Who is more important than whom? Hierarchy of the Orthodox Church. Organization of the Orthodox Church

Orthodoxy is a Christian doctrine that developed in Byzantium, one of the main world religions. Orthodoxy embodies the canons of the Eastern christian church, in contrast to Catholicism, which formed as a Western branch of Christianity.

Name "Orthodoxy" comes from Greek "orthodoxy" (оrtho – straight, correct, doxa – judgment, glory) and means “correct service.” Orthodoxy took shape in the first millennium in Constantinople, which at that time was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Today the number of Orthodox Christians in the world is about three hundred million people. Orthodoxy became most widespread in Russia, in Balkan countries, in Eastern European countries. However, there are Orthodox communities in Asian countries - South Korea, Japan.

Orthodox are believers who adhere to the canons of Orthodoxy. They believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (God the Trinity) and believe that all three aspects of God are in indissoluble unity. They also believe that initially the Almighty created a sinless world, and Adam and Eve committed the original sin. This sin subsequently through earthly life and suffering was redeemed by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Church hierarchy

From an organizational point of view, the Orthodox Church is a community of many local churches. On its territory, each such church enjoys independence and independence. Today there are fourteen churches called autocephalous - for example, Greek, Bulgarian, Constantinople.

The Orthodox perceive the Church as a kind of organism that unites believers with the Law of God, the Holy Spirit, and the Sacraments. A hierarchy has been established in the church: territories are divided into dioceses, each diocese is headed by a bishop who can ordain clergy (that is, ordain them).

Higher in the hierarchy of Orthodoxy are archbishops and metropolitans. The highest hierarchical level is the patriarch. If you go, as if along steps, in the opposite direction, then below the bishops there will be presbyters. These are priests who are allowed to perform activities other than ordination. Another step lower are deacons, who do not perform the sacraments and only help bishops and presbyters in this.

All clergy in Orthodoxy are divided into black and white. The black clergy are represented by celibate monks. Deacons in the black clergy are called “hierodeacons,” and priests are called “hieromonks.” It is representatives of the black clergy who become bishops. The white clergy are priests and deacons who can have families.

Principles of Orthodoxy

One of the basic principles of Orthodoxy is the acquisition of true freedom from passions and sins. It is believed that passions enslave a person, and he can find salvation under the influence of God's grace. To do this, it is necessary to make efforts on the spiritual path, for which you need to have the free consent of the believer.

A person can achieve salvation in two ways: either by devoting himself to serving his family and leading a godly lifestyle. Monks seclude themselves, renounce the world and take a special path of serving God. The family plays a very important role in the Orthodox value system; it is no coincidence that it is called the “small church.”

Orthodox Christians try to live according to Holy Tradition, which includes Holy Scripture, interpretations of Scripture from the holy fathers, writings of the holy fathers, liturgical texts, works of ascetic writers dedicated to the spiritual life and deeds of saints. In addition, Orthodox Christians honor the commandments, the most popular of which are “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not steal,” and “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

The relationship between spiritual and secular power in Orthodoxy and Catholicism is structured differently: Catholics strictly advocate church immunity. Pope, head catholic church, has its own sovereign secular power. In Orthodoxy there is no such strict distinction. The Orthodox, unlike Catholics, do not recognize the dogma of the infallibility of the Pope and his supremacy over all Christians.

Regarding power, Orthodoxy has always taken an unambiguous position: all power comes from God. And even in those times when the church was persecuted by the state, the Orthodox prayed for the health of the king and revered his power as given by God.

Orthodox sacraments

There are a number of sacraments in Orthodoxy. Among them, baptism is a ritual of introducing a person to the church, an opportunity to begin a pure, sinless life. People are usually baptized in infancy, but adults can also be baptized by consciously choosing godfathers and mother.

Baptism is followed by confirmation, during which the believer is given a blessing and the Holy Gifts. This should strengthen the baptized person in the spiritual life. The Eucharist, or Blessing, means the communion of a person with God.

Another church sacrament is the consecration of oil, during which the body is anointed with consecrated oil (oil) to rid a person of ailments. Confession is a sacrament that allows you to cleanse the soul of sin; the sacrament of repentance is performed if a person sincerely repents of his sins.

The sacrament of unction is usually performed before death and means the forgiveness of all sins a person has ever committed in life.

Christian believers call Easter the holiday of holidays. At the heart of this main church is the legend of the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ, crucified on the cross by the verdict of the Jewish court-Sanhedrin. The idea of resurrection is central, so the holiday in honor of this event is given a special role.

Among the Great Twelve Orthodox holidays The day of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ (January 7th) stands out in particular. The significance of the birth of the Savior of the world still cannot be overestimated, because according to the teachings of the Church, it was through the Incarnation that the salvation of man and the reconciliation of man with God took place. Historically in Rus', celebrations of the Nativity of Christ were reflected in certain folk festivals, called Christmastide. People visited each other and sang songs glorifying the born baby Christ. The emerging practice of decorating a spruce tree for this holiday and crowning the top of the tree with a star testified to the Gospel story of how the star led the wise men from the East to the birthplace of the Savior. Later in Soviet era the spruce became an attribute of the secular New Year, and the star symbolized not the Star of Bethlehem, but a symbol Soviet power.

Another significant holiday Orthodox calendar– the day of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan (January 19). On this day, water is blessed in Orthodox churches, for which millions of believers come every year. The historical significance of this celebration for the people’s consciousness is reflected in the practice of immersion in Epiphany ice hole. In many Russian cities, special fonts (Jordans) are being prepared, into which, after a water-blessing prayer service, people reverently plunge, asking God for health of soul and body.

One more the most important holiday Orthodox Church is the Day of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost). This holiday is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. This celebration is popularly called “green Easter”. This naming was a consequence of the folk tradition of decorating churches with greenery on the occasion of the Holy Trinity. Sometimes the Orthodox practice of commemorating the dead is mistakenly associated with this day, but historically, according to church instructions, the dead are remembered on the eve of Pentecost - on Trinity, and the feast of the Holy Trinity itself is not the day of the dead, but the triumph of the living.

Among the widespread traditions of Russian culture associated with Orthodox holidays, one can note the consecration of willow and willow branches on the twelfth celebration of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. The Gospel testifies that before the Savior entered Jerusalem directly to perform the feat of the cross, people greeted Christ with palm branches. Such honors were offered to ancient rulers. The miracles of Jesus and his preaching caused special love and reverence for Christ among the ordinary Jewish people. In Russia in memory of this historical event branches of willow and willow are blessed (in the absence of palm trees in most cases).

The Feasts of the Mother of God occupy a special place in the church calendar. For example, the day of the Nativity of the Mother of God, the Annunciation Holy Mother of God, Dormition of the Mother of God. Particular reverence for these days was expressed in putting aside all worldly vanity and striving to dedicate the day to God. It is no coincidence that in Russian culture there is an expression: “On the day of the Annunciation, the bird does not build a nest, and the maiden does not braid her hair.”

Many great Orthodox holidays are reflected not only in folk traditions, but also in architecture. Thus, in Rus' many temples were erected, which are historical monuments, consecrated in honor of the great Christian holidays. There are many famous Russian Assumption Cathedrals (in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary), Nativity churches, Holy Vvedensky churches, Intercession churches and many others.

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In 1054, it became widespread mainly in Eastern Europe and in the Middle East.

Features of Orthodoxy

Education religious organizations closely related to social and political life society. Christianity is no exception, which is especially evident in the differences between its main directions - and Orthodoxy. At the beginning of the 5th century. The Roman Empire split into Eastern and Western. Eastern was a single state The Western one was a fragmented conglomerate of principalities. In conditions of strong centralization of power in Byzantium, the church immediately turned out to be an appendage of the state, and the emperor actually became its head. Stagnation social life Byzantium and the control of the church by an oppressive state led to conservatism Orthodox Church in dogma and ritual, as well as a tendency towards mysticism and irrationalism in its ideology. In the West, the church gradually took center stage and became an organization seeking dominance in all spheres of society, including politics.

Difference between Eastern and Western was also due to developmental characteristics. Greek Christianity concentrated its attention on ontological, philosophical problems, Western Christianity - on political and legal ones.

Since the Orthodox Church was under the protection of the state, its history is connected not so much with external events as with the formation of religious doctrine. The basis of the Orthodox faith is the Holy Scripture (Bible - Old and New Testament) and Sacred Tradition (decrees of the first seven Ecumenical and local councils, the works of the church fathers and canonical theologians). At the first two Ecumenical Councils - Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381) the so-called Creed, briefly outlining the essence of Christian doctrine. It recognizes the trinity of God - the creator and ruler of the Universe, the existence the afterlife, posthumous retribution, the redemptive mission of Jesus Christ, who opened the possibility for the salvation of humanity, which bears the stamp of original sin.

Fundamentals of Orthodoxy

The Orthodox Church declares the fundamental provisions of faith to be absolutely true, eternal and unchangeable, communicated to man by God himself and incomprehensible to reason. Keeping them intact is the primary responsibility of the church. It is impossible to add anything or subtract any provisions, therefore, the later dogmas established by the Catholic Church are about the descent of the Holy Spirit not only from the Father, but also from the Son (filioque), about immaculate conception not only Christ, but also the Virgin Mary, about the infallibility of the Pope, about purgatory - Orthodoxy regards it as heresy.

Personal salvation of believers is made dependent on the zealous fulfillment of the rituals and instructions of the church, due to which there is an introduction to Divine grace transmitted to man through the sacraments: baptism in infancy, confirmation, communion, repentance (confession), marriage, priesthood, unction (unction). The sacraments are accompanied by rituals, which, together with divine services, prayers and religious holidays, form the religious cult of Christianity. Great value in Orthodoxy it is attached to holidays and fasts.

Orthodoxy teaches observance of moral commandments, given to man by God through the prophet Moses, as well as the fulfillment of the covenants and sermons of Jesus Christ set out in the Gospels. Their main content is compliance universal human norms life and love for one's neighbor, manifestations of mercy and compassion, as well as refusal to resist evil through violence. Orthodoxy places emphasis on uncomplainingly enduring suffering, sent by God to test the strength of faith and cleansing from sin, and on special veneration of sufferers - the blessed, the beggars, holy fools, hermits and hermits. In Orthodoxy, only monks and senior officials clergy.

Organization of the Orthodox Church

Georgian Orthodox Church. Christianity began to spread in Georgia in the first centuries AD. Received autocephaly in the 8th century. In 1811 Georgia became part of Russian Empire, and the church became part of the Russian Orthodox Church with the rights of an exarchate. In 1917, at the meeting of Georgian priests, a decision was made to restore autocephaly, which remained under Soviet rule. The Russian Orthodox Church recognized autocephaly only in 1943.

The head of the Georgian Church bears the title Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi with residence in Tbilisi.

Serbian Orthodox Church. Autocephaly was recognized in 1219. The head of the church bears the title Archbishop of Pecs, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovakia, Patriarch of Serbia with residence in Belgrade.

Romanian Orthodox Church. Christianity penetrated into the territory of Romania in the 2nd-3rd centuries. AD In 1865, the autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church was proclaimed, but without the consent of the Church of Constantinople; in 1885 such consent was obtained. The head of the church bears the title Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Ungro-Vlahia, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church with residence in Bucharest.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Christianity appeared on the territory of Bulgaria in the first centuries of our era. In 870 the Bulgarian Church received autonomy. The status of the church has changed over the centuries depending on the political situation. The autocephaly of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church was recognized by Constantinople only in 1953, and the patriarchate only in 1961.

The head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church bears the title Metropolitan of Sofia, Patriarch of All Bulgaria with residence in Sofia.

Cypriot Orthodox Church. The first Christian communities on the island were founded at the beginning of our era by St. the apostles Paul and Barnabas. Widespread Christianization of the population began in the 5th century. Autocephaly was recognized at the Third Ecumenical Council in Ephesus.

The head of the Church of Cyprus bears the title Archbishop of New Justiniana and all Cyprus, his residence is in Nicosia.

E.yada (Greek) Orthodox Church. According to legend, the Christian faith was brought by the Apostle Paul, who founded and established Christian communities in a number of cities, and St. John the Theologian wrote Revelation on the island of Patmos. The autocephaly of the Greek Church was recognized in 1850. In 1924 it switched to Gregorian calendar, which caused a split. The head of the church bears the title Archbishop of Athens and all Hellas, with residence in Athens.

Athens Orthodox Church. Autocephaly was recognized in 1937. However, due to political reasons contradictions arose, and the final position of the church was determined only in 1998. The head of the church bears the title of Archbishop of Tirana and all Albania, with residence in Tirana. The peculiarities of this church include the election of the clergy with the participation of the laity. The service is performed in Albanian and Greek.

Polish Orthodox Church. Orthodox dioceses have existed on the territory of Poland since the 13th century. However, for a long time they were under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. After Poland gained independence, they left the subordination of the Russian Orthodox Church and formed the Polish Orthodox Church, which in 1925 was recognized as autocephalous. Russia accepted the autocephaly of the Polish Church only in 1948.

Worship is held at Church Slavonic language. However, in lately increasingly used Polish. The head of the Polish Orthodox Church bears the title of Metropolitan of Warsaw and all Wormwood with his residence in Warsaw.

Czechoslovakian Orthodox Church. Mass baptism of the people on the territory of modern Czech Republic and Slovakia began in the second half of the 9th century, when the Slavic enlighteners Cyril and Methodius arrived in Moravia. For a long time, these lands were under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church. Orthodoxy was preserved only in Eastern Slovakia. After the formation of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, an Orthodox community was organized. Further development events led to division within the country's Orthodoxy. In 1951, the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church asked the Russian Orthodox Church to accept it under its jurisdiction. In November 1951, the Russian Orthodox Church granted it autocephaly, which the Church of Constantinople approved only in 1998. After the division of Czechoslovakia into two independent states the church formed two metropolitan provinces. The head of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church bears the title Metropolitan of Prague and Archbishop of the Czech and Slovak Republics with residence in Prague.

American Orthodox Church. Orthodoxy came to America from Alaska, where from the end of the 18th century. The Orthodox community began to operate. In 1924, a diocese was formed. After the sale of Alaska to the United States Orthodox churches And land plots remains the property of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1905, the center of the diocese was transferred to New York, and its head Tikhon Belavin elevated to the rank of archbishop. In 1906 he raised the question of the possibility of autocephaly American Church, but in 1907 Tikhon was recalled, and the issue remained unresolved.

In 1970, the Moscow Patriarchate gave autocephalous status to the metropolis, which was called the Orthodox Church in America. The head of the church has the title Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada with his residence in Syosset, near New York.

I read that the Patriarch of Constantinople is the main one among the Orthodox. How so? He has almost no flock, because mostly Muslims live in Istanbul. And in general, how does everything work in our church? Who is more important than whom?

S. Petrov, Kazan

In total there are 15 autocephalous (independent - Ed.) Orthodox churches.

Constantinople

Its status as Orthodox Church No. 1 was determined in 1054, when the Patriarch of Constantinople trampled the bread prepared according to Western custom. This became the reason for the split of the Christian Church into Orthodox and Catholic. The throne of Constantinople was the first Orthodox, and its special meaning not disputed. Although the flock of the current Patriarch of Constantinople, who bears the proud title of Patriarch of New Rome and Ecumenical, is small.

Alexandria

According to church tradition, the Alexandria Church was founded by the holy Apostle Mark. The second of the four oldest Orthodox patriarchates. Canonical territory - Africa. In the 3rd century. It was there that monasticism first appeared.

Antioch

The third in seniority, founded, according to legend, by Peter and Paul around 37. Jurisdiction: Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, also Arab parishes in Europe, Northern and South America, Australia.

Jerusalem

The oldest church, occupying 4th place in the autocephalous churches. It has the name of the mother of all churches, because it was on its territory that all the most important events described in the New Testament took place. Its first bishop was the Apostle James, the brother of the Lord.

Russian

Not being the oldest, upon its establishment it immediately received an honorable fifth place among churches. The largest and most influential autocephalous Orthodox Church.

Georgian

One of ancient churches in the world. According to legend, Georgia is the apostolic lot of the Mother of God.

Serbian

The first mass baptism of Serbs occurred under the Byzantine emperor Heraclius (610-641).

Romanian

Has jurisdiction on the territory of Romania. It has state status: salaries to the clergy are paid from the state treasury.

Bulgarian

In Bulgaria, Christianity began to spread already in the 1st century. In 865, under St. Prince Boris, the general baptism of the Bulgarian people takes place.

Cyprus

10th place among autocephalous local churches.
One of the oldest local churches in the East. Founded by the Apostle Barnabas in 47.
In the 7th century fell under the Arab yoke, from which it was completely freed only in 965.

Helladic (Greek)

Historically, the Orthodox population of what is now Greece was within the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople. Autocephaly was proclaimed in 1833. The king was named the head of the church. Has state status.

Albanian

The bulk of the congregation lives in the southern regions of Albania (Islam predominates in the center and north). Founded in the 10th century. as part of Constantinople, but then gained independence in 1937.

Polish

It was established in its modern form in 1948. Before that for a long time 80% of the church's believers were Ukrainians, Belarusians and Rusyns.

Czech lands and Slovakia

Founded on the territory of the Great Moravian Principality in 863 through the labors of saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius. 14th place among churches.

American

It is not recognized by Constantinople, as well as a number of other churches. The origin goes back to the creation in 1794 by the monks of the Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior of the first Orthodox mission in America. American Orthodox believe that St. Herman of Alaska is their apostle.

Main calendar church holidays consists of transitive and intransitive important Orthodox dates. The Orthodox holidays also include holidays that originate in New Testament times. Each of the Orthodox holidays is dedicated to remembrance major events in the life of Jesus Christ and Mother of God, as well as the memory of saints.

Moving holidays are shifted annually in the church calendar. The beginning and end of Lent, as well as the days of moving holidays, are counted from the date of Easter celebration (this date also floats in the calendar).

Immovable holidays are celebrated according to the Julian calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar by 13 days.

Main Orthodox holidays 2018: history of Orthodox holidays

The history of Orthodox holidays dates back to the times of the Old Testament.

Recognizing holidays as useful from the point of view of piety, the Church has always given their celebration a solemn character, while a necessary condition The celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist or the communion of the Holy Mysteries was considered. The whole life of Christians was organized according to this. holidays: they freed themselves from worldly occupations and labors, did not organize noisy amusements and feasts, but sanctified them with charity in favor of the Church and the poor.

In the 4th-6th centuries, the Byzantine emperors who patronized the Church issued a law that prohibited violating the sanctity of holidays by performing public functions and legal proceedings; fun and entertainment, for example, theatrical performances, duels and horse racing, were also prohibited. Emperor Constantine the Great prohibited trading on Sundays.

Main Orthodox holidays 2018: fixed part of the church calendar

Following these and other legislations, holidays to this day differ from ordinary days by exemption from labor and work, celebrations, and certain rituals and ceremonies that give a distinctive character to a particular holiday. Such laws exist in other states professing Christianity, as well as among Jews and Mohammedans.

At its core, the Orthodox church calendar-Easter consists of two parts - fixed and movable.

Fixed part church calendar- This Julian calendar, diverging by 13 days from the Gregorian. The holidays of the fixed part of the calendar have a constant date, each holiday is celebrated on the same day every year.

Main Orthodox holidays 2018: moving part of the church calendar

The moving part of the church calendar moves along with the date of Easter, which changes from year to year. The date of Easter celebration itself is determined according to lunar calendar and a number of additional dogmatic factors (not to celebrate Passover with the Jews, to celebrate Passover only after spring equinox, celebrate Easter only after the first spring full moon). All holidays with variable dates are counted from Easter and move in time on the “secular” calendar along with it.

Thus, both parts of the Easter calendar (movable and fixed) together determine the calendar of Orthodox holidays. Below are the most significant ones for Orthodox Christian events - the so-called Twelfth Holidays and Great Holidays. Although the Orthodox Church celebrates holidays according to the “old style”, which differs by 13 days, the dates in our calendar, for convenience, are indicated according to the generally accepted secular calendar of the new style.