Who is a church warden? What are his responsibilities? You will find answers to these questions in the article.
Who is a church warden?
Church warden - a parishioner of the church, who was in charge of the economy of the church community. He was elected in each parish for 3 years. This position was first introduced by the Decree of Peter I in 1721. According to state laws, the headman of the church was exempt from taxes.
Who could become a church warden?
A parishioner distinguished by his piety, devotion to the church, responsible for the moral order of the parish and its material well-being could be elected as a headman.
A person under the age of 25, who does not regularly confess and does not partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, who was released by the court from service or a spiritual title, a wasteful, as well as an insolvent debtor, a person who has a reprehensible occupation, consisting in cohabitation without a church married, living in the parish for less than eight months.
The head of the church should have been aware of all his responsibility as a trustee of the temple. The importance of the functions of the headman was manifested in the form of an oath, whichbecame mandatory from 1890. The text was pronounced before the cross and the gospel, thereby emphasizing the seriousness of the service undertaken for the glory of God.
Duties of a Church Warden in Russia
In the beginning, the warden was in charge of selling candles. Then the range of duties expanded to include the custody of church money and all church funds. According to the instructions, the church elder in Russia was obliged to:
- When taking office, accept church property according to the inventory, he was given income and expense books. If during the check something was damaged or lost, then the responsibility was borne by the former headman, and in case of death, his heirs.
- The headman must collect money in purses or a mug, sell candles, accept donations to the temple, make offerings to the inventory, monitor the safety of money, as well as the cleanliness of the church, take care of the safety of church property.
- The warden is in charge of selling the candles. In case of illness or absence, he entrusts someone else with the consent of the clergy. The appointed headman must accept the candles according to the inventory and report after the sale.
- No one should sell candles illegally, this is also watched by the headman. He also oversees how candles are lit during worship, and how they are extinguished according to the church charter.
- Money from the sale of candles, as well as donations, is immediately put into special boxes.
- Calculates income and expenses every month, records the data in income and expense books.
- Headmanobliged to collect income from shops located on church lands, from houses and cellars for rent.
- Responsible for the purchase of things necessary for the church, timely repair of buildings and utensils.
- The headman should look after the dependent houses of the church.
- Watches over the dachas at the parishes, so that the forest is used only for their own needs, and not for sale.
- Maintains data on the receipt and expenditure of money. In case of illiteracy of the headman, he could invite a clerk or one of the parishioners.
- The headman is obliged to present income and expense books when checking the deans of churches.
- Produces an annual statement of all income and expense accounts for the church.
- The headman is forbidden to take church money for his own needs. He has no right to give church things to other churches, to lend money subject to him.
Church Warden Awards
Such a responsible service, of course, deserved worthy encouragement. The elders could be awarded the orders of St. Stanislav, St. Anna, as well as medals. The latter could be gold or silver (they were worn on special ribbons around the neck), as well as on the chest or in the buttonhole.
Church elders of the Moscow diocese
Many church elders are known not only for the honest performance of their duties, but also for their personal contribution to the development of their church and city. For example, elders are known in the Moscow diocese:
Aprikosov Alexey Ivanovich – Russianentrepreneur, founder of a confectionery factory (now the Babaevsky concern), served as headman of the Assumption Church on Pokrovka.
Bufeev Grigory Yakovlevich was the warden of the St. John the Theologian Church in the city of Kolomna for a total of 28 years. Donated funds for the repair and improvement of the temple, built a stone road to the church. Awarded the Order of St. Stanislav.
Stepan Alekseevich Protopopov is a Moscow merchant of the first guild, an entrepreneur and a major philanthropist. Owned factories and plants. For many years he was the headman of the parish church of the Assumption on Mogiltsy.
Merchant V. S. Leonov was the headman of the Floro-Lavriysky temple of the Domodedovo district. Thanks to him, the women's parochial school was built, opened in 1889
Karzinkin Andrey Alexandrovich - merchant of the first guild, philanthropist. He was engaged in tea trade, owned a manufactory. He was the headman of the Church of the Three Hierarchs in Kulishki.
Church warden Vasiliev Petr Vasilyevich
Also engaged in charity and social work church warden Pyotr Vasiliev (1825-1899) - a merchant of the second guild. He served in the military in Kungur, then stayed there. He built a distillery, also engaged in the sale of wine. Pyotr Vasilievich was an honest and decent person, he never deceived. He was truthful and conscientious, his word could be trusted. Always attended church services on Sundays and holidays.
Engaged in public service. Known as the chairman of the city Orphan's court, the trustee of the men'sparochial school. He was a member of the City Duma. He participated in the work of the Red Cross, the county tax office, helped shelters, maintained a public school at his own expense. He participated in the construction of an almshouse, and also regularly donated to the needs of the Kungur temples. Vasiliev was also known as the headman of the Transfiguration Church, he served for 12 years. Donated to the temple, kept choristers and watchmen. In 1880 he was awarded a gold medal for wearing on the chest on the Stanislav ribbon. Later he was awarded a silver and three gold medals.
In 1894, for unknown reasons, the plant he built was stopped, and the premises were transferred to the Perm Spiritual Department. He also bequeathed his house to the church. Later he fell seriously ill and died in 1899
