Generally speaking, the Greek Orthodox church priest is one of the most important people in the church. This is due to the fact that he is the one who is in charge of the church’s spiritual matters. He is also the one who makes sure that the church adheres to the proper rules and regulations.
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Bishop
During the past two years, the Greek Orthodox Church has been actively promoting its mission in Botswana. Bishop Gennadios’ top priority is to build the first Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Botswana. He also plans to recruit foreign doctors and is interested in helping the country’s medical community.
The Greek Orthodox church teaches that its bishops are successors of the Apostles. As such, they are the guardians of the faith, and their mission is to maintain the unity of the Orthodox faith.
In the contemporary Orthodox church, bishops are members of a synod. The synod is a high ecclesiastical tribunal. It is responsible for the consecration of new bishops.
Presbyter
Among the three main clerical orders in the Orthodox Church, the presbyter is the second degree. The bishop is the first degree. The presbyter is also part of the hieromonastic order called Archimandrite. The presbyter may be a married man, or he may be celibate.
According to the New Testament, the Apostles ordained men as deacons and presbyters. These men were charged with the task of teaching and preaching the Christian faith. These men also had the responsibility of administering baptism and communion.
The Greek word for presbyter is presbuteros, which etymologically means elder or senior. The word is also used in the Roman Catholic Church.
Father Anthony Cook
Amongst the many Greek orthodox church priests that were born in the United States, is Father Anthony Cook. He was born in the city of Flagstaff, Arizona and is the eldest of eight children. He was raised in Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Modesto, California. He is also an author and iconographer.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Studies with departmental honors from Hillsdale College. He also holds a Masters of Divinity from the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Currently, he serves as the parish priest of Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Flagstaff, Arizona.
He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute. He has been appointed by His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Detroit as the chairman of the Diocesan Greek Language and Culture committee. He has also served as a member of the Stewardship Commission of the Archdiocese. He has also served on the board of Saint Iakovos Retreat Center.
Matthew Baker
Several weeks ago, the world of Orthodox theology suffered the loss of an extraordinary theologian. His name was Matthew Baker. He was a priest of the Greek Orthodox Church. His death occurred in a car accident on Sunday, March 1.
In the days following his death, the American Orthodox community has been in mourning. His posthumous volume, Faith Seeking Understanding, has been published by Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Press. This book is an important witness to the theological creativity of the Orthodox Church in the modern era.
The book covers subjects such as the writings of Church Fathers and Father Georges Florovsky. It is also a remarkable witness to the theological creativity of modern American Orthodoxy.
Exorason
During liturgical celebrations, clergy wear special vestments. They are worn in different ways by each order.
The epitrachelion is the most important vestment for a priest. It consists of a piece of stiff cloth, shaped like a diamond, that hangs from the priest’s neck down to his feet. It is a symbol of the double portion of grace that priests receive. It is usually jeweled and is only worn by a high-ranking priest.
The pectoral cross is another vestment that is not worn by all priests. In the Slavic Orthodox tradition, it is reserved for a select group of senior priests. The pectoral is usually jeweled and features an icon.
Kalimafi
During the Eastern Orthodox Church rites, clergy wear vestments. These vestments serve as uniforms and are symbolic of the Church. The vestments are also used by clergy to make icons of Christ. The vestments are different from the vestments worn by the laity. Some vestments are worn by monks, nuns, and bishops. The vestments are used by clergy in the Western Orthodox Church as well.
Generally, a bishop or archbishop wears a black kalimavkion, which has a wide purple band. A bishop or archbishop also wears a klobuk, which is a white veil attached to the kalimavkion. These items are worn during the Divine Liturgy.
