How to become a priest? How to become a priest without a seminary?

A priest is not just a profession, but a choice of the whole path of life. Few are capable of it, because it requires not only certain knowledge and skills, but also a general propensity to accept dignity, spirituality, responsibility and maturity. There are many common questions concerning the ministry of the church. In particular, how to become a priest without a seminary? At what age can you choose such a profession? There are other questions, and all of them, no doubt, require detailed and detailed answers. So let's learn how to become a priest, and who can devote himself to the ministry of the church.

Who can become a priest?

Virtually every man can devote himself to the ministry of the church. However, this path is not easy and involves a great deal of faith and faith. Even before receiving a theological education, the priest should show a tendency to serve, cultivate high moral qualities, tame his base and sinful aspirations and, of course, often visit the church. It will be better if he learns church books and chants beforehand, learns how to do the service and so on. This will greatly facilitate further training.

Acquisition of the profession and receipt

Those who are wondering how to become a priest in Russia, you need to know certain rules. The paramount task is to receive education in a theological seminary. The person entering it must comply with the following rules:

• Age: 18 to 35 years, male;

• Marital status: married for the first time or single;

• Complete secondary education;

• A recommendation from an Orthodox clergyman.

After the submission of all the required papers, the entrant passes an interview, which assesses the motives for admission, the sincerity of intentions, and the ability to correctly and coherently state their thoughts.

The introductory tests assess the knowledge of the Old and New Testaments, the Catechism and the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. In addition, applicants must pass a written examination - an account of the church history or biblical theme. The knowledge of basic prayers and chants, as well as vocal data, is checked. A compulsory requirement is the ability to read the Psalter in the Church Slavic language.

How is the training conducted?

Those who are interested in becoming a priest must know the conditions of the seminary. Entrance examinations are held in August. Classes, as in other educational institutions, begin with the first of September. Education in the seminary is a hard test of faith and the correctness of the choice of the life path. There is strict discipline in it, and not everyone can go through this stage to the end.

Note that students who come from other cities receive a place in the hostel for all five years of study. Naturally, seminarians must strictly observe the rules of dwelling in it, in particular, it is necessary to spend nights in your room.

All students receive a scholarship. Young people who have been trained can expect to be ordained as priests. This is possible only after passing the confession and taking another exam. At the same time, it should be noted that studying in the seminary does not guarantee compulsory obtaining of dignity.

Parish priest or monk?

Even before the end of the seminary, students must determine whether they intend to marry. This decision is very responsible, because you can not change your marital status after the dedication. So, the future servant of the church should either choose the way of a monk who is forbidden to marry, or marry and become a parish priest. It assumes absolute monogamy not only from the man being consecrated (he can not terminate the marriage or get married again, even in case of widowhood), but also from his wife: she should not be a widow or divorced.

What happens after the seminary ends?

After graduating, graduates are distributed to the parishes to which they are attached. With the course of service, it becomes possible to obtain a new rank. The first step of the church hierarchy is the deacon. It is followed immediately by the ordination. And the highest degree of priesthood is already the rank of bishop. However, those who wish to know how to become a priest, you need to know one more detail.

Monks (those who have chosen celibacy) have more opportunities to move up in the church hierarchy. Only they have a chance to receive the rank of bishop and become a metropolitan, leading an entire diocese. In addition, only the monks choose the Patriarch. If the graduate chose the way of a married parish priest, he can not rise above the archpriest in the office of abbot.

Is it possible to become a priest without a special spiritual education?

There is a question that interests many who want to devote themselves to the church. It sounds like this: "Is it possible and how to become a priest without a seminary?" In fact, this is possible, but only if the head of his parish personally performs the initiation rite. At once it is necessary to note that the receipt of dignity is thus practiced in very few churches. So without a special theological education in the seminary is still not enough. This is an indispensable condition for obtaining dignity.

Spiritual education in Belarus

For many, the important question is how to become a priest in Belarus. In this country there are a large number of relevant institutions in which those who wish to devote themselves to the church can learn. Let's try to list them. So, in Belarus three schools are now operating, located in Minsk, Vitebsk and Slonim. In addition, there is a seminary in the capital, as well as a spiritual academy. Still need to mention the Institute of Theology at the Belarusian State University.

At the same time, only men with higher theological education are admitted to the Academy. The future priest should be single or consist in the first marriage, necessarily baptized. In the seminary of Minsk, both those with higher education and those with only a secondary theological education are accepted. In addition, only the one who has served in the army or is documentarily released from it can get here. It should be noted that girls can enter certain departments of spiritual schools.

Thus, the choice of educational institutions is great, and here everything is also primarily determined by the sincerity of the motives and faith of the future clergyman.

And what about the Catholics?

Those who are interested in becoming a Catholic priest need to know some nuances. The path to ministry in the church is even more complicated than is customary in Orthodoxy. The first difference is that in Catholicism there is no so-called white clergy. Thus, the priest can not create a family. The training of future church attendants takes place in seminaries, which can be done either after receiving higher education, or graduating from the gymnasium.

In the first case, the training will take four years, in the second - eight. It is worth noting that a young man who wants to come to the seminary should already be a zealous Catholic and at least two years actively participate in the parish life. After completing the training, the future priest must serve six months in the church as a deacon and make sure of the correctness of the chosen path. After this time, the rite of ordination and the appointment to a certain parish are performed.

Thus, the path of the Catholic pastor, though not in many respects, differs from how to become an Orthodox priest.

Age restrictions

As mentioned in the article, only a man aged no younger than 18 and no older than 35 years can enter the seminary, that is, after completing his studies, one can become a priest in 40 years or earlier. However, some people begin to feel the urge for this calling much later than the established deadlines. They ask themselves: "Is it possible to become a priest in this case?"

An option for such people can be distance learning in the spiritual academy - there is an age limit of 55 years. But there is one condition: the entrant must carry parish obedience, and this must be documented. Even after the receipt, it is necessary to provide an annual characterization from the place of obedience, and it must be certified by the ruling bishop.

In any case, the issue of priesthood after the established deadlines should be decided individually.

How to become a priest's wife ?

Many believing girls want to marry a priest. However, such a life is also a kind of vocation, and not everyone is ready for it. But those who are still interested in how to become a priest's wife, you need to know some details.

First of all it is necessary to understand that a young person who studies at a theological seminary can not get acquainted with the usual way, for example, when attending parties or concerts. Brides of future fathers usually become girls from believing families who attend church or a regency class at the seminary. As we have already mentioned, the chosen priest can not be a widow or divorced, and also must be a virgin, however, like her fiancé. At the same time, only the rector can give permission for a wedding to a seminarian.

By the way, certain requirements are also imposed on the profession of the future wife of the priest. She does not have to compromise her husband. Previously, there was an injunction forbidding church officials to marry actresses, this profession was considered unworthy.

Be that as it may, girls who want to combine their fate with the priest must realize that this choice is fraught with certain difficulties. For example, a wife should follow her husband in any, even the most remote and poor parish and not complain that her husband pays much more attention to other people.

In addition, the life of the mother often causes discussion of church members, she is always in sight. Thus, this way assumes high responsibility and requires great moral strength and endurance to be not just a companion, but also a support, and a reliable rear for your spouse.

Profession or vocation?

Now we know how to become a priest. However, the number of basic requirements should also include certain moral qualities: strength of spirit, patience, the desire to help in word and deed, love for people. Those who wish to become priests must be ready for life in accordance with special canons, to voluntarily renounce many pleasures and pleasures.

Not everyone is ready for such steps. And they should be performed only at the behest of the heart, only then this way becomes truly righteous and good. And then the question of how to become a priest and how difficult it is, takes a back seat. And the desire to prove yourself in this difficult field becomes paramount. Thus, the priesthood is first and foremost not a profession, but a vocation and choice that determines the whole life of a person.