The priest is not just a profession, but the choice of the whole life path. Few people are capable of it, because it requires not only certain knowledge and skills, but also a general tendency to take authority, spirituality, responsibility and maturity. There are many common questions regarding church ministry. In particular, how to become a priest without a seminary? At what age can one choose such a profession? There are other questions, and all of them, no doubt, require detailed and detailed answers. So let's find out how to become a priest, and who can devote himself to serving the church.
Who can become a priest?
Virtually every man can devote himself to serving the church if desired. However, this path is not easy and involves great endurance and faith. Even before receiving a theological education, a priest should show a tendency to serve, cultivate high moral qualities, tame his base and sinful aspirations, and, of course, often attend church. It will be better if he studies church books and chants in advance, becomes familiar with how they perform the service, and so on. This will greatly facilitate further training.
Profession and entry
Those who wonder how to become a priest in Russia need to know certain rules. The primary task is to receive education in a theological seminary. Entering it must comply with the following rules:
age: 18 to 35 years old, male;
marital status: married for the first time or single;
complete secondary education;
recommendation from an Orthodox clergyman.
After providing all the required papers, the applicant passes an interview, which assesses the motives for admission, sincerity of intent, as well as the ability to correctly and coherently express their thoughts.
The entrance examinations assess the knowledge of the Old and New Testaments, the Catechism and the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. In addition, applicants must pass a written exam - a presentation on a church-historical or biblical theme. The knowledge of basic prayers and chants, as well as vocal data, is checked. A mandatory requirement is the ability to read the Psalter in Church Slavonic.
How is the training going?
Those who are interested in becoming a priest should also know the conditions of study at the seminary. Entrance exams are held in August. Classes, as in other educational institutions, begin on September 1. Seminary training is a rigorous test of faith and the correct choice of life path. There is strict discipline in it, and not everyone can go through this stage to the end.
Note that students who came from other cities receive a place in the hostel for all five years of study. Naturally, seminarians must strictly observe the rules of living in it, in particular, nights must be spent in their room.
All students receive a scholarship. Young people who are trained can count on ordination as priests. This is possible only after passing the confession and passing another exam. At the same time, we note that training in the seminary does not guarantee compulsory dignity.
Parish priest or monk?
Before the seminary ends, students must determine whether they intend to marry. This decision is very responsible, because it is no longer possible to change one's marital status after initiation. So, the future minister of the church must either choose the path of a monk who is forbidden to marry, or marry and become a parish priest. At the same time, absolute monogamy is supposed not only from a man who is ordained to the dignity (he cannot divorce or remarry even in case of widowhood), but also from his wife: she should not be a widow or divorced.
What happens after graduation?
After graduation, graduates are distributed in the parishes, to which they are attached. With the passage of service, it becomes possible to obtain a new dignity. The first step in the church hierarchy is the deacon. It is immediately followed by ordination. And the highest degree of priesthood is already the rank of bishop. At the same time, those who want to know how to become a priest need to know one more detail.
Monks (those who have chosen celibacy) have more opportunities to advance in the church hierarchy. Only they have a chance to receive the rank of bishop and become metropolitan, leading an entire diocese. In addition, the Patriarch is chosen solely from the monks. If a graduate chose the path of a married parish priest, he cannot rise above the archpriest in the position of rector.
Is it possible to become a priest without special spiritual education?
There is a question that interests many who wish to devote themselves to the church. It sounds like this: "Is it possible and how to become a priest without a seminary?" In fact, this is possible, but only on condition that the head of his ward personally performs the rite of passage. It should be noted right away that receiving the dignity in this way is practiced in very few churches. So, one cannot do without a special theological education in a seminary. This is an indispensable condition for obtaining dignity.
Theological education in Belarus
For many, the important question is how to become a priest in Belarus. In this country there are a large number of relevant institutions in which those who wish to devote themselves to church can study. Let's try to list them. So, in Belarus there are now three schools located in Minsk, Vitebsk and Slonim. In addition, there is a seminary in the capital, as well as a theological academy. Still need to mention the Institute of Theology at the Belarusian State University.
Moreover, only men with higher theological education are admitted to the Academy. The future priest must be single or first married, be sure to be baptized. The seminary of Minsk accepts both those who have higher education, and those with only a secondary theological education. In addition, only those who have served in the army or have been documented released from it can get here. Note that some departments of theological schools may also receive girls.
Thus, the choice of educational institutions is great, and everything here is also primarily determined by the sincerity of the motives and faith of the future clergyman.
What about Catholics?
Those who are interested in how to become a Catholic priest need to know some nuances. The path to ministry in the church is even more complicated than is customary in Orthodoxy. The first difference is that in Catholicism there is no so-called white clergy. Thus, a priest cannot create a family. The training of future ministers of the church takes place in seminaries, which can be entered either after graduating, or graduating from high school.
In the first case, training will take four years, in the second - eight. It is worth noting that a young man who wants to come to seminary should already be a zealous Catholic and at least two years actively participate in parish life. After completing the training, the future priest should serve in the church for six months as a deacon and make sure that the chosen path is correct. After this time, the rite of ordination to the dignity and appointment to a particular parish.
Thus, the path of the Catholic pastor, although not in many ways, is different from how to become an Orthodox priest.
Age restrictions
As already mentioned in the article, only a man aged no younger than 18 and no older than 35 years can enter the seminary, that is, having completed his studies, you can become a priest at 40 years old or earlier. However, some people begin to feel a craving for this calling much later than the established deadlines. They ask the question: "Is it possible in this case to become a priest?"
An option for such people may be distance learning in a theological academy - there is an age limit of up to 55 years. But there is one condition: the applicant must bear parish obedience, and this must be documented. Even after admission, it is necessary to annually provide a characteristic from the place of obedience, and it must be certified by the ruling bishop.
In any case, the issue of priesthood after the established deadlines should be decided on an individual basis.
How to become a priest’s wife?
Many believing girls want to marry a priest. However, such a life is also a kind of vocation, and not everyone is ready for this. But those who are still interested in how to become a priest's wife need to know some details.
First of all, it is worthwhile to understand that a young person studying in a theological seminary cannot get acquainted in the usual way, for example, attending parties or concerts. The brides of future priests are usually girls from faithful families attending a church or regency class at a seminary. As we have already mentioned, the chosen one of the priest cannot be a widow or divorced, and she must also be a virgin, however, like her fiancé. At the same time, only the rector can give a wedding permit to a seminarist.
By the way, certain requirements are also imposed on the profession of the future wife of the priest. She should not compromise her spouse. And before there was a precept forbidding church officials to marry actresses, this profession was considered unworthy.
Be that as it may, girls who wish to unite their fate with the priest must be aware that this choice is fraught with certain difficulties. For example, a wife should follow her husband to any, even the most remote and poorest parish, and not complain that the spouse pays much more attention to other people.
In addition, the life of mother often provokes a discussion of church parishioners, she is always in sight. Thus, this path involves high responsibility and requires great moral strength and endurance to be not just a companion, but also a support and a reliable rear for your spouse.
Profession or vocation?
Now we know how a person becomes a priest. However, certain moral qualities should also be included among the basic requirements: fortitude, patience, desire to help with word and deed, love for people. Those who wish to become priests must be prepared for life according to special canons, for the voluntary renunciation of many joys and pleasures.
Not everyone is ready for such steps. And they should be done exclusively at the behest of the heart, only then this path becomes truly righteous and good. And then the question of how to become a priest and how difficult it is is fading into the background. But the paramount is the desire to adequately prove themselves in this difficult field. Thus, priesthood is not primarily a profession, but a vocation and a choice that determines the whole person’s life.