"Save me, God!". Thank you for visiting our site, before you start studying the information, please subscribe to our Orthodox community on Instagram Lord, Save and Save † - https://www.instagram.com/spasi.gospodi/. The community has over 55,000 subscribers.
There are many of us, like-minded people, and we are growing rapidly, posting prayers, sayings of saints, prayer requests, posting useful information about holidays and Orthodox events in a timely manner... Subscribe. Guardian Angel for you!
In the Orthodox Church there is a rank that is divided into different vocations:
- vicar,
- Bishop,
- Priest, etc.
Vicar, a concept that implies a certain position, equated to a deputy clergyman. It is characterized by the performance of specific duties, which consist in the performance of partial duties of a deputy church administrator. Such a deputy does not belong to the diocese. Such a position exists specifically so that the clergyman who occupies it can assist the bishop in the administration of the diocese.
A bit of history
The meaning of the term "vicar" has a lot of different interpretations. But despite this interpretation in all dictionaries is approximately the same. As mentioned above, this is an assistant parish priest. The history of this position dates back to the time of the Roman Empire. A person was appointed to it, who served God by the emperor himself.
Brothers and sisters in Christ. We need your kind help. Created a new Orthodox channel in Yandex Zen: Orthodox world and there are still few subscribers (20 people). For the rapid development and communication of the Orthodox teaching to a greater number of people, we ask you to go and subscribe to the channel. Only useful Orthodox information. Guardian Angel for you!
The appointment was within a certain territorial district. This calling makes it possible to control many actions of the rulers of specific provinces. But despite the fact that the appointment was made by the emperor, he did not have the right to remove the vicar from his post.
Also, his duties include the ability to assist the priest during services and other sacred rites.
The Lord is always with you!
The document was approved by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of December 27, 2011 ().
I. General provisions
I.1. The vicariate of a diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church (hereinafter referred to as the “vicariate”) is a canonical division of the diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church (hereinafter referred to as the “eparchy”), uniting one or more deaneries of the diocese.
I.2. A vicariate has no legal personality.
I.3. The vicariate carries out its activities in accordance with the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, adopted by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000 (hereinafter referred to as the "Canonical Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church"), the charter of the diocese, resolutions of Local and Bishops' Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church, decrees and orders of the Patriarch, decisions of the Holy Synod, decrees and instructions of the diocesan bishop and these Regulations.
I.4. The vicariate abides by the laws of the host country.
II. Vicariate Administration
II.1. The Diocesan Bishop has the highest authority to manage the vicariate.
The vicar bishop manages the vicariate by delegating authority from the diocesan bishop.
III. Vicar Bishop (Vicar)
III.1. The vicar bishop is appointed to the position (dismissed from office) on the proposal of the diocesan bishop by the determination of the Holy Synod.
The vicar bishop assists the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese. The powers of the vicar bishop managing the vicariate are determined by this Regulation, as well as written or oral instructions of the diocesan bishop.
Also, vicar bishops who do not manage vicariates may be appointed to assist the diocesan bishop. The powers of such are determined by written and oral instructions of the diocesan bishop.
III.2. The title of vicar bishop is established by the determination of the Holy Synod. The vicar bishop of the diocese of the city of Moscow is called: name, rank, title, Vicar of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia"; the vicar bishop of another diocese is called: name, rank, title, vicar naming diocese."
III.3. The vicar bishop is ex officio a member of the diocesan council and the diocesan assembly of the diocese with the right to vote.
III.4. The name of the vicar bishop is ascended at divine services in the main church of the city by which he is titled, after the name of the diocesan bishop according to the formula “and Mr. dignity, (title,) name».
III.5. The vicar bishop has his own letterhead and personal seal, samples of which are approved by the diocesan bishop.
III.6. Vicar Bishop in charge of the Vicariate:
a) exercises control over the execution of decrees and orders of the diocesan bishop;
b) draws up responses to the appeals of the heads of the canonical divisions of the vicariate addressed to the diocesan bishop on issues that, according to the charters of the canonical divisions, require the approval (blessing) or approval of the diocesan bishop;
c) visits parishes, diocesan monasteries and other canonical divisions of the vicariate and officiates there;
d) exercises control over the activities of deaneries, parishes, diocesan monasteries and other canonical divisions of the vicariate;
e) submit proposals to the diocesan bishop regarding the appointment and transfer of clerics, the appointment or dismissal of chairmen of parish councils of vicariate parishes;
f) sends with his opinion to the diocesan bishop the candidates submitted by the Vicariate Council for ordination to the priesthood, as well as for admission to theological educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church;
g) sends with his opinion to the diocesan bishop reports of the governors, abbots and abbesses of the monasteries that are part of the vicariate, about monastic tonsure and about being accepted as a monk (nuns) of the monastery;
h) submit proposals for the consideration of the diocesan bishop on the establishment of parishes, diocesan monasteries and other canonical divisions of the vicariate, as well as on issues of changing the composition of parish assemblies and parish councils of vicariate parishes;
i) by his order sends, if necessary, clerics of the vicariate for temporary service in another parish for a period not exceeding a month;
j) for temporary service in another parish for a longer period, sends clerics on the basis of instructions from the diocesan bishop;
k) is responsible for raising the educational level of the clergy and church workers of the vicariate, including conducting pastoral seminars;
l) submit for consideration to the diocesan bishop duly motivated proposals on awarding church awards to clerics and laity of parishes, diocesan monasteries and other canonical divisions of the vicariate;
m) approves the vacation schedule for clerics of the canonical divisions of the vicariate and submits it to the diocesan administration no later than January 1 of the current year;
note: the vacation schedule must be coordinated with the calendar of general diocesan events and duties of deaneries for general diocesan obediences, provided by the diocesan administration to the vicar bishop no later than December 1 of the previous calendar year;
n) approves leave applications submitted by the clergy of the vicariate on the basis of an approved schedule;
o) bless short-term vacations due to exceptional circumstances, as well as pilgrimage trips of clerics of the canonical divisions of the vicariate lasting no more than 10 days, provided that such clergy find a full-fledged replacement, in case they are called to general diocesan events or obedience;
p) considers complaints against officials of the canonical divisions of the vicariate and resolves misunderstandings that arise, if they do not require formal ecclesiastical legal proceedings;
c) imposes punishments on clerics without prohibiting them from serving, or with a prohibition from serving for a period of not more than a week, in case they commit single non-malicious (or through negligence) offenses against church deanery; informs the diocesan bishop about such cases;
r) if formal ecclesiastical legal proceedings are necessary on incoming complaints or misunderstandings that arise, as well as in cases where, in his opinion, the imposition of a canonical ban on a clergyman is required, report to the diocesan bishop;
s) in the event of a blatant violation of church discipline by a cleric or an official of the canonical division of the vicariate, temporarily removes this person from service or from the performance of official duties and within a week (and in the absence of a diocesan bishop from the diocese, taking into account the time of his absence) reports this to the diocesan the bishop for his final decision;
t) if necessary, participates in parish meetings, or sends a representative to participate in them;
u) submits with his opinion for approval to the diocesan bishop the minutes of the parish meetings of the parishes of the vicariate;
v) controls the observance of financial discipline within the limits of the vicariate and takes measures to correct the identified violations, and in case of gross violations, reports to the diocesan bishop;
w) submit an annual report on the activities of the vicariate parishes to the diocesan bishop.
III.7. To carry out his activities, the vicar bishop:
a) convene a meeting of the clergy of the vicariate;
b) creates a council and office management service of the vicariate.
The meeting of the clergy of the vicariate and the council of the vicariate are advisory bodies to the vicar bishop.
Without the consent of the vicar bishop, and in matters within the competence of the diocesan bishop - without his consent, not a single decision of a meeting of the vicariate or the council of the vicariate can be put into practice.
IV. Assembly of the clergy of the vicariate
IV.1. The meeting of the clergy of the vicariate consists of the clergy of all the canonical divisions of the vicariate, not prohibited from serving in the priesthood and not held accountable by the church court.
IV.2. Meeting of the clergy of the vicariate:
a) elect the confessor of the vicariate;
b) elects one clergyman from each deanery included in the vicariate to the vicariate council;
c) review and discuss the annual report on the activities of the parishes of the vicariate;
d) determines the main directions of activity of the vicariate;
e) accepts the staff list of the secretariat of the vicariate;
f) determines the canonical subdivision (or canonical subdivisions) of the vicariate, the staff of which (s) will include employees of the secretariat of the vicariate and takes care of the material support for the activities of the structures of the vicariate;
g) in cooperation with specialized diocesan divisions, considers issues of liturgical activities of vicariate parishes;
h) considers other issues referred to the study of the general meeting of the clergy of the vicariate by the diocesan or vicar bishop.
IV.3. Meetings of the meeting of the clergy of the vicariate are held under the chairmanship of the vicar bishop as necessary, but at least once a year.
Meetings of the meeting of the clergy of the vicariate may be chaired by the diocesan bishop.
The quorum of the meeting is at least 2/3 of the clergy members of the meeting.
Decisions of the meeting of the clergy of the vicariate are taken by a simple majority of votes of the clergy present at the meeting, who are members of the meeting. In case of equality of votes, the chairperson's vote is decisive.
The decisions of the meeting of the clergy of the vicariate are recorded in the minutes of the meeting, which are signed by the presiding officer and the secretary. The secretary of the meeting of the clergy of the vicariate is elected by the meeting on the proposal of the presiding officer.
Decisions of the meeting of the clergy of the vicariate come into force after their approval by the diocesan bishop.
V. Vicariate Council
V.1. The Vicariate Council includes:
a) vicar bishop;
b) deans of the deaneries that are part of the vicariate;
c) the confessor of the vicariate;
d) one clergyman from each deanery that is part of the vicariate, as elected by the meeting of the clergy of the vicariate;
e) at the discretion of the vicar bishop - up to three clerics, whose competence makes it necessary for them to participate in the council.
The vicar bishop is the chairman of the vicariate council. The secretary of the vicariate council is a member of the vicariate council appointed to this position by order of the vicar bishop.
The composition of the vicariate council is approved by the diocesan bishop.
V.2. Vicariate Council:
a) considers issues of pastoral, liturgical, spiritual and educational, educational, social, youth, missionary, disciplinary, administrative, financial and economic activities of the canonical divisions of the vicariate;
c) submit for consideration by the diocesan bishop candidates for ordination to the priesthood or for ordination as a reader;
note: protege cases considered by the vicariate council and accompanied by a vicar’s recall (clause (e) of Article III.7 of these Regulations) are submitted directly to the diocesan bishop, without additional consideration by the diocesan council or other bodies of the diocesan administration, except in cases where the diocesan bishop deems it is necessary to request the withdrawal of such bodies;
d) in cooperation with the diocesan commission of trustees, takes care of needy clergy (including supernumeraries), employees of the canonical divisions of the vicariate, as well as retired clergy of the vicariate;
e) supervises the activities of parish councils in cooperation with the diocesan audit committee;
f) in cooperation with the diocesan court and the diocesan disciplinary commission, considers issues of church discipline of clergy and officials of the canonical divisions of the vicariate;
g) submit proposals to the diocesan bishop on issues related to the possession, use and disposal of the property of the canonical divisions of the vicariate;
h) within the limits of the vicariate, discusses plans for the construction, overhaul and restoration of churches, with subsequent submission of conclusions to the diocesan bishop;
i) organize the training of the employees of the parishes of the vicariate and supervise the activities of these employees;
j) provides practical assistance to the vicar bishop in the implementation of the decisions of the hierarchical administration bodies of the Russian Orthodox Church.
V.3. Meetings of the vicariate council are held as needed, but at least four times a year, under the chairmanship of the vicar bishop.
Meetings of the vicariate council may be chaired by the diocesan bishop. The quorum of the meeting is at least 2/3 of the members of the Vicariate Council.
Decisions of the vicariate council are taken by a simple majority vote of the members of the vicariate council present at the meeting. In case of equality of votes, the chairperson's vote is decisive.
The decisions of the vicariate council are recorded in the minutes of the vicariate council, which are signed by the presiding officer and the secretary of the vicariate council.
Decisions of the vicariate council come into force after they have been approved by the diocesan bishop.
V.4. Members of the Vicariate Council carry out their activities in the Vicariate Council on a non-reimbursable basis.
VI. Vicariate Secretariat
VI.1. The head of the vicariate secretariat reports to the vicar bishop and is appointed by him to the position.
VI.2. The Secretariat of the Vicariate may include:
a) a clerk;
b) legal officer of the vicariate;
c) an accountant;
d) construction and restoration officer;
e) employee for religious education and catechesis;
f) parish missionary worker;
g) youth worker;
h) an employee for charity and social service;
i) other employees necessary for the implementation of the tasks assigned to the vicariate.
VI.3. The canonical subdivision (or canonical subdivisions) of the vicariate, the staff of which (s) include employees of the vicariate apparatus, is determined (are determined) by the order of the vicar bishop on the basis of the decision of the meeting of the clergy of the vicariate, approved by the diocesan bishop.
VI.4. The document circulation of the canonical divisions of the vicariate with diocesan administration is carried out through the secretariat of the vicariate.
Reports and petitions from clerics and officials of the canonical divisions of the vicariate, received by the secretariat of the vicariate, but requiring the decision of the diocesan bishop, are sent to the diocesan administration through the secretariat of the vicariate, if necessary - with the recall of the vicar bishop.
Copies of decrees and orders of the diocesan bishop concerning
the opening or closing of vicariate parishes;
appointment and transfer of clerics of the vicariate, as well as their rewarding or imposition of bans on them;
appointment or removal from office of the chairmen of the parish councils of the parishes of the vicariate;
approval of the vacation schedule for clergy of the vicariate
- reported by the diocesan office to the vicar bishop, as well as to the secretary of the diocese.
Copies of orders of the vicar bishop
on granting a clergyman of the vicariate a short-term leave due to exceptional circumstances;
on the imposition of bans or short-term bans on the clergy of the vicariate from serving
- sent by the secretariat of the vicariate to the diocesan bishop.
VI.5. The profile officers of the vicariate coordinate the activities of the relevant staff of the canonical divisions of the vicariate.
Orthodox Encyclopedic Dictionary
vicar
a bishop who assists an archbishop or metropolitan in the administration of a diocese.
Dictionary of church terms
vicar
(lat. governor) - a bishop who does not have his own diocese and helps another bishop in managing.
Orthodox Encyclopedia
vicar
vicegerent, bishop who, without having his own diocese, helps another bishop to govern his area.
Orthodoxy. Dictionary-reference
vicar
(lat. "viceroy", "deputy") - a bishop who does not have his own diocese and helps another bishop in managing.
Ozhegov's dictionary
VIC BUT RIY, I, m. In the Orthodox Church: an assistant to a bishop, a bishop without a diocese; in the Protestant church: assistant priest.
Culturology. Dictionary-reference
vicar
(lat. vicarious - deputy) - in the Orthodox Church, a deputy bishop, a bishop without a diocese. In a Protestant church, an assistant priest.
encyclopedic Dictionary
vicar
(from Latin vicarius - deputy, governor), in the Orthodox Church, deputy bishop, bishop without a diocese. In a Protestant church, an assistant priest.
Dictionary of Efremova
vicar
- m.
- A bishop who is a deputy or assistant to a bishop managing a diocese (in the Orthodox Church).
- Assistant bishop or parish priest (in the Catholic Church).
Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms
vicar
♦ (ENG vicar)
(lat. vicarius - replacement)
one who has the right to replace another. AT Anglican Church this is the name of a priest who serves in a church parish as its rector.
Antique world. Dictionary-reference
(I.A. Lisovy, K.A. Revyako. The ancient world in terms, names and titles: Dictionary-reference book on the history and culture of Ancient Greece and Rome / Scientific ed. A.I. Nemirovsky. - 3rd ed. - Minsk: Belarus, 2001)
Dictionary Ushakov
vicar
vika riy, vicar, husband. (lat. vicarius - replacing, replacing someone) ( church). In the Orthodox Church - a bishop, subordinate by position to the diocesan bishop.
| In the Catholic Church, an assistant to a bishop or parish priest.
Catholic Encyclopedia
vicar
(lat. vicarius - "deputy", "viceroy").
Apostolic vicar (lat. vicarius apostolicus is a bishop or priest appointed by the Holy See to administer an apostolic vicariate.
Vicar General (lat. vicarius generalis) - a representative of the diocesan bishop in the field of general administration, in this capacity performs the same function as the ordinary.
Episcopal Vicar (lat. vicarius episcopalis) - representative of the diocesan bishop in the field of government;
Parish Vicar (lat. vicarius paroecialis) - a priest, an employee of the parish rector, may be appointed to assist him in exercising pastoral ministry in the entire parish, in a certain part of it or for a certain group of parishioners, as well as to carry out certain ministry in several parishes at once. A parish may have one or more parish vicars. The parish vicar is appointed by the diocesan bishop; he is obliged to replace the parish priest in his absence.
Judicial vicar- a judge in the diocesan court, appointed by the diocesan bishop, constitutes a single court together with the bishop; cannot hear cases that the bishop has reserved.
Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron
vicar
From the Latin word vicarius, which means substitute. This word has received a special application in relation to officials. From the time of Constantine the Great, the Roman Empire was divided into four large administrative districts - prefectures, which in turn were divided into dioceses. At the head of each prefecture was a praefectus praetorio, and at the head of each diocese was a ruler who was subordinate to the prefect and was called vicarius (praefectorum). V. was appointed directly by the emperor and, within his diocese, used the powers of a prefect in overseeing the rulers of the provinces (a division of the diocese), however, without the right to remove them from office. But when the prefect himself was present in the diocese, the vicar lost all power. This characteristic makes V. a person, as it were, authorized by the prefect, who at any time can destroy these powers. The vicariate office retained the same character in the church, where this term was widely used. In the Roman Catholic Church, first of all, the Pope himself, as the successor of the prince of the apostles Peter, whom Christ appointed as his deputy, is called vicarius Jesu Christi. In turn, the Pope appoints deputies for himself, who are called apostolic AT. (vicarii apostolici), also born legates (legati nati), if the title is associated not with the person of the bishop, but with a well-known see, central to the given district, as a result of which every bishop who enters this see, eo ipso becomes a papal vicar. Such V. appeared from the 5th century due to the difficulty of relations between remote provinces and Rome. Within more or less extensive territories, they were granted the exercise, on behalf of the Pope, of certain higher governmental rights to convene councils, to consider disputes between bishops, to accept appeals, and so on. The papal bishops were the archbishops of Thessaloniki for Illyricum, Arelatian for Gaul, and Seville for Spain. To the VIII table. permanent papal V. disappeared and reappeared in the 11th century, when this title with more or less extensive powers was granted to the archbishops of Salzburg, Mainz, Trier, Hamburg-Bremen. At present, the appointment of apostolic V. takes place only as an exception, under extraordinary circumstances; Only in Austria is the head of the military clergy considered papal V. (vicarius castrensis), but thanks to the success of Catholic missionaries, apostolic V. appeared in Australia, China, the Pacific Islands, and so on. Under the Roman Catholic diocesan bishops, there are also bishops-vicars (vicarius in pontificalibus), who are otherwise called titular bishops (episcopi titulares), since they have only a title without episcopal jurisdiction corresponding to it, as well as bishops in partibus (infidelium), since they are consecrated against fictitious sees in the countries of the infidels. The fact is that the First Ecumenical Council established the principle that there should not be two bishops in one diocese. Meanwhile, the bishops of vast dioceses from ancient times needed assistants to the hierarchal rank, who would carry out for them the functions of their hierarchal clergy. When in the 13th century the pagans of Livonia and Prussia expelled many bishops from the newly established dioceses, and at the same time in the East, with the fall of the Latin Empire, a significant number of bishops found themselves deprived of their see, the services of these expelled bishops were used by the bishops of vast European dioceses. This order of things became permanent, since the Pope, in order to protect his rights to the dioceses of the Catholic Church that once existed, gave and still gives successors to the dying bishops of these fictitious dioceses. Thus, in the Roman Catholic Church, the vicar bishop is an assistant to the diocesan in exercising his rights of hierarchical priesthood (j u ra ordinis); he is appointed by the Pope on the proposal of the diocesan bishop. It has a different meaning general vicar(vicarius generalis). This is an assistant to the diocesan bishop in managing the diocese, in exercising his governmental rights (jura jurisdictionis). The bishop has the right and duty to personally govern his diocese, and therefore can do without the general V.; The pope can force him to ordain the latter only if the bishop is not sufficiently familiar with canon law or if the diocese is large. The vicar general must hold a doctorate or licentiate in canon law or theology and be versed in jurisprudence, but no degree of clergy is required of him; it is enough that he belonged to the clergy in general, that is, that he had a tonsure. There is a unity of person between the empowering bishop and the general V., who receives the powers, so that both of them are legally considered as one instance and the appeal against the actions of the general V. is sent not to the bishop, but to the next instance - to the archbishop. By virtue of the same unity of persons in the presence of a bishop, i.e., when the bishop himself personally performs any act of government, there is no general V. legally. His rights cease immediately with the termination of the rights of the bishop himself; in addition, the bishop may at any time withdraw the powers given to him. Sometimes specialization of administrative and judicial cases is allowed, so that only administrative cases are entrusted to General V., while for judicial cases there is another assistant, under the name of an official. The legal status of both is the same. In the German dioceses, under the general V., there is usually a whole collegiate institution, and where specialization of administrative and judicial cases has taken place with the assignment of both to various officials - the general V. and the official - there are even two collegiate institutions: the vicariate general and the official or consistory . Sede vacante, i.e., when the episcopal chair is vacant, or sede i m pedita, i.e., when the chair is not legally considered vacant, but in fact the bishop is made unable to exercise his episcopal office (for example, due to deprivation of liberty, capture, but not due to illness, when a coadjutor is appointed), the administration of the diocese passes to the cathedral chapter, which within 8 days must deliver economy to administer the property of the bishopric and capitular vicar(vicarius capitularis) to exercise episcopal jurisdiction. Within Ross. empires under Roman Catholic diocesan bishops consist of suffragan (vicar) bishops, who are appointed by the emperor after preliminary communication with the Roman curia; on behalf of the diocesan bishop, they can correct the functions of the general bishop. In the event of a vacancy in the chair, the cathedral chapter elects a vicar until the chair is filled. The Western Catholic principle of vicarious jurisdiction is expressed in Russia in the fact that the positions of members of the Roman Catholic. Consistory terminates with the death of a bishop or in the event of the addition of his episcopal rank, as well as with the termination of the management of a vacant chair by a vicar. Finally, in the Roman Catholic Church, parochial priests (parochs) can have V. They are permanent (vicarii perpetui), when there are branch churches, chapels in the parish, or when the parish is distinguished by its crowdedness, and temporary (v. temporarii), appointed in in the event of the inability of the parokha to hold the position, as well as for the duration of the vacancy of this position. The last kind of V. are also known in the Protestant church. Wed Deneubourg, "Etude canonique sur les vicaires paroissiaux" (Par., 1871).
In the ancient Russian church, the bishops had a vicar, who was his main representative in the field of court and administration. Initially, this was a spiritual person, but at the end of the 14th century, when a special service class was formed under the bishops in the person of hierarchical boyars and boyar children, a secular person could also be a governor. The existence of hierarchical boyars was put to an end at the beginning of the 18th century. The institute of vicar bishops has been widely developed only in recent times. In pre-Petrine Russia, under the Metropolitan of Moscow alone and later under the Patriarch of Moscow, there was an assistant with the hierarchical rank, the Bishop of Sarsky and Podonsky, under the patriarchs, renamed the Metropolitan of Krutitsky, who, after the fall of the Sarai horde, began to live in Moscow on Krutitsy, without ceasing, however, to be a bishop his former diocese. At the council of 1667, it was supposed to appoint auxiliary bishops to all four metropolitans, who would live in the monasteries designated by him. This assumption did not come true, just as later the aspirations of the Supreme Privy Council to transfer the management of the dioceses of the members of the Holy Synod into the hands of specially appointed vicars did not come true. In 1698, Peter the Great allowed the Bishop of Kyiv Varlaam Yasinsky "for the weakness of his health" to elect and consecrate a coadjutor bishop, so that this privilege would extend to his successors. By the end of the XVIII century. there were vicar bishops in the dioceses of Novgorod, Moscow and Kyiv. In the current century, cases of defining vicars as bishops, auxiliary to diocesan bishops, have become more frequent, and in 1865 the highest permission was granted to establish vicariates in all dioceses, where local sources of their maintenance can be indicated without burdening the state treasury, namely rather wealthy monasteries. A vicar bishop is consecrated as a bishop of one of the cities of the given diocese; but this does not mean that a bishop who receives his title from one city or another has in his ecclesiastical government this city and the county belonging to it. The vicar is only an assistant to the diocesan bishop, primarily in the exercise of the rights of the priesthood; his participation in the diocesan administration is not determined by any firm rules. Usually, at the discretion of the diocesan bishop, he is entrusted with the preliminary review, and sometimes the approval of consistory journals and protocols; further, cases are transferred to him about joining the Gentiles to the Orthodox Church, about issuing peace, consecrated antimins, metric certificates, passports to clergy, about committing church repentance according to reports from government places, etc. n. In the event of a vacancy in the episcopal chair in the diocese in which there is V., decrees from the Holy Synod proceed to the name of the bishop-V. Due to exceptional local circumstances, some vicar bishops with spiritual boards subordinate to them actually conduct church administration in a well-known local area. These are the vicar of the Kholmsko-Warsaw diocese - Bishop of Lublin, who manages and ecclesiastical court within the former Greek-Uniate Kholmsky diocese, and the vicar of the Irkutsk diocese - Bishop of Chitinsky, who manages the diocesan affairs of the Trans-Baikal region. The vicar of the Riga diocese, Bishop of Reval, is in a completely exceptional position, who is not subordinate to his diocesan bishop and holds an episcopal office in Japan, where he resides. At present, there are 4 vicars under the Metropolitan of Novgorod, St. Petersburg and Finland - one for the diocese of Novgorod and 3 for the diocese of St. Petersburg; under the metropolitans of Moscow and Kiev - 3 vicars each; in 5 dioceses (Vyatka, Georgian, Irkutsk, Lithuanian and Kherson) there are 2 vicars each and in 21 eparchies - one vicar each. On the position of vicar bishops from the point of view of canonical cf. N. Suvorova, "Course of Church Law" (Yarosl., 1890, part II).
Some words that were previously in use are now losing their meaning or are used in a very narrow circle. This is what happened with the term "vicar". "Who is this?" - many modern young people will take an interest. And those who are engaged in church history or medieval studies may remember such phrases as "Vicar of Jesus Christ" in relation to the Popes. Let's try to figure out what this term is, how it appeared, and trace its history. We will also try to understand who is now called that and why.
Vicar - definition of the word
Translated from Latin, this term means “deputy”, “representative”, someone acting “on behalf of and on behalf of”. It is from this word that the prefix "vice" originated. For the first time the term appears as an administrative term, back in the time of the Roman Empire. Under Diocletian and Constantine, this was the name given to rulers who had a diocese or region under their control.
The vicars were subordinate to the prefects and acted on their behalf. In the early Middle Ages in the Holy Roman Empire, this title was worn by local representatives of the supreme ruler. They administered justice and carried out administration on behalf of the emperor. This title was especially common in Italian cities. But this term became most famous in church administrative law after the victory of Christianity. Even in early times, bishops had their own vicars - assistants. They were archdeacons, as well as local parish priests who cared for human souls outside the dioceses.
Catholicism
Popes often used the title "Vicar of Christ". That is, they considered themselves the vicars of God on earth. The meaning of the word "vicar" in this sense is first used from the eighth century. Prior to this, the popes had limited themselves to calling themselves vicars of St. Peter. They were also called differently - "vicars of the head of the apostles." But in addition to such a solemn meaning in canon law, this term also has a purely administrative meaning. Vicars were called representatives of any church institution. They also had various other names, depending on the role they played.
Types of vicars in Catholicism
In this church, canon law provides for many types of such deputies. For example, an apostolic vicar is a bishop or priest who heads a special mission of the church and represents the Pope in territories where there are no dioceses. So often called legates. There were also deputy bishops who had legislative and executive power in the lands entrusted to them. These are vicars general and judicial. However, they did not have the right to inherit the chair. Bishops were also called vicars. They were delegated certain powers of the bishops within the diocese. And the lowest type of vicars are assistant parish priests.
Orthodoxy
This title is also used in the Eastern churches. In Orthodoxy, a vicar is an assistant bishop. It does not have its own diocese. Orthodox vicars can also have different titles. For example, if such a bishop assists in the administration of a certain part of the diocese, then it is called a vicariate, and his powers extend only to this limited territory.
Under the control of the vicar there may be a city where, under his leadership, divine services are carried out. Usually large dioceses have one or more deputy bishops, who are delegated some powers. However, unlike Catholicism, such a vicar does not have independent jurisdiction. In some Orthodox churches, such stewards are called chorepiscopes. In Russia, this term appeared under Peter the Great and was finally strengthened under Catherine the Great.
Anglicanism
In this Protestant church, the vicar is actually the parish priest. Historically, Anglicanism has recognized an administrative division into permanent curators and rectors. The latter received tithes as financial support. Curators are like a salary. A vicar is a kind of rector who had a smaller tithe. Now both of these titles are almost equivalent. Some Anglican parishes have a rector and some have a vicar. It all depends on how it historically developed in the area. In the Episcopal Church of the United States, the position of vicar is not defined by canon law. But in some dioceses, this is a priest with a specific mission.
Cathars and Protestants
It was not only in the dominant churches in the Middle Ages that the title of vicar was known. This concept, for example, was familiar to dissident communities, such as the Cathars. The bishops of their churches were elected by the clergy. But there were three of them. The first of them acted as bishop by default, and the rest did it on his behalf. They were called the Elder and Younger sons. Thus, they corresponded to the title of a vicar or even a Catholic coadjutor. When a bishop died or retired due to old age, the Elder Son took his place. That is, the vicars of the Cathars had the right to inherit the title. The younger son became the eldest. The functions of the chief vicar passed to him. And the new Younger Son was again chosen at the meetings of the clergy. In some Protestant churches, the vicar is the assistant pastor. This title is also used in German and Swedish Lutheranism. This word is often synonymous with pastor. In Canadian and American Lutheranism, a curate is a name given to a candidate for pastoral service before graduation from a seminary.
A vicar is a bishop. A bishop is a bishop. So, this is one and the same thing, and the bishop is a vicar? No not always. Confused? The topic is indeed complex, at first glance.
But still in the Orthodox Church there are clear differences between these concepts. If you understand them once, it will become clear who can bear the title of bishop, who is a vicar, who is a bishop. The topic of the article is a vicar bishop (he is also a vicar bishop).
A vicar is a bishop, deputy and assistant to a diocesan bishop.
A vicar is a position in the Christian church. In Orthodoxy, vicars are called assistants to diocesan bishops (bishops who govern a diocese).
The number of vicars, however, is not the same in different dioceses and depends on the need for them in a particular diocese.
The word "vicar", like many other church concepts, arose in antiquity and originally had a different meaning. A vicar is the position of the governor of a diocese, and a diocese is a territorial unit, part of a prefecture. It is noteworthy that the vicar to this day retained the same dual position:
- on the one hand, he is the manager of part of the territory;
- on the other hand, he is only a deputy and representative of the person he helps, the real boss in this territory - the prefect.
So now the vicar is only helping in administration, a person subordinate to the diocesan bishop, who is the head of the entire diocese.
Formally, both the bishop and the vicar are bishops, the successors of the disciples of Christ. But a vicar is often referred to as a vicar bishop to emphasize his administrative subordination to a superior bishop.
In the Middle Ages, the function of vicars was performed by chorepiscopes, they had more powers
Vicars in the Middle Ages were called differently. They were called chorepiscopes. This is not exactly the same, but very close in function position. Her job is to help the bishops.
Instead of dioceses, there were bishoprics, and many of them had chorepiscopes. Usually they were appointed according to the number of cities and small settlements. These were the leaders. Their tasks can be defined as follows:
- manage the entrusted church;
- put the local clear in its place;
- to keep order;
- to manage the parish economy and property.
And yet, there is no equal sign between chorepiscopes and vicars. In what a vicar bishop is closer to the ancient Roman administrative vicar is in his lack of independence. The chorepiscop is a subordinate person, but with great powers. The modern vicar has no such privileges.
The chorepiscopal had more powers than the vicar today.
But the chorebishops gradually disappeared. It happened in the IV century. This decision was made at the Laodicean Council. The idea was to make the power more centralized - so that the decisions were made by the bishop himself.
Therefore, the leadership of the Church ordered the following:
- no new chorepiscops to be appointed;
- let the old ones calmly serve out the allotted time, but do nothing without the permission of the higher authorities.
Titular bishops - prototype of vicars
But for a long time the bishops could not do it without helpers. Therefore, titular bishops came to replace the chorepiscopes. They are very similar to vicars. Sometimes concepts overlap. However, it is possible to formulate the differences as they are carried out in modern Orthodoxy.
- A vicar bishop has the title of a city within the diocese, according to the place of his residence. He must serve in this territory.
- The titular bishop also has a title, but of the city in which he cannot serve. The reasons are different. For example, if the old name of the city is used (say, Yekaterinadar Bishop instead of Krasnodar - this, of course, is figurative). Or the city may be located on the territory where Orthodoxy is not practiced.
However, not everyone is aware of the differences between these positions. In the sources you can find different examples of use. The main thing is that the titular bishop brought the appearance of vicars closer, became their prototype.
In Russia, the function of a vicar was first performed by lay governors and presbyters, but then they began to appoint bishops.
In Russia, the problem of local church administration was solved in different ways. Distribution received two options:
this year the institution of vicars was approved
- they appointed a vicar in the rank of presbyter;
- they elected a governor from the nobility, that is, a layman.
Bishops who helped metropolitans can be called prototypes of vicars. For example, such was St. Alexis. He did not have his own diocese, but participated in the administration of the region, where Metropolitan Theognost led.
The decisive step towards the establishment of the institute of vicars in 1698 was the decision of His Holiness Patriarch Adrian and Peter I to appoint an assistant to the Kyiv Metropolitan Varlaam - Bishop Zachary Kornilovich. Neither Peter I nor Patriarch Adrian objected. However, the assistant was not called a vicar, but a coadjutor.
The 1st vicar of Russia was appointed with the permission of Peter I, the position was called "coadjutor".
They did this because of the health problems of the then metropolitan.
In 1708, the position of vicar was first established under Metropolitan Job of Novgorod and Velikoluksky. They became Archimandrite Joel Vyazmityanin. This vicar belonged, respectively, to the Novgorod diocese. Gradually, the appointment of vicars was allowed in any diocese that could financially afford it. However, only the largest of them took this step.
Vicars became widespread in the second half of the 19th century.
After the revolution, vicars acquired their current status, today they can participate in Local and Bishops' Councils
After the revolution, vicars did not yet have job descriptions. The tasks and functions of such priests were determined locally. In other words, they did what the ruling bishop demanded.
Therefore, in different places, vicars were engaged in assignments that were not similar to each other. Someone controlled the work of parochial schools, someone followed the work of the candle factory.
The vicars were given responsibility for part of the diocese.
It was during this period that the Local Council brought to life an idea that had been waiting in the wings for a whole decade - it assigned parts of the dioceses to the jurisdiction of vicars.
If before the vicar was considered exclusively as an executor, and the management of something was his possible task, now a part of the diocese was necessarily assigned to him for work.
This move made it possible to expand the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church. Each vicariate could potentially transform into a full-fledged diocese. But the idea could not be realized because of the persecution of the Church.
As a result, the vicars did not acquire an independent status and still carry out “semi-independent” management, and also carry out the instructions of the ruling bishops.
Today, in the Russian Orthodox Church, vicars are part of the Local Council and the Council of Bishops. A vicar bishop has the right to vote at the Council of Bishops if he meets any of the requirements:
- head of the synodal institution;
- head of the spiritual academy;
- has canonical jurisdiction over any parishes (administrators of parishes in the US, Canada or China).
A vicar has many responsibilities, from handling correspondence to assisting the bishop in managing the diocese.
Today, an Orthodox vicar performs the following duties:
- reports to the diocese on the financial life of the part of the diocese entrusted to him;
- resolves conflicts and considers complaints;
- draws up vacation schedules for the clergy and submits them to the diocese;
- removes clerics from office for misdemeanors;
- addresses the diocese with proposals for the opening of new monasteries or parishes;
- nominates candidates for ordination, but cannot consecrate himself;
- gives recommendations for admission to a theological seminary or a theological academy;
- can send clerics for a period of up to a month for temporary service in the temple;
- is responsible for the level of education of all temple workers, undertakes to send them to training, if necessary;
- informs the diocese if he thinks that any parish priest or other ministers of the aisle should be rewarded;
- controls the execution of orders of the diocesan bishop;
- conducts correspondence on behalf of the parish entrusted to him, responds to written and other types of requests;
- participates in worship services as needed;
- visits monasteries and parishes in the territory entrusted to him. Periodically performs services in them;
- agrees with the diocese on the appointment of candidates for various positions in the parish;
- bears criminal, administrative and ecclesiastical responsibility for his actions, or failure to fulfill official obligations;
- assists the diocesan bishop in other ways.
A vicar bishop cannot himself decide on ordination.
The blessing of the bishop whom the vicar assists in the administration of his diocese is necessary.
Vicars may participate in Councils, where clerics and laity are admitted. But in a number of Orthodox churches (Serbian, American, etc.) they are forbidden to attend Bishops' Councils.
A vicar can be not only a bishop, but also an archbishop, and even a metropolitan
The Russian Orthodox Church has a tradition of giving the vicar bishop the title of one city. But diocesan bishops may have the names of several regions and settlements in their titles.
Even a metropolitan can be a vicar.
At the same time, a vicar is not always just a bishop. His rank does not affect the position in any way. Among the vicars, the following representatives of the higher clergy may well be found:
- bishops;
- archbishops;
- metropolitans.
To list all the chairs of vicar bishops in Russia is meaningless. This information quickly becomes outdated as a new curate may be appointed every day or an old position may be abolished.
There are also vicars in other Orthodox Churches
There are vicars not only in the Russian Orthodox Church. They are also found in other Orthodox denominations: Georgian, Serbian, American, Bulgarian, etc. They are not always called vicar bishops. For example, in the Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the function of a vicar is performed by a titular bishop.
But in different countries, specific rules may apply to vicars, slightly different from what is described in this article.
In a Protestant church, a vicar is an assistant to the priest.
Among Catholics, a vicar is also an assistant priest or a bishop without a diocese, assisting the diocesan bishop.
Also, the word vicar is used in other meanings. For example, vicar is the title of the Pope, who, according to canon law, is Christ's deputy.
