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In the Byzantine churches, how does the priestly hierarchy go? For example, in the Roman Rite,there are deacons, priests, then monsignors, then...bishops [I don't think I missed anyone] etc. How does it go in the Byzantine Rite, and is it different depending on which Church you speak of [Eastern Rite, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox etc.]?

I do not think in the Roman Church that a monsignor is any higher in the hierarchy than a priest. The title of monsignor is an honorific title and moves the place of the priest in a procession. The equivalent in the Byzantine Church is archpriest .


David, Byzantine Catholic and Carmelite pre-novice

In the Syriac, Syro-Malankara, Chaldean, Maronite, Syro-Malabar Churches:

deacon
priest
chor-episcopa (usually honorific)
metropolitan
Catholicos (called Major Archbishop by Latins)
Patriarch

In otherwords we all have the same 3 fold ministry of Deacon, Priest and bishop.

ICXC
NIKA

Byzantine ranks for Deacon:

simple Deacon,
Protodeacon (may be married)
Archdeacon (must be a monastic)
Hierodeacon (simply a deacon who is a monastic; not an honorific term.

N.B. Long ago the Archdeacon was a diocesan official - normally an actual deacon - who was responsible for the temporal goods of the diocese.

Byzantine ranks of the presbyters:

simple priest (who gets to wear a simple silver pectoral cross)
the purple kalymauchion (only awarded in the Russian and Ukrainian Churches - it amounts to little more than a merit badge, and normally is given when the priest is ordained for three years or so and has been serving well).
the "Nabedrennyk" (almost exclusive to the Russian Church; it has lost almost all meaning but is normally given around five years after the ordination to the priesthood if the priest has been serving well).
the gold pectoral cross (mostly confined to the Russian and Ukrainian Churches; it's the next step up the ladder of merit badges, so to speak, and would normally be given if the priest has been serving well and is approaching ten years since his ordination)
Archpriest (found in almost all the Byzantine Churches; "archpriest" is actually a bad translation but it has become so entrenched that trying to correct it is not worth the bother). This is conveyed by an actual form of "ordination" (cheirothesia in Greek); the English text is available in several places. It would be very unusual for this to be given before the priest is at least ten years in the priesthood, and is serving well. He is then properly addressed as "Father Archpriest"; if he does not already have the gold cross he gets it then.
Hegumenos - sometimes improperly used as an honorific; this is roughly the prior of a monastery (roughly - don't push the comparison too far).
The Mitre - the highest possible award for a married priest, not normally conferred until he is at least 25 years in the priesthood and serving well.
Archimandrite - the highest possible award for a celibate or monastic priest in the Slav Churches; the Archimandrite has the privilege of Mitre, Crozier and Mandyas (especially on occasions when he is deputizing for the bishop). If he is an actual ruling Archimandrite he is the Abbot of a major monastery. More often this rank is conferred as an honorific.

Various other bits of pontificalia have been known to be given to presbyters, but this is clearly abusive.

As mentioned above, the Archdeacon long ago had charge of the temporalities of the diocese, and the Archpriest was in charge of the spiritual welfare of the clergy. It may be indicative of something that in those days the Archdeacon of Rome was frequently elected Pope, but very seldom was the Archpriest of Rome elected Pope!!!!

To add to the confusion, some Greek-Catholic bishops will go to the trouble (and expense) of obtaining papal awards (such as the various ranks of Monsignori) for some of their priests - among other things, this leads to amazing combinations of prelatical costumes.

Incognitus

Dear Incognitus,

Thank you for this information, and a joyous Pascha to you!

I have heard the term Protopriest used within our Eparchy. Where does that fit in?

Thank you.

Michael

�Byzantine ranks for Deacon:

simple Deacon,
Protodeacon (may be married)
Archdeacon (must be a monastic)
Hierodeacon (simply a deacon who is a monastic; not an honorific term.�
___________________________________

Just to clarify in the Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox tradition:
A protodeacon (protodiakon) is a married cleric who wears a double dark red velvet orarion with the inscription "Holy Holy Holy" embroidered on it. The Protodeacon may be awarded the purple "kamilavka".
The protodeacon has important liturgical functions in cathedrals and other large city churches. By tradition, protodeacons are reknowned for their excellent singing voices.

The foremost deacon of the Primate of an autocephalous Church, (whether married
or a monastic) is known by the title of Archdeacon of that Church.. For example, the former Patriarch of Moscow, St Tikhon's, Archdeacon Konstantin Vasilievich Rozov was married.

I forgot to add one thing, the minor orders are preserved in many Oriental Orthodox/Oriental Catholic Traditions and are more or less considered an "ordination" of sorts. The roles of altarserver, reader, and especially subdeacon are held in high regard.
The title "Ramban" is also used for monastics, which are usually priests but not always.

Dear Incognitus,

Khrystos Voskrese!

I was informed there are three types of priestly pectoral Cross - according to rank.

The simple silver one you mention is the first rank, I take it.

The gold cross is the next (?)

And then the jewelled cross?

Alex

Proto-priest is probably an attempt to avoid the inaccurate form "Archpriest".

The jeweled cross is one of the highest awards, either given before the mitre or in the same service.

I failed to mention the lozenge-shaped Epigonation, which is also a high award. Its real significance is that the wearer has jurisdiction to hear Confessions.

Incognitus

Dear Incognitus,

Thank you.

Michael

Dear Incognitus,

I don't know if I told you, but I have the jewelled Cross my grandfather, Fr. John, received from an ROC bishop when he completed building a church in the village he was serving during the Soviet era.

My grandfather spent some time in prison after 1946 in western Ukraine and grandmother agreed with him that he should become Orthodox so as not to go to Siberia.

He returned to the UGCC when he emigrated to Canada and Vladyka Kyr Isidore Borecky received him back.

My grandfather never really got over his own sense of personal guilt in the entire affair and he refused to wear the Cross, even when I tried to "wrestle" it on his neck!

But he bequeathed it to me in his will and I have it as a reminder of him.

Alex