Translated by John Sanidopoulos Before I left the Holy Monastery I found an opportunity in a discussion to ask him [Elder Sophrony] about the Divine Liturgy, and he presented me with the basic teaching about it. - "The Priesthood is not given to man as a reward for virtues, but … [Read more...]
The Value of the Priesthood
by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos The value of the priesthood is great. St. John Chrysostom writes: "The work of the priesthood is done on earth, but it is ranked among heavenly ordinances" since it was not ordained by man, angel, archangel or other created power, but by "the Paraclete … [Read more...]
The Three Degrees of Priesthood
by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos From a study of the sources, chiefly patristic literature, it seems clear that the degrees of priesthood (deacon, priest, bishop) are closely connected with the three basic degrees of the spiritual life. This means that as a man progressed in healing he ascended … [Read more...]
