in the road, one of which led to work in an elite restaurant hometown, and the other - to the newspaper editorial office. Two minibuses packed with passengers passed me, and after the third, my feet headed to the newspaper complex, where journalists were needed. Somehow organically I was assigned to lead the regional weekly magazine “Samovar” religious themes, then an Orthodox supplement to the newspaper “Zlatoust” appeared, and after that it went on and on.

Once I went into a church before Easter - they were washing, scrubbing, polishing, and painting the inside. I had a strong feeling of being in my own family, where I was unbearably drawn. Therefore, after a while, when asked by the ruling bishop: “Well, who are you with?” - answered without hesitation: “With you”...

Today I have the honor of being a priest and doing what I love - working with the press. God gave me everything I could ever dream of: service before the Throne, an Orthodox family - a beloved wife and no less beloved sons, the opportunity to talk about the Church in the media. Today it is absolutely clear to me what the Lord wants from me. He needs a working tool - and I will be it, as far as I can.

Archpriest Sergius Lepin, Minsk, Belarus

I was a Komsomol member and a rocker

I grew up in a communist family. Once, in the fifth grade, the geography teacher told us about her trip to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, after which I told everyone: “I’ll also go to the seminary!” And he constantly returned to this statement in his life. When they asked me: “Boy, what do you want to be?”, I always answered: “I’ll go to seminary”... Why did I say that? This question seems inappropriate to me, like any question that clarifies the motives for the actions that we commit in a dream. Don't know. He spoke - and that’s it!

I very early began to be interested in questions of justice, the meaning of life, happiness, goodness and other philosophical problems. And the ideology that then reigned in Soviet schools offered some ready-made examples of reasoning in this direction. That's how I became a Komsomol member. In my search, I started from the proposed solutions and quickly outgrew them.

Later, I began to search among informal people: rock music, my own group and all that... All this was in my life, and that’s where it all began! Well, there was also a passion for poetry, something else... It seems to me that if a person consistently seeks the truth, then even within the boundaries of his delusions he can achieve something, since a negative result is also a result. Consistency exposes untruth, it cannot be otherwise!

One day, however, I got ready and went to church - like birds that one day just gather and fly away to the south. I was fourteen, I had not yet learned to be consistent and see cause-and-effect relationships in everything, and the question “Do I believe in God or not?” for me then it simply did not exist. And when I first discovered it for myself, I discovered that I believed it and could no longer do otherwise. It was an awakening. I remember this day...

I entered the seminary, and then graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy, then from the Theological Academy and graduate school. The Faculty of Philosophy was not an alternative to spiritual education for me; I went there for certain skills that I needed to understand certain things in theology.

I was ordained while studying at the Academy. It often happens that people get married on Sunday and are ordained the next, but for three years after my marriage I put off the question of ordination. It's scary! “Grace heals the weak and fulfills the poor” - amen! But how can you feel strong and able to bear this cross while you don’t have this grace? It's like jumping with a parachute: you know that you don't know how to fly, and almost no chance. So it is here - if not the Lord... But you need to make up your mind and “jump”. My senior comrades helped me with this. They just took me and “pushed me overboard”: they printed out a petition for ordination, convinced me to sign it...

And here I am flying. On the one hand, I cannot imagine that everything could have been different, but on the other, I cannot understand how this could have happened...

Archpriest Viktor Tarasov, dean of the parishes of the Sobinsky district of the Vladimir diocese

I was a poet and musician

I remember when I was baptized, already at a conscious age, I could not get an answer from anyone to the question: “Why? How will baptism affect my life? To tell the truth, all the answers did not convince me at all, but, on the contrary, turned me away from the idea of ​​​​becoming a believer. But the grandmother pushed, and the father and close relatives convinced: “Russian means necessarily baptized and Orthodox.”

And suddenly, a few years later, a thirst for spiritual search arose in my soul. Groundless, out of nowhere! I was in high school, and everyone noticed that Vitya Tarasov had somehow changed a lot. The famous “musician”, a little “poet”, suddenly became something else. Not better, not worse, but simply different...

But there were not so many means to quench this spiritual thirst: trips to church with familiar old women, yellowed pages of the Moscow “Church Bulletin” from last year and an amazing book found in the factory library: “Two Hundred Answers of an Atheist to a Believing Brother.” The abundance of dirt, criticism, ridicule and mockery that the atheist brought down on the faith of his “brother” had the opposite effect: excessive zeal in the fight against faith became for me convincing evidence that God exists.

Then a sudden and uncontrollable thirst for prayer appeared. Divine services, and especially the service of the Liturgy, have become the true desire and love of my life. And having fallen in love with worship and prayer, it is no longer possible to imagine your life outside the very core of Christianity - sacred rites.

The priesthood for me is the implementation of the gospel words You did not choose me, but I chose you. This is the fruit of that first youthful knowledge of God, which surprised my teachers, embarrassed or provoked ridicule from my peers. That in which it was not so much that I knew God as God knew me.

After long persecution of religion under Soviet power The Orthodox Church of Russia is experiencing a period of revival. Temples and monasteries are being restored, and the number of parishioners is increasing every day. For proper churching, believers need experienced, friendly clergy.

Where and how long do they study to become a priest?

In order to become a priest in Russia, go to theological seminary. The training lasts 4-5 years, the terms depend on the educational institution. After graduating from the seminary, newly minted clergy are placed at the disposal of the Church Patriarchates of the Russian Orthodox Church and are distributed among parishes.

Higher church education is divided into two stages: bachelor's and master's degrees. In order to complete the first level, you need to study for 4 years. The second stage of spiritual education lasts 2 years.

A master's degree is equivalent to an academic education and is possible only after completing a bachelor's degree, that is, a seminary. There are many spiritual people in Russia, you can choose from large quantity educational institutions is the one that is closer to the applicant in location and spirit.

There are seminaries in Moscow, St. Petersburg, central Russia, as well as beyond the Urals and in Far East. Study programs in Russian theological seminaries allow you to receive high-quality and free spiritual education.

There are also correspondence forms of study in seminaries. They study in this way for 5 years, there are annual donations for training in the amount of 4 thousand rubles and payment for accommodation during the sessions.

How to enter the seminary

The seminary accepts only men between the ages of 18 and 35, who must be of the Orthodox faith. Applicants must have completed high school, have a certificate and be a member of the church.

Upon admission, you need recommendations from priests from local parishes, certified by bishops, and a list of documents required for applicants to all universities in Russia. This is a health certificate, passport, copy of the medical policy and military ID. Full list documents must be clarified at the educational institution.

The seminary takes entrance exams on the Law of God, and applicants also write an essay on church historical topics. You can become a clergyman in Russia only if you have previously had a spiritual life in the Russian Orthodox Church and a very great desire to serve people, bringing them the Word of God.

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.

Representing everyone necessary documents does not guarantee admission to entrance examinations. 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 have 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 not allowed (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.