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Joined: Aug 2004
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Grateful Member
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Dear Orthodox Readers,
What are the requirements for religious vocations in the Orthodox Churches?
Specifically, what are the requirements for the diocesan priesthood and for monastic life? (age, education, costs for said education, etc.)
How does the process of discernment work in the Orthodox Churches? In the Catholic Church, for example, every diocese has a vocation office; and religious orders have their offices for vocations; and people who are interested eventually end up talking to a vocations director. How do people discern vocations in the Orthodox Churches for diocesan and monastic vocations?
Finally, am I correct that there are no religious orders in the Orthodox Churches? Are there only diocesan clergy and monks and (cloistered) nuns?
Thank you in advance for any information or references you can provide.
--John
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Joined: Jan 2004
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All of this varies according to country, and to jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions require meetings with one's bishop, and, if the clergy canidate is married, the bishop must meet with the man's wife, as well, in a separate meeting. Most, although not all seminaries in the USA are master's programmes, thus the canidate must have a bachelor's degree, although the major does not matter. In other countries, a theology degree at the undergraduate level is sufficient. For monastics, again, it varies...some require the recommendation of both priest and bishop before someone may enter the novitiate, others do not...In many countries priests may exist in outlying areas that have NO seminary education...these are restricted from doing everything except what is actually in the service books...they cannot, for instance, preach a sermon...
Gaudior, knowing that this serves not to answer, but to confuse
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Former
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Former
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Originally posted by Gaudior:
...In many countries priests may exist in outlying areas that have NO seminary education...these are restricted from doing everything except what is actually in the service books...they cannot, for instance, preach a sermon... I know priests in the USA who have no seminary or other formal theological education and who DO preach sermons and confess. I'll attempt to answer this query more verbosely as time permits, Photius
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Member
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Member
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Finally, am I correct that there are no religious orders in the Orthodox Churches? According to Timothy Ware: There are no "Orders" in Orthodox monasticism. In the west a monk belongs to the Carthusian, the Cistercian, or some other Order; in the east he is simply a member of the one great brotherhood which includes all monks and nuns, although of course he is attached to a particular monastic house. Western writers sometimes refer to Orthodox monks as "Basilian monks" or "monks of the Basilian Order," but this is not correct. Saint Basil is an important figure in Orthodox monasticism, but he founded no Order, and although two of his works are known as the Longer Rules and the Shorter Rules, these are in no sense comparable to the Rule of Saint Benedict. (quote taken from The Orthodox Church page 47; can also be found at http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/history_timothy_ware_1.htm )
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Joined: Nov 2001
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尼古拉前执事 Member
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尼古拉前执事 Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 347 |
Also the canonical ages is 30 for a priest, 25 for a deacon. There is usually the required investigation of the candidate by the bishop. Some jurisdictions use seminaries, others use the system of training by a priest or bishop. As mentioned above, if you are married, canonically your spouse has to approve or you cannot become a clergyman of any rank.
In Christ,
Deacon Nikolai
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