Refresher for a Russian Orthodox Pastor
Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky)
1.
Having accepted the grace of ordination, bear in mind of what a gift
and of what mercy the Lord has found you worthy – and what
responsibility you now bear. A priest is an apostle to his flock. "I
do not belong to myself, but to others," said the great Russian pastor
Fr. (now St.) John of Kronstadt.
2. Scripture says, "The priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they
should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord
of hosts." Mind these words, Orthodox pastor. You must be a herald of
God’s Law and the truth of God’s Gospel for your flock, which will
turn to you for this very thing.
3. Fear as fire negligence in the holy work of ministry, more so in
your service before the Dread Altar of the Lord of Glory. "Cursed be
he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently," sternly warns the
Holy Bible. Be a good example of the fear of God and piety for those
who co-serve with you and assist you in your service. Be gone from the
holy altar all you who enter it impiously.
4. Constantly pray to the Lord for help and understanding in running
parish affairs. May the Lord grant you a spirit of chastity,
humble-mindedness, patience, and love… One must have all of these
virtues for work in a parish. Treasure the advice of older and more
experienced brethren, and the wise counsel of laymen, pious and
faithful to the Church. Hold fast the helm of your parish ship, but at
the same time, before deciding an issue firmly and by pastoral fiat,
first pursue the guidance of people who have earned your trust –
although everything in the Church is decided by spiritual leaders –
the pastors, it is first discussed in conciliar wisdom – in the spirit
of catholicity, universal unity must imbue the parish’s life and work.
5. Holding firmly, I repeat, the helm in your hands, also try to
attract good, pious church people to the living work of the parish,
creating one harmonious, spiritual family with your assistants. Do not
forget the children. Try diligently to teach, instruct, and raise them
in the spirit of the Church, always and firmly demanding this of them
and their parents. May your true helper in this be your God-given
partner in this life – your Matushka. In the life of parishes, there
have frequently been miscommunications and conflicts due to priests’
wives involving themselves in pastoral matters and the work of their
husbands – this must be avoided. But at the same time, there are
aspects of parish life in which a pastor’s wife can be his best
helper, in large part in the work of the Christian education and
upbringing of the children.
6. Laboring in the parish, do not stop laboring on your own soul. One
must merge with the other. The Holy Apostle Paul instructs his
disciple, St. Timothy: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an
example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in
spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading,
to exhortation, to doctrine… Take heed unto thyself, and unto the
doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save
thyself, and them that hear thee."
May the Lord be your Helper in everything. Having twice accepted the
grace of ordination – to the diaconate and the priesthood – forget not
to pray constantly for the hierarchs who laid their hands upon you.
Translated from the original Russian by Rdr. Gregory Levitsky
Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese
