Clergy and ranks
Altar server
A layman who assists in the altar by the rector's blessing — preparing the censer and carrying candles; he holds no rank.
Clergy and ranks
Что означают слова, которые звучат в храме: облачения, богослужения, таинства, устройство храма.
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Clergy and ranks
Archbishop
A bishop given an honorary senior title; it adds no new degree, and the only visible sign is a cross on the klobuk.
Clergy and ranks
Archimandrite
The highest title of a monastic priest, above hegumen and below bishop; he serves in a mitre but cannot ordain.
Clergy and ranks
Archpriest
The title of a senior married priest — an award for years of service, not a further degree; most rectors are archpriests.
Clergy and ranks
Bishop
The highest degree of priesthood: only a bishop ordains clergy and governs a diocese. Recognised by the omophorion, panagia and staff.
Clergy and ranks
Church warden
A layman responsible for the parish's practical affairs — the building, finances and property — elected by the parish assembly.
Clergy and ranks
Clergy
Those ordained to serve in the Church — deacons, priests and bishops — divided into married (white) and monastic (black) clergy.
Clergy and ranks
Deacon
The first degree of priesthood: he assists at services and chants the litanies but celebrates nothing himself. Recognised by the orarion.
Clergy and ranks
Hegumen
A senior title of a monastic priest, tied above all to heading a monastery; the sign is the staff given at appointment.
Clergy and ranks
Hieromonk
A monk ordained to the priesthood: he serves exactly as any priest does, but lives under monastic vows.
Clergy and ranks
How to address the clergy
A priest is addressed as Father with his name, a bishop as Vladyka, the patriarch as Your Holiness.
Clergy and ranks
Metropolitan
The senior title of a bishop, usually heading a major see or a metropolia; recognised by the white klobuk with a cross.
Clergy and ranks
Monk
One tonsured with the vows of obedience, poverty and celibacy; monasticism and priesthood are separate things.
Clergy and ranks
Novice
One living in a monastery under obedience but not yet tonsured and bound by no vows; he is free to leave.
Clergy and ranks
Patriarch
The primate of a local Church: first among bishops, yet a bishop by degree; recognised by the white kukol and two panagias.
Clergy and ranks
Precentor (regent)
The director of the church choir, who chooses the chants and keeps the singing in step with the altar; usually a layperson.
Clergy and ranks
Priest
The second degree of priesthood: celebrates the Liturgy and all sacraments except ordination. Recognised by the epitrachelion and pectoral cross.
Clergy and ranks
Protodeacon
The title of a senior married deacon, marked by the double orarion that crosses the right side as well.
Clergy and ranks
Reader
A church servant set apart to read the psalms, hours and Epistle at services, vested in a sticharion.
Clergy and ranks
Rector
The senior priest of a church, answerable to the bishop; in a monastery the bishop is often rector while a vicegerent governs day to day.
Clergy and ranks
Schema
The highest monastic degree: the great-schema monk takes stricter vows, receives a new name again and wears the kukol and analavos.
Clergy and ranks
Subdeacon
The bishop's liturgical attendant: he vests him, carries the staff and candles, and is not one of the three degrees.
Clergy and ranks
The three degrees of priesthood
Deacon, priest and bishop are the only three degrees; archpriest, hegumen and metropolitan are titles within them, not further degrees.