THE EASTERN ORTHODOX
PYRAMID SYSTEM OF POWER
THE PYRAMID SYSTEM
OF THE EASTERN ORTHODOX RELIGION:
the Nicolaitane heresy
(under construction)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1) "Primus inter pares": The first among heretics
The Titular Head of Orthodoxy
(called: "Your All-Holiness" or "His All-Holiness")
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2) Presbyter (Greek = elders)
3 essential types types. Bishops, Priests, Deacons.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A) Bishops:
a) 8 Patriarchs. now 8 (?) (patriarchate. appoint prelates.)
also called = Archbishop. & Exarch & Metopolitan Bishop
(called "Your Eminence" & "Your Beatitude")
c) Multitude of Bishops: (a successor of the Apostles) Episkopos (called "Your Grace")
d) Prelate. (specifically a bishop of an autonomous church?)
e) Auxiliary bishop (also called vicar bishop, suffragan bishop, or chorepiscopus) is a bishop with no territorial authority working under the authority of a diocesan bishop.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
B) Priests: (called "father")
a) Archimandrite. (Gr. "head of the flock or cloister").
(called "Very Reverend" & "Father")
(there are two types, a monk and an honorary title)
b) Dean: senior priest or head of the faculty in a theological seminary
c) Archpriest. (called "Very Reverend" and "Father")
Distinguished married clergy may receive the title of archpriest.
d) Protopresbyter: (honorary title)
e) Priest. (called "Reverend" or "father")
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
C) Deacon:
a) Archdeacon. A senior deacon,
b) deacon. (also called "Reverend" and even "father")
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3) Monastic clergy:
Igumen or hegumen. is the title for the head of a monastery, similar to abbot. Igumen. also serves as a title for a priest-monk in between Hieromonk and Archimandrite In the Slavic tradition,
igumenia or ihumenia (Greek: ηγουμένη). The head of a convent of nuns The term means "the one who is in charge," or "the leader" in Greek. An igumen is not necessarily a member of the clergy.
exorcist. is an extinct office??? within the minor orders of clergy. The primary duty of exorcists was as the instructor of catechumens.
Archimandrite.
Igumen. Russian form of Archimandrite.. also serves as a title for a priest-monk in between Hieromonk and Archimandrite In the Slavic tradition,
Hieromonk.
A starets
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4) Chancellor. The chief administrator and church notary & immediate administrative assistant to the bishop
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
7) The Laity:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PYRAMID SYSTEM of ORTHODOXY.
Ascetic. (monk)
the Ecumenical Patriarchate - prepare chrism
Anchorite. A solitary monk
Abbot. (Hegoumenos.)
Abbess.
Deacon. The first of the three orders of priesthood.
Priest:
archpriest. Distinguished married clergy
Deaconess. A pious lay woman assisting in the church as a caretaker or
Hermit. (see Anchorite).
Pillarist?
college of Bishops. Hierarchy.
Novice. An individual who accepted the monastic life, undergoing a period of probation in preparation for taking his vows.
Nun.
the 8 Patriarch's. highest prelate in the Orthodox Church.
Presvytera. priest wife
Titular bishop. Head?
Proistamenos (from Greek, "the one who presides") also called rector
Major orders Bishop | Priest | Deacon
Minor orders Subdeacon | Reader | Cantor | Acolyte
Other orders Chorepiscopos | Exorcist | Doorkeeper | Deaconess - Presbityde
Episcopal titles Patriarch | Catholicos | Archbishop | Metropolitan | Auxiliary | Titular
Priestly titles Protopresbyter | Archpriest | Protosyngellos | Economos
Diaconal titles Archdeacon | Protodeacon
Minor titles Protopsaltes - Lampadarios
Monastic titles Archimandrite | Abbot - Hegumen
Related Ordination | Vestments | Presbeia | Honorifics | Clergy awards | Exarch | Proistamenos | Vicar
TYPES-
Sakellarios: A priest elevated to 'sakellarios' is given the right to wear the epigonation. (This derives from the Greek σακελλάριος, and historically indicated a priest responsible for sacred vessels).
Oikonomos: A priest elevated to 'oikonomos' is, in Ecumenical Patriarchate practice, given the right to wear the pectoral cross. (This derives from the Greek οἰκονόμος, and historically indicated a priest responsible for finances).
Protopresbyter:
MONKS
Hieromonk:
Pnevmatikos: A priestmonk who is given a blessing to hear confessions (i.e. be a spiritual father).
Archimandrite:
DEACON
1) Deacon: An ordained deacon.
2) Hierodeacon: An ordained deacon who is also a monk.
3) Archdeacon: A deacon who, often, is attached to the bishop.
4) Protodeacon: A senior deacon of a cathedral may be elevated to this rank.
Subdeacon.
Spiritual guide. the person whom one confesses sins before on a regular basis, usually a priest or a starets.
PYRAMID SYSTEM of the DEAD in ORTHODOXY.
Apostolic Fathers. the first century of Christianity;
dead hermits.
dead Pillarists.
dead Neophyte. A newly baptized individual or convert of the early Church.
Thaumatourgos. "miracle-worker saint"
mystic. - dead
Canonized saint. (the canonized con)
Not canonized but somehow still "a saint".
PYRAMID OF THE LAITY in ORTHODOXY.
Neophyte
Chanter. A lay person who assists the priest by chanting
Acolyte. The follower of a priest;
Catechumen:
charity worker.
Ecclesia. (the people)
Hatjis. (pilgrims)
Koumbaros (best man)
Laity.
Nounos. (see godparents).
Reader.
REAL NEW TESTAMENT MINISTRIES.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_(Eastern_Orthodox_Church)
Patriarchs
1) Titular Head
2) Patriarchs of 8 international cross continental jurisdictions
3) Head Bishop of Country (Archbishops)
4) Metropolitan Bishop (big city)
5) A ruling bishop or diocesan bishop (rules over a territory, or cluster of parishes, almost like the ecclesiastical equivalent of Englands counties???) A ruling bishop or diocesan bishop is responsible for and the head of all the parishes located in his particular geographical territory, called a diocese or archdiocese.
"Primus inter pares"
Men at different levels of Theosis (not women):
Metropolitan Bishop.
prelate. governs an autonomous church
patriarchate. appoint prelates.
Ascetic. (monk)
Archimandrite. A celibate presbyter of high rank
presbyter:
Apostolic Fathers. the first century of Christianity;
Archbishop. A head bishop, Exarch.
Bishop: (a successor of the Apostles) Episkopos
Archdeacon. A senior deacon,
Deacon:
Anchorite. A solitary monk
Abbot. (Hegoumenos.)
Abbess.
Acolyte. The follower of a priest;
Catechumen:
Chancellor. The chief administrator and church notary & immediate administrative assistant to the bishop
Chanter. A lay person who assists the priest by chanting
Deacon. The first of the three orders of priesthood.
Priest:
Dean: senior priest or head of the faculty in a theological seminary
Deaconess. A pious lay woman assisting in the church as a caretaker or charity worker.
Ecclesia. (the people)
Friary: A friary is the male version of a convent. It’s a place where religious men called brothers live, work, and pray together, although they may work outside the friary. Friars bridge the gap between the urban parish and the monastery, and they aren’t as cloistered or semi-cloistered as their monk and nun counterparts.
Hatjis. (pilgrims)
Hermit. (see Anchorite).
Pillarist?
Hierarchy. (college of Bishops)
Koumbaros (best man)
Laity.
Metropolitan. The prelate of the largest or most important city
Neophyte. A newly baptized individual or convert of the early Church.
Nounos. (see godparents).
Novice. An individual who accepted the monastic life, undergoing a period of probation in preparation for taking his vows.
Nun.
the 8 Patriarch's. highest prelate in the Orthodox Church.
Presvytera. priest wife
Reader.
mystic
Subdeacon.
Thaumatourgos. "miracle-worker saint"
Titular bishop.
Hieromonk. A monk who is also a priest.
Hierodeacon. A monk who is also a deacon.
sub orders
the exorcists,
doorkeepers
acolytes
METROPOLITAN - The bishop of a major city or see. In most Orthodox Churches a Metropolitan is of higher rank than an Archbishop. However the title may also be given as an honorary title as in Greece where all Diocesan Bishops are honorary Metropolitans.
PRIEST - (Greek - Presbyter) The second of the major orders. A priest may give blessings, hear Confessions, and preside over the Divine Liturgy (q.v.) or any other service, except for Ordinations or the Consecration of Holy Chrism. In the Orthodox Church a married man may be ordained a priest, but a priest may not marry following ordination.
CONFESSOR: A saint whose outstanding defense and exposition of the Faith earned him the title of "confessor."
ENLIGHTENER: A saint whose preaching affected (or converted) an entire race or nation.
EQUAL TO THE APOSTLES: A saint or saints whose missionary zeal is compared to that of the Holy Apostles.
GREAT-MARTYR: This term is used to describe a saint whose spiritual witness in life and during martyrdom was truly outstanding.
HIEROMARTYR: A martyr who was a member of the clergy.
NEW-MARTYR: New martyrs in the Greek tradition are those who were, martyred during the Ottoman yoke. This term is also extended to include those martyred by the communists in this century.
POPE OF ROME: Any saint indicated in this manner obviously was Bishop of Rome prior to the schism between East and West.
RIGHTEOUS: a. An Old Testament Saint. b. A monastic saint. c. A saint who does not fall into the category of martyr, apostle, prophet, etc.
RIGHTEOUS MARTYR (Hosiomartyr): A monastic martyr.
Confessor: one who has suffered for the faith but not martyred outright[1]
Enlightener: the saint who first brought the faith to a people or region, or who did major work of evangelization there
Equal-to-the-Apostles: one whose work greatly built up the Church, whether through direct missionary work or through assisting the Church's place in society[2]
Fool-for-Christ: a saint known for his apparent, yet holy insanity
God-bearing: title given to one of the Holy Fathers[2]
Great-martyr: one who was martyred for the faith and suffered torture
Healer: a saint who used the power of God to heal maladies and injuries
Hieroconfessor: a confessor who is also a clergyman
Hieromartyr: a martyr who is also a clergyman
Martyr: one who has died for the faith[1]
Merciful: one known for charitable work, especially toward the poor
Myrrhbearers: the first witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus[2]
Myrrh-streaming: the relics of the saint exude holy and sweet-smelling (and often miraculous) oil
New-martyr: a martyr often bearing the same name as a more ancient martyr, but usually more recent in the Church's history
Passion-bearer: one who faced his death in a Christ-like manner
Prophet: an Old Testament saint who anticipated Christ[1]
Protomartyr: the first martyr in a given region (in the case of Stephen the
Protomartyr, the first martyr of the whole Church)
Right-believing: an epithet used for sainted secular rulers
Righteous: a holy person under the Old Covenant (Old Testament Israel) but also sometimes used for married saints of the New Covenant (the Church)
Unmercenary Healer: a saint who used the power of God to heal maladies and injuries without charge
Venerable: a monastic saint
Venerable-martyr: a martyred monastic
Virgin-martyr: an unmarried, non-monastic, chaste female martyr
Wonder-worker: a saint renowned for performing miracles
See also[edit]
-
Your Highness
-
Your Holiness
-
Your Honor
-
Your Lordship
-
Your Majesty
-
Your Worship
List of Eastern Orthodox saints
The Encyclopedia of Orthodox Saints is a new undertaking to list and categorize every Christian Saint recognised as such by the Eastern Orthodox Church. The current development has led to the establishment of a wiki-styled website which can be accessed by its members and others who wish to add to this new initiative. Founded in June 2007, it seeks to list the names of over 23,000 known Christian Orthodox Saints. The Orthodox Church recognizes millions of Christian Saints, the vast majority of whose names are known only to God.