Holy Orders

The mystery by which the Church sets apart, through the laying-on of hands, the ministers of her sacramental and pastoral life — bishops, presbyters, and deacons — in continuity with the apostles and in the one priesthood of Christ.

Tradition: Pan-Orthodox

Holy Orders is the mystery that makes the ordained ministry through which the other mysteries are celebrated. This section treats its theology and its rites. The first file, the-theology-of-priesthood.md, treats the three major orders, apostolic succession, and the one priesthood of Christ in which the ordained and the whole royal priesthood of the baptized share. The second file, ordination-and-the-minor-orders.md, treats the distinction of cheirotonia and cheirothesia, the minor orders, and the historic order of deaconesses — treated soberly and from both sides — and links the hub essay on Holy Orders.

Contents

File Description
the-theology-of-priesthood.md The three major orders — bishop, presbyter, deacon; apostolic succession; the priesthood of Christ
ordination-and-the-minor-orders.md Cheirotonia vs cheirothesia; the minor orders; the historic diaconate and deaconesses

See Also