The Church, like any other institution of society, has its own rules and norms. It is important to understand that church etiquette is of great importance. Therefore, before familiarizing yourself with the rules for writing an official appeal to the metropolitan, you need to understand the basics of religious etiquette. It will also be useful for everyone who visits the temple of God to better understand the hierarchy of priests so that we understand who exactly and with what request should be addressed.
Church Etiquette Basics
Why is it worth knowing the rules of polite treatment and fellowship in the Church? The answer is simple - neglecting the rules of etiquette can cause some problems. First of all, a person may not know how to contact clergymen or in what form to draw up a letter. Secondly, inappropriate behavior can cause a negative reaction from everyone else who visits the temple. Also, knowledge of the rules of religious etiquette fosters a person's tolerance for others and develops the right behavior.
The basis of church etiquette and its distinguishing feature is the fundamental connection with the veneration of God. In the modern world, long-standing traditions are mostly lost due to their prohibition in the twentieth century. Therefore, before studying the rules of the appeal to the metropolitan in a letter, it is worth devoting some time to the basic norms of behavior in the church.
Hierarchy of Church Dignities
First of all, when visiting a temple, we turn to church workers. So, knowledge of spiritual dignities can be called the beginning of the study of church etiquette.
So, in Orthodoxy it is customary to divide all the ministers of the Church into three levels of the hierarchy.
- Diaconate - persons who are trained and are at the initial stage of the clergy. They do not have the right to perform church ordinances themselves, but act as assistants to priests. These include protodeacons and deacons (hierodeacon and archdeacon, if we talk about monasticism).
- Priesthood (priests) - people in the Church who, according to their rank, can perform sacred ordinances. Priests, archpriests, protopresbyters - a list of ranks of priests. In monasticism, hieromonks, hegumen and archimandrites correspond to them.
- Bishops (bishops) are people who belong to the highest hierarchical level in the clergy. They are the heads of the dioceses. These include bishops and archbishops, metropolitans and patriarchs.
Ways to contact the clergy
Initially, the appeal to “you” was accepted and was considered a polite form of communication even with representatives of the church and the monarchy. But from the eighteenth century, the beginning of the Europeanization era of our state, the form "You" has become more appropriate. At the same time, it is common for each religious order to be addressed in the proper wording (both in speech and in letter).
- salutation to the Patriarch - "Your Holiness";
- appeal to the Metropolitan (Archbishop) - "Your Eminence";
- addressing to the Bishop - "Your Grace".
The word "Lord" can also be used for bishops. And this option will be true.
The priests have their own titles and forms of conversion. But the Father will be common to them. This option is often used in oral speech. In writing, it is necessary to express reverence, indicating "Your High Reverend" for the two highest dignities of the priesthood and "Your Reverend" for the lower.
To show respect for the minister of the church, you should add "Bless!" This is what we should do when we come to the temple and greet the priest.
However, such treatment is not necessary to use only within the church. If you meet a priest in everyday life and if you want to talk with him, you can start a dialogue with the same phrase: "Bless ...". From everyday clothes, the status of the priest and his blessing will not change.
Parishioners also require courtesy
In the Church, all people are considered one family: both clergy and philistines, each of whom came with his request and prayer. Therefore, parishioners are addressed using common names of family members. That is, we turn to a woman "mother" or "sister" (depending on age). For men, respectively, "father" or "brother." Why aren't older men called "father"? - This word is used to priests, and it is more correct to use it in relation to them.
The rules of religious etiquette of the Orthodox Church. clothing
To visit the temple, you should adhere to more calm and neutral tones in clothing. Inappropriate would be ordinary casual clothes: bright T-shirts and t-shirts, breeches and shorts. Men should come in trousers, jeans and a shirt or plain jacket, sweater; girls are better off wearing skirts below the knee (without catchy prints and flowers). Before entering the church, men should take off their hats. Girls by the rules are obliged to come in scarves (also calm shades).
Actions before the service begins
In front of the steps leading to the entrance to the church, there is a small platform called the porch. It is on it that one must first baptize and bow. The second time you should be christened directly in front of the doors of the temple.
It is necessary to come in advance so that there is enough time to buy candles and put them to the right images, having made an “application” for each. This means that a person must cross three times, touching his lips to the icon after the second time.
Candlelight
Before the service, you can put a few candles to the icons. But when a person comes to the temple, he may be confused, not knowing where and in what order to put candles.
There are no strictly prescribed rules in this regard, but it will still be true to adhere to established traditions.
First, the candle is placed to the icon revered by the temple into which the person came. Next, you can go to the images of those whose name everyone was named. In conclusion, it is already possible to put candles for the health of friends and relatives, as well as for the repose of the souls of the already dead.
We are writing a letter to the Metropolitan
In the life of every believer, there are times when it becomes necessary to appeal to representatives of the clergy of higher dignities. And if there is no opportunity to meet in person, then it is quite possible to write a letter by sending it directly to the right person. Such an appeal to the metropolitan, for example, would be a sure step, because the response of the clergyman will certainly come. Every church worker, of course, takes care of the needs of the laity, but the letter itself must be properly designed.
If you have already decided on a topic or request and clearly represent the purpose of the letter, then you can start writing.
The letter should begin with an appeal to the Metropolitan. It is written in the upper right corner. At the same time, the title of priest is indicated in official form:
His Eminence
Metropolitan (title in the department and name)
Next is the bulk of the text. The appeal to the metropolitan of the Orthodox Church, as in a personal meeting, begins with a request for blessing. After you can already express your thoughts. They should be expressed in grammatically correct design. In this case, the use of any insults, abuse or threats is not allowed.
If this letter is an appeal to the metropolitan with a request, then it must be expressed in a clear and understandable form. You should not write about what you are not sure about, because it only takes time and is unlikely to bring results. If, in a letter, a person congratulates the Metropolitan, then one can express one’s feelings openly and sincerely.
This is an example of an appeal to the metropolitan in an official letter.
His Eminence
Metropolitan of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssky Cyril
Your Eminence, Father Cyril, bless.
I ask your blessing for the funeral of the deceased (the full name of the person), who sinfully committed suicide.
(It should also indicate under what circumstances suicide is).
A copy of the death certificate and baptism of the deceased is attached to the letter.
I look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance Your Eminence.
At the end of the text, one can thank the clergyman for his work and spiritual help to the laity.