Concerning Priests
This month we continue our series on Holy Orders and other ministries in the Church with the office of Priest.
The office of Priest has existed in the Church from apostolic times. The Church always had within it certain leaders, set apart by prayer, to watch over the souls of their brethren, for which they would have to give an account to God on the Last Day. In the first century, they were called both elders (or presbyters) (Greek presbuteros), and bishops (Greek episcopos). (The same terms were then used interchangeably to describe the same office. Later on, the term “bishop” would be reserved for the head leader of the community alone.)
The function of the presbyter (or priest) is primarily that of ruling, as the Scriptures make clear (see 1 Tim. 3:4-5, 5:17, Heb. 13:17). As “elder” (or “presbyter”) of his church community, his task was to keep order among the others, just as the elders kept order in the Jewish synagogue. This order for which he was responsible was not simply a matter of making sure that the Christian people got along, or of avoiding communal disorder, but also of guiding them and helping them along path of holiness, and of helping them avoid the snares of the Enemy. He thus had the same role in the Church as fathers had in their families—that of giving loving leadership and of protecting all its members from harm.
This guidance involves teaching and preaching, exhorting the faithful to fulfill their holy calling as members of the People of God. Thus, there was always a component of teaching closely associated with the office of elder/ presbyter/ priest. (We see this in the Epistles of St. Paul, for in 1 Tim. 5:17 he assumes that the elders will also preach and teach; in Eph. 4:11, the office of shepherd (that is, ruling elder) is closely connected with that of teacher.) The sermon is thus an integral part of the priest’s office.
As the one who led, ruled and taught the local Christian community, it was natural that, as the leader, he would be the one to preside at the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist. Thus, as well as being the ruler and teacher of the local community, the priest has the responsibility of being its liturgical leader as well. The Eucharist, which gathers the people together and re-constitutes them afresh each week as the Church, the People of God, therefore cannot be served without a priest. The Divine Liturgy re-creates the gathered Christians as the Family of God, and the family is incomplete with its father, the priest. Between the priest and his people, as between father and children, there is an indissoluble bond, for a priest cannot be a priest without a church. The priest is thus a part of the church, his community. He is not set over it (like a tyrant or cult-leader), nor under it (like an employee). Rather, he is called to exercise the same kind of authority that Christ, the true and final leader, exercised with His apostles. That is, he is called to wash their feet (see Jn. 13:1f), and to lay down his life for his flock (Jn. 10:11).
- Fr. Lawrence
Fasting Rules for August 2005
Dormition fast runs August 1- August 15
In this strict fast we eat no meat, fish, eggs or dairy, wine or olive oil, except that on the following date fish, wine and oil are permitted:
Aug. 9: St. Herman
Wine and oil are also permitted on the weekends in this fast.
It has been necessary this year to translate our celebration of Transfiguration to the postfeast on Sunday Aug. 7. Therefore Fr. Lawrence suggests we celebrate with fish that day instead of on Sat. Aug. 6 .
Also, because we will anticipate the Dormition feast this year by serving on the pre-feast Sunday Aug 14, Fr. Lawrence has given permission to end our fast together with festal foods at lunch that day.
In addition to regular Wednesday and Friday fasting the remainder of the month, please observe
Mon. Aug. 29 – strict fast for John the Baptist
BLESS EVERYTHING!
….In Orthodoxy, we bless everything! The summer feasts are appropriate times to bless the bounty of summer, so on Transfiguration we bless the harvest of grapes and other fruits from our gardens. On Dormition, as we honour the Mother of God, we bless the flowers and herbs we have grown. Even if your bounty comes from the supermarket, it is still worthy of a blessing, so bring your fruits or flowers with you on these respective feasts!
THANKS TO
…everyone who has contributed to the various St. Arseny camp fundraisers!
Including—parents and kids serving after-church coffee; Kimberley & other volunteers organizing and participating in the concert, bottle contributions and other donations from members and friends of the parish!
Special thanks to SWISS CHALET for the large bottle drive contribution!
St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church
