The Church, like any other institution of society, has its own rules and regulations. It is important to understand that church etiquette is of great importance. Therefore, before getting acquainted with the rules for writing an official appeal to the metropolitan, it is necessary to delve into the basics of religious etiquette. It will also be useful for everyone who visits God's temple to better understand the hierarchy of the clergy, so that we understand who exactly and with what request should be addressed.
Basics of church etiquette
Why is it worth knowing the rules of courtesy and communication in the Church? The answer is simple - neglecting the rules of etiquette can cause some problems. Firstly, a person may not know how to address the clergy or in what form to write a particular letter. Secondly, inappropriate behavior can cause a negative reaction from everyone else who visits the temple. Also, knowledge of the rules of religious etiquette instills in a person tolerance for others and develops the right behavior.
The basis is exactlychurch etiquette and its distinctive feature is the fundamental connection with the worship of God. In the modern world, old traditions are mostly lost due to their prohibition in the twentieth century. Therefore, before studying the rules for addressing the metropolitan in a letter, it is worth devoting some time to the basic norms of behavior in the church.
The hierarchy of church orders
First of all, when visiting the temple, we turn to the workers of the church. So, knowledge of spiritual orders can be called the beginning of the study of church etiquette.
So, in Orthodoxy it is customary to divide all the ministers of the Church into three levels of hierarchy.
- Diaconate - persons who are being trained and are at the initial stage of the clergy. They do not have the right to perform church sacraments themselves, but act as assistants to priests. These include protodeacons and deacons (hierodeacons and archdeacons in terms of monasticism).
- Priesthood (priests) - people in the Church who, according to their rank, can perform sacred sacraments. Priests, archpriests, protopresbyters - a list of ranks of priests. In monasticism, they correspond to hieromonks, abbots and archimandrites.
- Bishops (bishops) are people who belong to the highest hierarchical level in the clergy. They are the leaders of the dioceses. These include bishops and archbishops, metropolitans and patriarchs.
Methods of addressing the clergy
Initially "you" was acceptedand was considered a polite form of communication even with representatives of the church and the monarchy. But since the eighteenth century, the beginning of the era of Europeanization of our state, the form "You" has become more appropriate. At the same time, it is common for each religious rite to be addressed in the proper wording (both in speech and in writing).
- greeting to the Patriarch - "Your Holiness";
- appeal to the Metropolitan (Archbishop) - "Your Eminence";
- addressing the Bishop - "Your Grace".
You can also use the word "Vladyka" for bishops. And this option will be correct.
Priests have their own titles and forms of address. But the common thing for them will be "Father". This option is often used in oral speech. In writing, it is necessary to express veneration by indicating "Your Reverence" for the two highest ranks of the priesthood and "Your Reverence" for the lower ones.
To show your respect for the minister of the church, you should add "Bless!" This is what we should do when we come to the temple and greet the priest.
However, such an appeal is not necessarily used only within the church. If you meet a priest in everyday life and, if you wish, talk with him, you can start a dialogue with the same phrase: "Bless …". From everyday clothes, the status of the father and his blessing will not change.
Parishioners demand courtesy too
In the Church, all people are considered one family: both clergymen and laymen, each of whomcame with his request and prayer. Therefore, parishioners are addressed using the common names of family members. That is, we address a woman as "mother" or "sister" (depending on age). To men, respectively, "father" or "brother". Why aren't older men called "father"? - This word is commonly used for priests, and it is more correct to use it in relation to them.
Rules of religious etiquette of the Orthodox Church. Clothing
To visit the temple, you should stick to more calm and neutral tones in clothes. Ordinary casual clothes will be inappropriate: bright T-shirts and T-shirts, breeches and shorts. Men should come in trousers, jeans and a shirt or plain sweater, sweater; it is better for girls to wear skirts below the knee (without catchy prints and flowers). Men must remove their hats before entering the church. Girls are required to come in headscarves (also in calm shades).
Steps before the start of worship
In front of the steps leading to the entrance to the church, there is a small area called the porch. It is on it that you need to cross yourself and bow for the first time. The second time you should baptize yourself directly in front of the doors of the temple.
It is necessary to arrive in advance so that there is enough time to buy candles and put them to the desired images, having made an "application" for each. This means that a person must cross himself three times, touching the icon with his lips after the second time.
Light of the Churchcandles
Before the start of the service, you can put a few candles to the icons. But when a person comes to the temple, he can get confused, not knowing where and in what order to put the candles.
There are no strictly prescribed rules in this regard, but the faithful will still adhere to established traditions.
First, the candle is placed next to the icon revered by the temple to which the person came. Then you can go to the images of those whose name each was named. In conclusion, it is already possible to light candles for the he alth of relatives and friends, as well as for the repose of the souls of the dead.
Write a letter to the Metropolitan
In the life of every believer there are moments when it becomes necessary to contact representatives of the clergy of the highest ranks. And if it is not possible to meet in person, then it is quite possible to write a letter by sending it directly to the right person. Such, for example, an appeal to the metropolitan will be the right step, because the answer of the clergyman will definitely come. Every church worker, of course, takes care of the needs of the laity, but the letter itself must be properly formatted.
If you have already decided on the subject or request and clearly understand the purpose of the letter, then you can start writing.
The letter should begin with an appeal to the Metropolitan. It is written in the upper right corner. At the same time, the title of the priest is indicated in the official form:
His Eminence
Metropolitan (department title and name)
Next comes the main body of the text. Appeal to the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church, as inpersonal meeting, begins with a request for a blessing. After that, you can express your thoughts. They must be expressed in grammatically correct format. In this case, the use of any insults, abuse or threats is not allowed.
If this letter is an appeal to the metropolitan with a request, then it should be expressed in a clear and understandable form. You should not write about what you are not sure about, because it will only take time and is unlikely to bring results. If in a letter a person congratulates the metropolitan, then you can express your feelings openly and sincerely.
This is how a sample address to the metropolitan in an official letter looks like.
His Eminence
Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk
Your Eminence, Father Kirill, bless.
I ask for your blessing for the funeral of the deceased (full name of the person), who sinfully committed suicide.
(You should also indicate under what circumstances the suicide occurred).
A copy of the death and baptism certificate of the deceased is attached to the letter.
Waiting for your reply and thank you in advance Your Eminence.
At the end of the text, you can thank the clergyman for his work and spiritual help to the laity.
