Every Orthodox person must necessarily begin several church sacraments. Among them, baptism, anointing, repentance, communion and unction are obligatory. Those who want to start a family enter into a church marriage, called the sacrament of wedding. And only the only one of the seven church sacraments is not obligatory for a person. It is about ordination to the priesthood.
The sacrament of the priesthood is called upon to endow a person who wishes to take the holy dignity with special divine grace. Unlike the other six sacraments, ordination can be performed only by the bishop of the Christian Church.
The ruling bishop of the diocese (metropolitan, archbishop or bishop) is free to choose from among Christians who are worthy to take the holy office.
There are three options for the ordination of the priesthood: deacon, priestly (priestly) and episcopal. The first two versions of consecration (the so-called ordination to the priesthood) can be performed by one diocesan bishop. The ordination of a bishop in the Russian Orthodox Church must be performed by a council of bishops (several bishops). In modern times, in Russia, bishops most often ordain a council of bishops, headed by the patriarch. However, there are cases when the patriarch does not take a personal part in the consecration, but appoints a distinguished metropolitan to "lead" the ordination. At the same time, several other bishops are sure to take part in consecration.
The term "ordination" itself indicates how the sacrament takes place. Divine grace, which gives the Christian the opportunity to directly participate in the sacraments (deacons) or to be the performer of the sacrament (priests, bishops), is transmitted to a person through the laying on of his hands to the head of the ruling bishop. This tradition of priestly ordination dates back to the apostolic time.
The sacrament of ordination to the priesthood occurs during the Divine Liturgy. It takes place at the altar of the temple. Those who wish to take the holy dignity under the singing of the choir of certain church troparia three times go around the holy throne. Then she kneels before the throne, and the bishop reads a special prayer for ordination, laying his hands on the head of a person receiving consecration. After this, the newly-made clergyman is dressed in sacred clothes, in accordance with the dignity in which the person was ordained.
