Priestly office (3)

By Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk (Sokolov)

Instructions on how catechetical teaching should be offered to the people

1) Catechetical teaching should be given only on Sunday mornings.

2) An hour before the liturgy, ring the large bell ten times so that the people, hearing, gather.

3) Continue the teaching only half an hour before the ringing of the bell, and finish at the very beginning (of the ringing of the bell).

4) One deacon should teach about the most essential needs for salvation briefly, clearly, simply, understandably to the common people.

5) At each teaching, there should be a short moral lesson on what the teaching will be about.

6) The teaching should be supported by Holy Scripture and the interpretation of the holy and God-bearing fathers and teachers of the church.

7) Explain with analogies and stories, examples and reasonable arguments where necessary.

8) Do not touch on high theological matters, unless necessary, and then with all caution.

9) Be careful everywhere and be extremely careful against stumbling and temptation.

10) Speak to the people using the example of Holy Scripture about repentance, about correction, about the duties of every rank, about the destruction of superstition, about the instilling of the fear of God in people’s hearts, and so on; speak about sins in society with due humility, without humiliating or accusing anyone, and in everything act as is printed in the Spiritual Regulations on Preachers of the Word of God.

11) Every Saturday, or earlier, the deacon should briefly tell you what the teaching will be about the following Sunday.

12) For his labors, the deacon should be given a pension when he begins to work exemplarily in this rank, and he should expect due recompense from the pastors of the Chief Jesus Christ, Who shed His most pure Blood for the salvation of human souls.

13) The priests and clergy of the local city churches are to come to the indicated cathedral church for the aforementioned instruction. However, those of them who will serve early mass on those days are not forced to do so, as well as the priests and clergy of distant churches, namely, the Vvedenskaya, Petropavlovskaya, and Onufrievskaya convents.

14) The local spiritual administration is to diligently monitor the observance of this and present to us those priests and clergy who are ordered to come to the aforementioned instruction, but they, on the contrary, despising this determination of ours, will not come.

15) To the said city priests and church ministers to announce this our decision with a signature, so that they themselves know about it and certainly fulfill it and tell their parish people that those who want Christian instruction, at the prescribed time to come to the cathedral church to listen and force their children to do the same.

October 25, 1765″.

Instructions on the performance of marriages

“By decree of Her Imperial Majesty, the Autocrat of All Russia, from His Grace Tikhon, Bishop of Voronezh and Yelets, to all the Voronezh diocese parish churches to the priests.” Since in our consistory it turned out that many people, including those coming from distant places, both male and female, enter into marriage in violation of the rules of St. fathers, and therefore unlawfully, as in fourth marriages, and some husbands from living wives, and wives from living husbands, and some small children with adults and much older girls enter into marriage, and some priests, seduced by delicacies, others by drunkenness, others darkened by blindness of mind, as is evident from the cases of the consistory, without considering the importance of the case, marry unlawfully, and thereby both themselves and others lead into grave sins, and cause great difficulties and burdens to those above them, and for this both those married unlawfully and the priests who married correctly are subject to a fine. Therefore, to suppress lawlessness, we ordered all priests of our Voronezh diocese to do the following:

1) Priests of other parishes are not to perform marriages except for a blessed reason, that is, when the priest of the parish in which the people entering into marriage are ill, or suspended, or sent to a monastery, or some other similar reason does not allow him to perform the marriage. And other than these reasons, do not proceed with the wedding. And if a priest for these reasons will perform the marriage of another parish, then he must first carefully examine whether there is any obstacle.

2) When a priest wants to perform a marriage in his parish, he must look to see whether the persons entering into matrimony are entering into matrimony for the first time or for the second time.

3) Whether there is any kinship between the spouses, the indicated years, and other things that are described in the Kormchaya Book on the Sacrament of Marriage in Chapter 51, a copy of which is attached hereto.

4) When a second or third marriage is entered into, whether both are widowed or not both, and how long have they been widowed, both or one. For example, if the husband is a widower, then when his wife died, and where and by whom she was buried, and is she recorded in the books. If the wife is a widow, then when her husband died, and where and by whom he was buried, and is he recorded in the books, or are there eyewitnesses about those deceased that they definitely died and were buried, or did the priest himself bury them, and so on, thoroughly and diligently examine, and if no doubt or falsehood appears, then marry. 5) If in any parish a man or woman lives from outside or from afar, then they are not to be married at all, even if witnesses or written documents or stories have presented that the man is truly a widow, or the woman is truly a widow, but they are to be ordered, both male and female, to take from the office where they previously lived, with the proper seal and the affixing of the office seal, a certificate that the husband has been married many times, and the wife has been with many husbands, and whether the husband’s wife or the wife’s husband has truly died or been killed, where, when and by whom they were buried, and when such certificates are presented by the priest, they are to be sent to our consistory for consideration upon presentation. 6) If any husband or wife should declare that the husband’s wife, or the wife’s husband, have been missing for several years, and therefore demand marriage with others, such persons, no matter how many years any person has been missing, should not be married at all, but should be ordered to appear and ask permission for marriage from our consistory. The same should be done with wives who declare that their husbands were killed in the war or are missing. 7) So also in other matters, a thorough examination should be made to see if there is any obstacle to marriage, and if even the slightest doubt appears, do not marry, but demand advice from our consistory, presenting a written explanation about it. 8) If any priest in the wedding of marriages shall act contrary to the above-stated 51st chapter on the Sacrament of Matrimony and this instruction of ours, and shall be convicted of it by someone through a denunciation, such a one shall be deprived of the priesthood without any omission. And even if there shall be no denunciation of the wedding of an illegal marriage, nevertheless the priest who has married an illegal marriage, as a transgressor of the holy rules, and leading people into grave sins, and therefore partaking of their sins, shall not escape the Last Judgment of God. From illegal marriages the following sins shall follow: when a husband is married by a living wife, and a wife by a living husband, then adultery occurs; when relatives are married, then incest follows; when a minor boy is married to an adult girl, because of this there may occur feuds, poisonings, adulteries, incest, murders, and, what is worse, many die in such sins. And the priest who married is guilty of all that evil, and therefore he clearly plunges himself and others into the pit of eternal perdition.

Consider, priests, who as a joke put it to marry unlawful marriages, and come to your senses, and spare both yourselves and the poor people.

November 16, 1767.”

Instructions that seminarians must observe

1. Remember that everyone is called to this calling by God for the common good.

2. Carefully study the teaching in which each one is and call upon God for help.

3. The intention of teaching is to extend to the glory of God and the common good – and so there will be the best success. For teaching is taught in the hope of enlightening the mind and promotion to the rank of priesthood. For a learned priest will be more capable, and must eradicate evil morals and sinful vices, by which the name of God is blasphemed.

4. Teaching without a good life is neither powerful nor useful. What good is it for a man to teach, but not to do it himself? And according to the word of Christ: “Whoever does and teaches will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19). Therefore, from a young age one must resist natural evil, and try to eradicate it with God’s help, and accustom oneself to virtue – which is done by daily teaching in the law of God, and through the search for success in that trial.

5. For diligence in teaching and good living, expect rewards from God in the future age; and in this age, all respect and honorable ranks are acquired by honest teaching.

Therefore, one must act as follows:

6. On Sundays, students must go to God’s service in church.

7. In church, everyone without exception should stand in the choir and get used to the church circle, that is, read from books and sing, and so on.

8. In church, while standing, be extremely careful not to talk, laugh, or do other indecent things, but only diligently listen to the reading, singing, and prayer.

9. Be extremely careful not to mention the name of God in vain, where it is not proper (which the teacher can tell you about), and do not swear, as many have the custom: “By God, that is God, that is Christ,” or: “Here is God for you, here is Christ for you!..” But, according to the word of Christ, only “let your speech be: yes, yes; no, no” (Matt. 5:37).

10. To show all respect to your fathers and mothers, superiors, honest persons, older people, both in deed and word, as the teacher can explain.

11. To have brotherly love for your comrades, and not to annoy or reproach.

12. To talk about big people and generally about no one, but only about your school work, for from there follows the vice of condemnation.

13. To not discuss or ridicule the affairs and actions of others, but everyone should know himself and his work, to which he is called.

14. And among yourself to guard against quarrels, slander and fights.

15. To guard against foul language, obscene jokes, blasphemy and unbridled laughter.

16. To not apply any nicknames, especially obscene ones, to each other.

17. To not amuse yourself with inappropriate and obscene games.

18. Where there are quarrels, fights, fistfights and foul language, foul songs and gatherings of wives, leave.

19. Do not hang around the market and streets.

20. In the market and streets, as is usually done by rude and country men, do not eat any food.

21. Not only do not sing obscene secular poems or songs, but do not dare to copy them for yourself or someone else.

22. Guard against all theft and all deception, punish the offender in front of the entire seminary, and write his name in the register, and the crime for which he will be punished.

23. Maintain cleanliness in every way, under penalty of expulsion from the church rank.

24. In apartments, stand still, quietly and do not annoy the owners. And if there is an offense from the owner, thoroughly report it to the prefect.

25. Where anyone stands, there they should always spend the night, and not come to each other for lodging. Observe and other things that are required by the law of God.

26. It is forbidden to drink strong wine and other intoxicating drinks, from which there is a passion for drunkenness. And if anyone drinks, although he is not drunk, but is noticed that he has drunk, he should be fined.

27. If anyone violates the above, he should be fined, depending on the fault.

28. If anyone (which may the most merciful God not allow in His goodness) is of a corrupt nature, and will not correct himself, such a person should be presented in writing, and such a person will be excluded from the church rank.

These points should be read every day when leaving school, and in the evening one of the students should read them out loud to everyone, so that everyone knows and remembers how he should live.

Instructions for teachers on how to act in their capacity as teachers

1. Teachers of students should not use their services in any way.

2. Teach not only literacy, but also an honest life, the fear of God, since literacy without the fear of God is nothing more than a sword for a madman.

3. Punish the faulty, lazy and self-willed with rods, and sometimes with words. But do not dare to hit them on the head with your hand or in any other way.

4. Establish a centurion over all, whom you should choose from among them, an honest, constant, reasonable, mature person.

5. His job is to report to the teacher every day on the state of the students, how everyone is, whether everyone is in school, whether everyone is at home, whether anyone has run away, etc.

6. Assign assistants to the centurion, also from honest students, and assign ten people to those centurions.

7. The duty of the tithe officers is to report twice a day to the sotnik about the state of their tithe, and to watch over the decorum of each.

8. The students are to go to the holy church on holidays and Sundays for vespers, matins and liturgy, and those who can read and sing, stand in the choirs.

9. On half-uncle days, go only to the liturgy, and those who want to, also to matins.

10. Go to the church where someone has an apartment, which the tithe officers are to strictly order to watch.

11. Those students are to have an apartment with priests, deacons and other clergy, and where there are few clergymen, with the inhabitants.

12. For the assembly of students, hang a bell near the school in a high place, or, if there is a church nearby, in the bell tower, which is rung, so that they listen to the bell, and so, when the bell rings, they would go to school.

13. Order teachers to ring in the summer, when the days are great, about two hours after sunrise, and let them go after lunch, before evening, about two hours before sunset.

14. In winter and autumn, ring the school bell as it will be seen to read, and let them go at sunset.

15. The bell should ring twice a day, in the morning and after lunch.

16. After lunch, counting two hours after leaving school, ring the school bell.

17. On the feasts of the Lord: the Nativity of Christ and Holy Easter for two weeks, and in addition from mid-July to mid-August, for a whole month, let them go home to their parents with subscriptions, and relatives can be let go for other holidays.

18. On Saturdays after lunch there will be no ordinary teaching, however, students must gather in school, and teachers should read them the Catechism of the Orthodox Confession, and those who cannot, simply read as it is written.

19. On Saturday before or after the liturgy, the teacher can read the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos to the students.

20. Teachers should order their students to learn by heart this Archangel’s greeting to the Most Holy Theotokos: “Virgin Mary, rejoice, blessed Mary, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the Savior of our souls.” And each one should read this to himself every day in the morning twelve times, and in the evening twelve times, and so every day twenty-four times.

21. Students should study in this way: those who study the Book of Hours or the Psalter should study to read before lunch, and to write after lunch, for this way they will study more cheerfully and willingly in turns.

22. On Tuesday and Thursday after lunch, again do not study, but read the learned, so that what they have learned is not forgotten.

23. After the students have gathered for school, when the teacher comes to school, read with tenderness and reverence the troparion of Cheesefare Sunday: “Teacher of wisdom, Giver of understanding, Chastener of the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen, enlighten my heart, Master: Give me the word, the Father’s word: for behold, my lips have not hindered me from crying out to You: Merciful One, have mercy on me who have fallen.” And read not alone, but with all the students clearly and intelligibly. Read before and after lunch, when the teacher comes to school.

24. When leaving school, read: “It is truly meet to bless You, O Theotokos,” and so on until the end. 25. The teacher, since he cannot listen to all the students to the end, how each has learned the assigned lesson, will appoint supervisors from the best students, who have already learned the Psalter and read well, and will assign to them the appointed number of students, so that each one knows his own and listens to them before the teacher arrives at school, and reports to the teacher, upon arrival at school, how each has learned his task.

26. The teacher, upon the denunciation of supervisors, negligent and lazy students, must punish at his own discretion, and he must reward the diligent and those who try for their own benefit, as he can.

27. About those students who will be understanding and learn to read and write, immediately present to us who exactly and whose children they are.

28. While at this, the said teacher must act in good faith and fulfill all that is described above without fail, under penalty of the due and unconditional fine according to the decrees for any crime, or for failure to fulfill the above.

* * *

Ad Notem:

“Instructions on the performance of marriages” were sent out by the saint in a circular to all the clergy of the Voronezh diocese. In the resolution that was issued on this occasion, the saint writes: “By decree of Her Imperial Majesty, we have ordered: our consistory, with the instructions we have composed on the precautionary marriages for priests of our Voronezh diocese, and the list of the secret of marriage written out from the Kormchaya Book, to immediately send them to the spiritual administrations with the appropriate certificate. And those administrations, having quickly copied copies from these copies, and with the same certificate, to distribute to each of their departments of all churches to the priests with receipts, with an explanation in those receipts of what year, month and date the priest will accept those copies, and to send those receipts to the consistory with reports without fail, where these signatures are to be kept intact. And to newly ordained priests, copies of these instructions and list are to be given to the consistory, whose acceptance these priests are to sign on the deeds being made about their ordination as a priest. “unrepeatable”. Bishop Tikhon of Voronezh.

“Instructions on what seminarians should observe” was written for the students of the Voronezh Theological Seminary, at its foundation, or more precisely, at its restoration by Saint Tikhon, in 1765. It was first published in the book “Other Works”, with a note from the publisher that “the original Instruction is signed thus: By the grace of God, Bishop Tikhon of Voronezh and Yelets”.

“Instructions to teachers, “how they should act in the position of their rank” was first published in the “Tambov Provincial Gazette” in 1856. According to the editors’ note, “the original instructions are in the archives of the Lebedyan spiritual board and are signed thus: Humble Tikhon, Bishop of Voronezh and Yelets. September 1, 1763.” What caused and for whom this instruction was intended is evident from the explanation that preceded it. “This August day of 1763,” the explanation says, “we had a discussion about the priests and children of the clergy from various cities and districts of our diocese who came to our humility with petitions for their assignment to the holy churches as priests, deacons, sextons and sextons, who know little about reading books, and some do not know anything at all, and for such ignorance of reading books they are unworthy of promotion. And since the ignorance of these children of priests and clergy in reading books comes only from the negligence of their fathers themselves, therefore, by decree of Her Imperial Majesty, we have ordered: for the instruction of the children of priests and clergy in our diocese in reading books, singing and writing firmly, to establish in the cities Slavic schools, and in them, for the sake of constant observation and diligence in teaching, to appoint teachers whom the priests from those cities will choose, with common consent, good, honest and sufficiently knowledgeable in reading, writing and singing Divine Scripture, from among the priests or deacons. And if there are many students somewhere, it is possible to assign from among the deacons a person of honest and good behavior as an assistant. And how they, teachers, should act in the position of their rank, is below this” …